Dashiel Marquet Sayre

Welcome to the world!

Congratulations to Mike Sayre and Wendy Cheng aka Xiaxue :)

Changi Rewards

Last day to earn 2012 Changi Rewards points
Redeem vouchers by 30 June 2013

Popular

Expo Sale Hall 3A today
$20 coupon with every $100 nett spent

Courts

Toa Payoh Grand Re-opening Sale today

Robinsons

GST is absorbed on all purchases today.
5% cash rebate with the Robinsons card.

Warehouse Sale

The Faceshop Building
201 Kallang Bahru
10am to 5pm today

2XU Compression Run 2013

The 2XU Compression Run 2013 will be held today. The event is expected to draw a crowd of 18,000.

Members of public may contact the organiser at the hotline 8540 7750 for further enquiries.

Joehann Johari

A Raffles Institution (RI) student is in critical condition after collapsing from a heat stroke in school last Wednesday.

Joehann Johari, 14, a Year 2 student and member of the school's C Division rugby team, fainted around 9am while jogging during rugby training. He was sent to KK Women's and Children's Hospital where he has been unconscious since.

Vishal Mehta

The 31-year-old managing director Vishal Mehta, a fourth generation jeweller, was vague about how much was invested, claiming tens of millions has pumped into the business located at Woodlands. It produces rare diamonds.

Tuition Fees

Singapore's four Government-funded universities, five polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) have raised their tuition fees for the next academic year. As with previous hikes, the increase will be bigger for permanent residents and foreigners than for citizens.

Shoplifter

Date: 26 March 2013
Time: 1:39pm
Venue: Dorothy Perkins at Bugis Junction

Description of shoplifter:

Local Chinese in her mid-twenties
Just past shoulder length rebonded hair
Black dress
Faded biege Gucci handbag on her right arm
Nude 5 cm peeping toes high heels
Neither spectacles nor sunglasses
White ear plugs
Red manicure and pedicure
Alighted at Tampines MRT Station

Stolen item: Grey business jacket

I saw her dashed out from Dorothy Perkins with the price tag tangling down from the jacket which she was holding on her left arm without any carrier. She boarded the train at Bugis Station. She stood all the way until Tanah Merah Station.

Elianatasha

Was it so difficult to thank the customer for buying three dresses from the Cotton On outlet in Downtown East at 4:43pm on 25 March 2013?

There was neither a smile, hello, thank you nor see you greeting from the cashier.

According to the receipt, the cashier was Elianatasha.

Cineleisure's Next Online Sensation

Final Challenge is on today 30 March 2013, 3pm!  Prize giving is from 6-8pm! Do pop by if you're free!!! 

Vera Wang

Vera Wang called off the fitting fee policy at her Shanghai flagship store on Wednesday, less than two months after it was established at the newly opened store.

The policy triggered a wave of criticism on the Internet.

Wang's Chinese store, the largest in the world, was the only store to impose a surcharge of 3,000 yuan ($483) to try on an unrestricted number of dresses for one and a half hour, an attempt to prevent counterfeiters from copying models.

Virginia Soares de Souza

A Brazilian doctor charged with killing seven patients to free up beds in a hospital intensive care unit may have been responsible for as many as 300 deaths.

Prosecutors said Dr Virginia Soares de Souza, a 56-year-old widow, and her medical team administered muscle-relaxing drugs to patients, then reduced their oxygen supply, causing them to die of asphyxia at the Evangelical Hospital in the southern city of Curitiba., a 56-year-old widow, and her medical team administered muscle-relaxing drugs to patients, then reduced their oxygen supply, causing them to die of asphyxia at the Evangelical Hospital in the southern city of Curitiba.

Jagdish Kale

The banker, Jagdish Kale, joined Barclays Wealth in early 2010 and was dismissed by the British bank last month. He is accused of misusing his clients' funds. 

Spring Kyushu Fair

29 March to 07 April 2013
Tampines Mall
Atrium Level 1

Oscar Pistorius

A South African court on Thursday cleared sprinter Oscar Pistorius for international travel, easing stringent bail conditions imposed on him for killing his girlfriend on Valentine's Day.

Electricity Tariffs

Electricity tariffs will increase by an average of 1.5 per cent from April 1 for the next three months. This means that families living in four-room flats will have to fork out about $1.43 more per month.

Watsons

How was the sale for members yesterday? Did you go?

Silviu Ionescu

A Bucharest court sentenced a former Romanian diplomat to three years in prison on Wednesday for a 2009 deadly hit-and-run accident in Singapore.

Silviu Ionescu, who was Romania's charge d'affaires in Singapore, was found guilty of hitting three pedestrians in December 2009 while driving a car belonging to the Romanian mission.

Facebook Inc

Facebook Inc is expanding the advertising system that lets marketers tailor messages to users of the No. 1 social network based on their browsing history, in the company's latest step to refine its ad business.

Twitter

Twitter will generate nearly US$1 billion in ad revenue next year due to a surge in mobile advertising on its Web microblogging service, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Mobile ads will account for roughly half of Twitter's advertising revenue this year and will make up more than 60 per cent of the company's ad revenue by 2015 according to research firm eMarketer.

MOE Kindergarten

According to the MOE Kindergarten website, the 5 kindergartens will be located at Blangah Rise Primary School, Farrer Park Primary School, Dazhong Primary School at Bukit Batok, Punggol View Primary School and at the void deck of Block 489C, Tampines Street 45.

The pilot kindergartens will operate two sessions in the morning and afternoon, and each session will be a four-hour programme.

Parents can submit the registration form between April 8 and 19 April 2013 for Singapore Citizen and Permanent Resident children born between January 2, 2009 and January 1, 2010 (both dates inclusive), to apply for admission to K1 classes in the pilot kindergartens in 2014.

Admission is not on a first-come-first-served basis. Should the number of applications exceed the number of vacancies; priority will be accorded based on citizenship, household income and proximity of home address to the pilot kindergartens.

For the first year, the pilot kindergartens located in the primary schools will start with an enrolment of 120 children each, while the pilot kindergarten located in the community will start with an enrolment of 80 children.

The monthly fee for the pilot kindergartens is $150 for Singapore Citizens and $300 for Singapore Permanent Residents.

COE 27 March 2013

Certificate of Entitlement prices for all but small cars (up to 1,600cc) rose for the latest bidding round.

Premiums for small cars went down to $64,209, a 16.3 per cent decrease from the $74,689 closed earlier this month.

Category B (luxury cars or those above 1,600cc) vehicles's premiums rose sharply to $73,900, a 27.2 per cent increase from the previous $58,090.

COE premiums for commercial vehicles closed at $54,111, an increase of 0.4 per cent from $53,900, while Open category COEs closed at $73,301, a 36 per cent increase from the previous $53,900.

Motorcycle premiums closed at $1,909, up 0.7 per cent from last bidding's $1,895.

Lim Seng Lee Duck Rice Eating House

After 45 years in the business, Lim Seng Lee Duck Rice Eating House, in South Buona Vista Road, famous for its boneless braised duck, will be closing shop in June 2013.

Blessed

I've seen better days,
but I've also seen worse.
I don't have everything that I want,
but I do have all I need.
I woke up with some aches and pains,
but I woke up.
My life may not be perfect,
but I am blessed.

Next Generation Condom

A foundation headed by the Microsoft founder and his wife Melinda has put up US$100,000 (S$124,000) to reward someone who can come up with a plan to design a condom that not only works but that people would also want to use, according to NBC News.

3-D Anatomage Table.

Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine will be the first in Southeast Asia to use the latest interactive 3-D anatomage table.

This table, which is also in use at Imperial College London, offers a realistic virtualisation of full body, life-size anatomy in 3-D and is used for virtual dissections.

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan was spotted at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) on Tuesday. The star was apparently at the school to view the progress of the new campus.

According to the SUTD annual report, Jackie Chan donated four traditional Chinese architectural structures for the University's campus in the east.

Rice Surplus

Indonesia's rice surplus will jump by as much as 22 per cent to 8.3 million tonnes this year, an agriculture ministry official said on Monday, and urged state procurement agency Bulog to scrap imports this year and build stocks from domestic supplies.

Dell

A bidding war broke out Monday for US computer maker Dell as two new acquisition offers emerged in competition with the private buyout led by founder Michael Dell. The company said the offers were from billionaire corporate raider Carl Icahn and investment fund Blackstone Group.

Summly

Yahoo! announced plans on Monday to buy mobile news reader app Summly from the London teenager who invented it, likely transforming him into one of the world's youngest self-made multimillionaires.

The London Evening Standard said Yahoo! would pay between £20 million and £40 million (US$30 to US$60 million).

Klarna

Swedish online payments firm Klarna, one of Europe's hottest tech start-ups, will focus its firepower on Germany this year while keeping its eye on the United States, home to EBay's big money-maker PayPal.

Fullerton Hotel

The best of hawker fare comes to The Fullerton Hotel's Town Restaurant from March 26 to April 6, with 10 top hawkers showcasing their local delights as part of the restaurant's dinner buffet spread.

Savour everything from Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, Haron Satay, Casuarina Curry Restaurant's roti prata and hearty lontong from Nusa & Tara - without having to queue at their stalls.

The others include nasi lemak from Haji Maksah Barkat Chahya Food, Original Serangoon Fried Hokkien Mee, Indian rojak from Rojak & Mee Siam, Whitley Road Big Prawn Noodles, Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh and Roxy Laksa.

Where: Town Restaurant, The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square, lobby level 

When: March 26 to April 6, 6.30 to 10.30pm 

Price: $52++ (adult), $26++ (child aged six to 12 years old) 

Info: Call 6877-8128 or e-mail town@fullertonhotel.com

Sticker Lady

The police said in a news release on Monday that the woman faces 15 charges of mischief, and the man faces one charge of mischief and seven charges of abetment to commit mischief. If convicted, both of them face a fine, up to a 2-year jail term, or both.

The artist, dubbed The Sticker Lady, is believed to be Samantha Lo, the founder of online magazine RCGNTN.

She is said to have sprayed the words "My Grandfather Road" on Maxwell Road and Robinson Road and pasted circular stickers at public spaces, including traffic-light junctions.

Good Morning Nanyang Cafe

With its unique and delicious take on traditional Singaporean breakfast food, Good Morning Nanyang Cafe has attracted international attention.

Located in Telok Ayer Hong Lim Green Community Centre, the cafe’s special kaya toast made with ciabatta and orange ciabatta bread has landed it a mention in Time magazine.

The cafe was featured in “A Little Place I Know: 24 of the World’s Best-Kept Secrets” in the March 25 edition.

Universal Music

In an unusual move, music company Universal Music placed a full-page advertisement in The New Paper and a quarter-page ad in The Straits Times yesterday warning people that it is not linked to Universal Music Group Asia or Universal Music Asia.

The company also said people going by the name Hendrick Tan, Hendrick Chen, Hendrick Tan Zhi Xian, Edwina Chong, Zhang Xiaoxuan, DJ JT and Jill Patterson were not their representatives.

Holy Week

The new pope began Holy Week on Sunday with a sermon invoking the folk wisdom of his grandmother, further emphasising a new-look papacy that aims to be closer to the people.

Leading his first major service since his election, Pope Francis addressed a vast crowd gathered for Palm Sunday with simple language, urging them to shun corruption and greed and reach out to "the humble, the poor, the forgotten".

Balance

While we can adeptly elicit others' neediness and neuroses, it can be hard to find the right balance of humiliation and humility ourselves.

David Ranta

A wrongfully convicted New Yorker who served more than two decades behind bars had a heart attack the day after he was released, his lawyer said on Saturday.

Mr David Ranta was sentenced to 37 years in prison after being convicted in 1991 of killing an Orthodox Jewish rabbi during a botched robbery. He always maintained his innocence and was freed on Thursday after 23 years.

Formula One: Vettel wins Malaysian Grand Prix

Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel pulled off a daring overtaking manoeuvre against Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber to snatch victory in a pulsating Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The German ace went wheel-to-wheel with his stablemate late in the race, earning a stern rebuke from team principal Christian Horner, before emerging in front and taking his 27th race win.

Artificial Employment

Built a two-lanes road.
Shopping mall is opened.
Severe traffic jams clogged up the road.
Expand the road to more lanes.

Isn't this just creating artificial employment in the construction sector?

Mong Hing Teochew Restaurant

Mong Hing Teochew Restaurant at KeyPoint

Add: 371 Beach Road
Tel: 6223-4588
Open from 11am to 2.30pm, and from 6 to 9.30pm daily

The owners of Mong Hing Teochew Restaurant in Beach Road are calling it quits after 58 years.

Tired after running the business for almost six decades, the Koh family will pack up after the lease on the restaurant at KeyPoint expires in May.

The building was acquired in April last year by Fragrance Group and World Class Land, a subsidiary of Aspial Corporation, from Frasers Commercial Trust for $360 million.

Lee Meng Xiang

A Malaysian man was fined $1,000 on Friday for mischief by damaging two pieces of brand new lingerie.

Lee Meng Xiang, 23, then a casino croupier, pleaded guilty to the offence at Tangs department store in VivoCity at Harbourfront Walk on Jan 26.

Ellen DeGeneres in Sydney

Hollywood star Russell Crowe and Australian footballers joined US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres in Sydney for the first filming of her popular programme Down Under Saturday.

"I love you guys," DeGeneres told the 3,000 fans who packed an open-air Royal Botanic Garden set which looked out across the harbour to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

Border Control in Britain

Britain is considering introducing much tougher border controls and may oblige visitors from "high-risk" countries to hand over a returnable cash bond to deter them from overstaying their visas, its deputy prime minister said on Friday.

Emergency Rule in Myanmar

Myanmar has declared a state of emergency for a riot-hit town where 20 people have been killed in Buddhist-Muslim violence that has sparked fears of spreading unrest.

Swathes of Meiktila, located 130 kilometres (80 miles) north of the capital Naypyidaw, have been reduced to ashes as authorities struggled to establish control after three days of clashes and arson.

Nestle Singapore

Nestle is recalling some special chunky varieties of its iconic KitKat chocolate brand, mainly in Britain but also in seven other markets, after consumers found pieces of plastic in the product.

Nestle said in a statement that it is recalling 48g bars of the chunky version of KitKat in four flavours - peanut butter, hazelnut, chocolate fudge and caramel, as well giant eggs from the chunky collection. No other KitKat products are affected.

A Nestle spokesman said the recall should not have a material impact on the world's biggest food company.

KitKat is one of Nestle's top-selling brands, with 150 bars consumed worldwide every second.

Overweight

Turns out a few extra pounds may not be such a bad thing, according to a new analysis of nearly three million adults that showed people who are overweight or slightly obese may live longer.

Tony Chan

Hong Kong fortune teller Tony Chan who once advised Asia's richest woman but was later embroiled in a high-profile legal battle over her fortune has renounced feng shui for Christianity.

Hon Po Wah

On the 344 forged cheques, Hon Po Wah, a former assistant accounts manager of Speedmark Air Transportation, also forged the signature of its managing director and transferred a total of $2.3 million from the company's bank account into his personal account, joint account and to his wife's account to feed his gambling addiction.

CVS

Are you looking for CVS shirts by Oviesse in Singapore? You may get them from Les Enterprise in Pasir Ris Bus Interchange.

Giant Tampines

Have you been to Giant Tampines lately? The aisle layout is slightly different now. It is better. The display is clearer. Pay it a visit.

Happiness

Happiness is found in healthy relationships, in loving and being loved; in doing things we are passionate about; in being creative and pro-creative as well as in having fewer wants and being contented and thankful for what we have.

BTO Flats

The Housing Board has launched 3,898 new build-to-order flats in Bukit Batok, Punggol and Sengkang. Applications can be made from today till March 27. 

OG

Storewide 20% discount
All outlets
21 March to 24 March 2013

Cyprus Banks

Banks in Cyprus will remain closed on Thursday and Friday, a government official said, as the euro zone country tries to avoid a financial meltdown having rejected the terms of a European Union bailout.

With Monday a public holiday, the move effectively closes lenders until Tuesday, March 26. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.

Cyprus Seeks Russian Rescue

Cyprus extended a bank lockdown to next week and considered nationalising pension funds on Wednesday, scrambling to avert a financial meltdown after rejecting the terms of a bailout from the European Union and turning to Russia for a lifeline.

Robinsons

Expo Sale
21 March to 31 March 2013
Singapore Expo Hall 4
10:30am to 10pm

Lonely Planet

The BBC's commercial arm is selling the Lonely Planet travel guide business to a US media firm at a loss of almost £80 million (S$151 million), the British broadcaster said on Tuesday.

NC2 Media will buy Lonely Planet, which publishes hugely popular travel guides in nine languages, for £51.5 million.

Obamamania

Jerusalem was decked out with US flags and bunting as the Holy City geared up to roll out the red carpet for Wednesday's historic visit by US President Barack Obama.

Despite the excitement and fanfare, Obama's trip, his first since becoming president, has met however with mixed reaction from ordinary Israelis and Palestinians.

Farris Rahman

Red Bull Singapore has signed on its second athlete, skateboarder Farris Rahman.

18-year old Farris started skateboarding at the age of 4 and joined his first international competition when he was just 6.

Having won multiple competitions and recognised as one of the TOP 50 skateboarders in the whole world, Farris came in second for the Street open category at the 2011 Asian X-Games in Shanghai, placing 16th in the overall competition.

Banned Lamb Mince

French authorities Tuesday said they had found 57 tonnes of minced lamb that did not conform to European standards at the factory of Spanghero, the firm at the heart of the horsemeat scandal.

The French company sparked a European food alert by allegedly passing off 750 tonnes of horsemeat as beef, which led to its sanitary licence being revoked.

Peter Lim Sin Pang

Have you read about him and Angie Pang Chor Mui?

Angie Pang Chor Mui

Have you read about her and Peter Lim Sin Pang?

Litany of Bitterness

A litany of bitterness will not suffice. We must question, challenge ad trash ourselves more than anyone else. Most favourite essays begin with emotional devastation and conclude with surprising metamorphosis. This is why true stories of failure, addiction, break-ups, financial ruin and recovery are so intriguing.

Ivy Lee

Ms Ivy Lee made news in 2006 when she was rejected by a dating agency at age 41 for being too old. Now 49, she has found Mr Right. She will marry her 52-year-old beau this month after a year-long courtship.

Juerg Buergin

Swiss Juerg Buergin, a former UBS executive, 41, is the first among the 51 men charged for having paid sex with a victim, who was then 17 years old, to go on trial.

Pauline Chai

Multi-millionaire Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Peng and former Miss Malaysia Pauline Chai have split on grounds of 'unreasonable behaviour', after 43 years of marriage.

Tamil Selvan

Pang Chor Mui said she had been friends with her former boss, Tamil Selvan, since 1996.

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung's stores here will stock the device; SingTel, StarHub and M1 are also in talks to sell it in May.

Euro

The euro tumbled to a more than three-month low against the US dollar and a roughly two-week trough versus the yen on Monday, as a bailout plan for Cyprus that will tax bank deposits spurred contagion worries in the euro zone.

Euro zone finance ministers demanded at the weekend that Cypriots pay up to 9.9 per cent of their bank deposits in exchange for a 10 billion euro bailout.

Popular Causeway Point

Now until 24 March 2013
Pre-Reno Sale
25% discount on English and Chinese books
$15 off with minimum $120 nett spent

Confessional Writing

The problem with confessional writing is that people don't confess enough. This rarely inspires brilliance or self-insight. Drama, conflict and tension are more compelling, especially when the piece starts with "I" narrator about to fall off a cliff metaphorically.

Downtown East

Downtown East will remain open throughout its 5-year redevelopment, NTUC Club assured union members and the public today.

Pang Chor Mui

Did you catch her in court today?

Dr Shane Todd

The senators said they wanted no US funds to go to IME until the US Attorney-General could certify that the FBI had full access to all evidence and records relevant to probe.

The politicians, US senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester, had introduced legislation to do so on March 14, in the midst of a Singapore investigation into the disputed death of Dr Shane Todd, a former American employee of the Singapore Institute of Microelectronics (IME).

Free Egg McMuffins

McDonald's restaurants in Singapore will be giving away over 100,000 Egg McMuffins as part of a regional initiative to have the world's largest breakfast giveaway.

Each participating store will distribute 1,000 free Egg McMuffins on a first-come, first-served basis. Redemption coupons will be handed out on March 18 for collection on the same day. No purchase is required.

Most participating outlets will start distributing from 5am. 

Restaurants in Singapore will join the fast food giant's other restaurants in Asia, Middle East and Africa to give away about 5 million Egg McMuffins as part of their National Breakfast Day.

Winston Koh

PROFESSOR Winston Koh, to his former students, is an "adventure junkie" who has completed over 20 marathons both here and overseas.

Yesterday, many were shocked to hear of the Singapore Management University economics professor's death.

He died in "a diving mishap whilst on a private diving trip in Malaysia over the last weekend", an e-mail sent to SMU students yesterday said.

It is unclear exactly where or how the accident happened.

Kelly Goh

Ms Kelly Goh, 20, an ITE student, had left her shoes out to dry on metal racks outside their kitchen window when one shoe came loose and fell from the ninth storey to their neighbour's parapet one floor down.

She then told her father, cabby Goh Ah Seng, 58, about the shoe before taking a shower at about 10.45am on Thursday.

MSN Messenger

Microsoft retires MSN Messenger in favour of Skype, as smartphone apps and social networks give users more ways to stay connected.

Sean and Lucas Cheong

Mr Sean Cheong knows that his elder son, Lucas, 14, spends money on mobile games.

Lucas used to charge about $100 to Mr Cheong's credit card, which is tagged to his iTunes account.

This month, Lucas charged $4,300 to the card, giving his father "the blardy shock of his life".

The boy sheepishly admitted to spending the money on extra moves and boosts in Candy Crush Saga, a mobile phone app that has taken the world by storm.

Paul Marshallsea

A British man hailed as a hero for wrestling a shark away from an Australian beach said Tuesday he had been sacked after it emerged that he was on sick leave at the time.

Paul Marshallsea, a 62-year-old charity worker from Wales, won praise in January when he ran into the sea near Brisbane to grapple with the 1.8 metre (6-foot) shark, fearing it would attack paddling children.

A local television crew caught the incident on camera and images of him pulling the creature away from the beach were beamed around the world.

Burst Water Pipe in Woodlands Road

A burst pipe caused a part of Woodlands Road near West View Primary School, toward the direction of the city, to cave in on Saturday night.

Courts Singapore

Get $15 off on $150 purchases until 31 March 2013.
Visit stores for terms and conditions.

NUS Open House

Will you be attending it today? It is at the Kent Ridge campus.

Benny Chua Cheng Thian

The Disciplinary Committee (DC') formed by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) has concluded the disciplinary proceedings against salesperson, Chua Cheng Thian, Benny.

Swenson Tan

He lapsed into a coma three weeks ago. On Friday, doctors declared him brain dead.

Yet when it was time to let him go on March 10, Mr Swenson Tan's traumatised parents refused to accept the outcome.

The 22-year-old full-time national serviceman, who had studied Mechanical Engineering at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, was riding a motorcycle near Hougang Ave 7 when he collided with a van.

Bossini

Bossini Takashimaya
15 to 16 March 2013
Free Winnie The Pooh umbrella with $100 storewide purchases
Twice points for members

Matthew Zachary Liu

His quick thinking and his big following on social media helped to reunite a lost little boy with his parents.

Mr Matthew Zachary Liu, 24, was at a bus stop on Ho Ching Road in Jurong West around 4.45pm on Sunday afternoon when he saw a toddler clad only in diapers and a pair of slippers.

Gini Coefficient

Singapore has the most millionaires in the world, and also one of its highest measures of income inequality - a Gini coefficient of 0.47.

Isn't this extremely worrisome?

COE March 13

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) received 4,287 bids at the end of the March first open bidding exercise for Certificates of Entitlement (COEs). Of these, 1,636 were successful.

Public Infrastructure

As public infrastructure heaved under the strain, resentment grew against foreigners who faced a myriad of accusations: depressing wages, using Singapore as a stepping stone and enjoying the privilege of living and working here without facing any of the obligations, such as national service.

Influx of Foreigners

As an influx of foreigners has caused Singapore's population to swell rapidly to 5.3 million in the last half-decade, a sense of economic threat and social anxiety has simmered among citizens hitherto open to newcomers.

Zhang Jiale

A diamond-studded iPhone, Aston Martin car, private jet, lavish parties and a collection of branded goods.

Such is the life of 22-year-old Chinese heiress Zhang Jiale, as documented in photographs.

Blackball

The fascination with Taiwanese food - everything from crispy chicken cutlets to bubble tea - continues unabated.

This time, it is refreshing desserts that people here are queuing for.

Generally served cold, these grass jelly and shaved ice-based desserts are topped with ingredients such as chewy taro and sweet potato balls as well as bubble tea pearls. Other toppings include kidney beans, nata de coco, roasted peanuts and lotus seeds.

At least four outlets and chains are selling these hearty desserts, one of which is popular Taiwanese grass jelly dessert chain BlackBall.

Since April last year, the franchise here has been steadily expanding and now has five outlets, in Star Vista, Bugis+, Katong I12, CityVibe and NTUC Foodfare in Bedok North Street 1. It has its sights set on further expansion.

Joanne Peh and Bobby Tonelli

Actress Joanne Peh has revealed in an interview with a local magazine that she and her boyfriend of 4 years, Bobby Tonelli, have parted ways.

According to Shin Min Daily News, she tearfully told a magazine reporter that she felt like she did not know Tonelli, 32, at all.

"It slowly dawned on me that I don't know him. I don't know what he's thinking. I don't think he knows what I'm thinking, what I'm feeling, what I'm going through either," she said.

"We have different goals, different levels of communication, and different ideas about life. I realised I don't know much about him anymore, and that I felt like I couldn't really express myself as genuinely as I can," she added.

Just Lunch

The JustLunch Facebook pages of undergraduates Nur Hakeem, 24, and Huda Rasid, 22, have been taken down without their knowledge.

This follows a threat of legal action against the undergrads from It's Just Lunch Holdings Corporation (IJL), an international company which provides matchmaking services.

National University of Singapore undergrad Nur Hakeem had set up JustLunch.nus on Feb 6, while Miss Huda Rasid, his friend from Nanyang Technological University, set up JustLunch.ntu about two weeks later.

National Identity

Will Singapore follow the American or Australian model of "integration but not assimilation"? Under a broad umbrella of values and aspirations that define the national identity, ethnic and cultural differences are allowed to flourish.

Spring Forward

Have you adjusted your time today?

Michael Palmer and Diana

In the whole of the Star Theatre, for the Adam Lambert concert on Friday, a The New Paper photographer managed to spot former MP Michael Palmer.

He was there with his wife, Diana, and were seen holding hands with their fingers interlocked, with big smiles on their faces.

They had also stood up with other concert goers to enjoy the show.

IKEA Singapore

249,375 meatballs were sold in total at its Alexandra and Tampines stores, and got the furniture store into the Singapore Book of Records for the 'Most Number of Meatballs cooked and sold in a day', said Ikea Singapore in a statement.

The Alexandra store sold 1.54 tonnes (96,250 meatballs), and the Tampines store sold 2.45 tonnes (153,125 meatballs).

Jollibee

Popular fast-food chain Jollibee will be opening its first outlet in Singapore on Tuesday. It will be located on the sixth floor of Lucky Plaza along Orchard Road and will have a seating capacity of 300.

Singaporean Identity

That the Singaporean identity will morph is a given; whether it manages to survive intact is the bigger question with further-reaching consequences.

NTU Open House

Did you attend it today?

Collision Between Ferry and Boat

A man is missing at sea after a ferry, carrying more than 100 passengers from Pasir Panjang Terminal to Pulau Bukom, collided with a boat at about 5.50am his morning.

At 0625hrs (Singapore time) on March 9, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) received a report that an Indonesian-registered coaster craft, Budi Jasa 18, had sunk in the West Keppel Fairway. 5 crew members onboard the craft has been rescued and 1 person was reported missing.

Budi Jasa 18 sank as a result of a collision with Sea Hawk, a ferry that was proceeding from Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal (PPFT) to Pulau Bukom. At the time of the incident, Sea Hawk was carrying 200 passengers. 8 passengers suffered injuries, of which 5 were sent to Bukom Clinic to receive medical treatment for cuts and abrasions, and 3 were sent to Alexandra Hospital.

Vienna International Seafood Buffet

Vienna International Seafood & Teppanyaki Restaurant

Address: 101 Thomson Road, Singapore 307591 Phone:6254 6686 Transit: Novena Operating Hours & Prices Lunch (11.30am to 3.00pm) Mon - Fri S$33.80++ (Adult) S$18.80++ (Child) Sat, Sun & Public Holidays S$35.80++ (Adult) S$19.80++ (Child) Dinner (5.30pm to 10.00pm) Mon - Thu S$40.80++ (Adult) S$20.80++ (Child) Fri, Sat, Sun & Public Holidays S$42.80++ (Adult) S$21.80++ (Child)

IKEA Meatball

Home furnishing retailer, Ikea Singapore, announced today that they will resume the sale of their signature meatballs at the Ikea Restaurant and Swedish Food Market at both Alexandra and Tampines stores from today, Friday, March 8.

This comes after the release of DNA results by a local independent lab that confirms meatballs sold locally contain only beef and pork, and the Halal-certified ones made of beef and chicken.

For one day only on March 8, the meatballs will be available at $0.10 per piece at the IKEA Restaurant at both stores to mark its return. The Ikea Restaurant will be opened from 9.30am to 10.30pm (last order at 10pm).

Ikea is committed to serving and selling food that is safe, healthy and produced with care for the environment and the people who produce it.

Barbarella

Have we seen the last of Barbarella?

With local actress-turned-director Michelle Chong embarking on her second movie - 3 Peas In A Pod - and not being part of the coming season of Channel 5's parody news sketch show The Noose, does this mean farewell to television's most famous Sarong Party Girl?

Bulaubulau

It rains for over 200 days a year here.

But this doesn't dampen the spirits of the Atayal people in Bulaubulau, who play host to groups of tourists who come visiting for a day to down copious amounts of rice wine while indulging in a seven- course meal.

Nestled deep in the mountains in Yilan County, Bulaubulau is a small village that is home to members of the Atayal tribe, or "taiya zu" in Mandarin.

This is where clusters of nine families cook, hunt, weave and entertain guests who come here to learn about the culture of one of Taiwan's indigenous tribes.

There are no roads here and there's hardly any mobile network either. The only vehicle you'll encounter will be the jeep that will pick you up from the sleepy town of Hanxi, and then drop you off halfway up the mountain.

From there, the rest of the journey is on foot.

Singapore Cycle Fest 2013

The Singapore Cycle Fest 2013 was meant to set a new world record for the largest cycling convoy in the world, but the event, held from Feb 23 to 24, ended up being a failure.

Not only was the record not set, not enough participants turned up, and those who did claimed it was poorly organised.

One vendor asserted that the organiser owes several thousand dollars for the printing of event jerseys.

Even the emcee of the event said he has not been paid.

Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton may have let slip the sex of the royal baby.

The slip of the tongue reportedly took place on her visit to Grimsby, a seaport in Lincolnshire, England.

According to The Telegraph, after accepting a white teddy bear from a woman in the crowd, the Duchess of Cambridge said: "Thank you, I'll take that for my d..." before abruptly cutting herself off.

Nur Aisyah Ismail

She was an active and healthy girl who had just joined her school's squash team.

But yesterday, Nur Aisyah Ismail, 13, collapsed in school after a 2.4km run.

She died in hospital.

Tragically, yesterday was also her 13th birthday, which her family had planned to celebrate with her twin brother.

Phua Chuan Chin

Hawaiian media reports said Phua Chuan Chin, 62, who was walking along the shoreline at Kauai's north shore when he went missing.

Malaysia Boleh

It is a very popular stall in the food court of Jurong Point that sells authentic Malaysian food.
Please be prepared to wait in the long queue.

SingTel

Have you pre-ordered the Blackberry 10 with SingTel?
This latest model will be released today.

IKEA Singapore

You may get a baked chicken leg set at only $5.50 per set
from today until 24 March 2013
Monday to Friday only

Yaw Shin Leong

He was spotted with a baby in a local hospital.

Karting Circuit

A new international-standard karting track is being constructed on the same grounds that the Changi Motorsports Hub was to be built on.

Backed by private investors, the Singapore International Karting Circuit will become the second karting facility in Singapore, after the Kartright Speedway in Tuas.

Marriott International

Hotels company Marriott International has teamed up with Ikea's real estate arm to launch a new European hotel chain designed to attract younger travellers seeking style on a budget.

IKEA Singapore

There is a very good offer from 8am to 9.30am tomorrow only.

Tuna Croissant Breakfast with Coffee is only $1.50 per set. 

Dr Pepper Snapple

Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc said on Monday it will buy back the distribution rights for Snapple and some of its other brands in Asia from Mondelez International Inc.

Slave Style Mango

Spanish fashion retailer Mango on Monday apologised on Twitter for a necklace advertised on its website as "slave style", blaming a translation error.

"We regret the translation error. The relevant services have been alerted and will make the correction immediately," the company said on its official Twitter account.

The gold chain with the offending caption was priced at 24.99 euros (S$40.50).

Jetstar

Jetstar will add up to six more weekly services between Singapore and Perth from April this year.

This is equivalent to an extra 2,000 seats per week between the two cities, boosting return flights to up to 13 a week.

Sex Drugs

The sex drugs pasar malam (night market) was in full swing at around midnight earlier this year, with about 50 people milling around 15 illegal sex drugs peddlers in Geylang Road.

Malaysia-Filipino Standoff

Supporters of an armed bid by Filipino intruders to lay claim to a Malaysian state took their campaign to cyberspace on Monday, manipulating Google search listings to show a message backing the incursion.

Malaysians have been shocked by the militant incursion, which began when an estimated 100-300 people landed on the shores of Sabah on February 12, claiming the state for the heir to a former Philippine sultanate.

A tense stand-off between the intruders and security forces who have them pinned down in the farming village of Tanduo erupted in a bloody firefight Friday that left 12 gunmen and two police officers dead.

Another gun battle erupted Saturday in Semporna, hours away from Tanduo by road, dramatically escalating tensions and raising the overall toll of reported dead to at least 18 militants and eight police officers.

Singapore Dollar

The Singapore dollar slid to a near three-week low against the US dollar on Monday as traders said hedge funds unloaded the local unit amid expectations it could depreciate further after breaching key chart support lines.

City Harvest Church

A full-day hearing of the City Harvest Church case is scheduled for today.

D'Nest

It is a 912 units of luxury condominium at Pasir Ris Grove.

Selangor Flyover

A flyover in Selangor Science Park in Cyberjaya collapsed on Thursday afternoon, the latest incident involving public works projects in Malaysia.

The Internet was soon abuzz with pictures of the flyover, which seemed to have broken into two pieces, liberal news portal Malaysian Insider reported.

It is understood that no one was hurt in the incident.

Used Cars

Used car dealers have started to cut their prices in a desperate bid to attract customers, following the measures that limit loans and impose extra taxes on cars.

But most major new car dealers, such as Borneo Motors, Tan Chong Motor and Performance Motors, have raised the prices of big and luxury cars, as these now incur higher taxes under the new tiered Additional Registration Fee (ARF) scheme.

LunchMate.SMU

Who to have lunch with in SMU?

JustLunch.ntu

Are you looking for lunch partners in NTU?

GCE A Levels

How is your GCE A Levels result?

Please apply for your university courses with much careful thoughts.

Kamchatka

A magnitude 7 earthquake hit near the southern tip of Russia's Kamchatka peninsula, at a depth of 30 km (18.6 miles), the US Geological Survey reported on Thursday.

Candy Crush Saga

"I feel fucking powerful, like I can achieve anything, coz after a week of trying I finally passed Candy Crush stage 213 w/o using boosters!" tweeted Xiaxue aka Wendy Cheng at 4:23am :)

Have you cleared this difficult level?

JustLunch.nus

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