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SINGAPORE - Starting April 1 next week, all schools will conduct one day of home-based learning a week, in the light of the recent spike of Covid-19 cases in Singapore. Primary schools will do so on Wednesdays, secondary schools on Thursdays, and junior colleges/Centralised Institute on Fridays. Education Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Friday (March 27) that this move will better prepare parents and students for more days of home-based learning if and when required. Schools will also stagger dismissal times to reduce the congestion when students take public transport or the school bus home. Singapore has ramped up measures over the past few weeks progessively to curb the spread of the virus, said Mr Ong. "So likewise, for schools, which are a major part of people's lives, we have also been stepping up (measures). So we will not want to do something dramatic, sudden, that will result in school closure," he said. "We still have options, we are not like many countries where they are forced into sudden school closures." When asked how long this home-based learning arrangement will last, Mr Ong said: "It depends how long the virus lasts, and how long we feel it will be around." From next Monday (March 30), schools will provide instructions to students and parents on accessing the home-based learning materials. Assistance will be given to students who do not have access to digital devices when their learning requires it. Students will have about four to five hours of learning on the day of home-based learning, of which two hours can be used to access digital devices. It can come in different forms, through e-lessons, or other references like worksheets and textbooks. Teachers could also conduct lessons via "live" videos. Schools will remain open for a small group of students whose parents are not able to make alternative childcare arrangements, and priority will be given to parents working in essential services such as healthcare or public transport. A small number of teachers in schools will supervise these students. Most teachers will stay at home on the day of home-based learning, while about 20 per cent of staff, including the principal, will remain in school. Co-curricular activities (CCAs) will remain suspended for the rest of Term 2, and so will other activities that involve mingling of students across schools like the National School Games. The Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation will be cancelled. On Sunday, Mr Ong had said that he received many questions from parents, with some asking why the March holidays were not extended, especially given the rising numbers of imported Covid-19 cases and impending border closures. He cited scientific evidence showing that young people are not spreaders of the virus, and said that closing schools would also disrupt the lives of many people, particularly parents who are both working, and who have limited childcare options. Various precautionary measures have already been put in place and hygiene protocols have been stepped up. Students now only spend their time with those in their classes, with CCAs and inter-school activities suspended. They sit apart in class and are reminded to wash their hands regularly and avoid touching their faces. Communal activities such as mass assemblies and school camps have been suspended. Recess timings are staggered and temperature checks are conducted daily. Students who are not feeling well - be it with a cough, sore throat or a fever - will be placed in an isolation room in school or sent home. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/coronavirus-students-to-have-home-based-learning-once-a-week-from-april-as-schools-step-up

https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/China-s-Greater-Bay-threatens-Singapore-s-finance-and-tech-status China's 'Greater Bay' threatens Singapore's finance and tech status Analysts see huge Hong Kong-Macao project siphoning business away from city-state JUSTINA LEE, Nikkei staff writer March 04, 2019 06:35 JST To stay competitive and become a "smart" city, Singapore has been investing in emerging digital technologies across various industries SINGAPORE -- China's ambitious Greater Bay Area project encompassing Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in Guangdong could threaten Singapore's standing as a hub for finance and technology. Earlier this month, Chinese authorities unveiled their plans for the vast area, which boasts a population of 71 million and an estimated gross domestic product of $1.64 trillion. Although a concrete road map for developing the Greater Bay Area has yet to be made, the unveiling was a crucial step forward in Beijing's efforts to quell rising protectionism around the world and spark a slowing economy at home. According to economists, the project could eventually overshadow Singapore. Lawrence Loh, director of the Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations at NUS Business School, noted that the huge project "will definitely" have an impact on Singapore. "The geoeconomics of the new Chinese development will be formidable in its scale and scope, [creating] synergies across many industries and markets," he said. Loh added that the Greater Bay Area is also "a much bigger region," with 12 times Singapore's population and almost five times its GDP. "The main challenge for Singapore will be specifically in the finance sector and -- more broadly -- in its location as a business hub," Loh noted. Tommy Xie, head of Greater China Research at OCBC Bank, said that Hong Kong will be the first to benefit from the project. Strengthening Hong Kong's role as a global financial center and magnet for investment by China "may pose some immediate challenges to Singapore," he said. Still, rather than being put off, some Singapore companies see potential in the huge area. Lucas Loh, president of China & Investment Management at Capitaland Group, said the core growth engines, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, in the Greater Bay Area "are also part of [the company's] core city clusters in China." Capitaland has been ramping up its presence in Guangzhou over the past year, acquiring two residential sites in Zengcheng District and a mixed-use site in Guangzhou Science City, which Loh says is "a key component of China's plans to turn the Greater Bay Area from a strong manufacturing base into a science and technology hub." Shenzhen will form an important part of China's Greater Bay Area. © AP However, not all analysts think the project will damage Singapore. "Hong Kong and Singapore are global cities which tap worldwide talent pools and financial markets, so the Greater Bay Area does not really represent a marked shift in the competitive dynamic between the two," said Duncan Innes-Ker of The Economist. Innes-Ker thinks the city-state can mitigate some effects of the project by reducing barriers that prevent Singapore-based companies from operating in Southeast Asia. "ASEAN's economies are expected to expand rapidly," he said. "This should provide many opportunities for financial and professional service providers based in Singapore" To boost competitiveness, Singapore has been increasing efforts to transform itself into a "smart" nation by investing in emerging digital technologies across various industries. In fintech alone, investments in 2018 more than doubled to $365 million from a year ago, according to a recent report by Accenture. Singapore is also working on fifth-generation, or 5G, technologies. In January, Singapore Telecommunications, Ericsson and Singapore Polytechnic launched the nation's first 5G training and testing center. The partners will use the facility to develop applications for transportation, logistics, health care, manufacturing and other industries.

What are the odds of encountering one or two oddball, batty teachers (even principals) during one's ten to sixteen years typically spent pursuing a formal education in Singapore schools? Well, obviously not so improbable. Read: the nasty, weird shit or advice spewing out of the mouths of some of these folks who were supposed to enlighten the eager bright young minds of tomorrow aka you the student. Oh yes, the horrors, the horrors indeed. More than a handful over at Reddit Singapore "affectionately" reminisced about the ridiculous (perhaps bordering on crazy), at times unintentionally entertaining and possibly thoughtless remarks their innocent(?) ears had to endure once upon a time in the classroom: By chongccino: "In secondary school, I got caught for folding back my skirt during an open house event. Normally I wouldn't do such a thing and I tried to explain that it was because the hook fell out. But the discipline mistress cut me off really rudely, told me I was setting a bad example for the juniors (another one who I never spoke to in my entire life was caught alongside me for folding her skirt) and exclaimed: “do you want the public to think our girls are cheap sluts?” Back then I was afraid of any further repercussions but in retrospect I should have complained and not let that slide because that was plain insulting and rude. What a bitch." By uniscent: "Last year one teacher in my school was helping out a group of girls with their geography project (during a camp) and requested they enter into a room to complete things; when the girls declined he laughed and said : “ Why are you so scared? It's not like I’m gonna rape all 3 of you at once.” "

Sorry moderators, but I cannot resist posting this one-in-a-lifetime in MCF, when this number will appear fleetingly, before disappearing, never to repeat for me again. The next auspicious number, 88,888 is going to take a long time to manifest......... I am going to buy TOTO. If I strike 1st prize, I will treat everyone in the next MCF gathering.

http://www.industrytap.com/thorium-fueled-automobile-engine-needs-refueling-once-a-century/ Thorium Concept Car - Image Courtesy www.greenpacks.com There are now over one billion cars traveling roads around the world directly and indirectly costing trillions of dollars in material resources, time and noxious emissions. Imagine all these cars running cleanly for 100 years on just 8 grams of fuel each. Laser Power Systems (LPS) from Connecticut, USA, is developing a new method of automotive propulsion with one of the most dense materials known in nature: thorium. Because thorium is so dense it has the potential to produce tremendous amounts of heat. The company has been experimenting with small bits of thorium, creating a laser that heats water, produces steam and powers a mini turbine. Cadillac World Thorium Fuel Concept (Image Courtesy www.cutedesign.com) Current models of the engine weigh 500 pounds, easily fitting into the engine area of a conventionally-designed vehicle. According to CEO Charles Stevens, just one gram of the substance yields more energy than 7,396 gallons (28,000 L) of gasoline and 8 grams would power the typical car for a century. The idea of using thorium is not new. In 2009, Loren Kulesus designed the Cadillac World Thorium Fuel Concept Car. LPS is developing the technology so it can be mass-produced. Wider Implications of ThoriumAccording to Robert Hargraves, “low or non-CO2 emitting energy sources must be cheaper than coal or will ultimately fail to displace fossil fuels.” The United States uses 20% of the world’s energy today and, according to Hargraves, if it cut its CO2 emissions to zero, 80% produced by other countries would still be a problem. With CO2 emissions climbing seemingly beyond all bounds, pessimism is rampant and bold ideas are needed. Thorium may also be the answer to the world’s nuclear energy conundrum and Wikipedia provides some of its advantages: Weapons-grade fissionable material (233U) is harder to retrieve safely and clandestinely from a thorium reactor; this means, for example, Iran could be asked to develop only a thorium based reactor, virtually eliminating the issue of nuclear weapon development. Thorium produces 10 to 10,000 times less long-lived radioactive waste; Thorium mining produces a single pure isotope, whereas the mixture of natural uranium isotopes must be enriched to function in most common reactor designs. The same cycle could also use the fissionable U-238 component of the natural uranium, and also contained in the depleted reactor fuel; Thorium cannot sustain a nuclear chain reaction without priming,[29] so fission stops by default in an accelerator driven reactor. Hargraves sees factories and other industrial concerns using thorium as well. Stay tuned as we track this idea and its development.

Oh dear, UK about to be hit by a one in 50 years storm too... hope it isn;t as terrible as the ponding we got in Singapore... once in 50 years storm

untitled.bmpOnce kampung always kampung la!

He sleeps with bride, then wants his $6,800 back Small claims court rules agency need not refund man who sent home Viet bride-to-be. Amanda Phua Sun, Feb 26, 2012 The New Paper He took a prospective bride to stay with him and his two young children in his flat for a week. Then the delivery driver, 52, sent the 23-year-old woman home to Vietnam and demanded a refund of the $6,800 fee he had paid the matchmaking agency which introduced them. The reason: He felt the woman was too ugly for him. But not too ugly, it seems, for him to sleep with her before sending her back. This was the matchmaking agency's claim after the man, who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan, demanded his money back. Mr Mark Lin, 48, the owner of Vietnam Brides International Matchmaker, said he refused Mr Tan's demand because he suspected the latter had slept with the woman. He said that when he asked her about it, she said yes. Mr Lin added: "If it was the woman who changed her mind, I would have returned him the money. "But he was the one who didn't want her. If I keep giving refunds, my business will go bust. He was the one who chose her in the first place." Mr Tan denied that he slept with the woman and the dispute went before the Small Claims Tribunal last September. Last Friday, the judge ruled in Mr Lin's favour, saying he did not have to refund Mr Tan. Mr Tan went to Mr Lin's agency in August and selected an 18-year-old Vietnamese girl to be his bride. The teenager went home with him that evening. "I really liked her so I didn't want to touch her until we were properly married. She slept with my daughter in another bedroom," said Mr Tan. But the next day, the teenager called her friend to say she was afraid of Mr Tan's children, aged nine and 11, and because of their ages, she felt more like their sister than their mother. So Mr Tan took her back to the agency. He said: "I looked up Mark on a Saturday afternoon and he promised to show me more women the following week." Mr Lin later called him up and said he had a woman available but did not have photos of her. Mr Tan agreed to go to the airport to meet her on the day she arrived. Mr Lin and an interpreter were also there. He said: "She looked just like a boy. I didn't like. I could not accept her as my wife." He claimed that Mr Lin asked him to let the woman stay at his place for a couple of days because he had nowhere to house her. "They are good with words and said the girls are pitiful because they have to sleep in his office, which is cramped and uncomfortable. "On Hari Raya Puasa last year, less than a week after she moved in, she said she wanted to go home. There's no point in keeping her if she wants to go home," said Mr Tan. So he took her to the airport that day and bought her a plane ticket to go home, he said. He insisted they did not have sex while she was staying with him. Mr Tan said he tried looking for Mr Lin over the week but to no avail. A week later, he finally met Mr Lin at his office in Orchard Plaza. But Mr Lin refused to refund his money. "I paid him $6,800 but I still didn't get a wife," Mr Tan said. He said he earns $1,800 a month and lives in an executive flat in Hougang with his children. He gives his ex-wife $400 monthly. He and the China-born woman were divorced in 2009 after she allegedly cheated on him and worked as a prostitute. Mr Tan said his ex-wife is now seeking custody of their daughter. This was why he wanted to remarry - so that someone could care for the children, which would increase his chances of winning custody of the kids. Matchmaker's version Mr Lin, however, had a different story. He said Mr Tan was trying to hurry things along and that was why both women went home with him soon after meeting him. Mr Lin confirmed that Mr Tan had paid in cash on the spot after meeting the first woman. They then went back to Mr Lin's office to apply for a wedding date on the Registry of Marriages website. But the next morning, Mr Tan called him to complain that the girl refused to let him kiss or touch her. Mr Lin said he offered to introduce Mr Tan to more women. The following week, he told Mr Tan about a woman who was available, adding that she was not pretty but would take care of him. He claimed that Mr Tan was so eager to meet the second woman that he offered to meet them at the airport. "He took his kids along to the airport, saw her and said he liked her. He even took her to his home," said Mr Lin. "We took her luggage to his home, and the interpreter and I went back to the office." Two days later, Mr Tan wanted to apply to register their marriage. But because he had recently done so with a different woman, he would have to wait three months. A week later, Mr Lin said Mr Tan told him that he could not "tolerate it any more", referring to the woman's looks. Said Mr Lin: "I told him that she loved his kids, but he still didn't want her. "She called the interpreter before she left, and the interpreter told me that she said they slept together and had sex. But he denied it. "I let him choose if he wanted the woman. If he didn't like her, why did he want to register their marriage?" Mr Lin, who has been in the matchmaking line for two decades, said it was not the first time a marriage didn't work out. He said: "Previously, there were people who changed their minds. The customer just topped up some money and got another woman. Everything was settled." Mr Lin added that the standard protocol would be to pay a deposit, take the woman for a full medical check-up and, if both parties are agreeable, she can go home with the client. The process takes about two days, he said. "But that man couldn't wait. He said he wanted a wife to only look after his kids. That's obviously not true."

I want to know how you feel to travel to a country more than one time. Many people would do so as if we had been to the country we liked, and sure there will be another time but there are also people who feel otherwise. Please note : The country is purely travel, you know no one there. I personally love Bangkok & HongKong but had been too many times there. My hubby is the type rarely want to travel to the same country twice. He would rather use the money and time to go elsewhere that he did not travel before. Anyone in here will not travel to a country more than once? Have your say...........

SHOCKING IMAGE FROM A SMRT TAXI METER.

heard a few of my frens been retrenched lately... I thot economy picking up? Got one fren been terminated w/o notice and only compensate a mth pay... No reason given....told him to get lawyer advice if can claim more as he's been working there for more than 7yrs....sadly loyalty don't count nowadays ya.... That's y we must go for upgrading if not when come this situation very difficult to find another job as age so old like after 40yrs old...who wana employ u...right? Anyone gone to engaged a lawyer and managed to get fair compensation for being terminated without valid reasons?

It was in Feb 2010 when I purchased a Fiat Panda. Yes, it came with lousy 13" steel rims with covers. Like any other car enthusiast, I set off to look for a set of sport rims. To my dismay, the PCD is 4x98 and there was close to nothing available lest I wanna go the 4x100 route. When someone in the Fiat forum mentioned that he saw a set of Gunmetal coloured Bravo Rims, I set off to that shop which is the largest in the Lavendar vicinity. It was CNY eve then. I went in, took a cursory glance at the rims and said ok to fix em with new tyres from TW. I gave them 40 mins as I needed to walk to the food court nearby and buy lunch. When I returned everything was done and I left thinking everything would be ok. I hope my rant here will help bros here to be more street wise and not make the same mistake I did.... here are my problems.... A month on, I went to fix a new set of springs at Ah Man. I told the guys that I just changed new tyres and rims and the mechanic said... 'What? with 2006 tyres??'. My instant reaction was, of course, WTF??? I went to inspect and lo and behold, it was really manufactured in 2006! How could someone have sold me tyres which is effectively close to 5 years old??? After Ah Man, I went straight down to the shop. The towkay neo gave 1001 excuses and said she will give me personal warranty etc. Never mind, I told myself suak. Forward the story... I sold my ride to a good friend and today he called me. He went to Stamford to balance wheels and do alignment. The 2nd shocker came. He was told that 2 of the 4 rims were warped badly and were definitely involved in a bad crash. There u go, got fugged once was bad enuff but this time I got snooked twice! Kan TL. Mind u, my rims are scuffed free and I have not knocked it anywhere, not even against the kerb! So guys, Rule #1, check the manufacture date of the tyres u r gonna buy. Rule #2, if u r purchasing used rims, make sure u r there when they do balancing to see if its wobbly which denote that it is warped. As a car enthusiast, I felt I have screwed up myself by letting my guard down. I dont want anyone to get screwed like me. So, beware esp this rather huge shop near Lavendar. p.s. this was also the shop that blatantly told me that my Evo X's Volk Racing RE030 Formula Limited rims sucks compared to their Rota Grid rims. Talk about being objective.

My front 2 tires is wearing out. I dont do rotation. Time to change all 4 or only front 2? Can change to a different brand for front n back?

Sibei zu, flood happen again in Northern area...after ah loong apologise. Yakult come out to apologize tomorrow?

To cut a long story short MSCP at my place being painted. Car got paint and the antenna removed...knn... without a blink, sent letter to Town council, cced the mp(minister) whom is a fren of me too..ahem.. Next 26 hrs, received a call, wife took it, contractors at the car, doing the cleaning and apparently antenna removed cos needed to put paint cover....and all is well case closed within 24 hrs......Thanks to the EFFICIENT town council Any comments??

hi all bros! I was driving along Boon Lay Way today and for some reason I did not notice the 'Speed Camera Ahead 70 km/h' signboard. So I was driving around 92km/h until I saw the actual speed camera device, then tapped my brakes hard. I did not remember if my car managed to slow down enough to under 80km/h, but there was certainly no flash, so I was reassuring myself with my friends in car who were saying 'no flash should be ok'. but another of my friend said that 'speed camera is different from red light camera which whether daytime or nighttime also have flash; speed camera daytime no flash, nighttime got flash' So ... who is correct ? Speed camera daytime no flash, only nighttime ? Also, if the speed cam at Boon Lay Way an active camera ? how many points if I kena the speed camera ?

GM EN-V Most people aren't interested in the activity of driving anyway. Self-driving means less idiots causing accidents.

These songs either bring back memories or make you want to tear your ears out Everything I do (I do it for you) The Reason and I don't want to miss a thing Can't believe Liv Tyler has such a fugly dad

imagine this example: Me smoking for 15 yrs and avg 10 to 20 sticks a day and wants to quit smoking. However I was told that it is more worse for my health if I suddenly stop completely. Advice given was to smoke only 5 sticks a day for 2 months, then from there slowly kick the habit. Is it true that sudden stoppage would cause health problems? Cause even quit-smoking pamphlets encourage smokers to reduce the quantity first what are your views? thanks..

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...426860/1/.html SMRT's train frequency to be reduced if flu alert hits red By Kheng Siong & Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 04 May 2009 2123 hrs SINGAPORE: SMRT said train frequency will be reduced by 30 per cent once Singapore's pandemic alert level hits red. This is because its service staff are divided into two teams to prevent the potential spread of the H1N1 virus. -------- reduced by 30 per cent = MRTs more packed = More chances of the virus spreading = WTF?

I bet not much members here ever visited this places of the 60's & 70's. 1. Jurong Drive-In Cinema 2. Captiol Threatre building where Magnolia Ice-cream Bar For those who remembers this places, here's the photos for your remomeries.......

Just got the news below: This promotion, open to all customers, will run at all Shell stations except Shell Woodlands Mandai and Shell Sin Ming between the hours of 19:00 and 23:00pm, Friday, May 2 till Sunday, May 4. Yeah!Think they are celebrating their win in Spain on April 27

Esp those who works indoor and parks the car in Basement carpark all the time... Do you bring ur car out for a SUN- BAKE session once every few weeks? Reason is that the NOON or Afternoon SUN will Kill all insects, and esp Moulds and spores that grow rapidly in humid environment... around nooks and crannies ... air cond duct, filters, fabrics ...etc

Pity the car man...wonder if affected liao

This used to be a Honda City. Saw it at the Alexandra Food Centre. The airbag is deployed and the roof torn up. Hope the driver is still alive. The car looks like an opened can of sardines. Would a continental car be able to survive such an impact better ?