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SINGAPORE: A suspected Omicron cluster has been detected at an Anytime Fitness outlet located in Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Tuesday (Dec 21). Three COVID-19 cases have been linked to the gym, of whom two have tested "preliminarily positive" for the Omicron variant. The result for the remaining case is pending. None of the cases has recent travel history. In its press release issued shortly after midnight, MOH said epidemiological investigations found that the three cases visited Anytime Fitness at Bukit Timah Shopping Centre between Dec 15 and Dec 17. All three cases are fully vaccinated and have mild symptoms. The cases are also being ringfenced through contact tracing, added MOH. The first case, identified as Case 280856, is a 24-year-old man who is unemployed. He developed a sore throat and fever on Dec 18 and sought medical attention at a general practitioner (GP) clinic where he underwent a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. His test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on the same day. The second case is an 18-year-old student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. The woman, known as Case 280951, was last in school on Dec 15. She developed a sore throat and fever on Dec 18 and also sought medical attention at a GP clinic where she was tested for COVID-19. Her PCR test result came back positive for COVID-19 infection on Dec 19. The remaining case is a 21-year-old student at At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy but had not been to school recently. Known as Case 280990, the man developed a sore throat on Dec 18 and sought medical attention at a GP clinic where he was tested for COVID-19. His result came back positive on Dec 19. MOH said staff members and visitors of Anytime Fitness at Bukit Timah Shopping Centre who are identified to be close contacts of the cases will be placed on quarantine. As a precautionary measure, other visitors to the gym between Dec 15 and Dec 17 will be issued health risk warnings (HRW). They will also be contacted by MOH for a one-time targeted PCR test. "All visitors to the affected premises are advised to monitor their health closely, and minimise social interactions as far as possible, for 14 days from their date of visit. They are encouraged to see a doctor immediately if they feel unwell," said MOH. The Health Ministry added that to date, there are 71 confirmed Omicron cases detected in Singapore, with 65 imported cases and six local cases. "Given its high transmissibility and spread to many parts of the world, we should expect to find more Omicron cases at our borders and also within our community. It is important for everyone to continue to play their part and remain vigilant to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and to come forward to receive your vaccination or booster dose when offered," it added. Source: CNA/zl(ac)

alrdy said in nov 20 that the vaccines r likely to be ineffective liao. omicron lumber 1!!!!!! wahahahahahhaha

@HarrisY What up my dkgk master. Today give money away to who?

Night view

Better than robbing a 7-11 pr petrol kiosk for $98.56. If you want to do, then do it big

SINGAPORE - There will be no fireworks at this year's New Year's Eve countdown celebration at Marina Bay to minimise crowds and to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Instead, the public can stay home and enjoy fireworks that will be set off from various heartland locations. More from AsiaOneRead the condensed version of this story, and other top stories with NewsLite. More information on the heartland fireworks will be provided in due course, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). This is the second consecutive year the countdown will be marked without fireworks since the annual event began in 2005. "The public can tune in to Mediacorp's Let's Celebrate 2022 annual countdown special on television or online, where selected heartland fireworks and scenes from Marina Bay will be featured," a URA spokesman told The Straits Times on Monday (Dec 20). The public can still enjoy highlights of the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2022, with the return of a light show which made its debut last year. Shine a Light features 60 moving beams of light mounted on the floor of The Promontory, and will take place nightly till Dec 31. It began on Dec 1. There will also be a light projection show called Share The Moment, which will transform the facades of The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, the ArtScience Museum and the Merlion, featuring original artworks by local students. It will be presented nightly from Dec 26 to 31. A URA spokesman said the features and shows have been planned throughout this month to allow the public to visit at their own time and minimise crowds in the precinct. URA chief executive Lim Eng Hwee said: "This year's countdown pays tribute to the partnerships that Singaporeans have forged through these challenging times, and signals a better 2022 for Singapore and Singaporeans all together. "As public health and safety remain a priority, we welcome visitors to the bay throughout the month of December and encourage all to enjoy the countdown from the comfort of their home this New Year's Eve."

Craving for some scrumptious dim sum? Hong Kong Zhai Dim Sum is just the place to head to! The popular dim sum restaurant has recently opened its third outlet in Singapore at Marina Square! Founded in 1988, Hong Kong Zhai started operating out of a central kitchen, serving up ready-to-cook and frozen dim sum. Customers can now enjoy their delectable dim sum via catering and delivery and can also head down to their other two outlets at Bedok and Ang Mo Kio! Hong Kong Zhai’s Third Outlet In Singapore Photo: 香港仔点心之家 Hong Kong Zhai Dim Sum (Facebook) Opening at Marina Square Level 2, the restaurant will serve HK-style dishes such as wanton noodles, bo luo you, French toast, dim sum, and many more! Additionally, they also serve popular drinks like the Hong Kong Milk Tea! Prices start as low as $1.20 and just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, all items are nett price and you do not have to pay additional GST and service charge! That’s a deal you simply can’t miss out on! Here’s a look at the menu to tantalize your tastebuds: Related Articles This 100% Natural Australian Honey Sparkling Drink Is Your Best Healthy Alternative To Soft Drinks December 16, 2021 McDonald’s Giving Away Free Breakfast Picnic Package With Purchase Of Breakfast Family Meal Till Dec 12! December 9, 2021 Image: 香港仔点心之家 Hong Kong Zhai Dim Sum (Facebook) Photo: 香港仔点心之家 Hong Kong Zhai Dim Sum (Facebook) Enjoy classic dim sum dishes such as siew mai, har gow, and liu sha bao. Customers can also sink their teeth into popular Hong Kong dishes such as the Bolo Bun, French toast, and rice roll. With these many side dishes to choose from, be sure to head down with your friends and family and try them all! Photo: 香港仔点心之家 Hong Kong Zhai Dim Sum (Facebook) Image: 香港仔点心之家 Hong Kong Zhai Dim Sum (Facebook)

https://www.facebook.com/100004196103945/videos/929325234640753 https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1111868932718736 https://www.facebook.com/100004196103945/videos/447416630175299 https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=432556371749126 https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1516404362072667 https://www.facebook.com/大马亚洲爆料公社-V2-2366035080340637/videos/pcb.1568274033522221/469975911366127 https://www.facebook.com/大马亚洲爆料公社-V2-2366035080340637/videos/pcb.1568274033522221/443862194110824 https://www.facebook.com/大马亚洲爆料公社-V2-2366035080340637/videos/pcb.1568274033522221/877573946258372 https://www.facebook.com/大马亚洲爆料公社-V2-2366035080340637/videos/pcb.1568274033522221/282981873800247 https://www.facebook.com/大马亚洲爆料公社-V2-2366035080340637/videos/pcb.1568274033522221/391550256093068 https://www.facebook.com/大马亚洲爆料公社-V2-2366035080340637/videos/pcb.1568274033522221/1134753124000937 https://www.facebook.com/100004196103945/videos/3088139551443825 https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1263949980792265

laugh die me sia... the real hard sad truth ish dat chiu dis chao ah gua still need to crawl around chiur boss n say "yes/no sir" rike his dkg slave dog wahaha song boh WERK ISH FOR DKGKS WAHAHA!

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=292490689476529

SINGAPORE - Bike rides just got easier, with cyclists now able to use an app that helps them plan journeys using just cycling paths and park connectors. The Ridenjoy app, which was launched this month, taps the Singapore Land Authority's (SLA) OneMap application programming interface. OneMap is touted as the authoritative national map of Singapore, with details regularly updated by the SLA. Ridenjoy's founder Kelvin Phang, 50, told The Straits Times that the app typically suggests routes which are longer than those proposed in Google Maps. There are also occasions when Ridenjoy is able to suggest routes which are shorter but take longer to cover owing to the speed limits on cycling paths. He cited the example of a trip from Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 to the Singapore Sports Hub. The route suggested by Ridenjoy will allow cyclists to use just park connectors and cycling paths. The path proposed by Google Maps would let cyclists reach the destination in a shorter time, but will take them through either busy MacPherson Road or Aljunied Road, said Mr Phang. "If you want to commute, you should use Google Maps," he noted. "But a lot of people, especially with kids, still don't want to cycle on roads." He noted that Ridenjoy further differentiates itself by showing other useful information, such as bike parking, bike repair kiosks and water coolers. It has a function to let users inform other cyclists of observations, such as accidents or wildlife along a route, plus an SOS function to trigger an alert in case of emergency. Mr Phang said he came up with the idea to develop the app last December, when he was trying to figure out how to cycle from his home in Ang Mo Kio to his office near Funan without using traffic-heavy roads. Mr Phang, who is also founder of integrated marketing consultancy Empower Marketing, successfully applied for a grant from the SportSG's Blended initiative to pursue the project. He has himself invested a five-figure sum to fund operations for Ridenjoy. A co-founder, Mr Adrian Tan, is the founder of a digital marketing agency. Ridenjoy will seek to encourage people to cycle more through the use of rewards, Mr Phang added. There are landmarks marked out within routes on the map which will let users enjoy freebies, discounts and deals provided by Ridenjoy's partners. The number of partners is expected to grow in time, with the Ridenjoy team looking to set up a digital marketplace where users can redeem points in the future. "There are apps that are active as performance trackers for cyclists... but essentially, our idea is to reward people for cycling," said Mr Phang. The Ridenjoy app is available on both the Google Play store and Apple's App Store.

It's ppl laziness

Quite like the way this video is trying to convey. My thoughts is some of these entities feed/attract on negetive thoughts/energy which one's projected out.

SINGAPORE: You know what’s a real generational change when it comes to work life? The fact that long gone are the days when employees began their careers at and retired from the same company. On average, people will change jobs 12 times in their lifetime in the US. While the economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19 initially had employees holding off on career changes, many are now taking the plunge, almost two years into the pandemic. This wave of employees voluntarily leaving their jobs, dubbed the “Great Resignation”, has been described as a backlog of pent-up resignations. At a first glance, Singapore appears to be bucking the global trend. Many businesses have been spared from dramatic spikes in turnover rates. In fact, resignation rates in the first two quarters of 2021 have stayed below pre-pandemic rates. But if global trends hold true, it’s only a matter of time before Singapore sees a new wave of resignations soon. Still, the drivers might be different. Unlike the US, where stagnant wages, poor benefits and lack of productivity gains have seen people quit in droves, economists have said Singapore’s tight labour market and strict measures on foreign labour mean salaries might surge upwards in search of rare talent. To fill vacant roles, employers may consider hiring remote overseas talent. Others may take a long-term approach to nurture local talent, by hiring and training fresh graduates or less experienced employees. REALITY REMAINS THAT WORKERS FEEL DISENGAGED Singapore has some of the most resilient employees in the world, but they are also among the most disengaged. According to ADP’s Global Workplace Study 2020, Singapore had the sixth lowest employee engagement rate out of 25 countries surveyed, but was only ranked as the fourth most resilient workforce. Left unchecked, low engagement is an early indicator of eventual burnout and high turnover rates. This pattern is also observed in other research. In ADP’s annual workplace survey, People at Work 2021, Singapore workers expected themselves to stay at their current organisation for an average of 3.35 years, down from 3.61 the previous year. Younger millennials, aged 25 to 34, had one of the largest decreases in their projected employment term, from 3.5 to 3.05 years. The same survey found that approximately one in three respondents from this age group were more interested in contract work, due to concerns about the relative security of traditional full-time employment. The disruption of the global pandemic has been a pull factor for employees to find different ways to stay employable. Findings also indicated that 59 per cent of Singaporean respondents had considered or made a switch to new jobs or industries, in order to stay future-proof. Battered by two years of pandemic-related anxiety, along with unclear boundaries and expectations from bosses during WFH, experts have also suggested that “apocalyptic thinking” could be driving employees to quit. There are common threads running throughout employees’ reasons for resigning, including the ever-present spectre of burnout – leading employees to pursue deeper meaning and satisfaction with life. All these mean the Singaporean workforce seems to be handling the challenges thrown their way, but are largely “going through the motions” and not especially engaged at work. Employees are dreaming of carving out new career paths for themselves, and they are more willing than ever to take risks along the way. Tired worker. (Photo: IStock) THE GREAT RESHUFFLING OF TALENT Perhaps a new way to look at The Great Resignation would be as a reshuffling of talent - a natural progression from fast-tracking our workforce’s learning and development. Rather than seeing high turnover rates as a threat, employers could view this as a sign that employees are hungry for fulfilment and career growth defined on their own terms, and figure out how to provide these new areas of job satisfaction. For employees who are seeking new horizons, companies should offer breadth, depth and accessibility in learning and development opportunities. Healthy challenges can prevent boredom at work. Organisations should create opportunities for employees to advance their career, be it through “stretch assignments”, specially assigned to push employees beyond their comfort zone, or job rotations to try out new areas of work. One strategy that businesses can deploy to keep things dynamic for stagnated teams is to introduce exchange programmes, where employees swap ideas and pick up new skills for projects or roles usually handled by other colleagues. This keeps ideas fresh, encourages greater collaboration, and could open new career paths or responsibilities within the same organisation. GROWING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING Aligning expectations between employers and employees is crucial too. The Monetary Authority of Singapore projects that employment levels will not return to pre-pandemic levels, even by end-2022, partly due to employers increasing labour productivity. This is not surprising, given the national focus on boosting workforce learning and development – but employers must keep in mind that learning and development should be geared towards future-proofing businesses and employees’ careers, and be wary against increasing workloads. Adequate training and support must be provided in the bid to increase productivity, and even when employees are able to take on a wider range of tasks with their newfound skills, employers should take caution that they aren’t being overburdened. About two in three Singapore survey respondents in ADP’s People at Work 2021 survey indicated that they had taken on more responsibilities or taken on new roles due to COVID-19 disruption. Yet, almost a third (27 per cent) of these respondents stated that they received no additional training or renumeration from their employers. It is vital for companies to understand that higher productivity should not result from additional work hours, but from a combination of improved processes, effective upskilling, and respect for employees’ well-being. Employees too should feel appropriately appreciated for their work. In addition to competitive salaries, the most attractive employee entitlements in a post-pandemic workplace will offer personal autonomy of one’s work-life balance. A bored employee working from home. (Photo: iStock) GIVE EMPLOYEES FLEXIBILITY IN TAKING LEAVE Take annual leave for example. With snap COVID-19 restrictions derailing plans and schedules, and possibly creating last-minute work tasks, employees need greater flexibility in choosing when to take breaks. Employees should be assured of having a good support system where teammates can willingly and easily cover each other’s work demands. Companies need to build a culture of trust and collaboration that empowers employees. Actively consulting employees on working processes – including leave approval and task allocation – is a great opportunity to build such a culture. The highly volatile post-pandemic era demands greater agility from both employees and employers. Employees are searching for purpose-driven careers that offer flexibility and fulfilment. Employers who can support this hunger for growth within their organisations will be able to build a highly driven and engaged workforce – one with a greater staying power. Yvonne Teo is vice-president of Human Resources, APAC at ADP.

Everyone work for money. No such thing as loyalty. if I got talent I will return my nric. I got no reason to stay here as it not worth it

SINGAPORE: Over two years, a banking operations specialist pocketed a total of S$1.13 million from his company's safe either by withdrawing more cash than was allowed for customers or by replacing genuine notes with fake currency and blank sheets of paper. He spent the money on his own debts and expenses, gambled cash away at the Marina Bay Sands casino and placed bets at Singapore Pools, hoping to win enough to repay the money he had embezzled. Tan Chen Yen, 38, was on Monday (Dec 20) sentenced to seven years and five months' jail. He pleaded guilty to six charges including criminal breach of trust by a servant, buying and using counterfeit currency notes, and falsification of accounts. Another 14 charges were considered in sentencing. The court heard that Tan worked for Bank Pictet & Cie, a bank in Marina Bay Financial Centre, from February 2015 to August 2018. As a banking operations specialist, he was responsible for matters regarding a safe that the company had on its premises, containing currency notes such as United States dollars, British pounds, euros and Swiss francs. He was tasked with facilitating clients' cash deposits and withdrawals, ordering currency notes from United Overseas Bank to replenish the notes in the safe when supply ran low and other accounting duties. However, between late 2016 and August 2018, Tan began taking the money for himself. He did this in two ways. First, he would order notes from UOB under the pretext of replenishing the supply in the safe. He would then take the money for himself and replace the genuine currency with bundles of counterfeit notes or blank sheets of paper that he cut in the shape of currency. The second method was to remove more cash from the safe than his clients sought to withdraw and pocket the excess amounts. On Aug 30, 2018, a Pictet employee found an envelope full of blank sheets of paper cut in the shape of currency notes and reported this to the chief operating officer, who ordered a physical count of the notes in the safe. After learning that the envelope had been found, Tan confessed that he had been taking the notes from the safe. Pictet conducted a physical count of the notes in the safe a day later and discovered that almost all of them had been replaced with fake notes or blank sheets of paper sandwiched between two genuine currency notes. They determined via an internal investigation that Tan had misappropriated notes of various currencies from the safe, totalling S$1.13 million. Tan later repaid S$62,258 to the bank. He later admitted to spending the money on repaying his debts, gambling and on his personal expenses. The prosecutor called for between seven years and six months' jail and seven years and 10 months' jail, saying that the amount involved was substantial, with only "minimal belated restitution". Pictet was unable to recover most of the money that Tan misappropriated, as the contents of the safe were insured only for robbery and not misappropriation by an employee. However, the prosecutor noted that Tan did not give counterfeit notes to customers, which would have damaged public confidence in Singapore's banking system. Tan was suffering from a gambling disorder at the time of the offences, but the prosecutor argued that there was no causal link between his disorder and the offences. "Having a gambling disorder does not lead one to embezzlement and that is a conscious decision on the part of Mr Tan, finding an 'easy' solution for his debts," said the prosecutor, citing a psychiatric report. The judge backdated Tan's jail term to when he was first remanded in October 2019. For criminal breach of trust as a servant, he could have been jailed up to 15 years and fined. For using as genuine counterfeit currency notes, he could have been jailed up to 20 years and fined per charge. Source: CNA/ll(ac)

KGK.. if he didn't gamble away he could've join jlo on the run wif $$$

Only matter of time omicron will spread in the community with the way govt open up the borders.

Moles are more than just small black or brown lesions on your skin. They are also identification marks and can even indicate a person’s luck in life. Believe it or not, but these marks or lucky moles on face or elsewhere on body have a deeper meaning. And, their placement can reveal a lot about your future. As per Hindu beliefs, how a mole is placed on your body can say a lot about your financial status and your personality. What Do Lucky Moles On Face Or On The Body Signify? 1. Forehead lucky moles on face Image source: iStock According to certain Hindu beliefs, a mole on the right side of the forehead indicates that you will make a lot of money and travel a lot. While one placed on your left indicates that you may be stingy with your money. 2. Eyebrows If you have a mole between your eyebrows, this could mean immense wealth and good health in the future. A mole on the end of your eyebrow is also said to suggest happiness and great interpersonal skills. Win-win! 3. Eyelids Having a mole on either one of your eyelids indicates a rich and famous lifestyle. A mole on the upper eyelid is also said to bring the advantage for new opportunities. While one on your lower lid may indicate that you are an over-spender. 4. Chest Moles on the chest are extremely common and indicate good luck. They signify ambition and you can expect great things to happen in your life. If you plan ahead, you will surely win the race. 5. Ears If you’re born with a mole on your inner or outer part of the ear, you are sure to develop a taste for luxury in life. It may also indicate that you love spending on others and making those around you happy. However, this generosity only works if you are a good financial planner. 6. Lips lucky moles on face Image source: iStock If you have a mole around your upper lip it can bring luck to your bank balance. Not only that, it is also indicates promising success and good fortune. If you have a mole on your lower lip, it indicates that you love to gamble- no matter if love or money! 7. Shoulder lucky moles on face Image source: iStock It’s a good sign if you’ve got a mole on your right shoulder since it indicates that you know how to manage your finances. This personality trait is sure to lead to success in life. 8. Right palm Image source: iStock If you’re one of those who has a mole on their right palm, you are sure to bring wealth and success to yourself and those closest to you. This placement also indicative of your calm demeanour and foresight. Whether you have lucky moles on face or anywhere else on the body, fact is that it’s not so much their size, shape, or colour that matters, but their placement when it comes to luck.

This kind of everthing got to do with wealth story I also can invent

With some easing of Covid-19 rules, Singaporeans are hitting the cinemas for some well-deserved R&R during the festive season. However, a woman was squicked by what she allegedly found on her seat at Shaw Theatres Lido — a condom. More from AsiaOneRead the condensed version of this story, and other top stories with NewsLite. A couple apparently got into the mood and indulged in some hanky panky in the cinema and left an unpleasant 'souvenir' behind. "It was the most traumatising moment of my entire life," TikTok user Jiaxiv wrote on Dec 17. While some netizens were equally disgusted by the revelation, one asked an important question. Another netizen pointed out that the cinema operator could have video evidence of the act while others suggested how Shaw Theatres and the authorities can track down the culprits. Of course, some tried to lighten the mood with some puns. Last October, another couple was caught fooling around in a cinema at Shaw Theatres Lido. A CCTV clip supplied by an employee showed a woman straddling a man's lap, with no other people around them. The manager warned the couple to stop the inappropriate behaviour, and the pair left after the movie screening ended. "Shaw Theatres does not condone such behaviour and requests that our patrons respect our cinemas for their intended purpose of film appreciation and entertainment," a spokesman told Stomp. AsiaOne has contacted Shaw Theatres for more information.

Maybe the couple want to do an achivement unlock. The excitement of doing the act in cinema.

at 12.55min, WTF, i was right per 100ml, there 480ml of sodium

i stop eating 1.5yr ago as it just too expensive. Very heng the craving for mala nv return. so i dont think i will ever eat it. can feel it salt level is very high

https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/p/loop-hero

Sinkieland plenty of sweatshops... Of course run road

While some people have started their holiday adventure, others are literally waiting for their holiday to start — by being stuck in a queue. A TikTok video of a snaking check-in queue at Furama City Centre hotel went viral last Sunday (Dec 19), garnering over 113,000 views and 180 comments. More from AsiaOneRead the condensed version of this story, and other top stories with NewsLite. TikToker cipakcipak, from the in-video caption, warned others to be prepared to wait a minimum of two hours if they are planning on a staycation at this hotel. The queue did not stop at the area near the hotel's check-in counter. Instead, it continued after heading down the escalator. There were hotel guests, with their arms folded, waiting for their turn at the check-in counter. The TikToker's staycation experience did not improve once they were inside the room. Not only did check-in take four hours, the TikToker claimed, but the room was also not ready for new guests either. Blankets and bedsheets weren't neatly arranged while leftovers from previous guests was still in the fridge. A Furama City Centre spokesperson told AsiaOne: "As it is the festive peak season, we are also facing the same problems as the other hotels that have reopened recently and are running staycations during this period. The health and safety of our guests are our utmost priority and we are constantly reviewing and refining our procedures to ensure a smooth stay for everyone." In December 2020, a surge in demand for staycations during the holiday season caused similar delays to hotel check-in times. Hotel lobbies of Pan Pacific Singapore, Grand Hyatt Singapore and Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, Riverview turned into waiting areas as guests waited for hours just to check-in.

Although the winter solstice isn’t a public holiday in Hong Kong (it is in Macau), it’s a major festival celebrated locally, as well as by Chinese communities all over the world, even in Southeast Asia where winter is, quite literally, a foreign concept experienced only during overseas holidays, seen on screens and pictures, or imagined in books. The winter solstice, dongzhi in Mandarin and dung zi in Cantonese, is the day with the shortest period of daylight. This year it falls on December 21 in the northern hemisphere; the southern hemisphere already had its winter solstice on 21 June. We don’t know how long it took before ancient peoples finally caught on to the fact that one particular day in the cold months had the shortest day and longest night, and that this phenomenon repeated year after year. But by the Zhou period (circa 1100BC-256BC), the Chinese were already observing the winter solstice as a state holiday. A passage on social and religious institutions in Rites of Zhou, a work on bureaucracy and organisational theory that appeared in the second century BC, instructs state officials to “convene the deities in the heavens and the spirits of the dead on the day of the winter solstice” so as to offer them sacrifices. People buy food at the wet market in Chun Yeung Street in North Point, Hong Kong, in preparation of winter solstice dinners with their families. Photo: Sam Tsang In subsequent dynasties until modern times, state observances of the winter solstice always involved making religious offerings, sometimes by the emperor in person. The emperor would preside over a special celebration at the palace, where all his officials and foreign envoys, donning their most formal court dresses, would offer him their felicitations. From the emperor to the lowliest government clerk, everyone took a day off from work. For ordinary people in China, the winter solstice was, and still is, an important day of the year. The ways of celebrating differ across time and geography, but they always involve a religious element, such as prayers and offerings to either deities or one’s ancestors, and the gathering of family members for a special meal. In the region south of the Yangtze River, a popular festival food is tangyuan (tong yuen in Cantonese), which are spherical lumps made from glutinous flour and served in some kind of savoury broth or light syrup. The spherical tangyuan, which can be stuffed with meat, some kind of sweet paste, or without filling, symbolises fullness and completeness. In Hong Kong, tangyuan is almost always served as a dessert; the most popular fillings are sesame, red bean or peanut paste. The clear syrup is sometimes flavoured with ginger or osmanthus flowers. Chinese people in Singapore and Malaysia, whose ancestors mostly originated from the southern provinces of Fujian and Guangdong, also enjoy tangyuan as a dessert in a light syrup. At some point in time, whether by experimentation or by accident, it was discovered that the leaves of the Pandanus amaryllifolius, which are in plentiful supply in Southeast Asia, infused the syrup with a wonderful fragrance. People make glutinous rice balls. Photo: Shutterstock That’s how I like my tangyuan, with the distinctive scent of pandan leaves, and that was what I missed most when I was in Hong Kong, away from home. Tangyuan is now available all year round in pre-frozen packs, but many Chinese people will still make special servings of it on the day of the winter solstice, even in the sweltering tropics, where the season-specific festival is just a cultural memory from another place and time. In Hong Kong, most workplaces will close early even when it’s not an official public holiday, to allow employees to go home for an evening meal with the whole family. No prizes for guessing what’s for dessert.

While the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) are already up and running, some of us may still be a little hesitant to hop on a plane to places like South Korea. However, one new place in Singapore where you can satisfy your cravings for authentic Korean food is Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu. More from AsiaOneRead the condensed version of this story, and other top stories with NewsLite. The hawker stall, started by the same folks behind popular restaurant chain SBCD Korean Tofu House, opened on Dec 13 at Ang Mo Kio Ave 8. SBCD Korean Tofu House itself is founded by chef and restaurateur Nam Kyoung-soo, who has worked at multiple prestigious hotels in Seoul. The main difference between Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu and the rest of SBCD Korean Tofu House's outlets is the price point. At Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu, a hearty Pork Soon Tofu Set costs $7, which is a fraction of SCBD Korean Tofu House's Original Pork Soon Tofu ($21.90). The hawker stall's menu also includes the Seafood Soon Tofu Set ($8), Dumpling Soon Tofu Set ($7) and Vegetable Soon Tofu Set ($6). Granted, Soon Tofu has significantly fewer menu options as compared to its restaurant counterpart, but its low price point make it a good choice for folks looking for authentic yet budget-friendly Korean food. Soya beans sourced from around the DMZ and a 10-ingredient secret soup paste According to SBCD Tofu House's website, their tofu is air-flown and created with mature white soybeans that are specially sourced and imported from Paju. The city is located within close proximity of Korea's demilitarised zone (DMZ), which is the border that divides North and South Korea. While that seems like quite a fair bit of effort just for some soya beans, SBCD Tofu House says that the untouched and pristine nature of the DMZ area makes Paju a good place to source fresh produce in South Korea. The soup broth is also made with a special 10-ingredient secret recipe soup paste that Chef Nam took eight years to perfect. The hearty concoction is also boiled for a couple of days for a richer taste without having to add artificial flavouring. Address: Blk 721 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, Singapore 560721 Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 9pm

A jogger was sent tumbling after a cyclist collided into him along a park connector. A video of the incident was shared on Singapore Silly Cyclists' YouTube page. It is unclear where or when this happened. The cyclist is seen travelling along the cycling path when he comes head-to-head with the jogger. The jogger appeared to dart to his left only to end up right in front of the bike. The jogger falls to the ground and the cyclist jumps off his bike. Netizens pointed out the jogger should not have been in the cycling path while others said the cyclist should not have been going so fast.

The police have issued an advisory reminding the public to be vigilant amidst the year-end shopping events after observing an increase in phishing scams involving delivery companies. In a statement, the police said at least 341 victims have fallen prey to such scams since November this year, with losses amounting to at least $759,000. Victims would typically receive emails or text messages from scammers impersonating delivery companies, including SingPost. These messages often claimed there were outstanding payments for parcel deliveries which had to be made before the items could be delivered. Victims would be directed to click on URL links embedded within these emails or text messages to make the supposed payment. Upon clicking on these links, victims would be redirected to fraudulent websites where they would be tricked into providing their credit/debit card details and One-Time Passwords (OTP). Victims would only realise they had been scammed after discovering unauthorised transactions made using their credit/debit cards. Members of the public are advised to follow these crime prevention measures: Do not click on URL links provided in unsolicited emails and text messages; Always verify the authenticity of the information with the official website or sources (for example, SingPost’s official website is www.singpost.com and its hotline is 1605); Never disclose your personal or Internet banking details and OTP to anyone; and Report any fraudulent credit/debit card charges to your bank and cancel your card immediately. If you have any information relating to such crimes, you can call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. If you require urgent police assistance, dial ‘999’. For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688.

eat this la

Xmas wonderland…xmas time, the best time of the year~

so little protein. enough meh?

jin kumgong u smelly peasants really expecting real shang palace quality at hawker's price????? former shang palace chef not so kumgong to use shang palace quality ingredients????? wahahahahahaha

yeah, mandarin orchard's chatterbox. nb, Towkay me saw their chicken rice price rise from ard sgd6-8 in the early 1980s to the current sgd30++. more powerful than sgp's inflation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPqa0rQrbDo Cannot embed, have to click through

The plain water is too much, supermarket selling 40cents and it sell $2. That over 500% markup