Going on holiday overseas is normally a joyous occasion but one always needs to be careful of potential pickpockets and scams.

A 25-year-old man who was filming his Bangkok trip gets robbed in less than 10 seconds after he was hugged by a ladyboy.

The incident happened at Sukhumvit Soi 21, which is a busy main street area and not some weird back alleys.

Soi 21 is near the business and shopping district but mixed in with red-light entertainment shops in the area.

In the video posted by the victim, A ladyboy suddenly hugged the man and she was seen trying to unchain his gold around his neck, no one noticed until it was too late.

He has since put up an appeal on the internet trying to get his gold chain back, but we all know that it is impossible that it will come back.

The Circle Line was delayed for nearly an hour on April Fool’s Day (1 April) due to a technical failure at about 11.25am, according to CNA.

SMRT told CNA that they detected a technical failure on a train that was going towards Harbourfront on the Circle Line.

Mr Ho Foo Sing, the SMRT head of the Circle Line, said that commuters safely disembarked at Paya Lebar station, and that the train fault had occurred near Tai Seng station when the train was being withdrawn to the depot.

Commuters were informed of an additional travel time of 30 minutes between the stations of Bartley and Stadium.

Shuttle trains were activated between the two stations, along with free regular and bridging bus services between Promenade and Serangoon station.

Extra staff were also activated to assist the commuters at the affected stations, and regular train services had resumed from about 12.20pm.

Ho added that they are “sorry to have affected commuters’ midday journeys.”

Singapore President Halimah Yacob said in a Facebook post wishing people a happy Ramadan, reflecting on the past 2 years as Ramadan was affected by Covid restriction.

Here is what she said

Muslims start fasting tomorrow, the first day of Ramadan. We will start the day by eating a very early breakfast before sunrise and break our fast only at sunset. We fast, not just as a manifestation of our faith, but also to show our solidarity for those who cannot afford the benefit of three meals a day.

When fasting, our time should be filled with prayers and good deeds. Ramadan is also the time for us to strengthen our ties with family and friends. It is a month of peace and reflections.

Over the past two years, Muslims in Singapore were restricted in the public practise of our faith, such as the limited numbers that can perform Friday prayers. But we took them in our stride and I commend our Muslim community for their patience in abiding by these safe management measures. Thank you for keeping all Singaporeans safe and preventing the transmission of the Covid-19 virus.

As the situation has improved, we can now pray more freely at mosques and can look forward to breaking fast with more members of our family. I’m sure that this year’s Ramadan will be a more lively and joyous one.

But even as we celebrate Ramadan in Singapore, it’s timely for us to remember the plight of Muslims in other parts of the world living in conflict zones or who are economically deprived and are suffering from hardship and starvation. For them, Ramadan remains a very difficult month to observe. We pray that they will be granted ease to fast and observe their faith. We also pray for peace on this earth and for the end of all aggressions causing untold suffering to innocent people.

Despite the easing of safe management measures, I urge everyone to stay safe and continue to do our part to protect our loved ones from Covid-19.

I wish all Muslims Selamat Berpuasa. Happy Ramadan.

A Malaysian man, Mr Hou, cried tears of joy after he crossed the causeway for the first time in 2 years since it was closed at the start of the pandemic, according to 8world.

The 54-year-old, who works as a foreman at a stainless steel factory, spoke to 8world and said that he has been working in Singaproe for the last 25 years.

Before Covid-19 hit, he used to commute every day between Singapore and his home in JB, but ever since the pandemic hit, he has been staying at the dormitory of his company for the last 2 years.

He was so excited at finally being able to drive back to his home in JB that he went to the vicinity of the causeway to get familiar with the route, for the first time in 2 years.

He shared how when he finally crossed the Causeway and entered JB, he started crying.

He added that “you cannot imagine the feeling of being so close to home yet not being able to return,” adding that he can see his kids grow up and have his wife beside him.

He last drove across the causeway on 17 March and into Singapore, before the lights went out at the land border checkpoint”.

Hou also shared that the queue at the immigration checkpoint was quicker than he thought, as it took only 25 minutes to go through.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on 1 April that Singapore chose to uphold principles, in taking a strong stand against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

He said that “We have chosen principles and we uphold principles which correspond to our long-term national interests, and we uphold them consistently.”.

“That’s a fundamental principle which is vital to us because if that’s up for grabs, then what is our basis for saying we are entitled to exist, and to security and to be safe in the world, therefore we took a strong stand”.

One of the principles is the respect of territorial integrity, as well as the sovereignty of nations.

PM Lee said that Singapore has taken this stand consistently over the years, like when it opposed Vietnam’s invasion of Cambodia in 1978 and the US invasion of Grenada in 1983.

He said that “We voted against them at the UN,” adding that it “does not mean we are the enemy of the US, but we cannot approve of what they did”.

Similarly, he said that Singapore is “not the enemy of Russia” in the case of Ukraine, but Singapore cannot “endorse or condone such violation of the sovereignty of another country”.

On the Ukraine-Russia conflict, PM Lee said that he believed the military struggle will continue, and what the crisis means for small nations such as Singapore is the need to be well equipped and to build up their own defences.

He said: “This is my home, I am going to fight for it (and) if necessary, I’m willing to die for it, and it is that will to defend what is yours and to defend your family and friends that keeps the Ukrainians going, and that Singaporeans must have if we are going to keep ourselves safe in this world.”

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shared in a Facebook post on 30 March that he had meetings with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

He shared that he spoke with President Biden about strengthening cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, development, cybersecurity and space.

They also touched on the war in Ukraine and their shared commitment to a stable and rules-based global order.

Here is what he said

Had meetings with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

President Biden and I talked about strengthening cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development, cybersecurity and space. We also discussed the war in Ukraine, and our shared commitment to a stable and rules-based global order.

Was also good seeing Vice President Harris again after her visit to Singapore last August. Good progress has been made for the initiatives announced then, and we will continue to exchange ideas to take our partnership to greater heights.

Singapore and the US have been strong partners for many years, and I am confident our relationship will continue to grow from strength to strength. – LHL