One dead in mass Russian drone attack on Ukraine's Odesa, mayor says
Russian forces staged a mass drone attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa early on Saturday, setting ablaze at least one multi-storey apartment building and killing one resident, the city's mayor said.
Mayor Hennady Trukhanov said figures for the number of injured were being compiled.
"All emergency crews are working in enhanced mode," Trukhanov wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Trukhanov earlier said that at least 20 drones had converged on the city, a frequent target of Russian attacks, and he said at least one multi-storey apartment building was on fire.
Pictures posted online showed a fire engulfing floors near the top of one building and emergency crews moving extended ladders into place. Smoke billowed from windows.
Parents were seen carrying children to safety in blankets. REUTERS
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Straits Times
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- Straits Times
UK police can disclose suspects' ethnicity to curb misinformation
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LONDON - British police have been told they can release details of a suspect's ethnicity and nationality in high-profile and sensitive cases to prevent false information being spread on social media. Last year, Britain was rocked by days of rioting after the murder of three young girls in Southport after misinformation spread online that the teenage suspect was an Islamist migrant. The issue has remained highly contentious since, with the populist Reform UK party, which is leading in opinion polls, last week accusing police of covering up the immigration status of suspects involved in the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in central England. That incident had led to anti-immigration protests after the Reform leader of the local council said the suspects were asylum seekers, while police said they could not give out such information because of existing guidance which limited details that could be shared to ensure people received a fair trial. Under new guidelines from the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing, police forces will now be encouraged to disclose details "to reduce the risk to public safety" and where misinformation was being spread. "We have to make sure our processes are fit for purpose in an age of social media speculation and where information can travel incredibly quickly across a wide range of channels," said Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya. "Disinformation and incorrect narratives can take hold in a vacuum. It is good police work for us to fill this vacuum with the facts about issues of wider public interest." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NEL, SPLRT disruption: Electricity surge shut down backup power switchboard, says LTA Singapore HSA seeks Kpod investigators to arrest abusers, conduct anti-trafficking ops Opinion The 30s are heavy: Understanding suicide in Singapore's young adults Singapore Jail for man who scammed at least 5 people over illegal cross-border taxi services Singapore Lawyer who sent misleading letters to 22 doctors fails in bid to quash $18,000 penalty Singapore 4 taken to hospital after accident near Sports Hub, including 2 rescued with hydraulic tools Asia Malaysia's anti-graft agency busts arms smuggling ring masterminded by senior military officers Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story A Home Office (interior ministry) spokesperson said they supported the change and would authorise the release of any relevant immigration information in future cases where it was appropriate. REUTERS
Straits Times
a few seconds ago
- Straits Times
Jail for man who scammed at least 5 people over illegal cross-border taxi services
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Pretending he would provide them with cross-border transport services, Tan Wei Yap took deposits from potential customers, then cut off contact. SINGAPORE – A driver who provided illegal cross-border taxi services between Singapore and Malaysia decided to flout the law further by cheating his customers. Pretending he would provide them with such transport services, Tan Wei Yap took deposits from them, then cut off contact. On Aug 13, the 32-year-old Malaysian was sentenced to seven months' jail after he pleaded guilty to three cheating charges. Five similar charges were taken into consideration for his sentencing. The court heard that Tan, also known as 'Sky', was a driver at a Malaysian company providing illegal cross-border taxi services across the Causeway. He earned about RM1,000 (S$305) to RM5,000 monthly, but turned to cheating customers when he experienced financial difficulties. Over about nine months from April 16, 2024, to Jan 8, 2025, Tan scammed at least five victims of about $1,862. He monitored social media platforms for cross-border taxi services requests and privately messaged potential victims. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NEL, SPLRT disruption: Electricity surge shut down backup power switchboard, says LTA Singapore HSA seeks Kpod investigators to arrest abusers, conduct anti-trafficking ops Opinion The 30s are heavy: Understanding suicide in Singapore's young adults Singapore Lawyer who sent misleading letters to 22 doctors fails in bid to quash $18,000 penalty Singapore 4 taken to hospital after accident near Sports Hub, including 2 rescued with hydraulic tools Asia Malaysia's anti-graft agency busts arms smuggling ring masterminded by senior military officers Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story To appear credible, he told them he was from a firm named 'Sky Ye Transport' and collected deposits from them. Once the victims had made the deposits, he confirmed the bookings and sent them photos of a vehicle and an individual, who was actually his former boss. On the scheduled pickup day, Tan did not appear and became uncontactable when the victims sent him messages. One of the victims was recommended to Tan's company by a colleague when she was planning a trip to Cameron Highlands with her friends and family. When she decided to engage Tan's services, he told her to pay a deposit of RM2,500 and said that another RM2,500 would be payable after the trips were completed. But after she paid the initial deposit, he kept asking her to transfer more money, ostensibly to purchase 'mandatory travel insurance'. The victim refused and asked him for receipts, upon which Tan added his 'secretary' to a group chat with the victim. Investigations revealed later that this second mobile number belonged to Tan. Sensing something was amiss, the victim asked him to refund the deposit. But Tan assured her that his company was licensed and that she had to pay a 30 per cent penalty if she insisted on a refund. The victim later said she would report the matter to the police, prompting Tan and his 'secretary' to leave the group chat. Following a police report lodged by another victim on Jan 23, Tan was placed on an immigration stop list. He was stopped on Jan 30 when he tried to enter Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint by car at about 8am. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) alerted the police, and told Tan to report to a police investigation officer (IO) the next day. They also informed him that he was not allowed to leave Singapore until he did so, which Tan acknowledged. However, he tried to leave Singapore for Johor Bahru at 8.20pm on the same day and was stopped again. Deputy Public Prosecutor Colin Ng said: 'The accused claimed that he wanted to return to (Johor Bahru) for a meal before reporting to the IO in Singapore the next day.' Tan was arrested on Jan 31 and charged in court the next day. He did not make any restitution to the victims. Asking for Tan to be jailed for between 26 and 30 weeks, DPP Ng highlighted the premeditation and planning behind his offences. The authorities have lately been clamping down on illegal cross-border passenger transport services, with 19 drivers caught in a combined operation on Aug 5 by ICA and the Land Transport Authority (LTA). According to LTA, 136 drivers have been caught providing such services since 2022, and their foreign-registered vehicles were impounded. Those who have been charged and convicted so far have been fined up to $2,600 and had the vehicles forfeited.
Straits Times
a few seconds ago
- Straits Times
Haidilao to close Clarke Quay outlet on Aug 31; exit follows 3 earlier outlet closures
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Haidilao's Clarke Quay outlet opened in 2012 and marked the brand's entry into Singapore. SINGAPORE – Popular Chinese hotpot chain Haidilao is closing its flagship Singapore outlet at Clarke Quay on Aug 31 as its lease expires. A text message was sent out to Haidilao members on Aug 13 to inform them of the closure. The Clarke Quay outlet, which operates in a space managed by CapitaLand, opened in 2012 and marked the brand's entry into Singapore. The Business Times has reached out to Haidilao and CapitaLand for comments. The closure of the Clarke Quay outlet follows Haidilao's recent shuttering of three suburban restaurants – in Bedok, Pasir Ris and Punggol – after a period of rapid expansion. A Haidilao spokesperson previously told BT that the brand's key business considerations include labour costs, outlet locations and rental costs. It had noted that some of its stores are shifting focus as they optimise resources and expand menu offerings. The exit comes against the backdrop of softer demand for retail space in the central region. Savills Singapore on Aug 13 noted in a report that weak market sentiments continue to weigh on leasing demand for retail space, with islandwide retail vacancy rising to 7.1 per cent on quarter in the second quarter of 2025. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NEL, SPLRT disruption: Electricity surge shut down backup power switchboard, says LTA Singapore HSA seeks Kpod investigators to arrest abusers, conduct anti-trafficking ops Opinion The 30s are heavy: Understanding suicide in Singapore's young adults Singapore Jail for man who scammed at least 5 victims over illegal cross-border taxi services Singapore Lawyer who sent misleading letters to 22 doctors fails in bid to quash $18,000 penalty Singapore 4 taken to hospital after accident near Sports Hub, including 2 rescued with hydraulic tools Asia Malaysia's anti-graft agency busts arms smuggling ring masterminded by senior military officers Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story Retail trade in the central region has been less resilient to rising rents and business operational costs, leading to a weakening demand for retail space, it noted. Vacancy rate in the region rose to 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, compared with 7.6 per cent in the previous quarter. Notably the downtown core area, where Clarke Quay is located in, saw slower take up in the recorded quarter, with occupied space shrinking by 75,000 sq ft. Vacancy rate in the Orchard and fringe area remained relatively flat due to its limited supply, said the Savills report. Central region rents rose by 0.9 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, reversing from a 0.5 per cent decline in the previous quarter, data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority showed. The rental index in the central area and fringe area also saw a rebound in the recorded quarter, rising by 0.7 per cent and 0.9 per cent on quarter, respectively. According to Savills' basket of retail properties, the average monthly rent in the Orchard and suburban area inched up 0.5 per cent on quarter to $23.30 per sq ft (psf) and 0.4 per cent on quarter to $14.80 psf, respectively. Haidilao's shuttered Bedok outlet. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS Savills expects the Singapore economy to see subdued growth in the second half of the year, amid uncertainties caused by tariffs and a tapering of non-oil domestic exports after businesses front loaded their exports to beat potentially higher tariffs. 'This could spill over into domestic-oriented sectors such as retail and food and beverage (F&B), which have reported muted performance in the first half of the year,' it added. 'Although the distribution of government consumption vouchers could help to lift the retail sales activity, overall retail sales in the next few months are forecast to head sideways due to similar performances in economic numbers and cautious hiring sentiments,' said Savills. It also noted that the recent signs of softening in resident employment could dampen spending power in Singapore, while the strong Singapore dollar continues to divert spending abroad for value products. The consultancy expects higher tenant turnover rate as underperforming stores vacate.
