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SINGAPORE - Social distancing measures have been hard on some people, especially the vulnerable and elderly like Madam Lai Yuet Meng. The 75-year-old has not left her flat in Bukit Panjang, which she shares with her 69-year-old husband, since March. They are both blind and without children to help them. The closest FairPrice outlet is a 30-minute journey away by bus. Thankfully, they have had volunteers from the Silver Generation Office (SGO) to help them, from picking up their groceries to accompanying them for hospital appointments. The volunteers got in touch with Madam Lai after she called the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) hotline. The SGO is the agency's outreach arm. The AIC, which supports seniors and their caregivers, and links callers to community care services, saw a spike in calls during the circuit breaker period that started on April 7. It received an average of 300 calls a day in the two months leading up to Monday (June 1), or 25 per cent more … [Read more...] about Government agency received 300 calls a day during circuit breaker period for eldercare assistance

SINGAPORE: Information being spread via text messages and videos purportedly about fights between various gangs in Singapore is false, the police said on Saturday (Aug 24). In a news release, the police said they were investigating the matter and have verified that none of the alleged incidents took place. “The police would like to assure members of the public that the information being spread through these text messages and videos is false,” it said. “The police have verified that none of the alleged incidents had occurred.” One photo circulating on social media shows a man with blood on his face and T-shirt; another message warns people not to approach the gangs if they see them in public, and to refrain from making gang signs. In its news release, the police advised the public not to spread false information and create alarm. It said: “The police will not hesitate to take action against any person responsible for the deliberate generation and spread of such untruths … [Read more...] about Police investigating false information circulating on gang activities

SINGAPORE: People who had invested in failed gold trading companies are now being targeted by cold callers claiming to be from litigation companies, police warned on Friday (Jul 19). The callers would offer to help them recover their investments via civil proceedings or other methods in return for a fee, the police said in a news release. In some cases, the callers would offer to buy over gold bars at above market prices, or at prices higher than what the investors had paid for. "However in return, the investors were asked to 're-invest' their sales proceeds into an alternative investment scheme that promised attractive returns and guaranteed capital protection over a short period of time," said the police. According to the police, the failed gold trading companies whose investors were targeted include Genneva, Asia Pacific Bullion and The Gold Guarantee. READ: 2 men arrested for multi-million dollar gold investment scam Police said members of the public are advised … [Read more...] about Police warn of cold callers targeting investors of failed gold trading companies

SINGAPORE: The police are searching for a man suspected of attempting to rob a pawn shop in Bedok with a kitchen chopper. Photos of the suspect were released by the police on Saturday (Jul 13). On Friday at about 1.50pm, a man wielding a kitchen chopper attempted to rob a ValueMax pawn shop at Block 213 Bedok North Street 1. READ: Man armed with chopper flees after failed attempt to rob Bedok pawn shop The pawn shop manager, who wanted to be known only as Mr Choo, told CNA that the man entered the shop wearing a mask and holding the weapon. He slammed the chopper on the glass display case, but the weapon broke into two pieces, Mr Choo said.  The man picked up the broken pieces of the knife and fled. Mr Choo said the man wore gloves and was dressed in dark clothing. He looked to be in his 40s and was of average height, he added. The police are asking for anyone with information to call their hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at … [Read more...] about Police searching for man suspected of trying to rob Bedok pawn shop with kitchen chopper

SEOUL: North Korea has conducted a "strike drill" for multiple launchers and tactical guided weapons into the East Sea in a military drill supervised by leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday, the North's state media reported on Sunday (May 5). The purpose of the drill was to test performance of "large-caliber long-range multiple rocket launchers and tactical guided weapons by defence units," the Korean Central News Agency said, implying that the latest firing was not the long-range ballistic missiles that have been seen as a threat to the United States. Kim gave an order of firing and stressed the need to "increase the combat ability so as to defend the political sovereignty and economic self-sustenance" of North Korea in the face of threats and invasions, the report said. The statement came a day after the latest firing, which analysts interpreted as an attempt to exert pressure on Washington to give ground in negotiations to end the North's nuclear programme after a summit in … [Read more...] about North Korea’s Kim Jong Un oversaw testing of multiple rocket launchers: KCNA