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A white Audi R8 V10 knocked over four lamp posts on Bras Basah Road towards Raffles Boulevard in a pre-dawn crash.
The police were alerted to the accident at 5.56am yesterday.
They arrested the 31-year-old driver of the sports car for suspected drink driving. He suffered minor injuries and was taken to Singapore General Hospital for treatment.
The New Paper understands that the driver had lost control of his vehicle while travelling in the right-most lane of the four-lane road.
There was a female passenger in the car. Her condition is unknown.
Social media was abuzz over the accident, with pictures showing the front bumper dislodged and a wheel at the side of the road.
When TNP arrived at the scene, there were pieces of the car strewn all over the pavement.
The right-most lane of the four-lane road was cordoned off, causing a traffic jam that stretched about 1.3km.
Four of the five lamp posts on the stretch next to the Cathedral of Good Shepherd were knocked over.
AFTERMATH
Three cleaners working at the NTUC Income Centre opposite the cathedral told TNP they saw the aftermath of the accident when they reported to work at 6am yesterday.
They said the driver was no longer at the scene then.
Road safety expert Gerard Pereira, manager at the Singapore Safety Driving Centre, said the driver must had been speeding to knock down four lamp posts.
He told TNP: “Had he braked when he hit the first lamp post, he would’ve knocked down one instead of four.
“It is possible that he lost control of the car or maybe dozed off.”
Singapore Road Safety Council chairman Bernard Tay said: “It is difficult to jump to conclusion but to hit four lamp posts, it is possible that there was something wrong with the car or the brakes, or the driver was not in the right condition to drive.”
Mr Pereira said although the accident took place in the wee hours of the morning, the driver was lucky he did not hit anyone.
“Regardless of the time of the day, someone could have been hit,” he said. “If this had happened later and there was heavier traffic, it would have been harder for him to speed.
“He would have been more alert because other vehicles would be surrounding him.”
Mr Pereira stressed that drivers should never drive and drink.
Netizens have taken to social media to express their outrage.
Student Lee Hong Zhu, 23, told TNP that when he heard about the accident, he was angry because it could have been people instead of lamp posts.
“Thankfully it was only some lamp posts, they can be replaced,” he said.
“People should not drink and drive. Not only are they endangering their own lives, they’re also endangering others.”
TNP previously reported that if a driver crashes into a lamp post, and it needs to be replaced, it will cost the driver $2,000.
This article was first published on November 23, 2016.
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SINGAPORE – The incoming president of the United States has said it loud and clear to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal: You shall not pass.
The setback for the TPP comes at a crucial time for Singapore, which is in the middle of drawing up a blueprint for its future economy – one in which internationalisation figures prominently, in order for its economy to grow externally.
And growing Singapore’s external pie has become increasingly crucial, given that its economy can expect a “new normal” of only 2-3 per cent annual growth, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam in September.
The TPP, which brings together 12 Asia-Pacific countries accounting for roughly 40 per cent of global GDP as signatories, is often hailed as a seminal trade framework that will enable exporters to benefit from the removal of duties on more types of goods than previous trade agreements provided for.
Although it is expected to boost Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP) by only 2 per cent by 2025, the increased trade activity is expected to strengthen the city state’s role as a regional entrepot hub.
President-elect Donald Trump pledged in a YouTube video released on Monday that he will issue a notification of intent to withdraw the US from the TPP on his first day in office. He called the TPP a “potential disaster”, practically sounding the death knell for the agreement. The TPP effectively requires the US’s agreement in order to hit 85 per cent of the trade bloc’s combined GDP.
With the TPP all but certain to fail, leaders around the world, including those from Singapore, will now have to turn to the 16-nation, China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as the next major deal to spur trade within Asia, observers said. It excludes the US.
The stakes are high: In September before Mr Trump emerged victorious, the World Trade Organisation had slashed its global trade growth forecast for 2016 to just 1.7 per cent. This would be the first time in 15 years that global trade growth has been slower than global economic growth.
Read also: Consequences of TPP demise go beyond trade
Said Deborah Elms, founder and executive director of the Asian Trade Centre in Singapore: “Since RCEP is now the only mega regional game in town, it needs to be good.”
But political leaders and trade negotiators need to learn the hard lessons from TPP.
Dr Elms said that, in particular, negotiators should take note of the anti-globalisation and isolationist rhetoric that had lifted Mr Trump to victory in the US presidential race.
Such rhetoric had signalled his suspicion of the TPP. “He assumes that whatever one party gains can only come about as a result of something the other party has lost,” she said.
Sounding a cautionary note, she added: “This is why trade agreements are so problematic.”
OCBC economist Selena Ling worries that the current political climate would impede negotiations on mega trade deals such as the RCEP. For it to succeed, leaders will have to be cognisant of how they pitch the idea to businesses and their constituents, she said.
“RCEP is still plausible, but policymakers will probably have to manage the communications strategy, especially on the cost-benefit front, more carefully.”
A good place to start getting free trade negotiations back on track would be in those areas that cover trade flows within ASEAN, said CIMB economist Song Seng Wun.
With the US retreating from multilateral trade deals and China realigning its economy, ASEAN, with its rapid growth of the middle class, is a natural market for Singapore firms to export to, he said.
“This region is still the backbone of Singapore’s growth. Even without the TPP, we can still do our best to attract foreign companies, like those from the US, to set up their regional offices here.”
Read also: Chile’s foreign minister: TPP not dead, despite Trump comments
TPP leaders pledge to continue with trade deal, with or without US
soonwl@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Nov 23, 2016.
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SINGAPORE – More than 80 bakeries, hawker stalls and restaurants have been recognised in this year’s Heritage Heroes Awards, which puts the spotlight on time-honoured eateries that preserve local culinary traditions.
Now in its third edition, the annual listing is organised by Slow Food (Singapore), a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to preserving heritage dishes and ingredients, celebrating food culture and traditions, protecting diversity and championing responsible consumption.
New this year is the Heritage Restaurant category, which recognises restaurants that have been whipping up traditional food for at least 30 years.
Fifty-two restaurants have been awarded in this category, and the recipients include Islamic Restaurant in North Bridge Road, which serves briyani; Spring Court Restaurant in Upper Cross Street, which serves Singapore Chinese food; Indian restaurant Ananda Bhavan in Syed Alwi Road; and the Russo-Hainanese Shashlik Restaurant in Orchard Road.
For heritage bakeries and confectioneries, 33 shops have been lauded. They include Chin Mee Chin in East Coast Road and Hainan Xiao Chi in Toa Payoh Lorong 7.
Slow Food (Singapore) is the local outpost of the Slow Food International Association in Italy, which was founded in 1989 by Italian journalist Carlo Petrini.
Mr Daniel Chia, president of Slow Food (Singapore), says: “The Heritage Heroes Awards aim to identify and raise awareness of local food vendors and establishments that prepare Singapore’s cherished heritage foods, thus preserving these foods for our current and future generations.”
This article was first published on Nov 22, 2016.
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Movie star Brad Pitt will not face any charges stemming from an incident on a private plane in which he was reported to have lost his temper in front of one or more of his children, an FBI spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
Pitt, 52, earlier this month was cleared by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services for the incident on Sept 14. His wife, the actress Angelina Jolie, filed for divorce five days later. “In response to allegations made following a flight within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States which landed in Los Angeles carrying Mr. Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI has conducted a review of the circumstances and will not pursue further investigation,” said Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI’s Los Angeles field office. “No charges have been filed in this matter,” she said.
Jolie, 41, filed for divorce from Pitt, her husband of two years and romantic partner since 2005, citing irreconcilable differences and seeking full physical custody of their children, ages 8 to 15.
At the time, the Oscar-winning actress said her decision to end the marriage “was made for the health of the family.” Their children include two adopted sons, Maddox from Cambodia and Pax from Vietnam, an adopted daughter from Ethiopia, Zahara, and three biological children, Shiloh Nouvel and twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline.
A Vietnamese couple staying in Singapore are appealing for donations to relieve the medical costs of their baby son who was born prematurely here.
Stomp contributor Chee Ming alerted Stomp to the couple’s plight via e-mail.
Nguyen Van Thang works as a researcher at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and married his wife Hong Thuy a year ago.
She came to Singapore to live with her husband after receiving a Dependent Pass in August while she was pregnant.
The couple had booked tickets to return to Vietnam later this month to prepare for the birth of their first child who was supposed to be due on Valentine’s Day next year.
They knew that delivering a baby in Singapore would be expensive.
Read also: KKH lauds premature super babies
Unfortunately, Hong Thuy experienced labour pains and delivered their son early on November 11 at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
The baby only weighs 1040 grams and needs to be cared for in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for approximately 104 days.
This will set the couple back a whopping $223,000 to $268,000.
They wanted to bring their baby to Vietnam to reduce expenses but were advised by doctors that the plane ride would be risky.
Currently their baby is experiencing brain bleeding, low blood pressure and respiratory distress.
As of November 21 at 11.30pm, the couple have raised $53,935 which is 21 per cent of their $250,000 goal on GoGetFunding.
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Brandon “The Truth” Vera is carrying a nation on his tattooed back.
The reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion will defend his prestigious title belt against Hideki “Shrek” Sekine at ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION, on Friday Night, 2 December, in front of a packed hometown crowd at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.
Although this bout marks the Filipino-American’s first title defense, it is extra special because this is the first time the champ is officially fighting in his new home, and he already feels the strength of his countrymen rallying behind him.
“It is honestly like fighting in front of your family, but your family is the entire country,” Vera says. “It is a blessing and a curse. I cannot let them down. But it pushes me and drives me, and helps me make the decision that, ‘Hey no, you need to go another round. Hey no, you are not tired yet, you need to push some more. Hey no, you need to make this happen.’
“It keeps me motivated, it keeps me hungry, and it keeps me wanting more.”
Earlier this year, Vera decided to relocate from America — a country where he joined the US Air Force and a later blossomed as one of the nation’s brightest mixed martial artists — to the Philippines in search of a new life.
“The Truth” is planning to open an MMA gym soon, as well as apply for dual citizenship. But between adjusting to his new surroundings, acting in local films, and getting in some quality training for his upcoming tilt, his schedule has kept him from accomplishing his other goals.
“I have been so busy in the Philippines since we have moved that I do not think it has even hit us that we have moved yet,” he admits. “[I have] been doing stuff for movies, stuff for the Philippines, stuff for my citizenship… it does not feel like I have moved yet.”
While he has remained busy, Vera found some time in the schedule to meet lifelong combat sports hero, Filipino government official, and brand new WBO Welterweight Champion, Manny Pacquiao.
“Senator Manny Pacquiao is an inspiration on more than one field. More than sports and more than him being a senator, it is him as a humanitarian. Him as a person, the work that he does,” Vera explains.
“The first time I went to the gym to watch him train, Senator Pacquiao walked in with all his security and said hi to everyone. [He] walked into the locker room and came out. It was beautiful to see Senator Pacquiao turn into Pacman [and] watching him train.”
“The Truth” got to do more than just watch Pacman throw some hands. During his gym visit, he was able to pick the brains of some of the boxing champion’s trainers. Vera even had the opportunity to see Pacman display his limited MMA skills.
“I am working with one of his assistant coaches [and] I talked to his head coach. He was giving me some tips,” he reveals. “Pacquiao was doing some bag work and looked over at me and started throwing knees on the bag. It was really cool.”
Besides the MMA training, film shoots, and hanging with the boxing legend’s squad, the Filipino-American has ambitions of running for public office and ushering in a social change.
“I have heard from other people that the hardest fight game is politics,” he says. “I have always been interested in politics and someday, after I am finished with this fight [career], I will be looking for another fight, so I would probably be interested in running for Senate here in the Philippines one day.”
He is already targeting a few issues.
“Bullying is a big problem here in the Philippines. Corruption. Better living for my kababayan. Better education,” he says are just a few of the problems he plans to bring change to.
Although it has been less than a year, Vera can safely say that he has adjusted well to life in the Philippines. He was already a national hero. Now, he plans to become a staple on pop culture and influence the community in a positive way.
“The Truth” is in the Philippines and it seems he is there to stay for good.
Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes — ONE Championship’s longest reigning title holder — is happy to be back in Manila.
Fernandes (19-3) will be making the sixth defense of his ONE Bantamweight World Championship opposite Filipino-Australian standout, Reece “Lightning” McLaren (9-3). The bout takes place in the co-main event of ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION, which is set for Friday, 2 December, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines.
Both men are Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts, and are riding a strong wave of momentum. Fernandes hasn’t lost a bout since 2010 and is on a 11-fight win streak, while McLaren, who made his ONE Championship debut last year, is coming off two consecutive victories over highly-regarded opponents.
It is expected to be a show-stealer, as two high-level mixed martial artists will go head-to-head to determine Asia’s best bantamweight.
Fernandes is obviously the favorite, given his lofty credentials, but McLaren is a sleeper hit and has the ability to pull off the upset.
Yet judging by past performances, there is strong reason to believe that Fernandes could conceivably give fans another mind-blowing performance. Fernandes is really hitting his stride as of late, and appears to be getting better with each appearance inside the ONE Championship cage.
Let’s take a look at the top four performances in the ONE cage by Bibiano Fernandes.
ONE: DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS (CHANGSHA) versus Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, January 2016
Kevin Belingon was supposed to be the one who would push Fernandes to the limit. The Team Lakay striking ace is fast and extremely powerful. Not many fighters have been able to withstand Belingon’s knockout power.
He’s nicknamed “The Silencer” for a reason, and that’s because Belingon downs opponents abruptly, defeating them with highlight-reel finishes. Every strike Belingon throws has knockout potential.
Fernandes, whose advantage almost always lies on the mat due to his exceptional Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills, was projected to get the fight to the ground as fast as possible.
Within minutes of the first round, Fernandes accomplished that feat. Belingon didn’t even have enough time to mount any meaningful offense. On the ground, Belingon’s inexperience showed as Fernandes spun a web of grappling mastery.
With less than a minute left in round one, Fernandes worked Belingon into a deep kimura that left the Filipino warrior with no choice but to tap out.
The finish was expected, given the disparity in grappling skill, but what no one really saw coming was the fact that Fernandes could hang tough with even his division’s most dangerous striker at the time.
In victory, Fernandes sent a message to the world and to his division, that he is a complete mixed martial artist. His striking, it appeared, was slowly catching up to his grappling.
ONE: KINGDOM OF WARRIORS versus Toni “Dynamite” Tauru, July 2015
Toni Tauru joined ONE Championship as a Finnish bantamweight sensation. One of the most promising talents to come out of Finland, Tauru was adept at grappling and finishing on the ground. Out of his 10 victories, seven have come impressively by submission.
Unfortunately, Tauru’s ONE Championship debut was not going to go well. Tauru had the tough task of making his first appearance inside the ONE Championship cage against Bibiano Fernandes.
It was billed as a high-level battle on the mats as Tauru, a submission specialist, was to take on BJJ maestro Fernandes. Fans expected a cerebral affair, with both fighters looking for some crafty submission move to finish each other with. What transpired in the cage however came completely out of left field.
After testing Tauru’s grappling ability for over two rounds, Fernandes had enough and went into the third round looking to finish on his feet. Fernandes looked to time Tauru with overhand rights by coming over the top of Tauru’s jab.
That’s when Fernandes uncorked a three-punch combination that left Tauru dazed on the mat. With his opponent out of commission, Fernandes walked off dancing to the beat of his own drum.
The cage official had no choice but to wave off the contest and award Fernandes the knockout.
ONE: WARRIOR’S WAY versus Dae Hwan Kim, December 2014
Dae Hwan Kim was young, undefeated, and one of the top prospects to come out of Seoul, South Korea. He was 10-0 when he stepped inside the ONE Championship cage opposite reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Fernandes, having just defeated Kevin Belingon by first-round submission in the bout prior.
Kim is a complete package. He’s fast and crisp on his feet, and dangerous on the ground from all angles. He had easily handled every other fighter who had stepped in the cage with him previously, and was riding a wave of momentum going into the title shot.
But Fernandes being the absolute stud that he is, just did not allow Kim to establish himself at all. He stopped Kim in his tracks at every instance, dominating both the striking and grappling exchanges. It was a masterful performance from the Brazilian, and a learning experience for the Korean.
ONE: TOTAL DOMINATION versus Soo Chul Kim, October 2013
After a string of inspiring performances, Bibiano Fernandes earned a shot at then-ONE Bantamweight World Champion Soo Chul Kim. At the time, Kim was one of the more experienced Korean mixed martial artists in Asia, having clinched the title by winning a bantamweight elimination tournament.
Fernandes was just beginning to build his name in Asia then, although he was already highly-regarded for his solid credentials. Kim had won the inaugural title in his previous bout with a second-round technical knockout of Leandro Issa, and was making his first defense.
With the whole world watching, Fernandes dominated Kim with his world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills. From start to finish, Kim had difficulty in creating separation from Fernandes who stuck to him literally like glue.
Fernandes’ suffocating top game BJJ was so fluid that even though Kim had shown great submission defense, there was very little else he could do other than keep himself from getting finished.
Fernandes took Kim down at will, kept him there, and nullified his offense at every turn. The performance earned Fernandes the undisputed ONE Bantamweight World Championship belt and he hasn’t looked back since.
Reece “Lightning” McLaren has been an underdog throughout his entire MMA career, but now, he is one crucial upset away from becoming the king of the bantamweight division.
On Friday Night, 2 December, the Filipino-Australian will battle ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes for the belt in the co-main event of ONE: AGE OF DOMINATION, which broadcasts live from Manila’s Mall Of Asia Arena in the Philippines.
“Bibiano and I match well. We are both black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I think it is going to come down to a war of attrition,” the 25-year-old says.” The perfect outcome for me would be winning the title in Manila.”
The Brazilian is a breed apart though. Fernandes, who trains out of AMC Pankration alongside one of the world’s best mixed martial artists in Demetrious Johnson, is a talented striker and a multi-time World Jiu-Jitsu and Pan American Championship black belt gold medalist.
Currently in possession of a stellar 19-3 MMA record, “The Flash” is riding an incredible 11-fight win streak and has not lost a bout in six years.
“My opponent Bibiano Fernandes is an absolute beast,” the challenger admits. “Bibiano’s strengths are his ground game. He was the 2003, 2004, and 2005 (BJJ) world champion. He is definitely bringing in a world champion jiujitsu game.
“I think his weaknesses are very few and far between. He has got good stand up, he has got a good ground game. We will just have to see what happens.”
However, despite his experience, Fernandes still seems to be getting better with age. McLaren has been constantly improving too, though. He has earned a reputation of rising above expectations and coming out on top. In a way, it is the story of his life.
Growing up on Christmas Island, McLaren was raised by a single mother, and like most rambunctious adolescents, did not enjoy school. He did, however, love practicing martial arts, and channeled all his energy at the local kung fu club.
Later, in his teens, he worked for the local airport and became friends with the head of security, who taught him a little Muay Thai and introduced him to BJJ and MMA. The young Aussie was hooked instantly.
“They say that if you choose a job that you love that you will never have to work a day in your life. I think that rings true,” McLaren admits. “I think if you do what you love, then you will love what you do.”
When “Lightning” relocated to Australia’s mainland, he immediately sought out training and ended up at the Gold Coast’s Potential Unlimited Mixed Martial Arts. He has diligently worked with his coaches and teammates since.
Still, hard work does not ensure success, and he was considered an underdog heading into his professional debut back in 2010. But that is exactly where the upset king developed his knack for turning scripts on their head.
“My very first upset, or victory, was my very first fight,” he recalls. “I was fighting in a country town and I had to fight the local boy down in the Gold Coast, and I walked away with the victory.”
In his young career, McLaren has amassed a 9-3 record, capturing the XFC Bantamweight Championship in thrilling fashion. ONE paid attention, and offered him a contract.
In December 2015, he fought Filipino MMA star Mark “Mugen” Striegl at ONE: SPIRIT OF CHAMPIONS in Striegl’s home country of the Philippines at just a week’s notice. Though the Evolve MMA product was heavily favored, “Lightning” defied the odds and put him away in the third round with a rear-naked choke.
“The Mark Striegl fight was an absolute battle,” McLaren recalls. “It was hard for both of us, I would say. I took it on eight days notice. Eight days notice for Striegl to have a new opponent is super challenging. We both went in there and I was lucky enough to come away with the result.”
Some could dismiss it as a fluke, considering Striegl fixated a training camp around a particular opponent only to fight a replacement eight days out. The Australian still had a lot to prove, and was given a stiffer test when he was put against then-undefeated combat sambo world champion Muin Gafurov at ONE: GLOBAL RIVALS this past April.
Again, despite the odds, McLaren pulled out a unanimous decision victory and spoiled yet another superstar-in-the-making. It would turn out to be the biggest win of his career, earning him a shot at ONE bantamweight gold.
Though pulling off the upset has become McLaren’s forte, “The Flash” is no ordinary opponent. He is the undisputed best bantamweight mixed martial artist in all of Asia, if not the world, so dethroning the champ would be the biggest underdog story of all.
“I find no difference between being the favorite or the underdog,” McLaren says. “Everyone loves the underdog story and they love it when he wins, so give me that label and I will run with it.
In addition, McLaren is heartened by recent events involving another huge underdog in a world title fight. Filipino contender Eduard Folayang recently prevailed against overwhelming favorite and MMA legend Shinya Aoki to become the ONE Lightweight World Champion at ONE: DEFENDING HONOR in Singapore.
McLaren sees the parallels he shares with Folayang, and it has given him added impetus going into his bout with Fernandes.
“I saw the Eduard fight and I drew a lot of inspiration from it. Another fellow Filipino winning a world title shows that it can be done.
“I was on the edge of my seat. It was such a massive opportunity for him, and to see him walk away with the victory was just so inspirational.”
If McLaren has it his way, the one walking away with the victory and the belt in Manila would be him, and he is fully prepared to seize his own destiny.
“My game plan is to go in there, give 110 per cent, and bring the title back to Australia.”
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