SINGAPORE – It was a night of long drawn-out drama for the residents at Block 508, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 on Mar 31.

A man on the eighth floor had locked himself and his mother in their flat, prompting a major police operation and a 13-hour stand-off.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the man had refused to open his door to some Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers when they knocked on the door at around 9pm on Thursday night.

He reportedly threatened to kill himself and his mother, who is in her 70s, and at one point, also released gas from gas canisters placed near his front door.

Man arrested in Ang Mo Kio after 13-hour stand-off with police

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, Lianhe Wanbao, The Straits Times

Elite police units Star and Special Operations Command were then activated, and an inflatable safety life air pack was set up at the foot of the block, The Straits Times reported.

Residents were also evacuated, and while most were cleared to return to their homes before midnight, those living on the floor above and below had to wait till the stand-off was over.

Some residents told Shin Min that they could hear officers telling the man to let his mother out of the house, but there was no reply from him.

At 10am on Friday, officers broke into the unit and arrested the man.

The Chinese daily reported that three knives, two gas canisters, and newspapers were recovered in the flat.

When the man was arrested, blood could be seen streaming down his left leg. He appeared angry and was also heard cussing at photographers from the Chinese paper.

ljessica@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE – Singapore has set a new Guinness World Record on Friday (April 1) for the World’s Largest Floral Chandelier.

The chandelier is made up of 60,000 flowers, measures about 17m by 10m and will be displayed at Marina Square Atrium until April 3.

More than 260 students, community gardeners, corporate volunteers and NParks staff helped put the chandelier together over the last five days, with Minister for National Development, Mr Lawrence Wong, helping to complete the structure.

The completion of the floral chandelier kicks off a series of events leading up to the sixth edition of the biennial Singapore Garden Festival (SGF) which will be held from July 23 to 31.

Singapore sets Guinness World Record with largest floral chandelier

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times

Today, SGF also launched the ‘Adopt-A-Plant’ initiative to encourage a love for gardening amongst Singaporeans. Between April 1 and May 28, more than 8,000 plants will be put up for adoption at Marina Square (April 1), Raffles Place Park (April 4), Orchard Fountain Corner (April 6), Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (April 8) and Singapore Botanic Gardens (May 28).

A variety of plant species will be distributed, including the Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii), Painted Net-leaf (Fittonia albivensis ‘Verschaffltii’) and Variegated Peperomia (Peperomia clusiifolia ‘Jewelry’).

Members of the public can enjoy a 20 per cent discount on tickets when they present the accompanying plant tags at ticket counters during show days at Gardens by the Bay.

This year’s festival will be expanded to Bayfront Plaza. There will be nightly concerts, and over 100 stalls offering food and beverages, plants, gardening and landscape products for sale outside the ticketed area

debwong@sph.com.sg