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18/12/2025

Orchard Towers Transformation: Former Nightlife Hub Becomes New Home for Cornerstone Church.

Once infamous for its nightlife scene and s*x trade activities, Orchard Towers has entered a new phase with the arrival of Cornerstone Community Church. The church held its first weekend services at the mall on Dec. 13 and 14, marking a symbolic transformation for the building that once drew public safety concerns.

Cornerstone Community Church purchased more than 19,000 square feet of retail space on the fourth floor of Orchard Towers in January for S$54.5 million. The space spans six units, including one that was originally a cinema before being converted into a disco pub during the mall’s nightlife era.

18/12/2025

Capital Punishment in Singapore: High Court Rejects Fresh Challenge to Mandatory Death Penalty.

Singapore’s High Court on Dec. 16 dismissed a constitutional challenge to the country’s mandatory death penalty for certain drug offences. The petition was filed by human rights activists and relatives of three executed drug convicts, marking the first legal challenge to the decades-old law in 15 years.

18/12/2025

Illegal Abortion Network: Jakarta Apartment Exposed After Three-Year Operation.

The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation of Jakarta Police, known as Ditreskrimsus Polda Metro Jaya, has uncovered an illegal abortion practice operating from an apartment on Jalan Jenderal Basuki Rahmat in East Jakarta. The operation was promoted through two websites using the names Klinik Aborsi Promedis and Klinik Aborsi Raden Saleh, giving the false impression of licensed and professional medical services.

17/12/2025

SEA Games Controversy: Pencak Silat Refereeing Dispute Sparks Brawl in Bangkok.

The incident occurred on December 15 during the women’s Class B quarterfinal (50–55 kg) at the Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok. Malaysian athlete Nor Farah Mazlan faced Thailand’s Chongthima in a tightly contested match that ended in a 60–60 draw after three rounds.

Despite the tie, officials awarded the win to the Thai fighter based on a tie-breaker rule, citing that Nor Farah had committed more fouls. The ruling eliminated the Malaysian athlete from medal contention and immediately sparked strong objections from the Malaysian camp.

17/12/2025

Wet December Ahead: Persistent Thundery Showers and Monsoon Conditions Across Singapore.

The wet weather currently affecting Singapore is expected to continue through the rest of December due to prevailing northeast monsoon conditions, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) on Dec 16. Thundery showers are forecast on most days, typically developing in the afternoon and extending into the evening on some days.

17/12/2025

Rising Household Debt: Singapore’s Credit Card Balances Hit Decade High.

Singapore’s credit card rollover balances exceeded S$9.07 billion in the third quarter of 2025, marking the highest level in over 10 years and matching peaks last seen in 2014, according to data from the Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat).

Rollover balances refer to unpaid credit card amounts carried forward to subsequent billing cycles. These balances have risen sharply since the second quarter of 2021, when they stood at S$5.14 billion, reflecting a sustained upward trend over four years.

16/12/2025

Rob Reiner and Wife Michele Singer Reiner Found Dead in Hollywood Double Homicide Case.

Iconic director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home on 14 December 2025. Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested on suspicion of murder following a public argument the previous night. Rooted in a long, highly visible struggle with addiction, the tragedy quickly escalated into a political flashpoint after a controversial response from US President Donald Trump. With Reiner’s estimated USD 200 million fortune—approximately SGD 276.76 million—offering no protection, the case shatters the illusion that extreme wealth can insulate families from internal crisis.

The news landed with the force of a physical blow, a seismic rupture beneath Hollywood’s polished mythology. Rob Reiner—the iconic director, actor, and one of the most influential political voices in American entertainment—was dead. Not from age. Not from illness. But from intimate, brutal violence.

On Sunday, 14 December 2025, Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found stabbed to death inside their sprawling Brentwood mansion. Within hours, their son, Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested on suspicion of murder. The speed of the collapse—from revered public figure to alleged family annihilation—left the entertainment industry and the wider public stunned.

This is not merely a celebrity crime story. It is a grim exposé of what festers beneath extreme wealth, relentless visibility, political polarization, and the crushing expectations of dynastic fame. Reiner, a filmmaker celebrated for dissecting the American condition, has now become the subject of its most devastating parable. The questions linger heavily: what truly happened in those final hours, and what does this implosion reveal about a culture addicted to power, image, and spectacle? The answers, still emerging, are etched into the bloodstained floors of one of Los Angeles’ most exclusive neighborhoods.

16/12/2025

Kidney Crisis In Singapore: Rising Dialysis Demand Stretches Healthcare System.

Singapore now ranks fourth globally for kidney failure prevalence, with projections showing one in four residents could be living with chronic kidney disease by 2035. The rise stands out against other chronic illnesses, as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol rates have remained stable or declined. According to the National Population Health Survey 2024, chronic kidney disease prevalence jumped from 8.7 percent in 2019 to 14.9 percent in 2023, largely due to increased post-pandemic testing and earlier screening efforts.

16/12/2025

Migrant Welfare in Singapore: Healthcare, Housing, and Social Support Get Major Boost.

Most migrant workers in Singapore will soon have a Primary Care Plan clinic within 2km of their residence, improving access to medical care and reducing travel time. Manpower Minister Tan See Leng announced the move on Dec 14 during International Migrants Day celebrations at D’Marquee in Downtown East. The Ministry of Manpower said most workers currently live within 3km of a clinic, but the new rollout aims to bring care even closer to where they live and work.

16/12/2025

Cross-Border Workforce: EPF Urges Malaysians in Singapore to Secure Retirement.

Malaysians holding Singapore work permits are being encouraged to voluntarily contribute to Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to strengthen their retirement savings. According to EPF Southern Regional Director Nor Azhar Abdul Mokti, an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 Malaysians commute daily to Singapore, making this group too significant to ignore in long-term retirement planning efforts.

15/12/2025

Quiet Year-End in Johor: Fewer Singapore Shoppers Cross the Causeway.

Johor Bahru businesses have reported a sharp decline in Singaporean customers this year-end, with operators citing drops ranging from 10 to 40 percent. Shin Min Daily News and The Star reported that November and December, traditionally the busiest months for cross-border spending, have felt unusually quiet across malls, cafés, and service outlets.

The decline marks a stark contrast to previous years when Singaporean visitors packed shopping centers and eateries, particularly on weekends. Business owners described the situation as the weakest year-end turnout since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stronger Ringgit and Travel Barriers Reshape Behavior
A major factor is the strengthening Malaysian ringgit. The Straits Times reported that the exchange rate has firmed to around RM3.17 to S$1, compared to above RM3.30 for most of 2025. Even modest currency shifts have made dining, shopping, and fueling up noticeably more expensive for Singaporeans over a full-day trip.

15/12/2025

Shared Senior Care in Singapore: New Caregiving Model Becomes Mainstream.

Singapore is unlocking a new era of community-based caregiving, giving families more flexible and affordable ways to support aging loved ones. After a successful two-year trial, the Ministry of Health will officially mainstream the Shared Stay-in Senior Caregiving Services model, widening access to trained caregivers who support seniors living together in shared residences.

From 10 December 2025, families will gain a new community-based option for senior care as the Shared Stay-in Senior Caregiving Services model becomes a permanent offering. Initially launched as a sandbox in September 2023, the model places trained caregiving staff in shared residences to assist seniors with daily tasks, meals, housekeeping and social activities.

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