How to be assertive without being passive or aggressive, and effectively stay within the happy middle ground

Some of us may have a tendency to be passive-aggressive in our daily lives. Saying yes when we mean no can be a normal response for many people. Often this is something that is learnt from childhood as a coping mechanism to get our needs met, especially when dealing with domineering or volatile people whether it’s a parent or later on in life, a significant other.

Read more here


Singapore’s new property tax targets ultra-rich — Analysts

The Ministry of Finance announced an additional buyer’s stamp duty (ABSD) of 35 per cent last Sunday, analysts say this will hurt the ultra-wealthy. The ABSD applies to any transfer of residential property into a living trust and takes effect for transfers beginning from May 9 (Monday).

Read more here


S$2,000 reward to anyone who finds missing dog: Layla, Shetland sheepdog, last seen at Bukit Merah bus stop

A woman is appealing for help in finding Layla, her Shetland Sheepdog, who was last seen at Block 201 Jalan Bukit Merah bus stop at 6:45 am on Tuesday, May 10.

Layla had just undergone surgery and was at a veterinarian’s office at Bukit Merah receiving after-surgery care when she went missing.

Read more here


Woman receives hundreds of empty McD french fries cartons instead of McDonald’s breakfast order

A woman who was already feeling stressed ordered breakfast at the McDonald’s Paya Lebar branch, only to receive a surprise. Instead of the sausage wrap and breakfast deluxe meal she ordered, she received a large plastic bag of cardboard containers for french fries.

And it would have been nice if these packages were full of delicious golden treats—as Ms Belicia, who goes by @illa_nocte on TikTok, would have likely greatly appreciated the stress-reliever.

Read more here


Indian man sits next to Chinese woman in MRT, she then moves to another seat, man asks if this was “blatant prejudice?”

Facebook user Aristotle Motii Nandy highlighted a commuter who appeared to be Chinese in his post who moved away to another seat on an MRT train after he sat next to her. He said, “Blatant prejudice? I sat next to this person, and she shifted to another seat…”

Read more here