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What ‘big roar of support’ can do: Emma Raducanu stands strong as the only Briton left at the Queen’s Club Championships

By
Aiah Bathan
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0
Photo: Instagram.com/wta

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Young Briton Emma Raducanu reached the quarterfinals at the Queen’s Club Championship and became the only British player left in the running for the title. She defeated Rebecca Sramkova with a final scoreline of 6-4, 6-1. 

Raducanu will now play against the Paris Olympic champion, Zheng Qinwen. Regardless of the mishaps that she encountered during the match, Raducanu expressed: “I don’t think it was my cleanest performance, but I’m really happy to have pushed through in some tight moments that decided the first set.” 

Raducanu also admitted that the support of the fans truly inspired her to win the game. She remarked: “It was really helpful to have a big roar of support to get me through that last service game. So I appreciate that.” 

Highlights of the match

Emma Raducanu started the match with a 5-0 lead, and she looked comfortable playing on the grass court. Sramkova then bounced back, saving two set points and winning four games in a row. The British regained their control and went on to win the first set with a score of 6-4. 

In the second set, Raducanu remained confident and had a 4-0 lead after breaking her opponent’s serve twice. Eventually, Raducanu won the match by converting a sixth break point with a final scoreline of 6-4, 6-1. 

The match lasted an hour and 17 minutes, and Raducanu was the only British player left after Katie Boulter and Heather Watson’s exit. 

Furthermore, Zheng Qinwen defeated McCartney Kessler to reach her first quarterfinals on a grass court, with a final scoreline of 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. With her win, she admitted: “I always believed I could play good on grass… Somehow, I never played well the past few years. I wish this year can be different, because I’m working hard on it.” 

In a social media post made by WTA, it shared Raducanu’s journey so far in the competition with a caption: “Soaring in London 🇬🇧.”

Netizens commented on the post to express their support: “hometown glory❤️,” “She’s the best ❤️,” “Emma is doing so well at the WTA, hopefully she can focus on winning more matches 🙌 (translated),” and “Woo hooo!!!! Go Emma! 🙌❤️ 🥳.”

Other tournament updates

Elena Rybakina demonstrated the strength of her serve by hitting nine aces and defeating Briton Heather Watson with a final scoreline of 6-4, 6-2. Furthermore, Rybakina became the first woman this season to serve a total of 200 aces. 

With this, Rybakina expressed: “It was a tough match, she played really well. I am pretty happy with my game, especially in the second set… Hopefully, with every match, it will be better and better. I am enjoying my time here.” 

Viral JB road rage ends in S$2.7k fine for S’porean who kicked car, spat at driver

By
Anna Maria Romero
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0
Photo: FB Screenshots/Vicky Sing

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man who was involved in a road rage incident last weekend was slapped with a fine of RM9,100 (S$2,750) by the Magistrate’s Court at Johor Bahru on Thursday (June 12).

Cheng Kuan Poh Colin, a 40-year-old human resources manager, pleaded guilty to two offences before Magistrate A. Shaarmini.

He was involved in an altercation at Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/4, Taman Sutera Utama, with a Malaysian man, 32-year-old Ng Yeow Meng, on Saturday afternoon (June 7). Mr Ng’s girlfriend, who was with him at the time of the incident, posted videos of the confrontation on social media, which were widely shared.

Mr Ng immediately filed a complaint against the Singaporean, and Cheng was arrested early on Saturday evening. He was accused of committing mischief by damaging Mr Ng’s vehicle. He faced another charge of insulting the modesty of Mr Ng, since he spat into his face during the incident.

The charges were read to Cheng in Mandarin, and he indicated that he understood them.

However, Norfarahin Mohd Yazid, Cheng’s lawyer, asked that his fine be reduced, given that he is responsible for the care of his parents, who are already bedridden. She told the court that his monthly salary is RM6,595 (S$2,000), and added that this is his first offence.

For the first charge, Cheng was ordered by the court to pay RM4,300 (S$1,300) in lieu of six months’ jail time. For the second charge, he was fined (S$1450), also in default of six months’ jail.

On June 8, Johor Baru (North) district police chief Assistant Commissioner Balveer Singh announced that a complaint had been filed against Cheng and that he had been arrested the night before.

He had been driving a Toyota Altis, registered in Singapore, when he got involved in an altercation with Mr Ng, whose girlfriend, Vicky Sing, uploaded photos and videos of the incident to her Facebook account.

One video showed the Singaporean man kicking the Malaysian man’s vehicle, and in another video, Ms Sing showed the damage the car sustained. She wrote in the caption to her post that she and her boyfriend had been on their way to have lunch when the Singaporean man honked his horn at them several times, claiming that the couple’s vehicle had blocked his way. Ms Sing alleged that the man kept bumping into and spitting on her boyfriend, who did not fight back.

“The complainant stated that while driving his BMW at 2:39 p.m. in the Tun Aminah area, he was honked at by a Toyota Altis with a Singapore registration number, whose driver was dissatisfied because his path was blocked. An argument ensued, and the suspect allegedly kicked the complainant’s car, causing damage. However, the complainant did not suffer any injuries,” said Assistant Commissioner Singh. /TISG

Read also: ‘Please teach Singaporeans how to drive a car on the highway’ video goes viral

AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines now require passengers’ names to fully match their official documents

By
Anna Maria Romero
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0
WM Commons

SINGAPORE: People who expect to be booking flights on Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia would do well to take note of the carriers’ updated name entry rules.

For Malaysia Airlines, passengers must now enter their full names in the exact same way that they appear in their official documents, such as national ID cards and passports.

This will help avoid discrepancies when passengers check in, according to a report in The Star on Jun 12 (Thursday). The report noted that the move aims to address long-standing issues, particularly for individuals with names that do not conform to conventional formats or are otherwise unique. It also helps the airlines conform to standard industry practices.

Under the updated rules, passengers fill in parts of their names, such as “bin,” “binti,” or “anak,” into the field for last names or surnames.

The Star gave the example of a person named Ahmad Faliq bin Hamedi, as written on their passport. This passenger would write “Ahmad Faliq” in the fields for first and middle names, and then “Bin Hamedi” in the field for last name or surname.

The official guidelines for Malaysia Airlines may be found on the carrier’s website here. It includes instructions on what to do when a person’s name exceeds the character length limit or when their name has a hyphen, a non-roman character, or if their first or last name consists of a single letter. They may also contact the carrier’s customer service for assistance.

AirAsia, meanwhile, has similarly begun to use a clear “Given Name” and “Family Name/Surname” format, as this would also be better for Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Thai, and Vietnamese names, the airline said.

For names with special symbols, the carrier instructed passengers on what to do.

“If your name is spelled with a ‘@’ or second name in your Identification Card, remove the ‘@’, insert a space between the two names. If your name contains ‘A/P’ or ‘A/L’, please omit it unless it appears in the ‘Name’ section of your passport.”

People whose names have a hyphen, meanwhile, should leave a space when booking.

The airline also issued a reminder that passengers are not allowed to change the name on their booking to transfer it to another person once the booking has already been confirmed. However, name corrections in case of errors and misspellings may be allowed.

Passengers who need more information on the matter may reach out to AirAsia this way. /TISG

Read also: Malaysia Airlines to ban power bank use on flights from April 1 to ensure flight safety, and no, it’s not an “April Fool’s” prank

Singaporean reminds everyone to be grateful to bus drivers, especially when they wait

By
Anna Maria Romero
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0
SBS Transit Bus/Youtube screengrab

SINGAPORE: A local Reddit user issued a “gentle reminder” for everyone to be thankful to the bus drivers in the city-state and not take them for granted.

In a post on r/Singapore on Thursday (June 12), u/Bearbaggs wrote about an incident that they witnessed earlier that day at Simei, when the bus they were on stopped to let people board and alight.

As the bus was about to leave, the driver waited, since there was a boy some 30 metres away who had broken into a run in the hopes of catching the bus.

When the boy got on, however, he simply tapped his EZ-Link card and went on inside, neither looking at nor acknowledging that the driver had waited for him.

At that point, since the light was red, the driver stayed at the bus stop, in case anyone still needed a ride. When the traffic light turned green, he saw two more people running to catch the bus, and therefore kept waiting.

The post author added that, like the boy, the two people just tapped their cards and proceeded to find a seat without so much as a nod or acknowledgement to the driver, who could’ve just ignored them and driven off.

“It was a disappointing start to the morning. So please, next time you’re on the bus, give your bus driver a smile. Simple gestures can make someone’s day, and lastly, shoutout to you, SBS 8413R! You are appreciated.”

Many Reddit users echoed the post author’s sentiments in their comments, evidently agreeing that they are some of Singapore’s unsung heroes.

When one suggested that u/Bearbaggs write to the bus company, adding, “That will make the Bus Captain’s day!” as it turns out, the post author has already done so.

“Respect to the bus drivers who wait for last-minute arrivals! I have encountered a few myself, and would always say thanks to the driver,” another wrote, although they added that not all drivers are like this, as some take off even when they see people running to catch the bus.

Others chimed in, however, to say that the buses are on a strict time schedule and can’t always wait.

One wrote that since a bus driver “has no obligation to wait, saying a simple thank you goes a long way.”

“I’m always thankful for the drivers who wait for me as I sprint over to the closing doors. The surprised looks, followed by a nod and a smile when I thank them, always make my day too,” another added.

“Was on the bus around Marine Parade yesterday, and this lady was running towards the bus stop. There was no one else boarding/alighting, so he actually stopped a short distance away from the bus stop so that the lady wouldn’t have to keep running. Didn’t see whether she thanked the driver since the bus was full, but it’s really rare to see people mutter a word of thanks for drivers who wait/go the extra mile for passengers. I think service staff in general are underappreciated, so do write in to their companies to compliment them,” a commenter observed. /TISG

Read also: Woman honours bus driver who has considered her ‘family’ since she was 17, invites him to her wedding

Jetstar Asia staff offered ‘attractive’ severance package and job support after ‘quite sudden’ closure

By
Mary Alavanza
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0
FB screengrab/ Jetstar Asia

SINGAPORE: More than 500 Jetstar Asia staff based in Singapore will be laid off when the Qantas low-cost subsidiary ceases operations on Jul 31. The closure was announced to employees through a company-wide email at about 7 a.m. on Thursday (Jun 12), just before the public announcement. While some found the move “extreme,” others appreciated what they described as an “attractive” severance package, Channel News Asia (CNA) reported.

Shortly after the official announcement, a company town hall was held at Changi Airport Terminal 1, with an option to attend virtually, a flight attendant said. During the meeting, management discussed the company’s challenges, including operating expenses and fuel prices, as reasons for Jetstar Asia’s closure.

A cabin crew member who had worked for Jetstar Asia for three years said the news was “sad and disappointing.”  “The management did call us up individually and asked us how we are coping and are we okay, because we still have to work,” he said.

Meanwhile, a pilot who joined the company less than a year ago told CNA that they had “no real clue” that such a “quite sudden” move was coming. However, he noted that the severance package was “attractive” and “quite good,” especially for those who have been with the airline for longer.

The severance package includes four weeks’ salary for each year of service with the airline, a bonus for the current financial year, a special thank-you payment, and continued access to staff travel perks for a period equal to their tenure.

Jetstar is also supporting employees in securing new roles across the aviation sector. Staff said they were given channels to other airlines, including Singapore Airlines (SIA), Emirates, and Qatar Airways, in addition to Jetstar Airways and Jetstar Japan.

“They handled it quite well, they tried to give us other opportunities,” the pilot said.

Unions have also stepped in for support. Labour chief Ng Chee Meng said the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU), and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) would be providing on-site support from next week at Changi’s Terminal 1. Mr Ng said this includes career coaching, employability support, and training.

Mr Ng added that they are exploring opportunities for SIA Group to match affected Jetstar Asia employees, including crew and corporate staff, to suitable roles where possible.

Jetstar Asia “wants to keep the flights going,” said the pilot, adding that cancelling flights now would affect many people, given it’s the holiday period. /TISG

Read also: Scoot to take over Jetstar Asia’s Okinawa and Labuan Bajo routes

1,000 malicious IPs taken down in Singapore as Interpol cracks down on infostealer malware in landmark operation

By
A. Aman
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0
Photo: Interpol

SINGAPORE: In one of the most coordinated international cybercrime crackdowns to date, over 1,000 malicious IP addresses in Singapore were wiped from the internet. This comes as part of Operation Secure, a four-month investigation involving law enforcement from 26 countries, targeting a rising digital threat: infostealer malware.

What’s an infostealer? Think of it as a silent thief lurking inside your device — grabbing your browser passwords, credit card numbers, cookies, crypto wallet keys — and then selling them on the dark web to the highest bidder. These logs are the skeleton keys that cybercriminals use to unlock everything from ransomware deployments to full-blown identity theft and corporate espionage.

Interpol’s cyber clean-up

20,000 malicious IPs and domains taken down in INTERPOL infostealer crackdown
Photo: Interpol

Interpol announced on June 11 that the operation netted serious results:

  • 20,000 IP addresses and domains taken offline

  • 41 command servers seized

  • Over 100 GB of criminal data extracted

  • 32 cyber suspects arrested globally

  • 216,000 victims alerted

And among that, Singapore stood out, with 1,000+ local IPs neutralised thanks to joint work by the Singapore Police Force’s Cybercrime Command and the Cyber Security Agency (CSA).

Singapore responds

Assistant Commissioner Paul Tay, head of the Cybercrime Command, noted:

“Our strong collaboration with local and international partners was key to dismantling these networks. We’ll continue to work closely with CSA and others to protect Singaporeans and businesses — and we won’t hold back against cybercriminals.”

The CSA echoed this, pointing out that Singapore’s digital economy boom has made cybersecurity more than just an IT issue — it’s a national priority.

Why you should care

Unlike flashy ransomware that announces itself with ultimatums, infostealers hide in plain sight. You might never know your device was infected — until your accounts are drained, your company breached, or your data sold to someone halfway across the world.

These tools often sneak in through phishing links, shady downloads, or browser plugins that seem harmless. And once in, they open the door to global-scale cyberattacks.

That’s why Operation Secure isn’t just a cyber-police milestone — it’s a global wake-up call.

The bigger picture

As governments, hospitals, banks, and even homes become increasingly digitised, cybersecurity can’t stay local. The threats don’t respect borders, and now, finally, the response doesn’t either.

Operation Secure shows what’s possible when agencies share intelligence, cross jurisdictions, and strike before the damage is done.

It also makes this clear: Cybercrime is no longer a faceless digital nuisance — it’s a threat to everyday lives, economies, and national security.

And the world is watching how we respond.

Starvation crisis deepens; Kenyan refugee wards overflow with children after U.S. slashes aid

By
Gemma Iso
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0
Photo: Pexels (for illustration purpose only)

KENYA: In the scorching heat of north-western Kenya, fear and worry grip the expansive Kakuma evacuee campground, where approximately 300,000 exiled people are now living on a fraction of their past food provisions. According to a recent BBC report, scrawny children lie immobile in infirmary beds, suffering from extreme critical malnutrition, as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) cautions a “slowly starving population.”

At Amusait Hospital, emaciated bodies indicate the marks of starvation. One baby, Hellen, lies immobile with flaking, red skin, her ailment a direct consequence of insufficient nourishment. In an adjacent area, nine-month-old James, the youngest of eight children, grips to life as his mother Agnes Awila begs, “The food is not enough. My children eat only once a day. If there’s no food, what do you feed them?”

From three meals to one; families on the brink

The WFP has dropped provisions to just 30% of the least suggested consumption after the U.S., once its major benefactor, reduced support, citing President Donald Trump’s “America First” overseas aid program. The cascading impacts have been distressing.

Mothers like Mukuniwa Bililo Mami, a diabetic evacuee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, now struggle to make a single monthly share last two months. Once able to complement her nourishment and income through UN-issued cash transfers, she now depends on lentil plant and rice. “We used to eat three times a day. Now, I don’t know how long this will last,” she says.

The removal of the “bamba chakula” cash package, which infused $4 million per month into refugee families, has strangled local markets. Sellers like Badaba Ibrahim, a dealer from Sudan’s Nuba Mountains, can no longer provide credit. “Customers come and camp outside my shop all day. They tell me their children haven’t eaten in 24 hours,” he said with desperation.

Hunger shadows the future as aid dries up

In improvised accommodations made of grooved metal, families like Agnes Livio’s wait until mid-afternoon for their first meal of the day. “We used to get porridge in the morning, but not anymore,” says the South Sudanese mother of five.

At Amusait Hospital, children who have extra nourishment are being sent back into communities where food is precariously infrequent. With a tiny chance of a new subsidy before August, charitable organisation representatives are anxious about a disastrous food emergency.

Felix Okech, WFP’s head of evacuee actions in Kenya, warns, “If this continues, we are talking about starvation at scale. Even with some potential support, we are still facing a 70% shortfall.”

Without direct and significant donor interference, Kakuma’s inhabitants face an ugly future, one where famine, not war, could become the most lethal menace of all.

Scoot to take over Jetstar Asia’s Okinawa and Labuan Bajo routes

By
Mary Alavanza
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0
Scoot 787 take off
Photo: Scoot

SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) low-cost carrier, Scoot, will take over Jetstar Asia’s exclusive routes to Okinawa in Japan and Labuan Bajo in Indonesia, with new services expected to begin during the Northern Winter 2025 season, from Oct 26, 2025 to Mar 28, 2026, Mothership reported, citing a spokesperson from SIA Group.

The spokesperson said Scoot plans to operate four weekly flights to Okinawa, two to Labuan Bajo, and daily flights to Medan, pending regulatory approval.

This follows Qantas’ announcement on Wednesday (Jun 11) that its Singapore-based budget airline will cease operations on Jul 31, citing “really high cost increases” and strong competition with regional low-cost carriers.

According to Reuters, citing the flag carrier’s spokesperson, the airline will also increase flight frequencies on other affected routes, including services from Singapore to Colombo, Jakarta, and Manila. Full schedules for these routes will be released at a later date.

In May, the airline announced it would ramp up services to Australia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan.

SIA also previously stated that it had established channels to expedite job applications for Jetstar Asia staff within the group. /TISG

Read also: Income Insurance to fully reimburse policyholders with Jetstar Asia bookings after July 31

Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)

WTA now protects rankings of players undergoing fertility procedures

By
Aiah Bathan
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0
Photo: Freepik

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) recently announced that it now protects the rankings of female athletes who wish to take time off the sport for fertility procedures, such as egg or embryo freezing. 

This new rule followed after the governing body introduced up to 12 months of paid maternity leave for players. This applies to athletes who are ranked in the top 750 and who are out for over 10 weeks. Eligible athletes will get a special ranking to enter up to three tournaments once they return to the sport. With this, WTA aims to support female athletes to balance their careers and family planning. 

“Eligible players will receive a Special Entry Ranking (SER), which can be used to enter up to three tournaments, based on the 12-week average of their WTA Ranking from eight weeks prior to the start of their out-of-competition period,” the WTA said in a statement.

Moreover, the WTA also announced that athletes will receive grants for fertility treatments through the WTA Maternity Fund, sponsored by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). The governing body also has a health team that offers physical check-ups, mental health support, and consultation for pregnant players and new mothers. 

Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, was among those who previously called for egg freezing to be included under protected ranking.

“For any woman, the conversation of family life versus a career is nuanced and complex… The WTA has now created a safe space for players to explore options and to make the best decisions for themselves… It’s truly ground-breaking and will empower this generation, and future generations of players, to continue with the sport they love without having to compromise,” she shared.

In a social media post, WTA shared the news with the caption: “We are proud to introduce a groundbreaking Special Eligibility Ranking Rule, offering players protected rankings while undergoing fertility protection procedures. 💫”

Netizens largely praised the move, calling it an empowering moment for women in sports. Many celebrated it as a step in the right direction for gender equality and athlete support.

“I love this! So glad that this type of action is taking place. It’s the only way forward🔥🙌🏼” and “No personal interest in having kids but this is a huge W for women! Proud of this sport. 🙌🏼”

Tennis is not the first sport to support fertility procedures for female athletes. The WNBA also offers $60,000 (£52,500) to cover female basketball athletes’ fertility treatments, which also include egg freezing. Indeed, governing bodies are now determined to support women athletes in planning their family life without compromising their sporting career.

World Bank lifts nuclear funding ban to fuel energy growth in developing nations

By
Gemma Iso
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0
Photo: Wikipedia / CC

WASHINGTON: World Bank President Ajay Banga has announced the agency’s withdrawal of the World Bank’s longtime veto on nuclear energy funding. The said pronouncement was sent as a directive to staff, calling it “real progress toward delivering electricity as a driver of development.”

A new era for nuclear in development financing

According to a recent Reuters report, the act is part of a bigger agenda to address the increasing electricity requirements of emerging economies, where power demands are projected to double by 2035.

The modification follows what Banga designated as a “constructive” board dialogue, with board members arriving at a compromise on the inclusion of nuclear energy. Under the current strategy, the bank will work meticulously with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to guarantee that all endeavours meet stringent international benchmarks for security and non-proliferation. The policy covers supporting life extensions for current apparatuses, grid advancements, and the positioning of small modular reactors (SMRs).

Gas projects still in limbo amid board divisions

While nuclear has gained support, the discussion over whether to continue financing ambitious natural gas ventures remains unsettled. Some countries, principally Germany, France, and the UK, remain vigilant about consenting to fresh investments in gas infrastructure, alluding to climate apprehensions. On the contrary, the U.S., the bank’s major stakeholder, has pushed for larger energy decisions and possibilities, including gas, as a component of its enduring support for conventional fuel sources.

The World Bank will remain supportive of gas infrastructures in progress and consequent projects, such as conduits and distribution systems, but only when associated with national development objectives and where renewables are not workable options. However, earlier investments, those involving extraction and production, have been taken off the agenda for now.

 Balancing development goals with climate action

Banga, who began serving as president in June 2023, has endorsed an “all of the above” energy slant. The reviewed policy intends to provide emerging economies flexibility in selecting their energy mix, whether it be renewables, nuclear, or natural gas, based on their precise economic and geographic circumstances.

“We must be pragmatic,” Banga stressed. The bank also reiterated its promise to gradually eliminate coal, backing up carbon capture technologies for industrial and power segments, and guaranteeing fresh investments don’t weaken advancement on renewable energy.

Climate activists warn that revived support for nuclear and gas could divert subsidies from clean energy upgrading and climate flexibility. “Net zero does not mean fossil fuel free,” said Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley during the latest consultations, underscoring the role of natural gas as a provisional fuel.

The program update demonstrates a calculated balancing act for the World Bank, striving to push development while addressing global environmental strains.

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