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A 500m stretch of Orchard Road — the section running in front of Plaza Singapura, the Istana and Concorde Hotel — will be pedestrianised as part of a broader project to redevelop Dhoby Ghaut. According to The Straits Times (ST), plans for the area include an extension of the Istana Park, making it three times larger and integrating the neighbouring Dhoby Ghaut Green and Penang Road Open Space. The Istana Park is currently 1.3 hectares. The work will be completed progressively from 2025. More facilities and activity spaces To facilitate the pedestrianisation of the section of Orchard Road between Handy Road and Buyong Road, a portion of Penang Road — a one-way road with up to five lanes — will be made two-way. As part of the facelift, ST cited the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in reporting that the area will be remoulded to include: An orchid-themed garden A flexible activity space A nature-play garden featuring a water-play area Integration with the Istana's entrance Source: https://mothership.sg/2022/09/dhoby-ghaut-redevelopment/ A visit to URA's website will show you a fuller picture of the planned developments. A. Inclusive Playground at Dhoby Ghaut Green A family-friendly play area within a pocket park with lush greenery for children of all abilities to explore and learn about nature in a fun manner. B. New Water-Play Features at Dhoby Ghaut Green The water play features can reflect the original alignment of the Stamford Canal before it was redirected and allow children to interact with various water elements set within a lush park setting. C. New Sheltered Events Space at Dhoby Ghaut Green The all-weather activity lawn with a canopy can serve as a flexible events space to host various events from F&B festivals to fashion shows. D. New Park Entrance @ Dhoby Ghaut Green Dhoby Ghaut Green is envisioned as attractive and family-friendly, fronting the former Park Mall and linking to Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station. https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Planning/Master-Plan/Regional-Highlights/Central-Area/Orchard-Road/Bring-Back-the-Orchard

Another day and another careless driver. Today, we have for you guys an accident that happened at the junction of Orchard Road and Buyong Road. As seen from the photo, a SMRT cab has collided with a Nissan truck which in turn has flipped over. We hope those involved in the accident are alright as of press time, though there is currently no news on whether there are any injuries or not. 8e96337c-f950-4b82-a6ef-90577e45cdbc.MP4 From the video, we can understand a bit better what caused the truck to flip over. That said, we have no idea why the taxi slowly crept forward into the junction although the lights did not turn green. We did note that his brake lights weren't on all when he came into frame, suggesting to us that he could have fallen asleep at the wheel, letting the car roll forward into traffic.

If you’ve ever wanted to work at the Istana, now might be your chance. The official residence and office of the President of Singapore has put up a job advertisement on the Careers @ Gov portal. The opening? A butler position. Responsibilities Under the title “Assistant Senior Butler/ Butler”, the advert says that the responsibilities include providing hospitality services, along with food and beverages to guests at the Istana. Butlers will also have to perform housekeeping duties such as readying the Istana for events, setting up ceremonial props or tables, and helping in various places such as the kitchen, linen room or floral arrangement room. There is even an opportunity for applicants with relevant past working experience to be appointed at a higher level, leading a team of butlers and performing other administrative and logistical duties. In order to apply, applicants must be Singapore citizens, and if successful, will be offered a one or two year contract in the first instance. Butlers will also have to perform housekeeping duties such as readying the Istana for events, setting up ceremonial props or tables, and helping in various places such as the kitchen, linen room or floral arrangement room. There is even an opportunity for applicants with relevant past working experience to be appointed at a higher level, leading a team of butlers and performing other administrative and logistical duties. In order to apply, applicants must be Singapore citizens, and if successful, will be offered a one or two year contract in the first instance. https://mothership.sg/2019/07/istana-butler-job/

So I went to Istana on Tuesday. Was very very surprised to see a GOLF course inside. So has any bro played golf there? Who was it designed / constructed for and why?

If you had seen the change of parade of ours at the Istana.... then you realize it is not really precision drill compared to this : Do it without beats from music. Search for silent drills by the marine corps.. the rifle inspection is amazing as part of the drill routine. 3:30 onwards

http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/lee-kuan-yew-attends-chinese-new-year-party-istana-20140209 "Former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew attended an annual Chinese New Year party for grassroots leaders at the Istana on Sunday evening..." It's always nice to see him make a public appearance these days. Looks like he finally switched from his trusted Lexus to a Mercedes-Benz W221, too.

Wa lao... Still can smile somemore. http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/istana-site-hacking-businessman-charged-unauthorised-modification-webp Businessman Delson Moo was charged in court on Friday with two counts of unauthorised modification of computer material under the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act. This is in relation to the recent hacking of an Istana webpage on Nov 8. Moo had allegedly intruded into the website twice at 12.34am that night through its search function and modified the code to cause the site to display a picture of an old woman pointing her middle finger, along with a string of offensive words in Hokkien. The case against the 42-year-old has been stood down until 2.30pm, to allow time for a decision to be made after he requested for the court's permission to leave the country from Dec 4 to Dec 8. Student Melvin Teo, the second suspect reportedly linked to the cyber intrusion of the Istana website, is expected to appear in court at the same time to face charges. The 17-year-old's name was not indicated in the charges against Moo. Moo, who remains on $10,000 bail, arrived at the court earlier at about 9.15 am. He was accompanied by a woman, believed to be his wife, and lawyer M. Ravi. Mr Ravi is also representing James Raj Arokiasamy, whom court documents previously identified as the alleged hacker who used "The Messiah" pseudonym. The 35-year-old accused of hacking the Ang Mo Kio Town Council website has been remanded for further investigations. Police had said previously that the ases against Moo and Melvin are not linked to James Raj, who also faces drug offences committed in 2011.

Baffles me as well... From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Online...ory_703082.html Baffled by body find near Istana YESTERDAY'S report ('Decayed body found in drain near Istana grounds') concerned and baffled me. The grounds of the Istana, its surroundings and peripheral roads and byways are supposed to be protected and heavily guarded by auxiliary police officers, Singapore Armed Forces personnel and officers from the Security Command of the Singapore Police Force. I also understand there are round-the-clock perimeter patrols carried out by auxiliary police officers who are tasked with maintaining stringent security standards. Thus it baffles me that none of the auxiliary police officers on perimeter patrols came across the corpse, even when the body was decomposing. It takes about 30 hours for decomposition to occur in this climate and the stench can be detected kilometres away. It is strange that police officers who are trained to be alert did not stumble across the body, let alone smell the decomposition in the air. Lionel De Souza

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/S...ory_702663.html An unidentified body has been found near the back gates of the Istana this morning. Police have cordoned the area along Cavenagh Road and are investigating. Onlookers have reported a rotten stench in the area.

singapore government directory website lists the addresses of all MPs... http://app.sgdi.gov.sg/listing.asp?agency_...y_id=0000004564 LKY and GCT still have offices at Istana Annexe. wonder if they still have police escort. wong kan seng's address has become a mail box. mah bow tan's address is his PAP branch.

This 43 year old Mrs Zhang from China enrolled her daughter in a private school. For some reason, she wanted the school fees returned but was unsuccessful. Feeling helpless, she went to the Istana hoping to find an official she could talk too. The woman held a lighter in her hand and even drenched her head with some flammable liquid. She was arrested and is currently out on bail 为女儿注册私人学校，结果引起纠纷，讨不回学费，中国女郎在总统府前大闹，打火机油淋头，恫言自杀，遭警方逮捕。 这起事故发生在昨午5时许，地点是乌节路一带的总统府前。据了解，被逮捕的是一名43岁的张姓女子，事后她被带到东陵警署盘问，目前保释在外。 据悉，闹自杀的女郎来自中国，在不久之前，曾替女儿在本地的私人学校注册课程。间中，由于出现问题，女郎向学校要求退回学费，但却不得要领。 在求助无门的情况下，女郎决定去到总统府，希望找官员帮忙。岂料过后女郎竟手拿打火机，并且从塑料中取出装有易燃液体的小罐子，往头上倒，企图自杀。 一般相信，由于局势失控，眼见女郎情绪失控，在总统府驻守的警员，立刻向警方寻求援助。

Anyone served as Istana guard during their NS? How's life as a perpetual statue? Is it true you will get punished for the slightest movement? How do you survive open houses when there are pesky kids around? How do you stay awake and fight boredom while standing there?

Vui Kong's family (his father, brothers, sisters, aunts and cousins), kneeling in front of the Istana this morning. The family was there to deliver their own petition to the President asking him to grant clemency to Vui Kong. Vui Kong is the second youngest in the family. Source You are entitled to your opinions. But do put yourself in their shoes and spare a thought.