Latest news with #Merlion
Time Out
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
All aboard: Catch these SG60-themed train cabins and buses before they're gone
Noticed that some MRT cabins or buses look a little different lately? That's because they've been decked out in special SG60-themed designs featuring iconic Singapore landmarks. To mark the country's 60th birthday, the Land Transport Authority has teamed up with the National Day Parade 2025 Executive Committee, SBS Transit and SMRT to transform selected parts of our public transport system into moving tributes to Singapore. But not every train or bus gets this SG60 makeover, so keep your eyes peeled for these limited-edition rides. The decor sticks to the familiar red and white colour palette of the Singapore flag, with adorable illustrations of national icons like Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Flyer, the Merlion and more. The train floors also mimic lush green fields dotted with colourful flowers, a nod to Singapore's "City in a Garden" vision. You'll spot these SG60-themed designs on selected MRT trains across all lines, and on bus services 43, 97, 117, 157, and 960. A handful of MRT stations, including Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bukit Panjang, Dhoby Ghaut, Marine Parade, Punggol, Serangoon, and Woodlands, have also joined in the festivities, sporting similar SG60-themed decor and large wall murals that make great backdrops for snapping a few patriotic selfies. These decorations will be available from now till August 31, 2025. In the meantime, look out for the other SG60 decorations happening around Singapore, including the huge Lego mural at National Museum Singapore and .
Time Out
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This cute 'LimSimi' personality quiz is going viral in Singapore – here's why everyone's taking it
You might remember the "You Simi Flavour" quiz that went viral around this time last year. This year, there's a new personality quiz making waves in Singapore, and just in time for National Day too. Introducing the ' Lim Simi ' personality quiz, a quirky and hyper-local take on your typical MBTI or Enneagram test. Loosely inspired by those personality quizzes we all love to hate, 'Lim Simi' sorts you into a type based on, you guessed it, local drinks. There's teh C kosong, kopi gao, Milo Dinosaur, sugarcane juice, avocado shake, and even soursop juice. Created independently by local creator @tyeckh, the quiz doesn't ask for your email or personal details, just a few minutes of your time and your gut instincts. You'll be taken through a mini-narrative of ten choose-your-own-adventure-style questions. Along the way, you'll travel through a stylised version of Singapore, making pit stops at landmarks like the Merlion, Haji Lane, Gardens by the Bay and even the MRT, all while being asked to choose between options like whether you want to reach your destination quickly and efficiently or take the scenic route. At the end, you'll receive a drink card that reveals your personality type, core traits, strengths and weaknesses, the drinks you vibe with, and the ones that might 'taste funky' to you. For such a short quiz, we found it strangely accurate and we definitely felt attacked by the weaknesses section. The quiz has already gone viral on WhatsApp group chats and Instagram Stories, with thousands sharing their results and comparing drink personalities with friends. It taps into our collective love for fun, low-stakes personality quizzes, plus who wouldn't want to be associated with all our favourite kopitiam drinks?
Forbes
04-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
City Developments, UOL Shares Drop After Singapore Tightens Property Curbs
The Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino and the Merlion statue in Singapore, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. ... More Shares of Singapore's biggest developers fell on Friday after the government introduced new measures to curb housing prices in one of the world's most expensive property markets. The government raised the stamp duty for investors who sell their private homes within four years, according to a joint statement from the Ministry of National Development, Ministry of Finance and Monetary Authority of Singapore late Thursday. Under the new rules that will take effect from today, those selling their property within one year of purchase will have to pay a 16% tax from 12% previously. The holding period for homes that will incur the stamp duty has also been extended to four years from three years previously. Shares of developers fell in Singapore midafternoon trading. City Developments declined 3.3%, while those of UOL Group slipped 2.9% and Frasers Property fell 0.6%. The government is introducing fresh measures to tame the increasing subsales—the practice of selling uncompleted residential developments for a quick profit—Leonard Tay, research head of Knight Frank in Singapore, wrote in an emailed statement. From just 198 transactions in 2020, the number of sub sales jumped to 1,428 in 2024, it noted. 'The government is not taking the risk of subsales pushing up prices, even though this might-or-might not happen and has decided to increase the holding period and seller's stamp duty rates,' Tay wrote. While the number of new private home sales dropped to a five-month low in May, prices remained resilient, rising 0.5% in the second quarter from the previous three months, according to preliminary data released by the government this week. The government has been trying to rein in property prices with a number of cooling measures such as higher levies on foreign buyers that was introduced in 2023. The government's fresh property curbs should have a muted impact on the housing market, Vijay Natarajan, an analyst at RHB Investment Bank in Singapore, said. 'We believe the majority of buyers at new launches are genuine home owners,' he said. 'Furthermore, the ramp-up in new home supply over the last two years and a volatile macroeconomic condition has reduced the allure of speculative purchases at new launches.' Following a lull in new launches in recent months, some developers have unveiled new projects recently. Frasers Property—controlled by by Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi and his family—and Japan's Sekisui House have started marketing the 348-unit The Robertson Opus, a residential and retail complex, along the Singapore River near the Raffles Place central business district. City Developments—controlled by billionaire Kwek Leng Beng and his family—is preparing to launch the 706-unit Zyon Grand near the Orchard Road shopping district in the second half. UOL Group—controlled by the family of late banking and real estate tycoon Wee Cho Yaw—is also planning to market the 301-unit Upperhouse residential tower on Orchard Boulevard later this year.
Buzz Feed
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Beyond Orchard Road: Hidden Gems For Unique Souvenirs And Finds In Singapore
You've conquered Orchard Road, Singapore's retail colossus, and your luggage is probably bursting with international brands. But hold up, souvenir hunter! If you're looking for something truly special, something that screams "I went to Singapore and got this," consider going beyond the typical choices. Ditch the generic keychains and mass-produced Merlion replicas, because we're about to uncover some hidden gems for unique finds that will make all your friends jealous. 1. Haji Lane for vintage goods and trinkets 2. Gillman Barracks: Former British Army quarters turned art enclave 3. Open Door Store: Arts and goods from local designers 4. Tiong Bahru Market: Where heritage meets local culture So, next time you're in Singapore, ditch the ordinary and dive into these incredible hidden gems. Your suitcase (and your Instagram feed) will thank you! Haji Lane pub and shopping street
Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Local start-up turns recycled plastic bottles into blind-box Fortune Merlion collectibles
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox It took local start-up Unigons some 30 or so recycled plastic bottles to make each of these 3D-printed Merlion collectibles. SINGAPORE – If you like cute collectibles, but are hesitant about contributing to junk plastic waste, local start-up Unigons has a green concept: Merlion figurines made of recycled plastic bottles in 10 different colourways, all waving their left paws in the style of the Fortune Cat. For SG60, only 60 pieces of these Fortune Merlion figurines have been crafted. Priced at $118, each 3D-printed Merlion is packaged in a blind box and designed with a pedestal base that doubles as a hidden compartment. The compartment contains accessories for the Merlion, including six charms engraved with auspicious words in Chinese script, such as wealth and longevity. Any of these charms can be attached to the right paw of the Fortune Merlion. According to Unigons, each 18cm-tall Merlion required some 30 discarded PET plastic bottles as raw material, many donated by beverage giant Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo's). Unigons co-founder Joe Chua, who designed the collectibles, says that PET is among the few plastics that can be recycled into filaments for 3D-printing. 'We used more than 50 3D printers across Singapore and Vietnam for this project, and worked with PlasticTinkers, a local 3D printing start-up,' says Mr Chua, 50. The first critical step was separating the PET waste from PP, PVC and other plastics, after which the PET waste was then thoroughly cleaned and dried. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No train service across entire Bukit Panjang LRT line due to power fault Singapore Pedestrian-only path rules to be enforced reasonably; focus on errant cyclists: Baey Yam Keng Singapore 17-year-old youth charged with trespassing on MRT tracks; to be remanded at IMH World Trump tax Bill stalled by Republican rebellion in Congress Business Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs companywide in second major wave of layoffs this year Asia Malaysian nurses following the money abroad for more opportunities Opinion How Apple gave 'the gift of fire' to Chinese electronics firms Asia US, India push for trade pact after Trump strikes deal with Vietnam: Sources 'We added colourants to create custom hues before melting and extruding the plastic into filament suitable for 3D printing. It's not the fastest or cheapest route, but it's the most meaningful one.' he says. 'It adds to the story of each piece.' Unigons was founded in 2017, with the intent of developing creative technology that prioritises sustainability. The company's early projects include an eco-friendly hand-sanitiser refill dispenser, launched in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unigons co-founder Joe Chua with some of the 3D-printed Fortune Merlions made of recycled plastic bottles. PHOTOS: UNIGONS In the last two to three years, Mr Chua noticed during his travels that European brands had begun to embrace the concept of circular economy in production. He also observed the concurrent boom of blind boxes and collectible toys in Singapore. 'I thought: What if we designed collectibles using recycled PET? With the right design and branding, we could increase the value of recycled plastic from 80 cents to over $50 a kilogram, and in doing so, create a new kind of demand for local recycled material,' he says. Despite their potential, 3D-printed collectibles – much less those made from recycled plastic – have yet to take off, Mr Chua acknowledges. 'Many discerning collectors tend to shy away from 3D-printed pieces, often associating them with rough, unfinished surfaces and low-quality output,' he says. But recent innovations in recycling technology have helped to narrow the gap in the quality between recycled and virgin plastic. 'We're seeing recycled PET being used to create smoother, more durable and more detailed products, opening the door for plastic waste to be transformed into high-value, collectible items that people cherish rather than discard,' says Mr Chua. Some 25 pieces of the Fortune Merlions were printed first, and sold out quickly in an initial 'early bird' drop in mid-June. Mr Chua says that batch was a testing of the waters. 'We were a little nervous. It was only after the success of this first drop that we went ahead with the remaining 35 pieces.' Each Fortune Merlion comes with a pedestal base that also stores accessories for the collectible. PHOTO: UNIGONS The second drop will be launched at Blaxk by ActionCity in Funan Mall on July 25. 'The beauty of 3D printing is that it gives us this freedom to produce on-demand and avoid waste,' says Mr Chua. After this first batch of 60 for SG60, Mr Chua anticipates new and different Fortune Merlion designs in the future, with unique twists. 'Maybe a kaya-toast Merlion or one bearing a pair of wings to soar,' he suggests.
