Images 2016 happy new year

For such a small country, Singapore sure has a lot of property options and nuances – which can certainly be overwhelming for new home buyers and first-time investors. It doesn’t help that you can sometimes find contradictory information, from different websites and sources. The good news is, a lot of Singapore’s property market has moved into the digital space – and a lot of information you once had to pay for is now free (to a certain extent). Here are some of the more useful ones for personal research: 1. URA transaction data We’ll let you in on a secret: most property websites and agents all draw their transaction data from the same well – the URA transaction data service. Here’s how it works: When someone buys a property, the first step is often to secure the Option to Purchase (OTP). Once this is done, a caveat is lodged with URA. This information is made available to the public. This is because sellers are not supposed to entertain further offers once you have the ... » Learn More about 10 free property research tools to boost your chances of buying the right property

Instagram feeds saturated with stunning shots from across the globe are inspiring a new generation of travellers. But when scenic spots become inundated with inconsiderate snappers, problems usually arise. Jemma Hands has been a digital nomad for the last four years and has noticed an increasing number of photo shoots being done at scenic landmarks. "I used to have to fight through a barrage of selfie sticks when I visited places," says the 32-year-old graphic designer, who lived in Hong Kong before hitting the road. "Now, it's crowds of people carrying out full-blown photo sessions to post on their social media. It's getting crazy." Hands says it is vital tourists respect their surroundings. She recalls some social media influencers with whom she was trekking through Nepal's Annapurna region rudely placing props in the hands of confused indigenous tribeswomen. "Be considerate to locals and your environment," she says. "Of course, we all want to capture beautiful places to ... » Learn More about 7 scenic spots being ruined by Instagram tourists, from Paris to Hong Kong

Sarah Geronimo (Image: screengrab from YouTube/Viva Records) It appears that the Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo has reached new heights. A few days after Geronimo married her longtime boyfriend and now husband Matteo Guidicelli, the singer achieved another milestone by garnering over 100 million views for the music video of her hit single “Tala” on YouTube. The pop track’s iconic music video, which has been up on the site since July 11, 2016, turned into a dance craze last year after celebrities and Geronimo’s fans recreated its dance steps on social media together with hashtag #TalaDanceChallenge. The single is part of Geronimo’s 2015 album “The Great Unknown.” From 19 million views last December , the music video’s views skyrocketed to 100,877,190 views and counting as of this writing. Geronimo was recently involved in a series of issues after tying the knot with Guidicelli on Feb. 20. The singer’s bodyguard, Jerry Tamara , said he will file a complaint against ... » Learn More about ‘Tala’ music video reaches 100M views after Sarah Geronimo, Matteo Guidicelli’s wedding

SINGAPORE - Tired of missing her firstborn's milestones, Ms Fathiah Nur Liyana Rokhmat, 35, quit her job as a teacher in 2012 to be a stay-at-home mum. When boredom set in, she started sewing special occasion outfits for relatives and friends. Her hobby blossomed into a bridal wear business called Fanurly, a play on her name. The eight-year-old business was "thriving", she says. Buoyed by the expectation of more Malay weddings, she invested her profits in a showroom early this year. Then the pandemic hit, brides cancelled their orders and she had to cut the lease short. She spent the circuit breaker doing "a lot of crying", while taking the opportunity to spend time with her four children, aged nine to one. Then, an idea came. Ms Liyana, whose husband, 35, is a civil servant, started offering wedding-worthy masks and niqab (face coverings) about two weeks ago. They haev proven to be a hit and she has sold more than 100 pieces, with prices ranging from $28 to $38. It ... » Learn More about Retooling businesses and raising kids: Mumpreneurs struggle to keep it together