chris murkin posted a photo:
G-AWII RAF Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk-VC AR501 DU-E No 310 Czechoslovak Squadron
This spitfire was built at Yeovil in Somerset and delivered to 310 RAF Squadron based at Exeter in 1942
Photo taken at Old Warden Shuttleworth Wings & Wheels Air Show 30th May 2026
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chris murkin posted a photo:
RAF Supermarine Spitfire MkV G-AISU AB910 BBMF AE-H
Aircraft is based at RAF Coningsby and is part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Collection
Photo taken at Old Warden Shuttleworth Wings & Wheels Air Show 30th May 2026
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chris murkin posted a photo:
1940 VH-WWY CA-3 Wirraway RAAF A20-176
Photo Taken at Warbirds over Scone NSW Australia March 2026
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chris murkin posted a photo:
ZK-BAC 1967 BAC-167 Strikermaster RNZAF NZ6372
Photo Taken April 2026 at Warbirds over Wanaka New Zealand
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KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) has been mobilised to monitor coastal areas in Sandakan, Sabah, as a precaution following a strong earthquake in Mindanao, Philippines, this morning.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the areas under monitoring include Taman Harmoni, Kampung Forest, Sim-Sim, the Sandakan town centre and Pasir Putih.
Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the National Disaster Management Committee, said field monitoring has shown that the situation in the affected areas is safe and stable, with no unusual incidents so far.
“I am aware of the tremors experienced in several areas in Sabah, along with the early tsunami warning issued earlier by MetMalaysia (Malaysian Meteorological Department).
“Alhamdulillah, the warning has been lifted. Nevertheless, I urge the public, particularly in Sabah, to remain cautious and continue following the instructions of the authorities,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid conveyed his condolences and sympathy to the people of the Philippines affected by the disaster and prayed for strength for all victims and their families.
“Malaysia is always prepared to offer any assistance as a close friend and Asean partner,” he said.
He also cautioned the public against circulating false or unverified information that could cause panic and advised them to consult MetMalaysia’s official channels for the latest updates.
At least 15 people have been killed and 134 others injured after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Mindanao at 7.37am today. — Bernama
SINGAPORE: A luxury yacht caught fire at Sentosa Cove on Sunday morning, sending thick black smoke into the sky and drawing the attention of residents, hotel guests and boaters nearby.
The fire broke out at about 8:10 am on June 7 at 11 Cove Drive, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). The vessel, a yacht berthed at a pontoon, was already fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.
SCDF said its land-based teams reached the scene within seven minutes and immediately began firefighting operations from the pontoon. What started as a marina fire soon became more challenging when the burning yacht drifted away from its berth during the operation.
That unexpected movement forced firefighters to adapt on the spot. To support the effort, SCDF activated a marine vessel. At the height of the operation, firefighters used two water jets from the pontoon and a water monitor from the marine vessel to bring the blaze under control, and no injuries were reported.
The incident unfolded at ONE15 Marina Sentosa Cove, an area better known for luxury yachts, waterfront homes and weekend leisure activities than emergency operations.
According to a June 7 Channel NewsAsia (CNA) report, the vessel involved was Eagle Wings III, a 112-foot yacht used for private charters and events. Thick smoke could be seen from across the marina, attracting the attention of guests staying nearby.
Two hotel guests said they noticed the smoke shortly after leaving their room and were surprised by the scale of the fire. Photos and videos shared online showed flames consuming much of the yacht as emergency crews worked to contain the blaze.
A yacht fire is already a difficult situation. A moving yacht makes it even harder. Unlike a building fire, a vessel can shift position because of wind, currents or damage caused by the blaze itself.
When the yacht drifted away from the pontoon, firefighters had to continue battling the fire while preventing further risks to nearby boats and marina infrastructure.
The incident also showed why Singapore maintains both land-based and marine firefighting capabilities. Having crews on the water allowed SCDF to continue attacking the blaze from multiple angles when conditions changed.
By Monday, ONE15 Marina Sentosa Cove informed members that marina operations had resumed after receiving clearance from the authorities.
The affected berth remains closed as a precaution while safety and environmental measures stay in place. Oil containment barriers were deployed around the damaged vessel, whose burnt hull was left largely submerged after the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
While luxury yachts attract attention for their size and price tags, Sunday’s incident nevertheless proves that emergencies can happen anywhere. Safety systems, emergency planning and rapid response rarely make headlines until the day they are needed most.
And beyond news of a vessel engulfed in fire and smoke, this case demonstrated the speed and coordination of the emergency response team, preventing injuries and preventing a serious blaze from becoming a larger maritime incident.
This article (SCDF: Luxury superyacht catches fire at Sentosa Cove marina, sending thick black smoke into the air while fully engulfed in flames) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.
chris murkin posted a photo:
VH-YVI North American Texan T-6G USAF 51-15202 15202 TA-202
Photo Taken at Warbirds over Scone NSW Australia March 2026
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KUALA NERUS, June 6 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today launched MACCAMPUS, a digital platform incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and gamification to strengthen integrity education and anti-corruption awareness among tertiary students.
MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said the initiative reflects their commitment to engaging university students in enhancing integrity education, corruption prevention and positive values through smartphones and information technology applications.
“To ensure MACC remains capable of engaging university students consistently and effectively, it requires a more innovative, interactive and technology-driven educational approach,” he said when speaking at the Integrity Financial Literacy @ Student Anti-Corruption Programme 2026 at Dewan Sultan Mizan, UMT, here.
He said MACCAMPUS would serve as a digital hub for students involved in anti-corruption initiatives, particularly members of the Student Anti-Corruption Force (AMAR), while facilitating collaboration among participants from more than 120 higher learning institutions.
In addition, the application also features comprehensive learning modules with academic collaboration platforms and student networking functions, while could be expanded to support competitions, mini projects, academic forums, as well as the sharing of ideas and research among students nationwide.
Being the first anti-corruption and integrity education application of its kind to be developed by MACC, MACCAMPUS has the potential to become a technology and intellectual-based platform that integrates education, simulation, gamification, artificial intelligence and academic collaboration.
Through the application, students are expected to become more knowledgeable, confident in making ethical decisions and capable of serving as agents of change who drive a culture of integrity on campuses and in society.
Abd Halim said all university students should make full use of this application to share ideas, reflect and engage in scholarly discourse through its modules, forums and academic discussions.
"This is your space to debate constructively, challenge the status quo with sound arguments and distinguish between facts and propaganda that may distort thinking," he said.
Also present at the programme were UMT Pro-Chancellor and Employees Provident Fund Board Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and UMT Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Zamri Ibrahim. — Bernama
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has warned motorists to expect tighter security checks, road restrictions and heavier traffic near Shangri-La Singapore from May 28 to 31 during the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue.
According to the SPF statement released on May 25, roads around Anderson Road and Orange Grove Road will be affected as ministers, military chiefs, and diplomats arrive for the annual security summit. The event runs from May 29 to 31 at Shangri-La Singapore.
The annual summit has long been one of Singapore’s biggest high-security events. It regularly draws global defence officials, intelligence chiefs, and policymakers for closed-door meetings and public speeches on regional tensions and security issues.
This year’s dialogue comes at a tense period for global politics. Channel NewsAsia (CNA) reported that discussions are expected to focus heavily on the conflict in Iran, tensions in Taiwan, and concerns over the United States’ role in Asia. Vietnamese President To Lam is expected to deliver the keynote address, while US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is also scheduled to speak.
SPF advised motorists to avoid roads near the hotel where possible and use alternative routes instead. Vehicle drivers travelling between Tanglin Road, Stevens Road, Orchard Road, and Balmoral Road are encouraged to reroute through Scotts Road.
Drivers heading towards Ardmore Park will also face temporary access changes. There will be no through road between Ardmore Park lamp post 8 and Anderson Road from 11 pm on May 28 until 5 pm on May 31. Access will instead be through Draycott Park or Draycott Drive.
Commercial vehicles with registration plates beginning with “G”, “W”, “X” or “Y” will not be allowed into Anderson Road during the event period.
The restrictions may frustrate some motorists, especially during the busy weekend shopping and hotel period around Orchard Road. Still, large-scale security operations have become routine during major international summits hosted in Singapore.
Parking inside Shangri-La Singapore will also be limited throughout the summit. SPF advised hotel guests to use public transport, taxis or ride-hailing services instead of driving. Authorities said vehicles parked illegally or causing obstruction will be towed away.
Security checks on vehicles entering the area will also be carried out during the summit period. Police warned that those refusing to comply with officers’ instructions could face legal action.
The tighter arrangements demonstrate how security concerns around international summits have changed over the years. High-profile gatherings involving defence and political leaders now routinely feature layered checks, controlled-access zones and aerial restrictions.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will also impose a Temporary Restricted Area (TRA) over Shangri-La Singapore during the summit. The restricted airspace covers a one-kilometre radius around the hotel.
Drone flights and other aerial activities within the area will be banned during designated periods between May 29 and 31, within the dates and times below:
May 29: 7.30 am – 11.30 pm
May 30: 7.30 am – 7.30 pm
May 31: 7.30 am – 3.30 pm
Under Singapore’s Air Navigation Act, offenders may face fines of up to S$50,000, jail terms of up to two years, or both, for a first offence. Repeat offenders may face fines of up to S$100,000 and prison terms of up to 5 years.
Singapore has steadily tightened drone regulations in recent years, especially around sensitive sites and major events. Authorities have repeatedly warned that even hobby drone flights can create security and safety risks near high-profile international gatherings.
The SPF said members of the public are encouraged to cooperate with officers and follow the temporary arrangements throughout the summit period.
For many Singaporeans, the inconvenience may last only a few days. For security agencies, it is part of the careful balancing act that comes with hosting one of Asia’s most closely watched defence forums.
This article (Shangri-La Dialogue security operations: Police advise motorists to avoid roads near Shangri-La Singapore from May 28 to 31) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.
SINGAPORE: A new global study has found that nearly one in five workers believe they are severely underpaid and would require a substantial salary increase before feeling fairly compensated.
The survey, commissioned by G-P and conducted by Talker Research, polled 4,000 employed adults across the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Singapore and Australia between April 21 and April 29, 2026.
Results showed that 18 per cent of respondents felt their current pay could never satisfy them unless they received a 32 per cent raise.
The findings highlighted growing concern among employees over compensation and workplace transparency, with many workers linking fair pay to how openly companies communicate salary structures.
Only 34 per cent of respondents said they work for organisations that practise some form of pay transparency, whether through formal policies or informal disclosure.
Employees also indicated they were prepared to take action if transparency standards were lacking. Among respondents whose employers did not practise pay transparency, 37 per cent said they would push for formal policy changes, while 18 per cent said they would consider leaving the company entirely.
The issue also appears to influence hiring decisions. If prospective employers did not provide salary transparency during recruitment, 37 per cent of respondents said they would request transparency clauses in their contracts, 17 per cent would negotiate for higher pay and 11 per cent would warn other job seekers about the company.
The study found that 62 per cent of workers were aware of how much their colleagues earned within their own country. However, among respondents employed at companies with an international presence, only 49 per cent said they knew how much their overseas counterparts were paid.
More broadly, 81 per cent of workers described pay transparency as important, while 51 per cent believed existing legal regulations already affect how much they earn.
When asked what factors should determine compensation, 69 per cent cited years of experience and 66 per cent pointed to individual professional skills. Others believed salary should also take into account geographical location and local tax rates, at 30 per cent and 24 per cent respectively.
A strong majority of respondents, 71 per cent, said companies should adopt the strictest available standards on pay transparency even if they do not operate in jurisdictions where such regulations are legally required.
Many also believe governments should play a larger role in enforcing equal pay practices. More than two in five respondents, or 43 per cent, said governments bear the greatest responsibility for ensuring pay equality.
In the United States, 68 per cent of respondents supported the idea of federal legislation mandating pay transparency nationwide.
The research also pointed to growing trust in artificial intelligence as a tool for managing workplace equity.
Forty per cent of respondents said AI could help make work and compensation more equal between employees, while 26 per cent said they would trust AI more than human-led HR departments to audit and assess pay equity.
Some respondents argued that AI may be better equipped to handle large-scale compensation analysis because of its ability to process vast amounts of information quickly and consistently.
One respondent said AI could “handle and review mass amounts of information and data, far more than a human.”
Another suggested AI may be viewed as more objective because it “follows data and rules without personal bias or internal company pressures,” unlike HR departments that may be influenced by company interests or workplace relationships.
The survey included 1,000 respondents each from the US and UK, alongside 500 respondents each from France, Germany, Singapore and Australia.
This article (One in five workers say they are badly underpaid, global study finds) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.
KOTA BHARU, June 3 — Four exotic birds worth approximately RM100,000, believed to have been smuggled from Thailand, were seized by the General Operations Force (GOF) in an operation near the illegal Kak Nah jetty in Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat, yesterday.
GOF Southeast Brigade Commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the seizure was carried out under Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan at about 7 pm after a Strike Force team detected a man unloading several cages on the Malaysian side of Sungai Golok.
He said the suspect fled by boat towards the Thai riverbank upon realising the presence of GOF personnel.
“Inspection of the abandoned cages found two Blue-and-Gold Macaws and two Blue-fronted Amazon parrots, believed to have been brought in without valid permits.
“Also seized were two cages used to transport the birds, bringing the total value of the seizure to an estimated RM100,200,” he said in a statement today.
According to Ahmad Radzi, the case has been handed over to the Kelantan Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) for further investigation and action under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).
He said the exotic birds are believed to be intended for local buyers, adding that patrols and monitoring along the border will continue to be intensified to curb wildlife smuggling activities. — Bernama
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