SINGAPORE — Ten men and three women were arrested following an anti-vice raid in the forested areas along Kaki Bukit on Wednesday night (April 20).
TODAY understands that the raid had taken place near the Bartley viaduct along Kaki Bukit Avenue 4. The women, who were Thai nationals, are believed to have been providing sexual services, using the cover of the forest for their activities.
At least one woman was naked when the raid took place, TODAY understands. Photos provided by the police showed two mattresses laid out in a clearing in the middle of a forested area, with trash, lubricant, condoms and tissue paper lying around.
The ten men arrested were Indian and Bangladeshi nationals, TODAY understands. All 13 suspects could face charges for wilful trespass on state land, offences under the Women’s Charter and the Immigration Act, and also for suspected consumption of controlled drugs.
Jakarta – Jakarta’s Christian governor may escape jail for alleged blasphemy after prosecutors Thursday recommended only probation, a day after he lost in a religiously charged run-off that damaged Indonesia’s image as a bastion of tolerant Islam.
The recommendation of two years probation in the trial of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, with a possible one-year jail term if he commits a crime during that period, was lighter than expected as he could have been sent to prison for several years.
The sentence demand for allegedly insulting Islam came after he was defeated Wednesday by a Muslim challenger who was accused of pandering to hardliners to win votes in the race for the Jakarta governorship.
The blasphemy allegations and Purnama’s subsequent poll loss have sparked fears that pluralistic traditions in the world’s most populous Muslim country are under threat from the influence of hardliners, who pushed for the governor’s prosecution during a series of mass protests.
Chief prosecutor Ali Mukartono recommended that Purnama, known by his nickname Ahok, be found guilty of blasphemy and be given two years probation, with a possible one-year jail sentence.
“If within the two years, Ahok doesn’t commit any new criminal act, like corruption, stealing… he will be free,” his lawyer I Wayan Sudirta told AFP.
“If within that two years he does commit a criminal act, he has to serve the one-year jail sentence.” Prosecutors recommended he be convicted of a lesser blasphemy charge, which carries a maximum of four years jail.
They could have recommended a more serious blasphemy charge that carries a jail term of up to five years. To face the more serious charge, a defendant must be accused of having committed the act deliberately.
A sentence recommendation is a normal step in an Indonesian court case, and is usually followed within weeks by a verdict.
HONG KONG – Heavenly King Aaron Kwok went to great lengths to keep his wedding to model Moka Fang low-key.
Security was tight on Tuesday at The Peninsula Hong Kong, where the couple arrived by helicopter and avoided the media completely, said Oriental Daily News.
The efforts extended to the official wedding photos that were issued to the press. A first set of pictures showed the groom and groomsmen, but not the bride.
In a photo that was taken by photographer Wing Shya and released later, Fang is in white lace and Kwok’s hand is on her waist, as if to shield her from pregnancy speculation.
Photo: Sina Weibo
However, in the evening, a picture of a seemingly swollen Fang in a Chinese wedding jacket and skirt surfaced on Weibo, said Oriental.
Kwok, 51, and Fang, 29, were married by a lawyer at a banquet in the hotel on Tuesday, after dating for less than two years, said Hong Kong newspapers.
Ming Pao Daily News said he got engaged to his Chinese girlfriend in December last year, hoping for his ageing mother to witness his nuptials. The singer and actor, who rose to fame in the 1990s, is the last of Hong Kong pop’s four Heavenly Kings to wed.
On the big day, the couple had a Chinese ceremony in the hotel in the morning, a video of which was shown to guests in the evening.
According to Oriental, the bride’s father told the groom at the tea ceremony: “Big brother, when I was a child, I grew up listening to your songs. Now I’m giving my daughter to you. I hope you treat her well.”
When Fang’s friends asked Kwok to kiss her at the end of the Chinese ceremony, he begged off, saying he would wait till the civil wedding.
After they were officially married, the groom’s eyes were wet and the bride was in tears, said Oriental. He then gave a speech, thanking his mother for raising him.
Guests, numbering more than 100, included singer Julian Cheung and his wife, actress Anita Yuen, former actress Chingmy Yau and her husband, and fashion mogul Sham Kar Wai. Cheung and Sham were also Kwok’s groomsmen, alongside the likes of choreographer Sunny Wong and composer Tam Kwok Ching.
Although the newlyweds did not meet the media, they sent his manager, lyricist Leung May May, as well as Wong and Tam, to speak to reporters.
Asked about rumours that the couple are expecting a baby, Leung answered: “I didn’t ask. He will say what he has to at every stage. If I really knew heaven had given him a gift, I would say.”
She also explained why her team had picked The Peninsula for the wedding. She said it was the hotel where Kwok had held his 50th birthday party around October 2015 and expressed his wish to meet Miss Right and start a family.
Less than two months later, he introduced Fang to the public as his girlfriend.
Campaigning in the upcoming Football Association of Singapore (FAS) election has been dominated by questions about a $500,000 donation to a regional footballing body made by Tiong Bahru Football Club, managed by Mr Bill Ng, one of the two contenders in the race.
Mr Ng has been in a war of words with FAS general secretary Winston Lee over who knew about the donation and what it was to be used for, but the debate has also turned the spotlight onto the amateur club and how it managed to come up with a sizeable donation, while the rest of sport in Singapore survives largely on handouts.
A check by The Straits Times yesterday found that the side from the second-tier National Football League (NFL) had considerable financial muscle.
For the financial year that ended in March last year, the club’s gross income was reported to be $36.8 million, an amount which eclipses the FAS’ budget of $35.8 million for the same period. Going back to FY 2010/2011, the club notched annual income figures ranging from $11 million to $36 million.
Its expenses were of a similar magnitude, resulting in profits of between $140,000 and $700,000 for each of the seven years, going by Tiong Bahru’s annual returns, filed with the Registry of Societies. No breakdown of the expenses were available. In FY 2009/2010, the club made $2.6 million but ended the year with a deficit of $19,000. In comparison, Tampines Rovers from the top-tier S-League, a recognised local football powerhouse, had an income of $3.6 million in the FY 2013/2014.
Mr Ng is leading a slate called the Game Changers to contest the FAS election. The 57-year-old corporate rescue specialist is chairman of both Tiong Bahru and S-League side Hougang United.
Facing him is a side called Team LKT led by lawyer and former FAS vice-president Lim Kia Tong. The election will be held at the Sports Hub next Saturday.
Although Tiong Bahru’s income numbers have not been made public before, Mr Ng has made no secret of its winning formula – jackpot machines.
Tiong Bahru, which boasts almost 19,000 members, has a clubhouse at the basement of People’s Park Centre, where it has 29 jackpot machines. In previous interviews, Mr Ng has maintained that without the jackpot operations, the S-League would have folded long ago because depending on FAS subsidies was not the long-term solution.
He is similarly credited with turning struggling Hougang into a profitable side, with returns from its jackpot operations. The Cheetahs are the only S-League club that operate without the $800,000 annual subsidy from the Tote Board. In 2014, the club registered a profit in excess of $2 million, and they have gone further to set up a $1 million scholarship fund for young footballers.
News of Tiong Bahru’s incomes drew very different reactions from sports officials. Mr Moklas Ma’arof, secretary of NFL Division 2 club Kembangan United, said: “I am very surprised by the figure. Most NFL clubs don’t even have $10,000 in their account and Tiong Bahru made more than $36 million.”
Another official, who is more familiar with jackpot operations, did not bat an eyelid. He said: “Tiong Bahru’s profits are not surprising because it has 29 jackpot machines, which is a huge number. I have seen people hanging out in jackpot rooms from morning to night and it is possible for the club to make such a huge amount in one year.”
Mr Ng issued a statement yesterday, in which he said the revelations over the last few days have been a “time to clear the air” moment for football in Singapore. While he acknowledged that friends have shared concerns that his team “has washed dirty linen in public, potentially even sullied (his) own reputation”, he insisted that “the public and football fraternity need to know the previous environment of administration… is… an unhealthy environment and needs to be cleared”.
This article was first published on Apr 20, 2017. Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
There will be four fewer junior colleges (JC) in 2019, as eight JCs will be merged to address the significant continued fall in cohort sizes due to declining birth rates.
This is the first time that JCs are being merged, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said in a statement on Thursday (April 20).
The JCs to be merged are:
– Anderson JC and Serangoon JC, to be located at the site of Anderson JC.
– Yishun JC and Innova JC, to be located at the site of Yishun JC.
– Meridian JC and Tampines JC, to be located at the site of Meridian JC.
– Pioneer JC and Jurong JC, to be located at the site of Pioneer JC.
Explaining its rationale for the mergers, MOE said the move was necessary to maintain the quality of a JC education.
“Falling birth rates will soon affect our JCs. Lower enrolment will make it challenging for a JC to offer a wide suite of subject combinations and co-curricular programmes,” the ministry said. It added that all eligible students will still be assured of a place in JCs.
Meanwhile, seven pairs of primary schools and three pairs of secondary schools will also be merged in the biggest schools merging exercise in the past decade.
Photo: MOE
A new primary school, Fern Green Primary, will be opening in Sengkang in 2018 to meet the high demand for school places there.
According to MOE, factors such as enrolment size, geographical proximity, suitability of merger partners, and infrastructure capacity are taken into consideration when choosing the schools to merge. The overall geographical coverage of across Singapore is an additional consideration for the mergers of JCs.
“The sites for the merged schools are chosen based on accessibility to transport and quality of infrastructure,” the ministry added.
MOE also assured that there would be no retrenchment of MOE staff, and that the history and heritage of both schools in a merger will be documented in a heritage space situated in the merged school building.
Emma Stone has responded to the high school student from Arizona in the United States who filmed a “prom-posal” inspired by the opening number Another Day In The Sun in La La Land.
On Good Morning America on Aril 7, 17-year old Jacob Staudenmaier revealed that Stone sent him a letter admiring his work on the video, but said that she wouldn’t be able to attend due to working abroad.
“Jacob, thanks for making the greatest proposal I have ever received,” Stone wrote. “I can’t tell you what an honour that was and how much I smiled through that entire beautifully orchestrated video. I’m in London working, but I hope you have the best time at prom, and I’m grateful you thought of me. Thank you. P.S. I do see Gosling around the eyes. Love, Emma.”
Staudenmaier, an aspiring filmmaker, told ABC earlier that the original inspiration came from another high school student who asked Miley Cyrus to prom a few years ago. “She didn’t actually go to prom with him, but he was invited to one of her concerts and got to go up on stage with her, so I think it worked out,” he explained.
After being told by friends that he resembles La La Land star Ryan Gosling in Remember The Titans, he used the compliment as a line in his video: “People say I look like Ryan Gosling, and maybe that’s a big far-fetched,” he sings.
Though Staudenmaier knew asking the Oscar winner out would likely not come into fruition, he said that his real goal was to captivate Stone’s attention – and he knew he had to accomplish something quite impressive to make that happen.
“If I was going to do it, I had to do something more ambitious and bigger in scale,” Staudenmaier told ABC.
Shanghai has ranked as the “most attractive” city for foreign residents for the fifth consecutive year due to its international atmosphere and multicultural environment, according to an annual survey.
Beijing, the nation’s capital, remained second, thanks to its advantages in healthcare and educational resources, while Hangzhou, the so-called “Heaven on Earth” in Zhejiang province, held onto third place.
The rankings, released Saturday, were based on a survey of about 25,000 expatriates nationwide in December and January. The criteria ranged from the living environment and local culture to administrative services and favourable policies for foreign residents.
The China Society for Research on International Professional Personnel Exchange and Development launched the annual survey in partnership with the International Talent magazine in 2010 as a way to promote the nation’s cities.
One of the biggest changes in the top 10 was for Qingdao, a coastal city in Shandong province, which moved up two places to fourth, replacing Shenzhen, the southern metropolis, which slipped to sixth.
Qingdao scored much higher than Shanghai and Beijing in terms of air pollution and traffic congestion, as did Suzhou, a picturesque city in Jiangsu province, which placed seventh.
This year’s survey also showed China’s rapid economic growth and its future development potential are major draws for foreigners with a long-term plans to work or live in the country.
More than half of all respondents said the environment was the most important factor when considering staying long term, while preferential policies also were a major concern.
Loic Bastard, a Frenchman who works for Envision Energy and has been based in Wuxi, another city in Jiangsu, for two years, said he enjoys living in his “clean” and “beautiful” adopted home.
“With easy transportation, good infrastructure and a good environment, smaller cities have gained more competitiveness compared with metropolises,” he said. “With an increasing number of preferential policies from the local government, I think second- and third-tier cities will be attractive to more foreign expats.”
Creative license is one thing. Artistic direction is another. Blatant ignorance is, as well. Add these three things together, and you may feel your blood pressure rising.
Yes, we’re talking about that Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders episode. Again.
After posting a series of hilarious comebacks to various scenes in the show, local blogger mrbrown, or Lee Kin Mun, has now taken it upon himself to correct the inaccuracies in the show’s portrayal of Singapore.
Once again taking on the persona of Kim Huat, “Singapore’s No. 1 Police TV Show Fan”, mrbrown explained that he was filming the new video because “I watched the video again yesterday, and I made myself angry again!”
Here are five things that Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders got wrong about Singapore, and what mrbrown had to say about them.
Tourist Lisa Carter (played by Corie Vickers), reading from a book: It says here that Singapore’s a completely planned society. It was built from almost nothing after World War 2…
mrbrown: Singapore was built from almost nothing after World War 2? What book are you reading?! You think we were some sleepy fishing village at 1942 ah? I call the Sir Stamford Raffles come and hantam (hit) you then you know ah!
We’re not sure what history book she was reading.Photo: Video Screengrab
2. Campong or Kampong?
Air stewardess Kathy Hall (played by Toni Trucks): Well, I always like Kampong Glam. (mispronounced as cam-pong glam, as in camera and glamourous)
mrbrown: Kampong Glam lah.(said with correct pronunciation)
3. Kangaroo Court, or not
Special agent Clara Seger (played by Alana de la Garza): When caught, she’s most likely going to face an expedited trial and then execution by hanging.
Special agent Matthew Simmons (played by Daniel Henney): Well, running certainly implies guilt, and that’s all the Singapore courts are gonna need.
mrbrown: Hello, we certainly need more than that to convict someone lah. You think our court is made of kangaroo one ah?
4. The Singapore Police Force is more than capable, thank you very much
Inspector Cheong (played by Tzi Ma): Thank you. I don’t know if I could have handled this situation myself.
mrbrown: Walao eh, why this Singapore police inspector is so cui (lousy) one? Don’t have FBI cannot meh? Chao turtle (a replacement swear word).
Don’t forget, we have the famous cardboard constable. We also have Tay Ping Hui in C.L.I.F. He’s a very pro policeman you know? Shoot from behind the canister of gas! You got see anot, C.L.I.F.? It’s the most accurate depiction of our police, understand?
Who needs the FBI when we have our own policemen?Photo: Video Screengrab
5. For the last time, Singapore is not in China and English is our official language
Police officers, in Mandarin: See, here are his identification documents.
Another police officer, apprehending a villian, also in Mandarin: Hold still, you’re under arrest!
A villian, speaking in Mandarin: No, you have to wait for the boss. (‘Lao ban’, the Mandarin word for ‘boss’, was mispronounced, making it sound like a homophone of the famous local beancurd chain, Lao Ban Soya Beancurd)
mrbrown: Eh, Lao Ban is a tau huay lah.
When the camera began panning across images and scenes of Singapore, which were noted by mrbrown to be stock footage, he was not impressed by the choice of background music.
mrbrown: Eh, why this show so many ‘ching chong’ music ah? Every time Singapore is featured ah, got the ‘ching chong’ music leh. The only time got so many ‘ching chong’ music ah, is when the Chinese New Year time ah, the Mediacorp artistes come and sing the Chinese New Year song you know.
That being said, not everything on the show missed the mark.
1. Big Brother is watching you
Inspector Cheong: In the interest of national security, Singapore has security cameras at virtually every intersection of the city.
mrbrown: Actually ah, the CCTV part is quite true. Just now I went downstair to buy the bak chor mee hor, the lift down there already got one CCTV. Then ah, I went to the next block ah, got two CCTV. Then I go the carpark ah, wah, another CCTV.
Singapore really got a lot of CCTV leh. Scared ah.
CCTV left, right and center.Photo: Video Screengrab
American TV drama Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders features Singapore in one of its episodes, but netizens have called its portrayal of the country inaccurate and stereotypical. Local blogger mrbrown dissects the episode scene-by-scene and corrects the misleading facts that the episode is carrying.
The death of a CJ E&M employee last year came back to haunt the Korean entertainment behemoth, as bereaved relatives accused the company for driving the young man to his death and ducking the blame for it.
Lee Han-bit, a 27-year-old TV producer who had just started working at the company, died by suicide in October just after finishing the tvN drama “Drinking Solo.” He took care of production details including costumes, props and meals.
At a press conference Tuesday, the family claimed that Lee was overworked and subjected to constant verbal abuse by his superiors. CJ E&M conducted an internal investigation into Lee’s death and concluded that there had been no insults or abuse involving Lee.
“The company refused to allow our family to participate in the probe, and refused to share data that could prove he was being overworked. It also claimed that he neglected his duties, based on nothing but testimonies of his fellow workers who were hostile toward him,” the family members said.
Youth Community Union, which is working with Lee’s family to find out why he took his own life, said they decided to hold the press conference six months after his death because the family members needed time to cope with it. Tuesday was also exactly a year since Lee was assigned to the “Drinking Solo” team.
The family claimed that Lee was forced to work 53 out of 55 days, while sleeping only four hours a day. They also said that there were text messages on Lee’s phone from his superiors in which they curse and insult him repeatedly.
A poster image of the tvN drama “Drinking Solo.” Photo: CJ E&M
“If he was late for work, they (Lee’s co-workers) would threaten to make sure he would never work in the TV industry again. When they moved, they would made him carry all the bags,” Lee’s brother Han-sol said.
CJ E&M released an official statement later in the day and vowed to comply with the authorities if they choose to investigate the family’s claims.
“It is very regrettable that a situation like this has happened, even though we have worked with the bereaved family on how the investigation (into Lee’s death) should take place,” the statement said.
But an official of the Youth Community Union said that CJ had not made any attempt to reach out to Lee’s family since the press conference.
“A legal battle is not what we’re looking for right now. All we want is for CJ to accept responsibility and provide plans so that it will not happen again. We’re not looking to put certain individuals on trial,” he said.
“We never wanted money. We just wanted a sincere apology and assurance that a case like my brother would never happen again,” said Lee Han-sol.
In Korean TV production, it is customary for newer members on the production team to take care of miscellaneous chores in addition to their duties. They often have to shoulder an immense workload.
In 2008, a 20-something writer for SBS died by suicide after reportedly being overworked.
A 2011 report by Korea Creative Content Agency showed that TV production staff work an average of 10.4 hours a day. A 2016 survey by the National Union of Media Workers showed that a TV writer works an average 53.8 hours a week.
“I was a producer, but I also had to be a writer and record pieces as well,” said a former news programme producer at a local channel. “After I quit, I learned that they hired two extra people to do those jobs.”
She noted that the pecking order in the TV industry often presents challenges for younger workers. Failing to fall in line with her superiors resulted in a transfer to another department where she did virtually “nothing” until eventually quitting.
“When I saw the news about Lee. I just thought, ‘It must’ve been so hard.’ We can somewhat relate to that, as the working environment in the TV industry is very tough,” she said. “Of course, what I went through is not nearly as tough as what Lee experienced.”
It’s an understatement to say that Victoria Beckham has a lot to celebrate this week-her 43rd birthday was quickly followed by an investiture ceremony to receive her OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) from the Duke of Cambridge.
What is an OBE exactly? Well, it is a British order of chivalry awarded to those who have contributed to the arts and sciences and people who work with charitable and welfare organisations.
Victoria was awarded for her services in the fashion industry (hello, she’s one awesome designer) and her charitable work spanning 17 years.
Other artists who have received an OBE are Eddie Redmayne, J.K. Rowling, and Vivienne Westwood.
“It was an absolute pleasure to be at Buckingham Palace today. I’m proud to be British, honoured and humbled to receive my OBE from the Duke of Cambridge,” Victoria said right after the presentation.
“If you dream big and work hard you can accomplish great things. I’m so happy to share this very special occasion with my parents and husband; without their love and support, none of this would be possible.” Her husband David Beckham, who was also awarded an OBE back in 2003, and her parents joined her during the ceremony.
This was not the first time that Victoria was awarded for her work.
In 2011 and 2014, she was awarded the Best Brand prize at the British Fashion Awards.
Congratulations, Victoria. All the more we want to live a life similar to yours.
