Philippines seizes $175m worth of 'shabu' in record drugs haul
MANILA – Philippine authorities have seized about 6 billion pesos (S$175 million) worth of methamphetamines in a series of anti-narcotics operations this month that have yielded the biggest haul in the country’s history, the justice minister said on Tuesday.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted the operations, including one on Monday in San Juan City in the capital Manila where drums of chemicals used to produce methamphetamines, or “shabu” as it is known, were seized.
That followed a raid on Friday in a quiet neighbourhood in the same city, when six people were arrested and 560 kg (1,200 lb) of suspected methamphetamines was found, worth an estimated US$67 million (S$97 million).
“It is not only the biggest haul this year, but the biggest so far in history,” Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said in a news conference.
The seizures will be a boost for President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing allegations of widespread human rights violations in a bloody war on drugs dominated by killings of drug users and pushers, with few known arrests of major drug lords.
Duterte has expressed his frustration at the failure of anti-money laundering authorities to chase the trail of drug money, accusing them of helping to fuel corruption and threatening to charge them with crimes.
Agents of the NBI said their latest operation involved an apartment rented by a Chinese national, who was not there when the raid took place.
More than 6,000 people have been killed in the crackdown since Duterte took office in July, roughly a third in police operations. The other deaths are classified as under investigation, many believed to be the work of vigilantes.
Kim Jong-un bans Christmas, forces people to worship his grandma
As if things weren’t already complicated enough in North Korea, its Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un is urging his country’s Christians to forget Jesus and instead commemorate his deceased grandmother.
The dictator’s grandmother Kim Jong-suk was incidentally born on Christmas eve and is considered in the communist state as “the Sacred Mother of the Revolution” due to her contributions as anti-Japanese guerrilla and activist.
She was the wife of North Korea’s first dictator, Kim Il Sung, and former leader Kim Jong Il’s mother, states The New York Post.
Instead of the usual Christmas-related festivities, North Koreans celebrated the holidays by visiting Jong-suk’s tomb, who died under mysterious circumstances in 1949.
Jong-un’s hatred of anything displaying religion and faith has been well-documented in the past, as evidenced by his meltdown in 2014, after news that South Korea planned to erect a huge Christmas tree along the border.
The tree, however, was never put up amid threats of an all-out-war from the Supreme Leader.
Despite Jong-un’s displeasure towards nativity ornaments, a few Christmas trees can be found in the country’s capital of Pyongyang-although completely devoid of religious symbols.
The city used to have the largest Catholic community in the country, up until authorities clamped down on all Christian activities in the early 1950s.
Earlier this week, the tyrant also reportedly gave his soldiers diarrhoea after feeding them with defective food.
Guardian 1-day super sale returns featuring up to 60% over 500 deals & more at 62 stores on 28 Dec
Guardian one-day super sale tomorrow, Wednesday 28 Dec, at 62 outlets!
Guardian 1-day super sale returns featuring up to 60% over 500 deals & more at 62 stores on 28 Dec
Enjoy up to 60% off at Guardian’s 1-Day Super Sale at 62 participating stores on 28 Dec 2016 from 11am to 10pm. Also available online. Free delivery on orders above $40 or order and collect at any store
India's Jet Airways plane skids off Goa runway, 12 hurt
MUMBAI – A Jet Airways Boeing 737 aircraft with 161 people on board veered off an airport runway in Goa shortly before take off just before daybreak on Tuesday, crossing a field before spinning into a ditch on the side of a service road.
A dozen people suffered injuries as the 154 passengers and seven crew on the Mumbai bound flight were evacuated, Jet said in a statement.
“The flight 9W 2374 from Goa-Mumbai skidded off the runway at Dabolim airport this morning due to a technical glitch while aligning for takeoff,” the statement said.
December is the busiest month for Dabolim airport, outside state capital Panjim, as holidaymakers flock to Goa’s palm fringed beaches and exotic tourist markets during the winter season.
Television images showed injured lying on stretchers in darkness on the service road, with fire engines parked near the stricken plane, which appeared to have lost its front undercarriage, and damaged a wing as it rested on its belly and engine casings.
Some passengers said they saw smoke in the cabin as the aircraft began taxiing on the runway. One of the injured described how the accident unfolded.
“I fractured my leg,” said Dinesh Kumar, a passenger on Times Now TV channel.
“The moment the plane started running on the runway, it slipped into the nearby field and there was smoke inside the flight.”
A Jet Airways spokeswoman said the carrier was looking into how the incident occured. “It needs time for proper investigation to go on and we are cooperating with the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation),” she said.
The airline is India’s second largest passenger carrier.
In a separate incident in New Delhi airport, a Spicejet airplane was preparing to take off at the same time as a flight run by Indigo had landed and was headed to the runway’s taxiway, but the pilots avoided a collision and no-one was injured, the two companies said in separate statements.
Indigo and Spicejet said they were working with authorities investigating the incident.
Air travel is surging in India, one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Passenger numbers on domestic flights jumped 21 percent in 2015 to more than 80 million. The government foresees that number growing to 300 million by 2022.
Korean Air to get tough on unruly passengers after criticism by Richard Marx
GIMPO, South Korea –
Korean Airlines said it would allow crewmembers to “easily use stun guns” to manage violent passengers and hire more male flight attendants after accepting criticism by American singer Richard Marx over its recent deal with the incident.
The new crew guidelines announced on Tuesday after the December 20 incident will also include additional staff training, the use of the latest devices to kidnap violent passengers, and the ban on passengers with a history of unruly behavior.
Man accounts for about one-tenth of Korean Air flight attendants, the carrier said, will try to at least one man on duty in the cabin for each flight.
Chihang-hoon, president of Korean Airways, told reporters, “American Airlines took drastic action against violent shipments following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. AirAsia, including us, did not impose stringent standards , Press conference.
“We will make use of the latest accident safety to enhance our safety standards,” he said.
According to government data, in South Korea, the number of illegal acts committed on board aircraft has more than tripled over the past five years.
South Korean police Tuesday issued arrest warrants to passengers involved in the latest incident involving their surname, Lim, including injuries to aircrews and passengers traveling from Vietnam to South Korea.
An airline spokesman said the man drank a half-hour whiskey during the flight.
The incident on Marx’s Facebook and Twitter said he helped subdue “a psychopathic attack on the crew and other passengers”, accusing crew members of “trained” and “poorly equipped” handling of “chaotic and dangerous incidents.”
Marxist wife Daisy Fuentes, a TV presenter and modeler from Hanoi, sang the Incheon flight near Seoul, said the crew members “do not know how to use Taser,” they do not know how to secure the ropes around him Their rope restraints were loosened three times).
A video of events happening on YouTube shows a young man spitting in the business class seat and cursing the crew trying to bind him with a rope.
In his early thirties, Lin appeared on Monday, police, wearing a mask, thick-rimmed glasses and a hat. He apologized for his actions, but said he could not remember what happened, according to the video showing the broadcaster SBS.
Korean Air said it sent a thank-you letter to Marx’s governing body to help control the forest.
South Korean Airways was involved in a spectacular case of bad passenger behavior at the end of 2014 when the chairman’s daughter served as head of the airline, forcing the head of the flight crew to leave the aircraft at New York’s Kennedy Airport because she was unhappy with the Australian nuts she served the way.
The “nuts rage” incident aroused widespread derision, resulting in the administration of Heather Cho, who served in the jail for nearly five months.
Samaritans in Singapore: Bus driver shelters passengers from the rain
In the spirit of Christmas giving, TNP features seven ordinary heroes who have made a difference to other strangers’ lives. They are among 26 people whose heartwarming deeds were highlighted in a campaign collaboration – Good Man Good Deeds Good Rice – between Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao and Tong Seng Produce’s rice brand SongHe
He always fretted whenever he saw his passengers who were caught in the rain run into the air-conditioned bus.
They could catch a cold and fall sick, SBS Transit bus captain Kamarul often thought.
Five months ago, he chose to do something about that.
Mr Kamarul, who has been driving for about a year, would stand between the bus and bus stop with an umbrella to shelter those without one.
His kind acts warmed the hearts of those he helped as well as witnesses, who shared it on SongHe’s Good Man Good Deeds Good Rice Facebook page.
In an interview with Lianhe Wanbao in September, Mr Kamarul, 29, said he was inspired by his mother’s advice.
“My mother once met a kind bus captain who alighted from the bus to help carry her shopping bag after he noticed how heavy it was,” said Mr Kamarul.
“When she found out I was going to become a bus captain too, she reminded me to be patient with the passengers and help whenever I can.”
He described how the kind act has a snowball effect.
Mr Kamarul said: “My mother received help from the bus captain, now it’s my turn to help others.
“I hope we can spread these kind acts around.”
Despite getting caught in the rain, Mr Kamarul never complains and always has a smile on his face.
He is also grateful to the other passengers for waiting patiently in the bus when he has to shelter those who are boarding when it rains.
Lianhe Wanbao readers nominated Mr Kamarul to be featured by the Chinese evening daily.
Sponsor Tong Seng Produce also donated 500kg of SongHe rice and 60 litres of canola oil to the beneficiary of his choice.
But Mr Kamarul said he did not expect to be commended.
He added: “If my passengers can benefit from that little action of mine, why not?”
This article was first published on Dec 26, 2016.
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Singapore ranked second most vegan-friendly city in Asia by PETA
Singapore has earned the second spot on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals‘ (PETA) top 10 most vegan-friendly cities in Asia.
The animal rights group said that Singapore has a “roaring vegan scene,” with a wide range of offerings such as vegan chicken, meat-free pulled barbecue, and dairy-free mac ‘n’ cheese.
A vegan diet is plant-based and excludes all animal products like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
PETA also highlighted several eateries offering tasty vegan treats which included VeganBurg’s plant-based burgers, nomVnom’s QQ Cheezy burger, and Brownice Italian Vegan Ice Cream & Kitchen’s vegan barbecue chicken pizza.
For dishes with local flavours, it recommended Genesis Vegan Restaurant’s “fish head” vermicelli and “chicken” rice, Loving Hut’s nyonya laksa and mee pok, Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant’s claypot curry “chicken” as well as VegCafe’s vegan char kway teow, mee siam, and tofu goreng.
PETA vice president of international campaigns Jason Baker said: “Whether you’re looking for first-rate artisanal food, a decadent dessert, or a low-key lunch, Singapore has the vegan restaurant for you. PETA loves Singapore for its top-notch cruelty-free grub that satisfies appetites while being kind to animals.”
Other cities that made it to the list are:
1. Taipei, Taiwan
2. Singapore
3. Chiang Mai, Thailand
4. Makati, Philippines
5. Bangalore, India
6. Hong Kong
7. Bangkok, Thailand
8. Bali, Indonesia
9. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
10. Shanghai, China
In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of Singaporeans switching to a vegan diet, which is linked with lower risks of health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers.
However, nutritionists often remind vegans to plan their meals carefully so that they don’t suffer deficiencies in vitamin B12, vitamin D, zinc, and iron.
minlee@sph.com.sg
Thomson Medical Centre may get makeover soon
Thomson Medical Center, an old woman in obstetrics and gynecology (O & G) services in Singapore, may soon be making a face-lift.
The company has 37 years of construction on Thomson Road and is seeking to increase its capacity. “The hospital is now fully operational,” said Roy Quek, chairman of Thomson Medical. The average bed occupancy in the 190-bed hospital is about 80%.
But before the hospital can be rebuilt, it must find an alternative site. “If we can develop additional capacity beyond the existing hospitals, we will be able to re-develop our existing hospitals to better serve our customers,” he said.
Whatever the additional space will take the form of a brand-new building or build on the existing healthcare space remains to be seen, although Mr. Quek said Thomson has been in discussions with the authorities. The Ministry of Health refused to respond to questions in this regard.
Mr. Quek’s goal is to provide Thomson with a full range of medical services – similar to the services provided by general hospitals, not just O & G services. This will allow Thomson to remain at the same level as other private medical groups that already have similar general hospital facilities, such as Raffles Medical or Parkway.
Freelance designer Kimberly Ang, 24, who gave birth to her first child in Thomson last month, feels the hospital is upgrading. “The parking lot is a bit of a hassle because the parking spaces are so limited,” she said, adding that the hospital’s interior was “quite disappointed”.
“It’s very small, the channel is very entangled, so it’s hard to get your way,” she added.
Thomson will also carry out preventive medical services at a new company, Thomson Wellth, which will begin operating in the first quarter of next year.
They include the provision of services such as health checks. “We need additional capacity to expand our expertise and strengthen our operations because we have about 30 clinics outside the hospital,” he said. “These include the women’s and children’s clinics in the center, such as in Jurong, Binnie and Shengkang.
Thomson already operates a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur and will open a private hospital in Johor Bahru in 2020. Ideally, Mr. Quek’s Singapore business will be the company’s flagship: “Singapore will be the basis for ideas, standards and innovation to flow to other centers.”
This article was first published on Dec 27, 2016.
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The 'Great Depression' of Malaysian football
Sports and politics should not mix.
However, in some instances, they have influenced one another, either directly or indirectly.
We read and heard about the “Ping-Pong diplomacy” of the 1970s during the Cold War, which saw American and Chinese players squaring off – this arguably paved the way to a dialogue between the two countries that did not have diplomatic relations.
Now, you may be wondering why I’m going down this train of thought.
Well, taking the example of the football associations of Selangor and Kelantan – I’m beginning to wonder if football is being used as a political tool.
Look at the Selangor Football Association (FAS).
They are an indomitable force in Malaysian football and with 33 Malaysia Cup titles, you’d expect them to go out with guns blazing every season.
Next season though, they may not even participate in the Malaysian Super League (MSL) due to lack of funds.
The current FAS exco – with the exception of its president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali – have blamed the state government for not providing any funding for the association in its budget.
FAS’ deputy president Datuk Abdul Mokhtar Ahmad said the team might not even feature in the MSL if there is no funding from the state government.
The point is, the sport has changed.
Football is now a business, and if a team is not doing well, there will be no investors for a failed project.
If the state isn’t giving any money, FAS exco members should be looking for sponsorship and not wait to be spoon-fed by the government.
Do you see clubs in England backed by the government or royalty?
Heck, even Thailand and Vietnam clubs are not backed by any political organisation.
Recently, the Selangor Raja Muda Tengku Amir Shah called for a revamp of the entire FAS structure.
A few hours later Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who is also Selangor Mentri Besar, said he was “on the same page as Tengku Amir” on the issue.
He added that football was not about politics but instead is about “sports, team building and striving to succeed for the fans, for the state and even for the nation”.
My question is – why only react when the royalty is worried about the situation?
You’re the president for a reason and it’s you who is ultimately responsible for the direction of the FAS.
It doesn’t make sense at all.
When you have teams like Shah Alam Antlers and Petaling Jaya Rangers making waves with their marketing tactics and sponsorships, we have team bearing the state’s name which is still relying on state funds to run the team.
And then there is Kelantan, the Red Warriors.
When Tan Sri Annuar Musa left the Kelantan Football Association (Kafa) the remaining exco members did not know what to do.
Now, with only RM800,000 (S$260,000) to start the season, the team might not feature in the MSL too.
The 60-year-old had been Kafa president since 2007 and helmed the Red Warriors’ revival, which saw them amassing six trophies – including the 2012 treble (Malaysia Cup, Super League and FA Cup).
He has a pretty decent CV as a president but his legacy is the mess Kafa is in now.
It is unknown if he knew this was going to happen, but he should have saved the team before passing the torch on to the exco members.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has since weighed in and conveyed his thoughts on Facebook and Twitter, hoping that Kafa and other state associations will ways to solve their financial troubles.
Najib also assured Kelantan fans that he had spoken to Annuar over his resignation as Kafa president.
It may seem noble but after this statement, I wouldn’t be surprised if teams ask for help from our Prime Minister.
Creating sympathy is never the way forward for our football.
Why do we always need royalty and big leaders to shake things up?
Just what were the state football association excos doing all this while?
Johor’s crown prince and Johor Darul Takzim owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has also stated his disdain for politicians involved in football clubs, with what he says are ulterior motives.
He said he is “amazed” at the level of hypocrisy in the country, be it in sports or other areas.
Yes, it is amazing to see the level of hypocrisy in this country.
They promise the world, yet deliver nothing. But when it comes to finger pointing, we seem to be the best at it.
If there is such a sport in the Olympics – we are in the reckoning for gold.
It’s disappointing to see the state of football in our country, but this should come as no surprise.
We have seen many promises time and time again left unfulfilled by associations.
Former and current coaches have lamented the state of football in this country.
One coach told me stories about one football association and why Malaysian football will never go forward.
Like any other reporter, I wanted to do a story but he told me not do so because he might lose his job.
I’m sure many out there feel the same.
If you speak out, it may be good for our football.
If one speaks out, I’m sure others would follow suit.
Some have years of experience and their pointers make sense – but they are simply not heard. It’s sad that they’re keeping their feelings and thoughts inside of them.
If we want to change our fortunes, it’s time to be bold.
You don’t need to be a royal or a politician to do so.
If you feel something isn’t right, just say it.
I truly believe that football in this country is slowly losing its lustre and it’s sad to see Malaysian football in such state.
Right now, we are in “The Great Depression” of Malaysian football.
