SINGAPORE: Police on Tuesday (Dec 6) said they are aware of a text message circulating on WhatsApp, warning of potential terrorist attacks this month in popular shopping areas such as Orchard Road.
They urged members of the public not to circulate unsubstantiated information which may cause public alarm.
The message with the unverified claim is spreading on Facebook as well.
Said the police: “Members of the public are reminded to stay vigilant and to report suspicious activities/persons/items to the police. We can all contribute towards SGSecure and help ensure that the safety and security of our friends and loved ones are not compromised.”
Authorities have repeatedly called for vigilance against terror in Singapore, saying that it is not a matter of when, not if the country is attacked. Last week, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said the threat of a terror attack in Singapore is higher than it was earlier this year. He also said the alert level of security agencies is “pretty high” given the festive season.
Philippine police murdered a town mayor while he was helpless in a jail cell, justice department investigators said Tuesday, contradicting claims by the accused and President Rodrigo Duterte that he was killed in a gun battle.
The accusations by the National Bureau of Investigation deepened concerns that police were carrying out summary executions as part of Duterte’s controversial war on crime, which has claimed more than 5,100 lives in just over five months.
The NBI, equivalent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States, said police shot dead mayor Rolando Espinosa and his cellmate Raul Yap, as they were defenceless in a provincial jail cell last month.
“After conducting an exhaustive investigation of the incidents surrounding the killing of Mayor Espinosa and Yap, the NBI concluded that the testimonies of several witnesses had disputed the claim of an alleged shootout between the (police) operatives and inmates Mayor Espinosa and Raul Yap but (was) a ‘rub out’,” the NBI said in a statement.
“Rub out” is a local expression, referring to the police killing a suspect and then saying he died in a gun battle.
Anti-crime blitz sweeps Philippines as Duterte comes into power
“The pieces of evidence, both testimonial and the forensic evidence all agree. We believe we have a very strong case,” NBI deputy director Ferdinand Lavin told reporters.
Lavin said the NBI was recommending murder and perjury charges against 24 officers for their alleged role in the killing and subsequent lies.
The accused police had claimed they fired in self defence at the pair when they went into the jail cell before dawn to execute a search warrant.
The police alleged Espinosa, who was in jail after being arrested in October on drug and gun possession charges, had a firearm and methamphetamines in the cell.
Lawmakers, media groups and human rights advocates had ridiculed that version of events, asking why police had to execute a search warrant in a jail cell at night and why CCTV footage of the event had disappeared.
However Duterte, who has pledged never to let a policeman go to jail for prosecuting his war on crime, repeatedly defended the officers involved.
Duterte’s police chief stood down the police officer in charge pending an investigation, but the president immediately reinstalled him.
Duterte had accused Espinosa, mayor of Albuera town in the eastern province of Leyte, of being a drug lord.
In a speech late Monday, the president again defended the police in the Espinosa case.
Duterte, 71, won May elections in a landslide on a promise to kill tens of thousands of criminals to prevent the Philippines from becoming a narco-state.
Lazio star Senad Lulic could be handed a multiple-match ban for controversial comments made to Roma defender Antonio Rudiger in a fiercely-contested capital derby in Serie A on Sunday.
Lulic was facing accusations of racism in the wake of last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Roma for likening Rudiger, who is black, to a street seller hawking “socks and belts”.
Although the Bosnian midfielder explained his words “were a provocation to a provocation”, he stopped short of offering an apology.
Federal prosecutor Giuseppe Pecoraro will now look at footage of the interview in which Lulic made the disparaging comments.
If they are deemed racist, he faces several games on the sidelines. The Italian football federaion (FIGC) and Serie A officials have introduced new disciplinary measures aimed at stamping out racist behaviour by fans as well as players.
Lulic said of Rudiger after Sunday’s game: “He’s been speaking too much even before this game.
“Two years ago, he was selling socks and belts in Stuttgart and now he thinks he’s a phenomenon.” Rudiger, 23, has a German father and a mother who hails from Sierra Leone and has played for Germany through all the age groups. He joined Roma last year after a three-year spell with VfB Stuttgart.
Lulic on Monday posted a message on Instagram claiming he regretted allowing himself, as a Bosnian whose country has experienced the tragedy of ethnic cleansing, to be gripped by post-match tension.
“In retrospect, I realise that I responded to a provocation with a provocation,” said Lulic.
“I come from a country that has experienced the tragedy of ethnic discrimination.
“That’s why I’m sorry I allowed myself to be gripped by tension after the game and to have expressed myself in such an unhappy way.” Italy’s Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malago said Lulic’s words were “unacceptable”.
Taiwan’s parliament plunged into more chaos Tuesday with opposing lawmakers brawling in the chamber as labour activists set off smoke bombs outside in protest at proposed holiday cuts.
Dozens of legislators crowded the podium of the main chamber, screaming and pushing each other and forcing the reading of the controversial bill to be suspended for hours.
Lawmakers from the opposition Kuomintang party blocked the podium, accusing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of “betraying workers”.
Labour activists scuffled with police outside. More than 1,000 police officers were mobilised and barbed-wire fences were set up at the entrance to the building.
The protesters set off smoke bombs, threw “ghost money” usually used as funeral offerings and burned President Tsai Ing-wen’s campaign flag.
The clashes came after an attack by labour protesters last week on a DPP lawmaker.
Under the bill, workers would be guaranteed one mandatory day off a week in keeping with existing rules. They would also be given an additional “rest day” and paid a higher rate if asked to work on that day.
But seven annual public holidays would be scrapped.
The amendment has sparked a number of rallies and a hunger strike, with protesters accusing Tsai of betraying her campaign promise to protect labour rights.
Tsai has seen her popularity plummet to around 40 percent from nearly 70 percent when she took office in May as her government attempts to tackle a range of domestic issues ranging from gay marriage to pension reform.
“The DPP is pushing for the bill despite public opposition,” the KMT said in a statement.
It described Tsai as “like a cold front that is sweeping Taiwan”.
Fifteen-year-olds from Singapore topped the ranks of the best- performing students in the OECD’s triennial survey on international education, followed by Japan, Estonia, Finland and Canada.
The metropolitan areas of Hong Kong, Macau and Taipei also scored high in the survey covering science, reading and mathematics, the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said.
Some 540,000 students across 72 countries or cities were quizzed with a computer-based test during the latest version of the survey, known as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
With a special focus this time on science, the survey found that students knowledge in the field was broadly stable over the last decade, although Colombia, Israel, Macau, Portugal, Qatar and Romania made significant gains.
Among the 35 mostly wealthy countries belonging to the OECD, one out of five students on average did not achieve the baseline level of proficiency in science. “Sciences education isn’t keeping up. Why? Because science itself is moving at lightning speed,” said OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria.
Presenting the results, he said that students from Singapore were effectively a year and a half ahead of other students on average.
Students from both Britain and the United States saw a decline in their reading, mathematics and science scores on average since the last survey in 2012.
A nearly 20 percent increase in spending per student over the past decade in OECD countries had little impact on students’scores in science, the survey found.
Students in private schools scored better in science than public schools, but that was no longer the case after adjusting the data to take students’ social and economic backgrounds into account. “A privately funded education is not a guarantee of success,” Gurria said.
The OECD found Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Hong Kong and Macao scored high both in terms of performance and the equitable quality of their school systems, while the United States in particular had improved in term of equity.
SINGAPORE: For the first time, Singapore took first place in all three categories – reading, mathematics and science – in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), marking its best performance yet in the global benchmarking test.
The study – conducted once every three years and co-ordinated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – measures how well 15-year-olds around the world make use of their knowledge to solve problems. Results of the tests were released on Tuesday (Dec 6), and this comes a week after Singapore students in Primary 4 and Secondary 2 topped another international ranking in mathematics and science.
A total of 72 economies took part in the assessment in 2015, which focused mainly on science. Shanghai, which took top spot in all three categories previously in 2012, was evaluated alongside other parts of China in PISA 2015.
Students were ranked following computer-based tests and questionnaires, and those in Singapore were found to be consistently strong in applying their knowledge and skills in unfamiliar real-life situations.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said the results showed that its shift towards applied learning has been effective. The director-general of Education (Schools) at MOE, Low Khah Gek, said: “It shows that our students can think critically, can deal with unfamiliar, novel situations and problems, and are able to, in that sense, use their skills across different domains as they look at their problems. And they are also very comfortable in a computer environment.”
Sample PISA 2015 question
The study also revealed that students in Singapore have high levels of motivation to learn about science and that three in 10 of those students here expect to work in science-related occupations at age 30, significantly higher than most top-performing education systems.
Overall, the study found that Singapore’s education system provides opportunities for all to succeed, with its proportion of low performers standing at about 10 per cent in science, reading and mathematics – which was among the lowest in the study.
MOE said it is looking to learn from other countries, such as Portugal, on how they change their own pedagogy to suit their students.
SINGAPORE: For the first time, Singapore took first place in all three categories – reading, mathematics and science – in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), marking its best performance yet in the global benchmarking test.
The study – conducted once every three years and co-ordinated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – measures how well 15-year-olds around the world make use of their knowledge to solve problems. Results of the tests were released on Tuesday (Dec 6), and this comes a week after Singapore students in Primary 4 and Secondary 2 topped another international ranking in mathematics and science.
A total of 72 economies took part in the assessment in 2015, which focused mainly on science. Shanghai, which took top spot in all three categories previously in 2012, was evaluated alongside other parts of China in PISA 2015.
Students were ranked following computer-based tests and questionnaires, and those in Singapore were found to be consistently strong in applying their knowledge and skills in unfamiliar real-life situations.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said the results showed that its shift towards applied learning has been effective. The director-general of Education (Schools) at MOE, Low Khah Gek, said: “It shows that our students can think critically, can deal with unfamiliar, novel situations and problems, and are able to, in that sense, use their skills across different domains as they look at their problems. And they are also very comfortable in a computer environment.”
Sample PISA 2015 question
The study also revealed that students in Singapore have high levels of motivation to learn about science and that three in 10 of those students here expect to work in science-related occupations at age 30, significantly higher than most top-performing education systems.
Overall, the study found that Singapore’s education system provides opportunities for all to succeed, with its proportion of low performers standing at about 10 per cent in science, reading and mathematics – which was among the lowest in the study.
MOE said it is looking to learn from other countries, such as Portugal, on how they change their own pedagogy to suit their students.
Hello Kitty EZ-Charms will be returning exclusively at 7-Eleven stores in two designs from 9 December 2016, 7am! EZ-Charms work exactly like a ez-link card, so you can apply EZ-Reload, travel smart reward scheme and more
SINGAPORE: Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Tuesday (Dec 6) visited India’s Tamil Nadu to pay his respects to the state’s late Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa Jayaraman, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement.
The Chief Minister, widely known as “Amma” or “mother”, died on Monday following a cardiac arrest. She was 68.
On Tuesday, Dr Balakrishnan laid a wreath at the funeral, which was held at the Rajaji Hall.
(Photo: MFA)
Dr Balakrishnan also sent his condolences to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O Panneerselvam.
“The late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa dedicated her life to the socio-economic development of Tamil Nadu and through her leadership, Tamil Nadu grew to become one of India’s key economies and industrialised states,” Dr Balakrishnan wrote in the letter.
“I have never forgotten meeting her more than a decade ago in Chennai. She graciously made time for me.”
He also noted that the late Chief Minister was also a strong proponent of building closer relations between Tamil Nadu and Singapore. “Her passion, energy and grand vision were so inspiring. India has lost a great daughter and Singapore a staunch friend,” he wrote.
“It was therefore with deep sadness that I attended her funeral to pay my last respects. Her Excellency Jayalalithaa left an indelible mark in Tamil Nadu and will be missed.”
Darren Tan, the first student with a criminal past to be admitted to NUS law school. Job Number: ST_06.07.2013_1318670980
Jail time on someone’s record can often mean black listing from employment, and while this has been a long-standing practice, it has also brought about an aggravating effect on someone’s hope for a new lease in life.
However, many countries have started taking stands on the outdated belief that a leopard can never change its spots, and Singapore is certainly not falling behind.
A Straits Times article published recently featured ex-convict James Giam, who proved that nothing can ever hold back a truly determined spirit. But he is not the only ex-convict who has managed to turn their life around despite a record mired in blackness.
1. Darren Tan
Ex-gangster and drug abuser Darren Tan spent 10 years behind bars from the age of 14 but at 25, he finally started turning his life around to become NUS’s first law student with a criminal past.Photo: The Straits Times
Ex-gangster and drug abuser Darren Tan spent 10 years behind bars from the age of 14 but at 25, he finally started turning his life around to become NUS’s first law student with a criminal past. Despite the challenges of re-adapting to school life and re-learning English, Tan graduated with a law degree with a position as a litigation lawyer waiting for him.
Today, Tan continues to contribute back to his old life by taking on pro bono cases and volunteering with Beacon of Life and the Yellow Ribbon Project.
2. Anil David
Having served prison time was the both the bane and turning point for Anil David.Photo: Google+
Having served prison time was the both the bane and turning point for Anil David. During his sentence, Anil worked in a call centre where he managed to rise up to become Manager. When he left the prison, he took with him the values learnt from his experience – perseverance and patience, and sought to set up his own call centre for prisoners.
Although he faced a major obstacle when his record dissuaded investors from funding him, he eventually managed to find people willing to support his vision. To date, Agape Connecting People has helped employ almost 100 people consisting of inmates and stroke patients, and Anil himself has been awarded SVCA Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2016.
3. So Weng Kei
A serial house burglar back in 1998, things seemed to have turned around for So Weng Kei when he turned over a new leaf to become a full-time economics student at NUS. However, his third and fourth year saw him relapse into burglary and facing 7.5 years in jail.
But So did not let that particular problem hold him down. Persisting in his studies even under the dim maintenance light in his cell after hours, So graduated with an economics degree and stode into a bright future as a marketing executive.
4. Jonathan Tan
Jonathan Tan’s 17 years of leaving and re-entering prison had left a very black mark on his record, and it was only after a particularly bad relapse did Tan finally manage to find his ground in religion and at The Helping Hand.Photo: The Straits Times
Jonathan Tan’s 17 years of leaving and re-entering prison had left a very black mark on his record, and it was only after a particularly bad relapse did Tan finally manage to find his ground in religion and at The Helping Hand. Starting off as a gardener and later as a landscaper, Tan was only armed with the most basic of tools – an old creaky bicycle, a broom and a manual mower.
The rejection that he faced from others often left him in a self-effacing state but they didn’t last, and today Tan runs his own landscaping business where he employs other ex-offenders.
5. Milah
She ran away from home at the age of 13 and 2 years later joined a secret society.Photo: The Straits Times
She ran away from home at the age of 13 and 2 years later joined a secret society. With a reputation of being a very violent person, Milah was trapped in a cycle of drugs, prostitution and prison time, all the while having to juggle 7 children by herself.
Today, Milah has found herself with a much better life as founder of Plus Point. As a hip-hop group of troubled teens, Plus Point performs for events while at the same time helps to keep rebellious teens off the street by giving them a place they belong.
6. Benny Se Teo
A former drug abuser who first came into contact with drugs through his father, Benny Se Teo became increasingly addicted to narcotics due to peer influence.Photo: The Straits Times
A former drug abuser who first came into contact with drugs through his father, Benny Se Teo became increasingly addicted to narcotics due to peer influence. After a near death experience during which he had his stomach pumped, Se Teo decided enough was enough. Joining a halfway house, he quickly learned that employment opportunities for convicts did not come easy.
Building on his lifelong passion for food, Se Teo founded Eighteen Chefs, where 35 per cent of the staff are ex-offenders. And even despite the problems hiring ex-offenders, Se Teo persists in his efforts to help turn lives around.
7. Barry Yeow
Also an abuser of narcotics and ex-gang member, Barry Yeow was a former tattoo artist who was sent back to jail at the age of 41 for threatening and robbing a woman.Photo: The Straits Times
Also an abuser of narcotics and ex-gang member, Barry Yeow was a former tattoo artist who was sent back to jail at the age of 41 for threatening and robbing a woman. His turning point came when he was sent to the prison hospital for withdrawal symptoms, and he saw other patients in worse conditions that he.
Picking up art during classes that lecturers from LaSalle and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts would teach, Yeow threw himself into art. His talent saw him winning Yellow Ribbon competitions, as well as being commissioned for pieces – something that he persists at even now.
8. Kathy Goh
k-goh-1
Image Credit: Stomp
As an attempt to challenge her then boyfriend to quit heroin, Kathy Goh took the drug herself. What started out as a attempt to help ended up being the worse decision she could make, and she soon found herself addicted. Over the next 15 years, Goh found herself in and out of jail, the first time being less than four months after she had given birth. It was only after multiple rehabilitation periods did she manage to break the vice.
Now, she is a frequent face at the halfway house that helped her – iCare, where she helps to encourage others about a new lease in life.
Shattering Misconceptions Of Others And Oneself
Being an ex-convict does not mean the end of the world, just like how one’s PSLE results will not condemn students to a bad future.
Just as how So had described his journey of self-redemption, it is always important to have hope, as “there is still someone out there who will be willing to give [you] this chance.”
