The programme, which guides parents on how to deal with their children’s difficult behaviour, will be offered at 175 schools in 2018, up from 118 primary schools this year.
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Selena Gomez hints at personal crisis, but organisers says Singapore concert to go on
Local fans are in a tizzy over Selena Gomez’s latest social media update.
It seems that the past few days have been especially tumultuous for the 24-year-old US singer-actress, who is currently touring in support of her latest album Revival.
She embarked on her 80-date Revival Tour in May in Las Vegas, and the tour will end in December in Mexico.
Part of the tour includes her first-ever concert here at the Singapore Indoor Stadium tomorrow, followed by a meet-and-greet session.
But Singapore fans are now worried about whether the show will go on, and are also feverishly speculating if their idol plans to quit the tour – or music altogether.
The online drama started on Saturday night, a day after her 24th birthday.
Soon after performing in Jakarta, the first stop of the tour’s Asian leg, Gomez posted a cryptic message on Instagram, hinting that she had been dealing with some personal turmoil.
She wrote: “Tonight I felt extremely unauthentic, unconnected to both myself and my music.
“I’ve never really felt like my materials, wardrobe or video could define me. I act on a moment and fear something that hasn’t happened.
“I’m stagnant, I stay still and don’t just sit with myself first and ask, ‘Is this where I am, wholeheartedly?’. I’ve always told the truth, I’m always true to my word, I’ve shown who I am but I need to rethink some areas of my life creatively and personally. Had to get that out.
“Not being negative about anything I’ve done. I’m grateful for every single moment I get here – Indonesia you were LOUD and clearly inspiring. Love you so much.”
When contacted, Ms Shila Wijaya, head of communications for concert organiser Midas Promotions, told TNP that “the show here is proceeding as planned”.
She said: “With a local act (Gentle Bones) opening the show, we are pleased to say that it’s going to be a great night for all involved.”
Miss Titan Tyra, a 21-year-old student who produces videos on YouTube, told The New Paper: “As an online content creator, sometimes the people or brands I work with give me pointers on what to say or how to act. It takes away from my real personality.
“I think that might be what Selena means by feeling inauthentic – when other people are trying to define her identity and what she ‘should’ do.”
The 21-year-old won a pair of Category 1 concert tickets and a meet-and-greet pass through a Cornetto Singapore ice cream contest.
She added: “I was disappointed that she cancelled (her Singapore concert) in 2014 (to get treated for lupus), but I know Selena loves her fans and she would not have made that decision if she didn’t have to.
“So I wasn’t worried… I didn’t think she would cancel again unless she absolutely had to.”
School Of The Arts student Nadya Zaheer, 17, said: “I think she is a bit lost (over) why she is in the music industry and wants to take time to reflect.
“I am just so happy she is being honest with her fans so we can give her the support she needs. We understand the pressure she faces every day from the media and we want her to know that whatever it is, we will stand by her all the way.”
GOOFING AROUND
Snapchat, however, seems to tell a different – and happier – story.
Before the Jakarta concert, Gomez appeared on her Snapchat account to be in great spirits, goofing around with her friends in what looked like the lobby of her hotel.
Wearing rose-coloured shades, she giggled in a few other videos, saying “the jet lag is real” while mock complaining about the heat.
As she skipped around the concert venue, she said she was “very, very happy and excited” to be in Jakarta and “everybody here is super nice”.
The day after, on Sunday, Gomez’s Snapchat shenanigans continued and nothing seemed amiss.
In videos she posted of herself and her crew at lunch, she seemed cheerful as she played a game of Heads Up.
Gomez even went ahead with her Kuala Lumpur concert at Malawati Indoor Stadium last night – despite Malaysia’s Parti Islam SeMalaysia’s (PAS) youth wing calling for her gig to be cancelled.
The youth wing’s propaganda committee chairman, Mr Hafez Sabri, was quoted in The Star as saying that her “sexy” appearance would “tarnish the sanctity of the month of Syawal”, which is when Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
This article was first published on July 26, 2016.
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Singapore athletes 'settled down' in Olympic Village after issues resolved
Rio 2016 organisers have addressed “rectification requests” made by officials, according to the Singapore National Olympic Council.
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MOM wasted public funds with non-compatible IT system: AGO
The purchase of a Document Generator System for S$432,407 for integration with Ministry of Manpower’s Foreign Domestic Worker System was left unused for 1.5 years as at the time of the audit.
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Marina Bay Sands revenue, EBITDA fall in Q2
In the financial report on Tuesday, Las Vegas Sands said MBS’ performance for the second quarter was “consistent” with the performance in the same period last year.
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Auditor-General’s Report FY 2015/16: Audit observations
In its latest report for financial year 2015/16, the Auditor General’s Office (AGO) flagged lapses and inadequate financial controls in six ministries and six statutory boards. These ranged from investments made without proper approval and evaluation by the…
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Theft, accidents reported amid 'Pokemon Go' fever in Japan
A series of incidents involving ardent players of the smartphone game “Pokemon Go” were reported Saturday and Sunday across Japan.
In Mizuho Ward, Nagoya, a 22-year-old female university student on a bicycle had her bag snatched from the bike’s front basket by a man on a motorcycle at about 3 p.m. on Sunday.
She was absorbed in the game when the man sneaked up behind her.
The bag contained ¥2,000 (S$26) in cash and other things, but the woman was not injured.
According to Aichi prefectural police, she was heading to a nearby park to hunt “Pokemon Go” monsters while looking at her smartphone.
The game was released in Japan on Friday.
Pokemon Go fever
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In Teine Ward, Sapporo, a 19-year-old woman reported to local police at about 3 p.m. on Sunday that she was hit by a boy on a bicycle who was playing a smartphone game.
The boy was apparently a primary school student and was reportedly playing “Pokemon Go” at the time of the accident. The woman was not injured.
In Mino, Gifu Prefecture, a Brazilian man wandered onto the Tokai-Hokuriku Highway at about 8:45 p.m. on Sunday.
According to Gifu prefectural police, the 24-year-old company employee from Kani in the prefecture was said to have been immersed in “Pokemon Go” when a driver found him walking on the side of the highway.
In Niihama, Ehime Prefecture, a male teenage student on a bicycle bumped into a man in his 40s when the student looked at his phone to check “Pokemon Go” at about 8:20 p.m. on Saturday.
The student was uninjured, but the man complained about mild lower back pain.
Okayama prefectural police issued traffic tickets to a 34-year-old male company employee, a 30-year-old part-timer and a 22-year-old female company employee on Saturday and Sunday for violating the Road Traffic Law.
They were all playing “Pokemon Go” while driving.
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Tiger maulings remind people to follow rules
Tigers at a wildlife park in Beijing attacked two women on Saturday after they got out of their car.
Park rangers went to their aid within seconds, but they were unable to save one of the women.
The tragedy reminds people that they should never ignore safety rules, said an article on the website of People’s Daily:
It seems there is a tendency to blame the wildlife park, thinking there are loopholes in the management and the zoo did not do a good job of protecting people.
However, objectively speaking, getting out of a car in the park where you know there are tigers and there are signs warning you not to, is rather foolish to say the least; even children and teenagers should know the risks, never mind an adult.
We should not blame the management for people’s own recklessness.
All the security measures are established on the basis people observe the animals from within their cars or from inside the park buses.
If visitors do not comply with instructions, they are the ones putting their own lives at risk.
We cannot magnify the responsibility of the management, but ignore the fact that one of the women got out of the car, reportedly because she was having an argument with her family, and walked round to the other side of the car, where a tiger pulled her down and dragged her away.
The other woman got out of the car to go to her aid, but was attacked by another tiger.
How can the management be held responsible for such rash behaviour!
Before blaming the zoo, we should reflect on the women’s actions against the park’s rules.
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Business owners aim to give ex-offenders a fresh start
He saw his sister making a turnaround after her jail stint for drugs, and wanted to help ex-offenders like her.
Brother’s Barber Holdings, owned by duo Noor Izwan Noor Jali and Zen She Yikai, both 28, is one of the organisations collaborating with the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (Sana) to offer work training for ex-offenders.
Starting September, the company will be holding a one- to three-month basic haircutting training for ex-offenders for free.
The owners’ desire to help ex-offenders is very close to the heart – Mr Izwan’s sister is an ex-offender.
She first started sniffing glue and abusing crystal methamphetamine (Ice) when she was 15, and went to jail in her early 20s.
Mr Izwan said: “When she came out of prison, she really changed. She started working odd jobs, and now heads her own business.”
“If my sister can change, so can other people,” he added.
The duo, who met while working at Jean Yip Salon, said they have many friends who are ex-offenders.
“We know how easy it is to go back to their old ways, and our training would hopefully give them a clearer sense of purpose,” said Mr Noor.
Training for their basic haircutting course will take place at Sana and at their barber shop at PPT Lodge 1B Workers Dormitory at Seletar North Link, a foreign workers’ dormitory.
Each batch of six participants will be given an allowance of $200 per month to sustain themselves before finding a permanent job.
Training takes place three times a week, lasting five hours each session.
JOBS
Graduates from the course are welcome to join any of Brother’s Barber Holdings’ outlets – other than the Seletar outlet, there is one at Tuas and another at Woodlands.
The Central Narcotics Bureau reported that 3,343 drug abusers were arrested in 2015, a 6 per cent increase from 2014.
More than two-thirds of the new abusers arrested were below the age of 30.
Ice and heroin were the two most commonly abused drugs.
Mr Noor also explained why he and his partner decided to set up shop in a foreign dormitory.
He said: “When we worked at Jean Yip Salon, we often saw foreign workers glancing our way. We thought of bringing the hair salon experience to them.”
Their services include haircut, colouring, rebonding, highlighting, and scalp treatment.
The shop now sees about 100 customers on weekdays and 200 customers on Sundays, mostly foreign workers.
“Unlike in regular hair salons, we can talk about anything with them. They are more than happy to share about their family, marriage plans,” said Mr Noor.
Sana opens support centre
The Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (Sana) will officially open its Step-Up Centre today, with Ministry of Home Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Amrin Amin as guest-of-honour.
The organisation provides assistance to ex-drug offenders and their families for immediate and long term-needs.
Examples of immediate needs provided by Sana include small sums of money, pre-paid food vouchers and ez-link cards.
Ex-drug offenders could also hone lifelong skills together with Sana, as it provides guidance to upgrade their jobs, social skills, and links them to supportive social networks.
While the centre is primarily to help ex-drug offenders, all ex-offenders are welcome to seek guidance at the centre.
This article was first published on July 26, 2016.
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