A look at how “security by design” is practised in the Republic and more what can be done.
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Buildings in Singapore tackle security in early stages of design, construction
Lee Wei Ling's accusations 'completely untrue': PM Lee
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has responded to comments made by his sister Lee Wei Ling on the public commemorations of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s death.
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'Deeply saddened by…completely untrue' accusations over LKY anniversary: PM Lee
SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has refuted online allegations by his sister that he had abused his power to hold commemorative events marking the one-year death anniversary of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew in order to establish a “dynasty”, adding that…
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Taiwanese rally for death penalty after child's beheading
Taipei – Hundreds of Taiwanese rallied Sunday to show support for retaining the death penalty, after the beheading of a child in a street attack shocked the island.
Demonstrators dressed in black and held white roses in mourning for the four-year-old girl murdered on March 28 near a Taipei metro station. Many wore stickers reading “Death penalty is necessary.”
The girl’s mother tried to stop the attacker but was pushed away. Several bystanders were also unable to stop the man, who decapitated the child with a kitchen knife.
Police said the 33-year-old had previously been arrested for drug-related crimes and had sought treatment for mental illness. He was attacked by an angry mob while in custody.
The killing came less than a year after the throat of an eight-year-old girl was slit in her school restroom in Taipei. It sparked widespread public anger and fresh debate about capital punishment.
Taiwan resumed capital punishment in 2010 after a five-year hiatus. But executions are reserved for the most serious crimes such as aggravated murder and kidnapping.
Taiwanese man beheads toddler in front of her mum
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Some politicians and rights groups have called for its abolition, but various opinion surveys show majority support for the death penalty.
“Taiwan is not safe, so death sentences are needed to deter crimes and they should be carried out. I hope this will make our society safer for all children,” said office worker Chen Pei-chi, who took her sons aged three and six to the Taipei rally.
“I am really sad and angry that these random murders of children keep happening. All child-killers should be sentenced to death for hurting defenceless children and destroying their families, as losing a child is unbearable,” said housewife Wu Chiu-mei, who has a three-year-old grandson.
In 2012 the murder of a 10-year-old boy in a playground reignited debate over the death penalty, after the suspect reportedly said he was anticipating free board and lodging in jail and would get a life sentence at most even if he were to kill two or three people.
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PM Lee responds to allegations made by Dr Lee Wei Ling over LKY death anniversary
SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has responded to a series of allegations by his sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, on the commemoration of the one-year death anniversary of the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
This is PM’s statement, as posted on…
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Philippines celebrates Pacquiao's bitter-sweet final victory
Manila – With a mixture of pride and sorrow, millions of Filipinos Sunday celebrated victory for their boxing hero Manny Pacquiao in what he has called his final fight.
Pacquiao, 37, easily won his third battle with American Tim Bradley in Las Vegas, capping a 21-year professional career with 66 bouts under his belt.
He has said he will now retire despite hints by some associates that he could be lured into fighting again.
In the Philippines, just as in his previous bouts, the fight was screened in public plazas and stadiums so adoring crowds could watch the fighter nicknamed the Pacman one last time.
Ariel Toledo, 34, who watched the fight on a widescreen TV under the burning sun in a suburban Manila plaza, was among the many who yearned for Pacquiao to postpone his retirement.
“His fight was okay but he should still continue (boxing) as long as he feels strong,” Toledo said at the end of the match.
“You are the best, Manny Pacquiao,” he said, addressing the screen directly. “We are sad that you will retire. We can no longer watch our Pacquiao.” Pacquiao, the only man to capture world titles in eight different weight divisions, produced flashes of brilliance and knocked down Bradley twice on his way to a unanimous decision in the welterweight duel.
It was the sort of performance his admirers believe could persuade him to prolong a career that has earned him more than US$500 million (S$674.4 million) over 21 years.
“Of course, all Filipinos are happy because Manny Pacquiao is our idol,” said housewife Nida Realino after the match.
“It’s a pity he has decided this is really his last fight,” she said sadly.
Manny Pacquiao wins farewell fight against Bradley
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Sportscaster Ronnie Nathanielsz, a longtime Pacquiao follower, agreed that he should retire – except for a possible rematch with American rival Floyd Mayweather, who won a unanimous decision over Pacquiao last year.
“He should retire. If it isn’t Mayweather, then don’t bother,” Nathanielsz said on ABS-CBN television.
Throughout the impoverished nation, Pacquiao has been a unifying factor with millions of Filipinos cheering him on – inspired by his rags-to-riches journey from extreme poverty to become one of the world’s richest sportsmen.
Pacquiao has translated his sporting fame into a successful career as a commercial pitchman, TV show host and even election to the Philippine Congress.
But the evangelical Christian courted international controversy in February – and lost Nike’s sponsorship – by describing homosexuals as “worse than animals” in a TV interview.
President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman Herminio Coloma said the boxer had done the nation proud with Saturday’s victory.
“We applaud and thank him for demonstrating anew that the Filipino has the courage and skill to compete in the global arena,” Coloma said.
Aquino and Pacquiao are on different sides politically. The boxer is running in the May 9 elections for a seat in the powerful Senate under the banner of the opposition UNA party.
Municipal employee Gigi Gallardo, 43, said she would follow Pacquiao in politics just as she did in sports.
“He is already rich. He doesn’t have to be corrupt. Give him a chance. There are so many people he can help,” she told AFP.
Critics have complained that Pacquiao performed poorly in Congress, barely attending sessions.
But political scientist Ronald Holmes said voters would not hold that against him.
“The public gives much more weight to his performance as a boxer than his performance in his (congressional) district,” he told AFP.
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Better facilities, more classes at relocated CDAC Centre in Woodlands
April 10, 2016 4:30 PM
SINGAPORE – The Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) centre in Woodlands now offers better facilities and more classes, after moving to a new location that is just a five-minute walk from Admiralty MRT station.
India temple fire kills over 100 people watching fireworks
New Delhi – A massive fire swept through a temple in southern India on Sunday, killing more than 100 people after thousands gathered to watch an illegal fireworks display.
More than 280 others were injured in the fire that engulfed the Hindu temple complex in Kerala state, where crowds had built up during the night for a festival that boasted the fireworks show.
Local residents were photographed carrying the bloodied and injured in their arms from the site, while a man whose bloodied hand was heavily bandaged was seen trying to calm a screaming toddler outside one hospital.
A team of specialist doctors and medicines were being deployed from New Delhi to help with the disaster amid reports of horrific burns suffered by those caught in the blaze at the Puttingal Devi temple.
The navy and air force were also sending helicopters to evacuate the most critically injured, officials also said.
“It has been confirmed that 102 people were killed and 280 injured and admitted to various hospitals. Now our focus is to provide the best treatment to the injured,” Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters.
Firefighters and police had battled through the night at the temple in the coastal town of Paravur to douse the fire and rescue those trapped at the complex.
Television footage showed a series of large explosions and fireworks erupting as plumes of smoke filled the night air after about 3am (2130 GMT Saturday). Concrete rubble and other debris was strewn at the complex at daybreak, while police examined large unexploded bundles of fireworks.
Fireworks display causes massive explosion at India temple
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Chandy said temple officials had gone ahead with the fireworks display despite being denied permission because of safety concerns.
“That is correct. District collector of Kollam denied sanction for this fireworks (display),” Chandy said when asked whether permission had been given.
The Kerala government ordered an inquiry into the cause of the disaster. A local lawmaker said it occurred during a fireworks competition between two groups. One firework landed on a building that was storing the rest of the pyrotechnic material, setting off a chain reaction.
“It has happened after 75 percent of the fireworks were (already) burst. It was actually fortunate, otherwise the casualties would have been much, much, much more,” N.K. Premachandran, state MP for Kollam district where the accident occurred, told the NDTV network.
The chief doctor at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in the state capital said some of those pouring into the hospital had suffered serious injuries “and many would require amputation” of limbs.
“Many have sustained burns of over 50 percent and the condition of some of them is quite serious,” D. Mohandas told the Hindu newspaper.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was flying to the scene, announcing 200,000 rupees ($3,005) in compensation for the families of those killed and 50,000 rupees for those injured.
“Fire at temple in Kollam is heart-rending & shocking beyond words,” Modi tweeted.
“Arranging for immediate shifting of those critically injured via helicopter.” Navy spokesman D.K Sharma said the helicopters would transport the injured to Thiruvananthapuram and also to the city of Kochi where the navy operates a hospital, with some of the injured currently being treated at small local medical centres.
Fires and stampedes are not uncommon at temples and during religious occasions, often because of poor security arrangements and lax safety standards.
Several thousand people had gathered at the temple for the fireworks show which is held every year at the temple, an official said.
The fire comes as Kerala – governed by the Congress party, which is in opposition at national level – heads to the polls in one of five state elections being held in India this month and next.
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7 injured in multi-vehicle accident involving police car along Eunos Link
An accident involving two taxis, a saloon car and a police car took place at the junction of Bedok Reservoir Road an Eunos Link at about 4.20am on Sunday (April 10) morning.
A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) spokesman said a fire engine, a red rhino, two support vehicles and four ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
In total, seven people were injured in the accident.
A man who was stuck inside the saloon car was rescued by the SCDF within 15 minutes using hydraulic rescue equipment.
Two of those injured were conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, while five others were sent to Changi General Hospital, SCDF said.
Stomp contributers Mick and Terry, who sent in photos of the accident to the citizen journalism website, both said there had been a “high-speed chase by the police”.
Mick told Stomp: “In less than two minutes, more policemen and paramedics arrived at the scene and later, a man was seen being taken away by the police.”
Terry added: “One police car, the white saloon and other taxis were caught in the carnage along Eunos Link.”
Social media users also posted videos of the incident this morning.
Twitter user @flutteryfeeling posted an aerial view of the aftermath of the accident.
Another Facebook user posted a video of the accident and said that a Traffic Police car was “inside the bush”.
AsiaOne has contacted the police for more details.
ssandrea@sph.com.sg
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'Star Wars' leads winners at profanity-laden MTV Movie Awards
[LOS ANGELES] A passionate kiss, Leonardo DiCaprio's "Revenant" bear encounter and a foul-mouthed hosting duo dominated Saturday's profanity-laden MTV Movie Awards, where <i>Star Wars: The Force Awakens</i> came away the top winner.
