The_King

The legalization of medical marijuana has now come into effect in Thailand, as officialized by the royal decree published in The Royal Gazette on Monday afternoon. A press conference, broadcast live on Facebook, was held at the Food and Drug Administration of Thailand (FDA) in Mueang Nonthaburi district in the outskirts of Bangkok this afternoon to discuss the revisions to the 1979 Narcotics Act. Dr. Teerawat Hemachuta, the head of the Information Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at Chulalongkorn University, said that the published act is only the skeletal guideline for legalization. Eight additional regulations needed to implement the law, which will further detail specifics regarding obtaining a license, export, production, cultivation, advertisement and so on, will be released in the following weeks. The government aims to strictly regulate and standardize their approach to marijuana in order to be able to control and monitor its production process in order to ensure the quality and thus safety, of the herb, said Dr. Teerawat. The focus this week, however, will be on finalizing an amnesty plan that regulators hope to publish in the Royal Gazette next week. The currently plan states that individuals and organizations currently in possession of marijuana will not be punished if they notify the administration within 90 days after the legalization law comes into effect, reported Manager. Patients with an existing medical certificate for medical marijuana may be able to keep their current stash but must declare their intent and method of use. “People have already started calling to declare their possession and ask for amnesty but we want to discuss the plan a little more before finalizing it,” said Dr. Teerawat. A focus group will be held tomorrow to discuss this plan. This morning, the Department of Medical Services was assigned the task of preparing a training curriculum for doctors and medical professionals who wish to obtain a license in order to legally prescribe medical marijuana as a treatment. “Every doctor that wants to prescribe medical marijuana must register and undergo training,” Dr. Teerawat said, adding that the department has 90 days to put together the plan. The 2019 Narcotics Act, signed by His Majesty the King and released about two months after it was approved by parliament, legally enables the use of medical cannabis and and kratom, (another local herb with stimulant-like effects) to treat patients, research, development and cultivation. It declares that drug or health related government agencies, medical professionals, educational and research institutions, patients with prescriptions by certified doctors, and agricultural enterprises registered with the state can possess medical marijuana. Several departments will oversee and regulate the legalization process including the Narcotics Control Board, the Department of Public Health and the FDA. Import and export of marijuana in an amount less than 10 kilograms will also be allowed to treat certain diseases, if the cannabis is attached a certificate from a licensed medical practitioner. On Christmas Day, Thailand became the very first Southeast Asian nation to legalize medical marijuana. The government had said they wanted the legalization to be their New Year’s gift to Thai citizens. To find out more about the kingdom’s medical marijuana awakening, check out Coconuts TV’s documentary mini-series available on Netflix now. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/thai-fda-discusses-details-medical-marijuana-regulations-now-law-come-effect/

Japanese discount chain Don Quijote gets quite the warm welcome wherever it sets up shop, perhaps because it’s a shopaholic wonderland with shelves crammed full of electronics, cosmetics, home ware, snacks, groceries, toys, and other random quirky stuff. The megastore covers everything, essentially, and it’s bringing its entire haul to its first Hong Kong store this year. Replacing retailer Collect Point’s 15,000 sq ft basement space in Mira Place Two at Tsim Sha Tsui, the outlet will likely launch in July, making it the fifth international location for the Tokyo-based brand after its home country, Singapore, Hawaii, and an upcoming one in Bangkok this year. But don’t expect it to open 24/7 like it does in Japan — currently, word on the street is that the Hong Kong shop will probably only stay open from 7am to midnight. Besides general goods and fresh produce, the store is also set to offer a cafe space.

As Indonesia’s fintech industry continues to grow, consumers have benefited from the rise of mobile wallets, as such as Go-Pay, Ovo and Dana, which have been trying to outdo each other by providing cashback for users on countless products and services both online and offline. In another move that will likely ensure the continuation of the promo wars between e-payment services, the Indonesian government is also getting in on the act by launching their own mobile wallet, LinkAja, which is scheduled for launch in early March. According to reports, LinkAja is set to be a giant in the mobile wallet game as it combines existing e-payment services provided by three of the nation’s state-owned banks, namely Bank Mandiri’s e-Cash, BRI’s T-bank, BNI’s Yap!, as well as state-owned telco Telkomsel’s T-Cash. “We hope that, in early March, we will be able to launch it,” State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno said today when asked about LinkAja’s status, as quoted by Detik. “Why have different systems? Why not unify and make them more efficient and reach all of Indonesia? That’s what we’re hoping for from LinkAja.” The government has touted the QR code-based LinkAja as a possible rival to Go-Pay and Ovo, both of which dominate the mobile wallet industry in Indonesia. In a recent report by research and advisory firm RedSeer, the market size for e-payment services in Indonesia is US$1.5 billion in 2018 and is expected to rapidly grow to US$25 billion by 2023. Go-Pay, which is integrated into local ride-hailing app Go-Jek, leads the way in mobility payments while Lippo Group’s Ovo is the leader in offline purchases. https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/government-launch-linkaja-e-payment-system-rival-go-pay-ovo-early-march-state-enterprises-minister/

SINGAPORE: More cybersecurity experts will be recruited to step up defences in light of increasing threats, MINDEF said on Wednesday (Feb 20). The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) aims to recruit about 300 cybersecurity experts through two new schemes - one for military personnel and one for non-uniformed professionals - to take up various roles in the ministry's cyber entities. Part of their training will also be carried out at a new cyber defence school, which opened on Wednesday afternoon. SHORTAGE OF CYBERSECURITY PROFESSIONALS Personnel hired under the two new cyber expert schemes will undergo up to 20 weeks of training at the newly launched Cyber Defence School at Stagmont Camp. The school will also train full time national servicemen in cyber defence skills. It will serve as the centre for cyber defence training and education across MINDEF, and will conduct cybersecurity workshops for MINDEF personnel. Serene Ong, a former cyber analyst, was recruited by MINDEF last year to become a Defence Cyber Expert (DCX). She performs specialised operational roles in areas such as cyber incident response and network monitoring. "Currently there is a shortage of cybersecurity professionals around the world,” Ms Ong said. “So this DCX scheme can help to widen the pool of candidates by including people from various different backgrounds even if they do not have background in computer science or computer engineering." Serene will work together with military personnel like ME4 S Subash. He has been recruited into the SAF Command, Control, Communications and Computer Expert (C4X) vocation, specialising in military cyber operations. "I will ensure that we bring in the latest technologies to ensure that we allow our assault monitoring teams to perform monitoring with the latest capabilities and also the cyber incident responders to have the right equipment to actually perform their tasks," he said. ENSURING SINGAPORE IS OPERATIONALLY READY These new initiatives follow the recent launch of Digital Defenceas the sixth pillar of Total Defence. Members of Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) were briefed on the ministry's cyber defence set-up during their visit to Stagmont Camp, hosted by Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How. (Photo: Ahmad Khan) Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Heng Chee How said the move will help defend Singapore's systems, making it "resilient against attacks" and will protect the country's sovereignty. Mr Heng was visiting the Cyber Defence Test and Evaluation Centre (CyTEC) at Stagmont Camp together with Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) members. They were briefed on MINDEF's cyber defence set-up and were given a tour of the training facility, where advanced cyber defence training and exercises are conducted. Source: CNA/aa(mi)

SINGAPORE: A 45-year-old Singaporean man pleaded guilty on Wednesday (Feb 20) to making false statements and submitting fake documents, in order to bring two boys born via surrogacy in India into Singapore. The man successfully obtained Singapore citizenship for one of them, discovering only later that he is not the biological father of the twins. The man, identified as "A" in court documents, went to India with his 35-year-old Singaporean wife in September 2013 for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) as they could not conceive. They went accompanied by A's friend and his friend's wife, who also had trouble conceiving. In India, they met a doctor who set out two plans for A and his wife to conceive. In the first, the wife's eggs were to be fertilised with the accused's sperm. A donor's eggs would also be fertilised by the accused's sperm, and all the fertilised eggs in this scenario would be implanted into the wife's womb. In the second scenario, eggs from both the wife and a donor would be fertilised by both the accused's and his friend's sperm. These fertilised eggs were to be implanted into a surrogate's womb. The prosecution did not elaborate why the friend's sperm came into play in this equation, or on the exact combinations. SURROGATE GETS PREGNANT, BUT IT'S NOT THE ACCUSED'S CHILDREN After the IVF procedures, both the accused and his wife returned to Singapore. They were later told that the surrogate was pregnant with twins. The accused's wife did not manage to conceive. It was not stated in court, nor did the prosecution elaborate on, who the biological parents of the twins are. However, the court heard that a DNA report in 2015 revealed that the accused could not have been the biological father of the boys. The surrogate gave birth to twins on Jul 16, 2014, and the accused began preparations to bring them to Singapore. Since the accused knew that only Indian nationals could take custody of the children conceived via surrogacy in India, he had arranged for his former Indian helper and her husband to take custody. He planned to later adopt the child from the helper and her husband. However, this did not work out, as the maid was "not ready to take over custody", the prosecution said. The accused then returned to Mumbai and hired a man known as Guru to help him with the paperwork for the boys. Guru told him that he had missed the deadline to register the births of the boys with the authorities, and asked for 100,000 rupees (S$1,896) to obtain birth certificates. The accused gave him the money, and Guru said he would indicate that the accused and his wife were the birth parents of the boys. He also forged the dates of birth to coincide with a time when the accused's wife was in India, so as to minimise discrepancies and not draw any questions from the authorities. ONE OF THE BOYS FALLS ILL, 'FATHER' ARRANGES TO BRING HIM TO SINGAPORE FOR TREATMENT While the accused was waiting for the birth certificates to be ready, one of the twin boys fell sick with a life-threatening condition. The accused wanted to bring the boy to Singapore for treatment, "as he did not have confidence in the medical facilities in India", Deputy Public Prosecutor Selene Yap said. He contacted the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Sep 3, 2014, saying he needed a valid travel document to bring the sick boy from India to Singapore urgently for surgery. He was told to submit an application form for Singapore citizenship for the boys, to facilitate the application for a valid travel document. Accordingly, the accused downloaded the form and filled it up, declaring that he was the sick boy's father. The boy was successfully registered as a Singapore citizen two days later and travelled to Singapore on Sep 7, 2014. Armed with false birth certificates, the accused and his wife went to the Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore, India in September 2014, where they received a Document of Identity issued in lieu of a passport for the sick boy. The consular officer granted the Document of Identity allowing the boy to travel to Singapore, unaware that the birth certificate was false. ACCUSED'S WIFE FILES POLICE REPORT REVEALING WHAT HAPPENED On Oct 10, 2014, the accused's wife lodged a police report stating that her husband had obtained fake documentation in relation to twin boys born by a surrogate in India and had submitted them to the High Commission of Singapore in India. The accused pleaded guilty on Wednesday to furnishing a false document, using a forged document as genuine, and knowingly making a false statement in an application for Singapore citizenship. The prosecutor did not comment when asked where the boys are now. She asked for a sentence of at least six months, saying it strikes at the heart of immigration laws. The sentencing was adjourned to next month for the preparation of the accused's medical and psychiatric reports. The provision of surrogacy services is illegal in Singapore. Parents who have gone overseas for surrogacy and return to apply for adoption of their surrogate children will have their applications assessed on a "case-by-case basis", Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee said in Parliament last month. Singapore is looking into the issue of surrogacy and reviewing adoption laws after a landmark case where the high court allowed a gay father to adopt his biological child conceived via surrogacy in the United States. Source: CNA/ll(aj)

McDonald’s highly Instagrammed Chocolate Pie ($1.40 each back then) was launched with great fanfare in Singapore last March. Then, as with some good things in life, the limited-edition treat suddenly vanished off the fast food chain’s menu — mainly because it was sold out in less than two weeks after it was introduced. At that time, a spokesperson said, "As it (chocolate pie) is a promotional item, it won't be coming back anytime soon." But good things come to those who wait. Just this morning, the eatery announced on its Facebook page that the ooey gooey pie stuffed with molten chocolate is making a comeback at your nearest Macs outlet this Friday, 22 Feb. A softie at heart We quite liked the not-too-sweet pastry back then and wouldn’t mind eating it again. Read our review here. https://www.8days.sg/eatanddrink/newsandopening/mcdonald-s-chocolate-pie-will-be-back-on-22-february-11261318

A train at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station was evacuated yesterday, after smoke was spotted coming out of a passenger's mobile phone. The cause of the smoke was accidental and electrical in origin, said the Singapore Civil Defence (SCDF), which was called in to help investigate the phone after the incident. No fire or injuries were reported in the incident, which happened on the North-East Line, said rail operator SBS Transit. Passengers were evacuated as a precaution, said Ms Tammy Tan, senior vice-president of corporate communications at SBS Transit. The SCDF and the Public Transport Security Command were also activated as a safety measure in response to the incident, said SBS. The SCDF said its help was not required at the station. The affected train was sent back to the depot. A Straits Times reader, who declined to be named, said he was in the train and standing about 1m away from the owner of the phone, when smoke starting coming out of the device, which was in the man's back pocket. The train was moving towards Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. "The phone owner was just chatting with another two friends. But suddenly, he struggled to retrieve his phone, before throwing it down onto the floor," he said. "Thick smoke was coming out from the phone, but there was no fire." He said the phone burned a slight hole in the owner's pocket, and the owner had soot on his hand after the incident. At Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, passengers disembarked and two station staff helped move the crowd safely out of the train, he said. It is believed that the phone model was an Honor, a smartphone brand under Huawei. Mr Larry Yeung, 31, who was also on board the train, said: "Everything seemed normal, but after the train doors closed, they opened again. "The train stopped for about a minute or so, and soon after, the announcement came to request that all passengers get off the train." Mr Yeung, who works with design methodologies to solve problems, said the reason for the announcement was not stated and that commuters were calm throughout the entire incident. The train then left the station. While the disembarkation of the train meant that the platform was "very crowded", Mr Yeung said that there were no delays affecting the line and the subsequent train came in about 1½ minutes. "I was lucky to get on the next train, but I saw that some didn't manage to get in," he added. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/mrt-train-evacuated-after-phone-emits-smoke

As Singapore’s professional football league begins its 24th season on 2 March, it will be live-streaming all 126 of its matches online for the first time ever. The move was announced by Football Association of Singapore (FAS) general secretary Yazeen Buhari as he laid out the Singapore Premier League’s (SPL) targets and objectives on Tuesday (19 February), ahead of the new season’s curtain-raiser, the Community Shield, at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday. When the live-streaming of SPL matches was introduced last season, it garnered a total of 1.17 million views for 98 matches that were streamed online. This has given the FAS confidence to expand the SPL’s online live coverage this coming season. “Apart for it being a cheaper option than TV broadcasts, statistics have also shown that people prefer to watch the live matches on mobile devices,” Yazeen told Yahoo News Singapore. “We are planning enhancements to the viewing experience with additional previews and half-time shows, as compared to just straightforward live-streaming last season.” Average attendance doubled from 2017 to 2018 A better viewing experience at lower operating costs – this is the ongoing objective of the SPL since it was rebranded from the S-League in 2018. In its first season, the SPL enjoyed a spike in crowd figures – from a paltry average attendance of 900 in 2017 to about 1,800 last year. The upcoming season will see some dramatic changes in a bid to enhance the viewing experience for paying fans, with the eight Singapore-based SPL clubs sharing four stadiums for the first time in league history. Brunei DPMM will continue to use their home ground in Bandar Seri Begawan. The four stadiums are: Jalan Besar Stadium (for Young Lions and Hougang United), Bishan Stadium (for Home United and Balestier Khalsa), Jurong East Stadium (for Albirex Niigata (Singapore) and Warriors FC) and Our Tampines Hub (for Tampines Rovers and Geylang International). With fewer stadiums, FAS is able to focus on improving the crowd experience at the four stadiums, where there would be upgraded sound systems, individual seats for all spectators, and bigger Jumbotrons and LED billboards all around the venues. Teams will also enjoy upgraded dressing-room facilities such as individual lockers, massage beds and white boards. “For the four clubs which have moved – Hougang, Balestier, Warriors FC and Geylang – they will still train at their original stadiums,” said Yazeen. “And since the FAS is helping to pay for the upgraded facilities and fan experience, we would expect those clubs to continue their community and outreach projects to bring more fans to the clubs.” With better crowd viewing experiences, he expects that crowd figures will continue to rise despite online live coverage of the full slate of SPL matches this season. Youth development, and Albirex’s dominance Last season, FAS introduced a major policy on youth development for all local SPL clubs. The six teams – Home, Tampines, Balestier, Geylang, Hougang and Warriors FC – had to include at least six Under-23 players in their squads, with three starting every game. This policy has led to the number of U-23 players in these clubs to nearly double in one season – from 33 in 2017 to 65 last year. Some clubs had even taken in more U-23 players than their requirements. Yazeen believes this augurs well for the league’s objective of putting youth development as a central focus. Nevertheless, he is also adamant that the SPL clubs have to meet the high bar of excellence that defending champions Albirex have set in recent years. The Singapore-based Japanese feeder club had swept all four trophies last season – the Community Shield, the SPL, the League Cup and the Singapore Cup. They are the three-time defending league champions, and are also winners of both Cups for the past four seasons. Even though FAS has insisted that they have to fulfil new requirements – sign a minimum of four local U-21 players, start a minimum of two of them and have two of them playing throughout the first half of their SPL matches – a revamped Albirex team still remain a daunting opponent for the other clubs. However, Yazeen said, “Some of the other clubs’ chairmen have expressed to me their concerns about the situation and the issue of motivation among their clubs due to Albirex’s dominance. “But I view Albirex’s dominance as a benchmark for all the clubs to aspire to. It’s not just on the pitch where they excelled, but also off the pitch with their organisation and community outreach. “The last thing we want to do is to bring that quality down in order to get the other SPL clubs to be on a par with them. Having more local players in their squad is not because we want to make them less dominant, but so that the younger local players get a valuable chance to learn from Albirex.” With clubs like Hougang and Home United boosting their squads with talented new signings, Yazeen is confident that Albirex will find it much tougher to stay dominant this season, starting with Saturday’s Community Shield clash with Home United. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-premier-league-live-stream-126-matches-season-084806397.html

Creamy Sauce chicken with noodles and fried fish roe

earth is flat

Last Friday, as Chinese scientists were breaking new ground into the quantum pigeonhole effect, and a group in California were isolating an early onset Alzheimer’s gene mutation, some Malaysian minds were toiling on a far more pressing matter. Perpetuating the raging debate that ended when Magellan didn’t fall off a ledge as he circumnavigated the Earth hundreds of years ago, Sinar Harian — a widely circulated newspaper — asked their readers via Twitter exactly what shape they thought our planet was: round, or flat. We’re not sure whether we’re even surprised anymore that 9 percent of those who took the time to take a poll whose question was answered in Standard 1 science believe that the Earth is flat, but it was slightly shocking to have a publication whose purpose is to separate fact from fiction jumping into the “debate.” Or is it? Believe it or not, this isn’t Sinar Harian’s first dive into flat earth chatter, with an article debating the Earth’s shape having made their front page two years ago. Inside, you’d have found four pages dedicated to the sphere naysayers out there explaining why they reckon it’s all just a hoax to make us think beyond a two-dimensional plane. Curious as to what pearls of wisdom they’d like for you to consider? Well — haven’t you wondered why the shape of America looks different now, than it did 50 years ago? No? Neither have we, but this is something they’d like for you to open your hearts and minds to. While we may have been left shaking our heads, the rest of the internet was able to provide comic relief to the question posited by our modern-day Newton’s over at Sinar Harian. Here were some of the best: We know we shouldn’t even bother entertaining this “debate,” but for the record — the Earth is round. Spacecraft, aircraft, and distant objects can confirm this. Not for nothing, but by observing eclipses, even the ancient Greeks were able to surmise that the only way a round shadow could be consistently cast was if the Earth was round. If you’re too broke to take a space ship, or the Concorde, and not quite ready for the advanced geometry of the Parthenon, then here’s some pretty basic maths to break it down for you. Sigh. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/flat-attack-national-newspaper-asks-102017083.html

ULAANBAATAR (Reuters) - A Mongolian regulator said it will suspend operations at KFC restaurants temporarily to conduct inquiries, as 42 people were hospitalized and hundreds showed food poisoning symptoms after eating at one of the outlets of the fast-food chain. The incident occurred at the Zaisan outlet in Ulaanbaatar last week due to its contaminated water supply, the city's Metropolitan Professional Inspection Agency said, adding that 247 people had reported symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. The Zaisan restaurant has already been shut for checks, an official at the agency told Reuters on Tuesday. "We will carry out inspections for the other KFC branches from Feb. 18-21 and suspend their operations when we do the inspections," the official added. The regulator had previously said it had suspended all the local KFC outlets. KFC, which is part of Yum Brands Inc, has at least 11 restaurants in the country, according to its website. Ganbat Danzanbaatar, general manager of KFC Mongolia, said apart from the Zaisan outlet, all KFC restaurants were open. KFC opened its first restaurant in Mongolia in 2013 and all its restaurants are in the capital. They are operated by its franchise partner, Mongolian conglomerate Tavan Bogd Group. "We deeply regret the negative impact that many people have suffered, especially to our guests of the Zaisan restaurant, and we are working to support our team members and customers during this difficult time," a KFC Global spokeswoman told Reuters. "KFC Mongolia is cooperating fully with the government's investigation and recommendations around addressing the source of the incident. This includes a thorough investigation of all KFC Mongolia restaurants, and specifically into determining the exact cause of the reported incident," she said in an email. Tavan Bogd apologized in a separate statement, saying the incident had happened due to weak internal quality checks and that daily standards and rules were poorly implemented. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/mongolia-suspends-kfc-outlets-hundreds-show-food-poisoning-030029822--finance.html

The singer shared the good news on Facebook with a photo of him holding his newborn son, whom he nicknamed Bon Bon. He wrote, "How to describe the feelings of the moment of his birth? Is it similar to driving the first car one bought? The first time one buys a house? The first time one falls in love? I can only say that the feeling of welcoming a new life is deeper and more complicated than that." "Although it is the first time, it is also my own flesh and blood, a precious but fragile life. Why do I only get to experience this "first time" in my 50s? I believe it's all God's arrangement." David also expressed his awe towards wife Penny, who sacrificed a lot to give birth to their first baby. "The excitement has yet to calm down. Everything is still surreal. I believe in the coming days, our love for our son will slowly deepen. Good night my wife, good night my baby boy. Love you both dearly," he added. This is the first baby for David and Penny, who tied the knot in 2015. The couple previously expected to have a child together before, but Penny had a miscarriage in 2017. They announced another pregnancy in June 2018.

SINGAPORE - A Hurri-Kane is set to hit Singapore shores this summer as Tottenham Hotspur announced that their first team, headlined by England captain Harry Kane, will visit the Republic in July. While the 25-year-old striker is currently nursing an ankle injury, he could return at the end of the month to boost English Premier League title hopes for Tottenham who are currently third behind Manchester City and Liverpool but within striking distance. Other Spurs stars expected to feature prominently are France's World Cup-winning skipper and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, England midfielder Dele Alli and South Korean sensation Son Heung Min. Tottenham said in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 19): "We are delighted to announce that the first team squad will travel to Singapore and Shanghai as part of our pre-season tour in July in preparation for the 2019/20 season. "The tour will also enable us to join in the Centennial celebrations of our Global Principal Partner, AIA, whose roots trace back to Shanghai in 1919. "Our tour to both Singapore and Shanghai will form an important part of the Pan-Asian life insurer's Centennial, with a 12-month programme of special events and activities across its 18 markets in the region having commenced in January. "The visit also affords the club the opportunity to engage with our millions of fans across Asia including Official Supporters Clubs in both countries in which we will be playing fixtures." The announcement virtually confirms Spurs will be one of the four teams competing in the International Champions Cup at the National Stadium in July. Last week, The Straits Times reported that English Premier League clubs Manchester United and Tottenham are all but confirmed for the visit and negotiations are ongoing to add Italy's Juventus and Inter Milan to the line-up. It is understood that the ICC is set to take place here over the July 19-21 weekend and will feature four teams - one more than in the last two years. But there will be just two games instead of the previous three. Although the fixtures will be confirmed only on March 27, the new arrangement means the four teams do not need to take a break between matches and the weekend scheduling should attract more fans to the National Stadium. While Spurs last visited Singapore in 1995, when they lost 4-2 to the Lions on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation, tours to Asia are not new to them. They were in Beijing for the 2009 Premier League Asia Trophy and Hong Kong for the 2013 edition. They also played in Malaysia in 2015, as well as Hong Kong in 2017. Spurs fan Fabius Chen, a 33-year-old public servant, said: "I was there as a kid in 1995 and it was the first time I watched them in person. My favourite player at the time was Darren Anderton and I have never forgotten Singapore goalkeeper David Lee saving his spot-kick in the shootout. "I'll be there again in July because as a fan from Singapore, chances to see the team live are few and far between. "I hope manager Mauricio Pochettino and defender Toby Aiderweireld will still be at the club then. I'm also looking forward to seeing a few new faces that can hopefully take the team further next season, a couple of future stars like striker Troy Parrott, and definitely a better result than the last time they were here." https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-tottenham-announce-first-teams-visit-to-singapore-and-shanghai-in-july

SINGAPORE: A 24-year-old man who was caught in a viral video stomping on a man's face at Golden Mile Complex was sentenced to jail for three years and nine months on Tuesday (Feb 19). Wee Boon How carried out a four-minute assault on the victim, 26-year-old Bong Hong Yun, in the wee hours of Oct 11, 2017, at the first floor of Golden Mile Complex. It began when the two men got into a staring incident near a pub in the complex, before they began exchanging vulgarities. This progressed to punches and kicks, with their friends trying to separate them to no avail. Eventually, the victim fell to the ground but Wee continued his assault, punching his face until he lost consciousness. Wee rained blows on the victim's face before stamping on his face, kicking him multiple times. The victim was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital where he was warded for two days before being re-admitted for facial reconstruction as he had suffered fractures. VICTIM INSULTED ATTACKER'S MOTHER, SAYS DEFENCE Wee's lawyer told the court that the victim had insulted Wee's mother. This was an "extremely raw nerve", he said, as Wee's mother had abandoned him and his father when Wee was only seven years old. Additionally, Wee had a low IQ of 60 and studied only up to Secondary 2, he said. The prosecution asked for a jail term of at least three years and nine months, saying that footage of the attack showed the "savageness", protraction and "absolute violence" Wee used. Deputy Public Prosecutor Zhou Hongyi said Wee "has not learnt his lesson", pointing to the fact that he had carried out the attack while on bail for assaulting another man in April 2017. After the Golden Mile attack, Wee again reoffended while on bail, assaulting another man at St James Power Station on Oct 28, 2017. She added that Wee also attacked the victim's friend, and that while he claimed to have surrendered himself to the police, he did so only after "much persuasion" from the authorities. PROSECUTION TOOK INTO ACCOUNT WEE'S LOW IQ, DID NOT ASK FOR CANING In response to the defence's arguments, she said the prosecution had taken into account Wee's low IQ. The defence asked for a jail term that was three months shorter than what the prosecution asked for, saying Wee wishes to turn over a new leaf and is trying to find help to curb his anger management issues. After leaving school, Wee worked as a door-to-door salesman selling ice cream and keychains, said the lawyer. He claimed that the Wee's low IQ exempted him from National Service, but the prosecutor disputed this, saying there was no proof. Before being taken into remand in November 2017, Wee worked as an attendant at an economic rice stall, earning about S$1,600 a month. He gave S$300 of this to his father, whom he lived with in a one-room flat, said the defence. Wee, who is now the father of a young son, pleaded guilty to one charge of causing grievous hurt and two charges of rioting. District Judge Marvin Bay agreed with the prosecution's position, noting that the prosecutor had been "extremely moderate not seeking any caning in your sentence". "There is no place for acts of wanton group violence, especially in a crowded public place in modern-day Singapore," he said, calling the assault "barbaric". Source: CNA/ll(cy)

WINCHESTER, Kentucky: The US citizen accused of leaking details of 14,200 HIV-positive people from Singapore's HIV registryappeared briefly in a Kentucky courtroom on Monday (Feb 18) on trespassing charges, telling the judge he believes the Singapore Government may be interfering in the case. Mikhy Farrera Brochez, 34, arrived without an attorney at a Clark County District Court in Winchester, Kentucky, where he had been arrested in December and charged with third-degree criminal trespassing for refusing to leave his mother’s home. Judge Charles Hardin delayed the case until Mar 4 at the arresting officer’s request, noting that Brochez had pleaded not guilty and the charges carried no possibility of jail time. The judge told Brochez he did not know anything about his allegation of interference. Outside the courtroom before the hearing, Brochez did not directly address a reporter's question on whether he leaked information from Singapore's HIV registry. But he recently told Vice News that he shared the data with government and media sources and that the information had already been exposed. Brochez repeated claims on Monday that he contracted HIV only after "they had me gang-raped in prison". Singapore authorities have said his allegations are "blatantly false”. Asked about those potentially hurt by the leak, he said: “I was thrown in prison for something I didn’t do. And I was held down and gang-raped by your government. And you want to talk to me about someone’s feelings? Do you have any idea what I’m going through right now?” Brochez stood during the hearing in a plaid button-down shirt before the judge. He said his mother wanted to drop the case, and that it was causing hardship by interfering with his ability to work. Judge Hardin said his mother did not have the right to dismiss it and continued it for two weeks. His mother, Ms Teresa King, was not present and could not be reached. It was at Ms King’s house near Winchester where Brochez was arrested in December after he refused to leave, three months after police responded to a similar call and he was warned to stay away. “This deputy informed the suspect about the past warning and the suspect was instructed to leave numerous times but the suspect kept wanting to ask about the property that T. King had of his and wanting to talk to the sheriff,” according to an arrest report. After the hearing, Brochez declined to answer questions. He was accompanied by the sheriff’s deputies outside, climbing into a white Mercedes SUV and driven away. Court documents listed his home address in Lexington, Kentucky. Brochez, who had worked in Singapore as a psychology lecturer, was sentenced in 2017 to 28 months in jail on drug and fraud charges, including for using a fake blood test to lie about his HIV-positive status and gain an employment pass. His partner, Singaporean doctor Ler Teck Siang, had access to the HIV registry as part of his work as the former head of the National Public Health Unit. The pair started living together in Singapore in 2008, and were married in New York City in 2014. Singapore's Health Ministry announced on Jan 28 that Brochez, who was deported last April, had leaked online information from Singapore’s HIV registry. That included names, phone numbers, addresses, test results and medical information. He is now wanted in connection with the data leak that includes 5,400 Singaporeans diagnosed with HIV from 1985 to January 2013 and 8,800 foreigners, including work and visit pass applicants and holders, diagnosed with HIV from 1985 to December 2011. Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said in Parliament recently that the Singapore police will “spare no effort” in bringing Brochez to justice and that they are "engaging their American counterparts and are seeking their assistance in the investigations against Brochez". The US Embassy in Singapore has previously declined comment. Investigators say Brochez also forged his degrees including a doctorate from the University of Paris to a US teaching certification. In 2010 he had told a local newspaper that his mother was a renowned professor of child and adolescent psychology in the UK. Source: CNA/de(mn)

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Diana Chang Chung-wen, one of Hong Kong’s brightest starlets from 1960s, has passed away at the age of 82. Headline Daily reports that Chung’s family confirmed today that she died in Texas on Friday, Feb. 15 of natural causes. Chang was born in 1936 in Hubei, China, and rose to fame during the 50s and 60s, appearing in more than 30 films by the famed Shaw Brothers Studio. One of her most famous film appearances was her starring role in the 1964 Shaw Brothers film The Amorous Lotus Pan about a woman in an arranged marriage who falls in love with her husband’s brother. To promote the film, Chang embarked on a three-month US tour accompanied by Bruce Lee, who would not only dance the cha-cha with her on stage each night, but also acted as her bodyguard. (It was during this three-month tour that the infamous Bruce Lee and Wong Jack Man fight took place in San Francisco.) Chang was known for her sex appeal, and was given many nicknames by reporters covering her tour, including “the most beautiful creature,” “the fire-breathing lass,” and “the Mandarin Marilyn Monroe.” Ming Pao reports that Chang retired from the film industry in 1966 after marrying a German man, and later settled in the US. She’s most famous for singing the Mandarin version of the Rosemary Clooney hit Mambo Italiano — only the Mandarin version is actually an ode to “char siu bao,” or “steamed barbecue pork buns.” The chorus literally translates to, “Barbecue pork buns, who likes to eat barbecue pork buns?” instead of Clooney’s “Hey, mambo, mambo Italiano.” (The Mandarin version celebrates other buns, too, including lotus seed buns, Shanghai buns, “mantou” rice buns, cabbage and pork buns, and so on.) https://coconuts.co/hongkong/lifestyle/mandarin-marilyn-monroe-famous-for-song-about-steamed-barbecue-pork-buns-dies-aged-82/

The fears of Beach Road icon Golden Mile Complex getting demolished has been put to rest (Urban Redevelopment Authority promises to conserve it), but that’s not stopping the brutalist beauty from getting memorialized in a video game. Thanks to the meticulous efforts of one very capable gamer, Golden Mile Complex was lovingly recreated in city-building simulation video game Cities: Skyline. The attention to detail is astounding — an individual who goes by the handle Ali Cafe Hao YEAH! crafted an accurate digital replica of the property, complete with the stepped terrace design, the rusted makeshift zinc roofs, and even the void deck on the ninth floor of the building. The works of Ali Cafe Hao YEAH! should be familiar to local fans of Cities: Skyline. The creator has been uploading assets of Singaporean buildings, structures, and landmarks that can be used in the game, and yes, that includes ERP gantries. For those who are interested, the Golden Mile Complex model for Cities: Skyline can be downloaded for free via Steam. Photo: Ali Cafe Hao YEAH! via Steam Saved from demolition Completed in 1973, Golden Mile Complex was once hailed as an advanced development that combined residential, office and retail units under one roof. Years went by and the building was later deemed as an eyesore and a shady place for sleazy entertainment and violent fights. In August last year, the building underwent an en bloc sale, which meant that the landmark would have been totally demolished to make way for a new development. But after overwhelming outcry by Singaporeans, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) revealed that it might not be knocked down after all. “URA has assessed the building to have heritage value, and is in the process of engaging the stakeholders to explore options to facilitate conservation,” a URA spokesperson noted to Coconuts Singapore. The property is still on the market for sale though — it’s just that the buyer will have to figure out a way to preserve the structure.

SINGAPORE: Local footballer Benjamin Davis has defaulted on his National Service (NS) obligations, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Monday (Feb 18). “Mr Benjamin Davis is a National Service (NS) defaulter," said MINDEF in response to Channel NewsAsia's queries. "He failed to report for NS as required. He is also staying overseas without a valid Exit Permit. Mr Davis has committed offences under the Enlistment Act, and is liable upon conviction to a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 3 years.” Davis, 18, signed a two-year contract with newly promoted English Premier League (EPL) side Fulham, the club announced in July last year. He is the first Singaporean to sign a professional contract with a top-tier English club. The former Singapore Sports School student had joined Fulham on a two-year scholarship deal in July 2017. His application to defer his national service (NS) enlistment was rejected by MINDEF, who said he did not “meet the criteria for long-term deferment from full-time NS". "As all male Singaporeans liable for full-time NS put aside personal pursuits to dutifully enlist and serve their NS, it would not be fair to approve applications for deferment for individuals to pursue their own careers and development,” MINDEF had said in a statement. "Very few applications have been approved over the years and based on criteria which are made known to the public. In sports, deferments are granted only to those who represent Singapore in international competitions like the Olympic Games and are potential medal winners for Singapore. In the last 15 years, only three have met this criteria.” In response, his father, Mr Harvey Davis, said a deferment would have allowed his son to pursue his dream of playing in the EPL and “make Singapore proud by being the first Singaporean to play in the EPL”. Speaking in Parliament in August last year, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen had stressed that NS obligations are “crucial to our nation’s survival”, as he referred to a 2017 written judgement by the Appellate High Court during an appeal on the sentencing of NS defaulters. The judges said that every male Singaporean must serve NS at the time he is required to under the Enlistment Act, “without regard to his personal convenience and considerations”. “The Enlistment Act is blind to 'personal convenience and considerations’, no matter how talented the individual or exceptional his circumstances,” Dr Ng said. Continuing on that theme, Dr Ng added deferment is granted to individuals very selectively, “if their deferment serves Singapore’s interest first and foremost, never their own”. Source: CNA/mt

SINGAPORE — The choice of date for a Japanese cultural event organised by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) students has raised some eyebrows among members of the public. This year’s edition of the Japanese Cultural Festival, held by the NTU Japanese Appreciation Club, takes place on Monday (Feb 18) — the 77th anniversary of the Sook Ching massacre. Operation Sook Ching was a Japanese military operation in 1942 aimed at identifying and killing suspected anti-Japanese elements among the Chinese community in Singapore. According to the National Library Board’s Infopedia page, the Japanese put the official Sook Ching death count at 5,000, although the actual figure is believed to be much higher. The annual festival at NTU — which aims to showcase Japanese arts and culture — is held on campus and is open to the public. Some members of the public have objected to the festival’s chosen date. “The event says a lot about our students’ lack of knowledge and appreciation about the significant events in our country’s history,” said Facebook user Angeline Lee in a post criticising the event. However, others felt that the outrage was going too far. “There are unfortunate anniversaries on every day of the year. At what point do we stop?” asked Facebook user Edward C Yong in a comment on a shared post. An NTU spokesman explained that the date of the event was picked based on the venue’s availability. “The student organisers will observe a minute of silence at the start of the event to honour those who lost their lives during Sook Ching and World War II,” said the spokesman. https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ntu-japanese-cultural-event-sook-ching-anniversary-raises-eyebrows

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