SINGAPORE - Ikea Singapore is recalling six chocolate products containing hazelnuts and almonds, or both, that may not be suitable for those allergic to them.

In a statement on Thursday (July 28), it said no allergic incident has been reported so far involving the products, named Choklad Lingon and Blabar, Choklad Ljus Utz, Choklad Not Utz, Godis Chokladkrokant, Chokladkrokant Bredbar and Godis Chokladran.

According to the statement, the presence of hazelnut and almond has been "frequently and not only occasionally detected, which underlines that these chocolate products are not suitable for consumption by persons allergic or sensitive to those allergens". 

As the product labels only state that they 'may contain' these allergens, it is "not stating this frequent presence clearly enough," said Ikea.

It added: "The product information on the product label could possibly be misleading and is therefore not interpreted as compliant with legislation in several markets.

"Based on the high IKEA safety and quality standards we have decided to recall the affected products globally, irrespective of various legislations in our markets."

Customers may return affected products at the nearest IKEA store for a full refund, with no proof of purchase required.

Just last month, Ikea Singapore similarly recalled chocolates due to insufficient labelling on the packaging advising consumers of the presence of milk and hazelnut.

candicec@sph.com.sg

Some 150 people lost a total of over $12 million after falling for a phone scam in which fraudsters posing as staff from courier company DHL claimed they needed to remit cash to clear their names.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Charis Low revealed the sum - which was handed over between late March and last month - when the case of three Malaysian men suspected of being behind the scam was mentioned in court yesterday.

The prosecution has tendered an amended charge against them.

Hiu Sheng Fatt, 21, is alleged to have been in an arrangement to withdraw sums amounting to $143,800 from his United Overseas Bank (UOB) account, which represented an unknown person's benefits from criminal conduct.

Ooi Lun Xiang and Tee Jia Yong, both 22, are also said to have been in the arrangement to withdraw $143,800 from Hiu's UOB account on July 14.

Top 7 scams in Singapore and more

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

www.scamalert.sg

If convicted under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, they could each be fined up to $500,000 and/or jailed for up to 10 years.

DPP Low said the trio came to Singapore on July 14 and withdrew $121,900 from Hiu's UOB bank account - money from victims of the DHL scam.

She asked that no bail be allowed for Hiu as he is a foreigner and presents a flight risk.

Between late March and the end of June this year, the police received more than 3,000 calls and reports about the scam, in which around 155 victims lost a total of more than $12 million.

Both Ooi and Tee were remanded for another week for investigations. The case will be mentioned again next Thursday.

Yesterday, three employees of remittance firm Samlit Moneychanger were given Public Spiritedness Awards by the Singapore Police Force for stopping two people from falling for the scam.

See also: 11 scams that are happening in Singapore now 

In one case, a 69-year-old Singaporean woman wanted to remit $50,000 to her "relative" in China on July 8.

Staff grew suspicious when she could not specify how she was related to the recipient. The amount was also a huge proportion of her life savings of around $70,000, according to the firm's assistant general manager Sameer Malik, 26.

Upon further questioning, she said she had received a phone call from someone claiming that she had a parcel containing illegal arms, passports and credit cards sent under her name via DHL to Shanghai.

She was told to remit the money if she wanted to clear her name. The caller even taught her what to say when the remittance company questioned her, said Mr Malik.

"To pressure her, they even told her that the Customs officer who handled her parcel would lose his job and be sent to jail if she doesn't send the money," he said.

Staff informed the Commercial Affairs Department and police.

The latter advised people who are in doubt or have information about such crimes to call their hotline on 1800-255-0000, or dial 999 for urgent police assistance.

This article was first published on July 29, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) was not his first choice, but he has never once regretted his decision.

Mr Lionel Tan was afraid of being bullied because he was ITE's first blind student.

But his perceptions about the school were debunked once he got to know his lecturers and schoolmates. They not only cared for him, but also helped him with his studies.

Their efforts did not go to waste because the 20-year-old was in the top 5 per cent of this year's graduating class from ITE. 

Mr Tan became blind when he was just a year old after suffering from retinoblastoma, the most common eye cancer in children.

First, his left eye had to be removed. Then he became blind in his right eye when the cancer spread.

In 2014, he became the first blind student at ITE when he enrolled in ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio.

He had hoped to enter a polytechnic but did not qualify. It was a dream that was merely deferred, not shattered.

Last Friday, Mr Tan, who did a Nitec course in business services, received a Certificate of Merit, which is given to the top 5 per cent of ITE graduates.

He now plans to pursue a polytechnic diploma and fulfil his dream of becoming an entrepreneur one day.

He told The New Paper on Wednesday: "I've never thought of giving up. If you give up, you don't get to accomplish anything."

Mr Tan credits his success to support from his mother, lecturers and friends.

Madam Katherine Heng, section head of business services at ITE College Central, has seen him blossom since 2014.

"Lionel is a role model for his classmates... (he) motivates them to work even harder," she said.

With help from the Learning Accessibility Office in ITE, Mr Tan uses Jaws (a text-to-speech software) and Braille Sense (a note-taking device) to support him in his learning.

He even uses WhatsApp to communicate with friends.

A buddy system allows him to move around the sprawling campus.

'GRATEFUL'

He said: "I am very grateful to have such understanding and supportive classmates."

His classmates even took time off their schedule to help him catch up on lessons whenever Mr Tan was unable to keep up in class.

But his road to success has not been easy.

When he was in secondary school, Mr Tan did not care about his studies.

His attitude improved after he met his English teacher in Secondary 4.

"She really pushed me to do my best. Then I knew I was able to do anything if I put my heart to it," he said.

Mr Tan, who used to take swimming lessons and was part of an a cappella group in school, added: "I don't let my impairment get in the way of learning new things. There are many things I'm able to do as well as anyone else."

This article was first published on July 29, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

A team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has designed and built what it said is the world's lightest electric paraglider trike - an aircraft with two rear-mounted twin propellers.

The team of eight NUS engineering students built the aircraft, called The Delta, after it was challenged to build a flying vehicle for a new National Geographic Channel series called Machine Impossible.

The Delta, which weighs just 49kg, can carry one person weighing up to 75kg and can fly up to 36kmh for 10 minutes.

The team designed and built The Delta from January to March this year, before its first flight on March 19.

Mr Chan Wai Yang, 23, a Year 3 Electrical Engineering student who was one of the eight students in the team, said: "Designing and building The Delta was an experience like no other.

"We had a great learning experience tackling various aspects of the project.

"It was an engineering challenge we greatly relished."

The Delta uses two electric motors, each weighing 1.5kg, which provide extra stability.

The first flight, which took place in Sungai Rambai Aerodome in Malacca, was a success at the first try.

The team had also designed several features to ensure the safety of the pilot, such as a roll cage for protection, fibre glass rods to cushion landing and barrier nets between the pilot and the propellers.

Associate Professor Martin Henz, the supervisor for the project, said: "While it isn't a form of transportation, as a form of recreation, The Delta could possibly be a great contribution to the sport of paragliding."

The Delta uses two lithium polymer batteries to provide power for the propellers and the motors without causing excessive noise.

Prof Henz said: "We are thrilled to have this opportunity to build an all-new machine for the National Geographic Channel.

"Such projects have tremendous value in the education of our students in engineering."

This article was first published on July 29, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - The police are stepping up its efforts to clamp down on the various online scams plaguing Singapore at present, with over fifty people brought in for questioning.

In a statement on Friday (July 29), the police revealed that 55 individuals, comprising 27 men and 28 women, are assisting in investigations after a three-day operation from July 25 to July 27.

The suspects, aged between 17 and 72, are believed to be involved in more than 150 online scams, with transactions exceeding $230,000.

Most of the suspects are believed to have posed as online sellers who scammed victims into buying products such as entrance tickets to local attractions, vouchers, mobile phones and hotel room bookings. They failed to deliver the products after receiving payment for them.

Some of the other suspects are believed to have acted as "money mules" who received and transferred illegal funds on behalf of criminal syndicates.

The police said that the suspects are being investigated for cheating or money laundering. Those found guilty of cheating may be fined and jailed for a maximum of 10 years. Meanwhile, those convicted of money laundering may be sentenced to 10 years in jail and fined up to $500,000.

Read also: 11 scams that are happening in Singapore now

According to the police, there were 2,173 reports of cheating cases involving e-commerce in 2015, of which three out of four were made by people who had used online community marketplaces.

This represented a 30 per cent increase from the year before, when 1,665 cases of online cheating were reported.

The police advised members of the public to exercise caution when making online transactions by being clear about the dispute resolution safeguards offered by the online site.

They also urged consumers making transactions online to pay only on delivery or use payment platforms with established refund policies, and reject requests by others for personal information like bank account details or mobile phone numbers.

Various online scams have been highlighted in the media in recent months. It was previously reported that from January to May this year, a total of $623,500 had been lost to scams in which victims make advance payments for products such as electronic gadgets, which then fail to arrive.

Another widespread online scam are the credit-for-sex cases, in which swindlers convince their victims, mostly men, to buy them items such as transfer cards or online shopping credits, in exchange for sexual services which never materialise.

The police stressed that it takes a serious view against any person involved in scams, whether knowingly or unknowingly. They added that any bank accounts found to be used to receive money from illegal sources would be frozen for investigation purposes.

Top 7 scams in Singapore and more

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

www.scamalert.sg

seanyap@sph.com.gs

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean man who openly supported terrorist organisations and radicalised two others has been arrested and detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

In a statement on Friday (July 29), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that 44-year-old Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff, who wanted to establish an Islamic state in Singapore, was arrested in this month for terrorism-related activities.

According to MHA, Zulfikar made numerous Facebook posts glorifying and promoting the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS), and exhorted Muslims to take up arms and wage militant jihad in places like the Middle East, Palestine, Myanmar and the Philippines. He considered the propogation of radical material as a form of jihad.

He also set up a Facebook page called "Al-Makhazin Singapore" as a means to provoke Muslims in Singapore into pushing for the replacement of the democratic system in Singapore with an Islamic state, and had looked into holding training sessions to radicalise young Singaporeans.

Zulfikar also contributed to the radicalisation of two other Singaporeans: Mohamed Shamin Mohamed Sidik and Mohamed Saiddhin Abdullah, said the statement.

Explaining the detention, MHA said: "In view of the high level of the terrorism threat that Singapore currently faces, and the global terrorism threat posed by ISIS, Zulfikar's promotion of violence and ISIS and his radicalising influence pose a security threat to Singapore."

In its statement, MHA revealed that Zulfikar had become radicalised as early as 2001 after reading jihadi-related materials, and was supportive of organisations like Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah. He also advocated for Muslims to take up arms in Afghanistan following the Sept 11, 2001 terror attacks.

After resettling his family in Australia in 2002, he continued to pursue radical ideology by joining hardline organisation Hizbut Tahrir, and was influenced by the teachings of radical idealogues like Anwar al-Awlaki.

MHA also said that besides his intention to promote ISIS, he wanted his online followers to reject the secular democratic nation-state system and establish an Islamic caliphate governed by Syariah law.

"He believes that violence should be used to achieve this goal if necessary," MHA said, adding that he had also set up the online group Al-Makhazin in 2013 to achieve his objective of establishing a global Islamic caliphate.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Facebook screengrabs, Berita Harian

MHA also revealed that it has issued two-year Restriction Orders (RO) to the other two Singaporeans.

Mohamed Saiddhin, a 33-year-old businessman, was radicalised through perusing radical online material and influences, and was so inspired by Zulfikar that he photographed himself adopting the common pose of jihadi fighters while standing in front of the ISIS flag.

The statement said that the other individual radicalised by Zulfikar, Mohamed Shamin, had been detained under the ISA for terrorism-related activities, without elaborating further.

Another individual, a 17-year-old who was not named in the statement, was given an RO. The teen had recently graduated from a madrasah.

"Investigations showed that he had become radicalised online after viewing pro-ISIS videos, websites and social media material. He became convinced that ISIS' violent actions were justified and harboured the intention to fight for ISIS in Syria in the future where he was prepared to die a martyr," MHA explained.

A person issued with an RO cannot change his residence or employment, or travel out of Singapore without the approval of the director of the Internal Security Department.

Meanwhile, another Singaporean, Muhammad Fadil Abdul Hamid, was re-detained under the ISA for two years in April this year,  as he intended to join a terrorist group to engage in armed violence in Syria.

According to MHA, Fadil, who had previously been detained from 2010 to 2012, had initially made progress in reintegrating into society, but later became attracted to radical online material again.

At the same time, a self-radicalised Singaporean, Abdul Basheer Abdul Kader, 37, was released from preventive detention after it was assessed that he no longer posed a security threat. The RO of another individual, Rijal Yudri Jumari, 35, was also allowed to lapse.

Read also: 4 Singaporeans arrested under ISA for involvement in armed violence abroad

seanyap@sph.com.sg

Travellers passing through Changi Airport can now enjoy new art installations and interactive photo opportunities across its three terminals. 

In a statement released today (July 29), the airport said that the highlight of these installations will be an interactive digital photo wall that makes use of motion-sensing technology at Terminal 2 (T2). 

With the LED "Dots Portrait Wall", travellers will be able to snap monochromatic portraits of themselves and bring them home as mementos.

Changi Airport introduces new interactive art installations

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AFP, The Straits Times

From there, the portraits can be edited to feature iconic local backgrounds like Gardens by the Bay and the Merlion Park. Thereafter, travellers can even choose to send their portraits directly to friends and family over email. 

On the other side of the interactive screen is a "Motion Silhouette Wall". This wall responds to movements in real time and is something that kids, and maybe some adults, will likely find entertaining. 

Adopting the same motion-sensing technology, passengers can move and interact with the animation that appears on the wall. 

On top of these, cardboard art pieces have been installed across the three terminals depicting famous places of interest like the Singapore Flyer, the Sultan Mosque as well as the Supertrees of Gardens by the Bay. 

These can all be found along luggage claim belts at each terminal. 

Departing passengers can also explore Changi's new photo spots which feature some of Singapore's favourite streets and roads. 

For example, over at Terminal 1, passengers can pose with Changi's famous trishaw that stands against a 3D background of Chinatown. 

These new showcases are part of a two-year collaboration between the Changi Airport Group and the Singapore Tourism Board which began in April last year. 

mldas@sph.com.sg

A video showing a man claiming there is plastic in a popular brand of cream crackers has been dismissed by netizens as being misleading.

To prove his point in the video, the man, who spoke in a Malaysia-accented Chinese dialect, used a cigarette lighter to burn a few crackers from well-known brand Hup Seng.

As the crackers lit up easily and appeared to be melting, he claimed that they could have contained synthetic material - insinuating that they were not safe to eat.

Uploaded by Facebook user Emo-Ji early on Friday (July 29), the video has garnered over 730,000 views. It also got many netizens fired up.

They pointed out that a few ingredients in the crackers like oil and carbohydrates, such as wheat flour and corn starch, are in fact flammable.

Some demanded the video to be deleted while others warned the man in the video that he could be sued by Hup Seng for making a false claim.

One Facebook user showed a clipping of a Chinese newspaper article which cited an expert saying that the crackers are safe for consumption.

AsiaOne sent questions in an e-mail to Hup Seng to clarify the matter, but has yet to receive a reply at publication time.

The controversial video

AsiaOne noted that the cream crackers caught fire and burned easily in the video. The man then placed the crackers in a wok that looked shiny and well-oiled.

The biscuits continued to burn.

So, is the video legit or was it staged?

No one seems to know for sure right now which is why AsiaOne decided to conduct its own experiment using the same brand and type of crackers that were used in the original video.

We tried to burn the first piece of cracker with a cigarette lighter, but it didn't light up easily even though we held it directly under the flame for long enough.

The targeted spot got charred instead but the fire didn't spread to the other parts of the cracker. In fact, the air suddenly smelled of burnt toast.

We repeated the attempt with another piece of cracker and the results were identical.

Our conclusion: The crackers used in our test did not catch fire easily, unlike the ones shown in the questionable video.

chenj@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Under scrutiny due to reports of the sexualised nature of various orientation games, the National University of Singapore (NUS) announced that it has suspended all student-organised freshmen orientation activities.

"With immediate effect, all student-organised team-building activities for freshmen at NUS (such as orientation camps, and freshmen activities in Halls, Residential Colleges, etc) are suspended until further notice," the university said in a statement on Friday (July 29).

However, the university said that formal university activities, including the NUS Student Union's (NUSSU) rag and flag activities, which raises funds for 22 Singapore charities, will continue as scheduled.

The suspension comes days after reports in the local media about first-year students made to re-enact simulated rape scenes and sing cheers that denigrated women.

In its statement, NUS acknowledged that a video circulating online showing students getting dunked into a pond had been an activity that took place at Sheares Hall, one of its halls of residences, on July 27.

NUS clarified that dunking or other forms of ragging are banned under the university's guidelines.

"We are deeply disappointed that some of our students have flouted the rules and behaved in an unacceptable manner in organising freshmen activities," NUS said, adding that the matter was under investigation and that those found responsible will be brought before the university's Board of Discipline.

NUS, which was recently ranked as the top university in Asia in the QS university rankings, stressed that orientation activities should be respectful of the dignity of participants.

"Our students, particularly freshmen, must feel safe and secure at all times during orientation. The instances of unacceptable behaviour and activities that have surfaced this week play no part in a university education," the university said.

NUS' orientation activities have attracted much attention since the report surfaced earlier this week. On Wednesday, Acting Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung weighed in, calling such acts "reprehensible".

Meanwhile, Wrap & Roll, a Vietnamese restaurant chain, announced that it would be pulling out as a sponsor and would no longer work with NUSSU.

seanyap@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - Qatar Airways has walked away with the gold award in the Digital category at the 12th edition of the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) iink Awards for its Qatar Travelogue campaign.

The campaign, which appeared on a number of SPH's digital platforms, including AsiaOne, showcased Qatar Airways' network of 10 destinations in the United States.

Besides educating readers on cities that the airline flies to, the campaign also incorporated travel tips taking into account the needs and habits of different types of travellers.

For winning gold, Qatar Aiways also received $30,000 worth of media credits.

Frasers Centerpoint's Northpark Residence Launch campaign and United Overseas Bank's "UOB Right By You" campaign won silver and bronze respectively in the digital category.

The winners were presented with their awards at a glitzy celebration night held at The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore on Friday evening (July 29), which was attended by over 300 guests.

The evening's big winner was a the "Best Teacher / MOE Scholarship" campaign by Up & Up for the Ministry of Education, which won Gold in the Print Classified/Recruitment/Notice category.

The campaign also won the coveted Grand Prix award, which honours the entry that scored the highest number of points from the judges, and saw Up & Up bag a cash prize of $8,000.

BBH won the title of iink Creative Agency of The Year, while OMD Singapore was named the iink Media Agency of the Year.

In addition to the winners of the ten award categories, "Mousetrap" by the Monetary Authority of Singapore took home the Readers' Choice Award.

Ms Elsie Chua, Executive Vice-President and Head, Marketing Division at SPH, said: "Every year, Singapore's creative talents toil hard to produce quality advertisements for their clients. As Asia's leading media company, we feel the need to recognise and reward these deserving talents, and the SPH iink Awards is the perfect platform for that. We hope this recognition will spur our creative talents to constantly break boundaries and scale new heights."

The Awards, formerly known as the SPH Ink Awards, was originally launched to honour the best print advertisements and the creative people behind them. In 2012, three new categories - Digital, Radio and Out-of-Home - were introduced to recognise creative and effective advertisements on SPH's other media platforms. It was also renamed the SPH iink Awards, with the additional "i" representing "Integration".

seanyap@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - A navy personnel was killed after he lost control of the SUV that he was driving and crashed it into a tree.

The fatal acident occurred at about 6.30am on Friday (July 29) along Changi Coast Road in the direction towards Nicoll Drive.

Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao reported that the driver was 21-year-old Yukio Matsuo. After the crash, he was trapped in the driver's seat of the vehicle.

He was unconscious as SCDF officers worked to extricate him from the wreckage with hydraulic rescue tools.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Matsuo, whose father is Japanese and mother a Singaporean, was believed to have been driving his mother's car.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Lianhe Wanbao, Facebook screengrabs

He had previously studied Marine and Offshore Technology and Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and begun working with the Republic of Singapore Navy last April, according to his Facebook page.

Five other passengers, who were in their 20s and 30s, were also injured in the accident.

According to Lianhe Wanbao, two of the five suffered severe injuries and were unconscious as they were conveyed to Changi General Hospital.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the accident at 6.35am. It dispatched one fire engine, one red rhino, five ambulances and two support vehicles to the scene.

When contacted, a police spokesperson confirmed the incident, and said that investigations were ongoing.

seanyap@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - The National Environment Agency (NEA) has suspended the licence of a foodshop at Punggol Waterway Point mall for failing to register one of its staff members and selling unclean food.

NEA did not name the outlet in a notice on its website, but gave the full address instead: 83 Punggol Central, #01-66, Watertown Singapore 828761.

A business listings check showed that the shop in question belongs to local bakery chain Cedele.

NEA said the licensee has been suspended for two weeks, from Thursday (July 28) to Aug 10.

In turn, Cedele said on its website that the Waterway Point outlet is closed for "servicing" and will reopen for business on Aug 11.

NEA said the outlet had accumulated 12 demerit points over the past 12 months and was fined a total of $800 for the two offences. It added that the shop could have had its operations suspended for four weeks, or lose its licence altogether.

All food handlers working in the suspended premises would also be required to attend and pass the Basic Food Hygiene Course again, before they can resume work as food handlers.

NEA said it takes a serious view of these offences and reminded food operators to observe good food and personal hygiene practices at all times, and to engage only registered food handlers.

If the public comes across poor hygiene practices in food establishments, they can call the 24-hour NEA Contact Centre at 1800 - CALL NEA (1800 - 2255632) to provide information.

This article was first published on July 29, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

They were warned not to conduct inappropriate activities for freshmen but did so anyway.

Now, because of a handful of undergraduates, all student-organised freshman activities have been suspended at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The activities suspended include Orientation Week, also known as O Week, a five-day event that was scheduled to happen next week.

It was to be the final orientation camp before the school semester begins.

The unexpected measure follows the controversy over how some of the games at the orientation camps had become sexualised.

The last straw appears to be a video that surfaced yesterday, showing students conducting dunking and ragging activities at Sheares Hall on Wednesday.

In the video, four students can be seen grabbing a limb of another student and dunking him into a body of water repeatedly while singing.

This was also carried out on a female student.

Another segment of the video then showed topless male students crawling on the floor while chanting obscenities.

NUS has since confirmed the video.

In a strongly-worded statement to the media yesterday, a spokesman for NUS said such activities were not condoned but were still carried out despite previous instructions on the matter.

"We are deeply disappointed that some of our students have flouted the rules and behaved in an unacceptable manner in organising freshmen activities," she said.

"Dunking or any other form of ragging is strictly banned under the university's guidelines for student activities.

"The university takes a very serious view of this breach and is currently conducting an investigation."

The spokesman added that all student-organised team-building activities for freshmen have been suspended until further notice.

The New Paper understands that ongoing camps were stopped halfway because of the suspension, and the participants were told to go home.

The suspension and video come in the wake of current investigations of the union camp and arts camp at NUS.

On Tuesday, TNP reported that orientation games at some of these camps had become sexualised.

In the report, one freshman told TNP that she was asked whose bodily fluids she would drink, while another watched her peers re-enact an incestuous rape scene as part of a forfeit.

Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung also put up a post on Facebook on Wednesday evening, condemning the sexualised activities at NUS' orientation camps as "reprehensible".

Yesterday, the NUS spokesman said that those responsible will be brought before the university's board of discipline.

"The instances of unacceptable behaviour and activities that have surfaced this week play no part in a university education," the spokesman said.

"The university is conducting thorough investigations into these unacceptable as well as unauthorised activities."

NUS suspends student-led orientation activities

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Video screengrabs, Stomp

EXCEPTIONS

However, some activities for the freshmen are to continue.

The spokesman said: "The freshmen inauguration ceremonies, welcome receptions by deans, heads of department and masters, as well as faculty and department briefings, will continue as scheduled.

"The Nussu Rag and Flag activities, which raise funds for 22 Singapore charities, will continue."

NUS undergrad Janella Ooi, 21, is a committee member of one of the events that was affected by the suspension.

She said they had spent about half a year planning the event and a lot of their own money.

"We are really sad because our juniors put in a lot of effort and now it is completely undone," she said.

"But personally, I understand (the decision to suspend activities), and I was extremely appalled by the forfeit that promoted rape culture."

She added that Orientation Week was to be a time for freshmen to get used to university life, but that opportunity has now been taken away.

She said: "I feel that NUS could perhaps have some official who could oversee the activities to ensure that these rules are adhered to strictly."

Miss Hui Yan, 26, a marketing executive and NUS alumna, said she was previously a camp facilitator and feels that the rest of the school is being punished for the actions of just a few.

"It is an incredibly superficial and shortsighted move on the school's part, thinking that removing a one-week event will solve deep-rooted issues of sexual harassment and misogyny once and for all," she said.

"Careful planning has gone into the logistics in terms of ensuring overall safety and modesty at most of the camps.

"And organisers will feel frustration and betrayal by the school authorities for seeking a short-term solution instead of formulating a proper resolution in view of the amount of time (that has) gone into planning."

This article was first published on July 30, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

Despite the recent terror attacks in Europe and the increasing level of hostility towards Muslims, Singaporean student Maahirah Mohammed has never been afraid to put on her tudung in public.

That is until last Friday, when an attack happened in Munich, Germany, where she is studying.

A teenage gunman opened fire at the Olympia shopping centre, killing nine people.

The mall is just five minutes by train from the flat where Miss Maahirah, 18, and her cousin, Miss Hanim Zaini, 18, have been living for the last 15 months.

Thankfully, they were on a picnic in the outskirts of the city with a group of friends when the shooting happened at around 6pm (midnight, Singapore time).

Miss Maahirah told The New Paper in a phone interview on Tuesday that she found out about the incident on Facebook as she was leaving the picnic.

She said: "I was quite shocked... because Munich is usually a very safe place. I kept thinking, 'An attack? Here in Munich?'"

The shooting resulted in a shutdown of the city's public transport system, leaving thousands stranded in the streets.

Munich shooting kills at least 10 people

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Reuters video screengrabs, , Facebook screengrabs

Mrs Norliza Asisi Maurer, 53, a fellow Singaporean at the picnic, dropped the cousins off at a tram station about 10 stops away from their flat, unaware that the trams were not running.

Miss Maahirah described the situation as confusing at first, and then gradually becoming more chaotic and tense as time passed.

"The streets were lined with people, and you could feel everyone's frustration and anxiety," she said.

There were also rumours that two other shooters were on the run, which added to the girls' stress and paranoia.

The cousins, who both wear the tudung, were trying to figure out how to get home when an old man started yelling as he walked past them.

"He was pointing at us and shouting in our faces in German about 'another terrorist attack again', and cursing refugees and Islam," said Miss Hanim.

The man walked away after his outburst and the girls quickly walked in the opposite direction.

"It was over very quickly, but we were so shocked and embarrassed as his voice was louder than the (din of the) crowd, so everyone was looking at us," Miss Maahirah added.

The cousins said this was the second time they had been on the receiving end of anti-Islam sentiments.

Last year, while Miss Hanim was waiting at a traffic light junction, a woman made a rude gesture at her from across the street and called out anti-Islam comments.

Miss Maahirah said the shooting was the first time something had happened in Munich so now they are more concerned about their safety.

She said: "I'm scared of wearing my tudung out in public after getting yelled at like that."

Unable to get home after the attack, the teens called Mrs Maurer, who is married to a German national and has been living in Munich for over 20 years. About half an hour later, she picked them up in her car.

ROADBLOCKS

But the journey home was not over.

The roads to their residential area had roadblocks, so they went to Mrs Maurer's home, which was a 10-minute drive away from the tram station.

Miss Maahirah and Miss Hanim ended up spending the night there as public transport was unavailable throughout the night. Services only resumed at 4am so the girls returned home the next day.

Mrs Maurer, who helps her husband run a software company, said: "The locals here are usually very tolerant, and it's very unfortunate that the girls were on the receiving end of someone's frustrations."

Miss Hanim's family, who live in Saudi Arabia, frantically tried to reach her when they read about the shooting.

Her sister, Ms Yasmin Zaini, 22, told TNP: "We had just completed our umrah pilgrimage in Mecca and news of the shooting sent us into panic mode.

"We couldn't reach my sister because her phone was off, but we found out that she was safe from Maahirah just a while later."

While Miss Maahirah thinks that Munich is still a safe city, much like Singapore, she admitted she would not worry about her safety if such an attack happened in Singapore.

She said: "I don't think Singaporeans would be hostile or look at us any differently."

This article was first published on July 30, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrives tomorrow in the US capital Washington for a six-day official visit that is a first by a Singapore prime minister since 1985.

The visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and underscores their close and longstanding partnership, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement yesterday.

US President Barack Obama will welcome Mr Lee at an official arrival ceremony at the White House South Lawn on Tuesday before their meeting in the Oval Office.

Later that day, Mr Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host PM Lee and his wife to a state dinner, an honour accorded by the Obama administration to only 11 other occasions in eight years. Four of them were for Asian countries: India, China, South Korea and Japan.

During his stay, Mr Lee will meet several senior members of the United States government.

On Tuesday, at the State Department, Vice-President Joe Biden, his wife Jill and Secretary of State John Kerry will host a state luncheon for Mr and Mrs Lee.

Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter will host PM Lee to lunch on Monday, the day after his arrival, and there will be separate meetings between him and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director John Brennan.

The Prime Minister will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Monday. He will also speak at a reception jointly hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce and the US-Asean Business Council that day.

Earlier, on Sunday, he will meet Singaporeans at a National Day reception in the Singapore Embassy.

Mr Lee's visit provides an opportunity for both countries to renew and expand bilateral cooperation, the Prime Minister's Office said.

The Obama administration has made considerable effort in building ties with Asia in pursuit of its strategy to rebalance its military and diplomatic interests towards the region.

In February, a special Asean-US summit was held in California which Mr Lee attended. During his week-long working trip, he also met the chiefs of US technology giants such as Apple and Facebook.

But his upcoming official visit is special. It will be the fifth such visit by a Singapore prime minister. The previous four were made by founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1967, 1973, 1975 and 1985.

Accompanying PM Lee next week are Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S. Iswaran, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing, and Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung.

Three MPs will also be in the delegation: Mr Christopher de Souza, Ms Rahayu Mahzam and Nominated MP Chia Yong Yong.

In Mr Lee's absence, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean will be the Acting Prime Minister.

This article was first published on July 30, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

While admitting the need to tighten recovery of student loans, the issue must also be handled with compassion, especially in cases of financial difficulty.

This was the response from the Ministry of Education (MOE), after a government audit flagged "inadequate controls" to ensure that outstanding loans funded by the ministry were promptly recovered.

Highlighting how education is the "best social leveller" and that "our young should not miss out because of financial difficulties", the MOE told The Straits Times that its loan schemes are not administered the way for-profit commercial ones are.

Instead, it has "intentionally allowed easy access to loans" to ensure Singaporeans are not denied a university education due to money issues. That is why tuition fee and study loans are interest-free during the period of study, while repayment and interest can start up to two years after a student graduates. There is also a maximum loan repayment period of 20 years.

"While there is cost to the Government in delaying loan servicing and waiver of interest, these are deliberately policy decisions to assist students, especially those from lower- income families," said the MOE.

In its report released on Tuesday, the Auditor-General's Office (AGO) said the loans due for recovery from former students of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) stood at $228.04 million as of June 30 last year.

The AGO said that including other institutes of higher learning, the total is $511.49 million in outstanding loans. But only 1.4 per cent of the sum is in default and "may be unrecoverable", highlighted the MOE.

"The vast majority of graduates service their loans and make regular repayments," the ministry added.

Over the past few years, the take-up rates for loans have remained relatively stable, the ministry said. In 2014, about 30 per cent of undergraduates and 4 per cent of diploma students from publicly funded institutions tapped these loans.

Institutions outsource the administration of the loans, which includes processing of applications and recovery of loans, to the banks. MOE said banks have an established process to deal with borrowers who are late in repayments. If a borrower keeps missing repayments, legal action may be taken by the bank, and the borrower and guarantor "are liable to pay all legal costs and expenses on an indemnity basis".

ST understands from financial insiders that the recovery of overdue government study loans is slow and not as straightforward as it seems.

One observer, who declined to be named, said: "The money borrowed doesn't belong to the banks. The recovery would require the approval of a few parties."

The MOE said in cases where the the borrower faces financial difficulties, it may allow him to defer the monthly loan instalment or reduce the instalment temporarily.

This was done in the case of a 26-year-old NTU graduate who became unemployed. His mother, the guarantor, was the sole breadwinner as his father had died.

The ministry also granted temporary deferments of loan repayments and interest for a 38-year-old NUS graduate as he was unable to work owing to a medical condition.

It added: "MOE is working closely with the institutions and banks to ensure prompt follow-up of loans in arrears or overdue."

About the loans

The tuition fee loan covers up to 90 per cent of the fee payable by citizens at the undergraduate level. The remaining 10 per cent can be covered by a means-tested study loan.

Both loan schemes are interest-free during the period of study, and repayment of the principal and interest can start up to two years after a student leaves the institution.

This is to give students time to settle down in their careers before servicing their loans, said the Education Ministry in its reply to queries.

It added: "Our starting point is that education is the best social leveller. Our young should not miss out on education because of financial difficulties or family backgrounds.

"Loans and bursaries granted by our universities therefore aim to help equalise opportunities for all, regardless of the students' background."

Students can liaise with the banks to set their monthly loan repayment amounts based on their financial circumstances, subject to a minimum monthly instalment of $100 per loan, and a maximum loan repayment period of 20 years.

As their earning power increases over time, they can adjust the monthly instalment amounts upwards to allow them to pay off their outstanding loans at a faster rate.

This article was first published on July 30, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Singaporean scientists have taken a big leap forward in studying the human brain by growing "mini- brains" for research.

Measuring about 2mm to 3mm long, they are no bigger than a grain of rice and it is hoped they will be able to help researchers develop treatments for, and conduct studies into, Parkinson's disease and other ageing-related brain diseases.

They are composed of a mass of tissues that have been grown in a laboratory and are a much simpler version of the human midbrain.

The tissue contains functionally active neurons, its cells can divide, cluster together in layers, and become electrically and chemically active in a three-dimensional environment - like the human brain.

While other researchers have successfully grown other parts of the brain, this research is a world first in creating midbrain tissue.

Importantly, the local team's midbrain tissue created neuromelanin, a pigment found in the human midbrain. It has been associated with protecting cells from dying, and is diminished in the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease.

The midbrain is termed the information superhighway of the human body, and controls a person's hearing, vision and body movements. Problems with the midbrain are often linked to disorders such as Parkinson's.

Prior to this discovery, researchers studying Parkinson's often relied on simulations or studies on animals. Studies on the mini-brains can be conducted in the laboratory on cells that mimic the functions of the section of the brain that is affected by the disease.

'Game-changer for drug research'

Said Professor Tan Eng King, research director and senior consultant at the Department of Neurology at the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI): "Chronic brain diseases pose considerable challenges to doctors and patients. This achievement by our Singapore team represents an initial but momentous scientific landmark."

Parkinson's is a gradually progressive neuro-degenerative disorder which affects a person's control of movement, including speech. According to the Health Ministry, three in every 1,000 Singaporeans aged over 50 are afflicted by the disease.

Prof Ng Huck Hui, executive director of A*Star's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), who led the effort, said: "Considering that one of the biggest challenges we face in Parkinson's... research is the lack of accessibility to the human brain, we have achieved a significant step."

Another project leader, Assistant Professor Shawn Je from Duke-NUS Medical School, said: "Now we can really test how these mini-brains react to existing or newly developed drugs before treating patients - which will be a game changer for drug development."

Associate Professor Wang Hongyan, interim director of the Neuroscience and Behavioural Disorders Programme at Duke-NUS, who was not involved in the research, said "the midbrain organoid will... bring our findings from basic research much closer to the bedside".

The research was done by GIS, Duke-NUS and NNI with the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the United States and Nanyang Technological University. The findings have been published in the prestigious scientific journal Cell Stem Cell.

This article was first published on July 30, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

A four-course dinner featuring American wagyu beef and Maryland blue crab awaits Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and wife Ho Ching, when they attend the White House state dinner hosted by US president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama on Tuesday.

The dinner marks the first time in more than three decades that a Singapore prime minister has made an official visit to the US. The last such visit was made by founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1985, at the invitation of then-President Ronald Reagan and Mrs Reagan.

According to The Washington Post, guests at the dinner on Aug 2 will get to enjoy a first course of "cool crab salad garnished with a tuile made using powdered crab shells and Old Bay".

This will be followed by a salad made from heirloom tomatoes grown in Michelle Obama's garden on the grounds of the White House.

The salad will also include ingredients with an Asian slant, like green papaya, pickled green mangoes, accompanied by a soursop sorbet.

American wagyu beef has been set as the main course, which will be dressed with "roasted yams, wilted kale and heirloom carrots", noted The New York Times.

According to The Washington Post, the steak will be seared in Vermont butter and served with bone marrow "in the form of a light crust".

American wagyu, Asian salad for US-Singapore state dinner

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AFP, The Straits Times, Courtesy of Tommy Koh

The New York Times added that for dessert, a peach sangria cake will be served, accented with coconut milk and kaffir lime leaves and drizzled with White House honey.

Another highlight would be the edible centerpieces at each table, made using caramelized almond nougat and pulled sugar flowers, which will hold one-bite pastries.

The concept was created by White House executive pastry chef Susie Morrison, reported Washington Post.

And what is dinner without entertainment?

R&B soul singer-songwriter Chrisette Michele is expected to entertain the approximately 200 guests.

As for the decor, the room will be dressed in yellow blooms - yellow orchids, roses and other yellow flowers, with the colour symbolising the friendship between the two countries.

PM Lee Hsien Loong and former PM Lee Kuan Yew given US state dinner honour

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaoabao, MFA, The White House, AFP

PM Lee arrives in Washington on Sunday for the six-day official visit, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

candicec@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - North Korean nationals entering Singapore will require a visa from Oct 1, according to a statement from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Saturday (July 30).

ICA said this comes after its periodic review of the visa framework for foreign nationals.

Information on visa application procedures can be found on ICA's website at www.ica.gov.sg. 

S'pore passport in top 5 for visa-free travel

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, ASA Holidays, Reuters, Shutterstock.com, Wikimedia Commons, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Airbus, The Straits Times

candicec@sph.com.sg

Which passports are the most accepted?

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Wikimedia Commons, The Straits Times