More fall prey to phishing.

The emails, sent out in the victim's name, are intended to deceive recipients into believing that the victim is stranded overseas and in urgent need of financial assistance. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM

THE number of victims falling for 'phishing' scams is on the rise.

Typically, the victim in such 'phishing' scams receive an email claiming to be from their email service provider. They are then led to believe that they are required to verify their user account information and email password with the 'service provider', failing which their email account may be suspended or terminated.

Once the victim unwittingly replies with his user information and password, the scammer takes over the email account and changes the password to prevent access by the victim.

Using the victim's email account, the scammer then sends emails to the victim's email contacts, requesting financial assistance. These emails, sent out in the victim's name, are intended to deceive recipients into believing that the victim is stranded overseas and in urgent need of financial assistance.

Typically, the scammers also ask for money to be remitted urgently to an overseas account via remittance companies.

Malay daily Berita Harian reported last Friday that the email account of former senior parliamentary secretary (Information, Communications and the Arts) Yatiman Yusoff was compromised and used to send out emails to others requesting for financial assistance.

The police advise the public to be wary of such email phishing scams. If users receive emails, claiming to be from service providers or family members, they should be careful and avoid clicking on any URL link or opening file attachments inside the email.

Comments: I think that Singaporeans should be more weary of scams because they will lose their money over nothing because of this matter. There was also one year where scams are very often and we thought it had already subsided. But who knows it came back again this year and still, many people fell prey. It could be that they ain't taught on it, or is it that the scammers are back with more clever methods. Although the senior parliamentary secretary was suspected, we hadn't really know who the real culprit is. So to prevent more people from falling prey to phishing, I think that they should contact the 'victim' stated in the email to find out about their whereabouts. Should the person is not contactable, they should send emails back asking for more personal questions to verify the authenticity of the sender. I think that Singaporeans should increase their awareness because this is a serious matter and of course no one wants to lose their hard earned money over some scammed email right?

Wendy Tang.

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_531040.html

Arson, looting in Bangkok after protest crackdown Posted: 19 May 2010 2003 hrs BANGKOK: Enraged protesters went on a rampage of arson and looting on Wednesday in Bangkok, where fire engulfed major buildings including the stock exchange after a deadly army assault on an anti-government rally. Plumes of black smoke billowed across the skyline in the aftermath of the military crackdown on the "Red Shirt" camp which left at least seven people dead, including an Italian journalist, and forced their leaders to surrender. While most demonstrators dispersed, some militant protesters set fires at 27 locations in Bangkok in an upsurge of violence that prompted authorities to declare a night-time curfew across about a third of the country. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has been under enormous pressure to end the crippling standoff, said he intended to "get through" the crisis and return peace to the country. "The end of the rally has dissatisfied some protesters, especially those who are armed," he said. "So they created trouble, particularly arson in some areas." Major blazes swept through Central World, one of Southeast Asia's largest shopping centres, the Stock Exchange of Thailand, a downtown cinema, many banks and a television station where about 100 staff had to be rescued. The bloody crackdown inflamed unrest outside the capital as supporters in northeast Thailand set fire to at least two provincial halls. Violence also broke out in northern Chiang Mai where people tried to burn buildings and throw home-made bombs after the Bangkok protests ended, but by late evening the situation was under control, local officials said. The government imposed an 8:00 pm (1300 GMT) to 6:00 am curfew in Bangkok and 23 other provinces, out of a total of 76, in a bid to quell the eruption of violence, admitting that parts of the capital were still outside their control. "We are waiting until the people go back home, then we will deal with rogue protesters," Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon told AFP. The latest unrest began when armoured vehicles backed by armed troops firing live rounds smashed through towering barricades made of tyres and razor wire that the Red Shirts had erected around their sprawling base. A tearful protest leader later announced on stage that the Reds would end their occupation of the upscale shopping and hotel district in the heart of the capital where they have been camped for six weeks. "I know this is unacceptable to some of you... but we cannot stand this cruelty," said top Red Nattawut Saikuar. "We will exchange our freedom with your safety. We have tried our best." At least four top Reds later went to the police headquarters nearby to give themselves up. The government said earlier some others had already fled. An Italian freelance photographer, Fabio Polenghi, 45, was among those shot dead during the clashes at one end of the Reds' encampment, which had stretched for several kilometres. Several other journalists were wounded in the clashes, including Dutch television reporter Michel Maas who was shot in the shoulder. Another journalist, a Canadian, and four soldiers were also badly injured by grenade attacks inside the camp An AFP photographer saw two protesters lying dead on the ground after being shot in the head when troops pushed into the encampment. At least 46 people have died since the army moved to lock down the area last Thursday. Police said elite troops had orders to shoot on sight anyone looting, committing arson or inciting unrest, following several days of urban warfare in the capital. "Tonight will be another night of suffering," government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said in an address on national television. The United States urged Thai protest leaders to rein in their supporters following the bloody army crackdown. Washington was "deeply concerned that 'Red Shirt' supporters have engaged in arson, targeting electricity infrastructure and media outlets and have attacked individual journalists," said State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid. UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged Thai authorities and protesters to avoid further violence and loss of life, according to his spokesman Martin Nesirky. Hundreds of army and police had advanced towards the protest zone in the pre-dawn hours, with trucks dropping off troops wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons and riot shields, while a helicopter circled overhead. Several thousand protesters, including many women and children, were inside, defying a government deadline to leave by Monday. The Reds have been campaigning for elections to replace Abhisit's administration, which they consider illegitimate because it came to power with the backing of the army in a 2008 parliamentary vote. The crisis has left at least 75 people dead and about 1,700 wounded since mid-March, including 25 people who died in a failed army crackdown on April 10. The Reds are mostly supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a 2006 coup Thaksin - accused by the government of bankrolling the protests and inciting unrest - denied on Wednesday he had undermined peace talks, saying he was not the "mastermind of the terrorists". - AFP/ir/d Comments: I feel that the protestors in Bangkok that are unhappy with the government should not be setting fire and also going on a rampage of arson and looting. This will cause lots of innocent people to be hurt and killed. Some may be on the side of government but some are just people that want to have a peaceful life but yet they become the victims of the chaos which is unfair. Many will also have to live in fear, fearing that they might be one of the victims. I also feel that the protestors do not want to create such a chaos in the country as they also hope that such cruelty will stop soon and some have given themselves up. The government also tried to stop the situation by having curfews. Therefore, since both parties hope to have peace, I think that they should have a representative from each side to negotiate for an outcome that is fair to everyone. As there will be no end to this chaos unless one party is completely wiped out, this also means that lots of lives will be sacrificed. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1057743/1/.html Clement Juan

Goh Keng Swee's contributions led to "Singapore miracle"

SINGAPORE: Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has said that without the contributions of the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, there would not be the Singapore miracle of today.

In a letter to Dr Goh's wife, the Senior Minister referred to him as "one of the most brilliant architects" of the country.

Senior Minister Goh said Dr Goh was a practical man full of bold and creative ideas, and when faced with a problem, he analysed it with far-sightedness and produced practical solutions.
When Mr Goh first stood for elections in Marine Parade in December 1976, it was Dr Goh who gave the senior minister advice on how to fight and win.

- CNA/ir

Comments: I believe many of my age would not know about this incredible man, Dr Goh, as I also did not know about this wonderful man until my father talked about it. After reading this article, i found out that Dr Goh was like the founder of Singapore to a certain extent. He introduced many ideas on improving Sigapore and that was very important to bring Singapore out of the third world state in the older days. He introduced national service so that Sinagpore need not depend on other countries to protect our own country.He also started the mahufacturing buisness in Sinagpore. This in turn provided job opportunities for the many jobless. Dr Goh also worked hard to promote the young economy of Singapore to foreign countries to attract them to invest in Singapore so as to provide even more job opportunities. I feel that youngsters should know more about this magnificent man who literally build up Singapore in areas of economy and defence, two of the most important elements in every country. So do you know who Dr Goh is?

Article from: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1056667/1/.html

Photos from:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com./photosgallery/gallery_20100514151116.htm

Isabel :)

PRC bus driver fined $5,000 only for killing Singaporean in traffic accident


A former PRC bus driver was let off with only a $5,000 fine and banned from driving for three years for causing the death of a Singaporean scooterist Mr Oh Yam Seng.

33 year old Zhou Yunpeng, a Singapore PR admitted to causing the death of Mr Oh by failing to give way to him when he made a right turn from Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 into Ave 8 last year, the Straits Times report.

It is not revealed how Mr Zhou managed to obtain his Singapore PR. He told the judge that he had been driving the bus for only one and a half months before the accident.

Though bus drivers are jobs which can be taken up by Singaporeans, there is an increasing number of PRC bus drivers in Singapore, some of whom are unfamiliar with the bus routes and are unable to speak even simple English.

A Sichuan newspaper reported two months ago of a Singapore bus company putting up job ads in Chengdu to recruit PRC bus drivers to work in Singapore.

The applicants must have a Chinese class “A” driver and three years of driving experience of public transport in China. On top of the attractive wages, they are also given free lodging, transport allowances and medical insurance coverage.

During the recent May Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on Singaporeans to accept a higher “inflow” of foreigners as the economy “improves”.

Singaporeans should prepare themselves for more PRC bus drivers like Mr Zhou Yunpeng. As for the non-Chinese, it is time to pick up some simple Mandarin in order to communicate with these “foreign talents” from mainland China.


Comments: I feel that the bus driver should not be let off this lightly with a sentence of only $5000 fine. This is unfair to the family of the deceased as well to the deceased himself. Singapore is a country where laws should be abided and punishments must be carried out accordingy. The sentence for taking a life in singapore is being sentenced to death but this man was let off lightly and that should not have been the case. Moreover this man failed to give way to the scooterist which caused death to Mr Oh Yam Seng. People should not be selfish as to not give way in traffic. Being considerate can save a life so people should be more considerate and learn to give way to others so that so much commotion would not be caused.

Done by: Gabriel Han

http://forums.asiaone.com/showthread.php?t=29680

Setback for open-skies policy

Indonesia's decision holds back Asean's plans to lift flight restrictions

By Karamjit Kaur
Aviation Correspondent

AMBITIOUS plans by the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) to lift regional flying restrictions on member- country airlines have hit a brick wall , stymieing the hoped-for boost to travel trade and tourism .
Indonesia , the biggest market within the group , has said it is not prepared to fully open its skies by 2015 , - The deadline the 10 Asean countries had agreed to in principle .
Mr Tri S. Sunoko , The Indonesian Transport Ministry's director of air transportation , told The Straits Times in a telephone interview : " What we will do by 2015 is to open up five of our key airports to Asean member carriers . Anything more will be done progressively after that . "
The five airports are in Jakarta , Medan , Bali , Surabaya and Makassar , in South Sulawesi . Indonesia has about 30 key airports .
Foreign carriers will also not be allowed to ply domestic routes.
As is the practice now , all other international flights to other points in Indonesia will be subject to government-to-government air deals that stipulate where a carrier can fly , how often and on what type of aircraft - because this determines passenger numbers .
Open skies under a single unified aviation market , Asian's ultimate goal , means that airlines would be able to fly freely over the region , transporting passengers and cargo from one airport to another .
Indonesia's decision to delay the development of a single Asean aviation market will hurt travellers , member countries and the bloc as a whole , experts said .
Associate Professor Alan Tan , an aviation law specialist from the National University of Singapore's Law Faculty , in urging Asean to move faster , said : " Liberalisation brings advantages such as greater competition between airlines , better choice and prices for consumers , and other sectors of the economy . "
An example is the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur air sector which was liberalised in December 2008 to allow low-cost carriers in . From $400 for a 45-minute return flight , fares- with all taxes and surcharges included - are now as low as less than $100 . Passengers traffic on the route also jumped by 34 percent last year compared with 2008, Benefiting businesses all round .
Ms Alicia Seah , senior vice-president of marketing and public relations at CTC Holidays , said that apart from adding capacity to popular destinations like Jakarta and Bali , other points in Indonesia such as Yogyakarta, which houses the ancient Hindu temple of Borobudur , are also becoming popular with leisure travellers .
But there is more at stake if Asean's plans for a single aviation market do not take off , experts said . The lack of open skies in Asean would impact ongoing air talks between the bloc and China , for example . These are proceeding apace , with the expectations of increased air travel between South-east Asia and China , as the latter's economy continues to boom .
But Indonesia- and to some extent , the Philippines- does not see the benefits of liberalisation accruing equally to all members . One fear is that if all restrictions are lifted , stronger carriers like Singapore Airlines would benefit more than the weaker ones , said Prof Tan .
Another concern is that countries and the markets they offer are hugely uneven . He noted : " Singapore is seen as offering only one point (Changi) . . . On the other hand , a country like Indonesia has 250 million people and tens , if not hundreds , of cities that foreign airlines can fly into . They do not therefore see the logic of exchanging all points in Indonesia for all points in Singapore . "
A spokesman for Singapore's Transport Ministry responded to this view , saying it is not important how many airports a country has .
More significant is that with direct connectivity to 149 international cities and a traffic volume of more than 37 million passengers , Singapore's Changi Airport is the seventh-largest airport in the world going by international passenger traffic , and second in the Asia-Pacific region .
Despite the slow progress at the group level , travellers have benefited with countries like Singapore , Malaysia , Thailand and Brunei opening up selected routes in recent years .
As for the Asean grand plan , talks will continue when the 10 transport ministers meet in Brunei later this year for their annual gathering.
karam@sph.com.sg , straits times home, Saturday, 8 may 2010.


Comments: I personally feel that the Asean's plans to lift fligh restrictions is a good plan that will benefit every country. Like Professor Alan Tan said: "Liberalisation brings advantages such as greater competition between airlines, better choice and prices for consumers, and knock-on benefits for tourism and other sectors of the economy." Other parts of Indonesia besides Jarkata and Bali has also become places of interest for leisure travellers. Therefore if Indonesia opens up their airports, they will also gain profit from it, so they should not think that if this restrictions are lifted, stronger carriers like Singapore Airlines will benefit more from it. Singapore is a small country so it only has one airport which Indonesia thinks that there is no logic to exchange all points in Indonesia for one point in Singapore. However, if Indonesia opens up, there will be place of interest for people to travel there and they will gain benefits.

Clement

Chance to walk on water

The new boardwalk will allow visitors to cross the reservoir by walking in ankle-deep water. -- PHOTO: PUB

VISITORS to MacRitchie Reservoir Park will be able to walk on water - literally - from next year.

A submerged boardwalk will be built that will connect one bank of the reservoir to another as part of the second phase of an extensive makeover of the park.

As part of the revamp, a hilltop food and beverage outlet and a facility allowing parkgoers to indulge in canoeing and kayaking will also be built.

The second phase of the makeover will cost $4.6 million, and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of next year.

Phase One of the revamp for the 143-year-old reservoir, which began in February 2007 and included a multi-storey carpark and an amenities centre with toilet and shower facilities, was completed in July last year. It cost $5 million.

The new boardwalk will allow visitors to cross the reservoir by walking in ankle-deep water.

Comments: After reading this article, I think that having this new attraction would be great as there would be one more attraction for tourists to visit. It would also have this chance to show tourist and even Singaporeans on how amazing Singapore really is. Although this is not one great attraction compared to the Integrated Resorts in the city area, but at least it is a place where people can visit if they want to take a break from the bustling life in Singapore. As we know, MacRitchie Reservoir Park is a place that people can relax and really slow down their pace. Being able to walk on water would bring joy to a family of old and young. The young kids would have fun splashing the waters around, and the elderly would enjoy having a cool sensation on their aching feet. Normally, people got so sick from walking on land and they would always prefer to walk on something else, like water, or even air! So with this new 'invention', the dream of walking on water came true. Although they would be walking on a submerged boardwalk, but the feeling of having cool water seeping through your toes and caressing your skin will make you feel relaxed, and happy. Since the dream of walking on water has already come true, so, would it be one day where we can actually walk on air? I think it'll be great, what do you think?

Wendy.

Reference :

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_526003.html

Lone gunman to be hanged

MUMBAI - MOHAMMED Ajmal Amir Kasab is a school drop-out labelled the 'Butcher of Mumbai' by one tabloid newspaper who now faces a wait on death row in India for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The 22-year-old Pakistani national was one of two heavily armed gunmen who opened fire and threw hand grenades at the city's main railway station on November 26, 2008, killing 52 people and wounding more than 100.

He was born in the dusty village of Faridkot in a remote and impoverished region of Punjab in Pakistan's farming belt, home to 10,000 people, most of them farmers and labourers and few of them literate. His father, Mohammed Amir Iman, ran a food stall in the village and his mother was called Noor.

Kasab dropped out of school in 2000 and worked as a labourer in the eastern city of Lahore until 2005, according to his initial confession to police, which was widely published in India.

Kasab reportedly said he joined the Islamist group blamed for the attacks to get weapons training after deciding to embark on a life of crime but there have also been claims that his father duped him into doing it for money.

He first pleaded not guilty last April but in July made a shock confession, admitting being one of the 10 gunmen trained, equipped and financed by the banned, Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). -- AFP

Comments: I feel that Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab should not have decided to start to decide that he was to embark on a life of crime as by that he already knew that through this life that he will not have a good end. There were claims that his father duped him into doing it for money but even though if it was for money, crime should not have been done. Mohammed is a perfectly normal man who could have worked for money instead of leading a life of crime to get money through underhand means instead. 52 men were killed and over a 100 were innocently injured just for Mohammed and that was a selfish thought. Mohammed should lead a normal life and earn money like every other citizen does.

Done by: Gabriel Han

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_523293.html

Fears grow as animal disease spreads in South Korea

SEOUL: South Korea stepped up major quarantine efforts on Monday as a highly contagious animal disease threatened the centre of its livestock industry.Quarantine officials helped by police and troops have culled some 49,000 animals.
Foot-and-mouth disease affects cloven-hoofed animals including cows, sheep, goats and deer. It is rarely transmitted to humans but spreads easily between animals.
Foot-and-mouth outbreaks in 2000 and 2002 cost South Korea an estimated 450 billion won, including compensation. The government has paid about 55 billion won (49 million dollars) in compensation alone to farmers so far this year.

Wikipedia:
Culling is the process of removing animals from a group based on specific criteria. This is done in order to either reinforce certain desirable characteristics or to remove certain undesirable characteristics from the group. For livestock and wildlife, the process of culling usually implies the killing of animals with undesirable characteristics.


Comments:
The article really saddens me as I think about the amount of cattles and other cloven-hooved animals that would have to be killed to prevent the furthur spread of this Foot-Mouth disease. A large number of animals that were raised for research were also culled. The animals were raised to benefit the humans yet humans are the ones taking away their lives. But then again, to save the rest of the animals in the country, the government has no choice but to make this decision. Although knowing that this disease cannot be passed to human, I couldn't help but think of the consequences if the disease is transmitted to humans. Wouldn't other countries be affected by it then as it is hard to track down who was in contact with who and quarantine them? It would be just like the SARS outbreak that happened in 2003. What do you think?


Isabel.


Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culling

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1054108/1/.html

S'pore firms keeping workers beyond age 62

EFFORTS to convince companies to keep workers beyond the age of 62 are bearing fruit, a new survey has shown. Of 3,200 companies surveyed, more than three of five said they would keep those workers. And out of 9,400 local employees from various sectors who had reached 62, 92 per cent said And out of 9,400 local employees from various sectors who had reached 62, 92 per cent said they were allowed to continue working.

http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Office/Story/A1Story20100427-212672.html

Comments: After reading this article, I feel that the working society is becoming into a workplace filled with not just young employees but also older employees aged between 60 to 62. As people start living longer and many might not have enough money to retire. By allowing workers of an older age to continue working, it helps to ensure that the senior workers can still earn an income and not to worry about financing the future needs. There are many skeptical employers that doubt if older workers are capable of handling the work in the company. But the truth is, senior workers are even more capable than young employees that have just enrolled into the company or organisation. The reason is simple, senior workers have more working experience. In business, practical working experience is more important than knowledge just alone read in books. Having knowledge is not enough. One must both have the working experience and the knowledge in order to manage a business well.

Done by : Hans

Status: still editing, on hold.