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SAMPLE: 'Should females sign up for national service too?' by Miss Maizura

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SAMPLE: 'Should females sign up for national service too?' by Miss Maizura

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AWARE Chief Ms Lim (Who?) has called for reform in national service (NS) to stop toxic practices that give males a distorted view of masculinity. (What?) She also stressed the need to review sexuality education in schools and teen bullying in the name of gender equality. By making NS gender-neutral, this can foster healthier masculinity norms so that boys do not succumb to social pressures of what a man should be. (Why?) This can help reduce bullying and isolation which in turn can prevent suicide, gender violence and drug abuse in the long run. (How?) Lastly, she also highlighted the issues of consent, respect and healthy relations to pave the new way sexual education is taught in schools.

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Review national service to weed out toxic masculinity: Aware chief

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NS should be reviewed to weed out unhealthy practices that give men skewed view of what it means to be masculine. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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Man accused of Ang Mo Kio cat slashings charged in court, remanded at IMH Kenton

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Man accused of Ang Mo Kio cat slashings charged in court, remanded at IMH Kenton

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Leow Wei Liang, allegedly believed to be behind the slashing of cats in Ang Mo Kio was handed one charge of animal cruelty and before he was jailed he is to be  remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for two weeks by the judge. During the mention of his case in court conducted remotely, he was in police custody, refusing to appear in shot of the cameras. On the video stream, he could be heard wailing on the ground as officers tried to get him to stand up.

In my opinion the person must hate cats or have a metal illness where he is against cats which caused him to slash cats so I could be the reason why he was remanded at IMH. If the case was worst he could have gone around slashing people and not just cats

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/man-accused-of-ang-mo-kio-cat-slashings-charged-in-court-remanded-at-imh

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Serbian volleyball player banned for 'slant-eyed' gesture against Thailand.

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Serbian volleyball player banned for 'slant-eyed' gesture against Thailand.

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Serbian volleyball player Sanja Djurdjevic has been banned for two games and her federation fined 20,000 Swiss francs (S$29,500) after making a racist gesture in a FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League match against Thailand on June 1st.
The Serbian Volleyball Federation's apologized and said that it was a "simple misunderstanding".

In my opinion, I think they did it because Thailand lost to them and they thought it was okay to be making fun of them. Even though only one player was punished for it, in a celebration photo of the Serbian team, everyone did the gesture maybe because Sanja Djurdjevic influenced the others to do so.

https://www.todayonline.com/world/serbian-volleyball-player-banned-slant-eyed-gesture-against-thailand#mdcrecs_s

- sherlyn

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Musician release special after 5 years of retirement

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Musician release special after 5 years of retirement

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Bo Burnham, musical artist, released a special after 5 years of retirement from performing live comedy on May 30 2021, filmed and produced by him alone over the course of 2020, due to quarantine, set in just his own room. The special was a way for him to reenter society and to convey his feelings towards his audience.

In my opinion, the special, despite being produced by just one man, is more professional, meaningful and entertaining than any other quarantine filmed shows while managing to be honest and upfront with the messages conveyed.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/jun/15/bo-burnham-inside-netflix-special-comedy

-Gabriel

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Femicides are sex-based homicides. It is the killing of women and girls based on their sex.

Femicides are still a thing happening now in many parts of the world. Places like the middle East, South Asia and the Americas. The term femicide actually came up by an activist to rally up people to fight for women. However femicides are still going on today

The most common form of femicide is honor killing. It is when  a male relative or other family member kills a woman or girl over sexual or adulterous behavior to maintain the family’s honor. It is very common in the Middle East and South Asia. In India women are also killed by their in laws when not enough dowry (A sum of money or goods a bride pays to the grooms family before marriage) is provided.

Less common femicides are non-intimate femicides where the women does not have an intimate relationship with the killer. These women are usually sex workers or women who work in the night. Femicides also happen amongst other acts like unsafe abortions and other crimes like human trafficking and gang violence.

The reason why femicide and violent acts on women are still happening now is due to the coronavirus pandemic. More women have to stay at home with their abusive partners and family members. Pregnant women are also being mistreated during their pregnancy are also more prone to femicide.

These women face femicide because of the gender inequality in a country as well as their race and social status. A country with a lot of gender inequality and very little women representation in the government are most likely to have more cases of femicide. Mexico has had a lot of cases of femicide and more and more people are speaking up about. There are protests happening all they from India to Mexico and Latin America.

A few ways to prevent femicide is to ban honor killings and ensure the criminals face extreme consequences. There should also be better education in honor killings  in communities and countries where it is often.

heavily referenced article
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/what-is-femicide-everything-you-need-to-know/

Some data on what is happening in Mexico

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The Children Of Israel and Gaza (by neestha)

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The Children Of Israel and Gaza (by neestha)

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The war between Israel and Palestine have affected many lives. Children have to experience the hardships and consequences of war instead of living a normal childhood where they could be children.

In Israel, There are two territories. The Arab population who are the palestinians and the Jewish population who are the israelis. The conflict is about Palestine wanting to establish a state by that name in all or part of the same land. The conflict is over who gets what land and how it's controlled.

The war has affected children on both the israel and Palestine side. The city of Gaza is ruled by  the islamic resistance organisation called Hamas. Despite Eygpt's and Israel's efforts to stop weapons from getting to the hamas, suicide bombings by hamas still happened. Hence why the children and citizens of Gaza were being attacked.

The children who suffered
In the Gaza City, at least 13 members of the extended al-Kawalek family are believed to have been killed, buried in the rubble of their own home.
The daughters of the family who passed (Yara and Rula)  were described to be polite girls who always handed in their homework. The only surviving member from the direct family was a 10 year old boy, Aziz. The Israel Defence forces claim that the bombing was abnormal and that the civilian casualities were not intended.

A five year old boy Ido Avigal in the israeli side passed away when a rocket shrapnel pierced the protective metal plating used to cover the window of the room he was in, also injuring his mother and seven-year-old sister. He died of his injuries several hours later. The Israel Defence Forces claimed it to be an incredibly rare incident and that the rocket hit at a very specific angle at a specific speed at a specific point.

There are several other children who's deaths were not recorded. Moreover, some children were also still traumatised by the bombing campaign in Gaza in 2014. The latest israeli operation on Gaza killed almost 66 children as well as 2 children were killed by rockets sent by the Hamas.

source
https://www.vox.com/2018/11/20/18080002/israel-palestine-conflict-basics
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57142627
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/30/waking-up-screaming-gazan-children-traumatised-by-israeli-war
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44124396

map of israel and Palestine

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Singapore receives F35, F16. training locations approved 

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Singapore receives F35, F16. training locations approved 

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https://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/2021/06/04/us-approves-location-for-singaporean-f-16-f-35-training/
Singapore is receiving new F-35 and F 16 from US.
U.S. and Singaporean governments have chosen Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to host the Singapore’s  F-16 Fighter Falcon and future F-35B fighter jet training detachments.
Singapore’s fleet of 12 new F-16s is expected to begin arriving in 2023, and its first of up to 12 F-35Bs are to follow in 2026.
Republic of Singapore Air Force is currently flying the F-16s out of Luke Air Force Base, located near Phoenix, Arizona.  Singaporeans have trained there on various F-16 models since the late 1980s with a US Fighter Squadron, a joint force made up of personnel from both countries.
Singapore was approved to acquire four short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing F-35 variants with an option for eight more of the “B” models. Deliveries are to begin in 2026. Singapore has decided to consolidate its U.S.-based F-35 training together with its F-16 detachment at one location.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II
obtaining state of the art F35 and the proven F16 serves the purpose of the Singapore military, deterring aggression, securing a swift victory in a event of one. The American fighters F 16, F35 s are some the world’s best models of fighter aircraft. The F 16 has a long list of combat operations all around the world, operated by states in the Far East, Japan to the far west, Alaska. 24 nations operates the F 16. https://www.google.com.sg/amp/s/nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-f-16-fighting-falcon-old-fighter-jet-keeps-killing-73676%3famp
The 5th generation fighter F35, is equipped with the most advance technologies for a wide range of operations . Pilots do have a 360 degree view though his helmet via cameras mounted on surfaces of the aircraft. The F35 is also said to have stealth abilities. It certainly can deter newer modern rival models such as the Russian Migs.
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/f-35/f-35-capabilities.html
Oscar

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has formally acknowledged that his country is facing food shortages. Mr kim has also stated that grain targets not being hit was due to typhoons which caused flooding. For instance, a kg of bananas would cost 45 USD. international sanctions imposed due to the nuclear incident also contributed to the shortage leaving North Korea's only supply of resources to be China.this lead to fears of a repeat of the 1990s famine where the total number of North Koreans who starved to death at the time is not known, but estimates range up to three million. Despite pyongyang's goal of self reliance, it may be setting the country for failure with the people paying the price

-Rio
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57507456

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Lee Kwang Soo's departure from 'Running Man'.

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Lee Kwang Soo's departure from 'Running Man'.

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SBS Korean Channel aired its final episode of Running Man with Lee Kwang Soo (35).

The reason for this heartbreaking departure was due to his underlying health issues that he has faced after a freak car accident that he has sustained for over a year.

The Running Man show series had lasted 11years and so did its' cast members. They have gone through thick and thin together after the countless activities and obstacles they faced together, they all gave their best effort in their work and they have become almost inseparable.

Lee Kwang Soo has admitted that, when with the cast, he felt like home which was a heartwarming message to hear.

Friendship is like a bond that can either stick forever, or break in a blink of an eye; Friendship takes years to create a solid foundation, but one word can destroy it all. Whenever we face issues at home or personally, the second best option to turn to are your friends. Friends that can understand your every thought and can calm your troubled soul down without any judgment, for they push aside their pride to listen and be beside you throughout your journey of life. That, is a true friend and friendship.

Though heartbreaking to see this show end on air, it is still reassuring that regardless of if the cast is on or off air, they are still great friends that care for each other outside of the show. Words that inspired this thought is from the man himself stating, “The members helped me get to where I am today. They feel like another family, and I am so, so grateful to them. I’m sorry. I’m sorry again. I wasn’t always great in the past eleven years, but I always did my best. ‘Running Man’ is a show where everyone without exception does their best and throws their whole bodies into filming. I ask that people continue to show it more love and interest in future. Thank you.”  The bond created between the members will be an ever-flowing stream of care and love from a truly remarkable and treasuring friendship.

To sum up what has been said, friendships are a remarkable thing to have. Treasure them; maintain them. Don't let trivial matters interrupt a calm and enjoyable friendship!

-Rachael Sim

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SBS Korean Channel aired the final episode of Running Man with Lee Kwang Soo as its cast member yesterday (June 13).

Lee recently announced his departure from the long-running variety show, citing health reasons.

In the final episode featuring Lee, he was jokingly "sentenced" to 1,050 years of prison after reviewing what he had done in the variety show in the past 11 years.

The mission of the race for other Running Man members included helping Lee reduce his sentence and the race kicked off at Han River where the original Running Man cast first started filming the series.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQDif6NHN2i/

Farewell letters

At the end of the episode, the Running Man cast also wrote letters to Lee as they said their farewells to the beloved "Giraffe" or "Asia Prince" (nicknames that Lee has gotten in the past years).

According to , Ji Suk Jin said that he was happy to do the 'Pil! Chok! Cross!' together while Yoo Jae Suk said that he wouldn't know who else to interrupt or ask to piggy bag him anymore. HaHa also wrote about how he would have no one else to "tease" or "con" from now on.

Kim Jong Kook spoke about his chemistry with Lee where they would start laughing while just looking at each other and he thought he will go on forever with Lee in the show.

Running Man members also spoke about how they will miss Lee, but believe their friendships will continue even after Lee's departure from the show.

A former producing director of Running Man also gave high praise, saying that Lee had never said "No" to the producers.

https://instagram.com/p/CQCzUPmtGju/

Lee always gave his all to the show

In his letter to other Running Man members, Lee thanked the rest for taking care of him, and treating him like family. He apologised for not being "always great" and urged viewers to continue to support the show.

Here's a translation of what he said from Soompi:

"The members helped me get to where I am today. They feel like another family, and I am so, so grateful to them. I'm sorry. I'm sorry again. I wasn't always great in the past eleven years, but I always did my best. 'Running Man' is a show where everyone without exception does their best and throws their whole bodies into filming. I ask that people continue to show it more love and interest in future. Thank you."

On June 13, before his last episode was aired, Lee also wrote a thank you note to viewers.

According to , he said:

"Thank you for running with me for 11 years. I am sincerely grateful to all of you viewers who ran with SBS 'Running Man's Lee Kwang Soo every Sunday for 11 years. Thank you again for all of the love and support you gave me during that time."

SBS said that there will not be a new member replacing Lee in Running Man for now.
Top image via kjk76 and sbs_runningman_sbs/Instagram

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'I wasn't always great in the past 11 years, but I always did my best': Lee Kwang Soo in his final Running Man episode

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SBS Korean Channel aired the final episode of Running Man with Lee Kwang Soo as its cast member yesterday (June 13). Lee recently announced his departure from the long-running variety show, citing health reasons. In the final episode featuring Lee, he was jokingly "sentenced" to 1,050 years of prison after reviewing what he had done in the variety show in the past 11 years.

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How Young Gamers Are Turning Into Gamblers

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How Young Gamers Are Turning Into Gamblers

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Teenagers are obsessed with their games and wanting to be better at it can lead them to buy loots, skins or even characters that is worth over a thousand dollars.
They will spend hours and hours on the game and some would spend so much money on like loot boxes, trying to get what they want in the game that they don't have enough money to eat so they will end up lending money from their friends.

Feeling infuriated when they keep opening loot boxes and not getting what they want, they would go for third-party websites where in game items are being traded there. Some websites would even use in game items as gambling chips and gamers would bid for those skins or items that they want. That is when gamers lose a lot of money within like an hour.

In my opinion, people can play games however they must have the self-control. Knowing what is right and when to stop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wroOJqxFPe8

- sherlyn

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Back in 2016, the tray return station was so full that trays and crockery were even left unattended on the floor. It was quite an unsightly scene.

NEA said that a "dramatic transformation" was achieved after better tray infrastructure and a new cleaning workflow were implemented after consulting stakeholders.

Even though the mandatory tray return policy has kicked in recently, the photo taken in 2021 shows the station to be empty.

On the first day of the resumption of dining in, 4,500 diners were reminded to return their trays and crockery, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor updated.

From now till Aug. 31, no fines will be issued as this is an advisory period for diners to get used to the change.

"If we all take responsibility in cleaning up after we eat, our cleaners can focus on general cleanliness, including wiping and sanitising tables, as well as clearing and sorting dirty crockery at designated tray and crockery return points," NEA said.

It urged the public to clear their own tables by returning their food trays and throwing away used tissues to keep hawker centres clean and safe.

Under the new rule, first-time offenders who do not comply will be given a written warning.

Second-time offenders will face a $300 composition fine, while subsequent offences may result in court fines, which can go up to $2,000 for the first conviction.

NEA is also working with industry stakeholders, such as cleaning companies, to relook the table cleaning workflow for cleaners.

Instead of clearing dirty trays and food remnants from tables, cleaners will soon focus on cleaning and sanitising tables as well as managing the tray-return stations.

Seventy-five more tray return stations will also be set up at hawker centres, on top of the existing 900 available now.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/photo-of-full-tray-return-rack-a-2016-one-situation-at-hawker-centre-in-queen-st-much

- jerilyn

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Will new PSLE scoring system reduce stress and competition among pupils and parents?

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Will new PSLE scoring system reduce stress and competition among pupils and parents?

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Primary 6 pupils will not need to achieve perfect scores to get into top secondary schools when the new PSLE scoring system takes effect this year, based on entry scores for 139 secondary schools released on Tuesday (April 27) by the Education Ministry.

Under the new scoring system, first announced in 2016, each standard-level PSLE subject will be scored using eight bands known as Achievement Levels (AL). Each pupil will be given AL scores from 1 to 8 for each subject, instead of grades like A* to E.

A pupil's total PSLE score will be the sum of the AL of each of the four subjects, with the best possible total score being 4.

The new AL system of broader bands are meant to be less stressful than the old T-score system, as pupils do not have to chase the last mark in a bid to outperform their peers.

The MOE, in a virtual briefing, said it generated the scores based on the 2020 cohort's PSLE results and school choice patterns. It simulated each pupil's individual subject score in AL terms and added the scores for each subject to form the total PSLE score.

If two pupils with the same score vie for the last spot in a school, tie-breakers will come into play. The first tie-breaker will be based on citizenship. Singaporeans will get priority over Singapore permanent residents and international pupils.

The next tie-breaker is the pupil's list of school choices, where a pupil who puts the school higher on the list of choices will get priority.

Many parents agreed that the T-score, which ranks a student's performance in relation to his peers, ratcheted up the competition. They hope that the new system will create some space for students to pursue other activities that will nurture in them skills needed to thrive in a volatile, uncertain future.

But will the new system effect a change? Will parents stop pushing their children to chase that last mark and, instead of sending them for tuition, encourage them to pursue sports or the arts that will nurture in them creativity and people skills which are becoming essential for work?

Going by the knee-jerk reactions of the majority of parents, it is not likely, at least in the initial years.

Several parents with children in Primary 1 and kindergarten already admit that now their target will be a PSLE score of four. This means their children will have to score at least 90 marks - in all their four subjects.

They feel that it is even more urgent now to chase the last five marks and score in the top band because, with the new PSLE scoring system, the advantage their academically bright children have over their peers will be eroded.

A few parents voiced concerns over the fact that under the new system, it will not be possible for a pupil to "make up" for a weak subject by doing very well in the other three subjects. Under the current T-score system, a student can still get a good T-score with three very high A*s and one B.

On the flip-side were several parents who felt that the Education Ministry was not bold enough with the changes.

They feel that the Grade 1 band is pitched at too high a level at 90 marks.

Several parents also voiced concerns over the move to make choice count for more.

When two students are tied for a place in a school, the one who had listed the school as his first choice will have priority over the student who had listed it as his second choice.

Parents were worried about it will be difficult to choose, given that schools do not publicise their distinctive strengths well.

But it is important to keep in mind that the changes in the PSLE scoring system is just one part of it. Another big piece of the change, which is still work in progress, is helping every secondary school to build distinctive strengths.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/will-new-psle-scoring-system-reduce-stress-and-competition-among-pupils-and

-jerilyn

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A 14-year-old Florida boy has pleaded not guilty to murder in the stabbing death of a 13-year-old classmate, according to court documents filed Thursday morning.

The attorney for Aiden Fucci filed a written plea of not guilty on behalf of the teen, who faces a charge of first-degree murder in Tristyn Bailey’s death. Bailey was found stabbed to death May 9 in a wooded area near her home. State Attorney R.J. Larizza said last week that Bailey was stabbed 114 times, with at least 49 stab wounds to her hands, arms and head that were defensive in nature.

The St. Johns sheriff called her death a "cold-blooded murder" as she was stabbed until her skull was cracked open and the knife, murderer Aiden Fucci used, broke.
After carrying out his murder, Aiden then carried on to post a chilling Snapchat picture where he captioned  it, "has anybody seen Tristyn lately?", when he just murdered her moments before.

Personally, it was heartbreaking to hear the news of this murder. Tristyn Bailey was a student, a cheerleader, a friend, and a daughter. She was only 13 years old and had so much to live for, but instead she had to experience a gruesome and horrible death. She is only one example, and I believe there are many young women who have been through the same or even worse.

- caitlyn

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/06/03/aiden-fucci-pleads-not-guilty-in-murder-of-13-year-old-tristyn-bailey/

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Parasocial relationships and stan culture

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Parasocial relationships and stan culture

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A parasocial relationship is a psychological relationship experienced by the audience in their mediated encounters with performers and entertainers in mass media, usually through TV or youtube.

The word 'stan' originally came from the term 'stalker fan'. A term used to describe obsessive fans, fans obsessed with a particular celebrity or content creator. These stans usually do things that are very stalkerish such as intentionally search for their private information and sometimes even threatening their lives just so they can notice them.

Obviously, these are stereotypes and the majority of stans are not actually stalkers. This is most likely because the meaning of the word has changed over the years to be just a fan who is very interested in the content that the person makes and the person.

There are different kinds of stans  but there are a few very common ones that have emerged. There are Kpop stans, People who enjoy kpop alot and regularly consume content put out by kpop artists. Sport stans, People who enjoy watching sports and support their favourite team with great pride. Then there are minecraft stans. Stans who enjoy playing the game and enjoy watching people play the game.

These fandoms have a majority of good people but there are bad apples in the basket. There are people in the kpop community who sometimes accuse people of being racist. Some people in the minecraft community are very sensitive and demand apologies from their content creators.

These are not as bad as the people who are drawing or writing extremely explicit things about these creators or the sexualisation of content creators who are both adults and teenagers. There are communities on twitter that encouarge this (poppytwt) and it goes against the boundaries of the content creator.

If we look into why these parasocial relationships form and why stans exist, some people will say that they want what they have. They want to be famous and have a group of friends that will play minecraft with them or a fanbase that will look up to them. Some will say that their personailty is very likeable and that they are very attracted to them. There are different reasons why some would enjoy the content creator but there comes a time where we need to learn how to focus on ourselves rather than someone else.

Parasocial relationships are extremely harmful because it is incredibly one sided. The celebrity or content creator does not know you is not your friend. They may say things like I love you and I appreciate you guys so much but it does not actually mean they genuinely do. They love you for giving them fame and money, sure. But in terms of feelings and passion, no. We should all strive to avoid parasocial relationships and keep ourselves in check.

To know more about stans, check out these videos, They said it better than I could.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypH25CL0nAs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFLYBCFfHFc&t
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvYAVti8nbk

More information about poppytwt:
A community that consists of young people(normally) who sexualise the minor content creators in the minecraft youtuber community (mcyt), more specifically, dream smp. Dream is a very popular minecraft youtuber who created one of the most popular survival multiplayer (smp) and in the Dream smp, there are minors who stream there and play there.

However, some people in the community started to sexualise these creators by shipping them together and drawing explicit art of them. This resulted in the creation of the twitter community poppytwt. A community where usually young people sexualise the minors in the community.

When I did my own research, These people in the community had also experienced sexual abuse at a young age. They considered sexualising these creators as a coping mechanism because they were also sexualised as a child. They had experienced trauma and were projecting it on other people. This was what broke me because the people who are playing minecraft had to experience this sexualisation. Their trauma does not excuse literal pedophilia ships or sexualisation of someone they do not know personally. It normalises sexualisation of minors and it makes people uncomfortable. (including those who have experienced sexual abuse)

- Neestha

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Juneteenth- Celebrating the abolishment of slavery (by neestha)

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Juneteenth- Celebrating the abolishment of slavery (by neestha)

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Juneteenth was recently recognised as a national holiday in America This year.

Juneteenth is on 19 June and it is celebrating the end of the civil war and the freedom of slaves which happened 19 June 1965. Although the law to free slaves was already present in 1963, it could not be enforced in states still under confederate rule hence why it took the slaves 2 years to learn they were free.

Although it is a holiday celebrated by Americans, there are still ways we can help and support black people everyday. A few ways would be to support black businesses online.
here are are a few
https://www.ivorypaperco.com/
A store that sells personalised planners and other apparel like tumblers and stickers.
https://www.blkmktvintage.com/
A business that aims to build up their collection of black culture from the appreciation and love for black people. They have items from historical black people such as posters and pins and they also do prop rental and set styling. Moreover they do interior designing as well as organise curatorial projects.
you can also follow their instagram page keep updated on what they may be doing.
https://www.instagram.com/blkmktvintage/

sources: https://bobbyberk.com/juneteenth-what-is-it-why-is-it-important-and-how-we-should-celebrate-it/

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/ways-to-support-black-owned-businesses-long-term

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Two sons of former president Ong Teng Cheong face off in court battle over family business

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Two sons of former president Ong Teng Cheong face off in court battle over family business

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Two sons of former Singapore president Ong Teng Cheong are facing off in court in a dispute over shareholdings in the holding company that controls the architecture business founded by their parents. Older brother Ong Tze Guan has sued his younger brother Ong Tze Boon and six other shareholders, alleging minority oppression. He has counterclaimed against Tze Guan for defamation and to recover an outstanding loan.

In his court filing, Tze Guan, who was not involved in the day-to-day operations of the group, said that he proposed selling a percentage of his shares to Tze Boon. But during the course of discussions over the valuation of his shares, he discovered that Tze Boon had “conducted the affairs of various companies within the group in a manner that was oppressive and unfairly prejudicial” to him. He also claimed that he was removed as a director from nine entities in the group as he had queried several matters.

Tze Boon and the other defendants contend in their defence that Tze Guan’s allegations of oppression are factually and legally baseless. The defendants say Tze Guan had made a “deliberate election” to sell his shares and they had acted in accordance with the procedure. Tze Boon is seeking the repayment of an outstanding personal loan, where Tze Boon had lent Tze Guan a total of $700,000 and Tze Guan has only repaid $219,983.56. Tze Boon also contends that allegations of minority oppression set out in the letter sent by Tze Guan’s lawyers amounted to defamation.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/two-sons-of-former-president-ong-teng-cheong-face-off-in-court-battle-over

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Hong Kong recycles clothes without any water or chemicals.

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Hong Kong recycles clothes without any water or chemicals.

# data[].attributes.body
The fashion industry is one of the world’s most polluting industries. It consumes a lot of natural resources (water, fossil fuels and more) and produces large amount of waste.
In the face of environmental challenges, it is vital for the industry to review the entire clothing recycling chain. With this in mind, in 2019, Hong Kong Novetex Textiles Limited began converting used textile fibres into recycled yarn ,which can be woven again.
This is how the recycling system work:
1. They place the collected clothes to disinfect with ozone.
2. They remove the rigid parts of the clothes, leaving only the fabrics behind.
3. Textiles are then cut into small pieces and sorted automatically using cameras on the basis of 9 colours.
4. The fibers go through 2 UV disinfection
5. They are then mixed with small amount of new material to produce yarn to re-manufacture textiles.
I think that this method of recycling is smart and would help reduce textile waste. However, this recycling method should be done in larger scales and to be promoted to more countries.
https://youtu.be/obO1PKfXGpQ

https://www.livingcircular.veolia.com/en/industry/hong-kong-recycles-clothes-without-any-water-or-chemicals
Venus

# data[].attributes.headline
23 year-old guy threatening LGBTQ community in instagram video. 

# data[].attributes.subject
23 year-old guy threatening LGBTQ community in instagram video. 

# data[].attributes.body
the man was on instagram live and posted it, he was talking against the LGBTQ community, he said that he would be “the reason why LGBT would no longer exist in Singapore”. He also “made sure” the annual Pink Dot rally would not happen next year in the video.
LGBTQ community was aware and concern of the video as it contain multiple LGBTQ slurs and threats to the event.
In a Facebook posted on July 2, Friday from the community, that actions will be taken against those that stir hate speech against the LGBTQ community. They also urged the public not to share the video due to personal privacy for those that are involved.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/police-probing-man-for-threatening-lgbtq-community-in-instagram-video
- liyao

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General public's views on global warming

# data[].attributes.subject
General public's views on global warming

# data[].attributes.body
To reduce carbon emissions, consumers wanted companies to be coherent about the environmental impact of their products so they could decide whether to purchase them or not.

47% of people wanted labels on the products, showing the environmental impact in terms such as amount of CO2 emitted in production, and 42% were looking for information measuring impact in understandable terms such as litres of water used.

The public had different views on who was to blame for global warming. Consumers were more inclined to think that their own country was suffering from climate change rather than causing it.
However, despite the public being aware of climate responsibility, they still wanted a life of convenience which includes the installment of air-conditioning, and this may endanger the environment yet again.

Personally, I felt that it was delightful that people have voiced their opinions about saving the environment, and their actions spoke for them. They have organised charities and used the funds to plant new trees as well as spread awareness to the general public. However, global warming is still ongoing and at a rapid pace. Their efforts alone are not enough to curb climate change, hence more people should step up to care for the earth as we, the inhabitants, were given space to live comfortably.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/05/small-majority-believe-there-is-still-time-to-avert-climate-disaster-survey

- yan qi

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Ethnic housing policy should be abolished

# data[].attributes.subject
Ethnic housing policy should be abolished

# data[].attributes.body
Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh on Monday (July 5) said that his Workers' Party aims to remove the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) one day, but not before Singapore reaches a state of being race neutral, where such initiatives are no longer needed.
Even though the EIP the only policy, among a whole gamut of policies that the Government has to encourage racial integration. It was a policy that was put in place because of the lessons learnt from the 1960s - paid for with blood, sweat and tears; real pain in families grieving for lost loved ones; and a country newly formed, wracked by racial riots and disharmony, distrust. In today’s time, most people should understand that harmony can be achieved and that the EIP could one day be lifted.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ethnic-housing-policy-should-be-abolished-but-not-before-spore-reaches-race

kyna

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Dior show celebrates fashion up close and personal in Paris after pandemic

# data[].attributes.subject
Dior show celebrates fashion up close and personal in Paris after pandemic

# data[].attributes.body
After months of not being able to walk the runway with an audience present and having to showcase pieces online, fashion brands finally have the opportunity to host an in-person runway show. Actresses Jessica Chastain, Cara Delevingne, Monica Bellucci and Florence Pugh were among the limited crowd who lined the catwalk at Dior's Fall/Winter 2021-2022 haute couture collection on 5 july. It was an emotional time for the models as catwalking down the runway is more personal.
- aatika

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Ariana Grande is giving away US$2m worth of mental health help

# data[].attributes.subject
Ariana Grande is giving away US$2m worth of mental health help

# data[].attributes.body
26 year old Ariana Grande, world famous American singer and actress, recently gave away US$2.69m to an online counselling app, Betterhelp. Anyone in the world has the opportunity to access this free for one month and 15% off for the second month. Grande's aim of this partnership is to inspire people and let them know that it is completely okay to seek help. She herself faces post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after 2017 terrorist attack during her concert in Manchester in the United Kingdom.

In my opinion, Ariana Grande is doing a great thing by using her huge platform to create awareness for mental health and she is reaching out to people to not stay silent about their sufferings but to get help.
- aatika

# data[].attributes.headline
The future of manicures: Would you get your nails done by an AI robot?

# data[].attributes.subject
The future of manicures: Would you get your nails done by an AI robot?

# data[].attributes.body
As the pandemic surges, people are unable to get their nails done at nail salons. This is one of the reasons why the Israeli startup Nimble produced manicure robots. It is as simple as putting your finger under the device and letting the robot take it from there.  A tiny robotic arm would then apply the polish on the nails – starting from the nail base, two coats of colour and a top coat. This robot took four years of development as it was made to precision. Since everyone's nail size is different, there are mini cameras to assess your fingers with three-dimensional image processing. Furthermore, it is fast and easy as the application of paint and drying can be done in ten minutes for each hand.
- aatika

# data[].attributes.headline
On women's fashion and body positivity: Is the term ‘plus-size’ outdated?

# data[].attributes.subject
On women's fashion and body positivity: Is the term ‘plus-size’ outdated?

# data[].attributes.body
For many years, plus sized has been known to be unwanted and unflattering. Plus sized women have been taught to hide their bodies by wearing loose clothes or wear certain colours to look skinnier. Fashion brands didn't cater to the sizes of larger women. This put pressure on females as they feel as though they are to look a certain way or else they aren't considered socially acceptable. However with greater advocacy for body positivity and conversations in the media and social media to establish more acceptance of women of all sizes, the world of fashion is slowly but surely embracing beauty in bigger sizes. Fashion stylist Joshua Cheung believes that body positivity goes two ways: how you see yourself and how media outlets portray body ideals.
In my opinion, more brands are starting to include plus sized women in magazines, on the runway and on TV. This helps to make everyone feel like they are accepted and they should be happy the way they are because everyone is perfect ~
- aatika

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How Young Gamers Are Turning Into Gamblers
How Young Gamers Are Turning Into Gamblers
Teenagers are obsessed with their games and wanting to be better at it can lead them to buy loots, skins or even characters that is worth over a thousand dollars.
They will spend hours and hours on the game and some would spend so much money on like loot boxes, trying to get what they want in the game that they don't have enough money to eat so they will end up lending money from their friends.

Feeling infuriated when they keep opening loot boxes and not getting what they want, they would go for third-party websites where in game items are being traded there. Some websites would even use in game items as gambling chips and gamers would bid for those skins or items that they want. That is when gamers lose a lot of money within like an hour. 

In my opinion, people can play games however they must have the self-control. Knowing what is right and when to stop. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wroOJqxFPe8

- sherlyn

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Parasocial relationships and stan culture
Parasocial relationships and stan culture
A parasocial relationship is a psychological relationship experienced by the audience in their mediated encounters with performers and entertainers in mass media, usually through TV or youtube.

The word 'stan' originally came from the term 'stalker fan'. A term used to describe obsessive fans, fans obsessed with a particular celebrity or content creator. These stans usually do things that are very stalkerish such as intentionally search for their private information and sometimes even threatening their lives just so they can notice them.

Obviously, these are stereotypes and the majority of stans are not actually stalkers. This is most likely because the meaning of the word has changed over the years to be just a fan who is very interested in the content that the person makes and the person. 

There are different kinds of stans  but there are a few very common ones that have emerged. There are Kpop stans, People who enjoy kpop alot and regularly consume content put out by kpop artists. Sport stans, People who enjoy watching sports and support their favourite team with great pride. Then there are minecraft stans. Stans who enjoy playing the game and enjoy watching people play the game.

These fandoms have a majority of good people but there are bad apples in the basket. There are people in the kpop community who sometimes accuse people of being racist. Some people in the minecraft community are very sensitive and demand apologies from their content creators. 

These are not as bad as the people who are drawing or writing extremely explicit things about these creators or the sexualisation of content creators who are both adults and teenagers. There are communities on twitter that encouarge this (poppytwt) and it goes against the boundaries of the content creator.

If we look into why these parasocial relationships form and why stans exist, some people will say that they want what they have. They want to be famous and have a group of friends that will play minecraft with them or a fanbase that will look up to them. Some will say that their personailty is very likeable and that they are very attracted to them. There are different reasons why some would enjoy the content creator but there comes a time where we need to learn how to focus on ourselves rather than someone else. 

Parasocial relationships are extremely harmful because it is incredibly one sided. The celebrity or content creator does not know you is not your friend. They may say things like I love you and I appreciate you guys so much but it does not actually mean they genuinely do. They love you for giving them fame and money, sure. But in terms of feelings and passion, no. We should all strive to avoid parasocial relationships and keep ourselves in check.

To know more about stans, check out these videos, They said it better than I could.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypH25CL0nAs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFLYBCFfHFc&t
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvYAVti8nbk

More information about poppytwt:
A community that consists of young people(normally) who sexualise the minor content creators in the minecraft youtuber community (mcyt), more specifically, dream smp. Dream is a very popular minecraft youtuber who created one of the most popular survival multiplayer (smp) and in the Dream smp, there are minors who stream there and play there. 

However, some people in the community started to sexualise these creators by shipping them together and drawing explicit art of them. This resulted in the creation of the twitter community poppytwt. A community where usually young people sexualise the minors in the community.

When I did my own research, These people in the community had also experienced sexual abuse at a young age. They considered sexualising these creators as a coping mechanism because they were also sexualised as a child. They had experienced trauma and were projecting it on other people. This was what broke me because the people who are playing minecraft had to experience this sexualisation. Their trauma does not excuse literal pedophilia ships or sexualisation of someone they do not know personally. It normalises sexualisation of minors and it makes people uncomfortable. (including those who have experienced sexual abuse)

- Neestha
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Singapore receives F35, F16. training locations approved
Singapore receives F35, F16. training locations approved 
https://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/2021/06/04/us-approves-location-for-singaporean-f-16-f-35-training/
     Singapore is receiving new F-35 and F 16 from US.
 U.S. and Singaporean governments have chosen Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to host the Singapore’s  F-16 Fighter Falcon and future F-35B fighter jet training detachments.
   Singapore’s fleet of 12 new F-16s is expected to begin arriving in 2023, and its first of up to 12 F-35Bs are to follow in 2026.
        Republic of Singapore Air Force is currently flying the F-16s out of Luke Air Force Base, located near Phoenix, Arizona.  Singaporeans have trained there on various F-16 models since the late 1980s with a US Fighter Squadron, a joint force made up of personnel from both countries.
        Singapore was approved to acquire four short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing F-35 variants with an option for eight more of the “B” models. Deliveries are to begin in 2026. Singapore has decided to consolidate its U.S.-based F-35 training together with its F-16 detachment at one location.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II
 obtaining state of the art F35 and the proven F16 serves the purpose of the Singapore military, deterring aggression, securing a swift victory in a event of one. The American fighters F 16, F35 s are some the world’s best models of fighter aircraft. The F 16 has a long list of combat operations all around the world, operated by states in the Far East, Japan to the far west, Alaska. 24 nations operates the F 16. https://www.google.com.sg/amp/s/nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-f-16-fighting-falcon-old-fighter-jet-keeps-killing-73676%3famp
   The 5th generation fighter F35, is equipped with the most advance technologies for a wide range of operations . Pilots do have a 360 degree view though his helmet via cameras mounted on surfaces of the aircraft. The F35 is also said to have stealth abilities. It certainly can deter newer modern rival models such as the Russian Migs.
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/f-35/f-35-capabilities.html
Oscar
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Ethnic housing policy should be abolished
Ethnic housing policy should be abolished
Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh on Monday (July 5) said that his Workers' Party aims to remove the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) one day, but not before Singapore reaches a state of being race neutral, where such initiatives are no longer needed.
Even though the EIP the only policy, among a whole gamut of policies that the Government has to encourage racial integration. It was a policy that was put in place because of the lessons learnt from the 1960s - paid for with blood, sweat and tears; real pain in families grieving for lost loved ones; and a country newly formed, wracked by racial riots and disharmony, distrust. In today’s time, most people should understand that harmony can be achieved and that the EIP could one day be lifted. 

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ethnic-housing-policy-should-be-abolished-but-not-before-spore-reaches-race
kyna
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The murder of Tristyn Bailey
The murder of Tristyn Bailey

A 14-year-old Florida boy has pleaded not guilty to murder in the stabbing death of a 13-year-old classmate, according to court documents filed Thursday morning.
The attorney for Aiden Fucci filed a written plea of not guilty on behalf of the teen, who faces a charge of first-degree murder in Tristyn Bailey’s death. Bailey was found stabbed to death May 9 in a wooded area near her home. State Attorney R.J. Larizza said last week that Bailey was stabbed 114 times, with at least 49 stab wounds to her hands, arms and head that were defensive in nature. 

The St. Johns sheriff called her death a "cold-blooded murder" as she was stabbed until her skull was cracked open and the knife, murderer Aiden Fucci used, broke. 
After carrying out his murder, Aiden then carried on to post a chilling Snapchat picture where he captioned  it, "has anybody seen Tristyn lately?", when he just murdered her moments before.

Personally, it was heartbreaking to hear the news of this murder. Tristyn Bailey was a student, a cheerleader, a friend, and a daughter. She was only 13 years old and had so much to live for, but instead she had to experience a gruesome and horrible death. She is only one example, and I believe there are many young women who have been through the same or even worse. 

- caitlyn

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/06/03/aiden-fucci-pleads-not-guilty-in-murder-of-13-year-old-tristyn-bailey/
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Juneteenth- Celebrating the abolishment of slavery (by neestha)
Juneteenth- Celebrating the abolishment of slavery (by neestha)
Juneteenth was recently recognised as a national holiday in America This year.

Juneteenth is on 19 June and it is celebrating the end of the civil war and the freedom of slaves which happened 19 June 1965. Although the law to free slaves was already present in 1963, it could not be enforced in states still under confederate rule hence why it took the slaves 2 years to learn they were free.

Although it is a holiday celebrated by Americans, there are still ways we can help and support black people everyday. A few ways would be to support black businesses online.
here are are a few 
https://www.ivorypaperco.com/
A store that sells personalised planners and other apparel like tumblers and stickers.
https://www.blkmktvintage.com/
A business that aims to build up their collection of black culture from the appreciation and love for black people. They have items from historical black people such as posters and pins and they also do prop rental and set styling. Moreover they do interior designing as well as organise curatorial projects. 
you can also follow their instagram page keep updated on what they may be doing. 
https://www.instagram.com/blkmktvintage/

sources: https://bobbyberk.com/juneteenth-what-is-it-why-is-it-important-and-how-we-should-celebrate-it/

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/ways-to-support-black-owned-businesses-long-term
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Tense food situation in north korea
Tense food situation in north korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has formally acknowledged that his country is facing food shortages. Mr kim has also stated that grain targets not being hit was due to typhoons which caused flooding. For instance, a kg of bananas would cost 45 USD. international sanctions imposed due to the nuclear incident also contributed to the shortage leaving North Korea's only supply of resources to be China.this lead to fears of a repeat of the 1990s famine where the total number of North Koreans who starved to death at the time is not known, but estimates range up to three million. Despite pyongyang's goal of self reliance, it may be setting the country for failure with the people paying the price
-Rio
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57507456
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The Children Of Israel and Gaza (by neestha)
The Children Of Israel and Gaza (by neestha)
The war between Israel and Palestine have affected many lives. Children have to experience the hardships and consequences of war instead of living a normal childhood where they could be children.

In Israel, There are two territories. The Arab population who are the palestinians and the Jewish population who are the israelis. The conflict is about Palestine wanting to establish a state by that name in all or part of the same land. The conflict is over who gets what land and how it's controlled. 

The war has affected children on both the israel and Palestine side. The city of Gaza is ruled by  the islamic resistance organisation called Hamas. Despite Eygpt's and Israel's efforts to stop weapons from getting to the hamas, suicide bombings by hamas still happened. Hence why the children and citizens of Gaza were being attacked. 

The children who suffered
In the Gaza City, at least 13 members of the extended al-Kawalek family are believed to have been killed, buried in the rubble of their own home.
The daughters of the family who passed (Yara and Rula)  were described to be polite girls who always handed in their homework. The only surviving member from the direct family was a 10 year old boy, Aziz. The Israel Defence forces claim that the bombing was abnormal and that the civilian casualities were not intended.

A five year old boy Ido Avigal in the israeli side passed away when a rocket shrapnel pierced the protective metal plating used to cover the window of the room he was in, also injuring his mother and seven-year-old sister. He died of his injuries several hours later. The Israel Defence Forces claimed it to be an incredibly rare incident and that the rocket hit at a very specific angle at a specific speed at a specific point.

There are several other children who's deaths were not recorded. Moreover, some children were also still traumatised by the bombing campaign in Gaza in 2014. The latest israeli operation on Gaza killed almost 66 children as well as 2 children were killed by rockets sent by the Hamas.

source
https://www.vox.com/2018/11/20/18080002/israel-palestine-conflict-basics
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57142627
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/30/waking-up-screaming-gazan-children-traumatised-by-israeli-war
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44124396

map of israel and Palestine
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Will new PSLE scoring system reduce stress and competition among pupils and parents?
Will new PSLE scoring system reduce stress and competition among pupils and parents?
Primary 6 pupils will not need to achieve perfect scores to get into top secondary schools when the new PSLE scoring system takes effect this year, based on entry scores for 139 secondary schools released on Tuesday (April 27) by the Education Ministry.

Under the new scoring system, first announced in 2016, each standard-level PSLE subject will be scored using eight bands known as Achievement Levels (AL). Each pupil will be given AL scores from 1 to 8 for each subject, instead of grades like A* to E.

A pupil's total PSLE score will be the sum of the AL of each of the four subjects, with the best possible total score being 4.

The new AL system of broader bands are meant to be less stressful than the old T-score system, as pupils do not have to chase the last mark in a bid to outperform their peers.

The MOE, in a virtual briefing, said it generated the scores based on the 2020 cohort's PSLE results and school choice patterns. It simulated each pupil's individual subject score in AL terms and added the scores for each subject to form the total PSLE score.

If two pupils with the same score vie for the last spot in a school, tie-breakers will come into play. The first tie-breaker will be based on citizenship. Singaporeans will get priority over Singapore permanent residents and international pupils.

The next tie-breaker is the pupil's list of school choices, where a pupil who puts the school higher on the list of choices will get priority.

Many parents agreed that the T-score, which ranks a student's performance in relation to his peers, ratcheted up the competition. They hope that the new system will create some space for students to pursue other activities that will nurture in them skills needed to thrive in a volatile, uncertain future.

But will the new system effect a change? Will parents stop pushing their children to chase that last mark and, instead of sending them for tuition, encourage them to pursue sports or the arts that will nurture in them creativity and people skills which are becoming essential for work?

Going by the knee-jerk reactions of the majority of parents, it is not likely, at least in the initial years.

Several parents with children in Primary 1 and kindergarten already admit that now their target will be a PSLE score of four. This means their children will have to score at least 90 marks - in all their four subjects.

They feel that it is even more urgent now to chase the last five marks and score in the top band because, with the new PSLE scoring system, the advantage their academically bright children have over their peers will be eroded.

A few parents voiced concerns over the fact that under the new system, it will not be possible for a pupil to "make up" for a weak subject by doing very well in the other three subjects. Under the current T-score system, a student can still get a good T-score with three very high A*s and one B.

On the flip-side were several parents who felt that the Education Ministry was not bold enough with the changes.

They feel that the Grade 1 band is pitched at too high a level at 90 marks.

Several parents also voiced concerns over the move to make choice count for more.

When two students are tied for a place in a school, the one who had listed the school as his first choice will have priority over the student who had listed it as his second choice.

Parents were worried about it will be difficult to choose, given that schools do not publicise their distinctive strengths well.

But it is important to keep in mind that the changes in the PSLE scoring system is just one part of it. Another big piece of the change, which is still work in progress, is helping every secondary school to build distinctive strengths.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/will-new-psle-scoring-system-reduce-stress-and-competition-among-pupils-and
-jerilyn







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Mandatory Return Food Tray Policy
Mandatory Return Food Tray Policy 
Back in 2016, the tray return station was so full that trays and crockery were even left unattended on the floor. It was quite an unsightly scene.

NEA said that a "dramatic transformation" was achieved after better tray infrastructure and a new cleaning workflow were implemented after consulting stakeholders.

Even though the mandatory tray return policy has kicked in recently, the photo taken in 2021 shows the station to be empty.
On the first day of the resumption of dining in, 4,500 diners were reminded to return their trays and crockery, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor updated.

From now till Aug. 31, no fines will be issued as this is an advisory period for diners to get used to the change.

"If we all take responsibility in cleaning up after we eat, our cleaners can focus on general cleanliness, including wiping and sanitising tables, as well as clearing and sorting dirty crockery at designated tray and crockery return points," NEA said.
It urged the public to clear their own tables by returning their food trays and throwing away used tissues to keep hawker centres clean and safe.
Under the new rule, first-time offenders who do not comply will be given a written warning.

Second-time offenders will face a $300 composition fine, while subsequent offences may result in court fines, which can go up to $2,000 for the first conviction.

NEA is also working with industry stakeholders, such as cleaning companies, to relook the table cleaning workflow for cleaners.

Instead of clearing dirty trays and food remnants from tables, cleaners will soon focus on cleaning and sanitising tables as well as managing the tray-return stations.

Seventy-five more tray return stations will also be set up at hawker centres, on top of the existing 900 available now.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/photo-of-full-tray-return-rack-a-2016-one-situation-at-hawker-centre-in-queen-st-much

- jerilyn




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General public's views on global warming
General public's views on global warming
To reduce carbon emissions, consumers wanted companies to be coherent about the environmental impact of their products so they could decide whether to purchase them or not.

47% of people wanted labels on the products, showing the environmental impact in terms such as amount of CO2 emitted in production, and 42% were looking for information measuring impact in understandable terms such as litres of water used.

The public had different views on who was to blame for global warming. Consumers were more inclined to think that their own country was suffering from climate change rather than causing it.
However, despite the public being aware of climate responsibility, they still wanted a life of convenience which includes the installment of air-conditioning, and this may endanger the environment yet again. 

Personally, I felt that it was delightful that people have voiced their opinions about saving the environment, and their actions spoke for them. They have organised charities and used the funds to plant new trees as well as spread awareness to the general public. However, global warming is still ongoing and at a rapid pace. Their efforts alone are not enough to curb climate change, hence more people should step up to care for the earth as we, the inhabitants, were given space to live comfortably.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/05/small-majority-believe-there-is-still-time-to-avert-climate-disaster-survey

- yan qi


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23 year-old guy threatening LGBTQ community in instagram video.
23 year-old guy threatening LGBTQ community in instagram video. 
the man was on instagram live and posted it, he was talking against the LGBTQ community, he said that he would be “the reason why LGBT would no longer exist in Singapore”. He also “made sure” the annual Pink Dot rally would not happen next year in the video. 
LGBTQ community was aware and concern of the video as it contain multiple LGBTQ slurs and threats to the event. 
In a Facebook posted on July 2, Friday from the community, that actions will be taken against those that stir hate speech against the LGBTQ community. They also urged the public not to share the video due to personal privacy for those that are involved. 

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/police-probing-man-for-threatening-lgbtq-community-in-instagram-video
- liyao
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Recently, our iconic pandas, Jia Jia & Kai Kai, at the Singapore Zoo gave birth to a newborn panda cub on 14 August at about 7.50am. Giving birth to a panda cub is not an easy feat as the female pandas would usually ovulate only once a year. This is a rare sight for a female panda to be pregnant.

Both Jia Jia and Kai Kai are extremely exhilarated as they are finally became parents of a newborn panda cub!  However, the cub will be sent to China when it is 2 years of age under the terms of agreement.

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SINGAPORE - The nation's first panda cub was born on Saturday (Aug 14) at the River Safari.

In a statement on Sunday, Wildlife Reserves Singapore called the birth "a joyful boost to the ongoing National Day celebrations this year", adding that the panda cub's gender is yet to be determined and will be announced later.

Meanwhile, the baby and its mother, Jia Jia, are in an off-exhibit den to give them time to nurse and bond, it said.

In April this year, 13-year-old Kai Kai and 12-year-old Jia Jia displayed signs of being in heat, officially entering their seventh breeding season.

Working closely with the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Panda, WRS' animal care team initiated the breeding plan for 2021, emphasising natural mating with assisted reproductive technology as back up if required.

There was optimism that the pandas would naturally breed this year, after the pair had shown improvements in their mating techniques the year before, said WRS.

WRS said the animal care team had confirmed the pregnancy via ultrasound scan.

"In July, ultrasound scans showed a thickening of Jia Jia's cervix and some fluid in the uterine horns. We stayed hopeful for Jia Jia, while maintaining her ultrasound checks to monitor developments," said Dr Cheng Wen-Haur, WRS' deputy chief executive and chief life sciences officer.

Dr Cheng added: "Jia Jia's first pregnancy and birth of a cub is a significant milestone for us in the care of this threatened species in Singapore... The work continues now with supporting the first-time mother to raise her newborn cub."

Kai Kai and Jia Jia celebrate their birthdays on Sept 14 and Sept 3, 2018. PHOTO: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

A photo from March 30, 2017, shows Kai Kai and Jia Jia engaging in a courtship dance in their den at the River Safari. PHOTO: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE

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Singapore gets first panda cub, born to Kai Kai and Jia Jia at River Safari

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SINGAPORE - The nation's first panda cub was born on Saturday (Aug 14) at the River Safari. In a statement on Sunday, Wildlife Reserves Singapore called the birth "a joyful boost to the ongoing National Day celebrations this year", adding that the panda cub's gender is yet to be determined and will be announced later.

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Animals in Beijing zoo fight after witnessing tourists’ tussle

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Animals in Beijing zoo fight after witnessing tourists’ tussle

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https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202108/1230883.shtml
On a Sunday in Beijing, China. Tourists were visiting Beijing Safari Park on Saturday afternoon, when an argument broke out, which later escalated into swearing and fighting. In the end, the two sides reached a settlement after mediation
Animals near the fighting site saw the fight between humans. In the evening, some animals followed suit in their own animal houses and started fighting.

- Emelia

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social media rules every children should teach their children

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social media rules every children should teach their children

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for most parents, there’s no avoiding of social media. you probably have it yourself, as do all of your friends, and if you’re among the vast majority of parents, your children will have it too. so how can parents ensure their kids use social media smartly and safely? here’s what a s social media expert has to say about the do’s and donts to encourage smart use of this form of communication.

firstly, before posting online, Laurie Wolk, recommends parents to post these questions near their children’s computer, or even on the fridge: is it true? is it helpful? is it kind? is it going to cause drama? am i posting these for the right reasons? and if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Laurie says that, “you can’t hear someone’s tone of voice, or see their facial expressions, so it’s much easier to hurt feelings or get your own feelings hurt.”

secondly, nothing is private, even if you think it is. parents should stress to their children that nothing they put on social media is private, no matter how secure their privacy settings are. they should be firm about them not publishing their phone numbers, addresses, full names or any other identifying information.

thirdly, internet downtime is crucial. “kids and adults alike all need downtime”, Laurie recommends. “we need time to unplug and replenish our mental and emotional resources.” kids need to be able to reflect on their day and rejuvenate before hopping on social media.

in my opinion, not only do children and teenagers be responsible for their actions online, parents should be a role model and start teaching and educating their children about social media rules.

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New flats for the elderly to be launched in February BTO exercise, with subscription to care services

The Community Care Apartments will be designed with an open layout. There will be a sliding partition to separate the bedroom and living room.

A new type of public housing with senior-friendly design features and subscription to care services will be launched for sale in February’s Build-to-Order (BTO) exercise, authorities announced on Thursday (Dec 10).

The flats, known as Community Care Apartments, are for home buyers aged 65 and above.

To be located at Bukit Batok West Avenue 9, buyers will have the flexibility to choose a lease ranging from 15 to 35 years. The flats cannot be resold or rented out.

“(The apartments) will offer seniors aged 65 and above an affordable housing option which integrates senior-friendly design features with care services that can be scaled according to care needs,” said the Ministry of National Development (MND), the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB), which jointly developed the housing concept.

Under the model, eligible seniors will have to buy a variable housing lease and subscribe to a compulsory basic care package, with the option of adding on more advanced care services.

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How 6 million pounds of electronic waste gets recycled a month.

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How 6 million pounds of electronic waste gets recycled a month.

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The company focuses on receiving and processing electronics.

Only about 17% of electronic waste ends up being shredded and recycled.

The devices will either be reused, repurposed, re-engineered or recycled(last resort). The boxes of electronics will be tagged with barcodes to tell the workers if the items should be recycled or reused.

For the items that can be reused:

Sometimes when they can’t sell the whole laptop, they will remove parts from it and either rebuild a laptop to sell or sell the parts. To get the tiny pieces out the laptop, it takes a lot of skill and people as it is done manually. Workers will then clean and check if they are working and send them back into the inventory to be sold again. For hard drives, their stored datas are wiped before the drives are resold.

For recycling:

Items not worth time to refurbish.

They remove hazards like mercury, cadmium , lead and battery.

Non hazardous materials are then shredded on the machines.

The items are then automatically categorised based on their charges. Example, the positively charged items(aluminium) will be thrown to the furthest and into boxes. But plastic will not obtain any charges and falls directly into the nearest boxes.
https://youtu.be/S2lmPIa1iWE
Venus

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Ngee Ann Poly lecturer making racist remarks towards a couple of different race.

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Ngee Ann Poly lecturer making racist remarks towards a couple of different race.

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Dave Parkash, who is a Singaporean, felt embarrassed, humiliated and hurt by how he was treated by another fellow Singaporean. Firstly, the man assumed that he was from India and thought he was just staying in Singapore. His girlfriend and him was confronted by a man who told him that they should only be dating with people of their own race. The man called himself a racist and even blamed them for being racist just because his girlfriend and him are from different races. He humilliated them in public by shaming them like as though they did something wrong. Moreover, the man accused him on preying on a Chinese girl, and said that no Chinese men will prey on Indian girl. Little did he know, both David and his girlfriend come from a mixed race background. Just because of one's different skin tone in Singapore, they shouldn't be publicly shamed. Love is love. Love has no race love has no religion. Everyone should be able to love whoever they want to love. What was more surprising was that he is a teacher from Ngee Ann Poly yet he still made this type of racist comments. No one should be like the man,  we should learn to not be a racist and let all to live in harmony.
- Rachel