Shonen Knife - Ah, Singapore

 

Singapore’s deadly drug war

 The government insists that the death penalty helps keep the country safe. But a spate of executions has caused alarm and triggered unprecedented protests in the city-state.

Authorities say the majority of Singapore’s residents support its zero-tolerance policy. But critics maintain that vulnerable people are being killed, leaving families devastated.

Inside Singapore’s Maximum-Security Prison

 

We go behind bars at Singapore’s Changi Prison to meet the most hardened criminals inside maximum-security jail.

The maximum-security cells in Singapore’s Changi Prison are bare and spartan.

They house one inmate each. Prisoners sleep on a straw mat on the concrete floor and must earn the right to keep personal possessions such as family photos.

Shonen Knife - Ah, Singapore

 

'Dystopian': Singapore police robots spark surveillance state fears

Singapore police have been testing a new weapon in the battle against incivility in recent weeks – mobile robots that can detect "undesirable social behaviour" such as smoking in prohibited areas and people improperly parking bicycles.

Singapore’s Infected Dorms

 Investigating how the coronavirus spread among Singapore’s migrant workers.

As the coronavirus spread around the world in early 2020 and governments grappled with the speed and scale of the unprecedented threat, the consequences for millions of migrant workers in Asia and the Middle East – who often live far from home and in less-than-ideal conditions – attracted little attention.

MUST TRY Singapore CHEAP EATS! Hawker Street Food Tour of Singapore

 On this food adventure, I went on a cheap eats in Singapore to see what best items you can get at the Hawker Center street foods. And there are many different types of dishes from different cultures like curry, noodles, rice, pork, chicken, etc.

Singapore’s Street Food: Surviving COVID-19

We investigate whether Singapore’s food hawker culture can survive the coronavirus pandemic.

Singapore’s street food is a vital part of the country’s cultural heritage and identity.

But as COVID-19 hits hard, hawkers face a stark choice – innovate or admit defeat.

 

Singapore – belief in ghosts and high-tech

Singapore has boomed in the last few years. A city of contrasts, the people there believe in ghosts and spirits but also live in a high-tech metropolis. Singapore: an ethnically diverse city with strict laws, wild jungle and spectacular architecture.
 

I Am From Japan | Being Indian in Japan vs. America | Born and Raised in Tokyo | ft. Ameya

 Ameya was a University Student at Temple in Tokyo, Japan. Her parents are both Indian, but she was born and raised in Japan, being taught both English and Japanese by her mother. Listen to her story on how she began a life in Tokyo, then moving to India, Singapore, then the United States at age 14, before finally coming back to Japan and realizing just how unique her background is and can inspire others.

How Countries Have Criminalized Journalism

As Donald Trump campaigned and ultimately won the election in 2016 he has used the trope of fake news in an effort to dismiss unfavourble broadcast or printed material.  Leaders of similar political persuasion to use this criticism enact laws which can be used by governments to suppress the media and free speech.

Malaysia and Singapore were the first to pass such laws as these governments have used the legal system in the past to quash political dissent which makes these laws a natural evolution of  or a continuance of need to quite critics. 

In The Philippines Rodrigo Duterte has had a long running animus with media outlets that have been critical of his war on drugs which has led to thousands of extrajudicial killings.  As a result of this Duterte has sought to shutdown these media outlets with the latest victims being the countries largest broadcaster ABS-CBN which had its franchise renewal denied following a vote by the Philippine congress which is controlled by Duterte's party. 

Authorities in Malaysia have arrested six journalists from Al Jazeera over program they contributed to which investigated the treatment of migrant workers in Malaysia during the recent coronavirus lockdown. What are they accused of?

Six journalists including five Australians are being interrogated by Malaysian authorities who have accused them of sedition and defamation after the broadcast of a documentary about migrant workers in Kuala Lumpur during Covid-19.

A week after the broadcast of the Al Jazeera English documentary in Malaysia, the journalists were ordered to attend the police station for questioning on Friday morning.

Malaysian police have told them they are being investigated for sedition, defamation and violation of the country’s Communications and Multimedia Act.

Officials have also issued a search notice for a migrant who was interviewed during the documentary, prompting concern that he may be retaliated against. Earlier this week, the immigration department urged the public to come forward with information about the man.

 

Donald Trump And The Trump Affect On Journalism

During Donald Trump's campaign for the White House he'd often rail at what he called the fake media for reporting on what he actually said rather than what wanted them to broadcast or print.  He made these especially unwarranted  comments at his campaign events.   This led to journalists from several organizations needing security provide an escort from the event.  Katy Tur of MSNBC  was a consent target of his vitriolic machinations.  On several occasions the Secret Service provided security as to enable her to safely leave these campaign events.   Donald Trump's continued pronouncements of fake news provided cover for those leaders and countries seeking avenues for controlling the media to enact so "called fake news laws."       

Singapore which has been ruled by the Peoples Action Party and the Lee family since independence in 1965 signed  the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill into law last October.  Any reasonable person might think, yes there needs to be an means to fight against broadcast or printed misinformation.  Except that the government of Singapore has a history of using the courts and British colonial era laws to stifle descent by perceived political rivals and against the media.  

Lawmakers in Albania followed Singapore and passed the anti-defamation package all in an effort to fight against "fake news."  

They aren't the only countries to enact such laws they can be found in Europe and South America as well.

Donald Trump and his administration have gone further.  They've stopped holding regular press briefings, in fact this has become common practice throughout his administration including the various departments such as State and Defense.  As the reporting on the administration has become more the critical they've barred reporters from various news organizations from participating in public media events or traveling with cabinet secretaries. The last being the reporter from National Public Radio that was barred from the plane carrying Mike Pampeo after what was considered a hostile interview with one of its reporters on the subject of the Ukraine.  

Now Boris Johnson and his senior media advisers have taken up the Trump mantel and barred political reporters from a press briefing at No. 10 Downing Street.    

Journalists in Downing Street walk out after Johnson aide tries to exclude some reporters

Political journalists have boycotted a briefing at No 10 Downing Street after one of Boris Johnson’s aides banned selected reporters from attending.

The walkout took place after a confrontation inside No 10 in which Lee Cain, Johnson’s most senior communications adviser, tried to exclude reporters from the Mirror, i, HuffPost, PoliticsHome, Independent and others.

Reporters on the invited list were asked to stand on one side of a rug in the foyer of No 10, while those not allowed in were asked by security to stand on the other side.

Singapore: Top of the Class

101 East goes inside Singapore's schools to find out why the nation's students top the global leader board.

Singapore's education system is renowned for creating the world's smartest students.

It is the envy of nations around the world, but what is the secret to its students' success?

Supporters point to a culture that values education and holds teachers in high esteem.

But it is a high-stakes game - only the top students make it into the best schools.

Twelve-year-old Xuan is preparing for a national exam that will determine which secondary school he attends.

City of the Future: Singapore – Full Episode | National Geographic

With visionary thinkers and innovators as the guides, City of the Future: Singapore dives deep into the latest innovations and technology being created and implemented to blaze a path into the future.

Singapore: The House That Lee Built

We investigate Lee Kuan Yew's complex legacy and the reasons behind a family dispute dividing Singapore's ruling elite.

When the former British colony of Singapore became an independent nation in 1965, there were doubts about its survival. The tiny island state has no hinterland and few natural resources and few at the time thought it a candidate for any kind of success on the world stage.

But today, it's one of Asia's richest cities, a truly modern metropolis that's frequently been described as an economic miracle. It's safe, courteous, orderly, and business friendly, its people are educated and cared for to an extent many of its neighbours can only dream of emulating.

Donald Trump And His Non Agreement With Kim-Jong un

Donald Trump flew off to Singapore believing as only he can that he his fantastic personality and the Art of the Deal book (Not written by him.) would end in a loving embrace from Kim-Jong un and North Korea giving up its nuclear weapons. Somewhere along the way the fool failed to realize that his in artful attempts at diplomacy would lead to long and difficult negotiations.  North Korea isn't, won't ever surrender  its nuclear arsenal.  Those weapons the key to that regimes survival.

Now the Orange Froot Loop is blaming China for his inadequacies as a leader as those talks have stalled.  Negotiating with North Korea over its nuclear arsenal was never going to easy its just that Donald Trump was just to stupid to know it.

US President Donald Trump has lashed out at China for undermining its work with North Korea, as criticism over progress on denuclearisation mounts.

In a series of tweets he also said he saw no reason to resume the joint war games with South Korea that have angered North Korea.

Days ago his own defence secretary said military exercises might continue.

China has accused Mr Trump of "shifting blame" in his comments on its relations with North Korea.

A summit between Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June ended with a pledge from the North to work towards "the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula". Soon after Mr Trump announced there was "no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea".

Foolish Trump Tweet-Begs North Korea To 'Honor Our Handshake' (video)

Everyone with any experience with North Korea predicted this would happen. Trump got played by Kim Jong-un. Tired of winning yet, Donald?

Because Donald Trump thinks tweets can do things like lower oil prices and renegotiate trade deals, he tweet-begged Kim Jong-un to "honor the contract, and more importantly, the handshake" about nukes.

Andrea Mitchell used the "we" word. It's not we, Andrea. Trump got played. From Monday's "The 11th Hour":

BRIAN WILLIAMS: The only way to start on North Korea is in simple English and that is, did we get played?

ANDREA MITCHELL: We sure did get played. And Pompeo with the best of intentions to try to flush out what in fact was agreed to in Singapore, if anything, he got snubbed. Sarah Sanders said he would be meeting with Kim Jong-un. He was not. That meeting was never in the cards. And, in fact, he spent two days going through endless long, multicourse dinners, lavish, which he didn't have an appetite for and they didn't get to the substance. They never got to the meat as to what really was agreed to in Singapore. And that's the problem. The president referring to a contract? What they signed were promises, empty promises, in fact. When he said in the tweet today that he relied more -- put more importance on the handshake with Kim Jong-un, why on earth would he be trusting a handshake from someone who is from a regime that has a history of family history of having cheated and lied to the United States and to other allies to their own neighbors in the past?

WILLIAMS: General, meantime this has become a standard line now in the president's rallies, talking about how much safer we are. That there are no longer missiles in the skies over the Pacific. Question to you is, are we any closer to denuclearization and remind me again what North Korea's motive is in agreeing to denuclearization.

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GENERAL BARRY MCCAFFREY: You know, Andrea Mitchell pretty much summed it up. I have a great deal of empathy for Secretary Pompeo and jim Mattis, and the CIA director. They've got to remain objective. I've been dealing with the issue since I was a JCS strategic planner during the Clinton administration. The only difference between then and now is they have 60 nuclear weapons, maybe, and some ICBM capability to strike the United States.

They have no intention of denuclearizing.

So the Secretary of State has got to somehow maintain a dialogue lower the tension, keep our allies close to us. South Korea and Japan are concerned. Try to keep the Chinese supportive of the economic embargo and stop raising the nonsense expectations. You know, the president saying he's an honorable man revered by his people that, is not translating in North Korea. This guy is a monster. Murdered hundreds of his own thousands of his citizens. So we're in a very strange and concerning place right now.

Apparently Trump is still waiting for his Nobel Peace Prize and big ass military parade, though, amirite?

Singapore: The House That Lee Built

We investigate Lee Kuan Yew's complex legacy and the reasons behind a family dispute dividing Singapore's ruling elite.

When the former British colony of Singapore became an independent nation in 1965, there were doubts about its survival. The tiny island state has no hinterland and few natural resources and few at the time thought it a candidate for any kind of success on the world stage.

But today, it's one of Asia's richest cities, a truly modern metropolis that's frequently been described as an economic miracle. It's safe, courteous, orderly, and business friendly, its people are educated and cared for to an extent many of its neighbours can only dream of emulating.

The Reality T.V. Host Who Believes He's Diplomat Goes To Singapore

Tomorrow Donald Trump will become the first Oval Office occupant to meet directly with the leader of North Korea.  He and Kim-Jong un will sit down and begin the process of reaching an equitable agreement between the two countries.  Donald Trump and Kim-Jong un will hold a private meeting without aids or advisers.  Given Trump's penchant for agreeing to a deal, announcing said deal followed by reigning on the agreement reached the question must be asked. How will North Korea react when he does just that? 

Negotiations such as these are fraught with potential misunderstanding and disagreement over just what is meant by a certain phrase or clause.  These types of agreements take years to hammer out not days. The Good Friday Agreement is a perfect example. It took years of difficult negotiation before that treaty was agreed to.  Donald Trump believes it will be a matter of hours or perhaps days. Given his short to nonresistant attention span how long will it take before he starts lashing out on twitter and reverting to calling Kim-Jong un little rocket man?

Donald Trump shouldn't be allowed to negotiate on the nation state level as he's wholly incapable of understanding the situation nor does he care to learn.  He'll be remembered for behaving like George W. Bush, when after meeting Vladimir Putin announced that after  looking into his eyes he knew he'd met a willing partner searching for solutions to the worlds problems. How wrong he was. 

Who Begged For The U.S. North Korea Summit?

According to Rudy Giuliani the T.V. lawyer pretending to represent Donald Trump has asserted that Kim-Jong un begged for the summit to be held in Singapore on 12 June.  I'm sure someone desperately  wanted a summit.  I just don't believe that it was Kim-Jong un.  Given that the person currently occupying the Oval Office is an immature, emotionally insecure narcissist and in need  of constant affirmation is the person who begged for this summit as believes it will insure his historic legacy.   

Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani has said North Korea's leader "begged" for their summit to be rescheduled after the US president cancelled it.

Speaking at a conference in Israel, Mr Giuliani said Mr Trump's tough stance had forced Pyongyang's hand.

Mr Trump called off the summit in May, accusing North Korea of "tremendous anger and open hostility".

But plans for the 12 June bilateral in Singapore were revived after a conciliatory response from Pyongyang.

Mr Giuliani was speaking at an investment conference in Israel when he made the remark.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that Mr Giuliani said: "Well, Kim Jong-un got back on his hands and knees and begged for it, which is exactly the position you want to put him in."

Even though Donald Trump is the alleged author of The Art of the Deal.  The reality is this, Donald Trump is one of the worst deal makers or negotiators in business.