SINGAPORE - A British author is looking to get in touch with the family of a Singaporean World War II pilot, who was the inspiration behind a major character in a book she wrote. Ms Onjali Rauf, who has won multiple awards for her work in Britain, wrote The Lion Above The Door in 2021. It features a major character based on wing commander Tan Kay Hai, a decorated, daredevil Singaporean pilot who flew with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during WWII on at least 190 missions. «Tan Kay Hai's story has made such a huge impact on my life - The Lion Above The Door would never have been written if I hadn't learnt of him,» said Ms Onjali, who arrived in Singapore on April 21 for a series of speaking engagements with various schools, including Tanglin Trust School, United World College South East Asia and Dulwich School. «He represents all the millions of brave men and women who fought during World War II, but whose names and efforts can barely be found in our history books.»

SINGAPORE - The Bank of Singapore (BOS) has uncovered cases of misuse of medical benefits by its staff, and up to 40 employees left the bank last week. Hundreds were involved in the internal investigation by the bank, and some were believed to have been sacked. The investigation was first reported by finance industry career portal efinancialcareers.com on Wednesday (April 24). In response to queries from The Straits Times, a BOS spokesperson declined to provide details, citing confidentiality. But the spokesman added: «Where wrongdoing is alleged, the matter will be investigated and reviewed according to the bank's investigative and disciplinary framework.» CNA reported that BOS, the private banking arm of OCBC, launched an investigation in 2023 into employee medical claims involving one of its company panel clinics. ST understands the clinic in question is Thompson & Thomson (RadLink Medicare), which is located in CIMB Plaza. It is one of the panel clinics under Fullerton Health. BOS' medical insurance scheme allows employees to claim up to $10,500 for medical and dental expenses.

«The premises and rooms are being checked for explosives,» the source said

Canada is hosting 176 countries in Ottawa for a conference aimed at making progress toward a global treaty on plastic waste.

Mogadishu (HOL) - The Shabelle River, flowing through Beledweyne, the capital city of the Hiiraan region, brought a significant volume of water on Friday, causing concern among residents in the surrounding neighborhoods.

During the expedition, experts have collected a large amount of materials on climate change over recent twenty years in different northern regions

The museum's task was to have young people feel the atmosphere, since for many people the polar explorers is something far away

Five missiles hit Dnepropetrovsk while a strong blow with the subsequent detonation was registered in Krivoi Rog, the spokesman specified

Local Administration Head Ivan Prikhodko said that «a female resident of Gorlovka was injured as a result of yesterday’s shelling of the Stroitel residential compound in the Nikitovsky district of Gorlovka»

«Some European intelligence agencies have been told of the US view,» the newspaper notes

The dollar exchange rate was down by 0.08% at 91.65 rubles on Moscow Exchange, while the euro was down by 0.09% at 98.08 rubles

The press service specified that investigative and procedural actions are underway in coordination with Russia’s Federal Security Service

In Bardhaman-Durgapur, Dilip Ghosh faces TMC's Kirti Azad and Left-Congress' Sukriti Ghoshal. The battleground saw S S Ahluwalia's win in 2019. The election promises a three-cornered fight, highlighting unemployment and agrarian crisis.

TMC raised concerns over the CBI raid during Phase II polling, suspecting BJP-CBI collusion in arms recovery at Sandeshkhali. TMC wrote a letter to EC to raise a complaint against CBI raids and also alleged weapon planting and targeting by Modi in West Bengal elections. TMC also claimed that they wanted to tarnish TMC's image.

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating products from spice manufacturers MDH and Everest following Hong Kong's decision to halt sales of certain items due to the alleged presence of high levels of a carcinogenic pesticide. Earlier this month, Hong Kong suspended the sale of three MDH spice blends and an Everest spice mix for fish curries.

Seychelles has signed a loan agreement with the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development (OFID) for a sum of $20 million to provide budget support for the government, said the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade on Friday. The agreement was signed by Minister Naadir Hassan and the President of the OPEC Fund, Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, in Washington D.C, US, on the sidelines of the boards of governors of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meetings from April 15 to 21. Hassan led Seychelles' delegation at the event, which brought together ministers of finance and development and central bankers, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organisations and academics. The aim was to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness. The delegation of Seychelles held talks with several departments within the Bretton Woods institutions on ongoing programmes being supported by those institutions as well as areas for future engagements. Discussions were also held on possible technical assistance programme to ensure that the island nation delivers on its commitments. In his discussions with the World Bank group, Hassan was briefed on the bank evolution roadmap and the role of the bank in its engagement with Seychelles. It was agreed that more focus will be placed on key structural issues such as human development, climate adaptation and resilience building as well as disaster risk. The minister also attended various events held by the Commonwealth on the sidelines of the Spring meetings.  Hassan speaking at the Climate Financing for Africa Small Developing States. (Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade)   The Commonwealth Small States Advocacy Champions convened their second meeting, which signalled a resolute effort to accelerate progress towards sustainable development, resilience-building, and debt management strategies in small states.  Ministers held critical discussions centred around themes such as spending pressures, innovative debt restructuring instruments, inclusive debt relief initiatives, and the consideration of climate vulnerability in debt sustainability analyses. Additionally, the aim of the meeting to generate action-oriented outcomes that would contribute to ongoing high-level events, including the upcoming UN SIDS4 Conference in May and the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting of Small States taking place during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October. As small states navigate through multifaceted challenges, the Advocacy Champions reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for tailored solutions and shaping global decision-making processes to benefit small states. Hassan also participated in various side events and was a key speaker at the IMF Small Developing States Forum and shared Seychelles' experience on its journey to mobilise climate financing, the challenges encountered and the opportunities that lies ahead. 

Peter Smith, 64, of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire is said to be in a serious condition following a bull shark attack close to Turtle Beach, Tobago, on Friday morning.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said Türkiye has severed and is further cutting off commercial relations with Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

A 70-year-old man's decomposing body was found in his Bukit Merah HDB flat on Thursday (April 25) after a neighbour had noticed a pungent smell emanating from the unit. The police told AsiaOne that they were alerted to a case of unnatural death at Block 121 Bukit Merah View at 3.28pm that day. The man was found lying motionless and was pronounced dead at scene. When a Shin Min Daily News reporter visited the ninth floor of the block at about 5pm on Thursday, it was reported that a foul stench lingered in the corridor. A 65-year-old woman surnamed Jiang, who lives on the same floor as the deceased, said the man moved in over a year ago and lived alone. Describing the man as a kind person, Jiang said the deceased would typically exchange greetings and chat with the residents. He would often eat with her and her husband at the community centre and had a good relationship with his neighbours. «We made plans last week to attend an activity at the community centre together, and he told us to take care of ourselves,» she recalled. «I never thought that the next update from him would be this bad news.»

SINGAPORE – The police are investigating a case of a teenager found living in a wet market stall for almost a year. Stall owners at the Circuit Road Market and Food Centre said the girl, who barely spoke and merely gestured, relieved herself in pails in the stall as she would not leave even to use the toilet. They said she lived in the stall, which measures around two by three metres, with her father who rented it. The Straits Times understands that the girl and her father are Singapore permanent residents. The stall owners, who declined to be named, said National Environment Agency (NEA) officers conducting checks at the market in early April noticed the girl. The police said they received a call for assistance on April 4 at Block 80 Circuit Road, which is the address of the market. A 63-year-old man is assisting with investigations into ill-treatment of a child or young person by neglect under the Children and Young Persons Act, said the police. Those convicted can be jailed for up to eight years, fined up to $8,000, or both.

WESTERN BUREAU: The proposed merger between the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Fair Trading Commission (FTC), which was announced by Minister of Industry Investment and Commerce, Aubyn Hill, last year, is still in the making and should...

WESTERN BUREAU: Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr says that, as part of ongoing efforts to improve service delivery for the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), two technical working groups will be...

TORONTO: Seventy years ago, a 35-member delegation, led by community icon, Barbados-born Donald Willard Moore, which included Jamaican leaders Bromley Armstrong, Harry Gairey Sr, and Stanley Grizzle, who was of Jamaican heritage, travelled to...

Four beneficiaries have collectively received a donation of $500,000 from the Sagicor Foundation, at the recent Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards for Excellence. The event which took place last Saturday, at the lawns of Jamaica House,...

The Girl Guides Association of Jamaica is about volunteerism and redirection for young women, and the organisation wants Jamaica to know that it is still in service. Girl Guides has impacted thousands of lives over the decades, and it is all thanks...

The Belarusian President noted that, in the three last decades, Minsk and Pretoria supported each other at multilateral platforms, developed trade, industrial and scientific cooperation, expanded the contacts between businessmen

According to the statement, a civilian fatality was reported, and two civilians sustained wounds

La prise en charge des cancers en Polynésie française s’est nettement améliorée ces 10 dernières années. Une meilleure prise en charge, mais avec toujours le même problème depuis des années : le renouvellement incessant des oncologues. Ishka Pautu s'apprête à changer d'oncologue pour la 3e fois en seulement 4 mois.

The Somali government has admitted that rations for the elite Somali soldiers trained by the United States have been diverted within a unit of its forces.

Kenya Airways on Friday accused authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) of harassment over the continued detention of two of the airline's staff for alleged customs violations despite a court ordering their release.

Hargeisa (HOL) - Police in Hargeisa arrested three members of the Hargeisa Local Council on Friday for opposing the local government's plan to evict impoverished people from a site designated for a new building.

Precious Plastic SeyTreasure, based in the western Mahe district of Grand Anse, is an innovative plastic recycling business, incorporating innovative recycling techniques and customised unique designs, which opened its doors in March. Lara Gutser, one of the owners, told SNA that the aim of the new business is to reduce single-use plastic waste such as bottle caps, food containers, empty shampoo, detergent, and soap bottles to process it locally and to turn it into another product or reusable shape-design, which will be used for accessories, jewellery, decorative items, key rings, flower pots, among others. «Our vision is a clean, plastic-free and sustainable environment to preserve the exceptional beauty of the Seychelles,» explained Gutser.  Gutser explained that the plastic waste types of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) are collected from the beaches and the local community, and that this waste is shredded and transformed into «small treasures.» Some of the designs made with single-use plastic waste. (Lara Gutser) Photo License: All Rights Reserved Gutser, a German national, said that she has been a regular visitor to Seychelles – 115 islands' archipelago in the western Indian Ocean – for over 30 years. «I visited Seychelles regularly since 1990 (around 50 times) and fell in love with those beautiful islands and I moved to Seychelles seven years ago,» she explained. A nature lover who also enjoys hiking, Gutser said that since May 2022, together with a group of friends, she started to get voluntarily involved in beach cleanups, cleaning plastic washed up or left behind while walking the beach. In 2022, approximately 150 beach cleanups were done by the group, something that they have documented. “In 2023, we did a total of 314 beach cleanups. This is how and where the idea for SeyTreasure was formed,« added Gutser. It took Gutser and a Seychellois partner around 18 months to start the business, including the period from submitting the project to the Seychelles Investment Board (SIB) to receiving all relevant approvals and setting up the company. Gutser, who has invested in the machines and molds for the business, says that for now, she is producing a variety of key rings. These represent some of Seychelles’ key features such as Mahe island, the coco de mer and the giant tortoise as well as flower pots in different colours, which are ideal for herbs and other small plants such as cactus. Gutser, who has invested in the machines and molds for the business, says that for now, she is producing a variety of key rings. (Precious Plastic SeyTreasure) Photo License: All Rights Reserved “They all have a unique colour design and there will not be two exactly the same products'' added Gutser. For now, products from Precious Plastic SeyTreasure are available at two shops, at the Koral Boutique at Beau Vallon and the Yves Souvenir Cachee in the Camion Hall building in the capital of Victoria.   Gutser said that she will explore other retail outlets for her products but in the meantime, she is focused on recycling as much plastic as possible, something she says is crucial for the outstanding and natural beauty of the islands. “We do accept donations of clean plastic type HDPE and PP – the plastic type stamp is usually at the bottom of containers and bottles, but not PET [polyethylene terephthalate] though,» said Gutser, who also collects plastic waste in the Grand Anse, Mahe, area. Waste management is a hot topic currently, now that the country's main landfill located at Providence will reach its full capacity next year, Seychelles has taken many steps to reduce the amount of plastic that gets dumped at the landfill. In 2017, the government banned the importation and sales of plastic bags, and plastic utensils including cups, forks, Styrofoam takeaway boxes, and plates. This was followed by a ban on single-use plastic straws in June 2019 and on balloons in 2021. To encourage recycling and minimise the amount of waste ending up at the landfills, the country encourages the redeeming of PET and glass bottles as well as aluminium cans.  

According to the report of the IDF press office, the discovered missile was of «surface-to-surface» type