SINGAPORE — A former cook at a pre-school in Singapore was on Nov 10 sentenced to nine years, four months and seven weeks in jail, in a case that the prosecution said involved one of the most horrendous acts of sexual abuse committed in such a local facility.Malaysian Teo Guan Huat, 61, had pleaded guilty to three molestation charges on Oct 27.Five other molestation charges were considered during his sentencing.On Nov 10, District Judge Vince Gui said Teo's acts were abhorrent, and that the offences represented an abuse of trust, stressing that the victims were young and defenceless.Teo, a Singapore permanent resident, had molested three girls, aged one to two, while the victims were in a nap room at the pre-school.He abused the children by inserting his hands into their nappies, an act he carried out multiple times a week, from May 2023 to November that year, when the teachers were not looking.Teo, who was with the pre-school for about a year, eventually resigned in November 2023 when his offences were exposed.

Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng's permanent resident (PR) status in Singapore has been reviewed and it will not be revoked, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Nov 10.ICA said in a statement that Ong has been issued a letter of warning, putting him on notice that any future adverse conduct could lead to the revocation of his PR status.This update follows the authority's statement in August that all Singapore permanent residents convicted of an offence will have their PR status reviewed.Ong, a Malaysian citizen, was fined $30,000 on Aug 15 after pleading guilty on Aug 4 to one charge of abetting former transport minister S. Iswaran in obstructing the course of justice.Ong had reportedly aided Iswaran in arranging the payment of $5,700 for a business-class flight ticket for a Dec 11, 2022, flight from Doha to Singapore.

Singapore has been allocated 900 places for the annual Haj pilgrimage in 2026, and has requested for additional quota from the Saudi Arabian authorities, said Acting Minister-in-charge for Muslim Affairs Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.Assoc Prof Faishal, who is on a working visit to Saudi Arabia and Jordan from Nov 6 to 11, made the announcement in a Facebook post on Monday (Nov 10) after meeting with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah.«The signing marks an important milestone as it formally confirms Singapore's Haj quota for the upcoming (2026) season.»Each year, this agreement represents more than numbers. It reflects the trust and friendship between our two countries, and our shared commitment to ensure a safe, smooth and spiritually fulfilling haj journey for our pilgrims," said the Acting Minister.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday mandated the singing of 'Vande Mataram' in all state educational institutions to foster national pride. This move follows Prime Minister Modi's criticism of the Congress party for allegedly removing stanzas from the national song, which he linked to the seeds of partition.

Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana Police jointly recovered 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate, arms, and bomb-making equipment in Faridabad. Two individuals, including a doctor, were arrested as part of a two-week-long investigation. Officials suspect the seized materials were intended for large-scale terror attacks in the Delhi-NCR region.

The court ruling is the latest in a weeks-long legal battle over the fate of the nation’s largest public initiative to combat hunger.

[allAfrica]

Denis Pushilin said that the Russian troops are methodically repelling the attacks

Alexander Lukashenko hailed the Laotian president as a prominent statesman and a true patriot of his country seeking to increase its role in the region and the world and improve the lives of its people

The commander of the assault unit of the 1486th Motorized Rifle Regiment emphasized that Russian troops continued to advance

The blast wave shattered windows and damaged a garage and a boat hangar

The sources point out that German police, prosecutors and other people familiar with the case developed «a clear picture of how an elite Ukrainian military unit carried out the attacks under the direct supervision of Ukraine’s then-supreme commander, General Valery Zaluzhny»

According to the report, the Ukrainian army launched four UAVs in the Belgorodsky district, damaging a private house

A US biotech backed by Sam Altman and Brian Armstrong is reportedly pursuing embryo editing to produce a child free of hereditary illness Read Full Article at RT.com

A leaked “official sensitive” memo has reportedly listed 14 new locations for asylum housing across the UK Read Full Article at RT.com

The 2024 unrest in Bangladesh was a foreign-backed regime change operation, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury told RT in an exclusive interview Read Full Article at RT.com

The US Senate has approved a bipartisan deal to end the federal government shutdown after more than five weeks of political deadlock Read Full Article at RT.com

[allAfrica]

[New Times] Once plagued by frequent droughts and low yields, farmers in Ngoma, Kirehe, Kayonza, and other districts in Eastern Province are embracing climate-smart agriculture (CSA) to boost productivity, conserve soil, and build resilience to climate shocks.

[New Times] Officials from the governments of Rwanda and DR Congo on Friday, November 7, initialed the full text of a proposed Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF), which both sides have described as a «significant step toward.»

[Daily Trust] Opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Cameroonian authorities, demanding the immediate release of all people arrested during and after the country's disputed presidential election held on October 12.

Barawe (HOL) — Somali National Army (SNA) Commander, General Odowa Yusuf Rageh, on Sunday inaugurated the newly constructed headquarters of the 6th Battalion under the 60th Division of the SNA Ground Forces in Barawe, Lower Shabelle region.

Hargeisa (HOL) — Four young siblings, all under the age of ten, were burned to death early Sunday morning after their father allegedly locked them inside their home and set it ablaze in the October neighborhood of Ahmed Dhagax district, authorities said.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation has called for an immediate and unconditional end to clan-related violence and revenge killings, urging security agencies to act swiftly against those inciting bloodshed and division across the country.

The deal that split Democrats doesn’t extend expiring ACA subsidies. If a bill passes the Senate, it needs the House to approve and President Donald Trump on board.

More than 2,800 flights were canceled Sunday, while Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the shutdown’s impact on airports is “only going to get worse.”

Andrey Marochko noted that over the past week, Russian forces have delivered combined, group, and concentrated strikes on Ukrainian military facilities and dual-use infrastructure