Founder of Chinese gambling website linked to S’pore’s $2b money laundering case SINGAPORE - A man who made millions offering illegal online gambling services to players in China is among a number of individuals who avoided arrest in Singapore during the Aug 15 anti-money laundering blitz. Wang Bingang formed his group in 2012 when he was only 23 years old. In two short years, the young man from Anxi, Fujian, started churning out millions by running the Hongli International gambling site from the Philippines and Cambodia. Hongli means “great profits” in Mandarin. Wang, now 34, was living in a good class bungalow in Rochalie Drive in Tanglin, which he rented with Wang Liyun, believed to be his wife, when Singapore police arrested 10 foreigners. His family and helper continue to live at the address. When The Straits Times (ST) visited the bungalow last Thursday, the metal gate of the two-storey house was wide open, revealing two Toyota Alphards and a Rolls-Royce in the front yard. Their domestic helper, who has been working for the family for a year, insisted the couple are in Singapore, but were not at home at the time. But others said the pair, who would throw parties at the house every month or so, have not been seen for about a month. Checks showed that in 2022, Wang Bingang signed up with Sentosa Golf Club, where foreigners have to pay about $950,000 to join as a member. A Sept 12 notice at the club showed that he, along with five others linked to the investigation in Singapore, had been put on a defaulters’ list, which means he has not settled his accounts there. He does not show up in business records, but Wang Liyun has interests in several businesses, including a bridal shop. The pair are on a list of 34 names, which the Ministry of Law sent on Aug 27 to dealers of precious metals and stones to flag for suspicious transactions that may involve money laundering. The list includes the names of the 10 arrested here in the operation, including an individual who is said to be Wang Bingang’s relative. Assets seized and frozen in the money laundering case here have swelled to $2.4 billion. More at https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/founder-of-chinese-gambling-website-linked-to-singapore-s-2b-money-laundering-case

2 persons taken to hospital after chain collision on AYE involving 5 vehicles SINGAPORE — Two people ended up in hospital following a five-vehicle chain collision along the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) on Thursday (Sept 21) morning. Responding to TODAY's queries, the police said that they were alerted to an accident involving two tipper trucks, two vans and a taxi along AYE towards Tuas. “A 35-year-old female van driver and her 39-year-old male passenger were taken conscious to the hospital,” they added. In a video clip posted on the Singapore Roads Accident Facebook page on Thursday, the five vehicles are seen lined up one after another, with what appeared to be cement covering the vans and taxi. The front of a grey van appears to be smashed after colliding with one of the tipper trucks. Towing trucks are also seen at the accident site. Police investigations are ongoing. https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/chain-collision-aye-5-vehicles-2-persons-hospital-2261141

Cash, assets seized and frozen in S’pore’s worst money laundering case now worth over $2.4b SINGAPORE - The police have taken control of more than $2.4 billion worth of assets in Singapore’s worst money laundering case. In an update on Wednesday, the police said they conducted more operations, after 10 foreign nationals were arrested in August for their alleged involvement in laundering the proceeds of their overseas organised crime activities. These included scams and online gambling activities. The police said that during these operations, additional assets were seized and issued with prohibition of disposal orders. The police seized bank accounts with a total estimated value of more than $1.127 billion. Cash, including foreign currencies, amounting to over $76 million was also seized. Other confiscated items include 68 gold bars, 294 luxury bags, 164 luxury watches, 546 pieces of jewellery, cryptocurrencies worth more than $38 million, and 204 electronic devices such as computers and mobile phones. Prohibition of disposal orders were also issued against more than 110 properties and 62 vehicles worth more than $1.242 billion, as well as bottles of liquor, wine and multiple ornaments. The orders mean the accused cannot sell these items. On Aug 15, the police conducted a massive islandwide blitz involving over 400 officers led by the Commercial Affairs Department, simultaneously hitting several good class bungalows and high-end condominiums across Singapore. Nine men and one woman were arrested and charged the next day with various offences including money laundering, forgery and resisting arrest. Aged 31 to 44, they were originally from China and are now of various nationalities. Since their arrests, they have appeared in court via video link several times. The prosecution has argued against bail for the 10, citing a risk of contamination of evidence and collusion among them. The Straits Times reported on Aug 28 that investigators were also looking at 24 people linked to the accused, with the police digging into assets they own and businesses they are involved in. The Ministry of Law sent a notice on Aug 27 to dealers of precious metals and stones to check against their records for possible suspicious transactions by these 24 individuals. In a subsequent hearing in court, the prosecution revealed the suspects included wives and relatives of the 10 accused. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/cash-assets-seized-and-frozen-in-money-laundering-case-now-worth-over-24b-police

At first glance I thought she was the Badge Lady

If only Tharman was slated to become our next PM instead of LW, how wonderful that would be!

Man to be charged with murdering wife; body found at Holiday Inn Express Katong SINGAPORE: A man has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife, whose body was found in a hotel along East Coast Road, police said on Saturday (Sep 9). CNA understands that the hotel is Holiday Inn Express Katong, located next to the i12 Katong shopping mall. Following a tip-off at around 6.30pm, CNA arrived half an hour later and found a significant police presence there. Plainclothes and uniformed officers were seen entering the hotel and an ambulance was spotted leaving. Staff at the eateries across the road from the hotel said the police presence had started building up after 5pm, and that there were more police vehicles earlier but some had left, and there was another ambulance that left the area. The hotel has 16 floors and 450 rooms. The police said that the 30-year-old man went to Marine Parade Neighbourhood Police Centre on Saturday at about 5.05pm to inform police officers that he had killed his wife at the hotel. The 32-year-old woman was found lying motionless with a slash wound in a hotel room when the police arrived. She was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene. A knife, believed to have been used in the incident, was recovered in the hotel room. The man was arrested at Marine Parade Neighbourhood Police Centre. He will be charged in court on Monday with murder, an offence that carries the death penalty. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/man-murder-wife-arrest-holiday-inn-express-katong-east-coast-road-3758451

Assets involved in money laundering case nearly double to $1.8b: Prosecutors SINGAPORE - The police have taken control of more than $1.8 billion in assets as they continue to investigate one of the largest money laundering cases in Singapore, prosecutors told the High Court on Tuesday. The update in the value of assets that have been seized, frozen, or issued with prohibition of disposal orders came about at a hearing where one of the 10 people who have been charged in the case argued for bail to be granted. The order blocks the sale of assets that are the subject of a police investigation. Turkish national Vang Shuiming, 42, currently faces five charges, one for using a forged document and four for money laundering. Vang, who is also known as Wang Shuiming, is alleged to have submitted a forged bank statement to Citibank Singapore in March 2021 as supporting documentation. The four money laundering charges relate to about $2.4 million held in four UOB and RHB bank accounts. The sums are said to be criminal benefits from an unlicensed moneylending business in China, based on charges filed against him. Vang, who also has passports from China and Vanuatu, was arrested in a good class bungalow in Bishopsgate, which is in the Tanglin area, on Aug 15. He was among the nine men and one woman, aged between 31 and 44, who were nabbed following an islandwide raid by more than 400 officers led by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD). At the time, the value of assets involved stood at about $1 billion. All 10 individuals have been remanded in custody since they were charged in court on Aug 16. At each subsequent court mention, on Aug 23 and on Aug 30, they were ordered to be remanded for a further period of eight days, after prosecutors raised concerns over collusion and interference with investigations. Vang filed an application to the High Court, asking for these orders to be revoked and that he be granted bail. On Tuesday, after hearing arguments, Justice Vincent Hoong dismissed Vang’s bid to be released on bail. The judge said there was nothing palpably wrong with the orders made by the district court and there was no “serious injustice” that justified revoking the lower court’s orders. Justice Hoong said: “In my view, based on the details of the pending investigation, and the CAD’s reasons for its assessment that there was a real risk of collusion and contamination of evidence, there was clearly a need for the applicant to be further remanded for a period of eight days.” Vang’s lawyer Wendell Wong had argued that his client’s fundamental liberties of freedom and right to counsel are being curtailed by the orders for him to be remanded. Mr Wong also argued to be granted “liberal access” to his client, should Vang continue to be remanded. Justice Hoong said that Vang had been granted access to counsel, subject to the operational constraints of the CAD, and there was nothing to stop Mr Wong from writing to the CAD or the prosecution to make specific requests. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Yiwen argued that the orders for Vang to be remanded were correctly made, given that the case involved a complex and wide-scale investigation into serious financial crimes. He said extensive investigations remained to be carried out, including the need to record further statements and conduct checks with the foreign authorities. He noted that the charges brought against Vang were only in respect of a small part of the accused’s total assets, for which funds tracing was ongoing. The prosecutor said Vang, together with his brother Wang Shuiting, are wanted by the Chinese authorities for illegal gambling activities. There is also evidence that Vang is closely associated with two of the other accused persons, namely Su Haijin, a Cypriot national, and Su Baolin, a Cambodian national, said the prosecutor. He added that investigations revealed communications between Vang and another suspect, who is wanted by the police and out of jurisdiction, which appear to be in respect of other illegal activities. There was a real risk that if Vang was released on bail, he and the suspect would collude to contaminate evidence, given that significant assets were seized from both of them, said the prosecutor. More than $200 million in assets have been seized from Vang, including $962,000 in cash found at his home. The prosecutor added that Vang has purchased 11 properties. The assets seized from the suspect amounted to $260 million. The prosecutor added that foreign intelligence led to the uncovering of more than US$30 million (S$40.8 million) in assets that were previously not known. The Straits Times has found that Vang is the director and shareholder of Zhuo Chi Technology, a firm in Singapore that purportedly deals in software development. A search of business records showed that he was also the shareholder of Ming Xin (Singapore) Technologly, which was struck off in 2021. Vang was granted Cambodian citizenship on in March 2019 and is the chairman of Cambodian company Daming IT Services. According to a notice put up by the Chinese authorities in 2023, he is wanted in China to assist in investigations into the Heng Bo Bao Wang gambling syndicate that was uncovered in 2022. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/assets-involved-in-money-laundering-case-balloons-to-18b-prosecutors

'Full speed' ahead for F1 Singapore Grand Prix despite CPIB probe SINGAPORE: It is "full speed" ahead for this month's Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix despite the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) probe involving Singapore GP chairman Ong Beng Seng, said Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng on Sunday (Sep 3). Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Italian Grand Prix screening at HDB Hub in Toa Payoh, Dr Tan, who is also Manpower Minister, added that “the show goes on". “The show goes on. And I can tell you that if you look at all of the events, everything is moving at full speed. There's no holding back of any other events whatsoever,” he said. “Based on our ticket sales, it is very promising. I think this is going to be an exciting event moving forward.” As part of the CPIB probe, Mr Ong and Transport Minister S Iswaran were arrested in July and subsequently released on bail. Billionaire businessman Ong, 77, is often credited with playing a key role in a deal struck in 2007 between the Singapore Tourism Board and then-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, to bring the motorsport's first night race to the country.  Mr Ong owns the rights to the Singapore Grand Prix and is chairman of race promoter Singapore GP. The contract for Singapore to host the F1 grand prix for another seven years was signed last year – the fourth renewal and longest extension. Mr Iswaran has been actively involved in the government's engagements with F1, including making appearances at press conferences where announcements about the event's future have been made. On Sunday, Dr Tan declined comment on the ongoing investigations. “As far as the investigations, they are still ongoing, so I don't think I should comment on them. Neither am I able to comment on them anyway,” he said. “So let's wait for the authorities to come out. But I think this event promises to be one where everyone will remember.” 'STRONG' DEMAND REMAINS Last Tuesday, race organisers had said that attendance at this year's F1 Singapore Grand Prix is expected to dip by 17 per cent due to the closure of the Bay Grandstand as part of efforts to redevelop The Float @ Marina Bay. This means the night race from Sep 15 to Sep 17 will attract approximately 250,000 spectators - also the average attendance since it began in 2008 - and down from the record high of 302,000 last year. While there will be a "slight drop" in attendance numbers, Dr Tan said that "many of the activities" would make up for it. "There's a whole exciting slew of activities that has been lined up, and I want to add that the performing artists so far ... they are equally excited in coming here as well." The full entertainment line-up for this year's event includes the likes of US rapper Post Malone, British pop singer Robbie Williams and American rock band Kings of Leon. Demand for tickets "continues to be very strong", with 16 out of 23 categories currently sold out and "limited availability" for five of the remaining categories, said race organisers previously. "We've had ... very good interest and very, very promising turnout," added Dr Tan. Dr Tan also touched on the spillover effect which the Singapore Grand Prix has on local businesses. He added that about 28 Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) events will be held from next weekend through till the week after the race. "90 per cent of all of the outsourced work goes to local enterprises ... so you can imagine that there is a lot of spillover effect," he said. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/f1-singapore-grand-prix-cpib-probe-ong-beng-seng-iswaran-3743686

Ministers K Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan initiates defamation suit against Lee Hsien Yang SINGAPORE: Mr Shanmugam, the Law and Home Affairs Minister, and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, have formally filed a defamation suit in the Singapore High Court against Lee Hsien Yang, the son of Singapore founding father Lee Kuan Yew. The case is scheduled for an in-chamber hearing on the coming Tuesday (5 Sept) at 9 am morning. According to notices on the Singapore court website, the two ministers are represented by three lawyers from Davinder Singh Chambers, including the prominent senior lawyer Davinder Singh, who previously represented Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in previous high-profile defamation cases. With the two ministers officially filing the lawsuit, the next step, following the court procedure, would be to serve the summons on Lee Hsien Yang, who is also the younger brother of PM Lee. If Lee Hsien Yang’s address is unknown, the plaintiffs can apply to the court to serve the summons through methods such as email, social media, newspaper advertisements, and more. Subsequently, if Lee Hsien Yang fails to submit a defence within the stipulated timeframe, the plaintiffs can apply for a default judgment, securing a victory in the case and seeking compensation from Lee Hsien Yang. Typically, the claim amount in High Court civil litigation starts at S$ 250,000. On 27 July, Ministers Shanmugam and Balakrishnan announced plans to sue LHY over defamation allegations, unless an apology is issued and the statements are retracted. LHY is accused of suggesting that the ministers acted corruptly, receiving preferential treatment by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) through unauthorized tree felling and state-funded renovations of 26 and 31 Ridout Road. Both ministers have categorically refuted these allegations. More at https://gutzy.asia/2023/09/01/ministers-k-shanmugam-and-vivian-balakrishnan-initiates-defamation-suit-against-lee-hsien-yang/

Singapore’s banking giants embroiled in billion-dollar money laundering case SINGAPORE - Some of the biggest local and international banks in Singapore are becoming embroiled in one of the country’s largest money laundering cases. DBS Group Holdings, Singapore’s largest lender, and Bank of Singapore, the private banking arm of OCBC Bank, are creditors to investment companies linked to individuals arrested and charged earlier in August in a major money laundering scandal involving over $1 billion of assets, according to business filings seen by Bloomberg News. One of the accused also tried to cheat Standard Chartered Bank with fake documents, according to a court hearing in Singapore on Wednesday.  The banks join a list of financial institutions – including Malaysia’s CIMB Bank, Citigroup’s local subsidiary and Deutsche Bank – to be linked to the suspects in the alleged money laundering ring. Prosecutors have said that they are seeking documents from at least 10 financial institutions in relation to the case, although they were not named.  Beyond the banks, property agents, precious metals dealers and golf clubs in Singapore have also been drawn into the scandal. This has raised questions about guard rails against illicit money flowing into the financial hub. Bank links In a filing, DBS registered four charges – generally referring to a form of security interest usually taken by a lender to secure repayment of a loan – on Aug 18, 2021 for Aiqinhai Investment. The company’s director and sole shareholder Su Haijin is among the 10 individuals who have been indicted in a Singapore court for offences including money laundering and forgery. Bank of Singapore registered a charge on Jan 7, 2022 for Xinbao Investment Holdings. One of the company’s two directors is Su Baolin, who is also among the individuals charged. A spokesman for DBS said the lender will continue its work “to make Singapore a place where criminals cannot find harbour”, though there was no comment on specific names. OCBC declined to comment, while StanChart, which Su Baolin allegedly tried to cheat, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Both the investment companies linked to DBS and OCBC have listed office addresses in the business district, while the two accused directors have upscale residential addresses. The banks’ facilities are secured against “all monies” at the companies, according to the filings, which did not specify the size of the exposures.  More at https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/dbs-ocbc-among-creditors-to-alleged-money-launderers-singapore-firms

Singapore's rubber-stamp presidential election is serious business

Tipsy Collective co-founder Derek Ong dies at age 35 SINGAPORE - The co-founder and group chief executive of home-grown hospitality group Tipsy Collective, Mr Derek Ong, has died. He was 35. He died on Saturday, according to an online memorial put up by funeral parlour Green Pastures. In an Instagram post on Sunday, Tipsy Collective announced the death of Mr Ong and said that his “visionary leadership” influenced the company’s foundation, and guided the group through challenges and successes. It added: “Derek’s values will remain in our foundation as we honour his memory, and his legacy will forever be interwoven into the fabric of every single one of our journeys at Tipsy Collective.” Before starting Tipsy Collective with business partner David Gan, Mr Ong was a part-time banquet waiter in his teens and later became a bartender. He also had a business selling halal fish bak kwa at one point. The duo opened their first restaurant – Tipsy Penguin – in 2018 at NTUC Income@ Tampines Junction. Today, there are more than 10 restaurants or bars under Tipsy Collective, including Lady Wu in North Canal Road, Jelebu Dry Laksa in VivoCity and O/T Bar in Woodlands. Social media influencer Wendy Cheng, more popularly known as Xiaxue, said in an Instagram story on Sunday that Mr Ong will be “dearly missed”. She posted a photo of a smiling Mr Ong and wrote: “I’m not going to make this picture black and white because, in my memory, you will always be full of life, giving colour and fun to any room you enter. “You had the kindest heart and helped everyone you could. I’m blessed to once have you in my life and so many amazing memories and many deep belly laughs with you.” She added: “The world is a darker place without you in it.” Local singer Khim Ng, who previously performed weekly at Tipsy Penguin, paid tribute to Mr Ong in a Facebook post on Saturday. “Gone too soon. I’ve got so much to say, but I don’t know where to start. I want to thank you for Tipsy Collective and achieving every single vision you shared with me since Tipsy Penguin days,” she said. “You’re not just my boss, but you’ve also become a friend,” she added. “Your kindness and love towards us will never be forgotten. We will miss you dearly.” The Straits Times reported in July that the hospitality group’s largest project to date, Tipsy Unicorn Beach Club, is slated to open on Sept 1 at Siloso Beach, taking over the space formerly occupied by Wave House. In response to queries from ST, a Tipsy Unicorn public relations representative confirmed that a preview for the opening of the beach club that was supposed to take place on Monday has been postponed due to Mr Ong’s “sudden passing”. The representative added: “We would like to extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to Derek’s family and loved ones, and our thoughts are with them and the Tipsy Collective team during this most difficult time.” A report by ST in August 2022 said the entertainment venue, which spans a combined 24,000 sq ft of indoor and outdoor space with 500 seats, is expected to cost $5 million to $6 million. The collective also has plans to expand overseas. It is set to open Tipsy Flamingo in Kuala Lumpur in the third quarter of 2023, and is exploring taking the brand to Indonesia and Vietnam. During the 2022 interview with ST, Mr Ong said he and Mr Gan defined success as being able to see the key people in their lives, those who believed in them, retire comfortably. “Work is a big part of our lives, and this is a journey through life together,” added Mr Ong. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tipsy-collective-co-founder-derek-ong-dies-at-age-35

Popular 58-year-old hawker stall Koung’s Wan Tan Mee, to close in Dec 2023 It is a sad, sad day for wanton mee lovers — the popular Aljunied hawker, Koung’s Wan Tan Mee, will be closing in Dec 2023, and is looking for a successor to buy the business. Koung’s Wan Tan Mee is known for its delicious noodle dishes, char siew and dumplings. This famous business, helmed by Mr Koung Boon Kong, first began all the way back in the 1950s, when the owner was just 14. Back then, Mr Koung used to help his older brother push their noodle cart after school, and when he was 16, he began working at a noodle store in Geylang Lorong 12. The stall was unfortunately forced to shut in 1964, following the racial riots that rocked Singapore. Afterwards, Mr Koung set out to take over the brand and borrowed S$200 to start building his own brand. For 58 years, Mr Koung ran Koung’s Wan Tan Mee, where he doled out bowl after bowl of delicious wanton noodles, dumplings and chargrilled char siew on a daily basis. The brand even produced ready-to-eat packaged meals for sale within selected Cheers outlets, and managed to keep afloat even throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Koung’s daughter explained that the sale of the shophouse that Koung’s Wan Tan Mee is located in has put the brakes on his career, especially given his old age. The 78-year-old struggles with finding a new spot to restart his business, and his current staff are unfortunately aging and developing medical problems too. Hence, Mr Koung is looking to sell his recipes in order to keep the brand alive after his retirement and continue to provide future generations with his authentic wanton mee. In a press release, he stated: “I’m old already. I can no longer work like last time but I still hope my loyal customers can continue to get excellent Koung’s Wan Tan Mee for a long time to come.” https://sg.style.yahoo.com/popular-57-old-hawker-stall-030050630.html

'I will deal with IMDA separately': Tan Kin Lian unhappy on being asked to remove parts of broadcast message Apart from not having enough time to prepare for his campaign, it seems like Tan Kin Lian also faced some issues preparing for his presidential candidate broadcast to be aired tonight (Aug 24).  Tan, 75, revealed to the media during a doorstop interview at Senja Food Centre in Bukit Panjang on Thursday morning that he was asked by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to remove three paragraphs from his speech.  "They are the most important paragraphs of the campaign. They asked for it to be removed on the grounds that it is outside of the president's prerogative. I do not agree with the decision but I have no choice," said a disgruntled Tan.  The former NTUC Income chief executive officer then read out the omitted paragraphs to the media, which were about his plans to manage the reserves, and some of the goals he wanted to achieve if he were to become the head of state.  "I consider the IMDA does not have the authority to interpret the Constitution in their own way and ask for statements to be removed. I do not have time to argue about that, I removed the statement and I will deal with IMDA separately," Tan told reporters.  He also shared that he was asked to send a copy of his speech to IMDA on Wednesday. "I had to prepare a script in English and translate it into Chinese, Malay and Tamil. I had to present four printed copies and four soft copies.  "It was very rushed. How do you expect me, with many things to take care of, with the campaign to meet these requirements?" he questioned.  Tan's script had inaccuracies: IMDA, ELD In response to AsiaOne's queries, IMDA and the Elections Department (ELD) said in a joint press release on Thursday that the presidential candidates were informed of the timings of the presidential candidate broadcast and the rules on Aug 12, and were briefed on Aug 21.  They then added that Tan's original script had "inaccuracies about the president's role", where he suggested that the president can provide guidance on the reserves' investment strategies and influence government policy.  The two agencies said that Tan's election agent had corrected them "without objection" after being notified of the inaccuracies. "All Presidential candidates, including Mr Tan, signed a statutory declaration on their nomination paper to confirm that they have read the explanatory material on the president’s constitutional role, including the specific examples of what the President can and cannot do. "They also signed a voluntary undertaking on campaigning for the election in a manner that is dignified, decorous and consistent with the President’s position. "We remind all candidates not to mislead the public about the president's role," they said.  https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/i-will-deal-imda-separately-tan-kin-lian-unhappy-being-asked-remove-parts-broadcast-presidential-election

Zelensky hails ‘historic’ supply of F-16s as Ukraine seeks to counter Russian air supremacy CNN — The Netherlands and Denmark will provide Ukraine with much sought-after F-16 fighter jets in an agreement hailed by President Volodymyr Zelensky as “historic.” Kyiv has urgently been calling on its Western allies to provide it with the US-made aircraft, as its slow-moving counteroffensive is hampered by Russian air superiority. Speaking at a joint press conference with Zelensky at Eindhoven airport on Sunday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said his country would “commit to delivering F-16 aircraft to Ukraine” once “the conditions for such a transfer have been met.” Zelensky hailed the agreement as “historic” and “the most important” one yet. “The Netherlands became the first country to agree to provide Ukraine with F-16s after training. I am very grateful,” he added. Even with the news it will take months until Ukraine will be able to use the jets. On Monday, Zelensky said on X, the social network previously known as Twitter, that Ukraine would receive 42 F-16 from the Netherlands and 19 from Denmark. However, the Dutch government has not yet publicly confirmed the number of jets it would provide. Rutte said his country, which is currently in the process of upgrading to the newer F-35 fighter jets, had 42 F-16s in its arsenal. “At this moment, the Netherlands still owns 42 F-16s. Out of these 42, we need planes to help training in Denmark and later on in Romania,” Rutte said. He added that the Netherlands would look into whether all of the remaining planes could be supplied but stated that he could not yet give a definitive number. The Netherlands, a NATO member, has been a strong ally to Ukraine since well before Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. In 2014, 196 Dutch citizens were killed when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over Ukrainian territory held by pro-Russian separatists. Dutch investigators said in February there were “strong indications” that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved the decision to provide separatists with the missile system that downed the plane. The Dutch government has promised €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion) in support to Ukraine this year. The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a statement published Sunday it had agreed to provide F-16s. Conditions for the transfer include training Ukrainian personnel, setting up infrastructure and logistics, and receiving the necessary authorization, it said. Zelensky traveled on to Denmark after visiting the Netherlands where he met Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. “Today we announce that we will provide 19 F-16 jets to Ukraine, we believe Danish fighter jets will help protect your skies,” Frederiksen said. “The aim of this delivery is to protect Ukraine. We plan to provide the jets closer to the new year, about six of them, then eight in the next year and then another five.” The meetings come after a US official on Friday said the US had committed to approving the transfer of F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine as soon as training is complete. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Saturday that Ukrainian pilots had begun training. F-16s are single-engine, multirole jet aircraft, meaning they can be used in air-to-air or ground-attack missions. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/20/europe/netherlands-denmark-f-16-fighter-jets-ukraine-intl/index.html

Statement on the Presidential Elections 2023 We share the public’s concerns that a candidate, who has a history of objectifying women, has been cleared to participate in the upcoming Presidential Elections. Consistently posting about “pretty girls”, recording videos of women in public without their consent, or commenting about their appearance isn’t merely a matter of personal preference or light “amusement”. It’s an act of objectifying women, reducing them solely to their appearances for their personal entertainment. Such behaviour from anyone in or aspiring to a position of influence suggests that it’s acceptable to trivialise women and overlook their myriad abilities and contributions. But here’s a more systemic worry: The granting of a Certificate of Eligibility to such an individual doesn’t only reflect on him but suggests a systemic endorsement. It signifies that these views and behaviours are not just acceptable, but perhaps even acceptable enough for a potential presidency. Do we want a society where behaviours that objectify half its population get a tacit nod? Or do we push for a nation that evaluates every individual beyond the surface level, acknowledging their full worth and potential? Our President should embody the values, ethics, and principles that reflect the nation we want to be. We urge the Presidential Election Commission to thoroughly consider the broader implications of such endorsements in the future. The assessment process should not only take into account financial and management qualifications but also wider societal impacts to ensure our leadership truly upholds the values of respect, equality, and dignity for all Singaporeans. https://www.aware.org.sg/2023/08/statement-on-the-presidential-elections-2023/

Perhaps this is the reason why the PAP did not dole out cash payments this time round....

Man found dead near Republic Polytechnic, no foul play suspected: Police SINGAPORE — The body of a 49-year-old man was found near Republic Polytechnic in Woodlands last Saturday (Aug 19) afternoon. In response to TODAY’s queries, the police said that they were alerted at 2.45pm to a case of unnatural death at 7 Woodlands Avenue 9. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and the police added that no foul play is suspected. A photo posted on Stomp website shows several police officers, some wearing face masks, at a location surrounded by a fence and hoarding. When contacted on Monday, Republic Polytechnic told TODAY that the man’s body was found outside of the school’s compound. “We have established that the deceased is not a member of the Republic Polytechnic community”. Police investigations are ongoing. https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/body-man-found-dead-woodlands-republic-polytechnic-2237281

‘I cannot accept the decision’: George Goh says disqualification from presidential race not fair SINGAPORE – Businessman George Goh said on Friday that he cannot accept the decision by the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) not to grant him a certificate of eligibility, thereby ending his run for the presidency. The PEC had rejected his argument that his experience running five companies that together met the shareholders’ equity and profitability criteria was equivalent to that of a CEO running a single company, he said. This was a “very narrow interpretation of the requirements without explaining the rationale behind its decision” and has deprived Singaporeans of a wider choice to select the next president, he added in a statement. At a press conference at his Holland Road house on Friday afternoon, the mood among his family and campaign team was sombre. Asked if the PEC had provided any specific reason as to why he was not eligible, Mr Goh would only say that the PEC did its own review. “I cannot accept the decision given by them. I personally think it’s not a fair decision,” he said. Mr Goh said he had been fairly confident he would make the cut because he had assembled a broad team of experts to assess his eligibility. They included a former attorney-general, a constitutional law professor, a former judge and a senior counsel, among others. “This group of people are the top, top people in Singapore. Are you saying they’re all wrong?” he asked. “Cannot be – they’re all from the system.” Asked whether he would consolidate his companies or build a $500 million company in order to qualify for future elections, Mr Goh reiterated that he already met the shareholder equity criterion for private sector candidates. “It’s not ‘tomorrow I have to try and work harder’ – it’s already there,” he said. “If I continue what I’m doing now as an independent candidate, (it’s) whether the system allows me to go in or not. We should ask this question.” He added: “I have $507 million (in shareholder equity). I don’t know what they want. We should ask them.” Mr Goh was also asked whether he would now reveal the names of the five companies he submitted to the PEC, but he declined to do so. He had declined to name them on Aug 4, when he held a press conference after submitting his application for a certificate of eligibility. “We do have shareholders, so I also don’t want, because I stand for the election, then the few thousand shareholders suffer,” he said. On whether he would now stand behind one of the remaining three candidates, Mr Goh said it was difficult for him to say as he did not know them well. Responding to presidential hopeful Tan Kin Lian’s remark that he is the only remaining independent candidate left in the race, Mr Goh reiterated that he was the sole independent candidate without any past ties to a political party or the Government. “You must prove yourself, that you’re really independent,” he said. “If you’re not independent and you say you are independent, it’s very sad.” He added: “Because I’m so truly independent, you know what the result (is) – they know if I go into (the) Istana, I will work for (the people and) look at (things) differently.” At his home, Mr Goh showed the campaign collaterals he had already prepared, which included T-shirts, badges, flags, some 1.4 million mailers and a container full of tissue packets. He declined to say how much he had spent on them, but said he would sell the items and donate the proceeds to charity. Quoting his campaign slogan, Mr Goh said Aug 18 was supposed to be a day of change but had turned out to be a very sad day. While he did not qualify, he said that private sector candidates will not be discouraged from stepping forward to contest future presidential elections. “This country needs an independent president; we cannot continue (with) the same system (where) after 30 years, we are still rejected by the establishment,” he said. “I hope this day will come... An independent president must walk into the Istana tall, (to) represent the people of Singapore.” https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/i-cannot-accept-the-decision-george-goh-says-disqualification-from-presidential-race-not-fair

Focus on your campaign and don't lose your deposit, George Goh tells fellow presidential hopeful Tan Kin Lian SINGAPORE: Focus on your own campaign and make sure you don’t lose your deposit. This was the message businessman George Goh had for fellow presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian on Wednesday (Aug 16), as he spoke to reporters ahead of a walkabout at Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre and Market. Stressing that the Presidential Election is a “very serious matter”, Mr Goh said: “Nobody should tell anybody to step down, that should not be the way. “(The) election is a very serious matter, it is not like the two individuals sit at a coffee shop and we talk about presidential (campaign), who to come in … Focus (on) your campaign, and let the voters make the decision." His comments came after Mr Tan said during his campaign launch that it was important that Singaporeans have a chance to vote for what he described as an "independent candidate". Mr Tan had also said in the event that both he and Mr Goh qualify as candidates, he would speak to Mr Goh to decide who should step down and support the other "non-establishment" candidate.  But on Monday evening, Mr Goh responded to the remarks, clarifying that they don't have an agreement. Mr Tan subsequently said that he hoped Mr Goh would change his mind about not stepping down if both of them qualify for the Presidential Election. On Wednesday, Mr Goh said that he has prepared for six years for this bid, and it has been a difficult journey for him to get to where he is today. He added: "I would advise him (Mr Tan) to spend more time to look at the campaign materials, go and prepare all your campaign materials if you're serious about contesting. "For me, I've done all my campaign materials. I've prepared it, and (when) the COE (certificate of eligibility) is issued, the material is ready ... for the next nine days." In 2011, Mr Tan unsuccessfully ran for the presidency. Finishing last out of four candidates, he secured 4.91 per cent of the more than 2.2 million votes and lost his deposit of S$48,000. APOLITICAL ELECTIONS Mr Goh also said that there is "no need to be put up by anybody" in a Presidential Election.  He gave two examples, the first involving former Foreign Minister George Yeo who during an interview with CNA and Today spoke about an incident that happened a few months before the 2011 Presidential Election. According to Mr Yeo, he was called to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's office to talk about the election and was told that he was one of a few who could beat presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock at the time. However, Mr Yeo told PM Lee he was “temperamentally unsuited to be president”, and would only do it out of duty and not out of ambition. Mr Goh stressed the importance of being an "independent" candidate such as himself and one who is not affiliated to any political party. "Presidential elections are apolitical. There are 2.7 million voters, anyone can come forward ... If you want to serve the nation, come forward, there is no need to be put up by anybody," he said. "If you are put up by somebody, you may not do a good job. It is very clear." https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-presidential-election-2023-george-goh-tells-tan-kin-lian-focus-own-campaign-3702366