9 dead in China fireworks accident [By: Rong Hua]

9 people were killed and 9 others injured when a truck loaded with fireworks material hit an electricity pole and blew up in central China. The news agency reported that the deaths increased the number of fireworks related deaths nationwide at least 19 in the past week.

The explosion took place when the truck loaded with 600 boxes of fireworks fuses hit the pole and the sparks from the fallen power cables ignited the fuses and caused the blast. The force of the explosion was so big that it shattered windows and cracked walls in houses hundreds of metres away from the scene.

Police were investigating the cause of the accident while search and rescue teams were using sniffer dogs to look for more possible victims.

The article appeal to me as I was wondering why didn’t precaution taken against delivery of fireworks. I’m so glad that Singapore has banned the usage of fireworks except for important events where precautions were taken to ensure the safety of people. I think other countries should consider banning of fireworks to prevent any accidents relating to firework from happening.

I would like to ask the writing why aren’t the fireworks materials covered so as to prevent the firework from having any contact outside the container of the truck. If the firework materials are covered by the container of the truck, such accidents would not happened.

If I was in charge of this, I would take precaution to prevent such accident from happening as fireworks can be dangerous when it blow up which can cause injuries and even death.

Suicide verdict for widow (Edmund)

Summary
This is one of the most saddest story happened in Singapore. The couple married on the same day but died on the different day.
Computer shop owner, Vernon Leong Jun Wei, 31 fell to his death at the Hilton hotel after his wedding banquet in November last year. Eight months later, Kerin Peh Li Ling, 28, had committed suicide at her flat.
At the coroner inquiry on Monday, the court heard that Peh could not come to terms with widowhood and had written practically daily in the two diaries found in her room of her 'undying love' for him.
She had slit her wrists and drank bleach last December but was rushed to hospital in time.
In the entry dated July 4, she wrote that she did not wish to be left alone for too long without her late husband.
'I do not want to move on like others do,' she had confided in her diary.
The next day, she took her life.

Why I Choose This Article
i choose this article because i had read the previous news saying that the bridegroom had fall to his death and now it is sad to hear that the bride had also commit sucide. I always thought such saddening incident will not happen in real life.

If i were to control the situation
I would send the bride to counselling after hearing that her husband had died. I would also spend time acompany the bride if i were to know the bride.

HDB flats more affordable but still too expensive (By: Faezah)

Buyers feel that properties are now more affordable, thanks to the cooling measures introduced by the Government in August, according to the latest survey by real estate listing portal propertyguru.com.sg.


But most respondents to the survey also felt that more could be done to control prices of Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats. One of the things that came out in terms of the most recent research findings was that people still think that HDB is expensive.


The Ministry of National Development said this week that the effects of the cooling measures would continue to sink in through the next one to two months.

Cash over-valuation premiums for HDB resale units had already slipped to $22,000 last month from $35,000 in October.
The Government appeared to be monitoring the situation closely and more cooling measures could be effected if necessary.According to Urban Redevelopment Authority data, growth in property prices slowed to 2.9 per cent in the third quarter, compared with 5.3 per cent in the previous one.


Analysts believe home prices could rise by 10 per cent next year, led by the luxury segment. But HDB prices would rise at a marginal 5 per cent due to the cooling measures.


The article appeals to me because HDB flats are now expensive due to high standard of living in Singapore.


I have a question to ask, how can we improve our standard of living by not increasing the prices for HDB flats as Singaporeans are struggling with the economy.


If i am in charge, I would ensure that the prices for HDB flats are affordable so that Singaporeans are managed to pay the HDB flats by cash or CPF.

iPhone app leads to arrest [By: Rong Hua]

A serial snatch thief has been arrest by the police after getting an important lead from an iphone application. The 'Find My iPhone' application allows the owner of the iPhone to trace its physical location and has helped the police to hunt down the thief.
The 36 year old victim was walking along Lim Liak Street when an unknown man approached her from behind and snatched away her iPhone which she was holding. After the victim lodged a report, the 'Find My iPhone' application was used to help the police track down the suspect.

The suspect that was arrested on Monday evening is believed to be also responsible for several other snatch theft cases in the Tiong Bahru and Kim Tian estates. The suspect, an 18 year old Malaysian man will be charge on Wednesday.

This article appeal to me because I was surprised at how technology has help not only in terms of communication and entertainment, but has also helped the police to arrest a serial snatch thief. As an iPhone user, I would like to know how is can be used and where can user download the application, and also to find out if the application is compatible on iPhone 3.

I would like to ask the writer since the ‘Find My iPhone’ application is so useful and has also helped the police to arrest the snatch thief, where can iPhone user download the application and how it is used to trace the location so that all the iPhone user can enjoy the application and prevent theft.

If I am in charge of the situation, I would have do what the police did by using the application to arrest the snatch thief as soon as possible to prevent further theft cases from happening.

German TV Show Ended In Horror ( By: Klaris Yang )

A German Tv Show ended in horror after one of the contestant suffered serious injury while performing during the show.

This variety show allow contestants from all over the world to perform dangerous stunts. It break the record of having the most viewers and was one of the most popular variety show in German.

23 year old Sameul Koch, was attempting to leap lengthways over a moving car by wearing a spring - loaded stilts. However, he did not mange to and instead, laid motionless face down on the floor as the audience looked on in horror.

He was rushed to the hospital immediately and the variety show was quickly put to a stop.

Why I Choose This Article?

This article appeal to me because of the title which was " German TV Show Ended In Horror " I was wondering why would some people willing to take risk to perform such a dangerous stunts just for money. Even though there were saying that money makes the world goes round, but by performing such a dangerous stunts, it highlight to me is money really that important than life. Money we could work to earn it, but, human only have one life.

If I Were In Charge Of The Situation

As this is a live variety show, i would do the same as the TV Producers -  Handling the choas of the audience and rushing the victim to the hospital immediately.

Question I Have To Ask

I wanted to ask the TV Producers why are they wiling to risk the life of the contestant to entertain the audience.There could be many ways of enetertaining the audience, perharps through performance or comedies etc, not by performing dangerous stunts.

Ex—MOE scholar taught at school despite child porn charge (By: Elsa Ng)

Former Ministry of Education (MOE) scholar Jonathan Wong had already been arrested for possession of child pornography when he returned to teach in a secondary school here in Singapore. 23—year—old Wong, who is a history major at the University of York, was arrested in March and did his month—long teaching attachment in July at the school in the western part of Singapore. Besides teaching history and literature, he interacted closely with pupils when working on a project with them. But, the MOE only knew of Wong’s involvement in child pornography last month. In reply to queries, a ministry spokesman said: "His offence only came to light after he was charged in court in November." Wong, who is on bail, will be sentenced during the week of Jan 17 after the initial court date of Dec 13 was postponed. He could face up to 10 years in jail, though a non—custodial sentence is also possible, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Why did the article appeal to me?
The article appeal to me as i read this news few months ago. I was surprised that the MOE only knew of Wong's involvement in child pornography last month. I was also shocked that an MOE scholar would do this to students that he was teaching. Teachers must be passionate in their work and they must also be responsible. Child pornography is a serious offence.

If I am in charge/ in control, would I have done the same or what actions would I have taken?
If I am in charge if this situation, I will not allow him to teach anymore to prevent similar incidents to happen again. Furthermore, I will also gather full and part-time MOE teachers and held a talk for them so that they know the consequences of certain offence.




   

S'poreans hit by 'mobile phone syndrome' (edmund)

Summary
A report shows that singaporeans are constantly thinking that their mobile phones are ringing, reported Sin Chew Daily.
It said that a random survey of 50 people found that some 80 per cent of them suffered from the mobile phone syndrome.
They would check their mobile phones incessantly to see if they were ringing or if there were any missed calls or messages.
A psychiatrist blamed this syndrome on stress.
'Such people should learn to relax to avoid stress taking over their daily life,' said the psychiatrist.
The psychiatrist advised sufferers to switch off their mobile phones or avoid answering their phones for a period of time.

Why I choose this article
I choose this article because i also want to check if i have the following syndrome too. To my shock, i think i have the same syndrome as what the report has written. I have check many times for my handphone when i thought someone had call me but in face there wasn`s anybody calling me.

If I Were To Control The Situation....
If i am the government, i will give the students less school hour so that they will be more relax and also make the school system less competitive. In this way, Singaporeans will be more happy and will have a better standard of living.

Quesion i have to ask..
I want to ask the psychiatrist why they want to blame this syndrome on stress and not other factors.