Friday, February 24, 2012

News In Brief - The Straits Times Friday 24 Feb 2012



Front Page. Cronyism suggested by a blogger following PM's wife appointment as director of a large government financial concern. Denials yesterday: she was the best person for the job; nothing to do with her husband; &etc. Threats of legal action bring prompt withdrawal/apology. SG known for clean-hands politics.; transparency; &etc. UnSingaporean casting aspersions. (Current PM son of former nation-builder Lee Kwan Yew, reported a few weeks ago he was unsure whether his children had an interest in politics. And no grandchildren as yet appeared.)
* Protests gathering in Malaysia over a proposed Australian rare earths mine. (Linked to cancer.) These materials used in smart phones/LED TV's etc.
* Dept of Education alert to problem of teachers behaving badly (recent sex scandals besmirching the profession). Accompanying picture of 300 newly inducted graduates in academic gowns, fists on hearts reciting in unison the Teacher's Pledge. ("Engineers of human souls" in the old Soviet description.)
* Confirmed: no problem with problem gambling at the two casinos, report finds. Small increases in low income earners' patronage aside (addiction to excitement mentioned). Otherwise industry exceeding Macau; and here they have only been operating a year.

No comments:

Post a Comment