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Selfie Of Miss Lebanon With Miss Israel Stirs Lebanon

BEIRUT (Reuters) – A Israeli beauty queen’s selfie has caused a stir in Lebanon, with some Lebanese saying their country’s contestant at the Miss Universe pageant should be stripped of her title for consorting with the enemy.

Miss Israel Doron Matalon posted a photo of herself and Miss Lebanon Saly Greige smiling together at pageant preparations in Miami, where the winner will be picked on January 25.

The two countries are technically at war, although the border has been largely quiet since their 2006 conflict. The Lebanese risk prison if they call or travel to Israel and all Israeli products are banned in Lebanon.

Some Lebanese have demanded on social media that Greige lose her title for contacts with a citizen of the enemy state.

Greige defended herself on the photo-sharing service Instagram on Saturday, saying Matalon had pestered her for a picture together and finally photobombed her.

“Since the first day of my arrival to participate to Miss Universe, I was very cautious to avoid being in any photo or communication with Miss Israel, who tried several times to take a photo with me,” Greige said.

“I was having a photo with Miss Japan, Miss Slovenia, suddenly Miss Israel jumped in and took a selfie, and uploaded it on her social media.”

(Reporting by Oliver Holmes)

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

January 19, 2015
3 Muslim Villagers Burned To Death Following Hindu-Muslim Clashes In India

PATNA (India) — At least three Muslim villagers were burned to death yesterday (Jan 18) when their thatched huts were set on fire during a clash between Hindu and Muslim groups in eastern India, a government official said.

Mr Atul Prasad, a Bihar state administrator, said the violence erupted after the body of a young Hindu boy was found in Sarayian village more than a week after he went missing.

Mr Prasad said Hindu fishermen blamed Muslims for killing the boy who was friendly with a Muslim girl from the village, 105km north of Patna, the capital of Bihar state.

The charred bodies of three Muslims were found in the burned huts in the poor community, he said.

Police arrested eight Hindu men, and Mr Prasad said the situation remains tense but under control in the village.

Hindus make up more than 80 per cent and Muslims nearly 13 per cent of India’s 1.2 billion people. They largely live peacefully in various parts of the country, but there is occasional violence.

Source: www.todayonline.com

January 19, 2015
Sheik Farhan Is World Silat Champion

A quarter of a century after his father was crowned world champion, Singapore national silat exponent Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin has also followed suit.

Yesterday (Jan 16), the 17-year-old, son of two-time world champion Sheik Alau’ddin, secured Singapore its first gold medal at the 2015 Pencak Silat World Championships in Phuket, Thailand after overcoming Vietnam’s Mach Quoc Hung 3-2 in the final of the Class J (90-95kg) category.

He had beaten Malaysia’s Azrul Abdullah 4-1 in the semi-finals. Singapore also won three silver and three bronze medals at the meet.

Sheik Alau’ddin, who is also chief executive officer of the Singapore Silat Federation, had won the first of his two world titles at the World Championships in the Netherlands in 1990, before adding a second crown in Thailand four years later.

Among those to congratulate the Sheik Farhan on his achievement was Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong.

“Great achievement for someone who just recovered from a shin injury and who’s competing for the first time in the tournament,” Wong wrote on his Facebook page.

“Farhan’s father is former silat world champion Sheik Alau’ddin, and I’m glad he’s continuing the family tradition of excellence in this sport!”

Source: www.todayonline.com

January 17, 2015
Yaacob Ibrahim: No Such Thing As Freedom Of Expression Without Limits

Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said he appreciates a decision by a local printer of The Economist not to reproduce a page with the latest cover of the Charlie Hebdo magazine depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

“We have no doubt that there’s no such thing as freedom of expression without limits. As I have said before, the right to speak freely and responsibly must come together,” Dr Yaacob said to the media on the sidelines of the JFDI.Asia Demo Day on Friday (Jan 16),

Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs said the circulation of the cartoons will not be allowed in Singapore. He later posted on Facebook that “there are longstanding laws against causing offence to our races and religions” in Singapore.

The page in the Singapore edition of The Economist was replaced with a statement informing readers that the magazine’s “Singapore printers” declined to print it. The magazine hit local newsstands on Friday.

“I think Singaporeans understand the sensitivities and we must continue to protect our racial, religious harmony. So I appreciate the sensitivities shown by the printer and I commend them for the decision,” said Dr Yaacob.

“All in all, it’s been a good outcome for us, because people understand that we must continue to work together to preserve the racial and religious harmony in Singapore,” he added.

Dr Yaacob said the Malay/Muslim community is “by and large offended” by the latest Charlie Hebdo cover. “But I think they also understood that we need to act rationally and I am quite impressed at how the community has come together to respond to this particular episode,” he said.

“But at the same time, we recognise that this may not be the last time that it will happen and we have continued to build up our resilience. And on our part we should also continue to try and spread the message of peace and tolerance across all communities here in Singapore.”

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

January 17, 2015
Lee Hsien Loong Hints That General Elections Is Some Time Away

Hinting that the next General Election could be some time away, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the Government has not had time to think about setting up the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee – often seen as one of the final steps in the run-up to polls.

The next GE must be held by January 2017. Speaking to the Chinese media in an interview on Thursday, Mr Lee said the Government is preoccupied with the SG50 celebrations this year and hence, has had no time to think about when to set up the committee. “When it’s set up, everyone will know,” he added.

Mr Lee was also coy on whether his successor has been identified from among the current batch of Cabinet ministers. Saying it was very likely that the person is already in Cabinet, he nevertheless added that he is not entirely certain because he is looking to bring in some candidates with potential to lead the country for the next election.

But, he said, the search for his successor should be complete after the polls.

When it was pointed out by reporters that the possible successor would have little time to work with his Cabinet colleagues if he were to come from the next cohort of Members of Parliament, Mr Lee said: “But it might not be an unfamiliar face.” So could it be someone whom the public is already familiar with? “There is the possibility, certainly” he replied.

Referring to United States President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron – both of whom had no prior experience running a government department or ministry before emerging as their respective countries’ top leader – Mr Lee said the Government might have no choice but to accept such a model.

Mr Lee also said that in the next election, voters should be prepared for the possibility of junior office-holders – such as Ministers of State and Senior Parliamentary Secretaries, and not necessarily Ministers – leading the People’s Action Party teams in Group Representation Constituencies.

Source: www.todayonline.com

January 17, 2015