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Tag: Singaporeans

  • Singapore 7th In Ranking Of Least Corrupt Countries Globally

    Singapore 7th In Ranking Of Least Corrupt Countries Globally

    Singapore has slipped two places in a ranking of countries seen as being the least corrupt in the world.

    It came in seventh in this year’s Corruption Perceptions Index, which is compiled by graft watchdog Transparency International (TI), after three years of taking the No. 5 spot.

    The Republic’s score fell two points to 84 this year from 86 last year, according to data released by TI on Wednesday. A score of 100 means a country is perceived as being very clean while a score of zero means a country is viewed as highly corrupt.

    The top five countries in this year’s index – Denmark, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden and Norway – held on to the same positions as last year. Top scorer Denmark came in with 92 points, up from 91 last year.

    But Switzerland, which ranked seventh last year, overtook Singapore to be joint fifth with Norway – the position Singapore held last year.

    China, Turkey and Angola were among the countries whose reputations for corruption worsened the most over the last year, TI said.

    North Korea and Somalia shared last place in the index with a score of just eight.

    TOP TEN:

    1. Denmark 92

    2. New Zealand 91

    3. Finland 89

    4. Sweden 87

    5. Norway 86

    5. Switzerland 86

    7. Singapore 84

    8. Netherlands 83

    9. Luxembourg 82

    10. Canada 81

    TEN IN MID-RANGE:

    12. Germany 79

    14. Britain 78

    15. Japan 76

    17. United States 74

    26. France 69

    64. Turkey 45

    69. Brazil 43

    85. India 38

    100. China 36

    136. Russia 27

    BOTTOM TEN:

    166. Eritrea 18

    166. Libya 18

    166. Uzbekistan 18

    169. Turkmenistan 17

    170. Iraq 16

    171. South Sudan 15

    172. Afghanistan 12

    173. Sudan 11

    174. North Korea 8

    174. Somalia 8

    The full list will be published on www.transparency.org

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • How HIV May Spread Over The Next 15 Years

    How HIV May Spread Over The Next 15 Years

    In 2013, about 35 million people lived with HIV worldwide, a number that is comparable with the population of Canada. Due to better treatment methods, the number of deaths caused by AIDS-related illnesses is on the decline, along with the number of new infections. The recent success is fragile, however.

    UNAIDS, the United Nations program dedicated to the fight against HIV, recently warned that new infections could rise again if HIV prevention and treatment approaches remained at 2013 levels. The map above shows which regions and groups of people could be particularly threatened in low- and middle-income countries by 2030 in that case.

    According to the scenario, the majority of new infections may be in Africa, where heterosexuals would account for the biggest group of those newly affected, followed be female sex workers, their clients, as well as children. In Asia, homosexuals, female sex workers and their clients, as well as heterosexuals are expected to be equally threatened by AIDS in total numbers. The Middle East and South America would follow with much lower numbers of newly infected people.

    Between 1990 and 2013, the number of people living with HIV increased especially in the Southern Hemisphere as well as some European countries. UNAIDS estimates that more than 39 million people have died of AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic, most of them in low- and middle-income countries.

    On World AIDS Day, marked this Monday, UNICEF, the United Nations’ agency for children, also warned that while there has been a drop in AIDS-related deaths between 2005 and 2013, one core demographic has not seen such a decline: those ages 10 to 19. HIV was the second-leading cause of death among adolescents worldwide in 2012, according to the WHO.

    More optimistic observers believe the HIV epidemic will sharply decline over the next decades. A new report by the advocacy group One, which was released Monday, declared that for the first time in 30 years, the world had reached a “tipping point” in the fight against HIV.

    “We’re not saying the end of Aids is near but we have reached an important milestone where, for the first time, we are getting ahead of the disease,” Erin Hohlfelder, health policy director for One, was quoted as saying by theFinancial Times. The report was released Monday to mark World Aids Day.

    According to the group, fewer people became infected with HIV — the human immunodeficiency virus, which leads to AIDS — than gained access to drugs against the virus in 2013. About 2.3 million people gained access to HIV treatment programs last year, compared with 2.1 million new infections. The group also said that antiretroviral drugs, which are used to fight the virus, are now available to 13.6 million people worldwide.


    Data: UNAIDS and ONE advocacy group. Visualization: Rick Noack/ The Washington Post.

    Currently, HIV is roughly 28 times as common among people who inject drugs and 19 times as common among men who have sex with men, compared with the average. Sex workers are 12 times as likely to be infected by the virus.

    To protect those who are most marginalized by the virus, three goals need to be achieved, according to the group One: First, funds to fight the disease need to be increased to address a shortfall of $3 billion a year.

    Second, stigmatized groups with limited access to treatment need to be reached. And third, the international community should be aware that current promising developments will not necessarily be a tipping point for all countries and that some nations and regions will continue to need more support than others.

    If all those goals were to be achieved, the prevalence of HIV could look more like this by 2030, according to the United Nations:


    Source: UNAIDS

    Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com

  • The Struggles Of a HIV Positive Mother

    The Struggles Of a HIV Positive Mother

    KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — A mother of four was forced to choose between HIV medication and her children.

    Norlela Mokhtar, 50, was diagnosed 14 years ago as being HIV positive and three years later, she was in dire need of medication but medical care for HIV patients was not free.

    “It cost about RM1,000 a month and I did not have that kind of money because I was working as a clerk at that time,” she said.

    “I had to choose between myself and my children.

    “I had to choose between paying for my medication or to feed my children.”

    She avoided doctor’s visits and check-ups to avoid being asked to take the medication.

    “In 2005, I had tuberculosis and I had no choice when I was admitted,” she said.

    “Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman (Malaysian AIDS Council exco member) started me on the anti-retroviral treatment, even though it was not free at that time.”

    It was then that she regained her health, along with her weight.

    “I was a skeleton of about 50kg as I lost so much weight. I was only 30kg at that time,” she said.

    Norlela was advised by a friend of hers to get tested because her former husband was an intravenous drug user (IDU).

    She believes she contracted the disease from him.

    “In that year of being diagnosed, I had no support,” she said

    “At that time, whatever they said did not have any impact on me because I was thinking about my four children, who were between two and 10 years old.”

    She went on with life without acknowledging the disease but remained a strong front for her children.

    “I made sure I was strong in front of them,” she said.

    Norlela recalled the discrimination she faced, from both family and friends, but she has no regrets.

    “My youngest child was taken away from me by my stepmother for fear I would infect my children,” she said.

    “In the office, they didn’t let me go to the canteen or use the items in the pantry.

    “However, I am not angry with them because they didn’t know how a person was infected.”

    An advocate for those like her, Norlela formed Persatuan Wahidayah Malaysia (Pewahim) and the Rumah Wahidayah, a shelter for women and children living with HIV/AIDS.

    She believes building a “zero discrimination” nation towards those infected with HIV/AIDS was the first step towards building a HIV/AIDS free nation.

    “People are not able to get married, get a proper education or even get loans just because they are infected by HIV or AIDS. This needs to stop,” she said.

    “People should also be educated, instead of taking HIV tests only when required.”

     

    Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com

  • Pregnant Woman Terminated After Only 3 Weeks With Company

    Pregnant Woman Terminated After Only 3 Weeks With Company

    Dear Sir / Madam,

    I would like to bring up this matter to your attention.

    I was just employed by this company last month on the 10th of Nov 2014 as a Receptionist cum Admin Assistant under the accounts dept.

    As usual I will have to go through the procedure of 3-month probation period.

    I tried to learn as fast as I could on whatever that was taught as it was a new experience for me under quickbook.

    So they concentrate more on teaching me on the invoices and quickbook and the company system called APS.

    I tried to learn as fast as I possibly could. Everything was fine till they did a 1-week assessment on me.

    They mentioned that everything was ok except for some of the jobs that I did not do – which was not taught nor was I given any instructions to do so.

    Example, to wipe the photocopier machine every morning – which I was not given any screen wipes / solution to wipe it. It was kept by another colleague.

    So during that assessment they asked if I have anything else to say and I told them it is good news to me but I am not sure if it is good news to the company that I am pregnant.

    They did not say anything and the HR exec noticed the concern on my face and I told her yes I am because I need the job to cope with this pregnancy. So she said they will look upon my performance.

    So I agreed  because thinking its under 3-month probation period and I can learn more things and contribute to the company.

    I did not take any sick leave for myself, I was never late for work, I do not have any conflicts with colleagues, the colleague who taught me quick book even said that I did no mistakes on the keying in on the system and invoices and I would even answer the phone calls within 1 phone ring.

    Even when I have done an outstanding job, I would come up to her and even asked her if there’s anything else for me to do as I need to keep myself occupied with something and learn new things and she would say “nope not now”.

    Apparently since the last week of  November, I noticed the coldness from the colleagues.

    For example they did not let me do the job that I am supposed to do like the stationery updates. They would take from my desk and do it themselves instead of teaching me.

    On Sat 29th Dec, I sensed something not right as I can’t logged into my PC as it has been disabled.

    And I checked with my accts mgr and the HR Exec  told me to check with boss in case boss “accidentally” they deleted my acct while deleting the previous staffs’ account.

    So I went up to him and he ignorantly said “Oh did I? Sorry, you can try to log in again within 5 minutes” so ok, I pushed the negative thoughts and tried and yes I can log in after that.

    On Mon 1st Dec, I report to work as usual. As usual no one said anything.

    I submitted my leave for my pregnancy checkup on the 16th Dec to my accounts manager and she took it without saying anything.

    But around 4pm+ the HR exec called me in to the meeting room. I suspected something already.

    She said:  “I’m sorry but the company decided to terminate you”.

    I was kind of shocked and asked for the reason and she said because its because my performance.

    I asked her why am I judged on my performance within 3 weeks and she said if 1 month we don’t see any good performance they will terminate.

    But it’s not even a month and I was already judged and I asked if this has got to do with my pregnancy and they come up with an excuse of my performance so I won’t be able to report to MOM and she kept quiet for a while and said:  “No its not. This is what the boss told me and I am telling you.”

    I was angry and upset because there was a girl who joined the same day as me and her sales manager gave her 6 months to learn and I was given weeks? Now I am jobless all because of the unfairness of the company.

    I have called the MOM for help and have been advised that for my case I may not be entitled for maternity (something which I can give and take about as what I really need is a job to support myself for the next few months). but I still fall under the Employment Act.

    I am really looking forward to seeing something being done here to employers who can terminate expectant mothers at will. Even most part-time jobs do not accept any pregnant mothers.

    Please do look into this case. Attached are a copy of my employment letter, my last payslip and my termination letter.

    I am looking forward to your kind reply.

    Thank you.

    Best Regards,

    Roslinda Binte Idris.

     

    Source: www.transitioning.org

  • Lee Hsien Loong On Population Growth Of Native Singaporeans

    Lee Hsien Loong On Population Growth Of Native Singaporeans

    Lee Hsien Loong was also asked about Singapore’s low birth rate, and he admitted the government’s pro-family incentives are “still not enough”. In comparison to his father, Lee said he is “much inferior to him in this matter — what he dares to say, I may not dare to say”.

    “We have encouragement, which is important, we also pay close attention to early childhood education and childcare services,” he said. “This is because many women want to continue working after childbirth, so who will take care of the children when that happens? … That is why we are opening more childcare centres, and are grooming more kindergarten teachers. But it is still not enough.”

    >He also spoke about Singapore’s casinos, and how his father previously opposed it, saying the elder Lee supported the policy later on because “the world changed, so we have to change too”.

    “But we think of ways to protect our people, to prevent them from spiralling down with gambling addiction,” he said, saying that in the four years since they opened, the number of Singaporeans who gamble is not increasing, and has stayed at about 20 per cent of the country’s casino visitors.

    Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com