i kinda regret taking charge of class blog. ppl are so not enthu. and zhenping, stop tagging and post. this place is so dead.

two articles to brighten our day.

Lesbians raped as 'cure' 10 min-->
JOHANNESBURG - SOUTH African lesbians are suffering rapes by men trying to 'cure' their homosexuality, in what is becoming one of the most common hate crimes against gay women in the country, according to a new study.
The study by the anti-poverty group ActionAid said that women living in townships in Johannesburg and Cape Town were reporting increasing attacks and murders by men committing so-called 'corrective' rape.
South African women generally face a staggering risk of rape in a country with one of the highest crime rates in the world said a report on Monday.
Almost half of South African women will be raped in their lifetime, according to the report.
It said 500,000 rapes were committed each year. Of every 25 men brought to trial for rape, only one is convicted.
But lesbians are being singled out by men who think that the rape will change their sexual orientation, said the head of ActionAid South Africam, Zanele Twala.
'So-called 'corrective' rape is yet another grotesque manifestation of violence against women, the most widespread human rights violation in the world today,' she said.
One support group in Cape Town said it is responding to 10 new cases of 'corrective' rape every week, in that city alone, the report said.
South Africa's constitution enshrines equal rights for gay people, but hate crimes based on sexual orientation are not recognised by law or in courts, the study said.
At least 31 lesbians have been killed in homophobic attacks over the last decade, but only one case has led to a conviction, it said, warning the real number of killings is likely much higher in a country where 50 people meet a violent death every day. -- AFP

conclusion: very open woman in a very conservative country.


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New panel to reward NSmen 10 min-->
By Jermyn Chow
NSMEN can expect more goodies with the setting up of a fifth committee to look into how to better reward them for service to the nation.
The latest committee, called the Recognise the Contribution of Operationally Ready NSmen to Total Defence or Record V, will come up with a package of recommendations, such as cash incentives and recreational benefits, for NSmen.
Recordconvenes once every four or five years.
The new panel is chaired by Minister of State for Defence Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee.
The 20-member committee met at the Safra's Mount Faber clubhouse on Thursday.
Members include three MPs - Ms Indranee Rajah (Tanjong Pagar GRC), Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) and Mr Zaqy Bin Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) - NSmen, their spouses and employers.
There are two members representing the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
Incentives aside, the panel seeks to involve all Singaporeans in defending Singapore, a concept known as Total Defence.
It will also look into ways to preserve the camaraderie and bonds that are built up among soldiers during NS.
The first Record committee was created in 1990. Its recommendations led to a preferential income tax relief system for NSmen, the extension of their passport validity for easier overseas travel and revisions to the allowance for those who hold key positions.
Subsequent committees set up in 1995, 2000 and 2005 called for higher monetary awards for those who have scored well in marksmanship, leadership and performance during national service to be recognised for university admission.


good huh? (to ny stds: i bet ah han is complaining.)
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A 14-YEAR-OLD student was found dead with a stab wound in her torso in a one-room flat in Woodlands early on Thursday.
The victim is identified as Eunice Chew Li Xin, of Pei Cai Secondary School.
Police were alerted to the murder at Block 852 Woodlands Street 83 at around 2.50 am.
The Chinese teenager was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene at around 3.06am.
A 51-year-old woman, believed to be the girl's mother and said to be mentally unsound, has been arrested.
Police have classified the case as murder, and will charge the suspect in court on Friday.
Neighbours said the girl lived with her mother and a married sister, who has a baby, in the fifth-floor HDB rental flat.
A team of five officials from the Health Sciences Authority went to the flat on Thursday afternoon and took away a bagful of the teenager's clothes at about 3 pm.
Neighbours said they heard sound of breaking glass and arguments from the flat at about 2 am. A neighbour, who gave his name only as Mr Ang, said he was woken up from his sleep by the commotion and he also heard luggage bag being rolled along the common corridor.
Residents said the woman suspect looked troubled and was often seen staring blankly into space.


DONT TRY KK! NOT FUNNY. WE DONT WANT 25 PPL IN A CLASS. FIND SOMEONE IF YOU REALLY HAVE PROBLEM!