Skip to main content

French teen fined in Singapore 'straw licking' case

A French teenager was fined in Singapore on Thursday after pleading guilty to a public nuisance charge for a straw-licking stunt that landed him in hot water in the city state. Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, was handed a Sg$600 ($465) fine after admitting to posting to social media a video of himself putting a straw he had licked back into the dispenser on an orange juice vending machine. The clip went viral on Instagram shortly after the incident on March 12, triggering a backlash that led to his arrest in Singapore, which is known for its strict enforcement of public order and hygiene rules. Handing down the sentence, Judge Kelly Ho said given Maximilien's "age and nature of the offence", alternatives like probation or a community-based sentence would not be imposed. Prosecutors agreed to the defence's proposal for a fine, saying the offence was at the "lower end" of its seriousness and while hygiene was compromised, no member of the public u...
Post a Comment

Netanyahu admits decrease in popularity among US public, blames it on social media

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday admitted there was a decrease in popularity of Israel and his administration among the American public, blaming the change on social media. Public opinion toward Israel in the US has grown increasingly negative, according to several recent polls, reflecting mounting concern over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. One July survey by the Pew Research Centre found that Americans have become more critical of both the Israeli people and government in recent years. The poll said that in 2026, 42% of Americans viewed the Israeli people unfavourably, up from 28% in 2019. Favourable views of the Israeli government fell to 32% from 41% over the same period. Also Read: IRGC vows to carry out attacks on ‘aggressor’ after US struck Iran overnight In an interview with ABC News released on Wednesday, Netanyahu said “there's been a change because of the proliferation of social media, and the fact that sovereign countries have manipulated with bot farms and other things.” "We can see a direct relationship between the proliferation of social media and the decline in support for Israel," he said. Netanyahu said that the "misrepresentation" of the "war" in Gaza assisted in the decline in support, and further claimed that "those who hate Israel hate America." "I think that it's a larger battle being waged here for the heart and soul of young Americans...Does it concern me? Yes, yes, it does. And I want bipartisan support for Israel because I think that's a fundament of our national security," he said. 'Anything that will produce the end of Iran's nuclear programme is what we want' Netanyahu said Israel and US President Donald Trump shared the same objective of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, regardless of whether that was achieved through diplomacy, economic pressure or military action. "Anything that will produce the end of Iran's nuclear program is what we want. That's our common goal." He said Trump ultimately had the final say on US policy. He also claimed that Iran was dishonest during negotiations, saying that they "always lie, they always cheat, and they always play for time." Read More: Over 100 children killed in Gaza since ceasefire, UNICEF says Iran has stated that US "betrayals" and "contradictions" have hindered past negotiations. Netanyahu also warned Tehran against launching further attacks on Israel. "I think they'll make a terrible mistake and will respond very, very forcefully." While acknowledging Iran's government remained in power, Netanyahu said that "this regime will eventually fall." "As far as the regime, I said we could create the conditions to make this regime a lot weaker... I think Iran is weaker than ever before. I think Israel is stronger than ever before. But I can't tell you that the regime has already collapsed." Also read: Over 60,000 children orphaned in Gaza since October 2023: Palestinian ministry Addressing his relationship with Trump, Netanyahu rejected portrayals that either leader controlled the other. "We're partners, we're allies." "He's the senior partner. It's the United States of America, let's not forget. And I'm the junior partner, but I'm the Prime Minister of Israel," he added. Responding to reports that he underestimated the duration and consequences of military action against Iran, Netanyahu denied making such predictions. "That wasn't my early assessment, and that's an incorrect statement of what I said." He insisted Trump independently viewed Iran's nuclear ambitions as a major threat: "I didn't tell him that. He told me that." Dismisses war crimes allegations as 'hogwash' Netanyahu strongly rejected accusations that Israel had committed war crimes or genocide in Gaza. "Not for war crimes. I think that's hogwash." He said Israeli forces took measures to protect civilians, and claimed Hamas prevented civilians "from leaving at gunpoint." "We sent millions of text messages, and millions of phone calls, and millions of leaflets, telling Palestinians, civilians, get out of harm's way...Hamas stopped the civilians from leaving at gunpoint." Netanyahu firmly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying that they "had one. It's called Gaza," and adding that another Palestinian state would threaten Israel's survival. The International Criminal Court in November 2024 issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant over allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, where more than 73,000 people have been killed in a brutal offensive since October 2023. Israel has continued to attack the enclave despite a truce in October 2025.

from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/5zcqyAk
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday. The bridge came down Saturday onto a flooded zone at the mine in Lualaba province, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, told reporters. He said 32 bodies had been recovered and more were being searched for. The DRC produces more than 70 percent of the world supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers and mobile phones. More than 200,000 people are estimated to be working in giant illegal cobalt mines in the giant central African country. Local authorities said the bridge collapsed at the Kalando mine, about 42 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the Lualaba provincial capital, Kolwezi. "Despite a formal ban on access to the site because of the heavy rain and the risk of a landslide, wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry," said Mayonde. He said ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Indian devotees splurge on jets, gold idols as Hindu temple opens

The private jet parking lots at airports near the Indian city of Ayodhya are full and the shops have run out of gold-plated idols, as wealthy devotees prepare for the invite-only opening ceremony of one of Hinduism's holiest temples. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani are among the 8,000 or so attendees at Monday's inauguration event for the Ram Temple, which devotees believe is built on the birthplace of Lord Ram, a sacred Hindu deity. The construction of the temple, which began after the Supreme Court awarded the site to Hindus in 2019 more than two decades after a Hindu mob razed a mosque there, triggering deadly riots, fulfils a key campaign promise of Modi and his Hindu nationalist party. Read BJP-promised temple transforms Ayodhya: Muslims, locals feel neglected The opening ceremony, organised by the trust that built the temple, comes months before a national election which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is widely expected to w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Arab countries, Pakistan likely to observe Eid on same day

The International Astronomy Centre confirmed on Wednesday that the crescent moon of Shawwal will be impossible to sight on Saturday, March 29, across all regions of the Arab and Islamic world. This is due to the moon setting before the sun, with the conjunction occurring after sunset. As a result, observing the crescent moon, whether by the naked eye, telescopes, or other means, will be unfeasible on March 29. For countries requiring an actual sighting to mark the start of Shawwal, Ramadan will likely extend to 30 days, with Eid Al Fitr falling on Monday, March 31. However, in some regions where the conjunction occurs before sunset, allowing the moon to set after sunset, some countries may choose to declare Eid on Sunday, March 30, following traditional moon-sighting practices. Notably, a partial solar eclipse will be visible at noon on Saturday in parts of the western Arab world, including Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. This event serves as definitive proof that the cresce...
Post a Comment
Read more