27/09/2014

Fourth generation political leadership taking shape

Update 16 Nov 2014: New faces for PAP candidates? It's still early, says party

 A People's Association event celebrating senior citizens in the Aljunied Cluster, comprising Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC, was held on Saturday (Nov 15) evening

 Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob graced the event, alongside former PAP leaders Lim Boon Heng and Zainul Abidin Rasheed.

New faces touted as potential PAP candidates for Aljunied and Hougang were present at a People's Association event, but former party chairman Lim Boon Heng said it is still early to say if they will be fielded. They include:
  • Banker Chua Eng Leong, who is chairman of Eunos PAP branch
  • K Muralidharan Pillai in Paya Lebar; he is a lawyer by profession
  • Chan Hui Yuh in Serangoon, who works in a family business
  • Victor Lye in Bedok Reservoir-Punggol
  • Kahar Hassan, who took over the Kaki Bukit branch chairmanship from Ong Ye Kung
  • Lee Hong Chuang, who took over as chairman of the Hougang branch, replacing Desmond Choo
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 Koh Poh Koon for Ang Mo Kio GRC?
Speaking to the media in his first visit to the constituency, Dr Koh Poh Koon said he will spend more time on the ground in Ang Mo Kio to see what areas he can contribute in

 Spotted among Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s entourage at Ang Mo Kio GRC and Sengkang West's annual Tree Planting Day on Saturday (Nov 1) was Dr Koh Poh Koon - candidate for the Punggol East by-election in January 2013.

 Dr Koh officially relinquished his post of Chairman of the PAP Punggol East Branch on Saturday. Speaking to the media, he said this was his first visit to the constituency, adding he will spend more time on the ground in Ang Mo Kio to see what areas he can contribute in.

 "I came at the invitation of Mr Seng Han Thong, but obviously this is a big GRC so there could be many areas that we could participate and help in,” said Dr Koh. “So I'll serve in whichever area they feel I can contribute."

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 ACRES founder Louis Ng announces move to join PAP
Analysts say it is unusual for activist to join party politics, but see no conflict of interest

Mr Louis Ng, 36, best known as the face of non-governmental organisation (NGO) Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), took the unusual route of announcing yesterday to a few reporters face-to-face and on social networking site Facebook that he has joined the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).

But as political analysts pointed out, there is nothing common about a leader of a combative NGO — which has often taken on large corporations and government agencies on the issues of animal welfare — joining the ruling party.

Mr Ng, who founded ACRES about 13 years ago, said he was approached in May to join the PAP by Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, whom he had been helping in the Kembangan-Chai Chee ward. He took a month to decide.


 Desmond Choo, Ong Ye Kung leave Aljunied, Hougang wards
Mr Desmond Choo and Mr Ong Ye Kung. TODAY file photo

After serving as grassroots advisers in constituencies where they lost during the General Election in 2011, Mr Ong Ye Kung and Mr Desmond Choo are leaving their positions in the opposition-held wards of Aljunied GRC and Hougang.

The People’s Association (PA) announced today (Sept 18) that Mr Choo had been appointed second adviser to Tampines Grassroots Organisations (GROs) for Tampines East.

Mr Ong, who has been volunteering in Sembawang GRC, relinquished his post as adviser for Kaki Bukit in Aljunied. Replacing them are veteran grassroots leaders Goh Chee Koh, 69, and Dr Kee Wei Heong, 64.

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 PAP’s Ong Ye Kung & Desmond Choo move to GRCs
Dr Kee Wei Heong (standing, in dark shirt) and Mr Ong Ye Kung (standing, in purple shirt). (Photo: CNA)

The People’s Association (PA) announced yesterday (18 Sep) that they have appointed 2 new advisers, Mr Goh Chee Koh and Dr Kee Wei Heong to the WP-held wards of Hougang, and Kaki Bukit in Aljunied GRC.

Mr Goh, Honorary Chairman of Punggol Central Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC), has been appointed adviser to Hougang Grassroots Organisations (GROs) and Dr Kee, the chairman of the Bukit Gombak CCC, has been appointed adviser to the Aljunied GROs for Kaki Bukit.

They replace the 2 PAP candidates who lost in the previous general election in 2011: Mr Ong Ye Kung, who contested in Aljunied GRC, and Mr Desmond Choo, who contested in Hougang SMC. Mr Choo lost in Hougang again in a 2012 by-election.


EX-PAP CANDIDATES ONG YE KUNG, DESMOND CHOO MOVED TO OTHER CONSTITUENCIES
Former PAP candidates in the last election that lost in their respective constituencies have been moved to other constituencies

Mr Ong Ye Kung who was appointed as a grassroots adviser in Kaki Bukit following a loss in the 2011 GE at Aljunied GRC has been moved to Sembawang GRC with Khaw Boon Wan. Mr Desmond Choo who lost in Hougang has been moved to Tampines.

The two will start to serve residents through the Grassroots at these new areas in preparation for the next election.

Two other long-time grassroots leaders have been moved into their old constituencies to take over their responsibilities. These include Dr Kee Wei Keong, 64, and Mr Goh Chee Koh. Both have served in various grassroots for over 20 years.

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 PAP's Desmond Choo moves out of Hougang
PAP's Desmond Choo

The People's Action Party (PAP) candidate who twice lost in election bids in the Hougang single-member constituency appears unlikely to contest there for a third time.

Mr Desmond Choo, 36, was this week named as the second adviser to grassroots organisations in Tampines East, a ward in Tampines GRC.

Its MP is former national development minister Mah Bow Tan, 66, who stepped down from the Cabinet after the 2011 General Election.

related:


 Group urges more transparency in drawing electoral boundaries

In five General Elections, an area in Kaki Bukit bounded by the Pan-Island Expressway, Bedok North Road and Bedok North Avenue 3 has been part of four constituencies – split between the Aljunied and Eunos Group Representation Constituencies in 1988, absorbed into East Coast GRC in 1997, moved to Marine Parade GRC in 2006 and back to Aljunied GRC in 2011.

Highlighting the “frequent boundary changes”, human rights group Maruah on Thursday (Oct 9) called for more transparent deliberations by the committee that reviews electoral boundaries and for polling data at the precinct level to be made known.

Arbitrary and unnecessary electoral boundary changes breed cynicism about the political process and weaken the relationship between citizens and their elected representatives, Maruah argued in one of two position papers released.

related:

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FORMER GRASSROOTS VOLUNTEER: CHAN CHUN SING MIGHT BE CONTESTING IN SEMBAWANG GRC

The PAP has plans to introduce Chan Chun Sing into sembawang grc and move its current popular anchor minister khaw boon wan to a grc which is more vulnerable (PAP volunteers have speculated it to be East Coast GRC because Lim Swee Say is unpopular due to his poor people skills.)

In preparation for Chan Chun Sing's relocation to Sembawang GRC, grassroot leaders in that area have began softening the ground to ease the impact of Khaw Boon Wan moving away.

On 2nd november, Chan Chun Sing is going to participate in grassroot activities followed by coffee chit-chat session to understand the problems that Woodlands residents face.


FOUNDER OF ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP ACRES, LOUIS NG, JOINS THE PAP

Founder of Animal Rights group ACRES, Louis Ng, updated his facebook page this evening announcing that he has joined politics under the banner of the People's Action Party

Louis Ng FB: AM I ENTERING POLITICS?

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ACRES founder Louis Ng announces move to join PAP

Analysts say it is unusual for activist to join party politics, but see no conflict of interest

Mr Louis Ng, 36, best known as the face of non-governmental organisation (NGO) Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), took the unusual route of announcing yesterday to a few reporters face-to-face and on social networking site Facebook that he has joined the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
But as political analysts pointed out, there is nothing common about a leader of a combative NGO — which has often taken on large corporations and government agencies on the issues of animal welfare — joining the ruling party.

Mr Ng, who founded ACRES about 13 years ago, said he was approached in May to join the PAP by Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, whom he had been helping in the Kembangan-Chai Chee ward. He took a month to decide.

related: Ng keen to bring passion for animal welfare to the community

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 PAP could lose ‘control, power over next 15-25 years’
PAP supporters at the Nomination centre at Singapore Chinese Girls School during the 2011 General Election. TODAY file photo

The People’s Action Party (PAP) could lose the dominance it currently enjoys in Parliament in 15 years, said prominent businessman Ho Kwon Ping yesterday, adding that the party could completely lose power a decade after that if the history of dominant political parties around the world is anything to go by.

“This is actually not a radical conclusion — almost everyone I informally surveyed broadly agreed with it, but (differed) only in their estimation as to how many years it would take before the PAP would lose an election and how many terms it would stay out of power before bouncing back,” Mr Ho added.

Mr Ho, who is executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings and an S R Nathan fellow, raised the scenarios at an Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)-Nathan lecture, where he spoke about politics and governance to an audience comprising about 300 civil servants, students, academics and members of the private sector.


Challenge for PAP to retain same dominance as in the past: Ho Kwon Ping

The People's Action Party will face a challenge to retain the same degree of control over Parliament as it has had in the past, said Mr Ho Kwon Ping in his first lecture as S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore.

Speaking at the University Cultural Centre, Mr Ho said history has not been encouraging to founding political parties after three or four generations. He said historical trends elsewhere point towards a possible election loss by the PAP in the second half of the next 50 years.

The most likely reason could be a freak election, followed by a split within the ruling party and a massive loss of political legitimacy, said Mr Ho.


 Economist among likely PAP men for next GE
Mr Saktiandi heads the foreign exchange research team at Maybank

Two potential People's Action Party (PAP) candidates for the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC team in the next General Election were spotted yesterday.

They are 48-year-old Chong Kee Hiong, chief executive of Singapore Exchange-listed OUE Hospitality Trust, and 41-year-old Saktiandi Supaat, a former Monetary Authority of Singapore economist now heading the foreign exchange research team at Maybank.

The duo were among Bishan-Toa Payoh grassroots leaders who accompanied Dr Ng Eng Hen when the Defence Minister opened a newly renovated Residents' Committee Centre at Toa Payoh East.

related:

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 Fourth generation political leadership taking shape
Yesterday's round of Cabinet promotions has essentially confirmed the outline of Singapore's fourth generation of political leaders

Acting ministers Tan Chuan- Jin (Manpower) and Lawrence Wong (Culture, Community and Youth) will be full ministers from tomorrow, just shy of three years since they were first elected to Parliament.

They join Education Minister Heng Swee Keat and Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, who made the grade earlier.

That makes four full ministers from the batch of 24 new faces Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong inducted in 2011.

related:

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 Opposition Aljunied GRC 'warming to PAP man'
Mr Chua Eng Leong (fourth from left), bantering with satay man Ramle Salleh at a party in Eunos ward yesterday to thank activists and residents for their support

When the People's Action Party's Mr Chua Eng Leong first started walking the ground in the opposition-held Aljunied GRC in May last year, residents gave him a cold, hostile reception.

But after spending the past year visiting nearly three-quarters of the homes in the constituency's Eunos ward and helming the weekly Meet-the-People Session (MPS), he senses that things have improved, he told The Straits Times.

Yesterday, the son of former Cabinet minister Chua Sian Chin met about 30 residents and activists for over an hour to thank them for their support.

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 More PAP new blood for Aljunied
FRESH FACES: The new grassroots volunteers include Mr Wong (top, extreme right, partially hidden) and Mr Kahar (second from top, extreme right). They are posing for a selfie taken with PAP branch chairman Ong Ye Kung (bottom centre)

The People's Action Party (PAP) is shoring up its presence in opposition-held Aljunied GRC, with the induction of new grassroots volunteers earlier this week.

Kaki Bukit grassroots organisations adviser and PAP branch chairman Ong Ye Kung on Monday took a "selfie" with newly appointed volunteers in the ward's citizens' consultative committee (CCC), and posted it on his Facebook page. They include Mr Kahar Hassan, 45, and Mr Wong Hao, 36, a manager in a semiconductor firm.

Mr Kahar, who is a deputy director of infrastructure at railway operator SMRT, is one of two new faces in Aljunied GRC who were earlier identified by the media. The other is Ms Chan Hui Yuh, who is the incoming vice-chairman of the Serangoon CCC, which is in the same constituency.

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 Potential PAP candidates 'already on the ground'
Potential People's Action Party (PAP) candidates are already active on the ground, ahead of the next General Election, said party organising secretary Ng Eng Hen

Their earlier-than-usual deployment came in response to feedback after the 2011 General Election, he said in an interview published in Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao yesterday.

Then, many Singaporeans had said the PAP should send people to grassroots organisations as early as possible.

"We have already begun doing this and several candidates are already active within the grassroots organisations," said Dr Ng, who is also Defence Minister.

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 Desmond Choo will still continue with his plans for Hougang

Despite his defeat in the recent Hougang by-election, Desmond Choo will still continue with his plans for Hougang.

Since GE2011, Mr Choo has introduced various social assistance initiatives to benefit residents, such as a legal clinic for residents who need legal advice. He will also be assisting the newly elected MP for Hougang, Mr Png Eng Huat, with projects for the future of Hougang.

"As long as the projects are sound, good, practicable, and most importantly in the best interest for residents, I will be there to try my best to support," he said.

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 Order of Succession And Baton Passing: Search for successor remains biggest challenge
AUG 12, 2004: Newly sworn-in Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shaking hands with Singapore’s first PM, his father Lee Kuan Yew, who received his appointment as Minister Mentor from then President S R Nathan at the Istana

It has been a priority for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong right from the start - the search for Singapore's next prime minister.

Ten years into his premiership, it remains his biggest challenge, say political observers. "That seems to be a particularly pressing issue for the Cabinet and for PM Lee," says National University of Singapore (NUS) political scientist Reuben Wong. "Right now, we don't have a clear candidate."

With the other two prime ministers before Mr Lee, potential successors emerged earlier in their tenure, he adds. When Singapore's first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew passed the baton to Mr Goh Chok Tong, the third leader, PM Lee, was already in the wings.

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 GENES CAN BE INHERITED BUT NOT PERFORMANCE

 The PM’s performance was the focus of the media interview at the end of SingFirst’s walkabout in his Ang Mo Kio GRC yesterday. It is common knowledge and widely felt among Singaporeans that the economy has become less robust and society is more divided, stressed and unhappy.

 He has failed to repeat his father’s achievements as PM.

 Lee Hsien Loong’s dismal record is unimaginable given that he has been “trained” as minister for 20 years before taking on the job as PM in 2004. Neither have the genes from his father been of much help. He might have inherited intelligent genes from his father but certainly not his performance. Unhappiness with their MP’s performance as PM was evident from our conversations with several groups of AMK residents in our walkabout. We met many residents who were severely affected by PAP’s policies that did not create a trickle down effect for the lower to middle class families, even in the PM’s GRC.

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From Lim Lui Teo to Yaacob
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26/09/2014

20 Practical Uses for Coca Cola

Proof That Coke Does Not Belong In the Human Body



 Coke is the most valuable brand in history, and “Coca-Cola” is the world’s second-most recognized word after “hello.” However, the beverage itself is an absolute poison to the human metabolism. Coke is very close to the acidity level of battery acid and consequently it can clean surfaces equivalent to and often better than many toxic household cleaners.

 It’s cheaper and easier to buy Coke in some third world countries than it is to access clean water. Coke uses “public relations propaganda” to convince consumers and entire nations that it is an “environmental company” when really it is linked to pollution, water shortages, and disease.

 People who consume soft drinks such as Coke have a 48% increase in heart attack and stroke risk, compared to people who did not drink the sodas at all or did not drink them every day. A study published in the journal Respirology reveals that soft drink consumption is also associated with lung and breathing disorders including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

 The carbonation in Coke causes calcium loss in the bones through a 3-stage process:
  1. The carbonation irritates the stomach.
  2. The stomach “cures” the irritation the only way it knows how. It adds the only antacid at its disposal: calcium. It gets this from the blood.
  3. The blood, now low on calcium, replenishes its supply from the bones. If it did not do this, muscular and brain function would be severely impaired.
But, the story doesn’t end there. Another problem with most Coke is it also contain phosphoric acid (not the same as the carbonation, which is carbon dioxide mixed with the water). Phosphoric acid also causes a draw-down on the body’s store of calcium.

 So Coke softens your bones (actually, makes them weak and brittle) in 3 ways:
  1. Carbonation reduces the calcium in the bones.
  2. Phosphoric acid reduces the calcium in the bones.
  3. The beverage replaces a calcium-containing alternative, such as milk or water. Milk and water are not excellent calcium sources, but they are sources.
Esophageal cancer was very rare two generations ago — now, it’s common. The basic mechanism works as follows:
  1. Mechanical damage to cells is a huge risk factor for cancer. It’s why asbestos particles, for example, cause lung cancer.
  2. All soft drinks cause acid reflux (stomach acid rising up past the esophageal valve). This is more pronounced when the body is horizontal (as in sleeping), but the sheer volume of Coke and soft drinks consumed in the USA means the acid reflux is well past the danger point. Any time you ingest a gassy drink, you are going to get belching–and acid into the esophagus. How much is too much? The research doesn’t say where the limit is–it only shows that most of us are far, far, far past it.
  3. tomach acid dissolves tissue — that’s its purpose. The stomach lining does not extend into the esophagus, so the lower esophagus gets damaged by acid far more frequently in soft drink users than in non soft drink users. This results in a radical increase in cell mutations, along with a far higher level of free radicals.

20 Practical Uses For Coke

Coke acts as an acidic cleaner. The amount of acid in soda is enough to wear away at the enamel of your teeth, making them more susceptible to decay. In tests done on the acidity levels of soda, certain ones were found to have PH levels as low as 2.5. To put that into perspective, consider that battery acid has a pH of 1 and pure water has a pH of 7.

 To prove Coke does not belong in the human body, here are 20 practical ways you can use Coke as a domestic cleaner:
  1. Removes grease stains from clothing and fabric
  2. Removes rust; methods include using fabric dipped in Coke, a sponge or even aluminum foil. Also loosens rusty bolts
  3. Removes blood stains from clothing and fabric.
  4. Cleans oil stains from a garage floor; let the stain soak, hose off.
  5. Kills slugs and snails; the acids kills them.
  6. Cleans burnt pans; let the pan soak in the Coke, then rinse.
  7. Descales a kettle (same method as with burnt pans)
  8. Cleans car battery terminals by pouring a small amount of Coke over each one.
  9. Cleans your engine; Coke distributors have been using this technique for decades.
  10. Makes pennies shine; soaking old pennies in Coke will remove the tarnish.
  11. Cleans tile grout; pour onto kitchen floor, leave for a few minutes, wipe up.
  12. Dissolves a tooth; Use a sealed container…takes a while but it does work.
  13. Removes gum from hair; dip into a small bowl of Coke, leave a few minutes. Gum will wipe off.
  14. Removes stains from vitreous china.
  15. Got a dirty pool? Adding two 2-liter bottles of Coke clears up rust.
  16. You can remove (or fade) dye from hair by pouring diet Coke over it.
  17. Remove marker stains from carpet. Applying Coke, scrubbing and then clean with soapy water will remove marker stains.
  18. Cleans a toilet; pour around bowl, leave for a while, flush clean.
  19. Coke and aluminum foil will bring Chrome to a high shine.
  20. Strips paint off metal furniture. Soak a towel in Coke and lay it on the paint surface.
Now can you imagine what is does to your stomach lining?

 Who needs the ‘household and cleaning’ section at the hardware store when we have Coke.

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25/09/2014

S’pore seriously considering how to help fight Islamic State: PM Lee

Update 17 Oct 2014: Singapore yet to decide on joining US-led fight against ISIS
Singapore is “seriously considering” how it can be a helpful partner in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said today (Oct 17)

Speaking at a retreat at the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting in Milan, Italy, Mr Lee told political leaders from the two regions that Singapore welcomes the formation of a broad international coalition, including the United States and many Arab countries, to combat the terrorist threat.

He said that, given the complex situation in Iraq and Syria, there is no purely military solution to the problem. However, it is still necessary to contain and weaken the Islamic State, he added.

In recent weeks, a US-led coalition has carried out air strikes against Islamic State targets in Kobane, a Syrian town at the border of Turkey, to push back the militants’ advance.


Singapore condemns ISIS in strongest possible terms, Shanmugam tells UN
"It is brutal, cruel and a travesty of all that religion stands for," Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam said at the UN General Assembly while backing international efforts and UN resolutions to combat the group. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

 Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam has reiterated Singapore's strong stand against the militant group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) at the United Nations General Assembly.

 Speaking moments ago at the UN meeting in New York, Mr Shanmugam told the other world leaders that Singapore condemns the terrorist actions of the groups "in the strongest possible terms".

 "It is brutal, cruel and a travesty of all that religion stands for," he said while backing international efforts and UN resolutions to combat the group.

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 PM Lee: Singapore is happy the Americans have taken a stand against the Islamic State
US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon jets flying in echelon formation en route to an exercise. Photo: Reuters

While Singapore is glad that the Americans have taken a stand against the Islamic State militant group, the Republic has not yet decided whether or how it will support the United States-led coalition campaign given the complexity of the situation, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

Speaking to the Singapore media in an interview to wrap up his week-long work trip to China and Hong Kong, Mr Lee was asked if the Republic will be joining the coalition. Mr Lee said: “We are happy that the Americans have taken a stand ... This is a threat to people all over the world.”

He added: “How we can support the American-led effort? That’s something we can discuss. We have not reached a point of making a decision yet. Even how the Americans are going to pursue this and what they’re going to do, they haven’t quite decided yet.”

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 Question on ISIS: Do you think that Singapore will join this call? And also, how influential do you think this organisation is in Singapore and the region?

PM Lee: We are happy that the US has taken a stand against ISIS. This is a threat to people all over the world. I see that the Australians have just launched a major security operation yesterday, picking up people who were about to do something terrible in Australia. We in Singa­pore have had people go to Syria, Iraq and join ISIS, so we are exposed too. Certainly the Indonesians and the Malaysians have significant numbers of their citizens there. The Malaysians have had more than one person killed there in the fighting, some as suicide bombers. So we have to take it seriously.

How can we support the American-led effort? That is something we can discuss. We have not reached the point of making a decision yet. Even how the Americans are going to pursue this, and what exactly they are going to do, they haven’t quite decided yet. They are not going to put troops on the ground.

It is a very complicated situation. It’s not one of those situations where you can say, those are the bad guys, let’s knock them out. You are talking about 30 something thousand fighters. They command a very substantial area of land. They have resources – they have oil; they are in fact running a government. And they are also fighting the government in Syria, which very recently, if you go by the international media, was still being seen as the bad guys. They are also fighting against the Iranians. In the Middle East, things are never simple. You can’t come riding in on a white horse and knock out the bad guys, then tomorrow peace breaks out.


Singapore Summit 2014 Dialogue with PM Lee: Worries ISIS threat

Even though governments can take measures to weaken ISIS, "you can't fundamentally change the texture of the society and the people there. When you are gone, the problem will come back", he said.

"What we can do in our own homes is to watch the security, confidence and trust-building between different communities and make sure... the Muslims have leaders who will stand up and say that ISIS is not Islam, that it is evil, and we repudiate them and condemn them. Fortunately in Singapore, we have got religious leaders who have said that and said that emphatically."

Occasionally, some people are led astray, and Singapore has been lucky to discover them early. But some slip through: "We have a couple in Syria and Iraq, including a woman with teenage children... And the children are part of this. So it is something to be taken in absolute seriousness."


S'pore PM's worries: ISIS, threat, Asian stability

The rise of a group of jihadists in Syria and Iraq, and growing nationalism in Asia, are two things that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thinks about before he goes to bed.

The first worries him because the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is not a problem just for the Middle East, while the second threatens peace and stability in Asia, he said. He was responding to questions at The Singapore Summit dialogue.

ISIS, which has captured large swathes of territory and committed atrocities such as beheadings, has fighters from the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Indonesia, he said.


Islamic State urges attacks on U.S., French citizens, taunts Obama

Islamic State urged its followers on Monday to attack citizens of the United States, France and other countries which have joined a coalition to destroy the ultra-radical group.

Islamic State spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani also taunted U.S. President Barack Obama and other Western "crusaders" in a statement carried by the SITE monitoring website, saying their forces faced inevitable defeat at the insurgents' hands.

The United States is building an international coalition to combat the extremist Sunni Muslim force, which has seized large expanses of territory in Iraq and Syria and proclaimed a caliphate erasing borders in the heart of the Middle East.


Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Flag
 Coat of Arms
As of 23 September 2014
     Areas controlled by the Islamic State     Areas claimed by the Islamic State     Rest of Iraq and Syria

The Islamic State (IS; Arabic: الدولة الإسلامية‎ ad-Dawlah l-ʾIslāmiyyah), previously calling itself the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL /ˈaɪsəl/) or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS /ˈaɪsɪs/; Arabic: الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام‎), and also known by the Arabic acronym Daʿesh (داعش), is an unrecognized state and a Sunni jihadist group active in Iraq and Syria in the Middle East. In its self-proclaimed status as a caliphate, it claims religious authority over all Muslims across the world and aspires to bring most of the Muslim-inhabited regions of the world under its political control beginning with territory in the Levant region which includes Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Cyprus and part of southern Turkey.

The group has been described by the United Nations, Israel, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Western and Middle Eastern media as a terrorist group and has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. The United Nations and Amnesty International have accused the group of grave human rights abuses.

The Islamic State, also widely known as ISIS, ISIL and Daʿesh, originated as Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad in 1999. This group was the forerunner of Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn—commonly known as al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)—a group formed by Abu Musab Al Zarqawi in 2004 which took part in the Iraqi insurgency against American-led forces and their Iraqi allies following the2003 invasion of Iraq. During the 2003–2011 Iraq War, it joined other Sunni insurgent groups to form the Mujahideen Shura Council, which consolidated further into the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI /ˈaɪsɪ/) shortly afterwards. At its height it enjoyed a significant presence in the Iraqi governorates of Al Anbar, Nineveh, Kirkuk, most of Salah ad Din, parts of Babil, Diyala and Baghdad, and claimed Baqubah as a capital city. However, the violent attempts by the Islamic State of Iraq to govern its territory led to a backlash from Sunni Iraqis and other insurgent groups in around 2008 which helped to propel the Awakening movement and a temporary decline in the group. In April 2013, the group changed its name to the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham.

As ISIS, the group grew significantly under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, gaining support in Iraq as a result of alleged economic and political discrimination against Iraqi Sunnis. Then, after entering the Syrian Civil War, it established a large presence in the Syrian governorates of Ar-Raqqah, Idlib, Deir ez-Zor and Aleppo. In June 2014, it had at least 4,000 fighters in its ranks in Iraq. It has claimed responsibility for attacks on government and military targets and for attacks that have killed thousands of civilians. In August 2014, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the number of fighters in the group had increased to 50,000 in Syria and 30,000 in Iraq, while the CIA estimated in September 2014 that in both countries it had between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters. ISIS had close links to al-Qaeda until February 2014 when, after an eight-month power struggle, al-Qaeda cut all ties with the group, reportedly for its brutality and "notorious intractability".

The group's original aim was to establish an Islamic state in the Sunni-majority regions of Iraq, and following ISIS's involvement in the Syrian Civil War this expanded to include controlling Sunni-majority areas of Syria. A caliphate was proclaimed on 29 June 2014, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi—now known as Amir al-Mu'minin Caliph Ibrahim—was named as its caliph, and the group was renamed the Islamic State.


US, Arab allies hit Islamic State strongholds in Syria, Iraq
A guided-missile cruiser in the Persian Gulf launches a Tomahawk cruise missile against Islamic State targets. U.S. Navy handout photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric Garst

Updated at 9:42 a.m. | WASHINGTON — Combined U.S.-Arab airstrikes hit Islamic State group military strongholds in Syria and Iraq as a simultaneous U.S. strike attacked an al-Qaida cell of hardened veterans with “significant explosives skills” said to be plotting attacks on the U.S. and Western interests, the U.S. military said.

The top American military official, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, said the U.S. and its Arab allies achieved their aim of showing the extremists that their savage attacks will not go unanswered.

The U.S. and five Arab nations attacked the Islamic State group’s headquarters in eastern Syria in nighttime raids Monday using land- and sea-based U.S. aircraft as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from two Navy ships in the Red Sea and the northern Persian Gulf.


U.S. Suspects More Direct Threats Beyond ISIS
WEARY TRAVELERS Thousands of people journey daily between Iraqi Kurdistan and territory controlled by the Islamic State. CreditAndrea Bruce for The New York Times

As the United States begins what could be a lengthy military campaign against the Islamic State, intelligence and law enforcement officials said another Syrian group, led by a shadowy figure who was once among Osama bin Laden’s inner circle, posed a more direct threat to America and Europe.

American officials said that the group called Khorasan had emerged in the past year as the cell in Syria that may be the most intent on hitting the United States or its installations overseas with a terror attack. The officials said that the group is led by Muhsin al-Fadhli, a senior Qaeda operative who, according to the State Department, was so close to Bin Laden that he was among a small group of people who knew about the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks before they were launched.

There is almost no public information about the Khorasan group, which was described by several intelligence, law enforcement and military officials as being made up of Qaeda operatives from across the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa. Members of the cell are said to be particularly interested in devising terror plots using concealed explosives. It is unclear who, besides Mr. Fadhli, is part of the Khorasan group.


Syrian group could pose bigger threat than ISIS

A shadowy Syrian group could pose as great a threat to the West as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), according to a recent report.

Counterterrorism officials say the Khorasan group, led by a former confidante of Osama bin Laden, might have its sights set on targets in the United States and other Western countries, The New York Times reported Saturday.

"In terms of threat to the homeland, Khorasan may pose as much of a danger as the Islamic State,” James Clapper, director of national intelligence, said Thursday, according to the Times.


President Obama Delivers Statement On Recent Airstrikes Against ISIL In Syria
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: U.S President Barack Obama makes a statement on recent U.S. and allied airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria from the White House South Lawn September 23, 2014 in Washington, DC.

During his remarks, Obama said "We're going to do what is necessary to take the fight to this terrorist group.


US strikes on Islamic State: The view from Syria

Syria was told of the US air strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets before they were launched - but President Assad's regime did not condemn the operation.

It is being seen as a notable shift in policy by the Syrian government.

The BBC's Jeremy Bowen reports on the widening of the military alliance against IS forces.

related:


Obama on ISIS Airstrikes: 'This Is Not America's Fight Alone'

President Barack Obama, speaking publicly for the first time after airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, declared Tuesday that the partnership of Arab allies “makes it clear to the world that this is not America’s fight alone.”

The president spoke from the South Lawn of the White House before flying to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where he will seek to marshal further support for the anti-ISIS campaign. The United States was joined in the strikes early Tuesday by Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

“America’s proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these nations on behalf of our common security,” the president said. “The strength of this coalition makes it clear to the world that this is not America’s fight alone.”


US: Syria Won't, Can't Stop Militant Safe Havens

President Barack Obama on Tuesday hailed the coalition of Arab states that joined U.S. forces to pound Islamic State targets in Syria, calling it a sign that Middle Eastern people were “standing up for the peace and security that the people of the region and the world deserves.”

Hours earlier, U.S. forces and Arab allies hit dozens of targets, using war planes, remote drones and ship-launched cruise missiles to attack the militants in Syria for the first time. The attacks, which U.S. officials are calling "very succesful," were the largest of their sort since Obama announced nearly two weeks ago that the U.S. would be stepping up its fight against the group.

The United States also said it launched airstrikes on Syrian territory for because the Syrian government cannot or will not stop the militants from setting up safe havens.

related:


Airstrikes Raise the Stakes for Obama's U.N. Pitch

This week’s gathering at the United Nations in New York was already slated to be a big event in President Obama’s efforts to rally the world against ISIS. And now it’s even bigger. Beginning at approximately 8:30 pm ET last night, the United States -- with help from five Arab nations -- launched airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria, escalating the military campaign against ISIS for the first time beyond Iraq. Those airstrikes change the tone and the focus at the U.N. meeting.

How do Russia and the Security Council react, especially since Syria is a Russian ally? What about other nations who had been questioning the United States’ resolve? Does the U.S. get any additional participation from other nations? Do already-supportive nations become a little more supportive? Bottom line: The timing of this new military campaign inside Syria couldn’t be more striking.

NBC’s Kristen Welker reports that President Obama will make a statement from the White House at 10:00 am ET before he leaves for the U.N. meeting in New York. The rest of the president’s schedule: At 12:50 pm ET, he speaks at the U.N.’s climate summit; at 2:00 pm, he gives a speech at the Clinton Global Initiative; at 5:15 pm ET, he attends an event for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (does he keep that event given the airstrikes?); and at 9:00 pm ET, he and the first lady attend a reception for the visiting world leaders.


U.S. Begins Airstrikes In Syria, Pentagon Says
In this handout image provided by the U.S. Navy, The guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) launches Tomahawk cruise missiles on September 23, 2014 in the Red Sea. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Carlos M. Vazquez II/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

Combined U.S.-Arab airstrikes on the Islamic State group's military strongholds in Syria achieved their aim of showing the extremists that their savage attacks will not go unanswered, the top American military officer said Tuesday. Separately, the U.S. launched strikes against a group said to be plotting to attack the U.S. and Western interests.

The U.S. and five Arab nations attacked the Islamic State group's headquarters in eastern Syria in nighttime raids Monday using land- and sea-based U.S. aircraft as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from two Navy ships in the Red Sea and the northern Persian Gulf. American warplanes also carried out eight airstrikes to disrupt what the military described as "imminent attack plotting against the United States and Western interests" by a network of al-Qaida veterans "with significant explosives skills," said Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The White House said President Barack Obama would speak about the airstrikes before flying to New York on Tuesday morning for the United Nations General Assembly meeting.


 "Singapore - US" Bilateral Ties: PM Lee, Biden reaffirm strong bilateral ties
Important regional role: Mr Biden thanked Mr Lee (with Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin behind him) for Singapore's leadership in 'shaping a more peaceful and prosperous South-east Asia'. - PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN/THE STRAITS TIMES

In the White House on Wednesday (Thursday morning, Singapore time), he had separate meetings with United States Vice-President Joe Biden and National Security Advisor Susan Rice.

President Barack Obama, who welcomed Mr Lee to the White House in April last year, dropped by during the meeting with Ms Rice.

The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement issued shortly after the closed-door meetings that Mr Lee welcomed both Mr Obama's and Mr Biden's "strong commitment" to the US rebalancing towards Asia.

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Malaysia designates ISIS as terrorist group, vows tough action

Smoke rises from a Shiite mosque after it was destroyed in a bomb attack by militants of the Islamic State, formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the city of Mosul, on July 23, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

NEW YORK - Malaysia has designated the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as a terrorist organisation and said it would take stern action against its members.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman told a United Nations Security Council meeting on Wednesday that a small number of Malaysians have joined the ISIS with the mistaken belief that doing so would serve the cause of jihad, the New Straits Times reported.

"I wish to unequivocally stress that for Malaysia, there is nothing Islamic about kidnapping, raping, torturing and murdering civilians. We neither condone nor support the involvement of Malaysian nationals who commit terrorism or participate in conflicts abroad," the newspaper quoted Anifah as saying in a statement.


ISIS support in Indonesia poses threat to foreigners
Demonstrators at a rally supporting Kurdistan hold placards protesting against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in front of the White House on Aug 16, 2014 in Washington, DC. Foreigners could again become the target of militant attacks in Indonesia as extremists there pledge loyalty to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, a think-tank warned Wednesday. -- PHOTO: AFP

JAKARTA (AFP) - Foreigners could again become the target of militant attacks in Indonesia as extremists there pledge loyalty to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, a think-tank warned Wednesday.

In a report, the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) also warned that Indonesian and Malaysian fighters who have joined ISIS in Syria appear to have formed a military unit there, likely strengthening militant networks in Southeast Asia.

After a series of attacks on foreigners in the last decade, Indonesian extremists have in recent years directed their violence at domestic "enemies of Islam", mostly police. There have been no attacks against foreigners since the 2009 twin hotel bombings in Jakarta which killed seven people.


Britain to join airstrikes against Islamic State in Iraq, says Cameron
United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron speaks at the 69th United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2014 in New York City. [AFP]

David Cameron has warned world leaders at the United Nations that the Islamic State, or Isis, harbours “murderous plans to expand its borders well beyond Iraq and Syria… and to carry out terrorist atrocities right across the world” and pledge concerted action by Britain, including air strikes, to thwart it.

Addressing the General Assembly in New York, Mr Cameron confirmed he will seek approval from parliament for Britain to join coalition countries, led by the United States, unleashing aerial strikes against Isis inside Iraq. “The UN Security Council has now received a clear request from the Iraqi government to support it in its military action”, he said. “We have a clear basis in international law for action.”

Mr Cameron was set to return to London overnight and chair a Cabinet meeting this morning ahead of a debate and vote in Parliament on Friday. Before leaving, he told reporters he had spoken with Labour leader Ed Miliband and he was “confident” of cross-party support for a motion to join the aerial mission. Earlier President Barack Obama similarly set out his arguments for taking on what he called the Isis “network of death”.


French President Hollande confirms beheading of hostage Herve Gourdel in Algeria
Kidnapped Frenchman Herve Gourdel (centre) kneels in front of masked militants gunmen, in this still image taken from video which was published on the Internet on Sept 24, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

UNITED NATIONS (REUTERS) - French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday confirmed the execution of Frenchman Herve Gourdel, who was held hostage by Algerian militants linked to the Islamist State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that had previously beheaded three Western captives.

"Our compatriot has been murdered cruelly and in a cowardly way by a terrorist group," Hollande told reporters ahead of his speech to the U.N. General Assembly in New York. "Herve Gourdel was killed because he was French."

"My determination is total and this aggression only strengthens it," he said. "France will continue to fight terrorists everywhere. The operations against Islamic State (ISIS) will continue. The military air strikes will continue as long as necessary."


Russia unimpressed by Obama offer to lift sanctions if it 'changes course' on Ukraine

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - US President Barack Obama on Wednesday slammed Russia's "aggression" in Ukraine but offered to lift sanctions against Moscow if it threw its weight behind an unravelling peace deal with Kiev.

The outstretched hand to Moscow came a day after pro-Russian guerrillas brushed off Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's limited self-rule offer and announced plans to set up their own parliaments in self-organised November 2 polls.

The autonomy plan was at the heart of the pro-Western leader's attempts to quell a revolt that has devastated the ex-Soviet nation's economy and revived a Cold War-era mistrust between Moscow and the West. A tough-talking Obama told a special UN General Assembly session in New York that Russia was on the wrong side of history in Ukraine. But he also stressed that a ceasefire deal agreed earlier this month offered an opening toward diplomacy and peace


Obama vows to dismantle IS 'network of death'
President Barack Obama speaks at the 69th United Nations General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters on September 24, 2014 in New York City. [AFP]

Speaking at the 69th United Nations General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters, Obama called on international community to be united in the fight against the terrorist group. The US president also vowed that Washington will not be sending troops to occupy the countries in the region as part of its anti-ISIL campaign.

"We will neither tolerate terrorist safe havens nor act as an occupying power."

The US military has been conducting air strikes against the positions of the terrorist group both in Iraq and recently in Syria.


Full Coverage
NDTV: Not Involved in US-led Strikes on Islamic State on Syria: NATO
Telegraph.uk: Will Bashar al-Assad be celebrating these attacks on Isil?
DAWN.com: US, partners begin airstrikes in Syria
Los Angeles Times: US, allied warplanes bombing 12 oil refineries in Syria
The Seattle Times: US, allies launching more airstrikes in Syria
Daily Sabah: U.S., Arab partners carry out new round of strikes in Syria
USA TODAY: US, coalition forces hit IS oil refineries in Syria
Standard News: Islamist threaten attack on embassies of IS-attacking countries
News10.net: US strikes militant staging area in Syria
Town Hall: US hits Islamic State group in both Syria and Iraq
The Straits Times: Strikes in Syria target ISIS oil assets - sources
AOL News: Obama calls for dismantling IS 'network of death'
Toronto Star: Pitfalls of yet another US war on Muslims: Siddiqui
MiamiHerald.com: The indispensable nation
Chicago Sun-Times: Becoming A war president
Chicago Tribune: Obama's Syria war isn't Bush's 2003 Iraq mistake
CTV News: US, Arab allies launch more airstrikes in Syria
Telegraph.co.uk: US strikes Isil's lucrative oil fields in Syria
Economic Times: Will Barack Obama's Arab coalition stay the course?
Wall Street Journal: Europe Balks at Joining Air Campaign Over Syria
Haaretz: US & Arab partners attack Islamic State controlled oil refineries in Syria
the guardian: Barack Obama authorises air strikes against Isis militants in
brookings.edu: The ISIS Threat in Iraq and Beyond | Brookings Institution
time.com: Understanding the ISIS Threat to Americans at Home | TIME
online.wsj.com: US Tracks Threats Against West by Al Qaeda Affiliate in Syria
al-akhbar.com: Turkey to take part in anti-ISIS coalition: Kerry | Al Akhbar
www.vox.com: Read Obama's speech outlining his strategy against ISIS - Vox
www.whitehouse.gov: FACT SHEET: Strategy to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq
thehill.com: Report: Syrian group could pose bigger threat than ISIS ...
Asharq Alawsat: Other groups may pose more danger than ISIS: US officials
International Biz Times‎: What Is Khorasan? Syrian Jihadist Group As Dangerous
New York Times: US Suspects More Direct Threats Beyond ISIS
CBS News: How the US-led airstrikes in Syria went down
Daily Mail: 0-US and Arab allies launch first strikes on militants in Syria
SFGate: A peace president launches a justifiable war
Yahoo News: Obama's Syria war carries risks for him at home and abroad
Asbury Park Press: Airstrikes in Syria and Iraq are just the start
The Star Democrat: Obama scores coalition victory with Arab strikes
Town Hall: Obama opens a new front against al-Qaida
Town Hall: Obama: US "Will Do What Is Necessary To Defend Our Country"
The Hill: OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Obama aims to bolster anti-ISIS coalition at UN
Daily Mail: Obama's Syria war carries risks for him at home and abroad
Jerusalem Post: Warning signs that US, Arab powers will face human shields in Syria
New Zealand Herald: Syrian strikes 'only the beginning' of campaign against ISIS
San Jose Mercury: Targeting ISIS in Syria; dire Ebola predictions; Israel avenges
Washington Post: Airstrikes in Syria against IS bring together Persian Gulf nations
Los Angeles Times: Is Obama's Islamic State escalation justified?
New York Times: Reach Out to Arab Tribes in Eastern Syria
New York Times: Demand that Russia and Iran Pressure Assad to Step Down
New York Times: Train and Equip the Free Syrian Army
Arab News: Whither the Mideast after ISIS defeat?
straitstimes.com: Kerry discusses ISIS militant threat with Iranian FM: US
straitstimes.com: Australia treating ISIS kill threat as genuine
straitstimes.com: Four new terrorist groups 'operating in Malaysia now'
straitstimes.com: US gathers allies to 'destroy' ISIS
straitstimes.com: Indonesia's police on alert over apparent ISIS terror threat to
straitstimes.com: Muslim groups in Indonesia condemn ISIS
straitstimes.com: ISIS caliphate declaration shows militants threaten all countries
straitstimes.com: Australia raises terror alert to 'high' but says no intelligence of
straitstimes.com: Real solutions needed to deal with income inequality, says PM Lee
straitstimes.com: Action against ISIS would prevent genocide - NATO

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Update 15 Feb 2015: S'pore, US pledge to boost cooperation in anti-terror fight
Emergency-preparedness exercise simulated attacks on Shenton Way (above), Biopolis and Plaza Singapura

 Singapore and the United States have pledged to step up anti-terrorism cooperation, ahead of an inaugural global summit to be organised by the White House on countering violent extremism.

 The move was one of the key outcomes of the third US-Singapore Strategic Partnership Dialogue held in the US capital last Friday.

 A joint statement said that the dialogue's co-chairs, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Chee Wee Kiong and US top diplomat for Asia Daniel Russel, noted a "mutual desire to work to counter violent extremism in all its forms, having partnered together on the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL". ISIL is another name for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria militant group, or ISIS.

related:
Govt-wide anti-terror drill on land and at sea
US-led air strikes hit Qaeda branch in Syria: monitor
Coalition chiefs seek plan to counter IS advance
S'pore welcomes UN anti-terror resolution 'and will play its part'
Security tightened at Vatican over attack fears: Report

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