'I saw the body': New Jersey train crash witnesses describe bloody scene, United States News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

http://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/i-saw-the-body-new-jersey-train-crash-witnesses-describe-bloody-scene

'I saw the body': New Jersey train crash witnesses describe bloody scene

HOBOKEN, New Jersey (REUTERS) - New Jersey Transit train No. 1614 headed south from Spring Valley, New York, shortly before 7.30am, and for 16 stops it was a typical weekday morning commute for hundreds of passengers.

But around 8.45am, as the train approached its final destination in Hoboken, which sits on the Hudson River facing Manhattan, Linda Albelli, 62, realised from her seat in the rear of the train that something was not right.

"I thought to myself, 'Oh my God, he's not slowing up, and this is where we usually stop,'" she told Reuters in a phone interview.

Seconds later, the train careened through Hoboken Terminal, killing one person and injuring more than 100 others in what witnesses described as a chaotic and terrifying scene.

Jaime Weatherhead-Saul, who boarded the train in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, was standing between the first and second cars when the train hurtled into the terminal's concourse, causing part of the building's roof to collapse.

"The train just felt like it never stopped," she said.

"There were people right in front of me that had fallen on top, that had toppled over one another, and they had some injuries. The people in front of me were badly injured. And then we just heard people screaming in the first car."

Mike Scelzl was sitting in the first car, not paying attention, when the train suddenly derailed.

"When we pulled in, there was screaming," he said.

"Not screams of hurt but screams of shock."

In the station, William Blaine, a Norfolk Southern train engineer, had just gotten off a freight train and was getting coffee when he heard what sounded like a bomb going off.

"When I ran over, I practically stepped over a deceased person," he said.

"I saw the body."

Mike Larson, a New Jersey Transit machinist, was also in the station when he heard a deafening explosion as the train smashed through a bumper stop at the end of the track and flew through the air.

"It's hard to believe," said Larson, whose pants were stained with a victim's blood.

"I've never seen anything like that in 29 years."

The crash sent people sprinting for safety.

Erica Schaffer, 35, was walking to her office nearby after getting breakfast when she heard a huge crash, followed by people running out of the station, some screaming, some bleeding.

Injured passengers trapped inside the first car managed to escape through the train's windows, as fellow commuters and first responders helped pull them out.

Following the #Hoboken train crash this AM. Every medic, cop & firefighter is here. MANY injuries.

— Christiana Pascale (@ChrisPascale6) 9:00 PM - 29 Sep 2016

Massive train crash at #Hoboken Path Station. Injuries reported. Train apparently ran full force into station.

— Nicolette (@NewsNicolette) 9:00 PM - 29 Sep 2016

A commuter train ran right through Hoboken Station in NJ just now. https://twitter.com/kfcbarstool/status/781477017183150080 …

— Ninja Economics (@NinjaEconomics) 9:00 PM - 29 Sep 2016

"Once we got off we noticed that people were stuck and they had to come through the windows," Weatherhead-Saul said.

"And the conductor came off and he was completely bloodied."

Passengers toward the rear of the train were more fortunate.

Amy Krulewitz, who was in the fourth car, said the doors opened and commuters were able to walk off in an orderly manner.

When she saw the train's first two cars, she was "stunned."

"I had no idea what the front of a train could look like,"she said.

Several people, possibly commuters who had been waiting on the platform, were trapped under rubble, several witnesses said, although officials said they were quickly freed and taken to local hospitals.

Dozens of people were carried out on stretchers, as emergency personnel streamed in and out of the station.

"When we got on the platform there was nowhere to go,"Albelli said.

"The ceiling had come down. There was just so much, a lot of people in need of attention."

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Singapore's population hits 5.61 million in June, with more births, maids, long-term visit passes, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapores-population-hits-561-million-in-june-with-more-births-maids-long-term-visit?xtor=EREC-16-2[ST_Newsletter_PM]-20160927-[Singapore%27s+population+hits+5.61+million+in+June%2C+with+more+births%2C+maids%2C+long-term+visit+passes]&xts=538291

Singapore's population hits 5.61 million in June, with more births, maids, long-term visit passes

SINGAPORE - Singapore's population hit 5.61 million in June, growing by 1.3 per cent from the year before.

This consists of 3.41 million citizens, 520,000 permanent residents, and 1.67 million non-residents.

The growth in population came as more Singaporeans had babies last year, and more maids came here to work to take care of the growing number of elderly Singaporeans.

There were also more dependents on Long-Term Visit Passes also moved here to be with their Singaporean family members.

This snapshot of how the population is changing was given in the latest population figures released on Tuesday (Sept 27) by the National Population and Talent Division.

This year's Population in Brief report reflects the stable growth in both resident and foreigner populations over the past five years.

It also shows a bumper crop of births last year, with 33,725 Singaporean citizens born in 2015.

This was the highest number of births in more than a decade - higher than even the 33,238 births in 2012, the auspicious Year of the Dragon for Chinese births.

There were 23,805 citizen marriages last year, above the decade's average of about 21,900 citizen marriages.

On the whole, the citizen population grew by 1 per cent from June 2015 to June 2016.

The non-resident population grew by 2.5 per cent over the same period, to 1.67 million people. This growth came in part from foreign domestic workers and dependents on long-term visit passes, said the report.

Foreign employment growth remained low compared to the earlier part of the decade.

The number of foreigners employed here - excluding foreign domestic workers - rose by 27,000 from June 2015 to June 2016, compared to an increase of 77,000 from June 2011 to June 2012.

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Nationwide drive against terror starts, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/nationwide-drive-against-terror-starts?xtor=EREC-16-1[ST_Newsletter_AM]-20160925-[Nationwide+drive+against+terror+starts]&xts=538291

Nationwide drive against terror starts

Every Singaporean family will have at least one member trained in spotting suspicious behaviour - part of a new nationwide movement to galvanise and prepare the country for terror attacks.

As part of SGSecure, every constituency will also have at least 300 residents trained in life-saving skills, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation. There is also a new app to broadcast alerts and advisories during major emergencies, and which can be used to report incidents to the police.

Singaporeans all have a part to play in protecting themselves and those around them in the event of a terror attack, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as he launched SGSecure yesterday. He outlined three key aspects of the movement - people protecting themselves and their family; helping others in times of crisis; and community leaders being mobilised to help resolve friction. "Whichever part you play, you will be helping to protect Singapore and our way of life," he said.

When an attack happens, how people respond will determine whether Singapore stands together or falls apart. People can respond out of fear, or work together to overcome the threats and PM Lee said: "It's quite clear what the answer is: Stand up, do the right thing, get prepared, gird ourselves.

"Attacks will happen but we will be ready when it comes."

Saying that threats against Singapore have become more virulent and serious, he added that many recent attacks around the world have been carried out by self-radicalised "lone wolves" who target everyday venues, and use ordinary objects, such as knives or trucks, as weapons.

In Singapore's context, this could mean attacks in MRT stations, hawker centres and shopping malls, he said.

To combat these threats, the Government has stepped up security measures, but these efforts alone are not enough, he added.

SGSecure aims to train people in the skills they need to help them stay united during a crisis.

To illustrate how everyone can contribute, he cited a recent case in which a Malaysian man had remained in Changi Airport's departure transit area for 18 days by using forged mobile boarding passes. A worker at a lounge noticed something amiss and called the police.

Said Mr Lee: "You don't have to be a big hunky fellow. A young lady doing her job, keeping her eyes open, made a difference."

He also urged people to take part in Emergency Preparedness Day exercises that will be held in all 89 constituencies over the next two years, to learn what to do if an attack hits the heartland.

Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, who was also at the event held at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, said most people still do not know what to do if caught in an attack. "We may not be able to stop an attack but how we respond the day after is an indication of our resilience and character," he said.

On the motivation behind SGSecure, Mr Lee said that at its heart, it is about protecting Singapore's racial and religious harmony.

Constant effort is needed to preserve this harmony, he said, citing as an example the Government's recent review of the elected presidency to ensure minorities are elected periodically. Mr Lee said the head of state embodies Singapore's multiracial society, and it was important for people of different races to feel that a member of their community can hold the office.

But he said the symbolism of the president must ring true in day-to-day life. He called on people to learn to give and take, reach out to one another, and speak out against racial and religious intolerance.

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No haze? You may still be inhaling even smaller pollutant particles while waiting for the bus, Environment News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/no-haze-you-may-still-be-inhaling-even-smaller-pollutant-particles-while?xtor=EREC-16-2[ST_Newsletter_PM]-20160920-[No+haze%3F+You+may+still+be+inhaling+even+smaller+pollutant+particles+while+waiting+for+the+bus]&xts=538291

No haze? You may still be inhaling even smaller pollutant particles while waiting for the bus

Commuters wait to board bus service 972 at Jelapang RoadPHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - It is not just during hazy periods that people inhale tiny pollutant particles. Commuters could be breathing in such particles even while waiting for a bus.

A new study by an air pollution expert from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (Smart) has found that a commuter who makes a two-way bus journey five days a week could inhale an average of 3.5 times more tiny pollutant particles than at an ambient level.

And according to the study led by research scientist Dr Erik Velasco, these particles are smaller - and more toxic - than the PM2.5 pollutant particles dominant during periods of haze. Tiny particles are toxic as they can dissolve into the blood stream where they are carried to organs around the body, such as the brain.

PM2.5 refer to pollutant particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter - about a 30th the diameter of a strand of human hair.

But the particles that commuters breathe in while waiting at a bus stop are much smaller. They measure 27 nanometres in diameter - about 100 times smaller than PM2.5.

Due to the large content of sulphur in fuel, catalytic converters in cars do not remove all the particles and gases. The toxic, ultrafine particles are formed when gases and particles from vehicle exhaust pipes react with each other in the air after they are discharged.

"Waiting at the bus stop for only 10 minutes each time may seem innocuous. But these short exposures all add up," said Dr Velasco at a media briefing on his latest work on Tuesday (Sept 20).

"A commuter who takes a two-way trip by bus to work for five days per week is actually exposed to these participles for nearly seven hours per month and over three full days per year. This exposure can affect people with existing pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, among others."

Dr Velasco worked with Ms Tan Sok Huang, a former master's student from the National University of Singapore (NUS), on the study which sought to quantify pollution at five bus stops in Singapore - at VivoCity, Little India, Bugis, One Raffles Quay and NUS.

These were selected for the different properties of the roads nearby. The bus stop at NUS, for instance, was next to the Ayer Rajah Expressway, on which many heavy vehicles travel. The bus stop at One Raffles Quay, on the other hand, enjoyed windy conditions and had less traffic.

Dr Velasco also shared some possible solutions to this on Tuesday. For instance, installing fans at bus stops could not only make waiting in the heat more comfortable, but the wind could also disperse pollutant particles, he said.

He also said Singapore's move to install arrival time information at some bus stops is a good move, but said the Republic could consider getting buses to arrive at the same time every hour, as is the practice in other countries. This way, commuters could ensure they reach the bus stop at a specific time, say, 7.16am every morning, minimising the waiting time at the bus stop.

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Eat carbs and protein to be 'Xiu-per': Yip Pin Xiu, Sport News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/eat-carbs-and-protein-to-be-xiu-per-yip-pin-xiu?xtor=CS3-18

Eat carbs and protein to be 'Xiu-per': Yip Pin Xiu

If she were not Singapore's most successful Paralympic swimmer, Yip Pin Xiu might well be a gymnast, performing graceful loops on the ice as a figure skater, or even dabbling in mixed martial arts.

If she could be any Pokemon character, the para-swimmer would be Eevee since it is both cute and powerful when evolved.

The 24-year-old revealed all that and more when she spent an hour in a Twitter "takeover" yesterday, taking questions sent by readers in a live Q&A session under the #STaskPX hashtag. It became one of Twitter's top trending topics.

Answering the questions from Rio where the Paralympics are concluding, Yip - she set two world records and won two golds at the Games - cracked jokes but also offered motivational advice.

Asked what she eats to be so "Xiu-per" - playing on the pronunciation of a part of her name - Yip replied: "Sometimes I drink soup, which is soup-er. Plenty of carbs and protein, less fats! #dieticianspet"

She was also asked to offer advice for Singapore's young swimmers. She said: "Just do it if you want to do it! Put in 100 per cent. Haters may say it's not worth it or a waste of time, but nobody can tell you that as long as you dream big!
 

Many readers, instead of asking questions, simply tweeted well wishes and thanked Yip for flying Singapore's flag high.

Yesterday's Q&A session follows a similar one done by Yip's fellow swimmer Theresa Goh last Thursday.

Yip will be returning with the main contingent early on Wednesday morning. Their SQ67 flight is scheduled to touch down at Changi Airport at 5.35am.

The swimmer, who also has a gold and a silver from the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, plans to make chicken rice her first meal after returning, although it might be a toss-up between that and laksa, which she has been craving while in Rio.

She signed off on Twitter: "Thank you all for spending an hour with me! I really had fun and can't wait to return to Singapore on the 21st! #hometruly"

Tweets about #STaskPX from:@stcom

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Khoo Kay Chai, the longest-serving principal of Singapore Polytechnic dies, aged 80, Education News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/longest-serving-principal-of-spore-poly-dies-aged-80?xtor=EREC-16-1[ST_Newsletter_AM]-20160918-[Khoo+Kay+Chai%2C+the+longest-serving+principal+of+Singapore+Polytechnic+dies%2C+aged+80]&xts=538291

Khoo Kay Chai, the longest-serving principal of Singapore Polytechnic dies, aged 80

Singapore Polytechnic's longest-serving principal Khoo Kay Chai has died at the age of 80.

Former students and colleagues who attended his wake at Mount Vernon Sanctuary yesterday remembered him as a caring leader who continued to develop Singapore Polytechnic (SP), even long after he had stepped down.

"He would always make time to come back for our events," said Mr Bill Chang, 49, chief executive of Singtel Group Enterprise, who was an SP student from 1983 to 1985 and is now chairman of its board of governors. "He was always asking if we are doing enough for the students, even after he stopped being principal."

Businessman and Singapore Polytechnic Graduates' Guild president Jimmy Lim, 57, added: "He was like a father to all the alumni, and a wonderful, supportive friend."

Mr Lim noted that Dr Khoo, who died on Thursday, was crucial in reviving the polytechnic's alumni guild in the mid-1980s and developing its first clubhouse.

ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT STUDENTS

He was always asking if we are doing enough for the students, even after he stopped being principal.

MR BILL CHANG, chief executive of Singtel Group Enterprise, former SP student and chairman of SP's board of governors, on Dr Khoo.

Dr Khoo served as principal of SP from 1976 to 1995. He supervised the campus' move from Prince Edward Road to its present Dover Road location. The move allowed the campus and enrolment to expand.

He also introduced advanced diploma courses, arranged degree transfers with the then University of Singapore in 1969 and set up a department of industry services to maintain links with the industry.

Mr Tan Peng Ann, 58, senior director (administration cluster) at SP, who worked with Dr Khoo in the 1980s and 1990s, said: "Even though he was your boss, he related to you more as a friend. He was open to listening to ideas.

"He saw the need for students to have pastoral care and to know that they have a mentor to talk to about relationship issues, adjustment, family problems, in an informal setting."

Dr Khoo also had the foresight to start overseas exchange stints for students in places like Japan in the 1980s, as well as provide career guidance, at a time when these initiatives were not common.

His wife Maggie said her husband had been suffering from kidney failure for many years.

"He was a quiet man of few words and would always give in to me," said Mrs Khoo, who is in her 70s. "Deep down, I know he really cared for me."

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Man with TB who fled from quarantine jailed 6 months, Courts & Crime News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/man-with-tb-who-fled-from-quarantine-jailed-6-months?xtor=EREC-16-2[ST_Newsletter_PM]-20160913-[Man+with+TB+who+fled+from+quarantine+jailed+6+months]&xts=538291

Man with TB who fled from quarantine jailed 6 months

SINGAPORE - A 54-year-old man who was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) thrice absconded from quarantine, a court heard.

Mohamed Zaini Parman even resorted to giving false particulars to policemen to evade going back to isolation.

On Tuesday (Sept 13), he was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to two charges: leaving a place of isolation while under treatment under the Infectious Diseases Act, and giving false information to the police.

Three other related charges were taken into consideration in sentencing.

A district court heard that Zaini was first diagnosed with TB on Jan 3, 2014 at Changi General Hospital (CGH).

He was referred to the Tuberculosis Control Unit for treatment, but failed to turn up for his appointment on Jan 13 and remained uncontactable thereafter.

A notice was issued on March 18, requiring him to report for medical examination and treatment, under the Infectious Diseases Act. But, still, he did not comply.

On May 8, he was served with an isolation order, requiring him to be detained and isolated at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) until the completion of his treatment.

But he absconded from the premises thrice.

He left the CDC without permission on May 23, 2014. He was caught and taken back on Jan 24 last year (2015).

However, at about 8.30pm the very next day, he fled again by climbing out of his ward window.

On June 3 last year, policemen on patrol at Bedok Reservoir Road spotted him trying to avoid them. When asked for his particulars, he gave them wrong information. But a staff sergeant recognised him and Zaini was arrested and taken to CGH, and transferred to the CDC the next day.

Two weeks later, on June 19, he fled again.

Officers from the Ministry of Health managed to find him only on March 4 this year.

As they were detaining him, Zaini threw something down from the second floor corridor.

Police later found the object to be a photocopy of another person's identity card, but with Zaini's photo on it.

Medical reports showed that Zaini was still infectious when he absconded on May 23, 2014 and on Jan 25 last year. And he had a high bacterial load before he absconded on June 19 last year.

The maximum punishment for leaving a place of isolation without permission under the Infectious Diseases Act is a $10,000 fine and six months' jail for a first conviction, and a $20,000 fine and 12 months' jail for subsequent convictions.

The maximum penalty for giving false information to a public servant is one year's jail and a $5,000 fine.

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WLPs, schedules and such

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Regards,

Mr Chang C.L.

_________________

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Heritage tree falls on 40-year-old Pearl Bank Apartments, branches smash windows, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/heritage-tree-falls-on-40-year-old-pearl-bank-apartments-branches-smash-windows?xtor=CS3-18

Heritage tree falls on 40-year-old Pearl Bank Apartments, branches smash windows

SINGAPORE - A heritage tree more than eight storeys tall fell on Pearl Bank Apartments in Chinatown on Sunday (Sept 11) morning.

At least six apartments from the fourth to eighth floors were affected, Lianhe Wanbao reported.

Residents said that the loud crash as the tree's branches smashed their windows woke them up early on Sunday morning.

One of them, Mr Richard Irving, wrote on Facebook that " a sizeable limb from a tree" fell at 4.30am, making "a hell of a noise".

Bathroom fittings were broken when a tree fell on Pearl Bank Apartments. PHOTO: SHIN MIN READER

Photos from residents showed shattered windows, twisted window grilles and broken bathroom fittings.

The National Parks Board (NParks) was informed and operations to clear the tree began soon after the incident.

It was cleared at about 3.30pm on Monday.

The tree, a Purple Millettia, was standing at Pearl's Hill City Park before the apartment block was completed in 1976, according to the NParks' website.

The evergreen tree has dark glossy leaves and reddish-purple flowers.

It was 32m tall and estimated to be more than 60 years old when assessed in 2008.

The only other Purple Millettia listed as a heritage tree is located in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This specimen planted behind Swan Lake is more than 100 years old.

It has taken more than a day to clear the large tree. PHOTO: LIANHE WANBAO

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