News Entries(4th week)

1)The Hong Kong government said that they will be looking at whether there would be a need to change the vaccine used to protect the chickens against avian flu after the latest outbreak at the local poultry farm. Health secretary York Chow had confirmed that some chickens from a farm in the New Territories area of Hong Kong, near the border with mainland China, had died of the H5 virus. He had also told the reporters that the virus has mutated over the past six years although it had not turned into a human-to- human or become more serious. The H5N2 vaccine currently used on chickens is manufactured in the Netherlands and was considered to be the most effective vaccine of its type during the last outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003, he said. Chow added that about 90,000 chickens would have been slaughtered by the end of this week, including 60,000 on the farm at the centre of the outbreak. Hong Kong was the scene of the world's first reported major bird flu outbreak among humans in 1997, when six people died. Scientists fear the H5N1 strain of the virus could mutate into a form which is much more easily transmissible between humans, triggering a global pandemic.

Opinions: I think that what the Hong Kong government is doing is extremely right. The slaughtering of chickens can prevent the outbreak of the virus from mutating into a form which can be much more easily transmissible between humans. If the virus mutate into a form which is much more easily transmissible between humans, then, it would be similar to the time when there is a outbreak of SARS. The SARS had killed lots of people in Singapore. However, I think that this is not a piece of good news as I think that the prices of chickens may rise. The poorer families might not be able to afford them. As a result, they may not get the nutrients from chicken which children may need to fight diseases.(336 words)

The above opinions are edited.

2)Pakistan was still awaiting "concrete proof" that a group based there carried out the devastating Mumbai attacks, as India said evidence was mounting and warned its anger had not cooled. As twin bomb blasts killed 27 people in Pakistan's northwest, President Asif Ali Zardari stressed the country was also a victim of terror and was carrying out its own investigation into the assault on India's financial centre. Last week's 60-hour Mumbai siege by 10 Islamic militants has badly hit relations between India and Pakistan, the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours who have fought three wars since independence from Britain. The attack by gunmen against multiple targets in Mumbai, including the landmark Taj Mahal hotel, killed 163 people including 26 foreigners. Nine militants were killed, while one was captured alive. New Delhi has increasingly pointed the finger at Islamabad over the violence, sometimes referred to as 'India's 9/11,' which has enraged public opinion and threatened a slow-moving peace process. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India has been angered "as never before" by the attacks as his new home minister hinted at growing evidence of Pakistani involvement.

Opinions: I think terrorism is a very major threat around the world nowadays. As a result, I strongly think that governments worldwide should cooperate together to combat terrorism as an international effort rather than blaming one another as stated in the above news. I think that India should not have accused Pakistan of Mumbai terror links that has recently occurred. Instead, they should have attempted to resolve the entire issue by fighting terrorism together. They could have worked together in freezing the financial assets of terrorists and their supporters. They could also have combined their resources to arrest the terrorists responsible for the Mumbai attacks. In this way, terrorism can then be curbed and the threat of terrorist attacks around the world will then be significantly reduced. (311 words)

News Entries(3rd week)

1) There is a decline in the number of people who take up martial arts. In the 1970s and 1980s, there are more than six hundred students who take up martial arts but there are now less than fifty students. The computer games and over protective parents have contributed to the decline in the number of people taking martial arts. Organisers of the mixed martial arts competition hope it will create more interest, especially by bringing the various groups together. Martial arts experts in Singapore want more people to join the sport. At the same time, they want to let the public know that age does not really matter and there are those who are confident mixed martial arts will become popular in Singapore.


Opinions: Playing computer games will affect the children’s health and their eyesight will even deteriorate as they play hours after hours without taking any eye breaks. I think that parents should let their children take up martial arts as it is the knowledge of self-defense and do not have much harm. Many parents have misunderstood that martial arts are just about fighting so they do not let their children take up martial arts. Actually, there are many benefits in martial arts. It is strongly believed that one’s overall power will definitely increase since martial arts techniques teach how to use strength effectively. Taking up martial arts will also improve their flexibility significantly since entire ranges of motion from the body are exercised. Unlike many other forms of physical activity, martial arts also have a mental and spiritual element which not only improves the mind’s focus but also helps in self control. Martial arts can also help to build up one’s confidence. I think that more people should consider the benefits of martial arts. In my opinion, I think that martial arts are beneficial to both adults and children. Long hours playing computer games are not good for health, it will instead deteriorate one's health. For health benefits, I strongly encouraged those people to instead take up one of the martial arts activity. I think that it will surely benefit them tremendously. (355 words)


2) ‘One’s life fund’ which was launched on Monday aims to pay for the education of every child either affected or infected by HIV-AIDS with the need to meet the funds crisis. Children who are infected with HIV-AIDS are often either neglected or vulnerable group. AIDS patients do not get subsidies for medication. The medication bills can cost up to about one thousand dollars a month. Three simple criteria govern the fund - the youth is HIV-positive or HIV-negative, with one or both parents testing positive; the household income should not exceed S$3,000; and the applicant must be enrolled in a full-time educational programme. There are over four hundred cases of HIV-AIDS cases last year and it is expected to increase this year.


Opinions: I think that this scheme will give an opportunity in those children who are either affected or infected by HIV-AIDS to have a proper education. This scheme is extremely beneficial to those children as the fees for their education is a burden to them as they have to pay the bills for their medication. I hope that their friends will not neglect them because of their illness which will make them feel neglected and lonely with no one to talk to. They are often been discriminated by their friends which in fact I think that they are innocent. Actually, it is not their fault as they have been infected by their mother while they were in their womb. These children need a lot of care and concern as their illness are already a burden to them. Their friends should understand that HIV-AIDS cannot be transmitted through casual activities. If I were one of their friends, I would surely show more care and concern for them so that they will not feel lonely and sad. (297 words)