CNA938 Rewind - Thailand-Cambodia border conflict: Singaporeans in Phnom Penh
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Straits Times
25 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Forum: Preventing radicalisation demands a whole-of-society effort
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox I read with interest the article ' Online platforms halve time it takes for Singaporeans to be self-radicalised: ISD ' (July 29). The Internal Security Department's (ISD) latest report revealing that online platforms and chat groups have halved the time it takes for Singaporeans to be self-radicalised is deeply concerning and ought to galvanise a strong, united response from all of us. That some of those radicalised are minors makes this even more urgent. We are witnessing a rapidly evolving terrorism threat. Radicalisation no longer requires face-to-face contact or overseas travel. Today, a smartphone and internet connection are all it takes. In a matter of weeks, individuals, especially youth, can be drawn into echo chambers that glorify violence, justify hatred, and distort religion or ideology. What makes this trend especially insidious is how extremist narratives are packaged in memes, gaming slang, and short-form videos. These messages are not hidden in obscure forums. Rather, they are present on platforms youth use daily: Telegram, Discord, Reddit, YouTube, and even gaming servers and TikTok. ISD's work in early detection and rehabilitation is commendable, but no security agency can act alone. The front line now lies in our homes, classrooms and places of worship. Parents must stay alert to not only distress or delinquency, but also subtle shifts in language and world view. Teachers and counsellors need support to have conversations about identity, belonging, and online influence. Religious and community leaders play a key role in debunking harmful ideologies and offering guidance to those who feel disillusioned or marginalised. Digital literacy must also evolve. It should go beyond spotting fake news to include the ability to question ideological content and reject black-and-white thinking. Our youth must be taught not just how to avoid scams or cyber bullying, but also how to critically navigate a complex and often manipulative online space. The task of preventing radicalisation demands a whole-of-society effort. Just as we rallied together during the pandemic and other national challenges, we must now bring that same vigilance to protecting our young and preserving our social harmony. Irwan Jamil
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
Legal cannabis blooms in Morocco but black market still beckons
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A farmer tends to dried cannabis bundle in Ketama, in the northern Rif mountains, Morocco March 12, 2021. Picture taken March 12, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo BAB BERRED, Morocco - Beneath the blazing summer sun, Abderrahman Talbi surveyed the neat rows of flourishing cannabis blooms in compact fields, reflecting on how his life has changed since he joined Morocco's burgeoning legal cannabis industry two years ago. Like many farmers in the northern Rif mountains who have long grown the crop illegally, Talbi is relieved that raids and seizures by the authorities are no longer a worry. "I can now say I am a cannabis farmer without fear," Talbi told Reuters. "Peace of mind has no price." Talbi's pivot to legal farming is an example of what Morocco, one of the world's biggest cannabis producers, hoped to achieve when it legalised cultivation for medical and industrial use, but not for recreational purposes, in 2022. Regulating cannabis farming brought with it hopes for fresh revenue and economic revitalisation in the impoverished Rif region. The step made Morocco a forerunner among major producing countries and the first in the Middle East and North Africa to join a global trend that has seen countries like Canada, Germany and Uruguay legalise production and use. It also hoped to lure farmers away from the illegal economy in the restive Rif mountains, where cannabis production has long been tolerated to facilitate social peace. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD Singapore Online platforms have halved time it takes for Singaporeans to be self-radicalised: ISD Singapore 7, including child and firefighter, taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat Singapore ICA inspector obtained bribes in the form of sex acts from 6 foreign men in exchange for his help Singapore Doctor who forged certificates for aesthetic procedures gets 4 months' jail Singapore 12 motorists nabbed for providing illegal private-hire services: LTA Life Alone but not lonely: Tips from seniors who live solo and like it Asia Extreme weather turns Beijing into rain trap; 30 killed, over 80,000 evacuated Al Hoceima, a major city in Rif, saw the largest protests in Morocco in 2016-17 over economic and social conditions. BLACK MARKET'S LURE PERSISTS Legalisation efforts have gained traction, with about 5,000 farmers joining the industry this year, from just 430 in 2023, says Morocco's cannabis regulator, or ANRAC. And legal production surged to nearly 4,200 tonnes last year, a 14-fold increase over the first harvest in 2023. Still, the black market remains dominant and lucrative due to demand for recreational use from Europe and regionally in Africa, potentially undermining efforts to fully regulate the sector. Morocco has 5,800 hectares (14,300 acres) of legally planted land, according to ANRAC. That's dwarfed by illegal cultivation spanning over 27,100 hectares, Interior Ministry data shows. While many farmers still choose illicit cultivation, they face the risk of increased crackdowns by authorities, which led to the seizure of 249 tonnes of cannabis resin by September last year, up 48% from all of 2023, according to the Interior Ministry. Mohammed Azzouzi, 52, spent three years in hiding for cannabis-related charges before receiving a royal pardon along with over 4,800 others last year. Now, he is preparing for his first legal harvest and hopes to earn more than the 10,000 dirhams ($1,100) he used to make in the illegal economy each year. RED TAPE The country's prohibition on growing cannabis for leisure use, along with bureaucratic red tape, limit legal farming, with every stage of the supply chain requiring a specific license from ANRAC, discouraging many a farmer from making the switch. A grower who wants to cultivate legally needs to join a licensed cooperative, which buys the farmer's product and processes it into derivatives or sells the resin to other licensed manufacturers. Talbi's cooperative, Biocannat, near the town of Bab Berred, 300 km (186 miles) north of Rabat, bought about 200 tonnes of cannabis last year from some 200 farmers, processing it into resin, supplements, capsules, oils and powders for medical and cosmetic purposes. About 60 km east of Biocannat, in the main producing area of Issaguen, farmer Mohamed El Mourabit was initially hopeful about the legalisation plan in 2021, but is less so now. "The process is too complicated," he said. And money talks, as well, for many farmers, who are lured by the higher rewards of the black market, despite its risks. While cooperatives take months to pay farmers about 50 dirhams per kilogram for the raw plant, on the illicit market, processed cannabis resin can fetch up to 2,500 dirhams per kilogram, farmers and activists say. To close that gap, legalisation advocates say growing for recreational use should be allowed, too. But it's not clear whether that will happen soon. Mohamed Guerrouj, head of ANRAC, said legalising recreational use would only be considered within a medical framework. "The goal is to develop Morocco's pharmaceutical industry ... not coffee shops," he said. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Iran denies Trump's claim that it gave Hamas ‘orders' in Gaza talks
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox US President Donald Trump said the Iranians had 'interjected themselves in this last negotiation' between Israel and Hamas. - Iran said on July 29 it had not interfered in negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza, after US President Donald Trump claimed Tehran had issued 'orders' to Palestinian group Hamas. Mr Trump, speaking to reporters on July 28 during a visit to Scotland, said the Iranians had 'interjected themselves in this last negotiation' between Israel and Hamas, which ended last week with no breakthrough. 'I think they got involved in this negotiation, telling Hamas, giving Hamas signals and orders and that's not good,' Mr Trump said without elaborating. Iran, a close ally and backer of Hamas, dismissed Mr Trump's remarks as 'absolutely baseless'. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the claim 'a form of projection and evasion of responsibility and accountability' on the US President's part. According to Mr Baqaei, Hamas negotiators 'do not need the intervention of third parties' as the group 'recognises and pursues the interests of the oppressed people of Gaza in the most appropriate manner'. The latest round of indirect negotiations, mediated by the US, Egypt and Qatar, was held earlier in July in Doha but failed to secure a truce deal. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD Singapore Online platforms have halved time it takes for Singaporeans to be self-radicalised: ISD Singapore 7, including child and firefighter, taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat Singapore ICA inspector obtained bribes in the form of sex acts from 6 foreign men in exchange for his help Singapore Doctor who forged certificates for aesthetic procedures gets 4 months' jail Life Alone but not lonely: Tips from seniors who live solo and like it Asia Extreme weather turns Beijing into rain trap; 30 killed, over 80,000 evacuated Singapore ST Podcasts Live: Share your ideas at The Fashion Pulpit on how to cope with rising temperatures Israel and Hamas have accused each other of failing to compromise on key issues to end the nearly 22-month war. In June, Israel launched a surprise offensive on its staunch rival Iran, targeting key nuclear and military sites but also hitting residential areas. The US briefly joined the conflict, striking Iranian nuclear facilities, while Tehran fought back with missile and drone attacks. Mr Trump said on July 28 that since its 12-day war with Israel ended, Iran has been sending 'very bad signals ', without specifying in what regard. He was possibly referring to nuclear negotiations with Washington that had been derailed by the conflict, or to Iran's support for militant groups in the region, which the US and its allies see as a threat. Mr Baqaei in turn urged the US to 'stop sending deadly weapons to the occupying regime', meaning Washington's close ally Israel, and force it to 'stop the genocide, allow humanitarian aid to enter' the Gaza Strip. AFP
