Asia First - Mon 2 Jun 2025
02:27:06 Min
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CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Singapore pushes ahead with goal of 2027 Asian Cup qualification with Ikhsan Fandi's return
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Asian Cup qualifying campaign is getting a boost with the return of striker Ikhsan Fandi to the national football team. The 26-year-old player from Thai League 1 side BG Pathum United, who was absent from the Lions for about a year because of injuries and club commitments, said he is eager to make up for lost time. Ikhsan, who has scored 18 goals in 38 appearances for the national team, told CNA he is happy to lead the attack in the absence of fellow striker Shawal Anuar. "I haven't been here for a while, so I hope the chemistry is still there with the team, but I'm very excited, and I'm going to give everything I've got, because I think I've been missing the feeling of getting my name on the score sheet for Singapore,' he said. Ikhsan added that he is looking forward to playing alongside his brother Ilhan again, who he described as a more creative and expressive player. '(Ilhan) has a good eye for the final pass, so I hope he can provide me with some assists,' he said, ahead of a sold-out friendly match against the Maldives that will be held on Thursday (Jun 5). The game at Bishan Stadium is part of preparations for the team's Asian Cup qualifying match against Bangladesh next Tuesday. COACH CALLS FOR IMPROVEMENT The Lions are in Group C of the qualifiers, along with Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and India. All four teams are tied on one point with five matches to go. Only the top team will qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup that will be held in Saudi Arabia. Singapore, currently ranked 161st in the FIFA rankings, has never qualified for the Asian Cup on merit, with the Lions' only appearance coming as hosts in 1984. National football team coach Tsutomu Ogura said he is demanding better concentration and work rate from his team as they prepare for their 'must-win' match against Bangladesh. He added that the match against the Maldives will be useful in analysing the players' conditioning, teamwork and fitness levels ahead of the Bangladesh match. The team has not won for the past six games and drew 0-0 with Hong Kong in March in the first match of the Group C qualifiers. When asked about the return of key attackers like Ikhsan and midfielder Song Ui-young, who are also known for their work rate, Ogura said he hopes both players will help the Lions win matches. "We need more creative chances. Like, big chances. Now we create chances, but chances are not enough, because we need more big chances to help us score a goal. We need to improve more on this,' said Ogura. Ikhsan also said that the team must remain focused and ready for any challenge, adding they cannot underestimate both the Maldives and Bangladesh, which are respectively ranked 164th and 183rd in the FIFA rankings. Ikhsan added he is confident of winning the game against Bangladesh, but noted that the team must remain composed and stick to the coach's instructions while playing away in front of massive crowds. He said that while away games can be tough, the players can draw on the support of fans back home. Ogura added that the support from Singapore fans encourages the players wherever they play.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Top Philippine senator to seek dismissal of Duterte impeachment case
MANILA, June 4 (Reuters) - A top Philippine senator has drafted a resolution seeking to dismiss an impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, his office said on Wednesday (Jun 4), which could boost her chances of political survival after an acrimonious fallout with the president. The lower house in February impeached Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, on accusations that included budget anomalies, amassing unusual wealth and an alleged threat to the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the first lady, and the house speaker. Sara Duterte faces a lifetime ban from office if convicted in a Senate trial. She has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. The resolution was drafted, according to his office, by Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a staunch ally of Duterte and a former police chief under her father's 2016 to 2022 presidency. A Senate source, who declined to be identified, confirmed the draft was circulating among senators. The draft seen by Reuters says the Senate did not act promptly to begin proceedings upon receipt of the impeachment article, so the case was "de facto dismissed" as 100 days had already passed. It was not immediately clear when the resolution would be filed or how much support it would have. If it succeeds, it could intensify an escalating battle for power between Marcos and former ally Duterte ahead of a 2028 presidential election that she is widely expected to contest, with Marcos limited to a single term and unable to run again. At stake is the legacy and future influence of Marcos, who has waged a decades-long campaign to defend his family's name from what he says are false historical narratives of plunder and brutality during the 1970s and 1980s rule of his strongman father and namesake. The effort to dismiss the case comes after a stronger-than-expected showing for allies of Duterte in l ast month's midterm elections, demonstrating her popularity and unswerving influence, despite the row with Marcos, humiliating legislative enquiries and the arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court of her father in March. The Senate's current session ends next week, which the draft resolution said was insufficient time to act on the impeachment case. A new Senate will convene in late July. "The matter cannot cross over to the incoming 20th Congress," the draft said. Marcos has called for unity among all political camps and has distanced himself from the impeachment of Duterte, which was backed overwhelmingly by a lower house controlled by his allies. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Dela Rosa's proposed resolution.
Independent Singapore
2 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
'You get to decide if you stay down or try again' — Laid off SG woman once earning S$10K/month, finds fresh start in the gig economy
SINGAPORE: After a near-death experience from a ruptured appendix in 2015 and being laid off from her corporate job of 10 years shortly after, 43-year-old Yang Baoli Florence struggled to find a job for six months. Previously, earning a monthly salary of S$10,000 even made her job search more difficult. Despite actively applying for roles across the public, government, and private sectors and her willingness to take a pay cut, she only received blunt responses that they couldn't match her previous salary and implied she wouldn't stay long. She told The Independent Singapore that HRs would tell her to 'look elsewhere' instead of 'wasting their time'. 'It was a deeply challenging period, not just professionally but personally,' Ms Yang said, sharing how she had to juggle mortgage payments and bills while feeling lost and discouraged. With few options left, she decided to get a taxi licence and is now working as a TADA driver. Ms Yang said the biggest blessing she got from entering the gig economy was the flexibility to look after her elderly parents. While she's not earning as much as her previous job, she said she makes enough to support her family, enjoys working at her pace, and doesn't need to work long hours. She also shared that simple conversations she had with her passengers allowed her to sometimes share her story and encourage them as well. Many Singaporeans have been turning to the gig economy to fill long periods of unemployment, some taking on delivery gigs or giving tuition . While many tapped into upskilling through their SkillsFuture credits, many still reported difficulty landing a job . In May, Jobstreet reported that 42% of Singapore employers are planning to expand their permanent headcount in the first half of 2025 . However, a recent report from Indeed stated that job postings fell for the fourth straight month in April —though levels remain above pre-pandemic figures. Ms Yang advised those facing similar struggles: 'Never stop learning and never be afraid to start again.' She said, 'Take a new licence, take a new course. Sometimes, it's in the trying and even failing to discover your true strengths and passions.' To her, success is defined not by title or salary, but by how far one has come. 'No matter how high you once were, life can knock you down but you get to decide if you will continue to stay down or to get back up and try again,' she added. /TISG Read also: 53-year-old retrenched Singaporean dad launches indoor air quality company after his toddler kept falling sick
