Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Singapore's entry ban on "Unwelcome" passengers during boarding takes effect on 30 January 2026

Direct translation

Singapore's entry ban is about to take effect! "Unwelcome" passengers will be refused boarding and banned before even reaching their destination



To strengthen border control, Singapore implemented a "no-carry order" at Changi Airport starting 30 January 2026. Passengers who do not meet entry requirements or are considered high-risk are stopped before departure, preventing them from boarding and entering the country at the source to enhance national security.

According to foreign media reports, previously Singapore typically checked passengers at checkpoints upon arrival. The new system moves this process forward to before boarding. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) issues "no-carry orders" to airlines based on passenger information before flight departure, requiring airlines to refuse boarding to specific individuals.

The ICA stated that anyone without a valid visa or travel document (with at least six months validity), listed as prohibited from entry or considered "unwelcome," or otherwise ineligible for entry may be placed on the no-carry list. Previously, these passengers were often deported upon arrival; now they will be stopped directly at their point of departure.

Singapore currently requires all travelers to complete an electronic arrival card within three days prior to arrival. The ICA (Independent Commission Against Corruption) will screen passengers based on the arrival card information and the passenger lists provided by the airlines. If any ineligible passengers are found, the airline will be immediately notified to implement the no-boarding measure.

To ensure the implementation of the no-boarding order, airlines also bear legal responsibility. Failure to allow prohibited passengers to board as instructed constitutes a "strict liability offence," which carries a maximum penalty of S$10,000 (approximately NT$246,000). If the captain or crew member negligently allows a problematic passenger to board, they may also face up to six months imprisonment or a fine.

Former CIA official reveals underlying motives of Trump's eagerness in acquiring Greenland

 Direct translation

Why is Trump so eager to acquire Greenland? Former CIA official reveals underlying motives

Image : US President Trump. (Bloomberg) / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/5316950

U.S. President Trump's insistence on acquiring Greenland has sparked international debate. Former CIA intelligence officer Andrew Bustamante recently stated on a program that he suspects there may be other motives behind President Trump's eagerness to "acquire Greenland." Firstly, gaining dominance in the Arctic is crucial for the U.S. to maintain its global influence, which is the main reason; secondly, the U.S. also hopes for greater economic independence, not only in strategic rare earth minerals but also in various other key mineral resources.

According to the Mirror, Trump recently threatened to impose a 10% tariff on Britain and seven other European countries unless they agree to allow the U.S. to purchase Greenland. Trump previously stated that the US must take Greenland for national security reasons, emphasizing that he would achieve this through "simple means" or "not simple means," hinting at the possibility of using force.

Bustarmant recently stated on a radio program that things are not as simple as they seem. He pointed out that gaining dominance in the Arctic, allowing the U.S. to maintain its global influence, is the main reason the U.S. insists on taking Greenland. Secondly, besides the strategically important rare earth minerals, the U.S. also desires various other key mineral resources.

"In other words, Greenland possesses minerals that can drive the U.S. economy, as well as rare earth minerals essential for military technology development. Furthermore, global warming makes more and more areas of Greenland easier to mine, which is naturally very attractive to the U.S.," Bustamant said.

Bustarmant believes that the U.S. does have concrete and realistic reasons to want some of Greenland's resources. However, even by U.S. standards, there is no legal basis or historical precedent for the U.S. to directly use force to acquire them. "Therefore, I think the more likely scenario is that the U.S. will reach some kind of economic agreement privately with the pro-independence political forces in Greenland," Bustamant said. He believes the U.S. will likely directly partner with local Greenlandic businesses, handling the matter through commercial means. He also believes the U.S. will find a way to avoid damaging relations with its NATO allies.

Bustamant concluded, "At this stage, Trump is actually taking this opportunity to demonstrate his strength and maintain a strategy of 'strategic ambiguity.' He already demonstrated a tough stance in Venezuela, and now he's continuing to play the same card, leaving other countries unclear about his bottom line, and even starting to consider whether they should simply comply with his demands."

Pregnant women in Mainland China have over a dozen tubes of blood drawn during prenatal checkups

 Direct translation

Stealing pregnant women's blood? Pregnant women in Mainland China have over a dozen tubes of blood drawn during prenatal checkups

Reporter : Li Li / Editor : Fan Ming / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2026/01/20/a104058219.htmlImage : Many netizens in mainland China have reported that during prenatal checkups, hospitals are drawing more and more blood than usual. (Image: Screenshot from a community hospital in Shanghai)

偷孕妇的血?大陆孕妇产检 一次被抽十几管血
Recently, many netizens in mainland China have reported that during prenatal checkups, hospitals are drawing more and more blood than usual. Some pregnant women have over a dozen tubes of blood drawn at once. Some pregnant women have experienced severe discomfort due to excessive blood draws, while others have experienced insufficient blood supply to the fetus, leading to serious problems for the fetus.

One netizen revealed on social media that she had 12 tubes of blood drawn during a prenatal checkup, leaving her feeling weak in the legs.

A netizen from Hunan said, "During my prenatal checkup in 2023, they drew 12 vials of blood. From pregnancy to childbirth, they drew 20-30 vials of blood, causing my hemoglobin to plummet to only 90-something. I told them I was anemic and asked the nurse to draw less, but the doctor said it was fine and wouldn't affect anything. It's simply unbelievable."

Image : Screenshot from the internet

A netizen from Beijing said, "This year, I brought a glucose tolerance test with me during my prenatal checkup. They drew 11 vials of blood at once. Towards the end of the eighth vial, the nurse had to hold my arm down to squeeze out the blood."

A netizen from Zhejiang said, "Throughout my pregnancy, they drew over forty vials of blood during my prenatal checkups. I developed anemia and hypoglycemia." "..."

A Guangdong netizen commented, "Two weeks... 15 tubes..." "I went to the hospital a few days ago for my prenatal checkup and NT scan, and they drew 18 tubes of blood from me. I don't even know what they tested; it's outrageous."

Another netizen said, "Now, they just draw blood whenever you go to the hospital... adults and children alike, pregnant women are drawn every time they go. Don't go to the hospital unless it's absolutely necessary."

Images : Screenshots from the internet

In recent years, many netizens have revealed that they are required to have blood drawn and undergo various tests during prenatal checkups, but they don't understand which tests are necessary and which are unnecessary, leaving them feeling confused.

"I went to the hospital a few days ago for my prenatal checkup and NT scan. They drew 18 tubes of blood from me, and I don't even know what they were testing for. It's ridiculous!" "Do they really draw so much blood for prenatal checkups now? The doctors are just busy writing orders. When I asked what prenatal tests were required, they just said these were necessary, and they were very impatient. All they know is to write the orders and tell me to pay for the blood draws." "They don't even use up one tube; the excess becomes blood bags for sale! Pregnant women have so much blood drawn—more than ten tubes! Some fetuses are already weak, which can lead to insufficient blood supply from the mother to the fetus, causing the fetal heartbeat to stop, and they have to terminate the pregnancy."

Image : Screenshot from the internet

One mainland Chinese doctor posted online, "Over a decade ago, prenatal checkups involved one vial of blood. The number gradually increased; two years ago, they drew eight vials, and now, in just two years, they're drawing twelve. Will they be drawing a pound of blood in a few more years?"

Image : Screenshot from the internet

Ms. Liu, a former obstetrician in mainland China, told NTD that in special circumstances, for individual pregnant women requiring specific needs, it's possible to draw seven or eight vials of blood. In other words, if some pregnant women have special circumstances requiring in-depth examinations, that's acceptable. However, if drawing more than ten vials of blood is a common occurrence, then it is very abnormal.

A doctor blogger posted a video on Douyin saying, "Prenatal blood tests are necessary, but drawing too much blood is unnecessary."

Image : Screenshot from an online video

Some mainland Chinese citizens told NTD that hospitals in China are now terrifying and untrustworthy. They complain of organ harvesting, excessive medical treatment, and treating patients as experimental subjects—it is horrifying.


If anything goes wrong with Trump, Iran will be destroyed

 Direct translation

Try assassinating me? Trump shockingly reveals "national annihilation order": If anything goes wrong, Iran will be wiped off the face of the earth

Reporter : Chen Chengliang / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/5316972 Image : U.S. President Donald Trump (right) confirmed in an interview that he has given orders to wipe Iran off the face of the earth if assassinated; Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei (left) is embroiled in a media storm over the possibility that the country's bloody repression could result in 20,000 deaths. (AFP file photo)

The U.S.-Iran tensions have escalated into a terrifying balance of power, with the possibility of a "head of state assassination." According to AFP, US President Trump made a shocking announcement on the 20th, stating that he had issued a "firm directive" that if Tehran successfully assassinates him, the U.S. military will immediately take action to "wipe Iran off the face of the earth." The Tehran military responded strongly, threatening to "put the world on fire" if Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is killed.

The order to annihilate the nation has been issued; Trump warns in an interview that the cost of assassination is "disappearance."

In an interview with NewsNation, Trump stated that he has given the U.S. military a clear policy regarding the threat to his life from Iran. Trump stated bluntly: "I have very firm instructions. Whatever happens, they (the U.S. military) will wipe them (Iran) off the face of the earth."

This devastating warning is not empty rhetoric. When Trump returned to the White House last year, he warned that if Iran dared to act, it would face "utter annihilation." Meanwhile, 86-year-old Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is also facing an unprecedented crisis.

Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi immediately responded through state media, stating that if anyone dares to extend an aggressive hand towards Khamenei, "we will not only cut off that hand, but we will also ignite the entire world, leaving them nowhere to hide in the region."

Behind this high-level verbal sparring between the U.S. and Iran lies the most brutal and bloody repression Iran has experienced since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Due to economic collapse and a plummeting currency, Iran erupted in massive anti-government demonstrations last December. According to the Norway-based Iranian Human Rights (IHR) organization, the actual death toll may be far higher than estimated due to communication disruptions, potentially reaching as high as 20,000.

This humanitarian tragedy has also led to an extreme shift in the stance of exiles who have traditionally advocated non-violence. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi publicly called for U.S. intervention and "highly precise strikes" (i.e., assassinations) against Khamenei and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to end the dictatorship.

The Tehran regime is currently at its limit, facing pressure from both domestic and international forces. On one hand, it faces domestic pressure for democratic reforms; on the other hand, it is caught in a vicious cycle of assassination and counter-assassination with the Trump administration. Human rights organizations point out that Tehran is using external military intimidation to attempt to cover up its crimes of massacring up to 20,000 civilians.


Shocking revelation: Trump plans to "remove the sick leader" this week 


The ongoing turmoil in Iran has drawn high alert from the international community. A startling assessment has recently emerged from the US diplomatic system. According to The Times of Israel, Dan Shapiro, former US ambassador to Israel under Barack Obama, published an analysis on social media platform X on the 18th, suggesting that US President Trump may attempt to "kill" Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the near future.

Shapiro pointed out that the imminent deployment of a US carrier strike group to the Middle East will significantly enhance the US's ability to conduct precision air strikes. He analyzed that Trump's recent hardline stance on the Iranian regime, along with Khamenei's provocative remarks on social media, indicate that the US may be considering extreme options. However, Shapiro also emphasized that even if Khamenei is removed from the list, regime change may not occur immediately. The Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) is likely to take over, and genuine political transformation will require the impetus of the Iranian people. Currently, this assessment is merely a personal analysis, and there is no evidence that the US has officially initiated any related military plans.

Meanwhile, Trump's public statements against the Tehran regime have become increasingly harsh. TIME magazine, citing an interview with Politico, reported that Trump, responding to Khamenei's accusations against the US, stated bluntly that Iran needs "new leadership." He denounced the 86-year-old Khamenei as a "sick man who has ruined the country," accusing him of maintaining his rule through violence and killing, and revealed that he had received briefings on several tough policies, including military action, but did not confirm specific action plans. The report also noted that Trump has canceled all scheduled contacts with Iranian officials.

According to HRANA, a U.S.-based human rights organization, the recent protests in Iran have resulted in 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters, and more than 22,000 arrests, indicating that the situation is still rapidly deteriorating.

Image : On 14 January, an Israeli citizen lit a cigarette with a burning image of Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei at a rally, in support of the Iranian protests. In response to the bloody crackdown in Tehran that left 3,090 dead, former US Ambassador to Israel, Spiro, predicted that the Trump administration might take extreme actions this week, such as assassinating Khamenei, bringing the standoff to the brink of war. (Image from Reuters)


Hotel Pictures : Regala Skycity Hotel

 Photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA











Monday, January 19, 2026

StayGate Pictures : Skydeck, the rooftop of Regala Skycity Hotel

 Photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA











Airport Hotel Review : Regala Skycity Hotel, the new plane-spotting site of Hong Kong

 Review, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA


Regala Skycity Hotel is the nearest airport hotel of Terminal 2 of Hong Kong Chep Lap Kok Airport. The first free shuttle bus service starts at 6.15 am from the bus interchange at Terminal 2. Waiting bay is between lanes 9 and 11. Late check-out is allowed upon request until 1 pm.



As my experience goes, there is no need to pay room deposit of HK$500 after paying for the room rate in full at Trip.com.  If the guest chose to pay at the hotel, HK$500 which is roughly around S$83, is required. The hotel allows rooms for day use until 6 pm and room deposit is required. 


I chose to stay at Regala Skycity Hotel in order to review its rooftop as the hotel promotes the use of its rooftop for physical exercises and plane-spotting. The rooftop is above the twelfth floor, two fire doors up from the eleventh floor. 


On the rooftop, I can see jets flying towards the direction of the sea above the rooftop. If an aeroplane flies towards the airport in the opposite direction, plane-spotting can be done at the twelfth floor corridor end-window. It is amazing that jets can be seen flying towards the airport above the sea. Hong Kong Airport Terminal 1 and Regal Airport Hotel can also be noticed.


Focal length is 200mm to 500mm. In the afternoon after check-out, I am grateful that the receptionist allows me to go up to the rooftop again for plane-spotting till sun set with out paying for a room for day use. 


About the small, comfortable room that I stayed, the garden view is not that magnificent. There are no trees fortunately. There are no bottles of mineral water in the room. Heat a kettle of water and pour the water into the hotel's glass bottle to drink later. 


About the shower room, the anti-slip mattress is available for use.


The hotel restaurant serves complimentary breakfast with Hong Kong-style breakfast as the highlight. There is no American-style breakfast to eat.

It is very expensive to stay in Regala Skycity Hotel but I will stay here again for the purpose of plane-spotting if there were new airliners flying to the airport at the appropriate time.

Singapore's entry ban on "Unwelcome" passengers during boarding takes effect on 30 January 2026

Direct translation Singapore's entry ban is about to take effect! "Unwelcome" passengers will be refused boarding and banned b...