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Man who allegedly cut down Singapore flags, decorative banners remanded in IMH

SINGAPORE - A 24-year-old man allegedly damaged Singapore national flags and decorative banners in Punggol a week before National Day. Ahmad Abdullah (Wan Ahmad Yusof) was charged on Tuesday (Aug 3) with one count each of mischief and possessing offensive weapons - a 15cm-long kitchen knife and a pair of scissors. He is accused of committing his offences in the early hours of Monday morning. In a statement on Monday, the police said they received information that Ahmad had cut down national flags displayed in the vicinity of Punggol Walk. He was found with the knife and pair of scissors after officers detained him. "Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had allegedly damaged multiple Singapore national flags and decorative banners displayed in the vicinity of Punggol Field, Punggol Central and Punggol Walk," said the police. On Tuesday, District Judge Terence Tay ordered Ahmad to be remanded in the Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric observation. Ahmad's case will be heard again on Aug 17. If he is found guilty of carrying offensive weapons, he can be jailed for up to three years and punished with not fewer than six strokes of the cane. He can also be jailed for up to a year, or fined, or both, if convicted of mischief. More on this topic   Related Story Man charged with burning Singapore flag, which caused damage to seven others   Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories

Football: Late Llorente header earns Leeds draw with Liverpool

LEEDS (REUTERS) - An 87th-minute header from defender Diego Llorente gave Leeds United a 1-1 home draw with Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday (April 19) after the home side staged a protest against the breakaway Super League prior to the kickoff. Leeds players came out for their warm-up wearing shirts emblazoned with the slogan "Earn It" under the Champions League logo - a reference to the fact that the proposed 20-club Super League will have 15 permanent members with no relegation. The result left Liverpool sixth on 53 points from 32 games, one behind fifth-placed Chelsea who have a game in hand and two adrift of West Ham United in fourth. Leeds stayed 10th on 46 points. Sadio Mane fired Liverpool ahead in the 31st minute when he steered the ball into an empty net from 15 metres after Trent Alexander-Arnold beat Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier to a long Diogo Jota pass and squared it to the Senegalese forward. Roberto Firmino came close to adding a second shortly after the break but Leeds then pegged back the visitors and missed several chances before Llorente rose above his markers to head home a Jack Harrison corner. Substitute Mohamed Salah had scuffed a close-range shot wide for Liverpool moments before Llorente scored his first goal for Leeds and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain spurned a gilt-edged chance to snatch a stoppage-time winner for the visitors. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Late Alexander-Arnold strike earns Liverpool 2-1 win over Villa   Related Story Football: Salah says no team suffers more without fans than Liverpool

Football: James header seals Wales win over Czechs in World Cup qualifiers

CARDIFF (REUTERS) - Daniel James headed a late winner as Wales claimed their first victory in their World Cup qualifying campaign by beating the Czech Republic 1-0 in Cardiff on Tuesday (March 30). The Czechs had enjoyed the better of the Group E clash but with both teams having been reduced to 10 men it was Wales who struck in the 81st minute as James met Gareth Bale's cross. Forward Patrik Schick was sent off shortly after halftime for the Czechs after grappling with Connor Roberts when a free kick was swung in to the Wales area. But Roberts was later dismissed for catching Tomas Soucek with his arm in the 77th minute. The slick Czechs threatened on numerous occasions in the first half with Jakub Jankto going close and even after they lost Schick they were the better side. But after an opening loss to Belgium, Wales were delighted to get their campaign up and running. They are in third place with three points from two games, with the Czechs on four from three games and Belgium leading on seven points after thrashing Belarus.