River Valley High death: ST apologises over juxtaposition of case and Axe Brand Oil ad

·Editorial team

21 July 2021 at 6:50 am·2-min read

SINGAPORE — The Straits Times (ST) on Wednesday (21 July) apologised for the “inadvertent and unfortunate” juxtaposition of an Axe Brand Universal Oil advertisement and its report of the River Valley High School killing on the front page of the newspaper a day earlier.

In an apology posted at the bottom of Page 2 of its Wednesday edition, the newspaper said, “The Straits Times apologises for the distress caused.”

ST said the advertisement has been booked in advance of news developments. It also referred to a post by Axe Brand on its Facebook page.

Axe Brand said in its post, “The advertisement placement was not intentional by our company but a very unfortunate coincidence. The advertisement was arranged and booked in December 2020 with Straits Times. Our company is in deep sympathy and grief with the victim’s family.”

The apology by ST comes after a 16-year-old boy was charged on Tuesday with the murder of a 13-year-old fellow student at their River Valley High School on Monday.

The Secondary 4 student is accused of causing the death of the Secondary 1 boy at a toilet on Level 4 of Block D of the school between 11.16am and 11.44am. The police said in a statement that an axe was seized as case exhibit as part of their investigations into the case.

The tragic incident has shocked Singapore, with several ministers extending their sympathies to those affected by it. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday, "I know we cannot properly express our sympathy (to the victim’s family), or offer much comfort in their sudden calamity. But still, I would like them to know that our thoughts and prayers are with them."

If you are feeling distressed, you can call SOS' 24-hour hotline at 1800 221 4444. You can also email pat@sos.org.sg.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore

River Valley High death: 97% of students returned to school on Wed – MOE official

PM Lee 'shocked' by River Valley High killing, reaches out to family on Facebook

The Independent
I was at the Trump-Biden presidential debate and it became very clear what had gone wrong
When the debate ended, the Biden surrogates were nowhere to be found — until they emerged, grim-faced, as a group, and the rumors began. Andrew Feinberg reports on what happened behind the scenes at the first presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia — and why the president’s performance went so badly
Evening Standard
Police investigate video 'showing female prison officer having sex with inmate in Wandsworth Prison cell'
The Ministry of Justice called in police after the video was released online
Associated Press
An Indian military tank sinks while crossing a river in a region bordering China, killing 5 soldiers
Five Indian soldiers were killed when a military tank they were travelling in sank while crossing a river in the remote region of Ladakh that borders China, officials said Saturday. The tank sank early Saturday due to sudden increase in the water levels of Shyok River during a military training activity, according to an Indian army command center statement. It said the accident took place in Saser Brangsa near the Line of Actual Control that divides India and China in the Ladakh region.
The Guardian
Who could replace Joe Biden? Here are six possibilities
With Biden not yet officially endorsed as Democratic presidential candidate, it is in theory open to the party to choose another candidate
Twentytwo13
Malaysians on tenterhooks after Johor Regent takes on Selangor Sultan in public domain
The football drama in Malaysia has reached fever-pitch, with the spotlight now on the Johor and Selangor palaces. The post Malaysians on tenterhooks after Johor Regent takes on Selangor Sultan in public domain appeared first on Twentytwo13.
The Independent
‘Panic mode’ Democrats begin calling for Biden to step aside after ‘horrible’ debate performance against Trump
‘Need to have Harris take over. Cleanest option,’ one Democrat strategist told The Independent
The Telegraph
‘This wasn’t a debate, it was a medical emergency’: Our writers give their verdicts
Follow the latest reaction in our live blog
The Telegraph
‘Trillion dollar trainwreck’: US super stealth fighter is eating the next generation
All of a sudden, the US Air Force is considering cancelling a multibillion-dollar effort to develop a new stealth fighter. Citing the high cost of the so-called “Next-Generation Air Dominance” programme and the competing demands of other projects, USAF leaders have warned they may have no choice but to cancel NGAD – and find other ways of winning control of the air in future wars.
People
Griff Is Giving Away the Dress She Wore to Open for Taylor Swift: ‘Wanted to Pass It Down’
The singer revealed she is giving away her "But Daddy I Love Him"-inspired dress she wore when she opened at the Eras Tour on June 22
CNN
China expels two former defense ministers from Communist Party as military purge deepens
China on Thursday expelled its former Defense Minister Li Shangfu from the ruling Communist Party over corruption allegations, state broadcaster CCTV reported, eight months after he was dramatically removed from the post.
SETHLUI.COM
Owners of private diner with 2 years waitlist open curry mee stall at Havelock Food Centre
The post Owners of private diner with 2 years waitlist open curry mee stall at Havelock Food Centre appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
BBC
China honours woman who died saving Japanese family
Hu Youping, a bus attendant, tried to restrain an assailant at a bus stop outside a Japanese school.
INSIDER
A grinding Russian assault appears telling about Putin's plan to defeat Ukraine
ISW's conflict experts warned that the West must "challenge Putin's belief that he can gradually subsume Ukraine."
INSIDER
A US Marine Corps attack helicopter fired off a new 'fire and forget' missile for the first time in the Pacific, striking a moving vessel
The precision "fire and forget" AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Munition was fired at a moving sea target in waters off Japan.
France 24
Hezbollah fires rockets at military base in Israel, says four fighters killed
Hezbollah said it fired "dozens" of rockets Thursday at a military base in northern Israel in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Lebanon, announcing four of its fighters had been killed. Fears of all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah have risen in recent weeks as threats have intensified between the sides, which have traded regular cross-border fire since Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel sparked war in the Gaza Strip.Hamas ally Hezbollah said that "in response to the enemy attacks that targ
Evening Standard
Transfer news LIVE! First Arsenal signing; Chelsea in Isak talks; Gordon to Liverpool twist; Man Utd latest
Stay up to date with the latest deals, updates, rumours and gossip during the summer window
The Hill
Barrett breaks with conservatives over Jan. 6 obstruction charge ruling
In a pointed dissent, Justice Amy Coney Barrett skewered her fellow justices over their decision to narrow an obstruction charge used to prosecute scores of rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The Supreme Court voted 6-3 on Friday to side with Joseph Fischer, a former police officer accused of partaking in the…
The Telegraph
Woman arrested after prison officer filmed allegedly having sex with inmate
A woman has been arrested after footage was widely circulated that appeared to show a prison officer having sex with an inmate.
BBC
Dying together: Why a happily married couple decided to stop living
Jan and Els sought medical intervention to end their lives after 50 happy years of marriage.
The Independent
Breaking ranks: Justice Amy Coney Barrett defies Supreme Court conservatives to back environmental protections
Justice Barrett, a Trump appointee, split from her conservative colleagues in recent decisions

Latest stories