Q&A with BCA chief on how robotics are helping the building and construction sector

Q. This year’s building demand is anticipated to be sturdy. How is the business intending to reduce the current strain on staff and resources?

We have already experienced a COVID-19 problems and are now seeing strong desire. Firms can and should now claim that they can and must invest in changing the way the business builds, builds, and designs because of the first projection of four years of strong demand. Because we won’t be able to continue building projects in the future, we won’t have enough room to hold all of our labor without having to change.

Q. Modern structure systems are increasingly influencing how buildings are constructed. How popular are they currently being used? &nbsp,

In Singapore, over the past 12 months, we saw the deployment of more than 20 different mechanical solutions across more than 50 websites. When no big work is done, robots can transport materials from location to location using robots that can paint and finish concrete. All of these allow businesses to assign their workers to higher-value, more challenging tasks, and permit one ( single ) operator to oversee numerous different machines. We are even seeing more use of artificial intelligence among builders.

Q. What are some of the difficulties faced by incorporating technology and AI into the process? Is the industry prepared to embrace that change?

No one robot can really replace any one work, so when we started pushing for the implementation of robots, we realized that to the businesses it is not about replacing a worker with a robot. It involves substituting certain actions performed by the employees. A approach change is necessary. The primary contractor must collaborate strongly with the various subcontractors to review the opportunities, determine where the equipment and robots can be deployed, modify the procedures, and work together to complete more jobs as a group.

Q. What might all these changes, in your opinion, have an impact on Singapore’s growth, from robotics to encouraging greater engagement? &nbsp, &nbsp,

Building is one of the lowest-productivity sectors on the planet. In consequence, it is not very appealing to young talent. As a town position, we must create more and more tasks in a drier atmosphere, making it more challenging. But, with some of these changes that we are making, whether they are related to AI, robots, sustainability, or creative contracting, we are equipped to truly transform the sector so that we can take on more thrilling and challenging projects. At the same time, ( this will ) transform the jobs ( and ) inspire the young people that this sector is not only capable of making a city like Singapore ready for the future, but also one that can demonstrate to the rest of the world what it means in terms of sustainable development.

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James Harrison: Australian whose blood saved 2.4 million babies dies

3 days before
Kelly Ng

BBC News

Essence of the Australian Red Cross James Harrison with his grandson, Trey, in an earlier pictureEssence of the Australian Red Cross

One of the most famous blood donors in the world, whose plasma saved more than 2 million children ‘ life, passed away.

James Harrison passed away on February 17 while he was sleeping in a nursing home in New South Wales, Australia, according to his home. He was 88.

Harrison’s blood, which is referred to as the “man with the beautiful arm,” contained a rare antibody called Anti-D, which is used to create medication for pregnant mothers whose blood is at risk of infecting their newborn children.

Harrison had been given a benefactor after having transplants while having a significant neck operation at the age of 14, according to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, who paid gift to him.

He began giving heart serum when he was 18 and continued doing so until he was 81.

He held the title of “world record for most body blood donated” until 2022 when a US citizen overcame him in that year.

Tracey Mellowship, Harrison’s child, claimed that her papa was “very happy to have saved so many life, without any expense or pain.”

She continued,” He always said it doesn’t hurt, and the lifestyle you save may be your own.”

Additionally, Mellowship and two of Harrison’s children have been given anti-D vaccinations.

James was moved to learn about the numerous individuals like ours, which were a result of his kindness, she said.

Anti-D jabs protect unborn children from the lethal blood disorder known as the fetal and kid haemolytic disease, or HDFN.

The problem occurs during pregnancy when the mother’s red blood cells are incompatible with the baby’s growing red blood cells.

The family’s immune system then recognizes the hazard presented by the baby’s blood cells and makes antibodies to combat them. This can really hurt the infant, leading to severe heart failure, malnutrition, or even death.

Getty Images Harrison at his 537th blood donation in December 1992Getty Images

One in two children diagnosed with HDFN died before anti-D treatments were developed in the middle of the 1960s.

Harrison’s blood is thought to be so high in anti-D, but some reports claim it may have been caused by the large blood transfusion he received at age 14; it is not known how this drug came to be so high.

According to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, also known as Lifeblood, there are less than 200 anti-D sponsors in Australia, but they donate an estimated 45, 000 mothers and their children annually.

By replicating heart and immune cells from Harrison and other sponsors, Lifeblood has been working with Australia’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research to create anti-D antibodies in the facility.

Researchers who are involved hope that lab-made anti-D may one day be applied to the treatment of pregnant women around the world.

” Developing a new therapy has long been the “holy grail,” according to Lifeblood’s study director, David Irving.

He made note of the underrepresentation of donors who would like to make regular donations and who are able to develop antibodies in sufficient quantity and quality.

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Antique dealer gets jail for selling client’s Qing Dynasty vase to pay off his debts

A client’s Qing Dynasty vase was sold in Singapore on Monday ( Mar 3 ) in exchange for paying his debts, and he was sentenced to two years and five months in jail.

Kuok Chio, 42, also gave the same collection a false calligraphy work after attempting to clean the original artwork.

Kuok, who owns the Chinese Art Centre ancient store, has recently admitted guilt on three counts of obtaining benefits from criminal behavior, criminal breach of trust, and cheating.

Sentencing was based on two additional expenses.

In October 2023, Kuok contacted the customer, Dr. Chan Chi Chin, to ask if he could take two parts from Dr. Chan’s set to Hong Kong for pricing.

A “blue and light garlic-head dish” made during the Qianlong Emperor’s reign in Qing Dynasty China from 1735 to 1796 was allowed by Dr. Chan to take one dish to Hong Kong to have it valued.

The vase was worth at least HK$ 1, 800, 000 ( about S$ 315, 000 ), according to court documents.

Kuok agreed when Dr. Chan informed him that he was not going to sell the jar without his permission. Additionally, Kuok also provided security to the collection by issuing a post-dated check for S$ 50,000 from his business accounts. &nbsp,

Kuok’s business was affected by the COVID-19 crisis, but at the time, he owed more than S$ 60, 000. To pay off his obligations, he made the decision to buy the bowl.

The bowl was immediately available for sale by him when he contacted an ancient dealer. He paid S$ 150, 000 in funds for the jar, which he used to pay some of his debt.

Kuok deceived Dr. Chan a few years due to that incident by Singaporean actor Lim Tze Peng, who received a Cultural Medallion in 2003.

According to court records, the painting’s title,” Shui Diao Ge Tow, Foreign Ink on Paper,” refers to a song from the Song Dynasty. Dr Chan had bought it for S$ 18, 000.

Kuok noticed the artwork on a wall in Dr. Chan’s house in June 2021. He advised Dr. Chan to have it properly cleaned and pointed out some spots.

The collector gave Kuok permission to take the artwork and paid Kuok S$ 2,700 for his services, including vehicles.

Kuok, but, damaged the work by improperly cleaning the ink and using a chemical mixture. He had followed an online movie training but was unsure of how to clear the artwork.

Kuok used a picture he took before the cleaning to print a version of the artwork and place this in a light PVC pipe to cover up his error.

Kwok delivered the PVC pipe to Dr. Chan on January 24, 2022. He advised Dr. Chan to keep the artwork in the pipe because it contained nitrogen gas, which may help keep the artwork preserved.

Dr. Chan kept the tube in his business but did not open it.

When Dr. Chan confronted Kuok about the bowl at his place of employment almost two years later, he noticed a painting with similar spots to the one he had.

Kuok responded that it was a unique artwork when he inquired about it. However, Dr. Chan chose not to pursue the issue because he was focused on the bowl.

When Dr. Chan moved into his home and made the decision to redefine the decoration and hang it up, the deception surfaced in June of that year. &nbsp,

He brought the PVC pipe to a salesperson’s business, where they informed him that the artwork outside was a fake.

Up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to S$ 500, 000, or both are the penalties for obtaining advantages from legal behavior.

Kuok could receive a seven-year sentence in prison, a great, or both for a legal breach of trust. He could have been jailed for up to three years, fined, or both for lying.

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Mixue: The world’s biggest fast food firm that you’ve never heard of

Although many of us are not familiar with Mixue Ice Cream and Tea, there are more locations for it than Starbucks and Mcd.

When they began trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Monday, the balloon tea company’s shares increased by almost 30 %.

In t e fin nc al h ( b’s larges initi l publi o ferin (IPO) of th year, he com any r ised £352 $444 mil l million ).

Mixue’s reputation comes as many people in China are grappling with the government’s financial issues, including a home problems and a weak consumer and firm confidence. It charges an average of six Chinese yuan ($ 0.82 ) for ice creams and beverages.

Zhang Hongchao, a pupil at Henan University of Finance and Economics, established the business in 1997 as a part-time position to manage his family’s budget.

Its full name Mìxuě Bīngchéng means “honey snow ice city”, with its stores adorned with its Snow King mascot and playing the firm’s official theme tune on a loop.

More than 45, 000 shops are located in China and 11 different countries, including Singapore and Thailand, according to Mixue. Additionally, the business has stated that it intends to grow.

That compares to “over 43, 000 locations” for Starbucks ‘ 40, 576 outlets and McDonald’s ‘ “over 43, 000 locations.”

Although it is frequently regarded as China’s largest chain of cold drinks, bubble tea, and ice cream, it still operates more as a raw-materials provider than a conventional brand.

Nearly all of Mixue’s locations are run by owners, in contrast to Starbucks, which runs more than half of its outlets immediately.

Guming, which saw its share decline on its first day of investing in February, stands out from Mixue’s solid business album.

Shares of the owner of the bubble tea ring Chabaidao also fell on their business debut last season.

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HomeTeamNS servers hit by ransomware attack

SINGAPORE: The company announced on Monday ( Mar 3 ) that some of HomeTeamNS servers had been the victim of a ransomware attack.

On February 25, the assault was discovered.

HomeTeamNS reported that the affected machines, which included data of employees and ex-employees, as well as the car details of some members and affiliates members, were soon disabled and removed from its IT community.

There is no proof of data removal at this time, but the company is closely monitoring, it continued.

The National Service Members of the Singapore Police Force ( SPF ) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) have established a non-profit organization called HomeTeamNS.

To look into and correct the tragedy, third-party security professionals have been sought out. HomeTeamNS stated that it is cooperating with the government.

The passwords for all of our administrative records have been changed, and safety scans and routers have been strengthened further to improve networking safety, the statement read.

HomeTeamNS said it has spoken with those who have been affected to help them with hacking or illegal transactions and minimizing the impact of this event.

HomeTeamNS believes that HomeTeamNS is putting the most value on the protection of the personal information of its stakeholders.

” We are working closely with our security experts, the officers, and the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore to look into and resolve this affair.”

In ransomware assaults, threat actors generally encrypt files on servers with malicious software before demanding a payment in exchange for these files being unlocked.

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Asmita Patel: Ban on financial influencer exposes regulation cracks

1 minute ago
Archana Shukla
Asmita Patel Global School of Trading The image shows a close up photo of influencer Asmita Patel wearing a white tunic, with a digital halo around herAsmita Patel Global School of Trading

Asmita Patel, a YouTuber, wanted to “make India trade.”

The wildly acclaimed economic celebrity gave her own interpretation of the Hollywood movie The Wolf of Wall Street, calling herself the” She-Wolf of the property business.” She had hundreds of thousands of Instagram users and upwards of half a million YouTube subscribers as of last count. Her share trading programs cost thousands of rupees in costs.

Last month, the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) put a spanner in the works. It barred her and six others from trading, alleging she was selling illegal stock tips disguised as investor education and making millions of rupees in the bargain.

The bank’s crackdown on Patel is its most recent attempt to tighten the knot around social media influencers who offer quick cash schemes and trading advice hacked as education.

A wave of new mom-and-pop owners sprang out of India’s post-pandemic business growth. According to statistics from the trading Zerodha, online trading accounts increased from simply 36 million in 2019 to more than 150 million in last year.

Many of these first-time market participants relied on social media to get trading advice, which led to the development of a new type of self-declared “investment experts” or “financial celebrities” like Ms. Patel, who promoted fast profits.

These bloggers quickly filled the void by acing the 950-strong market with 1, 400 financial officials in the nation and accumulating hundreds of thousands of clients and followers.

The majority of the companies did not have governmental registration, straddling the line between property sector education and investment advice. Sebi took action in response to this, enforcing a ban on at least a few influencers, including a Bollywood professional, from providing trading advice.

Brokers and market participants are also prohibited from working with influencers who sell improper share tips or create false return claims, according to the regulator.

The controller discovered Ms. Patel and her father, Jitesh, directing pupils and investors to trade particular stocks through their consulting firm. She allegedly sold guidelines through personal Telegram stations, Zoom calls, and programs without having to register.

Sebi intervened in Ms. Patel’s event after 42 members complained of trading deficits and demanded payment. It is now attempting to capture millions of rupees that Patel and her associates made from program costs between 2021 and 2024.

A man walks past the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) headquarters in Mumbai, India, April 19, 2023.

Another influencers are put to a reputation check as the markets correct, the market slows, and authorities crack down.

In recent weeks, thousands of irate investors have accused prominent influencers of fabricating their success to buy trading courses and receive millions in brokerage referrals.

In addition, Sebi’s order in Ms. Patel’s case revealed that she had previously made just over$ 13,700 ( £10, 800 ) in trading profits but that she had also made more than$ 1.4 million ( £9 million ) selling courses.

The BBC requested a remark, but Ms Patel declined.

Sebi’s efforts to safeguard small investors are well intentioned, but its current regulatory actions have drawn criticism for being lenient and unclear.

According to Sucheta Dalal, a senior financial journalist and author, the regulator has been both a “reluctant” and” careful regulator.”

” A few years before, when trading websites started paying bloggers to promote their products, it should have acted.” This trend has grown too large right then.

Instead of imposing a clear, complete policy, the regulator, according to Sumit Agrawal, a previous Sebi officer, pointed out a few as examples.

” Curbing illegal stock tips is essential, but requiring trading schools to use three-month-old information for educational purposes and not to teach practical trading strategies on survive market passes into over-regulation,” he says.

Manish Singh, a certified accountant and YouTuber with 500,000 subscribers, creates videos about market analysis. He claims that the new regulations from Sebi had created conflict regarding what is permitted.

According to Singh,” Yet real content authors who are trying to steer people in the right direction will lose subscribers and the financial incentive of manufacturer deals will decline as confidence in working with creators is eroded.”

Getty Images A stock broker and his family watch a terminal during a special trading session for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in Mumbai, India, on November 1, 2024. Getty Images

According to Mr. Agrawal, balancing this will be challenging for the controller.

Technology is essentially destructive, and the law is often “playing catch-up.” He continues,” Sebi’s real issue is to effectively monitor online articles without over-regulating.” Importantly, the American regulator has broader authority than its counterparts in developed nations like the US.

According to Mr. Agrawal, “it has considerable power, including search and arrest power and the ability to boycott trading and freeze bank accounts without requiring a judge get.”

According to a Reuters report citing sources, the regulator has once more requested more authority to access call records and social media chats during market violations investigations involving influencer-led market violations.

According to experts, the challenge will be to make sure it doesn’t accidentally throw the baby out with the bath water.

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K-pop girl group Le Sserafim to hold first Singapore concert in August

Le Sserafim, which includes people Sakura, Chaewon, Yunjin, Kazuha, and Eunchae, made its debut in 2022 with the song Brave and has since become one of the most popular K-pop child bands, having also released The Bluebeard’s Wife, Antifragile, Eve, Psyche &amp, and Perfect Night.

Despite the party’s relatively young age, Le Sserafim has received several industry awards, including Push Performance of the Year at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards and Best Female Performance at the 2022 Melon Music Awards.

On March 14, Le Sserafim will launch its most recent mini-album, Hot.

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Afghans hiding in Pakistan live in fear of forced deportation

3 hours ago
Azadeh Moshiri and Usman Zahid

BBC News, Islamabad

BBC A 10-year-old Afghan girl with her face in her hands. BBC

“I’m scared,” sobs Nabila.

The 10-year-old’s life is limited to her one-bedroom home in Islamabad and the dirt road outside it. Since December she hasn’t been to her local school, when it decided it would no longer accept Afghans without a valid Pakistani birth certificate. But even if she could go to classes, Nabila says she wouldn’t.

“I was off sick one day, and I heard police came looking for Afghan children,” she cries, as she tells us her friend’s family were sent back to Afghanistan.

Nabila’s not her real name – all the names of Afghans quoted in this article have been changed for their safety.

Pakistan’s capital and the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi are witnessing a surge in deportations, arrests and detentions of Afghans, the UN says. It estimates that more than half of the three million Afghans in the country are undocumented.

Afghans describe a life of constant fear and near daily police raids on their homes.

Some told the BBC they feared being killed if they went back to Afghanistan. These include families on a US resettlement programme, that has been suspended by the Trump administration.

Pakistan is frustrated at how long relocation programmes are taking, says Philippa Candler, the UN Refugee Agency’s representative in Islamabad. The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) says 930 people were sent back to Afghanistan in the first half of February, double the figure two weeks earlier. At least 20% of those deported from Islamabad and Rawalpindi had documentation from the UN Refugee Agency, meaning they were recognised as people in need of international protection.

Azadeh Moshiri sits on the carpeted floor opposite a man with his back to the camera.

But Pakistan is not a party to the Refugee Convention and has previously said it does not recognise Afghans living in the country as refugees. The government has said its policies are aimed at all illegal foreign nationals and a deadline for them to leave is looming. That date has fluctuated but is now set to 31 March for those without valid visas, and 30 June for those with resettlement letters.

Many Afghans are terrified amid the confusion. They also say the visa process can be difficult to navigate. Nabila’s family believes they have only one option: to hide. Her father Hamid served in the Afghan military, before the Taliban takeover in 2021. He broke down in tears describing his sleepless nights.

“I have served my country and now I’m useless. That job has doomed me,” he said.

His family are without visas, and are not on a resettlement list. They tell us their phone calls to the UN’s refugee agency go unanswered.

The BBC has reached out to the agency for comment.

The Taliban government has previously told the BBC all Afghans should return because they could “live in the country without any fear”. It claims these refugees are “economic migrants”.

But a UN report in 2023 cast doubt on assurances from the Taliban government. It found hundreds of former government officials and armed forces members were allegedly killed despite a general amnesty.

The Taliban government’s guarantees are of little reassurance to Nabila’s family so they choose to run when authorities are nearby. Neighbours offer each other shelter, as they all try to avoid retuning to Afghanistan.

The UN counted 1,245 Afghans being arrested or detained in January across Pakistan, more than double the same period last year.

Nabila says Afghans shouldn’t be forced out. “Don’t kick Afghans out of their homes – we’re not here by choice, we are forced to be here.”

There is a feeling of sadness and loneliness in their home. “I had a friend who was here and then was deported to Afghanistan,” Nabila’s mother Maryam says.

“She was like a sister, a mother. The day we were separated was a difficult day.”

I ask Nabila what she wants to do when she’s older. “Modelling,” she says, giving me a serious look. Everyone in the room smiles. The tension thaws.

Her mother whispers to her there are plenty of other things she could be, an engineer or a lawyer. Nabila’s dream of modelling is one she could never pursue under the Taliban government. With their restrictions on girls’ education, her mother’s suggestions would also prove impossible.

A new phase

Pakistan has a long record of taking in Afghan refugees. But cross-border attacks have surged and stoked tension between the two neighbours. Pakistan blames them on militants based in Afghanistan, which the Taliban government denies. Since September 2023, the year Pakistan launched its “Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan,” 836,238 individuals have now been returned to Afghanistan.

Amidst this current phase of deportations, some Afghans are being held in the Haji camp in Islamabad. Ahmad was in the final stages of the United States’ resettlement programme. He tells us when President Donald Trump suspended it for review, he extinguished Ahmad’s “last hope”. The BBC has seen what appears to be his employment letter by a Western, Christian non-profit group in Afghanistan.

A small crowd of Afghan women hold up signs saying "USA, Our children deserve a future. Support Afghan allies in Pakistan." Another carries a photo of Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

A few weeks ago, when he was out shopping, he received a call. His three-year-old daughter was on the line. “My baby called, come baba police is here, police come to our door,” he says. His wife’s visa extension was still pending, and she was busy pleading with the police.

Ahmad ran home. “I couldn’t leave them behind.” He says he sat in a van and waited hours as police continued their raids. The wives and children of his neighbours continued trickling into the vehicle. Ahmad began receiving calls from their husbands, begging him to take care of them. They had already escaped into the woods.

His family was held for three days in “unimaginable conditions”, says Ahmad, who claims they were only given one blanket per family, and one piece of bread per day, and that their phones were confiscated. The Pakistani government says it ensures “no one is mistreated or harassed during the repatriation process”.

We attempt to visit inside Haji camp to verify Ahmad’s account but are denied entry by authorities. The BBC approached the Pakistani government and the police for an interview or statement, but no one was made available.

A woman wearing a brown headscarf faces away from the camera towards some large guarded gates. She is holding her head in her hands.

Scared of being detained or deported, some families have chosen to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Others tell us they simply can’t afford to.

One woman claims she was in the final stages of the US resettlement scheme and decided to move with her two daughters to Attock, 80km (50 miles) west of Islamabad. “I can barely afford bread,” she says.

The BBC has seen a document confirming she had an interview with the IOM in early January. She claims her family is still witnessing almost daily raids in her neighbourhood.

A spokesman for the US embassy in Islamabad has said it is in “close communication” with Pakistan’s government “on the status of Afghan nationals in the US resettlement pathways”.

Outside Haji camp’s gates, a woman is waiting. She tells us she has a valid visa but her sister’s has expired. Her sister is now being held inside the camp, along with her children. The officers would not let her visit her family, and she is terrified they will be deported. She begins weeping, “If my country was safe, why would I come here to Pakistan? And even here we cannot live peacefully.”

She points to her own daughter who is sitting in their car. She was a singer in Afghanistan, where a law states women cannot be heard speaking outside their home, let alone singing. I turn to her daughter and ask if she still sings. She stares. “No.”

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Work It Podcast: Making the career pivot from flying to coding

Being upfront about your job goals would be one of the most important things to think about because a career change is already very difficult.

Wealth is unquestionably a major factor in why individuals choose to travel by public transportation. If money is the only thing that matters, it’s not very responsible, though, if not for economic gain.

For me, I give my loved ones more time and enjoy the process of constant learning. Additionally, it is important to conduct research in the field before choosing the career path you want to pursue. therefore, check out their work messages. Look for the knowledge they are requesting in those job postings, and see if there is a practical way to do so rather than just pursuing those “hype” skills. They might be able to stay together for a year or two, but the main goal is long-term balance.

I did check the government’s studies on the demand for jobs, and I made sure that this position would be available until my retirement. &nbsp,

Tiffany:
Do you still have issues with your struggles now that you have gotten the work? &nbsp,

Jane:
I occasionally consider myself to be a software engineer. I’m still regarded as a very young application engineer within my team. I have elders in my path. I still have a digital leg to take.

Tiffany:
And there aren’t many women ( in tech ), right? &nbsp,

Jane:
certainly many. Maybe I really don’t know what they are writing when I look at the script. I’m like,” Oh, we’re all applications designers, how come I don’t know what you’re writing?” Am I definitely a technology developer?

Tiffany: 
How do you get past that, then? When these ideas occur.

Jane:

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