Be upfront about Chinese New Year surcharges, consumer watchdog tells retailers

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LOW SALES AT Fair

Some stalls at the monthly Chinese New Year fair in Chinatown are slashing prices in a last-ditch try to brush in some profit, yet as consumers are shopping for must-have products regardless of what they cost.

This comes amid bad business, which sellers attributed to the persistent rain. &nbsp,

Sales have decreased by 30 % this year, according to those who also hawked their goods last year.

” I used to only sell one for Singapore$ 1. I’m currently selling eight for$ 1. If I don’t do this nobody will buy. Now … It is selling a lot”, said one stallholder selling decorations. &nbsp,

The Chinatown Festivals Committee hopes that sales will increase following its annual countdown on Tuesday night.

” Right after the countdown party, there’s also going to be a lot of amazing promotions, and we really hope to encourage more Singaporeans to come here and do last-minute Chinese New Year shopping”, said the committee’s head of public relations Luo Chen Jun. &nbsp,

While stalls close at 10.30pm daily, some will stay open until 1am on the fair’s final day on Tuesday.

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BII, FMO and SUSI partners team up to support SEA’s energy transition | FinanceAsia

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British International Investment ( BII ), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, has announced the launch of Sustainable Asia Renewable Assets ( SARA ), a new utility-scale renewable energy platform. SUSI Partners and Dutch growth bank FMO have been co-founded by SARA.

¬ Plaza Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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Japan’s Fuji TV: Top executives resign after Masahiro Nakai sex scandal

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In response to a sexual misconduct claim made against a well-known TV host, the chairman and president of one of Japan’s biggest network, Fuji TV, resigned.

The system, which was criticized for trying to cover up the controversy, has since removed thousands of company advertisements.

Masahiro Nakai was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a 2023 dinner party allegedly organised by Fuji TV staff. He announced his retirement from show business last week.

Fuji TV needs to regain the trust of viewers and sponsors, according to the Chinese government.

Shuji Kano, leader of Fuji TV, and Koichi Minato, both gave a press conference on Monday to make their resignations known. It arrived soon after a board meeting of disaster.

They thanked viewers and stakeholders for the problem and worry caused by a controversy that has shaken Japan’s entertainment sector.

” I feel deeply the fat of my duty for undermining confidence in the media,” said Mr. Minato. ” Looking back, I realise there were deficiencies in our answer”.

Mr. Minato had earlier acknowledged that the business was aware of the allegations against Nakai immediately after the alleged incident occurred. However, Fuji Television made the decision to not reveal it at the moment because he had argued that it prioritized the woman’s physical and mental healing as well as the safety of her privacy.

Nakai reportedly paid the unnamed woman more than$ 500,000 last month. Therefore more allegations surfaced that a Fuji TV staff had assisted in the dinner party’s planning.

Nakai, a well-known face and former participant of the child group SMAP, has denied using violence against the person. He has also said that he had “resolved” the problem with her through a lawsuit.

However, this failed to suppress open resentment.

Nissan and Toyota, two automakers, were among those that canceled Fuji TV’s marketing.

The incident “exposes major flaws in your business governance,” according to investment firm Rising Sun Management, the majority shareholder in the parent company of Fuji TV.

Since then, Fuji Television has established an impartial panel to look into the incident.

Executive vice president Kenji Shimizu, who did succeed Mr. Minato as president, stated that he would “never bear deeds that violate human rights” and would work with Mr. Minato to start from scratch in order to stop similar situations.

The community suspended a regular show hosted by Nakai earlier this month, and other major systems have even dropped the reporter.

Following rumors that similar dinner events involving stars are a popular practice in the industry, other TV networks have made their own investigations public.

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Man fined for injuring colleague’s neck while trying to massage him

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SINGAPORE: A man who permanently injured his colleague while massaging him was fined S$ 3, 000 ( US$ 2, 230 ) on Monday ( Jan 27 ). &nbsp,

Ng Jian Ye Eugene, 32, admitted to causing severe harm as a result of an omission that endangered some ‘ personal protection. The victim’s throat was twisted, causing him to sputter or pressure during a phone call at their place of employment. &nbsp,

Mr. Suang Wijaya and  Mr. Hamza Malik from Eugene Thuraisingam LLP noted that he had represented Singapore in Wushu in his prevention appeal. He received instruction from his coach in sports massage, and he also practices Muay Thai and massage for his friends and coworkers often. &nbsp,

The defense claimed that” these treatments are intended to and had helped his colleagues and friends with their discomfort, pain, and muscle symptoms.” &nbsp,

On November 11, 2022, Ng approached the prey from behind while the victim was using a microphone to speak to a client on the phone in the office. &nbsp,

He placed one finger on the top of the victim’s mind and the other on the victim’s neck, and then twisted the victim’s chest once in a circular path and once in an anti-clockwise way.

Ng had massaged the victim several days at the latter’s request, and had massaged him in” the regular way” on the day of the event, the army claimed. &nbsp,

Since the victim, 31, was on a call, he did not react and Ng walked away. &nbsp,

The victim later complained of discomfort in his neck after the call ended, so he went to a clinic later that evening. There, he was diagnosed with a sprained neck and given five days of medical leave. &nbsp,

The victim was directed to have an MRI scan on November 16, 2022, which revealed several levels of disc desiccation. He continued to feel pain in his neck. &nbsp,

Disc desiccation is the gradual loss of hydration, or water, from an intervertebral disc in the spine. &nbsp,

On November 24, 2022, the victim consulted an orthopaedic surgeon who determined that he had suffered a cervical sprain or strain. Additionally, the doctor determined that the victim did not have pre-existing conditions and gave him a hospitalization leave until Jan. 25, 2024. &nbsp,

The victim informed the human resources department of their employer about the incident, and the department said they would treat their report as an accident at work, which might allow him to receive compensation from the Ministry of Manpower ( MOM) for the cost of his medical treatment. &nbsp,

The company, TDCX, objected to an assessment that&nbsp, the victim had sustained a permanent incapacity. The Work Injury Compensation Board finalized the assessment of” 15 per cent permanent incapacity” in September 2023 after MOM referred him to a specialist panel. &nbsp,

On December 8 of that year, the victim reported to the police. &nbsp,

The defense referred to a letter from a mutual friend who met the victim a month after the incident as a reassuring factor. In her testimony, she claimed that the victim “acted completely normally” and “did not show any signs of distress”. &nbsp,

The defence noted that this was a more superficial observation, but stressed that” contemporaneous” observation should be taken into account. &nbsp,

Due to the unsigned and undated nature of the document, Deputy Public Prosecutor Melissa Heng urged the court to not give weight to the letter from this testimony. &nbsp,

She continued, stating that this does not constitute proof that the victim was actually not in any distress or pain at the time. The medical report provided the most reliable information regarding the victim’s injuries. &nbsp,

Even though Ng had massaged coworkers or people close to him, he was still a novice masseuse, according to Ms Heng, who added that the workplace is not a place for a proper massage. &nbsp,

Up to two years in prison, a fine of up to S$ 5, 000, or both are the penalties for causing grievous harm to anyone for a negligent act.

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When weight matters: How EnterpriseSG officers ensure shoppers get what they pay for

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Bee Cheng Hiang, who makes bak kwa, or grilled meat jerky, claimed the network also makes sure measurements are made pretty. The weighing system is kept up, but team members also take extra care to set it up on a level surface.

” Every day before we weigh the goods, we will examine the level built into our level so that the readings are correct”, said Mr Liew Jiew Chiang, officer at the agency’s Bugis Village store.

MAKING SURE WEIGHTS ARE Appropriate

Earlier this month, CNA followed officers from the Weights and Measures Office of Enterprise Singapore ( EnterpriseSG) to the two stores, which are popular during the Chinese New Year season, for their spot checks on weighing instruments.

The soldiers checked the accuracy brands on the current scales, which are appropriate for a time. &nbsp, Checks are even carried out at shops, goldsmiths and yet Chinese ka cuisine stalls.

Authorities discovered 280 expired labels and unsubstantiated scales at consumer-facing businesses next month, which is about a 66 % increase from the previous year, despite the two stores passing the test.

Around 1, 200 place checks are done islandwide every month, for real stores and online businesses.

Beatrice Wong, the chairman of the Weights and Measures Office, attributed the increase to more precise assessments conducted on-site.

More specific checks would mean, for instance, that we would use data analysis to find locations where the tools or the accuracy label have already expired and that we would go down and especially check those locations, she told CNA.

Flouting the laws or having expired names could mean a great up to S$ 5, 000, &nbsp, three times ‘ prison, or both.

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Last maid involved in fight between domestic workers over TikTok videos fined

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The combat, which took place on May 19, 2024, came after Sriani posted video on TikTok disrespectful Sulastri. As a result, the two parties were not on good terms. &nbsp,

Sriani drank alcohol at a group that evening, which lasted until 11o’clock, and slept until 2o’clock at Paya Lebar Square.

Siti, Sulastri, Nita, and others were spotted by the rival team at a meeting at the Tanjong Katong Complex when Siti suggested visiting Paya Lebar Square to fight Sriani over the TikTok article.

At about 2.40pm, they found Sriani sleeping and Sulastri kicked her hands, waking her up.

They started fighting and attracted a crowd of around 50 spectators after the two teams of girls had a heated argument.

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Singapore objects to ‘false portrayal’ of country in New York Times ‘tyranny’ video featuring Li Shengwu

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GOVERNMENT’S Email

The Singapore authorities responded to NYT’s inquiries in December 2024 by saying that Mr. Lee Hsien Yang’s claims and complaints in the Jan 11 article are intended to “distract global interest” from the fact that the pair was found by the judge to have misled his parents in the murder of his last will and testament.

They have also lied under oath, said the government.

The court determined that Mrs. Lee Suet Fern had “blindly followed the directions of her husband, a significant beneficiary under the very will she helped rush through, and had “acted with complete disregard for the interests ” of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.

Mr. Lee Hsien Yang claimed that the saga surrounding 38 Oxley Road had made him aware that there are “fundamental issues in the way Singapore is governed and run”.

The government referred to this as a “grandiose claim” as a way to distract attention from the fact that the couple were found by the court to have lied under oath.

According to the statement, the Singapore government has never ‘maintained that it can function without any checks on its power.

The government, it said, is subject to laws enforced by an independent judiciary and is answerable to an elected parliament. Additionally, it is held accountable to the citizens of Singapore through open elections, which have consistently been held at regular intervals since its independence.

Mr Lee Hsien Yang had also considered contesting in the last General Election, only to “back off ” at the last minute, said the government.

According to the statement, Mr. Lee Hsien Yang described his father’s political legacy as being “deeply offensive to and disrespectful to his father” and that it was “obviously intended to win some in the West”.

According to the government, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s younger son had claimed that the ministerial committee at 38 Oxley Road did not do so.

Mrs. Lee Suet Fern’s professional conduct was investigated by the disciplinary tribunal and the Court of Three Judges during Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s last will execution.

The Ministerial Committee received representations from all of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s children, far from being” secret.” It later published its findings, ” said the government.

The committee was established to determine options for the 38 Oxley Road future.

According to the government, it examined Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes regarding the house and discovered that he was willing to accept other options besides demolition, as he had stated in his last will and on other occasions, including a letter to the Cabinet.

“Decisions on 38 Oxley Road were and continue to be made transparently, following due process, ” it added.

Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, the country’s prime minister, had resisted all discussions on the subject. In his current capacity as a senior minister, he does so.

No government agency consults him or members of his family on any decisions involving 38 Oxley Road. ”

Additionally, Mr. Lee Hsien Yang claimed that his older brother and his wife Mdm Ho Ching wanted to use 38 Oxley Road to “milk Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy for their own political goals ” and that they had “dynastic ambitions for their son”.

These charges are baseless, said the government.

In December 2015, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong sold the home to his younger brother after the will had been deeded to him and made a donation to charity.

He had previously offered to give the house to his sister for$ 1. He did all of this voluntarily months before his siblings revealed their disagreement with their brother, according to the government.

Mr Lee Hsien Loong’s son, Mr Li Hongyi, has repeatedly stated he has no wish to enter politics. None of his children have shown any interest in this.

“None has done anything to even vaguely suggest political interest, ” said the government.

It took note of a separate report from the Financial Times, which claimed Mr. Lee Hsien Yang and his wife had claimed that the Singapore government had persecuted their family to “block any chance” that Mr. Li Shengwu might become prime minister in Singapore and “one day rise to the position of prime minister.”

“This has left many wondering if it is n’t Lee Hsien Yang himself who harbours ‘dynastic ambitions’, ” said the government.

Addressing Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s claim that he was not jealous or envious of his older brother, the government said readers can judge what “really prompted ” him to launch this “extravagant vendetta” against his brother.

He has reportedly launched an international campaign against Singapore and his parents ‘ legacy because it has consumed him, according to the government.

“ While claiming to fulfil his father’s wish to demolish the house, he does n’t hesitate to demolish all that his father had built in Singapore. “

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Scammer in love scam involving Singapore actor Laurence Pang doctored photos of former Star Search finalist

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In the days following the revelation that Singapore actor Laurence Pang had lost S$35,000 in a love scam, former Star Search 2019 finalist Vanessa Ho has shared that her pictures had been misappropriated and doctored by the scammers to cheat Pang.

The 25-year-old influencer said a friend had highlighted how the purported images of the scammer – used in an Instagram Reel by Singapore-based news outlet Mothership to report the love scam – resembled Ho’s.

According to Ho, one photo was taken from a mattress advertisement she did in May 2023. Another was from a lunch at a Japanese restaurant she posted in November 2023.

Ho initially accused Mothership of editing her pictures for their story. However, she later admitted on her Instagram Stories that Mothership wouldn’t have known better and apologised for her outburst.

Ho claimed that the initial copywriting by Mothership “was unclear” but thanked the outlet for making amendments.

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Mediacorp DJ Joakim Gomez reflects on Singapore Idol past, is at peace with being known as ‘failed singer’ from the show

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One of the investigators, Stephanie Fam, started off by apologising to Gomez– saying she had been asking a extremely delicate issue. She went on to say that she “used to hate the tv DJ” in the past.

” I didn’t think you deserve to be in Singapore Hero in the first place”, said Fam. ” At least I didn’t believe you deserved to advance as far as you did.”

Then, when she inquired about Gomez’s response to her,” I would include hated myself on Singapore Hero as well,” he bravely responded,” I would have hated myself there as well.”

How can this awful Joakim Gomez singer get replaced with a better singer, not this one? asked Gomez.

He continued, praising his close friends and family for cheering him up when he was “very unhappy” and “felt the entire world was against]him.”

Gomez, however, refused to “victimise himself” and in addition to his support system, added that” therapy]was ] always available”.

Gomez was forced to answer concerns about his Hero days at other times throughout the season.

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Retrenchments in Singapore fall in 2024, employment growth slows: Advance estimates

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EMPLOYMENT GROWTH SLOWED

Singapore’s full career continued to grow in 2024 although the progress slowed.

Total employment growth in 2024 is expected to be 45,500, lower than the 78,800 increase in 2023, when the number of work force buyers rose considerably.

After experiencing a decrease in the previous month, native work increased in 2024.

In 2024, more people were employed in higher-skilled areas including specialist services, financial solutions as well as in health and social services.

“On the other hand, non-resident career development moderated in 2024 compared to 2023, with getting in building driving up job of work permit buyers, ” said MOM.  

Total employment growth fell in the fourth quarter to 8,700 from 22,300 in the third quarter. However, this was still higher compared with the last quarter in 2023, when it was 3,900.

Demand for residents in growth sectors remained strong, with employment increases in key sectors such as professional services, financial services, and health and social services.

” There was also an uptick in retail trade due to year-end seasonal hiring, following declines in earlier quarters,” it added.  

Similar to previous quarters, non-resident employment increased primarily as a result of employers ‘ inability to find enough permanent employees to fill positions.

Non-resident employment declined in outward-oriented sectors such as information and communications, and insurance services.

OUTLOOK 

With the improving economic environment, Singapore’s labour market is expected to maintain its growth trajectory going forward, said MOM.  

According to the ministry’s polls, the percentage of businesses anticipating hiring more workers increased from 43 % in September to 46 % in December.

About 32 % of companies polled in December said they planned to raise wages, up from 16 % in September.

” Nevertheless, given the sustained uncertainty in the global economy, employers and workers need to press on with transformation and upskilling to adapt to changes and seize new opportunities,” said MOM.  

It was pointed out that as the resident workforce ages and shrinks over time, employers must acknowledge the need for increasing manpower.  

There is only limited headroom for resident employment to continue growing, according to the ministry with an already high resident labor force participation rate by international standards and low resident unemployment.  

Employers must invest in human capital development to maximize the potential of their employees.

We will need to remain open to foreign investments and global talent, which will in turn lead to more opportunities for local businesses and high-quality jobs for Singaporeans, in order to maintain Singapore’s economic competitiveness and complement our resident workforce. “

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