How Singaporean Sharon Wong’s retail empire Motherswork came of age amid a turbulent retail landscape

On: May 11, 2024

Putting aside the diversion, agility is what allows for the creation of a enduring company in a competitive environment. Beyond just being in different time zones, operating a firm across various nations in the 2000s presented many difficulties. Building and maintaining successful conversation was quite challenging”, shared Wong. She “learnt to let go” and focused on her common manager to handle the “quotidian jobs” while putting her focus on purchasing and developing long-term interactions with global companies in America and Australia.

In China, she made advances in the intervening years, and she succeeded in catching up with the force and demands of a rapidly iterating business. ” The Chinese are very intelligent, and they learn very hard”, she reflected. There were original mistakes, when navigating the country’s vague regulations. For using a false mark, the business was fined. For Wong, it was an object lesson in exposed. She said,” You just have to adapt and comprehend that each business is quite different from what we’re used to in Singapore,” adding that.

She has a parenting style that is more flexibly Western-slanting than the Eastern Tiger Mom, which, in her opinion, resembles the Asian Tiger Mother. ” We wanted to raise content, kind and compassionate children”, she asserted.

Therefore, when her thick child, Nicola, faltered, two years into her law career, the unfailing mother encouraged her to do different passions.

” I said to her,’ It’s time to allow come now. It’s not your cup of tea,'” recalled Wong. ” She said,’ Mother you did n’t raise no quit.’ But it’s not about leaving. It’s about finding a unique voyage and chemistry”, she added. Nicola, who she’s described as stubborn and comparable to her in character, is then undertaking a article- doctoral degree in philosophy and theater in Melbourne.

KNOW YOUR TECH

Caterer Sakura Buffet gets licence cancelled over food safety; consumers warned against 12 linked businesses

By: Marcus Ching

On: May 11, 2024

In: South-East Asia

SFA conducted checks at Sakura Buffet’s facilities at&nbsp, Geylang Bahru from March to May, uncovering some food safety errors.

” These include keeping its premises clean and falsely labeling the time-stamped meal,” SFA said.

The&nbsp, food security control system&nbsp, required of food companies was likewise poorly implemented at the grounds, it added.

SFA said that it had&nbsp, taken enforcement actions against Sakura Buffet on 4 individual events- between&nbsp, November 2023 and April 2024- for different food safety and hygiene lapses.

” In spite of this, the corporation was obstinate and failed to improve”.

To “protect users against any more food security violations”, SFA cancelled&nbsp, Sakura Buffet’s licensing on Friday. It will no longer be allowed to&nbsp, operate at their registered facilities. &nbsp,

SFA is currently conducting additional inquiries into the circumstances that have been reported.

As a security measure, SFA even advised customers to avoid placing orders with the few Sakura Buffet-related businesses.

Clients who are impacted by the situation may contact the businesses immediately or file a complaint with the CASE or Small Claims Courts.

Before placing any orders, customers are even advised to check the food caterer’s SFA registration.

22 consumer complaints about Sakura Buffet and its online businesses were submitted to the Consumer Association of Singapore ( CASE ) between May 8 and May 10.

Customers reported that these businesses allegedly broke promises to deliver their meals, and they also failed to specify when they would fulfill their contractual obligations, according to CASE leader Melvin Yong.

Buyers should be able to receive a full payment of the unused portion of their contracted orders, according to CASE.

The company is responsible for meeting food security and licensing needs. Additionally, it’s vague when the company will be able to fix its food security problems and resume operations.

Cat licensing rules to start on Sep 1, with two-year transition period for owners to adapt

By: Marcus Ching

On: May 11, 2024

In: South-East Asia

Also, cat owners are required to take reasonable precautions to protect their animals from danger and make sure they are kept in a secure environment. To stop the cat from scurrying or falling from level, mesh, bumpers, displays, or other barriers must be installed.

Cat users will also need to make sure their pets are kept in check when they are out in people. Users can use a strap or put their cat in a carrier to keep it from scurrying readily, for instance. &nbsp,

Dog CAT STERILISATION SUPPORT Program

Reduced- income households can get help from AVS via its Pet Cat Sterilisation Support (PCSS) program, which will give completely sterilisation and microchipping. &nbsp,

By facilitating early intervention, the program aims to stop the unexpected rearing of pet animals belonging to households that are unable to obtain sterilization. Additionally, it aims to address the negative effects of the overpopulation of cats cats on dog welfare, according to AVS. &nbsp,

Starting September 1, more information about eligibility requirements and the registration procedure will be available.

During the change, rabbit fosterers will also receive assistance. As long as they can make sure the cats ‘ health and welfare are taken care of, they will be able to apply for license to use AVS’ Pet Animal Licensing System.

Fosterers are a significant part of kitten management, according to AVS. &nbsp,

” AVS will collaborate with HDB and other animal welfare organization partners to develop recommendations for cat fosterers and examine whether responsible fosterers who adhere to these guidelines may be permitted to keep more cat.” AVS may proceed with this in a series of steps and will provide more information as necessary,” it continued. &nbsp,

The model for cat administration was welcomed by the Cat Welfare Society.

” WS is pleased to see that the proposed registration terms generally conform to the concerned cat ownership recommendations we have advocated for. In an Instagram post, it stated,” We are pleased to see our work raise the minimum standards of care for pet cats in Singapore.” &nbsp,

The guidelines establish a standardized level of care and establishes clear standards for responsible cat rights, according to the recommendations. &nbsp,

Malaysia football: Mystery attacks on players overshadow season start

By: Marcus Ching

On: May 11, 2024

In: Asia

Following a number of problems, serious concerns about player health are raising for Malaysia’s football season.

The national team’s first donation game of the season will be canceled on Friday due to the three national staff people who have been assaulted this month.

After an ammonia attack last weekend in a store, one of the victims, wing Faisal Halim, was left in critical situation.

Police have yet to create a goal, or whether the occurrences are linked.

Malaysia’s sports association has urged large- account players to get precautions, including hiring bodyguards.

After being sprayed with acids while shopping near Kuala Lumpur’s capital on May 5, Faisal Halim was seriously burned.

The 25- yr- ancient legend midfielder has since undergone body graft surgery. He is responding, according to sports officials, who still has him in intensive treatment.

According to local media reports, authorities are examining a suspect’s prints while they are at the store.

Safiq Harim, 36, was unharmed in a separate incident when he was confronted by hammer-wielding people who had smashed into his car’s bonnet.

A second person, Akhyar Rashid, 26, was attacked by pirates outside his house.

The year- starting Charity Shield activity was cancelled on Friday, after Faisal’s team, Selangor FC, withdrew.

Related Issues

Malaysia

Australia tries to stop a violence against women ‘epidemic’, starting with schools

By: Marcus Ching

On: May 11, 2024

In: Asia

Women hold signs at a rally to call for action to end violence against women, in Canberra, Australia 28 April 2024.

By Katy Watson

BBC Sydney editor

” But, let’s talk about porn”, says Ethan West to the school of American youth. Most look somewhat unpleasant. All are unusually silent.

Would pornographic films have a relationship in which the stars discuss their feelings or consent? he continues. More solitude.

At Kellyville High School, northeast of Sydney, this is just one challenging discussion the 15- year- olds may become having today.

There is n’t much off limits on the Love Bites program, which the national charity Napcan has given to thousands of students. From sexist jokes and coercive control to sexual assault and brutal jealousy-fueled assaults.

The “respectful marriage knowledge” title sounds a little drab. However, it is being presented in light of this nation’s “national issue” of violence against women. attempting to alter the behaviors and attitudes that have contributed to that society at its base.

The problem came into sharper focus after the high-profile stabbing deaths of six people last month in Sydney’s Bondi Junction shopping center, where police claimed it appeared “obvious” that perpetrator Joel Cauchi had targeted people.

In the month since then, at least three American people have been murdered, reportedly by colleagues or exes.

According to Destroy the Joint, a battle organization that oversees the Counting Dead Women task, 28 women have been brutally murdered in Australia this year. Next month, it was 15 at the same time.

In 2023, 64 people were killed by one known to them. The Counting Dead Women venture in the UK, which has more than half the population, reported that the figure was 100.

Tens of thousands of people in Australia took part in marches two weeks ago that demanded that sexist violence been declared a national crisis.

” For a younger woman growing up in Australia it’s terrible, knowing these things are happening”, says student Shriya, who listens attentively at the back of the classroom as the group is given little cards with statements like as “equality”,” prostitute- shaming” and” sending unnecessary nudes”.

They’re asked to place the statements along a series of masking tape on the floor- labelled “respect and assent society” at one end, and “violence and abuse society” at the other.

According to Tara Gleig, a scholar support agent who helps with Love Bites,” Think of the collection today as a metaphor for your colon feeling.” ” Your brain will tell you when something’s not right. I’d like to let you know where that is.

Ethan West, a senior officer with New South Wales Police, wanted to “fix” what he called an “epidemic” due to his encounter with domestic violence calls.

” Every two minutes police are called to a domestic violence position in Australia”, he says. And he thinks that for the younger generation, home crime is on a “new field”.

” All online- there’s stalking, abuse. And sending sensual images poses a lot of problems in relationships. Younger people regularly share naked pictures. The relationship does end and they’re shared with another. That’s a private violence infraction”.

Growing up in Australia, Kya, 16, is “on top” due to the threat of assault, the micro-aggressions of discriminatory jokes, and the perception that she is less valued than the males in her course and neighborhood.

” There are so many new developments in society, but this is still something that’s happening”, she says. ” You have someone making a sexist comment]but ] really it’s not that difficult to evolve from”.

She believes that more kids in her year group should” step off,” even though some are unwaveringly determined to do more.

” As a man, I feel the need to be more muscular, more strong”, says Izaiah- the chattiest of the guys in the program we observe.

” Marriage crime is very critical. Being an American student and learning about it is a large component of growing up.

However, it’s challenging to achieve shift. 10 years before, Rosie Batty’s brother John was killed by his parents, Greg Anderson. Although Ms. Batty rose to prominence as one of the nation’s leading advocates for family violence, more devastationful events have often reignited the national conversation.

These include the deaths of youth Lilie James and her husband Paul Thijssen, who had a liminal marriage with her, and Hannah Clarke and her three young children, who were killed by her ex-husband Rowan Baxter in 2020.

So while the new wave of violence against girls has prompted state and federal governments to step up, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s call for change to occur across all of culture is dangerously comfortable.

So too are different problems. Only three of the issues that keep popping up are: a lack of mental health help, generally underwhelming police responses to domestic violence complaints, and the over-representation of indigenous Australians as both family violence victims and perpetrators.

In the end, Tara Gleig says, “Education for younger people and this program going into colleges is one element of a very, very large puzzle.” ” To be able to make change and]make ] that generational culture, societal change, it has to be a collaborative approach”.

Another group initiative aims to accomplish that in Melbourne’s internal suburbs under the floodlights of a cloudy Australian Rules soccer pitch. The sports field, one of Australia’s most infamously rebellious segments, is where they want to make changes.

Matthew Holmes pictured at an Australian Rules football club

” I’ve played footy since I was a kid”, says Matthew Holmes, who at the age of 38 has heard lots of locker room talk. ” I’ve been to teams where it was quite blokey, which was good in and of itself,” said one participant,” but it did seem to devolve, especially once you start having alcohol.”

He is much happier that he is now playing for West Brunswick, a fast-growing team that created a women’s team in response to the demand from female players. The shift has quietly, and very intentionally, altered the lifestyle there.

More equitable changing areas are being constructed, and they’ve likewise incorporated some outside assistance.

According to Dominic Alford of Relationships Australia Victoria, whose Good Clubs initiative aims to combat identity murder through sport,” a lot of women and gender- different people are wanting to play sports and they’re coming into clubs that are usually male-dominated.”

” Those clubs face a challenge of making the change to include those people,” he said. We discuss developing strong relationships and cultivating resilience so that they can engage in those conversations not only within their respective sporting clubs but also within their communities and personal lives.

He claims that there have been numerous inquiries from sports clubs and workplaces as a result of the recent headlines about the high-profile killing of women in Australia.

It’s deeply personal for Kristy de Pelligrini, who remembers her younger days around football clubs. We ran the canteen, ran the netball team, and did other tasks all around the place. The guys had to play footy before it was over. She currently plays for one of the three women’s soccer teams in West Brunswick.

Nahkita Wolfe, a teammate, was informed when she was 11 that she had to stop playing Australian Rules football.

She claims that sport defines Australian culture and identity. ” It’s something that unites us, it’s something that brings us together, but yet… for half the population we’re often not welcomed into those communities and that’s obviously really distressing”.

It’s a chasm which plays into a much bigger problem.

” You speak to any woman pretty much, we’ll be able to tell you about experiences of sexual assault, domestic violence, different things that they’ve experienced and I’m no exception”, says Nahkita.

” Many of the experiences I’ve had are related to men who have been able to get away with it because they’ve always been able to get away with everything because they’re good at sports,” he said.

Change has been slow- but there is movement.

” There were definitely some comments that these days you would n’t walk past anymore- things like’ girls ca n’t play footy’ or ‘ you play like a girl,'” says 26- year- old Conor Fowler, who’s been playing Australian Rules football since he was a boy.

What do you mean by “people are ] asking a question now when they might hear something,” as you might say? And a straightforward question like that prompts reflection on their statements.

While the recent wave of violence has inspired people to consider how to address the issue, those in the field of gender violence contend that government-funded initiatives are not the panacea.

Money is always important, but everyone’s a problem, according to Senior Constable West. If everyone plays their part, no matter how much money is spent, because if we work together, we’ll make a difference. Not enough people are pursuing and championing a problem that can be solved by money.

Auxiliary police officer charged with carrying loaded gun at Bugis+ shopping mall

By: Marcus Ching

On: May 11, 2024

In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: A 27- year- old supplementary police officer was charged in court on Saturday ( May 11 ) for carrying a firearm at Bugis shopping center. &nbsp,

Heng Jun Hao is accused of carrying a loaded Taurus revolver on the second floor of the plaza between 8 p.m. on Thursday and around 12 a.m. on Friday. &nbsp,

The weapon was loaded with five rounds of ammunition, court records said.

The Singaporean has been remanded at Changi Prison’s Complex Medical Centre for evaluation. &nbsp,

After security firm Certis alerted the officers on Thursday, an employee of Certis failed to return his service pistol and weapons. &nbsp,

The guy, who was deployed at Changi Airport, even did not return his stick to the arsenal. &nbsp,

When the authorities arrived, the man had now left his office with the weapon, 10 rounds of ammunition and stick. The officers then used closed- loop broadcast (CCTV ) images and cameras to create his whereabouts.

More than 100 soldiers from the Criminal Investigation Department, Police Intelligence Department, Central Police Division, Bedok Police Division, Airport Police Division and Special Operations Command responded to the event. He was arrested two- and- a- half days afterwards at Bugis which is along Victoria Street. His case contained the goods that were discovered.

From personal blog to thriving art community, Mama on Palette is where mums heal and find joy through art

By: Marcus Ching

On: May 11, 2024

In: South-East Asia

Joyce Orallo Lim was one of the mothers Yu met in 2018. The mother of Lim’s two-year-old brother was a stay-at-home mother at the time.

I enjoyed creating flowering concrete and painting pieces, but when I became a mother, I thought my artistic career was over, Lim told CNA Women. She and Yu first spoke through a relaxed all-women gathering where Yu explained the fancy playdates she was organizing. &nbsp,

” It captured my interest because she loves arts and she’s a mum”, Lim said. ” I remember thinking,’ That’s me. I’m hardly only after all.'”

After meeting Lim and other like-minded mothers, Yu realized how excited these ladies were about mother and art, and made the decision to take Mama on Palette to the next level. &nbsp,

After the 2021 pandemic restrictions were lifted, Yu began organizing Mama on Palette while still juggling her full-time position as a selling director. &nbsp,

She established an executive committee, worked on formal partnerships, and gave the public access to the people ‘ artwork. &nbsp,

Making the decision included creating a paid membership program for S$$ 50 per month that included networking opportunities for mothers, business owners, and workshops to help women launch their craft businesses. This program includes priority access to the ability to collaborate with partnering galleries, priority access to the ability to sell one’s painting, and access to networking opportunities for partnering galleries.

All participation and event registration costs are channelled into running activities, paying artists and factory mediators, and maintaining the group. &nbsp,

The National Library Board and Mama on Palette collaborated for the first time in 2021, when people ‘ works were displayed at the Central Public Library.

Kashmir: Why Modi’s BJP is not fighting elections in the Himalayan region

By: Marcus Ching

On: May 11, 2024

In: Asia

Security is being beefed up ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit to Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, on March 6, 2024. Army, CRPF, and JK Police personnel are being deployed. Thousands of BJP flags are being installed in the city.

By Auqib Javeed

Srinagar, Kashmir

The Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP), which has been in power for more than four years, has decided to boycott the region’s general election this year.

Social analysts and opposition leaders claim that the group’s acknowledgment of the walk and its anger in the region suggests this.

For decades, Kashmir and Delhi have had strained relations. Over the past three years, an rebellion against Indian rule and military actions against it have claimed the lives of thousands in the Himalayan area.

In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration divided Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir into two officially administered regions, revoking nearly all of Article 370, which had significantly granted the place its independence under the Indian Constitution.

Additionally, the government imposed a tight contact ban and put in months-long jailbreaks for hundreds of social leaders, including three former chief ministers.

Since then, Mr Modi and his officials have repeatedly championed the 2019 selection, claiming that it has brought tranquility to the area.

Local Republican leaders have also made significant efforts over the past few years to grow their base in Kashmir through door-to-door campaigns.

Some people have not been aware of the group’s decision to support the upcoming general election, which is the first in the area since Article 370 was removed. ( The BJP has candidates for two of Jammu’s three seats with Muslim-majority in Jammu. )

The BJP’s key director in Jammu and Kashmir asserts that their top priority is to “win the hearts of the people” rather than elections.

” We did n’t want to create the impression that we have done this exercise just to win seats,” Sunil Seth said.” It took us 75 years to fully integrate Kashmir with the rest of the country.”

The party management, according to reviewers, believes this is because it is aware that winning in the area would not have been simple.

While the “achievement” may sell in other states, removing the special status of the Himalayan region has n’t gone down well with the people here, says Noor Ahmad Baba, a political analyst.

Rapid Action Force personnel stand guard at a roadblock ahead of the Muslim Friday noon prayers in Jammu on August 9, 2019, after the Indian government stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its autonomy

Opposition leaders claim that Mr. Modi’s gathering hoped to prevent the vote from becoming a referendum on its 2019 choice.

” If people were happy with the abrogation of Article 370, the BJP would n’t have hesitated to fight”, says Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister of the region and a member of the National Conference (NC ) party.

” But they do n’t want to expose themselves, and to save their face, they have decided not to contest”.

In Jammu and Kashmir, voting takes place in five stages. Apart from Mr Abdullah’s NC, those in the fray include the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ), the Peoples Conference (PC ) and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party. India’s main opposition group Congress is likewise contesting.

The BJP is supporting the PC and Apni Party in the elections, according to NC and PDP leaders, who have consistently called them their “proxies.”

The BJP has n’t made any official announcements about an empire. However, BJP options told the BBC that some of its supporters have hideouts in northern and central Kashmir. Next month, the group’s local main Ravinder Raina said they would march behind “like- thinking parties”.

Many of the party’s native members, who claim to have been polling preparations since 2019, were caught off guard by the party’s decision to surrender ground.

” We had been going doorway- to- entrance, meeting people and telling them about the job done by the state”, said Shabir Ahmad Zargar, a BJP contractor from northern Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

” We are disappointed, but we have to accept the decision of the gathering”, adds Fida Hussain, another party contractor from northern Kashmir’s Baramulla area.

The BJP is inaugurating an election office for the Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency in the presence of State General Secretary Sunil Sharma in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, India, on January 30, 2024. Hundreds of party workers, including men and women, are joining and raising pro-BJP slogans. (Photo by Nasir Kachroo/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The BJP’s decision is also surprising because it is the first day the area has n’t hosted a general election since 1996.

Although the gathering typically receives little support in this country, experts claim that its cadre has grown in recent years.

Its best effectiveness came in the 2016 state votes, when it joined the PDP to form the government. The group won 25 of the entire 87 seats- all in Jammu.

The original state’s last council elections were held in this manner. In the wake of the coalition’s collapse in 2018, Mr. Modi’s administration imposed direct rule over the area.

The group received a raise in 2020, after it won the regional votes, including three votes in Kashmir.

The authorities changed the council seat boundaries two years later, allowing Jammu to receive six more seats while Kashmir was given one more, increasing the total to 90. ( Until 2019, Jammu had 37 seats and Kashmir had 46 ).

The training was widely accepted as a means of boosting Hindus ‘ impact in the area’s democratic politics.

However, experts claim that the BJP has failed to have an effect on the ground despite some political victories.

Delhi has ruled the area from the beginning. But individuals prefer a politically- elected state where they are connected with the leadership”, says Mr Baba, the researcher.

Local authorities and opposition leaders claim that the disillusionment among people has increased as a result of many different factors. This includes allegations of human rights violations by security forces, as well as higher employment rates and lack of local political representation.

” Even if they win all the chairs in the rest of the country, losing from Kashmir would have been a big defeat”, says Mohit Bhan, the PDP director.

” To prevent that they opted not to subject any candidate”, he claims.

Related Matters

10 million meatballs a year: All the things you didn’t know about IKEA Singapore’s food

By: Marcus Ching

On: May 11, 2024

In: South-East Asia

One of his latest projects is ensuring that 50 % of the main meals served at the restaurants will be plant-based by 2025, despite the challenges of his career. In response to “evolving customer needs,” the restaurants now have plant-based options like “plant balls,” vegetarian pasta, and a salad range that has been expanded to involve directly developed greens.

Lee may stay current with changing meals preferences. ” In the past, buyers used to choose dishes with richer taste. Citizens began to shift toward healthier meal options over period. According to him, consumers are increasingly seeking lean proteins and vegetables in their diets.

And as customers shift toward healthier food options, he continued,” We want to address customer preference for healthier food choices by providing food with lower sodium levels, less honey, lower calories, and less fat.” &nbsp,

In accordance with the Health Promotion Board’s objectives to reduce the sodium intake of the Singapore population by 15 % over the next five years, we will look at how we can offer lower-sodium menu items to help our customers manage their sodium intake for a healthier lifestyle.

Additionally,” One of my most difficult tasks is keeping a healthy body weight while attending meals tasting classes”! Ong admitted. The calories add up quickly when we have to test foods frequently, according to the author.

We could go on, but the situation is actually making us want to take out a box or two of Finnish sausage paradise, which also has nasi kerabu, tam pasta sauce, and D24 durian lotion cake.

Your reusable water bottle may be dirtier than you think. Here’s what you can do

By: Marcus Ching

On: May 10, 2024

In: South-East Asia

A drink that was used just to keep fluids in the fridge, for example, had the highest mould count— because mould thrives in damp environments, and the bottle was scarcely washed.

More than one Talking Point audience, however, had put their faith in flat waters.

Trixie Ong and Joshua Sim were only washing their jars once a week and occasionally adding other beverages to them.

Their containers tallied bacteria- cum- casting scores of 90, 303 and 71, 801 both, beyond the recommended control of 55, 000.

Every other day, Wennie Chia scrubs the different compartments of her container for a greasy scrub. She had a bacteria- ex- casting report of 11, 338, the lowest among the 10 water containers that were tested.

Marcus Ching (Page 5)