Commentary: We need to think hard about joss paper burning habits

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In: South-East Asia

NOT JUST ABOUT THE SMELL

Singapore’s technique so far is one of tolerance and expediency. We ca n’t completely stop burning, but we can continue to ignore the problem year after year.

To be honest, there have been fewer concerns over joss paper losing. During the Chinese New Year time this year, city governments and government organizations logged 567 problems, down from 761 instances during the same time in 2023, marking an all-time small.

Although the AfA’s complaint reduction points to progress and powerful advocacy, our population density increases as Singapore’s people grows. More and more people are residing closer and closer up, which means that a greater number of homes are affected by the by-products of joss paper using at any one day.

The problem is not just about taste or discomfort. According to studies in air pollution, like dust, whether religious or not, poses a growing threat to public health. In other words, it’s not just about the unpleasant scent; it’s also about improving one’s health.

However, as household wealth likewise increases, people are similarly tempted to buy more and lose more. There are plenty of companies willing to fulfill desire in our customer community. One only needs to enter a supermarket right away to purchase as much papers as possible and burn a Fort Knox value of “gold paper.”

As an away, we might want to know whether the amount we burn is a reflection of the desires of our grandparents or whether the existing are under pressure to “keep up looks.” Are our wishes to protect against misfortunes unfairly influenced by a world that is driven to consume more and consumes more each month?

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Nepal: Himalayan Sherpa village hit by freezing floods

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According to officials, snowy flood waters have engulfed a Sherpa town in Nepal’s Mountain region.

Thame, which is located at an elevation of about 3,800m, is thought to have been flooded by a glacial river that has burst its banks. Experts have warned that the Himalayan ice are melting at an alarming rate due to climate change.

No fatalities or injuries have been reported, but more than a hundred structures, including buildings, a school, and a wellbeing center, have been completely destroyed by Friday’s flood.

Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, the first man to summit Mount Everest along with navigator Edmund Hillary, hailed from Thame, where some record-breaking Sherpa climbers reside.

In floods that have become colored due to mud and debris, videos of bubbly, milky waters flowing through the village.

Gaurav Kumar Houston, a spokeswoman for the Egyptian army, told AFP that 15 homes had been destroyed while save teams were rescuing those who had fallen.

Local officials claim that during their research, bad weather prevented the use of helicopters, and that they intend to take them to the mountains on Saturday night.

Arun Bhakta Shrestha, a climate change specialist at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development ( ICIMOD ), said there are “indications” that the flood was the result of a glacial lake outburst and that they were working to confirm it despite the fact that the cause is unknown.

Experts have warned that glacial lake in the Himalaya are becoming unstable and prone to burst their businesses as a result of climate change and glacial glaciers melting.

In the Himalayas, glacier melt has created hundreds of glacial lakes that have appeared inexplicably. According to a 2020 review by the ICIMOD, 2, 070 were documented in Nepal, of which 21 were ranked “potentially dangerous”.

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Protests may start off well-intentioned but often ‘get hijacked’, putting police in ‘impossible position’: Shanmugam

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Aside from propaganda, hate speech, unusual disturbance, as well as underlying socio-economic problems such as employment and housing are different factors that have contributed to the demonstrations in the United Kingdom, said Mr Shanmugam.

The minister continued,” We do n’t allow this in Singapore,” noting that the nation makes efforts to “prevent such a situation from arising by having a carefully designed legal framework and also carefully designed set of policies that give priority to law and order.”

First, Singapore has a number of laws in place to address these possible problems.

The Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act ( MRHA ), which protects against the incitement of racial and religious hatred, includes a strict policy toward hate speech, in addition to the regulations imposed by the Public Order Act.

” Because when people are constantly exposed to hate talk … the hidden prejudices, biases may earn and finally, violence. That is evident everywhere in the universe. So we do n’t even allow it to start and we take action”, said Mr Shanmugam.

Since the MRHA was passed in the 1990s and afterward amended in 2019, government “haven’t had to get serious motion”, he said. He continued, adding that there have been “very few” situations involving race and religion that have been reported over the past five years.

His administration will also be introducing the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill, which, among other things, aims to strengthen existing laws that deal with cultural problems.

Separately, Singapore also has laws to deal with falsehoods and foreign interference, namely through the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act ( POFMA ) and Foreign Interference ( Countermeasures ) Act ( FICA ) respectively.

Collectively, this legal foundation forms a” helmet” that protects Singaporeans from the violence seen in other areas. &nbsp,

Residents are not normally distinct or have always existed. But our model acts as a weapon”, said Mr Shanmugam.

Beyond that, we have empowered law enforcement to prevent it from becoming a mob or into anything more critical, including the few who make it through. So the result is no riots, racist attacks, violence- the kind of thing that you saw” .&nbsp,

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India announces Kashmir polls after 10-year hiatus

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From September 18th, India will carry important regional elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a disputed region.

These surveys are the first in nearly ten years and the first since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration removed the country’s unique position in 2019.

The 90 districts ‘ three-phased election will end on October 1 and counting will begin on October 4.

Some 8.7 million people, including 4.26 million people, may become eligible to vote, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said.

Assembly elections typically take place after five years, but democratic doubt had slowed down the process.

Elections are scheduled to take place in Jammu and Kashmir after a long absence, Mr. Kumar stated at a press event in Delhi on Friday.

He added that Kashmir had voted” for poll over gun”- as the place had witnessed a traditional voter participation of 58.46 % in the recently-held legislative elections, a 30-point leap in voter turnout from the 2019 general election.

The commission later stated on X ( previously Twitter ) that the long lines of voters during the general elections were” a testament to the will and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in writing their own destiny.”

Friday’s news comes just weeks after India’s Supreme Court upheld the state decision to scrap the amendment’s Content 370, which gave the place significant freedom. Additionally, the judge mandated that council votes be held by September 30.

The state had likewise divided the state of more than 12 million people into Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, two of which were under the federal government’s control, in addition to removing Kashmir’s unique status.

The Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) under Mr. Modi’s leadership made the decision very unpopular in the state. The revocation was one of its poll promises in 2019.

The prime minister made his first appearance in the region since 2019 in March, telling reporters he was “working hard to win your souls.” He also announced projects worth 64bn rupees ($ 774m, £607m ) to support local agriculture and tourism.

However, local politicians and experts claim that the BJP’s rage is still present.

After India and Pakistan’s independence from Britain in 1947, the Alpine place split. Both the two nuclear-armed countries have fought two wars and had a brief fight over the place in the decades that have followed.

Tens of thousands of lives have been lost due to an armed rebellion against Delhi’s law in the Indian-administered area since 1989, and there is a significant military presence there.

Delhi accuses Islamabad of stifling harmony in the area and harboring insurgents, a command Pakistan refutes.

Kashmir continues to be dogged by incidents of violence. A recent spurt in militant activity – which seems to have shifted from the Kashmir valley to the relatively calmer Jammu region – is a particular cause for concern.

In June, nine Hindu pilgrims were killed and dozens injured after militants opened fire on a bus in Reasi – where the bridge is located – in one of the deadliest militant attacks in recent years. There have been several other attacks on the army and civilians.

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Singaporean previously linked to Newcastle United takeover bid jailed 15 years and nine months

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SINGAPORE: A former director of Novena Global Healthcare Group ( NGHG ) was on Friday ( Aug 16 ) jailed for 15 years and nine months.

Nelson Loh Ne-Loon was found innocent of nine counts of fraud, fraud, and four for lying. The punishment also took into account 60 additional, comparable charges overall.

Loh was a member of a group of buyers looking to acquire English Premier League side Newcastle United in the 2020 season. A bargain not materialised.

Michael Wong Quickly Yuh, a former personnel of the medical company who worked closely with Loh, was found guilty of five counts of lying, according to the police, on Friday. &nbsp,

He received an eight-year, six-month prison sentence.

The two Singaporeans, then both aged 45, left the country in earlier September 2020. &nbsp, They had travelled to China on a private charter journey, court records showed. &nbsp,

But shortly after their departure, officers received a statement that petitions of accounting firm Ernst &amp, Young had been forged on some of NGHG’s financial statements. &nbsp,

The men were detained in Shanghai in November 2022 and issued with permits of imprisonment and Interpol dark finds. &nbsp,

According to Singapore officers, the pair returned in December 2022 with the assistance and cooperation of their Chinese counterparts. &nbsp, They have been in custody since their profit.

Between July and November 2018, Loh and Wong forged and submitted audited financial statements from NGHG, Giron, and a company of NGHG known as Novena Global Healthcare Pte Ltd&nbsp.

The men then used those statements to obtain bank loans amounting to about S$ 68 million ( US$ 51.6 million ), the police said on Friday.

Court records showed that Loh and Wong improperly obtained money from six banks- Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, DBS, UOB, Citibank and HSBC.

The police claimed that the majority of the illegal money derived from these loan services were later transferred to local or foreign institutions. &nbsp,

According to the police, US$ 630, 000 was used to finance a business deal involving Novena Global Healthcare Pte Ltd, which introduced illegal proceeds into the company’s offer network.

Up to four years in prison, a good, or both are possible penalties for each charge of forgery or conspiring to build. &nbsp,

Engaging in a cheating conspiracy is punishable by a 10-year prison sentence and a good.

Those found guilty of money laundering may be jailed for up to 10 times, fined up to S$ 500, 000, or both.

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Money laundering syndicate crippled in joint Hong Kong, Singapore and Interpol operation; 8 arrested

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Digital SUPPORT SCAMS&nbsp,

Between January and July, 185 information related to technical support schemes were made, with costs amounting to at least S$ 17.9 million, said SPF. &nbsp,

Victims of this kind of fraud would often get screen pop-ups claiming their laptops or desktops had been hacked by malware on their computers. &nbsp,

The pop-ups would also provide phone numbers for the sufferers to phone in addition to telling them to call Microsoft or Apple technical support right away. &nbsp,

Scammers who pretend to be Microsoft or Apple tech support personnel would then make the claim that the patients ‘ devices had been hacked by “hackers” and used for illegal purposes when they received the call.

The scammers would therefore advise patients to download software and/or access websites that would give them remote access to their devices.

After this, the patients may be instructed to log into their i-Bank balances under the excuse of helping to catch the “hackers.” &nbsp,

This, however, was to help the scammers to get the victim’s online bank ID and password. &nbsp,

From there, they could use the victim’s bank account’s distant access feature to carry out illegal deals.

In some situations, victims were instructed to create bitcoin accounts or deliver one-time passwords to e-wallet transactions. &nbsp,

They would only become aware of their own being defrauded when they discovered illegal payments or conclusions from their bank balances.

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ActiveSG users unhappy over switch to new booking platform, say it is confusing and more troublesome

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CHILD COULD NOT ENTER WITHOUT PARENT&nbsp,

One of his students had to depend on his family to show employees the passage go before he could enter the lake on Thursday, according to swim instructor Mr. Yao, who constantly teaches at Sengkang Swimming Complex. &nbsp,

The child used to be able to provide using his EZ-Link id, or what&nbsp, ActiveSG calls the School Smart Card.

” So now without EZ-Link card, the younger ones ( who ) do n’t have phones with them… have issues, because then the parents have to come”, said Mr Yao, 42.

” Usually the mother will just drop ( my student off ) then he uses the bus card, the EZ-Link card. The family had to travel and apply her phone to show the complete without the EZ-Link cards from yesterday, and then she could leave.

The child’s absence from college with his or her Smart Card is a mystery.

According to ActiveSG’s FAQ, pictures of the move will not be accepted.

However, to verify that parents have purchased a pass for them, babies who are unaccompanied by parents simply need to go to the gate and ask for their parents ‘ mobile number or NRIC range. They must take along their School Smart Card for confirmation.

Mr. Yao noted that users will now have to purchase an access pass using a PayNow or credit card, making the process more challenging, particularly given that the move is only valid for one day. &nbsp,

” So you cannot use it if you buy on the day and then immediately there is heavy weather.”

CNA has contacted SportSG for opinion. &nbsp,

ActiveSG cited a couple factors in its FAQ in its move to a web-based system, including how this makes it possible to reach more people because it eliminates the need to download and install an application for various websites. &nbsp,

Updates are automatically made available with a net app, and customers will always have the most recent features and bug fixes without the need to download something, the FAQ stated. &nbsp,

It claimed that a user can access a web application more conveniently when they use a website hyperlink or saved shortcut. &nbsp,

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Cordlife loses accreditation with international blood bank body

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S$ 12.35 Billion LOSS

In a separate filing, Cordlife posted a loss of S$ 12.35 million ( US$ 9.4 million ) for the first half of the year, compared&nbsp, to a net profit of S$ 2.2 million in the same period a year ago.

The drop includes about S$ 9.7 million for the&nbsp, cancellation of successive charges for clients who had stored cord blood in its high-risk tanks, as well as deal liabilities&nbsp, related to upcoming store obligations of affected clients.

Seven of Cordlife’s 22 storage tank &nbsp, were found to have been exposed to temperatures above appropriate restrictions in November 2023. &nbsp,

Around 2, 200 thread body units belonging to nearly 2, 150 clients were damaged, with about another 5, 300 thread body units stored in a subsequent tank and a clean shipper deemed “non-viable” by MOH.

Cordlife’s profit for the first half of the year was &nbsp, S$ 9.2 million, a sharp decline from S$ 28.3 million in the same period a year ago. &nbsp,

The reduction in income for 1H2024 is mainly due to the expulsion of the Cordlife Group’s Singapore functions, the organization said.

The bank’s Singapore businesses, which had been the company’s largest income source, is expected to continue to be affected by the continuous suspension and examinations, said Cordlife.

” Cordlife will continue to work closely with the MOH to look into and correct the deficiencies in its Singapore activities.

The business reported that during the evaluation phase, it “upped its correction efforts.”

It said that an&nbsp, oversight committee was created in May 2024 that&nbsp, comprises&nbsp, specific executives and managing and will help solve Cordlife’s current issues, including the nomination of a new assessment agency.

In order to provide guidance and insights to its teams, Cordlife added that it established a medical and technical advisory board in June 2024.

Cordlife stated that it has been working with Shandong Qilu Stemcell Engineering since July to assist its Singapore team during the rectification period. &nbsp,

Nanjing Xinjiekou Department Store, which owns 20.3 % of Cordlife, is a subsidiary of Shandong Qilu Stemcell Engineering. It has around 1 million cord blood units in its cord blood bank and is located in Shandong province, China. &nbsp,

Additionally, it is thought that Cordlife’s Philippines operation will offer a variety of diagnostics tests and routine prenatal screenings.

” Despite the extremely difficult first half, we have continued to strengthen our processes, update our stakeholders, and fix our operations with the aim of returning our operations to full strength as soon as possible,” said Cordlife group CEO Ivan Yu.

To lessen the impact of our Singapore operations, he continued,” We are also looking into new business opportunities in other markets.”

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Singapore shuttler Yeo Jia Min on her Paris Olympics experience

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Q. What did you eat initially when you arrived in Singapore?

Bird rice at the airports.

I feel very happy to be back home and spending time with my family.

I’ve taken a week off, then I’ve started training afterwards, because my next competition is in less than two months. I’m trying my best. I first need to get over the virus.

Q. You had just entered the second Olympics. Did you think your album performed better than you did?

Overall, the whole Olympic knowledge was quite different, as my first Games was during the COVID-19 crisis. This time, straight from the first day, it was so crowded. There was so much more help. My home, my kids were there, and every fit I could see them.

Preparing was also quite different. Going into the competition this time, I was healthy, not ( affected ) by injuries, so physically and mentally, I was definitely more prepared.

Q. What was most crucial in your Olympic planning?

There were months of preparation. Leading up ( to the Games ), it was definitely to make sure I did n’t fall sick or get any new injuries. Sometimes I experience these small jitters to make sure I’m in the best condition possible. Only mentally staying grounded, believing in myself, a lot of good self-talk, and excitement.

Q. In Paris, you’ll have the opportunity to fulfill world leaders. What did you take away from them?

For us, getting to know these racquetball people is like happening every other week. But at the Olympics, there are so many athletes from various activities, and they all have their own story to tell. It’s so exciting how we are all different, but there’s a little bit of similarity in terms of what we have experienced.

It’s generally that spirit of the confidence to come back, to believe in themselves once more, and to challenge one’s limitations. And often, at the end of the day, they surpass their limitations. The motivation of these sports inspires me.

Q. At the Olympic Village, did you experience any sense of community?

When I went to the gym it, I felt like, well, there was so much noise going on and people from all sorts of activities, and they were so laser focused. There were so many countries, some that I ca n’t even pronounce. It felt incredibly strange to be a part of our individual wealthy elite.

Q. Do you feel pressured to play basketball at an elite level?

I put myself under some pressure to stay where I’m at and gradually get close to where I want to get. More than the ranks, I focus on how I perform.

I’m trying my best to think of what I may do different and improve upon as I come back from this Olympics, and I hope to continue to rise up the ranks.

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Backlash after Filipino MP says husbands have ‘sexual rights’

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After he asked in congress whether men have” physical privileges” to their wives, a senator from the Philippines has received online criticism.

Former artist Robin Padilla was given the opportunity to speak at a reading on sexual abuse in the entertainment industry.

He also inquires about what men should do if their wives are n’t in the feelings, to which Lorna Kapunan, the attorney, replies that they can “watch Netflix.”

Mr Padilla, one of the country’s most famous artists, ran for office in 2022 where he emerged as the country’s best votes member.

In a reading on Thursday, Mr. Padilla made the remarks while leading a Senate investigation into allegations of sexual abuse and harrassment in the internet business.

He inquires to Ms. Kapunan if a spouse may ask his wife for sexual if she is “in the mood” but never his wife.

What if your wife does n’t want to? Is there no other means for men? If you look to different people, you might get sued”, Mr Padilla said in Tagalog.

Ms Kapunan said in such conditions, men should instead” get counselling, pray or enjoy Netflix”.

He then goes on to say that some wives feel like their wives are there to” serve” them, to which Ms. Kapunan replies that it is” not the wife’s obligation to serve her husband.”

Mr Padilla’s comments sparked a storm of virtual responses, with one calling him “disgusting”.

One post on X said:” So does that make ladies their father’s individual sexual workers”?

” Husbands do not have’ physical right’ over their brides. Equal freedom and free would are available to women. No means no. Respect is everything, according to renowned animal rights attorney Jose Manuel Diokno in a blog on X.

Another X users claimed that Mr. Padilla’s comments are an explanation to eventually legalize divorce in the nation.

Eight in 10 of the Philippines ‘ 110 million individuals are Catholic, which greatly influences views on marriage and family. It is the only country in the world, aside from the Vatican, where divorce is illegal.

Mr Padilla is one of the country’s most famous artists. Before becoming an artist, he rose to fame in the 1990s with his comedian roles in Robinhood.

He was later found guilty of possessing illegal weapon, and he received an eight-year prison sentence before receiving a pardon. He then resumed his film and television occupation and gained a lot of praise for turning his life around.

His family Mariel Padilla, a Filipino-born American, is also an artist and type in the Philippines.

With 26 million seats, Mr. Padilla won the 2022 congressional election, giving him a program to get higher business. In 2022, he made the decision to run for public office.

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