Marxist-leaning lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is leading the battle, according to the latest opinion surveys, called for citizens to rear him to reduce hunger and fight fraud. ” Sortens of thousands of people have gathered with us to share their hopes for a better future. The first step ofContinue Reading
A fire broke out at a train depot on Wednesday ( Sep 18 ), causing Circle Line services to be canceled for the second time in as many days. A fireplace broke out in one of the energy system cabins at the Kim Chuan Depot on Wednesday night, according toContinue Reading
SINGAPORE: The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said on Wednesday ( Sep 18 ) it will provide S$ 2.5 million ( US$ 1.93 million ) to support migrant worker representatives in their welfare and training.
The money will be used to fund classes that will improve their ability to advance professionally within their organizations.
These courses are eligible only for Migrant Workers ‘ Centre ( MWC ) ambassadors, NTUC said in response to CNA’s queries.
Migrant workers “are like community representatives in their area and at their workplaces,” the statement continued.
They are experienced instructors who information and assist new workers , integrate into Singapore world.
They are also taught the fundamentals of employment rights, making them a good resource for other migrant workers to handle employment issues first.  ,
The ambassador system, according to NTUC, “helps clean the inclusion of newly-arrived migrant workers and provides real-time ground sensing ability.”
MWC will also provide funding for immigrant workers to organize activities and training sessions at the four NTUC Club and MWC operate, as well as to sponsor such activities.
MWC associate members may also get gift bags with daily essentials to help pay for their monthly rent, according to NTUC.  ,
” At NTUC, we believe that every employee deserves the opportunity to expand, thrive, and been appreciated, regardless of where they come from”, said NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng.
This S$ 2.5 million commitment reflects our commitment to improving the well-being and abilities of our immigrant workers. For instance, a portion of the funding will go toward supporting our Migrant Workers ‘ Centre ministers so that they will have the support and resources necessary for career advancement and a better quality of life.
SINGAPORE: Instead of buying mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Event this year, consultant Ms Liu Siqi decided to save money and cook her own at a factory in Guangzhou, before reuniting with her home in her home, Foshan.
” I was considering whether to get them especially since Mid-Autumn is a unique time”, Ms Liu, 23, told CNA. However, I do n’t find them particularly tasty, and I believe the holiday mark-up is excessive.  ,
With her eight handmade mooncakes, the recent graduate remarked that she could save up to four yuan ( US$ 0.56 ) a piece.
That’s actually as cakes prices have fallen this time.  ,
According to research by Mashangying, the average market price dropped from 85.69 renminbi in 2023 to 83.36 renminbi.  ,
The China Bakery and Confectionery Industry Association also found that the majority of the cheap product boxes are under 60 renminbi, and the majority of the major cakes gift boxes are more economical this time.
However, it seems as though the once-dazzling autumn pastry’s glow may have lost its appeal among consumers, with businesses also suffering from subpar sales despite the lower price point.
” We always ( purchase ) so many mooncakes during Mid-Autumn, and this year is no different”, Ms Liu said.
“( This year ) I wondered, if I brought home another ( store-bought ) box, would my family really need it”?
According to observers, it reflects new spending patterns in China, particularly among younger consumers, as individuals become more observant and pragmatic with their choices for both purchases and spending.  ,
China’s extremely competitive cakes business was valued at a staggering 20 billion yuan in 2019, but revenue have decreased since the pandemic and merchants have continued to struggle.  ,
While cakes sales in 2023 crossed pre-COVID rates, generating more 22 billion renminbi, the forecast this year is dimmed.  ,
Cakes production is estimated to be about 300, 000 kilograms, down from 320, 000 kilograms in 2023. However, profits are projected to decline to 2019’s levels, according to a market trend statement released last month by the China Bakery and Confectionery Industry Association.  ,
In China, pastries are more than just a snack. Regarded as a symbol of luxury and extravagance, they are traditionally given to family, friends and relatives during the annual Mid Autumn Festival, which fell on Tuesday ( Sep 17 ).  ,
The majority of Chinese buyers have become “more pragmatic”, said Ms Olivia Plotnick, chairman of Wai Social, a Shanghai-based social media marketing company– which is “in collection with broader market changes” . ,
A greater emphasis on practicality, affordability, and real value is being fueled by rising economic pressures and changing consumer values, according to Ms Plotnick.  ,
” When it comes to traditional products such as mooncakes, this manifests in ( consumers ) choosing simplicity and meaningfulness over luxury”.
Ms. Liu, one of the less financially savvy shoppers, attributed this year’s decline in mooncake purchases to China’s overall economic situation.  ,
” Everyone is being more budget-conscious. It’s quite normal for people to scale down their spending in such situations”, she said. ” I think it’s due to the overall economic situation, which is n’t great this year, including my personal financial situation, which is not as good as last year”.
The slowing economy and continued anti-corruption drive, as well as quality issues, are contributing factors to the decline, according to some experts.
According to Julien Lapka, founder of Inner Chapter, a brand strategy and insight studio with a base in Shanghai, a nationwide crackdown on bribery and corporate gifting negatively impacted sales this year.  ,
SINGAPORE: Companies that are working to address issues posed by ageing populations is then anticipate receiving new funding sources.
A new Impact Beyond Award was introduced by DBS on Wednesday ( Sep 18 ) to” suspension innovative businesses with visionary solutions that address the world’s most’vile ‘ problems.”  ,
The award may recognize businesses for their contributions to a pressing societal issue each year and ask them to submit their ideas.  ,
The DBS Foundation is looking for “innovative solutions that improve the quality of life, improve care and feeding, overcome social isolation, create a multigenerational workforce, and guarantee financial resilience for the susceptible” for this year.
” While ageing is typically seen as a societal challenge, the DBS Foundation believes it can be an opportunity to be harnessed – both to change traditional attitudes, as well as to scale ‘ longevity companies ‘”, it said in a press release.
The prize may side out S$ 1 million each to three companies.
According to the bank, these companies will also receive mentoring from DBS ‘ top management and other business leaders, as well as exposure to potential buyers.
Social corporations and small and medium-sized businesses from all over the world that have earned at least S$ 5 million in the most recent fiscal year are eligible for the new prize.  ,
The deadline to apply for the prize is Sep 20 and runs until Nov 30.
Announcing the prize at the charity’s annual Impact Beyond Dialogue program, Ms Karen Ngui, head of DBS Foundation, said an aged world is a “big issue” facing Singapore and other Asian societies.
For Singapore, one in four people will get aged 65 and over by 2030. Beyond the statistical shift, she continued, a bigger issue is rooted in the” conventional views and beliefs around ageing.”
What’s the federal going to do, because there is a form of nearly resignation about age? Can anything be done? Is it too late to consider the potential of the aging cultures?
” The more we can observe age as an opportunity… as a solution to many of the problems we’re currently facing, maybe we can begin looking at it more holistically,” she said, while mentioning that companies can play a role in developing “longevity options.”
Whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris will lead the next US presidency, it will need to create numerous difficult choices to ensure long-term and robust economic growth.
The incoming Biden administration’s plan to overhaul the current restrictions program in ways that put economy before politics, for example.
American businesses are suffering from politically inspired sanctions that were intended to hurt foreign adversaries who are undoubtedly doing just as much, and in some cases, more harm to US business interests.
For instance, the US tariffs on aluminum and steel tripled as a result of the escalating conflict with China, which caused the country’s companies to suffer and source input from Chinese suppliers.
In terms of the economic harm US policymakers allegedly believed they would cause, disciplinary US sanctions against Russian firms have largely failed.
However, the actions frequently have caused American businesses to boom and also have greatly impacted the country’s economy, which also contributes to Washington’s continued use of the buck as yet another form of sanctions.
Two American firms ‘ cases — International Paper Company and Arconic Corporation—stand out as sobering stories.
After the US authorities imposed sanctions against American business activities that, International Paper Co, a leading US manufacturer of packaging materials and cellulose materials, had to stop operating and promote its ownership interest in Russia.
In change, International Paper Co completely closed its three firms in Orange, Texas, Riegelwood, North Carolina, and Pensacola, Florida at the end of next year.
The shutdowns reduced the company’s production by about 1.3 million tons ( 8.3 % ), and over 900 employees were laid off. According to media reports, the complete shutdown expenses amounted to some US$ 664 million.
Despite the fact that the package did not ultimately come through, the sanctions-caused turmoil led to acquisition discussions with Suzano, the largest Portuguese papers and pulp company in Latin America. Since then, there have n’t been any known reports of the company’s production recovery or potential merger.
Perhaps more intriguing is Arconic Corporation’s event. In November 2022, the firm was essentially forced to sell 100 % of its Russia-based firm, which commenced activities in 2007.
After the sanctions-forced divestiture, Arconic Corporation recorded a$ 304 million after-tax loss on the sale in the last quarter of 2022.
According to the Des Moines Register, the firm entered into an agreement and a consolidation program in May 2023 to been acquired by money managed by Apollo Global Management, Inc. members.
In Q1 2023, Arconic Corporation’s accounts payable were$ 1.5 billion and its net profit dropped by almost 40 % to$ 25 million from$ 42 million in 2022 quarter on quarter.
Davenport Works, Arconic Corporation’s key manufacturing center located in Iowa, had 2, 400 people in the fall of 2023.
The Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which includes Rock Island and Moline in Illinois and Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, was finally included among the ten largest companies.
But, after the deal closed in August 2023, Arconic Corp’s stock stopped trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Since the company is then privately held, public opinion is not currently being offered on its production indicators.
These two are just two of the numerous large American firms that are enduring Washington’s increasingly harsh sanctions regime. Small and medium-sized enterprises furthermore face major challenges from US restrictions, which generally prove fatal to their operations.
If America’s following head opt to establish new politically motivated restrictions, American firms and their employees will feel the pain as much, if not more, than America’s enemies. And at a time when the US market as a whole is gaining ground.  ,
However, neither candidate seems possible to roll up sanctions and emphasize US business interests. Harris’s Democrats have championed the present storm of sanctions, meaning she’ll probably survive Biden’s policies.
Trump’s success, on the other hand, is likely to ratchet up the price war he started with China in his previous administration. He has pledged to impose tariffs on nations that help de-dollarization initiatives.
In any case, regardless of which party will win the Oval Office in November, it would be wise to evaluate and modify policies that prioritize political considerations and issues over British business interests.
That would n’t need to mean burying the hatchet and making friends with Russia’s Putin or China’s Xi. The next president will still have plenty of ways to impose sanctions on allies and change them in ways that benefit American businesses rather than harm them. It’s great time to do so.
Jason Rivers is a freelance blogger and former investment bank researcher with a focus on US politics, economy, and international relations.
In response to embarrassing leaks, the Palang Pracharath head targets TV host and social enemy.
PUBLISHED: 18 Sep 2024 at 18: 52
Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon, the leader of the Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ), is reportedly suing TV host Danai Ekmahasawat and former Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit for disclosing voice recordings that allegedly incriminate him.
On Wednesday, Party Secretary-General Paiboon Nititawan announced that problems may be made with Hua Mak authorities accusing the piece of surveillance or spreading advertising material. A peak prison term of five times and/or a fine of up to 500, 000 baht are involved in the crime.
Gen Prawit and Suttipong Juljarern, the ministry’s lasting minister, are said to be in dialogue about the audio tape. The clip’s source is alleged to have been the result of improper eavesdropping.
It was one of four music videos that were made available on Sept 11 during a Mr. Danai hosted show of Inside Thailand Television. The following morning, Mr. Prompong filed a complaint with the anti-graft organization asking for an morality investigation against Gen. Prawit. He later replayed the video.
Additionally, Mr. Paiboon asserted that Gen. Prawit may follow the prosecution of both of them until the very end.
Mr. Prompong also launched his campaign against Gen Prawit on Wednesday, asking the House of Representatives to look into whether the listing MP is carrying out his duties.
He claimed that the 2017 Constitution calls for MPs to perform with integrity and forbids them from missing more than one-fourth of their appointment time without the House Speaker’s approval. As a result, their MP position will be revoked.
Gen Prawit’s participation should be reviewed by Mr. Prompong, who claimed he petitioned House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha to check his composure and check whether he was performing his duties satisfactorily.
I doubt that Gen. Prawit fulfills his function as required by the constitution and the code of ethics because he is not frequently seen at House sessions.
He added that he wanted copies of Gen. Prawit’s words of absence from July 3rd, 2012 to the present, as well as his pay records, but that the problem was never politically motivated.
He said he was exercising his constitutional rights as a concerned citizen and that the threat of legal action was over the audio tape.
He asked Palang Pracharath to define which videos were false and which were fake, as the party had formerly labeled them fake. He claimed that the claims may serve as a means of obstructing reviewers.
Gen Prawit, 79, often attends House classes, ostensibly due to his poor wellbeing.
MPs receive a monthly income of 113, 560 ringgit as well as good health, income and other happiness benefits. Meeting expenses may be lucrative for Members who work on a lot of committees.
Gen Prawit, along with his own coup leader from 2014, shares a free apartment at Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district. Even located there is the Five Frontier Provinces Forest Preservation Foundation, a military-backed company that he chairs.
He responded to reporters just about his frequently missing from Parliament by saying that if people would like to speak with him, they could visit the foundation’s company and see him there.
People’s Party wary about changes to government’s ‘ entertainment complex’ program
PUBLISHED: 18 Sep 2024 at 18: 41
Following certain changes to the casino project that it think could lead to shady business dealings, the opposition Women’s Party has warned the authorities about it.
Nont Pisarnlimjaroenkit, a People’s Party MP for Nonthaburi, told parliament that the government led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expects to gain new income by bringing underwater companies into the tax structure.
To overcome illegal gambling and generate more revenue for the nation, this includes an entertainment complex that includes a game.
The government has not yet decided whether it wants the leisure complex to be a sizable investment that foes Macau’s sophisticated casino solutions or one that resembles those operated by neighbouring nations.
Mr. Nont pointed out that Macau’s game providers are unable to draw as many visitors as countries like Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. He expressed doubts about whether the Thai government could replicate the success of the Macau type in the casino industry. The state has not, nevertheless, anticipated the effects of legalising gambling, he said.
Now, there are few implications for unlawful online and onsite playing. Gamblers face a fine of single 2, 000 ringgit, while users face a fine of 20, 000 to 200, 000 ringgit and/or up to two years in prison. Critics claim that the sentence is very mild.
The entertainment complex do charge Thai nationals a 5, 000 bass admission fee, which might be too much. According to Mr. Nont, for a large entry fee would likely compel them to engage in online or illegal gambling. Before opening a game, Mr. Nont, stronger legal structures were required.
In contrast, he expressed concerns about law enforcement, particularly in light of recent studies that senior officers were engaged in illegal activities and online gaming operations.
An entertainment challenging could be a breeding ground for more dark companies in the future “if these important issues are not resolved,” he said.
The leisure complex act also lessens specific requirements, such as eliminating some options that would have been included, like a huge convention center, a one-stop wellness centre, and five- or six-star hotels.
” We are starting to notice anomalies,” he said, noting that some things have been removed from the requirement to run an entertainment complex.
The program will favor managers or entrepreneurs who can handle the casinos all over the country, he added, instead than having a well-regulated entertainment center. He implored the state to examine all of the site’s features before moving.
According to authorities, the suspect who was detained in Samut Prakan shipped medications to his home state and Australia.
PUBLISHED: 18 Sep 2024 at 18: 33
UPDATED: 18 Sep 2024 at 19: 14
A Malaysian drug trafficker who was arrested this week in Samut Prakan may be deported back to his country, where he is likely to be given the , death charges, authorities said on Wednesday.
Benny Kee Soon Chuan ran a smuggling operation involving crystal meth, ketamine and ecstasy, to Australia and Singapore via Thailand, according to Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboonto, secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board ( ONCB).
The believe was implicated in two prior trafficking cases, both of which occurred in 2021, where opioids were shipped to Singapore and Australia.
According to Pol Lt Gen Panurat, local researchers discovered him having fled his land and leading a lavish lifestyle in the Samut Prakan district’s Bang Phli district’s Bang Kaew.
The suspect’s Thai immigration was cancelled, and soldiers of Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau joined with Thai officials to arrest him on Tuesday. Property for 15 million baht were likewise seized. According to Pol Lt. Gen. Panurat, he was discovered to possess entered Thailand using a Vanuatu card.
The ONCB is working to have the person deported. People who engage in drug trafficking may be subject to the death penalty under Singaporean rules.
” BETTER THAN NOTHING” The place, actually titled Jammu and Kashmir, is split. The Kashmir Valley, which is largely Arab, is one of its parts. Another is the Hindu-majority Jammu city, geographically divided by mountains to the south. A second segment, the high-altitude racially Tibetan Ladakh area, bordering China, wasContinue Reading