Mediacorp disqualifies 3 entries from design competition following plagiarism claims

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

Lee even criticizes some of the terms and conditions of Design Pompipi in his post, revealing one that states that Mediacorp will own all submitted entries ‘ right.

” That’s where one of the major problems is by accepting such entries”, wrote Lee.

One of Mediacorp’s activities to mark Singapore’s 60th time of freedom, Design Pompipi&nbsp, invited the people to design a graphic – sharing what Singapore or SG60 meant to them. &nbsp,

The designers who received the top six main category designs will be awarded a cash prize of S$ 2, 000 and Caltex StarCash gift cards worth$ 100 each. The competition’s submission deadline was January 5.

In a statement to CNA Lifestyle, a Mediacorp director said:” We thank all members of the public who participated in Mediacorp’s Design Pompipi contest for their assistance.

Participants agree to the competition’s terms and conditions, which include requiring all designs to be original and not to be created using artificial intelligence ( AI ) by submitting their entries. We will invalidate for submissions as and when they are discovered, even though there is no foolproof way to determine whether designs were plagiarized or created using AI at the level of distribution.

” On this, we have reviewed internet input from a member of the public, sent on Jan 5, regarding the submissions listed in]Lee Xin Yi’s Social post]. We have since removed these comments, disqualified them, and informed the individuals in writing that they had been disqualified.

In a follow-up post on Tuesday ( Jan 7 ), Lee revealed that he had received an e-mail apology from Sabiyathul. He added that other designers have told him that they’ve even had their functions taken and turned over to Design Pompipi.

I also advise that you should read the terms and conditions of any battle or opposition, including this, and to be careful when submitting submissions for these competitions, Lee wrote.

” I will also tell all that these plagiarized works took place while the organisers were executing them, and they remained there until the general public heard.” You don’t need a public outcry to do the proper thing.

Continue Reading

Over 500,000 searches for NRIC numbers on ACRA website from Dec 9 to 13, but no known threat actors: Indranee

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

REVIEW TO Get COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY

A review board has been established, led by the head of the legal services, Leo Yip, and reporting to Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean.

The screen will examine the government’s policy regarding the responsible use of NRIC numbers and the availability of entire NRIC numbers on ACRA’s new Bizfile portal, according to Ms. Indranee.

“For both things, the board will examine what happened, how the decisions were made, the execution and communication operations, the cooperation across public business agencies, and where the government should have done and can do better, ” she told the House.

“It may also advise areas for improvement. The screen will examine the design and implementation of the people search functionality on Bizfile, specifically.  

The board expects to finish its assessment in February and will share its findings with the screen once more. Work is still in progress.

ACRA is even looking into how its citizens search function can be improved in light of this event.  

For example, ACRA is considering the rollout of additional search parameters, such as the unique entity number ( UEN ) with which the individual is associated.

The minister said that will depend on the results of the review as to whether any action will be taken against those involved.

“Based on the panel’s preliminary results, the affair seems to be a genuine case of confusion borne out of inadequate knowledge of the policy goal and each group ’s needs and requirements, ” said Ms Indranee.

However, if the panel discovers information that points to severe misconduct or meaningful misconduct, it may refer the matter to the appropriate authorities or bodies for further administrative or legal action. ”

Continue Reading

Jail for money mule who had almost S.8 million suspected to be from US phishing scam

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: A money mule who had almost S$ 4.8 million ( US$ 3.5 million ) in her company’s bank account, which were suspected to be proceeds from a phishing scam in the United States, was jailed for 14 months on Wednesday ( Jan 8 ).

Sakinah Waheeda Abdul Manan, 34, admitted guilt to three counts of failing to carefully release her duties as a business director, including possessing suspected criminal benefits, giving another person illegal entry to a bank accounts, and giving another individual illegal access to a bank account.

Another four charges were considered in sentencing.

When Sakinah first learned about someone by the name of” Alan” on Telegram, she was informed that she had just been released from prison and was in need of money.

Alan told her that if she gave him her SingPass account to register companies, she could make up to S$ 60, 000 annually.

He added that she would have no need to do anything because she would be the registered locally residing director of the companies, but that foreign directors would run the businesses.

This raised Sakinah’s suspicions, as she was being offered a lot of money without having to do anything. But she agreed, and gave her SingPass credentials to Alan.

Alan registered two companies&nbsp, – Froxify and Frox Designz&nbsp, – using Sakinah’s SingPass account, and opened a CIMB bank account in Froxify’s name in July 2021.

To open the account, Sakinah had to attend an in-person interview at CIMB. Alan gave her information about Froxify’s supposed business so she could answer the bank’s questions.

The bank requested that Sakinah provide documentary proof of the identity of Froxify’s clients and suppliers, which she did.

The US received an alert from the Commercial Affairs Department of the Singapore Police Force on October 5, 2021 that money had been transferred from a fraud victim to a Singapore bank account.

The email system of the fraud victim, Home Legend LLC, was compromised in a phishing scam.

More than US$ 3.5 million was transferred out of Home Legend’s bank account over three days in September 2021, and deposited in Froxify’s CIMB account.

Froxify’s account hence received more than S$ 1.2 million each day on Sep 20 and Sep 22, 2021, and more than S$ 2.3 million on Sep 23, 2021.

Within a day or two, the money was gone. When the police seized Froxify’s account on Oct 7, 2021, a balance of about S$ 8, 600 remained.

As director of Froxify between Jul 26, 2021 and Nov 19, 2021, Sakinah relinquished control of the company to Alan, allowing it to receive criminal benefits, Deputy Public Prosecutor Jordon Li said.

Sakinah was the only signatory to the firm’s CIMB account, but she did not know what company Froxify was involved in, where its office was, or where it was headed.

Sakinah S. also agreed to pay$ 1,500 if she opened a local bank account and gave him control of it. She opened an account with UOB on August 21, 2021, gave it its credentials, and Alan received a linked debit card, and she did it on August 21, 2021.

Two days later, S$ 8, 000 was deposited into the UOB account and transferred almost immediately to other bank accounts.

A victim of a cryptocurrency investment scam in Singapore deposited the money after filing a police report.

Sakinah was previously jailed in 2016 for theft and drug consumption, and in 2018 for consumption and possession of drugs.

The prosecutor asked for about 15 to 18 months ‘ imprisonment.

Mr. Li claimed that a sizable amount of money was squandered, that Sakinah did not try to prove her innocence by giving Alan access to her SingPass account, and that she was not a passive participant.

Sakinah was” a mere pawn used by the scam syndicate,” according to Azeera Ali of the Public Defender’s Office, who represented her in court because of her financial vulnerability and aspirations at the time.
 

Continue Reading

Singapore exploring use of AI, drones as surveillance measures to combat high-rise littering

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

She addressed questions posed by a number of Parliamentarians, including Mr. Tan Wu Meng ( PAP-Jurong ) and Ms. Foo Mee Har ( PAP-West Coast ), about how the ministry is utilizing the most recent technologies as well as the effective enforcement measures.

Ms. Yeo Wan Ling ( PAP-Pasir Ris Punggol ) responded to a supplementary question by saying that the current assessment calls for some” challenges” in the use of drones.

This includes robots ‘ battery life, health risks, and privacy concerns.

In response to a&nbsp, secondary issue from Mr. Tan, she responded,” The critical stage really is that the use of security cameras and various technologies really only to strengthen all the efforts we have put in to combat high-rise littering,” she said.

” I don’t believe we can only rely on technology to do this,” he said. It is really important to change behavior, cultivate more courteous behavior, and take collective role in tackling high-rise trash issues, and keep Singapore clean and safe. We need to work together with the community.

“SIGNIFICANT” DROP IN FEEDBACK

Dr Kho noted that there has been a” significant” drop in the average amount of high-rise littering feedback in 2022 and 2023 ( about 27, 100 ) as compared to 2020 and 2021 ( about 33, 500 ).

” When there is such opinions at a strip of HDB flats, the city council will work with the town council to primary issue recommendations to people in the block,” she said.

” NEA will check if the high-rise littering issue persists, find the likely upsetting unit, and set up surveillance cameras with video analytics to document high-rise littering incidents and coordinate enforcement efforts.”

Between 2021 and 2023, NEA deployed devices in about 97.1 per share of 7, 400 frequent high-rise littering situations.

The rest were found to be inappropriate due to the stones ‘ architecture and design and the lack of suitable view factors, she continued.

Continue Reading

Private firms using NRIC numbers as authentication, default passwords should stop as soon as possible: Josephine Teo

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

The government intends to prevent some “incorrect uses” of the NRIC range while the issue is “relatively contained,” according to Mrs. Teo. &nbsp,

” Doing so will better safeguard people and help us to use NRIC figures with confidence”, she added. &nbsp,

According to Mrs. Teo, those who have used their NRIC amount as a password may change it right away. &nbsp,

She added that this will offer them better defense against those who use NRIC quantities to gain access to information or services. &nbsp,

An NRIC amount is like an animal’s name– even if not commonly disclosed, it is not a key, said Mrs Teo. &nbsp,

We would be at least somewhat suspicious if anyone we don’t recognize calling out our titles and starts acting as though they know us well, she said. &nbsp,

People shouldn’t completely trust others just because they are aware of their titles, and this is how they should behave toward those who are aware of their NRIC numbers. &nbsp,

We shouldn’t believe that they are well-known, respected, or capable of being trusted. We should be careful when revealing more about ourselves, responding to their demands, or acting upon their advice without more reflection.

This will help” a lot” in preventing harms from scams and identity theft, the minister said, adding that if people stop using NRIC numbers as passwords and organizations stop using NRIC numbers as authenticators. &nbsp,

When needed, such as when receiving medical care or applying for jobs, she added, using one’s NRIC statistics will give them “better peace of mind.” &nbsp,

The Ministry of Digital Development and Information intends to begin discussions with the private business quickly, and first meetings suggest there might be “different techniques.” &nbsp,

The minister predicted that the government would take even more for the private sector because the government knew it would take time to make the shift to the masked NRIC figures. &nbsp,

She said that the intention was to transition from interior government practices to those in the private sector and non-profits, which may help agencies better understand the difficulties of implementation. &nbsp,

” We had also planned to make a significant effort to support efforts to stop improper practices and to support Singaporeans be aware of the risks,” said Mrs. Teo. &nbsp,

” The Bizfile incident was an unfortunate misstep, which now means these plans need to be brought forward” .&nbsp,

Continue Reading

Thai police seek to arrest suspected killer of ex-Cambodian MP

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

Probe indicates criminal was a strike gentleman, as rights groups urge sharp research

PUBLISHED: 8 Jan 2025 at 12: 06

A general view of the scene where a former politician 0f the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Lim Kimya, was shot dead in Bangkok. (Photo: Reuters)
A view of the scene where Lim Kimya, a former member of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party ( CNRP ), was shot dead in Bangkok. ( Photo: Reuters )

A Thai court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant for an alleged hunter who fatally shot a former Cambodian opposition lawmaker in a brutal attack in Bangkok’s filled old quarter, according to authorities.

A waiting shooter who fired three shots on Lim Kimya, 74, who had arrived in Thailand just days before, was shot dead, according to a police official, who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Lim Kimya, a Thai and French national, had flown from Cambodia to Thailand on Tuesday at noon with his wife and brother and boarded a vehicle to Bangkok just before he was shot dying, according to the standard.

A 41-year-old motorbike taxi driver has been on an arrest warrant, according to Pol Col Sanong Saengmanee, director of Chana Songkhram police, according to Pol Col Sanong Saengmanee, director of Chana Songkhram authorities.

Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom, the Metropolitan Police Bureau director, said an investigation so much indicated the criminal was a weapon for use.

We have proof of the identity of the offender, the statement read. Right then, we are working to assault him”, he told reporters.

Prior to the 2018 election, Lim Kimya was a member of the popular opposition known as the Cambodia National Rescue Party ( CNRP ). He had been removed from power as a result of an alleged treason plot. The ruling Thai Women’s Party claimed at the time that the charges brought against it were made up.

As a police attempted to revive him while he lay on his back, covered in a violet polo shirt and white clothes, he was surrounded by a pool of blood, according to a photograph shared by first responders. A little blue suitcase lay outside.

” Thai authorities should promptly and thoroughly investigate and prosecute those responsible”, Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch ( HRW) said in a statement.

Previous CNRP people, including those who reside in neighboring Thailand, have been harassed, intimidated, and surveyed by the Cambodian government.

According to a spokesman for the Thai government, Pen Bona said the killing was in the hands of the authorities of a sovereign state called Thailand. He said the Thai government was often accused by criticism “extremists” of being behind situations.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Thailand and the embassies in Cambodia and France did not respond to individual requests for comment. ( continues below )

Blood stains the ground at the scene where a former politician with now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) Lim Kimya, 74, was shot dead, in Bangkok on Friday. (Photo: Reuters)

Blood stains the ground at the scene where a former politician with now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party ( CNRP ) Lim Kimya, 74, was shot dead, in Bangkok on Wednesday. ( Photo: Reuters )

Cambodia’s government, led by the CPP for more than four decades, has conducted a brutal, years-long assault on its competitors, with values of lawmakers and activists jailed, some in tribunal, and lots more fleeing into captivity. It has denied persecuting the criticism.

Lim Kimya’s opposition party did not have a dominant presence. Police said they were also looking into the matter of his death.

The believe in the murder case is depicted in the image.

The believe in the murder case is depicted in the image.

Continue Reading

Thailand mahout charged after elephant gores tourist to death

By:
On:
In: Asia

A Spanish visitor was fatally shot by an elephant in his attention last week, and Thai authorities have charged a mahout.

Theerayut Inthaphudkij, 38, was charged with neglect causing death, regional authorities said Monday.

The tourist – 22-year-old Blanca Ojanguren García – was bathing the elephant at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in southern Thailand when she was attacked by the animal.

This raises new questions about Thailand’s expanding elephant tourism sector, which animal rights organizations have long criticized as irresponsible and dangerous.

According to activists, elephant bathing impairs the ability to engage in normal grooming and may injure the animals, putting them under unnecessary stress.

Authorities speculated after the attack that the rhinoceros might have been stressed out from the visitors ‘ interactions.

García sustained a mind injury- and afterward died in the clinic- after the rhinoceros, 45-year-old female Phang Somboon, pushed her with its tusk. Her partner, who was travelling with her, witnessed the assault.

According to estimates from the international organization World Animal Protection, there are virtually 3, 000 elephants in Thailand’s tourist attractions.

According to a statement from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ( Peta ),” these incidents highlight the dangers to both humans and animals alike.”

Any” sanctuary” that allows people to touch, feed, bathe, or otherwise interact directly with animals is not a place of refuge for animals, according to Peta senior vice president Jason Baker.” Any sanctuary” that allows people to contact, feed, feed, or interact with animals in any way puts the existence of visitors and animals in grave danger.

Animals whose elephants killed tourists have previously been accused of neglect.

After an elephant killed a Taiwanese tour guide and wounded two travellers in the Thai beach town of Pattaya in 2017, an elephant station operator and a parser were charged with carelessness and death. In 2013, a 27-year-old rhinoceros had its claws cut after it attacked and killed a person.

García, a laws and foreign ties scholar at Spain’s University of Navarra, was living in Taiwan as part of a student exchange program. She and her partner made contact with Thailand on December 26, 2024.

Spain’s foreign secretary, Jose Manuel Albares, said the Colonial embassy in Bangkok was assisting García’s home.

Kelly Ng provided extra monitoring.

Continue Reading

More than 25,000 Singaporeans have used S,000 SkillsFuture mid-career top up

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

More than 25, 000 Singaporeans who received the S$ 4, 000 top-up in SkillsFuture credits last year have used them, according to Minister of State for Education and Manpower Gan Siow Huang on Wednesday ( January 8 ).

In May 2024, Singaporeans aged 40 and above received an additional S$ 4, 000&nbsp, ( US$ 2, 930 ) in SkillsFuture credits. When they reach the age of 40, younger Singaporeans will get the same sum. &nbsp,

Responding to political questions, Ms Gan noted that between May and November 2024, the bottom area of education was in information and communication technologies, including skills like online marketing and data representation. &nbsp,

Courses in protection and analysis, as well as wholesale and retail industry, were likewise favorite, she added. More than 7, 000 programs are available to be used with the S$ 4, 000 mid-career funds. &nbsp,

Major education providers included NTUC LearningHub and institutions of higher learning, according to Ms. Gan. &nbsp,

Since the start of the SkillsFuture program, the training membership price of people, including those sponsored by their businesses, has increased from 35 per cent in 2015 to about 50 per share in 2022. &nbsp,

About one in three Singapore had used their SkillsFuture certificates as of March 2024. Close to 40 per cent of Singaporeans in their 30s had used their base S$ 500 credits, compared with 25 per cent of those aged 60 and above, said the Ministry of Education ( MOE ) at the time.

SkillsFuture Singapore has been “quite watchful” in curating the 7, 000 programs available to be used with the mid-career funds, said Ms Gan. &nbsp,

These programs are known to have better employment outcomes, as evidenced by comments from employers as well as from participants who have taken the course and who have reported finding it to be beneficial for their careers, she continued. &nbsp,

Continue Reading

PAP, PSP clash over allegations of harassment, intimidation of volunteers during Bukit Gombak walkabouts

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

The exact PSP member who reportedly insulted and attacked the initial volunteer, reportedly taunted another team member, who she called Male Volunteer 2.

Men Voluntary 2 used his phone to record the PSP person’s behavior and insults, said Ms Low. The next day, two more female PSP users confronted him, one of whom “forcibly pulled him by his clothing to forcibly acquire a wefie and video with him.”

In the meantime, she wrote that adult PAP individuals noticed that PSP users were recording their actions and responded in form.

At 5:30 p.m., the two organizations met at a protected sidewalk, where Ms Low claimed PSP people taunted and photographed the PAP participants.

She said some sexual PAP individuals, who appeared in pictures posted online by PSP, have fallen prey to doxxing. Doxxing refers to the publication of data intended to harass, threaten, or cause violence against a person.

Some individuals are undergoing consultation, said Ms Low.

” These latest innovations are concerning. When the situations were brought to my attention, I was alarmed that two of our female volunteers were actually manhandled”, she wrote.

She claimed that they thought about making a police record but instead made up their minds and hoped PSP do not act in this way in the future.

” We now know that PSP has chosen to make claims and file a police statement despite the conduct described above.” We look forward to a whole police investigation, and for the full facts to be public”, she said. ” That means, the people you know what actually happened”.

PSP VOLUNTEER FELT “UNSAFE AND VIOLATED”

Mr&nbsp, Nallakaruppan’s blog said PSP users “did not want to have any fight” and only did their jobs despite “unprofessional” behavior, such as PAP participants immediately handing out their flyers to residents that PSP was talking to.

He claimed that a similar incident occurred in November of that year when PSP was reaching out to Hillview people.

” A group of PAP people strongly followed us as well. We thought it was a one-off incident ( and ) let it pass”, he said.

On Wednesday, PSP Chairman Tan Cheng Bock claimed a group of people had been brutally harassing and intimidating PSP participants by following, stalking, and filming them at close range.

” The worst incident involved a black man physically intimidating a young PSP women charity,” the article states. He intruded into her private room, and violently filmed her against her will”, Dr Tan wrote on Instagram.

Continue Reading

Colder weather moving in from Friday

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 8 Jan 2025 at 11: 22

A tourist poses for photos with the 5°C sign at Doi Inthanon National Park in the northern province of Chiang Mai on Wednesday morning. (Photo: Panumet Tanraksa)
On Wednesday night at Doi Inthanon National Park in the northeastern province of Chiang Mai, a visitor poses for pictures with the 5°C mark. ( Photo: Panumet Tanraksa )

Due to the arrival of a great pressure system from China, conditions are expected to drop precipitously in the majority of the nation starting this Friday.

Sukanyanee Yawinchan, director-general of the weather office, said on Wednesday that from Friday this week to Monday next year temperature may fall by 5-7°C in the North and Northeast, and 2-5°C in the Central Plains and Bangkok, East and higher South.

During the interval, winds will be powerful in the provinces.

In the dry conditions and strong winds, people in these regions were advised to stay warm and be wary of burning.

More South&nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

The Gulf of Thailand and the South will experience stronger northwest monsoons over the same time frame. In consequence, it will weather more in the South and possibly also have a lot of rain in some parts of the lower South.

In the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, waves may be 2-3 meters high. Smaller boats are advised to stay offshore in the Gulf of Thailand from Friday through Monday.

Continue Reading