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

LOW SALES AT Fair

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, this failed to suppress open resentment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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World’s largest human migration in full swing, as millions in China head home for Chinese New Year

SHANGHAI: Millions across China are returning to their hometowns from cities to celebrate their country’s most important festival: Chinese New Year, which begins on Wednesday ( Jan 29 ) this year.

At Shanghai’s Hongqiao Railway Station, the number of people passing through the state’s busiest transportation hub doubled at the top of China’s monthly continuing journey jump.

On Sunday, two weeks before Chinese New Year’s Eve, when people commonly have meeting dinners with their families, the 40-day Spring Festival go jump, or Chunyun, was anticipated to have reached its peak.

The first day of the Chinese New Year’s Chunyun generally falls 15 times before. &nbsp,

The largest animal movement in the world occurs annually. Some holidaymakers are hoping to make good use of the eight-day people vacation in addition to returning home.

” It’s been about a month since I went home. I’ve been away from my kids and family, I’m definitely looking forward to it”, one passenger told CNA.

It feels so good to finally return home after working hard for a month.

Use ATTENDED TO SPEAK

For Yang Junhua, place grasp at the state’s Hongqiao Railway Station, he and his team have to address the issues of great customer level and teach frequency.

” During the 40 days of spring go, Shanghai Railway expects to tackle over 16 million people, averaging 400, 000 regular – a 13 per cent increase year-on-year”, he said.

In addition to the services that have been renovated ahead of Chunyun, including those that accommodate nursing mothers and children, Shanghai railway stations are planning to employ an additional 221 pair of coach providers during this time, according to Yang.

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Police raids target Chinese criminal ownership of tourist villas

Policemen question a maid while searching a villa during their raids in Chon Buri on Sunday. (Police photo)
During their Sunday raids in Chon Buri, police question a lady while they are looking through a house. ( Police photo )

As they look into alleged participation by illegal Chinese businesses in the delivery of&nbsp, accommodation for Foreign visitors, police have conducted raids on many businesses in Chon Buri state, including beach villas. &nbsp,

According to the Central Investigation Bureau, Economic Crime Suppression Division officers conducted a search of five components, including villas cover Chinese tourists, on Sunday as part of Operation Dragon Slayer, on Monday.

The CIB claims that the attacks were a part of an ongoing investigation into allegations that illegal Chinese firms, including call-scam gangs, were investing in unpaid expenses in rented out accommodations to Chinese visitors.

The detailed clients were businesses registered for planned visit deals, &nbsp, and related business. Their Chinese customers paid in modern money, foreign currencies, and cash.

According to authorities, the villas that were searched had been valued at more than 20 million baht. They were not named in the CIB statement.

More than 40 companies have substitute owners listed for the Foreign owners, according to investigators.

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

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

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

MAKING SURE WEIGHTS ARE Appropriate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Forest burners in Korat arrested

Officials and volunteers help build a firebreak on Jom Thong Mountain in Khon Buri district of Nakhon Ratchasima on Monday.
On Monday, authorities and individuals work to construct a firebreak on Jom Thong Mountain in the Khon Buri city of Nakhon Ratchasima.

Officials in this northeastern province have detained five defendants who allegedly blazed forested areas, and they are looking into detaining ten more.

From Jan 1 to Saturday, 25 bush fires were reported, with 6, 016 ray of property being destroyed in full, and the main cause was foraging and hunting activities, assistant government Surapan Sinlapasuwan said in a conference at the city hall on Monday.

Five forest stoves have been arrested and prosecuted, while 10 others have been identified and are being sought, Mr Surapan said.

The Khon Buri region, where the famous Jom Thong Mountain – also known as Thai Fuji – is located, has recorded the largest broken place, totalling 2, 453 ray, followed by Chaloem Phra Kiat area and Pak Chong district, with 1, 700 rai each.

After a helicopter study on Monday, no fires, dust or spots were found in the places according to authorities. &nbsp,

Mr. Surapan also emphasized protocols for addressing the problem of particulates less than 2.5 microns ( PM2.5 ), including establishing checkpoints for car emissions and limiting agricultural burning. According to the Building Control Act and the Factory Act, leaders in the state were also required to inspect building websites and businesses. &nbsp,

The air quality in the province was at the green level ( good for health ) today, according to the Swiss-based IQAir. &nbsp,

The lieutenant governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, Surapan Sinlapasuwan, in a conference at the town hall on Monday.

The lieutenant governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, Surapan Sinlapasuwan, in a conference at the town hall on Monday.

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Philippines, US, Vietnam, Indonesia train for maritime law enforcement cooperation

The education covered healthy vessel boarding at sea, coastal law, data collection and survival, safety and danger mitigation and imprisonment techniques, according to the statement. At the education, the Australian Border Force served as observers along with the coast guard, customs officers, and fisheries security personnel. In recent years, ChinaContinue Reading