Grab, Gojek, CDG Zig, Tada platform fees to rise by up to 50 cents from Jan 1

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SINGAPORE: Four ride-hailing operators in Singapore will be raising their platform fees by up to S$ 0.50 ( US$ 0.37 ) from Jan 1, 2025, in a move they partly attribute to costs&nbsp, arising from the upcoming Platform Workers Act.

Grab, the leading ride-hailing platform in Singapore, will increase its fees&nbsp, from S$ 0.70 to S$ 0.90 for commuters, it said in a statement on Tuesday ( Dec 24 ).

The new “platform &amp, partner fee” will support Central Provident Fund ( CPF ) contributions, work injury compensation ( WIC ) coverage and other welfare initiatives for its platform workers, as well as platform&nbsp, maintenance and service improvements, it added.

For its foods, shopping and shipment delivery service, its costs will go up from S$ 0.40 to S$ 0.60.

Gojek will even increase its app cost by S$ 30 to S$ 50 per journey, with the technician stating on Tuesday that these changes are intended to “protect drivers and their earnings in support of the Bill” in addition to improving and maintaining its services.

Also, ComfortDelGro, Singapore’s largest car operator, said on Tuesday it will increase its system fees. The actual cost will depend on factors like the distance traveled and the length of the trip, and it will be charged to commuters for S$ 1.20, which is higher than the current smooth rate of S$ 0.70.

Trips made with the CDG Zig game, DBS PayLah!, may be covered by this. app and Kris software.

The increase will go toward “enhanced security and&nbsp, welfare activities that are part of the new System Staff Bill, providing a more enjoyable and secure prospect for our drivers,” according to Mr. Tommy Tan, CEO of ComfortDelGro Taxi.

The company added that the adjustment will help pay operating costs for platform workers ‘ new initiatives under the Ministry of Manpower’s ( MOM), including enhanced insurance coverage and CPF contributions.

TADA also announced that it would increase its app cost by S$ 0.50 per journey, excluding GST.

An email sent to clients on Tuesday reads,” In addition to maintaining latest features and creating new ones to provide a better ride-hailing knowledge for you, this modification is also crucial to the application of the president’s Platform Workers Bill.”

Ryde has been contacted by CNA to inquire whether its app fees may be changed in the same way.

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Short detention order for man who injured ex-girlfriend in fight, used chopper to scare her

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A 49-year-old man who admitted to injuring his ex-girlfriend in a fight days after they broke up was issued a 10-day, short detention order on Tuesday ( Dec 24 ).

Additionally, Lim Hwa Ghee admitted to repeatedly kicking Ms. Chua Sok Hoon’s experience while putting her over on a bed and frightening her.

He admitted guilt on one count of causing harm on purpose, with another count of unlawful intimidation being taken into account.

The prosecutor was informed that Ms. Chua, 46, and Lim were living up in her apartment.

After an argument in April 2023, they ended their marriage.

When Lim and Ms. Chua got into a disagreement over their relationship and their living provisions, they broke up on April 8, 2023, in the apartment.

Ms. Chua grabbed Lim’s clothing to stop him from leaving the apartment as the conversation grew heated. Lim relented but pushed her arms, and she slapped him to support herself.

Irritated, Lim slapped Ms Chua thrice and took a helicopter from the house. Next he dragged her by her arm to the home.

He threw her onto the pillow and pinned her neck with his hands while swinging the helicopter several times beside her face as she covered her face.

While doing this, Lim asked her:” You still want to do this, is it”?

At some point, he lost his grip on the heli and it fell to the ground. Ms Chua, who was crying, saw an opportunity to find away and left the room.

In the living room, they kept fighting, even arguing over a sock support that had gotten bloody during the earlier conflict. Mr Chua told Lim he was “in problem”.

She and Lim fought with each other to stop him from doing so, and she wanted to remove the pillow support so that she could have it cleaned. He later relented.

Ms. Chua agitated Lim by preventing him from leaving the apartment half more.

She was unable to breathe for a moment as he grabbed her throat with one side and pressed her against the wall before letting go right away.

Mr Chua then told Lim to leave the house, and he did. After that evening, she reported the incident to the police.

A medical exam found pain on her neck, chest and shoulders as well as an abrasion&nbsp, on her chest and a slice on her shoulder.

She received three weeks of sick leave and pain medication.

Initial requests for five to six weeks ‘ imprisonment for Lim were changed to a small confinement order of seven to fourteen days after arguments were made by Deputy Public Prosecutor Chan Yi Cheng.

He described the abuse as prolonged and severe, highlighting Lim’s work of grabbing the defendant’s throat, which is a vulnerable area, and the use of a chopper to terrify her.

Initial requests for a higher fine were changed to a quick detention order of three days, according to defense counsel Asoka Markandu.

He asserted that his customer wasn’t the fight’s offender.

The target prevented Lim from leaving the apartment each day, according to the prosecutor, and the debate grew. He claimed Lim had returned his vehicle keys and wanted to leave.

Mr. Chan countered that Lim’s response was “over the top” and that he escalated into retribution as the event progressed.

In cases of deliberately causing harm, District Judge John Ng said it was crucial to consider the context in which the assault began.

Lim’s actions met the boundary for a judicial name rather than a good, but a community-based word was appropriate as he was a first-time offender, the judge said.

While there was a stormy element to Lim’s relationship with the victim, there was no continuous assault and the infraction was a one-off event, Judge Ng added.

He even noted that the sufferer had stated that the cut on her shoulder had been caused by an unintentional incident during the struggle and not by Lim swinging the helicopter.

A little detention order, which is a 14-day community-based sentence that prevents criminal activity but does not keep a criminal record, serves as a deterrent.

The maximum punishment for voluntarily causing hurt is three years in jail, a S$ 5, 000 ( US$ 3, 680 ) fine, or both.

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New speed limits for Bangkok drivers

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PUBLISHED: 24 Dec 2024 at 12: 37

Motorists cross Ratchathewi intersection on Phaya Thai Road in Bangkok on Nov 9, 2024. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
On November 9, 2024, vehicles cross the Ratchathewi crossing on Phaya Thai Road in Bangkok. ( Photo: Apichart Jinakul )

The Metropolitan Police Bureau ( MPB) has set a fresh maximum speed limit of 60 miles per hour for most roads in the city, exempting main thoroughfares, and 50kph near the Grand Palace, successful soon. &nbsp,

The new rules, which was released on Monday in the Royal Gazette, would improve traffic control and lessen private road accidents. It took impact on Tuesday.

All but 13 major roads are subject to the new 60 kph speed control. The free routes are:

  • Vibhavadi Rangsit Road
  • Bang Na-Trat Road
  • Srinakarin Road
  • Phahon Yothin Roa
  • Ram Intra Road
  • Ratchaphruek Road
  • Baromratchonnanee Road
  • Kanlapaphruek Road
  • Rom Klao Road&nbsp,
  • Suwinthawong Road
  • Chaengwattana Road
  • Rama III Road
  • Srinakarin-Rom Klao Road ( new )

On the following 10 routes close to the Palace the speed limit is then 50kph, with an more” no honking of horns” requirement:

  • Ratchadamnoen Nai Road
  • Na Phra That Road
  • Prachan Road
  • Na Phra Lan Road
  • Sanam Chai Road
  • Kalayana Maitri Road
  • Mai Wang Road
  • Maha Rat Road
  • Rachini Road
  • Setthakan Road

This speed limit also applies on roads where the posted posted speed limit is presently 45 kph. &nbsp, &nbsp,

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Former actress Ivy Lee reunites with former screen husband Xie Shaoguang: ‘Long time no see’

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Lee is also very many missed, according to a netizen.

” Ivy, Shaoguang has now made a comeback, we’re all waiting for your return now”! wrote that netizen.

Xie left the show business in 2005 and became a Buddhist priest in 2013.

Before making his return to the industry this time, he announced his plans to work as a chef in a vegetarian restaurant and opened an animal shelter in Malaysia.

However, Lee, whose previous crisis was 2008’s Love Blossoms II, has been living in England with her director father, Raymond Choy, and their four children – Mikki, 26, twin brothers Nik and Dash, 19, and Leah, 15 – for the past seven decades.

You can watch Stepping Out on&nbsp, mewatch. &nbsp, This tale was originally&nbsp, published&nbsp, in 8Days. &nbsp,

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Drink-driver kills policeman, injures students, parents outside school

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PUBLISHED: 24 Dec 2024 at 11: 06

The Honda CR-V, centre left, rests on its side against the fence in front of Ban Don Kwang School in Nakhon Ratchasima after ploughing through the crowd late Monday afternoon. (Photo: Prasit Tangprasert)
After enduring a late-Monday evening through the throng, the Honda CR-V, center left, leans against the fence in front of the Ban Don Kwang School in Nakhon Ratchasima. ( Photo: Prasit Tangprasert )

NAKHON RATCHASIMA- An intoxicated 75-year-old drove his vehicle into a group in front of a college, killing a police and injuring nine different people, later Monday evening.

Four individuals, four kids, four vendors, and four vendors were among the injured. Three of the students ‘ wounds were thought to be serious. &nbsp,

Somsak Asaichao had been arrested at the scene, according to Pol Maj Gen Narongrit Dansuwan, the municipal police captain, on Tuesday. He was being held in custody despite being denied loan by the police.

The elderly and drunk man fled from a group on Monday and drove his car into the group in front of Ban Don Kwang School on Phetmatula Road in tambon Hua Talay of Muang region at around 4.15pm, according to him.

Mr Somsak’s Honda CR-V car crashed into other cars and even killed Pol Lt Wimut Tansupho, a 57-year-old assistant traffic chief inspector of Muang Nakhon Ratchasima police station. Nine additional people were injured, four kids, four kids and a flesh game supplier, he said. Three of the individuals suffered serious injuries.

His car came to a stop on its part, head into the school gate, beside a company’s stall. &nbsp,

According to Pol Maj Gen Narongrit, Mr. Somsak was facing charges including drunken driving that could result in death and injury and carries a maximum fine of 200, 000 ringgit.

The suspect was being detained at the police station in Muang Nakhon Ratchasima. He reportedly told the police that he had no idea what the injury he had caused.

Ban Don Kwang School was closed on Tuesday. The deceased police officer’s funeral services were being attended by death directors.

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The Edge apologises to Singapore ministers over article on Good Class Bungalows

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The Singapore, a business publication, apologized to Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng on Tuesday ( Dec 24 ) for a Bloomberg article that The Edge reproduced on its website.

A POLFA adjustment purchase issued to a number of entities on Monday, titled Singapore Mansion Deals Are Extremely Shrouded in Secrecy, was the subject of the article.

The article addressed Good Class Bungalow ( GCB) transactions in Singapore and contained a number of statements that the government later determined to be false.

The article’s authors, Mr. Shanmugam and Dr. Tan, both mentioned in the article, said they would be issuing Letters of Need to Bloomberg and other outlets that may reproduce the article in its entirety or in part because they felt the piece was libellous and indicated on December 16 that they would do so. &nbsp,

The Edge stated on Tuesday that it was aware that the article it reproduced and the accompanying Facebook post “meant and were understood to mean that ( Mr. Shanmugam/Dr Tan ) wanted to conceal ( their ) transaction( s ) and avoid scrutiny, including about the possibility of money laundering.”

The Facebook post read:” Bloomberg says more people buy homes with trusts, hiding owners ‘ identities” .&nbsp,

The Edge acknowledged and acknowledged that the claims are” entirely false and without any basis.”

The ministers were also apologised for the “distress and guilt” that the content and Facebook article caused them.

The Advantage stated,” We have removed the content and the post and commit to not make any claims or submit any content and/or posts containing any claims to the same or similar effects.”

CNA has contacted The Edge, as well as Mr Shanmugam and Dr Tan, for additional comment.

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Former Citiraya CEO denied bail, prosecutor says he was on the run under alternative identity

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SINGAPORE: Ng Teck Lee, the former CEO of Citiraya who absconded for almost 20 years, was denied bail by a district court on Tuesday ( Dec 24 ).

The 58-year-old is implicated in an alleged S$ 72 million ( US$ 53 million ) embezzlement case involving Citiraya, a firm that recycled and recovered precious metals from electronic scrap.

After serving 19 times on the run, he and his wife and co-accused Thor Chwee Hwa, 55, were detained in Malaysia on December 3.

Hon Yi, the deputy public attorney, claimed that during his escape, Ng lived in Malaysia under an other name.

This presented a clear flight threat, the prosecutor said.

The court heard at a prior hearing that his wife was denied parole and that when they were detained, they were discovered with false identification documents and that Thor had offshore assets worth about S$ 440,000.

Because studies were still in the early stages, Ng was never permitted to speak with legal counsel at the hearing.

Mr. Hon stated on Tuesday that the trial was requesting Ng to remain in custody with full exposure to his attorney, Mr. Aristotle Eng.

Mr. Eng claimed that at this time, he did not object to his client never having loan.

Ng and Thor may appear in court again on February 7, 2025. At this time, both are facing one holding cost, but Ng is currently facing 150 infractions.

These are offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Penal Code and Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes ( Confiscation of Benefits ) Act, the court previously heard.

Ng is charged with instructing some Citiraya employees to rebrand and export the company’s digital scrap in January 2005 rather than to him as CEO and president.

By opening a Credit Suisse Hong Kong unit account into which about S$ 1.1 million was transferred on or around July 10, 2003, Thor is accused of helping her husband keep his unlawful gains.

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Hong Kong tourist in fight with taxi drivers

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PUBLISHED: 24 Dec 2024 at 10: 38

Taxi drivers hold down Keith Poon, from Hong Kong, outside Phuket airport on Monday. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)
Car owners hold down Keith Poon, from Hong Kong, outside Phuket airport on Monday. ( Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran )

Beach- A Hong Kong man was taken to hospital to” quiet down” &nbsp, after brawling with car individuals outside the Phuket airport terminal, authorities said.

Keith Poon, 35, had emotional problems and took regular treatment, according to Sakhu authorities in Thalang district on Monday.

Mr. Poon arrived in Phuket on December 17 and reported to the Sakhu Police that his card had vanished. &nbsp,

He had traveled to the airport to get his return journey on Monday and had been given a temporary vacation record.

Police arrived on the scene outside the terminal where a very agitated Mr. Poon was reportedly feudging with car drivers and other passengers. He was restrained, and he was taken to Thalang Hospital to” quiet over.” &nbsp,

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Mediacorp announces it will offer contracts to 8 additional finalists from Star Search 2024

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In a speech, Doreen Neo, Mediacorp’s general talent agent, said:” Star Search has once again uncovered numerous rising celebrities, and we are thrilled to welcome these nine talents to the Mediacorp home.

” From young actors and visitors to content creators, each of them brings unique strengths, love, and personality to the table, making for a party that reflects the dynamic nature of yesterday’s celebrity image. We are eager to see how far they may advance by providing personalized workshops and special opportunities that are tailored to their aspirations. Keep tuned to see these rising actors make their mark on Mediacorp’s systems and over!”

The great episode of&nbsp, Star Search 2024 took position on Nov 24 and saw Tiffany Ho walking away with&nbsp, a Mediacorp commitment and a BYD Seal electric vehicle.

Watch every episode of Star Search 2024 on Mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube network.

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