IN FOCUS: We reported 20 illegal groups to Telegram. Most were still online 2 weeks later

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In comparison to the same period last year, there were 137.5 % more fraud cases reported on Telegram in the first quarter of this year.

Of the 8, 336 fraud cases where thieves contacted patients via messaging apps, 45 per cent used Telegram, according to the officer’s mid-year short.

Scammers may have had trouble obtaining aid from Telegram for those who have been physically affected by them.

Mr. Robin Hicks, an writer, started receiving texts next month from people who claimed to be on Telegram, or at least someone who had used his phone number. &nbsp,

What’s interesting is that the person who presented themselves as me had a different identity. It was a fresh woman”, he said. &nbsp,

The scam, who purportedly was Mr. Hicks, approached persons and even his business associates, claiming that he was in a difficult financial position and that he had been asked to borrow money.

Mr. Hicks attempted to take command of the bill after learning about the scam, but he was unable to do so because password codes are sent to the profile more than SMS.

He also sent the program a message asking his friends to delete the Telegram account. &nbsp,

In his message, he included pictures of the fictitious profile and conversations between the defrauder and his contacts.

But he did n’t get a response from Telegram.

” There was n’t even an automated response to say, hey, we’re looking into it”, he said. ” Little at all”.

The person who made up his identity remained in contact with his links for about a week or two.

” Thankfully, a lot of the contacts realised it was a hoax or a scam account, because it so obviously was n’t me”, he said, adding that there were Finnish words used in the biography of the account linked to his number.

” I believe it would have been more of a problem if they had used a photo from my LinkedIn profile or another social media account,” she said.

However, it was difficult not to notice back from Telegram, particularly since the scam had reached out to his function contacts. &nbsp,

” It was fairly obvious it’s a scammer, but if ( the picture used ) was more similar to me, it could have been potentially career wrecking”.

More than a fortnight later, he still has never heard anyone from Telegram. He just learned that some friends had helped him check the bill after it had been deleted.

Mr Gabrielle View, Mr Hicks ‘ partner and a long-time person of Telegram, said she expected the software to respond to like demands more quickly.

” My impression of ( Telegram ) is that it was very focused on security and its users. I believe I simply anticipated it to do much, at least better than WhatsApp,” said Ms View. &nbsp,

Interestingly, she said WhatsApp seems to react to con groups very quickly, maybe even before she reports them.

When Ms See first began using Telegram, she believed that it was vigilant in collaborating with its users and that it often released new features for them.

She has lost some of her gratitude for Telegram due to Mr. Hicks ‘ practice.

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Analysis: Xi tempers expectations on economic goals but could act ‘earlier’, more ‘decisively’ in 2025

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SINGAPORE: A specific remark made by Chinese President Xi Jinping to regional authorities during a recent visit to the city in northwest Lanzhou, which was located along the Yellow River, caught the attention of foreigners in China. The statement was n’t about environmental protection.

Mr. Xi’s alleged statement,” Strive to achieve the full-year economic and social growth goals,” is a small change from the company command he made just months before.

Following China’s financial reform-focused Second Plenum conference held in July, his text therefore was stronger and clearer – that goals must be achieved “unwaveringly”.

This shift in tone, yet” subtle”, did not go unnoticed among spectators. &nbsp,

” Where usually we expect to observe phrases such as ‘ completely determined’ or ‘ unwavering,’ ( Mr Xi’s use of ) the word’ strive’ emphasises the effort and not the outcome”, wrote Mr John Browning, managing director of BANDS Financial, a Hong Kong-based commodity and economical futures broker, in his newsletter.

Others say it was n’t just a change in rhetoric. Experts who spoke to CNA said the changing tone was a representation of Mr. Xi’s tacit acknowledgment of the complex problems that are currently confronting China’s economy and that it is trying to temper anticipation. Beijing is still formally committed to its 5 % growth goal for 2024. &nbsp,

According to Mr. Matteo Giovannini, a senior finance manager at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China ( ICBC ) and non-resident associate fellow at the Center for China and Globalization,” Chinese officials are frequently very deliberate in their wording.” He added that the linguistic change may be a” sign that economic pressures are mounting, and that the leadership is managing expectations.

Mr Xi’s transition from a “more resolute’ unwaveringly’ to significantly more careful’ strive to accomplish’ suggests a recognition ( from him ) of the difficulties in achieving China’s 2024 growth targets but certainly a whole admission that the target is unattainable”, said Mr Giovannini.

He adds:” While the change in language seems gentle, in the context of Taiwanese social conversation, even small variations in wording may indicate broader motives”.

Experts told CNA that it’s a probable indicator that Beijing is reviewing its strategy, which may help to set the stage for more effective policy changes in the upcoming year. &nbsp, &nbsp,

A SHIFT IN TONE: FROM “UNWAVERING” TO “STRIVING”

Although the appearance is not uncommon, it has been used numerous times throughout history.

Mr. Xi urged leaders to” strive to achieve the goals and tasks for economic and social growth” in February 2020, when the pandemic greatly burdened the economy and China broke with more than a quarter-century history by absolving China of its annual economic growth goal.

He repeated it in July 2022 after a weekly Politburo’s financial meeting, telling officers to” try to achieve the best results feasible”. &nbsp,
 
He once again said,” Strive to achieve the various targets and tasks of economic and social development,” at the central economic work conference in December of last year.

Some experts do n’t think it represents a significant policy change despite Mr. Xi’s soft tone. &nbsp,

Top leaders appear to have already accepted the reality that the growth target is unlikely to be met despite the change in the economic landscape, according to Ms. Guo Shan, partner at Hutong Research.

” This is likely due to the economy’s structural soundness, with auto sales improving, employment stabilising, and high-tech industries outperforming”, Ms Guo said. ” Rather than achieving an exact GDP figure, the leadership appears more focused on addressing long-term structural issues.”

Last Saturday ( Sep 14), China’s National Bureau of Statistics released its economic data for August, with most indicators falling short of expectations. &nbsp,

Retail sales, industrial value added, and year-to-date fixed-asset investment ( FAI ) grew by 2.1 per cent, 4.5 per cent, and 3.4 per cent year-on-year, respectively- each lower than in July, even with recent policy support. &nbsp,

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Residents at Dairy Farm Estate wrangle with condo management over removal of 35-year-old trees

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In 1989, Ms. Christina Tang chose the Dairy Farm Estate property as her home because of the lush green landscape. &nbsp,

The retirement said she could have moved somewhere more, to other flats or condominiums.

” But we wanted this because look, in this entire Singapore, can you find ( an estate ) like this”?

Despite the fact that the condominium is “very aged”, many people are also” sticking around” because of the charm of the place, said Ms Tang.

” You may put a price on that. You can always get another condominium, but you wo n’t have the same atmosphere as we do here,” she said.

However, to Ms. Tang’s surprise, the environment may quickly experience some significant changes as a result of the removal of four large trees.

These big, tall plants, known as Khaya trees, can reach a height of 30 meters. &nbsp,

Residents who oppose the removal of these trees contacted CNA with questions about the decision to cut them down when they are still alive and have n’t been pruned in more than 35 years. &nbsp,

Additionally, they made a point of looking at the irregularities in studies assessing the trees ‘ structural stability and wellbeing. &nbsp,

A group of eight residents also sent a legal letter addressed to the condominium ‘s&nbsp, Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST ) and the landscaper involved, &nbsp, Lovely Landscape and Construction.

People who requested the removal of the trees warned against proceeding until a “proper and considered choice” is made in accordance with the International Society of Arboriculture&nbsp, the Code of Ethics, and the pertinent provisions of the Building Maintenance&nbsp, and the Strata Management Act.

A plea on Change. Additionally, a website was established in mid-August to stop the loss of the four plants. It has since garnered more than 250 names.

When CNA visited the condominium on Friday ( Sep 20 ) afternoon, the four trees in question and the surrounding area, which includes a playground, had been cordoned off. &nbsp,

People claimed that this week was the only time they learned about the tree removal choice. &nbsp,

A control see from Sep 12 that residents saw on CNA’s website said that an exercise to cut and prune trees may be held there from Sep 16 through October 30.

A person who identified himself as the director of Lovely Landscape and Construction was seen telling residents on Friday that he had not yet received instructions to cut down the four Khaya plants. &nbsp,

Otherwise, the gardener was merely pruning other branches located near. &nbsp,

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Singapore’s Chief Justice concerned about young lawyers leaving profession

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The Chief Justice touched on the issues faced by those in legitimate practice in the final payment of a series of meetings organized by the Singapore Courts and local institutions to engage the community.

Around two-thirds of the 234 responders to the recent mass call, which is where doctors are en masse, said they were likely to leave legitimate practice in the next five years.

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon revealed on Friday ( Sep 20 ) that slightly more than a third of respondents were likely to leave the legal profession altogether.

He made these notes in a speech to mark the conclusion of the Singapore Courts Conversations with the Community line, a collaboration between the Singapore Courts and the Singapore Management University, Singapore Management University, and Singapore University of Social Sciences.

More than 1, 100 individuals- judges, professionals, students, educators, people officers and specialists- have participated in the conversations since they began a year ago. &nbsp,

The Chief Justice stated in his statement that the survey findings are concerning because they reflect the opinions of those just beginning their lawful occupations and because the majority of these actions appeared to be driven by “push” rather than “pull” aspects.

According to Chief Justice Menon,” a considerable proportion of respondents indicated that their current inclination to keep was influenced by increased workload, poor work-life balance, and bad workplace culture.”

He suggested that this matter be looked into “urgently,” with an eye on “each of our offices” keeping a close eye on ecological practices.

He suggested working on three main points: first, if there are issues with the legal profession’s anticipation and a century space that needs to be immediately addressed.

It may be stressed to young attorneys that a career in the law requires a lot of hard work over the long haul, especially in the formative years, where there is definitely a steep learning curve, he said.

However, he added that older attorneys may be informed that workplace norms have changed over time and that there has “rightly been a change” towards more sustainable and conscious practices, which the job as a whole should adopt.

He argued that law firms and their employees must have mutual respect for one another’s well-being and acknowledge that this must not prevent efficient performance.

The development of material policies to ensure the adoption of sustainable workplace practices is the second component.

The Chief Justice stated that the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee will soon launch its last comments.

The committee was established as a result of a fall in administrative proceedings against attorneys, with the number of disciplinary violations rising from 2018 to 2022.

The final element relates to how to “more efficiently communicate and instill the values that are fundamental to our practice of law,” which should be the main motivation for lawyers to practice law.

The Chief Justice also spoke about access to justice- a long-standing issue that has become more serious with a” important” part of judge customers now self-represented.

” In this’ new normal’, we must ensure that all parties, and particularly self-represented people, have a realistic chance to start or justify a claim, and a fair chance at presenting their situation, regardless of their assets or legal literacy”, said Chief Justice Menon.

The sustainability of the legal system depends on a shared societal commitment to the rule of law, which requires the public to believe that the courts will provide justice to all, especially for those who are most in need.

By simplifying procedural frameworks for particular types of cases, changes have already been made at the structural level.

The High Court introduced an Express Track program two months ago to facilitate the quick resolution of some civil disputes that can be settled within four days of trial.

The Chief Justice noted that the courts ‘ responses to the issues that were raised will “have a direct impact on the level of trust and confidence in our courts, the courts ‘ legitimacy, and, consequently, the continued relevance of the rule of law to future generations of Singaporeans.”

A spokesperson for the judiciary responded to inquiries from CNA saying the feedback from the more than 1,100 participants in the conversations was “encouraging.”

She said,” The SG Courts will continue to communicate with the community through such programs and platforms, such as our social media channels.”

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Singapore teen drivers Christian Ho, Kabir Anurag target F1 spots within 5 years

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He said racing is an up-and-coming industry in Singapore, and encourages young, aspiring individuals to get the tires.

In the last ten years, Singapore racing has been taken many more seriously. I believe that owners like myself who compete on the global stage and do well will help Singapore advance to a higher level,” he said.

The most crucial thing is for younger Singaporeans to be willing to risk and for their people to provide for them.

Of his friend Christian race in the F3, Kabir said:” I’m really happy for him. He’s climbing up the ladder, and it’s really encouraging for Singapore to see someone advance toward the target. He is laying the groundwork for me and everyone else.

Kabir even lives and races in Europe, and takes online classes. He claimed that his levels have improved as a result of his flexible plan and pursuit of his vision.

He said that while serving NS does affect athletes working towards the peak of their careers, “it does n’t mean that you ca n’t be productive during NS, and it’s a very useful experience”. When the time comes, he added, he did “handle it.”

The Marina Bay Street Circuit will host the F1 Singapore Grand Prix from September 20 to September 22.

Catch the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2024 process, qualifying and key races on Channel 5 and mewatch.

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Malaysia dangles 0% tax carrot to draw family offices to Forest City special financial zone, outlines other incentives

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The Forest City job will be designated as a special economic zone to promote the growth in the Iskandar Malaysia place during a attend to Johor in August 2023, according to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. &nbsp,

He stated that the area would provide incentives for businesses to start operations, including a flat income tax rate of 15 % for skilled foreign employees, multiple entry visa as well as fast-track access for those who are based in Singapore, without providing any details.

” I’m convinced that this will draw a lot of businesses in Singapore with high functioning costs,” said Mr. Anwar.

In response to the development’s slower pace of construction and minimal tenancy rates for its domestic properties, Mr. Anwar’s comments came amid a number of media reports calling the project a “ghost town.”

MUST ENSURE Income INCENTIVES ARE NOT ABUSED BY FAMILY Agencies: ANALYST&nbsp, &nbsp,

Johor financial observer Samuel Tan, chief executive of Olive Tree home experts, told CNA the tax incentives are good developments to get home offices, finance, shared services and digitization to Malaysia. &nbsp,

Nevertheless, he warned that government must perform due diligence to ensure that home offices, for example, do not break the law and undertake money laundering offences, for example. &nbsp,

Six one home business funds in Singapore that were given tax benefits were discovered in 2023 as being related to the case in which 10 foreigners were detained and found guilty in the country’s largest income laundering situation. &nbsp,

The constitutional systems must be in place to ensure efficiency and transparency, the author writes. What happened to some nations where it was abused should n’t take place here. And the Forest City Special Financial Zone’s ecosystem may be conducive to knowledge workers, according to Mr. Tan. &nbsp,

He added that Forest City’s facilities and equipment must also be improved so that investors can travel there. &nbsp,

If the standard of living is certainly up to expectations, lower income alone is insufficient. The participants must make sure that the SFZ offers an environment where people find it healthy, easy, and effective in carrying out their functions, according to Mr. Tan. &nbsp,

The Forest City special economic zone could serve as the best example of what an SFZ should be. A powerful design then can be adopted in different parts of Malaysia or perhaps internationally”, he added. &nbsp,

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Singaporean, 22, jailed for marriage of convenience to 35-year-old foreigner who paid him S,000

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A 22-year-old person coerced his friend into a marriage that he had met at a club that arranged ease marriages before making the decision to wed a foreigner to pay off his gambling debts.

In marrying 35-year-old Vietnamese national Bui Thi Huong so she could stay in Singapore for work, he received S$ 8, 000 ( US$ 6, 200 ).

Noel Teo Junwei received a nine-month, 10-week prison sentence on Thursday ( Sep 19 ), along with a S$$ 12, 000 fine.

He pleaded guilty to two immigration-related offenses under the Immigration Act, with three additional offenses being considered.

THE Event

The prosecutor was informed that Teo and Ang Kun Teng Javier, 26, made friends at a team called ICON2.

He learned that Ang arranged for another ‘ convenience relationships and that the Singaporean people who engaged in fake relationships were compensated for it.

Teo gave another colleague, Lim Meng Yang Ryan, the idea of a marriage of convenience, saying he could make money off of it and giving him Ang’s range.

Teo intended to receive a portion of Lim’s fake wedding because he wanted to get paid.

Teo and Ang made a deal on how much money they would receive on January 27, 2023, and when Lim was unsure about going through with it, Teo assured Ang that he would” settle” the situation.

Teo, who was Lim’s relationship witness, took photos of Lim and his new woman to take them to Ang the moment Lim’s sham wedding was solemnized on February 20, 2023.

After the meeting, Ang gave Teo S$ 3, 000 to S$ 4, 000 in money, when Lim was not around.

Teo kept an eye on Lim after the wedding because he was aware that Lim’s woman may receive additional payments once her long-term explore pass software was approved.

Teo was to get S$ 200 from the transaction.

TEO’S OWN Wedding

Teo started considering entering into a marriage of convenience in the second quarter of 2023 because he needed money to pay off his playing debt.

He was aware that he would have to wed a Taiwanese woman, serve as her native sponsor, and apply for visitor visas to allow her to work in Singapore.

In return, he would be paid: S$ 5, 000 on the day of the solemnisation, S$ 5, 000 on the day she successfully obtained a long-term visit pass under his sponsorship, and S$ 1, 000 per month until her pass expired.

After deciding to deal with the sham wedding, Teo received data from Ang about his wife-to-be, 35-year-old Asian Bui Thi Huong.

In situation the officials questioned their marriage, he flew to Vietnam to join her for the first time in January of this year. They spent a few days getting to know one another.

With Huong sponsoring the journey and jewels, they purchased their wedding bands in Vietnam.

On Ang’s request, the pair traveled up to Singapore up on January 21.

Teo filled out the Huong arrival card from Singapore, adding that despite the fact that she had previously resided there, he had her own address.

On February 1, the couple solemnized their union in a hotel room at the Hard Rock Hotel in Singapore. Ang was Teo’s wedding see.

After the meeting, Huong gave Teo S$ 5, 000 in funds as part of the planned reward, and the trio went their separate ways.

While Huong stayed in an Orchard Plaza apartment, Teo and his relatives lived in Sengkang. Yet though she did not reside there, her fresh “husband” recognized her as a resident of the Sengkang apartment.

Teo requested a loan later that month from Huong, claiming that this amount may be taken from any future obligations he would owe him. Huong agreed.

She was able to obtain a long-term visitor go in March thanks to Teo’s support.

In total, Teo received S$ 8, 000 from Huong for the wedding, comprising the S$ 5, 000 first payment and three monthly payments of S$ 1, 000 from March 2024.

After conducting background checks on the marriage of convenience, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority ( ICA ) officers detained Teo in his Sengkang flat in June.

Teo is one of six Asian women and seven Malaysian men who were taken to court by ICA in June for allegedly relating to sham marriages.

Ang is facing a number of fees, with the prosecution still pending. Lim’s situation is at the pre-trial meeting stage.

In a speech to CNA on Thursday, ICA stated that it is concerned about “individuals trying to avoid our system by engaging in or arranging/assisting to arrange relationships of ease in order to get immigration infrastructure in Singapore.”

” We will continue to vigorously enforce our laws against accidental people and middlemen,” said ICA.

The penalties for couples of pleasure is a prison term of up to 10 times, a fine of up to S$ 10, 000, or both.

For making false statements to get immigration services, an offender may remain jailed for up to a year, fined up to S$ 4, 000, or both.

ICA encouraged the people to report any suspected situations or immigration-related crimes to the expert.

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CNA documentary The Exiles nominated for an International Emmy

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The Exiles, a 2023 video by Singapore-based news network CNA, has been nominated for an International Emmy Award.

The two-part collection, which was directed by American director Tom St John Gray, examines the required deportation of Eastern men from the post-war United Kingdom and Australia and its effects on their ancestors.

Peter Foo, a British resident, was one of the respondents who discovered that his parents had been deported after growing up believing that he was his father had left their community.

The Exiles is nominated in the best video type, alongside Brazil’s Transo, France’s The Billionaire, The Butler And The Boyfriend, and the UK’s Otto Baxter: No A F**king Horror Story.

Sharkdog Season 3 by Malaysian studio One Animation is another Taiwanese production that has received an Emmy nomination for 2024.

The International Academy’s president and CEO, Bruce L. Paisner, stated in a statement that:” Every year the global television community competes to be recognized on the much-coveted international stage.

We congratulate the contenders for their excellent programs and performances, which once again demonstrate the general appeal of great story across all styles, cultures, and nations. ”

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South Korean gaming powerhouse Nexon aims to extend lifespan of games with blockchain technology

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LEVERAGE BLOCKCHAIN TECH

It is” a huge experiment” that the studio is embarking with blockchain technology, said Nexon Universe’s head of strategy Keith Kim on Wednesday ( Sep 18 ).

We think it will be natural, and it will help us stay sustainable for at least 20 years.

He was speaking to CNA on the day of Token2049, the biggest crypto function of the year in Singapore, where the business presented its concept for utilizing blockchain technology.

Nexon, the creator of MapleStory, has ingeniously merged the famous online online activity with blockchain technology. More than 20 years after its release, the sport has a significantly longer shelf life and is still being played by a dedicated group.

The blockchain project MapleStory Universe creates a dynamic virtual ecosystem where various MapleStory-created games and applications interact with non-fungible tokens ( NFTs ).

Nexon has created its own sign to encourage players to create in-game information, a task that is typically handled by game developers.

Users are given the option to trade property within the game’s habitat and acquire electronic rights as a result.

” ( By ) utilising web3 technology tokens, we are actually allowing this process to be driven by the market”, said Mr Kim.

” That means this gift will have a cost, and this particular value, in turn, may work as a cost of release. Therefore, issuance will no longer be governed by a centralized object and been driven by market dynamics.

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Hiring at Citigroup Singapore to pick up, says global firm’s head of wealth

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Hiring DBS ‘ Yeo Wenxian, who did begin her position as Citi’s mind of wealth for South Asia on Nov 1, is a” sign that we’re out in the business, looking for solid talent”, Mr Sieg said.

” We can engage in progress with tremendous confidence, because we’re seeing a level of productivity across our team, which is the output that you need to encourage investment”, he said. &nbsp,

Pointing to the selecting of Ms Wen, he said Citi Singapore has been a “magnet” for unusual skills.

She “represents what we hope and anticipate seeing a lot more of,” he said,” which is directly grown ability playing functions that are accessible here.”

“EPICENTRE” OF GLOBAL WEALTH CREATION

Mr. Sieg’s optimistic outlook on the Singaporean money business is influenced by its rapid growth.

The city-state is the “epicentre” of global wealth creation alongside Hong Kong, said Mr Sieg, who is in the state for F1 customer events and internal organization sessions.

One of the pillars of Citi CEO Jane Fraser’s ambitious change strategy, which was made public last year, is money control.

Mr Sieg noted that Singapore’s main responsibility largely comes from its position as a site of home offices, which he called a “major contribution” to the firm’s business.

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