Girl allegedly kidnapped in Malaysia believed to be scam victim: Singapore police

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SINGAPORE: A 15-year-old girl&nbsp, who was allegedly kidnapped in Malaysia is believed to be a victim of a China official impersonation scam, the Singapore Police Force ( SPF ) said on Friday ( Dec 6 ).

CNA is aware that the lady attends a Singaporean school and is a Chinese nationwide.

According to preliminary studies, the girl was given permission to travel to Malaysia on November 24 by fictitious Chinese officials, according to the police’s reaction to press inquiries.

Officers on Friday confirmed that she had returned to Singapore on December 1 with her father. Investigations are ongoing.

On November 25, SPF received a notification that the child had vanished.

Two days later, Singapore authorities announced that Indonesian authorities were looking into the situation and that preliminary investigations indicated the lady had voluntarily left Singapore without her.

Foreign NATIONAL CHARGED IN MALAYSIA

A Chinese federal was detained on Thursday in Johor Bahru in connection with the girl’s theft, according to Malaysian news outlet The Star.

Huang Xiaonan, a 22-year-old studying at a school in Singapore, &nbsp, is accused of kidnapping the girl&nbsp, at a motel in Johor Bahru on Nov 24. &nbsp,

Huang was denied loan by the court, and the prosecution referred to him as a flight risk. On January 27, 2025, he will go back to judge.

According to The Star, the girl&nbsp, entered Johor Bahru through Woodlands station on Nov 24.

A 48-year-old Foreign national reported to the police on November 26 that his 15-year-old girl had never attended university in Singapore, according to Johor police chief captain M. Kumar.

The child was found in Kuantan, Pahang. Huang was arrested at the same place, The Star reported.

From January to October this year, there were at least 308 scam cases in Singapore involving the impersonation of China officials, with total losses amounting to at least S$ 38.2 million ( US$ 28.5 million ).

At least 231 fraud cases involving the imitation of Chinese officials were reported in the same time last month, totaling more than S$ 22 million.

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China defence minister Dong Jun’s reappearance stirs more intrigue amid patron Miao Hua’s downfall

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It’s too soon to tell whether Mr. Dong is secure or still in trouble, according to experts.

They point out that he does not have the same authority as his two predecessors, who also served as state commissioners and members of the CMC, giving them immediate access to Premier Li Qiang and Mr. Xi, both. Mr. Dong is not a member of either of these positions.

What is also unclear is Mr. Dong’s absence from new formal events, which are typically attended by a defence minister.

Due to his Dec. 5 looks, Mr. Dong made his final public appearance on November 21 when he addressed a group of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers in Vientiane, Laos.

He chose to speak with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on the outside, citing US deeds in Taiwan, which the Pentagon head called terrible, but he declined. Mr Dong’s emergence from a visit to China by Singapore’s Chief of Defence Force Aaron Beng weeks afterwards also sparked debate.

While Mr. Dong’s emergence may indicate that he is currently healthy, observers say that it also depends on his part in the investigation into Mr. Miao’s disappearance.

Past analytical journalist-turned-commentator Cai Shenkun asserted in a Nov 11 post on social media app X that” since Admiral Dong Jun was promoted by Miao”, he may get “affected”.

Dr. Willy Lam, a top fellow at The Jamestown Foundation, cited rumors that Mr. Dong” spilled the beans on Miao Hua” as a see, leading to accusations that he may have avoided embarrassment. &nbsp,

Dr. Lam told CNA,” It’s possible that Dong Jun will continue for a few times just for the sake of appearances.” ” The fact that Dong Jun reappeared, this has added an interesting aspect to the account”.

” For now, it seems his political coming remains secure”, said Mr Chen Shih-min, associate professor in the Department of Political Science at National Taiwan University, who signalled that his security could possibly consolidate, if he fills the vacuum in the CMC, as a member.

MIAO HUA: PAWN IN POWER STRUGGLE?

Despite the fact that Mr. Miao has been identified as having been in difficulties, observers have expressed concern about how the language used to describe his situation was different from what is customary. &nbsp,

Wu Qian, a spokesman for the defense department, stated in a media briefing on November 28 that the CCP “has decided to suspend Miao Hua from duty pending exploration,” without providing more information about the allegations against him.

Some analysts pointed out how in announcing Mr Miao’s suspension, the Chinese term jiancha ( “inspection” ) was used instead of diaocha ( “investigation” ).

” If they use the proper name diaocha, it means more likely than not, according to the Chinese legal system, that he is already found guilty”. Jiancha, yet, is a “lighter term”, implying that Mr Miao “might never actually been given a long, serious prison term”, said Dr Lam.

National Taiwan University’s Mr Chen added:” Of course, it can also be interpreted as a somewhat liberal treatment of Miao Hua, and the reason for this could definitely be explained by the fact that Miao Hua is’ one of Xi Jinping’s really near allies.'”

However, Mr. Morris argued that easing the terminology does not affect Mr. Miao’s destiny, noting that the English announcement stated it was being investigated for a” serious violation of discipline.”

He continued,” The announcement that China has suspended Miao Hua from his job in a public manner is a clear indication that his career is over and that he will be placed under house arrest or worse.”

Additionally, there are disagreements over whether Mr. Miao’s suspension was the result of Mr. Xi’s intervention or that of rival factions opposed to the leader.

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Are plant-based diets safe for pregnant women? What to eat if you’re a vegetarian or vegan mum-to-be

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A balanced vegetarian diet and sufficient micronutrient intake does assistance foetal growth and development, according to KKH’s Chong, and is safe against poor pregnancy outcomes like hypertension, gestational diabetes, and premature birth.

” But, these protective effects disappear again nutrient deficiencies such as protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, Omega-3 and metal surface”, she said. ” These mineral deficiencies also increased the risk of low birth weight, neurological impairments, and baby malformations.”

This underscores the value of careful food planning to ensure a healthy vegetarian diet for both the mother and the child, she said.

Reutens advised discussing your foods with a nutritionist, who will create a realistic diet plan that revolves around your food preferences and dietary requirements and ensures you get the necessary nutrients for a good pregnancy.

Her further guidance for pregnant women:” Ensure that you include some form of proteins in every major meals. Also, change your meal options every day. The more vitamins are present, the wider the range of foods.

VEGETARIAN OR VEGAN DIET WORKING DURING PREGNANCY

Since she can remember, Tina Padia has a vegetarian diet and was raised in a Hindu household. The 45-year-old dad to a three-year-old aimed to maintain a healthy meal with protein, while steering clear of high-fat, cooked and processed foods, allowing herself a cure every now and then.

Even though it sounds like an old wives ‘ tale, she told CNA Women,” I even started drinking cow’s milk, which was a huge challenge for someone who switched to alternative plant-based milk years ago. I believed it might help my baby grow strong and healthy.”

Padia was “uber careful” during her pregnancy because she had conceived after four years of in vitro fertilization treatments. And she took more care because she was labeled as having a “geriatric pregnancy,” at 42, cutting down on sugar to prevent gestational diabetes and going on regular walks with her father, even in the middle of the pandemie, with their veils on.

If you want to pursue a particular meal, “my suggestions would be to consult a licensed veterinarian specialising in maternity,” she said, rather than relying on online support groups or friends and family.

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CNA’s Walk The Line wins Best Documentary Series at Asian Academy Creative Awards

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One of the most ambitious and difficult films produced by CNA is” Walk the Line.” This nine-month initiative from idea to broadcast is testament to the imagination, resilience and professionalism of the CNA team which had to work under ambiguous and usually dangerous conditions”, said Walter Fernandez, Editor-in-Chief of Mediacorp.

They also had to develop trust and rapport with the individuals who were putting their lives on the line to make this journey.” No only did they have to adjust to continually changing ground conditions. This medal is appropriate identification”.

CNA’s second prize came from Resilience Quest, which took house Best Game Show or Quiz Programme. In the four-part time-travel activity show, teams of younger people discover futuristic futures facing Singapore- war, terrorism, shortages, cyberattacks, inequality- and return to the present to consider strategies for resilience and preparedness.

The Capitol Theatre hosted the honors on Tuesday and Wednesday. The occasion celebrates runs from India, Japan, Australia, China, Taiwan, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand.

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‘Must be held to high standards’: Why Resorts World Sentosa’s tourism performance was deemed unsatisfactory

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SINGAPORE: The casino licence of Resorts World Sentosa ( RWS), one of two integrated resorts in Singapore, has been&nbsp, renewed for two years – instead of the usual three – with authorities citing “unsatisfactory” tourism performance.

An evaluation panel determined that a number of areas that required “rectification and substantial improvement” over a period of evaluation, beginning at January 2021 and ending at December 2023, according to the Gambling Regulatory Authority ( GRA ).

Asked to elaborate on the assessment metrics for Singapore’s integrated resorts, the GRA and the&nbsp, Ministry of Trade and Industry ( MTI ) both pointed CNA to the Casino Control Act.

The regulations establishes three or more members to shape the examination board, who will examine the visitor charm of the integrated resort, how it compares to other similar attractions in the world or prevailing industry standards, whether it meets prevailing market demand, and how it contributes to Singapore’s tourism industry.

MTI said the board consists of top business leaders with expertise ranging from corporate leadership and funding to kindness, entertainment, tourism and the art.

The Casino Control Act even lists performance metrics, including:

  • the number of visitors to the included location and its parts, both paid and unpaid,
  • Visitor pleasure rates
  • speed and extent of reinvestment in the included resort and its parts
  • presence of amenities that visitors to the included resort and its components can use, as well as the length of the time they are accessible.

The area where RWS is located, Sentosa Development Corporation, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and Sentosa Development Corporation, both of whom said they were unable to provide specifics about how RWS performed in relation to the registration of its license.

” NOT TOO CROWDED”?

Before the COVID-19 crisis, more than 20 million people visited RWS annually, the company said.

Although it did not provide data for more recent years, it stated that visitor numbers have been gradually rising in combination with foreign visitors.

Pandemic-related border restrictions and actions were in place for the majority of the evaluation period before they were lifted in first 2023.

Apart from its blackjack, RWS- which opened in 2010- has four monuments, six name franchises and seven resorts.

Adventure Cove Waterpark and Universal Studios Singapore ( USS) theme park were both shut down in September of last year, and Universal Studios Singapore ( USS) was only allowed to resume daily operations in June 2023.

Sentosa Development Corporation, however, previously told CNA that it received 15 million tourists in 2023, which is around 75 per share of pre-pandemic numbers. The number includes both visitors to RWS and those to Sentosa’s different destinations.

Jason Sum, a researcher for DBS Group, found RWS’s two-year license regeneration to be somewhat unexpected. We think a portion of the pandemic’s “unsatisfactory achievement” may be attributed to problems, he said.

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Malaysia government faces backlash over harsher penalties, wider powers proposed to tackle harmful online content

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Civil society organizations and experts criticize Malaysia’s recent online laws, which include penalties that are several times harsher than existing ones, as a “fake media” law that has been proposed by the country’s leaders. &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

The Communications and Multimedia Act ( CMA ) was amended on December 2 by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil in parliament.

For crimes that now result in fines of RM300, 000 and prison sentences of up to RM3 million, the proposed sanctions include fines of up to RM1 million and prison sentences of up to RM10 times.

According to reports website Scoop, the harsher punishments may use to 25 violations, with nine more offences introduced. &nbsp,

For instance, a faith under Section 233, which deals with inappropriate use of the computer, could lead to a fine of RM500, 000 and imprisonment of two years, up from a great of RM50, 000 and a month’s prison now. &nbsp,

Non-cessation of an exercise where a school license, such as a license to operate a telecommunications system or service, has been revoked is one of the new crimes. Violators may be fined up to RM500, 000 and jailed for up to five years.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been given more authority than previously thought, according to other proposed amendments, with critics claiming that this gives the fee more control over censorship and allows for censorship. &nbsp,

The government recently claimed that the introduction of new laws and the amendments to outdated ones were intended to stop net fraud, including cyberbullying, and child sexual crimes against children.

Next year, parliament is expected to deliberate the law’s article. &nbsp,

Dr Benjamin Loh, a senior lecturer in advertising and communication at Taylor’s University, told CNA that the proposed modifications were “horrific”.

” These alterations are quite horrifying and call for a return to a more oppressive state where not only personal freedoms are violated, but also press freedoms and privacy rights are violated,” he said. &nbsp,

For example, MCMC and its approved soldiers and agents are given the authority to search and acquire knowledge from service providers without guarantees such as the security of journalistic sources, according to Article 19 and the Centre for Independent Journalism ( CIJ), according to the proposed Area 73A.

” Many of the proposed crimes and infractions are worded in very abstract and unclear forms, leaving much room for interpretation, which in Malaysia’s history has allowed the government to administer ( them ) selectively and with little recourse to challenge”, added Dr Loh.

The proposed Part 51A, which gives the MCMC or somebody acting on its representative immunity from legal actions when acting “in good faith,” was referenced by Article 19 and the CIJ. &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

In a statement released on December 3, they claimed that” this ouster clause, which includes a obscure and random notion like” good faith,” would allow abuse of power and lead to a gap in the accountability for human rights violations, allowing for impunity for those people officials.

” However, the possibility of arbitrary research without access to a treatment violates credited process, fair test and access to justice right”, they added. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Both parties expressed concern about the proposed sanctions. &nbsp,

No justification for the increase in restrictions or a clear explanation for the decision to increase the fines and imprisonment was made, they claimed.

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The lure of Labubu: How people are potentially breaking the law to get their hands on the popular dolls

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One employee at another Ion Orchard tree claimed that the store had to end sales because the queues lasted for so much a month ago in order to protect customers.

Meals and coffee ring The SGFR Store, which also sells Labubu products from abroad suppliers, said they sell out quickly.

When he first began bringing the statues in, Mohamed Haikkel, the company’s founder, predicted that he would run out of them every three to four days. Now, they make up more than 15 per share of his businesses ‘ income.

He pointed out that some stores offer blinded boxes due to the shock factor.

” Unlike normal action figures or toys, where you can … go and buy all seven of the ones you want, ( for blind boxes ), you have to buy bit by bit until you get all”, he said.

Enthusiasts have a one in 72 chance of getting a” key Labubu,” which means they must regularly purchase until they get it, he continued.

Some people end up reselling these sought-after games online for a profit if they are acquired. A new CNA seek showed some can go up to S$ 1, 000 each.

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