SingPost sackings: IMDA issues advisory to company to uphold proper governance, processes

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SINGAPORE: The Infocomm Media Development Authority ( IMDA ) has issued an advisory to Singapore Post to “uphold proper governance and processes” after the company &nbsp, sacked three top executives&nbsp, over their handling of internal investigations into a whistleblowing report.

In response to CNA’s queries, IMDA said on Monday ( Dec 23 ) that it is monitoring the situation closely.

” SingPost’s committee has assured that postal service businesses in Singapore are no affected”, added the controller.

After the company’s final disciplinary hearings into their do, the group’s chief executive officer Vincent Phang, party chief financial officer Vincent Yik, and chief executive of the company’s global enterprise product Li Yu were fired on Saturday. &nbsp, &nbsp,

This comes after a whistleblowing report about the company’s non-regulated international e-commerce logistics parcel business was released earlier this year. Three other managers who were directly involved in this situation but were not identified by SingPost were fired. &nbsp,

According to the report, SingPost’s international business unit allegedly manually entered a number of delivery status codes. The business had entered into a contract with one of its biggest customers to deliver these for international transhipment packages.

These manual entries allegedly were made without any justification or supporting documentation in an effort to avoid contractual repercussions under the agreement. &nbsp,

The e-commerce shipment data falsification case was reported to the authority and SingPost on Monday, according to IMDA, which announced on Monday that it had been handled by the agency and SingPost in February of this year.

Regulated postal services are still unaffected by this issue, according to IMDA, as it relates to the shipment of international e-commerce packages abroad.

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Singapore’s ISD warns of spillover effects on region from terror groups exploiting Syria’s instability, says ‘fluid situation bears watching’

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The ISD cautioned against those who intend to use military assault in Singapore or elsewhere. &nbsp,

It was responding to CNA’s question last week regarding whether criminal organizations could use the present situation in Syria to spread their wings, including in Southeast Asia and Singapore. &nbsp,

The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) rebels seized control of Damascus and other significant Syrian cities on December 7. After nightfall, reports emerged Assad had fled the country for Russia.

The ending of Syria’s 13-year issue, which claimed over 580, 000 lives and displaced 12 million people, came with the fall of Assad. &nbsp,

Units claims to still have connections to any criminal system, but the UN Security Council and many other nations have continued to label it a terrorist organization.

In the midst of Assad’s impeachment, experts told CNA Southeast Asian regulators must be vigilant.

However, some experts believe that Southeast Asia’s current threat of a new wave of fanaticism is comparatively lower.

The ISD warned that it would take legal action against those who intend to use military force in Singapore or elsewhere.

” We will not hesitate to take strong activities against any person who supports, promotes, tries or makes arrangements to engage in military crime, be it in Singapore or overseas”, a spokesperson said. &nbsp,

In the past, the ISD has detained radicalized Singapore who intended to travel to Syria and participate in armed conflict. &nbsp,

In October, a 17-year-old Taiwanese student was arrested less than a quarter before his plan to carry out a terror attack in Singapore’s strongholds. Additionally, the youth intended to use military violence and journey to Syria to meet the Islamic State. &nbsp,

Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam reported in July that two Singaporeans had received limitations requests for supporting violence and armed assault. After Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, they radicalized.

The youngest person ever to receive a restriction order under the Internal Security Act ( ISA ) was a 14-year-old boy, and the other a 33-year-old woman who worked as a manager for a statutory board.

An 18-year-old Singaporean IS follower was detained in December 2022 after considering attacking priorities, including an army tent and a grave at a mosque in Singapore, in February of last year, according to the ISD, who was detained in that regard. The pupil had likewise intended to travel globally, including to Syria, to participate in military assault. &nbsp,

Two additional youth who the student’s student’s student’s online contacts were also given ISA orders for terrorism-related activities.

The ISD urged the general public to stay alert for signs that their neighbors may have resented radicalization and report them to the government. Islamist views that are posted or shared on social media, support or admiration for terrorists or criminal organizations, and the use of violence are potential indicators of radicalization.

Anyone who knows or suspects that a person has been radicalised should contact ISD’s hotline at 1800 2626 473 ( 1800-2626-ISD ), the spokesperson added.

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‘My entire family was gone’: Aceh thrives 20 years after tragic tsunami, but anguish remains

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Countries have since improved their earthquake and tsunami planning, including having early warning systems and rigid building codes, according to Earth science professional Don Melgar of the University of Oregon.  

“The truth is that with increasing sea levels, tsunami impacts will become progressively deadlier, ” he told CNA’s Asia First on Monday ( Dec 23 ).  

“That’s things that we’re starting to take into account when we make arrangements and estimates. ”

There is also greater local engagement, including data posting, he added.  

“That’s not something that was happening in 2004,” said Melgar. So that makes it simpler to warn people when quakes occur.  

Additionally, it makes it simpler to exchange knowledge and information in the form of computer models, training, and preparations, but that, nevertheless, the whole region can be strengthened and made more resilient than just this or that nation. ”

He cautioned against complacency when preparing for the next big hazard.  

“We’re in a better place, but we’re not at our place, ” he said.

“We may think about our kids and our children’s children. That’s the kind of thinking that will enable us to prevent tragedies like the one from 2004 from occurring again. ”

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Bloomberg gets POFMA order over Good Class Bungalow article

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The Singapore government issued a POLLA FEWA ( POFMA ) correction order on Monday ( Dec 23 ) for the news agency Bloomberg.

The correction order, also handed out to The Edge Singapore, The Independent Singapore and The Online Citizen, relates to articles and posts made by the publications about Good Class Bungalow ( GCBs ) transactions, said the Ministry of Law in a press release. &nbsp,

Bloomberg published the Dec 12 content, titled Singapore Mansion Offers Are Extremely Shrouded in Secrecy, on its site. It was reposted on Bloomberg’s Twitter and X records. The Edge Singapore published the article in its entirety on its web the same day, and it was also reposted on its Facebook page.

On December 12, The Independent Singapore and The Online Member published papers commenting on the initial Bloomberg piecem on their sites and then reposted their content on their individual social media accounts.

The four papers will be required to take correction finds against the articles and posts, which state that the said articles or posts communicated false statements of fact and&nbsp, give a link to the President’s explanation, said the government.

” This will enable readers to read both types and draw their own conclusions,” the author writes.

According to a CNA search on Monday at around 1.20 p.m., content from The Edge Singapore and The Independent Singapore are no longer available online.

FALSEHOODS: SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT

According to the president’s fact-checking site, Factually, Bloomberg’s misleading statements “attack the clarity of property purchases in Singapore”.

Technically, the Bloomberg article falsely claimed that if caveats are not filed, there are no officially available government records of GCB sale transactions, and that the best valuable owner’s identity must not be made public to the government.

Additionally, it claimed that estate agents and other services providers have the sole responsibility to stop money trafficking in property transactions and that GCB property transactions can be conducted “without any checks by the government on the identities of the greatest valuable owners.”

The article added that if no disclaimer is filed and no need is made to reveal the identity of the ultimate beneficial operator in a shell corporation or trust structure, which allows parties to” transact such properties in a way facilitative of wealth laundering,” there is” no publicly available state record of the GCB transaction.”

These lies further give the impression that Singapore does not have a strong legal system that mandates the disclosure of information to the government in GCB transactions, which could lead to undetected wrongdoing. Factually argued that it is in the public’s interest to address these lies to prevent public trust in the government from being undermined.

LEGAL ACTION BY MINISTERS NAMED IN ARTICLE&nbsp,

On December 16, law and home affairs minister K Shanmugam and Tan See Leng jointly announced that they were bringing legal action against Bloomberg and other media outlets for making statements regarding their property transactions.

Both ministers added that they would issue demands in relation to the article, which they thought was “libellous.”

A letter of demand, usually sent by lawyers, contains a list of demands. If the recipients- in this case, Bloomberg and the other three media outlets- do not meet these demands, legal action, such as a lawsuit, may follow.

CNA has spoken with Bloomberg regarding the POFMA order and letter of demand that the two ministers have sent to them.

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Singaporean parents shell out thousands of dollars to send preschoolers on Japan exchange programme

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” Singapore’s knowledge is different, and we really wanted her to experience the land and fringes a little. For example, her class in Singapore is air-conditioned, but the Chinese school is not”, he said.

In Singapore, the kids are “more protected, with a bigger perception of self-entitlement”, he added.

The courses also had a lower teacher-to-students proportion than in Singapore, where the Early Childhood Development Agency’s laws imply one staff member to every 20 to 25 babies for Eden’s time party.

” Each course had 13 individuals including her. The education included a half day of scientific work and a half day of outdoor play, according to Mr. Sim.

Singapore, according to him, places a higher emphasis on intellectual teaching, and the curriculum begins earlier in the school year.

” But in Japan, it is about personal development and the softer aspects, such as motor skills and interpersonal skills” .&nbsp,

Mr Chia also said the Chinese education is “more nature-based and experienced” compared to up in Singapore, where Leanne is enrolled in Zion Bishan Kindercare Child.

For example, Leanne experienced something new every day during each of her five weeks of classes that, according to Ms. Chia.

” There was a time when they prepared the food and served their own meal. Therefore because it was Halloween, they even had a tiny Halloween rally, walking around Omori area. On another day, they went on a nature walk.

It kind of broadened her frontiers and made it easier for her to understand the differences between them.

OVERCOMING THE Speech Hurdle

Both kids informed CNA that neither of their children nor they do not talk Japanese. However, their kids were able to survive despite the language barrier.

First, Eden and her colleagues relied heavily on brain vocabulary and the teachers ‘ versions to communicate, said Mr Sim.

” But after a while, she started to be able to brand her companions, and began to pick up Chinese phrases like’ hello’ and greeting people before eating, “he said.

” She even learnt some basic words while playing, like as ‘ please’ and’ excuse me’.”

In past, Eden’s two-week project was a little short, said Mr Sim, as his child was really starting to get used to her colleagues at the end of the first week.

Ms. Chia added that they were able to communicate with the neighborhood through the use of cellular language apps.

” The teachers both communicate in Chinese. So when the teacher wanted to ask her ( Leanne ) something, or when she wanted to tell them something and they didn’t understand, they would use Google Translate. ” &nbsp,

WORTH THE MONEY

Ms Chia forked out about S$ 3, 000 ( US$ 2, 200 ) for Leanne’s week-long programme, including school fees and accommodation for both of them. Another expenses, such as flight reservations, meals and everyday needs, were not covered.

” A bit costly, to be honest, but for it. It’s a journey she will often recall,” she told CNA.

The programme’s head Ms Chiyu said prices can go up to 3 million yen ( US$ 19, 500 ) for two adults and one child for three months.

True costs vary based on the type of school and the type of lodging.

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Tickets for Singapore-Vietnam ASEAN Championship semis sold out, FAS cautions against resellers

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The organization cautioned the government not to purchase tickets from vendors on Sunday, adding that it” cannot guarantee” the sincerity of bought tickets on social media and online systems.

Checks by CNA found several advertisements for cards for the suit on e-commerce platform&nbsp, Carousell. Most advertisements had more than one seat up for sale, with rates ranging from S$ 60 to&nbsp, S$ 95.

Tickets for aside fans will be available on the day of the game starting at 3pm. If it is discovered that absent supporters are seated in areas designated for home fans, FAS said, they will also be ejected from the place.

The second leg of the semi-final may push off at the 6, 000-seater Jalan Besar Stadium at 9pm on Thursday.

Online, supporters have expressed their shock at the game being played in a smaller facility. One person claimed that FAS may have taken proactive steps to secure the National Stadium.

The National Stadium will not play this game and the rest of the game will be there because of the late schedule change, which has already been scheduled for concerts during this time, FAS reported on Saturday. &nbsp,

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Why don’t we know much about periods, menopause and heart disease in women? A gender gap exists in healthcare

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Assoc Prof. Archuleta added that marginalization is largely caused by complex work environments in academia and healthcare that don’t provide women’s needs, especially for those balancing responsibilities like caregiving.

Despite their capabilities, it becomes challenging for them to meet the rigorous demands of the health and research fields, ” she said. And there will be negative effects when fewer women are working in the top positions in education and care.

Less attention is given to ensuring the fair representation of women in study projects, policies in the workplace, and when treating people may not take into account women’s needs, and less blog topics on women’s health may be approved. ” 

Policies to increase women’s participation in research and health are among the steps being taken to shut the gender difference.

At NUH, for instance, there is an emphasis on having different picture in decision-making systems. It is not enough to have just one key girl in committees, according to Associate Professor Archuleta. People who are knowledgeable about women’s health issues must be included in these bodies.

Another crucial point made by Assoc Prof. Archuleta is the need to foster a culture of female friends both at home and at work.  

For some women, balancing a job with caregiving responsibilities – what Assoc Prof Archuleta called the “second change ” – can become overwhelming, especially for scientific physicians juggling scientific work, teaching, research, and research.  

In 2019, the Equitable Options & The NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine established a career advancement program. It aims to make the health workforce more welcoming for people, including establishing cozy care areas for mothers who work in hospitals and clinics and pushing for more flexible work hours for women with various parenting responsibilities.  

Assoc Prof. Archuleta said,” Women in these fields need more support to manage the demands of both work and life,” adding:” This is essential. “ When women feel more comfortable at work in hospitals, they will be better represented, leading to better health outcomes for women. ”

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Must watch: Secrets from Singapore’s past brought to life in CNA’s first docudrama trilogy

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Moona Kader Sultan, a Tamil Muslim merchant known as” the Cattle King,” who designed and constructed the palace in his quest to become a prosperous merchant, is the hero in Karikal Mahal: A Silence See.

It eventually became the Malayan Magic Circle, a fellowship whose shared interest in musical magic grew out of it. World War II captives who were imprisoned there for 16 days were also present at the palace.

The “rojak structures” of Karikal Mahal, which again featured a main building that was bulldozed in the 1970s to create approach for the construction of Also Road South, captured the attention of executive producer Jean Yeo from Ochre Pictures.

But this ambitious style, combining Western, Roman, Indian and Muslim parts, was difficult to replicate on collection. However, the original mansion’s interior had been transformed into two classrooms, and its structural components were hard to find locally.

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Police investigating after bicycles left on Commonwealth Avenue, blocking traffic

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In Queenstown, several bicycles were left on a main road, blocking traffic and raising alarm in the early hours of Friday ( Dec 20 ), and police are still looking into the incident. &nbsp,

a picture that the Instagram page ROADS shared. On Commonwealth Avenue, there was a string of three bicycles, with one vehicle occupying each street of the three-lane street.

Around 2am, according to the tip-off, which was made by a Geraldine Lim, the obstacles were encountered in front of a vehicle prevent close to Queens Condominium. &nbsp,

A personal employ vehicle driver was forced to slam on the brakes, forcing his passenger to flow some takeaway food, according to the post. &nbsp,

The vehicle was able to find two of the bicycles off the road before a car slammed into it, but the driver was unable to get there quickly enough. &nbsp,

The article read,” The taxi drivers drove off without stopping to check what he hit, perhaps shocked,”

” For a dangerous prank”!

By Friday night, the article had garnered more than 180 comments, with some expressing shock and anger. &nbsp,

” This is above an honest game, it can literally cause one’s living”, read one comment. &nbsp,

” The authorities must take action against this mischief”, said another. &nbsp,

The Singapore Police Force confirmed that a report was filed and that investigations are ongoing in response to CNA’s inquiries. &nbsp,
 

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