Two Chinese news veterans sued over S0,000 ‘loan’ for failed Mandarin language business

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SINGAPORE: The head of Mediacorp’s Chinese news team and a former news veteran at Singapore Press Holdings ( SPH) daily Lianhe Zaobao are being sued by a businessman, who wants a purported loan of S$ 990, 000 ( US$ 740, 500 ) to be returned to him.

According to Mr. Ren Xin Wu, Mr. Chua Chim Kang and Ms. Lee Kuan Fung were using Homing Holdings, a holding firm for two companies that offered education and were experts in Mandarin-language occurrences, as working money.

Mr. Ren asserts that the money was refunded in three years starting with the date of the grant, but Mr. Chua and Ms. Lee’s attorneys allege that there was n’t a contract.

It is also alleged that in 2020, when the company was in severe islands, Ms Lee paid S$ 40, 000 in Homing Holdings money to a third-party firm called Goldciti.

Mr. Chua introduced the business to her, and the amount allegedly served as consulting services.

The celebrations alleged that this deal was fake because Homing Holdings wanted to funnel money away from the company and avoid paying its creditors.

At the same time, brokers for Homing Holdings, which has failed, are suing Ms Lee for supposedly breaching her moral obligations as chairman of the business, with Goldciti as a second accused.

The High Court on Tuesday ( Nov 12 ) held a civil trial for the two suits, with Mr. Chua and Ms. Lee’s attorneys arguing that the case lacks sufficient evidence to support their claims.

History OF THE CASE

According to her LinkedIn profile, Ms. Lee is a media former who worked for SPH for 18 years before leaving in May 2017. Mr. Chua serves as Mediacorp’s head and chief editor of Chinese media and current politics, as well as the organization’s Youth Editorial Initiative.

Mediacorp is CNA’s family business, too. &nbsp,

He joined Mediacorp in 2018, but he originally held positions like managing director of the company’s Chinese Media Group.

Mr. Muthu Kumaran Muthu Santhana Krishnan of Kumaran Law and Mr. Salem Ibrahim, the pair’s attorney, are defending them.

According to the accused ‘ opening speech, Mr Ren, a Chinese member and French citizen, second met Mr Chua in 2015, when Mr Chua was an administrative with SPH.

At the time, Mr Chua had been in the internet business for about 15 times. Mr. Ren stated during a luncheon that he wanted to promote and raise the profile of an occasion sponsored by China Minsheng Investment Group.

Mr. Chua finally introduced Ms. Lee to Mr. Ren in order to help him achieve his objectives.

Ms. Lee worked for Lianhe Zaobao as well as the Central Integrated Newsroom as a “new development” editor in 2015, according to her people LinkedIn profile.

In its beginning speech, the defense claimed that Mr. Ren after had a successful project with SPH.

Eventually, the trio met to enjoy the trio’s success and exchange lunches, where Mr. Ren allegedly persuaded the two news veterans to form a partnership.

Homing Holdings was incorporated in June 2017. It served as the holding company for Lulele Learning Space and Luminaries Holdings, its operating business.

By acquiring nurseries and institutions, managing events and concerts, and promoting Mandarin, Luminaries was established.

Lulele Educational Services specialized in intellectual mentoring and tuition matching services.

” Chua was satisfied with his new work,” he said. However, he never took a full-time or an active part in Homing. On the other hand, Lee took the plunge”, said the military.

Mr. Ren purportedly insisted that Mr. Chua be given a 35 % stake in the business, despite the lawyers ‘ claims that he had no desire to be involved in daily operations and that he did not participate or own shares.

According to the defense, Ms. Lee later held those shares, which she also held as a chairman of the subsidiary companies.

According to the army, Mr Ren wanted Ms Lee to keep her work with SPH and get full-time, and this came to fruition.

Company was first good, but revenue dived when COVID-19 hit in 2020, the military said.

The attorneys claimed that Ren became angry and quickly requested that he return his$ 990,000 in Homing as a convertible product. &nbsp,

WHAT MR REN, HOMING HOLDINGS ARE SEEKING

Mr Ren and Homing Holdings, which is in forced liquidation, are represented by Mr Harry Zheng Shengyang and Ms Jasmin Kang from Kelvin Chia Partnership.

Ms. Kang claimed in her opening statements that her case involved the siphoning of funds from the original by Ms. Lee.

Homing Holdings is suing Homing Holdings for the$ 40,000 that was paid for companies that were never provided as a result of the alleged fake contract, as well as for Ms. Lee’s inability to discharge her professional duties as the company’s director.

Additionally, Ms. Lee’s involvement in Ms. Kang’s event led to the economic damage of Homing Holdings, which she also claimed was the result of.

Ms. Kang said she will testify in court that Ms. Lee and Goldciti exchanged “repeatedly deceptive” information about how she and her husband had handled their liquidations.

Ms. Kang claimed that her client had provided Homing Holdings with a working capital loan of S$ 990,000 as part of Mr. Ren’s following lawsuit.

The business had to repay the loan after three times, or parties may have negotiated an improvement, reached a separate contract on settlement, or converted the payment into ownership.

But, when the loan was due, Ms Kang alleged that Ms Lee and Mr Chua failed, refused or neglected to get the product returned, in violation of their partnership with Mr Ren.

Ms. Kang cited the defense’s declare that Mr. Ren had” all kinds of tactics to press them” into paying the loan, saying that Mr. Ren was entitled to demand and demand payment.

Nothing more than Mr. Ren enforcing his constitutional rights, according to Ms. Kang, was the defense’s claim of so-called harassment.

Ms. Lee and Mr. Chua’s attorneys cited a notice of demand from Mr. Zheng, Mr. Ren’s attorney, that was publicly displayed on the wall next to Ms. Lee’s residence in 2020.

Ms Lee filed a complaint with the Law Society of Singapore ( LawSoc ) over this, and Mr Zheng was sanctioned.

But Ms Kang said this debate was “nothing more than a ruse” and a red fish. As LawSoc had now determined, Mr. Ren’s attorney did not purposefully humiliate Ms. Lee or engage in unfair behavior on purpose.

Ren’s lawyer was given a warning for for unwisely posting the demand on Lee’s back door without having the email first put in an envelope, according to Ms. Kang.

She claimed she had demonstrate during the test that Ms. Lee and Mr. Chua had agreed that they were bound by the terms of the agreement” by their do.”

Ms. Kang alleged that they had agreed to have the company pay Mr. Ren’s product back but failed to do so.

Mr Chua had apparently agreed to repay the loan physically, but likewise failed to do so, said the lawyer.

These activities caused Mr Ren to suffer damage and deterioration, said Ms Kang.

She wants Ms Lee and Mr Chua to return the$ 990,000 to Mr Ren, as well as a claim that Ms Lee harmed Homing Holdings by breaking agreements with other businesses to the detriment of Homing Holdings.

In the option, she asked for problems to be assessed against Ms Lee, with interest and fees.

Mr. Salem, who is bringing the case against Ms. Lee and Mr. Chua, claimed that Mr. Ren’s claim will not be supported by any of the judge’s witness’s video evidence.

He claimed he would support the court by conducting cross-examination rather than making “allegations or shaved statements”.

He claimed that there was a” set-up” in order to convince Mr. Chua to agree to pay for the loan and refinance his home and that he” may not be able to move away from what he said in the letters or in the WhatsApp markets.”

Mr. Salem called this incident” an abuse of process” and claimed that some businesses lost money throughout COVID-19, causing some businesses to continue to suffer today.

The lawyer claimed that Mr. Ren may be suing for breach of fiduciary responsibility even if there was proof that Ms. Lee had breached her contract. The company in liquidation should file a complaint about it, according to the lawyer.

The test continues.

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‘Weak leader’: Japan PM Ishiba has his work cut out on economy, US ties after surviving parliament vote, say analysts

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NEED TO BOOST PUBLIC SUPPORT

The less prominent lower house will be held elections in Japan in 2014. If Ishiba can rekindle the public trust stifled by a scandal over unpublished donations to lawmakers that were made public late last year, the ruling coalition’s slim majority there could be in danger.

Citizens have expressed dissatisfaction with stagnant salary and high living costs.

Ishiba said in a media conference on Monday that he believes the LDP “needs to be reborn” in light of the most recent general election outcomes.

He suggested that non-taxable resources be used for social purposes as one of the options. He added that he hopes to pass a law by the end of the year that would allow for the creation of a publicly available database of political gifts.

Taniguchi claimed that Ishiba may offer opposition parties the political financing reform needed to form an ad-hoc alliance.

” The LDP is struggling very little, and that’s going to get a boost for the opposition functions”, he added, pointing to “rampant” rumours that rank-and-file LDP people are set to reject Ishiba.

The opposition parties are beginning to oppose any parliamentary expenses the LDP will introduce during the upcoming parliamentary sessions because they are sensing blood.

Before the lower house vote, Taniguchi told CNA’s Asia First that Ishiba’s top priority will be to increase public support for the ruling partnership.

The Japanese lower house has a very solid veto power, according to the report from the United Kingdom and India. In the event that the LDP loses the lot there as well, there is going to be a great paralysis”, he added.

For Ishiba to regain public support and confidence over the coming months will be essential. Everything else is secondary” .&nbsp,

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Police investigating deepfake nude photos of Singapore Sports School students

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Singapore:  The police are looking into fake photos of Singapore sports university students that other students have shared and created.

In response to CNA’s queries, principal Ong Kim Soon said on Tuesday ( Nov 12 ) &nbsp, that the school is aware of the incident “involving the creation and sharing of deepfake photos by our student-athletes”.

” The university does not endorse such dangerous behaviour”, he added.

The university has launched an investigation and filed a police statement, the statement read. &nbsp, As authorities investigations are ongoing, we are unable to share more information”.

These pictures were algorithmic skinny photos, according to CNA.

The authorities confirmed to CNA that an investigation was being conducted and that it was continuous. The nature of the photographs was not disclosed by the class.

The school claimed that the police had been given business links related to the case and that they are assisting in requesting that images be removed from these websites in a WhatsApp message sent to families that was seen by CNA.

According to the text, all individuals involved have their mobile telephones and other devices taken for forensic investigation and are being interviewed by the authorities.

Additionally, the school announced that discipline measures have been introduced, including suspensions from college, education, and board, as well as caning some students and sports journey bans.

POLICE Studies

The victim’s father claimed he received information about the incident on Monday from the leader of his daughter. The families then met with their sister’s form teacher.

According to him, the incident dates back in June when a group of kids started creating and distributing fake colleagues photos. &nbsp,

He said he was doubtful how many kids are involved, but added that “it’s a large group of boys” and” not just one or two”. &nbsp,

He said the offenders were using WhatsApp to speak. One group may produce the images, the other would distribute them, and there were two groups.

Affected families have made police information, he added.

” Apparently some of the boys received ( caning ) in private yesterday. But it’s not enough”, he told CNA on Tuesday.

He has instructed the school to” seriously examine” the students ‘ expulsion. &nbsp,

” The girls did not feel secure with them lurking in school”, said the father.

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MOE discussing central kitchen model with schools that cannot fill vacant canteen stalls

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Mr Chan was responding to questions about school canteens by Members of Parliament ( MPs ) Louis Chua ( WP-Sengkang ), He Ting Ru ( WP-Sengkang ) and Yip Hon Weng ( PAP-Yio Chu Kang ).

They inquired about the nutritional value of the meals provided at the university restaurant and the rising costs faced by canteen vendors.

The Health Promotion Board’s nutrition recommendations may be served to restaurant stallholders. According to Mr. Chan, MOE frequently reviews college food pricing guidelines to ensure that stalls can continue to serve nutritious and economical meals.

Stallholders are charged rentals of between S$ 5 ( US$ 3.75 ) and S$ 15 a month, which are waived during school holidays.

Canteen sellers recently told CNA that they struggle with prices because of cost inflation, limited working hours, and home-based understanding.

In light of concerns about economic conservation, Mr. Chua questioned whether MOE may review the decentralized restaurant design and expand it to include more schools.

Mr. Chan responded,” The size and the frequency of the main distribution model’s scaling up will very much depend on the circumstances of the different institutions as well.”

” We may make the necessary moves in accordance with the various requirements of the schools,” he said.

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‘What can we do?’: Waterborne diseases continue plaguing Pakistan 2 years after devastating floods

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SUJAWAL, Pakistan: Two of Fatima Bibi’s children have died of mosquito-borne disease disease, and she fears her three-year-old may be next.

Fizza, her child, has contracted the lethal illness for the second day in a fortnight. The local doctor sent her house with some medicine, but her family worries that it is too much, too soon.

Fatima lives with her five kids in a small clay house in Pakistan’s Sujawal region, with no bathroom or running water. The closest location is a 30-minute move ahead so that they can access clean drinking water.

” In our town, there’s a lot of mud and litter is outside. There are also many flies”, Fatima told CNA.

” What can we do? Where would we go if we had to live here because we were bad? We lack the resources to live in the area or look after the area’s children.

Every household in the community, located in the world’s southwestern Sindh province, has at least one baby suffering from skin condition, diarrhea, cholera, diarrhea or malaria.

A third of the nation was submerged in water in 2022 as a result of the disastrous floods that affected 33 million individuals. Two years later, many people are also trying to piece their life back together.

The continual spread of waterborne conditions, particularly among children, is one of their biggest problems.

Malaria and typhoid are spread by infected mosquitoes that type in sluggish water while malaria and cholera are spread by contaminated water and food.

Health officials warn of a looming public health emergency in the months to come if the situation does n’t improve, while residents have been clamoring for immediate response.

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Malaysia stock market’s rally in 2024 buoyed by political stability but analysts warn of looming turbulence

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The KLCI bottomed out at around 1,301 positions during COVID-19, which was further exacerbated by the pandemic’s negative effects on the world market.

As of Monday ( Nov 11 ), the benchmark index has since surged to around 1, 609 points, a 23.7 per cent hike overall. &nbsp,

The Malaysian investment market’s fluctuation between 2018 and 2022, according to Mr. Ng Zhu Hann, founder and CEO of store account manager Tradeview Capital with a base in Kuala Lumpur, is a clear indicator of how sensitive the sector is to leadership unrest.

” So if you look at the chain ( of events that coincided ) with that period, with the changes in administrations, political change from the Sheraton Move, it’s clear that the five year downtrend has to do with political instability”, said Mr Ng. &nbsp,

The Sheraton Move refers to a social maneuver that led to Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s departure as prime minister and the government’s demise in 2020.

This eventually led to many different prime minister meetings: First, with Muhyiddin Yasin in February 2020, and therefore Mr Ismail Sabri Yaakob in August 2021. &nbsp,

Following the social impasse that resulted from the General Elections in November 2022, Mr. Anwar was appointed prime minister. &nbsp,

Mr Ng said:” Since 2020, the ( Malaysia stock business ) has gone up by nearly 200 details, and this is making us one of Asia’s leading players over the past year, just behind Taiwan and India. The KLCI has resurrected, but it is still not at the 1,800-point levels it was at at the 2018 top.

Mr. Ng noted that Bursa Malaysia as a whole has expanded in addition to the spike in the market index, which is the first time the country’s total market cap has crossed the RM2 trillion ( US$ 454 million ) mark for the first time in May. This is one way to evaluate a company’s worth based on the number of shares of stock and the stock price. &nbsp,

” This has been a broad-based protest led by companies in the home market, banks and even services”, he added.

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Azerbaijan takes driver’s seat in global climate negotiations but oil legacy fuels concerns over commitment

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Even though that would improve Azerbaijan’s personal national emissions of greenhouse gases, it only raises the issue of polluters purchasing its gas exports. &nbsp,

Export emissions are usually not included in climate finance, leaving nations that buy and use energy with a burden of pollution.

It is why there should be increased attention on the overall energy network, from producer to seller to buyer, much of which has a strong American footprint, said Ms Kate Watters, director of Crude Accountability, a animal rights and economic watchdog for the Persian Basin.

She has serious concerns about the allegations of Azerbaijan’s weak human rights history, lack of transparency on key issues and rooted levels of corruption, byproducts of a resource-heavy, generally state-controlled business.

She cited the significant investments made by companies like BP, Total, and ExxonMobil, Europe’s growing dependence on its energy exports, and the international green funding flowing to solar power projects that are truly substituting in place of the national gas that supplies Azerbaijan’s oil sector.” I think one of the most important things to understand is our responsibility as Western consumers of fossil fuels in what’s happening in Azerbaijan best then,” she said.

Are they simply exporting their carbon pollution to Europe if we examine the entire supply chain from beginning to end? Does that actually address the concerns about how to achieve a more green coming and less carbon emissions? No, it merely pushes the bits around”, she said.

According to the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, published by Transparency International, Azerbaijan ranks 154th out of 180 countries with a rating of 23 out of 100, making it one of the most crooked countries in the world.

In October, members of the German parliament highly condemned the” Azerbaijan regime’s historic home and extraterritorial repression of activists, journalists, opposition leaders, and people” and even labelled its “ongoing human rights abuses… incompatible with its hosting of the climate event”.

They requested that the EU-Azerbaijani strategic energy partnership be suspended.

The UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review Working Group also reviewed Azerbaijan’s human rights record for the fourth time in late 2023, and 319 recommendations were made.

The government agreed to adopt 185 of those, including measures related to civil and political rights, anti-corruption and national human rights legislation.

In order to “discredit the image of Azerbaijan and undermine its position,” President Ilham Aliyev has previously referred to allegations of corruption by his family and government as “insinuations or half truths.”

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Raised on oil: Azerbaijan takes the driver’s seat in global climate talks but will ‘black gold’ legacy threaten its green transition?

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Even though that would improve Azerbaijan’s individual national emissions of greenhouse gases, it only raises the issue of polluters purchasing its gas exports. &nbsp,

Export emissions are generally not included in climate finance, leaving nations that buy and use power with a burden of pollution.

It is why there should be increased attention on the overall energy network, from producer to seller to buyer, much of which has a strong American footprint, said Ms Kate Watters, director of Crude Accountability, a animal rights and economic watchdog for the Persian Basin.

She has serious concerns about the allegations of Azerbaijan’s weak human rights history, lack of transparency on key issues and rooted levels of corruption, byproducts of a resource-heavy, generally state-controlled business.

She cited the significant investments made by companies like BP, Total, and ExxonMobil, Europe’s growing dependence on its energy exports, and the international green funding flowing to solar power projects that are truly substituting in place of the national gas that supplies Azerbaijan’s oil sector.” I think one of the most important things to understand is our responsibility as Western consumers of fossil fuels in what’s happening in Azerbaijan best then,” she said.

Are they simply exporting their carbon pollution to Europe if we examine the entire supply chain from beginning to end? Does that actually address the concerns about how to achieve a more green coming and less carbon emissions? No, it merely pushes the bits around”, she said.

According to the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, published by Transparency International, Azerbaijan ranks 154th out of 180 locations with a score of 23 out of 100, making it one of the most crooked countries in the world.

In October, members of the German parliament highly condemned the” Azerbaijan regime’s historic home and extraterritorial repression of activists, journalists, opposition leaders, and people” and even labelled its “ongoing human rights abuses… incompatible with its hosting of the climate event”.

They requested that the EU-Azerbaijani strategic energy partnership be suspended.

The UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review Working Group also reviewed Azerbaijan’s human rights record for the fourth time in late 2023, and 319 recommendations were made.

The government agreed to adopt 185 of those, including measures related to civil and political rights, anti-corruption and national human rights legislation.

In order to “discredit the image of Azerbaijan and undermine its position,” President Ilham Aliyev has previously referred to allegations of corruption by his family and government as “insinuations or half truths.”

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