Sea nomads in Thailand who survived the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 are slowly losing their identity

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Usually, they lived on boats with fish as a main source of food and money, just staying on property during the rain season.

As more people move to permanent accommodation on land and function in bigger cities, there has been a continuous change in the Moken way of life over the past few decades.

PEOPLE OF THE Water

Fang Klathale, a part of the&nbsp, Moken group, has called the sea her house for most of her existence.

But today, at 96 years older, Fang is staying in island Thailand in order to be better to health services.

She is concerned that younger people, many of whom have moved to cities to operate, are losing contact with their lifestyle despite the fact that her age and medical requirements have compelled her to proceed.

” The children these days don’t talk the Moken speech. They don’t realize it again. They’re all speaking Thai today”, she told CNA.

Fang’s traditional house is on Koh Phra Thong, one of the thousands of islands in the Andaman Sea, about an hour’s boat ride apart from mainland Thailand.

Just about 800 individuals live on the island. Some tourists travel to the island, and islanders lead a peaceful life, compared to nearby Phuket.

The beach used to house three universities but now, just one remains.

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A new WeChat feature will allow users to send gifts. Will it be well-received?

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RESHAPING THE GIFT-GIVING CULTURE

China’s e-commerce industry is the largest in the world, surpassing the United States in terms of revenue and generating billion in billion. &nbsp,

WeChat introduced electronic red packets linked to its electronic payment service in 2014, which is a significant component of Chinese tradition.

People who received large sums of money in the form of transactions quickly and conveniently through their apps were a fan of the digital dark packets, which digitalized a deeply ingrained Chinese custom in the lead up to the new season. &nbsp,

According to industry experts, it also gave Tencent a leg up over Alibaba’s Alipay program in the online payment market. &nbsp,

In 2017 only, WeChat users exchanged around 46 billion online red packets over the new year span in January. &nbsp,

Just as Twitter changed the way individuals gave out classic red packets, does it do the same with its fresh “gift-giving” feature? &nbsp,

” Gifting is something deeply rooted in Chinese culture, just like red boxes are,” said Li Jianggan, CEO of Singapore-based walk strong Momentum Works. He added that younger Chinese had significantly different spending habits and donating behavior from mothers. &nbsp,

The new feature was described as” a strategic move” on Tencent’s part by analyst Dave Xie from the Oliver Wyman global management consulting firm. &nbsp,

According to Xie,” China’s e-commerce scenery has undergone major alterations in recent years, driven by emerging systems, changing consumer habits, and strategic adaptations by proven players.”

WeChat’s “extensive” customer base and established social contacts may provide a special benefit in driving e-commerce proposal, he added. &nbsp,

WeChat has “none of the Foreign e-commerce systems have,” Li said, a sizable customer community and a trustworthy cultural image, and it has more than 1.3 billion active monthly clients.
 
There is a good chance that the e-commerce competitive environment ( in China ) may be reshaped as WeChat gradually expands into social trading and life business.

However, it is still “hard to predict” whether the new gift-giving feature will be as well-liked and widely used as digital red packets, Li said, adding that it was” safe to assume” it would have a smaller use as compared to payment. &nbsp,

” That said, we think that donating is just one of the numerous attempts to successfully integrate social business into the Twitter ecosystem.”

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Guidelines on parental caregiving practices designed for child protection professionals: MSF

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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Social and Family Development’s ( MSF ) guidelines on parental caregiving practices are intended for professionals in the child protection system. According to MSF, the professionals are those who work directly with at-risk families, which include children who have experienced or are putting themselves in dangerContinue Reading

Singaporean buyers in legal dispute with Malaysian developer over ownership of Johor condo purchases

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Price OF Components AFFECTED

The PLS is legitimate, according to Malaysian attorneys, according to CNA.

However, a buyer’s signature on a standard sales and purchase agreement ( SPA ) can occasionally cause confusion.

” The Sauna means you deserve the rights and you deserve the caste name, separate from the master name”, said Malaysian attorney Chee Hui Bing of Chris &amp, Partners Advocates &amp, Solicitors, Johor.

” But in PLS, all you get is just a long so-called lease. You get a 99-year rent time”.

These customers do not possess the same rights privileges as they might for a property in Singapore.

According to a Taiwanese attorney, the property’s worth may also change.

The integral property practice group at Yuen Law, led by Mr. Tris Xavier, claimed that those considering selling the product would then be” selling the right to remain in it” rather than the actual property.

” The estimate for that, you can imagine, is quite different. It should really about be equivalent to rental”, he added.

At least 70 apartments consumers complained to Singapore’s Council of Estate Agencies in June, according to a CNA investigation.

However, the developer claimed that buyers should have been informed and that the PLS is genuine and valid based on court documents that were uncovered. Additionally, they added that customers have also passed the legal deadline to file any claims.

Buyers advised by conveyancing attorneys and real estate agents to read the fine print when purchasing a home abroad and to seek legal counsel regarding the various terms and conditions.

According to Mr. Xavier of Yuen Law,” It’s important to understand the environment of the state in which you are really investing.”

” There are many issues that probably aren’t completely obvious to the layperson, and I think it’s important to really get a professional who really works in that state to help you through the process,” he continued.

” Oftentimes, it’s no quick just to Google things up. Therefore, having a legal professional assist you in understanding what you’re purchasing is always beneficial.

More savvy buyers will typically look for local agencies first, according to Mr. Ruben Koh, senior director and head of Savills Singapore’s foreign home sales division, because buying overseas properties comes with a risk.

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CNA Explains: Are falling trees a problem and what can be done about them?

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Officials in Bali before in December claimed that a tree fell on two visitors and that the affair was caused by” strong winds and extreme weather conditions beyond human control.” &nbsp,

Similar incidents involving falling trees have &nbsp, caused murders, damaged property&nbsp, and disrupted traffic in different parts of Asia, including Singapore.

What might produce a branch to collapse?

Environmental factors may be a factor, according to older arborist and botanist Athi Ramesh of the landscaping company Prince’s Landscape.

Arborists are trees surgeons, while horticulturists are specialists in garden production and control.

When too much rainfall causes stagnant water, a tree’s balance may be affected by prolonged wet weather, which will reduce the soil particles attached to the shrubs roots.

According to Mr. Ramesh, the tree may end up retaining more water in its ceiling, putting more weight on its trees and tree, and causing collapse.

He added that trees that grow regularly wet also have a tendency to develop deep foundations because they don’t have to dig deeper to find water. &nbsp,

At the other serious, drought and&nbsp, dried weather may also cause soil to dissolve and break, reducing its ability to securely anchor tree roots. &nbsp,

” It also hinders the growth of young feeder roots, which play a vital role in binding the soil together” ,&nbsp, Mr Ramesh said.

Another frequent problem is near construction as well as motorized or even individual traffic.

These may harm the roots and bulky the soil, preventing root growth and absorption of nutrients and water, as well as supporting the weight of the shrubs crown or canopy.

A leaf personal traits can also play a part.

Fast-growing types generally develop weaker branches and trees, according to Mr Ramesh. &nbsp,

And those with codominant buildings, which extend beyond a second point of origin to multiple ones, are more susceptible to falling.

Others are more prone to outside forces because of shallow root systems or weak branches and twigs. &nbsp,

Mr Ramesh pointed out that trees with deep roots and big jewels -&nbsp, &nbsp, such as the Falcataria falcata and American Tulip -&nbsp, are typically found in Singapore’s wooded areas.

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20 years after Indian Ocean tsunami, some displaced Sri Lankan survivors are still waiting for housing

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POST-DISASTER HOUSING

After the wave, rebuilding houses was one of Sri Lanka’s top priorities. &nbsp,

CNA traveled to a casing complex in Norochcholai, which is close to a small sugar plantation, earlier this year. &nbsp,

The Saudi Arabian government has provided funding for 500 homes in the advanced to displaced families. &nbsp,

However, a court order forbids the transmission of the homes because of ethnic politics.

Although the judge ordered the authorities to divide the houses according to the proportion of the country’s population, the district of Ampara is largely Arab.

In October, Sri Lankan authorities suddenly gave directions to hand over the buildings to the recipients.

According to Siraj Mashoor, a part of the Akkaraipattu Municipal Council, it is necessary to research the social effects of various development projects on a place and its citizens. &nbsp,

” When you go to an area and if you are going to commence a project, you should know the society, the variety and the nature of the area”, he added. &nbsp,

” That kind of contact and transparency was absent.” All of a sudden, you start a great job in an region, and there are questions from individuals. Because in Sri Lanka, this post-war politics is very polluted with this insular elections”.

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These two mums are giving old Singapore school uniforms a second life as bags, toys and more

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Singapore aims to reduce two-thirds of gross carbon emissions from the schools business and have at least 20 % of all colleges become carbon neutral under the Singapore Green Plan 2030.

The pair first met when their children were students at Changkat Primary School and were both members of the Parent Support Group ( PSG) there. The German-born Nagarajan is a Singapore permanent resident, while Tinwala, who was born in India, is today a Singapore member.

To better comprehend Singapore’s educational system and society, we joined the PSG. We even wanted to connect with other kids”, said Tinwala, 43. &nbsp,

The people considered how they could work with the school to implement sustainable initiatives when two of their children graduated from Changkat Primary School in 2016 and 2022, respectively, leaving behind unoccupied training materials and a stack of pre-loved class uniforms that couldn’t be passed down to their siblings.

SCHOOL Short ARE TURNED TO Wrap BARS

” We decided to start a social sector to take advantage of the problem of school supplies and uniform waste,” Nagarajan, 46, said following the study with SMU.

Making original, recycled materials from old school uniforms is one of The Circular Classroom’s efforts.

Because students have a strong relationship with these types of clothing, they made the decision to go with school uniforms. ” School clothing come in different colours and images, and we can become more innovative in repurposing them”, said Tinwala.

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Far From Home: Spending pressures, low financial literacy spell money woes for migrant workers despite higher pay

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FINANCIAL LITERACY Things

Indonesia’s newly-appointed secretary for migrant workers ‘ security, Abdul Kadir Karding, said on Oct 28 that he would cut down the amount of taxes and charges imposed on migrant staff arguing that these fees may be “excessive” and “exploitative”.

However, the Philippines is mulling establishing a pension fund for overseas staff to protect employees and their people against the dangers of old age, disability, illness, death and poverty.

Some organizations devoted to immigrant workers believe that governments also need to train their people financial education, the ability to manage income and expenses, and make informed decisions regarding income.

According to Rimas of Migrante Philippines,” they need to be able to decide how much of their wages should go to their families, how much should come to include their day-to-day needs worldwide, and how much should come into their savings account.”

” Unfortunately, we don’t have that kind of training programme here in the Philippines”.

Financial literacy for migrant workers is of utmost importance, according to Nasrikah Paidin, an advisor to the Indonesian Migrant Domestic Workers Association in Malaysia.

She has seen how some migrants send almost everything they make to their families without giving a damn about how much of it is spent.

” In our training, we tell the migrants that while they can give money to their family, they must also learn to say no”, she said. &nbsp,

” They are sacrificing for their families but it shouldn’t be like that forever. Once their contract is up, they should aim to at least build a house and launch a business there.

Melinda Damayanti, 29, who is from the Indonesian city of Bandung, has been working as a factory operator at a multinational company in Shah Alam, where she is in charge of assembling turntables.

Melinda, who has worked in Malaysia for eight years, considers herself fortunate that she receives daily transportation to and from the factory and a hostel from her employers.

She earns about RM2, 800 monthly with overtime, with about RM1, 000 used for her personal expenses including food. She occasionally receives bonuses, and her business even offers insurance to all employees.

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SingPost ‘confident’ of legal position after former CEO, CFO say they will contest sacking

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After two former senior executives declared they would contest their sacking and called their firing unfair, Singapore Post on Tuesday ( Dec 24 ) said it was confident in its legal position.

The company abruptly terminated the positions of its group’s CEO, Vincent Phang, group’s chief financial officer, and Li Yu, the group’s global business unit, on Saturday.

This came after a sensor into a complainant’s report had found “grossly careless” behavior in their management of internal investigations.

In a speech released on Monday, Mr. Phang and Mr. Yik said they would “vigorously battle” their fire.

After centuries of devoting and giving our best service, the committee decided to fire us from our positions at the business, and we are disappointed about that. It is our place that the cancellation is without merits, and was also randomly unjust”, they added.

A SingPost spokeswoman said on Tuesday that she was convinced of her constitutional position and would address this matter when and how necessary in response to CNA inquiries.

” In illumination of probable dispute, we are unable to provide any additional comment on this matter.”

When questioned about Mr. Phang and Mr. Yik’s intent to file legal claims against the business, the spokesperson said the company was unable to “mentigate more” in light of potential dispute.

In a statement released on Tuesday, S&amp, P Global Ratings stated that the three top executives ‘ firing has given the company a sense of uncertainty about its future.

” Given SingPost’s history of regular turnover in control, the latest absences increase the bank’s credit risks, “it added.

We will look into this control and management issue as part of our decision to fix a CreditWatch placement on our company ratings.

This comes days after SingPost revealed that it plans to sell its business in Australia. &nbsp,

INVESTIGATIONS

The second reporting record, according to SingPost, was received in January of this year, with investigations continuing right away. &nbsp,

According to the report, SingPost’s global enterprise system allegedly manually entered a number of delivery status codes. The business had entered into a contract with one of its biggest clients to provide these for foreign transhipment packages.

These human entries reportedly were made without any justification or supporting paperwork in an effort to avoid legal repercussions under the agreement. &nbsp,

Earlier in March and April, results from the party internal audit were made public.

After that, an outside law firm and forensic service company were hired to carry out additional studies, which came to an end in August. &nbsp,

After the inspection, three unexplained managers who were directly involved in the case went through administrative trials, and they were found to have committed major breaches of the bank’s code of conduct. &nbsp,

They performed or approved guide” supply loss” standing codes for parcels, even though no supply attempt had been made and without supporting documents, said SingPost. &nbsp,

Since then, the three administrators have been fired, and a police investigation has been filed against them.

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Geopolitical rivals compete for Vietnam’s defence dollars at expo

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At a current fair, global arms business people vied for Vietnam’s defense money as the nation attempts to cut back on its reliance on Russia for weapons. &nbsp,

Over 200 firms from 30 countries including China, Russia, United States, Iran, Israel and India took part in the event which ended on Sunday ( Dec 22 ).

Vietnam’s military department, which organised the occasion, said that over US$ 286 million worth of deals were signed by local organizations, increase the value signed in the last model in 2022. Total, seventeen participation agreements were signed.

However, the show’s success was not just about the company feature, said Nguyen Khac Giang, &nbsp, visiting fellow at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s Vietnam Studies Programme.

Organising the fair does not involve having more contracts for Vietnam; rather, it demonstrates that Vietnam is willing to collaborate with numerous other countries around the world, he told CNA’s East Asia Tomorrow on Monday.

Given the ongoing conflicts between some states that attended- including Iran-Israel, US-China and US-Russia- the occasion showcased Vietnam’s political ability, he added.

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