More consumers buying sustainable Chinese New Year hongbao with upcycled designs

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REUSABLE RED Bits

Despite being twice as expensive, paper producer Olympia Premiums reported to CNA that sustainable Hongbao sales have increased by 20 %. &nbsp,

” I think for the younger generation, they are more worried about eco-friendliness”, said the agency’s production director Kevin Kwek.

These environmentally-conscious customers have shared their wish for red boxes that are washable, he added.

” We thought of ways to see if we are able to actually come up with something we can always apply over the years,” he said.

Since 2018, Olympia Premiums has been producing numerous green red boxes. A hongbao that doubles as a colorful decoration when it is totally opened and a snakes-and-ladders design that can be used as a table game are some of these. &nbsp,

But, Mr. Kwek noted that these goods come with a lot of difficulties during the production process, including how labor-intensive packing may be. &nbsp,

However, commercial product provider Purple and Pure has given a unique twist to its dark boxes, which can be sown and grown into flowers.

The production of the compostable plant paper with a texture takes twice as long and has printing restrictions, such as color restrictions and embossing restrictions.

Ankita Jain, the leader of Purple and Pure, stated that the appearance of this paper is unique and that it is made from recycled cotton, making it stand out from conventional red packets.

” Standard, traditional sa baos are made of paper that has been laminated or coated and cannot be recycled. Our report is 100 per cent recycled, and because of the plant embedded, you can grow it into different flowers, vegetables or veggies”, she added.

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12 flights diverted from Changi Airport due to poor weather conditions

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Since Friday night ( January 10 ), Changi Airport has had 12 flights canceled due to a prolonged rainstorm in Singapore.

The flights, operated by various airlines, were from destinations including Bangkok, Jakarta, Phuket and Shanghai, &nbsp, said Changi Airport Group ( CAG ) on Monday in response to CNA’s queries. &nbsp,

They were taken to local airports like Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, and Batam.

Six non-commercial airlines bound for Seletar Airport were diverted to Changi Airport, CAG added. &nbsp,

National water firm Restaurant stated in a Facebook post on Sunday that Singapore has been experiencing prolonged rainfall since Friday and moderate to large storms in some places. &nbsp,

The gloomy conditions, caused by a rain wave, is expected to continue until Monday. &nbsp,

A rain wave refers to a strengthening of the gusts over the South China Sea that causes significant rain to fall over a given area.

From Friday to Saturday, Changi recorded the highest total precipitation at 255.2mm. This number is more than Singapore’s regular monthly rainfall of 222.4mm in January, said PUB. &nbsp,

People are advised to use the MyENV game or&nbsp, PUB Flood Alerts Telegram channel&nbsp, to receive heavy weather alerts, prevent disaster risk locations and keep updated on storm warnings.

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China’s film industry hopes for a box office revival after last year’s slump

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WEAK DOMESTIC Use

Business leaders in China earlier this month urged more transformation, encouraging more movies that appeal to viewers, and tapping the global market.
 
Private consumption in China is still at record highs, but it is still fragile.
 
This slow domestic use, which accounts for more than half of the land ’s gross domestic product, is among the biggest drags in the Chinese market.  
 
In August final month, China ’s State Council introduced new rules to boost domestic use, including methods to advertise movies.  
 
The administration’s efforts to boost domestic use are insufficient, according to Yin Wen Yan, an assistant professor at aSSIST University’s Seoul Business School, because they are mainly focused on the usage area.
 
“ But actually we need to also address some other more fundamental factors such as supply and competition-related factors, ” she told CNA’s East Asia Tonight.  
 
“Consumers really are not just satisfied with star-driven videos, but they are looking for better-quality information.  
 
The online systems are more convenient and reasonably priced, and these are especially appealing to consumers, especially in difficult financial times. ”
 
Beyond simply fostering national identity, she noted, there is a need to maximize the international appeal of Taiwanese film.
 
Although the Chinese government has been making a lot of efforts to promote and expand home films in the foreign market, I believe that both the Chinese government and Chinese directors may need to change their approach and method when producing their movies in order to improve the international appeal of these films. ”

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New measures introduced to enhance management of cases involving sexual offences

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SINGAPORE: Singapore’s courts will introduce measures to enhance the management of cases involving sexual offences, announced Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon on Monday ( Jan 13 ). &nbsp,

A professional list of judges and city judges with experience and special training will be assigned to all situations involving sexual crimes in the High Court and tests involving some sexual infractions in the State Courts starting on Monday. &nbsp,

The Chief Justice said at the start of the 2025 constitutional year that” these instances require careful management because the prosecution process can have on both plaintiffs and accused people.”

In the High Court, all intimate crime cases will be heard by judges on the professional listing, including trials, plead guilty mentions, lawyer’s appeals, legal motions and legal revisions, said a spokeswoman for the courts in response to CNA queries. &nbsp,

In the State Courts, the professional list may include trials for severe sexual offences – where there is a penetrative act, the exploitation of a defenseless person, an abuse of a position of trust, the use of deception, or the use of violence, the spokesperson added. &nbsp,

It will also be applicable to tests involving complainants or accused people who have specific needs that affect their ability to provide evidence, according to the director. &nbsp,

The High Court now has seven judges on its professional record for such studies. Four of them are even part of the eight magistrates who did get lawyer’s appeals. On the list for situations at the State Courts are 12 city judges. &nbsp,

The courts are expanding the education and resources available to these judges in order to gain greater expertise in handling physical offence cases, according to the spokesperson. &nbsp,

The judges may also experiment with the use of improved pre-trial lists to improve the handling of these cases, protect plaintiffs, and defend the rights of victims while upholding the right to a reasonable trial, according to Chief Justice Menon. &nbsp,

According to the court director, the goal of the schedule is to facilitate parties ‘ discussions and identify key issues that are likely to occur during the test. &nbsp,

The director added,” This will help the courtroom crystallize the information in question and shape the contentious positions that are likely to be explored in cross-examination,” the director added. &nbsp,

This would enable the prosecutor to” shut out traces of questioning” that are” completely unimportant” or” evidently intended to insult or offend the complainant” at the test. &nbsp,

For every criminal case before the High Court, parties currently must submit a judge case conference checklist at least seven days before the scheduled conference, and a similar requirement applies to state courts. &nbsp,

The pilot will build on this already-existing checklist, and parties are required to take into account and estimate the amount of time they will need for each witness ‘ cross-examination and examination. &nbsp,

SUSTAINABLE WORK PRACTICES

The Law Society will publish a policy on preventing workplace harassment and bullying, Chief Justice Menon announced on Monday, in order to promote safe and sustainable workplaces. &nbsp,

In his speech, he said a toolkit will provide legal counsel on fundamental rules and policies that they can put in place to stop such behavior at work. &nbsp,

The ethics and professional standards committee’s final report, which was also released on Monday, included eight new recommendations for the policy. &nbsp,

Following a rise in disciplinary tribunals at the time, the committee was established in 2023. &nbsp,

The interim report, which Chief Justice Menon outlined in 2024, made 13 recommendations, including making ethics modules a mandatory part of the bar exam to ensure that lawyers and law students remain up-to-date with their ethical obligations. &nbsp,

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She risked her life to investigate human trafficking and the sex trade: ‘My life flashed before my eyes’

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More than a decade ago, Sylvia Yu Friedman’s last encounter with death is also powerfully remembered.

Therefore, a young journalist and director, Friedman traveled to a red-light area outside of southern China to take footage of young girls engaging in the sex trade for a documentary.

” The courtyard was pitch dark, no street lights. A small developing had large windows, sliding glass windows, and pink lights.

” There were criminals with pale white eyes milling around and women wearing makeup and short skirts that looked terrible. Violent dogs were barking. You had manifestly sense the ickiness and the risk,” she recounted.

A frontliner who had Friedman with her advised her to walk through the courtyard while pretending to be a traveler and secretly picture the picture on her phone.

No adult visitor was seen in this region of the country, according to Friedman’s gut feeling, so she knew she would never get ahead with it. But she hushed her inward voice and braved the dark alley to get the film because she was so determined to get it.

She made a quick getaway car with the images in hands.

In a rhythm, criminals and mamasans surrounded her, shouting ominously and demanding to see her phone. Shaking with fear, Friedman deleted her film, but they did not permit her left.

” I was therefore scared,” she said”. When one of the criminals said the officers were coming, and they immediately dispersed like insects when you shine a light on them, just as I was about to see my life display before my sight.

That evening, Friedman screamed in her chamber from the terror and pain. Her post-traumatic stress disorder lasted for months and she had to get counseling, she told CNA Women.

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‘Armed men and sniffer dogs’: Indonesian forced to work in Cambodian online gambling ring recalls horror ordeal

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The company is surrounded by armed men and sniffing dogs, according to Slamet, and I just received 4 million rupees per month and had to operate more than 12 hours a day. &nbsp,

He was given the task of managing transactions from those who engaged in online gambling in Indonesia as part of his” job.” &nbsp,

” I know the bank’s banks login and pin number. I paid my bank accounts about 30 million dirhams for the money they gave me. If I had never done this, I wouldn’t be able to get home”, Slamet told CNA, adding that he is still being harassed by his previous employer in Cambodia. &nbsp,

Indonesia’s official in Phnom Penh handles about 15 to 30 information a day of its residents seeking assistance, according to Director of Indonesian Citizen Protection Judha Nugraha next month. &nbsp,

The Indonesian Citizen Protection is an organization within Indonesia’s overseas department.

Judha claimed that the Indonesian Embassy had successfully managed more than 2, 946 cases involving the security of Indian people, with more than 76 % of those cases being related to online scams between January and November 2024. &nbsp,

According to researchers, Indonesians who were survivors of human trafficking through online methods have become more popular since the COVID-19 crisis, when many were eager for jobs and were prone to scams. &nbsp,

Additionally, observing people noticed a change in the way people smuggling circumstances have changed. The offenders now have an agenda for young people who have earned a degree. They are also no longer sent to Middle East nations, but to another Southeast Asian nations.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL TORTURE&nbsp,

His company demanded a 50 million ringgit good for his return when Slamet expressed his frustration and asked to be sent up to Indonesia, leaving him with no choice but to continue working there. &nbsp,

Slamet continued, noting that he worked in apartments rented by various playing and online fraud companies that” no contractual contracts” existed.

Up to 80 % of those who work alongside him, including his previous boss, who is from North Sumatra, are Indian people, according to Slamet. &nbsp,

Slamet may just leave the office to eat or take a smoke break because she worked and slept in. Even that was controlled by the troops, he claimed.

” If I wasn’t mentally strong at the time, I could have committed suicide” .&nbsp,

The Indonesian ambassador in Phnom Penh responded to CNA’s inquiries by saying that the majority of Indonesians who had experienced difficulties in Cambodia and had returned home were generally in good physical and mental health.

However, the ambassador even noted that several of them were in “poor physical and psychological state”.

The Migrant Care advocacy organization in Jakarta reported on numerous studies of misuse of Indonesian workers in Cambodia. &nbsp,

Some were handcuffed, electrocuted, and beaten, and the causes of this abuse, among others, varied, including failing to meet goals or being punished for filing problems, according to Arina Widda Faradis, who works in the organization’s legal help section, told CNA. &nbsp,

Slamet confirmed this by stating that Cambodian online gambling establishments would impose electrical weapons or firearms on employees who were found to be incompetent at work. &nbsp,

My friend again had his career electrocuted because he couldn’t do it in another week of training, and he was threatened with electrocution if he didn’t do it in another month, he said.

” And if within a month he remains incompetent, he was threatened ( with being moved ) to Myanmar. Who knows what his fate may remain while he is in Myanmar?

However, alleged victims of human smuggling have also reported on social media about a number of instances. &nbsp, &nbsp,

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‘Dogs happy, we’re also happy’: Meet the 2 Bangladeshi workers caring for rescue dogs at a Singapore shelter

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THE SOSD BACKOBER

Kamruzzaman, known affectionately as Babu, was introduced to SOSD by his brother-in-law and has worked at the house for 11 times. The position was a great match because I’ve always had a strong dog love.

” I have puppies back home in Bangladesh, but I’ve been taking care of dogs for a long time. I love all creatures, but particularly puppies. And I think puppies like me, too”, said the 44-year-old with a grin.

However, 27-year-old Nayem joined five years ago after his previous work closed over. He shared that he first started working at a development site eight years ago when I moved to Singapore. The Ministry of Manpower ( MOM) connected me with this SOSD job when the site was closed. I’ve always liked puppies, and playing with them makes me happy. Therefore, I decided to join”.

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ICA temporarily suspends e-service after 80 unauthorised attempts to change residential addresses

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Initial Results

Marvin Sim, the ICA’s commissioner, reported that the agency began inquiries in September of last year after receiving reports from residents who had unapproved changes to their home addresses.

” First, there were only a few cases that appeared related, but more cases surfaced recently”, the authority said, adding that the number of scenarios grew to 80 to date.

By December of last year, ICA’s investigations revealed that the culprits had used stolen or hacked Singpass addresses to change the victims ‘ residential names through the “others” component of the e-service.

According to ICA, they may have previously had the NRIC amount and date of issue of the patients ‘ NRICs to type these facts into the eCOA service.

The perpetrator may obtain the mailer to confirm the change of address, and the COA service had then send a verification PIN to the authorized resident address.

When a murderer’s listed domestic target changed, the victim’s Singpass account was created by requesting that the perpetrator’s Singpass company send a new PIN to the listed home address.

Speaking at a press conference held at the ICA Building, Mr Sim said the offenders were “likely to be visitors” and there were” no signs” that foreign players were involved.

Additionally, there were no established statistical trends for the patients involved.

Mr. Sim noted that police inquiries are continuous, and that he did not provide any additional information about the offenders.

” Once authorities have completed the research, we may come down hard on the culprits”, he said.

In response to questions from reporters, Mr. Sim added that there was” no indication” that the incident was related to the recent exposure of NRIC numbers via the new Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA ) portal, which was launched on December 9.

” For the ACRA portal, the date of issue is not known… because for the perpetrators to change ( the residential addresses ), they need both the NRIC and the date of issue ( of the NRIC )”, he said.

ICA stressed that this was” not an issue about ( a ) system glitch”.

According to Mr. Sim,” We designed the digital service since 2020 to provide convenience to members of ( the ) public,” but in recent months, we have discovered a new tactic of people using the eCOA to defraud another person’s address and, as a result, take control of their Singpass for other criminal activities.

” This is why we decided to act quickly”.

ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES

In addition to the extra security measures that will be implemented, according to ICA, include integrating experience identification technology into the Singpass password for the online service.

The chance that a perpetrator may get the support to change a victim’s address will be reduced, the statement stated.

Additionally, it is considering whether to implement an OTP option before domestic addresses can be changed using the “others” choice.

In response to a question from CNA, Mr. Sim said,” This means that the person ( for ) whom the address is being changed must first acknowledge that he or she has asked the proxy to change the address.”

These are a few of the choices we are considering. The guarantee I want to give is that we won’t reintroduce the “others” module unless we are really certain that we will be able to put in place more complete safeguards, he continued.

ICA stated that from Monday through Friday, those who need substitute support may contact the Circuit System on Level 3 of the ICA Building for support between 8am and 4.30pm.

Additionally, it is contacting all known affected individuals to get their NRICs back, which will have the same NRIC figures but distinct issue dates, as well as assist them revert to their real addresses. &nbsp,

ICA said it will function with GovTech to restore the records for those whose Singpass accounts may have been compromised.

It also advised members of the public to check their registered address on ICA’s website and report any inaccuracies immediately via https ://go.gov.sg/reportunauthorisedchange.

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Share transfer between 2 Chinese news veterans questioned in suit over S0,000 ‘loan’ for failed business

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Play IN HOMING HOLDINGS

Mr Ren held 35 per share of stock in Homing Holdings, Ms Lee held 30 per share, and Mr Chua had a 35 per cent interest, according to the plaintiffs.

Ms. Lee and Mr. Chua assert that Mr. Chua did not want to be involved in the business ‘ day-to-day operations and that he did not participate or own shares, but that Mr. Ren purportedly insisted that Mr. Chua be given a 35 % stake.

According to the defendants, Ms. Lee later held those shares, which she was even a director of the company companies.

The Straits Times reported earlier this week that Mr. Chua and Ms. Lee testified about a contract they signed in February 2018 that would transport Mr. Chua’s shares of Homing Holdings to Ms. Lee.

Ms. Lee allegedly testified that Mr. Chua had suggested this because he was starting his new career at Mediacorp and that he had not been a part of Homing Holdings ‘ management following the share exchange.

Mr. Ren contests the integrity of the share exchange.

Mr. Chua was summoned to the witness stand on Friday to explain the agreement for Mr. Liow Beng Hui, a supervisor in one of Homing Holdings ‘ companies, to see the drafting of the share exchange deal.

Mr. Chua claimed that Ms. Lee was in charge of scheduling Mr. Liow to observe the filing.

The claimants ‘ lawyer, Ms. Jasmin Kang, requested confirmation from Mr. Chua that the share exchange arrangement had never been entered into Homing Holdings ‘ company records.

Mr. Chua claimed that because he had never been a part of the company’s affairs, he was confused about this.

Mr. Liow finally took the stand and claimed that he had witnessed Mr. Chua and Ms. Lee signing the share move agreement at his housing block in February 2018.

He claimed that Ms. Lee called him a few days prior to the deal signing so that he could see if he would be present. On the day of the filing itself, she gave more in-depth explanations of the contract.

Mr. Liow also testified that he had worked closely with Mr. Chua and Ms. Lee on a number of initiatives there and that he had known them from the time when all three were coworkers.

Mr. Chua joined Mediacorp in 2018, but he recently worked for SPH, where he was the managing editor of its Chinese Media Group.

He is now Mediacorp’s head and chief editor of Chinese media and current affairs, as well as the organization’s Youth Editorial program.

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

According to her LinkedIn profile, Ms. Lee is a media former who worked for SPH for 18 years before leaving in May 2017.

Mr. Liow claimed that Ms. Lee approached him about joining the Homing Holdings subsidiary and that her team collaborated strongly with her as director of the business’s day-to-day operations.

On Mr Chua’s role in the company, Mr Liow said:” I don’t think he’s involved, I often see him”.

A Goldciti director also gave testimony regarding the work Goldciti did after Homing Holdings reportedly hired it to provide guidance on reform choices.

Homing Holdings reportedly agreed to pay Goldciti S$ 80, 000, of which S$ 40, 000 was paid out. The suing functions claimed that the brokers may not get any documentation of any collaboration or job done by Goldciti.

Mr. Tan Hui Meng claimed that Goldciti’s hourly charge-out rate was S$ 800 and that Homing Holdings ‘ project was estimated to need 100 hours of work.

He claimed that Goldciti’s work involved gathering data from Homing Holdings ‘ financial statements, tracing the general ledger to sources ‘ invoices, meeting potential investors, and writing a report.

He refuted Ms. Kang’s claims that the 17-page report was made to support the S$ 80, 000 repayment from Homing Holdings and that it was intended to aid him and Ms Lee in siphoning money from the business.

Mr. Tan even disagreed that the review was not prepared in November 2020 but was backdated to present the services rendered, and that he lacked the knowledge to write a reform record for a business that was in bankruptcy.

On January 21, the prosecution will resume.

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FAQ: Safety tips for driving in a flash flood and what to do if you’re stranded in waters

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National water agency ( PUB), a monsoon surge forecast for Singapore starting on Friday ( Jan 10 ), has issued a warning about flash floods that could occur over the course of four days. &nbsp,

In the final two weeks of 2024, there were already instances of flood as a result of heavy rain, with images of cars waving through the water. &nbsp,

What should you do if a flash storm hits your car? Are there security standards for travellers and community cars?

CNA examines some health advice as well as transportation operator recommendations.

If I travel through floods?

Avoid driving over waters as much as you can. &nbsp, As a general rule, do not attempt to drive through water deeper than 15cm ( 6 inches ), or above kerb height.

Pushing through storms poses a number of risks, including the possibility of engine stalls.

” If water enters the website through the consumption or air filter, it may cause the engine to acquire, possibly resulting in severe damage”, said Mr Wong Che Wey, local specialized training manager of Motul Asia Pacific, &nbsp, which manufactures products for engines.

Waters may also affect a vehicle’s devices, he said, adding that power devices mounted on a car’s floor panels are the most vulnerable when water enters the room. &nbsp,

According to Mr. Jake Ler, the chief marketing officer of Motorist, vehicles were “aquaplaning” when traveling through floodwaters. &nbsp,

This is when rubber lose momentum on a damp surface, leading to a loss of control, he explained. &nbsp,

” Also, hidden dangers such as holes, dust or uneven road surfaces submerged in the water can cause unforeseen damage or mishaps”, Mr Ler said.

What if I can’t find an alternative route?

If an alternative route isn’t possible and the road appears passable, drivers should carefully evaluate the situation.

According to Mr. Ler, motorists should take into account the depth of the water and the type of vehicle they drive. He also argues that some vehicles, like an SUV, might be better suited to traversing the waters than a low-slung sedan. &nbsp,

Drivers should engage their low gear, drive slowly and steadily, and avoid sudden braking in the middle of the flood, according to Mr. Wong. &nbsp,

He explained that” this approach helps lower the risk of losing control of the vehicle and lowers the exposure of the engine to water.” &nbsp,

PUB advises traveling through one vehicle at a time and stay close to the middle lane as water can frequently accumulate on the side lanes.

What should I do if the car is stuck?

The driver should not restart the engine if it stalls, according to Mr. Wong, because this could add more water to the engine and increase its damage. &nbsp,

Affected drivers should activate their hazard lights to alert other drivers, he advised, and call emergency services or a tow truck to transport their vehicle to a workshop for repairs and inspection, he continued. &nbsp,

If the water levels keep rising, stuck drivers should immediately leave their vehicles and move to higher ground, according to Mr. Ler. &nbsp,

” A quick and decisive response in such a situation can be the difference between a close call and a dangerous scenario,” he said.

Are electric vehicles more susceptible to faulty in a flood? &nbsp,

Experts say electric vehicles are not at&nbsp, greater risk of malfunctioning in flood conditions.

” Modern electric vehicles are built with advanced safety features, such as sealed battery packs and insulated high-voltage systems, which effectively prevent water from entering and harming critical components,” said Mr. Ler.

In addition to ensuring driver safety, many EVs have fail-safe mechanisms that automatically shut off the high-voltage system in the event of a collision or short circuit.

Mr. Wong agreed that electric vehicles are typically designed with safety features to withstand water. &nbsp,

However, prolonged exposure to water could still pose risks and this could vary by the vehicle’s manufacturer and model, he said. &nbsp,

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