CNA Explains: What is an ETA and why are more countries like Thailand implementing it?

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Was Singapore also introduce its own ETA? &nbsp,

Mr Herison said that Singapore’s existing SG Arrival Card, which was implemented during the COVID-19 epidemic to display incoming travellers ‘ health position,” strongly resembles an ETA” in how it collects information for immigration certification. &nbsp,

But, it differs from an ETA as it is for every adventurer at air and sea gates, including Singapore people. &nbsp,

Mr. Wong claimed that an ETA is improbable to be implemented in Singapore.

Given that the free movement of goods and people is essential to our overall market, he said, “it’s a little more challenging for a nation like Singapore to have this requirement.” &nbsp,

Does implementing an ETA hurt a country’s hospitality business? &nbsp,

Assistant Professor in Human Geography Zhang Jiajie said that in common, a “borderless universe” philosophy is extremely obsolete. &nbsp,

According to Dr. Zhang, who is from the Nanyang Technological University’s National Institute of Education,” seamless travel is bound to get a seat to the focus being given to the securitization of the frontier in the name of national safety.” &nbsp,

States are becoming more selective about the types of guests they want to draw, according to Mr. Wong, aside from safety concerns.

For instance, young backpackers who may spend a lot of time in the country but do n’t spend much money might be turned off by an ETA fee, in contrast to wealthy tourists. &nbsp,

” There’s a general move towards higher-value tourism”, he said. &nbsp,

He added that larger nations have a local tourism industry and may not rely heavily on immigrants to increase commerce income. &nbsp,

Nevertheless, locations are then making a cost-benefit research on how they approach hospitality, and some are choosing the more careful approach. &nbsp,

” States that have decided to introduce the ETA may have determined that the advantages of erecting a more restrictive e-border outweigh the possibility costs,” said Dr. Zhang. &nbsp,

What does travelers be aware of? &nbsp,

Less unexpected trips are what this means for travelers, according to the industry experts. &nbsp,

” Although the approval process is generally fast, usually within 24 hours, visitors may ensure they have important documents, such as evidence of hospitality and a return ticket, ready”, said Mr Herison. &nbsp,

” This shift encourages earlier itinerary planning and may reduce last-minute flexibility” .&nbsp,

Before making a reservation, Mr. Wong argued that travelers can search travel websites like joinsherpa.com to find out what documents are needed based on their nationality and travel location. &nbsp,

He also urged people to stay away from a growing number of scam websites that defraud visitors of the ETA application fee. &nbsp,

The onus is on the individual to make sure they are visiting the official website, he said.” Scams like this invariably lead to scams and impersonation websites,” he said. &nbsp,

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NTUC to provide S.5 million to support upskilling for migrant worker representatives

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SINGAPORE: The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said on Wednesday ( Sep 18 ) it will provide S$ 2.5 million ( US$ 1.93 million ) to support migrant worker representatives in their welfare and training.

The money will be used to fund classes that will improve their ability to advance professionally within their organizations.

These courses are eligible only for Migrant Workers ‘ Centre ( MWC ) ambassadors, NTUC said in response to CNA’s queries.

Migrant workers “are like community representatives in their area and at their workplaces,” the statement continued.

They are experienced instructors who information and assist new workers&nbsp, integrate into Singapore world.

They are also taught the fundamentals of employment rights, making them a good resource for other migrant workers to handle employment issues first. &nbsp,

The ambassador system, according to NTUC, “helps clean the inclusion of newly-arrived migrant workers and provides real-time ground sensing ability.”

MWC will also provide funding for immigrant workers to organize activities and training sessions at the four NTUC Club and MWC operate, as well as to sponsor such activities.

MWC associate members may also get gift bags with daily essentials to help pay for their monthly rent, according to NTUC. &nbsp,

” At NTUC, we believe that every employee deserves the opportunity to expand, thrive, and been appreciated, regardless of where they come from”, said NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng.

This S$ 2.5 million commitment reflects our commitment to improving the well-being and abilities of our immigrant workers. For instance, a portion of the funding will go toward supporting our Migrant Workers ‘ Centre ministers so that they will have the support and resources necessary for career advancement and a better quality of life.

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The moon’s dimming light: China sees lacklustre mooncake sales as consumers refuse to bite

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SINGAPORE: Instead of buying mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Event this year, consultant Ms Liu Siqi decided to save money and cook her own at a factory in Guangzhou, before reuniting with her home in her home, Foshan.

” I was considering whether to get them especially since Mid-Autumn is a unique time”, Ms Liu, 23, told CNA. However, I do n’t find them particularly tasty, and I believe the holiday mark-up is excessive. &nbsp,

With her eight handmade mooncakes, the recent graduate remarked that she could save up to four yuan ( US$ 0.56 ) a piece.

That’s actually as cakes prices have fallen this time. &nbsp,

According to research by Mashangying, the average market price dropped from 85.69 renminbi in 2023 to 83.36 renminbi. &nbsp,

The China Bakery and Confectionery Industry Association also found that the majority of the cheap product boxes are under 60 renminbi, and the majority of the major cakes gift boxes are more economical this time.

However, it seems as though the once-dazzling autumn pastry’s glow may have lost its appeal among consumers, with businesses also suffering from subpar sales despite the lower price point.

” We always ( purchase ) so many mooncakes during Mid-Autumn, and this year is no different”, Ms Liu said.

“( This year ) I wondered, if I brought home another ( store-bought ) box, would my family really need it”?

According to observers, it reflects new spending patterns in China, particularly among younger consumers, as individuals become more observant and pragmatic with their choices for both purchases and spending. &nbsp,

China’s extremely competitive cakes business was valued at a staggering 20 billion yuan in 2019, but revenue have decreased since the pandemic and merchants have continued to struggle. &nbsp,

While cakes sales in 2023 crossed pre-COVID rates, generating more 22 billion renminbi, the forecast this year is dimmed. &nbsp,

Cakes production is estimated to be about 300, 000 kilograms, down from 320, 000 kilograms in 2023. However, profits are projected to decline to 2019’s levels, according to a market trend statement released last month by the China Bakery and Confectionery Industry Association. &nbsp,

SIMPLICITY OVER LUXURY&nbsp,

In China, pastries are more than just a snack. Regarded as a symbol of luxury and extravagance, they are traditionally given to family, friends and relatives during the annual Mid Autumn Festival, which fell on Tuesday ( Sep 17 ). &nbsp,

The majority of Chinese buyers have become “more pragmatic”, said Ms Olivia Plotnick, chairman of Wai Social, a Shanghai-based social media marketing company– which is “in collection with broader market changes” .&nbsp,

A greater emphasis on practicality, affordability, and real value is being fueled by rising economic pressures and changing consumer values, according to Ms Plotnick. &nbsp,

” When it comes to traditional products such as mooncakes, this manifests in ( consumers ) choosing simplicity and meaningfulness over luxury”.

Ms. Liu, one of the less financially savvy shoppers, attributed this year’s decline in mooncake purchases to China’s overall economic situation. &nbsp,

” Everyone is being more budget-conscious. It’s quite normal for people to scale down their spending in such situations”, she said. ” I think it’s due to the overall economic situation, which is n’t great this year, including my personal financial situation, which is not as good as last year”.

The slowing economy and continued anti-corruption drive, as well as quality issues, are contributing factors to the decline, according to some experts.

According to Julien Lapka, founder of Inner Chapter, a brand strategy and insight studio with a base in Shanghai, a nationwide crackdown on bribery and corporate gifting negatively impacted sales this year. &nbsp,

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CNA Explains: What is a Sumatra squall and did it bring a sudden storm to Singapore?

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Singapore on Tuesday night ( Sep 17 ), strong winds and heavy rain tore down trees in various locations. &nbsp,

The immediate storm&nbsp, was good brought about by a Sumatra storm, authorities told CNA.

What is this climate occurrence, and when does it occur?

What is a Sumatra thunderstorm? &nbsp,

A thunderstorm is simply a sudden collapse of powerful winds followed by heavy rains. It is simple but extreme, and it can kill down as quickly as it started.

A Sumatra storm has traits unique to this place: it is a series of thunderstorms that develop over Indonesia’s Sumatra area or the Strait of Malacca before moving eastward to change Singapore and, eventually, Peninsula Malaysia.

In a common case, a storm line or storm line&nbsp, can bring about one to two hours of torrential rain.

Wind gusts may reach up to 80kmh.

Squalls have a much larger impact along their path than regular storms because of their straight structure. However, their short diameter prevents swift passage of heavy rain and strong winds.

Storm lines are spatial weather systems that can last hundreds of kilometers, but they generally only hundreds of kilometers wide, and they typically move quickly, according to Professor Matthias Roth from the geography department of the National University of Singapore ( NUS).

According to the statement,” Their emergence is related to the cooling of the heat on the high ground in northern Sumatra by radiation.”

When do storms appear? &nbsp,

Sumatra squall occurs usually between April and November during the southwest monsoon and during the intermonsoon periods.

” It’s strongly associated with southwest wind” ,&nbsp, said Dr Wang Jingyu, &nbsp, an assistant professor of physical geography at the National Institute of Education ( NIE ).

The “linear-shaped heat systems that cross the Malacca Strait and the Malay Peninsula are forced to fly over the Bukit Barisan mountain selection” are produced by the southerly winds.

Dr Wang added that on normal, storms occur five to 10 times per month during these peak times.

According to a 2020 review by the Meteorological Service Singapore, the land experiences&nbsp, 45 storms per year on average.

Storms typically occur in the pre-dawn time or early day.

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Ah Boys To Men actor Ryan Lian arrested for allegedly tampering with lock at Telok Blangah flat

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Ryan Lian, a famous actor from Singapore for his roles in Ah Boys To Men 4 and Money No Enough, was detained on Sunday ( 15 ) after being caught on camera trying to break open an electronic lock on a Telok Blangah resident’s home.

The native, a 30-year-old caregiver named Laura, was out having a dinner with her family when she was alerted by her smartphone, saying that someone had pressed her door. A naked man fiddling with her gate and efficiently opening the switch were the footage from the security camera that was installed outside her wall, Laura saw.

She continued, claiming that the man had pressed her wooden door’s electric lock but he had resisted. He also ran into Laura’s helper who was n’t aware of what had happened.

” My companion was unaware that the person wanted to open our door.” Fortunately, he did n’t carry a weapon and did n’t hurt anyone”, said Laura in an interview with publication Shin Min Daily News.

Laura therefore requested that her husband call the police and that she contact her neighbors through her group chat group to inform them of the event.

Police have confirmed that they received a report at 11.25 am and that they have detained one person under the Mental Health ( Care and Treatment ) Act. &nbsp,

In a separate interview with 8world, Laura said:” From the picture, it seems that his behavior is not in a great mental position… Happily, he is not aggressive. I do n’t know what his intention was. There were some packages outside the neighbour’s house, but he did not take them away” .&nbsp,

Lian had recently discussed his issues with psychological health. He disclosed his three-year sadness to Shin Min in 2022. He likewise revealed to Lianhe Zaobao that it was the cause of his departure from the television series When Duty Calls 2 at the time.

Lian has been contacted for feedback by CNA Lifestyle.

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‘It’s like attending a funeral’: Singapore Turf Club prepares for farewell race on Oct 5 to honour 182-year legacy

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A BITTERSWEET GOODBYE

The final race meeting will be a bittersweet affair, jockeys and horse owners who are affected by the club’s closure told CNA’s Singapore Tonight on Tuesday ( Sep 17 ).  
 
Visitors will be very excited and will be heading out for a fun day of it, according to animal owner Eric Koh, managing chairman of Equine Sanctuary, a company of horse care services.  
 
“ But to a lot of us- the educators, the masters, the jockeys- it’ll be pretty a somber and depressing time. It’s like attending a death truly, because it’s the last day of Singapore racing after 182 times. ”
 
The business in animal and horse racing had hoped for a U-turn in the closure, according to Mr. Koh, who has been busy organizing the relocation of horses.  
 
“ But I guess by then, the truth has set in, ” he said. “So ( for most of the economy ), we have all accepted that there’s no U-turn and so we just have to move on. ”
 
While there is the option of racing overseas, it is “a different feeling ” when competing at home, he added.  
 
There has been a lot of curiosity among other Asian nations that want to set up a track as well since the announcement of ( the closure last year ). ”
 
The STC was where Matthew Kellady’s past horse, who is now a work horse at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, met his wife.  
 
“My whole life is ( in Singapore ), it means everything to me, ” he said. “It’s really hard for me to travel, and get a new career, ” he told CNA from Guangzhou.  
 
I have missed all of their birthdays and other significant lifestyle milestones because I have to leave my wife and my three children in Singapore.  
 
“ While I’m very grateful for the job in China, it is very lonely, being here all alone by myself. I have to create a very difficult decision to leave the home behind when I travel all the way around. ”

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Police called after resident became aggressive at meet-the-people session: Tan Kiat How

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According to Member of Parliament ( MP ) for East Coast GRC Tan Kiat How, the police were called to a meet-the-people meeting in Bedok after a resident became aggressive and sparked a commotion on Tuesday ( Sep 17 ). &nbsp,

Mr. Tan addressed the incident in a TikTok video that was posted on his verified account, and he also, bsp, demanded that everyone respect the meetings to ensure that both residents and volunteers can use them safely. &nbsp,

The police were called to# MPS now because a tenant became a little more aggressive, according to the message of the film that was posted in the small hours of Tuesday. &nbsp,

Mr Tan, who represents the Kampong Chai Chee hospital, has meet-the-people lessons on Monday night at Block 408 Bedok North Avenue 2. &nbsp,

” Often you see such circumstances at MPS, where one of the people become aggressive and can become a little more violent,” he said. &nbsp,

” I feel for everyone who is going through a difficult moment,” I said. I do trust that people who come to MPS will also honor our individuals” .&nbsp,

Although those present at the meet-the-people lessons often make an effort to assist the people, Mr. Tan said that” some items are beyond what we can do.” &nbsp,

” For example, we ca n’t write to a government agency to demand the agency to offer a job to a person… but we can facilitate&nbsp, and make sure that opportunities are available for our residents”.

Mr. Tan did not give more information about the incident. &nbsp,

CNA has contacted Mr Tan and the authorities for more information. &nbsp,

Numerous comments were posted on the TikTok blog, with some expressing support for Mr. Tan and others empathizing with the unknown resident who sparked the commotion. &nbsp,

One TikTok users criticized the customer for being “desperate” for a solution to their problem, while another urged people to be patient because not all issues can be resolved right away. &nbsp,

” We try our best. Also, make an effort to be truthful and open about our limits, Mr. Tan remarked in a reply.

Mr. Tan responded to a TikTok user who said,” Hope you can help him,” saying that he “managed to assist his parents when he had previously arrived by himself.”

This is not the first period a meet-the-people period was marked with anger. &nbsp,

Jurong GRC MP&nbsp, Tan Wu Meng was &nbsp, assaulted in 2018 by a 32-year-old person, leaving him with scars on his shoulder and scratches on his chest, according to Now.

According to reports, the man reportedly rushed into the MPS’s conversational place while he was speaking with another tenant. Dr. Tan fell to the floor after he began to hit the MP with his hands. &nbsp,

The person was later arrested. &nbsp,

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Businesses away from F1 circuit rev up deals and activities to draw crowds

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Apart from Dempsey, there are also other race-themed hobbies outside the loop, at locations including the Sports Hub, Orchard Road and Kampong Gelam. &nbsp,

Establishments EXPECT MORE Income

With only two weeks until the event, it is all systems put in place as the finishing touches are put in place back in the race location.

Some hotels tucked away from the action are anticipating a 15 % increase in revenue this year.

According to Mr. Theo Ocks, business public director of Fairmont Singapore and Swissotel The Stamford,” The Singapore Grand Prix captivates the owners and the fans everywhere.

” Every time, we are quite busy. But this year is certainly a record-breaking one. We anticipate that this year will be one of our best F1 times.

Both hotels have a list of civilization weekend themed programs at their restaurants and bars, both of which are situated in the prime of the circuit’s Change 9.

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore and The Fullerton Bay Hotel both informed CNA that all areas with a trackside perspective are fully booked.

Hotels reported that they saw a slight increase in last-minute orders as F1 actions were announced later this year as compared to previous times.

For the race weekend, Trip.com registered 60 % more inbound flight bookings and 60 % more hotel bookings.

Beginning on Wednesday ( Sep 18 ), road closures around the Marina Center and the Padang area will gradually begin, and they will be fully accessible by next Tuesday ( Sep 24 ).

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CNA Explains: Original equipment manufacturers or OEMs, and why companies rely on them

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What are the rewards? &nbsp,

An instant plus point is users getting their products sooner, said Asst Prof Choudhary, whose knowledge is in supply chain management.

Because some products are off the shelves, it shortens the lead time, allowing a new product to be released more quickly.

He added that the business also benefits from being able to determine the OEM’s dependability from previous client evaluations. &nbsp,

” It is a trade-off between making products available faster or cheaper, than unique”, he said. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Such an agreement furthermore lets a company focus on various factors like branding, advertising, design, sub-assembly or selling, authorities said.

” It is all about emphasis and specialisation”, said Prof De Meyer. Because of the economies of scale, this may result in better products being produced at higher quantities and so at lower costs.

How about the hazards? &nbsp,

The specialists noted that using an OEM may indicate a lack of control over the manufacturing process. &nbsp,

Prof. De Meyer cited a problem engine report from the aviation company Pratt &amp, Whitney from last year. This affected some carriers using Airbus A320 planes. &nbsp,

He added that because of their business models, Airbus and Boeing no lengthy appear to have complete control over the quality standards of their aircraft engines.

Asst. Prof. Choudhary noted on the company front that companies purchasing and marketing the same product may experience more market competition.

A company may even find it challenging to get an OEM merchandise at a desired period if the OEM places a larger order on another company’s list, he added. &nbsp,

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