China’s new global charm offensive: vocational training for the world, but is there a catch?

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Some Chinese-funded programs, similar to the character of GIPU’s Qinggong sessions in Singapore, have been introduced in recent years. &nbsp,

These include the” Chinese Workshop” backed by the Chinese Education Ministry’s Center for Language Education and Cooperation,” Modern Craftsman College” led by Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and” Dayu College” run by Yellow River Conservancy Technical Institute. &nbsp,

The Guangxi authorities announced in February that it had secured state aid to build 17″ Modern Craftsman Colleges” throughout Southeast Asia to illustrate the pace of expansion. To day, at least six of these universities are now operating in places such as Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

The aim is to teach “technical experts who are well-versed in Chinese technology, understand Chinese design and are familiar with Taiwanese products”, wrote Mr Peng Binbai, chairman of the Chinese Education Ministry’s Department of Vocational and Adult Education, in a Jul 15 content published in a magazine dedicated to China’s international learning market.

Mr. Peng praised the expansion of China’s foreign education industry, highlighting the advantages of expanding vocational training programs abroad, and expressing strong support for the establishment of more of these initiatives. &nbsp,

Vocational education is essential for national development as Taiwanese companies expand their international reputation and take part in building worldwide capacities. By creating a training system that combines useful skills with educational credentials, it should meet the specific skills requirements of these businesses, he wrote. &nbsp,

He also noted that China was “rapidly advancing” and Luban sessions had a” important position” to sing in countering American influence and destruction.

” With the rise of the East and the decline of the West becoming notable trends … ( Such schemes ) play a crucial role in countering Western containment, it ( also ) supports China’s educational ambitions and aids the advancement of national diplomacy, while facilitating the global expansion of Chinese enterprises”, he said.

GOODWILL EFFORT And CHARM OFFENSIVE? &nbsp,

Criticism has been poured at Beijing’s efforts to expand its technical programs abroad, which have raised concerns about government freedom and financial transparency. &nbsp,

Similar things can be drawn between Confucius Institutes and Confucius Institutes, which were severely depressed in the US in 2019 due to their charges that they were Chinese advertising resources. Since 2004, these schools have promoted Chinese language and culture abroad through school partnerships, operating in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America.

Although China continues to view them as systems for cultural exchange, issues about Chinese state control and safety issues have caused their closing in the US, Canada, and Europe.

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Line-towed barges allowed to move to and from Pasir Panjang Terminal at night to boost port efficiency

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Starting on Wednesday ( Sep 4), line-towed container ships will be able to travel to and from Pasir Panjang Terminal at night as part of efforts to increase terminal performance. &nbsp,

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore ( MPA ) stated in a media release on Wednesday that this was previously only permitted at Brani and Keppel Terminals, where the navigational traffic is less complicated. &nbsp,

Following the four-month prosecution of the new measure with six boat operators, MPA and PSA Singapore completed the new rule. &nbsp,

Between 7pm and 6:30am, boats will be able to carry vessels in and out of the Port of Singapore and nearby ports, including those for transhipment.

On average, each line-towed boat you have the equivalent of 300 standard shipping vessels. &nbsp,

” By enabling more containers to be delivered on barges throughout the day at Pasir Panjang Terminal, this measure will improve connectivity with regional ports, ( and ) enhance port efficiency”, said MPA. &nbsp,

Additionally, it said, it may shorten the amount of time box and feed vessels spend at seat and the require for pots to be transported between land terminals. &nbsp,

The initiative is a part of MPA’s continued attempts to evaluate its rules and regulations to lower company costs, time to run, and improve resource efficiency while ensuring security. &nbsp,

CNA originally reported in May that shipping disruptions in Singapore had more than doubled. In order to make more timely sales, some local businesses afterwards learned in July that some local businesses were switching from ocean to air transport. &nbsp,

In response to a parliamentary inquiry in July on the sufficiency of Singapore’s waterways to control severe goods congestion, Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat claimed that the Red Sea crisis had increased” the needs and difficulty” of container management at Singapore’s slot.

In consequence, box warships were staying in the slot long, which shortened the time for receiving vessels and created congestion at the berths, he added. &nbsp,

The Port of Singapore handled an estimated 23.82 million common shipping containers, according to MPA, in the first seven months of 2024.

Container levels increased by 6.1 % over the same period last year, it added. &nbsp,

According to MPA, the average wait time for pot seats at ports was shortened to less than one evening in July. &nbsp,

These enhancements are attributable to MPA and PSA, it continued, citing the recurrence of garden spaces and berths at Keppel Terminal as illustrations.

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OCBC to enable kids from age 7 to operate own bank accounts, debit cards

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SINGAPORE: OCBC may shortly enable Generation Alphas, or children aged 7 to 15, to banks online via their own accounts and to keep bank accounts.

But there’s a find.

The bank said in a media release on Tuesday ( Sep. 3 ) that the OCBC MyOwn account, which is available to this age group starting on October 20, will operate “within boundaries and controls set by parents.

Due to the minimum age requirement, a vast majority of teens and older children under 16 years old cannot perform their own bank records, OCBC noted.

” Rather, their bank balances are mostly held jointly with their families, with online banking exposure given only to their kids”, it said.

The bank stated that the OCBC MyOwn Account would be governed only by the boy’s title. But, &nbsp, parents must be the people to start the account via their OCBC Digital&nbsp, game.

When an account is opened, parents can save the OCBC Digital app to a split smartphone and have their child create their personal username and password to access their bank account online.

Also, an OCBC MyOwn Debit Card may be provided with the bill and the child you” choose their favorite design from a range of attractive&nbsp, options”, said the bank.

Family Handles

Parents may be able to keep an eye on their child’s profile activity through the game in real time.

This includes the boy’s cash transfers, payments, ATM&nbsp, payments or payments, as well as plastic card use, said OCBC.

This parent-and-child-view platform is a second for a online bank app in Singapore, it added.

Certain bill controls are only available through the parent’s application, and this will be “progressively rolled out.”

” These include setting transaction limits on the account and debit card, updating their child’s contact details, resetting card and PIN, and reporting a lost debit card” .&nbsp,

When their child makes a purchase or transfers money, parents can also receive drive- or email updates.

Additionally, they will be able to choose when their kids can access the bank&nbsp, accounts, or debit card.

ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS

In response to CNA’s question, OCBC stated that the OCBC MyOwn account will have the same” strict protection” as its digital software.

These include its anti-malware safety feature, funds lock feature and a&nbsp, remove change.

They can also lock&nbsp, and unlock their debit card to prevent digital banking, debit card and ATM access if they suspect their account has been compromised.

In response to CNA’s question, OCBC claimed to have” a robust surveillance system that screens and flags suspicious transactions.”

Additionally, it will increase its education efforts regarding digital banking.

” This will be done through comic strips, incorporating relatable characters and compelling storylines”, OCBC said.

According to the bank, the OCBC MyOwn Account launched after 18 months of thorough investigation into parents ‘ behaviors, psychology, and aspirations.

Parents of teenagers and older children under the age of 16 who want to give their children a good start learning the fundamentals of digital banking and financial independence, but they also want to supervise their children’s financial behavior, according to the report.

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American pizza chain Little Caesars closing last Singapore outlet in September

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Here’s some shocking information for Little Caesars followers in Singapore. The British pizza chain made the announcement on Sep 3 that it would close its final location in Funan maybe this month. Little Caesars had been gradually closing its stores in Singapore over the past several months, with the closures of its Ang Mo Kio and Northshore Plaza locations coming on August 13 and 26, both. &nbsp,

The Funan outlet’s last day of operation has not yet been made public by Little Caesars. CNA Lifestyle has reached out to&nbsp, Little Caesars Singapore for feedback.

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‘Too much hassle to deal with them’: Sterra customers angry but not seeking refunds after CCCS report

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Clients Behave

CNA spoke with Sterra clients who said they would wait for the business to respond to inquiries or that they had no intention of requesting refunds. &nbsp,

One client, who bought a Sterra S water purification and a Sterra Breeze air purifier in a package deal for S$ 1, 948 ( US$ 1, 490 ) in mid-2022, did not know that the air purifier was manufactured in China rather of Singapore. &nbsp,

Given her past dealings with the company, Ms. Renee claimed asking for a payment from Sterra may be” too much problem.” &nbsp,

Her water purification started leaking after a year of usage, even though her air purification was still operational. &nbsp,

Despite two appointments from the handyman, the system also leaked. The machine simply dispensed lukewarm water after the business installed a fresh water filtration.

Sterra replaced the water purification, but the alternative equipment even leaked. &nbsp,

” I was silent. We were tired of dealing with this unlimited period, said Ms Renee, 35, and it had been roughly three to four months since the first problem occurred. That’s how long it took Sterra to answer between four event information.

” So at this point, we demanded a full refund, as we did n’t want to deal with Sterra anymore”.

The company subsequently asked her to give another S$ 1, 600 to “upgrade” to a fresh water purifier. &nbsp,

” We refused. After a lot of back and forth… they suddenly agreed to give us a whole refund”, said Ms Renee, who works in communications. &nbsp,

” All in all, the experience of dealing with Sterra was a dream”.

She has been delaying seeking a possible payment for the air purifier she’s also using despite the fact that it also malfunctioned again before as a result of the exchange.

” It’s too much of a hassle to deal with Sterra again”.

Mr Bryce Ang, who has been using a Sterra Y water purification since February, said he would not get a payment unless the device problems. &nbsp,

The 53-year-old visit guide continued,” I ran some pond laboratory tests on the Sterra filtered water, and the results were sufficient enough for me to take the water,” noting that the country of origin did not have an impact on the water quality. &nbsp,

Similar accounts to those of Ms. Renee’s were available from another user. &nbsp,

Ms. Fiona Tan claimed to have purchased a Sterra S water purification for S$ 1, 699 in December 2022, but that it eventually broke down. &nbsp,

The business informed her that the system could not be fixed, and they offered her a S$ 500 card to cover the cost of a new system, which would then be S$ 1, 299 out of pocket. &nbsp,

” I’m angry and disappointed because they did n’t even send a technician down to check”, said the 35-year-old senior account executive. &nbsp,

When questioned about whether she would proceed farther, Ms. Tan replied that she would wait to see if Sterra may respond first. &nbsp,

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‘Packed like sardines’: Some Golden Mile Tower tenants concerned about parking situation on upper floors after fire

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Automobiles” PACKED LIKE SARDINES”

LHN Group, which operates and owns the Golden Mile Tower car garden through its conglomerate LHN Parking, confirmed to CNA that it is working with the authorities to find the cause of the fire. &nbsp,

The business apologized for the pain the consumer caused by the company saying it was unable to provide more information as investigations are in progress. &nbsp,

The team acknowledges common concerns and may work closely with the appropriate events and authorities to resolve any issues and to take additional safety measures where necessary.

It did not respond to inquiries about the greatest number of cars allowed on each floor and the way the vehicles were parked in accordance with its rules. &nbsp,

Since 2018, several vehicles appeared to be permanently parked on degrees four, five, and six, according to Joseph ( not his real name ), who owns two models in Golden Mile Tower. &nbsp,

” The entire floor is full of cars. If you count, it’s about 100 to 150 vehicles”, he said, adding that they were mostly novel and unregulated cars. &nbsp,

On these surfaces, Joseph noted that there are more cars than there are parking spaces for them, and that other guests or tenants are unable to enter or leave without passing through these lots. &nbsp,

He was concerned that the building’s architectural integrity would be impacted by the weight on the third, fifth, and sixth flooring, which were constructed in the 1970s. Joseph continued,” Joseph, I frequently could n’t find available car park lots despite paying for season parking.”

With the vehicles parked so tightly together, it could also be a fire hazard, he told CNA. &nbsp,

Joseph claimed that OneService helped him and another residents report concerns about the vehicles, which were “packed like fish” to the government in 2018. &nbsp,

The Municipal Services Office advised them to get in touch with Golden Mile Tower’s control in order to resolve the issue in the reaction seen by CNA. &nbsp,

” We also did n’t follow up because there’s nothing we can do, since it’s privately owned”, Joseph said. &nbsp,

Because they usually take the train to work every time, Rachel ( not her real name ), who works in one of the stores in Golden Mile Tower, told CNA.

They were shocked to see pictures of the vehicles parked close to each other on the fifth floor after the fire started. &nbsp,

The majority of visitors would playground on the second or third floor, according to Rachel, who knew that the third to seventh floors were primarily occupied by vehicles owned by car leasing or dealership companies. &nbsp,

But often, these unregistered vehicles also occupy the second floor and users may raise the issue, she added. &nbsp,

” With regards to health, everybody will be concerned today. But since it’s under the car park control, there’s little we can really do”, she said. &nbsp,

” Hopefully, this will be a reminder to them that they need to be a bit more careful” .&nbsp,

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Singapore drivers can collect VEP tag in Woodlands from Sep 18

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SINGAPORE: In addition to self-collection in Johor Bahru or receiving a tag by post, Singapore vehicles will soon have a third option for collecting their&nbsp, vehicle entry permit (VEP ) tag, which is needed by all foreign-registered cars entering Malaysia from Singapore from October.

From Sep 18, &nbsp, Singapore owners may obtain their tags&nbsp, from the VEP information desk in Woodlands.

CNA has received an email from TCSens confirming an appointment for Tuesday ( Sep. 3 ), confirming a time slot to collect the tag at the Woodlands VEP Collection Centre on Sep. 18. &nbsp,

TCSens is the merchant appointed by Malaysia’s Road Transport Department ( JPJ) to handle questions from Singapore vehicles.

CNA is aware that Sep 18 is the earliest day for collection and that Tuesday ( Sep 3 ) was the first day that drivers were able to pick Woodlands as the location to pick up their VEP tag.

On the second ground of 186 Woodlands Industrial Park E5, you can find the VEP information desk in Singapore.

CNA even realizes that, unless their bonnet is determined to be unsuitable, drivers who choose to pick up the RFID tag from Woodlands will always be given the tag. In that situation, they will be given the RFID tag that will be mounted on the lamp.

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Pope Francis to set off on historic 12-day visit to Asia Pacific, including Singapore and Indonesia

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INTER-RELIGIOUS HARMONY

One key theme of the trip is inter-religious harmony. Pope Francis is set to engage not only with local Catholic groups, but also leaders of other faiths and political figures.

He is due to arrive in Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon, and will officially meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Pope is then expected to attend an interfaith meeting at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta before leading a mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium complex, where around 80,000 Catholics are anticipated to attend.

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population of any country. Catholics make up 3.1 per cent of its total population of about 280 million.

Observers said the world will look at how much Pope Francis promotes diversity, as well as how much closer he brings the Vatican to Asia.

The tour also holds great significance, given that Asia is considered an important region to the Vatican. Pope Francis has made six previous trips to the continent throughout his papacy.

Dr Michel Chambon, research fellow at the Asia Research Institute’s religion and globalisation cluster, noted that Asia is becoming “more central” in global affairs.

“Asia is maybe one of the few continents that has been able to preserve and develop alternative political models and traditions, religious traditions and political traditions,” he told CNA.

“And so, if the Holy See wants to be truly universal, it has to engage with Asian traditions that have been extremely resilient and creative in engaging with modernity.”

Singapore’s former foreign affairs minister George Yeo, who was also previously a member of the Vatican Council for the Economy, pointed out that Pope Francis has appointed bishops from all over Asia, as well as cardinals from every country in Southeast Asia.

“He does it to express the idea of a universal church, that this is not a European church. It’s not a western church,” Mr Yeo added.

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