Moon and Saturn to move closer together, appear to ‘touch’ in late July

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Singaporean astronomers will enjoy a treat as the sky and Saturn are scheduled to come closer and look to” effect” each other from later on July 24 until the early days of the following day. &nbsp,

According to NASA, the connection is caused when the moon, a world, or a celebrity appear near together in the earth’s evening sky.

In this case, Saturn and the sun may appear to be nearer to one another.

The Science Centre Observatory (SCOB ) responded to questions from CNA on Thursday ( Jul 11 ) by saying that” this occurs because of Saturn’s and the moon’s positions in their respective orbits around Earth and the sun.” &nbsp,

On July 24, this connection can be observed starting at 1:30 p.m. &nbsp,

The sun and Saturn will finally come to a close second at 4.31 a.m. on July 25, according to SCOB. &nbsp,

In the northeast sky, the sun and Saturn will be very close to one another at night. &nbsp,

” As the evening progresses, they may proceed closer and appear to ‘ touch’ and are almost indistinguishable to the dressed eye, “added the observatory. &nbsp,

Last year, a similar conjunction occurred between the sun and Venus. &nbsp,

During such verbs, these things in the sky does appear to be close to one another from an observer’s perspective, yet”, they are not actually physically close to each other”, said SCOB.

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NTUC set to be designated ‘politically significant person’ under foreign interference law given close, symbiotic PAP links

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SINGAPORE: &nbsp, The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is set to be designated as a “politically significant person” ( PSP) under Singapore’s foreign interference law due to its” close nexus and symbiotic relationship” with the People’s Action Party ( PAP ), the Ministry of Home Affairs ( MHA ) said on Thursday ( Jul 11 ).

As a designated PSP, the labour movement will be required to make annual disclosures on political donations of S$ 10, 000 ( US$ 7, 400 ) or more, as well as its foreign affiliations.

According to MHA,” These clarity needs will lessen NTUC’s chance of being a target of unusual interference,” according to a media release. NTUC was also given a notice on Thursday of its intention to identify it a PSP. &nbsp,

The Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures, appointed by the Home Affairs Minister, has 14 days to make depictions available to NTUC. &nbsp,

NTUC would be the next organization to be designated as such if its PSP status were to be confirmed, joining the right groups Maruah and Think Centre.

While NTUC is unlikely to make any images, it said it will have to evaluate MHA’s requirements for the title approach.

In response to CNA’s questions, NTUC responded that it does not take funds from social organizations.

According to a spokeswoman,” The National Trades Union Congress adheres to national protection to prevent foreign intervention, and we will continue to make sure that our businesses remain free from foreign influence.”

Ng Chee Meng, the secretary-general of the NTUC, stated in a separate statement that the labor movement is committed to upholding workers ‘ rights with accountability and transparency. &nbsp,

” ( We ) &nbsp, would like to assure our members, partners and stakeholders that NTUC’s core work to better workers ‘ lives and livelihoods will continue unabated”, he added.

The foreign interference law, known as the Foreign Interference ( Countermeasures ) Act or FICA, is aimed at strengthening the government’s ability to prevent, detect and disrupt foreign interference in domestic politics. After a long discussion, the Bill was approved in legislature in October 2021.

Among those defined as PSPs are political parties, social company buyers, Members of Parliament, election individuals and their providers.

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Malaysians withdraw RM7.81 billion from retirement savings following changes to national pension fund

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SINGAPORE: Malaysians have withdrawn some RM7.81 billion ( US$ 1.66 billion ) from their retirement savings following the restructuring of the country’s national pension fund in May.

The most recent figures, taken as of Jun 24, showed a decrease from the RM6.98 billion that was already taken out as of Jun 10.

The New Straits Times reported on Wednesday ( Jul 10 ) that some 3.16 million Employees Provident Fund ( EPF ) members under the age of 55 had made such withdrawals from their “flexible” account.

EPF– which is Malaysia’s pension fund – is one of the nation’s largest pension funds, with assets for RM1.19 trillion. Following a restructuring plan that became effective on May 11, the organization made it possible for its members to take cash out of this account to pay for their immediate financial needs.

CNA has recently reported that there have been mixed responses to the restructuring of the EPF, with some experts putting the risk that the move will lead to a future pensions crisis.

There was also issue that people ‘ early payments might even miss out on the pocketbook scheme’s compounding factor.

Others have claimed that the shift gives users some choice about how they use their money while others have said otherwise.

Recently, EPF people who had not reached the age of 55 could simply make payments for certain specific reasons. However, EPF people under the age of 55 then have three balances in place of the past two following the reform program in May.

Under this restructured program, 75 per cent of an individual’s regular commitment will now go into Account 1, 15 per cent into Account 2 and the remaining 10 per share will go into Account 3- the fresh flexible accounts.

Recently, 70 per share of the achievements were deposited into Account 1 and 30 per cent into Account 2. Money from Account 1 can only be withdrawn for purposes like cover, care, and training, and cannot be withdrawn until a associate reaches the age of 55.

EPF people have until August 31 to move a third of their savings from Account 2 to Account 3.

The Finance Ministry reported to the New Straits Times that 3.61 million people, or 27.8 % of EPF members overall under the age of 55, have transferred funds to Account 3.

To date, some RM11.52 billion has been moved to the accommodating accounts that can be readily tapped.

However, RM5.12 billion was transferred to Account 1 with the reform of the EPF resources.

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CNA Correspondent Podcast: Refugees and former gangsters find a new lease of life in Hong Kong and Japan

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Here’s an extract from the radio: &nbsp,

Teresa Tang:
You mentioned that some Yakuza members have left. They’ve tried to start a new career, but there are obstacles, not least of which is the shame of their history, right? &nbsp,

Michiyo Ishida:
Yes, allow me clarify what Tatsuya Shindo said to me. He was detained numerous times, three times for improper drugs, and was in prison. Actually though he completed his name in jail, Chinese culture, he said, was cruel. If he wanted to find a good work, he had to keep any remnants of his Yakuza past a secret. So he had to, for example, cover his tattoo. 20 years ago, when he was ( in the ) Yakuza, the law was not as tough as today towards crime syndicates. Still, there were major hurdles for him to ( integrate ) into society. Tatsuya Shindo explained this to me, exactly. &nbsp,

Tatsuya Shindo:
” For five decades after you are released from prison, deals may be signed. You may get a credit card, book a location, apply for a loan for a vehicle or opened a bank account. Today, if you ca n’t open an account, you ca n’t work. If your money may be remitted, they know why”.

Teresa Tang:
Some refugees, asylum applicants in Hong Kong, Deb, they’re living in purgatory actually, as they wait to get processed. They’re handcuffed, so to speak. What is the atmosphere like in Hong Kong when it is all about them? Are they usually accepted? Are they shunned, or are they ignored? &nbsp,

Deborah Wong: &nbsp,
You know, it’s exciting that you use the term lock, because that’s exactly what happened to Aimé Girimana, the person that we heard at the start of this radio, and he was talking about how no one plans to become a refugee. Then, Aimé’s history was very intriguing. He was a Burundi-based human rights lawyer when he learned that he was a target of death in the time, and he only learned this two days before the document was scheduled to take place. Therefore, he emigrated to Hong Kong with just a single suitcase, and that is where he was actually the only person who may enter the country without a visa 20 years earlier. But upon getting in Hong Kong, he was handcuffed. And Aimé told me that he was shocked, because he thought that Hong Kong was an international capital, and so… with that notion in mind, he was quite surprised you know, that he was being handcuffed without ( be ) given the chance to discuss his position. That is how it was twenty-five years before. Aimé is still awaiting relocation to a host nation, and he claims that over the past 20 years, public conversation has definitely improved. Hong Kong does include Charities like the Justice Centre and the Christian Action Centre for Refugees, both of whom advocate for refugees, but by and large, the migrant society is still largely unidentified.

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CNA Explains: Why is China engaging Myanmar’s former and current leaders?

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Myanmar’s junta-appointed ministries have been frequently invited to China on several official visits. &nbsp,

However, it was former president Thein Sein’s visit in late June that caused global attention. &nbsp,

Soe Win, the Little 2 man in the Myanmar military leadership, made an official trip to enter a conference in Qingdao in Shandong province just over a week later.

He became the highest-ranking defense head to travel to China since the coup of 2021 in an official capacity. &nbsp,

What’s behind the schedule of the sessions?

According to the course of events, China seems to prefer the former president of Myanmar to any of the recent military leaders. Or that Thein Sein’s visit made Soe Win, who is now the State Administration Council’s assistant army commander and deputy prime minister, a success.

But neither is the event, according to sources close to the Myanmar government. &nbsp,

CNA is aware that Beijing has a plan of inviting junta-appointed officials via bilateral rather than unique, diplomatic systems since the military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi and her democratically elected government. &nbsp,

This may explain why dictatorship ministers have just traveled to China for conferences, forums, and other-country-related events. &nbsp,

Beijing increased engagements with Myanmar in the second half of last year, especially two months after the start of Operation 1027.

The name” Oct 27,” the day a group of powerful ethnic tolerance armies launched extensive, coordinated assaults that caught the Myanmar military off guard, is used in the nickname. The ethnic forces have since seized control of several junta-held areas of the country. &nbsp,

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Maldives’ delicate balancing act in geopolitical tug-of-war between India and China

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Muizzu has visited both China and India this month, as well as the US, according to Einar Tangen, a senior fellow at the Chinese think container Taihe Institute. This indicates that the country wants to balance relations on all fronts.

” China would like to see it ( Island ) remain negative… And the Islands have very wisely decided that they’re going to be no- aligned”, he said.

According to ISAS ‘ Palit, Muizzu’s administration is likely beginning to realize that” India out” and its significant dependence on China is not a viable long-term decision for the country. Months after taking office, the organization is likely beginning to realize this.

There are drawbacks to China’s extreme proximity. He said it’s important to fence and maintain as much balance as possible between the competing corporate interests in the area.

He added that while a possible free trade agreement between the Islands and China might raise hospitality, it might also eliminate a lot of practice responsibilities, which are another major source of income.

” Tourism is not an totally responsible statement. According to him, it is crucial for the Maldives to ensure that their heavy tourism reliance does not reduce ( other income )

” I’d venture to say that the Maldives is starting to notice that a more balanced approach is statistically, carefully, and financially possible, and it’s probably going to stick with it.”

As the Islands continues to evolve in its role in global politics as a result of its commitment to bilateral cooperation and safeguarding its self-reliance.

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CNA Explains: Bird flu is spreading globally. How worried should we be?

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Had bird flu trigger the next pandemic?

If the bird flu could become more effective in transmitting from animals to people, and then from individuals to individuals, then it would start to spread, said Prof. Ooi.

He noted that there have been three pandemics in the last decade, the largest of which was in 1918, which caused the death of about 60 million individuals.

In a Reuters report from July 1st, a leading scientist expressed concern that bird flu monitoring and testing gaps may put the world in a significant step backwards in a new pandemic.

Singapore should not be taking things for granted and should be prepared with plans in place that can be immediately ramped up, according to Prof. Ooi, even though it is currently free of the bird flu. &nbsp,

For one, he noted that Singapore and its neighbors may build up such capabilities so there is no need to “queue up” buying jabs from Europe or North America as the COVID- 19 pandemic demonstrated that vaccines can be produced immediately.

The scholar also emphasized the value of making first firefighters and disease control experts informed of what they need to do rather than “make it up” as and when a crisis occurs.

He argued that we must keep talking to the populace to make sure they are informed of what they need to do when it does occur.

He has observed that people are “more or less slowly sliding back” to pre-COVID days, when they did n’t care as much about getting sick or taking time off from work.

If the bird flu turns out to be a major public health issue, according to Prof. Ooi, one may wish that the affected people” can very quickly move up to some of those precautions.”

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Singapore Aquatics rejects Quah Ting Wen’s Paris Olympics appeal

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As a team, Quah, with girl Jing Wen and regional colleagues Letitia Sim and Levenia Sim, &nbsp, met the Olympic qualifying conditions for the&nbsp, 4x100m mix switch at the&nbsp, world finals in February.

Of the four rowers, Letitia was the only one who met the&nbsp,” A” cut, in the 100m swimming. &nbsp, Unlike the personal events, there are no Olympian” A” cut days for relay certification.

As a result, the world’s governing figure, World Aquatics, granted Singapore an exemption that limited the number of athletes who could engage in a circuit to three instead of the maximum of two.

But, World Aquatics afterwards offered Gan an invitation to participate in the children’s 1, 500m function based on her Olympian thought time– or Olympic” B” cut – of 16: 10.61 clocked earlier this month.

Swimmers who meet the Olympic qualifying time, or” A” cut, will automatically be admitted to the Games and will be invited to compete if they do so in the” B” cut.

Finally, World Aquatics gave Singapore the option of sending Quah or Gan, who both have the right to engage in separate occasions. &nbsp,

SAQ chose Gan, a choice that led to Quah’s charm. &nbsp,

Quah noted that it was humorous that she helped Singapore achieve its goal of the switch but will not participate as it stands. &nbsp,

” I was the one of the four to get Singapore’s first relay team to the Olympics, but the same group will likely not get competing at Paris”, she said. &nbsp,

Quah claimed that SAQ had informed her on Sunday that it was pursuing a separate elegance with World Aquatics to allow both Gan and Quah to compete in the Olympics. &nbsp,

NOT THE FIRST TIME&nbsp,

Quah claimed that the latest collection row had already occurred in 2021, when she and Gan were also competing for Olympic spots that year. &nbsp,

There was a debate over whether to give Quah or Gan up next. Gan was originally chosen by a committee of the Singapore Swimming Association ( as SAQ was then known ), but Quah was chosen after an appeal. &nbsp,

Quah told CNA that her issue was not with who goes to the Olympics, but rather with how she had been given a confirmation of her location only to have it taken apart. &nbsp,

The most upsetting aspect of this is how this is not the first day this is occurring, she said. &nbsp,

She argued that SAQ could have been more specific and precise about who it would send to the Games despite the way the world’s governing body allocates Olympic locations. &nbsp,

She said,” I do not want this to ever have an impact on people again,” and that’s what I said three years ago. &nbsp,

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Indonesia takes swing at boosting golf tourism as Singapore loses last 18-hole public golf course

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Indonesia is attempting to increase golf hospitality as it looks to complete the local gap left by Singapore, which is shuttering golf training as it looks at how to make the most of its limited area.

According to Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno on July 1, the Riau Islands have the most options because there are already 10 golf courses it and more are being built.

” We support the growth of golf hospitality because in Singapore it is becoming more expensive and unaffordable,” Mr. Sandiaga was quoted as saying during his weekly briefing.

From three, property- limited Singapore is then down to its last open golf course, a 9- hole venue. The last 18-hole public golf course in the country closed about a week ago ( Jun 30 ), and experts have told CNA that they anticipate more golf courses to be built.

Mr. Sandiaga expressed hope that the Batam Golf Challenge 2024, which would launch a two-day golf competition at a Batam nation club on June 29, will make the Riau Islands a top golfer tourism place in Indonesia.

He noted that there are now three golf courses in Bintan Regency, with another under development. In the town of Batam, there are already seven golfing training, with plans to add more in the future.

” This is a really excellent golf tourism destination in Indonesia”, Mr Sandiaga said. The Riau Islands are strategically close to Singapore, according to the commerce minister, adding that Singaporean golfers can travel by boat to the islands. &nbsp,

Mr. Sandiaga also cited the advancements made in various areas, revealing how Jakarta, West Java, and nearby areas now have a number of golf training.

According to him,” We have mapped out every” super priority” tourist place that we want to promote as well,” referring to the company’s earlier plans in March 2022 to build 25 new golf courses in five” super priority” locations by 2025.

These five places are: Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in Lombok, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, and Likupang in North Sulawesi.

At least five golf courses of global conventional are encouraged. Golf has both quantitative and competitive strengths. Our proximity to golf training and kindness are advantageous for both visitors and golfers, according to Mr. Sandiaga at the time.

The Indonesian Golf Association ( PGI )’s ( PGI ) head of international relations, Bernardino Moningka Vega, claimed the sport’s popularity has increased.

He noted that Indonesians ‘ participation rates have increased by 20 % since the COVID- 19 pandemic in 2020. &nbsp,

According to Mr. Bernardino, who spoke to the Jakarta Post, the pandemic’s restrictions on outdoor activities accidentally thrust sport into the forefront because it remained one of the few pleasure options at the time.

However, Antara media firm, citing data from golf store purchases, reported that the number of golf in Indonesia has reached nearly 170, 000, away from around 50, 000 before the pandemic.

Despite this, research suggests that golfing tourism in Indonesia is still considerably lower than that in other Southeast Asian nations and beyond.

In a CNBC Indonesia report earlier this month, it was reported that Indonesia would have 170 golf courses by 2022, trailing only behind neighbors like Malaysia ( 244 ), Thailand ( 319 ), and India ( 296 ).

According to President Commissioner of Intra GolfLink Resorts ( IGR ) Darma Mangkuluhur Hutomo, Indonesia receives around 250, 000 golf tourists annually.

The figure is considerably lower than that of its neighbors. Thailand often attracts 6 million, Vietnam 1.5 million, and Malaysia 500, 000 sport visitors each month, said Mr Dharma as quoted by media outlet Detik. &nbsp,

According to Mr. Bernardino, as reported in the Jakarta Post, property shortage in some Asian cities impedes the entry of more golf courses and drives up prices.

This provides a “golden opportunity” for Indonesia to promote its golf courses, which are” also affordable”, he added.

Mr. Bernardino suggested that the Indonesian sport organization propose to work with its South Asian counterparts to promote local golf tourism and promote cross-country golfing excursions to bridge the gap. &nbsp,

” My program is aiming in that direction”, Mr Bernardino said. ” We may also work with local airlines like AirAsia or Singapore Airlines to incorporate flight schedule with golf trips.”

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