CNA (Page 9)

SINGAPORE: She has ridden her electronic bike to and from work since 2009, and rarely takes the bus or train.

When Singapore banned such motorised personal mobility device ( PMDs ) from footpaths&nbsp, at the end of 2019, Sarah ( not her real name ) did not despair.

She merely continued using her preferred mode of transportation, whether it was officially on bike paths and park connectors or fraudulently over pedestrian paths and brief stretches of roads. &nbsp,

According to the 50-year-old, it’s impossible to be completely law-abiding during her 20-minute work walk, as the riding paths are not flawless and frequently interrupted by pavements. &nbsp,

” They say that with a PMD, we have to ride on paths with the red-coloured dotted line ( indicating a shared path ), but near my house, there aren’t any. So what can I accomplish”?

Sarah was even caught last year by enforcement officers, who confiscated her PMD worth S$ 1, 500 ( US$ 1, 110 ) and fined her S$ 500. &nbsp,

She then purchased another and started riding. ” The commanders may prevent me… but I’m going to get some more. I won’t stop” .&nbsp,

And pedestrians suffer in the midst of such obscene acts of disobedience, according to those living in active freedom areas as identified by regulators. &nbsp,

A Toa Payoh citizen who only wanted to be known as Mark claimed that” the road has been robbed aside from us.” &nbsp,

The 62-year-old, who works in transportation, said that in the five times since the ban, he hasn’t sensed any improvement in his security while walking around his house. &nbsp,

” But it only works when they are there,” Mark said of the additional police officers who have been dispatched to deal with wayward users.

He shared a story about two years ago when a young boy who was improperly riding a PMD was “going very hard” and almost hit him and his partner as they went for a walk. &nbsp,

The Land Transport Authority ( LTA ) informed CNA that the number of accidents involving PMDs significantly decreased in the&nbsp, years since the ban, despite persistent palpable tension between active mobility users and pedestrians.

There were 144 incidents involving motorised PMDs on roads in 2019, 30 in 2020, and six in the first quarter of 2024.

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Shingles may look identical to chickenpox, causing stings and symptoms. However, physicians told CNA that the two conditions differ in how they develop and who they most frequently affect. &nbsp,

Roofing and pox are caused by the exact varicella-zoster disease. &nbsp,

Chickenpox typically manifests in childhood, but it can eventually reappear in adults and spread to people after on, causing tiles.

People who have previously contracted pox are therefore more susceptible to developing roofing in the future, especially those over 50.

Shine is not passed from person to person, whereas chickenpox is extremely contagious- spreading via scars, mouth, or mucus of those infected. &nbsp,

However, someone who has shingles does get chickenpox from someone who has never had it.

For both diseases, symptoms like disease and headache are identical. &nbsp,

For those with pox, bumps appear about two days after other signs, turning into fluid-filled scars that ultimately bruise and slide off.

On the other hand, a shingles reckless causes dark patches and terrible blisters and typically affects one side of the body.

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The Radin Mas MP was the one to ask in congress about the finfluencer sector’s rules and the volume of grievances MAS has received from finfluencers.

Mr Yong noted that finfluencers wield” major effect” among people, which means it is vital for them to get” area to greater scrutiny”.

This is particularly crucial because finfluencers often claim they are not giving financial advice but instead continue to talk about financial products and programs, he said.

CONSIDERED FINANCIAL ADVICE: WHAT IS IT?

The MAS stated in an message that the FAA’s frequently asked questions area has been updated.

This makes it clear that those who work as financial bloggers must pass a two-stage verification process to determine whether their actions are viewed as economic advice.

A finfluencer’s first stage evaluates whether they are trying to persuade people to buy, sell, or carry investments, or if they are just expressing their viewpoint. Next, it’s important to check whether their information is unique or if they suggest certain actions.

The regulator may assess in the next stage whether finfluencers give financial advice consistently, that is, in a proper and natural way, or if they are compensated for doing so.

The economic influencer may need a license if the answer is “yes” at every stage. Often, the content may be deemed to be more likely to be financial education and not a license.

Mr. Tan had stated that those who are paid to advise or express their opinions on the purchase, sale, or holding of investment products may be regarded as providing financial advice.

He explained to the legislature that even those who do not receive money will be regarded as doing so if they often make for recommendations or expressions.

The posting of “general education articles” is no economic counsel, he added.

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The bespectacled Chia posed in front of the court wearing a clean shirt T-shirt. Anil Singh Sandhu, a prosecutor from Kertar &amp, Sandhu, represented him. &nbsp,

No petition was taken from Chia.

Additionally, Mr. Singh requested that his customer arrange to visit his family in Perth between December 21, 2024, and January 12, 2025. &nbsp,

Mr. Singh stated that his client would be making travel arrangements with his younger brother and mother, who both attend a college it. &nbsp,

He added that the family vacation had been planned months in advance of the crime, and that reservations had already been purchased in July 2024.

Chia may be with his mother while in Australia, Mr Singh said.

The prosecution responded that if the court were to give the application, there was no urgent need for travel, but that they had requested further bail. &nbsp,

District Judge Wong Li Tein granted the application and imposed an additional S$ 10, 000 ( US$ 7, 400 ) bail for Chia.

She also mandated, among other things, that Chia provide the case’s investigating officer with his full travel stay before leaving and that he be contactable. &nbsp,

The event was adjourned until Jan 14 pending Mr. Singh’s requests. &nbsp,

CNA recently reported that a car owner discovered that her car’s four tires had been deflated at around 12.50pm on November 19 and that police were called in to this incident.

Prior to this, an NUS spokeswoman recently stated that the university would take the necessary disciplinary action in response to court proceedings.

Chia’s most recent cost of causing mayhem has a sharper maximum penalty than his first one. &nbsp,

A sentence in prison of up to three months, a fine of up to S$ 2, 000, or both are imposed on the cost of annoyance to the consumer.

The cost of committing evil carries a prison term of up to two years, a great, or both.

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NEW BUSINESSES ORIGINALIZING A Approach

Against the conflict, new participants have tapped into deficiencies in Singapore’s business of teas drinking, hoping to establish themselves in the field.

Among them are co-founders Tiara Hudyana and Wee Shu-Hui, who launched Matcha Masta in October after Ms Hudyana, a veterinarian, observed that some users who drank coffee experienced some adverse health effects. Additionally, some people’s diets didn’t include any proteins. &nbsp,

As a result, the trio formulated a combination that combined teas with plant-based proteins.

According to Ms. Hudyana, protein-infused wasabi seemed like the ideal supplement for people who needed a regular dose of caffeine while consuming a protein-rich diet. &nbsp,

Matcha Masta’s members said they mitigated their provide danger by sourcing from various ceremonial-grade tea fields from Uji, Kyoto.

Another shop, Mori Matcha, launched in December next year, selling wasabi powder, houjicha flour and matcha-making resources online. &nbsp,

Co-founder Maverick Chua said the company was born from a private struggle to find” a reasonably-priced, great teas powder” for use. &nbsp,

We wanted to bridge the gap between quality and affordability in Singapore, Mr. Chua said,” We know from our journeys to Japan that excellent wasabi powder does not always have to tear a hole in your bag.” &nbsp,

Mr. Chua claimed that Mori Matcha has still been able to get supplies because it may have needed fewer items than other brands. His suppliers have seen higher demand for exports, but it was unlikely their stock would “disappear overnight”, said Mr Chua. &nbsp,

Mr. Ong, the owner of Matsu Matcha, posted an update to his website informing customers that his stock of matcha powder might dry up in one to two months, which is a story for him.

Only once a year and only stone-milled at a rate of 40g per hour, his three main types of powder are made from tea leaves. &nbsp,

The demand for high-quality leaves makes it harder to secure&nbsp, stocks, Mr Ong said, adding that he will&nbsp, explore matcha from other sources and ranges. &nbsp,

Since then, Mr. Ong has been able to increase his supply by finding new matcha sources from various Japanese farms.

” It took me about two to three weeks of relentless communication, reaching out ( to farmers ) and negotiations”, said Mr Ong. &nbsp,

At the end of this month, Mr. Ong will fly to Kyoto to see a few more tea farms and purchase more stock. &nbsp,

Despite the setback, he continues to be optimistic about the industry’s prospects and will work toward his ultimate goal of organizing workshops and opening a home-based cafe. In February, Mr. Ong plans to introduce two different types of matcha powder for matcha lattes.

” I think the combined efforts of the farmers, expansion to more plots of farms, and matcha factories increasing their capacity through more manpower and education of matcha brands, will help make the matcha business a sustainable and flourishing one,” he said. &nbsp,

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After German employer Allianz withdrew its provide to acquire a majority stake, Income Insurance may also look for new customers, according to experts, but potential investors may presently act with caution.

Allianz’s announcement on Monday ( 16 December ) comes after the Singapore government intervened to halt the proposed agreement in October.

Under the proposed transaction, which was announced on Jul 17, Allianz would have a 51 per cent stake in Income for S$ 2.2 billion ( US$ 1.6 billion ).

Concerned about whether Income would carry on its social goal, the announcement sparked a public outcry.

In turn, the federal said the proposed deal, in its present form “would not be in the open attention”, but that it was open to new plans if the issues highlighted were fully addressed.

Finding other buyers is still on the tickets for Revenue after Allianz’s withdrawal, according to experts. But they noted that these owners may be aligned with Income’s long-term perspective.

Additionally, the ideal partner would not only help Income monetarily but also take in skills, technology, and innovation to modernize its operations and position the business for sustainable development in a market where insurance is increasingly expensive, according to Associate Professor Shinichi Kamiya from Nanyang Business School’s banking and finance division. &nbsp,

Due to the country’s robust regulatory culture and exposure to the broader Eastern market, like partners may be foreign companies looking to establish a presence in the Singapore market.

Local people like DBS or Temasek might be able to compete with one another if a worldwide spouse may be found, according to Assoc Prof. Kamiya, who serves as the deputy director of Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Insurance Risk and Finance Research Center.

He did point out that while the likes of DBS and Temasek have the financial resources to invest in revenue, their contribution to the company’s corporate transformation properly be “more limited” than that of a worldwide insurer like Allianz. &nbsp,

The important issue is not whether a purchaser can be found, but rather whether Revenue you find the right partner to drive operating innovation, such as utilizing artificial intelligence, enhancing product development, and enhancing online capabilities for long-term growth, he said. &nbsp,

Similar to Professor Lawrence Loh of the business school at the National University of Singapore, Income” should be open” to being acquired as long as its social mission is realized and the S$$ 2 billion in surplus kept intact during corporatization.

Income requested and received a Co-operative Societies Act exemption in 2022, allowing it to transfer the surplus to the new corporate entity.

Prof Loh, who also pointed to DBS, said the bank may consider the acquisition to strengthen its portfolio in insurance, adding that a local acquirer may be “more acceptable” to stakeholders.

He added, however, that any commercial-based DBS decision should be taken. &nbsp,

Finding a new buyer who is both willing and able to address the issues raised in the previous deal will also be challenging, according to assistant professor of economics Goh Jing Rong from the Singapore Management University.

He said the government’s decision to intervene and Allianz’s retreat highlight how crucial it is to make sure any upcoming transactions adhere to Income’s social mission and cooperative roots. &nbsp,

Asst. Prof. Goh remarked,” These requirements may narrow the pool of interested investors willing to accept these conditions.”

He acknowledged, however, that this does not obstruct the development of a new acquirer, particularly one with a long-term perspective or a strong commitment to social goals.

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Given how NRIC numbers have been treated historically in Singapore, according to Singapore University of Social Sciences ( SUSS) law lecturer Ben Chester Cheong, it was natural that the initial rollout of the new policy through ACRA’s Bizfile portal caused some public concern.

What’s the distinction between identifying and verifying?

The government’s change in attitude towards the NRIC “reflects a sophisticated understanding of current personality management”, said Mr Cheong.

” This development acknowledges the growing need for corporate accountability and position with global digital personality practices, while recognising the growing need for corporate clarity,” he said.

According to Mr. Cheong,” The modern era has transformed our approach to security,” adding that stable identifiers like NRIC numbers are now less valuable for verification as more advanced authentication techniques become standard.

” Current digital security relies on powerful certifications that can be changed if compromised, along with multi-factor verification methods and encrypted connections”, he explained.

The change offers” a more honest and realistic approach to id administration in our modern age,” according to Associate Professor Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim, head of the public safety and security program at SUSS.

Authorities told CNA that recognition, for which private issues arise for most people, is a separate topic from identification, which is driven by safety considerations.

” Verification simply means showing who you are, such as putting your name in your NRIC.” Verification, on the other hand, proves you are who you claim to be”, said Mr Cheong.

He emphasized that the government’s policy change is focusing “on powerful authentication methods more than treating names as strategies.”

The timing of this shift makes feeling at a stage where Singapore’s electronic economy is maturing, with a rising need for clearer systems around identity control, he added.

This shift becomes even more relevant in light of future technological developments, said Mr Cheong. ” Many current cryptographic methods may become vulnerable with the advent of quantum computing on the horizon.”

What are other options beyond NRIC numbers?

Emphasising the need to verify rather than just identify individuals in the digital age, Assoc Prof Razwana suggested methods such as facial verification, biometric authentication, two-factor authentication and SMS one-time passwords, moving forward.

These are already employed by Singpass, she noted.

According to experts, important travel destinations like Changi Airport and Marina Bay Cruise Center already use facial and iris biometrics as a form of verification, eliminating the need for visitors to present physical passports.

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