CNA is Singapore’s most trusted news brand for 6th year in a row: Reuters Institute report

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MOST USED ONLINE NEWS SOURCE

Mothership and CNA’s websites were in second place in terms of weekly usage, while The Straits Times ‘ website came in third place at 41 %.

Mothership’s weekly online reach, which is 46 % lower than it was last year, and its brand trust rating, which is 55 %, is 19 % lower than CNA.

The report noted that Mothership’s hit approval was suspended for six weeks in October of last year as a result of its second embargo in two years.

While both Television and printing have declined significantly over the past few years, online and social media are still the most popular means of accessing reports in Singapore.

On social media apps for news, the report noted that while WhatsApp ( 34 per cent ), Facebook (32 per cent ), and YouTube ( 28 per cent ) are the most
used networks, Instagram ( 20 per cent ), TikTok and Telegram ( both 15 per cent ) are the fastest growing channels&nbsp, for news. &nbsp,

GLOBAL NEWS TRENDS

According to the report, videos are increasingly popular online media sources, particularly among younger users, and are typically consumed on online platforms as opposed to traditional publisher websites.

Additionally, it pointed out that the distribution of information across online platforms is dispersed. YouTube is used for news by almost 31 per cent of respondents each week, WhatsApp by around 21 per cent, while TikTok ( 13 per cent ) overtook X ( 10 per cent ) for the first time. &nbsp,

Report data revealed that TikTok increased by seven percentage points over the previous month, while Facebook reports use decreased by a corresponding amount.

Overall, fake news concerns for the audience increased by three percentage points, or 59 %. Politicians, followed by health data, and the Ukraine and Gaza war engendered the most problem about false information. &nbsp,

In a second, the report asked users of particular online platforms how simple or challenging it was to tell apart trustworthy from untrustworthy content. The highest score among the networks examined was reported by about 27 % of TikTok people, who struggled to find trustworthy information.

In Singapore, a TikTok user was issued three correction directions under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act ( POFMA ) in August last year for claims related to public housing, &nbsp, voting secrecy and&nbsp, Central Provident Fund ( CPF ) policies.

In February, &nbsp, Singapore Democratic Party ( SDP ) leader Chee Soon Juan was also issued a correction direction&nbsp, over a video he shared on social media, including TikTok, regarding public housing polices, with the report noting both incidents. &nbsp,

A research facility at the University of Oxford known as the Reuters Institute for the Study of News monitors internet developments. The Thomson Reuters Foundation, the humanitarian shoulder of Thomson Reuters, resources the Reuters Institute.

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More women voted for opposition in India election, but support for Modi holds steady

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RELIGIOUS IDENTITY POLITICS IS ONE OF THE BEST

According to experts, the BJP’s emphasis on spiritual identity politics ultimately failed.

Mr Jagdeep Chhokar, chairman of non- income Association for Democratic Reforms, told CNA:” Employment, poverty, state of the economy, hunger – these were the major issues I think which got the electorate to vote in favour of the criticism”.

Data also showed an advancement in opposition efficiency among ladies, a crucial demographic. Over the past 20 years, feminine voters have gained more and more popularity in the Indian public, coming in at the same rate as men.

In response, officials have stepped up their game to entice female citizens. &nbsp,

While campaigning, the BJP relied on free meals and subventioned cooking oil. In addition, the INDIA alliance promised to give people a majority of government positions if it were to become president. &nbsp,

These feigneurs may have increased the bloc’s chances of receiving 7 percent more women’s aid this election.

While the BJP and its allies maintained a 43 % vote share among women, the BJP won 34 % of their votes, possibly from new and unaligned voters.

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From her one-handed keyboard, this 25-year-old gamer and disability advocate is championing inclusivity

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Sherry Toh is a 25- yr- ancient young poet, avid player and disability advocate. She has contributed to an anthology of articles on disability and inclusion in Singapore, a United States-based health magazine, and a global entertainment website.

When I first met her, she was stowed into a one-seater armchair in her living room with a thorny tower of cushions.

Toh has Spinal Muscular Atrophy ( SMA ), a rare genetic disorder that affects the motor neurons and causes muscle movement and control. In Singapore, it affects 40- 50 folks, according to the Ministry of Health, and people get gradually weaker over time.

The Gen Zer fangirl about Taylor Swift and her favorite video game and the keyboard’s one-handed motion. With a calm vigor, she described her passions and projects.

I did n’t realize this young woman could not even lift her hand up her own spectacles until her foreign domestic helper started making adjustments to her slid down her nose.

According to Toh, the strength and flexibility she retains in her legs, chest, and a few hands on her left side are insufficient to do basic daily tasks like scratching an itch without assistance. Only her right thumb and forefinger on her right hand have much work to form with.

With only a computer and an motionless body, she is stumbling across a deep valley to communicate with the outside world through her composing and gaming.

LIKE BEING STUCK IN COVID- 19 Everlasting

Toh always took her first move as a child despite having been diagnosed at the age of 13 weeks. She never rode a bike or kicked a game. She was extremely sick and generally hospitalised. Because of the weakness of our breathing, she said, “normal coughs could be dangerous for someone with SMA Type 2.”

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Residents of new Punggol BTO flat plagued by ‘mountain’ of trash dumped at car park

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When Andy Ke moved into his new Build- to- Order ( BTO ) apartment in Punggol early in 2024, he had no idea he would be dealing with a bad situation for months to come. &nbsp,

Big cardboard boxes and plastic plates were dumped at a staircase in images shared by the 41-year-old citizen of the Punggol Point Cove house along&nbsp, Punggol Way.

When CNA visited the block in question on Wednesday ( 12 January ), there were also several large cardboard boxes and wooden frames left in a basement car park despite a sign warning that illegal dumping would result in a S$ 1, 000 fine.

Mr Ke, a producer at a shipping firm, said that from when he first noticed the spend, it took just a month for it to become a “mountain” nearly touching the sky.

” I ( could n’t ) take it any more. I believe there must be something done. One needs to say something about it, according to Mr. Ke, adding that he was worried about it becoming a fire risk or causing a rodent infestation. &nbsp,

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Changi Business Park could improve connectivity, pitch ‘unique’ location as part of shake-up: Experts

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NOT VACANT FOR LONG?

Developers may turn vacant parking lots at Changi Business Park into residential or commercial spaces to add more amenities, according to Assoc Prof. Lee, but in an effort to turn things about, they could do so. &nbsp,

Better communication to the rest of the town and making the area more” self- contained” had likewise aid, she added.

Additionally, experts suggested Changi Business Park should promote its “unique” closeness to Singapore Expo and Changi Airport.

Similar to the upcoming&nbsp, Punggol Digital District‘s setting as a bright area, Changi Business Park could target specific companies rather than strange rental, said Assoc Prof Lee.

Prof. Sing said the new departures it could cause other firms, including those in the logistics and warehouse sectors, to look for office space in the area and capitalize on the close proximity to the airport.

Space is improbable to be left vacant because of the great opportunity charges, he said, adding that this could be left to industry troops, with no need for special treatment from central managers.

JTC told CNA it may continue to work with “other agencies to increase the value, elegance and importance” of its company parks, to keep them interesting to a&nbsp, “wide range” of occupants.

Wings Academy, a flight simulation center, moved into the Haite Building more than a year ago, and is one of the businesses that has benefited from Changi Business Park’s location. &nbsp,

Wings signed a three- year lease for its 1, 600 sq ft premises. &nbsp,

Fabian Lim, the company’s founder, noted that other aviation-related businesses are located in the Haite Building and that Changi Airport can” conveniently” accommodate foreign visitors. &nbsp,

He claimed that neighbors leaving his business had no impact, despite the fact that there were no restaurants nearby.

Even so, Mr. Kodancha’s team appreciates the improvements in connectivity and amenities since he first began working at Changi Business Park in 2008.

” Earlier, it was very difficult- there was only one train ( station ), that’s it, Expo. Now we have the Downtown Line and buses are also there… plus private charter buses”, said the IT professional. &nbsp,” Now, it is very easy… I’m used to this area”.

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Oil spill from ship reaches East Coast Park, sea activities on Sentosa beaches halted

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Sentosa Cove people have even offered to assist with the clean-up tasks, according to SDC. &nbsp,

Staff were seen cleaning up the flow when CNA went to Tanjong Beach at noon. A long, bright oil increase, covered in fuel, had been placed along the beach.

A&nbsp, user walking her puppy earlier in the morning told CNA that the scent was “unbelievable”, a sentiment echoed by another beachgoer in the evening.

” The first thing that I noticed was the smell, it smells like a propane kiosk”, said Mr Nigel Kong, 25.

” On a regular weekend, ( one side of the beach ) may be filled with tennis courts and ball judges. Often, when we’re warm, we go down to the waterways. But with this oil spill, we ca n’t really do it”.

Coastlines AT EAST COAST, LABRADOR PARK AFFECTED

At East Coast Park, dark waste was apparent along the beach. Oil scent was present in the air.

” It did n’t really hit until we came to the beach area. The aroma is a bit disconcerting”, said Mr Sufian Ali, who was not conscious of the oil spill before arriving at the area.

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From Blackpink to Street Woman Fighter 2: The Singapore-based dance talent agency making a mark in K-pop

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Ong and Gallarde went on to create Jam Republic The Agency in 2017 after believing they had created a sizable system of dancing from all over the world. &nbsp,

” First, it was hard to find choreographers, time. Not only global, only any choreographers to meet our organization”, Ong said.

He explained that there were n’t many dance companies outside of the United States when Jam Republic The Agency was founded. It was a relatively new idea for many dancing. They do n’t know what we do. They do n’t know if we can help” .&nbsp,

What strengthened their standing was the fact that they had demonstrated through Jam Republic Collective that they were able to hire dancing. It even helped that they had established relationships with producers in different parts of Asia.

In fact, meeting the “right people” proved to have a ripple effect. The company may frequently be referred to another in a different country after working with one spouse.

Ong recalls the earlier days of Jam Republic The Agency, and he said that whenever contracts were struck with dancers and associates, they were communicated orally. They just signed formal agreements about three or four years afterwards.

” I was blessed and fortunate that all the partners ( and dancers ) we had were frequently like-minded and there were no trust issues,” I said. And that’s why it worked properly till today”.

Acting WITH BLACKPINK &nbsp,

To say that 2023 was a crazy time for Jam Republic The Agency would be an insult. After all, that was the year that Blackpink, a worldwide superstar, made its appearance at Coachella. &nbsp,

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Tour agencies, coach operators in Singapore to raise prices after Malaysia cuts diesel subsidies

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SINGAPORE: With the price increase in Malaysia’s fuel, cross-border travelers and customers of tour companies can anticipate price increases rapidly.

On Monday ( Jun 10 ), the Malaysian government cut most of its diesel subsidies, which it said was costing the country &nbsp, RM4 billion ( US$ 853 million ) annually. The benefits may be redirected to lower-income groups, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Diesel’s wholesale price in Peninsular Malaysia has been increased by more than 50 % to RM3.35 per gallon from the earlier subsidized amount of RM2.15 for both industrial and private vehicles.

PASSING ON Prices

The fuel rate increase will affect Singapore Cab Booking’s bus services, according to Singapore Cab Booking, which provides transportation between the two nations.

” We have the Singapore- KL overland exchange. With the 50 per cent increase in fuel prices, the cost is almost similar to Singapore’s fuel price”, said CEO Farid Khan, adding that the company also has to pay toll fees. &nbsp,

In his ship, he has 12 45-seat coaches and other smaller trucks that furthermore use gasoline. He also collaborates with a few Indonesian manufacturers, and some of them have already asked to raise prices. &nbsp,

” With this increase in the price of gasoline, when we want to raise our pricing to our clients, that’s a problem. They will produce sounds, no delighted the rate is going up”, said Mr Khan.

Some contracts, particularly for clients travelling in large groups, were signed and pricing fixed months in advance, said Mr Khan, who added that he would create a loss in some cases. &nbsp,

His profit margins will be affected by the cost increase overall by about 20 % to 30 %. He is now negotiating with his contractors about their higher asking costs. &nbsp,

He intends to increase his prices for new items or contracts by at least 20 % over the upcoming month. &nbsp, For example, he currently charges S$ 550 ( US$ 406 ) for a one- way coach trip to Legoland in Malaysia. However, he intends to raise this to about S$ 650 as a result of higher fuel prices and the recently implemented car entry permit system. &nbsp,

” Business customers… they plan their vacations and publication way before. Particularly during school vacations, two to three weeks before they actually make their reservations because they are aware that last-minute reservations are going to be extremely expensive,” he said. &nbsp,

” So when this thing happened, voila! It’s like they dropped a revelation. Headache” .&nbsp,

Starting on October 1, Singapore vehicles may be required to enter Malaysia with car access permits. A radio frequency identification tag may get installed on vehicles for RM10, according to the news. &nbsp, &nbsp,

EU Holidays said its Malaysia visit plans, which make up about 10 per cent of its company, will probably increase in price.

Ong Han Jie, the director of the tour company, told CNA that the company has not yet decided how much the boost may be. Additionally, the Malaysian users have not yet confirmed the price increases they will receive. &nbsp,

Because we still have confirmed services to be provided at the moment, but those who have already committed to the costs will be delivered as per the costs,” I believe it’s going to occur in soon, but perhaps not quickly,” said Mr. Ong. &nbsp,

According to him, the cost of running the coaches during their journeys has increased by 40 % as a result of the price increase in fuel. &nbsp,

” For us, there is an increase in cost, but because the ringgit has depreciated against the Singapore dollar, in Singapore’s context, personally I did n’t feel that it’s a very big problem” .&nbsp,

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IN FOCUS: Alleged ‘double standard’ treatment of Palestinian, Rohingya refugees stirring debate, concerns in Malaysia

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In comparison, a seek for” Palestine migrants in Malaysia” on TikTok does not turn up such negative attitudes. The Palestinian cause is often the subject of the videos, as are informal interviews with Malaysian residents.

What appears to be a distinction between how Malaysians view Rohingya and Israeli refugees has been highlighted in at least two Reddit fibers. ” Why do Malaysians put so much effort into helping Palestinians, when in your own region, the Rohingya … faced a considerable amount ( of ) xenophobia in Malaysia” one asked.

Protesters have also gotten a heads-up. Asylum Access Malaysia’s Ms. Lubna Sheikh Ghazali claimed that the nation supported the Palestinian cause but appeared to have “double requirements” when it came to Rohingya migrants.

At a animal rights conference on March 19, she was quoted by Free Malaysia Today as saying,” We seem to have shared memory and are careful about who deserves safety.”

According to UNHCR images as of May this month, Malaysia hosts about 189, 340 refugees and hospital- applicants.

A person who crosses a foreign borders in search of safety frequently needs to apply to become recognized as a immigrant, which in Malaysia’s event is indicated by their Humanitarian card.

Asylum applicants are those who intend to apply for or are awaiting a decision regarding this demand. Not every hospital person will eventually become recognized as a refugee.

Some 88 per cent of migrants and prison- seeking in Malaysia are from Myanmar, including around 109, 230 Rohingyas. The remaining are from 50 different locations, including Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Syria.

There are at least 620 Arab refugees and hospital- seeking in Malaysia, according to UNHCR figures, although some studies have indicated there could be as many as 2, 500 of them in the nation, with 30 per cent of these being kids.

Despite that, Malaysia is never a member to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its associated 1967 method, meaning migrants cannot operate lawfully or go to state institutions.

Instead, refugees are categorized as undocumented or illegal immigrants under the Immigration Act and rely on non-governmental organizations ( NGO ) for financial assistance, such as the Malaysia-based Refugee Emergency Fund.

The UNHCR card does not offer any additional financial advantages, despite offering a 50 % discount on foreigner fees for refugees receiving care at public hospitals.

Diverse Therapy

However, a bipartisan political party on migrant policy demanded that the government issue a” Unique Pass” for all Palestinians in Malaysia to let them transitory stay and employment as the Israel-Hamas war broke out in Gaza near the end of 2023.

The government of Malaysia, which has long supported the Palestinian cause, then announced that it would pay the tuition for Palestinian students attending public universities while offering discounts of 10 % to 100 % to those attending private institutions.

A 2023 initiative to allow Rohingya refugees to attend the International Islamic University of Malaysia was only made possible by a grant from the Qatar Fund for Development. In addition, authorities ‘ raids on illegal Rohingya settlements and businesses are frequently covered in the media.

Dr. Benjamin Loh, a senior lecturer at Taylor’s University in media and communication, stated to CNA that Palestinians in Malaysia are educated people who will fight for their land in the Middle East one day, not as refugees as they are perceived by their official status.

” But for the Rohingyas, there is this rhetoric that they are considered a low- class type of migrant”, he said, arguing that unlike the Palestinians, Rohingya refugees are seen as stateless people who ran from their country. &nbsp,

They are therefore viewed as having little value because they only perform low-wage jobs. As a result of that, there is this sort of a very xenophobic view towards them, because they’re not seen as being beneficial to the country”, said Dr Loh. &nbsp,

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