SeaPRwire

Polytechnic student allegedly recorded woman in toilet without her consent

aseanpr 18 1 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A Republic Polytechnic (RP) student appeared in a district court last week after he allegedly recorded a woman inside a toilet at Jurong West Community Building. Gerald Che Hong Yao, 20, who faces a single voyeurism charge, is accused of committing the offence at around 11.40am on Jan 11. RP told The Straits Times in a statement on Monday (Jan 18) that the Singaporean is still one of its students. "RP takes a strong view against sexual misconduct, and will not hesitate to mete out disciplinary action against any student found guilty of such acts. As court and internal proceedings are ongoing, RP is unable to comment further," said its spokesman. On Jan 14, Che was ordered to be remanded at the Institute of Mental Health for psychiatric observation. His case has been adjourned to Jan 28. If convicted of voyeurism, he can be jailed for up to two years and fined or caned. Che was just one of several local tertiary students who were hauled to court in recent months over similar offences. For instance, Singapore Management University student Tien Kiat Chong, 24, is accused of targeting a woman 19 times and secretly filming upskirt videos of her between May 28 and Sept 3, 201...

Serial protester on trial for protesting outside US Embassy in Singapore

aseanpr 18 1 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - A serial protester was put on trial on Monday morning (Jan 18) for protesting outside the US Embassy here. Singaporean Yan Jun, 45, allegedly held a one-man protest outside the embassy in Napier Road on the afternoon of Nov 2 last year. The prosecution proceeded on one charge of taking part in a public assembly without a permit and another charge of behaving in a disorderly manner. A third charge of refusing to answer a public servant was stood down. Yan was placed on trial after he did not indicate his position on the charges. He did not respond when asked by District Judge Ng Cheng Thiam for his position on trial. In the prosecution's opening address, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nicholas Lai told the court Yan sent an e-mail addressed to the United States Embassy at about 4.10pm that day, declaring his intention to protest outside at 5pm. DPP Lai said Yan showed up just before 5pm, displaying several placards. Yan allegedly had placards claiming that the US government spied on him in Johor Baru and that Changi Prison is a slave camp, as well as demands for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to step down. The court was told the protest lasted about 15 minutes, after which the...

37,000 front-line workers in aviation, maritime sectors expected to get Covid-19 vaccine within 2 months

aseanpr 18 1 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE - A mass exercise to vaccinate 37,000 front-line workers in the aviation and maritime sectors began on Monday (Jan 18) and is set to be completed within two months. About 13,000 workers have registered to get their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine this week, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung told reporters during a visit to the vaccination centre at Changi Airport Terminal 4. The vaccinations are a very important step towards reviving Singapore's air hub, which has been decimated by the pandemic, he said. If a substantial number of workers in the aviation and maritime sectors is vaccinated, "whoever comes through will know that it is safe, (that) our people are cohesive and we work as a team". "This is a huge advantage in terms of our brand name," he stressed. Singapore Airlines can be the first vaccinated international airline of the world, Mr Ong said. Inoculating front-line workers will also protect Singapore, he added, noting that while the situation here is largely under control, the virus is "raging like wildfire" abroad. "All our 37,000 front-liners, they're defenders of our borders because the borders are a key vulnerability," he said. The authorities have set asid...

Child molester sentenced to preventive detention for reoffending 10 months after release from prison

aseanpr 18 1 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - A man sentenced to 10 years' preventive detention in 2009 for molesting six children, including a one-year-old baby, will be back behind bars for molesting a 10-year-old girl just 10 months after his release in 2019. Cleaner Salim Abdul Rahman, now 61, was sentenced on Monday (Jan 18) to 12 years' preventive detention. He pleaded guilty to the molestation charge in December last year. The court heard that the Singaporean has "paedophilic sexual interest" and a high risk of reoffending. However, an Institute of Mental Health report states that he was not suffering from any psychiatric disorders or illnesses when he molested his latest victim on Oct 1 last year. Preventive detention is meted out to recalcitrant offenders aged over 30 and it does not offer the usual one-third remission for good behaviour. The detention order can last up to 20 years, and those given such a sentence will receive a substantial period of imprisonment to protect the public. Deputy Public Prosecutor Colin Ng said that Salim, who was released from prison on Dec 27, 2019, targeted the victim on Oct 1 last year. The cleaner was on a bus at around 1.40pm when he spotted the girl, who was in her scho...

Singapore construction demand for 2021 expected to rise up to $28b

aseanpr 18 1 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Construction contracts for the built environment sector are expected to grow to between $23 billion and $28 billion this year, as the sector recovers from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, National Development Minister Desmond Lee said on Monday (Jan 18). This is up from the $21.3 billion worth of projects estimated to have been awarded last year - a figure that was revised downward by $10 billion in September after demand took a hit owing to the pandemic, with projects postponed in light of market uncertainties and disruption. The growth is expected to continue over the next five years to between $25 billion and $32 billion, Mr Lee said at a seminar organised by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore. The public sector will contribute about 65 per cent of the overall construction demand for 2021, he added. This figure - which ranges from $15 billion to $18 billion - is higher than the $13.2 billion worth of public sector projects in 2020. Upcoming public sector projects include the Jurong Region Line, the Cross Island Line and Phase 2 of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, which will convey used water from...

Goldman lifts US forecast on Biden’s US$1.9 trillion rescue plan

elean 18 1 月

2 minutes

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - Goldman Sachs Group economists raised their growth forecasts for the US this year and beyond after President-elect Joe Biden unveiled a sweeping revival plan calling for US$1.9 trillion (S$2.5 trillion) in spending. In a weekend report to clients, economists led by Jan Hatzius predicted the economy would expand 6.6 per cent this year, faster than the 6.4 per cent previously expected. The unemployment rate for the end of 2021 is now seen at 4.5 per cent, down from the prior estimate of 4.8 per cent. The upgrade is fueled by expectation that Mr Biden, aided by a Democratic-controlled Congress, will deliver ample amounts of state fiscal aid, education and public health spending, as well as unemployment insurance benefits, to counter harm from a pandemic now in its most devastating stage to date. Goldman's estimate for 2021 economic growth is the second highest in a Bloomberg survey of 84 economists; the median estimate is 4.1 per cent. While the economists don't expect all parts of Mr Biden's proposal to pass, they predict that an additional US$1,400 in individual stimulus payments will cause a "large spike" in disposable income in the first three months. On Thu...

Rich in US minting money in pandemic like never before

elean 18 1 月

8 minutes

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - Americans have become, by some measures, richer during the pandemic than ever before. It's a difficult thing to fathom, what with the economic collapse and the surge in the ranks of the jobless, the homeless and the hungry. But there's a whole class of people - at least the top 20 per cent or so of earners - who've had to worry little about such matters. For them, not only has it been relatively easy to carry out their white-collar jobs from home. But the Federal Reserve's unprecedented emergency measures -- including slashing benchmark rates to zero - have padded their wallets too. They've refinanced their mortgages at record low rates, purchased second homes to get away from cities and watched the value of the stocks and bonds in their investment accounts surge. Their massive wealth accumulation is, in large part, obscuring the toll felt by all those who don't enjoy the same easy access to credit or financial markets. As household net worth surged to a fresh record, hundreds of thousands of businesses are estimated to have permanently shut, over 10 million Americans remain jobless, and nearly three times as many are going hungry at night. Even as a new Demo...

Biden Treasury nominee Janet Yellen to say US does not seek weaker dollar: WSJ

elean 18 1 月

2 minutes

BENGALURU (REUTERS) - Janet Yellen, President-elect Joe Biden's pick to take over the US Treasury, is expected to affirm the United States' commitment to market-determined foreign exchange rates when she testifies on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday (Jan 17). The Treasury secretary nominee will make clear at a Senate confirmation hearing that the United States does not seek a weaker dollar, the newspaper reported, citing Biden transition officials familiar with her preparation for the session. "The value of the US dollar and other currencies should be determined by markets. Markets adjust to reflect variations in economic performance and generally facilitate adjustments in the global economy," Ms Yellen will say, if asked about the incoming administration's dollar policy, according to the report. "The United States doesn't seek a weaker currency to gain competitive advantage," she is prepared to say, according to the WSJ. "We should oppose attempts by other countries to do so." A Biden transition team official did not respond to a request for comment about Ms Yellen's testimony. Mr Biden, a Democrat, takes office on Wednesday. The policy outlined ...

Singapore economy recovering, but jobs outlook uncertain

elean 18 1 月

1 minute

SINGAPORE - Singapore's economy is on the mend after suffering its worst recession last year but the employment outlook remains clouded. Even after encouraging data for November, there are enough reasons to be cautious about any surge in hiring intentions, at least until global travel can safely resume. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

Data shows fall in big-ticket start-up investments

elean 18 1 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - The global pandemic has had a profound impact on the appetite to invest in new start-ups, according to data compiled by global data analytics specialist GlobalData. The British-based data research firm found that big-ticket, billion-dollar deals were mostly non-existent during the October-December quarter of last year. Of the total 3,603 global deals during the quarter that disclosed deal value, 66.2 per cent were low-value deals, with US$10 million (S$13 million) or less investment value, while those valued at more than US$100 million stood at just 4.2 per cent. GlobalData lead analyst Aurojyoti Bose cited investor caution as the main reason for the fall in investment quantum. He said: "With tough market conditions and an uncertain business environment, cautiousness prevails among investors when committing to big-ticket investments." Venture capital (VC) investment volume (deals with disclosed deal value) decreased by 14.7 per cent from 1,357 deals in October to 1,158 in November, and further shrank by 6 per cent to 1,088 last month In October, low-value deals stood at 69.1 per cent of the total deal volume, while the share of deals valued more than US$100 million stoo...

Tackling Covid-19 through Total Defence a key focus in N.E.mation! competition this year

aseanpr 17 1 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Covid-19 pandemic was a key issue tackled by teams in this year's N.E.mation! competition. The annual contest sees students and youth produce short animation clips to express their views on total defence. Of the 1,064 submissions for the student and youth categories this year, 70 per cent highlighted how Singaporeans could apply the concept of total defence during the pandemic. Themed "Together We Keep Singapore Strong", the 15th edition of the annual competition moved online this year due to Covid-19. Teams in the youth category produced animation clips with online mentoring from industry partners. The mentors include Lucasfilm, the production firm behind the Star Wars franchise, and Singapore Press Holdings' content marketing agency Sweet. Participants in this category are aged 17 to 25, from post-secondary educational institutions. This year, those in the student category - for participants aged 13 to 16 - competed in storyboarding instead of animation production. Only the top three teams turned their concepts into animation clips, while the other seven teams within the top 10 had their storyboards turned into illustrations. The N.E.mation! open house was held at...

Purple water, dead fish in Sentosa South Cove waterway due to heavy rainfall altering water conditions

aseanpr 17 1 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Investigations into the fish die-off and pinkish-purple colour of the Sentosa South Cove waterway earlier this month have found that it was caused by the recent weeks' heavy and persistent rainfall that altered water conditions. Water samples tested had low levels of salinity and dissolved oxygen, which may have led to the dead fish sighted on the waterway banks from Jan 6 to Jan 9, said the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) and National Environment Agency (NEA) in a joint statement on Sunday (Jan 17). The algal bloom that changed the colour of the waters was likely triggered by a high nutrient level and organic content in the water, NEA added. Sentosa Cove residents first noticed a foul, sewage-like smell coming from the waterway on Jan 5. This was followed by the fish kill, and the waters turning shades of plum from Jan 12. SDC and NEA, together with Sentosa Cove Resort Management (SCRM), studied water samples collected between Jan 6 and Jan 13. The National University of Singapore's (NUS) Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), which was tapped by SDC and SCRM, found high amounts of pico-cyanobacteria - a form of algae - in the water samples. The colour of the ...

Pasir Ris resort fined, barred from accepting bookings for a month after 19 people gathered in its units

aseanpr 17 1 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Cherryloft Resorts & Hotels in Pasir Ris has been fined $1,000 and ordered to suspend bookings for a month after it breached multiple safe management measures and allowed 19 people to gather on its premises. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on Sunday (Jan 17) said the resort will not be allowed to accept new bookings for 30 days between Sunday and Feb 15. It may continue to fulfil existing bookings made before Sunday. A joint operation by STB and the police last Friday found that 19 people had gathered in two adjoining units at the resort, which was formerly known as Costa Sands. All 19 were fined $300 each for breaching the maximum group size of eight people allowed under Singapore's Phase 3 restrictions. Hotels here are currently not allowed to have gatherings of more than eight people in a room or adjoining rooms, except where the gathering consists of people from the same household. Cherryloft had also failed to conduct entry screening and ensure its guests performed SafeEntry check-ins for contact tracing, STB added. On its Facebook page, the resort says it has 180 villas. The law requires visitors entering hotels or hostels to be screened, including having th...

New female manikin vest to help train rescuers on proper CPR technique for women

aseanpr 17 1 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - A new vest that gives medical dummies a more feminine physique has been developed to help people being trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) better help female victims whose hearts have stopped and increase their chance of survival. Traditionally, CPR training is taught with manikins of a male physique. Rescuers may not be as familiar with performing CPR on women, said the Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF), which developed the manikin vest. Some also hesitate to perform chest compressions on women for fear of being accused of molest if they touch a female patient's breasts. Likewise, worries about outrage of modesty may stop them from using an automated external defibrillator (AED) to revive a woman. SHF board member Chee Tek Siong said such worries may lead rescuers to placing their hands too low on the chest, below a woman's bustline, which may cause injuries when performing chest compressions during CPR. But the female manikin vest can help familiarise first aiders with where to correctly place their hands on a woman's chest - on the lower half of the sternum, just like for men. Trainees can also learn how to paste AED pads without unnecessarily exposing a wo...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Jan 17

aseanpr 17 1 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Jan 17. All travellers to S'pore need to take Covid-19 PCR test on arrival from Jan 25 Foreign workers will also need to take PCR and serology tests once they arrive in Singapore. READ MORE HERE Malaysians debate govt flip-flops on movement curbs as Covid-19 cases hit record high Some are puzzled by what businesses should be open or shut with the MCO imposed again. READ MORE HERE A mother hopes for answers in her 7-year-old child's murder case from 1995 A pink tin box filled with memories of her daughter is never too far from the 65-year-old's bed. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Lunch With Sumiko: Pritam Singh on the need to keep calm and stay grounded Mr Singh believes that when things are going good, it's best to keep your feet grounded and not get overly exuberant. READ MORE HERE Hawkers go online to boost sales of festive goods in lead-up to Chinese New Year 20 hawkers at Chinatown Complex have joined a pilot online store. READ MORE HERE Feeding wildlife in Singapore is a lose-lose situation: Experts People often feed wildlife out of compassion, but e...

Investment property sales set to return to pre-Covid-19 levels

elean 17 1 月

1 minute

Property investment volume in Singapore is expected to return to pre-Covid-19 levels this year as the vaccination programme is gradually rolled out amid optimism for overall economic growth, Cushman & Wakefield said in a report last Friday. The commercial real estate services firm projected total sales for this year to be in the range of $18 billion to $20 billion as investors "stand ready" to put out more capital in anticipation of growth and better returns, which will aid the recovery of the investment sales market. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

Investment property sales set to return to pre-Covid-19 levels

elean 17 1 月

1 minute

Property investment volume in Singapore is expected to return to pre-Covid-19 levels this year as the vaccination programme is gradually rolled out amid optimism for overall economic growth, Cushman & Wakefield said in a report last Friday. The commercial real estate services firm projected total sales for this year to be in the range of $18 billion to $20 billion as investors "stand ready" to put out more capital in anticipation of growth and better returns, which will aid the recovery of the investment sales market. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

Insurers enhance outbound travel protection plans with Covid-19 coverage

elean 17 1 月

1 minute

SINGAPORE - Insurers have been re-thinking their policies in light of the pandemic with more firms gearing up for a post Covid-19 world. Most insurers stopped offering insurance benefits last year for trip cancellations or delays due to the pandemic unless the policy had been bought before a certain date- as early as mid-January for some companies. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

Millennials, talk estate planning with your parents

elean 17 1 月

5 minutes

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - Despite years of being seen as self-involved, overindulged children who cannot get it together, millennials have been growing up. In fact, some millennials are ageing into their 40s. This means that our parents, many of whom are baby boomers, are reaching an age at which we will need to have some difficult conversations with them. One that is paramount is the estate planning discussion, which goes far beyond the matter of wills and inheritance. We often think of estate planning as the process of designating who receives what assets and how to settle any debts. But an estate plan also involves detailing who would make decisions should a parent be incapacitated. That way, if an emergency arose, loved ones could immediately focus on their care instead of stressing about how to make critical choices. Without an estate plan, a child may be at a loss about what a parent would want, and the courts may need to step in. Documents and information you need Wills are important for settling an estate upon a loved one's death, but there is other paperwork your parents (and anyone, really) should have in order while they are alive. Documents like power of attorney, healthca...

askST: What to do if your employer asks you to retire, but you would like to keep working

elean 17 1 月

1 minute

A: Your employer cannot ask you to retire before you reach the statutory retirement age of 62. Beyond that age, your employer must, by law, offer you re-employment up to the age of 67 as long as you meet certain criteria, such as being medically fit to continue working and having worked for the employer for at least three years before you reached the retirement age. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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