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A new book, “How To Talk To Strangers” by Kerrie Phipps, launched to help people decrease anxiety, build confidence, and heal the pandemic affected world

Singapore, Aug 12, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - A new self-help book, How To Talk To Strangers by Kerrie Phipps, was launched globally along with the co-authors of the book, reaching over 1000 people through the event was aired live on Facebook and Youtube. The book is an invitation to think more deeply about how you connect with others, so you don't overlook essential connections or risk missing opportunities to impact people and the chance to change your own life in the process.Kerrie Phipps, the Author and publisher, says, "Stories of the kindness of strangers are so moving, the impression they have on people, and the power of encouragement in our lives - strangers or friends, family, colleagues, and it was vital to share some in a book."At the launch, Coen Tan, Director of Ministry of Influence, said, "I grew up as a socially awkward child who was often bullied in school. I was even referred to the Institute of Mental Health for treatment for depression. However, over time, I've developed my speaking and social skills and now, I train and coach leaders internationally to inspire through their stories. I hope that my stories in this book will inspire people, that li...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Aug 1

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Aug 1. Deadly, more transmissible Covid-19 variant can't be ruled out, but chances are low: Experts There's no such immediate threat, and that gives Singapore a chance to get more people vaccinated. READ MORE HERE 8 new Covid-19 clusters, with one at Selarang work release centre There were 117 new locally transmitted cases on Saturday, including 26 linked to Jurong Fishery Port. READ MORE HERE MOE looking at buddy systems to help students cope with problems: Chan Chun Sing Those who are providing peer support must be equipped with the skills to listen effectively, he added. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Social media use can trigger feelings of inferiority or inadequacy among young: Experts "It can be as simple as 'this is not funny' or 'you're ugly' and you start wondering whether what they say is true," said an influencer on TikTok. READ MORE HERE Muhyiddin blocks any further attempts to oust him as Malaysia's prime minister Muhyiddin's postponing of Monday's parliament sitting comes after his government was publicly rebuked by Malaysia's king. READ MOR...

Oh yes, young people may be easier targets for scams

(NYTIMES) - If you're a digital native and consider yourself immune to all scams, the thieves have you right where they want you. For years now, the Better Business Bureau's survey research has shown that younger adults lose money to swindlers much more often than the older people you may think of as the stereotypical victims. The Federal Trade Commission reports similar figures, with 44 per cent of people aged 20 to 29 losing money to fraud, more than double the 20 per cent of people aged 70 to 79. When we look at the kinds of scams that work on young people, there's nary a Nigerian prince in sight. The targeted activities vary widely, from the online shopping that these victims may do nearly every day to their once-in-a-blue-moon handling of paper cheques. Illegal schemes also target the student debt payments they must make and the jobs they seek to afford them. So let's lay out what these scams look like - and remind ourselves how we might best reach young people who think they are invincible. Online retail scams The false promise of a rare or surprisingly cheap product isn't a new form of flimflam, but the Internet sure makes it easier - especially if you're accustomed to frequ...

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Social media use can trigger feelings of inferiority or inadequacy among young: Experts

SINGAPORE - With nearly 200,000 followers, 22-year-old TikTok influencer Tan Yeo Shi Lee is sometimes subjected to more scrutiny than his peers when he expresses himself on social media. The second-year Singapore Management University student said: "It can be as simple as 'this is not funny' or 'you're ugly' and you start wondering whether what they say is true." Mr Tan said: "Sadly, it can really make you more insecure, though for me, I try not to let it affect me too much and I trust the words of those close to me much more." Seeing picture-perfect people on social media has also made him more conscious about how he represents himself online. Mr Tan, who creates videos with his friend Ryan Han, added: "There are obviously many comments on TikTok about us, be it who's better-looking, funnier, has a greater personality and honestly, it does affect us quite a bit." Sharing the experience with his collaborator has helped both of them dull the sting of nasty comments. The Sunday Times spoke to 23 people including social workers, counsellors, psychologists and parents, who said the impact of social media on the mental health of the young in Singapore is concerning. And not just in term...

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Dining in for groups of 5 resumes, S’poreans welcome chance to eat with friends, family at the same table

SINGAPORE - A pre-lunch crowd of mostly retirees and elderly folk was observed making full use of the five-person dining in rule that kicked in on Monday (July 12). Many welcomed the easing of restrictions after almost three weeks of being limited by a cap of two people per table at eateries. The cap lasted from June 21 to Sunday (July 11). Almost all tables were occupied at the Foodfare @ AMK Hub food court by noon on Monday, with several groups comprising four or five people. "We contacted one another as soon as we heard we could go out together again," said Ms Lai Nee Chin, 56, a housewife, who was with her two sisters and brother-in-law. "I think the Government took the right pace in easing restrictions because now it's ramping up vaccinations so it makes sense that vaccinated people can meet up again while staying safe," added Ms Lai. However, Mr Aok Pow Chong, 72, a retired technician who was also at the food court with a group of four friends of similar age, said that rules could have been eased sooner. "I think it was long overdue because the Government has had more than a year of experience in dealing with Covid-19 already, so it should have the confidence to manage the si...

8 F&B outlets closed, 13 other outlets in S’pore fined for Covid-19 safe management breaches

SINGAPORE - Eight food and beverage (F&B) outlets were ordered to close, while 13 other outlets and 56 people were fined for breaching Covid-19 safe management measures, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) on Friday (July 9). These penalties were issued following stepped-up enforcement checks over the past week, it added. Agencies will also continue with these stringent enforcement checks over the coming weeks as restrictions are further eased. These outlets are forced to close just as Singapore opens up and F&B establishments can allow groups of five to dine in from next Monday (July 12). The eight premises were ordered to close for breaches such as multiple failures to ensure patrons across tables were seated at least 1m apart, permitting intermingling between groups, and allowing groups of more than two individuals who were not from the same household to be seated across multiple tables, MSE said. The premises are Nando's at Plaza Singapura, Carl's Jr at Jurong Point shopping mall, Food Junction at Bugis Junction, Club Diamond at Oriental Plaza, 3 Kings Pub at Lucky Plaza, Grand Shanghai at King's Centre, Sakunthala's Restaurant at Dunlop Street and The...

NEA launches new programme for young people to be involved in sustainability efforts

SINGAPORE - Young people now have a new platform to get involved in sustainability efforts, with the launch of a year-long programme. They will have the opportunity to initiate and lead projects or movements to tackle pressing environmental issues under the Youth for Environmental Sustainability (YES) Programme launched by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Thursday (July 8). A YES leadership programme will take in young people and train them to be green leaders over a period of nine to 12 months, starting in December this year. It will help them develop their knowledge, skill sets and experience in environment sustainability issues, said NEA in a statement. They will also be mentored by people from Youth Corps Singapore, an organisation which provides volunteering opportunities for young people. This leadership programme is open to those between 17 and 25 years old. Those interested can register at the website from now till Sept 1. Participants who successfully complete the leadership training will be recognised as YES ambassadors by NEA. They will have the opportunity to volunteer and participate in the agency's initiatives and mentor others on sustainability projects. A fo...

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Two rescued from Ang Mo Kio flat after blaze involving PMA scooter

SINGAPORE - Two people were taken to hospital in the early hours of Wednesday (July 7) after they were rescued from a flat where there was a fire involving a Personal Mobility Aid (PMA) scooter. The incident happened at about 12.25am at Block 314 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the PMA was in the living room of a unit on the 10th storey. The fire was extinguished by members of the public who splashed buckets of water through the window and doorway of the unit. When SCDF arrived, firefighters made a forced entry into the smoke-filled unit. They found one person at the entrance of the unit and another in the toilet. One was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and the other to KK Women's and Children's Hospital. A third resident, from the 12th storey, was also taken to TTSH for smoke inhalation. About 50 people from the block were evacuated by the SCDF and the police as a precautionary measure. "Preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire indicates that it was of electrical origin from the PMA scooter," said the SCDF. "SCDF would like to remind the public that motorised devices that are modified, not properly maintained or do not use the ...

14-year-old among 334 suspected scammers and money mules investigated for loss of over $9m

SINGAPORE - A 14-year-old is among 334 people who are being probed by the police for scams that led to victims losing more than $9.23 million. In a statement on Saturday (July 3), the police said 225 men and 109 women are being investigated for their suspected involvement in 872 reported scams as scammers or money mules. This comes after a two-week islandwide operation between June 19 and Friday by officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and seven police land divisions. The suspects are alleged to be involved in a wide range of scams, including the impersonation of business e-mails, tech support, government officials and China officials, as well as Internet love scams, e-commerce scams, investment scams, job scams, fake gambling platform scams and loan scams. The suspects, aged between 14 and 72, are being investigated for the offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence. Those found guilty for the offence of cheating under the Penal Code can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined. Under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, people convicted for money laundering can be imprisoned f...

117 people fined for breaching Covid-19 curbs since start of phase 3; Orchard Hotel ordered to suspend bookings

SINGAPORE - As many as 17 people were found together at one beach and 13 at another. They were among the 117 people fined for breaching safe management measures such as limits on group sizes, at parks and beaches, since the start of phase three (heightened alert) on June 14. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) said on Friday (June 25) that the breaches also included not wearing masks when not doing strenuous exercises. The limit for social gatherings went up from two to five on June 14, following a fall in the number of Covid-19 cases in the community. But in one incident, a group of 17 people were caught at Changi Beach Park, and another group of 13 people were caught at East Coast Park. MSE said about 1,800 advisories had been issued for breaches. Orchard Hotel Singapore has also been issued a fine and a suspension order after Singapore Tourism Board enforcement officers found 11 people gathered in a room there for a birthday celebration on Feb 6, MSE said. At that time, no more than eight people were allowed to be together for social gatherings. The hotel was given a composition fine of $1,000, and was ordered to suspend room bookings for 30 days, till July ...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on June 19

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, June 19. Cautious reopening will give S'pore time to get more people vaccinated: Covid-19 task force Vaccination rates are not high enough to proceed with reopening more confidently. READ MORE HERE askST: If we're a family of five, can we dine out together from June 21? Can I resume attending my regular yoga class? Here are answers to questions you may have about Singapore's latest Covid-19 measures. READ MORE HERE Restaurateurs say new two-per-table rule to curb Covid-19 spread better than nothing Hardest hit will be Chinese restaurants, where dishes are mostly for sharing. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Census 2020: Key trends of a changing Singapore and what they mean More educated, fewer marriages and babies, less religious, getting greyer. S'pore's demographic evolution is posing challenges. READ MORE HERE Evidence from overseas shows Sinovac vaccine carries some risk of Covid-19 infection despite jabs The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines Singapore is using are among those with the highest efficacy. READ MORE HERE DBS to refund credit and debit...

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DENSO and NTT DATA Complete Verification Test Using Vehicle and People Flow Data to Innovate the Mobility Experience

KARIYA and TOKYO, Jun 8, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - DENSO and NTT DATA today announced that they have completed a joint verification test to improve mobility experiences using data on vehicle and people flows.In the test, which spanned June 2020 to March 2021, DENSO and NTT DATA gathered participants' "vehicle flow data," or their movements by car, through in-vehicle devices and -people flow data" through their smartphone GPS and beacon detection logs.(1) Together, these data offered insights on participants' driving characteristics and the types of driving scenarios they encountered.The test was conducted to provide better mobility experiences and services, and to help businesses attract potential customers amid changing consumer behaviors. To do this, the test analyzed the participants' driving behaviors and their driving status and behavior, and then recommended stores they might be interested in using their vehicle flow data and people flow data. The test showed that the drivers' behavior were affected by recommendation based on those flow data analysis.Based on the results, DENSO and NTT DATA will consider commercializing the joint service, and verify the busine...

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Over 71,600 in Singapore have psychotic disorders, says study

SINGAPORE - Like many others her age, Ms Michelle Lai enjoys baking, hiking, drawing and doing barre, a workout that incorporates elements of ballet, yoga and Pilates. She hangs out with friends and volunteers regularly, giving talks on mental health. The 30-year-old is living proof of what a diagnosis, medications and therapy can do for someone with a mental health condition. Ms Lai has a schizoaffective disorder and up till just three years ago, used to experience things that were not there. "When I'm unwell I hear voices, see things people can't see, smell smells that people can't smell, and feel people punching or pinching me. Sometimes, my mouth will have a bitter taste too," she told The Straits Times. And she is not alone in her experience. Results from the 2016 Singapore Mental Health Study, released by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) on Friday (May 21), found that one in 43 of those aged 18 and up here has had a psychotic disorder in their lifetime. This translates to roughly 71,600 people. The study was conducted on 6,126 participants representing the population between 2016 and 2018 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Nanyang Technological Univers...

QIA mulls injecting HSBC headquarters into CDL’s planned Singapore Reit: Sources

SINGAPORE (BLOOMBERG) - Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is in talks to inject HSBC Holdings' London headquarters building into a planned real estate investment trust (Reit) to be listed by City Developments Ltd (CDL), people with knowledge of the matter said. The potential deal would boost the value of the Reit's portfolio to £1.8 billion (S$3.4 billion) from £600 million, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the information is private. The Gulf sovereign wealth fund and the Singapore developer aim to raise £500 million from an initial public offering (IPO) of the sterling-denominated Reit for UK commercial properties, the people said. The IPO could take place in Singapore as soon as the third quarter, they said. Deliberations are ongoing and there is no certainty that a deal will proceed, said the people. A representative for CDL declined to comment. A representative for QIA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The IPO denominated in sterling would be only the second such offering in Singapore, after Elite Commercial Reit's first-time share sale raised £135.4 million last year. CDL has been working with DBS Group Holdings and Oversea-Chinese Banking ...

Will work from home end soon?

(BLOOMBERG) - Working from home for more than a year may revolutionise some parts of business but I think most people in the United States will be back at their desks in September. Let's talk numbers. Of the 150 million or so people who were employed in March, 31.6 million telecommuted, according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, or about 21 per cent of the pie. Some analysts and bond issuers fear that these people, having experienced the joy of not commuting or living in more spacious digs in more pleasant climes, will never return to the office, or will return only two or three days a week. This will have an impact on small businesses, rents, sales taxes, transit systems, toll roads and, ultimately, tax bases. Just how big an impact depends upon how many days a week these people remain out of the office. These fears seem justified, even logical, but the very first thing you find out when asking about the number of days people will return to the office is, no one knows. Many big cities are just now relaxing restrictions on how many people can re-occupy office space, and employers have been very diplomatic in their demands, many couching their desires as "invitations" to retur...

When you start forgetting the bills

(NYTIMES) - After Ms Maria Turner's minivan was totalled in an accident a dozen years ago, she grew impatient waiting for the insurance company to process the claim. One night, she saw a red pickup truck on eBay for US$20,000 (S$26,700). She thought it was just what she needed. She clicked "buy it now" and went to bed. The next morning, she got an e-mail about arranging delivery. Only then did she remember what she had done. Making such a big purchase with no forethought and then forgetting about it was completely out of character for Ms Turner, then a critical care nurse in Greenville, South Carolina. Although she was able to back out of the deal, the experience scared her. "I made a joke out of it, but it really disturbed me," she said. It didn't stop her, though. She continued to shop impulsively online with her credit card, buying dozens of pairs of shoes, hospital scrubs and garden gnomes. When boxes arrived, she didn't remember ordering them. Six years passed before Ms Turner, now 53, got a medical explanation for her spending binges, headaches and memory lapses: Doctors told her that imaging of her brain showed all the hallmarks of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degener...

The ills of overworking at home

(NYTIMES) - Overwork and burnout aren't just issues at investment banks. For many, the pandemic has essentially erased the boundaries between work and home: White-collar workers feel stretched to their breaking point. And when offices reopen in earnest, few expect overwork to vanish or burnout to be relegated to the past. Research suggests all of this excess work isn't good for anyone, employers included. So why are so many companies still encouraging it? And when companies do claim they are trying to reduce long hours, why do these efforts so often fail to make a difference? The diminishing returns of overwork "There is now a mountain of careful research showing that people who experience long hours of work have serious health consequences," said Dr John Pencavel, professor emeritus of economics at Stanford. A review of more than 200 studies over two decades on the relationship between long work hours and health found a correlation between extended work weeks and a higher incidence of heart problems and high blood pressure. People who worked longer hours (which in most studies meant 50 to 60 hours a week - practically part-time by some industry standards) were more likely to suffe...

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No obvious increase in commuter numbers on trains on first day of eased work regulations in S’pore

SINGAPORE - The morning commuting crowd streamed out of Raffles Place MRT station, most of them office workers walking closely behind one another. From 8.30am to 9.30am on Monday (April 5), the tap of bank and ez-link cards at the gantries was relentless. If not for the wearing of face masks, one could almost forget that people continue to live through a viral pandemic. Work from home seems to be an arrangement of the past. But people whom The Straits Times spoke to said this has been the case for months. Despite Monday being the first day of eased regulations for workplaces, with companies allowed to bring up to 75 per cent of their staff back to the office at any one time, there was no noticeable further crowding in train cars. "There is no difference. All same," a security guard who works near the train station said. "I don't know if this will change. It's a good level." Ms Rebecca Quah, 35, a financial consultant who alighted at Raffles Place MRT station at 8.30am - traditionally the morning peak hour - said: "Companies are not exactly rushing to change their policies. People have become quite comfortable with how they work. "It is only the first day and I think many companies ...

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More than 900,000 people have received first dose of Covid-19 vaccine: DPM Heng Swee Keat

SINGAPORE - More than 900,000 people in Singapore have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Friday (April 2). But Mr Heng also urged vigilance over the Easter weekend and called for people to continue adhering to safe management guidelines. "Last year, Good Friday coincided with the start of the circuit breaker, and there was palpable fear and uncertainty. One year on, we can look ahead with a greater sense of hope and progress," Mr Heng wrote on Facebook. The Covid-19 situation in Singapore is under control, vaccination is under way, and more activities are gradually being resumed, he said, noting that Christian worship services are able to have up to 250 attendees. Live performances are also allowed. From next week, congregants will be able to sing during worship with masks on, he added. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth announced that congregants will be allowed to sing during worship services from April 5, but for only up to 30 minutes and without removing their masks. Good ventilation must be maintained if worshippers are to sing and this can be done through opening of doors and windows, or us...

Credit Suisse bid for tidy Archegos fix ends with banks brawling

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - Alarms were blaring inside Wall Street's corridors of power in the middle of last week, as executives realized they might be facing the biggest hedge fund blowup since Long-Term Capital Management in the 1990s. Global investment banks, gathering in a hastily arranged call, needed a swift truce to deal with Bill Hwang's Archegos Capital Management if they were to head off billions of dollars in losses for banks and a potential chain reaction across markets. Yet by Friday (March 26), it was everyone for themselves. The forced liquidation that sent bellwether stocks tumbling last week and continues to send shock waves across capital markets, was preceded by bickering in the highest rungs of international finance that quickly devolved into finger-pointing and now fury, according to people with knowledge of situation. Banks are just starting to tally the carnage. So far, Credit Suisse Group and Nomura Holdings have told shareholders their businesses face "significant" losses. Goldman Sachs Group, ahead of the pack on unloading positions, is telling investors the impact on its financial results will probably be immaterial. Deutsche Bank said it escaped too. Morgan ...