SeaPRwire

Women and girls enjoy less freedom in the online space than in real Singapore: Sim Ann

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - In her course of work at the Ministry of Communications and Information, Ms Sim Ann has encountered cases of victims who experienced online harm. "From time to time, they've approached us to say 'my photos were stolen'," she said. Listening to such stories prompted her to speak to more Singaporeans to understand the dangers women and girls face online. Ms Sim, who is Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, said: "We have to ask ourselves, do our women and girls enjoy the same degree of freedom and confidence in the online space as they do in real life in Singapore. "The signs suggest there is a gap." She was particularly struck by a related video that The Straits Times produced last month. The video InstaSex had delved into the stories of teens who encountered sexual harassment and physical assault as a result of interactions on social media. "I think that really hit home. As an MP, when we hear about (such cases), it's usually because something has already happened. Someone has already become a victim. "But we may or may not interact with the victim directly. Sometimes they come through an intermediary, such as a family member." Ms Sim, a mother of...

SeaPRwire

As global shocks rise, Swiss Re has a shield

elean
1 minute

It is not often that you look at a company that has just announced losses of nearly US$900 million (S$1.2 billion) for the year past and think that it probably is doing the job it is meant to do. Swiss Re, the giant reinsurance firm, has done just that, sliding from a profit of US$727 million the year before. The Zurich-based company, with a history that goes back to 1863, is a breed of insurer that provides backup cover for primary insurers, a shock absorber, so to speak, in a world where shocks are increasingly commonplace. 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.

SeaPRwire

Five father-friendly organisations receive awards

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - At real estate company City Developments Limited, fathers have three days of leave to attend family-related activities, such as their child's first day of school. Staff with Singaporean children aged below 12 months also have two weeks of paternity leave, in addition to the two weeks legislated here. The firm was one of five organisations from the public and private sectors to receive Great Companies for Dads Awards at a ceremony on Wednesday. President Halimah Yacob, who handed out the awards, said pro-family workplaces can be cultivated with the support of employers. "Organisations that have adopted a work-life policy also reap benefits, such as increased staff productivity and higher level of engagements at work," she said. The award, launched by non-profit organisation Centre for Fathering (CFF), is the first accolade for organisations that help fathers balance family life with the workplace. Since 2015, CFF has been the driving force behind Singapore's nationwide fathering movement - Dads for Life - which seeks to inspire and mobilise fathers to become more involved with and be a good influence on their children. The award for companies was launched in conjunction ...

ACN Newswire
Read More

UREEQA Welcomes Dean Drever, a Sculptor Who Has Produced Multi-Million Dollar Works of Art

indie
4 minutes

HK / ONTARIO CA, Mar 6, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - You may recognize the work of the newest addition to the UREEQA Collection of Pledged Assets if you tuned in to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, or if you've ever visited Edmonton's famed Epcor Tower.Dean DreverDean Drever is an acclaimed Canadian sculptor whose minimalist and abstract work can be enjoyed at famous landmarks throughout the country, including Toronto's Union Station and the Toronto Sculpture Garden.Drever is a particularly exciting addition to the UREEQA Collection of Pledged Assets, as he is the first artist working in a physical art medium that we are welcoming to the platform. We are pleased that Drever's pledged work can help illustrate the versatility of the UREEQA platform to protect artists from a variety of backgrounds and mediums.As a Creator, Drever's primary reason for joining the UREEQA platform is to protect his work throughout its many iterations and during the development process. This is one of the many challenges that Creators like Drever face, and a real life example of a problem that UREEQA can solve.A creation starts as an idea, that idea is yours, and it deserves protection.This is in...

SeaPRwire
Read More

Budget debate: S’pore to revamp healthcare subsidy system for more targeted support

aseanpr
4 minutes

SINGAPORE - The healthcare subsidy system is being revamped to ensure that those who need financial help the most get more of it. This comes with the rising consumption of healthcare services as the population ages, and Singapore looking to strengthen its healthcare system. The Government's share of healthcare spending has been going up - from 40 per cent in 2013 to 46 per cent in 2018. And it will continue to rise. To ensure that people at the lowest income levels get the help that they need to improve their health outcomes, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will channel more money to them. To achieve this, it will do a major revamp of the public sector subsidy structure by the middle of next year that will affect inpatient and outpatient subsidies. There will be changes to the subsidies in acute and community hospitals, specialist outpatient clinics and for day surgery. Speaking at the debate on his ministry's expenditure, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said: "We have to be prudent in how we allocate limited resources to ensure that the support we provide is more targeted to benefit those with greater need." There will be just one subsidy range for the two subsidised ward classes - B2 a...

SeaPRwire
Read More

Keys to fixing political, Rohingya crises lie within Myanmar itself: Vivian Balakrishnan

aseanpr
7 minutes

SINGAPORE - The keys to reconciliation, and the solution to both the political and humanitarian problems roiling Myanmar, lie within the country itself and in the hands of its people, said Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Friday (March 5). He also called it "the height of national shame for the armed forces of any country to turn its arms against its own people". Civilian protests against a Feb 1 military coup have led to deadly clashes with security forces nationwide, leaving at least 54 killed with over a thousand arrested. "There's a limit to how far external pressure will be brought to bear," said Dr Balakrishnan in Parliament, in response to Mr Leon Perera (Aljunied GRC) who asked what concrete steps Asean could take to address the turmoil in Myanmar, after its military - the Tatmadaw - overthrew and detained elected government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Dr Balakrishnan said: "It doesn't mean we approve of what they have done and how they do it. And we are clear in our expressions of disapproval. But let us also be realistic. "Ultimately, only the people of Myanmar, including the armed forces, the Ta...

JCN Newswire
Read More

MHI Group Presents “Best Innovation 2020” Awards for Activities that Contribute to Reducing Environmental Loads

ruth
6 minutes

TOKYO, Mar 5, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has determined the recipients of its 2020 "Best Innovation" awards, an in-house program to recognize activities that contribute to the conservation and protection of the global environment, and the lowering of environmental loads. The aim is to raise environmental awareness among corporate group employees and encourage further innovation.MHI Group has adopted the mission: "Integrate cutting-edge technology into expertise built up over many years to provide solutions to some of the world's most pressing issues and provide better lives." Going forward, through its business activities MHI aims to contribute to the achievement of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)(1), and the resolution of social issues(2).M501JAC series gas turbines with world-leading efficiency, enabling hydrogen utilizationMitsubishi Power, Ltd.The M501JAC series gas turbines have been developed based on the M501J gas turbine with the turbine inlet temperature of 1,600degC, world-first at the time, and the reliability of 99.5% after over one million hours of cumulative operating hours. M501JAC is a cutting-edge...

SeaPRwire

Budget debate: Electricity prices likely to go up, but efforts will be made to ensure a gradual rise

aseanpr
4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Electricity prices are likely to increase as Singapore's electricity overcapacity situation normalises and fuel prices rise, said Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng on Thursday (March 4). However, he noted that price surges and volatilities will be managed. "Even if prices must go up, the Government will do its best to ensure that this increase is gradual, and it will act where necessary to minimise excessive surges," said Dr Tan. Addressing questions on electricity prices from Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) and Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang), Dr Tan said that wholesale electricity market prices are indeed well-depressed currently. Generation companies (gencos) had built excess capacity to cater to projected bullish demand around a decade ago. But this did not materialise, and intense competition between the gencos have led to electricity prices falling below the full cost of production, he explained. But the overcapacity situation will likely be alleviated in the near future and it is thus inevitable that prices will rise, he said. "Over the medium to long run, electricity prices normalising is inevitable... No company that is commerciall...

SeaPRwire

ExxonMobil scales back shale ambitions to focus on lower costs, dividend preservation

elean
4 minutes

HOUSTON (REUTERS) - ExxonMobil is lowering its ambitions for oil and gas output, it said on Wednesday (March 3), as it focuses on cutting costs and preserving dividends to win back investors that have soured on the company after years of overspending. The top US oil producer, which on Tuesday announced it will cut 300 jobs of 7 per cent of its workforce in Singapore, incurred a historic loss of US$22.4 billion (S$29.86 billion) last year. ExxonMobil is trying to convince a skeptical Wall Street that it can rebound after years of overspending left it deeply indebted and lagging behind rivals better geared for a world demanding cleaner fuels. ExxonMobil last year fell out of the Dow Jones index of top US companies and shares fell to a two-decade low. Activist investors are pushing it to lessen its reliance on fossil fuels. "The priority right now is to rebuild the balance sheet," ExxonMobil chief executive Darren Woods said on a media call following a virtual analysts day that emphasized the company's commitment to lower spending and reducing debt, which has ballooned to US$67.6 billion from US$37.8 billion two years earlier. That said, some analysts criticized ExxonMobil's spending ...

JCN Newswire
Read More

Hitachi Developed the Hitachi Electronic Signature Service that Promotes to Eliminate Personal Seals with High Authenticity of Information by Blockchain Technology, and Starts Internal Operations

ruth
6 minutes

TOKYO, Mar 3, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Hitachi, Ltd. has announced that it has developed the Hitachi Electronic Signature Service, which implements secure electronic contracts based on blockchain (distributed ledger) technology. The Service digitizes the signatures and seals of paper documents such as contracts exchanged between companies, and promotes to eliminate personal seals. The use of blockchain guarantees the authenticity of signature information and improves resistance to data tampering. The Service provides stable system operation by using the Hitachi Blockchain Service for Hyperledger Fabric for its blockchain platform. The Hitachi Blockchain Service for Hyperledger Fabric is suitable for transactions between multiple corporations and has also been used for traceability systems in inter-company supply chains. The Service will contribute to the establishment of a new sustainable way of working in the age of the New Normal with supporting remote working, operational efficiency and cost reduction.Hitachi started to operate the Service at the Procurement Department at its head office as of March 2021. After reflecting the feedback in the Service, we will lau...

SeaPRwire

Tree inspections in S’pore carried out every 6 to 24 months: Desmond Lee

aseanpr
4 minutes

SINGAPORE - The National Parks Board (NParks) carries out rigorous tree inspections every six to 24 months, with trees that are close to areas with high pedestrian or traffic activity receiving more frequent checks. The tree inspection regime follows the best management practices set by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), Minister for National Development Desmond Lee told Parliament on Wednesday (March 3). "During a tree inspection, NParks' inspectors conduct a comprehensive visual examination of the tree crown, branches, trunk and roots to assess the tree's health and stability," said the minister. "Trees that are found to have possible defects are subjected to an additional in-depth inspection, which involves the use of diagnostic equipment to assess the internal condition of the tree." Mr Lee added that since November 2016, such in-depth inspections are also conducted annually for trees of more than 4m in girth, as a precautionary measure in response to changing weather conditions. This goes beyond the ISA's prescribed best management practices, he noted. The minister was responding to questions by Ms Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) and Mr Shawn Huang (Jurong GRC)...

SeaPRwire

Police investigating MP Louis Ng for not getting permit before holding placard supporting hawkers

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Nee Soon GRC MP Louis Ng is currently being investigated by the police for not applying for a permit before he visited hawkers with a placard in June last year. Mr Ng had posted about his trip to Yishun Park Hawker Centre on Facebook on June 20, encouraging residents to visit the hawkers. In four pictures that accompany the post, Mr Ng is seen holding up a piece of paper that read "Support Them" followed by a smiley face. In a statement on Wednesday (March 3), the police said they have been looking into a possible offence of public assembly without a permit by Mr Ng. "We have already interviewed Mr Ng. Police investigations are ongoing," they added. In Mr Ng's Facebook post in June, he wrote that hawkers "worked hard during the past few months to try to make ends meet and to provide yummy food for us". "More than ever, our hawker heroes need our support," he added. On Wednesday, Mr Ng wrote on his Facebook page that he was at the Yishun Park Hawker Centre in June last year doing his regular walkabout. "This was an especially important walkabout as we had just emerged from the circuit breaker. I was there to make sure our hawkers were doing okay. As we all know, they suf...

SeaPRwire
Read More

SAF to review medical classification system to let more NSmen take on operational roles

aseanpr
4 minutes

SINGAPORE - More national service enlistees will soon be able to take on operational roles within the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), regardless of medical fitness, as the organisation reviews the way it classifies their fitness for different vocations. This is as the SAF introduces new vocations and redesigns existing ones in response to a changing threat environment, such as having cyber specialists to protect key digital networks and systems, Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How said during the debate over the Ministry of Defence's (Mindef) budget on Monday (March 1). "We are redesigning our Medical Classification System (MCS) and the Physical Employment Standard (PES) System to shift away from the binary classification of combat-fit versus non-combat-fit deployment," he said. "Medical exclusions that used to limit deployments may no longer be relevant in today's operational context or with the latest technology." The current MCS sees full-time national servicemen (NSFs) classified as either combat-fit or non-combat-fit, while the PES system categorises NSFs by suitability for combat vocations, ranging from PES A and B1 for combat vocations to PES F, where they are d...

ACN Newswire
Read More

Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve Collaborates to Restore Mangrove Forests in Seruyan

indie
7 minutes

Kuala Pembuang, Indonesia, Mar 1, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - As 2021 starts, the media continues to carry horrific stories of ongoing environmental abuse. We can no longer deny that the climate crisis is real, but somehow we manage to do just that. 'Extinction: The Facts' is a BBC Earth documentary, in which Sir David Attenborough explores how the loss of biodiversity has consequences for us all. He mentions the impact of global warming and the resulting climate crisis that has led to a loss or change of three-quarters of the world's terrestrial surface. Sadly, the cause is human greed, our purchasing habits are killing off our natural resources.There is so much we can do to help prevent further destruction. Mangrove ecosystem rehabilitation is something we feel can have an enormous impact on the environment and the people who depend on the health of the sea. Not only does this kind of forest store more carbon than normal forests, but it also protects a marine habitat that is vital to the oceans and the communities who live off the sea. The carbon in a mangrove forest is also called 'blue carbon'.The main challenge faced by mangrove ecosystems is that they are dwindling, this is a res...

SeaPRwire
Read More

China fintech curbs that hit Ant were no surprise, Ping An says

elean
5 minutes

BEIJING (BLOOMBERG) - China's curbs on fintech that thwarted a massive stock sale by Ant Group have been under consideration for years and weren't a surprise to those in the industry, according to an executive at China's biggest insurer by market value. Like Ant, Ping An Insurance (Group) was in the midst of planning a public listing for a fintech unit when regulators began issuing a flurry of rules to contain the country's burgeoning online lending industry. Its Lufax Holding Ltd. debuted on the New York Stock Exchange days before the most-sweeping checks were unveiled in November, followed closely by the abrupt suspension of Ant's initial public offering. While the string of tightening moves has prompted investors to dump Chinese tech stocks and led to deep cuts in valuations, industry players saw them coming, Jessica Tan, co-chief executive officer of Ping An said in an interview. Ms Tan, 43, oversees Ping An's technology units including Lufax and OneConnect Financial Technology Co. "Chinese regulators don't suddenly throw a regulation at you and say 'we will do this,'" Ms Tan said while on a visit to her native Singapore. "Every regulation that has been announced, it's not a su...

SeaPRwire
Read More

Local banks step up to help Singapore SMEs go global

elean
1 minute

SINGAPORE - When a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) decides to take its first step outside the country, it will look for a bank where it can open a business account that offers management of its cash flows, both within the new jurisdiction and across the border. For a Singaporean SME, that bank would typically be one of the three big ones - DBS, OCBC or UOB. Hence, for the Government's internationalisation push to succeed, the readiness of these banks to serve cross-border business expansion is crucial. 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.

SeaPRwire

5 factors that affect hospital claims

elean
1 minute

The relentless increase in healthcare insurance premiums is a major concern for all policyholders, but sadly there is no "vaccine" that can stop the price rises. This is because insurers are being hit by a double whammy - the big jump in prices of new treatments for serious illnesses such as cancer, and the increase in the number of people falling ill across all age groups, noted the Life Insurance Association (LIA). 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.

SeaPRwire
Read More

ROK-Biotech, Korea’s leading cosmetic brand. Launching the new product ‘Dr. M-KIN Anti V Hand Cream’

pandora
3 minutes

Seoul, Korea - The demand for natural cosmetics has been increasing during Covid-19 throughout the world. The pandemic has also resulted in a change in people's habits and has led to a greater demand for a natural product with functional properties including many types of household items and food. A South Korean cosmetic brand ROK-Biotech is gaining attention for its natural functional products giving excellent antibacterial and antiviral effects; they have recently developed the products using a molecular biology tool. Their new product Dr. M-KIN Anti-V Hand Cream launched in January 2021 is a multifunctional all-in-one product that provides hand sterilization and skin protection with a moisturizing effect. The product went through a series of tests from the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR) and the antibacterial test results showed it kills 99.9% of germs (5 different bacteria was used); the antiviral test results showed it was 99% effective against Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). On top of that, the results of the Skin Irritation Test (SIT) showed that the product is classified in non-irritation category (0.00). This data further proves that the product is pe...

ACN Newswire
Read More

ROK-Biotech, Korea’s leading cosmetic brand, Launches the new product ‘Dr. M-KIN Anti V Hand Cream’

indie
3 minutes

The demand for natural cosmetics has been increasing during Covid-19 throughout the world. The pandemic has also resulted in a change in people's habits and has led to a greater demand for a natural product with functional properties including many types of household items and food. A South Korean cosmetic brand ROK-Biotech is gaining attention for its natural functional products giving excellent antibacterial and antiviral effects; they have recently developed the products using a molecular biology tool. Their new product Dr. M-KIN Anti-V Hand Cream launched in January 2021 is a multifunctional all-in-one product that provides hand sterilization and skin protection with a moisturizing effect. The product went through a series of tests from the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR) and the antibacterial test results showed it kills 99.9% of germs (5 different bacteria was used); the antiviral test results showed it was 99% effective against Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). On top of that, the results of the Skin Irritation Test (SIT) showed that the product is classified in non-irritation category (0.00). This data further proves that the product is perfectly safe fo...

SeaPRwire
Read More

It’s Gates versus Musk as world’s richest spar over bitcoin

elean
2 minutes

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - Unless you're the world's richest person, you shouldn't be buying bitcoin. That's the message from Bill Gates - the third richest. With a rally of more than 400 per cent over the past year, bitcoin has become increasingly mainstream, and everybody including prominent investors and policy makers have been talking about it. The world's on-again, off-again richest person, Elon Musk, recently invested US$1.5 billion (S$2 billion) in the cryptocurrency through his company, Tesla Inc., and said bitcoin would soon be accepted for payments. For Mr Gates, it's not something Main Street should buy into - plus it's bad for the environment as mining the coins requires a lot of energy. "Elon has tons of money and he's very sophisticated, so I don't worry that his bitcoin will sort of randomly go up or down," Mr Gates said in an interview with Bloomberg Television's Emily Chang. "I do think people get bought into these manias who may not have as much money to spare. My general thought would be that if you have less money than Elon, you should probably watch out." Mr Musk himself has repeatedly boosted bitcoin on Twitter and other platforms. Mr Musk, who's worth US$189.6 bi...