english Ziploc� Brand Helps Bring a Chaos-Free Holiday to Travelers across the Country - Ziploc� Brand Holiday Tollbooth Video (Extended) By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 11 Dec 2015 13:55:00 EST Bad traffic, tired drivers and cranky kids; life makes holiday travel anything but a holiday. Watch what happens when Ziploc� takes over a tollbooth and surprises real holiday travelers with gifts. Full Article Household Consumer Cosmetics Leisure Travel Hotels Retail Travel Household Products (vacuum cleaners supplies etc) Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english Technology Company Breaks World Record For Largest Crystal Lagoon - Crystal Lagoons Corporate Video By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 10 Dec 2015 18:00:00 EST Crystal Lagoons Corporate Video Full Article Construction Building Leisure Travel Hotels Travel Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions Hotels and Resorts New Products Services Awards Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english Las Vegas Toasts Strip Legend Frank Sinatra in Honor of 100th Birthday Celebration - Interview with Tina Sinatra By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 10 Dec 2015 16:10:00 EST Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority interviews Tina Sinatra Full Article Entertainment Gambling Casinos Music Travel Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english Small overlap crash protection, front crash prevention key to 2016 awards; 48 models earn TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, 13 earn TOP SAFETY PICK - 2016 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICKS By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 10 Dec 2015 11:27:00 EST 2016 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICKS Full Article Trucking and Road Transportation Travel Insurance Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english OVER THE HILLS AND THROUGH THE WOODS � TO GRANDMOTHER�S HOUSE WE GO�FOR THE HOLIDAYS! - Enjoy the Road This Winter with Helpful Tips By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 09 Dec 2015 21:00:00 EST Enjoy the Road This Winter with Helpful Tips Full Article Travel Trucking and Road Transportation Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english [ yellow tail ] Celebrates the Holidays with Ali Fedotowsky and the 12 Days of Giveaways - Kicking off the 12 Days of Giveaways By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 08 Dec 2015 14:50:00 EST Former star or ABC�s The Bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky and [ yellow tail ], America�s go-to holiday wine, team up to Spread Holiday Cheer in New York City to kick-off [yellow tail ] wine�s 12 Days of Giveaways. Starting Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, people can visit Facebook.com/yellowtail to find out more ways to win exciting prizes. Full Article Retail Beer Wine & Spirits Beverages Social Media New Products Services Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Rev Up and Sprint Into Action - Now That's Fast! - T-SPRINTS COMMERCIAL By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 08 Dec 2015 11:55:00 EST T-SPRINTS COMMERCIAL Full Article Entertainment Household Consumer Cosmetics Retail New Products Services Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english Shield Your Home this Winter with #AHSWinterMaintenance Tips - Cover yourself with a home warranty By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 04 Dec 2015 10:25:00 EST Be Prepared! Protect your home from sudden heating repairs with a home warranty from AHS this winter. Home warranties help homeowners control repair or replacement costs during a break down. Full Article Household Consumer Cosmetics Home Improvement Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english Extended Stay America Partners With The Noerr Programs To Create The "Official Hotel of Santa Claus" - Santa Claus� Travel Secrets By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 03 Dec 2015 14:35:00 EST Santa Claus and Extended Stay America, �Santa�s Official Hotel,� Partner to ease holiday travel woes. In time for the holiday season, the ultimate holiday travel guru shares holiday travel tips. Full Article Entertainment Leisure Travel Hotels Travel Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions Hotels and Resorts Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english Maison Perrier-Jou�t Celebrates the Creative Effervessence Of Design Miami/ 2015 - Eden Party by Perrier-Jou�t By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 03 Dec 2015 13:13:00 EST Eden Party by Perrier-Jou�t Full Article Art Food Beverages Retail Beer Wine & Spirits Beverages New Products Services Trade show news MultiVu Video
english Create Holiday Party Magic With The Help of Chex's Go-To Holiday Guide - Chex Holiday Party Tip By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 02 Dec 2015 12:15:00 EST Adding festive flair to your cocktail is an easy way to impress your holiday party guests. Full Article Food Beverages Household Consumer Cosmetics Retail New Products Services Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english Fans Get a Peek at the First Dream Remodel for HGTV Dream Home 2016, Located in Merritt Island, Florida - HGTV Dream Home 90-second Tour By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 02 Dec 2015 11:45:00 EST HGTV Dream Home 90-second Tour Full Article Construction Building Entertainment Household Consumer Cosmetics Television Home Improvement Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english Volvo Lets You Have Your Christmas Shopping Delivered Directly to Your Car - Volvo Lets You Have Your Christmas Shopping Delivered Directly To Your Car By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 30 Nov 2015 15:55:00 EST Volvo Lets You Have Your Christmas Shopping Delivered Directly To Your Car Full Article Auto Computer Networks Household Consumer Cosmetics Multimedia Online Internet Retail Supermarkets Transportation Trucking Railroad Trucking and Road Transportation New Products Services MultiVu Video
english Onelink by First Alert� Brings Common Sense to the Smart Home Revolution - Onelink by First Alert By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 24 Nov 2015 15:15:00 EST The new HomeKit-enabled Onelink by First Alert� Wi-Fi Smoke + Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarm pairs First Alert�s legacy of safety and innovation with Apple�s revolutionary HomeKit technology. Full Article Household Consumer Cosmetics Retail Home Improvement Household Products (vacuum cleaners supplies etc) Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english Volvo Cars to Develop Next Generation Automotive Technologies With Microsoft - Volvo HoloLens By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 23 Nov 2015 15:20:00 EST Volvo HoloLens Full Article Auto Computer Electronics Computer Networks Computer Hardware Computer Software Consumer Electronics Transportation Trucking Railroad Trucking and Road Transportation Joint Ventures New Products Services MultiVu Video
english AARP Unveils the 2016 Top 7 Travel Trends for Baby Boomers - AARP's Travel Ambassador Samantha Brown Unveils the 2016 Top Travel Trends for Baby Boomers By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 24 Nov 2015 14:00:00 EST AARP's Travel Ambassador Samantha Brown Unveils the 2016 Top Travel Trends for Baby Boomers Full Article Travel Broadcast Feed Announcements Survey Polls & Research Senior Citizens MultiVu Video
english Holiday Inn Express� Brand Introduces First All Breakfast Emoji Keyboard - Rob Riggle Announces BREAKFA-mojis for Days By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 23 Nov 2015 10:05:00 EST Actor/comedian Rob Riggle announces his next breakfast move as the Holiday Inn Express brand�s Creative Director � BREAKFA-mojis! Full Article Food Beverages Internet Technology Leisure Travel Hotels Multimedia Online Internet Telecommunications Travel Mobile Entertainment Hotels and Resorts Wireless Communications New Products Services Broadcast Feed Announcements Survey Polls & Research MultiVu Video
english CREATE A THANKSGIVING FEAST THAT WILL BE SURE TO KEEP THE FAMILY TALKING! - Lifestyle Expert Shares Easy Tricks For Turkey Day! By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 23 Nov 2015 18:10:00 EST Lifestyle Expert Shares Easy Tricks For Turkey Day! Full Article Food Beverages Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english New Goody Clean Radiance Brushes Equipped With Copper Bristles for Radiant Hair - Goody Clean Radiance 101 By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 20 Nov 2015 19:15:00 EST Watch how the copper bristles in Goody Clean Radiance brushes work to reduce buildup in hair. Full Article Household Consumer Cosmetics Retail Cosmetics & Personal Care Household Products (vacuum cleaners supplies etc) New Products Services Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english Las Vegas Redo: Irish 'GoPro Dad' Invited for Second Chance to Film Vegas Vacation - Irish GoPro Dad � Q&A By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 20 Nov 2015 18:30:00 EST Global (INTERNET) sensation Joseph Griffin will make his triumphant return to Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 19, to properly capture the sights and sounds of the iconic Las Vegas Strip. This time, he�ll film a few familiar sites from his original �selfie� video paired with a selection of only-in-Vegas surprises for this Irish Dad. Full Article Entertainment Gambling Casinos Internet Technology Multimedia Online Internet Travel Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
english Handheld Launches Its First Ultra-Rugged Android Tablet � the Best-in-Class ALGIZ RT7 - Algiz-RT7 rugged tablet product presentation By feeds.feedburner.com Published On :: 20 Nov 2015 14:35:00 EST Algiz-RT7 rugged tablet product presentation Full Article Computer Electronics Consumer Electronics Mobile Entertainment New Products Services MultiVu Video
english Beijing pushes to join security efforts for citizens in Pakistan, sources say By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:42:00 +0800 ISLAMABAD — Beijing is pushing Pakistan to allow its own security staff to provide protection to thousands of Chinese citizens working in the South Asian nation, during talks after a car bombing in Karachi that was seen as a major security breach, sources said. Last month's airport bombing in the southern port city that killed two Chinese engineers returning to work on a project after a holiday in Thailand was the latest in a string of attacks on Beijing's interests in Pakistan. The attacks, and Islamabad's failure to deter them, have angered China, which has pushed Pakistan to begin formal negotiations for a joint security management system. Reuters spoke to five Pakistani security and government sources with direct knowledge of the previously unreported negotiations and demands on condition of anonymity, as the talks are sensitive, and reviewed a written proposal sent by Beijing to Islamabad. "They (Chinese) want to bring in their own security," said one official, who sat in on a recent meeting, adding that Pakistan had not so far agreed to such a step. Full Article
english Bus falls into Indus river in Pakistan, killing 14 By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:20:15 +0800 ISLAMABAD — A bus carrying 27 passengers fell into the Indus river in northern Pakistan on Nov 12, killing 14 people, according to a statement from the Gilgit Baltistan authorities. Twelve of the remaining passengers are missing, and one passenger has survived the accident with injuries, the statement from the authorities said. The accident occurred due to speeding, and the driver losing control of the vehicle, according to the authorities. According to local broadcaster Geo, the bus was part of a wedding procession headed towards Pakistan's Chakwal district when it fell into the river from Telchi bridge at the limits of Diamer district. Fatal road accidents are common in Pakistan, where traffic rules are rarely followed and roads in many rural areas are in poor condition. Earlier in August, two bus accidents in north-east and south-west Pakistan killed at least 34 people. Full Article
english IMF holds unusual talks with Pakistan over $9.4 billion bailout By asiaone.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:08:00 +0800 ISLAMABAD — The International Monetary Fund's Pakistan mission chief Nathan Porter on Tuesday (Nov 12) opened unusual talks with Pakistan over a US$7 billion (S$9.4 billion) bailout approved by its board in September, the finance ministry and sources said. The unscheduled visit of the IMF mission and talks beginning with meeting the country's finance team are too early for first review of the IMF's Extended Fund Facility (EFF), which is due in the first quarter of 2025. The chiefs of Pakistan's central bank and federal board of revenue also attended the meeting besides other officials from both the sides, the statement said. The ministry and the IMF have not officially released details of the visit. Sources in the finance ministry said the Nov 11-15 visit will discuss recent developments and programme performance to date, adding the mission was not part of the first review. The sources declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak with the media. Pakistan has been struggling with boom-and-bust economic cycles for decades, leading to 23 IMF bailouts since 1958. Full Article
english Philippines says it's under pressure from China to cede claims in South China Sea By asiaone.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:03:11 +0800 CANBERRA — China is putting ever-greater pressure on the Philippines to cede its sovereign rights in the South China Sea, Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro said on Nov 12 after a meeting with his Australian counterpart in Canberra. "What we see is an increasing demand by Beijing for us to concede our sovereign rights in the area," he said, adding that the Philippines was a "victim of Chinese aggression". China and the Philippines have sparred repeatedly this year over disputed areas of the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal, one of Asia's most contested features. Teodoro's meeting with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles, their fifth since August 2023, reflects growing security ties between the countries, both of whom have expressed concern about Chinese activity in areas of the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations. The two nations signed a strategic partnership in September 2023 and held their first joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea several months later. The Philippines also joined war games in Australia this year for the first time. Full Article
english South Korea's Yoon practices golf to prepare for future Trump meets By asiaone.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 12:58:31 +0800 SEOUL — South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol recently began practising golf, for the first time in eight years, in preparation for future meetings with US President-elect Donald Trump, Yoon's office confirmed on Tuesday (Nov 12). South Korean media said Yoon visited a golf course on Saturday for a sport his office said he had last played in 2016. "A lot of people close to President Trump... (told me) President Yoon and Trump will have good chemistry," Yoon told a press conference on Thursday, after congratulating Trump by telephone on his win. Former Trump administration officials and influential Republicans had offered to help build ties with the incoming president, he added. Analysts said Yoon may seek to find a way to capitalise on a personal friendship with Trump to advance Seoul's interests as Trump's "America First" foreign policy plans and his unpredictable style play out in his second term. South Korean companies rely heavily on trade with the United States, and during Trump's first term, the countries clashed over cost-sharing for the roughly 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War. Full Article
english Pakistan limits outdoor activities, market hours to curb air pollution-related illness By asiaone.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:21:25 +0800 LAHORE — Pakistan's Punjab province banned most outdoor activities and ordered shops, markets and malls in some areas to close early from Monday (Nov 11) to curb illnesses caused by intense air pollution. The province has closed educational institutions and public spaces like parks and zoos until Nov. 17 in places including Lahore, the world's most polluted city in terms of air quality, according to Swiss group IQAir's live ratings. The districts of Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Gujranwala have seen an unprecedented rise in patients with respiratory diseases, eye and throat irritation, and pink eye disease, the Punjab government said in an order issued late on Sunday. The new restrictions will also remain in force until Nov. 17. "The spread of conjunctivitis/ pink eye disease due to bacterial or viral infection, smoke, dust or chemical exposure is posing a serious and imminent threat to public health," the Punjab government said. Full Article
english Trial starts over rape, murder of junior doctor in India's Kolkata By asiaone.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:19:12 +0800 KOLKATA — A court in the eastern state of West Bengal began the trial on Monday (Nov 11) of a police volunteer accused of raping and murdering a doctor at a government hospital in August, a case that sparked outrage over the lack of safety for women in India. The woman's body was found in a classroom at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in the state capital Kolkata on Aug 9, the federal police said. They also said they had arrested a police volunteer, Sanjay Roy, for the crime. Full Article
english Social media magic: How a former chef became Bobby Saputra, the internet's favourite billionaire playboy By asiaone.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 17:15:00 +0800 In July 2024, internet personality Bobby Saputra posted a video of himself living it up at what appeared to be the star-studded, ultra-lavish wedding of Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani, the youngest child of Indian billionaire and Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani. The video featured clips of Saputra dancing, feasting and soaking up the "completely crazy" celebrations. He gushes in the voiceover: "It was like watching a Bollywood production." The video quickly went viral, racking up 6.6 million views on Instagram, 5.1 million on TikTok, and another 2.2 million on YouTube. Thousands left comments, including some celebrities who claimed they spotted him there. Except… he never set foot in the party. As it turns out, he had pieced together clips from a wedding he attended a few months prior — complete with him in full Indian attire, dancing with friends — and spliced in shots from the Ambani wedding that he found online. The result? Social media magic. Full Article
english Taiwan businessman Tsao to sue Chinese officials over sanctions By asiaone.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:32:00 +0800 TAIPEI — Taiwanese businessman Robert Tsao said on Nov 11 that he would sue in a Taiwan court senior Chinese officials over sanctions they had placed on him, saying he was seeking to counter China's intimidation of lawful activity. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, said in October it would punish and sanction Tsao, the retired founder of chipmaker United Microelectronics Corp (UMC), for alleged criminal and pro-Taiwan independence activities. China's Taiwan Affairs Office said the "Black Bear Academy" that Tsao has helped fund was seeking to incite separatism that would endanger cross-strait ties. Tsao, one of Taiwan's richest men who has pledged to provide millions to two civilian defence training programmes, told a press conference that China was threatening the lawful holding of political views in Taiwan and his personal safety. The lawsuit will be lodged in a Taipei court against Song Tao, head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, and also the office's spokesman Chen Binhua. Taiwan courts have no jurisdiction in China and senior Chinese officials do not visit the island. Full Article
english Indonesia says it has no overlapping South China Sea claims with China, despite joint agreement By asiaone.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:19:00 +0800 JAKARTA — Indonesia said on Monday (Nov 11) it does not recognise China's claims over the South China Sea despite signing a joint maritime development deal with Beijing, as some analysts warned the agreement risked compromising the country's sovereign rights. Beijing has long clashed with its Southeast Asian neighbours over territory in the South China Sea, which it claims sovereignty over in almost its entirety via a "nine-dash line" on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of several countries. Joint agreements with China in the strategic waterway have for years been sensitive, with some claimant states wary of entering into deals they fear could be interpreted as legitimising Beijing's vast claims. An arbitral tribunal in 2016 said the Chinese claim, based on its old maps, has no basis under international law, a decision China refuses to recognise. A joint statement issued at the weekend during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Beijing mentioned the two countries had "reached important common understanding on joint development in areas of overlapping claims". Full Article
english Fugitive lawyer Charles Yeo in UK custody, awaiting extradition hearing By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:12:41 +0800 Fugitive lawyer Charles Yeo, who is in custody in the UK, is currently awaiting an extradition hearing, reported CNA on Tuesday (Nov 12). A court date for the extradition hearing has not been determined, but Yeo is set to attend a bail hearing on Friday, according to the report. In an Instagram post on Nov 1, the former chairman of the Reform Party said the Singapore government had made a formal request for his extradition. In his post, Yeo also said that he will be presenting himself, together with his legal team, at Westminster Magistrates Court on Nov 11. Yeo left Singapore in July 2022 after being charged earlier that year with multiple offences relating to harassment and wounding the religious feelings of Christians in several social media posts. In August 2022, a warrant of arrest was issued against him for breaching the conditions for overseas travel while on bail. He was allowed to travel to Vietnam for work, but failed to return to Singapore and claimed he was seeking political asylum in the UK. Full Article
english PSLE results to be out on Nov 20 By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:45:00 +0800 SINGAPORE — Pupils who sat the PSLE will receive their results from 11am on Nov 20. The Education Ministry and Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, in a joint statement on Nov 13, said arrangements have been made for pupils to collect their results. Pupils will get details on collection arrangements from their schools, it added. Those who are unable to collect their results from school in person can appoint someone to do so on their behalf on Nov 22. Eligible pupils will receive the Secondary 1 (S1) Option Form to select secondary schools with their PSLE results. Pupils are required to use their unique S1 personal identification number found on the top-right hand corner of the form to log in to the S1 Internet System to submit their school choices from 11.30am on Nov 20 to 3pm on Nov 26. Parents who need help with the online submission can contact the primary school before 3pm on Nov 26. Posting results will be released between Dec 18 and Dec 20 through SMS, the statement said. This information can also be accessed through the S1 Internet System or at the pupil's primary school. Full Article
english $10m up for grabs in next Toto draw after 3 draws with no winners By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:43:00 +0800 A grand prize of $10 million is up for grabs at the upcoming Toto draw on Thursday (Nov 14) at 9.30pm. The Group 1 prize money has snowballed over the past three draws after no Group 1 winners were picked. According to Singapore Pools' website, the prize started at $1.2 million on Nov 4 before snowballing to $2.9 million on Nov 7 and $6 million on Nov 11. The last draw on Monday yielded three Group 2 winners who won $215,010 each. Tomorrow's draw will be a cascade draw, meaning that the prize money will be split between the Group 2 winners in the event that no Group 1 winner is chosen. If there are no Group 2 winners, the prize will be split among the Group 3 winners, and so on. The last time a Group 1 prize snowballed above $10 million was during the October 21 draw where two lucky winners bagged over $6.6 million each. Full Article
english Singtel's half-year net profit falls 42% By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:06:00 +0800 Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) reported a 42 per cent fall in its half-year profit on Wednesday (Nov 13), as the firm was hurt by the absense of S$1.2 billion it had logged through the divestiture of Telkomsel shares in its prior corresponding period. Last year, Telkomsel, the Indonesian associate of Southeast Asia's largest telecom firm, agreed to merge with its parent's IndiHome broadband arm in an effort to expand into Indonesia's fixed broadband market. SingTel's Australian unit Optus, currently embroiled in a legal battle with the country's competition watchdog, reported operating revenue of A$4.02 billion (S$3.51 billion) during the six months, in line with A$4.02 billion reported a year ago. "Optus and NCS drove the positive momentum, underscoring our focus on execution and operating rigour," the group's Chief Executive Officer Yuen Kuan Moon said. Southeast Asia's largest telecom firm said net profit for the six months ended Sept. 30 was S$1.23 billion, as compared to S$2.14 billion last year and missing a Visible Alpha estimate of S$1.37 billion. Full Article
english 'I just want closure': Qoo10 vendors, customers accept they will likely not get money back By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:05:08 +0800 SINGAPORE - When an online retailer began selling his products on e-commerce platform Qoo10 in August 2023, he did not bat an eyelid when it took 30 to 45 days for the platform to disburse his first payout, compared with about three to seven days for other e-commerce sites he was using. But nearly a year later in July, payments owed to his business by Qoo10 had ballooned to about $1.6 million, as the platform’s payment delays exceeded two months and disbursements began trickling in, in smaller amounts. The Singaporean, who wanted to be known only as Mr T and did not wish to divulge what he sold, pulled the plug on his Qoo10 shop this year in the middle of July, and filed a civil claim with the courts. He obtained a default judgment in October for Qoo10 to pay him what he is owed, after the e-commerce site failed to serve a notice of intention to contest or not contest the claim. Mr T, who added that he had borrowed nearly $1 million from banks, friends and relatives to pay his suppliers, said: “I am not holding out hope that I will get much, or any, of my money back from Qoo10... By this point, I just want closure because it’s been so stressful.” Full Article
english Taboo or not? Man's funeral-themed birthday celebration sparks controversy By asiaone.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:58:00 +0800 As a group of friends circled a hearse, chants were heard. Then, they stopped and bowed to the portrait displayed at the front of the vehicle. This was not a typical Buddhist funeral, but rather the unconventional birthday celebration of a funeral director, reported Shin Min Daily News. According to the Chinese evening daily, a video circulating online showed the friends chanting a birthday song. The hearse's interior had been decorated with balloons and a birthday banner, with the man even laying inside for photos. The clip garnered criticism from netizens, with some deeming it overboard and disrespectful to the funeral industry. In an interview with Shin Min, director of Xin An Funeral Services Chen Weisong (transliteration) explained that he had celebrated his birthday at the company's premises with his friends and family last week. Halfway through the performances by singers, his employees and business partners had surprised him with the birthday-themed hearse bearing his portrait. Chen told 8world he was not angry and did not think it was taboo. "I was too embarrassed to turn down their gesture," he said. Full Article
english Police probing deepfake nude photos of Singapore Sports School students; school meting out disciplinary actions By asiaone.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:55:49 +0800 SINGAPORE – The police are investigating deepfake nude photos of Singapore Sports School (SSP) students that were created and spread by other students. In response to queries from The Straits Times, school principal Ong Kim Soon said SSP is “aware of the incident involving the creation and sharing of deepfake photos by our student-athletes”. “The school does not condone such harmful behaviour,” he said, adding that it has launched an investigation and lodged a police report. The police, in response to queries from ST, confirmed that a report was lodged and investigations are ongoing. A reader who identified himself as a parent of a victim had alerted ST in an e-mail on Nov 12 about the deepfake nude images that were being circulated. “Many parents of affected female students in Singapore Sports School are making police reports about deepfake nude photos of their daughters generated by male students from the school,” the parent said. When contacted, the parent said that female teachers were also targeted, and that the school has offered affected students counselling. Full Article
english Proposed law could mandate treatment for community disturbances linked to mental health By asiaone.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:25:14 +0800 The Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) will be able to mandate mental health treatment for those who cause unreasonable interferences in the community if a bill to amend the Community Disputes Resolution Act (CDRA) goes through. The bill was proposed in Parliament by Minister for Community, Culture and Youth Edwin Tong on Tuesday (Nov 12). The CDRT currently hears disputes under CDRA between neighbours involving acts of unreasonable interference with the enjoyment or use of places of residence. Under the bill, the tribunal will be able to issue Mandatory Treatment Orders (MTO) should there be a belief that the acts of disturbance stem from an underlying psychiatric condition. "In those cases, the issue therefore is not just a disamenity one," Minister Tong said. "Hence, the MTO is intended to address the root cause of certain acts that a resident may engage in." Tong added that their priority remains in persuading the resident to go for treatment voluntarily, and that the CDRT-issued MTO is a measure of last resort. There are also criteria that must be met for the MTO to be issued. Full Article
english Man admits to forging Grab receipts to make over $16,000 worth of claims By asiaone.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:25:00 +0800 SINGAPORE — On more than 460 occasions, a man forged Grab receipts and sent them to his company, causing the firm to disburse over $16,400 to him. He also made false medical certificates and an electronic letter purportedly from the Singapore Armed Forces, causing the Ministry of Health (MOH), where he worked as a temporary staff, to excuse him from reporting for work. On Nov 12, Muhammad Fariz Shaik Sha Marican, 33, pleaded guilty to two forgery charges. Two other similar charges will be taken into consideration during sentencing. Deputy Public Prosecutor Kelly Ng said that Fariz was employed by recruitment firm Persolkelly (PSK), which worked with MOH to provide manpower. Fariz was deployed by PSK in November 2021 to work as a temporary staff for MOH to support the ministry's Covid-19 operations. In April 2023, MOH checked on Fariz's annual leave balance as the ministry wanted to convert him into a staff member. Full Article
english Public service committed to flexible work arrangements to meet workforce's changing needs: Govt By asiaone.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:02:15 +0800 The Public Service has expressed its commitment to implementing flexible work arrangements (FWAs) for its employees, taking into account the workforce's changing needs. In a written answer to a Parliamentary question posed by Choa Chu Kang GRC MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim on Monday (Nov 11), Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing said the Government recognises the growing need for FWAs, given Singapore's demographic changes and its ever-changing demands on Singaporeans. Zhulkarnain had asked whether the Civil Service will continue to support flexible working arrangements despite some companies in the private sector requiring employees to work from the office five days a week. Grab Singapore, for example, said it will enforce its five-day return-to-office mandate starting Dec 2, reported CNA. Referencing the Tripartite Guidelines on FWA Requests (TG-FWAR), which will be enforced starting Dec 1, Chan stressed the importance of such arrangements in supporting working caregivers, encouraging workforce re-entry, sustaining labour force participation, and attracting and retaining talent. Full Article
english US aircraft carrier joins military drills with South Korea and Japan By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:48:33 +0800 SEOUL - South Korea's military said it will hold a three-day joint exercise with the United States and Japan starting on Wednesday (Nov 13), featuring fighter jets and marine patrol aircraft as well as the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington. The Freedom Edge exercise is a response to what the South Korean military said were threats from North Korea, which recently conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test, drawing condemnation from Seoul, Tokyo and Washington. It also comes as the US State Department said North Korean troops have started engaging in combat operations in Russia's war with Ukraine. The exercise will include South Korean and Japanese fighter jets and maritime patrol aircraft, as well as the USS George Washington, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement. The trilateral exercise follows a first round held earlier this year after the leaders of the three countries agreed at a summit in 2023 to hold annual training drills. Pyongyang has long condemned joint drills between South Korea and the United States, calling them a rehearsal for invasion. Full Article
english Israeli strikes pound Lebanon, Hezbollah strikes back By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:26:30 +0800 BEIRUT/JERUSALEM — The Israeli military pounded Beirut's southern suburbs with airstrikes on Tuesday (Nov 12), mounting one of its heaviest daytime attacks yet on the Hezbollah-controlled area, and struck the middle of the country where more than 20 people were killed. Smoke billowed over Beirut as around a dozen strikes hit the southern suburbs starting in midmorning. After posting warnings to civilians on social media, the Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah targets in Beirut's Dahiyeh area and later said it dismantled most of the group's weapons and missile facilities. Israel said it had taken steps to reduce harm to civilians and repeated its standing accusation that Hezbollah deliberately embeds itself into civilian areas to use residents as human shields, a charge Hezbollah rejects. In northern Israel, two people were killed in the city of Nahariya when a residential building was struck, Israeli police said. Hezbollah later claimed responsibility for a drone attack that it said was aimed at a military base east of Nahariya. Full Article
english Trump names Musk to co-lead newly formed Department of Government Efficiency By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:23:00 +0800 WASHINGTON — US President-elect Donald Trump said on Nov 12 that Elon Musk and former Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. Musk and Ramaswamy "will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies", Trump said in a statement. Trump said their work would conclude by July 4, 2026, adding that a smaller and more efficient government would be a "gift" to the country on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Businessman and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy attends Donald Trump's campaign event sponsored by conservative group Turning Point Action, in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, Oct 24, 2024. PHOTO: Reuters file The appointments reward two Trump supporters from the private sector. Full Article
english Princess Kate returns to the fore with Christmas carol service By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:13:00 +0800 LONDON - Kate, UK's Princess of Wales, will make her most prominent return to royal engagements since having treatment for cancer next month when she hosts an annual Christmas carol service at London's Westminster Abbey. Kate, the wife of heir to the throne Prince William, has only made a handful of public appearances after having major abdominal surgery in January, and then undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy when subsequent tests revealed the presence of cancer. Last weekend, she attended two high-profile Remembrance events to commemorate those who lost their lives in conflict as part of her gradual return to official duties, but the carol service — the fourth she has organised, will be the first major royal event she has hosted herself. "This year's service provides a moment to reflect upon the importance of love and empathy, and how much we need each other, especially in the most difficult times of our lives," her office, Kensington Palace, said in a statement. Full Article
english Who are Trump's cabinet picks so far and who is in the running? By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:12:58 +0800 Donald Trump has begun the process of choosing a cabinet and selecting other high-ranking administration officials following his presidential election victory. Here are the early picks and top contenders for some of the key posts overseeing defence, intelligence, diplomacy, trade, immigration and economic policymaking. Some are in contention for a range of posts. Susie Wiles, chief of staff Susie Wiles reacts as Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump speaks, following early results from the 2024 US presidential election in Palm Beach County Convention Center, in West Palm Beach, Florida, US on Nov 6, 2024. PHOTO: Reuters Trump announced last week that Wiles, one of his two campaign managers, will be his White House chief of staff. Full Article
english Trump's Day One: Deportations, border wall, scrapping Biden humanitarian programs By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:48:40 +0800 WASHINGTON — Donald Trump is expected to take a slew of executive actions on his first day as president to ramp up immigration enforcement and roll back signature Biden legal entry programs, a sweeping effort that will be led by incoming "border czar" Tom Homan and other Republican immigration hardliners, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The executive actions would give federal immigration officers more latitude to arrest people with no criminal records, surge troops to the US-Mexico border and restart construction of the border wall, the sources said. Homan, who served as acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement from 2017-2018 under Trump, will bring a deep understanding of the US immigration system after a four-decade career that took him from a frontline Border Patrol agent to head of the agency that arrests and deports immigrants in the US illegally. Full Article
english At UN, US warns Israel against forcible displacement, starvation in Gaza By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:40:22 +0800 UNITED NATIONS — The United States stressed at the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday (Nov 12) that "there must be no forcible displacement, nor policy of starvation in Gaza" by Israel, warning such policies would have grave implications under US and international law. The remarks by US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield came just hours after Washington said its ally Israel was doing enough to address the humanitarian crisis in Israel to avoid facing potential restrictions on US military aid. "Still, Israel must ensure its actions are fully implemented - and its improvements sustained over time," Thomas-Greenfield told the UN Security Council. It was also urgently important that Israel pause implementation of a law banning the operation of the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, she added. Full Article
english Teen in critical condition with Canada's first presumptive human case of bird flu By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:30:33 +0800 TORONTO — A teenager is in critical condition in a British Columbia children's hospital, sick with Canada's first presumptive human case of avian influenza. "This was a healthy teenager prior to this, so no underlying conditions," said provincial health officer Bonnie Henry in a news conference on Tuesday (Nov 12). "It just reminds us that in young people this is a virus that can progress and cause quite severe illness and the deterioration that I mentioned was quite rapid." British Columbia health officials said on Saturday the province had detected Canada's first human case of H5 bird flu in a teenager. Full Article
english Global CO2 emissions to hit record high in 2024: Report By asiaone.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:30:17 +0800 BAKU — Global carbon dioxide emissions, including those from burning fossil fuels, are set to hit a record high this year, pulling the world further off course from averting more destructive climate extremes, scientists said on Wednesday (Nov 13). The Global Carbon Budget report, published during the UN's COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, said global CO2 emissions are set to total 41.6 billion metric tons in 2024, up from 40.6 billion tons last year. The bulk of these emissions are from burning coal, oil and gas. Those emissions would total 37.4 billion tons in 2024, up by 0.8 per cent in 2023, the report said. The rest are from land use, a category that includes deforestation and forest fires. The report by more than 80 institutions was led by the University of Exeter in UK. "We don't see a sign of fossil fuel emissions peaking in 2024," said lead author Pierre Friedlingstein, a climate scientist at the University of Exeter. Without immediate and steep emissions cuts worldwide, "we will just go straight into the 1.5C target, we'll just pass it and continue," he said. Full Article