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KUANTAN - A landslide in Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands early on Jan 26 killed a man, while another four people are feared to have been buried alive.
Mr Ismail Abdul Ghani, Pahang Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations, said that search and rescue operations are ongoing after the department received a distress call at 2.51am, reported Bernama.
The incident occurred at Batu 54 in Blue Valley, a small town in the popular hilly tourist destination Cameron Highlands.
“Based on preliminary information, there are three adult men and one adult woman still buried in the landslide. However, their identities have yet to be ascertained,” Mr Ismail said in a statement.
He added that the nine firemen who first arrived had to walk about 3km to get to the scene.
The landslide had disrupted traffic, according to Sin Chew Daily.
The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department said on Facebook that it has deployed a special operation and rescue team as well as tracker dogs to help with the rescue.
This story is developing.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/landslide-in-cameron-highlands-kills-1-another-4-feared-buried-alive
| 2024-01-26T03:12:13Z
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WASHINGTON/BEIJING - U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bangkok on Friday and Saturday, building on a commitment by the two countries' leaders to deepen dialogue between the world's two largest economies.
The Chinese foreign ministry announced the meeting in a separate statement.
The meeting comes a little more than two months after U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for about four hours on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco.
Biden and Xi agreed to open a presidential hotline, resume military-to-military communications, and work to curb fentanyl production, but remained at odds over Taiwan.
"This meeting continues the commitment by both sides at the November 2023 Woodside Summit between President Biden and President Xi to maintain strategic communication and responsibly manage the relationship," Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said in a statement.
She said Sullivan, who reports directly to Biden, would also meet with Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara.
"In these meetings, Mr. Sullivan will reaffirm the importance of the U.S.-Thailand treaty alliance and partnership and discuss opportunities to strengthen cooperation across a range of bilateral and global issues," Watson said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/white-houses-sullivan-to-meet-with-chinas-foreign-minister-in-bangkok
| 2024-01-26T03:12:24Z
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SINGAPORE – Bright, bold and cosy, this HDB flat is the perfect fit for art-loving Yan Kai and Rachael, a civil servant couple in their 20s and 30s who wanted to be known only by their first names.
The 893 sq ft three-room resale unit in Queenstown was the first and only one the couple viewed. It was a serendipitous find that they loved for its quiet neighbourhood, lush greenery and view of the city skyline.
The couple initially thought of a minimalist or Japandi look, but soon realised they could not picture themselves living in such a home, and instead gravitated towards maximalism.
“We wanted to feature all sorts of odd shapes, bright colours and contrasting textures,” says Rachael.
Yan Kai adds: “We were looking for a designer who could help us make sense of our maximalist madness and work with the fixed elements and design themes we had in mind.”
Their search led to Insight.Out interior designer Mandy Low, who initially proposed an earthy palette with splashes of rich colour, but reworked the plan for something colourful but still comfortable to suit the couple.
One of the flat’s strengths is its full-height windows, which let in plenty of natural light. Its minimal structural walls also offer flexibility for reconfiguration, making up for the limited floor area.
The design team removed the walls of one bedroom, creating an enlarged dining area for the couple to entertain.
This also freed up space for their collection of art, plants, books and vinyl records, which is primarily housed on the String shelves in the living area.
This vibrant collection contributes to the riot of colour in the living area.
The foyer, with the viridian green main door and orange household shelter door, gives visitors to the flat a taste of what is to come. Cement screed flooring serves as a neutral, yet visually textured, base.
After exploring a few colour schemes for the kitchen, the design team selected light blue laminates with bright orange semicircle handles sourced from Ikea, as well as glossy black granite countertops.
The couple were used to living in larger flats and found the lack of space challenging at first.
Yan Kai says: “We made the choice to convert one bathroom into a powder room and the other into a shower-only bathroom, so we could have a more spacious shower, and the double vanity we had envisioned for the powder room.”
Like the shared spaces, the bathrooms and bedroom are awash in colour: sunny yellow for the powder room and red for the master bedroom.
The couple wanted to recreate a swimming pool for the master bathroom. They chose white walls to avoid overwhelming the space, which already had bright blue floor tiles.
The designers also split the master bedroom into two sections with the placement of the wardrobe. LED lights have been added to its interior, so the couple need not switch on the downlights when one of them is in bed and the other is awake.
After a four-month renovation period, the couple moved into their home in June 2022.
- This article first appeared in the November 2023 issue of Home & Decor, which is published by SPH Magazines. Check out the digital edition of Home & Decor on the App Store, Magzter or Google Play. Also, see more inspiring homes at homeanddecor.com.sg
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/home-design/the-chic-home-maximalist-hdb-flat-in-queenstown
| 2024-01-26T03:12:34Z
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SINGAPORE – To celebrate their love, more Singaporeans are opting for “permanent” jewellery, typically in the form of matching, claspless bracelets welded around their wrists, say local businesses.
With no clasps, these “forever” bracelets are not meant to be removed, although wearers may attempt to snip them off with a pair of scissors.
Ms Jael Tan, 39, and her husband got a pair of 14K gold permanent bracelets in 2023.
“We have always liked the idea of everyday jewellery for couples. The idea of the bracelets being welded close was also very interesting for us,” the nurse told The Straits Times.
Besides couples, some family members and friends are also opting for such jewellery.
Mr Augustine Yuen, for example, bought for himself and his 61-year-old mother a pair of matching 14K white gold permanent anklets in 2023.
The 30-year-old financial agent said: “My mum and I have always been close and I thought permanent anklets would be a symbolic gesture to immortalise our bond.”
Curious Creatures is one local brand that has been offering permanent jewellery since November 2022. Its co-founder Larissa Tan told ST that she has seen an “overwhelming response”.
“For at least six months after launching (the collection), our appointments were always fully booked, and back then we did not have weekend slots available,” she added.
The brand has since started offering weekend slots for permanent jewellery welding at its Ion Orchard flagship outlet, and appointments are always fully booked, she said.
At Singapore-based fine jewellery brand Holly Gray, sales have more than doubled since it offered permanent jewellery in December 2022, said co-founder Hanya Seah, 30.
She said: “Customers first get permanent jewellery for its sentimental value. It’s a contemporary way of symbolising an enduring friendship or relationship.
“They also enjoy the convenience of waking up accessorised, without the hassle to put on or take off jewellery.”
The concept of permanent jewellery was popularised in the United States by brands like Catbird in New York in the 2010s.
Celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Meghan Markle and Jessica Alba have been seen wearing permanent jewellery.
On TikTok, the hashtag #permanentjewellery boasts more than 63 million views.
Curious Creatures’ Ms Tan said she first came across permanent jewellery in the US in 2018 and saw the potential of offering it in Singapore.
“As someone who rarely removes my bracelets, I was intrigued by this concept… Apart from the idea of a custom-fitted bracelet, the idea of an adult friendship bracelet or a promise bracelet was refreshing for this jewellery landscape,” she said.
Permanent jewellery is usually made of solid 14K gold as it is durable enough to withstand wear and tear from daily activities and sports, said Ms Tan.
During the fitting appointment, customers will first select a chain before a technician measures their wrist and welds their permanent jewellery close. Customers can also personalise their custom-fit chains with charms.
Prices for permanent jewellery like a bracelet or anklet are between $115 and $499 at Curious Creatures; additional charms start at $69.
Holly Gray’s Ms Seah said that the welding process is painless as jewellers use a leather pad to protect the customers’ skin so they do not feel the light voltage from the welder. The welding takes about a minute.
While permanent jewellery has a growing fanbase here, some have voiced pragmatic concerns.
“What if we break up?” said Mr Hishamuddin Shafiq, 38, adding that the bracelets also tend to look too feminine for his liking.
The fitness instructor added: “Being a gym coach, I watch people gain (or lose) mass. The jewellery might not fit well when one’s body transforms and it might look too tight or loose when that happens”.
Some schools have strict rules against students wearing jewellery on campus, Ms Tan from Curious Creatures said, so her permanent jewellery customers must be at least 16 years old.
Some questioned if wearing permanent jewellery will set off the metal detector when one passes through airport security. Ms Tan said none of her customers have had issues with this.
However, those who are going for X-rays, CT scans, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans or surgical procedures should remove all their jewellery – permanent or not – to eliminate the chances of burn injuries, according to most hospital guidelines.
Sengkang General Hospital said on its website that jewellery items may also affect the use of electrical equipment during the surgery.
While the jewellery may be carefully cut with scissors, Curious Creatures’ Ms Tan said her customers can return to the store to have their bracelets or anklets safely cut off for free.
The jewellery can be re-welded for $10 to $15.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/permanent-jewellery-a-hit-among-more-singaporeans
| 2024-01-26T03:12:44Z
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LONDON - Mohamed Salah underlined his “love” for Egypt as the Liverpool star hit back at critics of his decision to return to England for treatment on a hamstring injury.
Salah is expected to be sidelined for around four weeks as a result of the injury he suffered while playing for Egypt in their draw against Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations last week.
The 31-year-old has been criticised for leaving the Ivory Coast to undergo his rehabilitation with Liverpool.
Egypt’s record caps-holder Ahmed Hassan said Salah should have stayed with the team “even if he only had one leg to stand on”.
Egypt captain Salah hopes to rejoin his teammates if they reach the latter stages of the tournament, and he gave short shrift to those who questioned his commitment to his country.
“Yesterday I started the treatment and rehabilitation program and I will do everything possible to be ready as soon as possible and return to the national team as was agreed upon from the beginning... I still love it and love its people. Try harder,” he wrote on X.
Salah had watched from the stands as Egypt secured their place in the last 16 on Monday with a 2-2 draw with Cape Verde.
The two-time African player of the year has never won the Cup and twice fell short in the final, to Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal two years ago
With Liverpool in the midst of a Premier League title challenge and also competing in the Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup, Salah’s return to Merseyside has been seen as putting club before country.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was forced to apologise to the Egyptian FA after revealing Salah had opted to come back to Anfield.
But Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas Issa took to social media on Thursday to defend the Liverpool star from his detractors.
“The same individuals and ‘influencers’ who get weak in the knees when they happen to bump into Mohamed in person and beg for ‘follows’ or selfies, tried to capitalise on an unfortunate injury and questioned Mohamed’s commitment to his country,” he posted on X.
“They did this looking for fame, clicks and ‘likes’. I want to thank those who did the honourable thing and pointed out how ridiculous and cheap that was. I took names. In both cases.
“Most importantly, to the vast majority of you, who support Mohamed, my message to you is not to worry, because your global icon, the one you helped create, is already too big to be brought down by social media.
“No hyperventilating or foaming-in-the-mouth ‘influencer’ is going to change that.” AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/injured-salah-pledges-love-for-egypt-in-swipe-at-critics
| 2024-01-26T03:13:05Z
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THE HAGUE/DOHA/JERUSALEM - U.N. judges in The Hague will rule on Friday whether to order Israel to suspend its military campaign in Gaza as officials push ahead with efforts to negotiate a new deal for a ceasefire and release of more Israeli hostages.
On the ground in the seaside enclave, Gaza officials said on Thursday that Israeli strikes killed 20 Palestinians queuing for food aid in Gaza City, six people in a house in central Gaza's Al-Nusseirat refugee camp and at least 50 people in the prior 24 hours in Gaza's main southern city Khan Younis, where Israel is currently focusing the brunt of its might.
Reuters could not independently verify the details while Israel said it was either looking into the reports or did not immediately comment on the incidents.
The judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also called the World Court, are due to rule on Friday on South Africa's request for emergency measures against Israel in a case accusing it of state-led genocide in the Gaza Strip.
In more than three months of war, Israel's campaign has leveled much of the enclave, displaced some 1.9 million Palestinians and killed at least 25,900 people, according to Gaza officials. Israel launched its offensive in October after militants from Hamas, which rules Gaza, stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages.
The court will issue its ruling at 1 p.m. (1200 GMT) in a hearing expected to last about an hour. While the judges will not rule on the merits of the genocide allegations, which may take years to decide, South Africa asked the court to issue an interim order compelling Israel to suspend its military operations.
Israel has called South Africa's allegations false and "grossly distorted," and said it makes the utmost efforts to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza.
The court's rulings are final and without appeal, but it has no way of enforcing them. Israel on Thursday expressed confidence that the ICJ would "throw out these spurious and specious charges." Hamas said it would abide by an ICJ ceasefire order if Israel reciprocates.
DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS SEEK NEW TRUCE DEAL
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to negotiate a break in the conflict continued. U.S. and Israeli intelligence chiefs were due to meet Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Europe this weekend, one official told Reuters. A second source said Egypt's intelligence chief would also participate.
The White House has been trying to facilitate the release of the more than 100 remaining Israeli hostages taken during Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which ignited the war in Gaza, although there remains a considerable distance between the two sides' demands.
A third source with knowledge of the talks said that Israel has proposed a 60-day pause in the fighting during which hostages would be released in phases, beginning with civilian women and children.
Previously, three sources told Reuters that shuttle diplomacy over the past month involving the U.S., Qatar and Egypt has sought to hammer out a new deal for a ceasefire of about one month. But progress has been held up by differences between Hamas and Israel over how to bring a permanent end to the Gaza war.
In Gaza on Thursday, tanks hit areas around two hospitals in Khan Younis, forcing displaced people into a new desperate scramble for safety, residents said.
Israel's military said early on Friday that its intelligence found that Hamas was operating from inside and around the two hospitals, Nasser and Al-Amal, in Khan Younis. Hamas and medical workers have denied Israeli claims that militants in Gaza use hospitals as cover for bases.
The Israeli military said it was coordinating with hospital staff to ensure they remain "operational and accessible" and there is a safe corridor for people to leave the hospitals.
"The facts on the ground disprove the blatant misinformation that has been disseminated over the last 72 hours falsely claiming that the hospitals are under siege or attack," it said in a statement.
FLEEING TO RAFAH
On Thursday, thousands of homeless people sheltering in Khan Younis sought to flee to Rafah, 15 km (nine miles) away, the U.N. relief agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) said.
Video posted on X by Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, showed a crowd of people walking en masse on Thursday on a dirt road. "A sea of people forced to flee Khan Younis, ending up at the border with Egypt. A never ending search for safety that #Gaza is no longer able to give", Lazzarini wrote.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said less than 20% of the narrow enclave - around 60 square kilometres (23 square miles) - now harboured over 1.5 million homeless people in the south. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/israel-braces-for-world-court-ruling-focuses-attack-on-south-gaza
| 2024-01-26T03:13:15Z
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WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Jan 25 with South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor about the war in Gaza, a day ahead of a ruling at the World Court on urgent measures in a case in which Israel is accused of genocide.
Why it is important
UN judges on Jan 26 will rule on South Africa's request for emergency measures against Israel, which is accused at the International Court of Justice of state-led genocide for its military operation in Gaza.
Jan 26’s ruling will not deal with the core accusation of the case - whether genocide occurred - but will focus on the urgent intervention sought by South Africa.
Key quotes
In a call on Jan 25, Mr Blinken reaffirmed US support “for Israel’s right to ensure the terrorist attacks of Oct 7 can never be repeated”, the US State Department said in a statement.
Mr Blinken and Dr Pandor also discussed the need to protect civilian lives in Gaza, and ensure regional peace that “advances the establishment of an independent Palestinian state”, according to the State Department. It added the two also reaffirmed US-South Africa bilateral ties.
Context
South Africa has requested an immediate halt to Israel's military operation, which has laid waste to much of the enclave and killed more than 25,000 people or over 1 per cent of Gaza's 2.3 million population, according to the local health authorities.
Israel rejects the accusations from South Africa and says it has a right to defend itself following the Oct 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which governs Gaza. Israeli officials say that in that attack 1,200 people were killed and 240 taken hostage.
South Africa has asked for nine emergency measures, which act like a restraining order while the court hears the case in full, which could take years. The court is not bound to follow South Africa's requests and could order its own measures if it finds it has jurisdiction at this stage of the case. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/us-south-africa-discuss-gaza-war-ahead-of-ruling-on-measures-in-genocide-case
| 2024-01-26T03:13:26Z
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CARACAS - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro warned on Thursday that a deal with the political opposition for elections to be held later this year was in danger of collapse, after what he has described as "conspiracies" against him.
WHY IT MATTERS
Last year, the government of Maduro's ruling socialists reached a deal with the political opposition over talks in Barbados to hold elections sometime during the second half of this year.
The deal caused the United States to temporarily ease economically debilitating oil sanctions on the crude-exporting country.
U.S. officials stressed that the relief was dependent on Caracas lifting bans on opponents holding public office, as well as releasing political prisoners and "unjustly detained" Americans.
Venezuela has yet to lift a ban on Maria Corina Machado, the opposition's presidential candidate.
This week, Maduro said "conspiracies" against him and high-ranking government officials were dismantled last year, with nearly three dozen civilians and military personnel detained.
Later, U.S. officials said they were "concerned" about the arrests, which included members of the political opposition.
KEY QUOTES
"Today the Barbados agreements are mortally wounded, they're in intensive care, they were stabbed, kicked," Maduro said in a televised state broadcast.
"Hopefully we can save the Barbados agreements and, through dialogue, reach real overarching agreements through national consensus," he added.
WHAT'S NEXT
The government's arrest of opposition members could put the agreements at risk, and cause the sanctions to snap back. The arrest of opposition figures also threatens Machado's electoral chances, after she formed an alliance on Tuesday to mobilize her campaign. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/venezuelas-maduro-says-election-deal-with-opposition-could-collapse
| 2024-01-26T03:13:36Z
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Nice try! You scored 0 out of undefined. Restart Stay tuned for next week’s quiz! In the meantime, subscribe to ST’s newsletters to make sure you don’t miss the important stories of the week. Share this quiz Facebook WhatsApp Telegram Messenger X (Twitter) Copy Permalink
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https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2024/01/weekly-quiz-january-26/index.html?shell
| 2024-01-26T03:16:50Z
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Russia’s heating breakdowns amid sub-zero temperatures stem from longtime military prioritization over domestic infrastructure, exacerbated by wartime strains on budgets and workers, according to the UK Defense Ministry’s intelligence report.
The ministry wrote:
- In recent months, there have been heating breakdowns in 16 locations across Russia. These breakdowns amidst sub-freezing temperatures are an expansion of an existing problem that has plagued Russian cities and towns for decades, but has likely become more acute due to Russian wartime policies.
- Russia has routinely prioritised military spending over re-investment in general public infrastructure, especially since their invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Many regional governments have been asked to take on the burden of operating with less federal revenue and have been asked to fund local volunteer forces, which has likely stretched their budgets and necessitated some cuts to maintenance spending. Additionally, mobilisation has likely led to a workforce shortage across all industries including qualified heating engineers and plumbers.
- Putin has asked the Minister of Emergency Situations, Aleksandr Kurenkov, to ensure the supply of heating and electricity to residents. Appearing to tackle this issue is likely a key concern for Putin ahead of the forthcoming Russian presidential elections.
Last fall, the British Defense Ministry reported that Russia planned to increase military spending by 68% in 2024, with Russia’s government is diverting more resources to the military while reducing funding for healthcare and education, and increasing financial pressures on Russian businesses.
Read also:
- US Treasury: Russia’s economy under “considerable strain” due to its war in Ukraine
- Russian military footwear companies import $ 4.1 mn worth of goods from Europe – investigation
- Ukraine squeezes every last drop for defense in 2024 budget, Russia still 2.5x more
- British intel: Russia plans to increase military spending by 68% in 2024
- British intel: 2024 Russian defense spending to jump 68% to USD 112 bn
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/26/uk-intel-wartime-policies-magnify-russias-chronic-underinvestment-in-public-works/
| 2024-01-26T03:27:46Z
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Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Tops the Japanese Charts, Another Code: Recollection Debuts in 4th - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted 37 minutes ago / 235 ViewsMarvel's Spider-Man 2 (PS5) is up two spots to take first place on the retail charts in Japan with sales of 30,220 units, according to Famitsu for the week ending January 21, 2024.
Another Code: Recollection (NS) debuted in fourth place with sales of 15,741 units. The Last of Us Part II Remastered (PS5) debuted in 13th place with sales of 4,364 units. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (NS) debuted in 27th place with sales of 1,921 units.
Momotaro Dentetsu World: Chikyuu wa Kibou de Mawatteru! (NS) remained in second place with sales of 16,733 units. Super Mario Bros. Wonder (NS) is down two spots to third place with sales of 16,654 units.
Famitsu has yet to publish the hardware sales.
Here is the best-selling games in Japan:
- [PS5] Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (SIE, 10/20/23) – 30,220 (243,612)
- [NSW] Momotaro Dentetsu World: Chikyuu wa Kibou de Mawatteru! (Konami, 11/16/23) – 16,733 (936,936)
- [NSW] Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo, 10/20/23) – 16,654 (1,687,342)
- [NSW] Another Code: Recollection (Nintendo, 01/19/24) – 15,741 (New)
- [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo, 04/28/17) – 8,267 (5,680,781)
- [NSW] Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo, 03/20/20) – 5,790 (7,673,551)
- [NSW] Minecraft (Microsoft, 06/21/18) – 5,788 (3,424,744)
- [NSW] Pokemon Scarlet / Pokemon Violet (The Pokemon Company, 11/18/22) – 5,670 (5,278,988)
- [NSW] Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince (Square Enix, 12/01/23) – 5,581 (534,841)
- [NSW] Pikmin 4 (Nintendo, 07/21/23) – 5,438 (1,161,358)
- [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo, 12/07/18) – 5,135 (5,429,917)
- [NSW] Pokemon Scarlet / Pokemon Violet + The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (The Pokemon Company, 11/03/23) – 4,907 (99,747)
- [PS5] The Last of Us Part II Remastered (SIE, 01/19/24) – 4,364 (New)
- [NSW] Splatoon 3 (Nintendo, 09/09/22) – 3,981 (4,213,961)
- [NSW] The Game of Life for Nintendo Switch (Takara Tomy, 10/06/23) – 3,847 (177,498)
- [NSW] Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (Nintendo, 06/05/20) – 3,732 (1,234,901)
- [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo, 05/12/23) – 3,060 (1,944,981)
- [NSW] Nintendo Switch Sports (Nintendo, 04/29/22) – 2,816 (1,262,600)
- [NSW] Ring Fit Adventure (Nintendo, 10/18/19) – 2,761 (3,517,292)
- [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival (Bandai Namco, 09/22/22) – 2,670 (293,114)
- [NSW] Mario Party Superstars (Nintendo, 10/29/21) – 2,634 (1,389,791)
- [NSW] Super Mario Party (Nintendo, 10/05/18) – 2,533 (2,247,144)
- [NSW] WarioWare: Move It! (Nintendo, 11/03/23) – 2,272 (158,247)
- [NSW] Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban! (Konami, 11/19/20) – 2,245 (2,972,147)
- [NSW] Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 Special Price (SEGA, 11/17/22) – 2,085 (128,908)
- [NSW] Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros. Games, 11/14/23) – 1,929 (90,510)
- [NSW] Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Ubisoft, 01/18/24) – 1,921 (New)
- [NSW] Super Mario RPG (Nintendo, 11/17/23) – 1,907 (463,194)
- [NSW] Pokemon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl (The Pokemon Company, 11/19/21) – 1,786 (2,693,727)
- [NSW] Football Manager 2024 Touch (SEGA, 01/12/24) – 1,710 (5,273)
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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https://www.vgchartz.com/article/459744/marvels-spider-man-2-tops-the-japanese-charts-another-code-recollection-debuts-in-4th/
| 2024-01-26T04:17:59Z
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Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown Debuts in 3rd on the Swiss Charts - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted 49 minutes ago / 161 ViewsSuper Mario Bros. Wonder has remained in first place on the Switzerland charts, according to SwissCharts.com for the 3rd week of 2024.
Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown debuted in third place. The Last Of Us Part II re-entered the charts in fifth place following the release of the remastered version on PS5.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remained in second place, while EA Sports FC 24 dropped one sot to fourth place. Minecraft is down one spot to sixth place and Hogwarts Legacy is down three spots to seventh place.
Nintendo Switch Sports is down two spots to eighth place and The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom is down from seventh to ninth place. Mario Party Superstars rounds out the top 10.
There are a total of five Nintendo Switch titles in the top 10, four multiplatform titles, and one PlayStation title.
Here are the top 10 best-selling games in Switzerland for Week 3, 2024:
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown - NEW
- EA Sports FC 24
- The Last Of Us Part II
- Minecraft
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Nintendo Switch Sports
- The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
- Mario Party Superstars
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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https://www.vgchartz.com/article/459745/prince-of-persia-the-lost-crown-debuts-in-3rd-on-the-swiss-charts/
| 2024-01-26T04:18:06Z
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Grand Theft Auto V Tops the Australian Charts - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted 44 minutes ago / 139 ViewsGrand Theft Auto V is up three spots to take first place on the Australian charts, according to IGEA for the week ending January 14, 2024.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is down one spot to second place, EA Sports FC 24 remained third place, and Grand Theft Auto Online is up from eighth to fourth place. Super Mario Bros. Wonder climbed two spots to fifth place and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege re-entered the top 10 in sixth place.
Red Dead Redemption 2 fell from fifth to seventh place, NBA 2K24 dropped two spots to eighth place, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe re-entered the top 10 in ninth place. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora rounds out the top 10.
Here are the top 10 best-selling titles in Australia for the week:
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
- EA Sports FC 24
- Grand Theft Auto Online
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- NBA 2K24
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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https://www.vgchartz.com/article/459746/grand-theft-auto-v-tops-the-australian-charts/
| 2024-01-26T04:18:12Z
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Grand Theft Auto V Tops the New Zealand Charts - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted 39 minutes ago / 102 ViewsGrand Theft Auto V is up two spots to take first place on the New Zealand charts, according to IGEA for the week ending January 7, 2024. Grand Theft Auto Online is up from seventh to second place.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III dropped two spots to third place, EA Sports FC 24 remained in fourth place, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege re-entered the top 10 in fifth place. Red Dead Redemption 2 and NBA 2K24 dropped one spot to sixth and seventh places, respectively.
Need For Speed: Heat remained in eighth place, while Gran Turismo 7 and A Way Out re-entered the top 10 in ninth and 10th places, respectively.
Here are the top 10 best-selling titles in New Zealand for the week:
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Grand Theft Auto Online
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
- EA Sports FC 24
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- NBA 2K24
- Need For Speed: Heat
- Gran Turismo 7
- A Way Out
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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https://www.vgchartz.com/article/459747/grand-theft-auto-v-tops-the-new-zealand-charts/
| 2024-01-26T04:18:19Z
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Humans will one day set foot on Mars, and we can’t bring all our food with us. Most if not all of it will have to be grown on the surface of the currently inhospitable planet. Before we convert the atmosphere into a breathable one and completely alter the climate, though, we need to know if the soil itself is fertile.
Fortunately, NASA is working on this problem using simulated “Martian gardens” found at both the Kennedy Space Center and the Florida Tech Buzz Aldrin Space Institute.
On Earth, we almost always require soil to grow our food – a soft, wet, finely-ground coagulation of matter. “Soil, by definition, contains organics; it has held plant life, insects, worms,” Ralph Fritsche, project manager for food production at Kennedy Space Center, said in a statement. “Mars doesn’t really have soil.”
Instead, it has volcanic debris which, although potentially fertile, also contains a bunch of harmful metals and substances that could poison any hungry future colonists.
Collecting the closest to Martian-like soil on Earth – volcanic soil from Hawaii – various quantities of crumbled rock, water, and nutrients were mixed with the seeds of various crops in order to see which conditions are best for starting some off-world agriculture. The project is currently in its early stages, but so far, lettuce has been successfully grown.
Over a 3.5-week-long pilot study, biochemists and ecologists attempted to grow lettuce in three different environments – one with a biochemical growth stimulant and nutrients, one with just nutrients, and one in terrestrial potting soil.
As many as 15 of the 30 seeds in the stimulant-laced environments died before the trial ended, mainly due to their roots not becoming strong enough. However, those that survived did flourish into edible lettuce crops.
Within the stimulated soils, though, the germination rate was up to three days slower than in the terrestrial soil groups, meaning that farming on Mars will take a bit longer than it does on Earth.
A nine-month-long test is due next, which will not just test out lettuce, but radishes, Swiss chard, kale, Chinese cabbage, snow peas, dwarf peppers and tomatoes. If successful, expect the first members of a Martian settlement to be huge fans of garden salads.
This hasn’t been the only attempt to grow crops in simulated Martian soil. Back in June, a team of Dutch scientists demonstrated that radishes, peas, rye, and tomatoes could indeed be cultivated, all of which contain no dangerous levels of health-harming heavy metals like lead, copper, or cadmium. They also grew potatoes, garden rocket, and watercress, but further testing is required to see if these are safe to eat too.
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https://www.iflscience.com/nasa-is-using-martian-gardens-to-learn-how-to-farm-on-the-red-planet-38345
| 2024-01-26T04:27:51Z
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SYDNEY - Thousands marked Australia’s national day on Jan 26 with “Invasion Day” rallies in support of the country’s Indigenous community, many of whom want to drop celebrations or move the date.
Australia Day commemorates the day Britain established the state of New South Wales a penal colony, arriving in what is now the state capital Sydney with a “First Fleet” bringing colonists and convicts.
Many people celebrate the holiday with barbecues and trips to the beach, and it is also a popular date for immigrants to receive their Australian citizenship.
But many Indigenous Australians, who make up 3.8 per cent of the country’s 26 million people, reject the holiday as marking the start of injustices suffered since European colonisation.
In Sydney, thousands of protesters, many waving Indigenous flags, gathered in the city centre at an “Invasion Day” rally before a march that closed nearby city streets.
Aboriginal elder Adrian Burragubba said he was at the rally to “tell people that Australia Day doesn’t mean anything to us”.
“It’s the day of Aboriginal sovereignty,” Mr Burragubba said.
Protester James Cummings, a Sydney local, said it was “not the right day to be celebrating a national day”.
“One of the strong themes that we are marching in support of today is just find a more appropriate day to celebrate the nation,” Mr Cummings said.
Similar rallies took place in other state capitals, including Victoria’s Melbourne, Queensland’s Brisbane and Tasmania’s Hobart.
Indigenous Australians who have occupied the land for at least 65,000 years are among the country’s most disadvantaged people and face issues including poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates.
Despite calls to change the date of Australia Day from Jan 26, such a move has been ruled out by the governing Labor Party led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Mr Albanese told a citizenship ceremony in Canberra on Jan 26 that the day was “our chance to pause and reflect on everything that we have achieved as a nation”.
Two statues of colonial figures were vandalised in Melbourne earlier this week ahead of the contentious national holiday. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/thousands-protest-australia-day-holiday-with-invasion-day-rallies
| 2024-01-26T04:44:13Z
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SYDNEY - Voting began on Friday in the tiny Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu in a national election that is being closely watched by China, Taiwan, the US and its ally Australia, amid a tussle for influence in the region.
Tuvalu, with a population of about 11,200 spread across nine islands, has campaigned at international conferences for greater action to help low-lying nations address climate change, because science shows its capital Funafuti risks being inundated by tides by 2050.
Most of Tuvalu is forecast to be flooded by high tides by 2100, says the United Nations Development Programme, which is working with Tuvalu to bolster its coastline.
A contest for influence in the Pacific between China and the United States has seen Tuvalu courted, with Washington recently pledging to connect its remote population by undersea cable to global telecommunications for the first time.
Tuvalu is one of three remaining Pacific allies of Taiwan, after Nauru cut ties this month and switched to Beijing which pledged more development support.
Taiwan on Thursday said China was trying to influence the Tuvalu election and "seize our diplomatic allies". China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and not entitled to diplomatic ties. Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claim.
Contenders for Tuvalu's leadership have all advocated for climate change action on the world stage, but differ in approaches to ties with Taiwan, a diplomatic ally since 1979.
Tuvalu's Finance Minister Seve Paeniu, who has secured a seat in the new parliament as one of only two candidates for the Nukulaelae island electorate, told Reuters he expects Taiwan ties to be reviewed after the election.
The new government should decide whether Taiwan or China can best respond to Tuvalu's development needs, he said.
Prime Minister Kausea Natano has told Taiwan he continues to support ties, Taiwan said.
Enele Sopoaga, ousted as prime minister by Natano at the 2019 election, and former foreign minister Simon Kofe, have previously pledged support for Taiwan.
There are no political parties, and two lawmakers will be chosen by voters in each of eight island electorates.
After votes are counted, government boats collect the new lawmakers from islands and bring them to the capital Funafuti, a journey that can take up to 27 hours. The prime minister is chosen by the newly elected lawmakers.
Natano and Kofe are running in the seat of Funafuti.
Kofe attracted global headlines in 2021 when he delivered a speech to the United Nations climate change summit standing knee deep in water to highlight the plight of the low-lying nation.
Tuvalu signed a security and migration agreement with Australia in November that allows Canberra to vet security ties.
Sopoaga has rejected the Australia deal, while Kofe said some aspects should be revised. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/climate-threatened-tuvalu-holds-election-watched-by-taiwan-china
| 2024-01-26T04:44:24Z
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Do not keep Lucky Bamboo in deep shade
There are three stalks of Lucky Bamboo in this small pot. When should I repot them into a bigger container?
Gabriel Chia
Give your Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) plenty of filtered sunlight – about four to six hours a day – as it will not thrive in deep shade indoors.
This pot is big enough for these cuttings at their current size, but you can repot them once you observe that they have become too big for it.
You can take the stalks out to check if they have produced roots. Rooted cuttings can be potted in an aerated growing mix, preferably one containing organic matter and gritty components such as perlite and pumice.
Keep this mix moist and let it dry out slightly between each watering session, so the plant is not waterlogged.
Prune Aglaonema for proper growth habit
I have grown my Aglaonema indoors for over a year in hydroculture (lecca balls) and prune the lower leaves when they dry up and wilt. However, the plant looks lanky and faded. How can I make it bushy and colourful?
Serena Lim
The lack of colour in your Aglaonema could be due to insufficient light. Although it is a shade-tolerant plant that will burn under brighter light, the current location may not be sunny enough. Move it to a bright windowsill or install grow lights, and monitor it for any improvement in foliage colour.
For a bushier growth habit, prune the top portion of the plant. This cutting can be potted separately. Ensure there are still leaves on the lower part of the main plant, as these will continue to photosynthesise and feed new growth.
Rotate palm for full sunlight exposure
My plant’s leaves are yellow, even though I water it when the soil is dry and keep it near the window so it gets sunlight. If there is no rain, I open the window for ventilation. How do I care for this plant?
Kanthimathi Srinivasan
The side of the plant facing the window looks healthier and greener than the other. Rotate your pot slightly every few days so all parts of the plant can get sunlight. Move the pot nearer to the window and ensure the light is not blocked by curtains.
The root zone should be kept moist and not be allowed to dry out totally, or the roots may die. Insert your finger into the potting mix to check its moisture level. The surface may feel dry, but the soil beneath may still be moist.
Fig fruit looks infected
What is causing the black dots on my fig? How can I prevent them from recurring?
Adrian Ling
Your plant’s fruit may have a fungal disease. This is common in Singapore’s hot and humid climate, especially when the plant is grown in the open.
Grow your fig plant under a clear shelter to reduce the impact of excessive moisture from the rain. Apply copper fungicide regularly to reduce the incidence of disease.
Fiddle-leaf Fig is sunburnt
This young plant gets at least four hours of direct sunlight a day and is watered every two days. Why have the leaves turned brown?
Tay Soon Ann
The older leaves of your Fiddle-leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) show signs of sunburn, but the plant has adapted to the higher light levels, with no damage to the new leaves at the top of the plant.
Although cosmetic damage has been done to older parts of the plant, there is no cause for concern. This is also not an unusual phenomenon, as many plants are produced under shadier conditions in production nurseries.
Note that this plant thrives outdoors, such as in parks and gardens. If kept in deep shade, its growth will be sluggish and the plant will deteriorate over time.
- Answers by Dr Wilson Wong, an NParks-certified practising horticulturist and parks manager. He is the founder of Green Culture Singapore and an adjunct assistant professor (Food Science & Technology) at the National University of Singapore.
- Have a gardening query? E-mail it with clear, high-resolution pictures of at least 1MB, if any, and your full name to stlife@sph.com.sg. We reserve the right to edit and reject questions.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/home-design/root-awakening-grow-lucky-bamboo-under-bright-light
| 2024-01-26T04:44:34Z
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SINGAPORE - A police officer charged with receiving $32,500 in bribes has been handed five more charges, allegedly for obtaining another $36,000 in bribes from an immigration offender.
Aside from the bribe, the police officer, Poo Tze Chiang, 46, is said to have cheated the offender of $10,000 by lying to him and saying that it was to make applications to government agencies about his case.
Poo, who was charged in Nov 2022 with seven counts of corruption and three counts of obstruction of justice, was on Jan 26 handed four more charges of corruption and one charge of cheating. He now faces 15 charges.
The immigration offender who allegedly gave him the bribe, Chinese national Chen Guangyun, 37, was also charged with four counts of corruption.
Between July 2019 and October 2019, Poo purportedly obtained bribes totalling $18,000 for himself or another unknown police officer from Chen, who was being investigated for offences under the Immigration Act.
The money was allegedly meant as inducement for Poo, or the other police officer, to help Chen reduce punishment or avoid prosecution for the offences.
Also, between August 2019 and January 2020, Poo is said to have received another $18,000 from Chen to help the latter remain in Singapore after being convicted of a criminal offence.
These offences were not specified, but Chen was eventually convicted and repatriated to China, said a police prosecutor in court on Jan 26. Charge sheets state Chen was sent out of Singapore in May 2020.
In September 2020, Poo also allegedly cheated Chen of $10,000, lying to him that Poo required the sum to apply to two Singapore government agencies for Chen to be granted permission to return to Singapore.
Chen purportedly entered Singapore again in September 2022 without a valid pass, for which he was charged with two fresh offences under the Immigration Act. This case is still pending.
In addition, Chen faces two counts of being drunk and incapable of taking care of himself in a public place, and punching another man in the wee hours of April 8, 2023, at 525 Serangoon Road.
Between 2019 and 2020, Poo is also said to have received bribes totalling $32,500 from two other men, Cordell Chan Yuen Kwang and Wang Huate.
The money was allegedly given so that Poo would provide information and assistance to Chan and Wang regarding police investigations against them.
Once in Aug 2020, Poo allegedly flashed his police warrant card at two police officers patrolling in the area, so that they would not conduct checks on Chan and Wang.
A nightspot owner, Ng Chuan Seng, 52, who helped two individuals to pass a red packet with a $2,000 bribe to Poo, was sentenced to five weeks’ jail in Sep 2023.
Poo is represented by Mr K. Jayakumar Naidu of Jay Law Corporation. Chen’s lawyer is Mr L. G. Robert.
Their cases have been slated for pre-trial conferences in February.
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau said that Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption.
If convicted of corruption, Poo and Chen can each be jailed for up to five years and fined up to $100,000 per charge.
The offence of cheating carries a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/cop-who-allegedly-received-bribes-given-extra-corruption-cheating-charges
| 2024-01-26T04:44:45Z
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SINGAPORE – A South African man who was caught with Singapore’s largest ever seizure of rhinoceros horns –worth more than $1.2 million – was sentenced to two years’ jail on Jan 26.
Gumede Sthembiso Joel, 33, had earlier pleaded guilty to two charges under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 2006.
He was arrested in 2022 while on transit here on his way to Laos.
Gumede had unlawfully brought 20 horns from Johannesburg in his home country to Changi Airport Terminal 1 on Oct 4, 2022.
The prosecution said that 18 of these horns, which weighed nearly 32kg in total, were from 15 poached white rhinoceroses, which are endangered.
The remaining two horns, weighing more than 2.7kg in total, were from a critically endangered black rhinoceros.
Gumede had brought in all the horns without valid export or re-export permits issued by the relevant authorities in South Africa.
The permits should have come from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), which regulates wildlife trade, and of which Singapore is a party.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Eric Hu, Ng Shao Yan and Lee Da Zhuan stated in court documents: “According to Cites, the total number of white rhinoceroses stands at an estimated figure of 18,067, while there are only less than 5,000 black rhinoceroses out in the wild today.”
They said 15 samples of the horns seized were traced to 11 female rhinoceroses.
“The reproduction of such species could have been halted as a result of possible illegal poaching activities,” they added.
The prosecutors also said that illegal trade in such horns threatens the existence of the rhinoceroses and fosters a thriving black-market economy.
Investigations revealed that another South African man, Mr Jaycee Israel Marvatona, had bought the horns from illegal poachers in South Africa and arranged to sell them to one “Jimmy” for delivery in Laos.
The DPPs said that rhinoceros horns carry a high trade value and are treasured for their use in Chinese medicine and ornamentals.
In Vietnam, it has been rumoured that the horns can “cure cancer” and are highly sought after by those who are more affluent. The horns are also often presented as gifts to the elite.
The prosecutors told the court: “The poaching of such endangered species had led to unnecessary suffering to these rhinoceroses. Most of the poached rhinoceroses would die instantly.
“In some cases, horns are cruelly removed from live rhinoceroses, leaving them to die slowly from facial wounds. Such inhumane treatment of rhinoceroses is intolerable.”
According to court documents, Gumede had known Mr Marvatona for two or three years.
Since July 2022, he had known that Mr Marvatona was involved in the illegal rhinoceros horn trade.
Mr Marvatona would send images and videos of rhinoceros horns to Gumede via WhatsApp relating to the sale of such items.
Some time in or before September 2022, Mr Marvatona asked Gumede to transport some horns from South Africa to Laos, through Singapore.
He also told Gumede that he would make his trip “worthwhile”, providing return tickets as well as an undisclosed amount of cash.
Gumede agreed to transport the horns, and he tried to recruit a South African man, Mr Chad Berry, to accompany him to Singapore on Oct 3, 2022.
However, he failed to do so, despite offering Mr Berry around $2,230 to fly with what was referred to as their “package” to either Laos or Vietnam.
On Oct 3, 2022, Gumede took a flight from Johannesburg and landed in Singapore at around 7am the next day.
He had planned to travel to Vientiane in Laos on another flight about two hours later.
However, his journey came to a halt when a baggage screening officer, who was examining X-ray images of transit luggage, noticed that two boxes contained multiple organic items shaped like horns.
The boxes also had baggage tags that bore Gumede’s name.
The officer alerted her supervisor and the boxes were taken for further inspection.
A public announcement was then made asking Gumede to report to the Changi Airport Police Command.
After that, he was escorted to an inspection room within the airport and the horns were uncovered.
DNA analysis by experts from the National Parks Board confirmed that they were genuine horns.
An expert from the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the University of Pretoria in South Africa also confirmed that the horns came from 15 southern white rhinoceroses and one black rhinoceros.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/jail-for-man-caught-with-largest-ever-seizure-of-rhino-horns-worth-over-12m
| 2024-01-26T04:44:55Z
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SINGAPORE — Prices of Housing Board resale flats rose by 4.9 per cent in 2023, marking the slowest year-on-year growth since the 0.1 per cent increase recorded in 2019 before the pandemic.
In 2023, HDB resale flat prices grew less than half of the 10.4 per cent increase seen in 2022, in a sign that property prices are moderating. In 2021, prices surged by 12.7 per cent.
This comes on the back of a slower price growth of 1.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023, lower than the 1.3 per cent growth seen in the previous quarter, data released by HDB on Jan 26 showed.
Subdued housing demand, higher interest rates, and inflationary concerns among buyers likely contributed to the slower price growth in 2023, said Ms Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at OrangeTee Group.
In addition, fewer buyers paid cash over valuation (COV) for their HDB resale flats in 2023, with about 15 per cent doing so in the last three months of the year, according to figures from the Ministry of National Development.
This is down from 30 per cent in the same period in 2022.
COV is the difference between the sale price of a flat and its actual HDB valuation, which can be paid for only in cash by the buyer.
OrangeTee’s Ms Sun noted that in the fourth quarter of 2023, average resale prices rose in 14 HDB towns, down from 16 towns in the third quarter, and price gains were mostly less than 2 per cent.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, prices of four-room flats grew by 0.7 per cent, followed by three-room and five-room units at 0.6 per cent. Prices of executive flats rose by 0.3 per cent while two-room flats edged up by 0.1 per cent, she added.
Huttons Asia senior director of data analytics Lee Sze Teck said Punggol led the pack with the most HDB resale transactions recorded in 2023 at more than 2,000 units, followed closely by Woodlands, Sengkang, Yishun and Tampines.
In total, they account for 37.1 per cent of total HDB resale transactions in 2023.
To date, the most expensive HDB resale flat to change hands is an adjoined flat at 50 Moh Guan Terrace in Tiong Bahru for $1.5 million. The 50-year-old flat was sold in May 2023.
A total of 470 HDB resale flats changed hands for at least $1 million in 2023, an increase from the 369 such units sold in 2022. However, these flats remain the minority, making up around 1.8 per cent of total transactions in 2023.
In 2023, fewer HDB resale flats changed hands, with the number falling by 4.2 per cent from 27,896 units in 2022 to 26,735 units in 2023.
The increased number of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats launched by HDB offered buyers more options and drew some demand away from the resale market, said Huttons’ Mr Lee.
In the last three years, HDB has put up more than 63,000 BTO flats for sale.
In 2024, some 19,600 BTO flats will be launched, including 2,800 flats with shorter waiting times of below three years. These will be offered across three sales exercises in February, June and October, down from the previous four launches a year.
In February, home seekers can look forward to about 4,100 BTO flats in Bedok, Queenstown, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Punggol and Woodlands and another 1,500 flats under the Sale of Balance Flats exercise.
The new classification of flats into Prime, Plus or Standard categories will take effect from the October launch, which will also be the largest in 2024.
OrangeTee’s Ms Sun said the dwindling stock of HDB resale flats that will be eligible for sale and rent in 2024, along with increased BTO supply, may shift demand away from the resale market.
About 11,900 units are expected to complete their mandatory five-year minimum occupation period (MOP) in 2024, down from 15,500 units in 2023, she said.
As a result, Ms Sun expects HDB resale prices to rise modestly by 3 to 5 per cent in 2024, at a comparable rate to 2023.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/hdb-resale-prices-rise-49-in-2023-lowest-increase-since-01-rise-in-2019
| 2024-01-26T04:45:05Z
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SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching paid respect to Dr Henry Kissinger at the latter’s memorial service in New York City on Jan 25, saying it was his “privilege and honour” to have known the late American diplomat.
“It was with great sadness that Ho Ching and I bid a final farewell to former US Secretary of State Dr Henry Kissinger at his memorial service in New York.
“We offered our heartfelt condolences to Mrs Nancy Kissinger and their family,” said PM Lee in a Facebook post on Jan 26.
Dr Kissinger, who was a national security adviser and secretary of state under two former US presidents, died at his home in Connecticut on Nov 29, 2023. He was 100.
PM Lee said Dr Kissinger was “a great statesman who left a lasting mark on the world”.
“He was a close friend of Singapore, and a dear friend of mine and my father’s,” said PM Lee, who is in New York City for a working visit from Jan 24 to Jan 27.
“Over the years, I have benefitted from Dr Kissinger’s wise counsel, incisive insights, and curiosity about the world,” he added.
PM Lee’s father, the late Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, and Dr Kissinger had developed a deep regard for each other since the late 1960s.
In 2015, Dr Kissinger had travelled to Singapore to attend the late Mr Lee’s state funeral.
PM Lee said he admired Dr Kissinger’s “conviction in the US’ responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the world, and his lifelong drive to continue learning, including about cutting edge issues like AI”.
“He will be remembered and respected for his strategic foresight and wisdom.
“It was my privilege and honour to have known him,” said PM Lee.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/pm-lee-attends-henry-kissinger-s-memorial-service-in-us-calling-late-diplomat-a-great-statesman
| 2024-01-26T04:45:16Z
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SINGAPORE – President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have written to Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi respectively to congratulate them on India’s 75th Republic Day, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Jan 26.
In his letter to Mrs Murmu, Mr Tharman said Singapore and India share a long and warm partnership, underpinned by close people-to-people ties and strong cooperation in many fields.
He said Singapore and India are also enhancing collaboration in new areas like fintech, sustainability and digitalisation.
“The India-Singapore ministerial roundtable is a key platform to drive this enhanced cooperation,” said Mr Tharman, adding that both countries collaborate well in regional and multilateral forums.
He also congratulated Mrs Murmu on the successful conclusion of India’s G-20 presidency.
He said as country coordinator for Asean-India dialogue relations, Singapore also co-hosted the inaugural Asean-India maritime exercise with India in May 2023.
“This reflected the deeper engagement both sides have enjoyed under the Asean-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which was upgraded in 2022,” said Mr Tharman.
“I look forward to continuing to work with you to further strengthen ties between our two countries.”
India will mark its 75th Republic Day in an annual display of culture and military prowess on Jan 26, with French President Emmanuel Macron as the guest of honour.
Mr Lee attended the event in 2018, together with nine other Asean leaders.
Mr Lee, in his letter to Mr Modi, said Singapore and India enjoy a deep and longstanding friendship, underpinned by wide-ranging cooperation in trade, finance, defence and close people-to-people ties.
Through the India-Singapore ministerial roundtable, Mr Lee said the two countries are also exploring collaboration in new areas like food security, sustainability, upskilling and digitalisation.
“You will be pleased to know that the PayNow-Unified Payments Interface linkage that we jointly launched in February 2023 has seen a steady uptake of users,” he said. “This has made cross-border transactions safer and faster for businesses and individuals on both sides.”
Mr Lee also said he was glad to have met Mr Modi and attended the G-20 summit in New Delhi in September 2023.
“Under your leadership, India skilfully navigated a multitude of contentious issues to successfully conclude the G-20 New Delhi summit with a consensus Leaders Declaration,” he said.
Singapore and India have also cooperated well in Asean, said Mr Lee, adding that Singapore welcomes India’s deepened engagement of the region.
He said under the Asean-India maritime exercise in 2023, both countries have adopted joint statements on maritime cooperation and food security at the Asean-India summit the same year.
“As country coordinator for Asean-India relations, Singapore will maintain the momentum in Asean-India relations following its upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022,” said Mr Lee.
“I look forward to continuing to work with you to further deepen and strengthen Singapore-India relations.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/president-tharman-pm-lee-congratulate-india-s-leaders-on-75th-republic-day
| 2024-01-26T04:45:26Z
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ABIDJAN - Hosts Ivory Coast get to push a reset button after escaping early elimination at the Africa Cup of Nations and squeezing into the last 16 of their own tournament as a lucky loser.
There will be no easy route to redemption, however, after a humiliating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea left them third in their group and waiting for Zambia’s defeat by Morocco to confirm the Ivorians' place in the knockout stage as one of the four best third-placed finishers.
They have been drawn in the last 16 in Yamoussoukro on Monday against holders Senegal, the only side to have won all three group matches at the tournament.
While waiting to see whether they would advance, the Ivorians fired coach Jean-Louis Gasset and put one of his assistants, Emerse Fae, in charge.
"Since Monday, we've been holding our breath a little. We were really between the disappointment of our own result and the fear of not qualifying further in our own Cup of Nations tournament," Fae said.
"We didn't go through because we were good on the pitch. So, we must remain humble and have measured joy. We must use the relief of this qualification as motivation now to do better,” added the 40-year-old who had a brief stint at Reading in his playing days and competed at three Cup of Nations finals.
Senegal’s comfortable progress emphasised that they will be difficult to beat and made them joint favourites with Morocco, who take on South Africa on Tuesday in San Pedro.
But the tie of the round could be the derby between Cameroon and Nigeria in Abidjan on Saturday, reviving a rivalry stretching back 60 years. The countries have met at seven previous Cup of Nations tournaments, the last in Egypt in 2019 when Nigeria won 3-2 at the same stage of the tournament.
Cameroon had to scramble to secure their place in the knockout phase with a come from behind victory over Gambia and Nigeria did not look convincing either, despite African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen leading a potentially formidable attack.
The tournament surprise packages will fancy that they can make the last eight. Cape Verde and Mauritania meet in the last 16 on Monday and giant-killing Equatorial Guinea face Guinea on Sunday. The last 16 kicks off with Namibia, past the group stage for the first time, against Angola in Bouake on Saturday.
The tournament has been characterised by a rash of shock results with heavyweight contenders Algeria, Ghana and Tunisia eliminated in a frenetic opening 10 days that featured several thrilling games, a marked contrast to previous editions of Africa's showpiece soccer event. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/ivory-coast-seek-reset-but-in-form-senegal-await
| 2024-01-26T04:45:37Z
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Rachin Ravindra, who was this week named ICC Emerging Player of the Year for his World Cup heroics, was included on Friday in New Zealand's test squad for next month's two-match series against South Africa.
The 24-year-old all-rounder played the last of his three tests in January 2022 but was preferred to Henry Nicholls for the series against a severely weakened Proteas team, which starts at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval next week.
Glenn Phillips looks likely to bat in the middle order with Ravindra in his first home test after returning to the longest format for the series in Bangladesh late last year.
Apart from Nicholls, Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi are the other notable absentees, with left-armer Mitch Santner, who last played a test on home soil in 2020, the only specialist spinner in the 13-man squad.
Uncapped pace bowler Will O'Rourke will join the Tim Southee-led squad for the second test at Hamilton's Seddon Park from Feb. 13.
Former captain Kane Williamson, batsman Tom Blundell and quick Kyle Jamieson, who all have hamstring issues, were selected despite doubts over their fitness.
"Tom Blundell, Kyle Jamieson and Kane Williamson are all at slightly different points in their rehabilitation plans but we're confident they'll be good to go at Bay Oval," said coach Gary Stead.
New Zealand have never beaten South Africa in a test series and will rarely have had a better chance after the Proteas named a weakened squad featuring eight uncapped players.
The series will clash with Cricket South Africa's (CSA) domestic Twenty20 competition, which is seen as vital to the future financial health of the organisation.
New Zealand squad: Tim Southee (captain), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke (Hamilton test only), Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/ravindra-gets-new-zealand-test-call-up-for-south-africa-series
| 2024-01-26T04:45:47Z
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MELBOURNE - Taiwanese-Polish duo Hsieh Su-wei and Jan Zielinski won a match tiebreaker to claim the Australian Open mixed doubles title on Friday, with an nail-biting 6-7(5) 6-4 (11-9) victory over American Desirae Krawczyk and Britain's Neal Skupski.
The victory earned Hsieh her first mixed doubles Grand Slam title, and the 38-year-old is also in the running to win her seventh major women's doubles trophy, having reached the final Down Under with partner Elise Mertens.
"It was a really tough match but we made it," Hsieh said. "Thank you so much for such a great match, it was really fun on court to play you guys."
"We didn't have anyone to play mixed doubles with. We found each other on the looking list and it's worked out pretty well," Zielinski added. "Maybe we can keep it going."
The match was a thrilling encounter of contrasting styles, with Krawczyk's raw power coming up against Hsieh's inventive shot making as the first set went down to the wire.
Krawczyk and Skupski broke to take a 4-3 lead, but faltered when serving out the set, allowing Hsieh and Zielinski to break back and level at 5-5. As the opener headed into a tiebreak, it was the British-American duo who held their nerve.
The second seeds broke again to take a 4-2 lead in the second set, but Hsieh and Zielinski roared back with two service breaks of their own to send the match into a 10-point match tiebreak.
Hsieh and Zielinski raced into a 4-0 lead in the decider but the second seeds levelled at 7-7, with Skupski then bringing up a championship point at 9-8 with a second serve ace, but the British-American pair were unable to covert.
It was Hsieh and Zielinski who claimed the next three points, with Zielinski sealing a memorable victory in just under two hours with a blistering forehand. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/hsieh-zielinski-in-thrilling-mixed-doubles-win-at-australian-open
| 2024-01-26T04:45:57Z
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Beauty
This Selena-Approved Self-Tanner Basically Cures My Seasonal Affective Disorder
I tried the Miley and Selena-approved self-tanning line — these are my honest thoughts.
In my nearly nine years working in the beauty industry, there’s only one adage I’ve found to be unequivocally true: Everything is better with a tan. With a tan, I look healthier, my eyes brighter, and I definitely feel more confident. However, as a beauty editor, I am also well aware of the many dangers of sun exposure, I always wear sunscreen (yes, even when it’s raining), and generally extol the benefits of SPF to anyone who will listen. Which means I’m left with one solution: self-tanner.
I own the fact that I’m a 52-weeks-a-year self-tan user, so I’m often asked which one is the best. Luckily, in 2024, most self-tanning products are less hit or miss (as in, no longer like the ones you remember from middle school that stained your palms orange). But when I discovered Dolce Glow — a brand created by Isabel Alysa, Miley Cyrus’ spray-tan artist, that’s also beloved by Selena Gomez — I knew it must have something special to offer.
Below, I tried out Dolce Glow’s entire line of self-tanning products, and these are my honest thoughts.
Fast Facts:
- Brand: Dolce Glow
- What’s in the line? The line is an all-inclusive approach to at-home self-tanning, with tanning products for the body and face, and an instant glow booster, plus products for application.
- Prices: Mousse ($51), Mist ($48), Lotion ($51), Serum Drops ($55), Hydrating Face Mist ($36), Instant Body Glow ($51) Application Mitt ($9), Kabuki Brush ($13), and Exfoliation Mitt ($9)
- Shades: The Mousse and Lotion each come in two varieties: Light-Medium and Medium-Dark, while the Mist comes in the same two shades and a clear spray. The facial products only come in one buildable shade.
- Specs? Clean, Vegan, Cruelty Free, Paraben Free, Sulfate Free, and Dermatologist-Tested
- Who is it for? For all skin types and tones
- Where can you buy? dolceglow.com
The Products:
How To Use:
The general rules of self-tanner still apply. On exfoliated skin, use the mitt to blend in the mousse evenly in circular motions, making sure to apply sparingly on knees, elbows, ankles, and wrists. Then leave on for as long as you like for your desired level of tan before rinsing off. For Dolce Glow, that’s two to four hours for a light tan, four to six hours for a medium tan, and over six hours for a dark tan. Alysa also gave me a tip for using the Kabuki Brush to get a soft blend on tricky spots: Swirl and blend the extra self tan down from the arms or legs onto ankles, feet, wrists, and hands.
First Impressions:
Instantly, I loved the texture of the Self-Tanning Mousse, which was creamier than it was watery, unlike many other self-tanners. The thicker texture made it spread a little slower, so I could also be more conscious about applying it evenly. (I’ve been guilty of applying self-tanner too fast and missing large stripes of skin, so this is a blessing.) And often, self-tanning feels like sacrificing softness for color (you’re not supposed to moisturize before tanning except on the roughest areas), but this one didn’t leave me feeling dry and sticky. Also, the formula comes out of the bottle a pretty caramel color, while other self-tanners can be green (or another embarrassing color).
But to me, the true hero product of the line is the Clear Self-Tanning Mist. It comes in a spray can that dispenses a continuous fine mist when you hold down the nozzle (instead of spritzing big droplets). This is a thrilling feature for someone like me who’s struggled to contort my body to apply tanner without leaving a giant untanned spot between my shoulder blades.
The Results:
I used the Medium-Dark formula overnight, woke up and rinsed, and I loved the results. I really appreciate how the color has a golden glow that makes me feel vibrant and healthy, not just tan.
Final Verdict:
I love this self-tanner, especially in the colder seasons when I feel like my dry skin can easily get itchy and tight if I don’t always have body lotion on. It makes self-tanner feel like a cooler, more luxe process than a secret I need to hide away under the sink in my bathroom. Unfortunately, with the amount I use, $50 per bottle is a little steep for keeping myself tan year round. But, it’s definitely what I’m going to use when I want to feel like Miley on the cover of her Endless Summer album, even when it’s 20 degrees outside.
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https://www.nylon.com/beauty/dolce-glow-self-tanner-review
| 2024-01-26T05:02:38Z
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Justin Case/Photodisc/Getty Images
Beauty
NYLON’s Favorite Beauty Products of January 2024
Everything’s new, highly vetted (by us), and under $80.
by Sam Neibart
We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
Even though January has already given us a busy awards season, surprise celebrity-couple sightings, and new TikTok beauty trends, right about now is when a mid-winter slump usually hits. But while we can’t make spring arrive any faster, we can suggest a little retail therapy as a low-key pick-me-up. Luckily, this month’s best new beauty launches are big in the mood-lifting department, like a going-out glitter shadow or a skin-care-geek-worthy moisturizer. Read on for the best beauty products we tried in January 2024.
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https://www.nylon.com/beauty/january-2024-best-new-beauty-products
| 2024-01-26T05:02:44Z
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Astrology
An Astrologer’s Guide To Death
How to use your birth chart to face life’s biggest reckoning.
Tell enough people that you’re a professional astrologer, and you’ll get used to a clenched response. I don’t want to know what’s going to happen, they’ll tell you, fearing that you might know something, that a reading may foretell certain doom. Such agitation isn’t necessarily unwarranted. For ages, court astrologers could predict the death of a monarch down to the day… though, in the cases of Louis XI’s seer, and the great oracle Nostradamus, the rich and powerful did not always care to be reminded of their mortality.
As the language around psychology and individuality has evolved, so has our concept of death, from strictly literal to metaphorical. Concepts like ego death and even gender transition inform a more holistic approach to the life cycle. Astrology, itself a study of cycles, is built to reckon with annihilation and resurrection. It’s unlikely that in this century, any ethical practitioner of astrology would predict a client’s death — imagine the lawsuits! — but through the careful and creative reading of a chart, we can glean critical knowledge about the metamorphoses you and your loved ones are set to endure — through lives, incarnations, and modes of being.
THE TURNING POINT
Astrology and occult thought often go through resurgences during periods of death and reckoning. Indeed, the bubonic plague brought on a renewed interest in the stars, and even brought tarot into larger consciousness, as the masses tried to make sense of the unimaginable. “A lot of times, when people come to see an astrologer, they’re in crises,” Theresa Reed, tarot and astrology reader and author, tells NYLON. “They’re going through a shocking loss, or they’ve gotten a diagnosis, or there’s a plague happening in the world. Why they come is often to ask: Am I going to be OK?” Reed’s new book, The Cards You’re Dealt: How to Deal when Life Gets Real, faces this difficult question head-on.
The best place to start, says Reed, is the eighth house, known traditionally as the domain of death and inheritance, where we contemplate the familial order, and how it changes when a loved one dies. If the family patriarch passes, who takes their place? What does a will say about who we were to our loved ones, and who we are to become now that they’re gone?
This part of the chart is essential to understanding what these times of transition look like for you. “The eighth house gives us an idea of the person’s philosophy regarding this topic that we’re all going to deal with at one time or another,” says Reed. “It gives people a perfect opportunity to talk about their fears, anxieties, their plans, and the plans they don’t have.”
Ruled by Scorpio, the eighth is also the house of metamorphosis. Something dies here so that you may be reborn. After the loss of a parent, you understand that you are now the head of your own family. Going through the 12 steps of recovery, you cast aside a previous identity, ready to step into responsibility and presence. Waking up after a surgery, you realize that you’re ready to begin your life anew and leave behind old patterns of self-destruction.
One way or another, the eighth house, the signs it hosts, and any planets therein, will point to your journey through literal and metaphorical death. The reward is psychedelic re-ignition, a spiritual return to the world of the living, and the chance to face the unthinkable head-on. “That’s when the magic happens with astrology,” Reed says. “When you’re talking about it, and being proactive, it’s not that you’re in control of illness or death, but you can be present with it.”
If you’re in the presence of sickness, danger, or the nearing loss of a loved one, Reed says to look out for any planets currently hitting your eighth house. Of course, the big two to consider are Saturn, the planet of finality, and Pluto, the archetype of death and rebirth. Were you born with any planets in your eighth house? Are any of the bigger players, like Saturn, making an aspect to that part of your chart?
In the case of Saturn, Reed notes that the planet of responsibility will show you how you need to take care of yourself, get your affairs in order, and ensure that you’re not ignoring your physical or emotional needs. Pluto will likely lead to bigger conversations about your ancestry and the spiritual baggage that has been passed down through generations. This will be a longer, more psychedelic process, no less important, but further reaching in its scope.
SHINING LIGHT ON IT
The eighth house deals with those critical transitions, those rites which mark the passage from one state of being to the next. But what happens after? Look to the moon.
As the planetary archetype of the mother, the moon taps us into how we have been loved and cared for by our forebears — and what we need to parent ourselves in the present. “The moon is our emotions,” Reed says. “Anytime we’re going through a difficult transit to our moon, it’s not: oh my God, this is a terrible thing that’s happening, you’re going to be sad and depressed. Instead, it might be giving hints so that we can grieve in a healthy way. That looks different for everybody. Just as we all have different moons, we all process our grief differently.”
A Libra moon may take charge of organizing the Shiva, then, after a long week of managing family and friends, duck out to Vegas to blow off steam in total anonymity. At that same Shiva, the Cancer moon of the family will be passive-aggressively demanding attention, and damn it, they deserve the extra hugs, and to eat a little more rugelach than is necessary.
OTHER HOUSES ON THE JOURNEY
Your chart has endless information when it comes to the next phase of life, after you’ve experienced loss or reinvention. The ninth house is traditionally known as the domain of travel and spirituality, the realm of expanding consciousness. After enduring what Drew Barrymore calls, in Donnie Darko, a “recent brush with mass destruction,” you may have big questions that set you out on a journey to parts unknown. The nature of your ninth house will help inform the spiritual voyage necessary for your healing.
And then comes the 12th house, the end of the chart, where we heal and process all that’s been learned over the previous 11 signs. We’ve noted that this house provides information about past lives and ancestral karma. But the 12th house is said to deal with hospitals, therapists’ offices, and even artist’s studios — anywhere we go to incubate and seek care, to process and release before the cycle begins again. How you need to move through your feelings, what you need to finally throw in the fire, and what remains to be held, are all revealed here.
YOUR CHART, YOUR CHOICE
Like it or not, astrology promises that the cosmos keeps moving, and that, inevitably, the cycle will close and begin anew, over and over again. By embracing the system of death and rebirth, and by understanding how you’re wired to process, grieve, and heal, you can at least meet life’s harder tests with compassion and clarity. The mystic initiate is not expected to transcend pain or avoid loss. But if you’ve taken to astrology and find yourself asking questions that go beyond the hospital bed, you’re ready to see meaning in everything, and embrace what comes next with curiosity. Your chart will help you find new wholeness — if you know where to look.
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https://www.nylon.com/life/astrology-death-eighth-house-explained
| 2024-01-26T05:02:50Z
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Culture
Review: My Old Ass Is A Tender, Queer Coming-Of-Age Story With Aubrey Plaza As A Spirit Guide
In director Megan Park’s tender and original sophomore film, an 18-year-old meets her 39-year-old self during a mushroom trip.
In My Old Ass, a teenage summer romance, times are simpler. The year is 2022, and Aubrey Plaza tells us that in 20 years, salmon will one day go extinct, people won’t be allowed to have three children, and Penelope Disick will become a wellness mogul. These are just some of the revelations about the future that Plaza, who plays an older version of My Old Ass’s main character Elliott (Maisy Stella) offers.
Though we may get glimpses of what’s to come, My Old Ass is about squeezing every bit of juice you can from the present. With deadpan wit and a precocious lead in Stella, My Old Ass is a tender, original, and surprisingly emotional take on the teen coming-of-age genre, adding a sprinkle of fantasy to the tenderness of Ladybird — which left the theater sobbing at its Sundance Film Festival premiere. Despite that reaction, there’s plenty of levity, including a notable and hilarious Justin Bieber needle drop during a mushroom trip that buoys the film.
But the way writer-director Megan Park plays with romance and light science fiction never feels naive. Following her debut film The Fallout — a school-shooting friendship drama starring Maddie Ziegler and Jenna Ortega — Park casts Stella as My Old Ass’s 18-year-old Elliott, a first lead role that is sure to catapult her to quick stardom. (You might recognize Stella from Nashville, where she appeared with her sister Lennon as a country-music duo). The film follows Elliot, who’s eager to leave her family’s Ontario cranberry farm and start college in Toronto. But during a camping trip (complete with the aforementioned shrooms), she sees a woman sitting next to her on a log, who’s soon revealed to be her 39-year-old self. Older Elliott puts her name in young Elliott’s phone under the contact “My Old Ass,” and they figure out how to text and call each other.
Here, the movie is too smart to fall into any spirit-guide tropes; instead, it immediately smacks the premise in its face by revealing a less-than-ideal future. Two decades from now, Elliot doesn’t have a hot wife and three kids like she had hoped. (She’s single and pursuing a PhD.) But some of the film’s funniest moments revel in the banality of the future Elliot has in store, delivered in Plaza’s signature sarconic timing and tone. For example, between telling Elliott to wear her retainer and moisturize, Plaza warns her to stay away from guys named Chad. Should be easy, right? Elliott only likes girls … but like clockwork, she meets a handsome, lanky guy named (what else?) Chad. (We should note that Percy Hynes White delivers one of the most charming performances of the film, which is general enough so that he feels like your first love, but with enough dorky physical comedy that he feels one of a kind.)
As Elliot tries to avoid him, she soon realizes her sexuality may not be as set as she thought, which is another area where My Old Ass shines. While coming-of-age films have often included queer characters, this is among the most accurate, non-pandering representations of sexuality we’ve seen, with plenty of expansive, gray areas. “Am I bi?” Elliott asks her friend, Ro. “Just because you like a man doesn’t make you any less queer,” Ro replies. “I don’t think any less of you.”
Sure, My Old Ass is about saying goodbye to childhood and youth. Plaza encourages her younger self to hang out with her brothers more and eat all the salmon she can because it won’t be around forever. But what makes it so powerful, elevating it from just another teen summer romance flick, is that it’s about the power of boldly going for love when you’re young. It’s easy to forget about that power the older you get, and being reminded of it is the greatest gift the film gives its audience. It asks the question: If you knew you could make different decisions in your life to avoid pain, would you? For Elliott, she doesn’t hesitate. She reminds her older self that that’s the great thing about being young.
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https://www.nylon.com/life/in-my-old-ass-review-sundance-aubrey-plaza
| 2024-01-26T05:02:56Z
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Culture
Olympic Skateboarder Jagger Eaton On His "Hippie" Routines & Training For The 2024 Games
Why the 22-year-old skateboarder swears on Ram Dass and Samsung Galaxy AI’s technology.
Jagger Eaton is laser focused on the upcoming summer, but he’s not dreaming of vacations — instead, he’s physically and mentally preparing for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where he’ll be competing as part of the USA Skateboarding Team.
Eaton returns to Team USA after making history as one of the first-ever Olympic skateboarding medalists when he earned bronze in the men's street competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The prospect of his sophomore Olympics has completely changed the 22-year-old's life, from nixing socials entirely to embracing the teachings of American spiritual teacher and guru Ram Dass. But Eaton, a self-professed “total hippie,” still leans on some technology to get right for the Olympics. His go-to? Samsung’s Galaxy AI technology that allows him to slow down his skateboarding tricks to hone in on the tiniest details to improve his training sessions — and hopefully, win him the gold.
Ahead, Eaton breaks down his life on the journey to the 2024 games, from his must-do morning routine to books that keep him present and in the moment.
THE DAY-TO-DAY
A typical day starts at 6:40 a.m. I hydrate immediately and go directly to the beach. I plunge in the ocean no matter what time of year for about 10 minutes. Right now it's really cold, but I still get in every morning. After that ice bath, I do breathwork on the beach. I’m a total hippie. I jump back in the water for a little bit before eating breakfast. I have my first physical training at 9 a.m. and train until 10:30. I do DNS (dynamic neuromuscular stabilization) work, which is basically glorified yoga. Immediately following that I skate from about 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m. Every day in the park has very detailed, structured assignments. I walk in there very organized. Then after skating, depending on how I'm feeling, I'll spend the rest of the day on the golf course.
GETTING GRANULAR
Everything's changed with Paris on the horizon to be quite honest with you. I have really sheltered myself in this schedule and my day-to-day routine. I have a whole social media team that helps me, I'm not even on socials anymore. I'm very particular about who's around me on a day-to-day basis. I'm particular about what I listen to, what I watch. It's a very detailed, organized life I'm living right now, and the whole goal is to be as prepared as possible for Paris.
STAYING GROUNDED
I read spiritual teachings on a daily basis. I'm reading right now a book by Ram Dass, which is really helping me. My aunt in Alaska gave me my first Ram Dass book one Christmas. Her and I talked a lot about spirituality and how important it is to be present in this life, especially with all these other outside distractions. I’ve become a real fan of his perspective. I also like Eckhart Tolle. On Spotify, it's always Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, books like that. But my music's all over the place right now. It's been Metallica, Creed Fisher. My lady got me on house music, and that's kind of been the main vibe as of lately.
HIS PHILOSOPHY
I want to be as present as possible and understand discipline that is very important, but know that enthusiasm moves mountains. As long as I can stay enthused about my life and make sure my purpose is constantly fulfilled, I'm on the right trajectory.
THE OLYMPIAN GRIND
As far as eating, I am on a very strict diet: little carbs, a lot of lean protein, only three meals a day. I don't eat past 7 p.m. but I'm definitely allowed to snack. My trainer actually said that I need to snack more. When I do, it’s on granola and bananas.
USING TECH TO EXCEL
Samsung’s new Galaxy AI technology is revolutionizing the way that I train — and I am very old fashioned in that it’s always been strict numbers in a row. I've never actually been able to slo-mo my tricks and see certain things I'm doing wrong until this phone came into play. I've been using it quite often to take in all the details. It's helped me become very precise, on posture all the way down to how my wheels are rolling.
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https://www.nylon.com/life/jagger-eaton-olympic-skateboarder-interview
| 2024-01-26T05:03:02Z
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Encounter
Lucy Hale And the Rom-Com Resurgence
The actress talks her new film, Which Brings Me To You, and what she’s looking for in her love life over high tea.
It’s a snowy January day at the Whitby Hotel in Manhattan, and Lucy Hale hasn’t even ordered our afternoon tea yet before she makes the classic Pretty Little Liars pose. I ask her about the “a.” tattoo on her pointer finger, which she explains she got with the Pretty Little Liars cast while lifting her own fingers to her lips to make the signature “shh” gesture of the show. “I’ve gotten most of my other tattoos removed,” she says. “Not this one.”
Hale has had her ink removed for the same reasons anyone does: She was young or no longer likes the aesthetic, maybe they don’t match who she is now. And if Hale has been doing anything over the last two years since she got sober, it’s getting closer to what she wants in her career and her dating life.
“I show up to things 110% now,” Hale says, pouring tea into a tiny cup from a pot. “Whereas if you would've met me a couple of years ago, I might be sitting across from you and I might be spiraling thinking about what I did last weekend when I was blacked out. I think being present is the best gift. It really is the key to life, in my opinion.”
Hale is in New York to promote Which Brings Me To You, a romantic comedy out now in theaters, which she starred in and produced. The film follows Jane (Hale), who meets Will (Nat Wolff) at a Jersey Shore wedding. Drawn to each other immediately, they have a disastrous near-hookup in a coat closet, after which they spend the next 24 hours giving each other a highlight reel of their past relationships. It’s a distinctly modern rom-com, one for people in their 30s who have already been to therapy.
Hale — who has starred in a handful of rom-coms over the last few years, including Puppy Love and The Hating Game — is a big fan of the genre, rattling off a short history from Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail to Kate Hudson and Katherine Heigel-era films. She says she loved Anyone But You, the Sydney Sweeney vehicle that’s inspiring articles about the format's revival, which she saw on opening night. “I think they're having a resurgence,” Hale says, reapplying her Rhode lip gloss. “They’re so fun to make. Especially if the chemistry is good, you're like, ‘Oh, this is going to work.’ It’s kind of like a dance with whoever you're acting alongside.”
And in Which Brings Me to You, Hale and Wolff together navigate no shortage of lessons that ultimately encourage them to show up honestly to a relationship — which is something Hale brings into her own love life.
“Where I'm at dating-wise, I want to be transparent about who I am, where I've been, what I'm looking for. It weeds out the people who aren't on the same path as you,” she says. “No bulls*it. I would expect people to be the same way with me. Like, let’s all throw it all out there. See what sticks and the right people will find you and stay.”
Hale didn’t always feel like this. When she was younger, and before she got sober, she says she wanted a whole different kind of rom-com archetype: a bad boy, because she thought that was more exciting. Now, she says she wants to meet “a respectful, kind, what you call a ‘good guy.’” “Mainly it's just finding someone who’s in alignment with me and where I'm at in my life,” she says. “I used to find that boring. I wanted chaos in every area of my life, and I don't want that anymore.”
Outside of romance, she tells me about her other aspirations: to have a better work-life balance and to see her favorite books, like Colleen Hoover’s Verity, be adapted into a film. She wants to farm. “Just a small couple of goats, some chickens,” she says. “I feel like I thrive with some space.”
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https://www.nylon.com/life/lucy-hale-which-brings-me-to-you-interview
| 2024-01-26T05:03:08Z
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SINGAPORE - Singapore’s manufacturing production suffered an unexpected drop last month, weighed down by double digit losses in the biomedical industry.
Total factory output declined by 2.5 per cent year on year in December, a reversal from November’s revised zero growth, according to data released by the Economic Development Board (EDB) on Jan 26. The initial estimate for November issued last month was for a 1 per cent rise in output.
Excluding the volatile biomedical industry, factory output grew by 0.5 per cent in December.
The key electronics industry, which accounts for 45 per cent of local manufacturing production, was the best performer with 6.3 per cent year-on-year growth, though this was down from 7.3 per cent the previous month.
Within electronics, the semiconductors segment expanded 17.7 per cent, supported by improved demand in selected end markets such as smartphones. However, other electronics modules and components shrunk by 7.8 per cent, computer peripherals and data storage decreased by 17 per cent, and infocomms and consumer electronics segments contracted by 18.1 per cent.
For December, the biomedical industry was the worst performer, with production plunging 23.9 per cent year on year.
Within the cluster, the medical technology segment increased 8.6 per cent with higher export demand for medical devices. But output of the pharmaceuticals segment tumbled 45 per cent with lower production of biological products and a different mix of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Output in the transport engineering cluster edged up 0.2 per cent in December, over the same month in 2022.
The aerospace segment led the charge with an expansion of 4.9 per cent due to higher demand for aircraft parts and more maintenance, repair and overhaul jobs from commercial airlines on the back of strong air travel demand globally. However, the marine and offshore engineering segment declined 1.7 per cent and 10.8 per cent respectively.
In the precision engineering industry, output fell 7.4 per cent year on year, with the machine and systems segment shrinking 1.8 per cent largely due to lower output of measuring devices and mechanical engineering works.
The precision modules and components segment contracted 24.7 per cent, due to lower output in plastic and metal precision components, optical instruments as well as dies, moulds, tools, jigs and fixtures.
General manufacturing output fell 15.9 per cent over December 2022, weighed down by lower production of batteries and and structural metal products.
The chemicals cluster was also in the red, with output falling 2.8 per cent year on year.
The specialties and petroleum segments grew 29.1 per cent and 1.7 per cent respectively, with the former recording higher production of mineral oil additives. The other chemicals segment declined 5.4 per cent on account of lower output in fragrances while the petrochemicals segment fell 5.5 per cent due to weak market demand.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/singapore-factory-output-shrinks-25-in-december
| 2024-01-26T06:16:28Z
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KUALA LUMPUR - Shares of Berjaya Land, which has links to the family of Malaysia’s incoming king, jumped following a report that its unit is leading a consortium that is bidding for the high-speed rail project between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Shares of the hotel and gaming company reached the highest in almost three years after The Edge reported that the unit, Berjaya Rail, has teamed up with a group of Malaysian and foreign companies in submitting a proposal for the revived project. Malaysian Resources, which is part of the consortium, and IJM, whose unit is also involved, advanced to the highest in four years.
Berjaya Land, part of a conglomerate controlled by Malaysian tycoon Vincent Tan, climbed as much as 25 per cent in early trade on Jan 26. Berjaya Rail’s chairwoman is Tun Aminah Sultan Ibrahim, the daughter of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, who will succeed Malaysia’s current king on Jan 31 under the country’s rotational monarchy.
The Sultan of Johor has been pushing for the revival of the high-speed rail project, which was cancelled in 2021.
Ms Aminah is also the chairperson of Berjaya Corporation, while Sultan Ibrahim has a direct stake in Berjaya Assets. Berjaya Land’s parent, Berjaya Corporation, jumped 11 per cent, while Berjaya Assets climbed 6 per cent.
Shares of other partners in the consortium also rose. Malaysian Resources climbed 10 per cent, while IJM advanced as much as 5 per cent.
The consortium also includes Malaysia’s national railway firm Keretapi Tanah Melayu, according to the report. Technical members include Hitachi Rail STS, Hyundai Rotem and DB Engineering & Consulting, the report said.
The proposed project will be fully funded by the private sector. A spokesman from MyHSR, a Malaysian government agency overseeing the project, declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg News. It previously said seven consortiums had submitted bids for the high-speed rail project. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/malaysia-royalty-linked-stock-jumps-on-report-of-bid-for-kl-singapore-high-speed-rail-project
| 2024-01-26T06:16:38Z
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SINGAPORE - Three Chinese nationals working in Singapore sued a remittance firm after police in China froze money they had transferred home, as Beijing ramps up efforts to root out alleged money laundering and other illicit activities.
The trio are seeking 347,501 yuan (S$65,555) from Samlit Moneychanger, as part of other claims, alleging breach of agreements, according to a suit filed to the Singapore courts in October and obtained by Bloomberg News. Samlit denied the allegations. It said it fulfilled its obligations and can’t be responsible for what happens after money reaches designated accounts in China, according to court documents.
The seizures comes as China cracks down on what it considers massive crime rings that have extended beyond its shores as more of its citizens leave home. Across Asia, nations from Singapore to Myanmar are grappling with scams and money-laundering cases that have spilled out from the world’s second-largest economy. Singapore in particular is seeing its biggest money laundering case play out with more than $3 billion of assets confiscated from ethnic Chinese in the city-state so far.
Police in China has blocked hundreds of remittances from Singapore, many of them sent by Samlit, a licensed money changer based in Chinatown, according to complaints made to authorities in Singapore.
In the lawsuit, Tan Mingshi said Chinese police allegedly froze 250,000 yuan that was transferred into his wife’s bank account in 2022 because of “suspicion of money laundering.” Only after he followed police instructions to return to China and transfer 142,226 yuan to “scam victims” were the remaining funds released, according to court documents.
Peng Fang Fang, another claimant, said she gave $40,000 to Samlit to send the equivalent of about 195,600 yuan to her account in China, only to have most of it frozen by police. Qi Chao, the third claimant, said most of the $10,576 moved to his Chinese bank account was frozen as the police investigated his “illegal activities” related to the transfer, according to the court filing.
Like Mr Tan, Ms Peng said she returned to China to answer questions from police. Mr Qi also said he had to comply with instructions from police. Their frozen funds were transferred out of their bank accounts, with Ms Peng notified that this was done by the Chinese police bureau, the lawsuit states. All three said they followed police orders “for fear of criminal consequences,” the suit alleges.
None of the claimants has been accused of any wrongdoing related to the fund transfers, according to their lawyer Pang Khin Wee of Hoh Law Corp. Mr Pang said they are all blue-collar workers who have resided in the city-state for years.
In its defense filed to the court, Samlit said none of the claimants provided “satisfactory” evidence backing their frozen money claims. Samlit and its lawyer didn’t reply to emailed requests seeking further comment.
As of Dec 15, there have been more than 670 complaints to Singapore police about frozen remittances to China worth a combined $13 million, according to authorities. Almost two-thirds of the reports were linked to Samlit, they added.
In response to the slew of seizures, the Monetary Authority of Singapore ordered remittance firms to only use banks or operators of a card network such as Union Pay International when transmitting funds to China. The remittance firms had often used overseas agents to save costs, rather than making direct bank transfers, MAS said in a statement last month. The restrictions are in place for three months starting Jan. 1, with a possible extension.
The directive wasn’t related to any specific money laundering concern, the MAS said on its website in December.
MAS and the Singapore police said at the time they haven’t received any information indicating that remittance companies have been involved in money laundering or scams, or that the funds were frozen because these firms had transfered proceeds from any criminal activity.
Singapore is seeking clarity from China’s government on how remitters can unlock their money, Alvin Tan, a minister of state, said earlier this month. China is the world’s third-largest remittance recipient, netting US$50 billion (S$67 billion) in 2023, according to a December report by the World Bank. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/samlit-moneychanger-in-singapore-sued-after-china-police-freeze-cash
| 2024-01-26T06:16:49Z
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LOS ANGELES – Toy company, Mattel, is embarking on its latest toy-inspired film project, Bob The Builder, the brand’s first animated theatrical film
The movie stars In The Heights (2021) actor Anthony Ramos as the voice of Roberto, “Bob,” who travels to Puerto Rico for a major construction job. There, he tackles various issues around the island and learns the true meaning of building as he experiences Caribbean-Latin culture.
Mattel has tapped Colombian-American writer Felipe Vargas to develop the story in collaboration with Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico of the animation studio ShadowMachine. American singer-actress Jennifer Lopez will serve as producer.
Bob The Builder is the latest in a number of film and television projects Mattel announced following the success of the Barbie (2023) movie, which had box office sales that earned over US$1.4 billion (S$1.88 billion).
Other upcoming projects include the Netflix animated series Masters Of The Universe: Revolution, centred on Mattel’s He-Man franchise, and a live-action Polly Pocket film, directed by Girls (2012 to 2017) creator Lena Dunham and based on the tiny 1980’s dolls by Mattel.
Mattel Films is also developing projects based on other popular toy lines, including American Girl, Hot Wheels, Magic Ball, Barney and more.
Mattel purchased Hit Entertainment, which owned the rights to Bob The Builder, Thomas & Friends and other preschool properties, in 2011 for US$680 million.
Robbie Brenner, president of Mattel Films, said in a statement she hoped the project would introduce the character to new audiences. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/jennifer-lopez-to-produce-bob-the-builder-animated-movie-for-mattel
| 2024-01-26T06:16:59Z
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Hennessy
Cognac house Hennessy worked with Chinese artist Yang Yongliang to design limited-edition packaging for its Hennessy Paradis, Hennessy X.O and Hennessy V.S.O.P liquids.
The rarest and most expensive of the bunch, the Hennessy Paradis (from $13,250 a bottle), is also the most striking, in a porcelain white decanter emblazoned with gold dragons.
Only 12 are available for sale in Singapore. Contact Hennessy for more details at 8772-0235.
Meanwhile, the Hennessy X.O ($342.50) boasts a striking gold bottle embossed with stylised dragons, while the Hennessy V.S.O.P ($110) is clad in red.
The boxes for the various cognacs also include artwork created by Yang, who is known for his digital composite art of traditional landscapes.
For the festive period, Hennessy is hosting two pop-ups in Singapore: at Ion Orchard until Jan 28 and at the Changi Airport’s Terminal 1 until Feb 15.
Customers will be able to buy the special-edition Hennessy X.O and V.S.O.P bottles at both pop-ups, which have been furnished with larger-than-life dragon sculptures inspired by Yang’s artwork.
Travellers visiting the Changi Airport pop-up can partake in “molecular tastings” of pre-mixed Hennessy cocktails. These will be served within an edible, bite-sized pearl.
Hennessy’s limited-edition Chinese New Year cognacs are also available for purchase on iShopChangi.
Info: The pop-up at Ion Orchard (2 Orchard Turn) is located at Level 1 Atrium B, and is open from 10am to 10pm daily until Jan 28. The Changi Airport (60 Airport Boulevard) pop-up is located at the Terminal 1 Departure Check-in Hall and is open from 6am to 1am daily until Feb 15.
Johnnie Walker
Scotch brand Johnnie Walker’s Blue Label whisky rarely disappoints – the premium whisky label blends and bottles some of Scotland’s rarest and most luxurious liquids, and the limited editions always come in beautiful packaging.
This festive season, the brand has teamed up with Taiwanese-American artist James Jean, perhaps best known for his award-winning cover art for comics such as The Umbrella Academy and Batgirl, as well as for designing the poster of Oscar-winning film Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022).
Jean’s artwork for the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year ($360 per bottle) layers the wood dragon with floral imagery, using the signature Blue Label colours of blue and gold.
He says: “There are hidden elements in the picture as well – layers to be discovered, just like the layers in this incredible whisky. I included chrysanthemums, from which flow liquid gold – inspired by Johnnie Walker whiskies – and hummingbirds sipping on the precious nectar.”
The bottle is available at specialist alcohol retailers such as 1855 The Bottle Shop.
Customers can also purchase the whisky at Johnnie Walker’s pop-up at Raffles City, which is offering gift set bundles, as well as free bottle engraving and delivery services.
Info: Johnnie Walker’s pop-up at Raffles City (252 North Bridge Road) is open from 11am to 8pm daily until Jan 28.
Asahi
Japanese pixel artist Hermippe has created a dragon-themed design for the silver cans of Japanese beer brand Asahi Super Dry.
Pixel art is stereotyped as being endearingly low-resolution, but Hermippe uses pixels to create elaborate, sometimes abstract digital paintings.
The Asahi Super Dry Lunar New Year Pixel Art Edition Can features an intricate red-and-gold dragon wrapped around the outside of the 330ml can.
An exclusive Asahi Super Dry X Fragrance Bak Kwa Gift Bundle ($38) includes Fragrance bak kwa, pork floss tots, pandan kueh lapis and pineapple tarts.
Info: The cans are available at major supermarkets, from $26.80 for a 12-pack, while the Fragrance gift bundles are available at Fragrance outlets (full list of locations is at fragrance.com.sg).
Yeo’s
You may have noticed some packet drinks looking particularly festive during your recent grocery runs.
Home-grown beverage brand Yeo’s has given three of its packets a Chinese New Year makeover: the Chrysanthemum Tea, Winter Melon Flavoured Drink and Lychee Flavoured Drink.
Instead of the usual livery featuring the brand’s logo and the flavour’s core ingredient, the packets have striking illustrations of auspicious creatures such as dragons, phoenixes and lions.
There are also different Chinese phrases which convey blessings on the packaging.
Info: The festive packets (from $3.00 for a six-pack) are available at supermarkets such as FairPrice, while stocks last.
TWG
Those seeking sugar- and alcohol-free beverages can try the dragon-themed teas from Singaporean tea house TWG.
The limited-edition Grand Dragon Tea is a green tea blend accented with mandarin orange notes. Unfortunately, both the loose leaf tea ($50 a tin) and the tea set ($80, includes disposable tea filters and tea scoop) are out of stock. TWG has not commented about whether it will restock these.
But there is also the brand’s Jade Dragon Tea ($48 a tin), a loose-leaf green tea that comes in a fun purple tin emblazoned with a jade green dragon.
Info: Go to twgtea.com
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/food/top-tipples-drinks-with-a-dragon-twist-for-chinese-new-year
| 2024-01-26T06:17:10Z
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SINGAPORE – The Audi SQ8 Sportback e-tron is a facelift of the monstrous tri-motor e-tron S Sportback – one of its first electric vehicles (EVs) launched here in 2022 – but the manufacturer prefers to call it a “product improvement”.
So, what exactly has improved? More on that later.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/motoring/car-review-audi-spruces-up-early-ev-with-more-range-faster-charging-sexier-name
| 2024-01-26T06:17:20Z
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Today in Pictures, Jan 26, 2024
Villagers hang noodles out to dry on a field in China, Thaipusam celebrations in Singapore, and other photos from around the world in Today in Pictures.
Desmond Foo
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https://str.sg/zYPc
Villagers hang noodles out to dry in a field as they prepare for upcoming Lunar New Year markets in Huai'an, in China's eastern Jiangsu province on Jan 25.
PHOTO : AFP
A group of devotees playing traditional Indian percussions during Thaipusam at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Jan 25. Thousands of Hindu will walk around 3.2km from the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple during Thaipusam this year.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
A model presents a creation by Zuhair Murad during the Women's Haute-Couture Spring/Summer 2024 Fashion Week in Paris, on Jan 24.
PHOTO : AFP
Malaysia's defender Dion Cools fights for the ball with South Korea's midfielder Hwang Hee-chan during the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup Group E football match between South Korea and Malaysia at Al-Janoub Stadium in al-Wakrah, south of Doha, on Jan 25.
PHOTO : AFP
A pro-Palestinian supporter is arrested during a demonstration outside the German embassy in Nairobi on Jan 25. Police dispersed peaceful demonstrators using tear gas as they attempted a protest outside the German embassy in Nairobi against Germany's support of Israel's offensive in Gaza that has so far claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives.
PHOTO : AFP
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka poses for selfies with fans following her victory against USA's Coco Gauff after their women's singles semi-final match on day 12 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan 25.
PHOTO : AFP
The first batch of new recruits have their hair shaved as they set to begin one-year compulsory military service in Taiwan, after the previous four-month conscription period was extended starting 2024, in Taichung, Taiwan on Jan 25.
PHOTO : REUTERS
A balloon floats in the sky during the 44th International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Chateau-d'Oex, Switzerland Jan 25.
PHOTO : REUTERS
A visitor looks at an art installation on display during the 'A Tide of Emotions' art exhibition by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota, in Hanoi, Vietnam, on January 25. The exhibition is held at the Vincom Center for Contemporary Art (VCCA) and runs until Mar 30.
PHOTO : EPA-EFE
A K1E1 combat tank attends live-fire drills of the Army's 17th Division at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, 25 kilometers south of the inter-Korean border in South Korea on Jan 25.
PHOTO : EPA-EFE
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https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/photos/today-in-pictures-jan-26-2024
| 2024-01-26T06:17:31Z
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SINGAPORE – After finding out that she was pregnant with her then-boyfriend’s child, a teenager moved in with her mother and stepfather who offered to take care of her.
But after she gave birth, the teenager, who was then 16 to 17 years old, was sexually assaulted by her stepfather, who was 46 to 47 years old at the time.
On Jan 26, the man was sentenced to 10 years’ jail by the High Court. He cannot be caned as he is now 50 years old.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of rape for forcing the victim to perform an oral sex act on him in 2020.
The definition of rape in the Penal Code was expanded in 2020 to include oral and anal penetration without consent.
Two other charges, one each for sexual assault by penetration and outrage of modesty, were taken into consideration during sentencing.
In the earlier court hearing on Nov 23, 2023, Deputy Public Prosecutor J. Jayaletchmi told the court that the victim lived with her grandparents when her mother married the accused in October 2017.
In August 2018, the teen moved in with her mother, stepfather and two step-siblings in a one-room rental flat.
She gave birth to a daughter in April 2019.
In 2020, the accused sexually assaulted the victim while her mother, step-siblings, and daughter were asleep.
While she was sleeping on a mattress in the living room with the baby, he approached her and pulled her into his room, where he slept alone.
He told the victim that he wanted to teach her how to protect herself against men, and told her to perform an oral sex act.
The victim, who felt helpless, complied with his instructions.
After the assault, she pretended to be sleepy so that she can leave the room as soon as possible, and was told by the man to go to sleep.
In late August 2021, the victim’s uncle advised her to leave the flat with her daughter, after she told him through text messages that she had been sexually abused by her stepfather.
The teenager moved back with her grandparents on Sept 6, 2021.
On Sept 16, 2021, when she visited a family service centre to seek financial assistance for herself and her daughter, she told a social worker about the abuse. She added that she was reluctant to lodge a police report because she was afraid that her stepfather would harm her and her daughter.
The social worker raised the matter to the Child Protective Service on Oct 5, 2021, and lodged a police report two days later.
The teen was later seen at the Institute of Mental Health. She was diagnosed to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the assault, and the abuse was found to have greatly contributed to her major depressive disorder.
The psychiatrist also said that the victim “has strong self-blame over the incident and believes that if she doesn’t exist, none of these would have happened”.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/10-years-jail-for-stepfather-who-sexually-abused-teen-after-she-gave-birth
| 2024-01-26T06:17:41Z
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INDIANA – The Indiana Pacers, fueled by a triple-double from the “tremendous” Pascal Siakam, snapped the Philadelphia 76ers’ six-game National Basketball Association (NBA) winning streak on Jan 25 as Boston crushed Miami in an Eastern Conference Finals rematch.
In other games, another sparkling effort from OG Anunoby helped the New York Knicks thump defending champions Denver Nuggets 122-84 and Western Conference leaders Minnesota held on for a 96-94 win over Brooklyn.
The Pacers were in charge throughout on the way to a 134-122 victory in Indianapolis, where recent arrival Siakam scored 26 points with 13 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the charge against the sluggish Sixers.
“We made it our kind of game,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said.
“Siakam was obviously tremendous, the sixth triple-double of his career. His first, obviously, with the Pacers. When you have a power forward who gets a triple-double, it’s pretty special.”
Philadelphia’s reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid scored 31 points, but coach Nick Nurse pulled his star and the rest of his starters for the fourth quarter as the Pacers romped.
Siakam’s first win since he was traded from Toronto last week came against his former Raptors coach Nurse.
“He’s shown what he can do,” Pacers centre Myles Turner said of the Cameroonian.
“He sees the floor well – obviously he had a triple-double tonight. He plays with a lot of passion and energy. He fits right into our mold.”
In Miami, Jayson Tatum scored 26 points to lead seven Celtics players in double figures as Boston routed the Heat 143-110. Five Boston players made at least three of the team’s 22 three-pointers.
After their agonising exit to Miami in the East Finals last season, Tatum said the Celtics are fueled by a determination to “get over the hump”. But he refused to get too excited about the gaudy margin of victory over their rivals.
“(Even) if you win by 30, it just counts as one win. We’ve still got a long way to go,” he said.
Boston got a scare when big man Kristaps Porzingis twisted his left ankle when he landed on Bam Adebayo’s foot.
He had to be helped to the locker room, but returned to watch the fourth quarter from the bench seeming okay.
At Madison Square Garden, British forward Anunoby led the Knicks with 26 points and came up with six steals to help New York withstand a 31-point, 11-rebound double-double from Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.
Jokic hit the floor in pain after getting Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo’s hand in his left eye late in the first half. He exited briefly but returned to start the second half.
The Serb connected on 13 of 18 shots from the floor and sat out the fourth quarter along with the rest of Denver’s starters with the game out of reach.
It came down to the wire in Brooklyn, but 27 points from Karl Anthony-Towns and 24 from Anthony Edwards were enough for the Timberwolves.
An alley-oop dunk by Rudy Gobert with 58.1 seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/basketball/pascal-siakam-powers-indiana-pacers-past-philadelphia-76ers
| 2024-01-26T06:17:51Z
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ALABAMA - Alabama executed convicted murderer Kenneth Smith by asphyxiating him with nitrogen gas on Jan 25, the first use of a new method of capital punishment in the US that the state is advancing as a simpler alternative to lethal injections.
The state has called its new protocol “the most painless and humane method of execution known to man”.
United Nations human rights experts and lawyers for Smith had sought to prevent it, saying the method was risky, experimental and could lead to a torturous death or non-fatal injury.
Smith, convicted of a 1988 murder-for-hire, was a rare prisoner who had already survived one execution attempt. In November 2022, Alabama officials aborted his execution by lethal injection after struggling for hours to insert an intravenous line’s needle in his body.
In Smith’s second and final trip to the execution chamber on Jan 25, executioners restrained him in a gurney and strapped a commercial industrial-safety respirator mask to his face. A canister of pure nitrogen was attached to the mask that, once flowing, deprived him of oxygen.
The execution began at 7.53pm and Smith was declared dead at 8.25pm, prison officials said.
Smith appeared to remain conscious for several minutes after the nitrogen was activated, according to five journalists who were allowed to watch the execution through glass as media witnesses.
He then began shaking and writhing on the gurney for about two minutes, and then could be seen breathing deeply for several minutes before his breathing slowed and became imperceptible, the witnesses said.
Alabama officials had said in court filings they expected Smith would be rendered unconscious in under a minute and die shortly after.
“It appeared that Smith was holding his breath as long as he could,” Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said when asked at a press conference if the writhing had been expected. “He struggled against the restraints a little bit, but it is an involuntary movement and some agonal breathing. So that was all expected.”
Before the nitrogen was switched on, Smith made a lengthy final statement that began: “Tonight, Alabama caused humanity to take a step backward.”
His wife and other relatives attended and he gestured towards them. “I’m leaving with love, peace and light,” he said, according to media witnesses. “Love all of you.”
Failed challenges
Smith mounted legal challenges in federal courts arguing that Alabama’s method amounted to unconstitutional “cruel and unusual punishment”, but he failed to cross the high bar needed to have a judge order a delay of his execution.
Smith’s lawyers had told courts they feared the mask would not properly seal against Smith’s face, allowing oxygen to seep in, delaying or even averting the moment of unconsciousness but risking serious brain injury. They proposed Alabama instead use a hood pre-filled with pure nitrogen, to be plunged over his head, or else to use a firing squad.
Smith’s lawyers also told courts Smith had been repeatedly vomiting as his return to the execution chamber drew near. They raised fears he could be sick after the mask was strapped on and choke on his own vomit.
In response, prison officials said they would serve him his final meal on Jan 25 morning and forbid any solid foods after 10am.
His final meal was steak, hash browns and eggs, prison officials said.
The US Supreme Court’s conservative majority rejected Smith’s final attempt to have his execution delayed to allow his legal challenge to continue on Jan 25 evening, and the execution began soon after.
The court did not explain its reasoning in denying Smith’s appeal, but the three liberal justices offered written dissents.
“Having failed to kill Smith on its first attempt, Alabama has selected him as its ‘guinea pig’ to test a method of execution never attempted before,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, saying she would have granted the injunction. “The world is watching.”
Approved but unused in other states
US states that use capital punishment have found it increasingly difficult to get drugs for lethal injections, partly because pharmaceutical companies forbid supplying them to prisons to comply with a European trade ban on goods to be used in torture or executions.
Lawmakers in Oklahoma and Mississippi have also approved similar nitrogen-asphyxiation execution protocols in recent years, but have yet to put them into practice.
Smith was convicted of murdering Mrs Elizabeth Sennett, a preacher’s wife, after he and an accomplice each accepted a US$1,000 (S$1,300) fee from her husband to kill her, according to trial testimony.
Eleven of 12 jurors voted to sentence Smith to life in prison, but an Alabama judge overruled their recommendation under a law that has since been abolished as unconstitutional.
Several of Mrs Sennett’s relatives attended the execution and addressed the media afterwards, saying they had forgiven Sennett’s killers.
“Nothing that happened here today is going to bring mum back,” Mr Mike Sennett said. “It’s a bittersweet day. We’re not going to be jumping around, hooping and hollering, hooraying and all that, that’s not us. We’re glad this day is over.” REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/convicted-murderer-in-us-executed-by-nitrogen-asphyxiation-after-botched-attempt-by-lethal-injection
| 2024-01-26T06:18:02Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, PCB Bancorp (PCB - Free Report) reported revenue of $24.43 million, down 8.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.41, compared to $0.58 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $24.95 million, representing a surprise of -2.10%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -14.58%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.48.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how PCB Bancorp performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Efficiency ratio: 59.2% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 55.6%.
- Average Balance - Total interest-earning assets: $2.56 billion versus $2.55 billion estimated by two analysts on average.
- Net Interest Margin: 3.4% compared to the 3.5% average estimate based on two analysts.
- Total Non interest Income: $2.50 million versus $2.59 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Net Interest Income: $21.92 million compared to the $22.37 million average estimate based on two analysts.
Shares of PCB Bancorp have returned -6.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216245/compared-to-estimates-pcb-bancorp-pcb-q4-earnings-a-look-at-key-metrics
| 2024-01-26T07:04:57Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, SouthState (SSB - Free Report) reported revenue of $419.72 million, down 8.6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.67, compared to $1.90 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $419.08 million, representing a surprise of +0.15%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +8.44%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.54.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how SouthState performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Efficiency Ratio: 63.4% versus 58% estimated by four analysts on average.
- Net Interest Margin (Non-Tax Equivalent): 3.5% versus the four-analyst average estimate of 3.4%.
- Net charge-offs (recoveries) as a percentage of average loans (annualized): 0.1% versus 0.1% estimated by three analysts on average.
- Total Nonperforming Assets: $184.12 million compared to the $141.85 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Average Balance - Total interest-earning assets: $40.47 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $40.24 billion.
- Net Interest Income: $354.23 million versus $349.73 million estimated by four analysts on average.
- Total Noninterest Income: $65.49 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $69.39 million.
- Net interest income, tax equivalent (Non-GAAP): $354.89 million compared to the $349.08 million average estimate based on three analysts.
Shares of SouthState have returned -4.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216246/southstate-ssb-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-26T07:05:03Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Princeton Bancorp (BPRN - Free Report) reported revenue of $17.79 million, down 7.5% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.82, compared to $1.13 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of -3.71% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $18.48 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.77, the EPS surprise was +6.49%.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Princeton Bancorp performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Interest Margin [%]: 3.6% versus 3.7% estimated by two analysts on average.
- Efficiency Ratio: 61% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 63.1%.
- Total Noninterest Income: $1.78 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $1.60 million.
- Net interest income: $16.01 million versus $16.88 million estimated by two analysts on average.
Shares of Princeton Bancorp have returned -6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216247/heres-what-key-metrics-tell-us-about-princeton-bancorp-bprn-q4-earnings
| 2024-01-26T07:05:11Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Hilltop Holdings (HTH - Free Report) reported revenue of $290.2 million, down 1% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.44, compared to $0.39 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of -1.78% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $295.45 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.40, the EPS surprise was +10.00%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Hilltop Holdings performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Interest Margin: 2.9% compared to the 3% average estimate based on three analysts.
- Average Outstanding Balance - Interest-earning assets, gross: $14.91 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $15.23 billion.
- Non-Performing Assets: $73.42 million compared to the $37.54 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Efficiency Ratio: 53.2% compared to the 85.4% average estimate based on two analysts.
- Non-Performing Loans: $68.33 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $32.47 million.
- Net Interest Income (FTE): $111.84 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $114.32 million.
- Net Interest Income: $111.23 million versus $113.85 million estimated by three analysts on average.
- Total Noninterest Income: $178.98 million versus $181.30 million estimated by three analysts on average.
- Investment and securities advisory fees and commissions: $35.78 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $36.15 million.
- Mortgage loan origination fees: $35.78 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $36.91 million.
- Noninterest income- Other: $40.97 million versus $35.80 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Net gains from sale of loans and other mortgage production income: $36.39 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $41.02 million.
Shares of Hilltop Holdings have returned -4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216248/heres-what-key-metrics-tell-us-about-hilltop-holdings-hth-q4-earnings
| 2024-01-26T07:05:17Z
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Glacier Bancorp (GBCI - Free Report) reported $197.32 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year decline of 15.2%. EPS of $0.49 for the same period compares to $0.72 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +2.65% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $192.23 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.41, the EPS surprise was +19.51%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Glacier Bancorp performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Interest Margin: 2.6% versus 2.6% estimated by four analysts on average.
- Efficiency Ratio: 65.2% versus the four-analyst average estimate of 67.5%.
- Net Charge-off (% of Average Loans): 0.1% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 0.1%.
- Total non-performing loans: $20.82 million compared to the $46.76 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Average Balances-Interest earning assets: $26.37 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $26.37 billion.
- Total non-performing assets: $25.63 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $51.92 million.
- Total Non-Interest Income: $30.87 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $29.68 million.
- Net Interest Income: $166.46 million versus $163.89 million estimated by four analysts on average.
- Net Interest Income (FTE): $170.07 million versus $168.66 million estimated by three analysts on average.
- Gain on sale of loans: $2.23 million versus $3.52 million estimated by two analysts on average.
Shares of Glacier Bancorp have returned -4.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216249/glacier-bancorp-gbci-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-26T07:05:23Z
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Primis Financial (FRST - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.35 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.28 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.03 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 25%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this holding company for Sonabank would post earnings of $0.18 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.32, delivering a surprise of 77.78%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.
Primis Financial
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Primis Financial shares have lost about 0.2% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 2.1%.
What's Next for Primis Financial?
While Primis Financial has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Primis Financial: mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.28 on $35.96 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.37 on $151.02 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Financial - Miscellaneous Services is currently in the bottom 33% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, American Express (AXP - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2023. The results are expected to be released on January 26.
This credit card issuer and global payments company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.65 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +28%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.8% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.
American Express' revenues are expected to be $16.03 billion, up 13.1% from the year-ago quarter.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216250/primis-financial-frst-surpasses-q4-earnings-and-revenue-estimates
| 2024-01-26T07:05:29Z
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First Business Financial Services (FBIZ - Free Report) reported $36.63 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year increase of 6.4%. EPS of $1.15 for the same period compares to $1.18 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $37.6 million, representing a surprise of -2.57%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +0.88%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.14.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how First Business Financial Services performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Interest Margin [%]: 3.7% compared to the 3.7% average estimate based on two analysts.
- Efficiency ratio: 58.3% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 60.8%.
- Total Non Interest Income: $7.09 million versus $7.55 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Net Interest Income: $29.54 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $30.05 million.
Shares of First Business Financial Services have returned -5.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216251/first-business-financial-services-fbiz-q4-earnings-taking-a-look-at-key-metrics-versus-estimates
| 2024-01-26T07:05:36Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Flushing Financial (FFIC - Free Report) reported revenue of $53.49 million, up 14.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.25, compared to $0.57 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +9.53% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $48.84 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.23, the EPS surprise was +8.70%.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Flushing Financial performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Efficiency ratio: 76.7% versus 77.7% estimated by two analysts on average.
- Average Interest-Earning Assets: $8.08 billion compared to the $8.08 billion average estimate based on two analysts.
- Net Interest Margin: 2.3% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 2.2%.
- Other income: $1.14 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $0.53 million.
- Net Interest Income: $46.09 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $43.85 million.
- Banking services fee income: $2.82 million compared to the $2.70 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Total Non-Interest Income: $7.40 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $5 million.
- Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock dividends: $0.66 million compared to the $0.58 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Bank owned life insurance: $1.17 million compared to the $1.20 million average estimate based on two analysts.
Shares of Flushing Financial have returned -1.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216252/flushing-financial-ffic-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-26T07:05:42Z
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Weyerhaeuser (WY - Free Report) reported $1.77 billion in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year decline of 2.7%. EPS of $0.16 for the same period compares to $0.24 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.85 billion, representing a surprise of -4.00%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +14.29%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.14.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Weyerhaeuser performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Revenue- Timberlands: $534 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $428.40 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -2.6%.
- Revenue- Real Estate & ENR: $77 million compared to the $80.27 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +40% year over year.
- Revenue- Wood Products: $1.30 billion compared to the $1.37 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -2.2% year over year.
- Wood Products Segment- Structural lumber- Third party net sales: $465 million versus $523.27 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Wood Products Segment- Oriented Strand Board (square feet 3/8')- Third party net sales: $237 million compared to the $247.71 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Total Real Estate & ENR- OI- GAAP: $50 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $39.03 million.
- Total Timberlands- OI- GAAP: $186 million compared to the $76.38 million average estimate based on three analysts.
- Total Wood Products- OI- GAAP: $119 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $137.12 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Unallocated Items: -$48 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of -$37.79 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Wood Products: $159 million versus $190.19 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Timberlands: $143 million compared to the $139.54 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Adjusted EBITDA- Real Estate & ENR: $67 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $55.27 million.
Shares of Weyerhaeuser have returned -4.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216253/weyerhaeuser-wy-q4-earnings-taking-a-look-at-key-metrics-versus-estimates
| 2024-01-26T07:05:48Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Midland States Bancorp (MSBI - Free Report) reported revenue of $78.59 million, down 19.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.89, compared to $0.85 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $75.65 million, representing a surprise of +3.89%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +12.66%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.79.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Midland States Bancorp performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Efficiency Ratio: 55.2% versus 58.1% estimated by two analysts on average.
- Average Interest-Earning Assets: $7.20 billion compared to the $7.29 billion average estimate based on two analysts.
- Net charge-offs to average loans: 0.3% compared to the 0.2% average estimate based on two analysts.
- Net Interest Margin: 3.2% versus 3.2% estimated by two analysts on average.
- Wealth management revenue: $6.60 million versus $6.19 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Interchange revenue: $3.59 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $3.82 million.
- Net Interest Income (FTE)/Adjusted net interest income: $58.26 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $58.55 million.
- Other non-interest (loss) income: $7.76 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $3.50 million.
- Service charges on deposit accounts: $3.25 million versus $2.95 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Total Noninterest Income: $20.51 million compared to the $17.18 million average estimate based on two analysts.
Shares of Midland States Bancorp have returned -4.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216254/compared-to-estimates-midland-states-bancorp-msbi-q4-earnings-a-look-at-key-metrics
| 2024-01-26T07:05:54Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Primis Financial (FRST - Free Report) reported revenue of $39.24 million, down 3.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.35, compared to $0.03 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +8.48% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $36.17 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.28, the EPS surprise was +25.00%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Primis Financial performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Interest Margin: 3.4% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 3.1%.
- Efficiency Ratio: 76% versus 69.9% estimated by two analysts on average.
- Total Non Interest Income: $8.98 million versus $9.11 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Net Interest Income: $30.26 million versus $27.06 million estimated by two analysts on average.
Shares of Primis Financial have returned -0.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216255/primis-financial-frst-q4-earnings-how-key-metrics-compare-to-wall-street-estimates
| 2024-01-26T07:06:01Z
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Chemung Financial (CHMG - Free Report) reported $23.77 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2023, representing a year-over-year decline of 9.6%. EPS of $0.81 for the same period compares to $1.58 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $23.52 million, representing a surprise of +1.08%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -30.77%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.17.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Chemung Financial performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Interest Margin: 2.7% versus 2.7% estimated by two analysts on average.
- Efficiency Ratio: 70.8% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 67.1%.
- Total Other Operating Income: $5.87 million versus $5.66 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Net Interest Income: $17.90 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $17.86 million.
Shares of Chemung Financial have returned -1.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216256/chemung-financial-chmg-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-26T07:06:07Z
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Heritage Commerce (HTBK - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.22 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.24 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.34 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -8.33%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this holding company for Heritage Bank of Commerce would post earnings of $0.26 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.26, delivering no surprise.
Over the last four quarters, the company has not been able to surpass consensus EPS estimates.
Heritage Commerce
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Heritage Commerce shares have lost about 2.5% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 2.1%.
What's Next for Heritage Commerce?
While Heritage Commerce has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Heritage Commerce: unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.23 on $46.25 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $0.92 on $191.26 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - West is currently in the bottom 26% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the broader Zacks Finance sector, PennyMac Mortgage (PMT - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended December 2023.
This specialty finance company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.35 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +600%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 13% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.
PennyMac Mortgage's revenues are expected to be $88.67 million, up 79.6% from the year-ago quarter.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216257/heritage-commerce-htbk-misses-q4-earnings-and-revenue-estimates
| 2024-01-26T07:06:13Z
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For the quarter ended December 2023, Heritage Commerce (HTBK - Free Report) reported revenue of $44.24 million, down 18.8% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.22, compared to $0.34 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $46.38 million, representing a surprise of -4.61%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -8.33%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.24.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Heritage Commerce performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Net Interest Margin [%]: 3.4% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 3.5%.
- Efficiency Ratio: 57.6% compared to the 54.7% average estimate based on three analysts.
- Total Non-Performing - Loan: $7.71 million versus $6.01 million estimated by two analysts on average.
- Total Non-Performing - Assets: $7.71 million compared to the $6.01 million average estimate based on two analysts.
- Average Balances-Interest earning assets: $4.92 billion compared to the $5.06 billion average estimate based on two analysts.
- Net Interest Income: $42.30 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $44.36 million.
- Total Non Interest Income: $1.94 million compared to the $2.09 million average estimate based on three analysts.
- Net Interest Income (FTE): $42.36 million compared to the $44.48 million average estimate based on two analysts.
Shares of Heritage Commerce have returned -3.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.
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https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2216258/heritage-commerce-htbk-reports-q4-earnings-what-key-metrics-have-to-say
| 2024-01-26T07:06:20Z
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SEOUL - China’s vice-foreign minister was in Pyongyang on Jan 26 for a meeting with his North Korean counterpart.
China and Russia are North Korea’s traditional allies, and Washington warned in 2023 that military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow were “growing and dangerous”.
The United States has called on Beijing – the North’s biggest economic benefactor – to restrain Pyongyang.
“The Foreign Ministry delegation of the People’s Republic of China, headed by Comrade Sun Weidong, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Pyongyang on the 25th,” the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said on Jan 26.
AFP photos showed Mr Sun and his delegation meeting with North Korean Vice-Foreign Minister Pak Myong Ho and others at the People’s Palace of Culture in the capital.
Mr Sun’s visit comes as US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was set to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Jan 26 and 27 in Thailand, as the two powers seek to improve relations after years of tensions.
Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Pyongyang and Beijing had designated 2024 as the “year of DPRK-China friendship,” using the acronym of the North’s official name.
The two countries “will further promote exchange and visits in all fields, including politics, economy and culture” this year, and add “a new page to the history of the DPRK-China relations,” Mr Kim said in his message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to KCNA.
Mr Kim’s friendly message to Mr Xi stood in stark contrast to his recent, dramatically aggressive rhetoric towards the South.
Earlier this month, Mr Kim declared Seoul his country’s “principal enemy”, jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach and threatened war over “even 0.001 mm” of territorial infringement.
As the threat from the nuclear-armed North grows, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has pulled Seoul closer to long-standing ally Washington.
While Tokyo, Seoul and Washington have held joint military exercises against the growing North Korean threats, Beijing last year sent senior officials to attend Pyongyang’s military parades.
As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, both China and Russia have been obstructing the efforts led by Washington to impose stricter sanctions on North Korea in response to its increased weapons testing activities in recent months.
Mr Kim also successfully put a spy satellite into orbit late 2023, after receiving what Seoul said was Russian help, in exchange for arms transfers for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-north-korea-vice-foreign-ministers-meet-in-pyongyang
| 2024-01-26T07:48:51Z
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TOKYO - A Japanese man sentenced to death for an arson attack that killed 36 people at an anime studio appealed the ruling on Jan 26, a court said.
Shinji Aoba, 45, was convicted on Jan 25 over the 2019 blaze at the studios of Kyoto Animation – Japan’s deadliest crime in decades.
His lawyers had entered a plea of not guilty, saying he had a mental disorder, but the judge rejected this.
On Jan 26, his defence team appealed the ruling, a Kyoto District Court spokesperson told AFP.
Japan is one of the few developed countries with capital punishment, and public support for it is high.
As at December 2023, 107 people were on death row.
Many of those killed in the July 2019 fire were young, including a 21-year-old woman.
Aoba broke into the building in the morning, spread gasoline around the ground floor, lit it and shouted “drop dead”, survivors said.
The victims “were engulfed in fire and smoke in the blink of an eye... They died an anguishing death as the studio instantly turned into a hell”, presiding judge Keisuke Masuda said in his ruling.
“Immolating people is truly cruel and inhumane,” the judge added.
Aoba himself sustained burns on 90 per cent of his body and only regained consciousness weeks after the fire, and the ability to speak later still.
Aoba believed that the studio – known by its fans as KyoAni – stole his ideas, prosecutors said, a claim the company has denied.
A number of victims were found on a spiral stairwell leading to the roof, suggesting they were overcome as they desperately tried to escape.
More than 30 others were injured, with firefighters calling the incident “unprecedented” and saying that rescuing people trapped inside was “extremely difficult”. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japan-arsonist-who-killed-36-appeals-against-death-sentence
| 2024-01-26T07:49:01Z
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TOKYO - The cost of the damage wreaked by a huge New Year’s Day earthquake that killed at least 236 people in central Japan could reach US$17.6 billion (S$23.5 billion), a government official said on Jan 26.
The 7.5-magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks devastated parts of Ishikawa prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast, toppling buildings, ripping up roads and sparking a major fire.
Damage in Ishikawa and two neighbouring regions is likely to cost between 1.1 trillion yen (S$9.98 billion) and 2.6 trillion yen, according to a government estimate.
A Cabinet office official confirmed the figures, which were calculated using data from past major earthquakes and reported to a government economic meeting on Jan 25.
But even the top estimate is much less than the 16.9 trillion yen damage caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in north-eastern Japan.
That disaster left around 18,500 people dead or missing and triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima atomic plant, the world’s worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.
The authorities on Jan 25 revealed detailed reconstruction plans for Ishikawa, where snow and badly damaged roads have complicated relief efforts in the quake’s aftermath.
They include improvements to shelters for evacuees along with subsidies for rebuilding factories and ports as well as attracting tourists to the area.
Japan sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches through South-east Asia and across the Pacific basin.
The country is regularly hit by quakes and has strict construction regulations intended to ensure buildings can withstand strong tremors.
But many structures are older, especially in rapidly ageing communities in rural areas like those hardest hit in the New Year’s quake. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japan-says-new-year-quake-damage-could-cost-236b
| 2024-01-26T07:49:13Z
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SEOUL - The disapproval rating for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hit its highest level in about nine months in a major poll amid escalating questions over whether the first lady inappropriately received a designer bag.
The disapproval rate for Mr Yoon rose to 63 per cent from 58 per cent in a weekly tracking poll by Gallup Korea released on Jan 26.
The polling group cited the “issue” around the first lady as one of the drivers for the rise in the rate.
The incident has cast a shadow over the president as his conservative People Power Party is trying to wrest control of Parliament in an April election.
Mr Yoon has yet to speak publicly about a video released that appeared to show his wife Kim Keon Hee receiving a Christian Dior bag valued at about US$2,200 (S$2,948) from a Korean-American pastor in September 2022.
The video was shot with a hidden camera and released on the YouTube channel of a liberal political group, Yonhap News reported.
PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said the video showed what appeared to be deliberate entrapment.
Mr Han added there were aspects of it that could cause concern among the public which briefly led to some friction with Mr Yoon, Yonhap and other local media reported.
Members of the Democratic Party have targeted the first lady and the party used its majority in Parliament to push through a measure calling for a special investigation into allegations of stock manipulation.
Mr Yoon vetoed the measure, and his wife has denied any wrongdoing.
South Korean presidents serve a single five-year term, and the April election will determine whether Mr Yoon can push through his agenda or if he’ll continue to face gridlock in the body for the three years left in his term.
If the PPP seizes control of Parliament from the opposition, it is likely to push through economic policies that include taking on powerful labour unions, reducing regulations on businesses, and tax cuts for companies and on real estate transactions. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korea-president-yoon-stumbles-in-poll-over-dior-bag-uproar
| 2024-01-26T07:49:23Z
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SEOUL - South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has called an attack by a minor against a ruling party lawmaker this week an act of “terrorism”, his office said on Jan 26.
Lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin, 40, was attacked on Jan 25 by a minor who repeatedly struck her on the back of the head with a rock in Seoul’s upscale Gangnam district.
She has since been hospitalised and is recovering, after medical staff used a stapler to perform two sutures to treat a non-life-threatening, 1cm scalp injury, according to doctors who treated her.
The police have identified the assailant as a 15-year-old minor, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, which reported he was ordered hospitalised for observation on the morning of Jan 26.
The attack came just weeks after opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck while talking to reporters in the port city of Busan.
“The terrorism against politicians, who are representatives of the people, is no different from terrorism against the people,” Mr Yoon said of the attack on Ms Bae, according to senior presidential secretary for political affairs Han O-sub.
Mr Yoon’s remarks come a day after both the ruling People Power Party and opposition Democratic Party characterised the incident as an act of “political terrorism”.
South Korea is gearing up for a crucial election on April 10, in which President Yoon’s conservative party aims to regain a parliamentary majority for the first time since 2016.
The police have said the recent stabbing of the opposition leader Lee was meticulously planned by a well-prepared assailant who “wanted to prevent the politician from becoming president”.
Lee underwent surgery after he was stabbed on Jan 2 and returned to work about two weeks later. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korean-president-labels-attack-on-mp-act-of-terrorism
| 2024-01-26T07:49:34Z
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JAKARTA - Some Indonesians are concerned that the energy transition will affect their livelihoods, particularly those who rely on the fossil fuel sector.
Around 13 per cent of Indonesians, living in South Sumatra, West Java and East Kalimantan, have opted not to support the energy transition, according to a survey by consulting firm Markdata and climate advocacy group Yayasan Cerah.
More than 57 per cent of respondents who do not support the energy transition said they are concerned about losing their jobs, particularly those working in the oil, gas and coal industry. Others cast doubt on government commitments, while some believe the benefits of the energy transition are not distributed evenly among the population.
Respondents living in East Kalimantan showed the most concern, with more than 25 per cent of people surveyed from the region worried about losing their jobs, while the other two regions saw less than 10 per cent of respondents with the same concerns.
Cerah executive director Agung Budiono said in a statement on Jan 24 that East Kalimantan is well known as a province that relies on fossil fuels – especially coal – for its economy.
Meanwhile, more than a third of the respondents said an increase in solar power adoption would contribute to a higher unemployment rate.
According to a survey released by the Centre of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) in July 2023, the vast majority of 1,245 respondents supported plans to accelerate the closure of coal-fired power plants.
However, some unpaid family workers and unemployed people are less supportive, which according to Celios, is likely because they “are concerned that the closure of [coal-fired power plants] could lead to increased electricity and food prices, negatively impacting their well-being.”
Ms Dorothy Mei, project manager for Global Energy Monitor (GEM)’s Global Coal Mine Tracker, said in October 2023 that governments needed to make plans to ensure workers do not suffer from the energy transition.
“Coal mine closures are inevitable, but economic hardship and social strife for workers are not,” she said, as quoted from Reuters.
GEM surveyed 4,300 active and proposed coal mine projects worldwide, with a total workforce of nearly 2.7 million. It discovered that over 400,000 workers are employed in mines that are set to close before 2035.
Despite doubts, 87 per cent respondents by Markdata and Yayasan Cerah still favoured the energy transition, with half of them answering that there could be new jobs that emerge from the transition. More than 70 per cent of respondents also saw the energy transition as a way to reduce the negative impacts of climate change.
Indonesia is planning to slash the targeted share of renewables in the national energy mix, a move seen by experts as a step back in the country’s clean energy ambitions, while signalling its light-hearted attempt to part ways with fossil fuels. The new target will hover at between 17 per cent and 19 per cent by 2025, as proposed by the National Energy Council (DEN). Previously, the government had set a target of 23 per cent for the same period.
The planned revision also comes after Indonesia decided to lower its coal phaseout plans, partly because of a lack of funding, which was supposed to see the early retirement of several coal-fired power plants to make way for renewable energy development. THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/some-indonesians-fear-being-left-behind-by-energy-transition-report
| 2024-01-26T07:49:44Z
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ISTANBUL - Turkey is expected to send the final instrument of ratification for Sweden's NATO membership to Washington within days, now that President Tayyip Erdogan signed it off, in a move Ankara hopes will clear the way to its purchase of U.S. F-16 fighter jets.
A source familiar with the issue said the document could be deposited as early as Friday, marking the last step in a process that began in 2022.
After 20 months of delay, Turkey moved rapidly this week to ratify the Swedish bid, with parliamentary ratification coming on Tuesday and President Tayyip Erdogan signing off on the approval on Thursday.
As per formal NATO rules, the final document in the process - the instrument of ratification - needs to be deposited in the U.S. State Department archives in Washington.
Turkey's backing, long seen as the main obstacle in securing Sweden's accession into the western military alliance, leaves Hungary as the only ally in the military alliance yet to ratify the Swedish bid.
Both Erdogan and members of the U.S. Congress had previously linked Ankara's final approval of Sweden to the $20 billion sale of Lockheed Martin F-16s and modernization kits to Turkey.
Shortly after the Turkish parliament's vote, U.S. President Joe Biden sent a letter to leaders of key Capitol Hill committees to inform them of his intention to begin the formal notification process for the F-16 sale once Ankara completes Sweden's NATO accession process.
The U.S. Ambassador to Turkey told Reuters on Thursday that he expected Washington to take rapid steps toward U.S. Congress endorsment of the sale, with the State Department sending the formal notification to Congress immediately. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/turkey-moving-swiftly-toward-final-step-on-swedens-nato-bid
| 2024-01-26T07:49:55Z
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SINGAPORE – Innovation, increased productivity and enhanced connection to the global economy can help Singapore offset the ever-growing challenges posed by scarcities in areas like capital, talent and infrastructure, noted Manpower Minister Tan See Leng.
Dr Tan also noted on Jan 25 that Singapore’s resource constraints are being heightened by geopolitical tensions, which have permeated not just to politics, but to trade, technology and security.
“Global supply chains are increasingly being put under pressure of disruptions, limiting many countries’ ability not just to meet, but to access and address the demand for resources,” he said.
“These pressures are felt even more keenly in smaller countries and economies like Singapore, that rely on trade to fulfil our resource needs.”
Dr Tan told the St Gallen Singapore Symposium, which brings together youth, policymakers, business leaders and academia, that Singapore needs to build more self-sufficiency by diversifying supply chains and promoting high-end advanced manufacturing and local production.
The scarcity of talent is another challenge, but the minister noted that there will be limits as to how many foreigners the country can take in before Singaporeans feel less at home, and it will become even harder in the next decade for the country to sustain economic expansion based on workforce growth alone.
That means Singapore must optimise its manpower resources to support high-value, technology-driven and productivity-led growth.
“We must focus on raising the quality of our workers and improving their allocation, the distribution to more productive areas of the economy. We do this through both our local and foreign workforce strategies,” said Dr Tan.
“Our focus for the next bound will be helping our locals move into the more productive growth areas of the economy, for instance sustainability and digitalisation, which also tend to have better paying jobs.”
Energy scarcity is another key challenge for Singapore, which relies on imported natural gas to produce 95 per cent of its electricity needs, noted Dr Tan, who added that the global energy crisis has shown that even strong supply networks can be disrupted.
Singapore has also committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, but it is significantly disadvantaged in alternative, renewable and clean energy.
“Our strategy must be to expand possibilities through innovation, diversification and cooperation,” he said, adding that one solution is to diversify energy sources by exploring emerging low-carbon energy alternatives.
Dr Tan cited efforts to build domestic capabilities, starting with smaller-scale pathfinder projects such as testing and deploying the direct use of ammonia as a low-carbon fuel for energy generation.
The Lao-PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project, which started in June 2022, has also allowed Singapore to draw renewable energy generated from solar and hydroelectric power.
“Engaging in cross-border electricity trade is just one example of how Singapore seeks regional and global integration to overcome our resource constraints,” Dr Tan said.
“As a small country, we must remain connected to the world. Singapore is a firm supporter of a rules-based multilateral trading system.”
There are also other forms of scarcity globally that Singapore also needs to grapple with, said speakers on a panel at the symposium.
The symposium, which focused on the theme of confronting scarcity, also heard from other speakers, including SPH Media chief executive Teo Lay Lim, who noted that a lack of risk appetite might hinder society from confronting these challenges.
“When we’re dealing with scarcity, it involves innovation, it involves change, it affects everyone. If we were to be a bit short on the appetite for risk to make some big bets, that might be why we miss the boat on certain opportunities,” she said.
Singapore Management University president Lily Kong also pointed to ethical challenges, ranging from deepfake content to overconsumption.
“Rather than pushing more and more domain knowledge, which doesn’t make sense because the shelf life of knowledge is shortening, what we really need to spend more time on is values-based education,” said Prof Kong.
HSBC Singapore chief executive Wong Kee Joo warned that there will be a huge scarcity of capital globally for transition projects amid geopolitical tensions and high interest rates.
But the climate problem is not just about capital, he said, adding: “There is a scarcity of knowledge in this field. A lot of new technologies are evolving.
“We talk about greenwashing, sometimes it is about ethics, but at the same time there’s also the challenge where baselines might not have been established because they’re so new.”
Singapore International Chamber of Commerce chief executive Victor Mills said society needs to take an “abundant attitude to scarcity”, or to have a growth mindset: “It’s about using all available talent pools – for example, using mature workers in a much more intentional and smarter way than we sometimes do.
“Ditto on the power side, the power agenda is a transition, it’s going to take time and multiple sources of renewable energy to see us through.”
The symposium, which was held at the National University of Singapore’s Shaw Foundation Alumni House, attracted around 300 people.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/s-pore-must-innovate-and-be-connected-to-global-economy-as-resources-become-more-scarce-tan-see-leng
| 2024-01-26T07:50:05Z
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SINGAPORE – Indian architects are bringing about historic change to Ayodhya by combining innovation and tradition to craft an immersive experience for visitors to the ancient city in northern India.
Delhi-based CP Kukreja Architects (CPKA) has come up with Ayodhya’s latest integrated infrastructure plan focused on the sustainable development of the city in Uttar Pradesh.
And Lucknow- and Delhi-based architectural studio Sthapati has combined traditional temple architecture with state-of-the-art design for the new Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham, which commenced daily commercial flights on Jan 6.
Ayodhya – which is the birthplace of Lord Ram, the long-suffering god-king and protagonist of the epic poem Ramayana – is being hailed as an Indian renaissance city by local and foreign media.
Its new city masterplan and airport are designed to provide the modern infrastructure needed to support an expected spike in visitors to the Ram Mandir (Ram Temple), which made news globally when it was inaugurated on Jan 22 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The inauguration brings to an end a 500-year legal tussle between Muslims and Hindus, after the original Ram temple was demolished by Mughal emperor Babur in 1528. He later built the Babri mosque on the site.
In 2019, India’s Supreme Court approved the construction of the Ram Mandir after being satisfied with exhaustive evidence provided by the Archaeological Survey of India showing that an ancient Hindu temple had pre-dated the Babri mosque at the site.
The US$10 billion (S$13.4 billion) remaking of the city will drive a multiplier effect with new hotels and other economic activities, foreign brokerage analysts Jefferies said in a Jan 21 report.
The city will also set a template for infrastructure-driven growth for tourism.
In the report, titled Unlocking India’s Tourism Potential: Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir Inauguration, the firm said the revamped city could attract more than 50 million tourists who could spend more than US$10 billion a year.
In comparison, about five million people visited Italy’s Vatican City in 2023. Some 13 million visited Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in the same period.
According to urban designer Dikshu Kukreja, managing principal of CPKA, there were challenges in the Ayodhya urban masterplan, which started in 2020 after his firm was appointed by the government.
The main challenges were the rigours of transforming a city steeped in history and culture, and making it a modern city without losing its ethos or soul.
“A significant aspect of the masterplan is in seeing that the city doesn’t just grow, but has sustainable growth which involves state-of-the-art modern systems and innovative technologies,” Mr Kukreja, 54, tells The Straits Times in an e-mail interview.
He founded CPKA – one of the world’s biggest architecture and urban design firms, with more than 125 architects and designers – in 1994.
Mr Kukreja says his work is rooted in the context of a site, and driven by sustainability and innovation.
For example, when his team looked at tourism, they focused on providing tourist infrastructure not only for the elite but also for different economic strata.
“Our vision document also makes provisions for affordable homestays or dharamshalas,” he says. “This concept makes it an inclusive development, where even the local residents can become a part of the city’s economic growth.”
The population of Ayodhya City as at July 2023 is about 2.5 million, according to Nagar Nigam Ayodhya, the official government website for the city.
Mr Harsh Varshneya, principal architect and director of multidisciplinary design practice Sthapati, says Ayodhya’s new airport was conceptualised to provide better connectivity for flights throughout India.
It is also designed to create an immersive experience for visitors and devotees while reflecting Ayodhya’s heritage.
The interior features skylights placed to help passengers easily navigate the airport, as well as artworks depicting scenes from the Ramayana.
“The most distinctive design feature is the grand stepped shikhar (pyramid) that stands at the main entrance, adorned with gleaming brass,” says Mr Varshneya, 33.
Founded in 1986, Sthapati is a pioneer in airport terminals and public transportation infrastructure, and is also sought after for its heritage conservation efforts.
Mr Varshneya adds: “The architecture follows the Nagara style, outlined with scriptures, presenting a majestic and culturally rich welcome for passengers.”
Ayodhya, he says, is an “eternal city” with a storied heritage and cultural impact that his team aimed to convey through the airport design.
“The goal was to capture the essence of this iconic city and to appreciate its rich history.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/home-design/ayodhya-city-designed-as-gateway-to-indian-culture-for-modern-audiences
| 2024-01-26T07:50:16Z
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When I heard faint rattling from my car’s engine, I thought it might be due to “pinging” – when ignition in the cylinder occurs prematurely, usually due to low-octane fuel – because of the 92-octane fuel that I had been using. I was shocked to discover that it was because of low oil level. In fact, there was no trace of oil on the dipstick when I checked. What could be the cause and why did the car’s oil pressure light not come on? The car has clocked around 250,000km.
There are several reasons the engine would run low on oil. First, always check your vehicle’s oil level after any engine oil service. Instances of workshops under-filling are not unheard of.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/motoring/torque-shop-old-cars-need-more-oil
| 2024-01-26T07:50:26Z
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SINGAPORE – More children from lower-income homes will receive help over the next two years from a programme to support their development.
Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling announced on Jan 26 that KidStart, which provides support in areas like nutrition and parenting strategies, will be expanded to nine more towns by 2025.
With the programme’s expansion, 80 per cent of eligible children in every birth cohort will receive its support by the time they are six years old. It has currently benefited 8,500 children across 15 towns.
By the end of 2024, six towns – Hougang, Sengkang, Serangoon, Punggol, Pasir Ris and Tampines – will be part of the KidStart initiative. In 2025, Queenstown, Clementi and Jurong East will be added, completing its nationwide reach.
KidStart, which supports children up to the age of six, also aims to reach out to more families at the pregnancy stage, as part of a revamped approach.
In a statement, Madam Rahayu Buang, chief executive of KidStart Singapore, said that support in the early years has a lasting impact on children’s development and upward mobility in the long run.
“Families often place priority on child development after birth, but it should begin from pregnancy. Pregnant mothers who join KidStart can expect regular check-ins on their physical and mental well-being as well as guidance on how to care for their newborn from KidStart teams in the hospitals.”
The programme is offered at the National University Hospital (NUH) and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital when mothers attend their antenatal checks, to reach out to pregnant mothers and their children as early as possible.
Madam Rahayu added that after the child is born, a full-time KidStart practitioner will provide home-based support to the family on child development strategies such as meeting developmental milestones in fine gross motor skills and language skills, until the child is six years old.
KidStart, which currently has 140 practitioners working with families, will hire 100 more in 2024 to support its expansion. They will be trained in child development, as well as the health and social needs of children and families.
By 2026, it aims to have at least 400 practitioners in total.
As part of the programme’s revised approach, families will primarily work with one practitioner at home, rather than having to interact with multiple people across different settings like at pre-school or in the community.
In her speech at the KidStart Partners Townhall at One Farrer Hotel, Ms Sun said that KidStart will also work with ComLink+, a government initiative to support lower-income families.
While KidStart focuses on providing child development and parenting support to families through regular home visits, ComLink+ family coaches will support families in processes such as children’s preschool enrolment, attendance, immunisation, as well as navigating various social support services.
KidStart started in 2016 as a pilot for 1,000 children from lower-income families. It has since become a non-profit organisation.
Ms Sun shared the positive outcomes of the programme’s home visits, based on a study done from 2017 to 2022.
Within 12 months of the programme, parents and caregivers who had home visits reported more positive parent-child interactions and were more confident in supporting their child’s development, she said.
She added that compared with families who did not receive support, children from KidStart also showed improved socio-emotional development at three years old.
The study was commissioned by the Early Childhood Development Agency and conducted by the Centre for Evidence and Implementation, an Australia-based non-profit organisation.
Madam Priya Latha Mahendran, 33, joined the programme in 2021 through KidStart @ Fei Yue, which supports families living in Bukit Batok and Choa Chu Kang.
She said her seven-year-old son, Meethran Sugumar, is more ready for school, and her two-year-old daughter, Rutrashini Sugumar, has improved in her communication skills.
When the housewife was expecting her third child in 2023, she was supported by NUH, through the KidStart programme. The hospital practitioner guided her on the steps she needed to take during the pregnancy and how to prepare for the arrival of her new baby.
Under KidStart’s revised approach, Madam Priya will receive support from Ms Pearl Goh, 30, one of the programme’s practitioners.
Her family had previously worked with different service providers, including Ms Goh, for both children.
“It is better because we don’t need to deal with different practitioners. Pearl understands everything about my family. We feel comfortable with her,” said Madam Priya.
Ms Goh said the new model allows for more focused support when one practitioner works closely with parents to oversee the developmental needs of all their children.
“Whenever we go to homes and interact with everyone, it also allows us to form deeper relationships. Then we have a longer runway to be able to watch the children grow and hit their milestones,” she added.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/early-childhood-programme-kidstart-to-expand-nationwide-by-2025
| 2024-01-26T07:50:36Z
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Egypt will turn to striker Mostafa Mohamed for much-needed firepower in the absence of talisman Mohamed Salah as they continue their quest for a record-breaking eighth Africa Cup of Nations title in a last-16 meeting against Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday.
With Liverpool's Salah likely out for the rest of the tournament with a hamstring injury, Mohamed will be entrusted with applying the finishing touch as Egypt look to book their quarter-final place in the Ivory Coast city of San Pedro.
The Nantes frontman impressed in the group stage with his three goals proving crucial in lifting Egypt to the knockout stage and making up for their defensive vulnerabilities.
He scored in all three Group B games as Egypt scraped 2-2 draws with Mozambique, Ghana and Cape Verde to advance as runners-up with an unconvincing haul of three points.
That made Mohamed the first Egyptian to score in three pool stage matches since all-time leading scorer Hossam Hassan did it in 2000.
Mohamed has displayed the attributes of a goal poacher, a quality Egypt have not seen for over a decade since the days of Amr Zaki and Emad Moteab - core members of the team that won a hat-trick of Cup of Nations titles between 2006 and 2010.
Since then, Egypt have mainly relied on Salah and other wingers for firepower, but Mohamed's red-hot form suggests the team may have finally found the classic target man they have been looking for.
"Egypt needed a striker like Mostafa Mohamed," former captain Ahmed Hassan, who won an Egypt record 184 international caps, told Reuters.
"We've missed this kind of a physical, goal-scoring striker for a long time, particularly since the days of Hossam Hassan, Amr Zaki and Emad Moteab."
Although Mohamed was a regular starter when Egypt reached the final two years ago, he failed to find the net and was held back by having to drop deep to carry out defensive tasks.
The 26-year-old entered the ongoing tournament amid a fine goal-scoring run with Nantes, for whom he has scored six goals in 15 Ligue 1 appearances this season.
Hassan, now a television pundit, said Mohamed can get even better if he is not assigned defensive duties.
"Mohamed has made a very good progress, especially after his move to the French league. However, Egypt have not yet taken full advantage of his capabilities," he said.
"If he focuses only on the final third, I believe his scoring rate will be much higher." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/mohamed-shoulders-egypts-goal-scoring-burden-in-salah-absence
| 2024-01-26T07:50:47Z
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LOS ANGELES – Germany’s Stephan Jaeger said it was “exciting” to roll in a 35-foot eagle putt at his final hole to seize a one-stroke lead over Nicolai Hojgaard after the second round of the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open.
He carded an eight-under 64 on Jan 25 on the North Course at Torrey Pines, one of two in use over the first two days of the tournament, for a 12-under total of 132.
The German snatched the solo lead with his eagle bomb at the par-five ninth hole – his last – moments after Hojgaard completed a bogey-free six-under 66 on the North Course for an 11-under total of 133.
“I hit a good drive,” Jaeger said.
“It was a little into the wind today... I kind of tugged it a little bit. I wanted it kind of go middle of the green and I went right at it, ended up landing just short of the pin and scooting kind of (to the) back fringe.
“Had a little downhill right-to-lefter 35 feet and ended up curling in. It was awesome, finishing like that was exciting.”
The 34-year-old, ranked 101st in the world, is chasing his first PGA Tour title.
He opened with back-to-back birdies at the 10th and 11th and strung together three more at 15th, 16th and 17th.
He followed his lone bogey of the day at the first with birdies at the third and eighth before his bravura finish and was looking forward to being in the hunt over the final two rounds on the challenging South Course.
“I’ve won a few times on the Korn Ferry, but to be able to be out here on the weekend with the cameras on and play in front of the guys... is awesome,” Jaeger added.
Hojgaard of Denmark had opened with a strong five-under effort on the South Course on Jan 24 and followed that up with another solid effort.
He climbed the leaderboard with four straight birdies from the fourth through the seventh and added two more birdies at 13th and 16th.
Two more Europeans, Belgian Thomas Detry and France’s Matthieu Pavon, shared third on 134, Pavon posting a seven-under 65 on the South Course where Detry carded a four-under 68.
In women’s golf, reigning Olympic champion Nelly Korda and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko each fired a six-under 65 to share the lead after the opening round of the LPGA Drive On Championship on Jan 25.
Ko, coming off her 20th career LPGA triumph last weekend at the season-opening Tournament of Champions, fired a bogey-free first round while hometown hero Korda had six birdies, two bogeys and an eagle. AFP, REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/golf/late-eagle-lifts-stephan-jaeger-to-pga-tour-lead-at-torrey-pines
| 2024-01-26T07:50:57Z
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HYDERABAD, India - England struck twice on Friday in the morning session of the second day but India reached 222-3, on course for a big first-innings lead in the opening test.
KL Rahul led India's reply with a fluent 55 not out, while Shreyas Iyer survived a bouncer barrage from Mark Wood, England's lone fast bowler in the match, to be on 34.
England, who were bowled out for 246, opened with Joe Root and the part-time spinner struck in his first over dismissing the dangerous-looking Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Jaiswal hit Root's second ball for a four but his attempt to play a similar shot two balls later resulted in a high return catch to Root, who leapt to pouch the ball.
Jaiswal hit three sixes and 10 fours in his entertaining 80.
Root looked the most threatening of the English bowlers and could have ended with three wickets in his first spell.
Rahul got a reprieve when Ben Foakes grassed a tough chance behind the wicket after the batter had edged Root.
Root was also unlucky again when Shubman Gill miscued a shot but Ben Stokes, stationed at mid-off, lost sight of the ball against the sun.
Root was taken out of the attack after four overs, which was as surprising as England's decision of not using his off-spin on Thursday when Jaiswal was toying with the England spinners.
Tom Hartley had suffered the most at the hands of Jaiswal in his debut test but the left-arm spinner put that behind him and claimed his maiden test wicket when Gill (24) casually whipped a ball straight to Ben Duckett at midwicket.
Root was brought back for a couple of overs before the lunch break but Rahul and Iyer, who have added 63 runs for the unbroken third wicket, were set by then. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/root-removes-jaiswal-but-india-on-course-for-big-lead
| 2024-01-26T07:51:08Z
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MELBOURNE – Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is confident that she will have a crucial emotional edge over Zheng Qinwen in the Australian Open final on Jan 27, but the fast-rising Chinese star believes destiny is on her side.
World No. 2 Sabalenka is favourite to claim a second Grand Slam crown on Rod Laver Arena against a player getting her first taste of such a momentous occasion, and who reached the last two without meeting a seed.
“I would say emotionally I’ll be very ready to fight, not going crazy,” said the Belarusian, who is bidding to become the first woman since compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2013 to mount a successful title defence at Melbourne Park.
“When you play your first final you kind of like get emotional and rushing things sometimes. When you’re like third time in the finals, you’re like, ‘OK, it’s a final, it’s OK’.
“It’s just another match, and you’re able to separate yourself from that thing. Just focus on your game.”
Sabalenka, 25, beat Elena Rybakina in Melbourne last season for her maiden Grand Slam crown.
She followed up by making the French Open semi-finals and at Wimbledon before losing to Coco Gauff in the final of the US Open. On her way to the Flushing Meadows title decider, she defeated Zheng in the quarter-finals.
While 12th seed Zheng cannot compete in the experience stakes, the 21-year-old has been on a rapid rise to stardom and has shown she has the temperament and game to handle pressure situations.
Ranked just 143rd heading into the 2021 season, she rose to No. 28 a year later and will enter the world’s top 10 for the first time next week on the back of her Australian exploits.
Zheng, nicknamed affectionately by her fans as “Queen Wen”, is the first Chinese finalist in Melbourne since Li Na won the title in 2014, and only the second after her idol to get so far at any Grand Slam.
She has been taking inspiration and advice from Li – who is in Melbourne – and feels that it is her destiny to win on the 10-year anniversary of her compatriot’s title triumph.
“I believe in the destiny, yes, I do,” she said, while admitting that how she handles being in a final is the big unknown against a player of Sabalenka’s calibre.
All of her opponents en route to the final were outside the top 50.
“I know there is still another fight to go. I’m trying to control my emotion,” she added.
“Because, you know, to arrive in the final, everybody needs to face the pressure in the final. Who can deal better and perform their tennis is the one who’s going to win the match. That’s one of my challenges. I need to deal with it.
“And she’s also the biggest hitter on the tour. She got the biggest serve, biggest forehand, big backhand. She’s a really complete player.”
Zheng won her first WTA title on clay at Palermo in 2023 and followed it up with a second on the Zhengzhou hard courts at the back end of 2023.
She also made the last eight at the US Open – which she lost to Sabalenka – and won an Asian Games gold medal on home soil.
The pair are not exactly evenly matched but they do know each other well.
They are occasional practice partners and Sabalenka said she was not underestimating Zheng after watching her progress in recent years.
“She’s a really nice girl and playing really great tennis once again. It’s going to be great battle,” she said.
“I think her forehand is really heavy, and she’s moving well also, fighting for every point.
“She’s played really great tennis, putting her opponents under pressure, playing aggressive tennis, and I think that’s why she will be top 10.” AFP, REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/aryna-sabalenka-banks-on-emotional-edge-over-zheng-qinwen-in-australian-open-final
| 2024-01-26T07:51:18Z
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MELBOURNE - Jannik Sinner downed defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-1 6-2 6-7(6) 6-3 at the Australian Open on Friday to hand the top seed a first defeat at his Melbourne Park fortress in six years and power into his maiden Grand Slam final.
Fourth seed Sinner stunned Djokovic twice in three matches at the end of last season and he made a rollicking start on Rod Laver Arena by targeting his 36-year-old opponent's shaky serve and error-prone backhand to comfortably win the opening set.
Djokovic had not lost at his favourite stomping ground since the 2018 edition when he crashed to South Korean Chung Hyeon and there were worrying signs for the 10-times Australian Open champion as the 22-year-old Sinner roared through the next set with a double break.
The Sinner tsunami showed no signs of subsiding in the third set but Djokovic raised his game to stay firm until the tiebreak where the Italian squandered a match point at 6-5 by hitting a forehand into the net to give his opponent a lifeline.
Djokovic claimed the next three points to pull a set back to draw loud cheers, but Sinner broke for a 3-1 lead in the fourth set and ran away with the match to snap the Serb's 33-match winning run at Melbourne Park and end his quest for a record 25th major. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/sensational-sinner-dethrones-djokovic-to-reach-australian-open-final
| 2024-01-26T07:51:29Z
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LAUSANNE, Switzerland - The highest court in global sport on Friday was set to hear a Russian appeal against sanctions that bar its National Olympic Committee (NOC) from receiving funding and being associated with the Olympic movement.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in October for recognising regional Olympic councils for Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine - Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
It said the move constituted a breach of the Olympic Charter because it violated the territorial integrity of Ukraine's NOC.
Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which Moscow calls a 'special operation', has denounced the measure as politically motivated.
In its appeal at the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), ROC has asked for the ban to be revoked and that it be recognised as a fully-fledged NOC, with all the prerogatives the status entails.
Prior to Friday's hearing, which will be held by video link, CAS said it was unclear when a decision -- which will be final and binding -- would be rendered.
In a separate decision made in December, the IOC said Russians and Belarusians who qualify for this year's Paris Olympics could take part as neutrals without their national flags, emblems or anthems.
This adds to a long list of Games in which Russian athletes have been left without their flag or anthem due to major doping scandals.
Russians and Belarusians had initially been banned from competing internationally following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, for which Belarus has been used as a staging ground.
In March, however, the IOC recommended that international sports federations allow Russian and Belarusian competitors to return and they have since done so in most events.
The neutral athletes at Paris 2024 will compete only in individual sports and no teams for Russia or Belarus will be allowed, the IOC said.
Athletes who actively support the war in Ukraine are not eligible, nor are those contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military.
President Vladimir Putin said last month he supported Russians competing at the Paris Games but that the country should ponder whether it should compete at all if the event is designed to portray Russian sport as "dying". REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russian-appeal-against-olympic-sanctions-set-to-be-heard-by-top-sports-court
| 2024-01-26T07:51:39Z
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On Friday, January 26, 2024, Deputy Pentagon Spokesperson Sabrina Singh conveyed a message during a briefing, highlighting the urgency for Congress to greenlight a funding request aimed at aiding Ukraine. This appeal for approval is unique in its call for both public and private congressional support.
The Pentagon’s current focus is on the unsettling developments of Russia seeking alliances with nations like Iran and North Korea. This situation, as explained by Singh, has led to an unwelcome extension of the war.
Significantly, since December, the United States has faced challenges in providing its customary assistance packages to Ukraine. This impasse has intensified the need for Congress to act promptly on the funding request, underscoring the role of legislative backing in international aid.
Singh brought attention to a recent gathering of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Ramstein. This meeting was pivotal in assessing Ukraine’s immediate needs and strategizing on the international support required. The Pentagon’s communication through Singh reiterates the vital nature of these needs and the urgency with which they must be met.
Furthermore, the Pentagon spokesperson emphasized the global implications of the US stance on Ukraine. US support, according to Singh, is not just a bilateral matter but a symbol of a united front against aggression, sending a clear message to the European world, Russia, and beyond. This support is seen as pivotal in maintaining global stability and reinforcing democratic values.
Additionally, Singh noted the active involvement of US allies and partners in supporting Ukraine. This collective effort spans various forms of assistance, including training, financial aid, and broader support, showcasing a united international response to the war.
The call by the Pentagon for Congress to approve funding for Ukraine is set against a backdrop of urgent military and geopolitical needs. The United States, through the Pentagon, has highlighted the critical importance of continued support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
The US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, emphasized the need for allied nations to supply Ukraine with essential military equipment, such as anti-air interceptors and systems, highlighting the strategic importance of Ukraine’s security for global stability. “Our support for Ukraine’s struggle against tyranny makes all of our countries more secure,” said Austin, later adding, “If we lose our nerve, if we flinch, if we fail to deter other would-be aggressors, we will only invite even more bloodshed and chaos. So, a sovereign and secure Ukraine is critical to global security.”
However, a major challenge in securing the needed aid is the stalemate in the US Congress over the approval of the Biden administration’s proposed international aid bill. The bill, which includes significant funding for Ukraine, faces opposition from some Republican lawmakers who are tying the approval to increased US-Mexico border security measures.
In response to the ongoing war, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, an alliance of around 50 nations led by the US, has been coordinating the provision of military aid to Ukraine. NATO’s long-term commitment to supporting Ukraine has also been reaffirmed, with the Alliance focusing on supplying crucial equipment and boosting ammunition production to support Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Read more:
- Ukrainian F-16 training wrapping up by December 2024
- Pentagon dismisses reports of expiring ATACMS
- More to be done before Ukraine deploys F-16 fighter jets
- FrankenSAM debut: Ukraine shoots down Russian drone
- US Defense Secretary urges Ramstein Group to “dig deep
- US announces $ 250 mn military aid package for Ukraine
- Ukraine’s top general wants more military aircraft to turn the
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/26/pentagon-urges-congress-to-approve-ukraine-funding-request-asserts-global-significance-of-support/
| 2024-01-26T08:57:41Z
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Even the price of supermarket essentials such as vegetables and dairy products have increased amid the cost of living crisis, which means many people are tightening their purse strings and cutting frivolous spending habits – except when it comes to weddings.
According to Bridebook.com's 2024 Wedding Report, which consulted almost 6,000 UK couples who got married and engaged in 2023, brides and grooms are still willing to up their budgets to get their dream wedding. In fact, spending in 2024 is set to be the highest yet, increasing by over £1,500 year-on-year to £20,775 for the big day alone, with the total reaching a whopping £25,952 when factoring in the engagement ring and honeymoon.
So why are we willing to pay the equivalent of a house deposit in one day?
Hamish Shephard, founder of Bridebook.com, said: "Weddings remain a major milestone in people’s lives, which explains why today’s couples are going all-out, rather than scaling back. It's not just about spending more; it's about spending wisely. We’re seeing see a trend among couples, especially Gen Z ones, towards embracing sustainable and cost-effective alternatives, and finding creative ways to curate their dream weddings without compromising on their vision”.
But this doesn't mean scaling back on spending altogether. Instead, Gen Zs are reportedly expecting to spend £4k more on their weddings, perhaps due to social media pressures, Hamish said.
"There seems to be a prevailing desire among Gen Z in particular to create the grandest celebration possible, perhaps driven by societal expectations and the influence of social media," he said, adding: "The pressure to share these significant life moments on social platforms may contribute to the inclination to go above and beyond in making it a truly memorable event."
Costs could be what's driving some of the other biggest wedding trends in 2024, including the move away from popular dates (such as Saturdays in spring) and popular locations (such as London.)
The data found that only 41 per cent of Londoners marry in London, while 96 per cent of Scots, 86 per cent of Irish and 80 per cent of Welsh couples marry locally. "London weddings are the most expensive (£36,778: 77 per cent above the national average), which may encourage budget-conscious couples to explore more affordable options outside of the capital," Hamish explained.
By comparison, couples spend up to 25 per cent less in Wales, and even 15 per cent (or £3k) less with a wedding outside the UK.
Regardless of location, there has been a shift away from spring weddings – which were previously very popular – and toward autumn months such as October. According to Bridebook, weddings between August and October rose by one-third – unsurprising considering October weddings are 13 per cent cheaper than average – while weddings between March and May fell by 7 per cent year-on-year.
Fran Everist, Director of Sales and Marketing at Hedsor House, said: "At Hedsor House, we’ve found that couples are increasingly favouring autumn weddings, with their beautiful colour and cost-effectiveness. As the weather in the UK is changing, we’ve noticed pleasant ‘Indian Summers’ in October are often the norm."
While Saturday weddings continue to be popular, accounting for 48 per cent, there have been more couples choosing Fridays (18 per cent) and even Thursdays.
"Initial contact and enquiries from wedding couples would suggest that the majority are looking for that ideal Saturday wedding. However, after discussions surrounding budget and availability, we are noticing a shift in couples’ decisions," said Chloe Nelson, Wedding and Sales Coordinator at Wellington Barn.
Speaking of the increasing popularity of Thursday weddings, which sees the venue offer a package deal catering for up to 50 guests, she said: "We don’t have any Thursdays available from April to October in 2024 and in 2023 we completed 27 Thursday weddings."
So perhaps hosting your big day on a Thursday in October in Wales could be on the cards? If costs have anything to do with it, you won't be the only one considering it.
READ NOW: How to save hundreds booking your wedding musicians
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/512048/weddings-cost-over-20k-first-time-ever-in-2024/
| 2024-01-26T09:15:38Z
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If one thing is for certain it's that Carrie Johnson always knows how to put together a fabulous outfit. On Thursday evening, the mother-of-three stepped out for Burns Night in the most fabulous winter-chic ensemble.
Ahead of her evening out, the 35-year-old took to social media with a stylish mirror photo from inside her fairytale £3.5 million family home. The image perfectly captured Carrie's glamorous look which was comprised of a pair of black leather trousers, a red chequered shirt and was complete with a soft brown coat adorned with a feathered collar and cuffs.
"Burns night but make it 70s," penned the former media rep, as she beamed for the camera with one hand in her pocket. Her honey-blonde tresses looked immaculate and were styled in perfect curls. Carrie also added a subtle gold pendant necklace and gold rings to complete her night-out look.
As for her makeup, Boris Johnson's wife kept it natural opting for light face makeup, a few brushes of mascara, and pink lipstick.
Carrie enjoyed an "Iron bru margarita" during her Burns Night evening, which is celebrated on 25 January every year in honour of the life and poetry of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Traditionally, people would enjoy a Burns Supper of haggis, turnips, and potatoes.
This isn't the first time Carrie has been captured looking beautiful in recent weeks. Earlier this month she shared snapshots of herself donning a fabulous selection of jumpsuits.
The first was an all-black number from Mango and featured short sleeves, flared legs, and a silver zip from the collared top to her waist. The piece looked sensational on her and perfectly showed off her svelte physique.
The second piece Carrie tried on for followers was another jumpsuit but this time it was a fashionable blue denim number. Much like the black jumpsuit, this one was from Mango and perfectly hugged the doting mother in all the right places but contrastingly, featured long sleeves and a slightly wider leg line.
As well as her fashion snaps, Carrie loves documenting her life with her family on social media. She and Boris share three children, Wilfred, three, Romy, two, and six-month-old baby Frank, and often gives followers a glimpse inside their fairytale home in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell.
The impeccable property couldn't be more idyllic and is situated in the heart of Oxfordshire. Boasting, nine bedrooms and six reception rooms, the country home also comes complete with its own moat and sprawling garden.
Brother-sister duo Wilfred and Romy certainly love spending time in the garden, largely to visit the duck pond where they currently have their own family of ducks. The feathery pets were gifted to the Johnsons by their next-door neighbour last year.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/512105/carrie-johnson-oozes-glamour-leather-trousers/
| 2024-01-26T09:15:44Z
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Jonnie Irwin has shared an update from hospital amid his ongoing cancer treatment, revealing that he hadn't slept for six nights ahead of his full body MRI scan. Taking to Instagram, the A Place in the Sun presenter, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2020, shared a photo of himself in hospital gear awaiting the scan.
"This is the look of a man who's not slept for 6 nights and awaiting a full body MRI scan of at least an hour. If you haven't had one they're claustrophobic and claustrophobic and omit loud random noises. Joy.
"Take note on attempt of a jaunty not on my gown! I'm expecting to come out to news of India all out 195! ##alwaystrying #mri #livingwithcancer #nhs."
Fans rushed to the comments section to heap support on the 50-year-old, with many wishing him luck and others sharing words of encouragement.
One person wrote: "Good luck mate. Stay strong - you're amazing and an inspiration to us all."
Jonnie first opened up about his cancer diagnosis in November 2022 after keeping his illness private for two years.
Sharing his story with HELLO! at the time, he revealed that he was filming in Italy when he got the first warning sign that something was wrong with his health. After experiencing blurry vision while driving, it was later confirmed as the result of lung cancer which had spread to his brain.
"Within a week of flying back from filming, I was being given six months to live," he said.
"I had to go home and tell my wife, who was looking after our babies, that she was pretty much on her own. That was devastating. All I could do was apologise to her. I felt so responsible."
Since his diagnosis, Jonnie, who shares three sons, Rex, Rafa and Cormac, with his wife Jessica, has shared regular updates on his health, raising awareness about the experience of living with cancer.
Most recently, he appeared on Jane McLelland's podcast (the author who penned How to Stave Cancer). "I just think the work you're doing is so important because if I just listened to the prognosis I'm perennially given, I'd be curling up in a ball and crying myself to death," he said.
"But I feel much more empowered and much more educated. There is a sphere of help and the help from the NHS is a massive part of that sphere, but there's also bits and bobs that I can do," Jonny continued before opening up about his hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
"I feel great after it. I feel great after hyperbaric - I feel great after vitamin C," he said. "These things, if I was fit and well, I'd be trying to use them anyway because I'm so much more open-minded probably because I've got a gun to my head. And it's a rich kaleidoscope of help that I'm pursuing and I will continue to do that."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/512104/jonnie-irwin-shares-heartbreaking-account-hospital-visit-amid-cancer-treatment/
| 2024-01-26T09:15:50Z
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Over 30 years ago, Kazakhstan was little known outside Central Asia despite its vast size and rich resources. Long isolated under Russian and then Soviet rule, it only opened to global trade after declaring independence in 1991, embarking on a journey towards a market-oriented, capitalistic society. This transition included integrating concepts like competition and innovation into its economic vocabulary. Despite significant strides, such as attracting global corporations to its oil sector and modernizing its infrastructure and government, Kazakhstan struggled for international recognition, potentially needing a notable brand or celebrity to elevate its global profile.
In recent years, Kazakhstan’s global recognition has increased, partly thanks to notable figures like professional boxer Gennady Golovkin, the first Kazakh featured in an Apple Watch commercial and Nike’s Jordan brand, and singer Dimash Kudaibergen, known for his exceptional vocal range. Despite their contributions, the country’s image as resource-dependent persisted. However, significant changes have been occurring. Five years ago, Kazakhstan’s first president Nursultan Nazarbayev stepped down, succeeded by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who has focused on reforms, technology adoption, and fostering an entrepreneurial economy. These efforts, along with the rise of tech-savvy entrepreneurs, are reshaping Kazakhstan’s global image, highlighting its intellectual potential and talent beyond natural resources.
In a thriving market economy like Kazakhstan’s, capital gravitates towards the most efficient and profitable ventures. A prime example is the innovative super app Kaspi.kz, which offers a range of services from cashless payments to vacation booking and accessing government services. This app has not only enhanced the lives of millions in Kazakhstan but also raised the country’s profile. Recently, Kaspi.kz made headlines with its successful Nasdaq IPO, a first for a Kazakh company.
Kaspi’s Nasdaq debut, following its listing on the London Stock Exchange less than three years prior, marks a significant milestone. The company’s achievements have not gone unnoticed by the government of Kazakhstan. President Tokayev recently met with the company’s co-founders Vyacheslav Kim and Mikhail Lomtadze. We had the opportunity to delve deeper into the company’s journey in an interview with Lomtadze.
Here’s our Q&A with Lomtadze.
Your company focuses on three main areas (payment, marketplace, fintech). Could you tell a little about the products and services you offer? Who is your target customer base?
We operate a two-sided Super App business model: the Kaspi.kz Super App for consumers and the Kaspi Pay Super App for merchants and entrepreneurs.
Being a Super App first is at the core of everything we do. We call our mobile applications Super Apps because, unlike single-purpose apps, our apps integrate different and complex services that are used on a daily basis in one place, in a way that is simple and seamless for users.
With the Kaspi.kz Super App, consumers can shop online with fast and free e-Commerce and e-Grocery delivery, use m-Commerce to find and shop at local merchants, book travel and holidays with Kaspi Travel, pay with Kaspi QR throughout Kazakhstan, shop with our BNPL products, pay their household bills and save for the future. With integrated Government Services, consumers can also access digital documents, including passports, renew their driving licenses, and transfer car ownership.
The Kaspi.kz Super App has 13.5 million average monthly active users, 65% of whom access our services daily, giving it one of the highest levels of daily engagement among major mobile apps globally, trailing only behind Tencent’s WeChat in China.
With the Kaspi Pay Super App, merchants can sell online using e-Commerce or list their businesses and offers using m-Commerce, organize nationwide delivery with Kaspi Delivery Smart Logistics, run ad campaigns with Kaspi Advertising, participate in our promotional events and access merchant financing. Merchants can issue and instantly settle invoices, accept payments, pay suppliers and track their turnover. Kaspi Classifieds allows merchants to advertise their services and job opportunities. Merchants also have access to Government Services, including tools to initially register their business, issue fiscal receipts for all types of payments, calculate and pay their taxes, and file tax reports.
What is the company’s revenue model, and how does it plan to achieve long-term profitability?
With our two-sided Super App business model, the Kaspi.kz and Kaspi Pay Super Apps connect and facilitate transactions between consumers and merchants, from which we generate revenue. Popular payments and shopping products attract more customers, which in turn attracts more merchants, which in turn leads to more consumers and transactions. We also integrate financing options for both consumers and merchants.
Our Super Apps technology platform leads to high levels of operational efficiency and offers a powerful mix of scale and profitability.
We typically target large addressable markets, such as grocery and travel, where scale translates into meaningful net income and net income growth. As a result, we believe our Super App business model creates a structurally more profitable business than a stand-alone equivalent model.
What growth strategy has Kaspi.kz outlined post-IPO, and how does it plan to use the funds raised?
Our mission is to improve people’s daily lives by developing innovative, highly relevant, world-class mobile services. We see a substantial growth opportunity as we keep growing by innovating and digitizing more aspects of daily life.
In fact, we have a proven track record of creating new revenue streams. In only the last three years, among other services, we have launched Kaspi Travel, Kaspi B2B Payments and Kaspi Postomats. More recently, we launched e-Grocery and Kaspi Classifieds. These services are in different areas, but all benefit from the powerful network effects inherent to our Super App business model. We also keep developing value-added tools for merchants, such as advertising, new delivery offerings and invoicing products.
We believe digitalization will remain a powerful driver of economic transformation globally, and particularly in Kazakhstan and the surrounding region, where consumers are increasingly demanding digital solutions. Kazakhstan’s social and economic backdrop, namely the country’s young and growing population, rapidly increasing income levels and fast-growing GDP is incredibly supportive.
Our Nasdaq IPO did not raise new funds for the company but was designed to increase stock trading liquidity by attracting a wide range of new, high quality, international investors, most of whom have never invested in Kazakhstan before.
What’s the most exciting upcoming development or project at Kaspi.kz that you are particularly enthusiastic about? Where do you envision the company in 10 years?
We have a proven track record of introducing products and services that have been quickly adopted.
With the opportunities offered by digitalization, the pipeline of our new products remains strong.
We also want to take Kaspi.kz to other markets. Over the long term, our ambition is to serve 100 million users. With our highly scalable, asset-light Super App business model, we believe we can expand into new geographies as quickly and efficiently as we have expanded into new verticals in Kazakhstan.
While you have a strong foothold in Kazakhstan, which regions or segments hold the most potential for you to expand to?
In Azerbaijan we operate the leading classifieds platforms Turbo.az (cars), Tap.az (new and used items) and Bina.az (real estate). Since 2021, we have operated the payments platform Portmone in Ukraine. In Uzbekistan we are invested in Autoelon.uz, a leading car marketplace.
Over the long term, our ambition is to extend our geographical reach and profitably serve 100 million users, up from 13.5 million we currently serve.
Our asset-light, Super App business model is highly scalable and will allow us to expand into new geographies as quickly and efficiently as we have expanded into new business line verticals in Kazakhstan. We regularly review and assess the status of markets in neighboring countries as well as other select markets.
As we expand, our strategy will be driven by our Super App business model, and we will aim to target large addressable and profitable market segments, with the opportunity to scale all our platforms and offer a deep suite of products.
What measures have you taken to ensure the security of data and financial transactions on your platform?
One example is our Kaspi ID biometrics proprietary technology which we use to enable transactions, prevents fraud and provides extra security to our consumers. Face recognition technology also enables transactions in our Super Apps and at our ATMs.
What role do you see AI playing in your business currently and in the future?
This is a very popular question currently but we never jump on the latest bandwagon. In the case of AI, although I like to joke that it’s no substitute for our own intelligence, we have been seeing the significant benefits that it brings over the years.
For example, we developed our AI-powered virtual assistant several years ago and now leverage this powerful tool across many areas of our consumer-facing functions. Even with rapid growth, the total number of our full-time employees has been reduced from 9,310 in 2020 to 7,802 in 2022. Our virtual assistant, “Ruslan,” now does the work of approximately 1,000 employees across multiple functions, saving us approximately ₸5.3 billion (approximately $11 million) annually. I suspect you won’t find many fast-growing technology companies that have been able to reduce their headcount substantially, and “Ruslan” is just one of a growing number of examples of how we are using AI to improve what we do.
The Kazakh government is signaling that it wants to embrace technology, diversify the economy and attract foreign investment. How does Kaspi.kz fit into the emerging Kazakh economy?
Kaspi.kz is at the forefront of the new digital revolution, redefined by our Super Apps. The combination of our scale with consumers and merchants, reinforced by our Super App strategy, puts us in an extremely strong position. With the multi-year structural growth opportunity offered by digitalization in Kazakhstan still ahead of us, we thoroughly intend to capture it.
As Kazakhstan’s first Nasdaq listed company, we are showcasing to the world’s largest investors many of the positives that Kazakhstan has to offer. Over the next couple of years these investors will travel to Kazakhstan, not only to visit Kaspi.kz but to seek out the next wave of high growth and innovative investment opportunities.
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From the author:
The future seems very bright for Kaspi.kz, a super-app focused on providing a super experience for its eager customers, simplifying transactions and engagement in an ever-widening variety of digital areas. Its history-making IPO on the Nasdaq provided inspiration for other Kazakh companies to seek out greater engagement with the global economy. While Kazakhstan’s economic past has often been defined by oil and gas, Kaspi.kz is proving that technology and innovation also flow abundantly through the land.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/appetite-for-innovation-look-at-kazakhstans-first-nasdaq-listed-company-kaspi-kz/
| 2024-01-26T09:19:32Z
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ASTANA – Azat Malik, a graduate student of Astana Opera Academy, will perform with leading Astana Opera soloist Bibigul Zhanuzak in Belfort, France, on Jan. 26, reported the press service of the Ministry of Culture and Information.
The concert program includes works by Giacomo Puccini, Ferenc Legara, and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, among other composers.
The soloists will also perform the works of Kazakh composers, including Mukan Tulebayev, Serik Yerkimbekov, and Gaziza Zhubanova’s folk music.
Young baritone Malik debuted at the Hungarian State Opera House while studying at the Franz Liszt Academy. He played the role of Barnaba in the “La Gioconda” opera and Escamillo in “Carmen.”
In 2021, Malik became a laureate of the Eva Marton International Vocal Competition and was invited to play the role of Schaunard in the “La Boheme” opera.
“‘La Boheme’ is the most popular opera in the world, and the Hungarian Theater is always full of enthusiastic spectators. Tickets for December and January were sold out in the summer. I have sung more than 15 performances at the Hungarian State Opera House, and I am also performing as Marcel at the Astana Opera Theater,” said Malik.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/graduate-of-astana-opera-academy-to-perform-in-france/
| 2024-01-26T09:19:39Z
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ASTANA – The University of Oxford is set to launch Kazakh language courses following an agreement signed between the university and the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education on Jan. 25, reported the ministry’s press service.
The Kazakh delegation, led by Minister Sayasat Nurbek and featuring heads of Kazakhstan’s leading universities, took a tour of the prestigious institution and was presented with exclusive ancient manuscripts of the Oxford Bodleian Library related to Kazakhstan.
Nurbek introduced the first edition of the Oxford Qazaq Dictionary to British officials, which was developed on President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instruction. Created over four years with the participation of specialists from the Akhmet Baitursynuly Institute of Linguistics, it incorporates current changes in the lexicon of both languages, including news from modern culture and science.
“Language is a great value for our people. Today, with the unveiling of the Kazakh-English Oxford Qazaq Dictionary, we are crossing a new historical threshold. With this, more people worldwide will discover our culture and nation. We are not only promoting the Kazakh language through traditional media but also digitizing the state language,” the minister said.
Nurbek held talks with one of the world’s leading experts on higher education, Associate Professor of Comparative and International Education Maia Chankseliani, at the University of Oxford. The parties discussed three critical areas: the scientific internship program, consultancy services for centers of academic excellence, and advice on higher education policy.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/oxford-university-embarks-on-teaching-kazakh-language/
| 2024-01-26T09:19:45Z
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BEIJING – China on Jan 26 kicked off its busiest annual period of mass migration, with a record 9 billion domestic trips expected to be made during a 40-day travel rush around the Chinese New Year holidays.
That would be nearly double the 4.7 billion trips made during the so-called Spring Festival travel rush in 2023 when ultra-strict Covid-19 restrictions were abolished.
Millions of people will travel back to their hometowns to reunite with families for Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb 10, in the world’s largest mass migration each year.
About 80 per cent of the 9 billion trips will be self-driving road trips, also a record, with the rest by rail, air and water, Chinese state television CCTV has reported.
Nearly 11 million train trips – the main mode of transportation in China – were expected on Jan 26. A total of 480 million trips will be made nationwide during the 40-day period, a 38 per cent jump from 2023 and up 17 per cent from 2019 before the pandemic.
Both railway travel and air travel skyrocketed on the first day of the 2024 rush. Passengers struggled to get train tickets, even though China is home to the world’s largest high-speed network.
Ms Miranda Guo, a 25-year-old cartoonist from a Hangzhou-based Chinese technology firm, was lucky to have secured a seat on a bullet train to Jinan. But that was only after forking out an additional 60 yuan (S$11), 13 per cent of the ticket price, on an “accelerator package” offered by third-party booking apps.
“I think it’s hard to buy a ticket this year, with almost all my colleagues failing to get tickets. Many of them are still on waiting lists,” Ms Guo said.
Air passenger trips were estimated to reach 2 million on Jan 26, CCTV reported. During the travel rush, the number of trips made by air are expected to surge to 80 million, per China’s aviation regulator, up 9.8 per cent from 2019.
Airports in China’s biggest cities – Beijing and Shanghai – will brace for heavy crowds.
Shanghai’s two airports, Pudong and Hongqiao, expect passenger traffic to surge 57.6 per cent on year in the 40-day period, while Beijing’s airports will see a more than 60 per cent jump.
Overseas travel will also rise during the travel peak.
China’s aviation authorities have arranged more than 2,500 additional international flights to Asian destinations, including South-east Asia, Japan and South Korea.
Additional railway and flights are also arranged for popular domestic tourism cities, including Harbin in north-east China and Sanya, a popular tropical destination in the south. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/china-kicks-off-lunar-new-year-travel-rush-expects-record-9-billion-trips
| 2024-01-26T09:21:16Z
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ROME - Italy, Japan and Britain could open up a programme aimed at developing an advanced fighter jet to other countries, but at a later stage, Italy's defence minister said in an interview published on Friday.
The three countries in December signed an international treaty to set up the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) - the first major defence industry collaboration merging the separate next-generation fighter efforts of the countries.
"We will not open (the programme) to others until the initial phase will be closed," Guido Crosetto told Italian daily Il Corriere della Sera, adding many countries were interested in entering but without directly answering a question on interest from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
"Afterwards, with everyone's agreement, we could widen it to other countries," Crosetto added.
The aim is to see the combat aircraft in flight by 2035. The joint development phase is expected to begin in 2025.
Reuters previously reported that the GCAP may welcome other nations as junior partners, with Saudi Arabia among the contenders as it would bring money and a lucrative market to a project expected to cost tens of billions of dollars. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/italy-uk-japan-fighter-jet-programme-could-open-up-to-others-italian-defence-minister
| 2024-01-26T09:21:26Z
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MOSCOW - A Moscow сourt ruled on Friday that the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich must remain in custody until March 30, 2024.
Gershkovich was arrested on March 29, 2023 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on charges of espionage that carry up to 20 years in prison. The reporter denies the charges. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/russian-court-extends-pre-trial-detention-for-wsj-reporter-gershkovich-court-press-service
| 2024-01-26T09:21:36Z
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JAKARTA - A proposal to expand the acreage of land used for palm oil, in response to growing demand for biodiesel in Indonesia, has raised concerns that this could increase the risk of smog-causing forest and plantation fires.
The far-flung province of Papua, one of the country’s least developed, has been named as one of the possible locations for the new palm oil land bank.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/proposal-for-indonesia-to-expand-palm-oil-land-bank-to-meet-energy-demand-raises-concerns
| 2024-01-26T09:21:47Z
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SINGAPORE - There were more signs of price stabilisation in Singapore’s private residential market in the fourth quarter, as buyers turned cautious in the face of higher interest rates, recent cooling measures and macroeconomic uncertainty.
In the leasing market, quarterly rentals fell for the first time in three years, easing across all submarkets as the number of private housing units completed hit 21,284 in 2023 – more than twice the number of completions in 2022 and the highest in a year since 2016.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) overall private home price index rose 2.8 per cent quarter on quarter in the fourth quarter of 2023, above the 2.7 per cent increase in flash estimates released earlier in January. In the third quarter of 2023, prices had risen by 0.8 per cent.
Analysts cited record high prices achieved by two new major launches in November – J’den in Jurong East sold 323 units at an average price of $2,451 per sq foot (psf), while Watten House in Bukit Timah moved 102 units at an average price of $3,230 psf.
For the whole of 2023, prices of private residential properties rose 6.8 per cent, moderating from an 8.6 per cent increase in 2022.
This was due in part to a rebound in landed property prices by 4.6 per cent in the fourth quarter, reversing a 3.6 per cent drop in the previous quarter.
Cumulatively, landed home prices gained 8 per cent for 2023 – the sixth straight year of price growth – compared with a 9.6 per cent increase in 2022. For the non-landed residential market, prices rose by 6.6 per cent in 2023, moderating from a growth of 8.1 per cent in the previous year.
But there are signs of growing price resistance as overall resale volumes fell 2.4 per cent to 2,831 units in the fourth quarter from 2,900 units in the third quarter, and new condominium sales shrank even as developers launched more units in 2023.
Developers sold 1,092 units in the fourth quarter, a 44 per cent drop from 1,946 units moved in the third quarter, taking the total to 6,421 units in 2023. This is a 9.6 per cent drop from 7,099 units sold in 2022 – the lowest annual tally in 15 years, since 4,264 units were sold in 2008.
The drop occurred despite developers launching about 67 per cent more stock in 2023 with 7,551 new units, compared with 4,528 units in 2022.
With up to 40 new projects potentially offering around 12,000 units expected to come on stream in 2024, more buyers may stay on the sidelines as they evaluate options and wait for prices to moderate further, Colliers Singapore’s head of research Catherine He said.
“Mixed-use projects and well-located projects near amenities might still do well, but projects without a compelling proposition might struggle to get decent take-up of at least 50 per cent,” she added.
Cushman’s head of research for Singapore and South-east Asia Wong Xian Yang noted that unsold new home supply could increase further in the face of the sizeable 2024 launch pipeline.
“Nonetheless, we do not expect a fall in new launch prices given still-high development costs and low unsold inventory,” he added.
Prices of non-landed properties increased by 2.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from a 2.2 per cent gain in the previous quarter, driven by price growth in the prime district and suburbs.
Prices in the prime district gained 3.9 per cent quarter on quarter, reversing a 2.7 per cent drop in the previous quarter. But this submarket, which garnered greater interest from foreigners in the past, gained just 1.9 per cent for the whole of 2023 due to the cooling measures in April – substantially slower than the 4.8 per cent gain in 2022.
The additional buyer’s stamp duty (ABSD) rate for foreign buyers was doubled to 60 per cent in April 2023.
Mogul.sg chief research officer Nicholas Mak said the proportion of private homes bought by this group will likely remain lower than 3 per cent of overall sales transactions if the 60 per cent ABSD rate stays in place.
Singaporeans will continue be the main source of home-buying demand, he added.
Mr Mak noted, however, that demand from Singaporeans alone may not keep pace with the sizeable launch pipeline in 2024. This could result in slower absorption of the new housing supply, especially in the high-end market segment, he said.
Non-landed residential prices in the suburbs jumped by 4.5 per cent in the fourth quarter, after a 5.5 per cent growth in the third quarter, fuelled by benchmark-setting prices at J’den and transactions at Hillock Green. In 2023, suburban home prices posted a robust 13.7 per cent gain, up from 9.3 per cent growth in 2022.
In the city fringe, a lack of fresh project launches in the fourth quarter sent non-landed prices down 0.8 per cent, compared with a 2.1 per cent gain in the previous quarter, according to PropNex. In 2023, prices in this submarket rose 3.1 per cent, compared with a 9.7 per cent gain in 2022.
URA’s overall rental index for private homes fell 2.1 per cent in the fourth quarter against a 0.8 per cent rise in the previous quarter, signalling that the rental market has peaked.
For the whole of 2023, rentals of private residential properties increased by 8.7 per cent, a significant moderation from the 29.7 per cent jump in 2022. Analysts expect rentals to moderate further as another 18,500 units will be completed between 2024 and 2025.
“Housing completions rose to over 20,000 units in 2023 – many of which had been impacted by pandemic-related manpower crunches and construction delays. On the supply side, more homes and vacated units may likely mean more rental listings,” PropertyGuru country manager for Singapore Tan Tee Khoon said.
Islandwide, private residential vacancy rates fell to 8.1 per cent in the fourth quarter as rising competition pushed landlords to lower rental rates, Cushman’s Mr Wong said.
A broad-based decline in rents was recorded across all non-landed residential segments, with the suburbs seeing the steepest fall of 2.8 per cent quarter on quarter, followed by a 1.6 per cent drop in the prime district and a 1.2 per cent decline in the city fringe.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/growth-in-singapore-private-home-prices-and-rentals-slows-in-2023
| 2024-01-26T09:21:57Z
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SINGAPORE – It is the season for feasting and Chinese food is perfect for the occasion. While design is not usually a priority when it comes to Chinese cuisine, these restaurants show that even the best food can be elevated with the right atmosphere.
Here are five restaurants – some new, and one that dates back to the 1980s, though recently revamped – that count decor as an important ingredient for a complete Chinese New Year dining experience.
1. Yue Bai – 33 Duxton Road
Chef Lee Hongwei has a poetic vision for his new Chinese restaurant Yue Bai.
While reading Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi’s Ballad Of The Lute, about Bai’s encounter with a pipa (Chinese lute) player in the moonlight, the chef decided that the restaurant interiors should evoke a similar dreamy atmosphere.
“I want to give guests the experience of meandering through the streets in the moonlight,” he says.
Lee, 43, has been in the food and beverage industry for more than 20 years. Around a decade ago, he developed an interest in shi liao, or Chinese dietary therapy, as well as yao shan, or Chinese medicinal food.
In 2014, he worked at Chinese restaurant Hao Yun Lai under executive chef N.K. Chai, who is known for his Chinese dietary therapy cuisine.
With Yue Bai, which opened in December 2022, Lee presents a Southern Chinese menu based on principles such as using ingredients and preparation to create dishes that complement the body’s constitution and also the season.
For his food, the interiors had to be “simple and elegant”, he says.
He also wanted to be located in Duxton Hill, with its low-rise shophouses and narrow streets.
“I always wanted to have my restaurant in an old shophouse, and there is something very attractive about this neighbourhood,” he says.
Enter the restaurant, and there is a small reception area and then a narrow corridor, which alludes to the narrow streets outside. A row of four dining booths lines one side of this internal “street”.
The restaurant was designed by Ms Tan Hui Ee, director of interior design firm Two by Four. She says the layout was inspired by traditional Chinese gardens, with their meandering paths and framed views.
The 1,950 sq ft restaurant has a seating capacity of 42 and occupies the ground floor of two shophouses divided into zones.
The zone with the booths is designed to suggest a street lined with traditional Chinese tea houses or pavilions. Timber trellises and screens used to partition the booths add to the effect.
The corridor or internal street leads to a sliding timber screen with a circular motif – a reference to moon gates in Chinese gardens – that opens into an inner dining hall.
This zone has been simply decorated with ceramic artworks and laser-cut text from Huang Di Nei Jing, or the Yellow Emperor’s Classic Of Medicine.
On one wall is a circular faux window to suggest a view of a bigger garden beyond. On the opposite wall is another sliding timber screen that opens to reveal an actual moon gate, which frames the entrances to a more exclusive zone – the private dining room.
“Chinese restaurants are usually too ornate,” says Ms Tan.
The material used for the fittings and finishes is largely either solid oak or oak veneer, all stained the same neutral tone.
“We wanted to limit the material palette to wood and show how it could be used in different ways. This was also inspired by chef Lee’s cuisine, which is about elevating the ingredients he uses,” adds Ms Tan.
Yue Bai will be serving its Chinese New Year menu from Jan 30. It will include the chef’s signature dishes such as Herbal Poached Rice with Atlantic Cod, Black Fungus and Angelica Wine ($38). This is served in a hot stone pot and finished tableside with fish broth and herbal Shaoxing wine.
It is a refined menu, presented in a refined Chinese setting.
To elevate the experience, Yue Bai has a dress code – smart casual wear is required and “strictly no flip flops” are allowed. But Lee says it has been difficult to impose this in Singapore, where shorts and T-shirts are the norm.
“I do try,” he adds.
2. Synthesis – 01-643 Suntec City East Wing Tower 4, 3 Temasek Boulevard
To target working adults aged 30 and above, Mr Sebastian Ang, co-founder of Chinese restaurant and bar Synthesis, says he wanted to create a venue with a “wow factor”. And he did this by mixing nostalgia with dance music.
From the outside, Synthesis, which opened in March 2023, looks like a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shop, with herbs on display and even a wall feature that resembles the old cabinetry typically seen in such shops, with small drawers used for storage.
Mr Ang, 33, gets nostalgic for Chinese herbs. “My grandmother used to work at a TCM hall near Kallang, so I grew up with the smell of Chinese herbs. These herbs were also infused into all our meals,” he says.
The TCM area at Synthesis is the waiting area for restaurant patrons. “I wanted people to be able to smell the herbs before they go in,” says Mr Ang.
The menu, which he co-created with TCM consultants, has a wellness theme and is “embedded” with Chinese herbs, he adds.
The average spending of customers is $50 to $60 a head for dishes such as Sakura Chicken Herbal Poached Rice ($24) and Yam Abacus Seed Truffle Carbonara ($30).
He designed Synthesis despite having no formal training in interior design. His approach was inspired by his personal experiences and childhood memories.
“I worked out how many tables I needed, then I decided on the different zones,” he says.
Mr Ang is also the designer and co-owner of the speakeasy bar Mama Diam and the cafe and cocktail bar Lou Shang, which are both in Prinsep Street and have nostalgia-themed design elements as well.
“I think I know what my customers want,” he says.
The floor area for the 120-seater Synthesis is about 5,000 sq ft, so he had space to play with.
From the TCM waiting area, diners pass a narrow corridor designed to look like an old alley in a Chinese town. Faux shopfronts line both sides of the pathway.
The alley heightens the sense of anticipation before guests enter via a door, disguised as another shopfront, into a foyer with ornate timber screens. This leads to the bar.
The bar delivers further drama with its high vaulted ceiling, clad in metal sheeting with an embossed ripple effect. Spirits are displayed in a rack that follows the curve of the ceiling, with bottles looking like they are about to fall out.
The metal cladding with the ripple effect is there to evoke water, one of the five elements in TCM – water, fire, metal, earth and wood – that are represented in the design of Synthesis.
In the main dining area, Mr Ang designed LED lightboxes that are programmed to simulate a wave of fire. Warped metal sheeting in gold, representing the element of metal, clads the far wall of the dining area.
Timber logs, bark and all, were used to create a wall feature that represents the element of wood. Marble tabletops, including the communal table in the middle of the space, represent earth.
These materials, combined with piped-in dance music and mood lighting, give Synthesis a party atmosphere. In fact, after the last dinner plates are cleared, the venue turns into a lounge bar.
Chinese food and a lounge bar are an unusual combination, but Synthesis is a very personal project for Mr Ang.
“It’s based on my experience when I was young, and the only way to make something genuine and not gimmicky is to be as real as possible,” he says.
3. Cherry Garden – Mandarin Oriental Singapore, 5 Raffles Avenue
Cherry Garden has been around for a while, having opened in 1987 at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore hotel.
While the restaurant has gone through minor refurbishments over the years, it has always had dark, decorative woodwork inspired by Chinese architecture.
In 2023, the hotel underwent a six-month renovation and was injected with brighter colours by the design firm DesignWilkes, which had been tasked to refresh the restaurant’s look.
Mr Marcel Li, who is in his 40s, and director of food and beverage at the hotel, says the restaurant’s interiors were brightened with contemporary touches and new artwork in line with the transformation of the rest of the hotel.
But the existing Chinese architectural elements and antique doors at the entrance had to remain.
DesignWilkes’ principal designer Jeffrey Wilkes says his first impression of Cherry Garden was that “it felt a little dated and dark in terms of the ambience”.
“As we were lightening the rest of the hotel and injecting a modern tropical sense, we decided to bring that aesthetic into the restaurant,” says Mr Wilkes, who is in his early 60s and based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
His main design strategy was to paint the Chinese timber elements white. “This has the biggest impact on the space, giving its original dark environment a lightened and more contemporary touch with the low-lustre creamy white paint on all trellis and timber elements,” he says.
The original carpeting, with its cherry tree motif, was replaced by a pink carpet with a simple wavy pattern to complement linen-covered dining tub chairs.
The cherry tree motif is used in a series of photo murals that now hang on the previously unadorned walls.
“A new credenza, a few mid-century modern lamps and a collection of graphically composed photo collections complete the picture,” says Mr Wilkes.
The restaurant spans 3,722 sq ft excluding the kitchen, and can seat 84 guests.
White is not a colour usually associated with Chinese restaurant interiors. However, the Chinese-style trellises and details on the faux roof structure – now all in white – prove that Cherry Garden is still a Chinese restaurant, albeit a contemporary one.
Mr Li says the menu of Cantonese cuisine has also been updated with new signature dishes such as braised pork ribs in bamboo string wrap ($40) and XO fried rice with minced wagyu beef ($40), all presented with “artistic modern flair”.
Now, there are interiors to match.
4. The Chairman’s Lounge – Level 3, Pan Pacific Orchard Singapore
Chinese food is an affair of the arts at The Chairman’s Lounge at the Pan Pacific Orchard Singapore.
While the interior of the private dining space is elegantly understated, what defines it is a 20-panel calligraphy artwork by the late Chua Ek Kay (1947 to 2008), Cultural Medallion recipient and one of Singapore’s most renowned artists.
The artwork is owned by Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG), a member of the Singapore-listed UOL Group.
Mr Dalip Singh, the hotel’s general manager, says the artwork is “a significant cultural asset” and potentially the largest single piece of calligraphy by the late artist.
Titled A Collection Of Tang Poetry By Li Bai, Enjoying Wine And Conversation With Scholar Friends, the artwork was commissioned for the Grand Plaza Parkroyal Hotel and completed in 1992. The hotel in Kitchener Road was sold by PPHG in 2023.
The artwork encapsulates 17 poems unified by the themes of feasting and drinking, and lends “artistic depth and poetic elegance” to the dining experience, says Mr Singh, adding that The Chairman’s Lounge was designed and conceptualised with the piece in mind.
The 52-year-old says the 1,098 sq ft space was envisaged as a spacious family living and dining room.
The private dining room is located on Level Three of the 347-room hotel, which opened in 2023. There is only one dining table – albeit a very large custom-designed one that can seat up to 16 customers.
The space was designed by architectural firm Woha, also the architects for the hotel.
The interior of the private dining space was expressed as an art gallery with a simple, modern palette, to pay homage to the artwork, says Mr Phua Hong Wei, 44, a director with Woha.
He adds: “The artwork commands attention and is a conversation starter.”
The Chairman’s Lounge is finished in timber wall panelling. Openings in the panelling frame the calligraphy within.
Accents like the leather-finish white marble floor are kept simple and elegant to focus guests’ attention on the surrounding artwork, activities and food.
There is a finishing kitchen located next door to assemble and portion the food before it is served. The menu is created by Chinese master chef Leung Wing Cheung and prepared in the hotel’s banquet kitchen.
Set menus for 10 people are priced from $2,688++ (plus service charge and GST) to $3,288++ for an eight-course menu. Signature dishes include the Prosperity Exotic Garden Yusheng, which features lobster, and the Pan-Seared Dried Oyster With Duet Of Traditional Crispy Chicken, with foie gras.
Leung, 62, moved to Singapore from Hong Kong about 30 years ago. He is considered to be among the first wave of Hong Kong chefs to have impacted the local culinary scene.
In a press statement, he says: “My aim is to craft dishes that not only entice the senses but also weave a narrative, connecting diners to the rich legacy of Chinese culinary tradition.”
He adds that he is a staunch advocate of the Chinese maxim “se xiang wei ju quan”, which translates as “food that excels in colour, aroma and taste”.
The maxim also resonates with the musings of Li Bai, especially for those who care to read Chua’s monumental rendition as they dine.
5. Coincidence – 10 North Canal Road
In the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District is Coincidence, a restaurant and bar serving Chinese cuisine in a setting that appears old and new at the same time.
Its co-founder, Mr Joseph Neo, says the intent behind the design was to “break away from the formalities associated with traditional fine-dining establishments”.
Describing the ambience as “cheeky and inviting”, the 36-year-old adds: “We wanted the design to transcend traditional boundaries, allowing for the creation of different thematic settings.”
The 2,300 sq ft restaurant and bar opened in August 2023 and occupies two levels of a shophouse in North Canal Road. There is a lounge on Level Three and private event spaces on Level Four.
Here, traditional design elements are presented in a different way. Two LED screens dominate the restaurant and bar. They play videos of digital illustrations of traditional Chinese architecture set in picturesque landscapes, and these change with the time of day.
Measuring 21 ft (6.5m) by 23 ft in length, the panels create an immersive effect for the customers.
There is also a feature table on Level One for communal dining, which incorporates a custom-made miniature display of a Chinese landscape – complete with a running stream, pagodas and other buildings – by local designers The Mossiah.
The combination of the video projection and miniature landscape creates a surreal atmosphere.
“The goal was to offer our customers a unique and evolving dining ambience, ensuring that each visit to our establishment would be a fresh and memorable experience,” says Mr Neo, who is also a director in the banking and finance industry.
Coincidence was designed by local firm Hall Interiors.
Mr Tiong Ing Hou, 37, the firm’s co-founder, says the design “incorporates elements that specifically resonate with Chinese culture”. This was done to set it apart from the more minimalist Japanese aesthetic, he adds.
Red was used to highlight areas such as the display cabinets at the bar. “Traditionally, red symbolises prosperity, good fortune and joy in Chinese culture,” adds Mr Tiong.
The cuisine is unmistakably Chinese. Helming the kitchen is chef Raymond Sui, who has created dishes such as Divine Crispy Prawn Roll topped with birds’ nest and ikura, and drizzled with honey chrysanthemum sauce ($22.80).
Another popular dish is Foursome, made with egg white scallop, sharks’ fin, birds’ nest and caviar, and topped with gold flakes ($28.80).
Mr Neo describes the cuisine as modern Chinese fusion that merges traditional flavours with global influences to give “a contemporary twist on classic Chinese cuisine”.
And the design of Coincidence, too, is a contemporary twist on the Chinese restaurant.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/5-chinese-restaurants-where-decor-is-an-ingredient-for-a-stylish-dining-experience
| 2024-01-26T09:22:07Z
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K-idol Cha Eun-woo took to social media to pay tribute to his late bandmate and close friend Moonbin, who would have turned 26 on Jan 26.
Moonbin died on April 19, 2023, from an apparent suicide.
South Korean actor Cha, who is a member of K-pop boy band Astro, shared the music video of his heartfelt cover of the 2019 piano ballad Love Is Gone on his YouTube channel, along with a letter to Moonbin.
“Bin, I want to wish you a happy birthday as usual... but you must be watching from somewhere, right? Happy birthday, my friend,” wrote Cha, 26.
The singer added that he heard Love Is Gone by chance, and it reminded him of Moonbin.
The song was written by American DJ duo Slander and originally performed by American musician Dylan Matthew.
“No matter what song I hear while walking on the street, it feels like it is your story, my story, and our story,” Cha wrote.
“I always miss you, thank you, and I love you, my friend Bin Bin.”
Cha’s music video was uploaded at midnight on Jan 26 and has since garnered more than 710,000 views.
The A Good Day To Be A Dog (2023 to 2024) star also wished Moonbin “happy birthday” on his Instagram Stories, thanking him for “appearing in my dreams”.
Cha’s fellow Astro members also honoured Moonbin on social media.
Sanha, 24, shared a photo of the moon on his Instagram Stories with the caption “Twenty-six, twenty-four”, referring to their current ages.
He also posted a photo of himself with Moonbin, wishing his “hyung” (elder brother in Korean) a happy birthday.
MJ, 29, and Jinjin, 27, penned their memories of Moonbin on Astro’s official X platform. “Happy birthday. I love you, and I miss you, my younger brother,” MJ wrote.
“Happy birthday Bin. Today is a day I miss you even more,” wrote Jinjin. “Hyung is living passionately, knowing you are watching over me. I love you.”
Moonbin was found dead at his home in southern Seoul on April 19. A spokesman for the National Police Agency said there was no evidence of foul play.
South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, citing an unnamed police official, reported then that the authorities believe his death was due to an apparent suicide.
Moonbin’s passing was confirmed by Astro’s label Fantagio Music, but the cause of death was not disclosed.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/k-idol-cha-eun-woo-commemorates-late-bandmate-moonbin-s-birthday-with-touching-music-tribute
| 2024-01-26T09:22:18Z
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NewJeans won Group of the Year at the 2024 Billboard Women In Music Awards, becoming the first K-pop female act to earn the accolade.
The quintet – comprising Minji, Danielle, Hyein, Hyerin and Hanni, who are aged between 15 and 19 – will be attending the ceremony on March 6 at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, according to the group’s agency, Ador.
The annual Billboard Women In Music Awards, started in 2007 by the American music publication, aims to recognise women in the music industry who have shaped the music landscape.
Other 2024 winners include American rapper Ice Spice for the Hitmaker award, English pop star Charli XCX for the Powerhouse award, and Australian singer Kylie Minogue for the Icon award.
NewJeans’ second EP Get Up, released in July 2023, topped Billboard’s main album chart, Billboard 200, on Aug 5.
The rookie group, which debuted in July 2022, also conquered Billboard’s Hot 100 with its singles Ditto, OMG, Super Shy, ETA and Cool With You in 2023.
NewJeans won the Top Global K-pop Artist at the Billboard Music Awards that year and became the first K-pop female act to perform at the event.
Meanwhile, the group’s Super Shy is nominated for K-Pop Song of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, which will be held in Los Angeles on April 1. The five-member act is also up for Best New Artist in K-Pop.THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/newjeans-wins-group-of-the-year-at-2024-billboard-women-in-music-awards
| 2024-01-26T09:22:28Z
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Volkswagen is launching an enhanced version of the Golf to mark the model’s 50th year. The revamped Golf – preceding an all-new electric replacement due in about two years’ time – packs a next-generation infotainment system, a more intuitive operating concept, sharper front- and rear-end designs, as well as efficient drive systems.
These include plug-in-hybrid drives with an increased all-electric range of about 100km. In addition, an illuminated Volkswagen logo adorns the front for the first time. The car will arrive in Singapore in the third quarter of 2024.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/motoring/fast-lane-maserati-faces-ev-hiccups-six-electric-models-from-new-bmw-platform
| 2024-01-26T09:22:39Z
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I was a passenger on the bus involved in the Jan 13 accident on the North-South Expressway in Melaka, in which a 17-year-old passenger died (One dead, two seriously injured in fiery crash of bus travelling from Singapore to KL, Jan 13).
I am still affected by the accident and hope bus safety procedures can be improved to avoid such deaths in the future.
Passengers on buses, like those on airplanes, should be briefed on what to do in an emergency or accident. They should be told where the emergency exits are before departure. Able-bodied passengers near the rear exit door should be shown how to open the emergency door.
The proper use of emergency tools such as safety hammers to break glass windows should be demonstrated.
Bus operators should ensure staff are trained to handle such emergencies. The presence of a staff member at the back could aid a swift evacuation or a staff member should know to open the rear exit door from the outside.
Passengers should also be reminded of safety measures, such as using the seat belts and wearing proper footwear for better mobility during emergencies.
During the accident, there were repeated headcounts, partly because two passengers had left the scene. Passengers should be accounted for by seat numbers and by referring to the passenger list for quick identification to see if anyone is missing.
To prevent further deaths and enhance the safety of bus passengers, the authorities should conduct a comprehensive review of existing bus safety regulations and procedures. There should be mandatory safety training and regular safety drills for bus operators.
Vincent Ong
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-better-safety-precautions-needed-for-passengers-on-buses-to-malaysia-0
| 2024-01-26T09:22:49Z
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SINGAPORE – The director of a firm that dealt with electrical items submitted fictitious invoices and deceived three banks into disbursing more than $13 million.
The prosecution said that Robby Ong Chee Keong, who was then working for Lifeforce Electric (LEPL), was the mastermind behind the ruse and he committed the offences from 2012 to 2018.
The company, which was incorporated in March 2008, wound up in March 2019.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim Yu Hui told the court that even though most of the monies were repaid, there remains an unrecovered amount of more than $425,000.
The prosecution also said that there was a lack of evidence that Robby Ong, 50, profited from the scams.
On Jan 26, he was sentenced to three years and eight months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to eight counts of cheating. Another 16 similar charges were taken into consideration for his sentencing.
According to court documents, he committed the offences with three alleged accomplices – Mr Ong Lea Meng, Mr Sim Beng Chwee and Mr Chan Lip San.
At the time, Mr Ong Lea Meng was the director of a firm called Elmag, while Mr Chan was the director of another company called Lifttech Corporation.
The prosecutor said that Mr Sim was then the sole proprietor of a fourth firm called DS Systems & Trading (DSST).
In 2012, Robby Ong decided to inflate LEPL’s turnover to attract investors. However, the firm was facing cash-flow issues at the time.
He then hatched a plan in which he submitted fraudulent documents to banks to apply for trade financing for purported purchases of goods. The banks included OCBC, UOB and DBS.
Robby Ong would then use the loan proceeds to support LEPL’s operations instead of genuinely paying for goods.
The DPP said that he roped in the three other men in the fraudulent scheme.
Court documents did not disclose if the trio have been charged over their alleged roles in the offences.
For the cases involving Mr Ong Lea Meng and Mr Chan, court documents stated that Robby Ong would get the pair to issue invoices through their own firms to LEPL, to make it appear as though LEPL had bought goods from them.
DPP Lim said: “The quantum would be decided by (Robby Ong), depending on how much money he needed for LEPL’s operational needs. The accused submitted the invoices and applied to the various banks for trade financing facilities.”
The prosecutor told the court that the banks would then pay the firms linked to Mr Ong Lea Meng and Mr Chan.
Once the pair’s companies received the funds, LEPL would issue invoices to them, making them appear like genuine purchases so that the two men’s firms could transfer funds to LEPL, said the DPP.
Referring to Mr Sim as “Darren”, the prosecutor added: “The arrangement between the accused and Darren is the same... save that the accused would prepare some of DSST’s invoices himself as Darren had e-mailed a soft copy of the invoice to him previously.
“The accused would also sign on Darren’s behalf on those DSST’s invoices which he prepared.”
The court heard that there were no actual sale or movement of goods between LEPL and the trio’s companies.
In June 2019, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) started an investigation into LEPL over tax offences which were not disclosed in court documents.
An Iras tax investigator then found that mutual invoices had been exchanged between the firms but no physical goods were involved, said DPP Lim.
She alerted the Commercial Affairs Department in February 2020.
On Jan 26, Robby Ong’s bail was set at $50,000 and he was ordered to surrender himself at the State Courts on Feb 20 to begin his jail term.
For each count of cheating, an offender can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/mastermind-who-duped-3-banks-into-disbursing-over-13m-gets-nearly-4-years-jail
| 2024-01-26T09:23:00Z
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SINGAPORE – Public transport operators SMRT and SBS Transit will be extending selected bus and train services on the eve of Chinese New Year, Feb 9.
Train services will be extended by about two hours on the North-South Line (NSL), East-West Line (EWL), North East Line (NEL), Circle Line (CCL), Downtown Line (DTL), Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), and Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT).
There is no extension for the Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit and Changi Airport services.
Last bus departure timings for the following services under SMRT will be extended till as late as about 3am on Feb 10: 300, 301, 302, 307, 983A, 901, 911, 912A, 912B, 913, 920, 922, and 973A.
The last bus timings for 24 bus services under SBS Transit will also be extended till about 3am: 60A, 63M, 114A, 181, 222, 225G, 228, 229, 232, 238, 240, 241, 243G, 261, 269, 291, 292, 293, 315, 325, 410W, 804, 812, and 974A.
The last NSL train towards Jurong East station will leave from City Hall station at 2.09am, while the last train towards Marina South Pier will depart from the same station at 1.54am.
Also leaving from City Hall, the last EWL train towards Pasir Ris station will depart at 2.14am, while the last train in the other direction to Tuas Link station will depart at 2am.
On NEL, the last train towards Punggol will depart HarbourFront station at 1.55am, while in the opposite direction, the last train from Punggol station towards HarbourFront station will leave at 1.32am.
On CCL, the last train departing from Dhoby Ghaut for HarbourFront station will leave at 1.28am, while the last train leaving from HarbourFront station to Dhoby Ghaut will depart at 1.14am.
Passengers travelling from and to HarbourFront MRT station have to transfer at Labrador Park station due to rail expansion works on the CCL, said SMRT.
The last DTL train departing from Bukit Panjang station towards Expo station will leave at 1.51am, while the last train in the opposite direction will leave Expo station at 1.52am.
On TEL, the last train from Woodlands North station to Gardens by the Bay station will depart at 1.35am, while the last train in the other direction from Gardens by the Bay station to Woodlands North station is scheduled to leave at 1.58am.
The SPLRT will keep running until after the last NEL trains arrive at their designated town centre stations. More information can be found on SBS Transit’s website.
For more information on SMRT’s services, call 1800-336-8900 from 7.30am to 8pm daily, or visit www.smrt.com.sg.
As offices will be closing earlier for the festivities, SBS Transit and Tower Transit will bring forward the evening trips of selected bus services and peak period shuttle services.
A total of 16 SBS bus services will operate return trips between 12.15pm and 2pm: 10e, 14e, 30e, 89e, 174e, 196e, 513, 652, 654, 655, 660, 667, 668, 671, 672, and 850E.
Peak period shuttle bus services LCS1 and LCS2 will operate return trips at 1pm and 1.30pm.
The affected Tower Transit bus services are 97e, 177, 651, 653, 656, 657, 663, 670, 963e, and 981. Most will run from about 1pm to 1.30pm, though bus 981 will operate from 12.40pm to 3.10pm.
There will be no evening trips for these bus services, though morning trips will continue as usual.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/extended-train-and-bus-services-on-chinese-new-year-s-eve-0
| 2024-01-26T09:23:10Z
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SINGAPORE – A typical day in the life of wushu exponent Zeanne Law is nothing short of fast and furious. The Singapore Sports School final-year student attends her lessons that start as early as 8am and between her classes, she zips off to work on her technique in one of the school’s dedicated training areas for martial arts.
By evening, the 18-year-old travels from Woodlands, where her school is, to national training in Bedok. And once training ends, she commutes back to campus, where she squeezes in a little time for revision before heading to bed.
Law’s tireless dedication to her craft led to her being crowned women’s taijiquan world champion at the Texas-held World Wushu Championships last November. Her efforts have also been recognised by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) after she was named the 2023 Wushu Taolu Rising Star of the Year on Jan 23.
The title was determined by public voting with Law garnering 56,405 votes to narrowly edge fellow finalist, Ukrainian Alina Krysko, who received 55,993 votes.
Law said: “It is very heartwarming to know that there are that many people who support me. I did not expect to win but I am very thankful and most importantly, to me it is an acknowledgement of all the hard work that I have been putting in.
“It has not been easy, especially in 2023 because I was doing my best to juggle between my studies and wushu. This motivates me to work even harder.”
The past year was a real test for Law. She prepped for her World Championships whilst also studying for one half of her International Baccalaureate examinations. The Sports School allows eligible student-athletes to stretch the completion of their IB Diploma Programme longer than the usual two years, in order to balance their sports training and academic requirements.
“In fact, I would say I made my studies a priority and that whole period was hectic and difficult. I often felt fatigued. But at the end of the day, I am fortunate to be at the Sports School where I am given the best of both worlds,” said Law.
Nominations for the award – designed to recognise outstanding wushu athletes as excellent role models and to encourage more wushu talents to contribute to the development of the sport – opened last October with each member association of the IWUF being able to nominate three female athletes and three male athletes for categories such as Wushu Taolu Athlete of the Year, Wushu Sanda Athlete of the Year, Traditional Wushu Athlete of the Year, Traditional Wushu Rising Star of the Year and Wushu Taolu Rising Star of the Year.
Finalists were announced on Dec 15 with voting open till Jan 15.
Jowen Lim, who won a silver at the World Championships and clinched an unprecedented wushu silver at the 2023 Asian Games, was second in the voting for Wushu Taolu Athlete of the Year. Lim had 11,948 votes while winner Lu Xiangcheng of China had 44,349 votes.
With the confidence booster from the recognition, Law hopes to be able to excel in three major competitions in 2024. Law, who made her debut at a major competition during the Hanoi SEA Games in 2022 at the age of 16, will compete in the World Taijiquan Championships in Singapore in August, Asian Wushu Championships in September in Macau and Taolu World Cup in Japan in October.
While focused on these upcoming events, Law has already pictured the perfect swansong. On her long-term ambitions, she said: “To win a gold medal at the 2029 SEA Games on home soil. That is the perfect closure. That would be the dream.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/singapore-s-zeanne-law-named-wushu-taolu-rising-star-of-the-year-by-world-body
| 2024-01-26T09:23:20Z
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World champions South Africa will host Portugal at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on July 20 when the sides clash in a first ever Test match, officials confirmed on Friday.
Tier two nation Portugal were one of the stand-out performers in the pool stage of the Rugby World Cup in France, where the Springboks beat New Zealand 12-11 in the final.
Unfancied Portugal defeated Fiji and drew with Georgia, and won plenty of admirers for their enterprising style of play.
Their meeting with South Africa will follow two home Tests for the Boks against Ireland.
"We are delighted that we will be returning to Bloemfontein for this historic match," South Africa's Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus said in a statement.
"With the venue now confirmed we can go full steam ahead with our planning for the home Tests from an operational perspective."
South Africa's last Test in Bloemfontein was a first ever home loss to Wales as a much-changed side went down 13-12 in 2022.
South Africa's home Tests in 2024:
July Internationals
July 6 v Ireland (Pretoria)
July 13 v Ireland (Durban)
July 30 v Portugal (Bloemfontein)
Rugby Championship
Aug. 31 v New Zealand (Johannesburg)
Sept. 7 v New Zealand (Cape Town)
Sept. 28 v Argentina (Nelspruit) REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/springboks-to-play-historic-portugal-test-in-bloemfontein
| 2024-01-26T09:23:31Z
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PARIS – The theatre director responsible for the most ambitious Olympics opening ceremony in history in Paris this July was so overwhelmed by the task when first asked to do it, that he rang his mother in tears.
Thomas Jolly, one of France’s most talented young directors, experienced a “feeling of vertigo” when approached to be artistic director for the open-air parade on the river Seine in front of a TV audience of billions.
His task – design a ceremony that will see thousands of athletes sail 6km down the river in a flotilla, the first time a Summer Olympics has begun outside the main stadium.
The modest 42-year-old prodigy needed not only to develop a spectacular concept, but has also been dealing with a range of security, budget, architectural and even wildlife constraints.
“There’s the issue of the Seine which is not the same depth in one place as another,” he told AFP. “The bridges don’t have the same strength, nor do the banks of the river.
“The wind doesn’t blow in the same way depending on where you are. There are places where fish spawn too, because we are trying not to disturb the natural environment.”
Once the vertigo subsided, he set about assembling a team of creatives to develop plans which were submitted for review in July last year to a range of stakeholders from the police to the Olympic organising committee.
“All of these reviews were done to see if we could turn our dream into reality,” he said. “They all agreed pretty unanimously on around 90 per cent, so I have around 10 per cent left of the project that I need to re-adapt.”
There is another major constraint that would keep most theatre directors awake at night, even for a small production.
“What’s unique about this show is that you can’t rehearse it on location. Actually you can’t rehearse it even once in advance,” explained Jolly.
Parts of his show will be rehearsed individually inside giant hangars, and boat captains will practise at a sailing centre.
The idea of the open-air ceremony fits with the overall grandiose vision for the July 26-Aug 8 Paris Olympics, which organisers have promised will be “iconic” and “revolutionary”.
As expected, Jolly was tightlipped about what he is planning when the eyes of the world – and those of up to 600,000 live spectators – will be riven on his work.
But he offered some broad clues, suggesting he will celebrate the modern diversity of France, both musically and culturally. “The idea is not to project a fixed identity,” he said.
Jolly also revealed that his three-hour ceremony would intertwine the speech-making, parade and entertainment rather than making them separate segments, as is customary. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tears-and-fears-for-the-man-planning-paris-olympics-show
| 2024-01-26T09:23:41Z
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MELBOURNE - Factbox on Australian Open finalist Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion, who beat American fourth seed Coco Gauff 7-6(2) 6-4 in the semi-finals (Prefix numbers denote seeding).
ARYNA SABALENKA
Age: 25
Nation: Belarus
WTA Ranking: 2
Seeding: 2
Grand Slam titles: 1 (Australian Open 2023)
ROAD TO FINAL
First round: beat Ella Seidel (Germany) 6-0 6-1
Second round: beat Brenda Fruhvirtova (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-2
Third round: beat 28-Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-0 6-0
Fourth round: beat Amanda Anisimova (U.S.) 6-3 6-2
Quarter-finals: beat 9-Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic)6-2 6-3
Semi-finals: beat 4-Coco Gauff (U.S.) 7-6(2) 6-4
EARLY LIFE
* Born in Minsk. Began playing tennis at age six.
CAREER TO DATE
* Began her professional career playing on the ITF Circuit in 2012.
* Won three singles titles and one doubles title on ITF Circuit in 2015.
* Played first WTA qualifying event at Rabat in 2016 and played in her first WTA main draw at Dubai the following year. Ended 2017 ranked number 78 for first top-100 finish.
* Won two WTA titles at New Haven and Wuhan in 2018. First Top-20 season finishing ranked 11th.
* Won three WTA singles titles and three doubles titles in 2019, including first Grand Slam doubles title at the U.S. Open with Belgian partner Elise Mertens.
* Won Doha, Ostrava and Linz titles for a joint Tour-leading record in 2020. Climbed one place in the rankings for her first Top-10 season.
* Won Abu Dhabi and Madrid in 2021 and reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
* Reached the 2022 U.S. Open semi-finals. Qualified for the WTA Finals for the second consecutive year where she defeated the top 3 players of the tournament -- Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur and Iga Swiatek -- and finished runner-up losing to Caroline Garcia.
* Won the Australian Open beating Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) and reached Wimbledon and French Open semi-finals, finished runner-up at the U.S. Open in 2023 after defeat by Gauff. Also won titles in Adelaide and Madrid.
* Reached career high ranking of number one in September, 2023. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/factbox-tennis-australian-open-finalist-aryna-sabalenka
| 2024-01-26T09:23:52Z
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MELBOURNE – Keep pushing, that was Jannik Sinner’s mantra as he ended Novak Djokovic’s bid for a 25th Grand Slam on Jan 26, snapping the Serb’s astonishing 33-match Australian Open winning run to reach his first major final.
The Italian fourth seed was unfazed by dropping his first set of the tournament against the king of Rod Laver Arena, winning the semi-final 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3.
He will face either Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev or German sixth seed Alexander Zverev in the title match on Jan 28, meaning there will be a new name on the trophy.
World No. 1 Djokovic, a 10-time Melbourne Park champion, fought off a match point in the third-set tiebreak but notched up 54 errors and failed to create a single break point in a sub-par display by his stellar standards.
“It was a very tough match,” said Sinner. “I started off really well. He missed in the first two sets. I felt like he was not feeling that great on court so I just tried to keep pushing.
“Then in the third set I had match point and I missed the forehand but this is tennis. I just tried to be ready for the next set, which I started off really well.”
The 22-year-old also said he felt he had learnt from defeat by Djokovic, 36, in last season’s Wimbledon semi-finals – the furthest he had previously gone at a Grand Slam – and had been looking forward to the match.
“I think we play really similar – you have to return as many balls as possible, he’s such an incredible server,” he added.
“So I was just trying to push him around a little bit – I’m not going to tell you the tactics.”
Victory meant that Sinner has now defeated Djokovic at the ATP Finals, the Davis Cup and in a Grand Slam.
“I don’t know, ask him,” he said with a laugh when asked why his game was so difficult for Djokovic.
The youngster is also the only Italian player to reach an Australian Open singles final.
In marking the arrival of a new generation of tennis stars, the title clash on Jan 28 will also be the first since 2005 not to feature Djokovic or fellow “Big Three” members Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
“I have the belief that I can play the best players in the world. On Sunday, I’m in my first final. Let’s see how it goes. I’m really happy, I’ll come here with a smile and try my best,” said Sinner.
“I’ll watch it (the next semi-final) for sure, I’m a huge tennis fan. I’m a bit more relaxed now. They’re such incredible players and have played so many times. It’s going to be really interesting.” AFP, REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/jannik-sinner-ends-novak-djokovics-australian-open-reign-to-reach-final
| 2024-01-26T09:24:03Z
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TEL AVIV - Haim Raanan says he survived two holocausts.
The first was as a boy in a Jewish ghetto in Hungary during World War Two. The second was in a kibbutz in southern Israel, hiding in a safe room beside his grandson, who was around the same age as he was during the Nazi persecution.
He, his grandson, son and caregiver hid for hours, keeping silent in the stuffy and small room, hoping not to be discovered by the Palestinian gunmen who burst in from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7 and took over their town.
Their house was not attacked, but more than 100 of his friends and neighbours from Kibbutz Beeri were killed or taken as hostages to Gaza. Altogether, about 1,200 people were killed and 240 taken captive by Hamas that day in the attack that triggered the more than three-month-old war in Gaza.
Six million Jews died in the Nazi Holocaust, but Raanan - whose family would hide from bombs in crowded basements and lived in fear of Hungary's fascist Arrow Cross militias - remembers that from the eyes of a young boy.
This year he agreed to have his picture taken and speak at an exhibition called 'Humans of the Holocaust', which uses digital storytelling to connect the dwindling numbers of living survivors to a younger generation that is less familiar with the Nazi atrocities.
Raanan was saved, along with thousands of other Jews, by Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who issued diplomatic papers allowing them to move to a safer area. He was 10 around the time the war ended.
He suffered for years from the trauma of his childhood, but it was less tangible, he said. The Hamas Oct. 7 rampage hit him even harder on a personal level, though he is aware that such a comment will not be easy for everyone to understand or accept.
"Logically and emotionally, this (time) I will remember the tough feeling," he explained from the retirement home in Tel Aviv where he and his wife have been staying since towns along the Gaza border were evacuated.
REMEMBRANCE
Two days later, the 88-year-old attended the exhibition, hosted by the European Union delegation in Israel, ahead of Saturday's International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
In the photograph of him that is on display, Raanan sits on a couch, a dog tag around his neck in solidarity with the hostages still being held by Hamas, holding up a cellphone showing a black and white picture.
In that smaller, grainy picture from decades earlier, he and his mother are seen shoulder to shoulder, each with the yellow star patch on their chests that Jews were once forced to wear.
From behind the podium, with the dog tag still dangling around his neck, Raanan again spoke of the more powerful emotions he felt from the Oct. 7 attack, which prompted the retaliatory Israeli offensive in Gaza in which Palestinian health officials say at least 25,700 people have been killed.
"In the Kibbutz Beeri massacre, I know every single person, every single member of my kibbutz and their children. For me, it was a second holocaust," he said.
When a violinist stood and played a sombre song, Raanan sat and wept quietly to himself.
"Two years from now, five years from now, 10 years from now, there won't be any Holocaust survivors to tell their stories," said Erez Kaganovitz, the exhibition's creator.
"We have to remember what happened in the Holocaust, and we have to understand what are the dangers of antisemitism and blind hatred. And if we won't tackle this issue and if we won't push back against antisemitism, history might repeat itself." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/for-one-nazi-holocaust-survivor-hamas-oct-7-attack-hit-harder
| 2024-01-26T09:24:13Z
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NEW DELHI - When top-strength Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September 2017, bringing a big storm surge, torrential rain and howling winds, roads, bridges and the power network were obliterated.
The US island territory - which was already suffering an economic recession - came to a standstill amid electricity outages, severe flooding, and food and water shortages.
The US government reported the deaths of just 64 people - a figure that was soon contested by researchers.
In 2018, a randomised survey of about 3,300 households across Puerto Rico estimated deaths from the storm at 4,645 – more than 70 times higher than the official figure.
Two other studies, drawing on population registration data and the numbers of people displaced by the hurricane, put the human toll at 1,139 and 2,975 excess deaths respectively in the months following the disaster.
The Puerto Rico example was used by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in a working paper last year to highlight the gaps in how data related to “loss and damage” from disasters fuelled by climate change is recorded.
“Such wide-ranging estimates underline the importance of strengthening official statistics, and addressing difficulties that data experts encounter,” it noted.
Challenges to data collection often lead to underestimates of how disasters impact on people and economies, UN officials and climate justice advocates told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
They called for better data reporting systems to enable the new UN loss and damage fund, set up in December at the COP28 climate summit, to help vulnerable countries repair damage, recover from losses, and become more resilient to disasters.
Mr Harjeet Singh, global engagement director at the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said vulnerable countries should be able to get support from the UN-hosted “Santiago Network” to share knowledge on loss and damage, so they can produce data and develop response strategies “on their own”.
This, he added, is “the bedrock for the effective operation of the loss and damage fund” and will help governments overcome weak technical expertise “which severely hinders their ability to respond effectively to present and future (climate) impacts.”
Given the limitations of current databases, UNDRR is collaborating with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Development Programme to create a new global “disaster losses and damages” tracking system.
It will replace the existing UNDRR disaster database, DesInventar, which mainly collects official data and is used by more than 100 governments.
The other main open-source global database on disasters, EM-DAT, is run by the Belgium-based Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters and compiles information from a range of sources, including UN agencies, aid groups and the media.
‘Revolutionary’ approach
EM-DAT only gathers national data on lives lost and numbers of people affected, whereas DesInventar allows governments to record data down to district or sub-district level and also captures economic losses and infrastructure disruptions.
The new global database aims to address limitations such as the inability to link DesInventar with other systems, differing government definitions of hazards that make cross-border comparison difficult, and a lack of specific data on vulnerable groups, said Dr Animesh Kumar, head of the UNDRR office in Bonn.
Working with the WMO will also strengthen understanding of the causes of disaster events, he said.
For example, a tropical depression tracked by the UN agency in the Bay of Bengal may evolve into a cyclone that causes a storm surge - which then leads to flash flooding.
Today each of those would be logged separately, but the new system will link them as a chain, besides recording any losses and damage they produce.
“It is a revolutionary step,” Dr Kumar said.
In addition to providing more quantified information on disasters at all scales, the new system will enable countries to monitor changes in their resilience over a longer period.
As well as covering “rapid-onset” events like storms and floods, it will also track slower-occurring threats - including drought, sea-level rise and glacier melt - which have been largely overlooked but are expected to provoke significant loss and damage, including displacing people from their land.
Ms Ritu Bharadwaj, principal climate change researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), said many poorer countries lack the capacity to collect loss and damage data or use it to strengthen their preparedness in the face of increasingly intense and frequent climate disasters.
Governments in those countries need international financial and technical assistance to create robust data reporting and early warning systems, she added.
Dr Kumar said the new UNDRR loss and damage database would put vulnerable countries in a better position to curb the impacts of disasters through helping them understand which situations require early warning - which is due to cover all countries by 2027 under a UN-led initiative.
Grassroots input needed
Ms Bharadwaj of IIED emphasised that grassroots organisations should be involved in gathering disaster data so as to provide a comprehensive assessment of loss and damage that includes the impacts on the most vulnerable and marginalised social groups.
This information will be key to supporting hard-hit communities after a disaster and helping them build back better, increasing their resilience to future threats, she added.
Loss and damage advocate Singh said countries that have strong local governance bodies - for example, village councils in India - should involve them in the data collection process.
Besides deepening understanding of community vulnerabilities and the different kinds of loss and damage people face, that would bring more transparency by decentralising control of data, which mostly resides with national governments, he added.
For example, when a farmer’s harvest is decimated by flooding or drought, current systems record only the monetary value of the wrecked crop, neglecting the income implications of losing seeds for the next planting season too.
Data collection practices and loss and damage assessments must also evolve to consider the so-called “non-economic” impacts of climate change, Mr Singh said.
Those include harm to people’s mental health, loss of biodiversity and the disappearance of cultural heritage and identity when communities are displaced. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/new-un-database-to-help-countries-tap-climate-loss-and-damage-fund
| 2024-01-26T09:24:24Z
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NEW YORK – Boeing is facing intensive scrutiny over its quality control practices in the aftermath of a near-catastrophic Alaska Airlines flight three weeks ago when a panel blew out.
That Jan 5 incident on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 followed months of earlier, smaller problems with the same aircraft.
Exactly how the current difficulties will be resolved remains to be seen, but both the company’s regulator and its customers are demanding change.
“The quality assurance issues we have seen are unacceptable,” said Mr Michael Whitaker, head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The agency has vowed “more boots on the ground” for a comprehensive investigation of Boeing and contractor Spirit AeroSystems, adding that it will only greenlight production increases when Boeing gets its house in order.
American Airlines joined rival carriers in signalling displeasure, though it has not been directly impacted by the 737 MAX 9 grounding because it does not fly the jet.
“We’re going to hold them accountable,” American Airlines chief executive Robert Isom said on Jan 25 on an earnings conference call.
“Boeing needs to get their act together,” said Mr Isom, who characterised the problems as “unacceptable”.
Earlier problems
The Alaska Airlines episode represents the most serious operational problem for Boeing since two crashes on 737 MAX 8 planes in 2018 and 2019 resulted in 346 deaths and led to a lengthy grounding of the jet.
The MAX also generated unexpected attention in April when it disclosed that Spirit had employed “a non-standard manufacturing process” during the installation of two fittings in the fuselage section.
In December, Boeing urged customers to inspect for loose hardware on plane rudder control systems after an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance.
Such problems have slowed Boeing’s ability to deliver jets, crimping financial performance.
But the problem on Jan 5 was on a different level.
Video of the incident showed a gaping hole on the side of the plane, air rushing through the cabin, oxygen masks dangling and travellers observing city lights below.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair Jennifer Homendy said it was “very, very fortunate” that the incident had not ended in tragedy.
On Jan 26, both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines could resume service of the MAX 9 planes after the FAA approved inspection protocols on Jan 24.
More oversight
Mr Michel Merluzeau, an aeronautics specialist with consulting firm AIR, said the MAX travails likely stem from negative workforce impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, which have been “underestimated”, he said.
“The industry lost a lot of know-how” with the retirements and departures in recent years, he said in an interview.
At its Renton, Washington, factory where the MAX is assembled, Boeing on Jan 25 held the first of a series of “quality stand-down” events – pauses in normal operations for day-long sessions to focus on quality control.
Ms Homendy of the NTSB has described the investigation as focused in part on determining why the panel came loose, including learning whether there were bolts on the part.
But even if there had been a glitch in the manufacturing process, “the issue should have been discovered” during Boeing inspections, Mr Merluzeau said.
“This kind of thing can’t slip through the cracks,” he said.
Alaska Airlines chief executive Ben Minicucci said while he is awaiting the official investigations before commenting on what exactly went wrong, his carrier has also assigned its own staff to review Boeing’s processes.
“We want to watch it with our own eyes, what’s going through every phase of the assembly process, putting a second set of eyes,” he told CNBC. “And if we see something we don’t like, we’re going to raise the flag.”
AerCap chief executive Aengus Kelly has suggested that Boeing must rethink its focus, with financial targets taking a “back seat” to quality and safety, according to an interview in the Financial Times. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/unacceptable-quality-control-issues-at-the-heart-of-latest-boeing-crisis
| 2024-01-26T09:24:34Z
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