In a video on Tuesday (Jan 27), PM Wong said that he and his team have engaged Singaporeans from all walks of life about the upcoming Budget.

"We have heard your aspirations and also your concerns about the uncertain external environment, the impact of technology and AI on jobs and also on cost pressures that you face," he said in the 38-second video.

PM Wong emphasised that feedback and views from the public have been taken into consideration when constructing Budget 2026.

The video also featured footage of other MPs such as Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Shawn Huang, Leader of the House Indranee Rajah and Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow engaging with members of the public at various events.

Budget 2026 will be the first Budget since GE2025 concluded in May and Cabinet changes were made.

PM Wong will deliver the Budget 2026 statement in Parliament on Feb 12.

It will be aired live on television and radio, and a webcast link will be available on the Singapore Budget website.

Have you done a will and/or LPA?

Are you afraid of death?

Have you seen people dying or ghosts?

Anyone riding to the moon? 

My holding all turn green green for for the first time   

i keep reading like this minister should do this or do that cos he is paid millions to do so.

Let’s say you were paid millions and you were in that position, would you risk your job for that?

Example would be

Allowing foreign talents to work in Singapore and potentially displace Singaporeans and you know there is a chance stricter regulations would lead to some companies moving out (but only a chance as you won’t know until you acted).

Female NS (maybe for nursing).  You are sure it’s good but it would mean even more people are delayed entry into the workforce which could lead to companies hiring more foreigners or moving out (again it might not happen but you have to make the decision first).

Scrap NS have a fully volunteer armed force of career soldiers.  Seems good but if there is an invasion and lack of soldiers, that’s it.  Of cos the invasion might not happen but if it happens and we are conquered cos lack of soldiers, it’s you who will be made responsible cos you scrapped NS.  Would you do it?  Obviously we might still be conquered even with NS but at least you won’t be condemned as the one who scrapped NS and made us more vulnerable 

But the person who was apparently most inconvenienced was a third neighbour, who is a personal mobility decide (PMD) user.

The man told Shin Min Daily News: "I tried to communicate with Angela but she accused me of being heartless."

He claimed that Ms Angela, who is said to have moved into her corner unit less than a year ago, had arranged her potted plants up to the space in front of his door.

Ms Angela has been in dispute with her immediate neighbours, the Yangs.

She told Stomp that the neighbours had placed their footwear and potted plants in the space right outside her door, which runs along the wall to their unit.

"This is my passageway but the plants and shoes belong to them. I have already complained to the Town Council," she said.

Tampines TC on April 28 issued a secular informing the residents that the clutter should be removed from the corridor by May 2 and reminded them about the need to keep at least 1.2m of the corridor width clutter-free.

Ms Yang on June 22 told the Chinese daily that Ms Angela had placed her own potted plants in the area outside the Yangs' door, blocking the path to their home.

"She was also dissatisfied with the lanterns and lights hanging on our doors and windows," said Ms Yang, who claimed that Ms Angela would pour soapy water in the corridor every morning.

Ms Yang said someone from Tampines TC told Ms Angela to remove her potted plants but did not tell the Yangs to remove theirs.

Foreigners working in Malaysia packed up and returned to their home countries, crippling the local farms such as those growing sugarcanes.

Since sugarcane can take up to two years to grow before it is ready for harvest, the pandemic disruptions created a ripple effect that can now be felt at Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre.

The hawker centre at 4 Woodlands Street 12 used to have 18 stalls selling sugarcane juice. Today, there are only seven left.

Sixty-year-old hawker Chen told Shin Min Daily News the price of a box of sugarcane rose to $35 in early-2023. To keep up, she increased the prices of her drinks that contain sour plum.

A 20kg box of sugarcane cost between $20 and $30 before the pandemic.

"It's tough to do business. Despite soaring prices, we try not to pass the costs on to customers," said Ms Chen.

"The cost of sugarcane surged very quickly, and once costs rise, they won't fall," said another hawker, Ms Liu, who raised the cost of her sugarcane juice by 50 cents.

Woodlands Town Centre Merchants' Association chairman Chua Lay Sing said the hawkers of the stalls that shuttered gave up fighting the rising costs in recent years.

A Traffic Police officer was charged on June 25 with dangerous driving causing death after he allegedly crashed into a pedestrian while speeding on a police motorcycle in 2023.

Muhammad Firdaus Yusoff, 32, allegedly rode a motorcycle between 94.3kmh and 111kmh near the junction of Hougang Avenue 3 and Kim Chuan Drive, exceeding the speed limit of 50kmh.

The incident happened on June 21, 2023, at around 5.35pm, while Firdaus, who holds the rank of sergeant, was on patrol duty.

Firdaus was allegedly unable to react in time and collided with Mr Tan Leng Hing, who was crossing the road from Firdaus’ left.

This caused Mr Tan to suffer multiple injuries, leading to his death. Court documents did not give details of Mr Tan’s injuries.

A police spokesman told The Straits Times that following the incident, the police initiated investigations against Firdaus, and he was suspended from front-line duties.

Firdaus did not give any indication of his plea when he was charged on June 25. His case has been adjourned to Aug 6.

Those convicted of dangerous driving causing death can be jailed between two and eight years, and can also be banned from driving.

“Officers of the Singapore Police Force are expected to exercise the utmost care for the safety of the public when going about their duties,” said the police, adding that they are unable to comment further as the case is before the courts.

According to the Traffic Police’s latest annual statistics report released in February, traffic accidents claimed the lives of 136 people in 2023, a 25.9 per cent jump from the 108 deaths in 2022.

The 136 fatalities figure is the highest since 2016, when there were 141 deaths.

The annual report also showed increases in the number of fatal accidents involving speeding, drink driving and running the red light.

This is in addition to the $500 CDC vouchers given out on Jan 3, bringing the total to $800 CDC vouchers in 2024.

The process for claiming and spending the vouchers remains the same. Only one household member with a Singpass account needs to claim the vouchers on behalf of the entire household.

Go to go.gov.sg/cdcv, select CDC Vouchers Scheme 2024 (June), and login with Singpass to claim the vouchers.

Singaporean households that have yet to claim their January vouchers can continue to do so via the same website at go.gov.sg/cdcv.

Both sets of CDC vouchers 2024 are valid till Dec 31.

Once claimed, the applicant will receive an SMS with a unique voucher link from RedeemSG (before July 1) or gov.sg (from July 1), which can then be shared with other household members.

The SMS links for January and June vouchers are different.

For more information on the CDC Vouchers Scheme 2024 (June), go to vouchers.cdc.gov.sg

If, however, we absolutely must, the way to make that experience the best it can possibly be is to fly with Qatar Airways.

At least that’s the verdict from this year’s Skytrax Awards, which were announced Monday.

For the eighth time in the 25-year history of the prestigious awards – known as the Oscars of commercial aviation – Qatar was named the World’s Best Airline, in recognition of the quality of service it offers passengers on its modern fleet.

“This is a remarkable achievement for Qatar Airways to win this World’s Best Airline title for 2024, the eighth time they have triumphed,” Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted said in a statement to mark the award ceremony, which gathered airline execs and cabin crew in a manor house near London’s Heathrow Airport.

“We congratulate Qatar Airways on this success which should be a source of great pride and satisfaction for the airline management and staff.”

The Middle Eastern carrier has built a strong reputation over the past decade, helping Qatar’s award-winning Hamad International Airport establish itself as a global aviation hub to challenge regional rivals Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Qatar’s fleet of 230 airplanes ranges from its 10 much-loved A380 superjumbos, to Boeing 777-300ERs, Boeing 787-8s and 787-9s, Airbus A350-900s and A350-1000s, plus a range of smaller capacity jets.

“This is a proud Qatar Airways moment and it is my honor to share this award with my hard working colleagues,” the airline’s CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said in a statement released by Skytrax.

“This award is testimony to our relentless dedication to providing unparalleled service and innovation. We look forward to more wins in the future.”

Close-run contest

Qatar’s victory meant second place for last year’s winner, Singapore Airlines, but only just.

UK-based Skytrax said the votes, gathered from surveys of more than 21 million customers from 100 countries about 350 airlines, were the closest run since the awards began in 1999, requiring a recount.

The rest of the top 10 was, once again, devoid of North American airlines, with Dubai’s Emirates airline in third, Japan’s ANA All Nippon Airways in fourth, Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific in fifth, Japan Airlines in sixth, Turkish Airlines is seventh, Taiwan’s EVA Air in eighth, Air France in ninth and Swiss International Airlines in 10th.

There were plenty of consolation prizes.

Five-time winner Singapore picked up the prize for World’s Best Cabin Staff – an achievement senior VP, Tan Pee Teck, put down to the “unwavering dedication and professionalism” of its in-air teams. Singapore also won for Best First Class service and Best Airline in Asia.

ANA, meanwhile, picked up the accolade for World’s Best Airport Services, as well as Best Airline Staff Service in Asia. Saudia was named World’s Most Improved Airline, beating Taiwan’s Starlux and Iceland’s Play into second and third places.

At the budget end of flying, AirAsia was once again crowned the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline – repeating an achievement it has made every year since 2010. Singapore’s Scoot was named the World’s Best Long Haul-Low Cost Airline.

AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes said his airline’s unwavering success was thanks to the work of its “Allstars” cabin crew coupled with strong brand loyalty.

“No other companies come to my mind in achieving such a winning streak, and we are very proud of it,” he said in a statement.  We dedicate this award to all of our Allstars who work tirelessly to make today happen, and also to everyone who has remained loyal to us through the ups and downs AirAsia has experienced.”

Still in Asia, Bangkok Airways picked up the World’s Best Regional Airline prize for the eighth consecutive year, while Vistara was named best India/South Asian carrier and Fiji Airways was Best Airline in the Australia/Pacific region.

Ethiopian Airlines was named Africa’s best, for the sixth year in a row. Turkish Airlines was Europe’s best, airBaltic was Eastern Europe’s winner and Hainan Airlines was best in China.

Delta Air Lines was declared the Best Airline in North America, also picking up the award for Best Airline Staff Service for the region.

The post-Covid world of heightened germ awareness, the top 10 of the World’s Cleanest Airlines were mostly based in Asia. Cathay Pacific took the top spot, with ANA, EVA, Qatar and Singapore lining up next.

The World’s Top 20 Airlines of 2024

1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Emirates
4. ANA All Nippon Airways
5. Cathay Pacific
6. Japan Airlines
7. Turkish Airlines
8. EVA Air
9. Air France
10. Swiss International Air Lines
11. Korean Air
12. Hainan Airlines
13. British Airways
14. Fiji Airways
15. Iberia
16. Vistara
17. Virgin Atlantic
18. Lufthansa
19. Etihad Airways
20. Saudi Arabian Airlines

The World’s Best Cabin Crew 2024

1. Singapore Airlines
2. ANA All Nippon Airways
3. Garuda Indonesia
4. EVA Air
5. Cathay Pacific Airways
6. Hainan Airlines
7. Japan Airlines
8. Thai Airways
9. Qatar Airways
10. Malaysia Airlines

World’s Best Low-Cost Airlines 2024

1. AirAsia
2. Volotea
3. Flynas
4. Transavia France
5. Indigo
6. Vueling Airlines
7. airBaltic
8. Iberia Express
9. Ryanair
10. easyJet
11. flyDubai
12. Jet2.com
13. Eurowings
14. SKY Airline
15. JetSMART Airlines

The World’s Best Regional Airlines 2024

1. Bangkok Airways
2. Aegean Airlines
3. Azerbaijan Airlines
4. Rex Airlines
5. Azul Brazilian Airlines
6. Virgin Australia
7. Royal Air Maroc
8. Porter Airlines
9. Alaska Airlines
10. Hong Kong Airlines

The World’s Cleanest Airlines 2024

1 Cathay Pacific Airways
2 ANA All Nippon Airways
3 EVA Air
4 Qatar Airways
5 Singapore Airlines
6 Asiana Airlines
7 Hainan Airlines
8 Japan Airlines
9 China Airlines
10 Korean Air

The full list of winners can be found on the Skytrax website

Never had experience or what so with 3rd party forwarder since i have been using cainao air/sea shipping since i started using taobao.

I tried to re-order some chinese 膏药布 which i previously purchased and shipped via cainao sea shipping. But this time the system did not allow me to choose air/sea shipping

Tried another store selling the same thing also kena same thing.  Then i tried some other shop selling different plasters and some can and some cannot ship via cainao.

From $10 billion to zero: How a crypto hedge fund collapsed and dragged many investors down with it
Published Mon, Jul 11 20223:30 PM EDTUpdated Mon, Jul 11 20224:25 PM EDT, MacKenzie Sigalos @KENZIESIGALOS

Key Points

- The bankruptcy filing from Three Arrows Capital (3AC) triggered a downward spiral that wrapped in many crypto investors.

- The hedge fund failed to meet margin calls from its lenders.

- “3AC was supposed to be the adult in the room,” said Nik Bhatia, professor of finance and business economics at the University of Southern California.

As recently as March, Three Arrows Capital managed about $10 billion in assets, making it one of the most prominent crypto hedge funds in the world.

Now the firm, also known as 3AC, is headed to bankruptcy court after the plunge in cryptocurrency prices and a particularly risky trading strategy combined to wipe out its assets and leave it unable to repay lenders.

The chain of pain may just be beginning. 3AC had a lengthy list of counterparties, or companies that had their money wrapped up in the firm’s ability to at least stay afloat. With the crypto market down by more than $1 trillion since April, led by the slide in bitcoin and ethereum, investors with concentrated bets on firms like 3AC are suffering the consequences.

Crypto exchange Blockchain.com reportedly faces a $270 million hit on loans to 3AC. Meanwhile, digital asset brokerage Voyager Digital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after 3AC couldn’t pay back the roughly $670 million it had borrowed from the company. U.S.-based crypto lenders Genesis and BlockFi, crypto derivatives platform BitMEX and crypto exchange FTX are also being hit with losses.

“Credit is being destroyed and withdrawn, underwriting standards are being tightened, solvency is being tested, so everyone is withdrawing liquidity from crypto lenders,” said Nic Carter, a partner at Castle Island Ventures, which focuses on blockchain investments.

Three Arrows’ strategy involved borrowing money from across the industry and then turning around and investing that capital in other, often nascent, crypto projects. The firm had been around for a decade, which helped give founders Zhu Su and Kyle Davies a measure of credibility in an industry populated by newbies. Zhu also co-hosted a popular podcast on crypto.

“3AC was supposed to be the adult in the room,” said Nik Bhatia, a professor of finance and business economics at the University of Southern California.

Court documents reviewed by CNBC show that lawyers representing 3AC’s creditors claim that Zhu and Davies have not yet begun to cooperate with them “in any meaningful manner.” The filing also alleges that the liquidation process hasn’t started, meaning there’s no cash to pay back the company’s lenders.

Zhu and Davies didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Tracing the falling dominoes

The fall of Three Arrows Capital can be traced to the collapse in May of terraUSD (UST), which had been one of the most popular U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin projects.

The stability of UST relied on a complex set of code, with very little hard cash to back up the arrangement, despite the promise that it would keep its value regardless of the volatility in the broader crypto market. Investors were incentivized — on an accompanying lending platform called Anchor — with 20% annual yield on their UST holdings, a rate many analysts said was unsustainable.

The flowchart shows the crypto firms affected by the implosion of TerraUSD and 3 Arrows Capital's bankruptcy filing.

“The risk asset correction coupled with less liquidity have exposed projects that promised high unsustainable APRs, resulting in their collapse, such as UST,” said Alkesh Shah, global crypto and digital asset strategist at Bank of America.

Panic selling associated with the fall of UST, and its sister token luna, cost investors $60 billion.

“The terraUSD and luna collapse is ground zero,” said USC’s Bhatia, who published a book last year on digital currencies titled “Layered Money.” He described the meltdown as the first domino to fall in a “long, nightmarish chain of leverage and fraud.”

3AC told the Wall Street Journal it had invested $200 million in luna. Other industry reports said the fund’s exposure was around $560 million. Whatever the loss, that investment was rendered virtually worthless when the stablecoin project failed.

UST’s implosion rocked confidence in the sector and accelerated the slide in cryptocurrencies already underway as part of a broader pullback from risk.

3AC’s lenders asked for some of their cash back in a flood of margin calls, but the money wasn’t there. Many of the firm’s counterparties were, in turn, unable to meet demands from their investors, including retail holders who had been promised annual returns of 20%.

“Not only were they not hedging anything, but they also evaporated billions in creditors’ funds,” said Bhatia.

Peter Smith, the CEO of Blockchain.com said last week, in a letter to shareholders viewed by CoinDesk, that his company’s exchange “remains liquid, solvent and our customers will not be impacted.” But investors have heard that kind of sentiment before — Voyager said the same thing days before it filed for bankruptcy.

Bhatia said the cascade hits any player in the market with significant exposure to a deteriorating asset and liquidity crunch. And crypto comes with so few consumer protections that retail investors have no idea what, if anything, they’ll end up owning.

Customers of Voyager Digital recently received an email indicating that it would be a while before they could access the crypto held in their accounts. CEO Stephen Ehrlich said on Twitter that after the company goes through bankruptcy proceedings, customers with crypto in their account would potentially receive a sort of grab bag of stuff.

That could include a combination of the crypto they held, common shares in the reorganized Voyager, Voyager tokens and whatever proceeds they’re able to get from 3AC. Voyager investors told CNBC they don’t see much reason for optimism.

Hmmm

always suspect something fishy since the old man’s passing

guess no more closet libtards now

now one have any exp? can share. what can the doc do

Any great Chiropractic to recommend to see if the floating rib can be move back to it original place?

The poly doc say if no pain they cannot do anything, I say so I be like this forever with no long term problem or it will not break due to the stress cause by the dislocation or displacement ?

He ignored my question and ask other things.

Inn stupid GP

https://sg.yahoo.com/news/man-40s-pushed-ground-raped-191220676.html

10 char