The_King

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=974519420011066

SINGAPORE -A woman helped Nigerian scammers move more than $2 million out of Singapore, providing them with over 20 bank accounts to receive their criminal proceeds. Rohaiza Alap, 46, even recruited other people to act as money mules. She was jailed for seven years and four weeks on Monday (Aug 2). She had pleaded guilty last month to 15 charges, for offences committed between 2014 and 2017. These included eight of conspiring with others to provide bank accounts to receive criminal proceeds. Another 43 charges were taken into consideration by Senior District Judge Ong Hian Sun. In a joint statement on Monday, the police and the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) said Rohaiza's case involved a money-mule syndicate, with an organised and sophisticated network acting as a professional money-laundering group. The money came from various scams perpetrated by a group of Nigerians based in Malaysia, according to court documents. These included love scams in Singapore and business e-mail scams in other countries. Rohaiza began helping one of the scammers in September 2013, receiving scam proceeds through her bank accounts and later withdrawing the monies to pass to him. She had met him in January that year. She later assisted other scammers, some of whom she got to know through Facebook. The scammers would inform her in advance about the receipt of a sum of money. Once she received it in her bank account, she would withdraw the money and take a cut of it. Rohaiza would then hand the remaining sum to the scammers in Malaysia or to individuals in Singapore, on their instructions. Court documents state that she provided a total of 25 bank accounts to receive criminal proceeds, laundering over $1.35 million through them. Some of these accounts belonged to R & C Trading Enterprise, a business in which she was the sole proprietor. Court documents state that Rohaiza was investigated by the police in 2014 and had some of her other accounts seized. But she continued with her offences and even set up two more bank accounts. Rohaiza also recruited seven individuals for her operation. One of them, Rohaizad Mahat, was sentenced in December 2019 to seven months' jail for his involvement. The rest have not been dealt with yet. Rohaiza would coordinate with them to receive the scam proceeds in their bank accounts and to transfer the monies back to the scammers. Both she and these others who provided bank accounts would take a cut from the proceeds. Court documents state that some of the people she recruited would also use the bank accounts of their companies to receive the monies. In all, Rohaiza helped the scammers move over $2 million out of Singapore, said AGC and the police. About $124,000 of the scam proceeds were seized by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) between Sept 25, 2014 and Nov 22, 2017. Court documents state that Rohaiza also sought to compromise police investigations by instructing another money mule, Aminorindah Haeruman, to lie to the CAD that the latter had no knowledge of the monies received in her bank accounts. On Monday, the court granted Rohaiza's request to defer her sentence to Sept 15, so that she can complete her Covid-19 vaccination and settle her business affairs. In their statement on Monday, the police and the AGC said scams perpetrated from overseas are of particular concern as "it is difficult and nearly impossible" to recover monies once they are transferred out of Singapore. This is further compounded when scams are enabled by individuals who allow their bank accounts to be used by scammers to receive monies, hide their tracks and launder the criminal proceeds, the agencies added. "We will continue to work together to deter offenders from using Singapore's financial system as a refuge or conduit for illicit funds," they said. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/woman-who-helped-scammers-move-2m-out-of-singapore-jailed-for-more-than-7

SINGAPORE expects to receive delivery of the Novavax vaccine by the end of the year, said Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary in Parliament on Monday, adding that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) will complete its evaluation of the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine before the end of August. The Ministry of Health and HSA are working closely with Novavax to facilitate the regulatory submission for the protein subunit vaccine noted Dr Janil, adding that the review timeline will depend on the availability and submission of data by the company to HSA. "While we recognise the need to facilitate timely access to the vaccine, there should be no compromise on the scientific rigour of the assessment of their quality, safety and efficacy," he said. Dr Janil also said that individuals who have received one dose of an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine but are unable to receive the second dose due to allergic reactions have been invited to take the Sinovac vaccine. The ministry has established a dedicated public health programme for them to be vaccinated at a clinic in public hospitals for closer monitoring, considering their previous allergic reaction, he said. Individuals who receive one dose of the mRNA vaccine and then complete the vaccination process with Sinovac will be considered as fully vaccinated. As at July 31, 61 per cent of the population has completed the full vaccination regimen. Almost eight in 10 (79 per cent) of seniors aged 70 and above have been vaccinated with at least one dose. Each day, about 1,000 seniors sign up for their first dose. On the flip side, more than 96,000 or 21 per cent of this group of seniors have not booked a vaccination appointment. This is six percentage points more than the general population. Dr Janil said continued efforts are underway to reach out to these seniors. Staff and volunteers from People's Association and Silver Generation Office have intensified their outreach efforts, through house visits and engagement dialogues. The mobile vaccination teams have also started to provide bed-bound and less mobile seniors with vaccinations in their homes or in the heartlands. This service has started in a few towns with a higher proportion of seniors, and complements the main vaccination efforts at the vaccination centres, all of which are wheelchair accessible. Finally, for short-term pass holders, Dr Janil said the government is reviewing how such pass holders, such as those who are more vulnerable and who may have been in Singapore on an extended basis due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, may receive vaccinations under the national vaccination programme. More details will be announced at a later date. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/singapore-to-receive-novavax-vaccine-by-end-2021-sinovac-vaccine-evaluation-to-be

Bluff small kids If it true that take vaccine for what

SINGAPORE - Keppel Corp is proposing to acquire Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) through a privatisation offer after the hiving off of SPH's media business. The offer, which values SPH at $3.4 billion, will see SPH delisted and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel, the companies jointly announced on Monday (Aug 2). Keppel’s share of the deal is about $2.2 billion. Under the offer, SPH shareholders will receive 66.8 cents in cash per share, as well as 0.596 Keppel Reit units and 0.782 SPH Reit units per share. SPH, Keppel Corp and their subsidiaries SPH Reit and Keppel Reit called for trading halts before the stock market opened on Monday. The scheme is subject to approval by SPH and Keppel shareholders and is also subject to other conditions, including regulatory approvals. The privatisation offer through Keppel's wholly owned subsidiary Keppel Pegasus will also see Keppel holding a remaining 20 per cent stake each in SPH Reit and Keppel Reit. The offer is contingent on the successful completion of the media restructuring announced on May 6, which would see the transfer of SPH's media assets to a company limited by guarantee, a not-for-profit entity. The transfer of the media assets is subject to SPH shareholders' approval at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) expected to be convened this month or next. If approved at the EGM, the restructuring of the media business is expected to be completed by the end of the year. SPH's privatisation by Keppel is likely to be concluded soon after this. In a statement on Monday, SPH said that its board carried out a comprehensive review of the group's various strategic options, including maintaining the status quo, monetisation of certain assets, a partial sale or privatisation of SPH post-media restructuring. With an objective to maximise value and minimise disruption to shareholders, the board concluded that the privatisation of the entire company would be the preferred solution, it said. "It derives a better valuation outcome for all shareholders where a control premium is paid for the entire company. Also, it avoids a situation where prime SPH assets are cherry-picked, leaving SPH with its existing debt and the risk of being unable to monetise its remaining assets," SPH said. SPH said that the final closed bids for the company were evaluated based on price, terms and conditions, financing certainty, regulatory approvals, transaction structure and execution risks. The final proposal from Keppel to privatise SPH was selected based on the various criteria, it added. SPH produces news publications in Singapore's four official languages, including The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao. SPH Reit's portfolio includes shopping centres in Singapore such as Paragon and The Clementi Mall. SPH chief executive Ng Yat Chung noted that the privatisation offer from Keppel is the result of the strategic review process, the first step of which was the media business restructuring to ensure its sustainable future while removing its losses from SPH. "With the privatisation offer from Keppel, shareholders now have an opportunity to realise the value of their SPH shares at a premium of 39.9 per cent to the last traded price before the strategic review was announced," he said in a statement. The mooted consideration of $2.099 per share also represents an 11.6 per cent premium to SPH's last traded price of $1.88 per share on July 30. Credit Suisse (Singapore) and Allen & Gledhill LLP are acting as the exclusive financial adviser and legal adviser to SPH for the strategic review and proposed transaction.

Teo Heng KTV Studio Bedok Point Outlet Closes, Fans Can Visit 4 Other Branches The Covid-19 pandemic has turned the lives of KTV lounge goers upside-down — not least if you secretly fancy yourself as a Mariah Carey or Jay Chou. Places like Teo Heng KTV have seen their primary business suffer, forcing them to pivot into spaces for studying or live streaming. However, as Bedok Point is set to be redeveloped, the Teo Heng KTV branch there will also close. Its last day of operations was Saturday (31 Jul), and owner Jackson Teo thanked everyone for their support all this time. Teo Heng KTV still has outlets at 4 other locations including Junction 10 which is now soundproof. Teo Heng KTV Bedok Point closes 4 years from its launch on 31 July 2017, Teo Heng KTV’s Bedok Point outlet will close. It was then the family KTV lounge’s 10th outlet and was opened to much fanfare. Since the pandemic, the outlet, like every other branch, has had to pivot into a study and co-working space with Covid-19 restrictions disallowing KTV activities. It might seem like long ago now, but families and friends could gather to have a good time belting your favourite songs Owners thank everyone for support The owners, in a Facebook post, thanked everyone for their continued support. Although KTV lounges are still yet to be given permission to reopen more than a year on, they’re still hanging on. There are 4 other outlets that customers can patronise as study, work, or party spaces: Causeway Point JCube Star Vista Junction 10 The owners hope that fans can continue to support them in these trying times.

Everyone hates US until china is claiming their territory as part of ancient china

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s embattled prime minister postponed a critical parliamentary session set for Monday, citing COVID-19 infections and allowing him to avoid a no-confidence vote amid growing calls for him to resign. A circular sent to lawmakers Saturday said the session will be held at a later date, after the Health Ministry deemed Parliament a high-risk venue. Eleven cases were detected Thursday among staff and others. Malaysia’s political crisis deepened when the king rebuked the government for misleading Parliament on the status of ordinances it issued during the coronavirus state of emergency. The opposition, which has filed a motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, slammed the postponement as an excuse for him to stay in office. “Many parties feel it’s not because of COVID-19. This political crisis must be resolved immediately. This constitutional crisis must be addressed,” tweeted Ahmad Maslan, a lawmaker in the biggest party in Muhyiddin’s alliance that has backed calls for the premier to quit. There was no immediate comment from Muhyiddin’s office. This was not the first time Muhyiddin has suspended Parliament due to the virus. Parliament has been shut down for several months just after he took office in March 2020, and since January this year, after the king approved his plan for an emergency to tackle the pandemic. The state of emergency allowed him to rule by ordinance without legislative approval until Aug. 1, at a time when his razor-thin majority in Parliament is in jeopardy. Public anger against Muhyiddin has built up as cases jumped eightfold since January. New daily infections breached 10,000 on July 13 for the first time and have stayed there since, despite a virus emergency in January and a lockdown since June 1. Total deaths have risen to nearly 9,000. Nearly 20% of the population has been fully vaccinated. Hundreds of black-clad Malaysian youth earlier Saturday rallied in central Kuala Lumpur to demand Muhyiddin’s resignation and early resumption of regular Parliament sessions. Some carried mock corpses wrapped in white cloth to depict the growing virus death toll. Parliament reopened Monday for the first time this year after Muhyiddin caved to pressure from the king, but the five-day special sitting was only to brief lawmakers on the pandemic and debates were banned. King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Abdullah said on Thursday he did not give his consent to annul emergency ordinances but told the government to debate them in Parliament — which may lead to a vote that could test Muhyiddin’s majority. Muhyiddin said that the king has to act on the Cabinet’s advice and insisted his administration didn’t violate the constitution. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/malaysian-youths-demand-pm-quit-as-pandemic-worsens/2021/07/31/0d37d5da-f1db-11eb-81b2-9b7061a582d8_story.html

not really. this can help to kill all covid virus

later ebola and cornana have a fusion

Aug 1 (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) have raised the prices of their COVID-19 vaccines in their latest European Union supply contracts, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The new price for the Pfizer shot was 19.50 euros ($23.15)against 15.50 euros previously, the newspaper said, citing portions of the contracts seen. The price of a Moderna vaccine was $25.50 a dose, the contracts show, up from about 19 euros in the first procurement deal but lower than the previously agreed $28.50 because the order had grown, the report said, citing one official close to the matter. The European Commission said on Tuesday that the EU is on course to hit a target of fully vaccinating at least 70% of the adult population by the end of the summer. read more In May, the EU said it expects to have received more than a billion doses of vaccines by the end of September from four drugmakers. Pfizer and Moderna were not immediately available for comment to Reuters.

Imagine a Covid-19 vaccine that came as a pill: no needles, no medical professionals required to administer it, potentially delivered directly to people's homes. Israeli pharmaceutical Oramed is attempting to accomplish just that, and is poised to start its first clinical trial in early August, CEO Nadav Kidron told AFP in an interview. With just 15 percent of the world's population fully vaccinated, the global fight to end the pandemic is far from over. Oral vaccines are particularly attractive for the developing world, because they reduce the logistical burden of immunization campaigns, said Kidron. But they could also increase uptake in wealthy countries where needle aversion is an often missed factor in hesitancy. A recent survey found nearly 19 million Americans who decline vaccines would take them if they had a pill option. "In order for the vaccine to really work well, we need as many people to take it as possible," said Kidron. Other benefits include reduced syringe and plastic waste, and potentially fewer side effects. - Challenges for oral delivery - Despite many theoretical advantages, there have been few successful oral vaccines because the active ingredients tend not to survive the journey through the gastro-intestinal tract. Exceptions include vaccines for diseases that are themselves transmitted through the mouth and digestive system -- for example there is an effective oral polio vaccine. Oramed, which was founded in 2006, believes it has overcome the technical hurdles by designing a capsule that survives the highly acidic environment of the gut. It invented its technology for a previous product, an experimental oral form of insulin, the lifesaving drug required by diabetics that has until now been only administered by injection. Developed with Nobel Prize winning biochemist Avram Hershko who is on Oramed's scientific advisory board, the company's capsule has a highly protective coating that makes it slow to degrade. It also releases molecules called protease inhibitors that stop enzymes in the small intestine from breaking down the insulin, and an absorption enhancer to help the insulin cross into the bloodstream. This drug has been dosed in hundreds of patients in late stage clinical trials in the US, with results expected in September 2022. Oramed has now launched a new majority-owned company called Oravax, which takes the capsule technology from the oral insulin product and uses it for an oral Covid-19 vaccine. - Virus-like particle - To evoke an immune response, the company's scientists have designed synthetic coronavirus-like particles. These mimic three key structures of the pathogen: the spike protein, the envelope protein and the membrane protein. Most currently authorized vaccines, like Pfizer or AstraZeneca, are based on the spike protein alone, making them less protective over time as the spike protein of the coronavirus mutates. By targeting multiple parts of the virus, including structures that mutate less, the Oravax vaccine could be more variant-proof, Kidron said. The company has applied to begin trials in multiple countries and expects to begin its first in Israel within weeks, pending approval from the health ministry. Kidron said he foresaw a role for the vaccine initially in developing countries which haven't yet bought up enough supply of current vaccines -- before eventually developed markets. A vaccine pill could become especially attractive if ongoing boosters are required. If it's successful, it would also represent a proof of concept for future orally administered vaccines, he added. "Imagine... the flu vaccine comes to you in the mail, you take it, you're done."

SINGAPORE - The course of true love never did run smooth. But when confronted with an unprecedented global pandemic, relational challenges once seen as molehills become mountains amid new fears and uncertainty. Plagued by problems such as a lack of quality time and diverging priorities, Casper (not his real name), 26, ended an eight-month relationship in August last year. He says: "During the circuit breaker, we weren't able to meet as much, plus she wasn't a fan of video calling. This brought about frustration, triggered her anxieties and raised insecurities. "I realised that we had different expectations of the relationship and the pandemic made it worse. There was a lot of pent-up unhappiness." His is not an isolated case. Other dating couples are also calling it quits after almost 1½ years of seclusion, heightened anxiety and more time to re-evaluate their priorities. Local Facebook community Singapore Breakup Support Group, created in 2019, saw an increase in heartbroken individuals seeking advice during the circuit breaker period last year. Since March 2020, the group has received at least two inquiries a month from those seeking help to cope after breaking up. It now has nearly 10 volunteers helping to run its support service, from just two people. Dating and recovery coach Cherlyn Chong, who runs an online business, saw a 10 per cent increase in clients who had split up over the past year, compared with 2019. She estimates she now has 28 clients on the mend from break-ups. Her divorce and break-up group for women on Facebook also saw a 15 per cent surge in members over the same period. Called Get Over Him, it now has some 10,000 members. With six years of experience in helping the heartbroken - both men and women - move on, she notes that "prolonged distance does not make the heart grow fonder". "Right now, there is a sense of hopelessness and it feels like there's no end in sight. Without the ability to engage in our love languages, it becomes harder to feel loved and stay connected." The five love languages - quality time, physical touch, acts of service, words of affirmation and receiving gifts - were coined by American author and marriage counsellor Gary Chapman. He says that understanding one's primary love language, or the way one prefers to express and receive love, allows for better communication and conflict resolution in a relationship. Counsellors note that engaging love languages like physical touch and spending quality time together was more possible pre-Covid-19 for unmarried couples, but under the current circumstances, it has become increasingly difficult to do so. Sophia (not her real name), a university student, broke up with her boyfriend of two years in June last year after incessant arguing, which was exacerbated by not being able to meet up. Increased conflict due to misunderstandings brought about by communication issues precipitated the end of their relationship. Their fundamentally different moral values - he was religious and she was not - also became painfully apparent. Sophia says: "The pandemic definitely affected our communication since we would usually argue and talk it out in real life. "We would try to settle our disagreements via video call or texting, but a lot of unintentional miscommunication happened because there was no body language to reference and it was hard to read tone over texts." Similarly, 20-year-old student Cassie (not her real name) cited a lack of physical meetings as a factor in her worsening relationship, which ended in December. Escalating conflict brought their differing priorities to the fore. She was concerned about her health and family; he was more focused on his personal interests. They decided to part ways. Travel restrictions due to closed borders brought about by Covid-19 also led to the demise of some long-distance relationships. For instance, 25-year-old marketing analyst Lim Li Xuan called it quits in April last year when her former boyfriend had to fly home to Spain after the circuit breaker was announced. "I was sad, but I knew that a long-distance relationship wouldn't work because he's not much of a texter and for long distance to work, the whole relationship has to be online," she says. "The pandemic definitely played a part in us ending the relationship prematurely. We didn't have any problems that caused us to be unhappy, but rather, we just weren't ready to give up our whole lives for each other and relocate." It was painful, she adds, as her heartbreak played out against the backdrop of the global crisis. Her regular counselling sessions helped her to cope and move on. Counsellors from three different practices interviewed by The Sunday Times say that the pandemic was not the main factor in the break-up cases they saw, but merely a trigger. It widened fault lines that already existed in the relationships. Mr Joachim Lee, principal psychotherapist and deputy executive director of Eagles Mediation and Counselling Centre, notes that couples who lack a strong foundation find it difficult to weather the challenges wrought by the pandemic, as they "struggle to relate as stressors build up". "The circuit breaker and heightened alert periods meant that the emotional needs of some couples could not be met, unlike in conventional dating conditions, straining the relationships. Some felt disconnected, resulting in conflicts and, unfortunately, in some cases, a break-up," he says. Ms Jean Chen, director and psychotherapist at private counselling practice Relationship Matters, adds that increased job worries and economic uncertainties during this period, combined with a lack of assurance and positive emotional responses, proved to be a recipe for romantic disasters. She says: "Emotional responsiveness towards each other is very important. When there is a lack of care for hurt feelings in conversations, communication breakdowns happen. "And when there is a lack of reassurance or comfort for each other, break-ups happen." Psychotherapists and counsellors interviewed say that the essential traits needed for couples to weather the ongoing storm are gratitude, empathy and self-awareness. Mr Jonathan Siew, principal counsellor of Care Corner Counselling Centre, who has seen a 5 per cent increase in unmarried couples coming for help since 2019, says that one way forward is to practise mindfulness. "I think we can benefit from having a better understanding of ourselves, how we function and how relationships function," he says. He outlines a basic lesson in honing self-awareness. "First, identify behavioural patterns. For example, if your partner did something to upset you, you may want to ask questions like, 'How did I respond to it?'," he says. "The idea is to establish an understanding that we co-create situations and we sometimes feel frustrated and upset. It's normal. "But if you can go a little deeper, start to recognise what's underneath the feelings. Is it sadness? Humiliation?" But should all efforts at staying together fall through, dating and recovery coach Ms Chong offers some sage advice for those moving on. "What needs to happen first is a huge forgiveness of the situation, themselves and their ex. Yes, there will be sadness, frustration and anger, especially amid the pandemic, but the next step is to accept that it happened and not deny reality," she says. "Lastly, create a goal where you will take this as a lesson and become better. After all, time doesn't heal all wounds, action does." For Ms Jenn Chow, who usually relieves stress by going for karaoke sessions or clubbing, the lockdown period forced her to focus inwards and find new coping mechanisms after her three-year relationship ended last August. The 23-year-old sales executive says: "This was my first time without having any distractions. I used all my time to heal properly and really paid attention to my emotional and mental health." She picked up bullet journalling, read and doodled for personal growth and reflection. "At the end of the day, I am the only one who can help me, so I have to be there for myself," she says. https://www.straitstimes.com/life/heartbreak-season-more-couples-are-calling-it-quits-amid-challenges-wrought-by-the-pandemic

SINGAPORE: When dining finally reopens – currently planned for Aug 18 when the current Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) curbs are set to end – F&B owners said their biggest worry is managing crowds when they have to check who is vaccinated or not. “We are sandwiched”, said Ya Kun Kaya Toast’s director of branding and market development Jesher Loi. “If the Government enforces, we will have to abide by that. So, we will make adjustments. We will have to check your app … and also there will be ambassadors around who will either insist or assist.” Speaking on CNA’s Heart of the Matter on Thursday (Jul 29), Mr Loi said he foresees huge challenges if his lean staff have to respond dynamically from behind the counter. In his experience, customers tend to look for a table first while one person in the dining group queues for their order. But F&B operators must ensure all of them have their temperatures checked and cannot make exceptions. Each situation can vary, he explained, adding that it also depends on the outlet layout, the group size and whether the store is busy. “I can feel my stress levels rising ... dealing with hostile customers and people who have their interpretations of the rules," said chef-owner of Summer Hill restaurant, Anthony Yeoh, also on the podcast. “Tempers tend to flare up a lot more easily nowadays. It's always trying to find the right balance and still creating a good experience for customers. That's what restaurants ultimately are about,” he added. The patience of F&B staff too will be tested. “From the customer's perspective, it's our first time to the restaurant, it's our first time being told, redirected or told to go back to the line again. But from the staff’s perspective, you could be the 40th person, the 60th person," Mr Loi said. This is why he is appealing for customers to be understanding should there be delays, especially during peak hours. “Customer participation is critical. The vast majority of them are cooperative but sometimes they misunderstand and say, ‘I was here first’. And you get hostilities at our level on the ground.” Mr Yeoh said he hopes the rules are kept clear and simple, else businesses will find “that at some point it's not worthwhile for the business to risk breaking the law”. The F&B sector in Singapore has been hit by COVID-19 restrictions many times over the past year, beginning with a circuit breaker in April last year, to finally opening up to five diners in June 2020, then gradually increasing to eight diners in December 2020. As community cases began to rise this year, group sizes were reduced to five in the beginning of May. But on May 16, Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) kicked in and dining-in was banned once again. Most recently, co-chair of the multi-ministry task force Lawrence Wong said on Monday (Jul 26) that authorities planned to review easing restrictions in early August and potentially requiring anyone who wants to head to a restaurant, a gym or a large event to be fully vaccinated. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-restaurant-cafe-close-dine-in-ban-phase-2-rules-diner-15338612