A total of 346 people aged between 16 and 76 are being investigated for their involvement in scams where victims have reportedly lost more than $13.8 million.  In a two-week operation conducted by the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven Police land divisions between 16 and 29 August this year, some 231 men and 115 women were found to be involved in more than 1,300 cases as scammers or money mules, the police said in a news release on Friday (August 30). The scams comprises mainly job scams, friend impersonation scams, fake buyer scams, e-commerce scams, investment scams and internet love scams.  The police, who said they take a serious stance against anyone involved in scams, added that “to avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use your bank accounts or mobile lines as you will be held liable if they are linked to crimes.” Those found guilty of cheating face a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine. Those convicted of money laundering can be jailed up to 10 years, fined up to $500,000, or both. 

Investigations are currently underway on whether the 21 «beautiful» blue-crowned hanging parrots found trapped in an industrial estate were illegally imported into Singapore, wildlife group Acres said on Thursday (Aug 29). Acres - or the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society - said that they received reports from informants about an industrial unit in Sims Drive displaying these blue-crowned parrots between June and October last year. «These beautiful birds were found crammed into tiny metal cages on the unit's exterior,» added Acres in an Instagram post. Acres said that they later found 21 parrots in makeshift cages, and raised serious concerns about their welfare and the presence of traps. Once regarded as endangered, blue-crowned hanging parrots are currently listed under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cities). This means that permits are required to import the species into Singapore.

No administrative charges will be incurred for ERP (Electronic Road Pricing) fees made within a five-day grace period come October this year, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said on August 30. This comes ahead of a new feature on the next-generation ERP 2.0 on-board unit (OBU) that will alert motorists to missed payments, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on the same day.  The new feature, which can also be used to facilitate payments, will be rolled out in mid-2025.  The roll-out of the ERP 2.0 system means motorists can eventually make such payments via the OBU display, said Chee at the Ministry of Transport's office in Alexandra Road. «With the installation of ERP 2.0, there's no longer a need for us to send them a letter, and therefore, there's no longer a need for LTA to charge them the $10 admin fee,» he added.  Chee said that from Oct 1, if a motorist has ERP arrears, LTA will send them an SMS and give them a five-day grace period to make the payment. 

China's ambassador to the Pacific has responded furiously after the region's leaders rejected a push from Solomon Islands to stop Taiwan participating in its top diplomatic gathering.

[Global Press Journal] Munigi, Democratic Republic of Congo -- Health officials in Uganda told Global Press Journal to ignore information provided by health workers at the border.

[VOA] Yaounde, Cameroon -- Journalists in Cameroon say attacks on reporters have surged as the country prepares for next year's presidential elections. Ninety-one-year-old President Paul Biya, who has ruled the country for over four decades, may run again. Rights groups say six journalists have been assaulted by gunmen in the past weeks, while several reporters and a radio station have been ordered to stop broadcasting.

WESTERN BUREAU: Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, says the long-awaited National Identification System (NIDS) should be officially launched by the end of 2024. Dixon, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister and whose portfolio...

Individuals or families seeking to undertake income-generating projects to improve their economic status, may receive assistance through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Rehabilitation Assistance Grant initiative. Through this programme...

The Coconut Industry Board (CIB) will be staging a special celebratory event in observance of World Coconut Day, on Saturday, August 31. This event, which will be held at the CIB’s Headquarters at 18 Waterloo Road in St Andrew, will last from 10 a....

The Desnoes and Geddes (D...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has indicated that financing is being put in place to construct six science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) schools across the country. Holness made the disclosure during the annual Primary Exit Profile...

The EU considers the Ukrainian leader’s peace plan the only option on the table, the bloc’s top diplomat has said Read Full Article at RT.com

Serbia is unashamed of its decision to not join Western sanctions on Moscow, President Aleksandar Vucic has said Read Full Article at RT.com

Les épreuves des Jeux paralympiques ont commencé ce jeudi 29 août et l'équipe de France a déjà trois médailles dans sa besace, une d'or et deux d'argent, grâce à la cycliste Marie Patouillet et aux nageurs Ugo Didier et Alex Portal.

Qui succédera à Omaka Gendron ? Huit candidates à l'élection de Miss T. Tahiti ont passé leur grand oral, ce 29 août, à la mairie de Papeete. Elles ont dû répondre aux questions de culture générale, un premier test avant la soirée du 7 septembre qui prend un peu plus d’ampleur... Omaka Gendron était présente pour prodiguer les meilleurs conseils aux candidates. À 26 ans, elle estime que les personnes transgenres sont aujourd'hui bien représentées dans la société polynésienne.

Après les aides au développement de l’activité, à la rénovation ou à l’extension, déjà en place, un soutien financier est désormais disponible pour la mise en conformité des pensions de famille. Un dispositif bienvenu pour les professionnels, même si l’enveloppe annuelle est faible. 89 millions de Fcfp pour 2025 mis à disposition des 296 structures de Polynésie.

Injures, menaces, violences physiques ou encore racket, ce sont les types de harcèlement scolaire subit par les victimes. Face à la colère, certains parents sont animés par la vengeance. Une mauvaise solution selon la présidente de la fédération des parents d’élèves qui incite à privilégier le dialogue. L'an dernier, 63 faits ont été signalés.

The EU considers the Ukrainian leader’s peace plan the only option on the table, the bloc’s top diplomat has said Read Full Article at RT.com

SINGAPORE — A 50-year-old woman has been arrested for her suspected involvement in an attempted armed robbery at a restaurant along Thomson Road. In a statement, the police said they were alerted to the incident at 9.34am on Aug 29. The woman allegedly used a knife taken from the restaurant's table and tried to rob a customer. But she left empty-handed after the restaurant's staff intervened. When the police arrived at the restaurant, they established the woman's identity through inquiries and with the aid of police cameras and CCTV footage. They arrested her within nine hours and seized the knife as a case exhibit. The woman will be charged on Aug 30 with attempted armed robbery. If convicted, she faces a jail term of two to seven years. The police said: «Members of the public who encounter such cases are advised to remain calm, take note of the physical appearance and distinctive features of the perpetrator, and call the police as soon as possible.»

SINGAPORE — About 35 pupils and two staff from Catholic High School (Primary) reported symptoms of gastroenteritis during a school camp conducted from Aug 26 to 28. The camp was held at the Ministry of Education's Labrador Outdoor Adventure Centre, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) in a joint statement on Aug 29, in response to queries from The Straits Times. None of the staff or pupils was hospitalised, the statement said. The camp for Primary 5 pupils was run by the school's appointed vendor, said a spokesman for Catholic High School (Primary) on Aug 29. According to government procurement website GeBiz, the tender for this camp was awarded to a company known as Ventured. Ventured is a member of the Outdoor Learning and Adventure Education Association, said Delane Lim, the organisation's secretary-general. Preliminary findings indicate that Ventured had engaged an SFA-approved catering vendor for the camp, he added. «During the camp, some students and staff reported symptoms of gastroenteritis,» said the school's spokesman.

There have been an alarming number of incidents involving sinkholes around the world recently, from the 8m-deep sinkhole in Malaysia that swallowed a still-missing woman on Aug 23, to the elderly couple in Seoul whose car fell into a sinkhole just yesterday (Aug 29). Fortunately for us, Singapore hasn't had issues with sinkholes recently. However, there have been notable incidents where this phenomenon proved troublesome for us in the past. Keppel Road commute chaos When: Jan 30, 2013 Where: Keppel Road

In first major interview since Biden’s withdrawal, Harris calls Trump’s attack on her identity “same old tired playbook.”

The National Housing Trust (NHT) is inviting applications for its Special Home Improvement Loan from persons whose houses sustained damage during Hurricane Beryl's passage on July 3. Funding of up to $1.5 million can be accessed, which can be...

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Rio de Janeiro — already notorious for street muggings, corrupt politicians, ruthless militias and Kalashnikov-toting drug traffickers — has a new public enemy: plushies. Or, more specifically, the joystick-...

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, CMC  – A court in the Netherlands has ruled that Jamaican reggae singer Jah Cure will continue serving his six-year sentence for attempted manslaughter in the Netherlands. The ruling was handed down last week...

When Meghan, 43, became a member of The Firm in 2016, there's no doubt she boosted the fashion industry, but the Princess of Wales had been highlighting British brands long before her.

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: The moniker 'Two-Tier Keir' already trips off many tongues. But will its usage in now become irreversible? I ask because of a disclosure by one of Sir Keir Starmer's MPs.

Locals who witnessed Prince William and Harry's reconvening at their uncle's funeral revealed that they were 'keeping their distance' from one another.   

A deputy medical examiner conducted the exam on July 22, and certified the cause of death as of Thursday, officials said.

Official figures show that 1,689,000 non-UK nationals are either unemployed or classed as economically inactive because they are not looking for a job.

[New Times] People in need of services including land subdivision, merging, area correction, and registration or splitting of condominiums can now access them through Irembo - the e-government services platform.

[New Times] Bruce Cyemayire, a student with autism, defied expectations as he excelled in his Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).

[New Times] Six of the 10 professional players plying their trade abroad had their first training session with Amavubi on Wednesday, August 28, ahead of upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya and Nigeria.