SINGAPORE - The police have arrested four men and one woman, aged 17 to 26, for allegedly cheating customers over face masks sold on online marketplace Carousell amid the coronavirus outbreak here. In a statement on Tuesday (Feb 18), the police said that since late January, they have received several reports from people who said they were cheated by sellers after they paid for face masks on Carousell. The sellers would become evasive and uncontactable after the buyers made payments through bank transfers. The police said they "take a serious view of those who take advantage of the current Covid-19 situation to perpetrate crimes", referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus which originated from China's Wuhan city. "All offenders will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law," they added. Working with Carousell, the police identified five suspects: A 24-year-old woman believed to be involved in more than 40 cases of e-commerce scams amounting to more than ... » Learn More about Coronavirus: 5 people arrested for allegedly cheating customers over face masks sold on Carousell
Internet provider in india
As US cities embrace tech, cyberattacks pose real-world risks
TORONTO: The word “cyberattack” usually brings to mind hackers breaking into a company or government agency, wreaking havoc and stealing valuable data. But for an employee at a Florida water treatment facility, an even scarier event took place in February. On his shift at the plant, which treats water for about 15,000 people in Oldsmar, a town near Tampa, he noticed that the levels of a chemical additive in the water were increasing. Hackers had remotely gained access to the plant’s computer system and were adding more sodium hydroxide to the water supply. Typically used in small amounts to control acidity, at higher levels it can become dangerous to drink. The employee alerted his boss, the command was reversed and crisis was averted. But for cybersecurity experts in North America, the Oldsmar attack is a warning of how the shift toward smart technologies like remote access during Covid-19 is making cities and their critical infrastructure more vulnerable to attacks. ... » Learn More about As US cities embrace tech, cyberattacks pose real-world risks
Alternative data to financially boost Indonesia’s population
As digital adoption continues to accelerate in Indonesia, lenders are finding it challenging to identify the fast tracking of real time and updated data sources of online transactions. The country will witness a notable growth in digital transactions by 33.2 percent year on year to Rp 337 trillion this year from approximately Rp 253 trillion in 2020. Having said this, Indonesia’s lack of reliable data to make credit decisions has caused inefficiencies in the financial ecosystem. This has initiated the need to look into alternative data which will provide a visual direction of the financial credibility of borrowers in the country. It will also give lenders an overview of payment defaults within a controlled risk. Alternative data is proven to complement traditional credit scoring methods which will inevitably lead to the increase of the number of consumers’ creditworthiness in the population. It is common practice for lenders to look into alternative data when a borrower has no ... » Learn More about Alternative data to financially boost Indonesia’s population
Myanmar activists cancel new year festivities; U.N. urges end to ‘slaughter’
(Reuters) -Opponents of military rule in Myanmar cancelled traditional new year festivities on Tuesday and instead showed their anger with the generals who seized power through low-key displays of defiance and small protests across the country. The United Nations human rights office said it feared that the military clampdown on protests since the Feb. 1 coup risked escalating into a civil conflict like that seen in Syria and appealed for a halt to the "slaughter". A Myanmar activist group, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, says the security forces have killed 710 protesters since the ouster of an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Protesters were out again on the first day of the five-day New Year holiday, known as Thingyan, which is usually celebrated with prayers, ritual cleaning of Buddha images in temples and high-spirited water-dousing on the streets. "We do not celebrate Myanmar Thingyan this year since over 700 of our innocent ... » Learn More about Myanmar activists cancel new year festivities; U.N. urges end to ‘slaughter’
Turbocharging the future of new data sources, transforming credit access in Indonesia
While the digital adoption in Indonesia continues to accelerate, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fast-tracking has posed a challenge for lenders, especially when it comes to real-time and updated data sources related to online transactions. A lack of reliable data on the latest consumer profiles has caused inefficiencies in the credit decision-making ecosystem from a traditional credit data report standpoint. This has been evinced by various moratoriums and payment holidays. It has therefore shaped a need to have more alternative, real-time, updated sources of data to shed more light – and complete a more representative and holistic view – on the latest and updated risk profiles of consumers and businesses. The inherent information asymmetry on borrowers, especially the underbanked segment, makes it challenging for lenders to provide credit without facing high or unknown risks. Experian, the world’s leading global information services company operating in 45 ... » Learn More about Turbocharging the future of new data sources, transforming credit access in Indonesia
Police arrest 329 suspected scammers, money mules in 2-week operation; scam victims lost $9.3m
SINGAPORE: Police arrested a total of 329 suspected scammers and money mules in a two-week operation that ended on Friday (Apr 9). The suspects, comprising 207 men and 122 women aged between 16 and 80, are believed to be involved in 534 cases of scams where victims lost more than S$9.3 million, police said in a news release on Saturday. They are currently assisting with investigations for their suspected involvement in scams as scammers or money mules, it added. The scams consist mainly of Internet love scams, e-commerce scams, China officials impersonation scams, investment scams, fake gambling platform scams and loan scams. READ: Police warn public against unknowingly becoming money mules through scam job advertisements “The suspects are being investigated for the offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence,” police said. Those convicted of cheating could be jailed for 10 years and fined, while those convicted of money ... » Learn More about Police arrest 329 suspected scammers, money mules in 2-week operation; scam victims lost $9.3m
Manila teachers’ turn to get jabs
The city government of Manila on Tuesday started vaccinating the city’s public school teachers. Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said public school teachers who belong to priority sectors like senior citizens and people with comorbidities will get inoculated with Sinovac Biotech’s CoronaVac. The Food and Drug Administration has approved Sinovac for the elderly. “I encourage everyone who belongs to the priority sectors to be vaccinated to have an added protection,” Domagoso said on his social media page. A total of 287,747 individuals were preregistered for the city’s vaccination program on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, Manila reported 50,243 cases including 4,135 active cases, 45,120 recoveries and 988 deaths. SM initiative Meanwhile, a team of doctors and nurses was deployed by retail giant SM Supermalls to help the Quezon City government in its Covid-19 vaccination program, Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte said on Tuesday. “The city has had numerous partnerships ... » Learn More about Manila teachers’ turn to get jabs
AI chip maker SambaNova raises $676 million, valued at over $5 billion
(Reuters) - SambaNova Systems, a Silicon Valley startup that makes semiconductors for artificial intelligence related computation work, said on Tuesday it raised $676 million in a funding round led by SoftBank Group Corp's Vision Fund 2. The latest injection took SambaNova’s total funding to more than $1 billion, valuing the company at more than $5 billion, it said. The funding round is the third biggest venture capital deal in chips the last two decades, according to data firm PitchBook. While Silicon Valley has focused its fire power on software, social media, and internet investments over the past decade, there has been a shift in recent years to back more challenging technology, including semiconductors. PitchBook’s data shows global venture capitalists invested $7.4 billion in 2020, a 20-year record. SambaNova does not sell its chips, manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TMSC), instead using them to build servers and AI software it then leases to ... » Learn More about AI chip maker SambaNova raises $676 million, valued at over $5 billion
The ultimate guide to thrift stores in Singapore for second-hand clothes, bags, furniture and more
Check out these thrift stores in Singapore that offer a huge variety of second-hand items! Time to splurge, but not too much. Have you been eyeing a certain luxury bag or accessory but aren’t willing to pay an exorbitant amount for it? We’ve got the perfect solution — get a pre-loved version! These items are genuine and authenticated by the various websites but come at a significantly cheaper rate (plus, no one would know it’s pre-loved!). General + Miscellaneous 1. Carousell T-shirts, iPads, plants and toys are just some of the many, and we mean many, items that you can find on Carousell . Browse through hundreds of items uploaded by members, with some almost half of its retail price. While most items are pre-owned, you can even find some brand new items up for sale. Buying through Carousell is easy too. Simply make an offer to the buyer, arrange a meet-up location or delivery time and receive your item. 2. Gumtree Gumtree is yet another site that does it all! ... » Learn More about The ultimate guide to thrift stores in Singapore for second-hand clothes, bags, furniture and more
Thailand Approves Eight Covid-19 Vaccines for Quarantine Waiver
Thailand has approved a list of eight Covid-19 vaccine makers for foreign visitors seeking to no quarantine on arrival for Phuket. Thailand is planning to reopen Phuket from July and waiving quarantine for vaccinated tourists. Visitors to Thailand will need to upload copies of the vaccination certi ficates on the website of the nation’s foreign ministry prior to arrival to reduce the quarantine period to seven days. Those without vaccinations will still need to undergo 10 days of isolation and visitors from countries including South Africa will be subject to a two-week quarantine. The list of approved vaccine makers are Sinovac, AstraZeneca Plc , SK Bioscience Co. Ltd., Pfizer, BioNTech SE , Serum Institute of India, Johnson & Johnson , Moderna Inc. and Sinopharm Group Co. Despite the recent spike in covid-19 cases, Thailand is betting on a return of foreign visitors to rescue its economy from its worst performance in more than two decades. The nation, ... » Learn More about Thailand Approves Eight Covid-19 Vaccines for Quarantine Waiver