TR EMERITUS

(2 Jul) - Singapore reported a record number of money laundering cases last year and seized more than $92 million in suspected criminal proceeds as an increasing number of foreign criminals sought bank accounts there, according to an annual report from the city-state’s Commerce Affairs Department (CAD). “Singapore’s openness as an international transport hub and financial center exposes it to cross-border money laundering and terrorist financing risks,” Tan Boon Gin, director of the department, said in a statement. “We are seeing a trend of overseas criminals seeking to launder money through Singapore bank accounts.” The International Monetary Fund ranks Singapore as one of the top 25 most important financial hubs in the world for its international reach, volume of transactions and growing size. Officials there say that as Singapore’s financial industry expands, the criminals seeking bank accounts there are getting more sophisticated. .... “CAD’s goal must be to make Singapore inhospitable to fraudsters, cheaters, scammers and launderers,” CAD Police Commissioner Ng Joo Hee said in a statement. “There has to be no hiding place for those of that ilk, and their apprehension and prosecution must be a near certainty.” [Read more:  International Business Times]  Read More →

Kiev, Ukraine. The images of clashes between anti-government protesters and the police were still fresh in the minds of our Ukrainian friends even as they tried to move on with the process of rebuilding their country. We were there to attend the Swedish International Liberal Centre (SILC) Activist Seminar held annually to provide democracy advocates from ten countries an opportunity to learn from each other the global effort to build sustainable, democratic states. But while Kiev itself was getting back to normalcy, continuing violence in Eastern Ukraine at the border with Russia is threatening to take the country down the road to trouble again. The revolution at Independence Square was called the Euromaidan. It started out as a peaceful protest against the former President Yanukovych who abandoned a deal with the European Union in favour of Russia. The people of Ukraine also wanted the presidential powers to be scaled back. But the peaceful protest turned violent when police attacked the protesters’ camps. It sparked off a revolution with many university students playing an active role. People from all over Ukraine travelled to Kiev to show their support. Artists gave performances on a stage at the centre of Independence Square throughout the protest to lift the spirits of protesters who hunkered down during the cold winter days. The remnants of the revolution were evident throughout their Independence Square. The tire barricades across the roads were moved to the sides to allow vehicles to pass through as the city slowly made its way back to normalcy. Photographs of those who were killed during the revolution were placed on the sidewalks, on trees or walls. There were flowers and lamps in many places, laid down by the hundreds of people who visited the site. It was a poignant reminder of the much-too-often sacrifices of ordinary citizens to bring about change. During the seminar, we learned about the conditions leading to the revolution. It was not initiated by any political party. What started out as a peaceful protest turned into a revolution when police used brutal force to suppress the protests. Social media played a huge role in disseminating information to the rest of Ukraine and the world. When governments use state machinery to turn against its own people, the result is almost always tragic. There were dozens killed and hundreds injured during the revolution. Much has happened since the revolution that ended in February. Ukraine had elected a new President and drafted a new constitution. People from all walks of life paid tribute to the lives lost by placing flowers on the streets and educating their children about the monumental event. There were religious ceremonies and even flash mobs held all over the country to honour the dead. The city is trying to regain its normalcy. When we visited Independence Square again before we left, the barricades were being removed and the streets reopened for vehicles. Commenting on the crisis, PM Lee Hsien Loong said that Ukraine is a reminder that small countries must defend themselves and not depend on international community for its national security. He used this as a reason to maintain a strong military. “Only then can Singapore be safe and secure,” he said. But Mr Lee misses the bigger lesson. The Euromaidan was a stark reminder of what can go wrong when a government has too much power and uses that power against its own people in order to advance its own interests. The people of Ukraine rose up against their president when he refused to heed their demand for a more open and democratic country. Indeed, that must be the lesson our Government must learn.   Chong Wai Fung & Clarence Zeng * Chong Wai Fung is Treasurer of the SDP. Clarence Zeng is a member of the Young Democrats and Deputy Head of the SDP's Ground Operations Unit.  Read More →

According to a report, Connected Life, released by research firm TNS today (10 Jul), 61% of Singaporeans check their emails, use social media or shop online while watching TV at the same time. In contrast, the global average for screen stacking is 48% with Japan leading the trend at 79%. TNS conducted a global study between March and June this year to find out about the digital attitudes and behaviours of over 55,000 internet users across 50 countries, exploring how technology is transforming the lives of consumers across the world. It offers essential insight into the impact of the growing digital ecosystem on the media landscape. TNS found that while our love affair with television endures, TV sets alone are no longer enough to satisfy consumers' appetite for content, driving the growth of online media and ‘screen-stacking’ as a result. It found that almost half of people (48%) who watch TV in the evening simultaneously engage in other digital activities, such as using social media, checking their emails or shopping online. The survey found that consumers own approximately four digital devices each, rising to five among Australian, German and UK respondents. This, combined with demand for TV and video content on-the-go, is fuelling the rise of multi-screening or ‘screen-stacking’ – the use of multiple digital devices at the same time. For example, during the FIFA World Cup in recent weeks, viewers worldwide are accessing this international sporting event via multiple devices at home and on the move, while also engaging in conversations on social media platforms. One quarter (25%) of those surveyed worldwide watch content on a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile daily. This rises to one third (33%) in mainland China and Singapore and 32% in Hong Kong. Market % of people watching online video every day – either PC, mobile or tablet Global 25 Europe 25 Australia 18 China 33 France 16 Germany 10 Hong Kong 32 India 20 Italy 33 Netherlands 12 New Zealand 17 Russia 44 Singapore 33 Spain 28 UAE 15 UK 17 USA 24   Market % of people watching TV every day Global 75 Europe 77 Australia 79 China 66 France 71 Germany 78 Hong Kong 75 India 78 Italy 82 Netherlands 76 New Zealand 69 Russia 73 Singapore 70 Spain 84 UAE 86 UK 80 USA 75 "It's no surprise that people in Singapore are leading the trend in screen stacking - strong legacy PC ownership and a real appetite for the latest gadget, coupled with strong island-wide data access has given us the ability to be online anytime, anywhere," said Mr Jon Foged, Managing Director of TNS Singapore. TNS advises clients on specific growth strategies around new market entry, innovation, brand switching and customer and employee relationships, based on long-established expertise and market-leading solutions. TNS is part of Kantar, the data investment management division of WPP and one of the world's largest insight, information and consultancy groups.  Read More →