SEOUL – North Korea threatened on Wednesday (Nov 13) to retaliate if the United States goes ahead with scheduled military drills with South Korea, ramping up pressure on Washington to change course as a year-end North Korean deadline for US flexibility approaches.
The statement came even though Washington said last week that the joint aerial exercise planned for next month would be reduced in scope from previous drills.
“It is self-defence rights” to retaliate against any move which threatens its sovereignty and security, according to a statement from the State Affairs Commission, without elaborating.
It is rare for the Commission, the supreme governing body chaired by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, to release a statement.
Last week, a senior North Korean diplomat also blamed the US joint aerial drill for “throwing cold water” over talks with Washington. Pyongyang opposes US-South Korean joint military exercises, viewing them as a rehearsal for invasion.
In its latest statement, Pyongyang said it had taken measures to calm Washington’s concerns but that the US had failed to reciprocate, leaving it with a “feeling of betrayal”.
PETALING JAYA – Fugitive Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, has been sighted in Ahmedabad, India, Asia Times reported.
The Hong Kong-based English language news media publishing group reported that law enforcement officials told them that local police had monitored Low’s movements while he was there on a three-day visit.
The report stated that Low was not arrested despite an Interpol Red Notice against him.
Interpol had issued a Red Notice on Low as he is wanted by the Singapore and Malaysia authorities over his involvement in the scandal-hit 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
It noted that Low had departed Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport aboard a Gulfstream G200 private jet on Nov 5.
It said that the airplane Low was on was headed to the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The plane’s Thailand-based charter airline MJets denied that Low was aboard the flight, stating that it was “untrue, unfounded and unsubstantiated”.
SINGAPORE: Singapore said on Thursday (Nov 14) it condemns the “act of terror” at the police headquarters in Medan, where at least four officers and two civilians were wounded after a suicide bomber blew himself up on Wednesday morning.
The blast happened around 8.45am at the police compound in Medan on Sumatra island during morning roll call.
No Singaporeans were reported to have been affected by the incident, said the Ministry of Home Affairs in a press statement on Thursday.
“We wish those who were injured a speedy and full recovery,” it added.
Screengrab from a Reuters video shows the photo of the suspected suicide bomber who blew himself up outside the police headquarters in Indonesia’s city of Medan in North Sumatra on Nov 13, 2019. (Image: Reuters)
At least six people were wounded in the blast, but their injuries were not severe, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said on Wednesday.
The explosion also damaged three police vehicles and one private vehicle.
The man wore an explosive device on his body, with authorities recovering nails, an on-off switch button, cables and body parts at the scene of the blast, Prasetyo said.
The motive for the attack was not immediately known, but police stations have been frequent targets for radicals in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation.
Looking for new consumer electronic products or good bargains on gadgets with the festive season around the corner?
The Tech Show 2019 might just be the thing for you – besides new launches, some products will be discounted by more than 50 per cent at the consumer electronics fair.
Visitors to The Tech Show, held at level four of Suntec Singapore from Thursday (Nov 14) to Sunday, can look forward to the latest product launches from the likes of local brand Prism+ as well as international brands such as Philips and Klipsch.
Prism+ will be launching its Eon series of smart TV sets at the show, with a 55-inch 4K TV said to be about half the price of its competitors. The TV sets will be available for sale only next month, but consumers can pre-order them at The Tech Show.
SINGAPORE – A French traveller was sentenced to jail for four days and fined $3,000 for making an offensive gesture at Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers on Sept 20, ICA said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Nov 13).
The traveller became agitated when he was directed for further checks at the Changi Airport Terminal 1 departure hall.
He was subsequently arrested, and sentenced on Oct 3.
No other details were given.
ICA said officers are protected by the law when carrying out their duties and should also be treated with dignity and politeness.
There is no tolerance for threatening, abusing or insulting public servants who are carrying out their duties and action will be taken against those who disregard the law, it warned.
SINGAPORE: While Singapore narrowly avoided a technical recession this quarter, two issues remain: Retrenchment numbers are up. Hiring activities are down.
Noting that hiring sentiments have become more restrained, the Monetary Authority of Singapore has highlighted that the resident unemployment rate had edged up to 3.1 per cent in the second quarter.
As political and economic uncertainties loom over global markets, observers will continue monitoring Singapore’s economic performance. Many businesses may see dwindling returns in this period of sluggish growth.
Cost management is the first thing that comes to mind when top lines do not look good. Unfortunately, payroll costs is the first line item CEOs might take a knife to.
Workers would be wise to rethink the year-end family holidays or plans to switch the eight-year-old car out for a newer one.
While tripartite efforts to retrain workers have helped manage retrenchment for years, instead of relying on your employer or your union to help you manage your career or maintain your employability, the onus is on you to take care of yourself.
Not only is training in our professional interests, but it also fulfils a human need for self-improvement. According to a 2019 LinkedIn report, more than two in five employees in Singapore have left a company because they felt that learning and development opportunities were lacking.
But can retraining save you from redundancy in this economic outlook? And what kind of training should you be focused on?
TIP #1: LOOK PAST THE EFFORT REQUIRED IN RETRAINING
Acquiring new knowledge and skills should be an ongoing effort, irrespective of job market conditions. Yet the reaction I usually get when the topic of re-skilling pops up is that it takes time and is impractical.
Minister for Education Ong Ye Kung speaking to participants at a lifelong learning event where he unveiled details of the SkillsFuture Credit system. (Photo: Leong Wai Kit)
Standing still will leave you behind in a world constantly moving forward. Re-training and re-skilling are necessary, given the real risks of being replaced.
It’s no silver bullet and you have to sieve through a myriad options, but MySkillsFuture offers courses for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents looking to improve their employability.
Discuss with your boss which programme to put yourself on before embarking on one. He or she might have other career development options available you might not have sight of. Ultimately, be prepared to invest in training on your own money.
Consider it an investment in your future – to gain credit on your career balance sheet.
TIP #2: DEVELOP AN AWARENESS OF WHAT’S IMPACTING YOUR INDUSTRY
Retraining is often thought of as an exercise to gain technical skillsets in the face of new technological tools. While this might be the case for most operational roles, most jobs today require agility and self-awareness.
My advice for workers looking at retraining is to find ways to develop a sensitivity to market trends that impact your industry. What does the future hold? What big shakes are affecting your line of work? How would changes in your industry affect what you are doing now?
File photo of office workers at Raffles Place (Photo: Jeremy Long)
Generally, there are three types of industries – “sunrise”, “sunset”, and “solid pillar”. The technology sector is an example of a sunrise industry; wholesale trade is seen as a sunset industry; while financial services is viewed as a solid pillar industry.
Can you adopt a sunrise industry mindset and figure out how you can transform your operations? What competencies will your company need over the next three to five years? What can you do to close the gap?
DBS’s understanding of how fintech would disrupt the banking sector and its decisive move to transform its operations to align with consumers’ evolving expectations have paid off.
Its full-year net profile in 2018 rose by 28 per cent to a record S$5.63 billion. It has also been named Global Bank of the Year by The Banker and the World’s Best Digital Bank by Euromoney.
When asked about DBS’s secret ingredient to success, CEO Piyush Gupta discussed his priority around developing a receptive culture that understands the imperatives for change. “One of our rallying crisis has been, how do you create a 22,000 start-up?”
It has also since identified staff who can be reskilled to serve new customers’ banking needs. A branch service executive’s role now includes helping customers learn how to use self-service options.
DBS has tuned operations towards fresh demand and new technology. How are you doing that for your company?
TIP #3: BUILD NETWORKS
Venturing into a job search can be challenging in this climate.
For those faced with retrenchment, competing with other jobseekers takes on an urgent complexion, when one has to put food on the table, service a home mortgage and other loans, not to mention securing the love and support of spouses and family members.
(Photo: Unsplash/rawpixel)
We have so far focused on gaining relevant skillsets but much about securing your role in a world of disruption and shorter career lifespans also involves networking and personal referrals, the most effective avenues of landing a new job.
What if you have just acquired new skills yet do not have much relevant experience to talk about – who will hire you?
As a mid-careerist, it’s worth investing in growing your networks with people who can connect you with a relevant role. Many employers believe in hiring for the right work experience, attitudes and values, and closing the skills and competencies gap after.
That network building must start today. It’s simple. Be a congenial colleague at work. Pay it forward.
Don’t restrict yourself narrowly to your job description, but lend a helping hand and show added value where possible. Deepen your relationships and stay in touch with former bosses, colleagues and partners.
So much advice on networking tends to focus on networking sessions with strangers in the profession, but I would urge workers to start in their own circles at the workplace.
A recent example comes to mind. A client of mine was able to secure three job offers during his job search after being let go.
One came about from his ex-subordinate. My client made an impression as a good boss during the period they were working in the same company and that trusted relationship reaped rewards for him.
CAREER PLANNING A LIFE LONG ENDEAVOUR
Career planning and management must be a career-long activity, regardless of the state of the economy.
File photo of a man making a call.
During uncertain times like these, the space you occupy is ideally one where your resume is camera-ready, you have a network you can count on, and your mindset remains positive to tackle fresh challenges with confidence.
Retraining is no silver bullet but bearing in mind these three tips can give you the confidence you need to navigate a challenging job market.
Paul Heng is founder and managing director of Next Career Consulting Group.
Where will you be heading for your next cheap city break? What about Singapore?
For those of us who frequently grouse over the cost of living in Singapore, the words “cheap” and “Singapore” don’t quite seem to go together.
But if you’re here for just a little while, Singapore may prove to be quite the value-for-money stopover, if a recent piece of research is to be believed.
According to data collated in August and released this week by travel insurance specialist Columbus Direct, Singapore has ranked 8th for being one of the “cheapest cities to spend 24 hours”.
A total of 55 popular destinations around the world were included in the research.
Unsurprisingly, of the top 10 cheapest cities to explore, eight are located in Asia. Delhi, India leads the way, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.
One man’s catty behaviour has caught the attention of the internet.
A cat lover in Sembawang Crescent was in the midst of feeding a stray cat on Sunday (Nov 10) around midnight when a man claiming to be a police officer came up to her and slapped her.
In an interview with Shin Min Daily News, the 43-year-old housewife recounted how she had been minding her own business when an Indian man in a white shirt and dark blue jeans alighted from a black Volkswagen and approached her.
The man claimed to be a police officer and told her that she wasn’t allowed to feed the cats, citing several resident complaints and alleged police reports.
However, he failed to produce a warrant card, rousing the suspicion of the cat feeder. When she threatened to report him to the police, he flew into a rage and smacked her across the face.
He slapped her so hard that her glasses flew off her face, she said. The shock left the woman frozen on the spot as he turned tail and fled towards his car, but not before grabbing her phone and throwing it aside.
NEW YORK – Multi-talented singer and actor John Legend was named People magazine’s “sexiest man alive” on Tuesday (Nov 12) but said he wondered whether he could live up to the title.
Legend, 40, is married to model Chrissy Teigen with whom he has two children and is the first black man to have achieved coveted Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony status for his work on stage and screen.
“I was excited but I was a little scared at the same time because it’s a lot of pressure,” the entertainer told People magazine.
“Everyone’s going to be picking me apart to see if I’m sexy enough to hold this title. I’m (also) following Idris Elba, which is not fair and is not nice to me.”
British actor Elba took the title last year.
Other actors and singers who have been given the title by the magazine’s editors in recent years include Blake Shelton, Chris Hemsworth, Adam Levine, George Clooney and Channing Tatum.
Legend, currently a coach on American television talent series The Voice, won the first of 10 Grammys for his 2004 debut album Get Lifted and its hit ballad Ordinary People.
