CONMEBOL launches system to detect online abuse of players and clubs
FILE PHOTO: Football Soccer - 2017 Copa Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana draw - CONMEBOL headquarters, Luque, Paraguay - juen14, 2017 New Logo of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL). REUTERS/Jorge Adorno/File Photo
South American soccer governing body CONMEBOL on Tuesday announced a system to detect racism, hate speech and abuse on social media directed at players, referees, clubs and others with the aim of taking action against the perpetrators.
The system will be used starting with the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana continental club competitions, both of which begin later on Tuesday.
CONMEBOL said the system, implemented in partnership with Signify Group, allows "threats to be identified in real time, abusive behaviour to be deterred and concrete action to be taken against those responsible."
Actions against perpetrators may include account suspension, stadium access restrictions and reports to relevant authorities, CONMEBOL added. REUTERS
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Straits Times
32 minutes ago
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SG60: The development of Singapore's corporate and securities law over the last 6 decades
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox It has evolved from a colonial-era system into a globally respected, business-friendly and sophisticated legal regime The Monetary Authority of Singapore Act was passed in 1970, leading to the birth of the eponymous financial services regulator in 1971. SINGAPORE'S corporate law framework has undergone remarkable transformation over the past 60 years, evolving from a colonial-era system into a globally respected, business-friendly and sophisticated legal regime. This evolution directly mirrors Singapore's journey from a developing nation to a premier global financial hub. Here is a breakdown of the key developments. Foundational period (1960s–1980s): Establishing sovereignty and basic frameworks Prior to 1967, the Companies Ordinance 1940, which was modelled after the English Companies Act 1929, was the only corporate Act in force. 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In 2004, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) was formed by merging the Registry of Companies and Businesses and the Public Accountants Board, creating a one-stop regulator for company registration and accounting standards. Greater administrative efficiency came with Acra's launch of the BizFile+ portal, which streamlined filing requirements and processes for businesses. Acra was formed in 2004 through the merger of the Registry of Companies and Businesses and the Public Accountants Board, creating a one-stop regulator for company registration and accounting standards. PHOTO: ACRA The first Code of Corporate Governance that was formalised in 2001 and made applicable to all listed companies came into effect in 2003. The code was significantly revised in 2005 to strengthen the disclosure framework for directors. The statutory and regulatory focus was in response to the Asian financial crisis. 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Corporate governance was strengthened through more stringent disclosure requirements for nominee directors, refined director duties and shareholder remedies. In 2020, the Variable Capital Companies Act 2018 took effect, creating a novel, flexible corporate structure specifically designed for investment funds. This boosted Singapore's status as an asset management hub. Sweeping revisions were made to the Corporate Governance Code in 2012 and 2018, emphasising board independence, diversity (including gender diversity), business sustainability, internal risk governance and remuneration-linked risk management, as well as stakeholder engagement beyond pure shareholder primacy. The Covid-19 years also saw the modernisation of company communications through the embrace of virtual meeting technologies. Singapore also made significant progress in environmental, social and governance areas. In 2021, Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) mandated sustainability reporting for listed companies in line with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. This enhanced the transparency of climate-related disclosures by listed companies in Singapore. In 2022, MAS and SGX jointly launched ESGenome, a disclosure portal for listed companies to voluntarily make climate-related financial disclosures. In 2024, MAS' investigative and enforcement powers against corporate miscreants were expanded. Acra's scope of such powers were also widened with the Corporate Service Providers Act 2024 and its regulations. Greater enforcement powers accorded to SGX RegCo were introduced from August 2021, including its ability to issue public reprimand and compel listed companies to comply with its directives. The BizFile+ portal was further revamped in 2024 to ensure seamless online corporate filings and transactions, streamlining digitalisation. 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Global best practices have also served as a reference point for Singapore when international regulatory standards are adopted. The regulatory authorities have demonstrated continual stakeholder engagement by seeking extensive public and industry consultations prior to introducing and formalising reforms to the corporate regulatory regime in Singapore. Through the various reforms, Singapore has also shown its willingness to adapt to various crises such as the Asian financial crisis by forming review committees such as the CLRFC. The developments in Singapore's corporate law landscape have been complemented by a robust dispute resolution system, offering multiple forms of internationally recognised dispute resolution processes. Over the last six decades, Singapore's corporate law has shifted from a basic compliance framework to a dynamic, sophisticated, and principles-based system. 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Straits Times
32 minutes ago
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Straits Times
2 hours ago
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Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A man holds up placards as he yells toward a patrol car during a protest against gang-related violence and to demand the resignation of Haiti's transitional presidential council, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, May 15, 2025. REUTERS/Jean Feguens Regala/File Photo The United Nations' Haiti appeal for 2025 has received the lowest funding of any response plan worldwide, the organization's humanitarian coordinator for the Caribbean nation said on Tuesday, as armed gangs continue to paralyze transport routes and fuel hunger. This year's humanitarian response plan aims to raise over $900 million, mainly from U.N. member countries, but is just 9.2% funded, the coordinator, Ulrika Richardson, said in a briefing marked "the lowest level of funding for any response plan in the world." Ukraine's $2.63-billion appeal for this year is by comparison 38% funded, according to U.N. financial tracking data, while a $4-billion flash appeal for the Palestinian territories received $890 million, or 22% of its target. "We have tools, but the response from the international community is just not at par with the gravity on the ground," Richardson said. More than 3,100 people have been killed this year in a conflict with heavily armed gangs that has pushed more than half the population into food insecurity and around 1.3 million from their homes. More than 8,000 people living in makeshift camps face famine-level hunger. A partially-deployed U.N.-backed force led by Kenya and based on voluntary contributions, deployed a year ago but has had little effect in helping a cash-strapped police force reclaim territories. Meanwhile, many aid organizations have had to cut back services due to the difficulty of bringing in supplies and ensuring the safety of the people they work with. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Luxury items seized in $3b money laundering case handed over to Deloitte for liquidation Singapore MyRepublic customers air concerns over broadband speed after sale to StarHub Singapore Power switchboard failure led to disruption in NEL, Sengkang-Punggol LRT services: SBS Transit Singapore NEL and Sengkang-Punggol LRT resume service after hours-long power fault Business Ninja Van cuts 12% of Singapore workforce after 2 rounds of layoffs in 2024 Singapore Hyflux investigator 'took advantage' of Olivia Lum's inability to recall events: Davinder Singh Singapore Man who stabbed son-in-law to death in Boon Tat Street in 2017 dies of heart attack, says daughter Singapore Man who stalked woman blasted by judge on appeal for asking scandalous questions in court Richardson said strangling the trafficking of arms - which the U.N. estimates are largely shipped from Florida - into Haiti was key to stopping the violence, as well as sanctions against those involved in financial support of the gangs. "Haiti can quickly spiral up again, but the violence needs to end," she said. REUTERS
