Latest news with #Putra
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Man charged after using KrisFlyer air miles from accounts he bought illegally
The man was handed four charges under the Computer Misuse Act. - Photo illustration: Lianhe Zaobao file SINGAPORE: A man was charged in court on Thursday (May 29) after he allegedly bought KrisFlyer accounts illegally and used the accumulated air miles to make purchases. Rizaldy Primanta Putra, 28, was handed four charges under the Computer Misuse Act. Two of the charges were for the unauthorised access to computer material, and the other two were for the unauthorised modification of such material. According to a police statement, after allegedly accessing the KrisFlyer accounts, Putra, an Indonesian, flew to Singapore in June 2024 and purportedly used the miles from these accounts to buy a Samsung phone and phone cover from a retail shop in Changi Airport, as well as some pastries from a store in Bugis. The items amounted to more than $1,600. After Singapore Airlines lodged a police report on Oct 11, 2024, police officers established Putra's identity, but he had already left the country in September 2024. Putra returned to Singapore on Jan 11, 2025, and was detained by Airport Police Division officers at Changi Airport. In court on May 29, Putra indicated his intention to claim trial to the charges. While he told the court that he has a lawyer, District Judge Wong Li Tein told him that there was no lawyer in court to represent him. The judge adjourned the case and gave permission for Putra to make two local phone calls to contact his lawyer and to make arrangements for bail. He will be released from remand if he is able to arrange for a Singaporean bailor to furnish the $15,000 bail offered by the court. Putra will return to court on June 5 for a further mention of his case. For each charge of illegally accessing computer material, he can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $5,000, or both. He can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to $10,000, or both, for each charge of illegally modifying computer material. In its statement, the police reminded the public to protect their online accounts by enabling multi-factor authentication or two-factor authentication. 'If you notice any suspicious or unauthorised transactions, please report the incident to your service provider or bank immediately,' the police added. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Man charged over using air miles from KrisFlyer accounts he bought online to make purchases
The man was handed four charges under the Computer Misuse Act. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE Man charged over using air miles from KrisFlyer accounts he bought online to make purchases SINGAPORE – An Indonesian man was charged in court on May 29, after he allegedly bought KrisFlyer accounts illegally and used the accumulated air miles to make purchases. Rizaldy Primanta Putra, 28, was handed four charges under the Computer Misuse Act. Two of the charges were for the unauthorised access to computer material, and the other two for the unauthorised modification of such material. According to a police statement, after allegedly accessing the KrisFlyer accounts, Putra flew to Singapore in June 2024 and purportedly used the miles from these accounts to buy a Samsung phone and phone cover from a retail shop in Changi Airport and some pastries from a store in Bugis. The items amounted to more than $1,600. After Singapore Airlines lodged a police report on Oct 11, 2024, police officers established Putra's identity, but he had already left the country in September 2024. Putra returned to Singapore on Jan 11, 2025 and was detained by Airport Police Division officers at Changi Airport. In court on May 29, Putra indicated his intention to claim trial to the charges. While he told the court that he has a lawyer, District Judge Wong Li Tein told him that there was no lawyer in court to represent him. The judge adjourned the case and gave permission for him to make two local phone calls to contact his lawyer and to make arrangements for bail. He will be released from remand if he is able to arrange for a Singaporean bailor to furnish the $15,000 bail offered by the court. Putra will return to court on June 5 for a further mention of his case. For each charge of illegally accessing computer material, he can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $5,000, or both. He can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to $10,000, or both, for each charge of illegally modifying computer material. In its statement, the police reminded the public to protect their online accounts by enabling multi-factor authentication or two-factor authentication. 'If you notice any suspicious or unauthorised transactions, please report the incident to your service provider or bank immediately,' the police added. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Indonesian energy deregulation vow draws global giants
JAKARTA: Global oil and gas giants appear to be taking a renewed interest in Indonesia's upstream oil and gas sector amid the government's push for energy security and promise of deregulation. Putra Adhiguna, managing director at the Energy Shift Institute, told The Jakarta Post on Friday (May 23) that some increase in upstream oil and gas investment had been observed in South-East Asia, driven partly by declining domestic gas production and the looming risk of higher liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports. In Indonesia, this trend is reflected in the anticipated return of major players like Shell, Chevron and TotalEnergies. South Korea's Daewoo Engineering & Construction (ENC) is also reportedly looking to invest around US$1 billion across various industries, including oil and gas. 'The region is responding to the pressure of falling output and rising demand, which could make reliance on imported LNG a costly and risky proposition,' said Putra. The country has been struggling to increase domestic production of ready-to-sell oil and gas, also known as lifting, despite its importance in achieving energy security and self-sufficiency, as envisioned by multiple administrations to cut costly energy imports. This was partly due to aging fields, limited new discoveries, regulatory uncertainties and infrastructure constraints that have hindered production growth in spite of ongoing efforts. During the International Petroleum Association Convention & Exhibition (IPA Convex) on Wednesday, President Prabowo Subianto personally asked his aides to simplify upstream regulations to boost oil and gas output, followed by a threat that he would remove officials who refused to do so. 'It remains to be seen how the President's call for regulatory simplification will translate into action in a sector where clarity and consistency are critical for long-term investment,' Putra said. For nearly a decade, authorities have been formulating clearer and more competitive tax incentives in the oil and gas sector, most notably since the gross split production sharing contract was introduced in 2017. The gross split scheme initially drew criticism for its complexity and unclear tax terms, which dampened investor interest, so the government began revising the framework. In September 2023, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry announced it was finalising an updated tax regulation to boost competitiveness and attract upstream investment, but no revision has been introduced since. Amid renewed urgency, upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas stated on May 20 that the tax revision would be completed 'soon', with SKK Migas head Djoko Siswanto saying that United States oil major Chevron was interested in exploring and developing sizable oil and gas reserves in Indonesia. According to Djoko, Chevron was seeking to develop blocks with potential reserves of 15 trillion cubic feet (425 billion cubic metres) of gas. He added that the company was in the early exploration stage of evaluating several identified assets, and that the government planned offer blocks in Bali or other eastern regions. He also said around 25 other oil and gas companies had shown interest in investing in the upstream oil and gas sector, some of which had completed joint studies and were preparing to move forward to the next stage. Chevron's Asia-Pacific exploration arm said it engaged regularly with SKK Migas, but according to spokesperson Cameron Van Ast, it was unable to disclose any related details in line with its long-standing policy, Reuters reported on May 20. IPA president Carole Gall said given Indonesia's potential, she was 'not surprised' to see an uptrend in oil and gas investments. 'The collaboration between the government and industry over the past few years has been excellent, and that helps,' she told a press briefing on May 14 during IPA Convex in Jakarta, about global energy companies' reportedly renewed interest in the country. Gall added that the major challenge for 2025 was strategy on maximising oil and gas output to strengthen the energy resilience. 'Given that upstream investments are long-term by nature, increasing output isn't something that can happen overnight. The focus, therefore, isn't just on boosting near-term production, but on ensuring the country reaches the right production levels in the years ahead,' she said. Prateek Pandey, head of APAC oil and gas research at Rystad Energy, said on Saturday that the recent re-engagement of key oil and gas companies signaled a promising future in the sector. While near-term investments are expected to be modest, as they will still be in the exploration phase, the long-term potential will be significant. This year could see South-East Asia welcome the highest number of final investment decisions on gas projects in a decade for a potential increase in output of 18 per cent, according to a report published on April 29 by US-based nonprofit Global Energy Monitor (GEM). According to the report, 2025 could see as many as 13 new gas projects financed in the region: five projects in Indonesia, two in Malaysia, four in Vietnam, one in Brunei and one in Myanmar. Annual production capacity could expand by more than 20 billion cbm if all projects were approved, GEM said, signaling a strategic regional pivot toward accelerating gas development. It noted, however, 'These FIDs have faced a history of delays, so the likelihood of these projects moving forward remains unclear.' - The Jakarta Post/ANN
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Korea Herald
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
[Exclusive Interview] TikTok becomes K-pop's launchpad: BTS, Blackpink lead the way
The platform's 'Stecu' challenge shows how Southeast Asian trends are shaping K-pop content strategies SINGAPORE — TikTok, the short-form video platform owned by ByteDance, is expanding its influence in the music industry — evolving from a space for streaming songs to an active driver of discovery and promotion. In K-pop especially, the platform partners with idols and creators to fuel fan-driven engagement and cross-cultural momentum that goes beyond traditional chart metrics. The Korea Herald recently spoke with Christo Putra, Southeast Asia music and artist partnership lead at TikTok APAC, about how the platform is deploying its strategy in the region and the results so far. 'Top-tier artists like BTS' Jin and J-Hope have (recently) used TikTok to prerelease music and engage global fans,' said Putra during a video interview in Singapore on May 12. 'Prerelease strategies on TikTok aim to generate early buzz through fan-created content, increase anticipation and drive prestream momentum.' J-Hope first unveiled his digital single 'Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)' during his solo world tour 'Hope on the Stage' in Seoul on Feb. 28. While fans eagerly awaited the official release on March 7, the track was already available exclusively on TikTok for seven days starting from the date of the Seoul concert. As of May 10, TikTok videos using 'Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)' had surpassed 144,000. With a portion of the track released on TikTok at 11 p.m. on Feb. 28, users uploaded an average of about 14,000 videos per day using the track's audio. Blackpink's Rose also partnered with TikTok for a multimedia campaign titled '#rosie' to mark the release of her first solo album "rosie" in December. Through the platform, fans gained access to exclusive content and interactive experiences tailored to deepen engagement. This success is attributed to TikTok's suite of music-focused features, including exclusive microsites, profile frames, music-based challenges and in-app rewards — all designed to help artists creatively engage fans before official releases. But TikTok's strategy in music goes beyond collaborations with renowned K-pop stars. According to Putra, TikTok's real strength lies in organic music discovery driven by user creativity rather than chart rankings. Some K-pop tracks, especially in Southeast Asia, which is home to one of the genre's most passionate and loyal fanbases, have gone viral or enjoyed renewed popularity thanks to the platform. Notable examples include Treasure's 'Darari,' Enhypen's 'Polaroid Love,' Dynamic Duo's 'AEAO' and Illit's 'Magnetic.' In 2022, 'Darari' — originally a B-side — surpassed 2 million global TikTok uses, with its momentum further boosted after Treasure met the viral dance creator during their tour in Indonesia. In 2023, Dynamic Duo's 'AEAO' experienced a resurgence that began in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Enhypen's 'Polaroid Love' went viral again through a TikTok Valentine's campaign. Illit's 'Magnetic,' prereleased on TikTok in 2024, saw early buzz fueled by widely shared video templates in Southeast Asia. 'Such examples illustrate how even previously overlooked tracks can find new life on TikTok and go viral through dance trends, memes or fan edits,' Putra said. 'This kind of resurgence not only boosts streaming, but also generates global interest in artists beyond their domestic markets.' As TikTok evolves into a hub for music discovery and promotion, its core focus remains the identification, cultivation and amplification of music trends. A recent success was 'Stecu,' a song that debuted in Indonesia in March. With its upbeat rhythm and easy-to-follow dance, 'Stecu' began gaining momentum in search results in April. TikTok pitched it to over 30 popular creators as well as K-pop idols such as Ive, NCT Wish, Boynextdoor and TWS. Within a week, they uploaded over 20 videos, fueling the 'Stecu' challenge to generate 1.5 to 2 million search views per day. 'TikTok is encouraging cross-cultural exchanges, as seen in the 'Stecu' challenge, a campaign with Indonesian artists that went viral and drew participation from Korean idols at fan demand,' said Putra. 'The company launches localized creator activations and fan engagement events across markets to build a stronger artist-fan ecosystem.' Putra added, 'Southeast Asia's deep embrace of K-pop stems from strong cultural resonance. The region has rich traditions in music and dance, and K-pop naturally blends into everyday life — whether in food courts, malls or fashion trends. The high degree of social media connectivity only accelerates this integration.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TradeStation exec reveals surprising truth about $10 trillion crypto market cap
During a conversation with TheStreet Roundtable Scott Melker, James Putra, SVP of Strategy at TradeStation, broke down how traditional hedging strategies are finally becoming viable in the crypto markets. 'In the past, you really couldn't execute any traditional hedging strategies in crypto,' Melker noted, pointing to the historical lack of tools like options. Putra didn't hesitate. '100%,' he replied. 'We're seeing a lot of interested people doing the basis trade… ETF products being used as margin to leverage up into other areas.' Founded in 1982, TradeStation is a U.S.-based online brokerage platform that offers trading services for stocks, options, futures, and cryptocurrencies. Originally known for its advanced tools tailored to professional traders and institutional clients, TradeStation has expanded its offerings over the years to cater to retail investors as well. Its crypto arm, TradeStation Crypto, provides users with access to a range of digital assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others, integrating traditional market tools with digital asset trading. Strategies like covered calls and cash-and-carry trades—once the domain of over-the-counter (OTC) desks—are now becoming mainstream. 'It used to be all OTC, kind of a scary market, but fun at the same time,' Putra recalled. 'Now you can do it in a proper trading platform. Most major brokers have this.' That evolution is drawing in more than just hedge funds. Family offices and retail investors are beginning to adopt both directional and non-directional strategies, previously out of reach in crypto. 'We're seeing individuals, family offices really start mixing it up… across asset classes.' Still, the shift is far from complete. Only a handful of digital assets have robust futures and options markets. 'You can only do it on a few assets,' Putra pointed out. 'Even those complex futures and options aren't available for most of the market.' While products tied to Solana and XRP are emerging, most institutional players are still focused squarely on one thing. 'Pretty much all the volume and interest is still in Bitcoin.' And while capital is clearly flowing into the ecosystem, Putra offered a final warning: it may not be showing up where it counts. 'We might get that $10 trillion market cap we want,' he said, 'but it's combined in derivatives… not necessarily going into spot (trading). Sign in to access your portfolio
