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Man, 28, on trial for murder of four-year-old stepdaughter

SINGAPORE - A 28-year-old man went on trial on Tuesday (Feb 2) for killing his four-year-old stepdaughter, allegedly after he became angry at her for urinating outside the toilet bowl. Muhammad Salihin Ismail is accused of causing fatal injury to the girl, Nursabrina Agustiani Abdullah, sometime between 9am on Sept 1, 2018 and 9.40am on Sept 2, 2018 at a flat in Bukit Batok. He faces the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted of murder. Salihin also faces two other charges for acts of violence against the girl. All the alleged offences took place between July 2017 and September 2018. The High Court heard that the girl came into his care after he was released from the Singapore Armed Forces detention barracks in February 2017. "Within a year and a half she was dead," said Deputy Public Prosecutor Senthilkumaran Sabapathy. The court was told that Salihin's wife is in prison and will be testifying as a prosecution witness. The two other charges have been stood down for now, after defence lawyers objected to Salihin being tried on the non-capital charges together with the capital murder charge. Salihin is accused of causing hurt to the girl between July and October 2017 at his parent's flat by scalding her, allegedly after he became angry at her for not wanting to shower with cold water. He was trying to save on electricity costs. He allegedly placed a shower head, with hot water flowing out of it, on her back for about five to six seconds. Salihin is also accused of ill-treating the girl by slamming her head against the floor, allegedly because he was upset that she had hid under the bed when he was trying to feed her. More on this topic   Related Story 27 years' jail for parents of 5-year-old boy who was scalded with hot water, confined in cage before his death   Related Story Man and woman charged with killing woman's 4-year-old daughter and burning her body In arguing against a joint trial, defence lawyer Syazana Yahya contended that it cannot be said from the three alleged incidents that there was an escalating pattern of violence. She argued that her client would be prejudiced by having to defend himself against the non-capital charges as well as the murder charge. The trial continues on Wednesday. More on this topic   Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories

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Tired Gunners lucky to extend unbeaten run

LONDON • Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal were suffering from fatigue, after their recent revival ground to a halt in a scrappy 0-0 Premier League draw against Crystal Palace on Thursday. The Gunners had won their previous four matches in all competitions, but they were fortunate to extend their unbeaten run to five games. Palace were unable to convert several first-half chances at the Emirates Stadium and, although Arsenal improved after the interval, they missed a chance to climb into the top half of the league. "I wanted to see a win and a few goals but we were fatigued. I cannot fault the spirit but it wasn't enough," Arteta said. "We created a lot of situations against the low block but there was a period when we gave the ball away too much. "We are playing a lot of games and you can see fatigue. Many players aren't fresh. We lacked the quality in the final third to win the game." Arsenal sit in 11th place, eight points adrift of the Champions League places, as they continue to pay the price for their worst start to a season since 1974-75. Just before Christmas, they were on a seven-match winless run, including five defeats, and only four points above the relegation zone. Their current position 12 points away from the bottom three therefore affords Arteta some much-needed breathing space. But this disjointed display underlined the attacking flaws that have stopped Arsenal building on last season's FA Cup triumph. Emile Smith-Rowe, Arsenal's promising young midfielder, started after scoring against Newcastle as a substitute last weekend. But Kiernan Tierney was absent with muscle tightness and the Gunners missed the Scotland left-back's busy presence. EXHAUSTED I wanted to see a win and a few goals but we were fatigued. I cannot fault the spirit but it wasn't enough. MIKEL ARTETA,  Arsenal manager, on his team's performance against Crystal Palace. "Tierney is a real threat and the way we attack on the left is really important but he is injured and we have to find a solution. He will have an MRI scan tomorrow," Arteta said. With the locked-down capital reeling under the Covid-19 surge, this was perhaps a good night for fans to have no other option but to watch the game on television. Incessant drizzle all day created the perfect, zippy playing surface, but rather than inspire a feast of attacking play, it was a cagey affair as Palace stretched their unbeaten league run against Arsenal to five. The main positives for Arsenal were a first home clean sheet in the league this season - also their third straight league clean sheet - and the return of Thomas Partey as a second-half substitute after recovering from injury. Palace have won only one of their past eight matches in all competitions and are one point behind Arsenal in 13th. But their manager Roy Hodgson was happy with a point. "I am more than satisfied. We created opportunities and in the second half we wasted positions on the break. We defended excellently and I am very proud of them," he said. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS

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Former club president loses defamation suit against ex-employee who complained he victimised her

SINGAPORE - The former president of Serangoon Gardens Country Club, who sued a former employee and her supervisor for defamation after she filed a work complaint against him, has lost his case in the High Court. Mr Terrence Fernandez alleged that Ms Genevieve Lim Shao Ying, who was the club's membership relations manager, had conspired with Mr Goh Juak Kin, who was the general manager, to injure him. In a written judgment on Wednesday (Dec 30), High Court judge Valerie Thean rejected Mr Fernandez's assertion that the complaint was defamatory. Justice Thean said a workplace complaint "necessarily entails levying allegations". "The ordinary reasonable person would have understood the complaint to be part of a larger disciplinary framework. The truth of Ms Lim's allegations would, in other words, be unsettled until due process has been accorded to it," said the judge. The judge found that Ms Lim filed the complaint not out of malice, but to protect herself against what she perceived as workplace harassment and victimisation. Justice Thean added that Ms Lim's statements were justified because Mr Fernandez's acts of micromanagement led her to feel victimised. The case arose out of a formal complaint against Mr Fernandez made by Ms Lim in 2018. At the time, he was chairman of the club's membership relations department sub-committee. Ms Lim, who headed the department, did not have a good working relationship with him. Within three weeks of starting work in January 2017, she told human resource manager Linda Loke that she felt "tremendous work pressure" and sought confirmation that she reported to Mr Goh rather than Mr Fernandez. Ms Lim went on to discuss her grievances with Ms Loke seven times over three months. In April 2017, Ms Lim wrote to Mr Goh, criticising Mr Fernandez's "damaging and disruptive behaviour". She alleged that working with him had been "painful" and on several occasions, "belittling". Despite a mediation session arranged by then club president Randy Sng, their relationship remained strained. Things came to a head on Dec 8, 2017, when Ms Lim told a non-member named Alfred Wong that he should not be on club premises. Later that day, Mr Wong wrote to Mr Goh about his "unpleasant encounter". Mr Fernandez learnt of the incident from Mr Wong and raised concerns about the matter in e-mail correspondence with Mr Goh, which was copied to Ms Lim and Mr Sng. The matter with Mr Wong was resolved amicably on Dec 26, 2017. But Mr Fernandez continued to pursue the matter and even proposed a meeting involving the club's trustees or patrons. Ms Lim filed a complaint on Jan 4, 2018 and Mr Goh forwarded it, together with his own views, to Mr Sng. Mr Sng tried to set up a meeting but Mr Fernandez did not attend, despite multiple attempts to accommodate his schedule. On Jan 30, 2018, Mr Fernandez was removed as chairman of the sub-committee. A disciplinary inquiry was started against him but before it could conclude, he was elected club president on June 24, 2018. Mr Goh and Ms Loke resigned that day, while Ms Lim resigned the following month. The disciplinary charges against Mr Fernandez were dismissed in September 2018. He sued Ms Lim and Mr Goh in February last year, claiming they were in a conspiracy to sabotage his bid for club presidency, among other things. Mr Fernandez is no longer club president, as a new general committee was voted into office in September this year.

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Lee leans on stags’ fighting spirit

Gavin Lee has been here before. Six years ago, he was assistant to then-coach Alex Weaver and watched as their Warriors FC side captured an unlikely S-League title despite starting the final round in second spot behind Brunei DPMM. Today, Lee, now the head coach, will be aiming to repeat history as his Tampines Rovers seek to overhaul Singapore Premier League (SPL) leaders Albirex Niigata in the last game of the season. The Stags trail Albirex by a point and need to not only beat Geylang International but also hope the Japanese club drop points against Hougang United. In 2014, the only way Lee and the Warriors, who were playing Albirex, could lift the S-League trophy was if they bettered DPMM's result against Tampines. Both contenders were level on 50 points but the Brunei side had a vastly superior goal difference. Yet they lost 2-1 to Tampines while the Warriors prevailed 1-0 to complete a stunning turnaround. Recalling what it was like going into the game, Lee said: "With Alex, the approach to the game was similar for every game - we went in with the full intention to win it and we focused on that and what we could control." That October night in 2014 still holds important lessons for Lee. He said: "We definitely remember it, even before the current situation. "We've got a bunch of players who aren't going to give up until the final whistle and after games like that against the Young Lions (Tampines conceded first but won 3-1) in November, it'll be the same this coming Saturday. "As long as there's hope, you can expect the best from us." OPTIMISM We've got a bunch of players who aren't going to give up until the final whistle... GAVIN LEE,  Tampines coach, on today's match against Geylang. The Stags will also be aided by support from the stands. There will be 200 fans inside Our Tampines Hub, the first time spectators are allowed into stadiums since March 14, when games were held behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 crisis.​ 5 questions with Lee Q Which team or personality has been an inspiration? A On a personal level, (former Warriors FC coach) Alex Weaver has been an inspiration as well as mentor for me. I've been fortunate to have (Tampines chairman) Desmond Ong and (JSSL managing director) Harvey Davis' support through this journey too. From a global perspective, Julian Nagelsmann, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel are coaches I admire. Q: If you could coach any footballer, who would it be? A: Working with a Xavi-, Iniesta-or Busquets-type player would be quite an experience. Q: What's the weirdest fan request you have received? A: Don't have one yet. Q: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? A: Any place where the passion for football is huge. Q: Favourite meal? A: Mee soto would be good enough. But Tampines defender Daniel Bennett, who was part of the Warriors' title-winning squad in 2014, is not drawing parallels between the two seasons. He said: "I wouldn't really compare it. The way we played that time, we were probably not the top team and not expected to win. "This time, I think we should've won it. It's a little bit disappointing, but going into this last game, we are all very relaxed because there's no pressure on us."​ WHERE TO WATCH Tampines v Geylang Singtel TV Ch112/StarHub Ch202 Hougang v Albirex Ch111 Lion City v Balestier Ch113 Tanjong Pagar v Young Lions (not available on cable) All matches at 5.20pm. Also available on SPL's Facebook and YouTube pages. PERMUTATION With a one-point lead, Albirex will seal their fourth title in five seasons if they win at Hougang, or match Tampines' result against Geylang. The Stags, seeking their first championship since 2013, cannot afford to lose and must hope the Japanese outfit drop points. Goal difference could also come into play. If Albirex lose by two goals to Hougang and Tampines get a draw, the latter will be crowned champions.  Tampines' last league crown was in 2013 and Lee's work there has established the 30-year-old as one of the country's brightest coaching prospects. He joined Tampines in 2018 as assistant to Jurgen Raab and succeeded the German last year. In his first season as head coach, Lee won the Singapore Cup and guided Tampines to second in the SPL and their AFC Cup group, narrowly missing out on qualifying for the group stages. His coaching career began as a teenager when he helped his father Lawrence, also a football coach, during a football camp. He then joined private football academy JSSL Singapore at 18, before becoming its general manager in 2016. He paid tribute to his various mentors like Weaver, Tampines chairman Desmond Ong, JSSL Singapore founder Harvey Davis and veteran coach Kadir Yahaya, and said the most important lesson he has learnt as a coach has been to let players enjoy their football. Bennett, 42, can attest to that. He said: "I know when Gavin started, a lot of people questioned whether he was old enough and a lot of people question whether I'm young enough, but in the end, age doesn't really matter. "I think everyone can see that when we play well, we are one of the most attractive teams to watch in the league and that's down to Gavin and his hard work. He eats, sleeps, breathes football. "He's one of the best managers I've worked under."

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Tennis: Rafael Nadal beats Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach last four at ATP Finals

LONDON (AFP) - Rafael Nadal kept alive his hopes of a first ATP Finals title on Thursday (Nov 19), beating defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in London to qualify for the last four. The Spaniard, whose haul of 86 singles titles includes just one on indoor hard courts, is chasing the biggest prize missing from his resume at the eight-man elite event. The 34-year-old has qualified for the ATP Finals for a record 16 consecutive years but has been forced to withdraw on six occasions. The second seed won his opening round-robin match against Andrey Rublev but defeat against Dominic Thiem meant he faced a shootout against 2019 champion Tsitsipas to reach the semi-finals. Both players were rock solid on serve until Nadal earned the first two break points of the set in the seventh game, which he failed to convert. Tsitsipas was again under pressure in his next service game and this time he cracked, double-faulting on break point. Nadal pressed home his advantage, serving consecutive aces to take the set 6-4 against his 22-year-old opponent. The Spaniard, twice a finalist at the tournament, had another chance to break in the first game of the second set but the Greek sixth seed dug himself out of danger with a searing backhand. Tsitsipas did well to cling on against his illustrious opponent who was serving with metronomic efficiency and dominating the longer rallies. But out of nowhere the Greek earned two set points on Nadal's serve and levelled when the Spaniard double-faulted on the second of those. The match took a bizarre twist at the start of the decider, with neither player able to hold serve until Nadal finally held to lead 3-1. An over-hit forehand handed Nadal another break and he served out to take the match The Spaniard last month joined the absent Roger Federer on 20 Grand Slams but his record at the end-of-season tournament pales in comparison with the Swiss and Novak Djokovic. Earlier on Thursday, Thiem, who had already qualified for the semi-finals, slumped to a 6-2, 7-5 defeat against debutant Rublev in a dead rubber. The Russian seventh seed raced into a 4-0 lead in the first set and defied a fightback from the US Open champion in the second set to seal the match, breaking the Austrian four times in total. "With the fact that I was already qualified in the back of my mind, it was maybe difficult today to keep that intensity alive," said Thiem, who had already clinched top spot in Group London 2020. The third seed will face the winner of Friday's match between Alexander Zverev and top seed Djokovic in the semi-finals. Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev has already sealed top spot in Group Tokyo 1970 and will play Nadal. The O2 Arena is hosting the event for the 12th and final season before the championships move to Turin.

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Nizam aims to soar with Eagles

With just three touches of the ball, Geylang International striker Khairul Nizam showed the talent that had him earmarked as a potential star but whose flashes of brilliance have only been fleeting. When Shah Shahiran's stray pass found its way to Nizam, there seemed little danger for Tampines Rovers and their defence. But the Eagles forward, spotting goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari off his line, struck a stunning 35-metre equaliser for a valuable point against the Singapore Premier League (SPL) leaders last week. Nizam then pointed to the skies in celebration. He later explained it was a tribute to his Singapore Under-18 coach Salim Moin, who died the night before on Nov 6. He said: "Coach Salim used to tell us, 'Why dribble when you can shoot? Don't dribble so much and waste your energy.' (Geylang assistant coach V. Kanan) told me coach Salim used to score this type of long-range goals as a player, and I want to dedicate my goal to him... We were all very sad to learn of his passing, and miss him dearly." It has been more than a decade since he burst onto the scene as a precocious No. 9, whom former national coach Radojko Avramovic had tipped to eventually lead the line for the national team. But ill discipline and bad luck with injuries meant he has yet to fulfil those expectations. He has 24 caps for Singapore but has yet to score an international goal. Last year, he managed four goals in the Singapore Cup for Warriors FC but failed to score in 10 SPL games. The 29-year-old has struck four times this season for Geylang to become the leading local scorer, a worrying prospect for tomorrow's opponents Albirex Niigata. Nizam insists he is a changed man after getting married in 2017 and is now determined to make the most of the remainder of his career. Those goals include playing overseas, adding to his 2015 Malaysian FA Cup medal and ending that drought with the Lions. He said: "I was playful and happy-go-lucky back then, and there was a lot of pressure and expectation on me, which I didn't know how to cope with. "But now that I have a family depending on me, I am more focused. My mind is clearer, and I'm no longer the kid I was. I want to be remembered for the right reasons and not as a wasted talent. 4 Goals by Khairul Nizam, the SPL's leading local scorer. "I'm thankful Geylang signed me after Warriors had to sit out. Like the national team, Geylang have a Japanese style of play with high press and quick counters. We have to be fit to play this style, and I'm looking forward to repaying the club's faith in me." The Eagles are sixth in the eight-team table with 10 points, one behind Lion City Sailors in fifth, four behind Albirex (second), and seven adrift of Tampines. The top senior local team will qualify for the AFC Champions League group stage, while the next two will play in the AFC Cup. Eagles coach Noor Ali is relying on Nizam, who has scored in his last three league games, to trouble Albirex at Our Tampines Hub. RESULTS Hougang 4 Young Lions 1 Balestier 2 Tampines 2 TODAY Geylang v Albirex Ch111/Ch202, Our Tampines Hub, 7.35pm Sailors v Tanjong Pagar Ch112/Ch201, Bishan Stadium, 7.35pm All on Singtel TV/StarHub and SPL's Facebook page Noor Ali, 45, said: "For the longest time, Singapore have not had a No. 9 like Nizam, who can hold up play and make good runs behind the defence. After Fandi Ahmad, I think he is the best header of the ball in recent times." The former Singapore international also has a good record against the Japanese outfit after taking charge of Geylang last year. He won two of their three league games last year, losing the other. The Eagles were without a win in 18 league games against Albirex from 2012 to 2018. Noor Ali said: "Albirex will be tough because they are technically sound and energetic. Give them time and space, they will kill you. "We have proven if we are disciplined, compact, and not afraid to play our football, we can match any team, so hopefully we will be able to do that against Albirex."

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Muller’s form boosts Germany recall chances

MUNICH • Thomas Muller can further fuel appeals for him to be recalled by Germany when Bayern Munich launch their Champions League title defence at home to Atletico Madrid today. Having managed a record 21 assists in the Bundesliga last season, he has continued his sparkling form this campaign by scoring five goals and creating four more in all competitions, including two goals in a 4-1 league win at Arminia Bielefeld last Saturday. His latest eye-catching club performance has prompted fresh hopes of a Germany recall for the 31-year-old, who was dropped by Joachim Low from the national set-up last year alongside Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels. Now Bastian Schweinsteiger has joined fellow former Bayern and Germany players Didi Hamann and Lothar Matthaus in calling for the forward to be reinstated. "If I was national coach, Muller as well as Boateng would be in the national side," he told German magazine Kicker. The 36-year-old Schweinsteiger won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil alongside Muller, who knows he still has plenty to offer Germany after 100 internationals and 38 goals. "Everyone can see that I am in good form. Let's just see what happens," Muller told broadcaster ZDF. Bayern will need his creativity against an Atletico side who have conceded just one goal in four La Liga games so far this season. The Bavarians have a perfect record at home against Diego Simeone's side, having twice beaten them in Munich in 2016. Yet Atletico knocked Bayern out in the semi-finals in 2015-16 and the German side remain wary of their Spanish opponents. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer warned that Atletico are a "strong team" who were "uncomfortable" to play against. 7 Thomas Muller has already been involved in seven goals (scoring three plus four assists) in four Bundesliga appearances this season. On Saturday, coach Hansi Flick criticised his team for a poor second-half performance, after individual errors led to a goal for Bielefeld and a red card for Bayern's Corentin Tolisso. They can ill-afford a repeat against Atletico. Joshua Kimmich should bring more stability to Bayern's midfield, with the Germany midfielder expected to return after he missed Saturday's game to be with his wife, who is expecting the couple's second child. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE BAYERN V ATLETICO Singtel TV Ch112 & StarHub Ch216, tomorrow, 2.55am

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Football: Match not about Cavani

PARIS • The Qatari takeover of Paris Saint-Germain had occurred two years earlier, but it was the 2013 capture of Edinson Cavani from Napoli for a then French record €64 million (S$102.3 million) that signalled the team's intention to compete for the Champions League. The Uruguay striker, in his seven years with PSG, proved to be an unqualified success, winning multiple Ligue 1 titles and domestic cups, and becoming their record goalscorer with 200 strikes in all competitions. Although Cavani could not help the team lift their maiden Champions League - he was released in June before PSG reached their first final where they fell to Bayern Munich - he remains a revered figure at the Parc des Princes. Earlier this month, Manchester United took a gamble by landing the 33-year-old free agent on transfer deadline day in the hope that the veteran can have the same galvanising impact as previous experienced signings like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik Larsson and Laurent Blanc. Cavani was unable to make his debut for the Red Devils in their win over Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday as he was still self-isolating as per British health regulations. However, he is expected to make his first appearance for United today in what will be an emotional reunion at a club where he enjoyed his greatest success as a player. There will no fans in the Group H Champions League opener due to the coronavirus pandemic but PSG coach Thomas Tuchel will roll out a warm welcome for "a player who wrote the club's history". However, at his virtual press conference yesterday, the German insisted the game was not about "Cavani against PSG or PSG against Cavani but a match against Manchester United". Warning his injury-hit squad to stay focused, Tuchel said: "It will be a bit strange to see him against us. We will have to be vigilant because it is always difficult to defend him and he has the ability to make a difference. He is a player of additional quality in this Manchester team." On their previous clash - in the last 16 of the 2018-19 campaign - Tuchel claimed it would have no bearing on today's game as both teams had changed quite a bit. Dismissing claims that United's defence remains vulnerable - they have conceded 12 goals in four Premier League games this season - he said: "They're one of the best teams in Europe in terms of attack and transitions. It's key to stop them before they start their counter-attacks." TOUGH OPPONENTS They're one of the best teams in Europe in terms of attack and transitions. It's key to stop them before they start their counter-attacks. THOMAS TUCHEL, French team PSG's coach, on their task facing Manchester United in the Champions League opener. Tuchel also said it was "sad" PSG could not come to an agreement with Cavani to extend his contract until the Champions League final in late August, admitting he may have made a difference when they were searching for the equaliser against Bayern, who won 1-0. Ander Herrera, who will also be enjoying a similar reunion in what will be his first meeting with United since leaving Manchester on a free transfer for PSG last summer. There will be plenty of smiles and hugs for Cavani from his former teammates but the niceties will end once the game kicks off. Herrera added: "He is a friend and an exceptional player to whom I wish the best... but not this Tuesday." The Spain midfielder is expected to feature as Tuchel revealed the French treble winners will be missing Marco Verratti and Leandro Paredes through injury. Striker Mauro Icardi is also out as are defensive duo Thilo Kehrer and Juan Bernat, but the club are crossing their fingers over Marquinhos and Julian Draxler, with both players set for a late fitness test. While PSG are set to field their preferred star front three of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Angel di Maria, like United, they can also be susceptible at the back. Given the opposition's injury problems, United forward Marcus Rashford feels there may be no better time for Cavani to endear himself to the Old Trafford faithful than getting his account up and running against his former club. "As a forward line it is something to look forward to," the England international told Sky Sports. "Hopefully, he comes in and scores goals, because he can definitely help us win games and points. He can be a massive player for us this season. "To win two or three trophies in a season, you need a squad, it's not possible if you don't have people who can score goals one week and the next week." AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS PSG V MAN UNITED Singtel TV Ch110 & StarHub Ch214, tomorrow, 2.55am

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New Survey Shows Philippines Among Highest in Online Piracy in Southeast Asia

MANILA, Oct 15, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - A new study of the online content viewing behaviour of Filipino consumers has found that 49% access streaming piracy websites or torrent sites. The levels of piracy went as high as 53% within the 25-34 age demographic. The survey commissioned by the Asia Video Industry Association's Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and conducted by YouGov, found that 47% of consumers who accessed piracy sites cancelled their subscriptions to both local and international content services.The levels of piracy in the Philippines now dwarfs neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia which have both seen substantial reductions in online piracy over the last 12 months. In Indonesia a similar YouGov survey found a massive 55% reduction in Indonesians accessing piracy services with 28% of consumers admitting to accessing piracy websites compared to 63% in 2019. In Malaysia, a YouGov survey found a 64% decline in users accessing piracy sites when compared to a similar YouGov survey in 2019.In both countries, a key variable for the decline in online piracy levels was the government's proactive piracy site blocking initiative. In Malaysia more than half (55%) of online consumers noticed that a piracy service had been blocked by the Malaysian government, which subsequently influenced viewing habits with 49% stating that they no longer accessed piracy services and 40% saying that they now 'rarely accessed' piracy services as a result of the site blocking.A Bill currently before the Philippine Senate (Bill #497) entitled the 'Online Infringement Act' proposes a regulatory site blocking mechanism which would empower the authorities to ensure that ISPs take "reasonable steps to disable access to sites whenever these sites are reported to be infringing copyright or facilitating copyright infringement."The recent YouGov survey suggests that a regulatory site blocking mechanism would be supported by the majority of Filipino consumers. When given choices of what they thought were effective measures of reducing piracy behaviour, 53% of Filipinos agree that a "government order or law for ISPs to block piracy websites" would be the most effective.Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu said, "The ill effects of online piracy cannot be underestimated. We have been an advocate of content streaming through legal sites only through our #PlayItRight program. This advocacy educates people on the impacts of online piracy and on making the right choices when it comes to online consumption."For his part, Atty Teodoro Pascua, Deputy Director General, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said, "The wide variety of legal services in the Philippines which provide premium entertainment content are reliable and importantly are legal. The piracy alternatives fund crime groups put consumers at risk of malware infection and are unreliable. Piracy only benefits the criminal organisations who are behind these illegal websites."Neil Gane, the General Manager of AVIA's Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) commented, "We are confident that Indonesia and Malaysia will rise to become market leaders in video IP protection in the region, as a result of their site-blocking strategies. We are also confident that other countries in Asia, such as the Philippines, will take note and follow suit, boosting the growth of legal consumption of Filipino and international content."When asked about the negative consequences of online piracy, Filipino consumers placed funding crime groups (55%), loss of jobs in the creative industry (50%) and malware risks (49%) as their top three concerns.YouGov is an international research and data analytics group. For further information visit https://hk.yougov.com. Study conducted in September 2020. All data is weighted to be representative of the online population. Sample size: Philippines n=1,098About the Asia Video Industry AssociationThe Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy through its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) programme and provides insight into the industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry.Contact AVIAFor media contacts and additional background:Charmaine KwanHead of Marketing and CommunicationsEmail: charmaine@avia.orgWebsite: www.avia.orgLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/asiavideoiaTwitter: @AsiaVideoIA Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

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