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  1. Has anybody feel that yesterday(Mon 8-Dec-2008) was indeed very cold? From my flat i have to wear sweater in the morning, i am jsut wondering whether it was below the official announced 24 deg C, anyone felt the same?
  2. VW Singapore plots Skoda comeback Volkswagen-owned Czech brand Skoda is making a comeback, yet again. But this time, it is parent group Volkswagen which will do its own importing and retailing here. Volkswagen Group Singapore - the manufacturer-owned importer and retailer of Volkswagen vehicles here - has registered a new company for this purpose. According to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, Skoda Centre Singapore was registered last month and will be operating out of 247 Alexandra Road, which is the same address as the VW showroom. The Straits Times understands renovations are being carried out at the facility and that Skoda Centre Singapore will start operations in the first quarter of next year. Volkswagen Group Singapore was not available for comment, but it is understood that a meaningful price differential will be in place to re-launch the Czech brand here. Previously, Skoda cars - which are based on Volkswagens - were the same price or even costlier than equivalent VW models. In other markets, Skodas are cheaper. The brand was last represented by Harvest Automobiles, part of businessman Peter Kwee's now dormant motor group of companies. Harvest Automobiles went bust in 2013 - the third Skoda agency to have failed in Singapore. The Straits Times understands Vertex Automobiles, the dealer for Chinese automobile brand Chery that is owned by egg trader Lian Fong, had made a pitch for the Skoda franchise. But it has since landed Seat, a Spanish brand also owned by Volkswagen Group. Skoda had also been courting Trans Eurokars, a multi-franchise group owned by businessman Karsono Kwee. Among its brands are Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Mini and Mazda. The best year for the Skoda brand here was 2010, when it sold 105 cars. That is less than 4 per cent of Volkswagen sales last year. Will the brand have better success under Volkswagen? Nanyang Business School's Adjunct Associate Professor Zafar Momin, previously an automotive expert with the Boston Consulting Group, said: "Skoda may be able to make a comeback in Singapore if priced and promoted properly. It needs to be very competitive with its Korean competitors in terms of pricing, as it could provide solid, competitive products targeted at value segments of the markets. "With VW Singapore now doing it themselves, it has a better chance than before. Having said that, I wonder what "comeback" really means in a small crowded Singapore car market which has small volumes for many non-mainstream brands. Would it really be worth the effort and to what extent would it cannibalise VW products?" When contacted back in 2014 - when Harvest Automobiles relinquished the business - Volkswagen Group Singapore said it had no plans to take over the Skoda retail business here. It has, however, taken over the maintenance and warranty of Skodas here. There are about 400 Skoda cars in Singapore today. As a onwer of both Skoda and VW model, I can attest that Skoda is indeed better, in almost every aspect, than VW. I can wait to welcome it back to Singapore!! Here are some interesting models in current Skoda lineup, that I hope can be made available to local motorist when sales start next year. Superb Superb Combi Kodiaq
  3. I'm beginning this thread so I can continue to discuss matters on a topic that interests me. I know there is a thread with similar content, but it's become a bit toxic, so if the mods don't mind, I'll start one here? Otherwise go ahead and merge. Basically we have an economic crisis on us, and internationally things are not doing well either. But in spite of this, property prices seem to be headed northwards and the agents will want to tell you, they won't drop. But job losses are on the way, and the capital appreciation on property isn't what it used to be and despite what agents try to tout, one must consider all factors rationally, and see if your money is better served elsewhere. Eg a good benchmark will be the 2.5% that CPF offers. But property remains enticing because it takes a lot more effort and investigation to find alternatives and not all Singaporeans are that hardworking or familiar with the investment instruments available. I wonder what the rest think? Cheers
  4. What do you all think of the upcoming 'Singapore first racing movie', Oversteer? I've have to say any effort in promoting motorsport and car culture is something good in my opinion, but from the promo photos and trailer, it just feel kind of half-effort and seems unlikely to capture the true Singapore car scene... In the first place the hero cars and location looks like it's all in Malaysia - granted, maybe filming in SG wouldn't be easy, but it seems like they didn't even try to replicate SG, i.e. make it seem like the setting is supposed to be Singapore. In this poster, you can see KLCC, and there was another photo floating about that shows the Malaysian number plates of the car, it seems like the setting of the movie is going to be in Malaysia. There are even people on Facebook poking fun, commenting that Singapore doesn't even have any street racing culture - which isn't the case, and will only be made worse if the film does end up to portray everything in Malaysia. The first teaser trailer shows an S13 drifting with a DC5 and EK chasing it. While drifting seems to be trendy and attractive to some movie-goers, but most would agree that it isn't really part of Singapore's street racing/ car culture scene. While Singapore might be small, we do have plenty of motorsports related history, including both legal and illegal avenues, cue the illegal drag races that happened at what is now the Tanah Merah Coast Road, Lim Chu Kang (40T), Seletar (20T), the curvy roads such as Old Upper Thomson which was once a GP circuit, the infamous 'Orchard Gudang', etc... My point is, I can't help but feel like the movie's gonna be plenty of wasted opportunities to show the interesting side of Singapore's car culture. That said, I hope that I'm wrong and the movie actually turns out to be a fun watch! So, what are your thoughts on this movie?
  5. Boom and doom? Singapore to launch vaccinated travel lanes with India, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia SINGAPORE: Singapore will extend its vaccinated travel lane (VTL) scheme to more countries starting from Nov 29, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday (Nov 15). The country intends to launch VTLs with India and Indonesia from Nov 29, and with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Dec 6.
  6. lai liao 😁 @ https://www.techinasia.com/source-tesla-nears-final-approval-sell-cars-singapore
  7. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-total-fertility-rate-population-births-ageing-parents-children-3301846 PAP greatest failure is creating a country where no one wants to have chewren Discuss.
  8. Starting a thread to consolidate the sharing of SIM-only plan experiences and lobangs. Still 1 month+ left on my current M1 SIM-only contract and looking at what other players (telco and MVNO) are offering. Came across Zero1's 6u plan which seems pretty competitive, so putting this plan on my radar screen.
  9. I decided to create a separate thread for AI. Things are really rapidly changing. AI to replace sales staff that are in a revolving door situation. Seems like this company has hit upon a niche that larger companies are very interested in. Not all of these ideas will work out. But you can bet a significant portion of desk/admin jobs will slowly be redundant over the next 10-15 years. Maybe by then, some of us would be working alongside AIs to do some of the routine tasks. https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/09/saleswhale-seed-funding/
  10. I, for one, would not go there. ph driver who's smart enough won't go there to get jammed, for hours, for $10, $20 ? Grab keep promoting, high demand, but who's want to drive there for regular fare ? Even with surge, it's not enough to compensate your hours of waiting and crawling in the traffic, wasting petrol, time. ‘Worst transport experience’: Crawling traffic, long waits for rides frustrate S’pore Airshow visitors SINGAPORE - Waiting almost three hours for a taxi ride from the Singapore Airshow to her hotel was not something that senior corporate executive Inga Duglas expected after attending the first day of the event on Feb 20. When she eventually got into a taxi, her fare from Changi Exhibition Centre, where the air show is taking place till Feb 25, to central Singapore at 7.30pm came to $120, said Ms Duglas, expressing surprise that her ride was “so expensive”. “I was hungry, thirsty and exhausted,” the 38-year-old told The Straits Times on the evening of Feb 21. The 2024 edition of the biennial aerospace and defence exhibition has been drawing complaints about heavy traffic in and out of the showground, with some visitors telling ST that traffic arrangements were poorly organised. The first four days of the air show, from Feb 20 to 23, are for trade attendees. The air show is open to the public on the last two days, on Feb 24 and 25. Ms Duglas was among 23 trade visitors and exhibitors interviewed by ST about their experience getting into and out of the showground. Some said they had to endure several kilometres of crawling traffic into the exhibition centre due to reduced access to Aviation Park Road and Tanah Merah Coast Road, and were unable to secure private-hire car and taxi rides to and from Changi Exhibition Centre. Others spoke of the sky-high fares for these rides, and long queues for the air show shuttle, which plies between Singapore Expo and the exhibition centre. Visitors have to pay a location surcharge of $15, on top of the metered fare, for taxi services leaving Changi Exhibition Centre until Feb 25. Commercial executive Stanley Raj, 45, said it was the “worst transportation experience” he has encountered, when compared with other air shows he has visited, including the Paris Air Show in June 2023 and the Dubai Airshow in November 2023. To exit the showground on Feb 21 at around 5pm, Mr Raj waited more than 35 minutes for his private-hire car ride. That morning, his ride to the exhibition centre was stuck in a 45-minute jam because of lane closures and security checkpoints. Ms Jayne Low, who is part of an exhibitor’s team that drove to the air show, said she was caught in traffic for about 20 minutes at around 9am on Feb 21. This was because officers slowed traffic down significantly by checking the identities of all passengers in each vehicle with a parking label, said the managing director in her 40s. Ms Low, who has attended several editions of the Singapore Airshow, added: “It is the same thing for every edition... If they can manage (vehicular) traffic for Coldplay fans, they can surely do this for the air show.” ST reporters heading to the show experienced several instances of private-hire car drivers cancelling their rides to the exhibition centre on Feb 21 and 22. Part-time private-hire car driver George Liow, 37, said most drivers would not travel to the venue for a single fare, as they would need to navigate the jam and detours. He added: “Who in their right mind would come in all the way to the venue to pick someone up for a small sum of money?”
  11. New money inflows to Singapore jump 59% to a record S$448b in 2021 SINGAPORE can absorb record inflows of new money, the central bank chief said, allaying concerns of a real estate bubble even as rents and prices surge to unprecedented highs. The Asian financial hub attracted S$448 billion last year, 59 per cent higher than the previous year, the latest data from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) show. “When a large sum of money comes into any country, you should be worried about it,” MAS managing director Ravi Menon said in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s Haslinda Amin. One such concern is flowing into the property market driving up prices. Rather than blocking money coming in, the regulator has imposed measures on the real estate sector to prevent overheating. “We’ve got that under control,” he said. Singapore’s efforts to build an international wealth hub are paying off as the city enjoys a post-Covid resurgence, attracting investors drawn to its stability. Assets managed by local firms soared 16 per cent in 2021 to US$4 trillion, mostly from overseas, exceeding the global growth rate. Investors from US hedge-fund titan Ray Dalio to Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani are setting up offices to manage their personal wealth. The housing market has defied a slump reported in other major markets including Australia, Hong Kong and Canada. As prices jumped 7 per cent in the first nine months - including a sizzling 13 per cent in the third quarter alone - the government took steps to cool the market. Landlords meanwhile are asking tenants for big rent increases, sometimes as much as double, when they extend leases. The inflows, which are roughly three quarters of Singapore’s nominal gross domestic product, come on top of gains from higher asset prices last year, according to the central bank. The assets are helping to boost the financial hub as it seeks to add as many as 20,000 finance jobs over five years, in areas including wealth management and sustainable financing. Asia flows Menon said money is coming from growing wealth across Asia, where the rich are seeking a place to invest. He acknowledged that North Asia’s affluent contribute a large portion of asset flows into Singapore. “They are richer, they have more investible assets,” he said, speaking ahead of Singapore’s FinTech Festival that starts on Wednesday (Nov 2). In China, Asia’s largest wealth market, assets plummeted following the Communist Party congress, where President Xi Jinping solidified his grip on power. Asked whether China may see accelerated capital outflows, Menon said it’s too early to tell. “There’s already some happening,” he said. “Some of it have come to Singapore, you would have seen in the last few years. I am not sure we are looking at any marked pickup.” In the meantime, Singapore’s capital and financial markets, as well as its banking system, are deep and liquid enough to handle large fund flows, he said. MAS, which also serves as a financial regulator, is strict when it comes to illicit fund flows, repeatedly reminding financial institutions to be on guard, Menon said. “There’s so much money coming in, you can choose,” he said. Other interview highlights: MAS has been focusing on strengthening disclosure rules by listed companies to deter firms from misconduct Singapore is not aiming to become a cashless society even though digital payments are becoming common https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/new-money-inflows-to-singapore-jump-59-to-a-record-s448b-in-2021 curious to see what the inflow amount is for 2022 ...
  12. source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/09/28/bring-back-hsr-to-excite-the-world-again-says-najib/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_AzHpCmrHbXPR9DK06.27Ybl5ZuKUYjXah80i34EzfG0-1632906920-0-gqNtZGzNAnujcnBszQal KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Najib Razak says Malaysia needs to regain the global economy’s interest and attention, and suggested that Putrajaya revive the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project. Najib (BN-Pekan) said the project would give a new lease of life to the peninsular’s southern economic corridor, such as Iskandar Malaysia, Batu Pahat, Muar, Melaka and Seremban. “Aside from efforts to rebuild international relations with major economies that were affected after the 14th general election, Malaysia needs to excite the world again. “Projects like HSR, which would connect two of Asean’s biggest economies, need to be revived according to the original concept and design,” he told the Dewan Rakyat while debating the 12th Malaysia Plan today. Najib said the project would also create 70,000 job opportunities directly and indirectly, while potentially generating US$1.6 billion in revenue, according to the Institute of Developing Economies in Japan. However, this would hinge on the rail project directly connecting to Singapore, instead of just running from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru. The latter, he said, would make the project not viable while costing the nation billions in subsidies. “Reviving the HSR project according to its original plan can also revive the Bandar Malaysia project, worth RM140 billion in terms of gross development value.” He suggested that the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) be assigned such development projects, citing their success with the Battersea project in the UK. “This (Bandar Malaysia) project can also be worked on with Singaporean investors since the HSR would connect with the country, if EPF and PNB are of the view that it would bring an advantage. “If this happens, I propose that the project be rebranded to Bandar Asean, placing Malaysia as the centre for Asean in efforts to attract the international community’s attention,” he said. The HSR project was officially cancelled this year, with Malaysia set to compensate Singapore for costs incurred as part of its obligations under the bilateral agreement. Previously, a source in Putrajaya had told FMT that Malaysia would have to pay compensation of around RM320 million.
  13. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-spending-on-healthcare-does-not-mean-a-healthier-population-ong-ye-kung SINGAPORE - The Republic’s healthcare challenge in the coming years is not spending more, but to ensure that Singapore does not go the way of many OECD countries where healthcare costs are “spiralling and escalating out of control”, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung told Parliament on Wednesday. Better health outcomes can be achieved by continuing with Singapore’s sensible and practical approach of having different layers of safety nets – subsidies, MediShield Life, MediSave and MediFund – and combining it with the Healthier SG strategy to reduce the sickness and disease burden even as the population ages, he added. Mr Ong was responding to Progress Singapore Party (PSP) Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai’s assertion on Tuesday that the Government has not spent enough to cover Singaporeans’ healthcare costs, and should be spending more to help with medical bills. Mr Leong had cited data to show that the Government’s share of healthcare expenditure is lower than the average among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The majority of the 38 OECD members are regarded as developed countries. Mr Ong noted that it is widely accepted by health economists that spending more on healthcare does not mean better outcomes. For instance, the United States and Britain spend about 17 per cent and 10 per cent of their gross domestic product on healthcare respectively, compared with Singapore’s 4 per cent. Despite this, both those countries are facing a high incidence of chronic illnesses and high obesity rates, and expected lifespans there are lower than in Singapore, he said. Conversely, Singapore has delivered good outcomes given how much it is spending, while keeping healthcare affordable for the middle- and lower-income groups, Mr Ong added. Seven in 10 Singaporeans in subsidised hospital wards do not pay any out-of-pocket expenses, and nine in 10 pay less than $500 in cash. “So when Mr Leong asked the Government to spend more to lower out-of-pocket expenses further, he really meant to channel resources to unsubsidised patients, that is, those staying in A class wards or private hospitals,” he said. “This is where the big bucks and big expenditure are, and it will push our healthcare expenditure and spending to the levels of OECD countries.” Mr Leong also failed to mention that such spending ultimately has to be raised from the people through taxes, and made no mention of where PSP will get the funding from, Mr Ong added. The reality is that government healthcare spending has already been rising, having tripled between 2011 and 2020, and is expected to triple again between 2021 and 2030, said Mr Ong. Mr Leong had also called for increased spending from the Pioneer Generation (PG) and Merdeka Generation funds, as he felt that spending from those funds has been small relative to their total assets. This understanding is misplaced as both funds were sized based on the projected lifetime cost of the benefits, said Mr Ong. He noted that PG members are as young as 74 and “still have quite a bit of runway ahead of them”, though the Government will continue to review the adequacy of both funds. The Health Minister also responded to Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim’s suggestion that Singapore’s medical infrastructure is too lean, and that the current hospital bed crunch speaks to a need to relook healthcare capacity. Mr Ong said every country is facing a similar crunch post-Covid-19, including the OECD countries despite their higher bed-to-population ratio. The reason for the bed crunch here is that the average length of hospital stay has increased by 15 per cent compared with before the pandemic, he said. This is likely a result of more older people falling ill due to an “immunity debt” as safe management measures were lifted, a problem exacerbated by poorer health from social isolation amid Covid-19. Singapore is catching up on healthcare capacity as projects delayed by Covid-19 – such as the Tan Tock Seng Hospital Integrated Care Hub and Woodlands integrated health campus – are now being completed, said Mr Ong. More transitional care facilities will also be set up to offer rehabilitative care for more stable senior patients. Closing the debate on the motion to support healthcare here beyond the pandemic, Nominated MP Tan Yia Swam responded to Mr Leong’s charge that drug prices were “marked up unreasonably for non-subsidised patients” in order to cross-subsidise others. Dr Tan, who is a breast surgeon, asked if Mr Leong had evidence that this was happening, and noted that non-subsidised patients are those who opt for an A-class or B1-class ward, or foreigners. “I, as a doctor, would think that allowing market forces to determine costings is fair, or would Mr Leong also want taxpayers to pay for everyone?” she asked. Mr Leong said he had heard “feedback from residents (that) they pay different prices when in different classes”, and that while it is understandable for services to be priced differently based on ward class, this should not be the case for drugs. The NCMP had earlier called on the Government to centralise drug procurement across public and private medical institutions, as doing so would reduce the cost of medicine. In response, Mr Ong said Singapore deliberately chose to have a variegated market for healthcare, with private-sector doctors having different business models. For instance, some private doctors charge very low consultation fees but make a margin on the drugs they sell, while others do the reverse, he said. “Sometimes you want to let market forces operate, but at the same time have some discipline through... what we subsidise and what we don’t, and I think that’s how we rein in unnecessary healthcare costs,” said Mr Ong.
  14. https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/singapore/story20240206-1466643 "The dead body found floating in Marina Bay is a 21-year-old man." A few days ago a 20-year-old dude was chasing ppl with chopper. Today a 21yo was found dead in water (maybe suicide?) One wanted to take people's lives, the other (possibly) took his own life. And limpeh thought 20's is the time when one is full of energy, ideal, and ambition to conquer the world! Sigh...
  15. SINGAPORE - A contact-tracing smartphone app has been launched to allow the local authorities to quickly track people who have been exposed to confirmed coronavirus cases. Dubbed TraceTogether, the app is able to identify people who have been in close proximity - within 2m for at least 30 minutes - to coronavirus patients using wireless Bluetooth technology, said its developers, the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) and the Ministry of Health (MOH), on Friday (March 20). "This is especially useful in cases where the infected persons do not know everyone whom they had been in close proximity with for an extended duration," said its developers. While use of the app is not compulsory, those who use it have to turn on the Bluetooth settings in their phones for tracing to be done. They also need to enable push notifications and location permissions in the app, which is available on the Apple App Store or the Google Play store. Should one of these users be infected, MOH will be able to quickly find out which other users they have been in close contact with, allowing for easier identification of potential cases and helping to curb the spread of the coronavirus here. On its website, TraceTogether's developers said the app is meant to complement current contact-tracing methods and allow for the identification of people who were in close proximity with an infected person more efficiently. There is currently no target for the number of users for the app. In a release on Friday, the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) said users have to give explicit consent to participate in TraceTogether, and for their mobile number and data to be used for contact tracing. "When requested by MOH, users can send their TraceTogether logs to facilitate the contact tracing process. Up to that point, the authorities, including MOH and GovTech, have no knowledge of the user's TraceTogether data," said SNDGO. Official contact tracers will provide a code that users can match with a corresponding verification code on their app. Once authenticated, users will be given a PIN that allows submission of logs when entered. Official contact tracers will also not ask for any personal financial details or request for the transfer of money over the phone. When contacted by contact tracers, that is the point that users will be asked to share their data logs. If they refuse, they may be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act. On its website, TraceTogether developers said that keeping the app running all the time will not drain a phone's battery significantly. The only data that is collected by the Government through this app is the user's mobile number, which is kept so that MOH can contact users quickly if they were in close proximity with an infected case. The app also does not collect or use users' location data, but only records who they might have been close to. Similar apps have been said to be successful in helping to turn the tide against the coronavirus in some countries. In highly-connected South Korea, for instance, people know quickly when a new coronavirus case is found in their neighbourhood through a government alert sent to their mobile phones. This alert includes details such as the new patient's age, gender and travel history. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/coronavirus-singapore-develops-smartphone-app-for-efficient-contact-tracing
  16. SINGAPORE – High certificate of entitlement prices are not quelling motor dealers’ appetite to grow their portfolios. Premium Automobiles, the retail dealer for Audi, has just been appointed the distributor for Zeekr, a luxury electric vehicle (EV) brand from Chinese automotive giant Geely. The agreement was signed in late December. The showroom for the brand will be built in the Leng Kee Road area in the first half of the year, Premium Automobiles said in a statement sent to The Straits Times late on Dec 28. The service facility will be in the Ubi industrial area. When asked, Premium Automobiles said the details are still being finalised for their exact locations, but added that these will be dedicated facilities that will not be shared with Audi cars, which the company will continue to sell. Zeekr will be launched here with two models – 009, which is a multipurpose vehicle (MPV), and X, a sports utility vehicle (SUV). Deliveries will begin in the third quarter of 2024. The 009 MPV is over 5.2m long, which makes the six-seater bigger than the latest generation Toyota Alphard, which measures just under 5m. Premium Automobiles did not confirm the exact specifications of the models, but the 009 MPV has a promised range of 800km on a full charge. Its dual motor set-up offers maximum power of 400 kilowatts, enabling it to sprint from 0kmh to 100kmh in 4.5 seconds, and making it the world’s fastest MPV. The X SUV is about the same size as the Nissan Qashqai at 4.4m long. Two versions are offered in the other markets where Zeekr is already operating. One has a 200kW motor that powers the rear wheels and boasts a range of up to 440km and the other is a zippier 315kW dual-motor all-wheel-drive version that can cover 400km on a single charge. Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau will be the first places where Zeekr right-hand drive cars are available. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/chinese-ev-maker-zeekr-s-cars-to-be-sold-in-singapore-with-deliveries-from-q3-2024
  17. Singapore wants top foreign talent to avoid being left behind https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/singapore-wants-top-foreign-talent-062349407.html?fbclid=IwAR0zS_Nr17XUh69xca_hVr26IfTiYN15fZEbToSIWP-CeVFjW7j2-BJBZ6E Bloomberg Sun, 21 August 2022 at 2:23 pm A points-based system for allowing in expats is set to kick in next year. Singapore wants to lure more top talent to its shores, joining Germany and the UK in the contest for cosmopolitan professionals. “In this global contest for talent, Singapore cannot afford to be creamed off, or left behind,” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his annual National Day Rally address Sunday. “This is an age where talent makes all the difference to a nation’s success,” he said, adding details will be released soon. The business-friendly Southeast Asian city has long been a magnet for international talent and the rich. But worries among locals about the large numbers of foreigners and stringent Covid rules led to the largest decline in white-collar expats in over a decade last year. Meanwhile, countries including the UAE, the UK and Germany rolled out plans to attract talent. And mobile, young professionals are putting countries from Curacao to Cape Verde on their horizon. Lee signalled that the new initiatives will especially target “sectors with good potential” beyond technology, where there are already existing plans to keep talent. He also acknowledged Singaporeans are “rightly concerned” about the large numbers of foreigners in the city. “While we manage the overall population of foreign professionals here, we must not stop seeking out top talent who can contribute to our Singapore Story,” Lee said. “And every Singaporean will benefit from our progress and success.” A points-based system for allowing in expats is set to kick in next year. Singapore offers permanent residency status to entrepreneurs and investors who “intend to drive their businesses and investment growth from Singapore” via a Global Investor Programme. Another plan launched in 2021 offered 500 visas for tech-related roles.
  18. As you may (or may not) have noticed, the Editorial Team here at Sgcarmart has started a new series, titled Sgcarmart Explores, where we look and recommend some of the more interesting spots across the various districts of Singapore. And save for the Christmas special of the series we did last December (please do catch it here, the whole team spent an entire day out driving and shooting to craft this one), we have always started each iteration of the series questioning the assumption that Singapore is a boring place. Thank God we have yet to incur the public ire that one Malaysian actor-host Hero Tai took after making remarks to the same effect on a Taiwanese show. But the sheer amount of backlash Mr. Tai received does beg the question: Is Singapore really boring to begin with? I mean, if you've been living here for some time, I'm sure you're also finding it difficult to find new activities to join every weekend (after attending to all those spill-overs from work aside that is). Take this video for a case in point, which explores a little more about why our island’s shopping malls (the typical retreat for many of us I reckon), are so boring. I don't see many comments disagreeing with the assumption that our shopping malls here are boring. Of course, there's more to do than just shopping here in Singapore, but I think Mothership's point about how high land rents drive all malls to simply house the most economically viable tenants and thus leads to most malls sharing the same popular chains is rather important. Surely some economic forces must be at play to explain why there's so much renovation and bubble tea stores around central Toa Payoh, unless the buildings here are especially dilapidated and somehow manage to attract only contractors that must have the very best refreshments? Perhaps we simply don't have the spare space here for less economically profitable activities. So let us take the assumption that Singapore is a touch boring. Well, what now? What can we do next as a nation to bring back a bit more interest to our sunny island? Do we, perhaps, need a bit of the grime that is commonplace in other cities? I personally reckon a little bit could be the answer here. I mean, there's plenty of people out there that bemoan the loss of Hong Kong's infamous walled city. Look at this video, and the comments to it for example: I promise if you're into architecture and urban theory this channel is a treasure trove. And on a side note, why are architects so attractive? But back to the topic at hand. I'm sure many are just looking back at Kowloon's Walled City with rose-tinted glasses. After all, as the video points out, unsavoury crime, drug use, and I'm sure all manner of abuse and exploitation were also ongoing before the city was demolished. But grit, after all, is forged by enduring difficult times. Would Van Gogh have painted The Potato Eaters were it not for his witnessing of the poverty that plagued the rural peasantry of the 19th century? Or would Francisco Goya have painted the Black Paintings if he had not lived through the depravity of post-Napoleonic Spain? And to steer back to the topic at hand once again, some of Singapore's more interesting areas (by my reckoning, that is) including Chinatown, Katong, Geylang, or Tiong Bahru, to name a few, are the products of a history that has seen a fair bit of lawlessness. Perhaps some tough neighbourhoods also spawn more interesting urban landscapes. Will time alone eventually carve Sengkang a character that is entirely different from the one that is present in Punggol? I like to think not. Join us as we share more about our other interests and bring you new places to visit! So instead of always looking out for the next hot new location to visit, perhaps we ought to put in a bit of thought into preserving what we have, to ensure that our existing neighbourhoods have the time to develop a character all on their own. The recent proposal of the preservation of People's Park Complex is a move in the right direction by the authorities, but we too can show our support for the preservation of our neighbourhoods by visiting the retailers within them, and participating in activities such as this series of Heritage Trails proposed by the National Heritage Board here to send a clear message to the powers that be that these spaces are still utilised and beloved. In the same spirit, the Editorial Team is going to put in the effort and take time out of our busy schedules to populate this space with some new and alternative content (just like our new Explores series) from fields that we already know and love beyond the various automotive material already available on Sgcarmart. All we ask is that you look out for our quips about everyday life and the issues that we feel need to be more spoken for (as well as a touch of YouTube recommendations and even some photographic content), here on the blog in the coming weeks. And maybe join us in stepping out of your comfort zone, to stop simply heading to the nearest shopping centre, and support some of the alternative destinations that we highlight in our Explores series. I hope you don't find any of it too boring. -Clarence
  19. Sales of Mitsubishi cars in Singapore will be suspended in 2024 because of a revised emissions scheme that applies from Jan 1, The Straits Times has learnt. The development will not affect existing owners, who will continue to be supported by multi-franchise motor group Cycle & Carriage (C&C), which represents the brand. C&C’s spokesperson said the move to suspend sales of new cars was driven by the change in the vehicle testing requirement and the enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES). Both take effect on Jan 1, 2024. The Mitsubishi showroom on Alexandra Road was devoid of cars on display when ST visited on the afternoon of Dec 27. In 2025, C&C expects to bring Mitsubishi back with new models that would fare better under these regulations, starting with a new Outlander sports utility vehicle (SUV). Exact details of this model have not been made public. Registrations of Mitsubishi cars in Singapore fell from 3,632 units in 2016 to 238 in 2022. It will end 2023 with just 61 units. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/mitsubishi-to-suspend-sales-in-s-pore-as-revised-emissions-scheme-set-to-downgrade-some-new-cars
  20. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Energy/Surging-fuel-prices-shake-Singapore-s-electricity-market?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20211021190000&seq_num=11&si=44594 Surging fuel prices shake Singapore's electricity market Gas-reliant country urges power companies to 'at least meet' retail demand Singapore's heavy reliance on imported gas has left the city-state vulnerable to surging energy prices. © AP KENTARO IWAMOTO and DYLAN LOH, Nikkei staff writersOctober 21, 2021 14:34 JST SINGAPORE -- Singapore is taking "extraordinary" steps to secure energy supplies as rising fuel prices hit the import-reliant country's electricity market, with three retail suppliers in just over a week announcing they will halt services. While the government insists energy supplies remain sufficient, its moves come amid global concerns over tight electricity supplies that threaten both businesses and consumers. On Tuesday, Singapore's Energy Market Authority said it will make government fuel reserves available to power companies in the event gas supplies are affected or there is a need to ensure reliable electricity supply. It also asked the companies to secure enough fuel to "at least meet the demands of customers of their retail arms." "These pre-emptive measures are extraordinary but necessary to secure our fuel and electricity supply," the authority explained in a statement. While surging fuel prices have been seen worldwide, Singapore is in a unique position as about 95% of its electricity is generated from imported natural gas. This gas is delivered via pipeline from neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia or shipped in liquefied form from other gas exporters. Over the past months, spot liquified natural gas prices rose sharply due to increased demand from China and elsewhere while gas and coal production dropped. Meanwhile, gas supplies via pipeline to Singapore have been affected by upstream production issues in an Indonesian gas field, the EMA said, with reduced output expected to last until the end of the year. Singapore generates nearly 95% of its electricity using imported gas. © Reuters "The Singapore power crunch is certainly alarming," said Ken Lee, a senior analyst at energy research company Wood Mackenzie, pointing out that wholesale power prices averaged $115 Singapore dollars ($85) per megawatt-hour from January to September, but shot up to SG$635 this month as of Oct. 19. Lee said that higher power demand has also contributed to the price spike, noting that Singapore consumed about 5% more electricity this year compared with the same period last year due to a rebound from slow economic activity last year. Disruption in the local market is forcing some electricity retailers that had offered cheaper plans for households to pull out. Earlier this week, Best Electricity Supply, which entered the market in 2015, announced it would exit the business on Thursday, citing "unexpected volatile conditions in the energy market." The company became the third retailer to pull out of the local electricity market in just over a week. "Retailers, especially independent retailers who do not own physical power plants, have suffered the most," Wood Mackenzie's Lee explained. "Such retailers were unable to manage power supply price risk as many of them have entered into fixed-price retail contracts with end-users." One longer-term question is how the power crunch might affect local businesses. Singapore's core manufacturing sectors include chemicals and electronics, both of which consume large amounts of electricity. "We have not heard anything with regards to industries and manufacturing being impacted. However, the industries that have not signed fixed-price retail contracts will very likely be impacted as they won't be shielded from the current price spikes," Lee said. Some businesses are already bracing for possible impacts. Since July, Singapore medical equipment maker Racer Technology has seen its power consumption expenses creep up. CEO Willy Koh told Nikkei Asia that electricity costs have increased by about 30% across the company's factories in the city-state amid the current energy crunch. "Right now we have a labor shortage, then we have power [costs] going up, so we are very worried in the manufacturing line," he said, referring to a shortage of workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The cost of production is "getting higher and higher." Koh said he is looking to lock in energy contracts to secure power supplies at a fixed rate but only once electricity costs come down from their current highs. French energy technology provider Schneider Electric is advising its corporate clients in Singapore to use their power more efficiently. "Our customers are not spared the impact of the current energy crunch and their pain points are the potentially unstable supply, unpredictable [and] increasing energy costs, and how to increase their resiliency in case of a power outage or reduction," Yoon Young Kim, Schneider's regional president for Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei, told Nikkei. As far as households are concerned, electricity tariffs of state-owned Singapore Power are set at 24.11 Singapore cents per kilowatt-hour for the October-December quarter, up 12.5% from a year earlier. The government has urged residents to conserve electricity over the coming months, but electricity consumption is crucial for air conditioning in the tropical nation, especially with more people working from home. Higher utility bills could potentially cool consumption sentiment, which in turn would weigh on the economy as it begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  21. Personally, the mindset of the national is if it is FREE we will keep it hence, i dont envisage a possible reduction in our NS duration what i am very worried about is the world is moving so very fast we already had been disadvantaged by NS, resulting in being 2 or 2 1/2 years behind our girls and our foreign classmates in the future it will be worse for our children even 6 months can mean a break or score the economic cycle also is shorter hence, i am just worried about our children am i worrying too much for our kids or should i just relax TAIPEI
  22. Hey guys, any1 knows which marathon is in Feb - April 2011 which has the 10km distance? Cos i planning to train for marathon but i dun wan to go straight for the 42km, i prefer to gradually increase the distance..so im hoping to run 10km beginning of next yr..den 21km at adidas sundown in May..den eventually the StanChart 42km in Dec next yr. Any advice? Thanx in advance.
  23. Singapore returned to World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying action after more than 18 months on Thursday (Jun 3) with a 4-0 loss to Palestine. The second round of joint qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in China has resumed after a lengthy delay caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Palestine raced to a three-nil lead in the first half at the King Fahd International Stadium, prompting Singapore head coach Tatsuma Yoshida to make a double substitution at the break. But he admitted his match decisions had not gone the way he wanted. “The boys tried, but in the first half, they were a bit nervous,” he said after the match. “I am really disappointed (as) they can do more (and) that we could not show our full potential. I think if we played to our potential, maybe the result would be changed … I am very sorry for the Singapore fans. “I feel big disappointment, big pain … But it’s not on (the players). It’s because of my management and it’s on me.” The three goals Palestine were scored in a span of about 10 minutes and included two penalties by Tamer Seyam either side of an Oday Dabbagh strike. Yaser Hamed completed the scoresheet in the closing minutes of the game. The result means Palestine overtake Singapore in the Group D standings on goal difference, having played a game more. The match saw the international debuts of Ilhan Fandi and Saifullah Akbar, while Lions stalwart Baihakki Khaizan notched his 138th Singapore appearance, taking him to joint second on the country’s list of most-capped players. The Lions sit fourth out of five teams in Group D after six games. Their remaining ties in the group are against Uzbekistan on Jun 7 (kick-off at 2am on Jun 8, Singapore time) and Saudi Arabia on Jun 11 (kick-off at 2am on Jun 12, Singapore time). Saudi Arabia lead Group D on 11 points with Uzbekistan in second on nine. The sides have played five games apiece. All remaining Group D matches are being played in the Saudi capital. The top team of each of the eight second-round groups and the four best runners-up will progress to the third round of 2022 World Cup qualifying. They will also qualify for the 2023 Asian Cup. The remaining teams will continue to compete for places at the 2023 Asian Cup in subsequent rounds of qualifiers. Singapore kicked off their campaign for Qatar 2022 and China 2023 in September 2019, picking up seven points from five games before qualifying was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Elsewhere in Asian qualifying on Thursday, the United Arab Emirates beat Malaysia 4-0, Australia won 3-0 against Kuwait and Iran picked up a 3-1 victory over Hong Kong. Bahrain drubbed Cambodia 8-0 and Nepal beat Taiwan 2-0 while Qatar, who have already qualified for the 2022 World Cup as hosts, edged out India 1-0. Thailand and Indonesia played out a 2-2 draw, with Bangladesh and Afghanistan also sharing the points in a tie that finished 1-1.
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