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A lot of illegal home breeders, just be careful https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/couple-spent-over-60k-on-vet-bills-but-dog-died-anyway-and-they-had-to-sell-flat-to-settle-debt SINGAPORE – French bulldog Wangcai started life with a slew of chronic health issues. First-time dog owners Jackie See and Judyvein Cheng bought the male dog as a four-month-old puppy in 2018 for $4,800 from a local backyard breeder. Soon the married couple discovered Wangcai had mites, stomach issues, a yeast infection and rashes. “As first-time pet owners, we felt anxious and helpless. We kept going to the vet to find out what was wrong and constantly switched from premium kibbles to a hypoallergenic diet from the clinic. We spent between $2,000 and $3,000 (on the vet visits and food), but his condition did not improve,” Ms Cheng, an event organiser, told The Straits Times. Wangcai was also given cytopoint, an antibody used to treat atopic dermatitis, a chronic condition he was diagnosed with which causes dry, itchy and inflamed skin, but his condition worsened. “He was scratching more and that led to some open sores and bleeding every day. He also developed hives, redness in his groin, ‘armpit’ area and between his toes, rashes on his belly, fur loss and scabs and dandruff-like flakes,” Ms Cheng said. “We realised we were treating the symptoms, not going to the root of the skin issue. The medication was affecting his immune system, and realising what we had put our baby through, I cried,” she added. After the vet said that Wangcai had to go back once every two weeks for the cytopoint injection, which cost around $400 each, and would be on antihistamine for the next six months, she and her event emcee husband felt that Wangcai had had enough medication. They looked into changing his diet instead. After six months of trial and error, the couple settled on a diet that seemed to suit him. When Wangcai was around two years old, his health turned around – he stopped scratching incessantly and “became a normal dog”. And the couple was $10,000 poorer. “We went through 1½ years of craziness. It was a steep learning curve providing care to Wangcai. That was when we started researching and learning as much as we could about pet health, lifestyles, supplementation, nutrition and many other factors that would impact our pets’ quality of life,” Ms Cheng said, adding that it was also why the couple went on to open a holistic pet store. When Wangcai grew older, other health issues surfaced – he was found to have an enlarged prostate and joint issues. Animals like Wangcai that are sold by backyard breeders may cost less, but they often have birth or genetic defects and infectious diseases, according to experts. Animal welfare groups and the authorities have warned against buying pets from these breeders, as pet ownership here hit an all-time high and more illegal breeders are selling animals through online platforms such as Facebook groups and Telegram. According to a Euromonitor International report, the pet dog population in Singapore was around 114,000 in 2023, up by almost 3 per cent from 2019. The pet cat population hovers around 94,000 in 2024, a jump of almost 10 per cent from 2019. To deal with Wangcai’s enlarged prostate, Mr See and Ms Cheng tried herbal remedies instead of neutering him. Four to six months later, the prostate did not shrink, but it was not giving Wangcai any urinary problems, either. “To understand his joint issues, we sent him for an X-ray but the issues did not show up on the film. That was when we turned to chiropractic and swimming sessions for his joint problems. They provided relief but did not fix the problem,” Ms Cheng said. By then, Singapore was in the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown affected the entertainment industry. The couple were struggling financially but Wangcai’s health issues did not dissipate. “We had just started our holistic pet store... and were trying to make ends meet. (So) we held back on dealing with Wangcai’s health head-on. Till this day, I regret the decision,” Ms Cheng said, her voice breaking. “We could not keep doing MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to monitor his joints. Each MRI cost $5,000 and we were strapped for cash,” she said. A young, active dog, Wangcai loved to jump, dash and lunge. One day, the behaviour led to a tear in his cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), a common cause of hind limb lameness and pain. The CCL tear spiralled into intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) – a common source of back pain in dogs. The condition is more common in French bulldogs and can cause excruciating pain, incontinence and paralysis in serious cases. “It happened overnight. He was walking funnily when we woke up in the morning. Jackie suspected it was IVDD and the only thing that could correct it was surgery,” Ms Cheng said. At the veterinary hospital they were referred to, Ms Cheng was told that the CT scan would cost $9,000 and the surgery alone $25,000. “My mind went blank. I took Wangcai home and started calling other animal hospitals to see if their charges were lower, much lower,” Ms Cheng said. That same night in December 2022, Wangcai’s pain became unbearable and he was thrashing about and went into seizures, making the situation worse. Ms Cheng took him to another hospital. Unfortunately, the surgeon’s schedule was full. “I practically begged him before he agreed to free up his appointments to help. Then came the financial crisis. There was not enough credit on my cards to pay for the surgery and the surgeon would not start unless a deposit had been made. Fortunately, a friend had accompanied me there and she forked out the difference,” she said. Wangcai was discharged from the animal hospital after the surgery, relieved of pain but paralysed. Four days later, things went south and Wangcai was rushed back to the hospital. “The team managed to stabilise him, but I noticed he was having difficulty breathing. In front of me, he suffered a seizure, and I was immediately pushed out of the room before the nurses called ‘code blue’ (which means a patient has gone into cardiac or respiratory arrest). The vet and nurses tried to resuscitate him for two to three minutes but Wangcai died,” Ms Cheng recalled. “Did we kill him by wanting the best for him? He went through so much pain in his short four years of life,” Ms Cheng said, sobbing from the memory. For all the treatments, the couple emptied their savings. Not only that, they also sold their Housing Board flat in August 2023 to clear the credit card loans they took for Wangcai’s medical bills. Not wanting to give up on Wangcai’s memory, they used some of the proceeds from the sale of the flat to continue their holistic pet food business “as part of Wangcai’s legacy and hopefully to help the pet community using alternative solutions”. The tragic experience did not stop the couple from loving another dog. After a year of grieving, they adopted another French bulldog on Christmas 2023 – Bean Bean, a former breeding dog from animal welfare group Voices for Animals. “Having been through the experience with Wangcai, we believe we will be able to care for Bean Bean better,” Ms Cheng said.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/founders-memorial-s-construction-set-to-cost-335-million why gov spend so much money on this? Is there public support for this, if not why is pap doing this if it hurts them???

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?

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/

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

Source: https://mustsharenews.com/singapore-nuclear-energy-2050/ Singapore Could Potentially Use Nuclear Energy By 2050 When the topic of nuclear energy gets brought up, some might instinctively think of the dangers associated with the alternate energy source. However, nuclear energy can also be an efficient power source. On Tuesday (22 Mar), the Energy 2050 Committee published a report showing that Singapore could tap into nuclear energy in the coming decades. With recent advancements, nuclear technology has apparently become safer and more reliable. However, more research and development are needed to determine if it’s indeed viable for Singapore. Nuclear energy could supply 10% of Singapore’s needs by 2050 According to The Straits Times (ST), a report commissioned by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) concluded that about 10% of Singapore’s energy demand could be supplied by nuclear energy by 2050. While Singaporeans might understandably be worried about nuclear energy, the Energy 2050 Committee said advancements in the field have made the alternative power source safer than before. The report projected 3 uncertain geopolitical scenarios in 2050: Clean Energy Renaissance Climate Action Bloc Emergent Technology Trailblazer S’pore can determine if nuclear energy is viable by 2040s In the 3rd scenario, the world is fragmented and technology advancements will delay but eventually arrive. Singapore will be able to deploy low-carbon alternatives, such as nuclear energy, into its energy mix. The report stated that a fragmented geopolitical situation means that countries would find it harder to collaborate and achieve their climate targets. This would limit electricity imports in Singapore’s energy mix. This is as opposed to the other 2 scenarios, where electricity imports would contribute a significant portion of Singapore’s energy needs. Scenario 1: Clean Energy Renaissance Scenario 2: Climate Action Bloc Nevertheless, in all 3 scenarios, electricity imports, hydrogen, solar, and energy storage systems will be important. The Straits Times (ST) reported that in 2014, Singapore allocated $63 million to fund research and education in nuclear safety, engineering, and science. By the 2040s, Singapore would likely be able to determine if nuclear energy is viable. If so, we can start developing domestic generation capacities. Could contribute greatly to our climate efforts Once associated with danger and volatility, we are glad that modern developments have made nuclear energy much safer and hopefully more viable. While it might sound ambitious for Singapore to incorporate nuclear energy, it could contribute greatly to our nation’s climate efforts.

I feel like there's a lot of negativity around here in the past 1-2 years or so. Come, let it all out here. What is making you all so upset/angry/dulan?

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

Fire breaks out at Singapore's Golden Mile Tower SINGAPORE: A fire broke out in Golden Mile Tower, an office and shopping complex along Beach Road, on Saturday (Aug 31). Photos and videos of the fire, which began to emerge online at around 1pm, showed thick, black smoke billowing from the upper floors of the side of the building facing Golden Mile Complex. In one photo, more than a dozen vehicles, all appearing to be of the same make, are engulfed in flames. The vehicles appear to be in a car park on the upper floors of the building. CNA has reached out to the Singapore Civil Defence Force for more information. Golden Mile Tower was built in the 1970s and currently houses a mix of restaurants, offices and the indie cinema The Projector. The building is also a terminal for buses to Malaysia and Thailand. Adjacent to Golden Mile Tower is the 300-room Hotel Traveltine and next to that is Golden Mile Complex, which is currently undergoing construction and restoration work.

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.

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.

lai liao 😁 @ https://www.techinasia.com/source-tesla-nears-final-approval-sell-cars-singapore

Who say Singaporean can only be kiasu? They can be creative too! Hahahahaha How to beat a beeline Q like this? It is so simple, just use these! On Friday (23 Aug), the Facebook page for the Bishan community group, Bishan East Zone 1 Residents’ Network (RN), posted about an incident of people chope-ing queue spots with items at a food rescue event instead of physically queueing. The event took place at the Bishan East Zone 1 Green Hub, located at Block 112 Bishan Street 12. Food rescues are community events where unwanted food collected by volunteers is redistributed to residents. This serves to both reduce food wastage and give food to those who need it. According to their Facebook page, the Bishan East Zone 1 RN food rescue events are bring-your-own-bag and first-come-first-served. No reservations were allowed. The 23 Aug food rescue event had been a success, with “overwhelming support” from residents, many of whom got up early to queue for the event. “We appreciate the early bird zeal in queuing up for restocks in good orderliness & neighbourliness,” the Facebook post said. However, in the same Facebook post, the Bishan East Zone 1 Green Hub Food Rescue Team also noted that people were chope-ing spaces in the queue like they were at a hawker centre. To illustrate what had happened, they posted two photos. The first one showed a line of people queuing physically; this post was accompanied by a smiley face emoji sticker. On the other hand, second photo showed a queue of inanimate objects, mostly plastic bags, held down by stones from the nearby community garden. This one featured a shocked emoji sticker instead. The team acknowledged that the chope-ing was creative but prohibited. “All items found lying on the floor will be deemed as litter and cleared or confiscated,” the post warned. Coincidentally, the queue also started right next to a pillar with a “no littering” sign plastered on it.

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

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/singapore-ranked-most-liveable-city-220000368.html Singapore has maintained its position as the most liveable city in Asia, according to global mobility specialist ECA International in its annual location rating report. "With excellent infrastructure and facilities, low crime rates and little exposure to socio-political tensions, Singapore remains a very attractive location for expatriates," says Mark Harrison, ECA general manager for Asia. "However, other regional locations have improved, and the gap between Singapore and other locations has fallen." ECA's Location Ratings evaluate cities worldwide to assess the overall quality of living for expats in over 500 locations across the globe. The ranking is based on various liveability factors, including availability of health services, housing and utilities, access to a social network, recreational and leisure facilities, infrastructure, climate, personal safety, socio-political tensions and air quality. Hong Kong's overall ranking has fallen in the last five years but remains in the top 10 most liveable Asian cities. Since 2022, Hong Kong's liveability has improved since the final Covid-19 restrictions were removed. In terms of liveability for Asian expatriates, Hong Kong has fallen over the past decade from 17th globally in 2013 to 77th in 2023. "Since political demonstrations in 2014 and protests in 2019, elements of our assessment related to socio-political tensions and freedom of expression have worsened," notes Harrison. "However, Hong Kong still has excellent facilities, infrastructure, recreational options and low crime rates and remains attractive relative to many other locations in the region." Hong Kong is behind Singapore, Japan and Busan in the Korean Republic in ECA's Asian rankings. "The intrinsic risk of disruption caused by typhoons, relatively high levels of pollution and difficulties in obtaining suitable accommodation are factors which count against Hong Kong compared to locations such as Singapore," adds Harrison. Despite facing challenges associated with natural disasters, Tokyo is the second most liveable city for Asian expatriates. Indeed, Tokyo has risen from the 9th spot in 2013 to become the second most liveable city in ECA's latest assessment. Over the past decade, mainland Chinese cities have climbed significantly in the rankings despite losing some of their momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The zero-Covid policy and associated restrictions caused many Chinese cities to fall in our rankings for a couple of years," says Harrison. "But when we look at our current assessment compared to five or ten years ago, we can see that Chinese cities have risen notably in the rankings as living conditions have improved." Some aspects of life continue to be challenging for expatriates in mainland China, such as high levels of pollution, censorship, and suboptimal healthcare facilities. However, improvements in areas such as transport infrastructure and international schooling provision are the reason cities like Shenzhen (137th this year compared to 152nd ten years ago), Xi'an (163rd this year compared to 176th), and Wuhan (up from 160th to 145th) have improved in the rankings. Yangon in Myanmar is the location that has fluctuated most in the rankings over the past 10 years. Between 2013 and 2018, there was a significant improvement in its rankings (from 225th to 208th) following the reinstatement of civilian rule and strong economic growth. However, this progress was reversed when the military seized power again in 2021, and Yangon is now back down to 229th position, lower than it was 10 years ago. Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, there have been small but significant improvements in transport infrastructure, health services and recreational facilities in several locations. These cities have become more attractive to expats, for instance, Jakarta (which moved up from 213th to 196th spot), Phnom Penh (from 200th to 184th) and Hanoi (up from 160th to 144th). Outside of Asia, cities in New Zealand and Australia are the most liveable for Asian expatriates. Wellington and Adelaide are tied in second place alongside Tokyo. Eindhoven in the Netherlands is the highest-rated European city at 7th place, while Vancouver, Canada, has the highest ranking among cities in North America.

Revamping the GEP, after 40 years – What you need to know! https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/revamping-the-gep Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced, during the recent National Day Rally, that the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) will be discontinued in its current form, and instead is to be updated and expanded to benefit high-ability students in all Primary Schools. The main gist of the changes to the GEP would be: All Primary Schools will be equipped to identify high-ability learners and have their own school-based programmes to stretch these students in their areas of strengths and interests. Students no longer have to transfer to a school offering GEP and can continue in their current schools with their friends. Students who excel in particular subjects can attend after-school enrichment modules, about once a week, at nearby schools with their peers.ldren can mix around and feel at home with other intellectually gifted children. READ MORE : https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/revamping-the-gep

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/S...ory_760851.html plate of raw fish and julienned vegetables was all it took to reignite a 'food fight' between Singaporeans and Malaysians. Following food ownership debates over bak kut teh and Hainanese chicken rice, the bone of contention this time is the popular Chinese New Year dish yusheng. The hullabaloo first erupted at the northern end of the Causeway earlier this month, when Singaporean celebrity foodie K.F. Seetoh first drew attention to a finance and accounting professor's Facebook page that revolved around local heritage. Writing in his weekly food column in The New Paper on Jan 3, Mr Seetoh noted Professor Tan Wee Cheng's list of six things in Singapore that he would like to see entered on Unesco's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The items are the ritual and custom of serving yusheng, Singapore cuisine, Singlish, Nine Emperor Gods Festival, the yumseng ritual in weddings and getai performances. Yusheng is a raw fish salad served in a predetermined sequence, with the server reciting wishes of luck and prosperity evoked by the names of the ingredients used. But Prof Tan's suggestion quickly sparked strong protests from across the Causeway after it was reported in the Malaysian media, which is believed to have picked up Mr Seetoh's column. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusheng Yusheng, yee sang or yuu sahng (Chinese: 鱼生; pinyin: y

I noticed that there were several cases of car fire involving BMW model recently, thus am wondering if there were similar cases reported outside Singapore. For BMW owner or motoring expert, is that a serious concern or just pure coincidence? Here are some cases I posted in MCF. And others cases in news, https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/i-was-worried-car-would-explode-says-man-ridiculed-trying-put-out-bmw-fire-crowbar?dicbo=v2-rdHP7HP

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.

On a recent episode of a podcast, Singapore came up once again (it’s a British podcast, and probably my favourite podcast), and the associated statistic was… notable. Here it is: According to a Gallup poll in 2012, Singapore was ranked the least emotional country in the world. First sentence of the associated Gallup news article: “Singaporeans are the least likely in the world to report experiencing emotions of any kind on a daily basis.” And, this… honestly feels quite true. It’s at least not surprising or outlandish. It’s worth noting the methodology to the study: Interviews with individuals who answer yes/no to questions that ask about either positive or negative emotions. In subsequent studies by Gallup, they’ve instead recategorised results into a Positive Experience Index and Negative Experience Index – it is probably a more relevant reflection of societal happiness/unhappiness. (You can find the report here.) But back to the original survey, and the original point: Are Singaporeans really emotionless, and why? Some analysts chalk this up to a culture of high productivity and high discipline – which explains us being one of the highest GDP per capita countries in the world (meaning richest). And there’s a good amount of truth to that. With a society built around productivity, even from young with a highly competitive and results-driven education system that arguably favours a stoic approach to life, Singaporeans can be characterised as robots (highly effective, highly efficient ones). And while I am clearly no anthropologist, I think most Singaporeans will recognise and probably agree with this assessment. It might be a tad too harsh to call us emotionally suppressed, and I don’t think emotionality is naturally counter-productive to work efficiency, but I do think that many Singaporeans perceive overt emotionality as being a less ideal state of efficiency. (It’s probably also somewhat indicative that the other countries ranked after Singapore - Georgia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan - are all ex-Soviet states that may be stereotypically characterised as unemotional and workman-like.) However, economic factors cannot be the only explanation. In fact, Singapore is something of an outlier in the data sets, where more wealthy countries tend to rank higher on emotionality. I also wonder if a part of it is our ability to recognise and articulate emotions – and whether there are more cultural explanations. I come back to a phrase that I hear often (and am guilty of using often, too): “Ok lor.” While it might be a fairly generic uttering, I do think there’s something implicitly Singaporean about that attitude – instead of recognising and reconciling our present emotions, we instead consciously or subconsciously choose not to acknowledge it, or any emotion at all. And there’s cultural explanations for this: Think about our upbringing, and especially with the older generations where being outwardly emotional is not particularly encouraged. Instead of feeling the swings of happiness and sadness, instead we are encouraged to adopt a more neutral emotional state. And maybe as a result, we’re also less equipped to recognise varying emotions day-to-day, and to articulate them. Hence, ok lor. Like that lor. Sui bian lor. This grey blasé approach to life is maybe our armour, but I wonder if it’s then robbing us of richer, more colourful experiences. It’s arguably in no way a ‘bad’ societal condition, because it has to be evaluated across a spectrum, but that shouldn’t mean that we take our existing emotional state (or unemotional state) as a foregone conclusion. Is this the absolute cost of efficiency and productivity? If so, is this a cost worth paying? But perhaps more importantly, why should this be the cost to pay? And culturally, positive experiences appear to radiate out of Latin America, as well as some of our neighbouring countries (Malaysia and Thailand, especially). Perhaps we could learn some cultural lessons – just as a way of enriching our daily emotional lives and all the ups and downs that we will experience. There is value, I believe, in being more emotionally adept. Singapore doesn’t seem to appear in subsequent reports, though it’s also worth highlighting that Gallup has changed their reporting approach. We’re neither high nor low on negative experiences, but neither high nor low on positive experiences either. We’re likely decidedly mid, as the kids would say. “What Is the World's Emotional Temperature?” is how Gallup headlines its research, a grand question with interesting answers. And while clearly Singapore’s emotional temperature is decidedly tepid, it is perhaps worthwhile for us to individually ponder our personal emotional thermostat. And maybe, just maybe, we can figure out that we aren’t all just dead inside. ~ Desmond Photos from Unsplash

Didn't realize that the causeway has been around for a century. It was officially opened on 28 June 1924. Source: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/malaysia-singapore-causeway-bridging-borders-100-years EVERY morning, two to three 40-foot trailers from Malaysian dairy producer Farm Fresh depart from farms in Kota Tinggi and Desaru, each delivering 18,000 litres of fresh milk to Singapore. Founder and group managing director Loi Tuan Ee credits the Johor-Singapore Causeway – which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this month – for this seamless operation. “The proximity, easy accessibility and lower logistics costs enable us to send fresh milk to our Singaporean customers daily,” he told The Business Times. The Malaysia-listed dairy producer, based in Johor, began exporting to Singapore six years ago. Today, the city state is its largest export market, contributing around 5 per cent of total sales. Farm Fresh's trailers are among 3,000 to 4,000 trucks transporting goods from Malaysia that queue daily at the Johor Bahru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex, waiting for clearance to enter Singapore. The 1 Km-long motorway crossing, also referred to as the Malaysia-Singapore Causeway, is one of the world's busiest border crossing, averaging 350,000 travellers and 100,000 vehicles daily. During peak periods such as school holidays, it handles more than 400,000 crossings daily. Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) projects that this will rise to 400,000 daily travellers by 2050. Some days, the numbers can be staggering. The recent Hari Raya Haji long weekend broke records with more than 530,000 people crossing on the Causeway and Tuas Second Link on Jun 14, said ICA. The Causeway is more that a bridge for Jeffrey Lai, president of the Johor Bahru Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "It's not just for workers travelling from JB (Johor Bahru)to Singapore everyday... it also promotes the flow investment, education and culture between both countries," said Lai, as he recalled pleasant bus journeys during his school days from Singapore to JB on Friday evenings. Lai grew up in Singapore, where his parents moved to when he was just three. After the returned to JB to start a business, Lai remained in Singapore for his secondary school education, making the cross-border commute a nearly weekend to visit them. "I still remember... every Sunday night, my father would drop me at the old customs complex, and I would take the number 170 bus from JB to Singapore," he reminisced. Now residing in JB, he still uses the Causeway to visit relatives, friends and business partners here, and to enjoy his favorite Singapore chicken rice. "The Causeway is an important link connecting both countries," he added, noting that more than 10,000 students cross the Causeway daily for their studies. They are not just Malaysian students from JB studying in Singapore, but also, increasingly, students from Singapore going to international schools in JB. Kelvin Kee, executive director of international business division at Singapore Business Federation (SBF), said bilateral trade between Singapore and Malaysia has grown, not just for merchandise, but also in services and digital trade. "Following the lifting of pandemic restrictions, we have seen the cross-border flow of people using the Causeway return to pre-pandemic levels, and even exceed such levels during peak periods," he told BT. He highlighted that Malaysia's proximity to Singapore offers business owners an attractive option for overseas expansion, with significantly lower costs for labour, overheads, rent and land. Since the GlobalConnect@SBF programme launched in November 2019 to aid Singapore businesses in overseas expansion, the business chamber has facilitated 32 successful projects into Malaysia as at December 2023, across various sectors including manufacturing, retail, education and services. In 2023, Johor garnered a total investment of RM43 billion (S$12.4 billion) from 751 approved projects, with more than 70 percent, or RM31 billion, coming from foreign direct investment (FDI). Over half of the FDI went to service sector, while the manufacturing sector received 30 percent. Lee Ting Han, Johor state investment, trade, consumer affairs, and human resources committee chairman, said 70 percent of the FDI in the state's manufacturing sector comes from Singapore. With ongoing projects and robust tourism, the state government is confident total investment in 2024 will surpass last year's. In the first quarter of 2024, 221 projects were approved, focusing on machinery and equipment, food processing, electrical and electronics, and chemical and petrolchemical sectors. Singapore is the second-largest investor in Malaysia and one of the biggest investment sources for Johor, especially the Iskandar region - Malaysia's southern growth corridor. From 2006 to September 2023, cumulative investment from Singapore to the Iskandar region reached RM45.8 billion - about 25 percent of total investment. Wile the Causeway remains the primary connection between the two cities, a significant catalyst for enhanced connectivity will be the JB-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS), set to begin operations by end-2026. In an earlier interview with BT, Malaysia's Mass Rapid Transit Corp CEO Mohd Zarif said the 4 km journey on the light rail shuttle service will take about five minutes. If all goes well, travelling from Bukit Chagar station in JB to Singapore will take only 15 minutes. Chua Hak Bin, regional co-head for macro at Maybank Investment Banking Group, expects the RTS, which is over two-thirds complete, to improve connectivity, reduce congestion and strengthen JB-Singapore ties. The RTS will increase its capacity to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, compared to the current KTM rail service's 640 passengers.

JOHOR BARU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has announced that the Government has decided to implement the Vehicle Entry Permit fee for all foreign vehicles entering Johor. Najib said that the decision was made following a request made by the state. "I have discussed the matter with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and have also informed Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Wahid Omar of our decision. "I have instructed him to inform the Road Transport Department (JPJ) so they can work out the details before the VEP is implemented," he said during a buka puasa event organised by the state Wednesday. "We will make an announcement later on the date of implementation and the rates for the VEP," he said. Najib also assured that a portion of the collection would be channelled to the state Government.

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.

I know we have a separate property thread, but IMO, this deserves a separate discussion. This area will be big, in size and impact.. https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/9000-housing-units-including-hdb-be-built-keppel-club-site https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ndr-2019-greater-southern-waterfront-pulau-brani-sentosa-keppel-11819376?cid=h3_referral_inarticlelinks_24082018_cna https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/specific-measures-could-dampen-lottery-effect-of-public-housing-11825766 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6xz58yCqGk

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Singapore-Airlines-returns-to-profit-as-Asia-travel-surges?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20220729123000&seq_num=17&si=44594 Singapore Airlines returns to profit as Asia travel surges Carrier warns of inflation, as it and city-state prepare for more visitors Singapore Airlines will restore its India operations to pre-pandemic levels, while adding more flights to Japanese cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. © Reuters TSUBASA SURUGA, Nikkei staff writerJuly 28, 2022 20:41 JST SINGAPORE -- Singapore Airlines returned to profit for the three months ended June, helped by a sharp revival in travel demand after regional economies reopen their borders as COVID comes under control. The city-state's flagship carrier on Thursday reported a net profit of 370 million Singaporean dollars ($268 million) for the April-June period, recovering from a S$409 million loss it posted the same period a year ago. Sales tripled to S$3.91 billion in the quarter from a year ago. The airline has had a choppy year. It made its first quarterly profit in the three months to end-December since the onset of the pandemic, which reflected the city-state's move to expand quarantine-free travel in October. But it fell back into a loss over the next three months, hit by higher fuel prices. "Travel demand is expected to remain robust in the near term as we head into the year-end holiday travel period, with forward sales staying buoyant for the next three months up to October 2022," the airlines said in a statement. Although the travel industry in Southeast Asia is recovering, inflationary pressure, particularly high fuel prices, could still dampen earnings as airlines ramp up capacity. As a key travel hub, Singapore was hit hard by global COVID restrictions. For the fiscal year ended March, Singapore Airlines posted a net loss of S$962 million, its third consecutive annual loss. Since April this year, however, Singapore has relaxed most of its restrictions and allowed quarantine-free entry for vaccinated travelers. In the first half of this year, Singapore saw 1.5 million visitors, nearly 12 times more than the same period last year. The arrivals mostly came from Indonesia, India and Malaysia. As global travel picks up, the Singapore Tourism Board expects 4 million to 6 million visitors this year. This is still far from the 19.12 million arrivals in 2019, but much higher than the 2.74 million in 2020. During the first quarter, Singapore Airlines carried over 5 million passengers, 14 times higher than the year before. Elsewhere in the region, Thailand has also opened up to vaccinated travelers and it expects 9.3 million visitors this year. Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia also hope to take in more arrivals this year, now that they, too, have lifted restrictions. To meet increasing demand, Singapore's Changi Airport said it will reopen in September its fourth terminal, which mostly handles low-cost flights. Still, the tourism board noted that the travel industry "will face some headwinds for the rest of the year because of the volatile global political and economic environment, as well as the evolving health situation." For Singapore Airlines, "inflationary pressures including elevated fuel prices remain a concern." Its net fuel cost more than tripled to S$1.27 billion in the three months to end-June. The airline said that it will continue to "keep a tight rein on costs," while increasing services to destinations globally. Singapore Airlines will restore its India operations to pre-pandemic levels, while adding more flights to Japanese cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. With strong demand, more services will be added to Los Angeles and Paris, the airline said. Shares in Singapore Airlines rose 0.2% to S$5.36 on Thursday ahead of the earnings announcement.