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The_King

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  1. Popular Korean convenience store chain Emart24 has abruptly closed all 3 of its outlets in Singapore as of 18 Mar 2024. The news first broke via a post on the Singapore Atrium Sale Facebook page on the afternoon of 18 Mar. A quick online search reveals this to be true — the Google Maps profiles for its Jurong Point, NEX and Margaret Market outlets have been updated to reflect a “Permanently Closed” status. Nonetheless, we remain in the dark about the reason behind these closures, as Emart24 has yet to give a formal update or announcement of any sort on its social media pages. Emart24 is a famous Korean convenience store chain that’s well-known for its variety of affordable Korean street food, ready-to-eat meals, drinks and lifestyle items. It boasts a widespread presence in Asia, with thousands of outlets in Korea and numerous international outlets, including 48 in Malaysia. On the other hand, its presence on our little red dot has been rather short-lived; its sudden closure comes after slightly over a year of operations. Emart24 first landed on our shores in end-2022, with its first opening in Jurong Point on 23 Dec 2022. A second outlet in NEX followed shortly after, on 24 Dec 2022. Its third outlet in Margaret Market came slightly later in Jul 2023. The initial opening was a highly anticipated affair, with Singaporeans flocking to the stores in its first days. Throngs of customers were seen enjoying street snacks in the likes of iconic Handmade Corn Dogs, Tteokbokki, Kimbap and signature CUPBAP Rice Bowls. Part of this allure had to do with the novelty of experiencing Korean convenience store culture right here at home. Emart24 allowed for unique tastes of Korea and such culture in the simple form of automated DIY ramyun machines and its range of viral packet drinks poured in ice cups. For a moment, it felt as though we could enjoy ramyun at the Han River and sip on iced Americanos in the streets of Myeongdong, all from the comfort of a local shopping mall. The sudden departure of Emart24 is indeed saddening. Nonetheless, I’m sure many of us are more than ready to welcome them back with open arms, or any international convenience store brands for that matter.
  2. ya that wood stick to scratch back hahaha wtf is paper humans
  3. https://app.suno.ai/
  4. The police have raided 11 premises, including two food courts, in response to reports of prostitution activities in Kuala Lumpur In a series of anti-prostitution raids on Saturday, 16 March, the police arrested 47 individuals in Jalan Pudu and Jalan Bukit Bintang, reported the New Straits Times. Of the 11 raided premises, two were brothels, seven were massage parlours, and two were food courts, said Dang Wangi police chief ACP Noor Dellhan Yahaya. It is understood that the modus operandi began at the food courts, where clients would purchase garlands for sex workers. The clients would then leave the food courts with the sex workers to engage in sexual activities at a different location. The police seized condoms, massage oils, towels, receipts, work schedules, garlands, CCTVs, microphones, modems, mobile phones, and RM4,730 in cash Of the 47 individuals arrested, 25 were foreign women, 14 were foreign men, and eight were locals. The case is currently being investigated under Section 372B of the Penal Code for prostitution, as well as Section 55B and Section 6(1)© of the Immigration Act, reported Harian Metro. https://says.com/my/news/pdrm-raids-2-kl-fo...kzh9ez8wo7g243u
  5. SINGAPORE: A woman who died while receiving aesthetic treatment at a clinic had allegedly been taking medication and health supplements before the treatment, a court heard on Monday (Mar 18) during the trial of her doctor. Dr Chan Bingyi, 35, is accused of negligence when he administered ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, or EDTA, to Ms Lau Li Ting on Mar 8, 2019. EDTA is a common ingredient in skincare and cosmetic products which acts as a chelator or binding agent that suppresses chemical activity. Dr Chan allegedly administered the acid at too high a concentration and too quickly at the clinic at Revival Medical & Aesthetics Centre along Bras Basah Road. According to the charge sheet, this caused Ms Lau, who was 31, to develop EDTA toxicity leading to her cardiac arrest and eventual death. Dr Chan is still registered as a medical practitioner on the Ministry of Health's registry. His trial opened on Monday with the prosecution calling Ms Lau's father as a witness and the defence pointing to her alleged use of medication and slimming products. Ms Lau's father, Mr Lau Yau Sui, testified that he last saw his daughter on the morning of the incident. She had been due to fly to China that evening for a business trip with a friend, Mr Lau said through a Mandarin interpreter. While he was at work, he received a call from Dr Chan telling him that his daughter had suffered a cardiac arrest while undergoing aesthetic treatment. "Initially I did not believe him because I knew that she would be travelling at night, where would she have time to do (aesthetic) treatment at that moment?" he said. "Dr Chan told me that he was about to do the (aesthetic) treatment and before that, he had to inject a numbing material and before he could do that my daughter had a seizure followed by cardiac arrest and had to be sent to emergency department of Singapore General Hospital." The father went to the hospital after 4pm and was told by a doctor that her daughter had arrived "over the golden time" for rescue, and it would be "very difficult" to save her. "According to the doctor ... for those senior people they would forgo the treatment to save the patients but because my daughter is younger they would try to save her," he said. His wife, who also went to the hospital, asked the doctor about Ms Lau's condition and was told that it was "not hopeful". "Usually if the heart stops beating for more than 30 minutes, it's not likely to be saved. Because the brain has a lack of oxygen so (she) will be brain dead," Mr Lau recalled. Earlier reports state that Ms Lau was placed on life support for several days before she died on Mar 13. Mr Lau testified that his daughter had no known health conditions, but that she had been consuming medication due to sleeping problems and depression after being "seriously assaulted" by an ex-boyfriend years earlier. He added that she had been taking health supplements, but could not specify what kind. Mr Lau was then shown his daughter's medical records, which stated that she had been taking weight loss supplements. Asked about this, Mr Lau maintained his daughter could not be taking weight loss supplements as she was "not fat". Upon cross-examination by Dr Chan's lawyer Adrian Wee, however, Mr Lau admitted that he would not have known for sure whether his daughter was consuming slimming products. Mr Lau was also shown his police statement made in March 2019, when he stated that his daughter had been consuming vitamins and slimming products since a year ago, and that she had undergone the same aesthetic treatment in January 2019. Asked by the defence about his mention of slimming products, Mr Lau said he could not recall having said it. Mr Wee also asked Mr Lau if he had been aware that his daughter had been unable to sleep even after taking medication, to which Mr Lau replied: "No, she told me that after taking the medication, she can sleep better." Mr Wee then showed the elderly man a document from Ms Lau's psychiatrist around a week before the incident, stating that Ms Lau had been having nightmares and flashbacks of her assault in 2017, triggered by her relationship with her current boyfriend. She was noted to have been prescribed new medication to help her sleep. Mr Lau said he was not aware of this update. When asked by the judge to clarify the direction of the questions, Mr Wee said that the defence wanted to show that Mr Lau was not in a position to say if the deceased had been consuming slimming products. Ms Lau had 400g of pill residue in her stomach at her time of death which was "unaccounted for", Mr Wee added. This is equivalent to about 600 Paracetamol pills, he said. "That has not been adequately addressed in expert reports so we are addressing this issue," said Mr Wee, adding that the defence will be questioning Ms Lau's mother on the issue when she takes the stand. Dr Chan faces one count of causing the death of Ms Lau by a negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide. The trial continues on Monday afternoon. Source: CNA/wt(zl)
  6. SINGAPORE - Six men, aged between 63 and 77, are under investigation for suspected links to illegal horse-betting activities, the police said on March 18. During raids on illegal gambling activities in Yishun Avenue 5, a 63-year-old man was arrested for allegedly acting as a bookmaker, the police said in a statement. The remaining five, aged between 69 and 77, are helping police with investigations, and are believed to have placed bets with the alleged bookie, the statement added. More than $4,500 in cash, one mobile phone and gambling paraphernalia were seized during the raids, which took place on March 17, the police said. Anyone convicted of being involved in unlawful betting operations can be fined up to $200,000 and jailed for up to five years. Those found guilty of gambling with an unlicensed gambling service provider can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both.
  7. Bee Kee Hong Kong Thiam Sim in Bedok closing after 42 years of selling dim sum Another long-running food business in Singapore is closing down due to its ageing owner not being able to find a successor. Bee Kee Hong Kong Thiam Sim, a dim sum shop in Bedok Reservoir, will reportedly call it a day at the end of this month. Source: Google Maps Its elderly owner has said that he is unable to cope with the business. Bedok dim sum shop run by people in their 60s & 70s Bee Kee Hong Kong Thiam Sim, located at Block 632 Bedok Reservoir Road, is run by 66-year-old Ye Mingrong (transliterated from Mandarin). He is helped by his wife Huang Yaping and three employees. All of them are in their 60s and 70s and his staff work only part-time, he told Shin Min Daily News. Source: Shin Min Daily News They help make the food and run the shop for just a few hours a day, so it doesn’t cost much to hire them, he added. Owner’s strength began to decline 2 years ago However, Mr Ye said his physical strength began to decline about two years ago. He began to feel pain in his hands and feet, as well as numbness in his hands. This made it difficult for him to make the dim sum. He ended up having to take two months off due to his condition. Source: Shin Min Daily News After he returned, he and his wife continued to head to their shop at 4am, two hours before their employees arrived. They would go home to take a rest only at 9am, letting their employees take over operations. In the afternoon, his 68-year-old sister would sell the dim sum until evening. Bedok dim sum shop closing but exact date unconfirmed After Mr Ye’s four children learnt of his health problems, they advised him and his wife to retire and enjoy life. However, none of them are interested in taking over the business as they have their own careers, he said. While it has been decided that the shop will shut down by the end of March, an exact date hasn’t been confirmed yet. Mr Ye intended to shutter after using up his ingredients, but word spread after they started informing customers of the closure. He plans to hand the premises over to relatives who sell vegetarian food, but seemed open to handing down his culinary skills, saying: If someone is willing to learn, I don’t mind teaching. He started out making dim sum 50 years ago Mr Ye started in this line as an apprentice at a Hong Kong-style dim sum shop in Chinatown about 50 years ago. In the 1970s, he began working at Bee Kee Hong Kong Thiam Sim, which was founded by his wife’s aunt. Later, he and his wife became the main operators of the shop. Bedok dim sum shop has affordable prices The shop is known for its inexpensive and tasty dim sum, with a rating of 4.6 out of 22 reviews on Google. A highlight is its siew mai, which a customer described as “big and juicy and affordably priced” at just S$0.70 each. Source: Shin Min Daily News In fact, a price list posted on Google Maps in October 2023 shows that all its items are reasonably priced. For example, lotus paste pau and red bean paste pau are S$0.80 each, while the most expensive item is fan choy (char siew with rice) at S$1.80. Source: Google Maps Mr Ye said the shop has raised its prices only twice over the years. The first time was 10 years ago and the second was at the start of 2023. Each time, its prices went up by just S$0.10. Customers sad that Bedok dim sum shop is closing Consequently, customers have lamented the closure of Bee Kee Hong Kong Thiam Sim. Mr Bai (transliterated from Mandarin) a 66-year-old regular, said he has patronised the shop every week for more than 10 years. He added that it was a pity it was closing as the siew mai is “not bad”. He thought the shop was just relocating but didn’t expect that he would soon never taste its food again. Other customers have also decried the closure online, saying that the shop is part of the collective memory of residents in the area. Here’s some information about the shop if you want to head down before it closes for good: Bee Kee Hong Kong Thiam Sim Address: 632 Bedok Reservoir Rd, #01-878, Singapore 470632 Opening Hours: 11am to 9pm (Thu to Sun, Tues), 7am to 9pm (Wed), closed Mon Nearest MRT station: Bedok North
  8. 23-year-old worker dies after workplace accident at Bedok North JTC building A 23-year-old foreign worker has died following an alleged workplace accident at a JTC industrial building in Bedok on Saturday (16 March) morning. Heavy machinery had apparently fallen and crushed him under its weight. The worker subsequently succumbed to his injuries and died at the hospital. Police investigations into this incident are ongoing. Heavy machinery reportedly injured foreign worker in Bedok workplace accident A source told 8world News that the accident happened at a steam cake manufacturer located on the fifth story of a JTC industrial building along Bedok North Street 5. Source: Google Maps, for illustration purposes only. The deceased is a 23-year-old foreign worker who was reportedly crushed by heavy machinery, the source said. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told the Chinese-language news outlet that it received a report about the incident at 8.25am. Paramedics conveyed the injured man to Changi General Hospital for medical treatment. Worker succumbed to his injuries hours later, police investigations ongoing However, the man succumbed to his injuries after a few hours and died in hospital at 3.35pm. Responding to queries from 8world, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said that it received a call for assistance from Changi General Hospital around the same time. Source: Changi General Hospital, for illustration purposes only. Police learnt that the 23-year-old was conveyed conscious to the hospital after he was involved in an industrial accident at Bedok North Street 5, and was pronounced dead later in the day. The SPF has ruled out homicide following preliminary checks. Investigations into this case are ongoing. MS News has reached out to JTC for additional comment.
  9. 【法庭】女护士去按摩 遭男按摩师非礼   被告是50岁的王世涛(中国籍),案发时是一名按摩师,面对3项非礼控状。   案情显示,29岁的受害者(女护士)去年2月1日下午3时26分,到福禄寿大厦一间保健中心按摩。   由于受害者肩颈酸痛,她接受被告提议接受精油按摩。在被告的要求下,受害者换上短裤,并脱掉上衣和胸罩。   被告叫受害者趴在按摩床上,他为受害者按摩时,将受害者短裤拉下,受害者半个屁股外露,被告在按摩受害者屁股时,非礼了她的股沟和私处旁的部位。   被告后来叫受害者转身,并在为受害者按摩大腿时,再次非礼她。   被告今早认罪后被判坐牢半年。(图:示范照)   详情请看《新明日报》。有新闻线索,请拨热线:91918727。 [Court] Female nurse went to massage and was indecently assaulted by male masseur The accused is 50 year old Wang Shitao (Chinese national), a masseur at the time of the crime, facing three charges of indecent assault. The case shows that the 29-year-old victim (female nurse) went to a health centre in Fuzu Mansion for a massage at 3:26 pm on February 1 last year. She accepted the accused's offer to receive essential oil massage due to sore shoulder and neck of the victim. At the request of the accused, the victim changed into shorts and took off his top and bra. The accused asked the victim to lie down on the massage bed. When he massaged the victim, he pulled the victim's shorts down, half of the victim's buttocks exposed. The accused indecently assaulted the victim's groove and private parts when The accused later called the victim to turn around and again sexually assaulted her while massaging her thighs. The accused was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty this morning. (Picture: demonstration photo) For details, please see the New Ming Daily. For news leads, call the hotline: 91918727.
  10. Commuters who frequent the Sengkang LRT can look forward to quicker boarding and alighting at the Sengkang LRT station as the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be enhancing the platform layout for both East and West loops at the station. First revealed in an LTA report published last year, the enhancement to the Sengkang LRT station platform is just one of three improvements that commuters can look forward to being implemented on the Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT) system. Sengkang LRT Station Enhancement Works Platform Enhancements at Sengkang LRT Station Diagram of Sengkang LRT station platform after enhancement works. (Image: Lam Pin Min/Facebook) LTA said in a statement on Mar 5 that enhancement works to the platforms of Sengkang LRT station for improved commuter flow will commence this month. The platform enhancement works at Sengkang LRT station include dedicated stopping locations for each of the four routes plying the station. “New signs and queue markings, as well as a new tactile guiding system, will also be implemented to facilitate boarding and alighting,” LTA added. Works are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year.
  11. we already solve the low birth rate le, which NOOB Experts say have not solve yet? we have at least 32k new citizen yr. who need baby when you got ready meat for the grinder , new adult ready to enter workforce, no need do NS also
  12. SINGAPORE: With its total fertility rate dropping below 1.0 for the first time, Singapore could learn from other countries in increasing and equalising parental leave, population experts said. Getting people to marry earlier, and addressing the costs and stresses associated with having children, are other ways to possibly make a "palpable" difference, they added. Preliminary estimates of Singapore’s total fertility rate show that the figure fell to 0.97 in 2023, declining further from the previous record of 1.04 in 2022 and 1.12 in 2021. The country has yet to throw the kitchen sink at the problem, said Dr Kalpana Vignehsa, a senior research fellow with the Institute of Policy Studies at the National University of Singapore. While a baby bonus scheme and other incentives are “increasingly generous”, they are not generous in the same way as the one year of paid parental leave offered to South Korean and Japanese parents, she added, while also pointing to Nordic countries. In Iceland, each parent receives six months of leave at 80 per cent of pay for children born or adopted from 2021, with six weeks transferable between the two parents. Global maternity leave standards were laid out in 1919 by the International Labour Office, calling for 12 weeks of leave. A 1952 revision made this the minimum. “In Singapore, with 16 weeks paid maternity leave and four weeks paid paternity leave, we haven’t moved much beyond these outdated standards,” said Dr Vignehsa. Professor Jean Yeung from NUS’ medical school said it was unlikely that Singapore would increase its leave quota by much more. "But at least Singapore can start by mandating the four-week paternity leave without having employers’ approval,” said Prof Yeung, who is also the director of social sciences at A*STAR's Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences. At Budget 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that government-paid paternity leave would be doubled from two weeks to four weeks from 2024. The two additional weeks of leave, for fathers of Singaporean children born from the start of 2024, is still voluntary for employers. It will eventually become mandatory, though the government has not said when. Mandating the extra two weeks will remove an “extra layer” where fathers need to seek approval from employers, which in turn deters them from asking for and taking it, said Prof Yeung. "USE IT OR LOSE IT" Among East Asian countries, the take-up rate of paternity leave may be muted due to gendered cultural norms at the workplace and at home. Policies that promote both parents taking the leave, like what Sweden has rolled out, may address this, said Dr Vignehsa. In Sweden, each parent is entitled to 240 days of paid parental leave. Ninety of these days are reserved exclusively for each parent and are not transferable. “Effectively, this is a ‘use it or lose it’ policy, which Sweden has used to counter cultural norms and increase the percentage of fathers utilising paternity leave,” said Dr Vignehsa. While the more extensive and gender-equal parental leave policies of Nordic countries have not been enough to sustain boosts to their birth rates, research shows that fathers who take their paternity leave enjoy closer bonds with their children, said the IPS senior research fellow. Singapore also has a "less gendered workplace culture" compared to both Japan and South Korea, which makes it easier for men to go on long leave if it was available, she added. Dr Vignehsa suggested developing an industry of parental leave cover positions, or contract positions that employers could tap to fill temporarily vacant roles. “Although some industries, such as the legal profession, do have these norms, it is not widespread. And stories of people having to cover some work duties while on parental leave or do catchup work when they return, are rife.” ARGUMENTS AGAINST MORE LEAVE Making the announcement about Singapore’s total fertility rate in parliament in February, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah cited various reasons for Singapore’s low fertility: Marriage plans disrupted by COVID-19, concerns about the financial cost of raising children, pressures to be an excellent parent or difficulties managing work and family commitments. Singapore's low fertility rate reflects a global phenomenon where individual priorities and societal norms have shifted, she added. Ms Indranee said the government was looking at how paid parental leave can be increased. “We must recognise that this requires workplace adjustments and that employers may face challenges in making arrangements to cover for employees’ extended absences.” Professor Paulin Straughan from the Singapore Management University (SMU) also cautioned against long parental leave, calling it a “zero-sum game”. “If we over-privilege one group, we will disprivilege the other group,” she added, referring to those without childcare responsibilities. The social scientist highlighted that with Singapore's rapidly ageing population, increasing eldercare leave may be just as urgent. “The answer is not in the government mandating more leave, but rather encouraging colleagues or staff to enter a conversation with their employers ... to allow flexibility (in work arrangements) to be more robust and tailored to whatever the organisation can offer and what the staff needs.” This is difficult to mandate with policies because different industries have different needs, she added. STARTING SOONER For Prof Straughan, encouraging earlier marriages is one way to address Singapore's plummeting birth rate. “Young Singaporeans are getting married later. And once they get married later, for somebody in their 30s … the chances of successful natural conception is going to be lower," she said. "Secondly, by the time you get married so late, I think they're also reluctant to change their lifestyle." In 2022, the average age at marriage was almost 29 years old for women - thus leading to many couples who end up wanting babies when it's "too late", said NUS' Prof Yeung. If Singapore lowers the eligible age for singles to receive housing subsidies, this may lead to young people securing independent living arrangements earlier, which may in turn cause them to start dating and thinking about marriage earlier, she suggested. Singapore can also support education about early fertility, and provide early fertility assessments for partners, experts said. “Providing accurate knowledge and early assessments will help couples make informed decisions about their fertility,” said Prof Yeung. A recent study that she participated in found that Singaporeans prefer having one child to not having any. However, they do not prefer having two or more children, if other areas of family life that they value are not fulfilled. MOVING THE NEEDLE The most impactful measures to encourage parenthood will be those that directly address the reservations or obstacles faced by people who want children, said IPS’ Dr Vignehsa. For example, subsidies for artificial reproductive techniques could remove barriers for those struggling to have kids. Reservations could take the form of costs and stresses. While the government already provides a sizeable amount of support, incentives like the baby bonus do not alleviate financial anxiety in the long run, said Dr Vignehsa. As for stresses, the key lies in tending to the emotions and fears holding potential parents back. “They can see that other parents, particularly mothers, experience burnout because managing young children in a dual-career family unit is stressful," said the IPS senior research fellow. "Women also value their careers and are essential to the country’s economy, which means that dual-career families are likely to endure.” Prof Yeung called on Singapore to reduce "intense competition" in school and at work. “However, we need to be careful about flexible work arrangements because research shows that after flexible work arrangements, women take up more domestic responsibilities than before, so it may backfire." Like Dr Vignehsa, Prof Straughan underscored the importance of targeting those already inclined or keen to have kids. "Those who want children will still have these children whether or not you give them the baby bonus," she said. “But for those who for whatever reason are reluctant to invest in parenthood, the baby bonus doesn’t really move the needle that much.” Source: CNA/hw(jo)
  13. SINGAPORE – Xpeng, a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand backed by German carmaker Volkswagen, will be launched in Singapore by the second half of 2024. Sources with close knowledge of the negotiations said the EV maker appointed Premium Automobiles as its distributor recently. This will be the second Chinese EV brand that Premium is representing, after Zeekr from Geely. The first Xpeng model to retail in Singapore is expected to be the G6, a sport utility vehicle that is about the same size as the Tesla Model Y. This is likely to include a single motor version capable of covering 580km on a single charge. Premium Automobiles did not respond to queries on Xpeng when approached for comment. The dealership, which is also the retail partner of German car brand Audi, would say only that Zeekr remains on track to be launched here by the third quarter of 2024. The Straits Times has also contacted Xpeng for comment. Xpeng’s impending foray into Singapore comes as the EV adoption rate here rises. In 2023, EVs made up 18.1 per cent of total car registrations, up from 11.7 per cent in 2022 and 3.8 per cent in 2021. The Chinese brand is regarded by industry experts as among the strongest contenders against Tesla, although it delivered just 141,600 units in 2023 – a fraction of the 1.08 million units managed by the American EV brand. It sells left-hand drive models in China, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. On March 11, the South China Morning Post reported that Xpeng plans to launch right-hand drive models in the second half of 2024 as part of its global expansion strategy. Volkswagen holds a 5 per cent stake in the company from Guangzhou, China, and the companies are working to develop two VW-branded models for the Chinese market. Automotive consultant Say Kwee Neng said Xpeng is one of three Chinese EV brands – the other two being Nio and Li Auto – that are well regarded for their products’ technology, design and level of sophistication. “There is a lot of hype behind these three brands, but ultimately, it will be down to the representative in Singapore to bring in the right model mix and be relevant. We have already seen how BYD has broken down walls to make Chinese EVs desirable to consumers here,” Mr Say added. Chinese EV brand BYD was the fourth-biggest selling brand in Singapore in 2023, outselling the likes of Nissan (fifth), Hyundai (seventh) and Tesla (ninth). Xpeng joins at least five other Chinese brands that are slated to enter the Singapore market, including GAC Aion, which will be launched in April by Vincar. Their addition will more than double the number of Chinese car brands from the four in 2023 – BYD, MG, Maxus and Ora. Mr Say believes that Chinese EV brands are hastening their move into Singapore to build up global credibility as they try to break into European markets. Automotive analysts expect EV sales in China to grow at a slower pace in 2024, even as domestic EV brands and Tesla have been cutting prices to boost demand. This slowdown in demand is pushing Chinese EV brands to look abroad for sales, some industry insiders believe. The other Chinese EV brands slated to launch here are Smart, which Cycle & Carriage will roll out in the first half of 2024; Chery, which is represented by Vertex Automobile; Seres, which is imported by Hong Seh; and Neta, which Vincar has the rights to distribute.
  14. SINGAPORE - With limited options for renewable energy, Singapore is not ruling out the use of nuclear energy to cut emissions from its power sector while safeguarding the nation’s energy security – and the Republic is learning from the best minds in the field as part of the decision-making process. The Straits Times understands that teams from government agencies in Singapore, such as the Energy Market Authority (EMA), have conducted visits to countries like the United States, United Kingdom and Germany to engage international organisations and partners on nuclear energy. In response to queries, a spokesman for EMA said: “Given the technical complexity and ongoing developments in advanced nuclear energy and fusion technologies, Singapore is building capabilities to better understand the safety implications of deploying such technologies in small and densely populated countries. “(This includes) engaging international organisations and partners to deepen our understanding of evolving nuclear technologies and facilitate information sharing.” These organisations include the International Atomic Energy Agency, a United Nations agency that promotes the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies; the UK Atomic Energy Authority, which researches fusion energy; and the Max Planck Institute in Germany. The German institute houses the futuristic Wendelstein-7X – the world’s largest stellarator, an experimental reactor for nuclear fusion reactions. The EMA spokesman added that Singapore is also working with regional neighbours through Asean platforms to build the region’s capabilities in nuclear safety and emergency preparedness and response. “As an energy-disadvantaged country, Singapore has limited options for decarbonisation. To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, Singapore’s electricity supply mix will need to evolve over the coming decades,” the spokesperson added, referring to Singapore’s aim of having the amount of planet-warming emissions it emits taper down to net zero by the middle of the century. Currently, about 95 per cent of Singapore’s energy is generated from burning natural gas, a fossil fuel. Emissions from this sector make up about 40 per cent of the country’s total emissions. “We need to study various low-carbon alternatives such as hydrogen, deep geothermal systems, biofuels and new forms of nuclear energy that could potentially enable Singapore to decarbonise the power sector in the longer term,” EMA added. For example, the authorities will be conducting a nationwide geophysical study to assess Singapore’s deep geothermal resource potential for power generation. The Republic is also moving to import clean generated electricity from its neighbours. Nuclear energy is considered a low-carbon energy source, since the reactions that produce the energy do not release planet-warming gases, unlike the burning of fossil fuels. While it is promising, the deployment of nuclear technologies can be controversial, especially after disasters involving nuclear plants in Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011. In 2022, an EMA-commissioned report on Singapore’s energy future highlighted that nuclear energy could supply about 10 per cent of the country’s energy needs by 2050. Since then, there has been greater discussion in Singapore about the role of nuclear energy in the nation’s energy mix. For example, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said during his Budget speech in February that the Republic does not rule out nuclear power, and that it will build capabilities and decide on the feasibility of nuclear deployment in the future. On March 1, Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng told Parliament that Singapore engages with international organisations and countries widely to assess the suitability of advanced nuclear energy technologies for the country when they are proven to be safe and viable. Dr Tan said then that there remain the issues of engineering challenges for fusion reactors and the low global supply of tritium – a key fuel for fusion – which affects when fusion energy will be commercialised. But Singapore will continue to identify capabilities in the local ecosystem that are fusion-relevant and where the country could play a role in the fusion supply chain, he added. Currently, operational nuclear plants around the world generate energy from fission reactions, where uranium atoms are split into two to produce heat and radiation. Nuclear fusion, on the other hand, happens when two nuclei – or masses of protons and neutrons – fuse into a single heavy nucleus, producing massive amounts of energy in the process, with no long-term radioactive waste, a problem with commercial nuclear fission plants. Other than consultations with international experts, Singapore is also moving ahead on nuclear energy in other fronts. The Straits Times reported in early March that a new multimillion-dollar research building at the National University of Singapore will have about 100 researchers looking into nuclear tech and safety, from the latest in small modular reactors (SMRs) to how radioactive materials can disperse if there is an accident. SMRs, which are also not yet commercialised, are smaller and advanced nuclear reactors that promise to be safer than traditional nuclear power plants. Singapore has also been supporting research into relevant areas of nuclear safety, as well as training a local pool of scientists and experts via the Nuclear Safety Research and Education Programme that was set up in 2014, said EMA. Dr Victor Nian, chief executive and co-founder of the independent Centre for Strategic Energy and Resources think-tank, noted that Singapore should also move into nuclear engineering, design and supply-chain related research to gain a holistic understanding of the critical issues in nuclear energy. When asked to comment on the types of nuclear reactors that could be deployed in Singapore, Dr Nian said it is very likely that only SMRs and micro-reactors may be suitable on land. Floating nuclear power plants could be another option, he added. Factory-built SMRs can be easily shipped to a location for installation. Dr Nian added: “SMRs and micro-reactors can be deployed in replacement of existing power generation facilities, such as Senoko, Tuas Power and those on Jurong Island. “However, Singapore will still need to carry out a feasibility study to determine the suitable sites and technologies before a decision can be made.”
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