Friday, May 2, 2025
30.7 C
Singapore
type here...
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 429

Senoko Energy partners with Gentari to import hydrogen gas from Malaysia to Singapore to help reduce carbon emissions

Mary Alavanza
-
0
Senoko Energy partners with Gentari to import hydrogen gas from Malaysia to Singapore to help reduce carbon emissions

SINGAPORE: Senoko Energy, one of Singapore’s largest energy companies, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Gentari, a clean energy provider, to explore importing hydrogen gas from Malaysia to Singapore.

According to the Singapore Business Review, the plan is to integrate hydrogen into Senoko’s existing gas turbine systems, increasing efficiency and reducing emissions.

The 20-year supply deal is expected to begin by 2029, with an initial goal of cutting 18,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. That is equivalent to taking about 4,000 cars off the roads. Over time, this could lead to a total reduction of up to 535,000 tonnes, equivalent to 119,000 cars.

Senoko aims to be the first in Singapore to use hydrogen for power generation, helping the city-state reach its 2050 net-zero emissions goal.

Frederik Baerts, Senoko Energy’s president and CEO, shared hydrogen’s role in lowering emissions. He stated, “Hydrogen has the potential to play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions, and so together, we are taking a bold step towards creating a more sustainable energy landscape and low-carbon future.“

Michèle Azalbert, Gentari’s chief hydrogen officer, added, “Gentari firmly believes hydrogen is crucial to decarbonising multiple sectors on the path to Net Zero, and we’re encouraged by stakeholder support and rising demand for low-carbon hydrogen derivatives.”

In June 2023, Senoko also signed an MoU with City Energy to explore hydrogen options. In addition, the company launched SolarShare 2.0, Singapore’s first peer-to-peer solar energy trading platform, and is looking into green electricity imports, a new H-Class Combined Cycle Plant, and on-site solar PV. /TISG

Read also: Singapore CEOs are shifting focus to AI investments, deprioritising investing in sustainability initiatives

Malaysia joins BRICS as a partner country to “strike a balance with great powers and open new business and investment opportunities”

Mary Alavanza
-
0
Malaysia joins BRICS as a partner country to “strike a balance with great powers and open new business and investment opportunities”

MALAYSIA: Malaysia is now a partner country to BRICS (Brazil, India, China, and South Africa), an alliance described by Al Jazeera as aiming to challenge the economic and political monopoly of the West. 

The update was shared by @BRICSInfo on X (previously Twitter), confirming that Malaysia, along with 12 other nations, is classified as a “partner country (not a full member).” The nations added alongside Malaysia include Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

According to Malay Mail, on July 28, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that Malaysia had submitted its application to Russia, the current chair of BRICS. Prior to that, Mr Anwar had expressed Malaysia’s intention to join during a conversation with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on June 18. 

Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan stated that Malaysia’s inclusion in BRICS as a partner country would create better trade opportunities, given the combined 3.2 billion population of BRICS member states.

In a written parliamentary response, he mentioned that Malaysia is committed to advancing the Global South agenda to enhance South-to-South cooperation and collaboration, especially during its upcoming tenure as chair of ASEAN next year.

According to the minister, Malaysia’s decision to join BRICS is “Malaysia’s effort to uphold policies and identity as an independent and neutral country, striking a balance with great powers and opening up new business and investment opportunities.”

He added that joining BRICS will boost Malaysia’s visibility internationally, especially in addressing urgent global issues.

Despite this new partnership with BRICS, Malaysia remains focused on its existing trade relationships with key partners like the United States and the European Union. 

Trade between Malaysia and the US reached RM250.25 billion (S$75.98 billion) in 2023, while trade with the European Union amounted to RM206.69 billion (S$62.75 billion).

Mr Mohamad Hasan added that Malaysia would continue exploring collaboration in areas such as green technology, renewable energy, and education with the US and European Union.

BRICS now represents roughly 40% of the world’s population and holds a collective gross domestic product (GDP) of USD 26.6 trillion (S$35.13 trillion), or 26.2% of the world’s GDP.

This positions BRICS as an economic force nearly equal to the Group of Seven (G7). The G7 is an informal alliance of seven of the world’s advanced economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union. /TISG

“Western Union is best placed to bring Dash to the next level”: Singtel assures users support after conditional agreement with Western Union

Mary Alavanza
-
0
“Western Union is best placed to bring Dash to the next level”: Singtel assures users support after conditional agreement with Western Union

SINGAPORE: Singtel has signed a conditional agreement to sell Singapore’s leading all-in-one mobile wallet, Dash, to Western Union, as part of its efforts to simplify its portfolio.

In a released statement on Oct 24, Anna Yip, Singtel Singapore’s deputy CEO, reassured Dash users that they would continue to be supported throughout the transition.

She said, “In line with our Group’s Singtel28 strategy to focus on our core business and competencies, we have decided that Western Union is best placed to bring Dash to the next level. We will work closely with Western Union to ensure that our Dash customers and business partners continue to be well-supported and the transition is seamless.”

The Edge Singapore reported that the sale is still subject to regulatory approval, with no financial details disclosed.

Dash, launched in 2014, is an all-in-one mobile wallet app allowing users to pay, remit, save, invest, and insure. Dash has over 1.4 million users, and the app is available to anyone, regardless of their telco or bank provider. For now, all services will remain accessible to current users.

Western Union said that this move supports its Evolve 2025 vision and will help the company strengthen its global digital capabilities.

Sohini Rajola, Western Union’s Head of Asia Pacific, said, “We are excited to have the opportunity to welcome Dash to Western Union and are working collaboratively with Singtel to secure regulatory approvals.” /TISG

Read also: OpenAI to set up office in Singapore; hiring 5 to 10 local talents in sales, security and solutions engineering before 2025

Only in SG: Reddit users amazed at mobile phone & wallet used to chope table

Anna Maria Romero
-
0
Only in SG: Reddit users amazed at mobile phone & wallet used to chope table

SINGAPORE: Singapore is known to be one of the safest countries in the world, where people have left their laptops, purses, backpacks, keys, and other items of value in eateries, especially for the purpose of “chope”, letting people know they’re reserving these spaces.

A big part of the reason why people feel so safe to leave their valuables unattended is that there are an estimated one million CCTV cameras installed around the city-state, many of which are used by the authorities to aid investigations.

When a diner left his wallet and mobile phone to reserve a place at what appears to be a food court in a mall, a local Reddit user took a photo of this and posted it with the caption, “Only in Singapore.”

The Oct 22 post has since gone viral on r/Singapore, receiving many comments.

One wrote that he saw someone actually using a credit card for chope purposes at a hawker centre, while another said they saw someone using their identity card (IC) at a McDonald’s outlet to do the same.

Others warned against this, though, as someone with ill intentions could take photos of the front and back of the cards and use them online.

Another said this should only be done when the credit card is expired, but even this is less than safe.

Others said they’d seen office access lanyards and car keys used to chope places.

Read related: Swiss woman says, in SG, queueing, chope, Singlish, calling people “Uncles & Aunties” are ‘bizarre Singaporean habits’

However, some Reddit users, including the post author, said they would never leave their wallet or phone unattended in public.

If they really have nothing they can safely leave on a table, one commenter says he removes his phone casing and uses that.

Others chimed in to suggest umbrellas and, of course, the most popular chope tool—tissue packets.

Still, some argued that leaving valuables in public does not necessarily happen only in Singapore, citing cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi as places where people leave their laptops in food courts regularly.

Others wrote that Japan, Korea, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries are also equally safe.

Some commenters warned, however, that if people leave things in places where there are no cameras, such as toilets, in Singapore, chances increase that these could be stolen,

“Don’t change, Singapore,” one Reddit user wrote.

Featured photo above: Reddit screengrab/u/woonsc /TISG

Read also: Aussie woman shocked at Singapore’s “chope-ing” culture when SG man “chopes” food court table even with a notepad

FairPrice Group to launch first test of self-driving electric truck in Singapore

Jewel Stolarchuk
-
0
FairPrice Group to launch first test of self-driving electric truck in Singapore

SINGAPORE: FairPrice Group is set to conduct Singapore’s first trial of a self-driving electric truck, marking a step forward in autonomous transportation for logistics. The group announced that it has received approval from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to begin testing driverless trucks on the country’s highways.

The self-driving truck, developed by Zelos Technology, a leader in autonomous vehicle technology, has a cargo capacity of up to 1.5 tons. According to FairPrice Group, if the trial proves successful, the company plans to integrate these autonomous trucks into its existing logistics fleet. This would allow for more efficient transport of goods, particularly on pallets, between its wholesale centres located in Benoi and Joo Koon.

The introduction of self-driving trucks brings with it several potential benefits. One of the key advantages is efficiency. Autonomous trucks can operate around the clock without the need for rest breaks, potentially reducing delivery times and increasing the overall capacity of logistics systems. Additionally, electric trucks produce zero emissions, contributing to Singapore’s efforts to achieve sustainability goals and reduce its carbon footprint.

Autonomous technology also has the potential to improve safety on roads. In theory, driverless vehicles are less prone to human errors such as fatigue, distraction, or impaired driving, which are major causes of accidents. If properly programmed and maintained, these trucks could lead to a reduction in traffic incidents, especially in the long-term.

However, the adoption of self-driving trucks also comes with challenges. One major concern is the current level of technological maturity. While advancements have been rapid, self-driving systems are still evolving, and there are concerns about how these vehicles might respond to unexpected situations on the road, such as sudden obstacles or erratic driving by other vehicles. There is also the question of public acceptance, as some may be wary of sharing the road with autonomous trucks.

Moreover, the introduction of self-driving vehicles could have economic implications. While automation promises to boost efficiency, it could also lead to job displacement for drivers in the logistics and transportation sectors. Striking a balance between technological innovation and workforce protection will be key to ensuring that the adoption of such technology benefits society as a whole.

FairPrice Group’s initiative will undoubtedly be closely watched, and the results of this trial will provide important insights into the viability of autonomous trucks, potentially setting the stage for broader implementation in the near future.

Koufu regrets diner’s ‘unpleasant experience’ of being barely-cooked eggs, unfriendly service

Anna Maria Romero
-
0
Koufu regrets diner’s ‘unpleasant experience’ of being barely-cooked eggs, unfriendly service

SINGAPORE: After a woman was served what appeared to be barely cooked eggs by a less-than-friendly uncle, she took to social media to share her experience.

On the COMPLAINT SINGAPORE Facebook page on Saturday (Oct 19). Vivian Cheng wrote about her three-fold rather negative experience when she had ordered a toast set at Koufu Toa Payoh.

First, the uncle who attended to her was “not friendly.”

Second, he forgot that she had ordered eggs and claimed she did not want them.

Third, she wondered if soft-boiled eggs were supposed to look like the bowlful she was served.

Now, soft-boiled eggs in Singapore may be considerably more runny than elsewhere in the world, as they are meant for dipping bread in. However, in the accompanying photo Ms Cheng posted, the eggs appeared to be extremely runny, with the whites barely set.

A commenter on her post wrote that the eggs looked raw, and encouraged her to file a report to the Singapore Food Agency.

Raw eggs that are unpasteurized are unsafe for eating, as they could contain harmful bacteria that could cause the person who consumes them to suffer from diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Cooking eggs thoroughly is one of the best ways to prevent this.

Several group members wrote that what Ms Cheng was served was not soft-boiled eggs.

“Look very raw should get an exchange,” one added.

One commenter chimed in to say that they look like “potential salmonella” the bacteria found in raw eggs or meat that can cause stomach flu.

Another warned Ms Cheng not to eat them unless they are pasteurized. He added that one of the eggs looked cooked and the other looked raw.

One Facebook user guessed that the eggs may have just been put in hot water for a while and then served to the post author, and several urged her to send the eggs back to be cooked further.

Koufu itself also responded on Ms Cheng’s post.

The company wrote, “Thank you for your feedback. We regret for the unpleasant experience and will look into on the job training to ensure that there is no service lapse and service staff is well trained on the food preparation to ensure such incident will not happen again. Let us know if we can provide further assistance and you may reach us at [email protected].”

The Independent Singapore has reached out to Ms Cheng for further comment or updates. /TISG

Read also: “Pathetic food! $4.80 a bowl with only 1 small fishball and 1 small meatball!” — Diner complains, Koufu apologises

SG worker asks, “Would you rather be on good terms with your boss and lose out on being close to your colleagues?”

Yoko Nicole
-
0
SG worker asks, “Would you rather be on good terms with your boss and lose out on being close to your colleagues?”

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean worker took to social media to ask netizens which side they would choose if they were in her position. She wrote on r/askSingapore, a Reddit forum, “Would you rather be on good terms with your boss and lose out on being close to your colleagues? Or the other way around?”

In her post, she mentioned that her relationship with her boss has been pretty decent for the past seven months. However, this has made her feel isolated at work because her colleagues are intentionally excluding her from lunchtime gatherings due to her good rapport with the boss.

“I’m being outcasted a little by my other colleagues who go to lunch together, etc., because they often spend time talking about my boss and are probably worried I would tell on them or something, as I’m the only person reporting to her,” she wrote.

To complicate matters, her colleagues are also frustrated because whenever they ask her for assistance, her boss intervenes and tells them “she’s too busy”.

“In a way, it’s good for me,” she admitted. “She started doing this after two of my team members left, so now I’m the only one left with her, but it’s made me lose out with my colleagues la. So, what do you guys think?”

“Stay on good terms with the boss. Being in a ‘venting clique’ just makes the whole environment toxic for you.”

In the comments section, many Singaporean Redditors agreed that, in her situation, they would definitely side with the boss.

One Redditor pointed out, “Your colleagues are not your friends. Seems like your boss probably already knows the pattern of your colleagues; that’s why she’s butting in. Your colleagues want you to do things for them, but don’t include you for lunch.”

Another said, “Stay on good terms with the boss. Being in a ‘venting clique’ just makes the whole environment toxic for you. It’s not a good idea to get too close to those who like to gossip and complain.”

Additionally, many reminded her that her boss is the one in charge and holds the key to her career advancement. One Redditor remarked, “Your colleagues don’t promote you or give you raises. No brainer who to be on good terms with.”

Another reminded her, “Remember this: you don’t join a company to make friends. Colleagues aren’t in charge of your progression and pay.”

Some also advised her to find friendships outside of work, suggesting that it’s healthier to seek connections in other areas of her life rather than relying on her co-workers.

One Redditor commented, “Find friends outside of your work. Not saying it is impossible, but true friendship in the office environment is quite rare, I’d say. Work is there to fulfill your career ambitions. Use it as such.”

Read also: “Has basic courtesy and etiquette been thrown out of the window?” SG job seeker shares HR arranged a phone interview with her but never followed through

Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)

Grab delivers chicken rice to Loh Kean Yew in Denmark, but not everyone is amused

Anna Maria Romero
-
0
Grab delivers chicken rice to Loh Kean Yew in Denmark, but not everyone is amused

SINGAPORE: Former badminton world champion Loh Kean Yew was recently in Odense, Denmark, for a competition, but, like many overseas, he was thinking of a homegrown dish.

He was dreaming of chicken rice, widely considered to be one of Singapore’s most beloved dishes, to be specific.

On Instagram on Oct 17, Loh posted several photos of himself on a walk with his caption: “Rare chance to explore a different side of Odense, and here I am thinking about chicken rice 🫠”

Shortly afterwards, the verified account of Grab Singapore responded to the post, saying “We deliver chicken rice to you when you’re back,” along with a thumbs-up emoji.

The shuttler, however, hit back, responding by saying he’s a Grab unlimited subscriber, and then asked if he could get the delicious dish delivered to Denmark.

Grab responded by writing “Ok,” served with a side of side-eye.

Loh returned the side-eye, and the online convo ended there.

But it seems that the story was not done. On Monday morning, Grab Singapore posted a video on TikTok and Instagram of a young woman in a green Grab jacket boarding a plane with an order of chicken rice, landing at the airport in Copenhagen, and then making her way to Loh’s hotel room door.

Loh, the 2021 Badminton World Champion, became Grab Singapore’s first brand ambassador in 2022.

@grabsingapore

@Loh Kean Yew : thinking of chicken rice us: ok got it

♬ original sound – Grab Singapore – Grab Singapore

“You really come?” A surprised Loh is heard saying. “I thought you all joking eh. Oh my God, thank you.”

The company captioned the video with, “@lohkeanyew : thinking of chicken rice. Us: Ok got it.”

Loh commented on the video, saying that he “still can’t believe it.”

And when a commenter joked that the fee for delivering chicken rice to Denmark would be around S$2,000, Grab wrote that it was actually free for their “favorite badminton player.”

Some Instagram users, however, wondered how fresh the meal would be, given the transit time from Singapore to Denmark, with one saying it would not be deemed safe for consumption by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).

Others appealed for the company to do a better job back home. A comment that received a lot of likes was from an IG user who asked Grab to focus on ensuring basic delivery standards in Singapore.

She explained that she had ordered food that day but it wasn’t delivered. And when she filed a case, she was asked to submit a picture as proof.

“How is a customer supposed to prove a missing delivery with a photo—of an empty doorstep? This seems like an unreasonable request. Could you please assist in resolving this issue?”

Grab responded to her comment, and asked her to send her phone number, e-mail address, and the Booking ID of the delivery.

Two days after this, however, the commenter wrote that she had yet to get a response.

Another appealed for the company to “do something to your app instead of working on your social media”, explaining that she had two ongoing cases over the past week and had got no replies. /TISG

Read also: ‘They’ve got the food, the goods, and now—they’ve got me’ — Loh Kean Yew is Grab Singapore’s first brand ambassador

Singapore ranked as the second most free economy in the world

Jewel Stolarchuk
-
0
Singapore ranked as the second most free economy in the world

SINGAPORE: Singapore has been recognized as the second most free economy in the world, according to the latest report from the Fraser Institute. The nation achieved a score of 8.55 out of 10, reflecting its robust policies and institutional frameworks that empower individuals to make their own economic decisions.

The Fraser Institute’s analysis evaluates economies across five key categories, each assessing different aspects of economic freedom. In the latest report, Singapore excelled in several areas, ranking second globally in freedom to trade internationally with a score of 9.56, indicating its strong commitment to facilitating international trade.

The country secured the third position in regulation with a score of 8.73, highlighting effective regulatory practices that foster a conducive environment for businesses.

Singapore was placed 11th in legal systems and property rights with a score of 8.40, reflecting its solid legal framework and protection of property rights. It also achieved a score of 8.71, ranking 31st in sound money, showcasing its stable monetary policies.

However, the country placed 47th in the size of government, with a score of 7.32, indicating a comparatively larger government presence.

Hong Kong topped the global rankings with a score of 8.58, slightly ahead of Singapore. In stark contrast, Venezuela ranked last at 165th position, with a score of just 3.02, underscoring the challenges faced in achieving economic freedom in the country.

“He always either gives me one-word replies or leaves me on read,” Woman says her bf changed ever since he joined the army

Yoko Nicole
-
0
“He always either gives me one-word replies or leaves me on read,” Woman says her bf changed ever since he joined the army

SINGAPORE: A woman recently took to social media to share that her boyfriend has changed a lot since he joined the army.

Posting on r/NationalServiceSG, a Reddit forum, on Wednesday (October 23), she mentioned that before her boyfriend enlisted in the army, they made promises to each other to communicate no matter what. They both understood that joining the military could put a strain on their relationship, so they wanted to make sure they could stay connected and support one another through any challenges that might arise.

At first, they were committed to this promise, regularly checking in with each other and sharing updates about their lives.

“I felt like we were going on strong, then later on he POP (Passing Out Parade) and got posted to SCS (Specialist Cadet School) then he said he wanted to downgrade his PES (Physical Employment Standard) because he was afraid of some activities. So he wanted to get out of SCS,” she wrote.

“Then I encouraged him not to because it’s not very nice to have the mentality of just running away from your problems, you know. So I told him he should give it a few more weeks, but he didn’t listen to me, so I just kept quiet and supported his decision since its not my life anyway; its his to decide.”

However, things took a turn after he went “out of course” and started having more free time. Instead of maintaining their communication as before, he began ignoring her messages.

“He’s like so free now.. always playing Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) in camp and whatnot. So basically now whenever I text him, like starting and continuing a convo, he always either gives me one-word replies or leaves me on read,” she expressed.

“Then like, I try to be understanding, but I go on ML and I see him online; he played 6 games eh and he still say he’s busy cannot text me???”

The woman expressed her frustration, stating that it was hard to understand how he could find time for gaming but couldn’t even send her a quick update. Whenever she addressed the issue, he would get defensive, accusing her of making a big deal out of nothing.

He often claimed he was tired, but she noted that his work mostly consisted of admin tasks. “Am I just not understanding enough, or what am I doing wrong???? What is happening?” she asked.

“It’s possible that the environment in there is just not good.”

In the comments section, several Singaporean Redditors suggested that she try having an open and honest conversation with her boyfriend about her feelings, urging her to express her concerns without sounding accusatory.

One Redditor added, “Talk to him in person, ask him what’s wrong, get him gifts that are going to remind him of you and are useful for him during NS, maybe even video call or voice call with him, and play some games together.”

Another commented, “Maybe write all of your concerns down and gather your thoughts, then meet up with him physically to tell him about them? Sometimes guys are so good at bottling emotions up that they don’t even know its happening.

Ultimately, this is the type of obstacle that any successful relationship should be able to navigate. Ignoring/putting it aside will only make it worse.”

Others pointed out that changes in behaviour after joining the army can often stem from the stress and pressures of military training. They encouraged her to consider the possibility that he might be struggling with the demands of his new environment and could be retreating into gaming as a coping mechanism.

One Redditor explained, “Ask him if everything is okay in camp. Just because he’s doing admin work and seems to have a ton of free time doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s actually free or that all is well in the office.

“It’s possible that the environment in there is just not good (bad superiors, toxicity, etc) and what this is right now is a result of him dealing with it in an unhealthy way.”

Another remarked, “Could be stressful and playing games is his way of destressing. Have you talked to him about the lack of clear communication? Tell him his responses like 1 word or K isn’t nice.”

Read also: “Is this normal for guys?” — Woman asks after she sees her “guy checking out other girls” but he denies it and gets offended when confronted

Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)

1...428429430...5,240Page 429 of 5,240

The Independent SG

Singapore News

Business

Singapore’s prime office market slips to 9th place in Savills’ global rankings

0
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s prime office market dropped three spots to...

Rise of the robot colleague: Why workers are choosing AI over each other

0
INTERNATIONAL: Today’s workplaces have significantly changed — more and...

MoneyHero Group narrows loss by 78% despite 1% revenue drop in FY2024, driven by higher insurance and wealth revenue

0
SINGAPORE: Personal finance aggregation and comparison platform MoneyHero Group...

Revenge quitting is the new rage—but here’s why it could backfire

0
INTERNATIONAL: While "quiet quitting" has faded and "loud quitting"...

Singapore Politics

© The Independent Singapore