Rare earth piece in Ukraine peace deal puzzle – Asia Times
Trump ‘s , confirmed interest , in Ukraine’s important and rare earth materials is being interpreted by some as valuable for President Volodymyr Zelensky amid uncertainty about the new US government’s dedication to Ukraine. One of the details from Zelensky’s so-called” Victory Plan” calls for letting his government’s allies to remove its nutrients.
Marco Rubio, the new secretary of state, recently warned about the proper benefits that China derives from its control of the world’s unique planet mineral supply chain, in order to potentially have an impact on Trump’s position on the Ukraine-related issue.
US Senator Lindsey Graham made headlines about Ukraine’s rare earth riches while on a trip that last June, claiming that the country was assimilated by US$ 10 trillion in like success.
Trump 2.0’s international policy concentrate on more slender containing China in all ways , consistently predisposed , him to understand the above point from Zelensky’s” Victory Plan”.
The problem, though, is that the volume of Ukraine’s essential material prosperity is , under Russian control , while Russian troops continue to flee.
At the same time, US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg’s suggestion that Ukraine needs to hold long-delayed elections , was seen , as reflecting Trump’s interest in brokering a ceasefire, after which martial law can be lifted, the elections could be held, and a new Ukrainian government can then begin peace talks.
This expectation contrasts with what Trump said a few days later about his interest in Ukraine’s ( mostly Russian-controlled ) rare earth mineral deposits and the possibility of proxy escalation of the war.
Trump might try to cut a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin instead of halting his efforts to freeze the Ukrainian conflict by increasing military aid in the hope that Zelensky’s forces can then retake these deposits from Russian control, which could perpetuate the proxy war and thus derail his foreign policy agenda.
Putin might be able to sell some of these rare earth and other important minerals to the US as one of the conditions Trump might create to coerce Ukraine into reversing its claim to at least some of the territory that Russia claims as its own.
Depending on how much Trump can coerce Ukraine into resuming, Putin might agree. There’s also a practical argument in favor of this arrangement, which could allow the EU to partially resume some Russian gas pipeline imports one day.
The purpose would be to restore a degree of Russia and the EU’s pre-conflict economic interdependence, albeit this time under US supervision, as a reward for Russia complying with a ceasefire.
The US may provide two rare earth deposits, one of which might involve the return of some seized Russian assets if Russians are invested in this endeavor. The first requires the return of some seized Russian assets.
If successfully implemented, then this proposal could lead to more creative diplomacy of the sort suggested at the end of this analysis , here  , for depriving China of Russia’s enormous resource wealth, which aligns with Trump’s foreign policy goals.
Ukraine wouldn’t be left completely in the lurch, however, since other smaller rare earth mineral deposits , still remain , under its control. These could be given to the US in exchange for continued military aid, even if the latter is curtailed compared to its height under the Biden administration in the run-up to summer 2023 ‘s , <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/04/ukraine-counteroffensive-us-planning-russia-war/”>ultimately , <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/04/ukraine-counteroffensive-stalled-russia-war-defenses/”>doomed , counteroffensive.
Zelensky would have no choice but to accept this deal if Trump and Putin reached an agreement regarding the deposits in Russia.
Zelensky would only end up with whatever the cost-conscious Trump administration determines is the lowest level the US believes Ukraine needs to maintain the peace, far from the full military support he anticipated to receive in order to regain those lost deposits.
This is the best outcome for those on all sides who truly want peace, but it will require significant political will from both the US and Russia, as well as the US’s coercing Ukraine into agreeing, none of which can be guaranteed at this time.
This , article , was first published on Andrew Korybko’s Substack and is republished with kind permission. Become an Andrew Korybko Newsletter subscriber , here.
Vendors evicted from ‘profitless’ Chatuchak zone
Amid strategies to redevelop place, stallholders seek bribery investigation
PUBLISHED: 4 Feb 2025 at 17: 31
Suppliers at the Chatuchak trip business have written to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to request an investigation into the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Market Office’s handling of the dispute over renewing the arrangements of 529 stallholders.
After discovering that the Chatuchak Market Volunteer Club had failed to produce any money over the previous five years, the BMA plans to use some of the market for different purposes.
He said each of the 529 stallholders paid a regular rental price of 1, 400 ringgit and a typical payment of 500 rmb, totalling 1, 900 ringgit, from 2019 to 2024. Their arrangements were continuously renewed throughout the time.
But, according to them, Section 30’s BMA Market Office claimed there was no evidence of income from the location where the vendors are located.
He stated on Tuesday that” we are concerned about corruption and demand that the BMA and the authorities investigate the case right away.”  ,
He added that the sellers even reported their complaints to the Supreme Administrative Court, which just gave the Central Administrative Court the order to consider them.
To evaluate the control of the Chatuchak Market, appeals have also been sent to the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
The team also contacted the Bangkok Council, House of Representatives people, and the Leader of the Opposition, according to Mr. Manoon. They may ask them to look into similar concerns made at 11 different BMA-managed markets as well.
The BMA Market Office claimed in a speech that sellers ‘ records were always issued by the Treasury Department when they paid for rental fees. Additionally, it had recorded the money for all areas 1-31 stalls as well as the vacant places around the clock building.
The absence of data of revenue from Section 30, where the 529 booths are located, may be misinterpreted, according to the company. Although it did not go into more detail, it said it could give reliable data to support its choice if needed.
Opened in 1942, Chatuchak Weekend Market is one of the largest industry in Thailand, with more than 15, 000 booths and 11, 505 suppliers.
City Hall took over the business administration in 2018 from the Thailand State Railway.
Massive sinkhole in Japan highlights risk of ageing pipes
Age Valves First, the hole was around 5m in size, then a little larger chamber opened outside and the two openings merged. To reduce the volume of wastewater, citizens were urged to “use as much water as possible” for three days on Tuesday evening. This was in addition to theContinue Reading
No, Australia isn’t immune to Trump trade war pain – Asia Times
US President Donald Trump has halted his threatening 25 % tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico in a busy 24 hours of trade diplomacy, while retaining 10 % tariffs on imports from China.
A temporary relief has been granted to American businesses operating in Canada or Mexico, like as Rio Tinto, whose American operations export billions of dollars worth of aluminum to the US. However, businesses that import to our largest buying spouse may be affected by the risk of weaker economic growth in China.
And Trump has hinted all US imports of , aluminum and copper, including from Australia, may be his next destination. Treasurer Jim Chalmers stated on February 4 that while Australia is at risk from rising industry tensions,” we are really well-placed to explore them.”
However, even if Australia manages to stay out of Trump’s places, Australians may hope to come out of a business war unharmed. It is difficult to determine exactly how Australia would be impacted by the complexity of global supply chains, but here are a few important factors that are likely to enjoy.
About 40 % of Australia’s exports go to China, making it the biggest target by way, according to statistics for 2023 from UN Comtrade. The majority of this is used in China’s manufacturing and construction sectors, where American iron ore is used.
Trump’s tariffs will further slow China’s market, which will lessen demand for goods it purchases from Australia.
If China’s need for iron iron falls drastically, this will not only harm the Australian mining field, but it also may cause a fall in the American dollar, making the things Australians buy from overseas more expensive.
However, it’s still to be seen how much China’s most recent tariffs will have an effect. The second Trump administration’s taxes have already been absorbed by China, and his most recent enhance is much less expensive than his original proposal of 60 %.
Trade escape
The one good side of US tariffs on other nations is that they may make some American exports more economical because they raise the cost of those nations ‘ export to the US.
This is something economics call industry escape. For instance, metal produced in Australia would have benefited from the tariffs placed on French aluminium.
Because there isn’t much overlap between the goods that China and Australia export to the US, the taxes on China may largely distract industry to Australia.
But China’s punitive taxes could make a significant impact. During Trump’s first word, China reacted to US tariffs by imposing taxes on American grains and other agricultural products. This time around, a similar action might open up a gap for American farmers to fill in the gap.
But it is not all great information. In other nations, US exports that have been diverted from the Chinese market does compete with Asian products. But, while American grains may become more aggressive in China, US grains may remove Australia’s in the Philippines.
Taxes even have a tendency to increase the country’s currency because they lower the demand for goods in foreign currencies.
The American dollar, on the other hand, weakened, which dropped to a five-year small following the tariffs ‘ inauguration. The dollar has now fallen almost 10 % since November.
Repeatedly, this raises the cost of goods to Australia, which was raise inflation.
Network disturbance
The biggest impact will be the supply chain disruption that will result from the taxes on Canada and Mexico being confirmed in 30 days.
According to analyses of the levies Trump imposed on China in 2018, US companies that use imported sources accounted for the majority of the cost.
The impact of taxes on Canada and Mexico will be much more detrimental to all North American producers because North American generation networks are so tightly integrated, and they have been for decades.
The issue is not just that auto prices will rise, but that significant disruptions could result from the tariffs if essential middle suppliers, such as small but important intermediate suppliers, stop operating.
Finally, firms will create substitute supply chains, but the short-run problems could be substantial.
This could lead to higher prices and supply disruptions for Australians, not just for the goods we purchase from the US but also for anything that relies on a North American dealer at any point in the production process.
We are also experiencing the effects of Covid’s supply chain disruptions, such as the rise in inflation in 2021 and 2022 and the resulting high interest rates and world opposition to the main political parties. That includes Donald Trump’s returning to the Oval Office.
If this conflict turns into a significant global trade war, there might be other problems. Even if Trump’s promised tariffs not truly materialize, we may still see the same effects on a smaller size because the , trade policy uncertainty , from just the threat of a trade war has similar effects on the firm exercise as true tariffs.
Whatever happens, even if Australia can escape direct involvement in a trade war, it cannot escape the shockwaves that reverberate through the world economy. The question is whether it will be a tsunami or a ripple.
Scott French is senior lecturer in economics, UNSW Sydney
This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Woman sues doctor claiming injuries from natural birth will affect future pregnancies
A person is suing her doctor in Singapore for negligence, alleging that this will have an impact on subsequent pregnancy.
Ms. Cherissa Cheng, 32, was tear-related, which caused her to spend weeks removing faecal matter from her vagina despite having had surgery to heal the wound.
She allegedly even experienced post-partum melancholy and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as troubles bonding with her child.
Ms. Cheng, who had three children with her husband, claims that her injury will have already had an impact on her ability to enjoy her babies and quality of life.
Dr. Khoo Chong Kiat, her doctors, is a top obstetrician and gynecologist who practices at the CK Khoo Clinic for Women & Laparoscopy and Royal Clinics of O& G.
Ms. Cheng alleges that Dr. Khoo and Royal Clinics of O&G were careless clinically and physically ill and that they assaulted her in a test that broke out on February 4 in the High Court.
Ms Cheng , started attending sessions with Dr Khoo in September 2019. It was her first conception.
Ms. Cheng allegedly told Dr. Khoo that her mother had a labor-protracted pregnancy because her womb wasn’t dilating at the time of her initial consultation, and she ended up getting an emergency caesarean section.
She expressed fears about normal delivery, but Dr. Khoo assured her that she would be able to deliver naturally, according to her doctors,  , Mr. Cumara K, and Ms. Celestine Tolentino from Selvam LLC.
On May 2, 2020, Ms. Cheng went to the hospital to start labor at evening. On May 3, 2020, she delivered her child via biological delivery at around 10.35 am.
She claims that Dr. Khoo made an wound to support the birth while mechanically widening her cervix, applying pressure to her abdomen, and helping her with labor. After the operation, he performed procedure to restore a break.
These actions constituted power, and she claims that she was not informed of the risks or did not give informed consent to these elements of the distribution.
According to Ms Cheng, an incident C-section was required by 9.25am on May 3, 2020 and she consented to it, while Dr Khoo likewise ordered the procedure.
Nevertheless, he immediately “abandoned the crisis C-section that Ms Cheng wanted” and physically dilated her womb from 4cm to 10cm so that the natural birth may remain, her lawyers argue.
This version of events is being litigated by Dr. Khoo’s attorneys, Ms. Kuah Boon Theng, Theodora Kee, and Kimberly Chia of Legal Clinic LLC.
According to their situation, Dr. Khoo informed Ms. Cheng that she could have given birth naturally as planned after she was told at 9:40 am that she had been fully dilated.
He claims that he did not personally increase Ms Cheng’s uterus, which dilated because of cramps, and that applying stress to her belly was correct as she was fatigued.
Additionally, the parties disagree on whether Ms. Cheng should have been informed of the risks that come with a protracted labor.
After the birth, Dr Khoo saw a 0.5cm pull. He , repaired the break in the delivery set and discharged Ms Cheng the next day, on May 4, 2020.
Ms. Cheng’s claim is that she thought the stitching was typical and that Dr. Khoo did not inform her that her body had a break.
She also alleges that his restoration did not adhere to the legal requirements for treatment and that his later handling of her accidents was incorrect.
According to Dr. Khoo’s case, he informed Ms. Cheng of the pull, that the restoration he performed was done with the necessary steps, and that his treatment of the accidents was correct.  ,
After being discharged, Ms. Cheng noticed intestinal matter coming from her womb and reconnected with Dr. Khoo on May 6, 2020.
At this appointment, Dr. Khoo claimed that there were gaps in the lace he had done and that there was an abnormal connection between her anus and vagina.
She claims that this was the first day she learned that she had been harmed during the delivery.
After that, Ms. Cheng went to a gastrointestinal expert and was admitted to an incident room later that evening. Around October 2020, she later underwent surgery to fix her injury.
Ms. Cheng is suing for injuries for her pain, suffering, and the effects of her life’s value. She is also claiming that her and her father’s future earnings have been lost as the couple have changed careers to accommodate the demands brought on by her injury.
What was supposed to be a pleasant experience turned out to be terrible because the plaintiff was ( and is still ) mentally and physically in a wretched condition, according to her attorneys.
” The plaintiff ought to have had the right and opportunity to spend time with her own child and experience parenting right away.”
Otherwise, the birth experience caused Ms Cheng to “want for some time to offer her baby away and feel that life was meaningless,” according to the report.
Attorneys for Dr. Khoo contend that he consistently adhered to the highest standards of care. In consequence, Ms. Cheng delivered a healthy child, received prompt care from professionals when the break was repaired, and is now fully recovered, according to them.
His attorneys claimed that while giving birth is” a happy event, it can also provide along with it a good amount of stress and adjusting, especially for a first-time mother.”
The claim was undoubtedly affected by having to deal with the problem she had, which required her to receive medical attention but quickly after delivery.
The professionals claimed that the claim and her household members reacted by expressing anger toward Dr. Khoo.
The High Court continues to hear the test.
How China is playing to win Trump’s trade war – Asia Times
Some people in Tokyo anticipated Donald Trump’s self-control toward China this year.
While rival China avoided paying only 10 % of tariffs, North American allies Canada and Mexico are currently considering 25 %. Beijing politicians, who were feared the worst when Trump 2.0 hit the ground running, are no more surprising.
True, Ottawa and Mexico City managed to secure 30-day disruptions. But the taxes are coming. Trump didn’t stop the two countries from achieving their multi-decade aim of sticking it to nations he thinks mooch off of America because of their pledges to soften border security.
Xi Jinping’s more laid-back answer so much, by contrast, suggests China’s chief is keeping his hostile options available — and his flour clean.
Beijing did reveal a more restricted 15 % tax on certain kinds of fuel and liquefied natural gas, and a 10 % duty on crude oil, agricultural technology, large-displacement vehicles and pickup trucks. However, longer-lasting retaliation is still a possibility.
As the US president quickly extends his world pleasant, Xi has every reason to believe he already has the upper palm over Trump on a number of fronts.
According to Kelvin Wong, senior researcher at trading OANDA,” The Trade War 2.0 may lead to a downturn narrative because it involves not just US-China industry but also with other significant buying partners.”
Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG Australia, thinks the chaos has only just begun.
The overnight lifting of tariffs on Mexico rekindles the cycle that has begun: calls and negotiations, declarations of victory, and then a new cycle, according to Sycamore. ” Ultimately the path leads to higher tariffs, slower growth, higher inflation and less certainty for risk takers and equities”.
For one thing, the goodwill is gone. Trump’s revenge tour is in full swing, as evidenced by his hard-hitting of Canada and Mexico.
Trump’s assault on the World Trade Organization order won’t soon be forgotten. And Trump has little faith in his actions given the speed with which he threatened to devastate Colombia’s economy with a minor diplomatic blunder.
For one, Xi is aware that, for the first time since Trump entered the White House, China is no longer dependent on the US. As Carlos , Casanova, economist at Union Bancaire Privée, points out, the impact of Trump’s tariffs is “manageable” for China so far.
” US exports account for only 3 % of]China’s ] GDP, compared to 15 % for the rest of the world”, Casanova says. Devaluation, he adds, “wouldn’t significantly improve trade terms while potentially causing tensions with other trading partners in Europe and Asia.”
Instead, according to Casanova,” China is likely to use a combination of deflationary measures and tax exemptions to offset the impact of expected tariffs, much like what we saw during the first trade war.” China’s trade ministry announced plans to file a case with the World Trade Organization and pledged to use unnamed” corresponding countermeasures” to defend its rights and interests.
Beijing believes that Trump is giving it the moral high ground, which fuels this latter instinct.
China stepped up efforts to present itself as the more stable and predictable power back in November, following Trump’s victory in the election, the keeper of the rules-based global order that Washington had turned against.
Team Xi has consistently defended China as the protector of free trade, globalization, and multilateral institutions. On November 15, for example, Xi declared that China stands ready to protect the “interdependent world” from” severe challenges” as a “new period of turbulence and change” approaches.
Then there’s the inflationary potential of what Trump is doing, warns Mohit Kumar, an economist at Jefferies. His tariffs and counter-tariffs” will be inflationary” while leading to “weaker growth prospects” and proving “negative for equities”.
All this has Asia rethinking ties to Washington.
In Seoul, where the political system is in abject chaos, officials are viewing Beijing with renewed affection. Ditto for Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party. After months of trying, the LDP only recently gets some Trump facetime for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Xi’s inner circle is clearly worried about the 60 % tariffs Trump has threatened. And odds are, taxes of that magnitude are coming, regardless of what Trump’s inner circle is signaling today.  ,
The kind way of explaining what’s afoot in Trumpworld is that a deliberate, well-calibrated strategy is unfolding. The arrival of Canada and Mexico allows for yet another reboot of the North American Free Trade Agreement ( NAFTA ).
That, in theory, enables Trump to consolidate power in America’s historic sphere of economic influence, reshaping supply chains closer to home and encouraging migrants to stay at home.
While this recalibration unfolds, Team Trump can prepare to aim Washington’s full financial arsenal at China. Admittedly, this affords Trump’s team the benefit of the doubt on many levels that it hasn’t earned.
If personnel is really what matters, then Xi’s Communist Party should be concerned about the characters with whom Trump 2.0 is surrounded by.
An American government doesn’t entrust economic policy decisions to Peter , Navarro and Robert Lighthizer acolyte , Jamieson Greer , if a “grand bargain” trade deal with China is a top priority.
The same goes for the anti-China foreign policy team Trump assembled. If forging a more productive China relationship is the main goal, the White House doesn’t hire Marco Rubio, Mike Waltz, John Ratcliffe, or Pete Hegseth.
Case in point: Ratcliffe’s first act as CIA director was to amplify the theory that Covid-19 , most likely , started in a Chinese lab, not randomly in a wet market. It offers a glimpse into the mindset of Trump’s inner circle.
Even the cabinet hires are perceived as being less MAGA-ish than most people are learning their Trumpian talking points at the same time. Look no further than Scott Bessent, Trump’s Treasury secretary, accusing Beijing of flooding the globe with cheap goods to finance its military ambitions.
The hedge fund , billionaire claims that China has” the most imbalanced economy in the history of the world” and that it might be suffering a” severe recession/depression“. If so, wouldn’t he be advising Trump not to kick a US$ 18 trillion economy , when he supposedly thinks it’s on the verge of collapse?
Not that it would help. Trump has said that Asia is squandering American jobs and wealth, and that this should be stopped. His most consistent geopolitical position has been over the years. Back then, Japan was cast in the role of boogeymen, a nemesis that the” Tariff Man” superhero of Trump’s imagination sought to avenge.
The mid-1980s zeitgeist had Hollywood churning out films like , Gung , Ho. The film, which stars Michael Keaton, explored how Detroit auto workers were being abused by Japan Inc. It was a period that Michael , Crichton immortalized in his best-selling novel” Rising Sun” . ,
That was at the height of Japan’s “bubble economy” era, a time when academics like Harvard University’s Ezra , Vogel, author of” Japan As Number One — Lessons for America”, characterized Tokyo as an unstoppable economic force.
Washington pulled off the” Plaza Accord” currency deal to slam the dollar against a New York hotel that Trump had previously owned.
At the time, New York property mogul Trump was a regular on daytime talk shows complaining Japan had” systematically , sucked the blood out of America , – sucked the blood out! They have gotten away with murder. They ultimately prevailed in the war.
Today, China inhabits this role. It’s more complicated, though, given Trump’s oft-articulated affection for Xi. On January 23, for example, Trump said” I like President Xi very much. I’ve always liked him”. Trump added that he’s “always had a great relationship” with China’s strongest leader since Mao Zedong.
Yet Trump and Xi seem on a collision course, nonetheless. Xi has shown little inclination to bow before Trump after a dozen years in charge.
According to reports, China is actually developing an opening offer for trade talks. However, according to The Wall Street Journal and others, the majority of the items involve reviving the” Phase 1″ agreement Trump and Xi signed in 2020. That won’t satisfy Trump, who’s expecting big market-access wins.
China also has a greater opportunity to retaliate than it did for the first time since Trump entered the White House in 2017. Greater scope, too, than Japan had back in the 1980s.
Of course, China worries greatly about Trump’s 60 % tariff threat. According to UBS economists, taxes of that size will cut China’s annual growth by more than half, shaving 2.5 percentage points from its gross domestic product ( GDP ).
Nevertheless, Xi might edict a similar strategy from Canada and direct attacks against Trump-supporting red states. For example, China could exact great pain by altering agricultural purchases. And by taxing mainland goods sourced by Amazon, Costco, Target and Walmart.
China might levy surcharges on well-known American businesses, including Starbucks and Boeing. Or China could meddle with Apple, Microsoft, Nike and other household name companies.
Could Musk find himself in harm’s way? Musk’s Shanghai “gigafactory” is a major producer of electric vehicles going to third countries in addition to producing electric vehicles for China, which currently accounts for more than a third of Tesla sales.
For now, though, no one really knows what to expect from Trump.
According to Goldman Sachs strategist David Kostin,” These announcements have come as a shock to many investors who anticipated tariffs would only be imposed if trade negotiations failed.” Although the outlook is uncertain, our economists believe there is a good chance that the tariffs will be temporary, respectively.
The “macro-wise, we think the immediate channel where Asian equities might be impacted is is… a potentially higher US dollar,” Nomura Holdings strategists write in a note. We also think that investors are likely to consider which industries or regions in China might be more susceptible to these tariffs.
Yet only Trump and the China skeptics in his circle can be certain.  , This is leaving global markets in suspense in ways that might play into China’s hands.
Follow William Pesek on X at @WilliamPesek
Singapore to spend S$150 million on drainage projects in 2025 to improve flood resilience
Nevertheless, she emphasised it was “neither useful nor reasonable” to keep building more drainage or expanding drainage system.
According to Ms. Fu, “doing but would require major land and financial resources, which would then prevent us from using other significant purposes.” ” To put things into perspective, flooding in Singapore is localised and usually subsides within an hour” . ,
She said it would be more productive to build up Singapore’s disaster resilience at a” techniques” level, giving developing owners, designers and the wider society a part to play alongside the state.
For example, the PUB’s  code of practice for surface water drains lists requirements for maximum system and crest levels for buildings as well as flood protection measures that building owners and developers may put in place to protect their properties.
In addition, amendments to the Sewerage and Drainage Act were passed in November 2024 to ensure that owners and developers continue to use and uphold the flood protection measures in their buildings after they are implemented.  ,
In response to a further inquiry from MP Desmond Choo ( PAP-Tampines ) regarding whether investing more as flood events increase, Ms Fu claimed it wasn’t always “financially wise” to “prepare for such extreme events.”  ,
” That will mean dedicating a lot of land, a lot of financial resources to protect us for those events that may not occur so regularly, or in places where it doesn’t occur regularly”, she added.  ,
” So it is still the same message that while ( the ) government will look at improving our infrastructure, we need community, we need businesses…  , to also undertake protection measures to protect themselves, protect their properties and protect their family”.
Additionally, MP Saktiandi Supaat ( PAP-Bishan-Toa Payoh ) inquired about whether flood-stricken people or businesses could receive financial or logistical assistance.  ,
Ms. Fu claimed that the government anticipates developers to budget for infrastructure and protection measures in their budgets, which will then be reflected in the cost of land and development.  ,
” Over the years, actually, we have been reducing the flood-prone areas significantly… In the most recent monsoon surges, we only had one significant reported flood incident”, she said.
” So as and when they are needed, we will offer more help, and we will keep very close contact with the public, with businesses”.
Data centres in Singapore exploring clean energy options, including nuclear reactors
In Singapore, many businesses are looking into using renewable and gas to meet their growing requirements and reduce carbon emissions.
Some are considering the possibility of nuclear reactors, but business experts claim there is still a way to get before realizing the goal.  ,
For a start, they are pushing for a model that develops technical expertise in the field and handles feasibility studies.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Data center technician Equinix, for example, is now implementing a more efficient cooling system to go green with its energy use.
The US-based provider of electronic equipment runs more than 260 data centers worldwide, six of which are in Singapore.
This year, the company will begin using liquid cooling technology in its data centers, which is 3, 000 times more cost-effective for cooling the high-calibride AI Graphics Processing Unit ( GPU) than conventional cooling.
In the future, it is considering the possibility of using small modular nuclear reactors ( SMRs ) to generate power.
” In terms of the Biomarkers, we’ve started to explore planes. I would suggest that it’s budding, and it’s in the study time”, said Yee May Leong, managing director of Equinix Singapore.
” We’re positive that it will be one of the alternative energy options for us in the near future.”
Energy cells, gas, and ammonia are other renewable energy options that the company is looking into.
According to Ms. Leong,” We’ve been working with the Singapore government to find new paths and other green transition energies,” adding that the company is in favor of the Singapore Green Plan, which has goals for sustainability in the country by 2030.
She noted that relationship between the business, power providers, as well as plan makers, is a key success ingredient for efficient energy solutions to be taken on a flexible manner.
WHY SMRs?
Singapore simply lacks the space to make such large amounts of energy, according to observers. Conventional nuclear facilities can do so.
It also takes some 20 years to lay the groundwork for nuclear services, constructing infrastructure and fitting pieces, before it can begin generating electricity.
SMRs, which are constructed at a fraction of the size of a typical nuclear power plant, are another option that can be up and running much quicker.
Business players said the advantages of SMRs include flexibility, lesser cleaning requirements, improved safety features, and the potential for inclusion into Singapore’s small energy system.
” Important, we don’t have the gifts of large land places… where we can put large-scale facilities away from urban areas and protect them from the people”, said Mr Matthew Oostveen, chief technology officer for Asia Pacific and Japan at data storage firm Pure Storage.
Lee Poh Seng, a professor at the National University of Singapore ( NUS), cautioned that the transition to nuclear power is extremely complex. Translation requires overcoming obstacles, including changing community perceptions, which may require education campaigns to foster confidence and address safety and environmental concerns.
Moreover, there will be high initial capital charge, with long lead times for implementation and a need for specialised workplace capabilities.
He claimed that while Singapore has not yet adopted a formal position regarding the use of nuclear energy, it needs to develop an expert framework to evaluate its viability and develop regulatory expertise.
” We will continue to monitor the enhancement for alternatives like SMRs,” said Prof. Lee, who is the program director of NUS’ Sustainable Tropical Data Centre Testbed.
” In parallel, what we can do is continue to address the health issues, the governing problems, as well as the legal problems. But when such options become accessible, we have the required framework to quickly grow the births.
DEMAND FOR GREEN ENERGY
To learn more about the most recent developments in science and technology from British organizations, Singapore and the US have partnered on a nuclear cooperation agreement.
Mr. Oostveen stated that the business anticipates a rise in demand for data backup in Singapore over the upcoming years.
” Big organizations feel very at ease storing both their physical and digital goods in Singapore. It is healthy. It is protected. There is a great deal of skills available to work on these techniques, he told CNA.
The time is running out for the Republic to find a viable renewable energy source that you meet growing computing needs as Singapore looks to increase its data center capacity by more than a third in the near future.
According to Prof. Lee, operators will be forced to adopt green systems and practices because of the government’s emphasis on carbon prices and incentives for ecological practices.
He cited a framework to improve data center sustainability as” The Green Data Center Roadmap amplifies this drive by setting strict goals for energy efficiency and fostering technology across sectors.”
Through these actions, Singapore is laying the groundwork for a resilient energy habitat that reduces dependence on fossil fuels and encourages responsible growth in the data center sector.
He added that continued research into modern energy alternatives, international cooperation, and powerful plan systems may be necessary to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Air pollution fuels lung cancer among non-smokers: Study
According to a study released on Tuesday ( Feb 4), air pollution is causing a rise in the most prevalent form of lung cancer among non-smokers, hitting women and people in Southeast Asia particularly hard. 2.5 million people will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2022, according to the study,Continue Reading
Panama lawsuit requests axing Hong Kong firm’s canal concession
Following President Donald Trump’s threats to seize the crucial waterway, two Panamanian lawyers filed a complaint on Monday ( Feb 3 ) to cancel the concession of a Hong Kong-based business that runs two ports on the Panama Canal. Two of the five ports on the canal have been managedContinue Reading