Singer-songwriter Eric Nam returning to Singapore for a one-night concert in February

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Eric Nam, who last performed in Singapore in 2022, first gained popularity after competing in the South Korean competition Star Audition: Birth Of A Great Star 2. After launching his music career, he hosted a few talk shows and was praised for his interviewing skills – becoming one of the most prominent hosts for international celebrity interviews in South Korea.

He later co-founded digital media company Dive Studios, along with his brothers Brian Nam and Eddie Nam. which has since garnered over 500 million views and 80 million podcast streams. As a musical artiste, he has 2.5 million monthly listeners and over 1 billion cumulative streams on Spotify.

He was also recently among the recipients of the 2023 Time100 Impact Awards, which was held at the National Gallery Singapore last month and where he spoke about his advocacy work for mental health.

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Celebrating visionaries and inspirational leaders

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Celebrating visionaries and inspirational leaders

Once again, the halls of the Bangkok Post resonate with the thrill of honouring brilliance and innovation within the corporate sphere. In our steadfast commitment to recognising exceptional leadership, we take immense pride in presenting the “Bangkok Post CEO of the Year 2023” awards.

Building upon our tradition of acknowledging trailblazers who have reshaped industries and ignited change, this year’s awards pay homage and extend applause to chief executive officers and top leaders for their unwavering guidance, transforming ordinary companies into beacons of success, progress and inspiration.

The awards encompass a diverse array of categories, each representing a facet of the dynamic business world. From visionary strategies to transformative leadership, these accolades spotlight not only corporate triumphs but also the remarkable contributions these leaders have made to society and the economy at large.

As we venture into a new era with 14 distinctive awards, each winner’s captivating story will be told, illuminating why they have captured the public’s imagination and admiration. Their narratives, achievements, innovative strategies and contributions that propel their organisations into the future will be spotlighted in the days ahead.

To mark the “CEO of the Year 2023” announcement, the Bangkok Post is from today launching a series about awarded CEOs on every working day, showcasing their achievements, business strategies, and inspirational visions both in the print edition and on our website.

PTTEP LOOKS TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

CEO Montri Rawanchaikul understands the economic necessity for secure sources of energy, but vows that the firm will always keep the environment in mind

Mr Montri has been a driving force at PTTEP, leading initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and pave the way for sustainable approaches.

Chief Executive Officer Montri Rawanchaikul believes one key mission for PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) is to devise ways to reduce the impact of its businesses on the environment, particularly by reducing the company’s carbon dioxide emissions.

Mr Montri said he is aware the company needs to continue to secure enough fuel to support the Thai economy, but this effort should not ignore the cost to the environment.

As someone who sets policies and strategic plans for PTTEP, Mr Montri has helped the company promote projects to cut carbon dioxide emissions, seek new alternative energies and pave the way to operate in a more sustainable manner.

One such project is developing Thailand’s first carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at the Arthit gas field in the Gulf of Thailand, one of several efforts aimed at helping the government curb carbon dioxide emissions in the country.

The CCS project fits with the company’s campaign against global warming and the environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles, which promote business development and taking better care of the environment and society, said Mr Montri.

ESG refers to a set of standards that are said to be able to lead to business sustainability.

“We expect the CCS project to store up to 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide during gas production at Arthit within 2027,” said Mr Montri.

The company has already completed the preliminary front-end engineering and design phase of the project. It expects the CCS facility to start operating by 2027.

The Gulf of Thailand offers great potential to store carbon dioxide, amounting to roughly 40 million tonnes a year, because, geographically, the terrain is a sink area, which is suitable for the storage of carbon dioxide.

PTTEP is also cooperating with five companies from France and South Korea to produce green hydrogen in Oman, said Mr Montri.

Green hydrogen, which is used to fuel power generation and manufacturing processes, is produced by using electricity made from renewable energy to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen.

This project shows the company is not solely focused on the exploration and production of petroleum, as it is also seeking new opportunities to develop future energy.

Under a contract made with Hydrom Oman SPC, which operates under the government of Oman, PTTEP and its partners were awarded a 47-year concession to produce green hydrogen at Block Z1-02 in Dugm in eastern Oman.

The production facility, to be run by 5 gigawatts of solar and wind power, is expected to open in 2030, with an estimated 220,000 tonnes of hydrogen produced annually.

These two projects indicate PTTEP is focusing more on the environmental aspects of its businesses, which will, in turn, partly help the government to run a campaign to combat global warming successfully.

At the 26th UN Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow in 2021, Thailand announced it is determined to achieve carbon neutrality, a balance between carbon dioxide emissions and absorption, by 2050, along with a net-zero target, a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorption, by 2065.

PTTEP also has its own plan under — EP Net-Zero 2050 — concept, which aims to achieve a net-zero target by 2050.

“The CCS and green hydrogen projects will support PTTEP’s environmental efforts, driving Thailand and the world at large towards a low-carbon society,” said Mr Montri.

Greater care for the environment will be a crucial part of PTTEP’s work in the future.

“The company will go on expanding its investment in natural gas production, but at the same time, it will also incorporate the greenhouse gas emission issue in the decision-making process of new gas projects,” said Mr Montri.

National energy security is important to fuel the growth of the country’s economy, but its development must be sustainable, which will be achieved through better environmental management, he said.

MTL aims to go from strength to strength

Chief executive Sara Lamsam’s vision is for the insurer to become the country’s most trusted life and health partner

Mr Sara believes positive factors will support the growth of the country’s life insurance industry.

Sara Lamsam is the driving force behind the success of Muang Thai Life Assurance (MTL), one of Thailand’s most prominent life insurance companies.

Backed by 30 years of experience within the Lamsam family in the life insurance industry, the 54-year-old president and chief executive officer has played an integral role in outlining and implementing business strategies that have driven MTL’s steady growth for decades.

A key strategy that led to the company’s outstanding performance and its ability to win accolades has been MTL’s provision of a range of innovative products and services.

MTL this year announced its goal of becoming a life insurer that stands out in terms of its product offerings via online platforms to reach various groups of customers and maintain a leadership position in the country’s life insurance industry.

Consumers can now access MTL’s products via both traditional and new distribution channels. The company established the Fuchsia innovation centre under a “think out of the box” concept to strengthen innovations in relation to its products, services, and management processes. The centre is an example of MTL’s collaborations in the form of business alliances to develop products that serve different groups of customers, particularly those requiring a unique product.

MTL Click, an application developed to allow customers to access all of the company’s services in one location, received the Business+ Product Innovation Award 2023 in May after over 800,000 individuals downloaded the app.

Two months earlier, the insurer launched MTL Fit, an app to help make people’s healthcare hassle-free. It offers dynamic pricing under an “MTL Fit Reward” feature for discounts of up to 15% on insurance premiums.

Last month, the company joined hands with Line BK to offer an innovative life insurance product for lower-income consumers and freelancers. These groups can easily access information and pay a small amount for life insurance protection via Line Pay.

Mr Sara said offering products and services that are easy to understand and equipped with innovation for the convenience and accessibility of customers enables MTL to meet the needs of every kind of lifestyle at different stages of life. That, in turn, enables MTL to be connected with more targeted customers.

Such a strategy helps the company expand its customer base while core products such as health coverage, critical illness coverage, unit linked-insurance, and pension insurance continue to expand well, supporting MTL’s ability to grow continuously and stand out in the life insurance sector.

Mr Sara, early this year, announced his vision for MTL to become the country’s most trusted life and health partner and become a market leader as the “health provider” of innovation in terms of health insurance coverage and wealth management under the concept of “MTL Next to You”.

He emphasised the concept of life insurance products that meet the needs of consumers through an “outside in” perspective. Using this strategy, the company offers services with new innovations through both digital and non-digital systems to meet the needs of customers who prefer either self-service or service with a human touch.

“The life insurance business today has changed the way of thinking as companies cannot only rely on an ‘inside out’ dimension in offering insurance coverage,” said Mr Sara.

“Nowadays, the world of life insurance is about personalised or ‘outside in’ to serve customers. Finding products that meet customer needs is very important, so big data and innovation is a key success tool for today.”

Using information systems to develop insurance plans via online and offline channels is a strategy that keeps customers satisfied, making MTL successful and its operating results grow even in times of crisis, he said.

The life insurance industry overall continued to grow in this year’s first half, with total insurance premiums reaching 300 billion baht, up 3.78% compared to the corresponding period last year. For the entire year, premiums are projected to grow 0-2% year-on-year to 613 billion to 624 billion baht.

In the first five months, MTL recorded higher growth than the overall market, with insurance premiums surging 14.4% year-on-year to 29.9 billion baht. Of the total, new insurance premiums accounted for 10.5 billion baht, up 13.8% year-on-year, and insurance renewal premiums soared 14.8% to 19.4 billion baht.

In his capacity as president of the Thai Life Assurance Association, Mr Sara believes that positive factors will support the growth of the country’s life insurance industry as people become more aware of the importance of life insurance and additional health or critical illness insurance policies. The trend of increasing medical expenses and uncertainty regarding the spread of emerging diseases such as Covid-19 have driven the growth of the insurance industry so far this year.

Life insurance policies, relative to the size of the Thai population, average 38%, while the value of the life insurance industry contributes roughly 3.8% to GDP at present. In some countries, life insurance companies can reach a larger number of people and can contribute up to 15% to GDP.

The life insurance business in Thailand still has plenty of room to grow, as many people are yet to be covered by insurance products.

Moreover, 95% of the funds in the life insurance system are invested in debt instruments, government bonds, and stocks. This suggests that the insurance business is connected to the country’s ecosystem.

HSBC Thailand taps global connectivity

The bank will continue to support its clients in growing and diversifying their investments in offshore markets, said Mr Gamba.

HSBC Thailand is leveraging its global connectivity and investment expertise to help both Thai and international clients grow their businesses worldwide, while maintaining a long-term commitment to expanding the bank’s business in the Thai market.

The bank aims to establish itself as the leading international bank in Thailand for outbound business, supporting the expansion of large Thai corporations regionally and globally.

“Globalisation is the bank’s superpower in connecting our clients to new business opportunities within Asean and beyond,” said HSBC Thailand’s Chief Executive Officer Giorgio Gamba.

In the wealth space, HSBC Thailand has been actively enhancing its capabilities in Thailand to better serve the country’s high-net-worth individuals and their families.

The bank will continue to support its clients in growing and diversifying their investments in offshore markets.

HSBC Thailand launched its onshore asset management business in September 2022 after introducing private banking business to the country in February 2021, and the bank has been able to grow the business segment satisfactorily, he said.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been growing in various countries and industries in the region, including Thailand. Japan accounts for one-third of Thailand’s inbound FDI.

China ranked second in terms of FDI last year and will play an increasingly important role in investment as many of that country’s companies are relocating their manufacturing bases to Thailand.

Thailand has attracted FDI in several industries, but especially agriculture, hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing, particularly EV production and the automotive-related supply chain.

In addition, HSBC Thailand aims to continue to be the leader when it comes to inbound international business in the Thai market.

The bank earned its leadership position based on the growth potential of both the Thai and regional economies.

Meanwhile, Asean continues to be the world’s fastest-growing trade bloc, offering significant wealth and trade opportunities for businesses and investors alike.

“Thailand is a country where we see tremendous potential to grow and expand our business, so we have ambitious growth plans here,” Mr Gamba said.

HSBC Thailand announced an impressive performance in 2022, with revenue growing 28% and profit growing 55% year-on-year, representing a record high over a 10-year period. Strong relationships with customers, employees and the wider community are key to achieving these remarkable rates of growth.

Moreover, the bank will continue to invest in people, digital infrastructure as well as other resources to bolster its existing operations, which span wholesale banking, market and securities services, and private banking.

In response to local business expansion, HSBC Thailand has completed a capital increase, in line with the nation’s economic growth, he said.

HSBC’s country strategy was developed in parallel with Thailand’s national development plan.

With global networks and a high level of investment expertise, international connectivity is the bank’s key business strategy in supporting corporate clients investing and expanding worldwide.

The bank focuses on helping customers expand businesses in the world’s key economic corridors, where HSBC has an active presence, notably in China, the US, Europe, Asean, and the Middle East.

The bank supports Thai clients in growing their businesses in 42 countries.

HSBC Thailand has set out an ambitious plan to prioritise sustainable financing and investment that supports the transition to a net zero global economy, said Mr Gamba.

The bank also encourages Thai clients to strategise their portfolios and raise capital for renewable investment.

The bank committed to providing US$1 trillion of sustainable finance and investments by 2030 after achieving $211 billion in 2022.

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NZ town tormented by Celine Dion ‘music battles’

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Celine Dion performs live at Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park at Hyde Park on July 5, 2019 in London, Englandshabby graphics
Antoinette Radford
NBC News

She has a huge fan base, is at the top of the figures worldwide, and has won numerous awards for songs like Think Twice and My Heart Will Go On.

But after auto drivers joined the trend of blasting out Celine Dion’s songs at 2am, one New Zealand. town claims it has had enough.

Porirua citizens have started a petition to stop the commotion.

However, those who take part in the so-called alarm fights claim that they serve as a form of self-expression.

The fights involve large crowds of people congregating in a location with their cars while blasting songs from lights, which are more frequently used for emergency warnings.

The plan is to play songs from the lights as loudly and clearly as possible.

French-Canadian diva Dion has gained notoriety as an artist not only for her well-known personal ballads, but also for the fact that much of her music, including the Oscar-winning My Heart Will Go On from the 1997 movie Titanic, has a high treble, according to NZ website The SpinOff.

Paul Lesoa, one of the members of a group that runs alarm wars in Auckland, told the website that Celine Dion is well-liked because it is such an obvious song.” We try to use audio that has great treble, is obvious, and not much bass ,” he said.

The events are typically held all night long, and the cars may have anywhere from seven to ten sirens. As individuals source sirens electronically and wire speakers and amplifiers to car frames, it takes them weeks to get ready.

Mr. Lesoa expressed to The SpinOff his opinion that the stigma associated with the wars was unjust.

We simply enjoy dance and song, and doing so is preferable to nightclubbing or drinking in a city bar where fights break out, he claimed.

He claimed he had requested a licence from Auckland Council but had not heard back.

Everyone has a pastime, and while we are aware of how upsetting it can be, we simply want our own private, secure place to engage in it.

Citizens are” tired of the silence and condescending attitude shown by the government and the governor regarding this issue ,” according to Wes Gaarkeuken, the creator of a petition calling for an end to the sound wars in Porirua, on the North Island.

The petition, which has received hundreds of signatures, asks the Porirua City Council to put an end to the nighttime audio blasts.

Stephen Lewis, one of the men, wrote next to his name,” Nap is a basic human right.”

Diana Paris, a different person, acknowledged that while she enjoyed listening to Dion” in the comfort of my sofa and at my level ,” she did not enjoy hearing snippets of it sporadically between 7 p.m. and 2 am.

The Porirua City Council and those taking part in the siren battles had recently come to an agreement that required groups to travel to industrial areas and finish by 10 p.m. However, the city is once again plagued by wars.

Mayor Anne Barker expressed her” sick to death” of the wars to Radio New Zealand. and urged listeners to go back to places where no everyone would have to talk to them.

There isn’t a single place in our area where there are no houses that would listen to everything.

According to RNZ, between early February and early October of this year, officers had received up to 40 accounts of situations.
Dion informed fans that she was unable to travel after being diagnosed with a unique neurological disorder earlier this year, canceling all of the performances she had planned for 2023 and 2024.

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Nobel view of the quantum dot revolution

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Three researchers will receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2023″ for the identification and production of classical dots.” One of these three, real scientist Louis Brus, was interviewed by The Conversation after conducting fundamental research to determine that these nanoparticles’ properties depend on their size. Snippets from the radio interview are edited above.

It was somewhat of an injury when you discovered particle lines while working at Bell Labs in the 1980s. You were researching the composition of silicon debris. Additionally, you observed that the colors these solutions, known as colloids, emitted were certainly regular when lasers were pointed at them.

When we first created the plasma, the range occasionally changed. It was standard on the second and third days. When I first noticed this shift in the band, I was undoubtedly taken aback. I started to try to understand what the heck was going on with that as a result.

At a really small dimensions, I observed that the particle’s own estate started to change.

A classical circle, a type of particle that absorbs light and emits it at another frequency, was what you had discovered. Importantly, depending on the particle’s true length, the colour of these particles varies. Given that one particle circle crystal is only a few hundred thousandths the diameter of human hair, how do you actually see one?

They are smaller than the wavelength of light, so an optical telescope cannot see them. There are other kinds of specialized telescopes, like an electron telescope, that can be used to see them as well. And one common way to show them is to line up a column of vividly colored glass flasks, each of which has an internal solution of variously shaped quantum dots.

diagram of a molecule next to a soccer ball next to a planet
A glass known as a classical dot is frequently made up of really tens of thousands of atoms. Its length is comparable to that of a hockey game in terms of size, much like the size of the Earth. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, CC BY – ND, Johan Jarnestad

Alexei Ekimov, one of your own laureates, was a Soviet scientist who had really noticed quantum dots in colored glass. At the time, you were unaware of his discoveries.

Yes, that is correct. He published in Russian lit during the Cold War, which was then in progress. Additionally, he was forbidden from going to the West to discuss his job.

I enquired as to whether any research had been done on small debris among all scientists. I was attempting to simulate the effects of classical length. They also informed me that no one is actually working on this. Essentially, no one had read his papers.

I worked in the lab performing chemical science as a member of the US chemist community. He was working on business systems in the Soviet Union’s glass market.

When I finally came across his posts in the technical writing, I simply wanted to say hello to Ekimov and his colleagues and wrote a notice to the Soviet Union along with my documents. The KGB visited the Soviet scientists when the letter arrived in an effort to ascertain why they had any contact with anyone in the West.

But in reality, when my email arrived in the mail, they had never spoken to me or anyone else from the West.

Since then, have you met him?

Yes, during Glasnost, they were able to leave the Soviet Union; this would be in the late 1980s. Ekimov is one, and Sasha Efros, his philosophical partner who is currently employed by the US Naval Research Lab, is another. As soon as they arrived in the US, I met them.

When you first saw classical dots, one of the problems was figuring out how to make and maintain them. Finally, in the 1990s, Moungi Bawendi, another prize, realized this. What do you consider to be the most impressive application of quantum lines to date?

Often, it takes a while to determine what new materials is truly useful for. Researchers have thoughts, and you can use them for either this or that. However, if you speak to those in the real business who deal with manufacturing issues on a daily basis, these ideas are frequently not very good.

However, we could use the information we learned and the scientific principles to create new equipment.

In terms of initial applications, people started attempting to use them in natural scanning. In order to represent cells and organs, biochemists attach particle lines to other molecules. They have even been employed to identify cancers and aid doctors in performing procedures.

Additionally, as researchers continued to create quantum dots, the particle excellent remained high. Instead of gentle distributions, they were emitting true colors, such as red with a hint of green or red and pink. For example, if you got a better atom, it would only be true red.

Louis Brus, centre, and two additional quantum dots inventors have both received Nobel Prizes. AFP’s Jonathan Nackstrand via Getty Images

People then connected system displays and television displays to the screen industry. Red, green, and blue are the three colors that light should be converted into for this software. You can create any kind of photo by simply combining those three shades in various ratios.

It requires great bravery. You must spend a lot of money to produce the technologies, and perhaps when it is finished, it won’t be good enough or be able to change what you already have. Additionally, the Samsung Corporation in Japan owes a lot of funds.

To get these particles to the point where they may start producing shows and flat-panel TVs using quantum dots, hundreds of billions of dollars were invested in their systems.

Your function serves as an illustration of the value of basic research, curiosity, and attempting to unravel treasures without regard to a specific goal or practical application. What advice would you give a budding scientist just starting out immediately?

The universe is a vast area, and you could conduct fundamental research in countless different fields. You want to choose a trouble where, if you are incredibly successful and find something truly fascinating, it might be useful in some way.

You have to make a decision at first, and it takes some intelligence, for better or for worse.

A great way to do it is to choose a topic that you are aware is crucial to technology but for which there is currently no scientific understanding. It is an entirely black field. The fundamental ideas are not understood by anyone. You can start to disassemble that kind of issue and seem to see what the fundamental ways are.

What has changed for you since you were awarded the Nobel Prize?

For better or worse, this Nobel Prize has a particular significance in women’s heads all over the world. I was at the front door monday when the messenger arrived, and because my experience was in the neighborhood newspaper, he recognized me. I’ve not shaken the hands of a Nobel prize when, he continued.

Whether I like it or not, this is where I am right then, in a specific category. I don’t have a research team, but I still have my company at the school. I’m attempting to let the younger generation handle that. Therefore, compared to if I were 40 years older, this recognition likely has less significance for my research.

I’ve received emails of gratitude from a few people who have won the prize in the past. You need to learn to say no, is their primary advice. Your day may be totally consumed by these honourable school visits and brief remarks, and people will ask you to do all kinds of crazy things. You have to say no to all of these unnecessary offers if you want to live a real life and be successful.

elaborate stage ceremony
The Stockholm service for the Nobel Prize is a black-tie event. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain‘s Getty Images via The Conversation

They even advised me to enjoy Sweden! The schedule of activities for the week in December during which this medal ceremony is held is incredibly complex. really fanciful American culture, science culture is different; if you win an award from the American Physical Society, it’s a pretty low-key occasion. You simply appear in an hall. It’s not even required that you put on a match.

I may therefore travel to Sweden with my family and my children, and we will make an effort to have a wonderful trip.

Louis Brus is a Columbia University doctor professor of science.

Under a Creative Commons license, this article is republished from The Conversation. read the article in its entirety.

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Award-winning Broadway musical Hamilton to debut in Singapore in April 2024, tickets go on sale in November

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You’ll soon be able to watch My Shot sit right in front of your eyes, which is great news for all Hamilton supporters in Singapore. The Tony Award-winning musical will make its Singaporean premiere on April 19, 2024, at the Sands Theatre in Marina Bay, and tickets will go on sale on November 14 through Sistic and & nbsp.

The music, which features lyrics and music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, follows the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton as he progresses from being an child to becoming the country’s first-ever Secretary of the Treasury.

On July 13, 2015, Hamilton made its Broadway debut, becoming one of the all-time highest-grossing musical theater performances. Additionally, it has won numerous awards, including the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, seven Olivier Awards, and 11 Tony Awards.

Following Manila and Abu Dhabi, Singapore is the next town on Hamilton’s first-ever international tour. The cast people who are contributing their skills to Singapore’s wedding come from all over the world.

They include Marquis De Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson, American actor Jason Arrow as Alexander Hamilton, New Zealander Akina Edmonds as Angelica Schuyler, British actor Darnell Abraham as George Washington, and Korean-American artist David Park in two jobs.

Jason Arrow, who has been playing the part of Hamilton for a while, recently discussed his feelings for the character in an interview with the UAE publication & nbsp, Khaleej Times.

” I presently strangely feel like it’s a part of me.” Because I can be like that in personal with friends, I believe he has helped me identify a more forceful part of myself politically. However, in social settings, it has made me realize that there is nothing wrong with pursuing your goals, with having big plans for the future, and with dreaming big.

Therefore, I believe that’s what I’ve actually come to adore about the protagonist. At first, I had quite different feelings for Alexander, but now it seems like Venom and Spider-Man are kind of like two different things, even though they are one.

The Hamilton international tour’s producer, Michael Cassel, expressed his excitement to bring Hamilton to Singapore and carry on the show on its global tour in a press release from & nbsp. Trust, justice, and storytelling’s power are all themes that Hamilton touches on. Whether in Australia or the Philippines, it has been thrilling to watch people adore the present, and I’m looking forward to seeing it resonate with Singaporean viewers.

On Monday, October 23, at 10 am, a list will start to be among the first in line for cards.

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Mangrove forests: Steely gaze of young tigress wins photo awards

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By Matthew Tucker
BBC News

Soham Bhattacharyya has been named overall winner of this year’s Mangrove Photography Awards, for his image of an endangered tigress in the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, India.

A young Royal Bengal tigress stands among mangrove bushes in the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, India

Soham Bhattacharyya

Run by the Mangrove Action Project, the competition – now in its ninth year – aims to show the relationships between wildlife, coastal communities and mangrove forests, as well as the fragility of these unique ecosystems, both above and below the waterline.

Mr Bhattacharyya’s winning image, called The Finest Flower of the Mangroves, shows a young Royal Bengal tigress in its natural mangrove habitat, peering at the photographer.

“The solitary figure of the tiger, standing amidst the lush green mangrove forest vegetation, poignantly underscores the isolation it must endure in an ever-shrinking habitat,” said competition judge Daisy Gilardini.

In 2021, West Bengal Forest Department estimated there were only 96 Royal Bengal tigers in the region.

Mangroves are an important protection against climate change, with one acre (4,000sq m) of mangrove forest absorbing nearly the same amount of carbon dioxide as an acre of Amazon rainforest.

The forests also protect coastlines from eroding, as intense storms grow more frequent.

“Photographs of mangroves play a multifaceted role in advocating for the conservation and protection of these critical coastal forests,” said another of the judges, Fulvio Eccardi.

Fellow judge Octavio Aburto added: “The images from this year captivated our imagination… giving us hope and illuminating a positive future for mangrove ecosystems.”

Here are a selection of winning images from seven competition categories, with descriptions by the photographers.

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Mangroves & Landscape winner: Emerging Roots, by Cristiano Martins Xavier, Brazil

A mangrove forest in Brazil

Cristiano Martins Xavier

As the low tide allowed me to walk through the trees, I saw this scene where the mangrove roots were partially submerged.

I decided to use a long-exposure technique to soften the surface of the water, and transform the photo into black and white to give the scene a sinister look.

Brazil is home to extensive mangrove ecosystems along its coastline, totalling approximately 7% of the world’s mangrove area.

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Mangroves & Landscape highly commended: Between Ancient and Modern Lights, by Aaron Ruy G Musa, Philippines

Lights from Bais City, the Milky Way and the Lyrid meteor shower next to mangrove trees in the Philippines

Aaron Ruy G Musa

Lights from Bais City, the Milky Way and the Lyrid meteor shower [are seen alongside] the mangrove’s trees during darkness and low tide.

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Mangroves & Wildlife winner: Hiding in Plain Sight, by Chien Lee, Colombia

A common potoo bird is camouflaged as it perches motionless on a branch in Colombia

Chien C. Lee

In the mangrove forest of Colombia’s Utría National Park, a common potoo (Nyctibius griseus) is nearly indistinguishable from the surrounding branches while it perches motionless on its nest.

During the day, the potoo perches on tree branches, remaining perfectly still, with its cryptic plumage resembling a broken tree branch or stump.

As I didn’t want to risk disturbing the potoo into flight, I photographed it with a long telephoto lens.

It was only after looking through the lens that I realised there was actually a single egg.

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Mangroves & Wildlife runner-up: Mating Nurse Sharks, by Mark Ian Cook, US

Two large nurse sharks display mating behaviour in the shallow waters off the mangrove-lined Shark Point in the Everglades National Park, Florida, US

Mark Ian Cook

In an image taken from a helicopter, two large nurse sharks display mating behaviour in the shallow waters off the mangrove-lined Shark Point in the Everglades National Park, Florida, US.

Sheltered mangrove habitats that are largely free of human disturbance are critical mating and nursery habitats for a number of shark species – protecting these areas is essential to sustaining shark populations.

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Mangroves & Threats winner: The Theatre of Plastic, by Emanuele Biggi, Malaysia

A land hermit crab wanders close to the beach of Pom Pom island, Sabah, using a plastic deodorant plug instead of a shell

Emanuele Biggi

A land hermit crab wanders around at night, close to the beach of Pom Pom Island, Sabah, using a plastic deodorant cap instead of a shell.

Hermit crabs rely on empty shells for shelter and protection. Plastic debris can sometimes resemble shells.

These unnatural “shells” do not provide the necessary protection and can hinder their growth and survival.

Discarded fishing nets, lines, and other plastic debris can entangle and trap marine animals, leading to injury, drowning, or suffocation.

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Mangroves & Threats highly commended: Wild & Free, by Yordanis Méndez Segura, Cuba

An American saltwater crocodile is seen with its mouth entangled in nylon rope in the Gulf of Ana María, Cuba

Yordanis Méndez Segura

In the Gulf of Ana María, Cuba, this mangrove-dwelling American saltwater crocodile was spotted with its mouth tangled in nylon rope.

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Mangroves & Underwater winner: A Lemon’s Life, by Anita Kainrath, Bahamas

A juvenile lemon shark swims in shallow mangrove forests in the Bahamas

Anita Kainrath

A juvenile lemon shark swims in shallow mangrove forests in the Bahamas.

Lemon sharks spend their first four to six years in shallow waters, where mangrove forests protect them from bigger predators.

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Mangroves & Underwater runner-up: Forest Meets Reef, by Brooke Pyke, Indonesia

A mangrove forest grows atop a vibrant coral reef on Raja Ampat's Gam island, Indonesia

Brooke Pyke

A lush and thriving mangrove forest grows atop a vibrant coral reef on Raja Ampat’s Gam island, Indonesia.

Mangroves provide many benefits to coral reefs, including protection from sedimentation, filtering nutrients from land and rivers, and a nursery habitat for many species of juvenile fish.

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Mangroves & People winner: Séphora the Clam Diver, by Kris Pannecoucke, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Séphora dives for clams in the Mangrove Marine Park, a fragile nature reserve in Bas-Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kris Pannecoucke

Since the dawn of time, people have been diving in the mangroves in search of clams.

Women like Séphora (above) dive up to four metres for clams in the Mangroves National Park, a fragile nature reserve in Bas-Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

They sell skewers with clam meat in the cities of Muanda and Boma.

Entire islands, like Kimwabi where Séphora lives, are built on empty shells.

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Mangroves & People runner-up: In the Forest, by Phan Thi Khanh, Vietnam

A fisherman navigates the waters in the Ru Cha mangrove forest near Hue, Vietnam

Phan Thi Khanh

A fisherman navigates the waters in the Ru Cha mangrove forest near Hue, Vietnam.

In winter, the mangroves shed all their leaves, leaving thin white trunks, like a giant spider web.

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Mangroves & Conservation Stories winner: The Blue Fig, by Mohammad Rakibul Hasan, Bangladesh

A woman stands in the Sundarbans in Bangladesh

Mohammad Rakibul Hasan

The Sundarbans, which means “beautiful forest”, is one of the most vulnerable areas in Bangladesh to the impacts of climate change.

As the mangrove area is damaged by sea-level rise and extreme weather events, people will be affected by food and water insecurity and the loss of their homes and livelihoods.

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Mangroves & Conservation Stories runner-up: Stewards of the Mangroves, by Jason Florio, Gambia

Women harvest oysters beside mangroves on the Gambia River in Gambia

Jason Florio

The Gambia River’s mangroves are crucial to its ecosystem, and benefit the local women who collect oysters.

The TRY Oyster Women’s Association encourages women to consider themselves stewards of the mangroves, by educating them to preserve the mangroves and harvest sustainably, as well as engaging in reforestation.

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Young Mangrove Photographer of the Year (under the age of 24) winner: Eye Contact, by Katanyou Wuttichaitanakorn, Thailand

A baby golden-spotted mudskipper snapped on the edge of a mangrove in Samut Sakhon province, Thailand

Katanyou Wuttichaitanakorn,

A baby golden-spotted mudskipper snapped on the edge of a mangrove in Samut Sakhon province, Thailand.

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First two Bayshore BTO projects to be launched in 2024, possibly under new Plus model

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In: South-East Asia

The design of the Bayshore property will be influenced by conservation and” smart equipment,” such as solar-ready roofs and pneumatic spend transportation systems, much like new housing developments like Tengah.

To create a clean and comfortable lifestyle environment, Bayshore will conduct studies on weather flow, temperature, sunlight, and shade. For example, HDB will optimize natural air throughout the estate by analyzing wind flow using modeling software. & nbsp,

According to HDB,” shade analysis will direct the best placement of backyard amenities like playgrounds and fitness centers to increase user comfort.”

The community is invited to comment on the ideas for the Bayshore show at HDB Hub, which will be on display from October 19 until late 2024.

Additionally, Mr. Lee provided an update on continuous Apartments initiatives. He claimed that HDB had distributed nearly 18, 000 set of keys to smooth customers in the first nine weeks of this year.

Currently, nearly 80 000 Housing cottages are being built across nearly 100 BTO jobs islandwide, and in 150 jobs, this number will increase to 110 000 in 2025, according to him.

For public housing projects that showed superb design, engineering, and design, HDB recognized architectural and engineering experts as well as developing companies.

On Monday evening, a full of 26 awards were given out. Clementi Peaks, Alkaff Oasis, SkyResidence @ Dawson, and Woodleigh Village are among the projects that have received awards.

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‘Olympic-style’ robotics competition hosted by Singapore a springboard for growth, says organiser

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In: South-East Asia

Computers ARE BEING BUILT TO Create HYDROGEN.

This year’s theme is centered on” an issue of global importance ,” especially hydrogen, just like in previous editions. The task at hand for participating teams is to create a robot and pilot it through emulating an environment to generate hydrogen, which is then used to store, transport, and transfer energy.

Teams will collaborate in arbitrarily chosen multi-country relationships to score points during the competition, a practice that promotes international cooperation and mutual understanding, according to FIRST Global.

According to Mr. Stalford,” this year’s style of Hydrogen Horizons was chosen to help students learn about the position hydrogen technologies may enjoy in our energy future as well as to acquire the broader challenges related to international energy access.” & nbsp,

Since gas is the gas with the highest power material by weight and can be stored and transported as a liquid or gas, it is easier to distribute in large quantities. It is also possible to generate” natural hydrogen” strength without adding coal to the environment. & nbsp,

By 2050, the US Energy Information Administration projects that the world’s electricity demand may reach 45 trillion Watt, or nearly 20 trillion more kWh than what was produced in 2018. & nbsp,

That implies that we must generate more power, and that energy may be available to everyone. According to Mr. Stalford, gas holds promise as a systems for addressing this important strong. & nbsp,

The FIRST International team will also take part in The New Technology Experience, a different aspect of the competition. The sector was created in 2021 as a way for the students to remain current with cutting-edge technology.

Participating groups will know about all forms of renewable energy, including gas technologies, and the steps to build a prospect of fresh energy this year under the concept of Energy Evolution.

To improve the implementation of and increase access to clean energy, the teams will need to conduct research and create their own cutting-edge solutions.

Group FROM ACS( I ) TO COMPETE

A group of five members from the Robotics Technology Society at Anglo-Chinese School( Independent ) will represent Singapore.

According to Mr. Stalford, ACS ( I ), which has represented the nation in each edition of the FIRST Global Challenge since 2017, is also the event’s in-country partner.

The in-country lover, who is in charge of putting together and leading the national team, oversees the selection process for each FIRST World team. & nbsp,

According to him, FIRST Global encourages partners to choose individuals who are passionate about and committed to working together to distribute STEM learning globally, as well as inclusive national representation and attracting new students each time.

Mr. Stalford stated that there are 23 various awards teams can win, each with a unique set of requirements.

The most esteemed group prize, the Albert Einstein Award for FIRST Global International Excellence, is given to teams whose computers demonstrated all of the community’s principles during the technology problem.

According to Mr. Stalford, the courts are chosen from a group of individuals who have collectively officiated FIRST Global events for many years. & nbsp,

The three winners of the Temasek Women in STEM Award in this year’s contest will receive an additional prize, even though the prizes normally only include the awards and ribbon that winning team receive. & nbsp,

Each of the three FIRST International winners will receive US$ 1, 000, 50 Experiential Robotics Platforms, as well as education, professional evidence, and lessons to assist in reaching out to younger women in their communities.

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