‘Build before order’ flats: Yet-to-launch BTO projects being built in Bukit Merah, Clementi and Toa Payoh

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SHORTER WAITING Period

Some 753 cottages are being built at Clementi, near the city’s main location and MRT place. By 2029, the project is anticipated to get finished.

At Toa Payoh Rise, another 741 models will also be prepared by next. The growth is close to the MRT stations in Caldecott and Braddell.

However, the task in Bukit Merah may include 498 models, and is situated near Redhill MRT place. It is next to Alexandra Peaks, a significant job that is scheduled to be finished by 2029.

These jobs are not yet certain if they will be categorized as waiting periods shorter than three years.

However, according to analysts, the first start of these approaching housing projects would result in a much quicker turnaround time.

” In the past, HDB may create BTO projects to reduce the waiting times for apartments. Often, these flats are located in the more affluent areas, farther away from the city”, said Mr Nicholas Mak, key research officer at property search site Mogul. roc.

” Right now, ( some of these upcoming projects ) are at the city fringe. They are all quite well-located, about 300m to 400m from their nearest Mr facilities.

Maybe HDB is experimenting with a new method of launching BTO flats by offering flats with shorter waiting times, whether they are in residential areas or the area fringe, he added.

More than 2,800 apartments with shorter waiting times were introduced this year alone. This is in line with the goal of producing between 2000 and 3000 of these condos annually by 2025. &nbsp,

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What challenges lie ahead for Macao as it marks 25 years of Chinese rule?

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TACKLING SOCIAL Disparity

Coutinho stated to CNA that he also wants more stringent laws to be developed to address cultural injustice.

” We have already witnessed a huge and growing inequality here since the COVID ( pandemic ) epidemic. Inequality is a very significant matter to remain tackled”, he added.

” We are currently addressing these concerns with the government’s policies, such as subsidizing, providing direct grants to the poor people and the middle-income,” the statement continued.

Social service organizations like Caritas Macau predicted that more individuals would need assistance, particularly the older and migrant workers.

Under the direction of the Chinese central government, the Macao officials have been placing a solid emphasis on social security since the state’s handover to China in 1999. &nbsp,

Through programs like food bank handouts and elder care services, Caritas, which has been providing assistance to poor residents for more than 40 years, helps at least 10,000 people each year.

” Macao has 170, 000 migrant workers, among them more than 70, 000 are non-Chinese talking. They require our assistance because they are incredibly diverse and need it. However, our support to them is extremely limited”, said Caritas ‘ secretary-general Paul Pun.

” Fundamentally, there’s no social security or financial aid for them”.

Some citizens believe that the authorities should work to promote a society that is both abundant with Chinese and Portuguese heritage and pursuing higher economic growth.

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What challenges lie ahead for Macau as it marks 25 years of Chinese rule?

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TACKLING SOCIAL Injustice

Coutinho added that he wants more comprehensive policies to address social injustice.

” We have already witnessed a significant and pervasive inequality in our society since COVID ( pandemic ). Inequality is a very significant issue to remain tackled”, he added.

” We are currently addressing these concerns with the government’s policies, such as subsidizing, providing direct grants to the poor people and the middle-income,” said the minister.

Social service organizations like Caritas Macau predicted that more people would need assistance, particularly the older and migrant workers.

Under the direction of the Foreign central government, the Macau specialists have been placing a solid emphasis on social security since the state’s handover to China in 1999. &nbsp,

Caritas, which has been providing assistance to impoverished occupants for more than 40 years, is able to assist at least 10,000 people each year with the support of the authorities through services like meals bank handouts and elder care services.

” Macau has 170, 000 migrant workers, among them more than 70, 000 are non-Chinese talking. They need our assistance because they come from many various nations. However, our support to them is extremely limited”, said Caritas ‘ secretary-general Paul Pun.

” Fundamentally, there’s no social security or financial aid for them”.

Some citizens believe the authorities should work to promote a group that is both abundant with Portuguese and Chinese history and pursuing higher economic development.

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Singapore badminton eyes Danish model but talent pipeline remains greatest challenge

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With Ho’s walk, two openings were created for the opportunities of women’s singles head coaches and men’s singles head coaches.

Kim Ji-hyun, who has coached the national team of India, South Korea, and Thailand, has since assumed this position. She was credited with playing an acoustic part in&nbsp, Pusarla Sindhu’s 2019 world championship success, and has also mentored present earth No 10 Supanida Katethong.

Kim did begin coaching men’s singles starting on January 1. She will also serve as interim coach.

Describing it as “hunting time” for SBA, Hamid said it is looking for&nbsp, singles instructors who’ve had success grooming people to be world leaders and Olympians, and taking them to top 10 opportunities and winning Super 1000 games.

” This is indeed a high buy”, he added.

Leow added that SBA needs to be careful with the manner it allocates assets given that star names frequently command higher salaries.

We need to balance money for players ‘ growth and involvement in international tournaments with this wishlist.

In the case of Loh and Yeo, the promise is for the&nbsp, fresh singles coaches to “plug the gaps” in their current levels of approach, athleticism, play and psychological conditioning, added Hamid.

After Martin Andrew’s departure in August, more than three years after taking up the position, there is also a professional director position that is vacant.

A professional director has to be a very competent administrator and a brilliant strategist, Leow said, adding that this position is “highly complex.” Additionally, he or she will need to collaborate with SBA to create scouting systems.

Also, SBA is looking to appoint a new chief executive officer as Alan Ow departs at the end of the time to “focus on being more provide for his family,” according to the organization.

We are looking for fresh people with different backgrounds and expertise who can provide new insights and knowledge, Leow said.” Even at the SBA table level, we are looking for new people with different expertise and experiences.”

SBA’s mission is embodied in the selection of a new professional director, the reshuffling of vice presidents to various board-level positions, and other organizational changes.

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Christmas market vendors, operators brace for rainy weather amid year-end monsoon season

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EMBRACING THE Colorful Heart

Better prepared are some foods truck suppliers close to the festival.
 
First-time owner Artyzen Hotel claimed that their organization has not been impacted by the bad weather over the past year. &nbsp,
 
” We operate three restaurants, all of which have outdoor furniture, so we have some practice with dealing with rainy conditions or severe weather”, said Artyzen Singapore public director Jeff Crowe. &nbsp,
 
Our food truck does have an cover, which allows us to spread the coated area a lot, and it appears to have taken care of any visitors or customers who come our way.
 
Organisers at the Marina Bay World Christmas Market have planned away to deal with the weather. &nbsp,
 
” All the stalls, all the stores these have shelter”, said Mr Nick Tan, CEO of artistic media technology company Oceanus Media Global.
 
” There is a combination of different interior sheltered activities”, he added. Simply put, we continue to prioritize the outdoor activities that will bring people pleasure and the atmosphere of the Christmas business.
 
CNA spoke with the event’s organizers, who claimed the dreary weather had never stifled the festive spirit.
 
People are still attending these Christmas areas, they continued. Whether it is rain or shine,
 
One customer said:” Even though it’s raining, I still like to travel around because it’s Christmas”.

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Wang Zibo: China’s ‘wealth-flaunting’ influencer fined 13.3 million yuan for tax evasion

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A Chinese influencer was fined 13.3 million yuan ( US$ 1.8 million ) for tax evasion after previously being banned from his social media accounts for flaunting his lavish lifestyle and excessive wealth, according to Shanghai tax authorities in a statement released on Wednesday ( Dec. 18 ).

Wang Zibo, also known as” Bo Gongzi” or Master Bo, had underpaid his income including his personal income tax and value-added income totalling 7.49 million renminbi, the Shanghai Municipal Tax Service said. &nbsp,

This is part of China’s wider assault on tax evasion and money flashing.

The Shanghai-based influence was well-known for his passion of Hermes comfort goods, and he was a part of a flood of high-profile social media account suspensions in May that hit China’s super-wealthy sun influencers, many of whom became well-known website for displaying gorgeous designer bags, sports cars, and high-end jewelry.

On Douyin, the type of TikTok in China, Wang’s bill had been muted and restricted from gaining fresh fans, &nbsp, checks by CNA showed. &nbsp,

According to Chinese media reports, his accounts on different social media platforms, including the Sina Weibo blogging site and the Xiaohongshu app, were even deleted. &nbsp,

China takes a strong stand on tax avoidance and under the law, officials are entitled to recover tax volumes, unpaid or underpaid, with surcharges imposed. &nbsp,

Those who defraud, mask, or fail to pay their fees are subject to severe fines and criminal charges under the law. &nbsp,

Another Chinese A-listers have also been charged with income crimes.

In 2018, superstar Fan Bingbing, one of China’s highest paid stars, was blacklisted from the entertainment business and fined around 883 million yuan for tax avoidance and other crimes. &nbsp,

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Amid Syrian political turmoil, Southeast Asia should be vigilant against spread of extremism: Analysts

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JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR/SINGAPORE: South Asian officials must be diligent in the aftermath of rebel troops seizing power over Syria from dismissed prime minister Bashar al-Assad, say experts.

Some experts warn that violence organizations could profit from the nation’s current electricity vacuum and pose a safety risk.

The Syrian situation is extremely volatile and can turn into conflict and violence, according to Adhe Bhakti, executive director of the Jakarta-based Center for Radicalism and Deradicalization Studies ( PAKAR ), according to CNA. In the past, terrorism groups have used this fact to gain new followers and support.

However, a representative from Indonesia’s Counter-Terrorism Agency has urged for cooperation between federal agencies, as well as neighbouring nations.

The civil war in Syria, which began more than a decade ago, paved the way for the formation of the Islamic State ( IS ) and the Al Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front.

Both organizations have reportedly radicalized thousands of Muslims in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, attracting lots of foreign fighters from Southeast Asian nations, leading some to start lethal terrorist problems in their respective nations.

The organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS), which launched an offensive against the Assad regime last month and soon oversaw the capital Damascus and other significant Syrian cities, was established in 2017 when Al-Nusra, which was later renamed Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, merged with a number of other rebel groups to form the rebel coalition. &nbsp,

As the new government worked to create a functioning state, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the head of the insurgent partnership, announced on December 17 that all armed opposition parties in the nation would be disbanded and rebel soldiers would be brought under the control of the Defense Ministry, &nbsp.

It was unclear how or when this would be accomplished, or whether the opposing armed groups had come to terms with each other. &nbsp,

Units denied that it still has connections to any terrorist organizations. But, the UN Security Council and many other nations have continued to label the organization as a criminal organization.

IS, formerly a despair network that could coordinate strikes across its numerous trees in Africa and Southeast Asia, has since lost its shadow.

Since Syria has suffered a series of loses against Assad’s plan, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, and other rebel groups, its fighters have spread across the country and been huddled up in tiny cells in the northeast deserts. In 2019, IS declared an close to its empire in Syria.

But, experts warned that IS still has the potential to make a comeback. And while some experts say there is little chance of a scatter of fanaticism in Southeast Asia, some warn that there is a chance that violence will spread to the area. &nbsp,

” If there is more instability, fight, and poor management in Syria, the effect of IS might not be contained”, Aizat Shamsuddin, the leader of Initiate. CNA was informed by my initiative to promote tolerance and stop crime in Malaysia.

IS, which wants to turn Syria into an Islamic caliphate adhering to strict religious concepts, has harshly criticized HTS’ efforts to peacefully coexist with religious minority and vowed to reject any new government in Damascus unless IS itself was in command.

However, past international aid for Syria, already under a transitional government led by Mohammed al-Bashir, had been dwindling. When he takes office for the second day in January, US President-elect Donald Trump has already stated that the nation won’t engage in military activity in Syria.

In addition, he pledged to remove all of the approximately 1, 000 US troops stationed in Syria as part of his wider internationalist foreign policy stance, which has kept IS fighters at sea.

If that occurs, experts claim that if IS decides to launch an offensive, the ruling forces are essentially on their own, especially with some nations unwilling to forge a friendship with a possible HTS-led government, which they view as a terrorist organization.

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CNA Explains: Honda-Nissan merger talks – why Japan’s automakers are scrambling to catch Chinese rivals

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Why has Japan been slow to embrace electric vehicles?

There are a few aspects. One is the country’s passion for petrol-electric variants. Asian automakers have placed a lot of weight on hybrid cars, and profits there are projected to continue to rise until 2027.

Toyota, a market leader and a force of nature, has been slow to adopt Batteries, and everyone else has followed suit.

Second, Japan has fewer incentives to go fully energy than other nations, despite their green policies that strongly subsidize EVs.

According to a new study by Greenpeace, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan are among the least environmentally conscious automakers in the world.

Japan’s GDP is on the verge of a collapse if it doesn’t switch to producing EVs, as auto manufacturing accounts for nearly a fifth of its exports, according to a statement from the Climate Group non-profit. If the automobile sector is in decline, this could also lead to significant job losses.

Asian automakers are now attempting to reclaim their position in the world of electric vehicles by investing more in solid-state batteries that demand more quickly and last longer than those made by China.

In March, Nissan and Honda had previously agreed to study the viability of a proper agreement in making EV vehicles and systems, to cut costs and improve profitability.

Nissan and Honda then announced in August that they would work together to develop self-driving software and introduce an electric vehicle ( EV ) by 2030.

The company’s strategy includes Mitsubishi Motors, of which Nissan is the largest investor and holds a 27 % interest.

The three companies may have a combined monthly production of about 8 million cars.

Though Japan’s automakers have to get up in areas like power prices and vehicles design,” they are not much behind”, said Mr Vivek Vaidya, associate companion at the Frost &amp, Sullivan firm.

” China did not produce the first commercially successful EV. It was manufactured by Nissan- the Nissan Leaf”, he pointed out to CNA’s East Asia Now.

If the consolidation is successful, Nissan will have the financial resources of a bigger mate and be able to “bring in better designs at a cheaper and better rate,” he added. Honda may also have access to a company with an EV and a device. ” This is a win-win situation for both”.

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Low-lying Singapore explores innovations to future-proof coastlines from rising sea levels

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DEVELOPING Modern SOLUTIONS

It has set aside S$ 125 million ( US$ 92 million ) under the coastal protection and flood management research to future-proof Singapore’s coastlines. &nbsp,

PUB and related companies have steadily launched site-specific experiments at parts of Singapore’s beach. &nbsp,

This includes the continuing City-East Coast review, which covers Changi, East Coast region and the Greater Southern Waterfront. &nbsp,

This” will inform the need to implement coastal protection infrastructure measures at the greater southern waterfront area with upcoming waterfront residential projects,” according to the Housing and Development Board ( HDB). &nbsp,

These methods are essential as Singapore’s beach stretches over 300km, said watchers. &nbsp,

The Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute ( CFI ) Singapore, a research institution affiliated to the National University of Singapore ( NUS), is currently engaged in 17 research projects.

One technology being developed at CFI is stackable rooms. &nbsp,

Researchers are attempting to create watertight walls that are simple to refit and blend in with the surrounding normal world.

According to Assistant Professor Chew Quickly Hoe of NUS’ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, “our strategy is to continue to conduct a more thorough study of every susceptible part of the existing coastline.” &nbsp,

Laboratory model-scale reports also have to be conducted” to evaluate that our option works”, he added. &nbsp,

Beyond that, we’d love to have a captain exam plot in a particular area of Singapore’s beach to test out this entire idea and determine whether it’s practical or appropriate for our current environment.

According to Asst. Prof. Chew, studies have demonstrated that a third of Singapore’s Central Business District could become flood-prone if sea levels rise by just a few meters. &nbsp,

A large portion of the financial area is constructed on recovered area and is less than 5 meters above sea level.

” If water levels continue to rise, the entire area is vulnerable”, he added. &nbsp,

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CNA Explains: Who’s to blame in accidents involving motorists and jaywalkers?

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SINGAPORE: In November, a film making the rounds on social media showed a female crossing the road despite a dark man message.

In-car lens footage captured her being hit by the car, and tumbling to the ground.

A pilot earlier in 2024 was  incarcerated for two weeks and disqualified from driving for eight times after hitting and killing a girl who was crossing the road against a red traffic light for walkers.

In a collision between a driver and a path user, who is accountable? &nbsp,

According to DL Law Corporation legitimate affiliate Ganesan&nbsp, Nachiappan, the first inquiry will be on who caused the accident and who has the right of way. &nbsp,

When such factors are considered when determining liability, or in public terms, who bears the blame, the outcome is determined.

A percentage of the responsibility is also assigned to the driver, he said, because drivers have a duty to be considerate of other road users. &nbsp,

Whether the driver was speeding, keeping a correct lookout, or following traffic regulations are other factors that need to be taken into account.

While pedestrians generally bear less of the brunt of the blame, they may assume more in situations where their activities contributed to the incident, according to Mr. Ganesan. &nbsp,

He noted that when walkers cross the road while the dark man signal is on, they are immediately accepting responsibility for putting their lives and those of other road users in danger. &nbsp,

” The point in time or location of the commuter when the driver’s car collides with the victim are elements taken into account,” he said.

” If the motorist has just stepped off the curb when the dark man signal is on, the duty is, in most cases, against the commuter”.

A 2004 High Court wisdom, on the event of a motorist that knocked down and killed a pedestrian, sums it up. &nbsp,

” A road user is always expected to keep a watch out .” A failing to do so will always be viewed as neglect or contributing neglect on his part, according to then-Judicial Commissioner V K Rajah.

If it can be demonstrated that he was unaware of the threat or that particular circumstances made it possible for him to relax the accepted standards of vigilance, then this failure may be attained.

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