Small modular reactors a possible solution to power Singapore’s data centres, says Energy Market Authority CEO

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Singapore: The CEO of the Energy Market Authority stated on Monday ( October 21 ) that small modular reactors being considered for powering AI data centers by big tech might one day be used there.

Modern nuclear units with a power capacity of about a fourth of the generating power of conventional nuclear power reactors are known as small modular units.

On the outside of the Singapore International Energy Week mountain, Mr. Puah Kok Keong told CNA that the country has been considering using nuclear power for some time.

He noted that the government conducted a feasibility study on nuclear power about ten years ago, and the result was that Singapore’s size would be incompatible with standard nuclear energy reactors due to space constraints. &nbsp,

However, systems designers are looking at smaller, safer modular units, and it is a place that Singapore is “going to be watching quite closely”, he said. &nbsp,

These have much more passive safety features that will shield the units from panic, they claim. They are suitable for smaller energy techniques like Singapore’s, he said because of their smaller size.

Singapore may look into the choice when it is available, he said, even though there are no commercially operated small modular reactors however.

” Once those are available, we will be very willing to look at how they are operated, to look at, in more depth, their safety features, their health problems, and then we make another analysis whether or not those may be ideal for deployment in Singapore”, he said.

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India looks to build much-needed low-cost homes in Mumbai, but challenges persist

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MUMBAI: Labourer Joginder Kumar lives in his father-in-law’s cramped apartment, located in a tenement on the fringes of India’s most popular area.

He makes less than US$ 200 per quarter, which is a meager wage that must also provide for his wife and two children. Additionally, he is unable to purchase a home for them, let alone book one.

I have to cover medical expenses and additional costs. Groceries are costing more by the evening. How may we control? Whatever I earn is used for our fundamental demands”, he told CNA.

Mumbai, where Kumar lives, has become the region’s most expensive city for cover. Indians have long sought employment in the commercial hub, which has resulted in a community boom of more than 21 million.

Some citizens of the country, who make an average of US$ 650 per month, are now unable to purchase a house.

Average house prices in Mumbai increased 10 % on the year in the next quarter of 2024, reaching about US$ 119, 000, according to home organization Square Yards.

According to experts, this has forced many people to live in impoverished neighborhoods like Kumar.

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Singapore software game developers seek to crack global market

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While Chinese builders Cygames and SNK opened new headquarters in Singapore this year, along with their already-established rivals Hyundai and Capcom, businesses like Tencent, miHoYo, and NetEase from China have established bases there.

As more international games companies establish their presence in this country, Mr. Chia stated that the association is working closely with higher education institutions and government organizations to develop a native talent pool to match industry demands.

” This creates a lot of organisational knowledge. He told CNA that local talent who enters these companies can also emerge and offer options for some of their individual businesses and studios.

HUB FOR SEA GAMING SCENE

Mr. Chia added that Singapore could foster cross-collaboration and advancement with provincial game makers and serve as a hub for East Asian gaming.

” Collectively as a region … ( we can ) make better games, staff better studios… and drive the uplifting of the storytelling from our region to the rest of the world”, he said.

Southeast Asia has advantages over cookie-cutter games that are already on the decline, Mr. Barnard claimed, as well as low labor costs and distinct nations.

” We’ve reached a point where video game ‘ graphics are unmatchable. If you have some sort of art concept that’s interesting and does n’t look like anything else that’s out there … it can get a lot of attention”, he said. &nbsp,

Publishers who invest in and promote video games have said that the game’s creativity must be balanced with caution and be approachable to buyers.

” We have to consider ( whether ) … we present these stories and narratives in a way that matters to the global audience”, said Mr Brian Kwek, the founder of Ysbryd Games, an indie game publisher based in Singapore and Britain.

He added that investments are necessary for the native gaming industry’s continued expansion.

Mr. Leyden’s suggestion to fresh developers would be to create solid foundations with games that can appeal to the target market right away.

” If you are just starting up, do n’t shoot for the moon… walk before you run. Build up your expertise set and acquire it frontward”, he said.

” Create a game that speaks to you, that compels you, that your neighbour, your town, your country is going to enjoy. Create a skill set that the people you know you appreciate as a key component of your career.

According to data-gathering company Statista, the global entertainment market is projected to grow at an monthly rate of about 9 % to reach US$ 363 billion by 2027.

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Oil pipeline leak: Booms deployed at Marina Barrage, Sentosa and East Coast Park

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In response to the oil leak from a Shell pipeline on Sunday ( October 20 ), Singapore’s authorities deployed booms at locations like Marina Barrage, Sentosa, East Coast Park, and West Coast Park.

The National Environment Agency ( NEA ) has also issued a “precautionary measure” to residents of East Coast Park, Kusu, St John’s, and Lazarus islands to prevent swimmers and other primary contact water activities.

No fuel has been discovered as of October 21 day near the Marina East Desalination Plant and Jurong Island Desalination Plant, which are closest to the fuel leak site, according to federal waters firm PUB in a Facebook post on Monday. &nbsp,

” As a precautionary measure, PUB has also deployed fuel containment boom across the Marina Barrage, which separates the water from Marina Reservoir”.

PUB added that it is closely monitoring the desalination plants ‘ water consumption, making it apparent that operations are unaffected and that excellent readings remain consistent.

Around 1pm, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore ( MPA ) received an alert about oil leakage from a Shell land-based pipeline between Bukom Island and Bukom Kecil.

The hole occurred at around 5.30am and “was reported to have stopped at origin”, it added. &nbsp,

In a Facebook post, NEA also stated that it has installed absorbent boom at the rivers, and that it will continue to monitor the condition in key locations like East Coast Park and West Coast Park.

On the oil leak, the Sentosa Development Corporation ( SDC ) said in a Facebook post it was aware of the incident, adding that” there are no signs of oil or smell at any of our beaches, and Tanjong, Palawan, and Siloso Beach remain open for all water activities”. &nbsp,

” As a precaution, we’ve deployed oil absorbent booms across key areas, including our beaches, Sentosa Golf Club, and Sentosa Cove” .&nbsp,

VOLUME OF OIL Poured INTO SEA SHELL ASSESSED

In response to the event, the power activated drones and dish capabilities in addition to build from its company Singapore Salvage Engineers. In addition, the authority even activated drones and satellite capabilities to help with the sighting of the oil spill.

Shell confirmed to CNA on Sunday that the fuel hole at Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Singapore was stopped on Sunday at around 3 o’clock.

The power giant&nbsp stated in a statement on its website that it is still looking into the volume of oil leaking into the water and that investigations are looking into the incident’s induce are ongoing. No accidents or fatalities have been reported, it added. &nbsp,

Shell has deployed dispersant-equipped art to clear up the oil spotted in the vicinity of the hole, according to MPA, and has placed containment booms away from the leak site.

An oil spill in June involving about 400 kilograms of fuel&nbsp, led to the closure of beaches around Singapore, with clean-up operations just completed in early September.

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How a Singapore team braved poor communications and equipment to provide free eye surgery for Laotians

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Physician Dr. Keovongkoth Nouanphanthakoun from the National Ophthalmology Center in Vientiane was in Singapore at the beginning of 2024 as part of the SNEC program.

That, the&nbsp, 34-year-old learned more about issues like as glaucoma and glaucoma treatment.

He cited as one of his key takeaways the thorough person treatment and rigorous work practices at the SNEC, as well as the use of modern technology.

The problem is to replicate Singapore’s system in Laos, where more sophisticated treatment techniques and equipment are required in addition to improved overall specialized knowledge of health personnel.

However, through the SNEC’s initiative in Vientiane, some disadvantaged people who live far away from the funds have been able to get “proper and secure treatment, which makes them had a better quality of life”, said Dr Keovongkoth.

They were “very pleased to be able to see clearly afterwards.”

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Dr. Tan remarked that Singapore, a developed nation, has its own problems with vision difficulties.

” For Singapore, ageing conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetes are more pressing vision problems causing blindness”, she told CNA.

In Laos, most cases of physical damage are caused by refractive error or blindness, she noted.

Singapore has better primary and secondary heath care systems with resources to address those specific issues, according to Dr. Tan, who believes it is share expertise in this area.

A memorandum of understanding is being finalized with the Vientiane National Ophthalmology Center.

It will facilitate specialized training in Laos, with a focus on district-level hospitals and tasked with educating native trainers on their subject matter.

” We intend to strengthen the skills of not only the skilled eye wellness professionals, but also the support personnel, such as medical engineers and administrators,” said Dr. Tan, adding that more exchange trips and training opportunities are also on the cards.

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Meet the 3 aunties of Bukit Batok East who use miniature clay art to build community bonds

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Some neighbors share a love for gymnastics, individuals a passion for gardening in the neighborhood backyard, or even just one person’s love of gardening.

Nothing brings more pleasure to Bukit Batok East residents Amisha Gaikar, Joyce Tan, and Wong Fun Eng than collaborating to make small clay art or clay modeling and training various residents how to do so.

The three women serve as the team leaders of Wong’s Bukit Batok East ( BBE ) Clay Art Interest Group, which was founded ten years ago.

Wong, 64, who works part-time, fell in love with small clay craft after attending a training organised by the Women’s Association. She started the BBE Clay Art Interest Group, and now, there are about 20 people who are ordinary people.

The group uses air-dry clay because it does n’t require kiln firing. The sand, which they purchase from Malaysia, washes after 24 hrs. It’s even simple to use, non-toxic, and a good method for both beginners and professionals.

A Sand ART SHARED LOVE

Wong was drawn to cement art because of its flexibility. ” There’s no limit to what you can create with air-dry clay”, said Wong, who enjoys making plants and animals, which she displays in cupboards at home.

Tan, 61, added:” While air-dry sand is fun to play with, it can also be challenging when making the small items”.

She gives an example of making a smaller fried chicken for nasi lemak that is 1 cm wide. The procedure involves applying brown paint to create the cooked sides by placing a tiny ball of golden sand on a little white piece of clay. ” You need to have compassion and love for this craft”, said the wife.

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Indonesia’s new era: As president, how will Prabowo’s foreign policy navigate Sino-US rivalry?

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The US has higher standards for doing business, while China’s emphasis is mainly on making income, opined Prof Angel Damayanti, an international relationships and military expert from Jakarta’s Christian University of Indonesia. &nbsp,

She believes that this makes it harder to entice British investors to invest in Indonesia. &nbsp,

Prof. Angel remarked that” the US has certain democratic terms and conditions when wanting to do business,” citing issues like environmental protection and human rights.

” China does not have that some terms and conditions. It merely talks about the market, how much is the income and the reduction? &nbsp,

” So it appears more flexible, yet though inevitably at the end there are certain terms and conditions to, for instance, that there must be Foreign workers involved ( in a specific project ) or that the raw materials must be from China, and others. ” &nbsp, &nbsp,

Mr Hashim, Mr Prabowo’s younger brother, told Hong Kong journalist RTHK that the authorities had tried to woo Tesla to invest in Indonesia’s metal industry and wants to maintain doing so.

” We’re trying to attract Chinese firms, British companies, Tesla. &nbsp, &nbsp,

“ Our government is attempting to entice Tesla and Musk,” the statement read. That’s the aspiration”, Mr Hashim said in an exam aired earlier this month.

Under Mr Prabowo’s president, the government is likely to remain lobbying the US, but Prof Angel opined that as a business, Mr Hashim perhaps also knows that it is easier to reach a deal with China as it does not have the same criteria. &nbsp,

” If Mr. Prabowo adopts an economic strategy that does n’t care about political or environmental conditions, he will undoubtedly lean toward China. &nbsp,

” Especially with China’s Belt and Road Initiative since 2013,” said Prof Angel.

Working with China essentially entails working with the state, according to Dr. Broto, which is easier to do. &nbsp,

However, Indonesia must also approach business groups when attempting to work with the US. It cannot just approach the state. &nbsp,

And business groups have various considerations when it comes to investing. &nbsp,

” They consider security issues and legal certainty, among others”, said Dr Broto. &nbsp,

Dr. Broto argued that Mr. Prabowo should work on specific issues if Indonesia wants to approach the US. These might include creating an environmentally friendly industrial zone and a secure investment environment. &nbsp,

For instance, the government should have a concrete plan to avoid relying on China or other nations when it comes to the downstream industry. &nbsp,

Downstream operations are efforts to produce priceless goods like EV batteries rather than exporting raw minerals. &nbsp,

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