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I'm beginning this thread so I can continue to discuss matters on a topic that interests me. I know there is a thread with similar content, but it's become a bit toxic, so if the mods don't mind, I'll start one here? Otherwise go ahead and merge. Basically we have an economic crisis on us, and internationally things are not doing well either. But in spite of this, property prices seem to be headed northwards and the agents will want to tell you, they won't drop. But job losses are on the way, and the capital appreciation on property isn't what it used to be and despite what agents try to tout, one must consider all factors rationally, and see if your money is better served elsewhere. Eg a good benchmark will be the 2.5% that CPF offers. But property remains enticing because it takes a lot more effort and investigation to find alternatives and not all Singaporeans are that hardworking or familiar with the investment instruments available. I wonder what the rest think? Cheers

Has anybody feel that yesterday(Mon 8-Dec-2008) was indeed very cold? From my flat i have to wear sweater in the morning, i am jsut wondering whether it was below the official announced 24 deg C, anyone felt the same?

lai liao 😁 @ https://www.techinasia.com/source-tesla-nears-final-approval-sell-cars-singapore

Because some idiot decided to pick a quarrel with me online (not here) about this, just thought I'd start a poll to ask this question. My view is, whether we like it or not, whenever people think of Singapore now, they think of MBS, since the damn boat on the 3 towers keeps getting featured everywhere, especially in overseas media/social media.

I decided to create a separate thread for AI. Things are really rapidly changing. AI to replace sales staff that are in a revolving door situation. Seems like this company has hit upon a niche that larger companies are very interested in. Not all of these ideas will work out. But you can bet a significant portion of desk/admin jobs will slowly be redundant over the next 10-15 years. Maybe by then, some of us would be working alongside AIs to do some of the routine tasks. https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/09/saleswhale-seed-funding/

Starting a thread to consolidate the sharing of SIM-only plan experiences and lobangs. Still 1 month+ left on my current M1 SIM-only contract and looking at what other players (telco and MVNO) are offering. Came across Zero1's 6u plan which seems pretty competitive, so putting this plan on my radar screen.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/new-species-of-cockroach-discovered-in-singapore-named-after-pokemon SINGAPORE - A new cockroach species has been found in a forested nature reserve in Singapore. Named after Pheromosa, a cockroach-like Pokemon that appears in the seventh generation of the video game series, the species was discovered through comparing differences between the male genitalia of specimens with its closest relative from Borneo, among other checks. Entomologist Foo Maosheng, who co-authored the finding, said: “There are some similarities between Pheromosa and the delicate cockroach that we found, such as having a long antenna, wings that mimic a hood and long slender legs. “Both my collaborator and I are Pokemon fans, so we thought, why not name it after a Pokemon inspired by a cockroach.” Entomology is the study of insects and their relationship to humans, the environment and other organisms. The discovery of Nocticola pheromosa, published in the Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology on Feb 27, marks the first time a cockroach from the genus Nocticola – which means fond of the night in Latin – has been found here. Mr Foo, a scientific officer at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, said: “There are very few studies done on cockroaches and termites, in part because they are less charismatic than bees, butterflies and beetles.” The cockroach’s identity was a mystery when a few male specimens were collected between 2016 and 2017 in a secondary forest in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve during an insect survey. “There were no formal records of the cockroach in Singapore,” said Mr Foo. “Since its DNA did not match any species recorded online, it does add to the suggestion that this species had not been formally documented.” Help arrived when Mr Cristian C. Lucanas, an entomologist from the UPLB Museum of Natural History in the Philippines and the study’s lead author, came across pictures of the species on The Biodiversity of Singapore website and contacted Mr Foo to help with his quest. Realising that the cockroach had not been scientifically documented before, Mr Lucanas decided to publish the findings after dissecting it. The new species joins 22 others from its genus, which has been found in tropical Africa, India, mainland Asia and South-east Asia as well as Australia. Unlike hardy American cockroaches, which most people tend to associate cockroaches with, Nocticola pheromosa is more delicate as those of its kind tend to live in well-protected ecosystems, said Mr Foo. But not much is known of the Singapore species, including where they came from. Nocticola pheromosa is more delicate as those of its kind tend to live in well-protected ecosystems. Unlike hardy American cockroaches, which most people tend to associate cockroaches with, Nocticola pheromosa is more delicate as those of its kind tend to live in well-protected ecosystems, said Mr Foo. But not much is known of the Singapore species, including where they came from. While some people might be averse to cockroaches, they can play a part in the ecosystem, he said. “A few forest cockroaches are pollinators and a handful do help with nutrient cycling. “Cockroaches do have a role but because of negative connotations and their appearance, they tend to be overlooked even during insect surveys.” Mr Foo’s love for all insects and Pokemon has earned him the moniker of “bug catcher” among his students at NUS and other entomologists. He said: “I’m like one of those bug-type trainers (in Pokemon) as I go to different places to find out more about what insects we have. “This contributes to the museum for research and education and The Biodiversity of Singapore website, which is kind of like our local Pokedex.” The Pheromosa cockroach joins several other creatures named after Pokemon. In 2021, three Australian beetles identified by their fiery colours were named after rare bird Pokemon Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres.

MCF bros, you all got ED problems a not? Entertaining video on a Friday (10:36 min). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NJ4fa0CoNY

this one not expatriates or what. this one is general cost of living http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/the-most-expensive-city-in-the-world-is-singapore-worldwide-cost-of-living-2014-report?ref=facebook-869

https://prismplus.sg/collections/tvs?gclid=Cj0KCQiA1KiBBhCcARIsAPWqoSrLDzXGBwCUUSfUqevZFS7lZEs2brmbE8ktc4wDd_pHPovIFeCtgj0aAlqvEALw_wcB TV spoil during New year Need to get new tv Keep seeing this smart TV advertisement Value for money for 55" anyone using got reviews?

http://www.plushasia.com/media_photo/23275 Singapore's million-dollar club grows Singapore - More people made it to the millionaires club last year, with 4,220 taxpayers having assessable income of more than $1 million each. Their combined income came to $8.06 billion, according to the annual report of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) released on Thursday. They forked out $1.49 billion in income tax. In 2011, in comparison, there were 3,870 people in this group and they earned $7.45 billion. These could be Singaporeans, permanent residents or foreigners. A further 12,921 people earned between $500,000 and $1 million each last year, up from 11,092 people in 2011. Iras collected 7.6 per cent more cash in its latest financial year, as the economy grew moderately and the buoyant property market yielded more in stamp duty collection. Total taxes collected came to $41.4 billion for the 12 months to March 31, up from $38.4 billion in the year before, said The money made up 74.1 per cent of all operating revenue for the Government. The remainder was collected by other agencies for other types of payments - such as certificates of entitlement and Electronic Road Pricing. Iras' collections include corporate taxes, individual income taxes, goods and services tax (GST), stamp duties, property tax and betting taxes. For the financial year, corporate income tax grew 5.8 per cent to $12.8 billion, owing to improved company profits. Individual income tax collection grew by 12.2 per cent to $7.7 billion, due to higher salaries and the cessation of one-off personal income tax rebates given earlier for income earned in 2011. GST collection rose by 4 per cent to $9 billion, in line with the moderate growth in private consumption expenditure. Stamp duty collections jumped 35.7 per cent to $4.3 billion. The rise was due to the introduction of the additional buyer's stamp duty in December 2011 - intended to cool the property market - and more property transactions. Property tax collection fell by 3.1 per cent to $3.8 billion, due to an earlier change in some policies that affected the timing of collection of the taxes. The changes had led to more collections in the previous financial year - April 2011 to March last year. Taxes from betting activities dipped by 2.9 per cent to $2.3 billion. This included duties on Singapore Pools bets like 4D, Toto, Big Sweep and sports betting, and levies on the casino operations of the two integrated resorts. Iras also highlighted its high level of tax compliance - essentially, that almost all parties pay their taxes on time. Tax arrears declined to a record low of 0.79 per cent, among the lowest in the world. "Our ongoing efforts to promote a high level of voluntary compliance have resulted in more individuals and businesses filing their tax returns and paying taxes on time," said Dr Tan Kim Siew, Commissioner of Inland Revenue. "On-time filing rates have improved across all tax types." One of the taxpayers who name himself Throttle says "yes this year is a good year, many tables to be cleaned, my income shoot high high." Throttle who reported his annual income for more than has one million singapore dollar has decided to give himself a holiday break to London, UK.

What's fascinating is we had nuclear war heads here. And now, no one know what happened to them. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-insider/separation-declassified-documents-singapore-malaysia-agreement-signing-british-secrets-5312751 5 things you might not know about Singapore’s split with Malaysia, in Separation: Declassified

Performance Automobiles Pte Ltd (the Audi dealer in Singapore) has branched out to include a few electric brands. One of the brands In it's stable is the exclusive Authorized Dealership (AD) in Singapore for Xpeng via it's subsidiary XPremium BEV Pte Ltd. There are two Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) (currently) from Xpeng available in Singapore. One is in the shape of an SUV and referred to as the G6. The other one and detailed in this thread is the luxury 7 seat people mover - called the X9. Styled unlike other MPVs on the road, the X9 is inspired from starships with the windshield being highly sloped at a 21-degree angled to the A-pillar. The X9's height is low enough to comfortably into all MSC in Singapore - without the worry of scratching the roof. Length : 5,293mm Width : 1,988mm Height: 1,785mm Wheelbase: 3,160mm The X9 is only available in Front Wheel Drive (FWD) in Singapore with a 235kW motor producing 450Nm of torque. Can do the century sprint in 7.7 seconds and has a top speed of 200 km/hr. AC charging is capped at 11kW and time to re-charge will depend on the battery capacity of the two trims available. Uses a 800V architecture for rapid DC charging. Standard range. Battery: 84.5kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) from Eve Energy. Range (WLTP): 500 km WLTP energy consumption: 16.9 kWhr/100km AC charging: 5% to 100% in 9.5 hours DC charging: 283 kW; 10-80% in 20 minutes Curb weight: 2,640 kg Gross vehicle mass: 3,220 kg Net carrying weight: 580 kg Long range. Battery: 101.5kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) from CALB Range (WLTP): 590 km WLTP energy consumption: 17.2 kWhr/100km AC charging: 5% to 100% in 11 hours DC charging: 317 kW; 10-80% in 20 minute Curb weight: 2,590 kg Gross vehicle mass: 3,170 kg Net carrying weight: 580 kg The exterior design has a low coefficient of drag number of 0.236. This is reflected in class leading WLTP energy consumption number of around 17.2kWhr / 100km. The best there is now. The back is sloped 23-degree at the rear window. This is to reduce drag/wind turbulence and has the side benefit of less space required behind the vehicle to open the boot. With all seven seats up, the boot is a large 755 L of space. Enough to fit a few luggage's to the airport. When the 3rd row seats are folded down (can go completely into the floor) the available volume increases to 2,554L. Large enough to fit a road bike in the back. It's a very practical vehicle for the family. Underneath the skin, Xpeng has implemented front and rear mega (die) casting - similar to what Tesla uses to improve rigidity, stiffness and integrating with the structural battery pack makes the X9 a very strong and stable vehicle. Should get five star safety rating in Euro NCAP once tests are done. The side benefit of die-casts are reduced complexity in the manufacturing process, improving quality and cost savings in eliminating welds/stamping of multiple parts. The X9 also has a double wishbone front suspension and multilink independent rear suspension, both using dual-chamber air springs capable of 90 mm (3.5") of ride height adjustment as standard, allowing for a 37 mm (1.5") floor entry height. The air suspension can be adjusted up 40 mm and down 50 mm. Great for an aging population with easy ingress and egress inside. Xpeng claims that the suspension automatically adjusts the height based on speed, reducing wind resistance at higher speeds (higher efficiency) and thus improving range. Competition in the MPV space are: Zeekr 009 : 5,207 (L) x 2,024 (W) x 1,856 (H) mm. Wheelbase 3,205 mm. The 009 is also sold by Performance Automobiles under its AD relationship with Zeekr. BYD DENZA D9 : 5,250 (L) x 1,960 (W) x 1,920 (H) mm. Wheelbase 3,110 mm. MG Maxus 9 : 5,270 (L) x 2,000 (W) x 1,840 (H) mm. Wheelbase 3,200 mm. Toyota Alphard : 5,100 (L) x 1,850 (W) x 1,950 (H) mm. Wheelbase 3,000 mm. Hyundai Staria : 5,253 (L) x 1,997 (W) x 1,990 (H) mm. Wheelbase 3,273 mm. KIA Carnival : 5,155 (L) x 1,995 (W) x 1,740 (H) mm. Wheelbase 3,090 mm. Will do a follow up post on interior design as well as a cost breakdown for the X9.

Source: https://mustsharenews.com/singapore-nuclear-energy-2050/ Singapore Could Potentially Use Nuclear Energy By 2050 When the topic of nuclear energy gets brought up, some might instinctively think of the dangers associated with the alternate energy source. However, nuclear energy can also be an efficient power source. On Tuesday (22 Mar), the Energy 2050 Committee published a report showing that Singapore could tap into nuclear energy in the coming decades. With recent advancements, nuclear technology has apparently become safer and more reliable. However, more research and development are needed to determine if it’s indeed viable for Singapore. Nuclear energy could supply 10% of Singapore’s needs by 2050 According to The Straits Times (ST), a report commissioned by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) concluded that about 10% of Singapore’s energy demand could be supplied by nuclear energy by 2050. While Singaporeans might understandably be worried about nuclear energy, the Energy 2050 Committee said advancements in the field have made the alternative power source safer than before. The report projected 3 uncertain geopolitical scenarios in 2050: Clean Energy Renaissance Climate Action Bloc Emergent Technology Trailblazer S’pore can determine if nuclear energy is viable by 2040s In the 3rd scenario, the world is fragmented and technology advancements will delay but eventually arrive. Singapore will be able to deploy low-carbon alternatives, such as nuclear energy, into its energy mix. The report stated that a fragmented geopolitical situation means that countries would find it harder to collaborate and achieve their climate targets. This would limit electricity imports in Singapore’s energy mix. This is as opposed to the other 2 scenarios, where electricity imports would contribute a significant portion of Singapore’s energy needs. Scenario 1: Clean Energy Renaissance Scenario 2: Climate Action Bloc Nevertheless, in all 3 scenarios, electricity imports, hydrogen, solar, and energy storage systems will be important. The Straits Times (ST) reported that in 2014, Singapore allocated $63 million to fund research and education in nuclear safety, engineering, and science. By the 2040s, Singapore would likely be able to determine if nuclear energy is viable. If so, we can start developing domestic generation capacities. Could contribute greatly to our climate efforts Once associated with danger and volatility, we are glad that modern developments have made nuclear energy much safer and hopefully more viable. While it might sound ambitious for Singapore to incorporate nuclear energy, it could contribute greatly to our nation’s climate efforts.

SINGAPORE – High certificate of entitlement prices are not quelling motor dealers’ appetite to grow their portfolios. Premium Automobiles, the retail dealer for Audi, has just been appointed the distributor for Zeekr, a luxury electric vehicle (EV) brand from Chinese automotive giant Geely. The agreement was signed in late December. The showroom for the brand will be built in the Leng Kee Road area in the first half of the year, Premium Automobiles said in a statement sent to The Straits Times late on Dec 28. The service facility will be in the Ubi industrial area. When asked, Premium Automobiles said the details are still being finalised for their exact locations, but added that these will be dedicated facilities that will not be shared with Audi cars, which the company will continue to sell. Zeekr will be launched here with two models – 009, which is a multipurpose vehicle (MPV), and X, a sports utility vehicle (SUV). Deliveries will begin in the third quarter of 2024. The 009 MPV is over 5.2m long, which makes the six-seater bigger than the latest generation Toyota Alphard, which measures just under 5m. Premium Automobiles did not confirm the exact specifications of the models, but the 009 MPV has a promised range of 800km on a full charge. Its dual motor set-up offers maximum power of 400 kilowatts, enabling it to sprint from 0kmh to 100kmh in 4.5 seconds, and making it the world’s fastest MPV. The X SUV is about the same size as the Nissan Qashqai at 4.4m long. Two versions are offered in the other markets where Zeekr is already operating. One has a 200kW motor that powers the rear wheels and boasts a range of up to 440km and the other is a zippier 315kW dual-motor all-wheel-drive version that can cover 400km on a single charge. Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau will be the first places where Zeekr right-hand drive cars are available. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/chinese-ev-maker-zeekr-s-cars-to-be-sold-in-singapore-with-deliveries-from-q3-2024

Surprising no one is interested in Singapore’s pre-history and founding story Hope this will replace the US circus and China bashing threads for a while

Doing your laundry isn’t a sexy activity (hmmm...), but there’s something about laundromats that feels inexplicably captivating. A shift in general living circumstances, coupled with incessant wet weather, has gotten them and I reacquainted over the last couple of months. The last I had really frequented them was during my uni years. But even my memory of those times spent tapping my Barclays/N26 debit cards to activate the washing and drying cycles is quite different: Just taking a short stroll over to the machines, dumping everything in and setting a timer, heading back to the room for a short nap, then returning to settle what was necessary thereafter. That proximity has not been afforded to me where I stay now. Instead, heading out to the laundromat is an (admittedly comfortable) 8-10 minute drive. In such a situation, you’re effectively just stuck there. It must be the sweet lens of nostalgia over my uni days (when I felt less jaded; like there was more of me that could be moved and broken). Mixed with mainstream romanticisation of laundromats. Mixed with flashes of one of my favourite films. But I’ve quite enjoyed these visits I’ve had to make. The first one, with my mum tagging along, was already a pleasant experience. Then, I suggested that we both put our phones away and each take some time to open a book/magazine and learn to be bored. She was up for the challenge. It was difficult at first, then it was relaxing and soothing. We both climbed back into the car feeling more energised than when we had arrived. The most recent visit was a solo trip. It was nearly 11:30pm, having just returned home from a long day of activities, when I realised that I had to head out. The frustration quickly eased. In the stillness of that wet Sunday night, armed with my iPad (and a couple of videos and articles I had been interested in catching up on), I finally found peace for the week - in the low whir of the washing machine drum spinning, the hum of the orbital fan oscillating above, and in the smell of detergent powder and warm, freshly-dried clothing. Interestingly, laundromats appear to have settled into a steady-state presence in Singapore. This CNA article goes into how some brilliant minds amongst us have thought about reworking the conventional model of the laundromat to draw crowds in. I’m thinking of heading to one of them soon. It will be a solo outing for sure - an afternoon protected fiercely, reserved selfishly, for myself alone. I know a lot of this is, as mentioned above, is romanticisation. I can imagine that hauling bags of laundry out of the house on the regular could be extremely tiresome for some households. Especially if - unlike me - they don’t have a car at home to tap on. Laundromats are not dirt-cheap either - the most basic wash option for a full 14kg load is $7-8, following which you’ll have to pay another $6-7 for the dryer (depending on how kiasu you are about your Uniqlo tees being dry). But I guess different spaces have always held different meanings for different people. I hope it's okay that I'm ascribing this sort of value to this one. So much of life recently has passed by so quickly; been exasperating to parse. In my perpetual state of frenzy lately, this image of a laundromat has slowly become a compassionate invitation to exhale and to find pause. - Matt

Hey guys, any1 knows which marathon is in Feb - April 2011 which has the 10km distance? Cos i planning to train for marathon but i dun wan to go straight for the 42km, i prefer to gradually increase the distance..so im hoping to run 10km beginning of next yr..den 21km at adidas sundown in May..den eventually the StanChart 42km in Dec next yr. Any advice? Thanx in advance.

Hi anyone know where in Singapore that still sell this Chicken in a Biskit? been searching NTUC and ColdStorage the last 3 months can seem to find on their shelves. Did Singapore discontinue because Made in China now? As Australia stop selling since late last year 2015. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/ritz-in-a-biskit-chicken-and-dixie-drumstick-snacks-discontinued-in-australia/news-story/90a755e390ca181deb82fdc457c4635c

hi all started this new thread for perodua owners in s'pore. can share tips on modi, spare parts n accessories, etc.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-spending-on-healthcare-does-not-mean-a-healthier-population-ong-ye-kung SINGAPORE - The Republic’s healthcare challenge in the coming years is not spending more, but to ensure that Singapore does not go the way of many OECD countries where healthcare costs are “spiralling and escalating out of control”, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung told Parliament on Wednesday. Better health outcomes can be achieved by continuing with Singapore’s sensible and practical approach of having different layers of safety nets – subsidies, MediShield Life, MediSave and MediFund – and combining it with the Healthier SG strategy to reduce the sickness and disease burden even as the population ages, he added. Mr Ong was responding to Progress Singapore Party (PSP) Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai’s assertion on Tuesday that the Government has not spent enough to cover Singaporeans’ healthcare costs, and should be spending more to help with medical bills. Mr Leong had cited data to show that the Government’s share of healthcare expenditure is lower than the average among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The majority of the 38 OECD members are regarded as developed countries. Mr Ong noted that it is widely accepted by health economists that spending more on healthcare does not mean better outcomes. For instance, the United States and Britain spend about 17 per cent and 10 per cent of their gross domestic product on healthcare respectively, compared with Singapore’s 4 per cent. Despite this, both those countries are facing a high incidence of chronic illnesses and high obesity rates, and expected lifespans there are lower than in Singapore, he said. Conversely, Singapore has delivered good outcomes given how much it is spending, while keeping healthcare affordable for the middle- and lower-income groups, Mr Ong added. Seven in 10 Singaporeans in subsidised hospital wards do not pay any out-of-pocket expenses, and nine in 10 pay less than $500 in cash. “So when Mr Leong asked the Government to spend more to lower out-of-pocket expenses further, he really meant to channel resources to unsubsidised patients, that is, those staying in A class wards or private hospitals,” he said. “This is where the big bucks and big expenditure are, and it will push our healthcare expenditure and spending to the levels of OECD countries.” Mr Leong also failed to mention that such spending ultimately has to be raised from the people through taxes, and made no mention of where PSP will get the funding from, Mr Ong added. The reality is that government healthcare spending has already been rising, having tripled between 2011 and 2020, and is expected to triple again between 2021 and 2030, said Mr Ong. Mr Leong had also called for increased spending from the Pioneer Generation (PG) and Merdeka Generation funds, as he felt that spending from those funds has been small relative to their total assets. This understanding is misplaced as both funds were sized based on the projected lifetime cost of the benefits, said Mr Ong. He noted that PG members are as young as 74 and “still have quite a bit of runway ahead of them”, though the Government will continue to review the adequacy of both funds. The Health Minister also responded to Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim’s suggestion that Singapore’s medical infrastructure is too lean, and that the current hospital bed crunch speaks to a need to relook healthcare capacity. Mr Ong said every country is facing a similar crunch post-Covid-19, including the OECD countries despite their higher bed-to-population ratio. The reason for the bed crunch here is that the average length of hospital stay has increased by 15 per cent compared with before the pandemic, he said. This is likely a result of more older people falling ill due to an “immunity debt” as safe management measures were lifted, a problem exacerbated by poorer health from social isolation amid Covid-19. Singapore is catching up on healthcare capacity as projects delayed by Covid-19 – such as the Tan Tock Seng Hospital Integrated Care Hub and Woodlands integrated health campus – are now being completed, said Mr Ong. More transitional care facilities will also be set up to offer rehabilitative care for more stable senior patients. Closing the debate on the motion to support healthcare here beyond the pandemic, Nominated MP Tan Yia Swam responded to Mr Leong’s charge that drug prices were “marked up unreasonably for non-subsidised patients” in order to cross-subsidise others. Dr Tan, who is a breast surgeon, asked if Mr Leong had evidence that this was happening, and noted that non-subsidised patients are those who opt for an A-class or B1-class ward, or foreigners. “I, as a doctor, would think that allowing market forces to determine costings is fair, or would Mr Leong also want taxpayers to pay for everyone?” she asked. Mr Leong said he had heard “feedback from residents (that) they pay different prices when in different classes”, and that while it is understandable for services to be priced differently based on ward class, this should not be the case for drugs. The NCMP had earlier called on the Government to centralise drug procurement across public and private medical institutions, as doing so would reduce the cost of medicine. In response, Mr Ong said Singapore deliberately chose to have a variegated market for healthcare, with private-sector doctors having different business models. For instance, some private doctors charge very low consultation fees but make a margin on the drugs they sell, while others do the reverse, he said. “Sometimes you want to let market forces operate, but at the same time have some discipline through... what we subsidise and what we don’t, and I think that’s how we rein in unnecessary healthcare costs,” said Mr Ong.

Boom and doom? Singapore to launch vaccinated travel lanes with India, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia SINGAPORE: Singapore will extend its vaccinated travel lane (VTL) scheme to more countries starting from Nov 29, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday (Nov 15). The country intends to launch VTLs with India and Indonesia from Nov 29, and with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Dec 6.

I know we have a separate property thread, but IMO, this deserves a separate discussion. This area will be big, in size and impact.. https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/9000-housing-units-including-hdb-be-built-keppel-club-site https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ndr-2019-greater-southern-waterfront-pulau-brani-sentosa-keppel-11819376?cid=h3_referral_inarticlelinks_24082018_cna https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/specific-measures-could-dampen-lottery-effect-of-public-housing-11825766 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6xz58yCqGk

Very intriguing documentary from CNA. I think a topic like this will end up forcing ourselves to ask some difficult questions. Can be quite sobering to think about. Part 1: Part 2:

YES! The world will get a chance to know more about our little red dot. BMW i7 Singapore Icons Is a Bespoke Electric Luxury Sedan With Rolls-Royce Paint (https://www.autoevolution.com/news/bmw-i7-singapore-icons-is-a-bespoke-electric-luxury-sedan-with-rolls-royce-finish-254367.html) BMW is strengthening its presence in Asia by unveiling a one-of-a-kind i7. Designed to commemorate Singapore's 60th anniversary, as well as the company's local 40th birthday, the model is aptly called the BMW i7 Singapore Icons and has just celebrated its premiere. According to BMW Group Asia's Managing Director, Lars Nielsen, "planning for this masterpiece began 18 months ago and was a labor of love." The car in question "exhibits the best BMW has to offer, including refined materials, supreme craftsmanship, and individualization, all to honor the Lion City." The all-quiet luxury sedan is presented in Madeira Red, a dark red metallic paint finish sourced from Rolls-Royce's portfolio. The hue is available through BMW Individual, the company's personalization division, and sports "opulent tones of rich madeira wine and dark cherry-black hues." The company says that it chosen this color due to its multi-layered pearlescent effect, adding that the i7 Singapore Icons is the first car in Singapore to be presented in it and it will remain that way. Besides the special color, the all-new and unique BMW i7 Singapore Icons sports a 'Singapore Icons' logo on the Hofmeister kink, and that is another way to tell it apart from the rest of the lineup. The automaker says that this position was specially chosen to honor the Hofmeister kink's roots, as it first appeared on a Bimmer back in the 1960s, and it was the 1500. The 20-inch wheels were crafted by BMW Individual and feature a two-tone look and a diamond-cut finish, further highlighting the model's special nature. Opening the door of the BMW i7 Singapore Icons will reveal the Smoke White Merino leather upholstery, said to echo the colors of the Singapore flag (red and white). The high-end upholstery also came from BMW Individual's portfolio and is said to be robust, breathable, and soft. The car manufacturer states that "each hide is carefully selected for its immaculate, unblemished quality," so the attention to detail is certainly on deck. The 'Singapore Icons' design bedecks all four headrests in Alaska Gray, another special touch from the company's personalization division. A dashboard inlay pretty much rounds off the special design of the car, featuring seven of the country's icons. Some of the landmarks on deck include the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Flyer, Gardens by the Bay Supertree Grove, Singapore Changi Control Tower, Anderson Bridge, Merlion Statue, and ArtScience Museum. Crafted from a 25.7-cm (10.1 in) wide single-piece metal thinner than 1 mm, it is integrated into the fine wood in oak gray metallic and sports a mirror-like finish. The most affordable BMW i7 in Singapore is the eDrive50 Pinnacle, which starts at S$625,888 (equal to US$488,355), and in the United States, the model carries an MSRP of US$105,700 (S$135,440).