CNA938 Rewind - Economics of economy rice: What goes into the cost of your mixed rice?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
9 minutes ago
- CNA
Former CAG chairman heads 2025 National Day Awards list
SINGAPORE: Former Changi Airport Group (CAG) chairman Tan Gee Paw has been conferred one of Singapore's top honours. He leads this year's list of National Day Awards recipients, having been awarded the Order of Nila Utama, or Darjah Utama Nila Utama, for his contributions in advancing Singapore's development on multiple fronts, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said in a citation. Instituted in 1975, the honour is accorded by the president on the advice of the prime minister. Mr Tan is one of 7,210 people who have been recognised for their contributions to Singapore in this year's National Day Awards list. The recipients are made up of 6,460 civilians and 750 members of the military. VISIONARY LEADERSHIP Mr Tan played a significant role in augmenting Singapore's air hub competitiveness, water security and rail reliability, according to MOF's citation. From October 2020 to March 2025, he was the chairman of CAG. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he kept CAG focused on Changi Airport's core mission as an airhub, enabling it to quickly achieve full traffic recovery post-pandemic. Mr Tan also contributed to the Changi East project and the design of Terminal 5. "Under his leadership, CAG advanced its innovation and sustainability efforts, enhanced operational efficiency and made significant infrastructure upgrades," read his citation. Mr Tan also served as the chairman of PUB, Singapore's national water agency, between 2001 and 2017. He enhanced Singapore's water security through initiatives such as NEWater and long-term water infrastructure projects, including the Marina Barrage. As an advisor to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Ministry of Transport, Mr Tan "provided guidance to resolve complex technical issues" on rail projects and advised LTA on critical organisational issues. He also urged Singapore's rail operators to achieve a common rail reliability target by 2020. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER This year's National Day Awards will see two individuals being conferred the Distinguished Service Order, or Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang: defence scientist Lui Pao Chuen and late artist Lim Tze Peng. Prof Lui is conferred the Distinguished Service Order for his contributions to Singapore in numerous domains. A citation issued by MOF referred to him as "a pioneering advocate of systems thinking". He served for 41 years in the Ministry of Defence, including spending 22 years as its first chief defence scientist. Prof Lui is the inaugural Temasek defence professor at the Temasek Defence Systems Institute and chairman of the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute. Since retirement, he continues to contribute to education, science, technology, urban development, defence and infrastructure, the citation read. He served as an advisor to several agencies, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of National Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Research Foundation. He was also a board member of the Economic Development Board. "Prof Lui has been instrumental in advancing Singapore's research capabilities and technologies across multiple spheres, from nuclear science, water sustainability, national security, underground cavern development, to the establishment of Singapore's space capabilities," according to his citation. As chairman of MOF's development projects advisory panel, Prof Lui provided "strategic leadership" in the review of major public infrastructure projects, achieving cost-effective outcomes. He also guided the planning of Changi Airport Terminal 5, Tuas Port and the island's coastal protection. Mr Lim will receive the honour posthumously for his contributions to Singapore's cultural heritage and visual arts landscape. The iconic artist, known for his innovative approach to Chinese ink and calligraphy, died earlier this year at the age of 103. Mr Lim, whose artistic career started in the 1950s, was the first Singaporean to hold solo exhibitions at the National Art Museum of China and the Liu Haisu Art Museum, according to his award citation provided by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. The self-taught artist's works have also been showcased outside of Asia, including at the Saatchi Gallery in London and the Grand Palais in Paris. Mr Lim's citation highlighted the importance of his Old Singapore Series, describing it as "an invaluable visual archive of Singapore's heritage" which masterfully captured Singapore's transformation through depictions of Chinatown and the Singapore River. "These works preserve memories of kampongs, shophouses and bustling river life, connecting generations of Singaporeans to their cultural roots," it said. In 1949, Mr Lim became a teacher at Xin Min School, before going on to become its principal in 1951 – a position he held until 1981. In 2014, he established the Lim Tze Peng Art Gallery at his alma mater, Chung Cheng High School (Main). The gallery was officially opened by then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Jul 10, 2014. In 2022, Mr Lim opened The Art Abode: Lim Tze Peng on Ubi Road, a dedicated space showcasing his life's work. Twelve individuals have been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, or Pingat Jasa Gemilang. Among them are social scientist Dr Noeleen Heyzer; PAVE CEO Sudha Nair; and Singapore International Arbitration Centre chairman Davinder Singh. The full list of 2025 National Day Award recipients was announced on the on Saturday (Aug 9).
Business Times
6 hours ago
- Business Times
Sri Trang Agro-Industry swings to net loss of 786.8 million baht in Q2
[SINGAPORE] Sri Trang Agro-Industry swung to a net loss of 786.8 million baht (S$31.3 million) for the second quarter ended June, from earnings of 628.4 million baht in the year-ago period, as profitability was eroded by a bigger rise in cost of sales and net foreign exchange loss. The Thailand-based, Singapore-listed rubber group posted a 19.4 per cent rise in revenue to 30.8 billion baht, supported by higher average selling prices and increased sales volume. Revenue from natural rubber was 24.9 billion baht (up 2.4 per cent), accounting for 80.6 per cent of total revenue. The sales volume for rubber was up 20.7 per cent year on year to 397,461 tons – the seventh straight quarter of increase. China remained Sri Trang Agro-Industry's largest rubber market, contributing 66.4 per cent of the revenue, with Thailand at a distant second at 12.6 per cent. Revenue from the glove segment was six billion baht (up 5.4 per cent), contributing 19.4 per cent of revenue. However, overall cost of sales rose by 30 per cent – a bigger percentage than the the growth in revenue – to 29.5 billion baht, resulting in gross profit being more than halved. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Sri Trang Agro-Industry was also hit by negative foreign exchange movement and recorded 171.4 million baht in net foreign exchange loss, compared with 21.1 million baht in gain during the corresponding period in the previous year. Hence, loss per share stood at 0.51 baht, against earnings per share of 0.41 baht for the year-ago period. The group delivered a net loss of 98.1 million baht for the half-year, against a net profit of 298.7 million baht in the corresponding period in the 2024 financial year. Revenue for the recent six months was up 31.8 per cent at 65.2 billion baht, while cost of sales surged 36.5 per cent to 60.7 billion baht. Sri Trang Agro-Industry's shares declined S$0.02 or 3.6 per cent to S$0.54 on Friday (Aug 8), before its financial statements were published.
CNA
7 hours ago
- CNA
Singapore's Ascott, Malaysia's Coronade to partner on landmark hotel in Johor-Singapore SEZ
20 Singapore-based firms are expanding into Johor, seven months after the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone agreement was signed. It brings Singapore closer to its target of 100 projects in 10 years at the SEZ. To support the growth of business travelers and tourists, a landmark hotel will be built within the economic zone. The 207-room hotel is a collaboration between Singapore's Ascott Limited and Malaysia's Coronade Properties. Named the Ascott Coronation Square Johor Bahru, the hotel, which is expected to open in the second half of 2029, will be about 2.3km from Woodlands Checkpoint. Nadirah Zaidi reports.
