CNA938 Rewind - TalkBack: Will the RTS Link encourage you to take the train instead of driving across?
Play
The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link marked a key milestone with the unveiling of its first train. As this long-awaited cross-border rail project edges closer to reality, will it encourage you to take the train instead of driving across? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with transport analyst Terence Fan, Assistant Professor in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Singapore Management University.
CNA938 Rewind - Media man Cheong Yip Seng's 'Ink & Influence'
In 'Made in SG', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with Cheong Yip Seng, media veteran and author of "Ink & Influence'. It comes more than a decade after 'OB Markers: My Straits Times Story', which covers the more than four decades he spent as a journalist in Singapore – warts and all. Its sequel, "Ink & Influence', contains more first-hand accounts from his storied career including interactions with some of Singapore's more standout political leaders including the nation's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, travels on the job, and what the future holds for Singapore's traditional media landscape.
36 mins
CNA938 Rewind - TalkBack: Will the RTS Link encourage you to take the train instead of driving across?
The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link marked a key milestone with the unveiling of its first train. As this long-awaited cross-border rail project edges closer to reality, will it encourage you to take the train instead of driving across? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with transport analyst Terence Fan, Assistant Professor in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Singapore Management University.
25 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Will we continue to see record-breaking million-dollar resale flat transactions?
HDB flash estimates show public resale flat prices rose 0.9% in Q2 2025 — the slowest increase since Q2 2020. It marks the third straight quarter of moderating growth. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with Eugene Lim, Key Executive Officer at ERA Singapore.
14 mins
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Del Monte Foods, owned by Singapore-listed Del Monte Pacific, files for US bankruptcy
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Shares of parent company Del Monte Pacific in Singapore fell 6.25 per cent, or 0.4 cent, to six cents as at 4.19pm on July 2. NEW YORK – Canned fruit company Del Monte Foods is pursuing a sale as it filed for bankruptcy in the United States, less than a year after executing a controversial debt restructuring. The firm - which is owned by Singapore-listed Del Monte Pacific - entered a restructuring support agreement with lenders and started voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings to implement its terms, it said on July 1. The company secured a commitment for US$912.5 million in debtor-in-possession financing, inclusive of $165 million in new funding, from certain existing lenders. Shares of parent company Del Monte Pacific in Singapore fell 6.25 per cent, or 0.4 cent, to six cents as at 4.19pm on July 2. The company is dual listed on the Philippine stock exchange A filing with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey states that Del Monte Foods has both liabilities and assets estimated between US$1 billion (S$1.27 billion) and US$10 billion. The development ends a challenging year for the borrower that saw its parent Del Monte Pacific in June elect to skip a payment to the unit's lenders as part of a lawsuit settlement tied to a controversial debt restructuring. Del Monte Foods said in its statement that the restructuring support agreement contemplates the company undertaking a going-concern sale process for all or substantially all of its assets. Financing along with cash from ongoing operations is expected to provide sufficient liquidity during the sale process and fund ongoing operations, as it intends to keep serving customers, according to the statement. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 3 out of 4 in Singapore cannot identify deepfake content: Cyber Security Agency survey Singapore Ong Beng Seng's court hearing rescheduled one day before he was expected to plead guilty Singapore Three hair salons raided in clampdown on touting, vice, drugs in Geylang and Joo Chiat Singapore New $7.5m fund to encourage social service agencies to track impact of their programmes Singapore GrabCab, Singapore's newest taxi operator, hits the roads with over 40 cabs to be rolled out in July Singapore Police looking into claim by driver who caused teen's death that he was an NUS student Asia Dalai Lama says he will have successor after his death Business Cathay Cineplexes gets demand for $3.4 million in arrears from Jem landlord 'This is a strategic step forward for Del Monte Foods. After a thorough evaluation of all available options, we determined a court-supervised sale process is the most effective way to accelerate our turnaround and create a stronger and enduring Del Monte Foods,' its chief executive Greg Longstreet said. Del Monte Foods executed a debt overhaul last year, which became the subject of a lawsuit by left-behind lenders who said the company defaulted on a US$725 million financing agreement when it shifted the assets away from the reach of lenders. The strategy – known in industry parlance as a drop-down transaction – allowed Del Monte Foods to raise fresh liquidity by borrowing against the transferred assets. The deal also prioritised participating lenders via debt swaps and created different payment priorities. BLOOMBERG
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Leading global institutions launch alliance to advance human-centric urban research
VIENNA, July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Five globally respected academic institutions have come together to launch the Global Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies – a pioneering initiative that places people at the heart of urban research and policymaking. The partnership was announced today at the Singapore Management University (SMU) City Dialogues held in Vienna, taking place as part of the Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit 2025. The founding members of the alliance are: The Urban Institute, Singapore Management University The Initiative on Cities, Boston University The Department of Geography and Environment, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) (LSE) Melbourne Centre for Cities, University of Melbourne The School of Cities, University of Toronto Representatives from the five founding institutions signed an agreement at a networking reception of the SMU City Dialogues Vienna. Formed around a shared vision of interdisciplinary and human-centred urban research, the Alliance aims to deepen understanding of how city dwellers sense, navigate and shape the urban environments they inhabit. This includes examination of the social and cultural norms, social networks and economic linkages – the "soft infrastructures" – that underpin resilient and sustainable cities. In an era of accelerating digital transformation, the Alliance embraces the fusion of critical social science with data science to offer fresh, actionable insights into urban life. By recognising people as sensors, enablers and actuators, the collaboration acknowledges the vital, multi-faceted role of residents in shaping sustainable urban societies. The Alliance will collaborate through: Joint research initiatives and academic publications Co-hosted workshops and global conferences Faculty and student exchanges Responsible data-sharing protocols that uphold privacy and confidentiality The founding institutions extend an open invitation to like-minded academic institutions to join the Alliance in advancing a collective understanding of sustainable, people-first cities. Speaking at the SMU City Dialogues Vienna, the founding institutions underscored their commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and global network of urban researchers. Professor Orlando Woods, the Director of the Urban Institute at SMU, said, "The joint vision is to pursue interdisciplinary research that views cities through a human-centred lens to shape sustainable urban societies and promote urban resilience. This exciting collaboration will deepen knowledge in an important field across the founding institutions, and it encompasses joint research projects, academic publications and workshops and conferences. It is also empowered by student and faculty exchanges, and data sharing initiatives that safeguard the confidentiality, privacy and security of individuals' data. We welcome like-minded academic institutions to join this alliance." Professor Loretta Lees, the Director of the Initiative on Cities at Boston University, said, "The Initiative on Cities at Boston University is an interdisciplinary research, learning and practice centre focused on resilient and liveable cities. To be resilient and liveable, cities must be socially sustainable, and we need to understand how individuals and communities perceive, interact with, and are affected by urbanisation and the urban environment. Ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities in cities is important because this affects well-being and quality of life. Investigating urban community building and socio-cultural interactions and connections is strategic in terms of building human resilience to shocks, environmental, economic, or other. Working with like-minded urbanists globally is critical towards these goals, and we are very excited to be a part of launching this global urban alliance." Professor Hyun Bang Shin, the Head of the Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said, "The Department of Geography and Environment at LSE embodies international excellence through its diverse community of globally engaged academics, researchers, and students. Our work addresses some of the world's most pressing urban challenges, combining rigorous academic inquiry with applied, policy-relevant solutions. Committed to fostering sustainable, equitable, and inclusive urban futures, we produce research that informs global debates, shapes practice, and empowers communities—from informal settlements to global cities—towards more just and resilient urban worlds. We are excited to be part of this global alliance on sustainable urban societies and look forward to working together with like-minded urban scholars across the world." Associate Professor Cathy Oke, Director of the Melbourne Centre for Cities, said, "At the Melbourne Centre for Cities we believe strongly in the importance of international collaboration between and amongst cities and universities, to further urban scholarship policy and decisions informed by lived experiences, shared goals, challenges and opportunities faced by urban settlements around the world. We're delighted to be part of this global alliance, and look forward to finding new opportunities to help leaders and citizens as they shape just, thriving cities." Professor Karen Chapple, Director of the School of Cities, and Professor, Department of Geography & Planning, at the University of Toronto, said, "The School of Cities is delighted to be a founding member of the Global Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies. This partnership reflects our deep commitment to advancing inclusive, interdisciplinary urban research that centres the lived experiences of residents and city-builders. By working collaboratively across continents and disciplines, we can better understand the complex social fabrics that make cities resilient, and co-create solutions that are both innovative and grounded in the realities of urban life." About SMU Urban Institute Set up on 17 January 2024, the SMU Urban Institute plans to forge an interdisciplinary research agenda that bridges theoretical and applied research, data science and the critical social sciences, industry and academia, and Singapore and Southeast Asia. It seeks to synthesise and cultivate thought leadership and innovative solutions, inform policy decisions, and drive sustainable urban development practices for the development of more inclusive, resilient, and vibrant cities. Organised into three pillars – Urban Life, Urban Growth and Urban Infrastructure – it aims to address the evolving urban challenges that confront Singapore and key Asian cities. About Boston University Initiative on Cities The Boston University Initiative on Cities is a global urban research and policy center, founded in 2014, that serves as a bridge between academic research and real-world urban challenges. By leveraging the interdisciplinary expertise of Boston University's faculty and connecting it to practitioners, policymakers, and communities, the IOC seeks to advance more livable, resilient, and just cities. Learn more at About the London School of Economics and Political Science The Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a centre of international academic excellence in economic and urban geography, planning, environmental social science, and climate change. Accommodating the largest concentration of urban scholars at the LSE, the Department's research expertise is grounded in social sciences and policy relevance, excelling in six key areas that encompass city economies; housing, land and property; regional economic development; sustainability and environmental economics; global urban worlds; and environmental politics and justice. About the Melbourne Centre for Cities The Melbourne Centre for Cities is a cross-faculty, multidisciplinary initiative at the University of Melbourne, hosted by the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. It leverages evidence-based research and bridges the gap between urban scholarship and policy-making, driving deeper academic understanding and transformative policy centred on key themes of urban sustainability, connectivity, leadership, and equity. About the School of Cities, University of Toronto The School of Cities is a unique multidisciplinary hub for urban research, education, and engagement creating new and just ways for cities and their residents to thrive. Based at the University of Toronto and in a fast-growing, culturally diverse, and economically dynamic urban region, the School of Cities supports leading scholars, practitioners, and community members spanning disciplines and lived experiences to co-create new understandings, policies, and practices. The School of Cities is playing a critical role in addressing climate change and justice, migration and belonging, inequality and democracy, and the world's collective ability to address urgent urban challenges.
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng's guilty plea adjourned
SINGAPORE: Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who faces two charges in relation to former transport minister S Iswaran's case, has had his guilty plea adjourned, court records show. The 79-year-old was originally set to plead guilty on Thursday (Jul 3) but this has been changed to a pre-trial conference on Jul 8 at 9.30am. CNA has reached out to the Attorney-General's Chambers for more information. Ong was handed two charges in October 2024, which correspond to those that Mr Iswaran pleaded guilty to in September 2024. The Singapore-based Malaysian businessman is accused of abetting Mr Iswaran in obtaining an all-expenses-paid trip to Doha worth about S$20,850 in December 2022. These include an outbound flight on Ong's private plane from Singapore to Doha, one night's stay in the Four Seasons Hotel Doha, and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore. The second charge alleges that Ong abetted the obstruction of justice by intentionally aiding Mr Iswaran in May 2023, when the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau had begun its probe, by paying S$5,700 to Singapore GP for a business class flight ticket from Doha to Singapore. Ong was the managing director of Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), which previously stated in a Singapore Exchange (SGX) announcement that Ong would plead guilty to the charge of obstructing justice, while admitting to have the other charge taken into consideration for sentencing. He stepped down on Apr 29 to "devote more time to manage his medical conditions", according to a bourse filing by the company. Ong has been undergoing chemotherapy for bone marrow cancer and he previously obtained permission to travel abroad for medical-related purposes. Mr Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail in October 2024. He was placed on home detention on Feb 7, and has completed his emplacement and been out of prison's custody since Jun 6.
