Rain check: Monsoon soaks Singapore, disrupts travel, business and leisure
SINGAPORE, March 21 — A relentless monsoon surge has drenched Singapore since Wednesday, bringing widespread disruptions to businesses, outdoor activities, and travel.
According to The Straits Times (ST), the heavy rainfall, expected to persist until today, has led to flash flood warnings and cancellations across various sectors.
According to the national water agency PUB, rainfall levels in some areas have far exceeded Singapore's average for March.
By 7pm yesterday, Jurong West recorded 318mm of rain, while the highest in the east was 298.4mm — both surpassing the monthly average of 209.7mm. The lowest temperature recorded was 21.9C in Tuas South at around 10am yesterday.
The downpour caused a 15m stretch of Mountbatten Road and Jalan Seaview to flood for about two hours in yesterday afternoon, ST reported, with water also entering a nearby property.
The report added that the rain forced golf clubs, including Singapore Island Country Club (SICC), Keppel, and Sentosa, to suspend play.
The US$2.5 million (RM11 million) Porsche Singapore Classic golf tournament at Laguna National Golf Resort Club was also affected, with its opening round yesterday postponed to today.
Water sports venues suffered a similar fate.
Ola Beach Club at Sentosa's Siloso Beach reported a drastic drop in visitors, with only 10 per cent of its usual crowd turning up on March 20.
'The businesses around us have also been badly hit. Due to the downpour, we have stopped hiring part-timers for the weekdays,' staff member Gwen Tan was quoted as saying.
Other Sentosa establishments faced cancellations as well — Tanjong Beach Club saw its crowd halved, while Rumours Beach Club lost 70 per cent of its reservations yesterday.
The bad weather also impacted commuters and air travellers.
ST said a fallen tree on the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) before the Dairy Farm Road exit caused delays towards Woodlands Checkpoint.
It also said bus operator Tower Transit Singapore reported service 966 was delayed by up to 30 minutes.
At Changi and Seletar airports, several flights were cancelled, retimed, or diverted.
A TransNusa flight to Jakarta was cancelled, while departures to Seoul, Phuket, and Jakarta were rescheduled. Malaysian airline Firefly's operations at Seletar were also affected.

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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tuniu Announces Unaudited First Quarter 2025 Financial Results
NANJING, China, June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tuniu Corporation (NASDAQ: TOUR) ("Tuniu" or the "Company"), a leading online leisure travel company in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. "We are pleased to kick off the year with steady growth momentum," said Mr. Donald Dunde Yu, Tuniu's founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "In the first quarter, revenues from our core packaged tour products business increased by 19.3% year-over-year. We continued to leverage our core advantages in product development and supply chain to enhance both quality and cost-effectiveness. In addition, we continued to optimize both online and offline sales channels to ensure that our high-quality products and services reach more customers. Looking ahead, we remain committed to innovation through combining technology with industry insights to deliver more convenient, efficient, and transparent travel solutions for our customers." First Quarter 2025 Results Net revenues were RMB117.5 million (US$16.2 million[1]) in the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 8.9% from the corresponding period in 2024. Revenues from packaged tours were RMB99.0 million (US$13.6 million) in the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 19.3% from the corresponding period in 2024. The increase was primarily due to the growth of organized tours. Other revenues were RMB18.5 million (US$2.6 million) in the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year decrease of 25.8% from the corresponding period in 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the commission fees received from other travel-related products. [1] The conversion of Renminbi ("RMB") into United States dollars ("US$") is based on the exchange rate of US$1.00=RMB 7.2567 on March 31, 2025 as set forth in H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board and available at Cost of revenues was RMB48.2 million (US$6.6 million) in the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 85.9% from the corresponding period in 2024. As a percentage of net revenues, cost of revenues was 41.0% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 24.0% in the corresponding period in 2024. Gross profit was RMB69.3 million (US$9.6 million) in the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year decrease of 15.5% from the corresponding period in 2024. Operating expenses were RMB80.1 million (US$11.0 million) in the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 14.9% from the corresponding period in 2024. Research and product development expenses were RMB14.5 million (US$2.0 million) in the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 11.5%. The increase was primarily due to the increase in research and product development personnel related expenses. Research and product development expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 12.4% in the first quarter of 2025. Sales and marketing expenses were RMB43.2 million (US$6.0 million) in the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 17.3%. The increase was primarily due to the increase in sales and marketing personnel related expenses and promotion expenses. Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 36.8% in the first quarter of 2025. General and administrative expenses were RMB22.8 million (US$3.1 million) in the first quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 11.1%. The increase was primarily due to the impairment of property and equipment, net recorded in the first quarter of 2025. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 19.4% in the first quarter of 2025. Loss from operations was RMB10.8 million (US$1.5 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to an income from operations of RMB12.3 million in the first quarter of 2024. Non-GAAP[2] loss from operations, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, amortization of acquired intangible assets and impairment of property and equipment, net, was RMB5.3 million (US$0.7 million) in the first quarter of 2025. [2] The section below entitled "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures" provides information about the use of Non-GAAP financial measures in this press release, and the table captioned "Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release reconciles Non-GAAP financial information with the Company's financial results under GAAP. Net loss was RMB5.4 million (US$0.7 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a net income of RMB21.9 million in the first quarter of 2024. Non-GAAP net income, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, amortization of acquired intangible assets and impairment of property and equipment, net, was RMB0.1 million (US$16.4 thousand) in the first quarter of 2025. Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of Tuniu Corporation was RMB4.7 million (US$0.6 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of Tuniu Corporation of RMB13.9 million in the first quarter of 2024. Non-GAAP net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of Tuniu Corporation, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, amortization of acquired intangible assets and impairment of property and equipment, net, was RMB0.8 million (US$0.1 million) in the first quarter of 2025. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments and long-term deposits of RMB1.2 billion (US$167.2 million). Business Outlook For the second quarter of 2025, Tuniu expects to generate RMB131.0 million to RMB136.8 million of net revenues, which represents a 12% to 17% increase year-over-year compared with net revenues in the corresponding period in 2024. This forecast reflects Tuniu's current and preliminary view on the industry and its operations, which is subject to change. Share Repurchase Update In March 2024, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to US$ 10 million worth of its ordinary shares or American depositary shares ("ADSs") representing ordinary shares. As of May 31, 2025, the Company had repurchased an aggregate of approximately 9.5 million ADSs for approximately US$9.0 million from the open market under the share repurchase program. Conference Call Information Tuniu's management will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 am U.S. Eastern Time, on June 12, 2025, (8:00 pm, Beijing/Hong Kong Time, on June 12, 2025) to discuss the first quarter 2025 financial results. To participate in the conference call, please dial the following numbers: United States 1-888-346-8982 Hong Kong 852-301-84992 Mainland China 4001-201203 International 1-412-902-4272 Conference ID: Tuniu 1Q 2025 Earnings Conference Call A telephone replay will be available one hour after the end of the conference call through June 19, 2025. The dial-in details are as follows: United States 1-877-344-7529 International 1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 4581400 Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website at About Tuniu Tuniu (Nasdaq: TOUR) is a leading online leisure travel company in China that offers integrated travel service with a large selection of packaged tours, including organized and self-guided tours, as well as travel-related services for leisure travelers through its website and mobile platform. Tuniu provides one-stop leisure travel solutions and a compelling customer experience through its online platform and offline service network, including a dedicated team of professional customer service representatives, 24/7 call centers, extensive networks of offline retail stores and self-operated local tour operators. For more information, please visit Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Tuniu may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Tuniu's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but are not limited to the following: Tuniu's goals and strategies; the growth of the online leisure travel market in China; the demand for Tuniu's products and services; its relationships with customers and travel suppliers; Tuniu's ability to offer competitive travel products and services; Tuniu's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; competition in the online travel industry in China; government policies and regulations relating to Tuniu's structure, business and industry; the impact of health epidemics on Tuniu's business operations, the travel industry and the economy of China and elsewhere generally; and the general economic and business condition in China and elsewhere. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and Tuniu does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law. About Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement the Company's unaudited consolidated financial results presented in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), the Company has provided non-GAAP information related to income/(loss) from operations, net income/(loss), net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders of Tuniu Corporation, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, amortization of acquired intangible assets and impairment of property and equipment, net. The presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We believe that the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are useful for understanding and assessing underlying business performance and operating trends, and management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our financial performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. This non-GAAP financial measure is not defined under U.S. GAAP and is not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measure has limitations as an analytical tool. Further, this non-GAAP measure may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore its comparability may be limited. The Company compensates for these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest U.S. GAAP performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating performance. Tuniu encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release. (Financial Tables Follow) Tuniu Corporation Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (All amounts in thousands, except per share information) December 31, 2024 March 31, 2025 March 31, 2025 RMB RMB US$ ASSETSCurrent assetsCash and cash equivalents 465,004489,89667,509 Restricted cash 26,06110,6481,467 Short-term investments 432,823554,19976,371 Accounts receivable, net 43,31337,1555,120 Amounts due from related parties 7521,311181 Prepayments and other current assets 235,443192,29026,498 Total current assets 1,203,3961,285,499177,146 Non-current assetsLong-term investments 534,041349,29048,133 Property and equipment, net 32,84928,8473,975 Intangible assets, net 22,21021,3812,946 Land use right, net 88,46787,95212,120 Operating lease right-of-use assets, net 9,2668,6791,196 Other non-current assets 19,20819,0862,630 Total non-current assets 706,041515,23571,000 Total assets 1,909,4371,800,734248,146 LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND EQUITYCurrent liabilitiesShort-term borrowings 36365 Accounts and notes payable 290,112305,41642,087 Amounts due to related parties 3,1214,592633 Salary and welfare payable 23,14816,9712,339 Taxes payable 5,0602,559353 Advances from customers 247,151159,38521,964 Operating lease liabilities, current 2,9943,070423 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 322,034339,80746,824 Total current liabilities 893,656831,836114,628 Non-current liabilitiesOperating lease liabilities, non-current 1,6801,574217 Deferred tax liabilities 5,1514,964684 Total non-current liabilities 6,8316,538901 Total liabilities 900,487838,374115,529 EquityOrdinary shares 24924934 Less: Treasury stock (329,668)(342,050)(47,136) Additional paid-in capital 9,146,9289,118,3631,256,544 Accumulated other comprehensive income 313,460312,59943,077 Accumulated deficit (8,050,378)(8,055,076)(1,110,018) Total Tuniu Corporation shareholders' equity 1,080,5911,034,085142,501 Noncontrolling interests (71,641)(71,725)(9,884) Total equity 1,008,950962,360132,617 Total liabilities and equity 1,909,4371,800,734248,146 Tuniu Corporation Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (All amounts in thousands, except per share information) Quarter Ended Quarter Ended Quarter Ended Quarter Ended March 31, 2024 December 31, 2024 March 31, 2025 March 31, 2025 RMB RMB RMB US$ RevenuesPackaged tours 82,95175,44098,96913,638 Others 25,00727,29218,5472,556 Net revenues 107,958102,732117,51616,194 Cost of revenues (25,913)(32,935)(48,169)(6,638) Gross profit 82,04569,79769,3479,556 Operating expensesResearch and product development (13,024)(13,325)(14,528)(2,002) Sales and marketing (36,824)(42,697)(43,188)(5,951) General and administrative (20,479)(26,841)(22,755)(3,136) Other operating income 58236932645 Total operating expenses (69,745)(82,494)(80,145)(11,044) Income/(loss) from operations 12,300(12,697)(10,798)(1,488) Other income/(expenses)Interest and investment income/(loss), net 10,041(5,609)7,8291,079 Interest expense (613)(612)(551)(76) Foreign exchange losses, net (568)(6,102)(1,521)(210) Other income/(loss), net 1,27949(364)(50) Income/(loss) before income tax expense 22,439(24,971)(5,405)(745) Income tax benefit/(expense) 64(283)(52)(7) Equity in (loss)/income of affiliates (604)18810514 Net income/(loss) 21,899(25,066)(5,352)(738) Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 7,988(859)(654)(90) Net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders of Tuniu Corporation 13,911(24,207)(4,698)(648) Net income/(loss) 21,899(25,066)(5,352)(738) Other comprehensive income/(loss):Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of nil tax 2,0348,568(861)(119) Comprehensive income/(loss) 23,933(16,498)(6,213)(857) Net income/(loss) per ordinary share attributable to ordinary shareholders - basic and diluted 0.04(0.07)(0.01)(0.001) Net income/(loss) per ADS - basic and diluted* 0.12(0.21)(0.03)(0.004) Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing basic income/(loss) per share 371,516,251354,106,851348,847,377348,847,377 Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing diluted income/(loss) per share 373,365,967354,106,851348,847,377348,847,377 Share-based compensation expenses included are as follows:Cost of revenues 6566659 Research and product development 6566659 Sales and marketing 3132314 General and administrative 4,8301,2531,230169 Total 4,9911,4171,391191 *Each ADS represents three of the Company's ordinary shares. Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results (All amounts in thousands, except per share information) Quarter Ended March 31, 2025 GAAP Result Share-based Amortization of acquired Impairment Non-GAAP Compensation intangible assets of property and equipment, net Result Loss from operations (10,798)1,3917643,316(5,327) Net (loss)/income (5,352)1,3917643,316119 Net (loss)/income attributable to ordinary shareholders (4,698)1,3917643,316773 Quarter Ended December 31, 2024 GAAP Result Share-based Amortization of acquired Impairment Non-GAAP Compensation intangible assets of property and equipment, net Result (Loss)/income from operations (12,697)1,41776415,6415,125 Net loss (25,066)1,41776415,641(7,244) Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders (24,207)1,41776415,641(6,385) Quarter Ended March 31, 2024 GAAP Result Share-based Amortization of acquired Impairment Non-GAAP Compensation intangible assets of property and equipment, net Result Income from operations 12,3004,991828-18,119 Net income 21,8994,991828-27,718 Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders 13,9114,991828-19,730 View original content: SOURCE Tuniu Corporation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
‘My £19,000 family holiday is in jeopardy because of the Home Office's ETA shambles'
I live in California and have dual UK-US nationality, as do my three teenagers. Me and my husband (who has dual Canadian-US citizenship) have been planning a month-long trip to see family in England for the first time since 2019. Our UK passports expired in 2017, so we booked the flights – and planned to travel – using our US passports (as required under US law). After doing so a few weeks ago, United Airlines informed us that we would need to apply for the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK. No problem, we thought. One of the questions on the online ETA form asks applicants whether they hold dual nationality, however, and nowhere in the drop-down menu can you select 'British', nor is there anywhere to type it in. Therefore, unless I falsely claim to have only US citizenship, I cannot obtain one. Having booked the flights within a month of travel – we were awaiting confirmation of work commitments – we have no time to apply for new UK passports (it takes at least four weeks, we have been advised) or a Certificate of Entitlement (which takes up to eight weeks and costs £589 per person). I have spent around 30 hours calling the British Consulate and Embassy in the US, I've called the UK Visas and Immigration agency and used its ETA web chat multiple times, and I've spoken to United Airlines on several occasions. Yet all I'm getting is conflicting advice. While the Home Office website advises dual nationals that we should be allowed to board a plane to the UK without an ETA, I don't want to risk being turned away at Heathrow for either travelling without an ETA, withholding information on my ETA form, or possessing an expired passport. We feel devastated and defeated, with no choice but to cancel our travel to the UK. This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip and we are faced with losing $26,000 (£19,200) in flights, car rental and accommodation and are left wondering why entry for British dual citizens is so much harder than for tourists. I also worry for myself – and others – what would happen if I needed to travel if a family member was sick or dying. - Mary, California I can well understand your frustration. The ETA scheme has been phased in since early January and it appears you are not the only ones to be baffled by the rules – many other dual British nationals are experiencing the same problem. Currently, the UK Home Office seems unable to provide a solution beyond the advice on its ETA Factsheet which states: 'We recommend that all British citizens travel on a valid British passport to avoid unnecessary delays at the border… As an alternative, British dual citizens can evidence their citizenship in another passport by obtaining a certificate of entitlement on However, with just 10 days to go before you travel, obtaining either a valid UK passport or a certificate of entitlement is, as you say, not an option. I spoke to the Home Office on your behalf and was advised verbally that you should be allowed to board a plane with an expired passport but there was no confirmation that your family would be allowed to enter the UK when you arrived at Heathrow. Of course, without an ETA, you are unable to simply use your US passport upon arriving in Britain as you did the last time you came here in 2019. The ETA factsheet goes on to state: 'We recognise that the introduction of the ETA is a substantial change for British dual citizens of ETA eligible nationalities. In the current transition period, we do not expect carriers to deny boarding to passengers who cannot produce a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement.' This would suggest you can enter the UK with your US passport and an expired UK passport, but the Home Office is unwilling to say so on record. Your airline, United, would not confirm to me that you will be allowed to board, and simply referred me back to when I contacted them on your behalf. Scouring blogs, social media forums and media coverage for expatriates in ETA-eligible countries, the situation is being described as 'a shambles' but it appears people facing this quandary are coming to the UK on expired passports or using an ETA and the valid passport they hold for the country where they now live, falsely claiming on the ETA form that they do not have dual citizenship. The latter option – lying on an immigration form – is risky and understandably not one we would condone nor that you wish to pursue, especially with teenagers in tow. There is one last option, and that is to apply for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) for yourself and your three children. While ETDs are not designed for leisure travel, the Home Office told me verbally that if you have held valid UK passports since 2006 (and yours only expired in 2017), then there is no requirement to prove the reason for emergency travel. Applying for an ETD takes 48 hours and may involve an interview with the nearest embassy, but could provide the peace of mind you need to proceed with your desperately longed-for holiday. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.


CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Alert Day Issued for Severe Weather Risk in Maryland on Sunday
We woke up on Sunday with very similar conditions to Saturday: temperatures were essentially the same and there were a few light showers on First Alert Radar to start both days. On Sunday, however, we're tracking the risk for strong or even possibly severe weather during the afternoon and evening. A First Alert Weather Day is in effect for Sunday. The strongest storms are most likely for areas around and south of US route 50. Storms could produce any form of severe weather: strong winds, larger hail, isolated tornado. High levels of humidity increase the risk for heavy rain. A FLOOD WATCH is in effect for western Maryland through late on Sunday. Monday looks quieter but not necessarily completely dry. A few showers are possible to start the week. Tuesday also brings another chance for rainfall before drier conditions return midweek. Once it dries out, it also warms up! High temperatures return to the mid to upper 80s and low 90s for Wednesday through at least Friday. The next chance for showers is expected for next weekend. Stay with your First Alert Weather Team for the latest updates.