CNA938 Rewind - How are conspiracy theory posts created?
How do wild stories that misinform get created? Is it to create childish mischief or could the ulterior motive be to plant seeds of discord among Singaporeans? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin learn more from Dr Goh Weihan, Associate Professor in the Info-comm Technology cluster, Singapore Institute of Technology.
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CNA
7 hours ago
- CNA
ASEAN nations can overcome space, disaster constraints in pursuit of nuclear energy: IAEA chief
SINGAPORE: As Southeast Asian nations grow their ambitions for nuclear energy to meet rising power needs and climate goals, obstacles such as natural disasters and geographical limitations can be addressed, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi said on Friday (Jul 25). Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must also disseminate more information to tackle public perceptions of nuclear energy that are influenced by past nuclear disasters such as the 2011 Fukushima incident, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said in a media interview. Mr Grossi was in Singapore on Friday as part of the S R Nathan fellowship, a high-level programme for foreign leaders and prominent individuals to visit the country. As part of his visit, Mr Grossi met President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and delivered a lecture hosted by the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI) at the National University of Singapore. Mr Grossi and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu then signed a renewed agreement to help developing nations build nuclear expertise through fellowships, scientific visits and training courses. Speaking to local media after the day's activities concluded, at the Shangri-La Hotel, Mr Grossi reiterated his belief that Singapore is well-placed to adopt nuclear technology as the city-state faced "no insurmountable challenges". "Singapore is a very special case, because this country, it has a fine technology base in general ... it has a mature regulator, nuclear regulator. It has very good nuclear safety research capabilities," said Mr Grossi, adding that the "institutional pillars" that are typically necessary in a newcomer country were present. "I think all of this groundwork has been done here. So in my opinion, when the country, the government, decides to move into a programme, it will be relatively fast," he added. "I don't see, as I said, any obstacle. In some countries, it will be the finance - impossible - or the lack of human capacity, workforce, you don't have those problems in Singapore. This is why I was saying at the beginning of our conversation that there are many steps, many boxes that have been checked already in Singapore." That said, Mr Grossi noted that Mr Wong and Mr Tharman had stated to him during their meetings that no decision had been made regarding the deployment of nuclear energy here. At the same time, the country has been taking steps to expand its research into nuclear safety, including the establishment of SNRSI earlier this month to further studies into this area. Singapore's renewed agreement with IAEA would also enable international nuclear experts to gather in the country to conduct capacity building activities for nuclear research, which will also benefit participants from Singapore. Nuclear power presents a potential source of clean energy and the advancement of nuclear technology, especially in the area of small modular reactors (SMR), makes it a potential option as Singapore works towards decarbonisation. In 2012, the government said that a pre-feasibility study concluded that nuclear energy technologies available at the time were not suitable for deployment as the risks still outweighed the benefits for a small and dense country like Singapore. Answering another question about Singapore's geographical limitations, Mr Grossi said that the lack of space was not a negative factor. "In case there was a deployment here, even within a limited geographical space ... there would not be any problem to have precautionary measures of any type. These measures include protocols and procedures on what to do in the event of an accident, Mr Grossi said. "The idea that introducing nuclear power generates an immediate risk ... is not sustained by reality. Of course, any technology - and nuclear is not an exception - entails risks," said Mr Grossi, adding that risks should be managed and reduced to a minimum. Asked to elaborate on why he did not see space as a limitation, Mr Grossi said that the underlying assumption was a "worst-case scenario". "I would say that, if this is the criterion, other industrial activities ... will also have negative effects in a relatively constrained space like the one here. This is why there are specific plans for that. "Let me put it this way, any geographical space is limited in some way. When you have a nuclear power plant in China, for example, of course, the country is huge, but the vicinity of the plant would also ... be affected," he said. 03:05 Min ASEAN'S AMBITIONS FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY Singapore is not alone in exploring nuclear power within the region. There are currently no operational nuclear reactors in Southeast Asia, but countries like the Philippines and Indonesia have set targets to operate nuclear power plants in the early 2030s. Nevertheless, these regions are also prone to earthquakes, which are one of the many factors the IAEA takes into consideration when dispensing advice on where to situate nuclear plants. "The IAEA has services specifically oriented at that. Where are you planning to build your nuclear power plant? And here, what comes into play is the geological situation of a place, the access to water with a number of things," Mr Grossi said. An intergovernmental organisation, the IAEA works with member states to promote the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy. Singapore has been a member state since 1967. "The IAEA has expertise and people who are specialists in this concept called siting. So this is a very major element," Mr Grossi added. Asked if the IAEA considered a nation's political stability a key factor in letting it pursue nuclear technology, Mr Grossi replied that it was every country's "sovereign right" to decide whether it wanted to engage in a nuclear programme. However he noted that countries undergoing political turmoil would not usually engage in something that required much planning and institutional effort. Mr Grossi also said that it is up to the individual ASEAN nations to decide whether to explore nuclear energy alone without any collaboration with other countries. That said, bilateral partnerships are also possible. He referred to the example of the Krsko power plant in Slovenia, which supplies energy to both Slovenia and Croatia. This showed how two relatively small countries agreed to situate a nuclear plant in one country but split energy between both, he said. "You can imagine as many arrangements as the countries would like. Here, there is no pre-baked solution. It will depend if there is a will. So it is a dialogue that perhaps countries in ASEAN might wish to have." PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE INFORMED Mr Grossi also spoke of the importance for governments and the region to disseminate more information and for the public to familiarise itself with nuclear technology. "The reality is that all the ASEAN governments are approaching the agency and telling me that they want nuclear energy ... so there is a lot of interest in the area," said Mr Grossi. "It is clear that we have 60 years of nuclear experience in the world, that more than 400 reactors are operating in the world without problems." "So in my opinion, it would be good to do more, to do more information sharing, campaigns of education, dissemination of this information because it's true that the public perceptions may still be influenced by a certain inertia from past examples." The Fukushima incident, for instance, has "left quite a strong impression in some layers of society", he added, referring to the 2011 nuclear power plant meltdown in Japan's Fukushima prefecture. To address such fears, Mr Grossi said transparency was key. He added that a lot of wastewater has been treated and discharged in a controlled manner. "So, so far so good ... But we are going to continue. I said that the IAEA will be present until the very last drop of this water. "So this is, I think, a way to prove that we are there, that we are not going anywhere." On how the IAEA will strike a balance between being an authoritative power and maintaining global nuclear security when nuclear programmes were of political sensitivity, Mr Grossi said that the "best and most important element" was to work within the "family of nations" in the IAEA. "Every country that is operating normally and safely and with no proliferation concerns is a member of the IAEA ... receives the inspections, does the safety and security reviews, participates actively in the regulatory activities, countries that have transparency." Asked to rate how prepared ASEAN was to adopt nuclear energy at this point, Mr Grossi declined to give a score. "There is no such thing as an ASEAN energy output, because the countries are part of what ASEAN is but there is a huge difference between Myanmar and Singapore, or between Vietnam and Thailand.
Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Straits Times
China denies supplying new weapons to Cambodia in Thai border conflict
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Col Siwat Rattan-anant (left), Thai Army Assistant Military Attaché and Acting Defence Attaché at the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing, meeting China's Senior Col Sheng Wei on July 25. BANGKOK - China has officially denied recent allegations that it has supplied any military weapons or support to the Cambodian Armed Forces amid the current Thai-Cambodian border conflict . All items in the Cambodian armoury originate from past military cooperation agreements, and no new military support has been provided, said China. On July 25 at 2.45pm (3.45pm Singapore time), Col Siwat Rattan-anant, Thai Army Assistant Military Attaché and Acting Defence Attaché at the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing, held an urgent meeting with the Office of International Military Cooperation (OIMC) of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China. The meeting took place in the OIMC Reception Room in Beijing. Representing China was Senior Col Sheng Wei, Deputy Director of the Asia Division, OIMC. The Thai side officially submitted a report titled: A Clash Incident on the Thailand-Cambodia Border' to China. In response, the Chinese side emphasised: 'Since tensions began along the Thailand-Cambodia border, China has not provided any military equipment to Cambodia for use against Thailand. All Chinese military hardware currently possessed by Cambodia is the result of historical cooperation projects. Please do not believe fake news generated by malicious actors.' The Chinese delegation requested that this clarification be communicated to the Thai public in the interest of maintaining regional stability and trust. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Asia Death toll climbs as Thai-Cambodia clashes continue despite calls for ceasefire Multimedia Lights dimmed at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Singapore Black belt in taekwondo, Grade 8 in piano: S'pore teen excels despite condition that limits movements Asia Where's Jho Low? Looking for 1MDB fugitive in Shanghai's luxury estate Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur calling for the resignation of PM Anwar Life SG60 F&B icons: Honouring 14 heritage brands that have never lost their charm Business Can STI continue its defiant climb in second half of 2025?
Independent Singapore
12 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
‘She could be with someone who has more time and money' — Man wonders why his rich, beautiful GF never gave up on him
SINGAPORE: A young lad recently confessed on social media that he struggles to understand why his girlfriend, who is rich, beautiful, and academically brilliant, has never walked away from him despite his flaws. In a lengthy post on Reddit's SGexams forum, he shared that he and his girlfriend come from completely different worlds. 'I'm from a single-parent, low-income household, currently studying in a mid-tier JC (junior college). I wear thick glasses, look pretty average at best, and spend most of my time buried in books trying to survive A-levels and break my poverty cycle,' he wrote. 'She, on the other hand, is rich and hot. Her GPA (grade point average) in poly is a perfect 4.0.' Despite their vastly different backgrounds, he said she never once made him feel inferior and has always stood by him through thick and thin. She showed up to all his band performances with flowers in hand, and for his birthday, she surprised him with concert tickets because she knew how much he wanted to go. Eager to spend more time with him, she even downloaded 'Valorant' so they could play together. Also, whenever he needed time to focus on his studies, manage his part-time job, or look after his mum, she always gave him the space he asked for. Even with her tendency to overthink and worry, she never questioned his need for distance and continued to be understanding and supportive. In contrast, the man said that he failed her in almost every way. On her birthday, the only things he could give her were 'a handmade card, an origami cat, and a plushie he sewed himself using old clothes,' as he couldn't afford to buy flowers. 'She said she loved it and even teared up, saying she preferred handmade gifts, but still, I felt so, so lousy.' When it came to her sports finals, he couldn't be there to support her because of his exams, but even then, he said she completely understood. Beyond that, he confessed he wasn't the easiest person to love. He struggled with 'poor emotional regulation' and often found himself getting frustrated with her too quickly, especially when he was stressed or overwhelmed by financial pressures. But she never reacted harshly. 'She just stays patient, tries to understand, and gives me space when I need it. I hate that she has to deal with that side of me. She gives me so much love, and I don't understand what I've done to deserve any of it. She could be with someone who has more time, more money, more to offer, but she's with me… and I love her for it, but at the same time, I'm scared I'm holding her back,' he wrote. 'I keep wondering why. Why would someone like her choose someone like me? I want to believe she's truly happy, but there's this constant voice in my head that says I'm not enough. I don't know if I'm overthinking or just deeply insecure. I love her, and I want to be better for her. I just wish I could feel like I deserve her, too. I don't know how I can be better for her,' he added. 'It's the heart and thought that count.' Hoping to encourage him, many netizens left kind and supportive messages. One after another, they pointed out the traits his girlfriend likely noticed and appreciated in him. 'Give yourself some credit. She sees you fighting despite your limitations (e.g., taking care of your mom, studying for As, making handmade gifts). There's nothing more attractive than a man that refuses to surrender and does the best he can,' one comment read. 'You don't need to be rich or match up to her; this ain't a competition. It's the heart and thought that count—that's why she says she prefers handmade gifts, because if you think about it, no matter how rich you are, if you replace love with money, then the relationship is doomed to fail anyway,' another chimed in. See also Man says the dating & employment world are the same 'Sewing a handmade plushie for someone's birthday is such a big W. Shows you put in effort and you love her,' a third said. 'She just wants YOU. That's all she wants; she just wants you to love her. So love her. It's really that simple. You're not in a competition; there is no competition. There's just you and her together, making a life out of it. Marriage, or children, eventually. Old age. Till death do us part,' a fourth added. Some also encouraged him to open up to her about his feelings and work on managing his emotions, warning that unresolved issues could eventually put a strain on their relationship. In other news, one frustrated local recently took to Reddit to vent about how everyday expenses in Singapore seem to be quietly inching up 'almost overnight.' In a post on the r/asksg subreddit, he wrote that the 'daily life in Singapore' has started to feel noticeably 'more expensive' in recent months, even though his spending habits have remained the same. Read more: 'Cai png now costs me S$6' — Local says everything in SG is becoming more expensive quietly but quickly
