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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
From fan to champ, James Lichtenstein wins his first high diving gold at World Aquatics C'ships
SINGAPORE – Competing alongside rivals whom he idolises, James Lichtenstein earned himself a place in the pantheon on July 27 by clinching the high diving title at the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) for the first time. The 30-year-old American, who was trailing leader Carlos Gimeno of Spain by 24.7 points heading into the final round of the men's 27m platform at Sentosa's Palawan Green, executed a clutch dive to claim the gold medal, which was also his country's first at the WCH after 17 days of competition. 'Amazing, incredible, a dream come true. I know I can dive well, but to put it together when it counts is a thrilling feeling,' he said. 'I've been looking up to those guys (his fellow competitors) for years, and I started only four years ago. 'That first year for me was the adjustment period, like 'I'm diving with these idols', but now, I know I can compete with the best of them.' James Lichtenstein in action in round 5 of the men's 27m platform at Sentosa. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Lichtenstein, who started competing in the high diving World Cup only in 2023, had never stood atop the podium previously, coming closest with a silver in the Bahrain leg of the 2024 World Cup. At WCH 2025, he topped the 14-strong field with 428.90 points after round 6, ahead of Gimeno (425.30) and Romania's Constantin Popovici (408.70). Executing five somersaults in the tuck position after a backward take-off, Lichtenstein scored a massive 143.10 points in the final round to surpass Gimeno's armstand 4½ tuck (114.80) and pip him to the gold by 3.6 points. Carlos Gimeno during the sixth round dive. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY 'Not (feeling) so good man,' a sullen Gimeno said at the mixed zone after the final. '(From) being in first all the time for the whole competition… And at the end, just miss the gold by a little bit (three points).' Pointing to his heart, he added: 'That hurt a lot, you know, and that's something that I'm gonna remember, (because it) hit here. 'I guess God didn't want to give me this gold medal this time… But chin up because this sport is so difficult and so dangerous and I'm proud of myself, I put in my best performance.' The Spaniard had led through the first three rounds and again after the fifth, but as he prepared for his sixth and final dive, his hand wobbled while getting in position for his handstand. Gimeno added: 'Normally we have only four rounds of competition. Here we have six rounds, so when I did the handstand, I felt a little tired. But yeah, it's painful. Second place, not good.' But he is keeping a positive attitude and looking to bounce back at the high diving World Cup in Porto Flavia, Italy on Aug 30 and 31. 'It's another competition. So, yeah, that one… Yeah I'm going to win that one. I'm going to remove what I had inside (the pain) and I'm going to win that one.' Popovici, who topped the field after the fourth round, said of his performance: 'In round 5, I missed my back twist by a bit, just a slight short from vertical (entry). In training I did very well, but competition is competition, but I'm happy for third place, and of course, in the future, I wish for a shinier one.'
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Khatib Camp was built in 1983 and is the headquarters of the Singapore Artillery. SINGAPORE – Khatib Camp in Yishun will make way for new homes, with the camp's functions to be relocated to Amoy Quee Camp, which is currently undergoing redevelopment. Responding to queries from The Straits Times, the Ministry of Defence said on July 23 that the redevelopment of Amoy Quee Camp and its supporting infrastructure and facilities started in April 2024, with completion targeted for 2030 . The ministry said Amoy Quee Camp, located in Ang Mo Kio, will have its land use intensified to accommodate the relocated units, assets and facilities from Khatib Camp. The camp will also house other operational units, along with their maintenance and administrative entities, to ensure the Singapore Armed Forces' operational readiness, said Mindef, which added that Khatib Camp will be returned to the state for residential development. Khatib Camp currently occupies about 29ha of land and is next to the upcoming 70ha Chencharu estate that is part of Yishun town. Reusing the camp's land for housing will add to the planned 10,000 homes that are slated for development in Chencharu by 2040 . Based on the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Draft Master Plan 2025 that was released on June 25, the camp has been zoned for housing but has yet to be assigned a gross plot ratio – a figure that determines the maximum floor area of a development. Assuming it is given a plot ratio of 2.8 – similar to that of neighbouring residential plots – property analysts said it can yield more than 6,000 public flats or more than 9,000 condominium units. Khatib Camp, which occupies about 29ha of land, can yield a few thousand homes. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Mr Alan Cheong, executive director of research and consultancy at Savills Singapore, said the large site provides urban planners the flexibility of incorporating a housing mix that includes private homes, condominium units and commercial amenities. Ms Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at Realion Group, added that the transport network surrounding the camp site may also need to be improved for future residents. Currently, the end of the camp closest to Khatib MRT station is about 400m away, while its farthest end is about 1.2km from the station. Ms Sun said there is a higher chance that public flats will be built on the site, which will be consistent with the neighbourhoods that currently surround it. Built at a cost of $90 million in 1983, Khatib Camp occupies an area that was previously used by the Royal Malaysian Navy from 1970, and handed over to Singapore in February 1982 . The camp initially housed the SAF Boys' School, the air defence unit and five other artillery units. It has long served as the headquarters of the Singapore Artillery, and is currently one of four SAF camps where NSmen can take their Individual Physical Proficiency Test. Then Brigadier-General Lee Hsien Loong, an artillery officer, waving at a farewell parade held in his honour at Khatib Camp on Sept 19, 1984, two days before he left the SAF to join politics. PHOTO: ST FILE As for Amoy Quee Camp, it was among the properties handed over to Singapore as part of the withdrawal of British troops in 1971. Information from the British archives shows the Royal Air Force (RAF) Amoy Quee base was established in mid-1968 and operated until July 1971. It housed the RAF's 1003 Signals Unit. Amoy Quee Camp in 1976 had the biggest pineapple farm in Singapore , occupying 6ha, as part of efforts to grow food for soldiers and also as an experiment to see if enough fruit could be harvested and sold for profit. Since 2001, Amoy Quee Camp has housed the headquarters of the National Cadet Corps, and the camp's size has been reduced drastically in recent years from about 89ha to 52ha to make way for new homes. According to URA's Draft Master Plan 2025 exhibition, the area will have a new park, commercial amenities and healthcare facilities. Its development has begun, with the ongoing construction of the 1,068-unit Pine Ville @ AMK project by the Housing Board, where replacement flats are being built for residents of an Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme project that was announced in April 2022 . To be developed next to Pine Ville @ AMK soon is a Build-To-Order project, comprising 1,420 units, which will be launched in October. A new Build-To-Order project comprising 1,420 units will be launched in October. It will occupy the empty field next to the Pine Ville @ AMK project (right) that is currently being built by the Housing Board. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Elsewhere within the about 37ha of land that Mindef has ceded in Amoy Quee, HDB is currently preparing the site for future developments, such as constructing new roads and sewers. These works are slated to be completed by end-2025. According to URA's draft masterplan, at least three other housing sites are available for development in the area. The first is about 3ha, which is located next to a planned park. Analysts said it can hold about 1,200 condominium units, or about 800 flats. The second is about 6.2ha and is located across the road from Amoy Quee Camp. Analysts said it could yield about 1,400 flats, or about 2,200 condominium units. Savills' Mr Cheong noted that it is large enough to be used for a mix of public and private homes, with some commercial amenities. The third plot is about 5.2ha, which has not been given a plot ratio in URA's draft masterplan. It stretches along the eastern boundary of Nanyang Polytechnic. An elongated plot of land (middle, along white hoarding) in the Amoy Quee area has been earmarked for new homes. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Ms Sun said the plot may not be attractive to developers because of its elongated shape. Assuming it has a plot ratio of 3.5 – the nearby housing plots have plot ratios ranging from 3.0 to 3.8 – it can hold about 1,400 flats, or about 2,100 condominium units, she said. As for the camp, a construction notice states that 48 blocks will be demolished and 35 blocks will be built, along with a football field and running track. This is slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2029.
Straits Times
26-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
New study to look at impact of food allergies in Singapore children, as cases rise
Ms Izlin Ismail with her husband Mohamed Huzaini and their 13-year-old son Hayden Anash. Ms Izlin and Hayden are participating in the story. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY New study to look at impact of food allergies in Singapore children, as cases rise SINGAPORE – A new four-year study will examine how common food allergies are in children here, as well as the impact of these allergies on children's nutrition, growth, metabolic and mental health. Led by the National University Hospital (NUH) and the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), the study was launched in response to a rising number of such cases locally. KKH has seen a steady rise in the number of patients visiting the hospital's allergy clinics in recent years, said Dr Chong Kok Wee, the study's co-investigator and head of the allergy service at KKH's paediatric medicine department. 'Between 2012 and 2022, the number of children who have tested positive for common food allergies such as milk, eggs, peanuts and shellfish has risen threefold,' added Dr Chong. Allergies to eggs, milk, and peanuts are more common in younger children, while teens and young adults tend to report shellfish allergies. Emergency visits for food-related anaphylaxis in children have shot up 2½ times between 2015 and 2022, Dr Chong noted. Anaphylaxis can result in difficulty breathing and a severe drop in blood pressure, and can be fatal. Other common symptoms range from itchy skin or eczema to swelling of the lips or tongue, as well as difficulty breathing. Such allergies have typically been thought to be uncommon among Asian populations, said Associate Professor Elizabeth Tham, the study's lead principal investigator. 'However, in our clinical setting, we have been seeing rising numbers of food allergy patients,' said Prof Tham, who heads the paediatric allergy, immunology and rheumatology division at the Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children's Medical Institute at NUH. NUH said it was unable to provide exact figures on the number of food allergy cases. The Straits Times has asked KKH for its data on such cases. Both hospitals said they performed 60 per cent more allergy tests between 2022 and 2024. In these tests, known as food challenges, patients are exposed to allergens under clinical supervision to assess whether they are allergic to a specific food. Prof Tham said the increase in allergies could be due to changes in diet and lifestyle, while Dr Chong pointed to an increased use of antibiotics by children, as well as the hygiene hypothesis – the theory that cleaner environments reduce early exposure to infectious agents, leading to increased susceptibility to allergic diseases – as possible reasons. A local study conducted between 2011 and 2013 on more than 4,000 children aged between 11 and 30 months found allergy rates of 0.51 per cent for cow's milk and 1.43 per cent for chicken eggs. However over the past decade the prevalence has not been well-documented, Prof Tham said. The study will provide an update to existing data on food allergy prevalence, and for the first time, evaluate the impact, as well as the social and economic burden, of food allergies in Singapore, the researchers say. For instance, Prof Tham noted, a 2013 study in the United States found that the economic impact of food allergies in children amounted to US$24.8 billion ($31.6 billion), of which US$20.5 billion ($21.6 billion) was borne by individual families. The researchers hope these new insights will bring greater social and infrastructural support for affected children and families. The study will also involve clinicians and researchers from the National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Polyclinics and the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. It will entail two years of recruitment and two years of data analysis. The first phase of the study began in February, with a target of surveying at least 2,000 parents and caregivers of children aged between one and two who attend routine developmental and immunisation visits at NUP polyclinics. They will be asked to complete questionnaires, with those reporting possible allergic reactions to food referred to NUH or KKH for further evaluation. Of the 549 participants recruited by mid-June, 79 reported a food allergy. The second phase will begin in July, and will involve about 400 children aged 18 and below, who have been diagnosed with allergies to milk, egg, peanut and shellfish for at least six months. Participants from the first phase of the study, as well as existing NUH and KKH patients, will be invited to take part in this phase, which will include questionnaires, growth and nutritional assessments, as well as the collection of blood and stool. Findings from the study will help identify nutrient deficiencies, growth and metabolic abnormalities, in addition to feeding behavioural issues. These findings will inform future guidelines and educational materials on nutrition, dietary management, as well as mental health support for affected families. The team is also working with groups such as Singapore Parents of Eczema and Allergy Kids (Speak). Speak director and creative head Izlin Ismail, 50, and her 13-year-old son Hayden Anash, are participating in the study. Hayden was three months old when he had to be rushed to the KKH emergency department after experienced swelling of the face and body after drinking a bottle of formula milk. He was later diagnosed with allergies to milk, eggs and peanuts. Ms Izlin – who is also studio manager at a creative agency – shared that besides Hayden's medical expenses, the family has to spend more on groceries, as allergen-free milk and butter are often more difficult to find and pricier. Awareness of food allergies has grown over the years, but more can still be done to make matters easier for parents of children with such allergies, she said. For example, eateries can sometimes see questions about allergens in dishes as patrons being 'fussy'. 'I think restaurants and other places should be able to help us accommodate, and understand when we tell them we have a child with food allergies,' Ms Izlin said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
New housing areas in Dover, Defu, Newton and Paterson unveiled in URA's Draft Master Plan 2025
New private homes will be developed in the Paterson area (foreground), alongside a mixed-use development above Orchard MRT station. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY New housing areas in Dover, Defu, Newton and Paterson unveiled in URA's Draft Master Plan 2025 SINGAPORE – New neighbourhoods are set to be established in areas such as Dover, Defu, Newton and Paterson, offering a mix of public and private homes islandwide. Also in the pipeline are new office spaces and amenities in Bishan, more parks in Singapore's north-west, as well as community hubs in Sengkang, Woodlands North and Yio Chu Kang fashioned after Our Tampines Hub. These development plans were laid out on June 25 at the launch of the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Draft Master Plan 2025 exhibition, which presents the agency's latest blueprint that will guide Singapore's development for the next 10 to 15 years. Besides new housing areas and recreational facilities, the draft masterplan also includes proposals to revitalise Singapore's city centre and preserve its heritage by conserving buildings like the NatSteel Steel Pavilion and former Pasir Panjang English School. The launch follows an extensive public engagement campaign since October 2023, with the URA getting feedback from nearly 220,000 people through exhibitions, dialogues, focus groups and surveys. National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said this was URA's most extensive public engagement yet, and that the exhibition brings together ideas that Singaporeans have put forth into a 'shared vision' for the coming years. Homes will be built in areas such as Kranji, Dover and Newton, he said at the launch at The URA Centre in Maxwell Road. Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat speaking at the launch of the Urban Redevelopment Authority Draft Masterplan 2025 on June 25. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY New amenities and recreational spaces will be built in the upcoming Dover-Medway neighbourhood, which is near one-north and education institutions such as the National University of Singapore and Singapore Polytechnic. The first phase will focus on the eastern section near one-north and Kent Ridge MRT stations, and provide around 6,000 public and private homes. Development is set to begin in November 2025 with a Government Land Sales site in Dover Road that can yield 625 private apartments. Plans for the development of Medway Park, which currently houses colonial bungalows, will be studied in the coming years, URA added. The development of the Dover-Medway neighbourhood will be kick-started later in 2025 when a Government Land Sales site in Dover Road is launched. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG In Newton, a new neighbourhood that draws on the area's greenery and identity will be introduced. The precinct will have 5,000 private homes, and be anchored by a high-density, mixed-used development to be built next to Newton MRT station and Newton Food Centre. Monk's Hill Road will be turned into a linear park, said URA, adding that existing mature trees and heritage buildings will be integrated in the neighbourhood so that it retains its sense of place. Private homes will also be developed in Paterson, with about 1,000 new units planned for the area – including some in a mixed-use hub above Orchard MRT station that also has retail and office spaces. URA also outlined longer-term plans for towns in larger areas such as Sembawang Shipyard, which will cease operations in 2028, and the former Singapore Racecourse in Kranji, which held its final race in October 2024. Another new town with public and private homes will be built in the Defu industrial area, after Paya Lebar Air Base is relocated in the 2030s. Defu, which is located just outside the air base, will be prepared for development when leases of existing firms expire in the coming years. Residents of the new neighbourhood will have essential services and amenities within a 10-minute walk. Plans for the future town will not affect the ongoing leases of businesses in the industrial estate, URA said, without stating when these leases will end. URA also gave more details for the Greater Southern Waterfront, which will have its first flats launched in October. In the area's next phase of development, residential precincts will be built at Keppel Distripark and Keppel Terminal. The authorities are looking to rejuvenate existing neighbourhoods as well, with towns such as Pasir Ris and Yishun set to get new homes and amenities. Plans to liven up the Orchard and Downtown areas are also underway, URA said, announcing an elevated pedestrian link bridge at Dhoby Ghaut Green that will link the expanded Istana Park to Fort Canning Park. An artist's impression of a new destination park in the heart of Orchard Road that includes the existing Istana Park. PHOTO: NATIONAL PARKS BOARD Another new bridge will be built by 2029 to give cyclists and pedestrians a direct link between Marina Centre and Bay East Garden. Meanwhile, as part of ongoing studies for a 'Long Island' to be reclaimed off East Coast, investigation works will begin in July in the waters off East Coast Park, to obtain data on the site's geological and seabed conditions. This is expected to take a few months. URA's exhibition also touched on efforts to spread jobs across the island and to optimise the country's limited land. In Bishan, new office and retail spaces will be built, alongside a new hawker centre, a revamped bus interchange and a polyclinic. An artist's impression of future mixed-use development within Bishan sub-regional centre. PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY URA said some Government agencies may move to Bishan, which will be positioned as a sub-regional centre, with office space equal to that of Paya Lebar Central. Sub-regional centres are business nodes such as Paya Lebar that bring jobs closer to homes, but are not as large as regional centres in Woodlands, Jurong and Tampines. Agencies such as JTC Corporation are pressing on with studies for Gali Batu Cavern, an underground aggregate storage facility to be built near Mandai to free up surface land. Mr Chee said land use plans continually need to be refined to deal with new challenges, such as a more uncertain global environment and its impact on business activities and supply chains, the effects of climate change and the need to meet housing demand and refresh older towns. 'Tackling these challenges will require a concerted effort by government, stakeholders and all Singaporeans,' he said. 'We need to work together to shape our collective future. Along the way, there will be some difficult trade-offs that we need to discuss and find a way to strike a careful balance.' URA's masterplan is reviewed once every five years. The current edition came into force in 2019. The Draft Master Plan 2025 exhibition will run until Nov 29, 2025, at The URA Centre from Mondays to Saturdays. The exhibition will also be brought to locations across the island from Aug 2 and Nov 9. More details are available at Ng Keng Gene is a correspondent at The Straits Times, reporting on issues relating to land use, urban planning and heritage. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
25-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Sengkang, Woodlands North and Yio Chu Kang to get integrated community hubs
An aerial view on June 21, 2025, showing the existing site in Sengkang that has been earmarked for the upcoming integrated community hub. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SINGAPORE – Residents of Sengkang, Woodlands North and Yio Chu Kang can look forward to having recreational facilities and other amenities under one roof at new integrated community hubs proposed for the towns. Meanwhile, those living in the north-west may get up to four new parks in future as the authorities fine-tune plans for Kranji Nature Corridor, which comprises green spaces and water bodies, as well as roadside greenery that will aid ecological connectivity and increase leisure options. These plans were laid out at the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Draft Master Plan 2025 exhibition, which launched on June 25 at The URA Centre in Maxwell Road. Among other plans for new recreational facilities are a park in Orchard Road, a new bridge connecting Bay East Garden and Marina Centre in downtown Singapore, as well as a revamped Jurong Hill and Jurong Bird Park. At the exhibition's launch, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said that the hubs in Sengkang, Woodlands and Yio Chu Kang – to be built in the next 10 to 15 years – will be located near public transport nodes and combine sports facilities, healthcare and community spaces in one location. An example of an integrated hub is Our Tampines Hub, which houses a regional library, a community club, a football field and a hawker centre, among other amenities. The Sengkang hub will be located near Compass One mall, while the hub in Woodlands North will be near the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link terminus. An artist's impression of Sengkang integrated community hub. PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY The Yio Chu Kang hub will likely be located on the site of the town's existing sport centre, which the authorities have plans to redevelop. As for the parks under study as part of the Kranji Nature Corridor, all four will be near existing water bodies in the area and complement the upcoming 72.8ha Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat Nature Park, which is set to open in 2028. A planned park by Kranji Reservoir that is about 26ha in size will have waterfront habitats, while a park of about 10ha next to Sungei Pang Sua will incorporate elements of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu railway line that ran in the area. Two parks will be situated along Sungei Mandai – one in an upcoming residential estate at the former Singapore Racecourse in Kranji, and another farther north that will be about 5ha in size and include mangrove habitats. Also on display at URA's exhibition were winning proposals for the Jurong Hill and Jurong Bird Park area that were submitted for an ideas competition launched in October 2024. The authorities plan to transform the 39ha site into an area for work and play that is integrated with the Jurong Industrial Estate. An artist impression of a future park at Sungei Pang Sua. PHOTO: NATIONAL PARKS BOARD The competition drew 10 submissions in the professional category, which was open to those trained in architecture, urban design, urban planning, real estate, environmental planning and related fields, and 27 in the open category, which welcomed submissions from the public and tertiary students. Topping the professional category was architectural assistant Kenneth Chiang, 29, whose entry featured a central loop connecting research labs, commercial offices and play areas. One idea in his plan was to house a museum dedicated to Singapore's industrialisation in Jurong Hill Tower and its surrounds, from where visiting foreign dignitaries once enjoyed panoramic views of the Jurong Industrial Estate. Architectural assistant Kenneth Chiang proposed that the iconinc Jurong Hill Tower could be repurposed as a museum that showcases Singapore's industrial heritage. PHOTO: KENNETH CHIANG The winning entry in the open category – by a team of students and fresh graduates who studied urban planning and architecture and who call themselves Bird's Eye View – proposed that the former Jurong Bird Park's Waterfall Aviary be repurposed as a wellness facility with pools, saunas and steam rooms. Meanwhile, in the heart of the city, a new park will be created by combining the existing Istana Park, Dhoby Ghaut Green as well as a 500m stretch of Orchard Road and include a play area inspired by nature. Pedestrian connectivity between this park and Fort Canning Park will be improved with a new elevated pedestrian bridge. An artist's impression of an elevated link, which is under study, to connect Dhoby Ghaut Green to Fort Canning Park. PHOTO: NATIONAL PARKS BOARD A pedestrian and cycling bridge will also be built by 2029 near Benjamin Sheares Bridge to link Marina Centre and Bay East Garden, where the Founders' Memorial is slated to open in 2028. This bridge will give cyclists a more direct link between the city and East Coast, said URA. On Singapore's southern coast, a continuous waterfront promenade will be developed in phases, alongside developments that are part of the Greater Southern Waterfront. The waterfront promenade will allow users to get from West Coast Park to Marina Bay. They will pass areas such as a new residential estate at the former Keppel Club, as well as the Keppel Terminal and Keppel Distripark, where new homes will be built under the next phase of the Greater Southern Waterfront's development. Ng Keng Gene is a correspondent at The Straits Times, reporting on issues relating to land use, urban planning and heritage. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
