Latest news with #SingPost
New Paper
2 days ago
- General
- New Paper
New stamp series showcases critically endangered native coastal plants in Singapore
The sea trumpet tree and queen coralbead vine are among four species featured in a new set of stamps that showcase critically endangered native coastal plants. The stamp series - the result of a tie-up between Singapore Post (SingPost) and the National Parks Board (NParks) - aims to shine a light on Singapore's unique natural heritage and the urgent need for conservation, the two agencies said in a joint statement on May 30. The series also comes just in time for the Festival of Biodiversity, which will be held at the Plaza in the National Library Building, from May 31 to June 1, the statement added. The stamps, valued at between 52 cents and $2 each, can be bought at all post offices, on the SingPost website, and philatelic stores from May 30. They will also be sold at the festival. Apart from the sea trumpet and queen coralbead, the stamps feature the Ormocarpum cochinchinense tree and Ficus stricta, a type of strangling fig tree. The four plant species are recognisable by their striking ornamental flowers, fruits and foliage, and are part of the NParks' Species Recovery Programme, which aims to secure the long-term survival of rare and endangered native flora. The latest series is titled Critically Endangered Flora Of Singapore - Flora Of Coastal Forests, and is the last of three stamp series to showcase endangered plant species in Singapore. The 2024 series highlighted the critically endangered native flora of Singapore's tropical lowland rainforests, which include the two-fold velvet bean climber, tiger's betel, the squirrel's jack and the Kadsura scandens. All four plants can be found in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve, said NParks. In 2023, four critically endangered native floral species from Singapore's swamp forests were featured on stamps: the lipstick plant, Singapore Kopsia, red Salak, and Fagraea splendens. They were found or rediscovered in the Nee Soon Swamp Forest, which is the only remaining primary freshwater swamp forest in Singapore.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
New stamp series showcases critically endangered native coastal plants in Singapore
The four plant species are recognisable by their striking ornamental flowers, fruits and foliage. PHOTO: SINGPOST AND NPARKS SINGAPORE – The sea trumpet tree and queen coralbead vine are among four species featured in a new set of stamps that showcase critically endangered native coastal plants. The stamp series – the result of a tie-up between Singapore Post (SingPost) and the National Parks Board (NParks) – aims to shine a light on Singapore's unique natural heritage and the urgent need for conservation, the two agencies said in a joint statement on May 30. The series also comes just in time for the Festival of Biodiversity, which will be held at the Plaza in the National Library Building, from May 31 to June 1 , the statement added . The stamps, valued at between 52 cents and $2 each , can be bought at all post offices, on the SingPost website, and philatelic stores from May 30 . They will also be sold at the festival. Apart from the sea trumpet and queen coralbead, the stamps feature the Ormocarpum cochinchinense tree and Ficus stricta, a type of strangling fig tree. The four plant species are recognisable by their striking ornamental flowers, fruits and foliage, and are part of the NParks Species Recovery Programme, which aims to secure the long-term survival of rare and endangered native flora. The latest series is titled Critically Endangered Flora Of Singapore – Flora Of Coastal Forest, and is the last of three stamp series to showcase endangered plant species in Singapore. The 2024 series highlighted the critically endangered native flora of Singapore's tropical lowland rainforests, which include the two-fold velvet bean climber, tiger's betel, the squirrel's jack and the Kadsura scandens. All four plants can be found in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve, said NParks. In 2023, four critically endangered native floral species from Singapore's swamp forests were featured on stamps: the lipstick plant, Singapore Kopsia, red Salak, and Fagraea splendens. They were found or rediscovered in the Nee Soon Swamp Forest, which is the only remaining primary freshwater swamp forest in Singapore. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Independent Singapore
5 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
‘Not my MP?' — SingPost investigates after Aljunied residents were mistakenly sent flyers from AMK MP
SINGAPORE: A resident living at Hougang Street 21 mistakenly received a flyer from a Member of Parliament (MP) from Ang Mo Kio GRC, and apparently, he was not the only one, according to a May 27 (Tuesday) report in 8world. The report included a photo of a flyer from newly-minted MP Jasmin Lau welcoming the recipient to the Seletar-Serangoon Division and announcing the schedule for her Meet-the-People Sessions. 'I will be the MP that will be looking after you and your families from now onwards, and my team and I will do our best to support you. I hope to see more of you join our programmes, and I look forward to meeting and interacting with you,' the flyer reads. Screengrab/ 8world 8world added that the incident had been confirmed by the Ang Mo Kio Town Council, which stated that it had immediately informed SingPost about the error. The postal service is now looking into the matter to determine what caused the flyers to be sent to the wrong recipients. Additionally, the 8world reader who had received the flyer also reached out to Ms Lau, messaging her on Instagram. The MP replied via direct message to say that she would reach out to the Town Council regarding the matter. 8world added that action is being taken to resolve the issue and ensure that it does not recur. 'We understand this may have caused inconvenience to the affected residents and appreciate their patience while SingPost dealt with this matter,' 8world quotes the Town Council as saying. Who is Jasmin Lau? Prior to contesting in this year's General Election, Ms Lau was a longtime civil servant. She has taken on several roles since joining the civil service in 2006. Before she tendered her resignation on April 1, she had been a deputy secretary at the Ministry of Health. On May 3, the slate from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), which was composed of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Darryl David, Nadia Samdin, Ms Lau, and former Aljunied GRC candidate Victor Lye, won handily, receiving nearly 80 per cent of the vote. Aside from representing Seletar-Serangoon in Parliament, Ms Lau is also Minister of State for Digital Development and Information. A CNA report from last month said that the 42-year-old new MP had first been invited to join the PAP last year, but she had refused multiple times before she finally agreed. It was a conversation with Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who had once been her boss, that helped her decide to enter politics. /TISG Read also: From rejection to redemption: PAP newcomer who once said 'no' now vows to shoulder the nation's burden
Business Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Time's not ripe for SingPost to sell its flagship building
[SINGAPORE] The share price of Singapore Post (SingPost) said it all about investors' attitude towards the national postal service provider's latest set of financial results. The share price tanked 12 per cent on May 15 despite SingPost proposing a dividend of S$0.09 a share for FY2025 ended March, with the payout from the gain from disposal of its Australian logistics business. But shareholders' focus were not only on the special payout – the net loss of S$461,000 for SingPost's second half of the year was clearly not lost on them. The net loss could be said to be insignificant at first glance, but it is in fact a reversal from earnings of S$28.1 million for the year-ago period. SingPost attributed the dismal performance to intensifying challenges and uncertain conditions in the global logistics sector. Revenue decreased 12.1 per cent to S$387.5 million for the half year, with all segments recording declines. But sub-segments property and freight forwarding both delivered improvements of 10.7 per cent and 15.8 per cent, respectively. Both domestic and international postal and logistics businesses posted lower revenue, with the international business declining 39.2 per cent year on year and local, 9.6 per cent. 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 Similarly, SingPost's property and freight forwarding sub-segments were the better-performing ones in terms of operating profit, delivering an improvement of 17.8 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively. Its local postal and logistics business' operating profit was down 55 per cent to S$7.4 million, while international business went deeper into the red at S$5.3 million from S$0.6 million in operating loss. This underscores the continued secular decline of the domestic postal and logistics business, and the highly competitive international postal and logistics market that SingPost is in. Unsurprisingly, the company commented that its domestic postal and logistics business saw lower profit from its delivery business and losses in other services, while the post office network remained unprofitable. SingPost is streamlining its operations to reduce its cost base, including reintegrating its international cross-border business into the Singapore business, to achieve synergies and efficiencies. It will also reset its strategy of its Australian logistics business post-sale. Still, given the smallish Singapore market and the competitive cross-border business, as well as the secular decline of the postal business, there is arguably a limit to what SingPost can achieve in terms of top line and bottom line. Meanwhile, the divestment of non-core assets, including its headquarters building SingPost Centre, remains on the cards. Non-core assets might not be central to or key pillars of a firm's main businesses, but they do have their usefulness and a place in the portfolio at times, as seen in SingPost's latest financial results. Its property segment raked in full-year operating profit of S$48.4 million – more than any other segment, and higher than the total group operating profit of S$44.3 million after accounting for operating losses in some segments. SingPost Centre, for example, recorded increased rental income amid a higher overall occupancy rate of 98.2 per cent as at Mar 31, compared to 96.2 per cent as at end-FY2024. The retail mall was fully occupied compared to 99.6 per cent previously, while the office space occupancy rate rose to 97.6 per cent from 94.8 per cent. SingPost's directors' bid to unlock value for shareholders – through various means such as selling non-core assets – is commendable. But it would likely be saddled with non-remarkable domestic and international postal and logistics businesses before its reset strategy becomes fruitful. Surely, SingPost would like to have a stable and supportive base of shareholders, not the opportunistic who swoop on the stock on news of potential disposal gains and dump it after reaping the capital gain. The group on Wednesday (May 21) announced chairman-designate Teo Swee Lian will helm the board from the next annual general meeting, and appointed several new directors recently. The board and shareholders might want to reconsider selling SingPost Centre, at least not before its reset strategy bears fruit.
Business Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Should SingPost divest its headquarters building?
[SINGAPORE] The share price of Singapore Post (SingPost) said it all about investors' attitude towards the national postal service provider's latest set of financial results. The share price tanked 12 per cent on May 15 despite SingPost proposing a dividend of S$0.09 a share for FY2025 ended March, with the payout from the gain from disposal of its Australian logistics business. But shareholders' focus were not only on the special payout, the net loss of S$461,000 for SingPost's second half of the year was clearly not lost on them. The net loss could be said to be insignificant at first glance, but it is in fact a reversal from earnings of S$28.1 million for the year-ago period. SingPost attributed the dismal performance to intensifying challenges and uncertain conditions in the global logistics sector. Revenue decreased 12.1 per cent to S$387.5 million for the half-year, with all segments recording declines. But sub-segments property and freight forwarding both delivered improvements of 10.7 per cent and 15.8 per cent, respectively. 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 Both domestic and international postal and logistics businesses posted lower revenue, with the international business declining 39.2 per cent year on year and local, 9.6 per cent. Similarly, SingPost's property and freight forwarding sub-segments were the better-performing ones in terms of operating profit, delivering an improvement of 17.8 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively. Its local postal and logistics business' operating profit was down 55 per cent to S$7.4 million, while international business went deeper into the red at S$5.3 million from S$0.6 million in operating loss. This underscores the continued secular decline of the domestic postal and logistics business, and the highly competitive international postal and logistics market that SingPost is in. Unsurprisingly, SingPost commented that its domestic postal and logistics business saw lower profit from its delivery business and losses in other services, while the post office network remained unprofitable. SingPost is streamlining its operations to reduce its cost base, including reintegrating its international cross-border business into the Singapore business, to achieve synergies and efficiencies. It will also reset its strategy of its Australian logistics business post-sale. Still, given the smallish Singapore market and the competitive cross-border business, as well as the secular decline of the postal business, there is arguably a limit to what SingPost can achieve in terms of top line and bottom line. Meanwhile, SingPost's divestment of non-core assets, including its headquarters building SingPost Centre, remains on the cards. Non-core assets might not be central to or key pillars of a firm's main businesses, but they do have their usefulness and a place in the portfolio at times, as seen in SingPost's latest financial results. Its property segment raked in full-year operating profit of S$48.4 million – more than any other segment, and higher than the total group operating profit of S$44.3 million after accounting for operating losses in some segments. SingPost Centre, for example, recorded increased rental income amid a higher overall occupancy rate of 98.2 per cent as at Mar 31, compared to 96.2 per cent as at end-FY2024. The retail mall was fully occupied compared to 99.6 per cent previously, while the office space occupancy rate rose to 97.6 per cent from 94.8 per cent. SingPost's directors' bid to unlock value for shareholders – through various means such as selling non-core assets – is commendable. But it would likely be saddled with non-remarkable domestic and international postal and logistics businesses before its reset strategy becomes fruitful. Surely, SingPost would like to have a stable and supportive base of shareholders, not the opportunistic who swoop on the stock on news of potential disposal gains and dump it after reaping the capital gain. The group on Wednesday (May 21) announced chairman-designate Teo Swee Lian will helm the board from the next annual general meeting, and appointed several new directors recently. The board and shareholders might want to reconsider selling SingPost Centre, at least not before its reset strategy bears fruit.
