Latest news with #StephanieTan
New Paper
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Paper
PSP's new leadership signals fresh start after GE2025 loss, says Stephanie Tan
Recent changes to the Progress Singapore Party's (PSP) senior leadership represent "the first step" of its plans to come back from a disappointing performance at the 2025 General Election, said PSP's Ms Stephanie Tan. Besides nurturing new leaders, the PSP intends to update its image by putting more of its younger members in the public eye, and to find new ways to engage Singaporeans on important national issues, Ms Tan told Straits Times correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah and host of ST's The Usual Place podcast during a live stream on July 10. On July 5, PSP announced that party founder and chairman Tan Cheng Bock had stepped down from its central executive committee (CEC), alongside vice-chair and former Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) Hazel Poa. Party treasurer S. Nallakaruppan also relinquished his position. In their place, Ms Tan, 37, was co-opted as a new CEC member, together with Mr Sani Ismail and Mr Lawrence Pek. The three of them had been first-time PSP candidates in the May general election. Speaking on the podcast show, Ms Tan said PSP had been gathering feedback from Singaporeans in the two months since GE2025 to "know where we went wrong and how we can do better". PSP had fielded 13 candidates in six constituencies, but saw its vote share decline compared with its first electoral outing in 2020. It also failed to keep its parliamentary presence unlike in the previous term, when it had two NCMPs. "We might seem to have been a bit slow in coming up with a response right after the GE, but that's because we were hard hit, to be honest, and we took time (to) come up with a new plan to see how we can steer this ship forward," said Ms Tan, who ran in Pioneer against the PAP's Mr Patrick Tay. "In the next four to five years, we want to continue to make an impact even if we have no parliamentary presence." Ms Tan said one of the main things PSP is tackling is perceptions by some that it is an ageing political party, and added that the latest leadership shake-up has the support of party chief Leong Mun Wai and the CEC. "The party does have a pool of young talent," she said, citing the two elected CEC members who are younger than her: deputy organising secretary Soh Zheng Long, 36, and youth wing head Samuel Lim, 30. "It is just that, for the past few years, they have been working mostly behind the scenes." Going forward, the party will give more opportunities to its younger members to raise their public profile, although this has to be balanced with each individual's comfort level at being openly associated with an alternative party. PSP also intends to hold outreach events targeted at specific demographics, alongside the usual walkabouts and house visits. This could include visits to nursing homes to understand issues faced by elderly residents, their family members and the staff, which could be due to "certain gaps in the policies that we have", said Ms Tan. The party is also thinking of starting a podcast, and wants to up its game on social media to keep putting out its views on key issues, she added. On Dr Tan's move to step down as PSP's chairman, Ms Tan said this is to give party leaders "a clean slate to work from, away from his shadow". Dr Tan, 85, has been designated party adviser. Having set its foundations and core values, he trusts that the other party leaders can take PSP forward in the long political journey to come, said Ms Tan. "He said that he will not interfere on his own initiative. He will help when help is asked for," she said. A homemaker and former lawyer, Ms Tan said she sees her role on the CEC as a progression from leading her own campaign during the election, to making decisions at the party level. While the party is no longer in Parliament, she hopes that Singaporeans can take a long-term perspective on the PSP's journey. She noted that other opposition parties like the Workers' Party and Singapore Democratic Party have been around for decades, and their experience showed that it takes a lot of time and consistent effort to build a political party and gain the trust of voters. "Our commitment to Singaporeans is still that we want to continue to build ourselves to be a credible, rational alternative political party, to give Singaporeans a choice at the ballot box," she said.
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
EU opens new probe into TikTok data transfer to China
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox TikTok was fined in May by the Data Protection Commission over European data transfers to China. DUBLIN - An Irish regulator helping police European Union data privacy said on July 10 it had launched an investigation into TikTok over the transfer of European users' personal data to servers in China. TikTok was fined €530 million (S$790 million) in May by the Data Protection Commission over European data transfers to China, though the Chinese social media giant had insisted this data was only accessed remotely. The DPC on July 10 said it had been informed by TikTok in April that 'limited EEA user data had in fact been stored on servers in China,' contrary to evidence presented by the company. The regulator said it had expressed 'deep concern' in its previous investigation that 'TikTok had submitted inaccurate information'. TikTok is a division of Chinese tech giant ByteDance. But since it has its European headquarters in Ireland, the Irish authority is the lead regulator in Europe for the social platform – as well as others such as Google, Meta and Apple. The DPC is tasked with ensuring companies comply with the EU's strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), launched in 2018 to protect European consumers from personal data breaches. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties Singapore Spike in piracy, armed robbery cases in straits of Malacca and Singapore in first half of 2025 Singapore Singaporean fugitive nabbed and charged with drug trafficking, may face death penalty Singapore KTPH trials 'smart diapers' for adult patients to prevent skin conditions, relieve burden on nurses Singapore PSP's CEC renewal shows its commitment to being a rational alternative choice, says Stephanie Tan World 'Do some homework': 6 key exchanges between US Senator Duckworth and S'pore envoy nominee Sinha Singapore Singapore launches centre to drive sustainable aviation in Asia-Pacific Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? It has imposed a number of big fines against tech companies as the EU seeks to rein in big tech firms over privacy, competition, disinformation and taxation. AFP
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Netherlands court jails ‘chip spy' Russian for three years
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Russian German A was a former employee of tech giant ASML, which makes cutting-edge machines that manufacture semiconductors. THE HAGUE - A Dutch court on July 10 sentenced a Russian former employee of tech giant ASML to three years behind bars for passing sensitive microchip technology to Moscow in breach of Western sanctions. In a high-security courtroom in Rotterdam, the judge convicted the 43 year old, identified as German A, for breaking the sanctions law and embezzling trade secrets. 'Giving advice to and sharing technology with Russia is extremely serious,' the court said in its judgement. 'It can contribute to strengthening the military and strategic capabilities of that country, with consequences for Ukraine and indirect consequences for international security and stability,' added the court. The public prosecution service had called for a four-year sentence against the Russian, saying he had 'consciously contributed' to Moscow's war effort against Ukraine. 'By sharing classified information with Russia, the suspect contributed to maintaining or developing the Russian war machine, potentially endangering human lives,' prosecutors said. 'He also grossly violated the trust his employers placed in him by stealing trade secrets from them and sharing them with third parties,' added the prosecution. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties Singapore Spike in piracy, armed robbery cases in straits of Malacca and Singapore in first half of 2025 Singapore Singaporean fugitive nabbed and charged with drug trafficking, may face death penalty Singapore KTPH trials 'smart diapers' for adult patients to prevent skin conditions, relieve burden on nurses Singapore PSP's CEC renewal shows its commitment to being a rational alternative choice, says Stephanie Tan World 'Do some homework': 6 key exchanges between US Senator Duckworth and S'pore envoy nominee Sinha Singapore Singapore launches centre to drive sustainable aviation in Asia-Pacific Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? The court decided on a lower sentence than demanded by the prosecutors as it could not prove he had received money for the information. German A, who also worked for semiconductor manufacturer NXP, admitted to having technical documents in his home but claimed they were for his own personal use. ASML makes cutting-edge machines that manufacture semiconductors, powering everything from smartphones to cars. 'The fact that the files contain outdated information is irrelevant, as this information can be of great value to a country with a (much) lower level of knowledge,' said the court. AFP
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ukrainian spy colonel gunned down in Kyiv
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A CCTV footage shows the purported killer running moments after the shooting of a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) officer in Kyiv, Ukraine July 10, 2025 in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Ukrainska Pravda/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. UKRAINE OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN UKRAINE. RUSSIA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN RUSSIA. WATERMARK FROM SOURCE. VERIFICATION: Guard box, buildings and parking lot layout matched file and satellite imagery Date verified by timestamp and Reuters reporting A senior Ukrainian security officer was gunned down in a residential parking lot in Kyiv on Thursday before his assailant fled on foot in broad daylight, according to authorities and video footage verified by Reuters. Kyiv's police force said it was working to identify the shooter and that "measures are being taken to detain him". The slain agent was a colonel in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), an official told Reuters. The SBU, a sprawling domestic spy agency which has a staff of thousands, said it had opened a criminal investigation into the murder of one of its employees in Kyiv's southern Holosiivskyi district. They did not identify him. The agency's main remit covers security and counterintelligence, but since Russia's 2022 invasion it has also played a prominent role in special operations against Moscow, including assassinations and sabotage attacks far behind the front line. Neither the SBU nor the police gave possible motives for the killing. "The Security Service and the National Police are taking a comprehensive set of measures to clarify all the circumstances of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice," the SBU said in a statement. CCTV footage circulated on Ukrainian social media showed a man in jeans leaving a residential building and walking to a car park where he was approached by another man, who appeared to fire at him repeatedly before running away. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties Singapore Spike in piracy, armed robbery cases in straits of Malacca and Singapore in first half of 2025 Singapore Singaporean fugitive nabbed and charged with drug trafficking, may face death penalty Singapore KTPH trials 'smart diapers' for adult patients to prevent skin conditions, relieve burden on nurses Singapore PSP's CEC renewal shows its commitment to being a rational alternative choice, says Stephanie Tan World 'Do some homework': 6 key exchanges between US Senator Duckworth and S'pore envoy nominee Sinha Singapore Singapore launches centre to drive sustainable aviation in Asia-Pacific Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Reuters was able to confirm the location of the video of the purported killing as Kyiv using the guard box, buildings and parking lot layout, which match file and satellite imagery of the area. The date when the video was recorded was verified using the timestamp on the footage and Reuters reporting of the incident. The Ukraiinska Pravda media outlet cited a source saying the assailant fired five rounds from a pistol and identified his victim as Ivan Voronych, an SBU colonel. REUTERS
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Up to 90% of air-con units can be recycled, including greenhouse gas refrigerant
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Recycling air-conditioners is crucial because they contain refrigerants such as hydrofluorocarbons, which can have a significant environmental impact if not properly recovered. SINGAPORE – Thousands of air-conditioning units have been recycled and refurbished every year at Gain City's Sungei Kadut Megastore under a scheme launched by the National Environment Agency (NEA) in 2021. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a regulated e-waste management system to ensure the proper collection and handling of e-waste and the extraction of valuable resources from e-waste. Today, Gain City houses one of the two designated air-conditioner recycling facilities in Singapore. The other is Alba's e-waste recycling facility in Tuas. 'Recycling air-conditioners is crucial because they contain refrigerants such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which can have a significant environmental impact if not properly recovered,' said a spokesperson for the Singapore Environment Council (SEC). 'HFCs are thousands of times more potent in causing global warming than carbon dioxide.' SEC said air-conditioners also contain valuable materials like copper and aluminium that can be recovered, reducing the need for raw resource extraction and helping ease pressure on Singapore's limited landfill space. According to NEA, Singapore generates about 60,000 tonnes of e-waste annually – around 73 mobile phones discarded per person in Singapore – with only 6 per cent recycled. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties Singapore Spike in piracy, armed robbery cases in straits of Malacca and Singapore in first half of 2025 Singapore Singaporean fugitive nabbed and charged with drug trafficking, may face death penalty Singapore KTPH trials 'smart diapers' for adult patients to prevent skin conditions, relieve burden on nurses Singapore PSP's CEC renewal shows its commitment to being a rational alternative choice, says Stephanie Tan World 'Do some homework': 6 key exchanges between US Senator Duckworth and S'pore envoy nominee Sinha Singapore Singapore launches centre to drive sustainable aviation in Asia-Pacific Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? 'E-waste also contains small amounts of hazardous substances that may harm the environment and our health, if improperly disposed of,' the agency noted. Attending a learning journey organised by the Public Hygiene Council at Gain City's air-conditioner recycling facility on July 10, the media witnessed a demonstration of how an air-conditioning unit was recycled. While Gain City was unable to provide specific numbers of air-conditioning units recycled annually, it receives thousands of used units from consumers and businesses. Before its megastore's opening in 2015, Gain City had offered in-house air-conditioner recycling services on a much smaller scale and continued doing so until 2021 when, under the EPR, it established a proper recycling facility and tripled its manpower. Gain City marketing director Candy Cao said up to 90 per cent of units can be recycled, with a key part being the proper management of the refrigerant. Metals like gold, brass, aluminium and a large amount of copper can also be extracted and repurposed in refurbished sets, or sent for recycling. When used air-conditioners are brought in, they are assessed to see if they can be refurbished and resold. Dismantled parts may be used for repairs. Refrigerant extraction from an old unit at the Gain City air-conditioner recycling facility. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG Refurbished units are resold by wholesalers or through Gain City's official Carousell account, often at up to 80 per cent cheaper than new units. When units are taken apart, the refrigerant is extracted into cylinder tanks and sent to a local purification facility for treatment. The purified refrigerant is then exported to countries like India and Indonesia for reuse in new units. The units are then stripped to its bare bones and sent for recycling. Printed circuit boards are taken apart manually and sent to specialised waste treatment centres for further processing. Items such as fan blades, cooler blades, styrofoam and insulation piping cannot be recycled currently. Most of these are sent to waste treatment plants to be melted down. Ms Cao said Gain City is working with Singapore Polytechnic students to repurpose these waste materials by breaking them down into smaller pieces to use in paving roads, or creating water filters. Aluminium from an air-con radiator getting scrapped at the Gain City air-conditioner recycling facility. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG 'We are also in talks with Mushroom World Academy, a non-profit organisation, to utilise cardboard boxes to grow mushrooms,' she added. Customers buying a new air-conditioner from Gain City can trade in their old units to be recycled, and get some money to offset their new purchase depending on the condition of the used units, said Ms Cao. Charges may apply for standalone recycling, depending on the pick-up location, quantity and dismantling requirements, especially for commercial units, she added. Mr Chia Ket Fhung, owner of Ultimate Airconditioning Services, said he used to transport the dismantled units to sell to scrap metal collectors. 'We now have a one-stop solution – purchasing new units from Gain City and installing them, then dropping off the dismantled units for recycling at the same location,' he said.
