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Straits Times
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
First look at the new Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa
Find out what's new on ST website and app. SINGAPORE – When the Singapore Oceanarium opens its doors to the public on July 24, you can see a pop culture sensation in the flesh: the albino axolotl. This charming creature – with its pastel pink skin, wide-set eyes and 'feathery' gills that frame a seemingly smiling face – has captivated children and youth since its inclusion in the video game Minecraft in 2021, leading to a surge in demand for axolotl plush toys. Sharing its habitat is another axolotl with a mottled brown-grey body. Beyond the thrill of seeing these real-life axolotls, you can learn about this critically endangered salamander species, native to the lakes and wetlands of Mexico. These axolotls are among the new additions to the former S.E.A. Aquarium. After 12 years of operation, it closed for renovation on April 30 and is now triple its former size. At the Conquering Land zone, see a pop culture sensation in the flesh: the albino axolotl. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The expanded space is divided into 22 zones, each telling a story about the ocean's past, present and future. One of the first zones visitors will encounter is Ocean Wonders, home to sea jellies which are known to be ancient survivors that have existed for more than 500 million years. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Market versus mission: What will Income Insurance choose? 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Cylindrical habitats offer a 360-degree view of various species, such as the fried egg sea jellies, named for their distinctive white and yellow bells. There are also more than 1,000 moon jellies in a 6.8m-diameter kreisel tank, a specialised tank for delicate marine creatures, which offers a mesmerising backdrop for Instagram-loving visitors. The axolotls can be found in the Conquering Land zone, which features other endangered species such as the Titicaca water frog. The Singapore's Coast zone looks set to be another popular area, offering an unique experience of an 'intertidal walk' without getting your shoes wet. Discover an array of local marine life in the tanks, such as spotted seahorses, pencil urchins and bumblebee snails. Dip your hands into a tank of skunk cleaner shrimps, which gently remove dead skin cells at the Singapore's Coast zone. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI After washing your hands, you can dip them into a tank of skunk cleaner shrimps, which gently remove dead skin cells. Some familiar favourites from the former Aquarium remain. The iconic Open Ocean exhibit, featuring a 36m-wide, 8m-tall viewing panel, continues to offer an immersive experience with around 120 species, including manta rays and sharks. The popular Shark Tunnel also provides close-up views of various shark species as they glide overhead. In Ancient Waters, life-sized animatronics and towering replicas bring long-extinct giants, such as the Dunkleosteus, back to life. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI It is not all about live creatures. At the new Ancient Waters zone, life-sized animatronics and towering replicas bring long-extinct giants, such as the Dunkleosteus, back to life. For an enhanced experience, download the Singapore Oceanarium mobile app that launches on July 23. It provides exclusive content and augmented and virtual reality features, such as a face-to-face encounter with the formidable Dunkleosteus. The suspended web at Pier Adventure offers an elevated view of the Jewel of Muscat, a replica of a ninth-century Arabian dhow, and its surroundings. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Young visitors, in particular, will enjoy Pier Adventure, where a suspended web offers an elevated view of the Jewel of Muscat, a replica of a ninth-century Arabian dhow, and its surroundings. This attraction costs an additional $10 a person and kids have to be aged four and above, or at least 110cm tall. However, it is free until Aug 31 if you buy your entry tickets to Singapore Oceanarium via the app. Kids aged below seven must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 and above. Participants should also wear closed-toe, flat shoes. Admission for Singapore residents starts at $42 for adults, $35 for children aged four to 12, and $35 for senior citizens aged 60 and above. There are also paid experiences which cost from $28.
Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Singapore small businesses and charities to get access to financial dispute resolution from July 1
Small businesses refer to companies registered and operating in Singapore, with group annual sales of $1 million or less in each of the past two financial years. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Singapore small businesses and charities to get access to financial dispute resolution from July 1 SINGAPORE - More than 200,000 small businesses and 2,000 charities here will be able to file complaints against licensed financial institutions to the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (Fidrec) from July 1. Small businesses refer to companies registered and operating in Singapore, with group annual sales of $1 million or less in each of the past two financial years. Fidrec, which handles consumer financial disputes, said it will also cover a wider range of claims under the expanded scope. These include disputes over employee medical insurance, insurance for company vehicles, business banking services, corporate card accounts and loan agreements. Fidrec chief executive Eunice Chua said small businesses and charities often face the same difficulties as individual consumers when dealing with financial disputes, on top of their day-to-day operations. 'Our 2024 public consultation showed strong support for making Fidrec accessible to small businesses although we delayed implementing this change to address the concerns voiced,' she said. 'This expansion is aligned with Singapore's broader push to strengthen support for small businesses and build a more resilient non-profit sector.' Mrs Ong-Ang Ai Boon, director of the Association of Banks in Singapore, said Fidrec's expansion to include small businesses and charities is a welcome move for the banking sector. 'These segments, which often rely on banking services, now have greater access to fair and independent dispute resolution, further strengthening confidence in the broader financial ecosystem,' she said. Fidrec is the only financial dispute resolution institution in Singapore, helping consumers resolve disputes with licensed financial institutions, including banks, life insurers and advisers, through mediation or adjudication. The independent body has handled over 23,000 claims since its launch in 2005. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Singapore's renewables usage hits record high as imports, solar output rise
Domestic solar generation in May rose at the fastest pace since March 2024 and renewable imports rose a third straight month to their highest in more than two years. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE - Singapore boosted the share of renewables in its power generation mix to a record high in May, an analysis of the latest market data showed, as the country ramped up renewable imports and accelerated local solar power generation. Domestic solar generation in May rose at the fastest pace since March 2024 and renewable imports rose a third straight month to their highest in more than two years, lifting the share of renewables in the Republic's power mix to 2.58 per cent, data from the National Electricity Market of Singapore showed. Cross-border power trade is seen as key to easing regional reliance on fossil fuels amid growing data centre-driven power demand. Singapore expects to meet 6 gigawatts (GW), or around one-third of its power demand from clean electricity imports by 2035, as Asia's second-smallest country has limited renewable energy potential. Gas-fired power plants in Singapore account for about 95 per cent of its power capacity. In the five months through May, the data showed Singapore imported 122.7 million kilowatt-hours of clean power, or 0.52 per cent of total generation, the data showed. It did not import any power during the same period in 2024, the data showed, and only started importing small quantities in the last quarter of 2024. The share of imports in Singapore's power mix rose for a third straight month in May, displacing some fossil fuel-fired generation. Singapore's total electricity generation grew 0.4 per cent during the first five months, the data showed. Singapore has two active cross-border power trade deals: the 200 MW Lao PDR–Thailand–Malaysia–Singapore (LTMS) and the 50 MW Energy Exchange Malaysia (ENEGEM) pilot project with Malaysia's state utility Tenaga Nasional Berhad. Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) chief executive Puah Kok Keong said in October the terms of an extension to the LTMS had yet to be finalised, as Singapore was waiting for Thailand to finalise details on transmission charges for the multilateral deal. On June 27, the EMA told Reuters in a statement that discussions were 'ongoing for future enhancements to the LTMS,' without elaborating further. REUTERS Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
NDP 2025 Exco warns public against scammers posing as NDP representatives
'Do not disclose any personal, business, or sponsorship information if you are unsure of the caller's identity or credibility,' the advisory said. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE - The National Day Parade (NDP) 2025 executive committee (Exco) will never ask the public or organisations for cash sponsorship, donations or personal details over the phone, organisers of Singapore's birthday bash said on June 28. In an advisory on its official Facebook page NDPeeps, the NDP Exco said it is aware of scammers pretending to be representatives from NDP 2025 and calling potential victims to solicit cash sponsorships and personal information. 'Do not disclose any personal, business, or sponsorship information if you are unsure of the caller's identity or credibility,' the advisory said. If members of the public or organisations are unsure if something is a scam, they can write to ndp@ to check. Those affected should report the scam calls to the police immediately, added the NDP 2025 Exco. The NDP on Aug 9 will be held at the Padang and Marina Bay. The Straits Times has contacted the NDP 2025 Exco and the police for more information. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
21-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
More than 70% of Singaporeans have yet to use SkillsFuture credit top-up expiring end-2025
Only 28 per cent of eligible Singaporeans have tapped the one-off $500 SkillsFuture Credit top-up. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI More than 70% of Singaporeans have yet to use SkillsFuture credit top-up expiring end-2025 SINGAPORE – Most Singaporeans – about 70 per cent of those eligible – have yet to tap the one-off $500 SkillsFuture Credit top-up that will expire on Dec 31, 2025, with just over six months to go. Since the top-up was introduced in October 2020, about 721,000 Singaporeans, or 28 per cent of those eligible, have used it, said SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) in response to queries from The Straits Times on June 17. The usage rate has gone up by 2 percentage points since December 2024, according to the last check by ST, amounting to about 30,000 additional users. The one-off SkillsFuture Credit top-up will expire at the end of the year and will not be extended, said SSG, adding that to use this top-up, courses must start and claims be submitted by Dec 31, 2025. The one-time credit was issued to all Singaporeans aged 25 and above in 2020 to support their training and development during the pandemic. It is separate from the base $500 in SkillsFuture credits that Singaporeans receive when they turn 25. Another $500 credit was given to those aged 40 to 60 as at Dec 31, 2020, as part of mid-career support. Neither of these credits will expire. Similarly, on May 1, 2024, Singaporeans aged 40 and above were given an additional $4,000 credit. This new credit can be combined with any remaining mid-career credit previously given. Of the courses chosen by Singaporeans, the most popular were in training areas of information and communications, food and beverage, and sales and marketing, said SSG. 'Within these areas of training, Singaporeans are taking up courses related to artificial intelligence, digital transformation, e-commerce and digital marketing, reflecting an interest in future-relevant and emerging skills,' the agency added. Singaporeans are encouraged to use the remaining credits to 'support their career and training objectives', said SSG. It added that those who need help identifying suitable courses or planning their next steps can attend free workshops or sign up for one-to-one advisory sessions. SSG said it sent an e-mail reminder on June 12 to remind Singaporeans of the expiring credits. It also encouraged Singaporeans to use the Careers and Skills passport – a digital tool it launched to showcase verified skills and boost job applications – for personalised training recommendations. SSG did not say how many such mailers it sent out, but noted that this was part of efforts to encourage Singaporean to tap on SSG initiatives. Mr Venkataramanan Ganesh Narayanan, who has been working as a cyber security management consultant for over 20 years, said he used his SkillsFuture credit top-up for an artificial intelligence and cybersecurity course. The 55-year-old currently advises senior technology leaders like chief information security officers and chief information officers. But attending this course was to 'future-proof' his expertise, as he saw the impact of AI in the workplace. Mr Ganesh said the course taught him the basics of AI systems, how to secure them, and how to use AI to enhance cyber security. 'I brought the cyber security experience I had and combined it with the new information I learnt about AI, and managed to provider better solutions for my clients,' Mr Ganesh said. He added that not every country gives its citizens the chance to upskill, so when there is an opportunity to do so, everyone should take the chance to. In 2024, about 555,000 people participated in programmes supported by SSG, said the agency in its yearly update earlier in April. This is up from 520,000 individuals in 2023, said SSG, driven by a push to support mid-career workers, said SSG chief executive Tan Kok Yam. Of the 555,000 participants in 2024, 260,000 Singaporeans used their SkillsFuture credits, up from 192,000 in 2023, SSG said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
