Latest news with #Yip
CTV News
6 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Interprovincial booze barrier to come down in New Brunswick
Residents in New Brunswick won't have to worry if they have to much booze on them when coming into province before long. Sweeping regulatory changes to the province's Liquor Control Act will mean personal exemptions on liquor limits will be no more. Barriers will also be dropped to allow a freer flow of alcoholic beverages between most provinces. 'We have made it clear that we will do whatever we can to support internal trade across the country, and this is an important step,' said Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Jean-Claude D'Amours in a July 7 press release. 'Direct-to-consumer sales of alcoholic beverages will give New Brunswick producers new business opportunities and a chance to access customers they could not reach previously.' The decision is part of a broader effort to drop red tape around interprovincial trade in the wake of an on-going trade war started by U.S. President Donald Trump. New Brunswick has had its interprovincial liquor laws examined before. In 2012 resident Gerard Comeau was fined nearly $300 and had upwards of 14 cases of beer confiscated by officials. 'Can you believe that? Someone being charged and going to court because they buy a case of booze in Quebec and bring it to New Brunswick,' said Ontario Premier Doug Ford during the closing press conference of the First Ministers meeting in Ontario's cottage country Wednesday. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt was quick to jump in and mention how her province has eliminated the personal exemption and is working, like other provinces, to reduce the constraints around interprovincial trade. This includes the introduction of direct-to-consumer sales. 'I think we have made more progress than has been made in the long time on internal trade and removing exemptions, thankfully, with a partner in the federal government who's also being aggressive on that,' Holt told reporters Wednesday in Huntsville, Ont. 'I appreciate the desire to see the details and see the when. I think you'll find friends who are similarly impatient at this table of wanting to get to that simple clean document that all Canadians and entrepreneurs can understand.' Joe Mackay is a co-owner of Yip Cider, a popular cidery in Long Reach, N.B. He said the new regulations won't change a lot for operations in the immediate future. Most of the product brewed onsite is sold in the province, with some kegs shipping to Nova Scotia. He said the big difference will be for consumers. 'The change will just allow consumers to be able to buy the products from other provinces online,' Mackay said. 'This kind of aligns with how consumers like to buy things these days. If they want something, they want to be able to go online and order.' The removal of much of the red tape will make things easier to expand to other markets if and when Yip decides to do so. Then comes the challenge of finding space on shelves in other provincial liquor stores. With many provinces opening their borders for a freer flow of goods, the competition will ramp up. 'At the end of the day, it's basically just competing with the other ciders that are out there and convincing the people that are making the decision on what goes on the shelf that your cider is a good fit and it's something that consumers want,' Mackay said. He adds he would like to see the province continue to support New Brunswick brewers with more options for consumers to pick from at the store.
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Kuching Got Talent gets RM40,000 boost from Sports Toto
(Front, third left) Yip hands over a mock cheque to Wee, as officials from Sports Toto and MBKS look on. — Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (July 22): The Kuching Got Talent 2025 (KGT2025), making its return for the 11th edition as part of the Kuching Festival, has received RM40,000 in sponsorship from STM Lottery Sdn Bhd (Sports Toto). Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said Sports Toto had remained a loyal and longstanding partner of the Kuching Festival for over 30 years, supporting various programmes aimed at promoting community engagement, youth participation and cultural development. 'Their unwavering support has enabled us to bring this event to life each year, providing opportunities for our people to discover and develop their talents in a positive and supportive environment. 'Corporate social responsibility plays a vital role in building a vibrant, inclusive society, and Sports Toto has continuously exemplified how businesses can contribute meaningfully. 'Their contributions to Kuching Got Talent go beyond financial – it is an investment in our community, in our future, and in the dreams of many aspiring individuals,' he said during a press conference at MBKS here yesterday. For KGT2025, total of 160 entries involving some 220 participants have been received across four categories: 'Singing' – Age 12 and Below and Age 13 years and Above; 'Dancing'; and 'Other Talents'. Auditions were held on July 5 and 6 at the MBKS Auditorium, resulting in 61 participants being shortlisted for the semi-finals, which is scheduled this Aug 9 at the MBKS Theatre. The grand finale, featuring the Top 35 finalists, will be staged on Aug 10. Also present during the ceremony yesterday was Sports Toto's Kuala Lumpur headquarters' external communications, communications and sustainability manager Yip Bing Tsong. kuching got talent lead sponsorship sports toto Wee Hong Seng
Business Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Firm take-up at UpperHouse and The Robertson Opus with prices averaging about S$3,350 psf
[SINGAPORE] Two new projects in the Core Central Region (CCR) – UpperHouse at Orchard Boulevard and The Robertson Opus – launched over the weekend, drawing firm demand with both moving more than 40 per cent of their units. The launches of UpperHouse (301 units) and The Robertson Opus (348 units) mark the largest supply injection in the CCR since additional buyers' stamp duty measures were tightened in 2023, said PropNex chief executive Kelvin Fong. UpperHouse, by UOL Group and Singapore Land Group, sold 162 units or more than 53.8 per cent on Saturday (Jul 19), at an average price of S$3,350 per square foot (psf). The 99-year leasehold project offers units from one-bedroom and study to four-bedroom suites. Fong added that one-bedders were priced at nearly S$1.4 million, while two-bedders ranged from about S$2.1 million to S$2.7 million. Anson Lim, UOL's senior general manager of residential marketing, noted 'healthy take-up across all unit types'. The Bespoke Collection – 31 four-bedders with private lift and parking – had a 30 per cent take-up, with a high-floor unit selling for S$7.66 million, or S$3,724 psf. UpperHouse is the best-selling CCR project since The M launched in 2020, said Huttons Asia chief executive Mark Yip. Nearly all three-bedroom units were sold, and one-third of the four-bedders were taken up, indicating 'strong owner-occupier demand'. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up Singaporeans and permanent residents made up 99 per cent of buyers, with the rest being foreigners. The project drew a mix of owner-occupiers and long-term investors. 'To sell above 50 per cent of the units for a CCR project is an excellent set of results. It highlights the resilient demand for prime CCR homes and strong fundamentals in Singapore's property market,' Yip noted. UOL's chief corporate and development officer Yvonne Tan attributed the strong showing to the narrowing price gap between CCR and Rest of Central Region (RCR), and the attractive premium between freehold and leasehold luxury products. Huttons data shows that the median psf price gap between CCR and RCR narrowed from 56.5 per cent in 2018 to 1.9 per cent in H1 2025. 'There is potential for a strong upside once the gap between CCR and RCR home prices widens,' said Yip. Fong also noted that the average price of S$3,350 psf makes UpperHouse one of the most competitively priced new launches near Orchard Road. He compared this to Park Nova's new units which averaged at about S$6,150 psf this year and Cuscaden Reserve which fetched an average price of more than S$3,100 psf for the resale units transacted in the first four months of 2025. Located in District 10, UpperHouse sits along Grange Road and Orchard Boulevard, opposite Orchard Boulevard MRT and near River Valley Primary School. UOL and SingLand acquired the 7,013.4 square metre site last year for S$428.3 million or S$1,617 psf per plot ratio (ppr) – 30 to 40 per cent lower than the S$2,377 psf ppr fetched by a nearby Cuscaden Road site in 2018. Steady take-up at The Robertson Opus Of the 348 units available in the mixed-use The Robertson Opus, 143 were sold at an average price of S$3,360 psf. This works out to a take-up rate of 41 per cent, said developers Frasers Property and Sekisui House on Sunday. The 999-year development comprises one to four-bedroom units across five blocks. Studio units start from S$1.37 million, one-bedders from S$1.58 million, two-bedders from S$2.17 million, three-bedders from S$3.1 million, and four-bedders (1,539 sq ft) from S$5.09 million. 'There has been healthy demand across all the unit types, with the three-bedroom and four-bedroom premium units under the Legacy Collection being the most popular and almost sold out,' said the developers. The buyers comprise professionals purchasing for their own stay or investment – 83 per cent are Singaporeans, 16 per cent are permanent residents mainly from China and Indonesia, and the rest are foreigners from the US and Switzerland. Soon Su Lin, Frasers Property Singapore's CEO, said: 'The project's rare 999-year tenure, prestigious District 9 address, and sophisticated riverside lifestyle – alongside its proximity to key business and lifestyle hubs – make it a compelling choice for discerning buyers seeking long-term value and generational wealth.' The Robertson Opus is a 999-year leasehold mixed-use project and a redevelopment of Frasers' serviced residence Fraser Place Robertson Walk and its adjoining commercial area, Robertson Walk. ILLUSTRATION: FRASERS PROPERTY, SEKISUI HOUSE The Robertson Opus, which also includes a retail podium on the first floor and basement, is a redevelopment of Frasers' serviced residence Fraser Place Robertson Walk and its adjoining commercial area, Robertson Walk – undertaken by Frasers Property and Japanese developer Sekisui House in a 51:49 joint venture. Given the steady take-up at both launches, PropNex's Fong expects Q3 developers' sales in the CCR to rebound. 'To be sure, the units sold at UpperHouse at Orchard Boulevard during the private preview alone has already far exceeded the 46 CCR new units sold for the whole of Q2 2025.' Despite the recent hike in seller's stamp duty rates, demand for luxury homes remains resilient, supported by buyers focused on capital stability and wealth diversification, said Mohan Sandrasegeran, head of research and data analytics at Singapore Realtors Inc. 'These factors point to a strategic reset in the CCR market. With strong fundamentals, supportive policies, and improving economic signals, the luxury housing segment is well-positioned to regain momentum.' Brisk sales at Otto Place EC Executive condo (EC) Otto Place sold 351, or 58.5 per cent of its 600 units during its launch, said developers Hoi Hup Realty and Sunway Developments. The average price of its units sold under the normal payment scheme was S$1,700 psf. Otto Place features unit sizes starting at 872 sq ft for three-bedroom deluxe types, priced from S$1.41 million (S$1,617 psf), up to 1,195 sq ft for four-bedroom plus study luxury units, which went for S$2.18 million (S$1,824 psf). More than 70 per cent of the larger units were sold. The 600-unit Otto Place at Plantation Close in Tengah is located near two MRT stations and Princess Elizabeth Primary School. ILLUSTRATION: HOI HUP REALTY, SUNWAY DEVELOPMENTS Located in Tengah's Plantation District, Otto Place is near two MRT stations and Princess Elizabeth Primary School. ERA Singapore CEO Marcus Chu said: 'Despite broader economic headwinds, demand for ECs remains strong, supported by steady local interest, significant price advantages over private condos and government grants.'
Business Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Firm take-up at two prime CCR projects; UpperHouse 53% sold at average S$3,350 psf
[SINGAPORE] Two new projects in the Core Central Region (CCR) – UpperHouse at Orchard Boulevard and The Robertson Opus – launched over the weekend, drawing firm demand with both moving more than 40 per cent of their units. The launches of UpperHouse (301 units) and The Robertson Opus (348 units) mark the largest supply injection in the CCR since additional buyers' stamp duty measures were tightened in 2023, said PropNex chief executive Kelvin Fong. UpperHouse, by UOL Group and Singapore Land Group, sold 162 units or more than 53.8 per cent on Saturday (Jul 19), at an average price of S$3,350 per square foot (psf). The 99-year leasehold project offers units from one-bedroom and study to four-bedroom suites. Fong added that one-bedders were priced at nearly S$1.4 million, while two-bedders ranged from about S$2.1 million to S$2.7 million. Anson Lim, UOL's senior general manager of residential marketing, noted 'healthy take-up across all unit types'. The Bespoke Collection – 31 four-bedders with private lift and parking – had a 30 per cent take-up, with a high-floor unit selling for S$7.66 million, or S$3,724 psf. UpperHouse is the best-selling CCR project since The M launched in 2020, said Huttons Asia chief executive Mark Yip. Nearly all three-bedroom units were sold, and one-third of the four-bedders were taken up, indicating 'strong owner-occupier demand'. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up Singaporeans and permanent residents made up 99 per cent of buyers, with the rest being foreigners. The project drew a mix of owner-occupiers and long-term investors. 'To sell above 50 per cent of the units for a CCR project is an excellent set of results. It highlights the resilient demand for prime CCR homes and strong fundamentals in Singapore's property market,' Yip noted. UOL's chief corporate and development officer Yvonne Tan attributed the strong showing to the narrowing price gap between CCR and Rest of Central Region (RCR), and the attractive premium between freehold and leasehold luxury products. Huttons data shows that the median psf price gap between CCR and RCR narrowed from 56.5 per cent in 2018 to 1.9 per cent in H1 2025. 'There is potential for a strong upside once the gap between CCR and RCR home prices widens,' said Yip. Fong also noted that the average price of S$3,350 psf makes UpperHouse one of the most competitively priced new launches near Orchard Road. He compared this to Park Nova's new units which averaged at about S$6,150 psf this year and Cuscaden Reserve which fetched an average price of more than S$3,100 psf for the resale units transacted in the first four months of 2025. Located in District 10, UpperHouse sits along Grange Road and Orchard Boulevard, opposite Orchard Boulevard MRT and near River Valley Primary School. UOL and SingLand acquired the 7,013.4 square metre site last year for S$428.3 million or S$1,617 psf per plot ratio (ppr) – 30 to 40 per cent lower than the S$2,377 psf ppr fetched by a nearby Cuscaden Road site in 2018. Steady take-up at The Robertson Opus Of the 348 units available in the mixed-use The Robertson Opus, 143 were sold at an average price of S$3,360 psf. This works out to a take-up rate of 41 per cent, said developers Frasers Property and Sekisui House on Sunday. The 999-year leasehold development comprises one to four-bedroom units across five blocks. Studio units start from S$1.37 million, one-bedders from S$1.58 million, two-bedders from S$2.17 million, three-bedders from S$3.1 million, and four-bedders (1,539 sq ft) from S$5.09 million. 'There has been healthy demand across all the unit types, with the three-bedroom and four-bedroom premium units under the Legacy Collection being the most popular and almost sold out,' said the developers. The buyers comprise professionals purchasing for their own stay or investment – 83 per cent are Singaporeans, 16 per cent are permanent residents mainly from China and Indonesia, and the rest are foreigners from the US and Switzerland. Soon Su Lin, Frasers Property Singapore's CEO, said: 'The project's rare 999-year tenure, prestigious District 9 address, and sophisticated riverside lifestyle – alongside its proximity to key business and lifestyle hubs – make it a compelling choice for discerning buyers seeking long-term value and generational wealth.' The Robertson Opus is a 999-year leasehold mixed-use project and a redevelopment of Frasers' serviced residence Fraser Place Robertson Walk and its adjoining commercial area, Robertson Walk. ILLUSTRATION: FRASERS PROPERTY, SEKISUI HOUSE The Robertson Opus, which also includes a retail podium on the first floor and basement, is a redevelopment of Frasers' serviced residence Fraser Place Robertson Walk and its adjoining commercial area, Robertson Walk – undertaken by Frasers Property and Japanese developer Sekisui House in a 51:49 joint venture. Given the steady take-up at both launches, PropNex's Fong expects Q3 developers' sales in the CCR to rebound. 'To be sure, the units sold at UpperHouse at Orchard Boulevard during the private preview alone has already far exceeded the 46 CCR new units sold for the whole of Q2 2025.' Despite the recent hike in seller's stamp duty rates, demand for luxury homes remains resilient, supported by buyers focused on capital stability and wealth diversification, said Mohan Sandrasegeran, head of research and data analytics at Singapore Realtors Inc. 'These factors point to a strategic reset in the CCR market. With strong fundamentals, supportive policies, and improving economic signals, the luxury housing segment is well-positioned to regain momentum.' Brisk sales at Otto Place EC Executive condo (EC) Otto Place sold 351, or 58.5 per cent of its 600 units during its launch, said developers Hoi Hup Realty and Sunway Developments. The average price of its units sold under the normal payment scheme was S$1,700 psf. Otto Place features unit sizes starting at 872 sq ft for three-bedroom deluxe types, priced from S$1.41 million (S$1,617 psf), up to 1,195 sq ft for four-bedroom plus study luxury units, which went for S$2.18 million (S$1,824 psf). More than 70 per cent of the larger units were sold. The 600-unit Otto Place at Plantation Close in Tengah is located near two MRT stations and Princess Elizabeth Primary School. ILLUSTRATION: HOI HUP REALTY, SUNWAY DEVELOPMENTS Located in Tengah's Plantation District, Otto Place is near two MRT stations and Princess Elizabeth Primary School. ERA Singapore CEO Marcus Chu said: 'Despite broader economic headwinds, demand for ECs remains strong, supported by steady local interest, significant price advantages over private condos and government grants.'
New Paper
16-07-2025
- Health
- New Paper
Legal agility needed to tackle drug-laced vapes in Singapore: Experts
Medical experts have called for legal agility to tackle vaping, which they say has evolved into a harmful and dangerous scourge with more drug-laced e-vaporisers detected. Their comments come in the wake of an announcement on July 12 by the Government, which signalled the possibility of tougher enforcement laws to tackle vaping amid a spike in seizures of e-vaporisers laced with the anaesthetic etomidate. Mr Yip Hon Weng, MP for Yio Chu Kang SMC, who agreed that enforcement laws need to be enhanced, noted that Singapore already has some of the world's toughest drug laws. "But as the landscape evolves, so must our legal tools. "There is perhaps scope to go further - for example, by explicitly including combo drug-vape products under the Poisons Act, and granting the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) clearer jurisdiction the moment drug traces are detected," he said. There have been similar legal updates in the past, Mr Yip said, adding that when Subutex and glue sniffing became threats, the law evolved to empower CNB with the tools to respond. The same legislative approach can and should apply to drug-laced vapes, he said. "Our laws should empower swift updates to controlled substance lists - not wait for the next tragedy to force a response," added Mr Yip. Singapore's laws around synthetic drugs, or new psychoactive substances (NPS), were amended in June 2024 to regulate them based on their effects rather than specific chemical structures. Further amendments came into effect in 2025 to tackle new compounds that continue to be detected each year. Professor Teo Yik-Ying, dean of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said current laws need to also keep up with the technology used to deliver synthetic drugs. "Our narcotics laws need to be updated to capture some of these new changes in technology, where the delivery system now is using e-cigarettes and vapes," he said. "So, effectively, if I am a police officer and I catch someone with a vape, and I detect that the vape cartridge is actually a Kpod... the person is not just caught for vaping, but also caught for possession of narcotics. "Suddenly... you will realise that the penalty increases so significantly that people now have a fear of just taking Kpods." Although vaping has been banned in Singapore since 2018, the Health Sciences Authority still seized more than $41 million worth of e-vaporisers and their related components between January 2024 and March 2025. This is a significant spike from the $95,460 worth of seizures across 2019. In the first nine months of 2024, about 9,680 people were caught using or possessing vapes. This is more than the 7,838 people caught in the whole of 2023. Assistant Professor Yvette van der Eijk from the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health said that what has encouraged the spread is the marketing of vaping products from other countries. "If an influencer from, say, Indonesia promotes vaping products, that content can still reach young Singaporeans. "Also, for a policy to be effective, it must be properly enforced, and people must be aware of its rationale so that they accept the policy. Stronger enforcement in the community and more education would be helpful," said Prof van der Eijk. Starting young While some have argued for regulating vaping rather than an outright ban, recent studies in Britain have shown that regulations do little to limit access to e-vaporisers, including those laced with drugs. In Britain, vaping is legal for those above the age of 18, although disposable vapes have been banned across all age groups since June 1, 2025, to address environmental concerns and to protect young people from nicotine addiction. Professor Christopher Pudney from the University of Bath in Britain said his research showed that vapers there start young, between the ages of 13 and 16. "Around the middle of 2023, we started to see a lot of media reports in the UK of children collapsing in schools, associated with vaping," Prof Pudney told ST. "So, we just tracked those media reports. And it got to the point where there was almost one report every week of a child collapsing in school, which is obviously insane." His studies also showed that schoolchildren may be unknowingly smoking vapes spiked with synthetic cannabis, also known as Spice. The researchers in his team found that out of 596 vapes confiscated across 38 schools in England, one in six contained Spice. Prof Pudney, a biotechnology expert, said tests his team conducted have also picked up traces of heroin, MDMA (commonly found in Ecstasy) and ketamine in seized vaporisers. He used the world's first portable device, which is able to detect synthetic drugs in vapes in 30 seconds, to trace the chemicals. Despite these advancements, Prof Pudney said that when a drug in e-vaporisers is detected by the authorities there and made illegal, organised crime groups would subtly change the drug composition and flood the market with the new product. Mr Yip said he is aware that CNB and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) are already building up rapid-testing and toxicology capabilities to detect novel substances in vape liquids. Etomidate is known to cause a type of muscle spasm called myoclonus, which patients may describe as tremors, said Dr Clare Anne Fong, associate consultant at the Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at National University Hospital and Alexandra Hospital. It can also result in difficulties in processing thoughts and altered sensory experiences, such as numbness and tremors, she added. A person should seek medical attention when he displays such symptoms. "As the dosing is unpredictable, there is a risk of sudden unconsciousness and respiratory failure, which can be life-threatening," said Dr Fong. "Coughing out of blood is also dangerous as it can result in breathing difficulties and low oxygen levels, especially if the volume of blood is large." Dr Sharen Tian, a family physician at Raffles Medical Group, said that when etomidate is misused via vapes, it can induce euphoria and dissociation, leading to psychological dependence. "Abusing etomidate through vaping can lead to severe health complications," she told ST. "The identified adverse effects include nausea, muscle spasms, respiratory depression, seizures and psychosis." Initially, adult smokers seeking alternatives were the primary users of e-vaporisers, said Dr Tian. However, recent data indicates a surge in adolescent usage, with cases involving individuals as young as 13 years old. Mr Yip said that current standard hospital tests may not always pick up new synthetic substances unless they are specifically looking for them. Parents should therefore not take a "clean" test result at face value if their child is showing worrying signs: confusion, seizures, erratic or zombie-like behaviour. "One way is to insist on a comprehensive toxicology screen, and alert medical professionals to the possibility of vaping-related drug intake," he said. Mr Yip added that accident and emergency staff, clinicians at the Institute of Mental Health, school counsellors and general practitioners should also be updated regularly on new trends in drug-laced vapes, so they can respond appropriately. "Most importantly, talk to your children. These are no longer 'just vapes'. They are chemical cocktails disguised in sleek devices - or as I call them, 'vapes with a twist of terror'," he said. Border checks Breaking the wave of e-vaporisers and Kpods requires sharper and more coordinated enforcement, from stepping up checks at the borders to tightening screening at parcel processing centres, said Mr Yip. He added that it is critical to track deliveries and follow the trail to arrest not just buyers, but also the local distributors and peddlers. Singapore Customs and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority already do this with cigarette smuggling syndicates, framing the issue as an obligation to ensure the security and safety of Singapore. "The same methods of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore," the agencies had said previously. Mr Yip said enforcement efforts must also go digital. "We should leverage AI-powered surveillance to scan darknet markets, Telegram groups and smuggling forums, where new trends often appear first," he added. While acknowledging that the authorities are already collaborating across agencies and also working with regional counterparts, Mr Yip said this must be scaled up further. Beyond enforcement, public awareness matters, he said, noting that many people still do not know how to report such offences. Mr Yip added: "Today, reporting to HSA relies on a weekday office line (it is on their website). A suggestion would be for 24/7 hotlines, online reporting or even integration with the OneService app. "We also need to reach young people where it matters - on the platforms where syndicates target them, like Telegram and social media. "Community education, peer-led interventions and even celebrity-driven cautionary campaigns could help shift perceptions." Mr Yip said that as a father of five young children, he has got "skin in the game". "This is more than just a policy challenge - it is a growing threat in schools, community and online spaces. "The recent case involving teenagers reportedly behaving erratically after inhaling drug-laced Kpods outside a Punggol mall is not just worrying - it is a red flag. "These devices are not only illegal, but they are also dangerous and designed to avoid detection," he added.
