# data[].attributes.headline
'I didn't know is an offence in Singapore': Man fined for eating cigarette to block NEA's enforcement

# data[].attributes.subject
'I didn't know is an offence in Singapore': Man fined for eating cigarette to block NEA's enforcement

# data[].attributes.body
Incident: On March 18, 2024, at around 8:40 PM, Ramamoorthy Reddiar Jayaraman, aged 53, was drinking beer alone at the void deck of Block 515, Hougang Avenue 10. A teenager joined him and began smoking a cigarette, despite the prominent "No Smoking" sign in the area.

NEA Enforcement: Two National Environment Agency (NEA) officers conducted a routine check and noticed the teenager smoking. One officer approached the teen, identified herself, and informed him of the offence, requesting his particulars.

Obstruction: In an attempt to prevent enforcement action, Ramamoorthy took the cigarette from the teenager and ate it. He then told the teen to run away, which he did.

Legal Outcome: Ramamoorthy was charged under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act for obstructing an NEA officer. He pleaded guilty and was fined S$1,000. The judge clarified that while eating a cigarette is not an offence, obstructing an officer's duties is a serious matter.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
SINGAPORE: A man who ate a teenager's cigarette to allow the teen to avoid enforcement action by the National Environment Agency (NEA) was fined S$1,000 (US$744) by a court on Tuesday (Jul 30).

In mitigation, 53-year-old Ramamoorthy Reddiar Jayaraman said he did not know it was an offence to eat a cigarette in Singapore.

The judge told him it was not an offence, and that he could eat as many cigarettes as he wished, but obstructing an NEA officer was the offence he was facing.

The Singaporean pleaded guilty to one charge under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act for obstructing an NEA enforcement officer by eating a cigarette.

The court heard that Ramamoorthy was drinking beer alone at the void deck of Block 515, Hougang Avenue 10 at about 8.40pm on Mar 18.

A teenager, who was not related to Ramamoorthy, joined him at the void deck and began smoking a cigarette, despite there being a prominent "No Smoking" sign.

Two NEA enforcement officers went to perform checks around the void deck and one of them saw the unnamed teenager smoking.

She walked towards him, introduced herself and showed him her NEA Authority Card. She told him that he had committed an offence and asked for his particulars.

The teenager looked at the officer nervously but did not respond, and the officer repeated her request.

Ramamoorthy then asked the teenager to hand him the cigarette that the teen had been smoking.

When he received the cigarette, Ramamoorthy put it in his mouth and ate it. Then, he told the teen to run away, and the boy fled.

Court documents did not state if the cigarette was lit or not.

Ramamoorthy's actions had prevented the NEA officers from taking possession of the cigarette that was connected to an offence.

He later stated that he had acted on the spur of the moment as he wanted to help the teenager avoid having a "blemished record at a tender age".

Deputy Public Prosecutor Gabriel Lee sought a fine for Ramamoorthy, leaving the quantum to the court.

The maximum fine for a first offender is S$2,000.

Ramamoorthy was unrepresented.

He told the court: "Eating a cigarette, I didn't know is an offence in Singapore."

He said he was the sole breadwinner and asked to be pardoned and given a lighter fine. He also asked for his passport back as his grandmother is in Kuala Lumpur.

District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan told Ramamoorthy: "First and foremost, I would like to disabuse you of the error ... you are not here because you ate a cigarette. You want to eat all number of cigarettes, that's entirely up to you, the court has no issue with that. You are here for the offence of obstructing the exercise of an NEA officer's power. I just want to disabuse you of the misimpression."

Ramamoorthy paid the fine in full.

CNA has contacted NEA about whether any action was taken against the teenager.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'I didn't know is an offence in Singapore': Man fined for eating cigarette to block NEA's enforcement

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When he saw a teenager being questioned by an NEA officer, the 53-year-old took the cigarette from the boy and ate it.

# data[].attributes.headline
S’pore’s projected carbon tax revenue for 2024 lower than expected after fivefold hike in tax rate

# data[].attributes.subject
S’pore’s projected carbon tax revenue for 2024 lower than expected after fivefold hike in tax rate

# data[].attributes.body
Projected Carbon Tax Revenue: Singapore's carbon tax revenue for 2024 is projected to be lower than expected, estimated at S$642 million.straitstimes.com

Tax Rate Increase: This projection follows a fivefold increase in the carbon tax rate, from S$5 per tonne of CO₂ equivalent to S$25 per tonne.en.wikipedia.org

Reasons for Lower Revenue: The lower-than-expected revenue is attributed to allowances given to trade-exposed emitters, which reduce the taxable base.straitstimes.com

Government's Climate Policy: Despite the lower revenue, the government aims to continue its climate policy, which includes raising the carbon tax to S$45 per tonne by 2026 and to S$50–80 per tonne by 2030.en.wikipedia.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
S’pore’s projected carbon tax revenue for 2024 lower than expected after fivefold hike in tax rate

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The $642 million estimate is likely due to allowances given to trade-exposed emitters, say experts. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Is the existing punishment harsh enough?

Anyone caught with a vape in Singapore could be fined up to S$2,000 (US$1,496).

If you're caught selling, importing or doing anything related to making it available - it's a fine of up to S$10,000 or six months in jail, or both. This could double if you're caught multiple times.

People who continue to vape are clearly either unaware or "disdainful" of the penalties, said Prof Teo.

On a single day on Jul 29, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) caught - and fined on the spot - 57 individuals vaping in central areas in Singapore.

Prof Teo added that for those smuggling vapes through border checkpoints, the perceived benefits clearly outweigh the risks: A potential profit in the millions of dollars versus a potential imprisonment of one year is a "no-brainer".

Prof Teo suggested that suppliers be punished proportionately to the size of the haul they are caught with.

In December last year, Singapore's health authorities said they would step up enforcement at border checkpoints like Changi Airport.

A series of local raids in June also led to the disruption of what was called "one of the largest" vape distribution networks in Singapore, with the seizure of hundreds of thousands of vapes worth S$6 million and meant for sale on messaging app Telegram.

In the second quarter of 2024, HSA also worked with administrators of local e-commerce and social media platforms to take down more than 2,000 listings of vapes and components.

Singapore authorities are also reviewing the penalties, which remain lower than in other jurisdictions.

In Brunei, where vapes are categorised as imitation tobacco products, a person found selling or importing vapes can be fined B$5,000 (US$3,742).

And over in Australia, where the sale of vapes is banned outside of pharmacies, individuals found selling non-therapeutic vapes can face seven years in jail or a AU$2.2 million (US$1.43 million) fine.

Earlier this year, Singapore's Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam said HSA was working on strengthening deterrence against the advertising, importation and distribution of vapes.

The agency is trying to step up efforts in monitoring and removing vape content online, she said.
Additional reporting by Sally Lee

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
CNA Explains: Is vaping 'getting out of hand' in Singapore, and what can be done?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One expert suggests annually testing all students of a particular cohort, as a way to discourage vaping.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
TRANSPORT

In 2023, global electric vehicle sales exceeded 13 million. China has the largest domestic electric vehicle market with more than seven million units sold, representing a third of car sales.

In addition, China exported 1.2 million electric vehicles in 2023. This was 80 per cent more than the previous year.

Electric vehicles are already cheaper than cars with internal combustion engines in China, because they have such a high market share. Local carmakers already offer nearly 50 different small, affordable electric models.

STEEL

In April, China announced it was preparing to extend emissions trading to the steel industry. This sector is the country's second largest CO2 emitter, behind power.

Emissions trading is a market-based approach to controlling pollution. The government allocates permits that allow release of a certain amount of CO2 over a set period of time. These permits can be bought and sold, or traded.

China accounts for more than half of the world's steel production. But the industry also supports the energy transition, because steel is used in renewables and electric vehicles manufacturing. Nearly 70 per cent of the world's key components of wind turbines and 80 per cent of solar panel components are made in China.

The government is encouraging industry to work with universities and research institutes to reduce emissions. It will not be easy, and it will be costly.

China is the world's largest hydrogen producer, but 80 per cent comes from fossil fuels. Investment in green hydrogen research and development is increasing, with some firms determined to take the lead. If steel-making could be powered by green hydrogen, it would be a major breakthrough.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Commentary: China is still the world's biggest emitter, but also an emerging force in climate diplomacy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
China is also showing other nations what's possible if the energy transition is turned into an opportunity for innovation, says a professor from Griffith University.

# data[].attributes.headline
Commentary: Are carbon credits a growing ‘lemon’ problem?

# data[].attributes.subject
Commentary: Are carbon credits a growing ‘lemon’ problem?

# data[].attributes.body
Carbon Credits as a Climate Strategy: Carbon credits allow companies to offset their emissions by investing in projects that reduce greenhouse gases elsewhere. While this can support climate goals, it may also lead to companies prioritizing offsets over direct emission reductions.

Potential Pitfalls: The effectiveness of carbon credits depends on the quality and integrity of the projects they fund. Without stringent standards and monitoring, there's a risk that credits may not result in actual emissions reductions, undermining their intended purpose.

Need for Robust Frameworks: Establishing clear legal frameworks and enforcing consistent standards across borders are essential to ensure that carbon credit systems are effective and credible.

Systemic Changes Required: While carbon credits can be a helpful tool in the transition to a low-carbon economy, they cannot replace the need for fundamental changes in energy systems, transportation infrastructure, and industrial processes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS?

However, legal complexities arise when considering cross-border transactions and carbon credit projects based in developing countries. Proving misrepresentation or harm can be challenging, especially when dealing with projects with unclear additionality, permanence, and double-counting risks. Additionally, different verification standards and regulatory environments create further hurdles in enforcing uniform legal consequences.

The International Carbon Credit (ICC) Framework in Singapore permitting companies to offset some of their taxable emissions with carbon credits is a step in the right direction, but analysing its effectiveness would require some more time as high-quality projects that can benefit the climate are not yet available.

International cooperation is needed to establish clear legal frameworks and enforce consistent standards across borders, ensuring everyone plays by the same rules.

Unfortunately, countries at the United Nations' COP28 climate summit in Dubai in December failed to seal a deal on carbon trading rules. Until there is consensus, the voluntary carbon market continues to be the main channel for private capital investment in initiatives focused on reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.

Another pitfall is that carbon credits allow companies to offset their emissions by investing in projects that reduce greenhouse gases elsewhere, rather than directly tackling their own emissions. This can create a moral hazard, where companies prioritise offsets over actually reducing their own emissions, leading to an overall increase in emissions.

Addressing climate change requires systemic changes to our energy systems, transportation infrastructure and industrial processes. Carbon credits can be a helpful tool in the transition, but they cannot replace the need for fundamental changes in the way we live and produce.

While they provide hope, they also carry potential pitfalls. By advocating openness, holding businesses responsible and emphasising real emission reductions, there is potential to transform this market into an authentic force for addressing climate change rather than a deceptive tactic for appearing environmentally conscious.
Ben Chester Cheong is a doctoral researcher in sustainability law at Cambridge University, a corporate regulatory compliance lawyer at RHTLaw Asia and a law lecturer at Singapore University of Social Sciences.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Commentary: Are carbon credits a growing 'lemon' problem?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
While carbon credits may seem like an appealing solution to a complex climate crisis, there are concerns about whether the mechanism can truly deliver on its promises or if it simply facilitates greenwashing. SUSS' Ben Chester Cheong weighs in.

# data[].attributes.headline
Tourism, heat cut Japan rice inventory to 21st-century low

# data[].attributes.subject
Tourism, heat cut Japan rice inventory to 21st-century low

# data[].attributes.body
Japan’s rice stockpiles hit a record low, with private inventories dropping to 1.56 million tonnes—lowest since 1999.

2023’s extreme heatwave and water shortages severely reduced rice harvests, affecting overall production.

Tourism surge drove up consumption, as foreign visitor demand rose by over 30,000 tonnes.

Government responded by releasing emergency reserves and relaxing strict rice import policies to ease shortages.

Climate change and aging farmers pose long-term risks, prompting moves toward heat-resistant crops and smarter farming tech.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tourism, heat cut Japan rice inventory to 21st-century low

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Lower harvests are also due to some water shortages; rice prices also rise slower than alternatives. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.headline
Govt will review ways to ease cost pressures, but won't cap fuel prices as it distorts market: Low Yen Ling

# data[].attributes.subject
Govt will review ways to ease cost pressures, but won't cap fuel prices as it distorts market: Low Yen Ling

# data[].attributes.body
⛽ Why the government won’t cap fuel prices

The Singapore government has decided not to cap petrol or diesel prices, citing concerns that price controls would distort market signals and could cause unintended issues like supply shortages.

Instead, the government plans to explore other targeted measures to help citizens and businesses manage rising costs without disrupting market operations.

🔍 Context and implications

Rising global oil prices are driving up domestic fuel costs, which increase transportation, logistics, and retail prices.

Fuel price caps risk causing misallocation of resources or reducing incentives for efficient fuel use.

Alternative support measures could include subsidies, vouchers, or schemes targeted at lower-income households or small businesses, though details are still being finalized.

✅ Bottom line

Singapore’s policymakers prefer not to interfere with fuel pump prices directly to maintain market efficiency. They aim to implement precise, targeted interventions to ease inflation effects while safeguarding the market’s functioning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Govt will review ways to ease cost pressures, but won’t cap fuel prices as it distorts market: Low Yen Ling

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Artificially reducing pump prices leads to a market that benefits car owners, says Ms Low Yen Ling. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.headline
Gas and electricity prices to increase from July to September

# data[].attributes.subject
Gas and electricity prices to increase from July to September

# data[].attributes.body
Singapore Gas and Electricity Price Changes (July–September 2025)

Electricity tariffs will increase by about 0.3%, raising the rate to 29.88 cents per kWh before GST.

For a typical four-room HDB flat, the average monthly electricity bill will go up by roughly S$0.35 before GST.

The increase is mainly due to higher global fuel costs.

Gas tariffs will also rise by 0.30 cents per kWh to 23.42 cents per kWh before GST.

Eligible households will receive rebates through schemes like U-Save and GST Voucher to help offset higher utility costs.

Additional support measures were announced in Budget 2024 to ease the impact on lower- and middle-income families.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Gas and electricity prices to increase from July to September

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The increase is due to greater energy costs. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.headline
A 40% price hike for badminton shuttlecocks in China is linked to the lower cost of pork. What’s the deal?

# data[].attributes.subject
A 40% price hike for badminton shuttlecocks in China is linked to the lower cost of pork. What’s the deal?

# data[].attributes.body
The price of badminton shuttlecocks in China has increased sharply recently.

This is largely due to a rise in the cost of goose feathers, which are the main material used for shuttlecocks.

The cost of feathers has been driven up because of soaring pork prices, as many geese are raised for both meat and feathers.

Increased demand for pork led to more geese being slaughtered for meat, reducing feather supply and pushing prices higher.

The price hike affects both manufacturers and consumers in China’s badminton market.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
SINGAPORE: Mr Chow Zhengyang is not having a smashing good time on the badminton court.

"I can't afford to play anymore," said the frustrated 28-year-old Malaysian who has been studying in Beijing for 15 years, and plays badminton at least twice a week for leisure and to socialise.

Shuttlecocks are the reason. Prices have shot up, forcing him to spend an additional 180 yuan (US$24) a month on them, compared to his usual 280 yuan expenditure before the pandemic.

"I have been using RSL No 5 shuttlecock. It was 70 yuan before the pandemic, increased to 80, then 90, and now it's 115 yuan," complained the fresh graduate.

Shuttle prices in China have gone up by over 40 per cent in the past six months for some brands, sparking plenty of online talk and complaints in a country of 1.4 billion people where badminton is arguably seen as a national sport.

Industry sources told CNA that price hikes in goose and duck feathers are a key factor. They are used in feather shuttlecocks, which are by far the preferred choice compared to their synthetic counterparts.

But this has also been linked back to declining pork prices, highlighting the interconnectedness of supply chains and the knock-on effects due to disruption or change.

SOARING SHUTTLECOCK PRICES

At least three badminton companies, Yonex, RSL and Ling-Mei, issued notices at the end of June notifying distributors that shuttlecock prices would be raised due to increased production costs. CNA has seen these notices.

One popular model, the Yonex AS-05, was 210 yuan in February and has now increased to 275 yuan, a 30 per cent increase.

Other shuttle models now cost more as well - some by over 40 per cent - after the companies made price adjustments in April and June.

Staff from Shenzhen-based Chaopai Sporting Goods, a company specialising in making shuttlecocks, told CNA the price increase came into effect on Jul 1.

A pack of 12 shuttlecocks that previously cost around 200 yuan now retails for at least 10 yuan more.

The shuttlecock price hikes have sparked plenty of online discussion and jokes, with some Chinese netizens quipping that badminton has "become a royal sport".

Hashtags like "a different you before and after the shuttlecock price hike" and "a mere 20,000 yuan monthly income will not support your badminton hobby" have attracted over 8 million views.

"My supervisor uses Chao Pai red special shuttlecocks (tournament grade). He changes them out as soon as the feathers fall off, even if they are not broken. I shall pick up the used ones next time," quipped a Weibo user.

Another said: "I shall start using the plastic ones." Yet another noted, "Maybe I should start raising geese."

AN UNUSUAL SUSPECT

Industry sources told CNA the price hike is due to production materials costing more - specifically, goose and duck feathers.

This was backed up by a worker from Chaopai Sporting Goods, who spoke to this journalist over the phone. "The price of goose and duck feathers, which are the source material, increased," the person explained.

Most of the notices from various shuttlecock brands have highlighted an increase in the cost of "source materials" as a reason for raising prices.

A shuttlecock is typically made from 16 overlapping feathers, usually goose or duck. They're plucked from the animals, and manufacturers sort the feathers by width and curvature to ensure uniformity.

Falling pork prices could be a reason behind the price increase for duck and goose feathers, suggested Mr Sun Xiongfeng, founder of a badminton training facility.

"If pork prices increase, more butchery and farms will set an annual production goal depending on the prices of poultry. With a lower price point, pork will have higher consumer demand, resulting in fewer farmers willing to raise ducks and geese in comparison," he explained.

China is the world's largest producer, consumer and importer of pork. The country consumes around 700 million pigs a year, according to official data.

According to Chinese government data, the price of live pigs has been on a continuous decline since November 2022, hitting a low of 14.95 yuan per kilogramme in March this year. That's nearly half the 28 yuan per kilogramme logged right before the decline started.

Chief analyst for the pork trade at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Zhu Zengyong told local news outlet Economic Daily on Jul 2 that the price drop was due to factors like healthy levels of pig production capacity and abundant supply.

A feather collector in Hunan who did not want to be identified told CNA the price of feathers on the market is typically set by a vendor further down the supply chain.

She explained a common practice in the spice-loving province - first, many households buy or rear ducks and geese for food.

They then sell the feathers to collectors like her. These collectors then sell them to vendors, who distribute the feathers to factories for processing and eventual distribution. Any remainder is ground to make pig feed.

She shared that duck feathers currently cost around 20 yuan per 500 grammes while goose feathers are priced at 40 yuan per 500 grammes, as set by the vendors.

Prices have increased by 10 yuan and 20 yuan for duck and goose feathers respectively compared to the same time last year, she noted, likely to keep the supply coming.

The collector also pointed out that this means the vendors are likely similarly charging the factories more, which would have ripple effects on the eventual product cost.

HIGHER DEMAND, HIGHER PRICES?

Mr Sun, the founder of a badminton training centre, said the price hike can partly be attributed to the increasing popularity of the sport.

In 2016, a sports industry development report by the Chinese General Administration of Sport stated that badminton is the second most participated sport in China, after running. It found that around 250 million people play badminton at least two hours a week.

"With more people interested in joining badminton as a sport, there is higher demand," Mr Sun explained, adding that newer companies are joining to split the market share.

There are also bigger companies monopolising the market with bigger budgets, leaving smaller companies out in the cold.

With higher demand and lower supply, overall market prices will be driven up, Mr Sun suggested.

Higher prices aside, certain name-brand shuttlecocks also appear to be in short supply in some parts of China, frustrating badminton players.

According to Business Value, a WeChat official media account from Beijing, in April and May, there was an online shuttlecock stock shortage from brands like Yonex, RSL and Wilson.

A distributor from Shandong said this was partly due to brand distributors stockpiling to increase profit, reported the media outlet.

It added that it had seen a group chat with 500 participants, where people were attempting to buy brandless shuttlecocks at 66 yuan. A person who was listing such shuttles at 54 yuan sold more than 1,000 tubes, according to Business Value.

Mr Chow, the recreational badminton player in Bejing, has observed this. He tried to look for lower-quality shuttlecocks costing around 80 yuan to 90 yuan, but they were still "hard to find".

Even then, he doesn't want to compromise on shuttle quality too much, as he believes a good and proper one is important to enjoying the sport.

In the meantime, Mr Chow has found a solution of sorts - playing doubles to split the cost with his peers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A 40% price hike for badminton shuttlecocks in China is linked to the lower cost of pork. What's the deal?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Shuttlecocks are getting costlier because declining pork prices drive up consumer demand. This then makes fewer farmers keen to raise ducks and geese which in turn makes their feathers - used in shuttlecocks - more expensive.

# data[].attributes.headline
Children’s sugar consumption halved since tax announcement, study finds

# data[].attributes.subject
Children’s sugar consumption halved since tax announcement, study finds

# data[].attributes.body
Study Overview: A study analyzed data from nearly 8,000 adults and children between 2008 and 2019, using the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey.

Key Findings:

Children’s daily sugar intake dropped by about 4.8g, and adults’ intake fell by 10.9g in the year after the sugar tax was introduced.

Total daily free sugar consumption for children decreased from around 70g to 45g, and for adults from 60g to 45g.

Free sugar consumption from soft drinks halved in children and fell by a third in adults compared to before the tax announcement in 2016.

Health Implications: Sugar intake remains above recommended levels, contributing to issues like tooth decay, obesity, and diabetes.

Expert Opinion: Dr. Nina Rogers from the University of Cambridge noted the sugar tax led to significant reductions in sugar intake for both adults and children.

Policy Recommendation: Experts suggest expanding the sugar tax to cover more high-sugar foods and drinks to further improve public health.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The amount of sugar consumed by children from soft drinks in the UK halved in the three years after the announcement of a sugar tax in 2016, a study has found.

The tax, which came into force in April 2018, has been so successful in improving people's diets that experts have said an expansion to cover other high sugar food and drink products is now a "no-brainer".

The research, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, looked at responses from 7,999 adults and 7,656 children between 2008 and 2019 to the annual nationally representative UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey.

It showed that the daily sugar intake for children fell by about 4.8g, and for adults 10.9g, in the year after the levy's introduction.

The total dietary free sugars, including food and drink, in children was about 70g a day at the beginning of the study, but this fell to about 45g by the end.

For adults, the study found that the total dietary free sugar consumption stood at about 60g a day, and fell to about 45g a day by the end of the study.

But despite this reduction, the amount of sugar consumed by adults and children still remains above the recommended guidelines and is contributing to high levels of tooth decay, obesity, diabetes and other illnesses.

The study found that compared to the period before the sugar tax was announced in 2016, free sugars consumed from all soft drinks reduced by around a half in children, and by a third in adults, after the levy was announced.

The researchers also note that the fall in consumption of free sugars observed in the whole diet rather than just from soft drinks suggests that consumption of free sugar from food was also falling from as early as 2008.

Eddie Crouch, the chair of the British Dental Association, said that the sugar tax was delivering "tangible results" and was effective.

He added: "Extending it to the likes of cereals is a no-brainer for any government that cares about prevention. This needn't add to the cost of living. Where voluntary action on reformulation has failed, the levy forces the food industry to do the right thing."

According to the World Health Organization and the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, the consumption of free sugar should be below 5% of a person's total calorie intake. For adults, this would be limited to 30g of sugar a day, 24g for children aged between 7 and 10, and 19g for children aged between 4 and 6.

Dr Nina Rogers, the lead author of the study and part of the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, said: "The findings of our study are encouraging and show that the UK soft drinks industry levy is linked to a significant reduction in daily sugar intake in adults and children. These results are consistent with previous research which show a reduction in household purchasing of sugar from soft drinks one year after adoption of the levy."

She added: "The new UK government might want to consider extending the tax to other (currently exempt) drinks which have a high sugar content, or even to some foods. They might also want to look at restructuring the tax to apply a per gram of sugar/100mls rather than threshold-based levy."

Dr Kawther Hashem, a lecturer in Public Health Nutrition at Queen Mary University of London, said: "This new analysis drives home the importance of policies designed to improve the nutritional quality of food and drink. In particular, the soft drinks industry levy (SDIL) in the UK has proven to be an effective lever to encourage food and drink manufacturers to reduce sugar.

"With a new government now in place, policymakers are urged to consider applying a similar levy to other discretionary products that are key contributors to sugar intake, such as chocolate confectionery, to shift diets towards a healthier direction."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "This government will take action to prevent ill-health and tackle the obesity crisis head on, easing the strain on the NHS and helping people to live well for longer.

"We will introduce tight restrictions on advertising junk food, alongside banning children from being able to purchase sugary, high-caffeine energy drinks.

"By building a healthier society, we will help to build a healthy economy."

The headline and introduction of this article were amended on 10 July 2024. An earlier version said that the amount of sugar consumed by children from soft drinks in the UK halved within a year of the sugar tax being introduced in April 2018. In fact, this halving occurred in the period after the tax was announced (April 2016 to January 2019), compared to the period before the announcement was made (April 2008 to March 2016).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Children's sugar consumption halved since tax announcement, study finds

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Experts say success soft drinks shows expansion of tax to cover other foods and drinks is a 'no brainer'

# data[].attributes.headline
How New Zealand’s smoking ban got stubbed out – and what the UK can learn from it

# data[].attributes.subject
How New Zealand’s smoking ban got stubbed out – and what the UK can learn from it

# data[].attributes.body
New Zealand’s Smokefree 2025 Law: Introduced in 2022, this law aimed to create a smoke-free generation by banning tobacco sales to anyone born after January 2009. It also included measures to reduce nicotine content and limit the number of retail outlets selling tobacco.

Public and International Support: The law received widespread public support and international praise from health advocates, inspiring similar plans in other countries, including the UK.

Repeal by New Government: In 2023, New Zealand's new right-wing government repealed the law, citing concerns over economic impact and potential crime. This decision sparked outrage among health advocates who accused the government of prioritizing financial gains over public health.

Lessons for the UK: The UK can learn from New Zealand's experience by ensuring cross-party support, conducting robust public consultations, and preventing tobacco industry influence on policy decisions.

UK's Approach: The UK government has introduced legislation to gradually raise the legal smoking age, aiming to phase out smoking over time. This approach is similar to New Zealand's original plan but faces its own set of challenges.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When New Zealand announced its world-first law to ban smoking for future generations it was widely hailed as a life-saving plan that would prevent thousands of smoking-related deaths, flatten out inequities in healthcare and save the economy billions of dollars.

The pioneering legislation - enacted in 2022 - introduced a steadily rising smoking age to stop those born after January 2009 from ever being able to legally buy cigarettes, alongside a slew of other measures to make smoking less affordable and accessible.

It won widespread public support, international praise from health advocates and inspired similar plans in the UK. But before the changes came into force, New Zealand's new rightwing government unexpectedly scrapped it.

As the UK embarks on its own endeavour to ban smoking, here is a look at the rise and fall of New Zealand's law, and what lessons the UK might learn.

How a groundbreaking law came to be

New Zealand's plan to slash smoking rates began way before its pioneering ban.

Cigarette packs were slapped with warnings in the 1980s, licensed premises became smoke-free in the 1990s, and in 2010, a tobacco tax made cigarettes more expensive year on year.

That year, a Māori affairs select committee inquiry found the smoking rate among Māori and Pacific peoples was increasing, despite an overall decline, prompting the Smokefree Aotearoa New Zealand 2025 goal - an ambitious scheme to reduce smoking rates to less than 5% for all population groups.

Since then, daily smoking rates have steadily dropped - down to 6.8% in 2023 from 15.8% a decade earlier. But inequities remain - smoking rates for Māori are much higher, at 17.1% in 2023, down from 36.3% a decade ago.

Labour MP Ayesha Verrall, then New Zealand's associate health minister, was given the task of designing the ban. Photograph: Facebook/Dr Ayesha Verrall

Roughly 5,000 people still die from smoking-related health problems every year, according to Health NZ. Among total Māori deaths, almost a quarter (22.6%) were potentially attributable to smoking, compared with 12.3% among non-Māori and non-Pacific people.

To help address this disparity, in 2022 Jacinda Ardern's Labour government introduced the world's first smoking ban for future generations, to be designed by the then associate health minister Ayesha Verrall.

"Smoking rates were very low and we knew ... further regulation could make a smoke-free generation and address the inequities that still exist," Verrall told the Guardian.

The plan would also include dramatically reducing the legal amount of nicotine in tobacco products, allowing their sale only through special tobacco stores, and slashing the number of stores legally allowed to sell cigarettes from 6,000 to just 600 nationwide.

Modelling showed the new measures would save thousands of lives and billions in healthcare costs, Verrall said. "The public reaction was incredibly supportive and the opposition was muted."

Lauded by health advocates, loathed by business

Health professionals, Māori organisations and anti-tobacco groups praised the law.

"The general feeling was ... a real sense of relief," says Andrew Waa, an associate professor in public health at the University of Otago. "There was huge support among the general public, and internationally we got some very strong positive feedback from colleagues really interested in how it could happen in other countries."

The law helped turn attention on to the tobacco industry itself, rather than the individuals smoking, Waa said.

"[Verrall] was an epidemiologist who understood health and was keen ... to pass legislation that benefited the country."

Not everyone was as enthusiastic. The centre-right National party and minor libertarian Act party - which are now in coalition government together - opposed the law, with National preferring to first reduce nicotine and Act claiming it would create a hidden market.

The most vocal public protest came from convenience store owners - known as dairies in New Zealand - who were concerned the ban would gut their earnings and expose them to crime.

The tobacco industry also protested. An investigation by the broadcaster RNZ into one of the most visible anti-smokefree groups, Save Our Stores, found the campaign, which is designed to look like a grassroots movement, was being quietly backed by the tobacco companies British American Tobacco New Zealand and Imperial Brands.

Still, very few people predicted the axing of the ban in November last year, within weeks of the new coalition government being voted in. No parties had made it an election issue.

As part of its coalition agreement with the populist party New Zealand First, National agreed to repeal the amendments, including "removing requirements for denicotisation, removing the reduction in retail outlets and the generation ban".

The finance minister, Nicola Willis, confirmed the new measures would be scrapped before March, with the revenue from cigarette sales going towards the coalition's tax cuts.

In February this year, the associate health minister Casey Costello said the government was committed to being smoke-free by 2025, but it would take a different regulatory approach, saying the ban was "untested" and citing concerns over a "prohibitionist approach" that could have downsides for retailers and in terms of crime.

Government ministers repeatedly claimed the law would increase tobacco-related crime, even when senior health officials told them it would have the opposite effect.

The fallout

The repeal caused fury among health professionals and opposition parties. A petition of 45,000 signatures was delivered to parliament calling for the government to change course, and an urgent claim was filed in the Waitangi Tribunal - a commission of inquiry for claims brought by Māori against the crown.

"Shock would be an understatement - it was just absolute dismay," Waa said. "They are trading off people's lives for money - and I'm appalled by that."

Casey Costello, New Zealand's current associate health minister, denies being influenced by big tobacco. Photograph: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Verrall was similarly shocked, "as were clinicians up and down the country", she said.

The reversal would halt progress towards a smoke-free future and entrench "persistent inequalities, with Māori being much more likely to smoke and die from smoking", Verrall said.

Another RNZ investigation last month reported that language used in notes sent from Costello's office to health professionals were strikingly similar to tobacco industry talking points, prompting accusations that big tobacco had influenced the government.

When asked about the allegations, Costello said in a statement to the Guardian she had nothing to do with the tobacco industry. "My focus in this role is on reducing smoking rates and having practical approaches that help people quit.

"We're down to a very small number of youth smokers, 19,000 in total, and a larger group of people who have been smoking for a long time and who need help to quit. Cutting off supply, which is what the last government had planned, doesn't reduce demand or stop those who are addicted wanting to smoke."

The lessons

When asked about the UK's legislative plans, Costello said the situation in the two countries was "quite different".

"New Zealand's smoking rates are around half those in the UK, and that's the principal reason we repealed the proposals from the last government - we are well on the way to achieving the Smokefree 2025 goal of fewer than 5% of people smoking daily."

However, Waa and Verrall had some suggestions.

Waa believed more effort to secure cross-party support would help prevent policy flip-flopping. "In retrospect, more could have been done to get National to vote for the law at the time, because they effectively supported it but wanted some reordering and had some concerns with it."

Public consultation is also important, he said. New Zealand research shows that young people support a smoke-free future, as do smokers themselves. A December survey following the government's announcement showed the majority of New Zealanders wanted to retain the world-leading smoke-free measures, with 67% of respondents in support.

But the major hurdle to creating a smoking law with staying power was the tobacco industry itself, Waa said. "In Aotearoa New Zealand, the industry's fingerprints are all over it," he says. "[Other countries] need to make sure there is no industry influence in the way governments make decisions."

Verrall agrees. "Our experience has been that big tobacco works in the shadows.

"I encourage members of parliament in the United Kingdom to make a positive vote for the health of their people - but also be prepared for the fight after the bill is passed."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How New Zealand's smoking ban got stubbed out - and what the UK can learn from it

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Big tobacco 'working in the shadows' blamed for killing off NZ's pioneering plan to protect future generations

# data[].attributes.headline
Grab’s Trans-Cab purchase will significantly weaken rivals, says CCCS in provisional ruling

# data[].attributes.subject
Grab’s Trans-Cab purchase will significantly weaken rivals, says CCCS in provisional ruling

# data[].attributes.body
🚗 Key Points from the Article

Grab’s proposed acquisition of Trans‑Cab—a taxi operator with over 2,200 taxis and 300 private-hire vehicles—was flagged by the Competition & Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) as potentially anti-competitive.

The watchdog warned the deal could significantly weaken Grab’s competitors by reducing their access to Trans‑Cab drivers, exacerbating industry-wide driver shortages.

With fewer competing platforms, consumers risk facing higher fares and fewer transport choices in the long term.

CCCS highlighted adverse network effects: platforms with fewer drivers become less attractive to passengers—and vice versa for rival platforms.

Grab also stood to pay less in driver incentives by internalizing the driver fleet, reinforcing its dominant position.

The companies were given a 10-working-day window to propose remedies before a final decision, though the deal was subsequently withdrawn.

📊 Economic Analysis

Market Structure & Market Power
Grab’s dominant position in Singapore’s ride-hailing market raises concerns under monopoly and oligopoly frameworks. The acquisition could reinforce its dominance, decreasing competitive pressure.

Barriers to Entry & Expansion
The deal highlights merger strategies as a vehicle for market entry and expansion by incumbents. New competitors may struggle to scale due to driver shortages and high costs without such strategic acquisitions.

Network Externalities
The platform economy exhibits indirect network effects: more drivers attract more passengers, and vice versa. The merger threatened to amplify these effects in Grab’s favour, weakening rivals’ network appeal.

Consumer Welfare & Prices
Reduced competition typically leads to higher prices, fewer choices, and lower quality. CCCS flagged that consumers (and drivers) could be negatively impacted through higher net fares and reduced incentives.

Regulatory Response & Market Efficiency
CCCS’s intervention illustrates prevention of market failure through regulatory oversight. By scrutinizing mergers that could substantially lessen competition, the regulator seeks to maintain an efficient, competitive ride-hailing market.

Strategic Withdrawal & Regulatory Influence
The eventual withdrawal of Grab’s acquisition application underscores the power of credible regulatory frameworks in shaping corporate behavior and protecting market dynamics.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Grab's Trans-Cab purchase will significantly weaken rivals, says CCCS in provisional ruling

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The deal is likely to result in a substantial reduction of competition, said the watchdog. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Fuel pump prices in Singapore continue to slide

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The price cuts come about a week after the last one, following a further depression of oil prices. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.headline
Cathay, Golden Village merger proposed; deal will create largest cinema operator in S’pore

# data[].attributes.subject
Cathay, Golden Village merger proposed; deal will create largest cinema operator in S’pore

# data[].attributes.body
🎬 Article Summary

Merger Proposal
In December 2020, mm2 Asia (owner of Cathay Cinemas) and Orange Sky Golden Harvest’s Golden Village entered a heads of agreement to merge their Singapore cinema operations. The combined entity would become the nation’s largest cinema chain.

Rationale Behind the Merger
The pandemic hit the cinema industry hard—closures, safe-distancing, limited screenings, and competition from streaming platforms led to sharp revenue declines (Golden Village lost about S$2.9 million in six months; mm2 Asia posted a S$22.4 million net loss).
The merger aimed to inject fresh capital via new investors and provide financial and operational stability to survive the crisis.

Approval Process and Challenges
The deal required shareholder approval (mm2 Asia, OSGH), stock exchange clearance, and regulatory sign-off, including from the Competition & Consumer Commission of Singapore. It was contingent on agreement by end-2021.

🔍 Economic Implications

Economies of Scale
Combining operations would allow cost efficiencies—reducing overhead, shared marketing, vendor bargaining, and consolidated venue management. This helps lower average costs, critical when faced with weakened demand.

Market Concentration Concerns
The merger would significantly reduce the number of cinema operators, potentially giving the merged firm market power—raising questions about pricing, service variety, and consumer choice.

Crisis-Era Consolidation
In times of systemic shocks like COVID-19, consolidations become common as distressed businesses seek survival through mergers or acquisitions. This merger illustrates a broader trend of industry restructuring for resilience.

Entry of New Capital
Seeking external investors signals that even dominant players required fresh funding during the crisis. Infusing new capital improves liquidity and supports ongoing operations until revenues recover.

Competition with Streaming Platforms
The merger acknowledges streaming services as strong substitutes to cinema-going, representing a shift in consumer preferences toward at-home entertainment.

Regulatory Safeguards
The need for regulatory approvals (e.g., CCCS) highlights the government’s role in ensuring that consolidation doesn’t hurt consumer welfare or stifle competition.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Cathay, Golden Village merger proposed; deal will create largest cinema operator in S'pore

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The merger would combine the eight Cathay cinemas here with Golden Village's 14. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.headline
Funeral directors association disagrees with competition watchdog study, says findings of unfair practices are 'flawed'

# data[].attributes.subject
Funeral directors association disagrees with competition watchdog study, says findings of unfair practices are 'flawed'

# data[].attributes.body
⚰️ Summary of Article: Funeral Directors vs CCCS on Price Transparency

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) conducted a market study of the funeral services industry and found that while the industry is not highly concentrated, information asymmetry is a key concern.

Many consumers engage funeral services under emotional stress and time constraints, often without knowing the full costs upfront. CCCS received 13 complaints between 2021 and 2023, but surveys showed:

Only 28% felt they had enough time to evaluate their options.

31% of respondents paid more than expected due to add-ons.

53% said they weren’t informed that final charges might exceed package prices.

CCCS recommended improving price transparency, including:

Publishing itemised reference price lists.

Clearer package definitions.

Transparent terms and conditions.

Providing invoices with detailed breakdowns.

The Association of Funeral Directors Singapore (AFD), representing 31 firms, disagreed with CCCS. They claimed:

The CCCS survey had limited data and was anecdotal.

Many funerals are pre-planned, reducing urgency.

Funeral services are too customised for fixed pricing.

There's a difference between full-service firms with proper facilities and unregulated middlemen.

📊 Economics Linkage

Information Failure:
The situation represents classic information asymmetry, where service providers have more knowledge than grieving customers, leading to inefficient outcomes and potential overcharging.

Consumer Inertia & Bounded Rationality:
Consumers may not behave as rational economic agents due to grief, urgency, or lack of prior knowledge, leading to suboptimal choices.

Market Failure & Government Intervention:
Incomplete or unclear information causes a breakdown in efficient market functioning. CCCS’s recommendations act as corrective policy tools to reduce market failure and improve consumer welfare.

Product Differentiation:
Funeral services are often customised, which complicates standardised pricing but also opens the door to opaque billing and upselling.

Regulation vs Market Signalling:
Reputable firms argue their physical presence and experience serve as signals of trust and quality. Still, CCCS promotes a regulatory framework to ensure baseline transparency across all providers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The study also noted that consumers may encounter unfair practices, including the use of false or misleading claims such as a 'one-stop service', said the CCCS. This was misleading as it conveyed the impression that consumers would only have to liaise with one entity, when in fact, communication with multiple vendors was needed.

The CCCS also named two other unfair practices: The omission of material information, such as how the final price of funeral products may differ from the package price, and providers that ask for payment for products not requested by the customer.

In tandem with the report's release, President of the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) Melvin Yong said that CASE had received 13 complaints against funeral service providers since 2021.

"Most complaints related to pricing of funeral products and services where affected consumers complained that their final bills were much higher than what they were informed initially due to charges not disclosed at the onset," Mr Yong said in a Facebook post on Friday.

FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION'S RESPONSE

In his reply on behalf of the AFD executive committee, Mr Hoo said that contrary to the CCCS report, AFD members receive many public enquiries seeking information on funerals and have seen more people pre-planning funerals. AFD currently has 31 members.

"Consumers make buying decisions on many factors after doing their own research; pricing is only one of the factors. Funeral service purchase decisions are no different," he said.

Mr Hoo also took issue with the number of complaints. He pointed out that 13 complaints over three years represented an "inconsequential" 0.01 per cent of Singapore's annual death rate, especially when compared to complaints for other types of service providers.

"Perhaps others should take a leaf from the funeral profession as to how to achieve a near zero complaint level," Mr Hoo said.

Mr Hoo added that the report failed to differentiate between middlemen and proper funeral service providers.

"These 'middlemen' only have a business card to their name, with no office premises, no full-time staff, no caskets and no hearses. The public needs to be mindful of these low-cost price traps available on the internet, as they may end up getting what they pay for - a low service or no service standard funeral."

He said that members of AFD and true funeral service providers have their own premises, full salaried staff, embalming facilities, caskets and hearses, adding that consumers should visit the funeral service provider's premises before engaging them.

On the issue of price, Mr Hoo said it was difficult to offer fixed price funerals, as "no two funerals are similar".

"Some families want less. Others want more. Funeral wakes can be over three, five or seven days. More often than not, the family makes additional requests during the funeral for items and services."

Conversely, customers may ask to remove services or products, and AFD members would "do their best" to tailor the funeral to the family's needs, said Mr Hoo.

"A funeral service is a basket of goods and services, and not a single commoditized product. Funeral service providers have a responsibility to customize each service to best represent and celebrate the memory of the deceased."

CNA has asked CCCS for its response to AFD's rebuttal.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Funeral directors association disagrees with competition watchdog study, says findings of unfair practices are 'flawed'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The industry body criticised the limited sample size of the survey and its use of anecdotal answers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
After a year's delay, 10-cent beverage deposit to be rolled out on April 2026

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Consumers can get a refund of the deposit by returning the empty beverage containers, in a move to encourage recycling. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.headline
Can forests be more profitable than beef?

# data[].attributes.subject
Can forests be more profitable than beef?

# data[].attributes.body
Key Points:

Carbon Credit Market: Companies like Re.green are investing in forest restoration by purchasing degraded pasturelands in the Amazon to plant native trees. These trees are maintained to sequester carbon, allowing the companies to generate and sell carbon credits. This approach aims to make standing forests more financially viable than traditional cattle ranching, which is a significant driver of

Economic Considerations: While the carbon credit market offers new revenue streams, some local ranchers express concerns about the feasibility of transitioning from cattle farming to forest-based income. They highlight the challenges of securing upfront capital and the long-term nature of returns from forest restoration

Environmental Impact: The shift towards forest restoration is seen as a strategy to combat climate change by reducing emissions associated with deforestation and promoting biodiversity conservation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Can forests be more profitable than beef?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The aim is to make standing trees more lucrative than the world's biggest driver of deforestation: cattle ranching. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.headline
Pricey beef has hog farmers betting consumers will eat more pork

# data[].attributes.subject
Pricey beef has hog farmers betting consumers will eat more pork

# data[].attributes.body
Rising Beef Prices: Beef prices have surged, leading consumers to seek more affordable meat options.

Hog Farmers' Strategy: U.S. hog farmers are anticipating increased demand for pork products like bacon and pepperoni as consumers shift from beef.

Production Adjustments: Farmers are increasing pork production and adjusting marketing strategies to capitalize on the expected change in consumer preferences.

Market Dynamics: This trend highlights how price fluctuations in one meat sector can influence demand in others.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
ST One Digital

No contract

ST app access on 1 mobile device

All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pricey beef has hog farmers betting consumers will eat more pork

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The smallest US cattle herd since the 1950s is making beef too expensive for shoppers. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
China unveils action plan to boost consumer spending

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The State Council, China's Cabinet, designated 20 key steps. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
P erceptions of financial sufficiency are crucial in the correlation between wealth and happiness. Our study found that financial satisfaction, such as satisfaction with household incomes and standard of living, is positively associated with happiness and other well-being outcomes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Commentary: Can money buy happiness? It's a complex question in Singapore

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Singaporeans have become unhappier over the past few years, despite rising median household income levels. NUS Business School's Siok Kuan Tambyah and Yuen Wei Lun explore why this is so.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
SINGAPORE faces a "slower long-run growth path" with higher costs, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said in its half-yearly macroeconomic review on Friday (Apr 26).

"As resource constraints and cost increases become more binding in the years to come, Singapore will likely have to confront the eventuality of its slower long-run growth path."

This new steady-state growth rate will largely depend on total factor productivity (TFP) gains, added MAS.

Good old days

Singapore has managed to achieve strong growth while keeping costs relatively contained, but this will not last forever.

MAS noted that over the decades, Singapore has managed "an exceptional pace of growth" through strong capital accumulation and, to a lesser extent, TFP gains.

On capital accumulation, MAS noted that Singapore's capital stock has shifted towards information and communications technology capital assets since 2010.

These contributed almost 50 per cent to real gross domestic product growth from 2020 to 2023, double the global average and broadly comparable to other advanced economies such as the US.

Meanwhile, a steady improvement in labour quality has supported Singapore's TFP growth, with labour quality contributing close to a quarter of real GDP growth in 2020 to 2023. This is also double the global average.

"The firm pace of GDP growth in Singapore has so far taken place alongside a measured increase in business costs," said MAS.

Since 2010, overall average monthly earnings have risen about 60 per cent. But improvement in labour productivity has mitigated the rise in wage costs, with unit labour cost up 30 per cent.

The unit business cost has risen more, by about 65 per cent over the past decade.

Rather than being due to domestic factor constraints, these cost increases partly reflect the rise in international prices, said MAS.

Tougher times ahead

Singapore has generally managed to sustain real growth per capita "without a commensurate increase in unit labour cost", in contrast to rising unit labour costs in advanced economies such as Europe and the US.

But sustaining this "relatively benign growth-cost path" will become more challenging, said MAS.

The global economy will likely face cost headwinds, as growth is increasingly constrained by supply-side issues. Singapore could face higher import prices as a result. Other cost pressures will come from geoeconomic fragmentation and diversifying supply chains, as well as energy transition.

Domestically, labour costs and unit labour costs are also expected to climb, especially for lower-productivity sectors with the tightest labour constraints.

MAS noted that countries with high productivity in the tradable sector tend to have high wages and prices in the non-tradable sector - but this effect has not been strong in Singapore.

In Singapore, wages and prices in the non-tradable sector remain significantly lower. However, this is set to change.

"Going forward, as labour constraints become more binding, wages and prices would likely have to rise more quickly relative to other countries, to more accurately reflect the true resource costs of producing essential non-tradable goods and services, against growing demand," MAS said.

The tradable sector should be able to cope with rising costs if it keeps moving towards higher value-added parts of the global value chain, said MAS.

But companies in the non-tradable sector may be less able to pass on costs. With the rise in wages, businesses may offer higher-quality, differentiated goods and services.

Higher costs do not necessarily preclude competitiveness, MAS added. Instead, higher wages as a result of technology-enabled productivity growth "can place the economy in a virtuous cycle".

Singapore should "cultivate and sustain openness, dynamism and innovation, as necessarily supporting factors for continued TFP gains over the long term", it concluded.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Singapore must prepare for slower growth at higher costs: MAS

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
SINGAPORE faces a "slower long-run growth path" with higher costs, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said in its half-yearly macroeconomic review on Friday (Apr 26). Read more at The Business Times.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Commentary: Though inflation is easing, Singaporeans are still feeling the pinch

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What makes a healthy inflation rate would depend on GDP growth and, more importantly, income growth, says OCBC chief economist Selena Ling.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The economic impact of Swift's concerts has been in focus since it was revealed that Singapore provided a grant for the singer-songwriter to perform here, recognising the economic benefits it would bring.

The government did not reveal the size of the grant given but Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said on Mar 1 that it was "nowhere as high" as reports have suggested.

CNA understands that the figure is closer to US$2 million to US$3 million for all six shows, rather than that amount per show, which Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin cited.

According to one expert, Swift's concerts in Singapore could generate revenue that possibly exceeds the estimated A$1.2 billion (US$787 million) in economic value from her time in Melbourne, where she had three shows.

Her four days of shows in Tokyo earlier this year are expected to generate up to 34.1 billion yen (US$226.8 million), according to Mitsumasa Etou, a representative of research site Economic Effects NET and a part-time lecturer at Tokyo City University.

Despite the upgraded forecast for Singapore's first-quarter growth, economists surveyed by Bloomberg cautioned that the outlook remains fragile for the trade-reliant economy amid tight global interest rates.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Trade and Industry said last month that upside risks to inflation remain. These include fresh shocks to global energy and shipping costs due to geopolitical conflicts and higher food commodity prices from adverse weather events.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Taylor Swift's concerts expected to boost Singapore's GDP as economists upgrade growth forecast: Report

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One economist expects Taylor Swift's concerts to add around S$300 million to S$400 million to Singapore's economy in the first quarter.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A purported S$12 million to S$18 million incentive with an estimated return of S$500 million seems a sound investment, if taxpayers can see it trickle down back to them and ho w it compares to other economic development strategies.

The value of the grant could also set an uneasy precedent for future funding requests, potentially straining budget allocations for other initiatives. Singapore may face competition from other cities or countries offering similar grants or incentives to attract high-profile events, leading to bidding wars and escalating costs without guaranteed returns.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Commentary: Using taxpayer money to bring in Taylor Swift concerts? It's basic Swiftonomics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The buzz around Singapore's grant to bring in the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concerts has made salient just how important it is to find ways to stay competitive, says NUS Business School's Samer Elhajjar.

# data[].attributes.headline
Bottled Water Contains Hundreds of Thousands of Plastic Particles Small Enough to Invade Human Cells, Study Finds

# data[].attributes.subject
Bottled Water Contains Hundreds of Thousands of Plastic Particles Small Enough to Invade Human Cells, Study Finds

# data[].attributes.body
A study found bottled water contains about 240,000 plastic particles per liter, mostly nanoplastics (smaller than 1 micrometer).

This is 10 to 100 times higher than earlier estimates, which detected mainly larger microplastics.

Lack of Transparency: Consumers are unaware of the high levels of nanoplastics in bottled water due to the absence of standardized testing and labeling.

Regulatory Gaps: There are no established exposure limits for nanoplastics in bottled water, and existing regulations do not require disclosure of such contaminants.

Health Implications: Nanoplastics can penetrate biological barriers and accumulate in organs, raising concerns about potential health risks.

Market Inefficiency: Consumers make purchasing decisions without full knowledge of the product's contents, leading to inefficient resource allocation.

# data[].attributes.headline
How do you price the pain from the North-South Corridor project?

# data[].attributes.subject
How do you price the pain from the North-South Corridor project?

# data[].attributes.body
Project Overview: The North-South Corridor (NSC) is Singapore’s largest infrastructure project in decades, aiming to ease congestion and improve connectivity between the northern and central regions.

Community Impact: Residents and businesses along the corridor are experiencing significant disruptions, including noise, dust, and traffic delays, leading to a decline in quality of life.

Economic Considerations: While the project promises long-term benefits, the immediate costs to affected communities raise questions about how to fairly compensate for the disruptions.

Policy Reflection: The article suggests that such large-scale projects should undergo more thorough parliamentary scrutiny to balance development goals with the well-being of residents.

Broader Implications: The discussion highlights the need for a more inclusive approach to urban planning that considers the human cost of development.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How do you price the pain from the North-South Corridor project?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Beyond the costs to residents, businesses and motorists, there is the question of a more thorough parliamentary oversight of massive infrastructural projects. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Competition watchdog probing company over misleading ads on tap water quality in Singapore

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
PUB has refuted Sterra's advert, which implied Singapore's tap water was brimming with microorganisms. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
PRISM+ air-con ad featuring Xiaxue deemed misleading by advertising standards watchdog

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The advertisement claimed that using PRISM+’s air-con model was the “best tip” to “save Earth”, said the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore.

# data[].attributes.headline
China's new thirst for coffee spurs cut-throat cafe competition

# data[].attributes.subject
China's new thirst for coffee spurs cut-throat cafe competition

# data[].attributes.body
China's coffee consumption surged by 15% in the year ending September 2023, reaching 3.08 million bags. This growth has intensified competition among coffee chains, both local and international. The number of branded coffee shops in China increased by 58% over the past year, totaling 49,691 outlets. Chinese chains like Luckin Coffee and Cotti Coffee have expanded rapidly, while international brands such as Starbucks and Tim Hortons are also investing heavily in the market.

Market Structure: The coffee market in China resembles an oligopoly, dominated by a few major players competing on price and product differentiation.

Competition and Pricing: Increased competition has led to price wars, benefiting consumers but squeezing profit margins for firms.

Consumer Demand: Rising middle-class incomes and changing lifestyles have driven higher demand for coffee, creating growth opportunities.

Barriers to Entry: High capital requirements and brand recognition act as barriers, but local firms have leveraged digital marketing to grow rapidly.

Externalities: The expansion of coffee culture may also bring positive externalities like job creation and new business opportunities in supply chains.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
China’s new thirst for coffee spurs cut-throat cafe competition

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Chinese coffee consumption is growing quickly, spurring cut-throat competition between local and foreign coffee chains that have opened thousands of branded shops in recent months and surpassed the number of coffee stores in the United States.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Which gender pays more for car insurance?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Did you know your gender may impact your car insurance rates? If you're wondering which gender pays more for car insurance, here's what to know.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why a single female pays less for motor insurance than a married one

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How premiums are calculated and how making a claim does not mean a higher premium renewal. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2024 GST hike: Singaporeans headed to shops for year-end furniture sales before increase

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The sales tax rises from 8 per cent to 9 per cent on Jan 1. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.headline
China's rare earth exports rise on demand from EV, high-tech sectors

# data[].attributes.subject
China's rare earth exports rise on demand from EV, high-tech sectors

# data[].attributes.body
Key Highlights

Exports up significantly in 2023
China shipped approximately 52,300 metric tons of rare earth elements in 2023—a 7.3% increase from the previous year and the highest level since 2018 .

Driven by booming demand
The growth stemmed from increased demand in sectors like electric vehicles, wind turbines, inverter air conditioners, lasers, military equipment, and consumer electronics

Record quotas, mixed price impact
China raised its 2023 mining and processing quotas by over 20%, yet spot prices (e.g., praseodymium‑neodymium oxide) dropped ~34% due to heightened supply. Nonetheless, supply disruption fears (e.g., in Myanmar) briefly spiked prices

Global strategic importance
China remains the dominant global player—controlling nearly 90% of refined rare earth output—amplifying concerns in the U.S. and Europe about supply dependency .

Longer-term pressures
Efforts to diversify—via new mines and processing plants in other countries—are underway, but the global market remains heavily influenced by China’s pricing and output decisions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
China’s rare earth exports rise on demand from EV, high-tech sectors

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Kitco News Team brings you the latest news, videos, analysis and opinions regarding Precious Metals, Crypto, Mining, World Markets and Global Economy.

# data[].attributes.headline
Commentary: Instant noodles have become an economic red flag

# data[].attributes.subject
Commentary: Instant noodles have become an economic red flag

# data[].attributes.body
1. Signal of economic strain
Rising instant‑noodle consumption in developed countries often indicates households trading down — opting for ultra‑cheap, convenient calories amid cost pressures.

2. Global demand surge
In 2022, global purchases hit a record 121 billion servings, up 17% from 2018, driven by inflation‑weary consumers .

3. Marker of financial stress
In extreme contexts, like US prisons, instant noodles have become an informal currency due to their shelf life and low cost — a stark emblem of economic hardship

4. Concern for developed economies
The commentary warns that this “en‑noodlement” trend, especially in affluent societies, signals deeper issues of food insecurity, affordability gaps, and systemic fragility

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
TOKYO: If the entire (cooked) length of instant noodles sold around the world in a single year were laid out in a line, the resulting 6.2 billion km giga-noodle would stretch well beyond Pluto and into the depths of space. It is a fact as miserable as it is marvellous.

Instant noodles sit among the most potent weapons ever devised in the unending struggle against starvation: A product that towers, among processed foods, at the extreme value end of the cost-per-calorie scale and which its makers now proudly classify as a piece of "social infrastructure".

They are a portable, resilient and long-lasting store of nourishment in times of need - from dire to impulsive and all points between.

There is a reason that instant noodles have replaced cigarettes as the primary currency of the informal economy in dismally catered US prisons. This ready-to-eat grub, pioneered in the late 1950s to feed a ruined Japan in the protracted aftermath of war, takes the prize for being cheap and fast, but delicious.

And yet, precisely because of those qualities, the rising demand for instant noodles can look a lot like a societal and economic red flag - a signal, especially in developed countries, that something has broken or is at least under severe strain. They are an index of the primacy of need over greed in straitened times.

AFFORDABLE, DURABLE CALORIES TO INFLATION-HIT MASSES

On one hand, if you can suspend judgment on the health risks associated with high-salt, ultra-processed foods, as most instant noodles are, there is something to celebrate in the relentless en-noodlement of the global diet. Particularly so for two Japanese companies, Toyo Suisan and Nissin Foods (whose founder invented the product), which have significant positions in a global market that analysts estimate to be worth north of US$54 billion.

In 2022, according to the World Instant Noodles Association, humanity collectively bought a record 121 billion servings of instant noodles - some 17 per cent more than in 2018. In countries as diverse as Nigeria, Bangladesh and Turkey, the surge has been far more acute, with increases ranging from 53 per cent to 425 per cent.

That represents instant noodles doing their thing: Rising from the shelves to provide affordable and durable calories to inflation-hit masses.

The pandemic, with its lockdowns, disruption of food supply and the need for habitual non-cooks to feed themselves, was responsible for driving a good part of the 2020-2021 growth. But noodle consumption, as the sales figures and share prices of the Japanese duopoly testify, has continued to grow strongly in a post-COVID world.

A CONCERNING SIGN

Where the red flags start waving, though, is among consumers in richer countries where - in a term chillingly used by Japan's instant noodle makers - households have been pulled into a global cycle of "food product down-trading".

By the end of 2022, both the US and UK consumption of instant noodles had risen 14 per cent over five years. Japan, having entered an era of inflation after decades of deflation, now eats more of them than it did in 2018, even though its population is smaller.

The empowerment of instant noodles as the favourite currency in US jails points (albeit in extreme terms) to the increasing gaps that the food is called upon to fill. In his 2022 book Orange Collar Labor, the academic Michael Gibson-Light uses the testimonies of inmates and staff to describe a prison system that, in part because of financial incentives for private operators to cut costs, no longer provides enough food to sustain an adult.

The instant noodles, in this environment, become critical units of survival. Much like cash, says Gibson-Light, a single noodle packet can store value for some time, act as a standardised unit of account and be easily exchanged for services and goods between buyers and sellers.

Outside prison, though, noodles are showing their strength in adversity. According to analysts who cover the noodle-makers, the pattern of buying has shifted revealingly in America's sub-US$1-per packet market.

Here, where Toyo and Nissin command about 70 and 30 per cent shares respectively, they ensure that, even when prices do go up, they maintain a cheapness relative to other benchmarks such as tinned soup.

US households have become increasingly sensitive to food-price rises and, in many cases as a matter of survival, are meeting calorie deficits with instant noodles. They buy in bulk - either from Amazon or from wholesalers like Costco - to take advantage of noodles' resilience: Unlike most other food, they can be bought today as a hedge against the risk that even noodle prices keep rising.

The en-noodlement of the world is not, says a Nissin spokesman, a temporary boom. That is not great cause for joy. For all the resilience of the product, its rise is a signal of fragility.

Source: Financial Times/ch

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Commentary: Instant noodles have become an economic red flag

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Cheap and fast but delicious, everyone's favourite rapid meal tells us about the state of the world, says the Financial Times' Leo Lewis.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Leveraging technology and software propels firms to be the fastest-growing in Singapore

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
That was the common thread in a list of 100 fastest-growing companies compiled by The Straits Times and Statista. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.headline
China 2024 iron ore imports hit record on resilient demand, steel exports

# data[].attributes.subject
China 2024 iron ore imports hit record on resilient demand, steel exports

# data[].attributes.body
Record-breaking imports: In 2024, China imported approximately 1.24 billion metric tons of iron ore—up 4.9% from the previous year, setting a new annual record.

Why imports surged:

Lower prices encouraged traders to stockpile.

Steady demand from blast furnace steelmakers, despite a modest decline in steel production.

Stockpile growth: Portside iron ore inventories increased by about 28% year‑on‑year, reaching roughly 147 million tons by end-December.

Steel export boom: China's steel exports rose 22.7% in 2024, hitting a nine-year high (~110.7 million tons), leading to trade tensions and anti-dumping actions in some countries.

Price trends: Imported iron ore prices dropped by about 31% in 2024. December alone saw a 10.4% month-on-month rise in import volume.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Iron ore imports hit record high in 2024 for second year

Steel exports hit nine-year high, stoking trade tensions

Dec iron ore imports up 11.5% y/y, up 10.4% m/m

BEIJING, Jan 13 (Reuters) - China's iron ore imports in 2024 rose to a record high for a second year, customs data showed on Monday, as lower prices spurred buying while demand remained resilient due in large part to massive steel exports that are inflaming trade tensions.

The world's largest iron ore consumer brought in a total of about 1.24 billion metric tons last year, data from the country's General Administration of Customs showed, up 4.9% from 1.18 billion tons in 2023, when it posted an annual increase of 6.6%.

Sign up here.

China's iron ore imports are also likely to hit a record high in 2025 as traders stockpile cheap ore for the world's top consumer, despite a protracted property crisis continuing to weigh on domestic steel demand.

Steel output slid by 2.7% from the year before in the first 11 months of 2024 and was on track for an annual decline, but that largely reflected weak output from electric furnace steelmakers, which supply the troubled construction sector and use scrap steel instead of iron ore as a resource.

Demand for iron ore remained solid among China's blast furnace steelmakers, which have been able to maintain cost competitiveness.

Many electric furnace steelmakers, however, had to conduct maintenance or scale down production amid persistent constraints on scrap supply.

Additionally, traders that bought high-cost iron ore early last year continued purchasing the key steelmaking ingredient to average out their overall production costs and reduce losses, analysts said.

An increase in iron ore imports contributed to a price slump and a pile-up in portside stocks , which climbed by 28% year-on-year to 146.85 million tons as of Dec. 27, data from consultancy Steelhome showed.

China's imported iron ore prices slid by 31% last year, according to Steelhome data.

In December alone, China imported 112.49 million tons of iron ore, up 10.4% from 101.86 million tons in November.

The December volume compared to 100.86 million tons in the same month in 2023.

China's steel exports hit a nine-year high of 110.72 million tons in 2024, up 22.7% from 2023, stoking global trade tensions.

A number of countries, including Turkey and Indonesia, have imposed anti-dumping duties, arguing that a flood of cheap Chinese steel is hurting domestic manufacturers.

China exported 9.73 million tons of steel products in December, up 25.9% year-on-year and 4.9% month-on-month.

China also imported 621,000 tons of steel in December, bringing the 2024 total to 6.82 million tons, a fall of 10.9% from 2023.

Reporting by Amy Lv and Lewis Jackson in Beijing; Editing by Michael Perry, Kim Coghill and Edmund Klamann

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Lewis is Reuters' Chief Correspondent for China Commodities and Energy, based in Beijing. He leads a team covering agriculture, metals, and energy in the world's largest consumer of commodities. Before moving to China, he wrote for Reuters in Sydney.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
China 2024 iron ore imports hit record on resilient demand, steel exports

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
China's iron ore imports in 2024 rose to a record high for a second year, customs data showed on Monday, as lower prices spurred buying while demand remained resilient due in large part to massive steel exports that are inflaming trade tensions.

# data[].attributes.headline
‘Starbucks of China’ Luckin Coffee coming to Singapore

# data[].attributes.subject
‘Starbucks of China’ Luckin Coffee coming to Singapore

# data[].attributes.body
Summary:

Starbucks and Luckin Coffee are expanding their presence in Singapore, marking a notable development in the Southeast Asian coffee market.

Starbucks opened a flagship store in Chinatown blending modern design with traditional architecture, and launched its first community store in Singapore focused on mental wellness.

Luckin Coffee, a Chinese chain, entered Singapore with two stores in Marina Square and Ngee Ann City, planning to open nearly 10 stores by year-end as its first international expansion.

Economic Analysis:

Market Structure: The Singapore coffee market exhibits monopolistic competition, with many firms offering differentiated products. The entry of Starbucks and Luckin Coffee increases competition, likely leading to more choices and possibly lower prices.

Consumer Choice: Expansion provides consumers with more options, catering to varied tastes and enhancing consumer welfare.

Employment and Economic Activity: New stores generate jobs and stimulate retail sector activity.

Globalization: Luckin Coffee’s move into Singapore shows globalization’s role in integrating markets and driving cross-border business opportunities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'Starbucks of China' Luckin Coffee coming to Singapore

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Endorsed by Chinese Olympic star Eileen Gu, the brand, which boasts over 8,200 outlets in China, is set to open at Ngee Ann City, Marina Square and Guoco Tower.

# data[].attributes.headline
Commentary: There’s something brewing in Singapore’s coffee scene

# data[].attributes.subject
Commentary: There’s something brewing in Singapore’s coffee scene

# data[].attributes.body
☕ Summary

Market Entry of New Coffee Chains: Singapore's coffee market is experiencing increased competition with the entry of new international players.

Luckin Coffee: A Chinese coffee chain, opened its first two stores in Singapore in March 2023, with plans for further expansion.

Tim Hortons: The Canadian coffee chain, known for its coffee and Timbits, entered the Singapore market in November 2023.

Coach Café: A lifestyle café by fashion brand Coach, opened its doors in Singapore in April 2023, offering a blend of fashion and coffee culture.

Consumer Preferences: Singaporean consumers exhibit a strong preference for quality coffee and unique café experiences, which these new entrants aim to cater to.

Challenges for New Entrants: Despite the potential market, new coffee chains face challenges such as high operational costs, the need to establish brand recognition, and intense competition from established local and international brands.

📊 Economics

Market Structure: The coffee industry in Singapore is characterized by monopolistic competition, where numerous firms offer differentiated products. The entry of new players like Luckin Coffee, Tim Hortons, and Coach Café intensifies competition, potentially leading to lower prices and increased product variety for consumers.

Consumer Choice: The expansion of coffee chains provides consumers with more options, catering to diverse preferences and potentially improving consumer welfare.

Barriers to Entry: New entrants must navigate high startup costs, brand establishment efforts, and consumer loyalty to existing brands. These barriers can limit the number of firms in the market and affect the level of competition.

Economic Impact: The growth of the coffee industry can stimulate economic activity by creating jobs in retail, supply chains, and marketing. Additionally, successful brands can contribute to Singapore's reputation as a vibrant food and beverage hub.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
LUCRATIVE MARKET

Coffee is a widely favoured beverage in Singapore, enjoyed by individuals of all ages, genders, and income brackets. From a S$1 (US$0.75) cup of kopi in a hawker centre to a mug of hand-ground precision brew in a boutique coffee house for tens of dollars, consumers in Singapore are spoilt for choice where it comes to out-of-home coffee consumption.

It's therefore no surprise that Singapore residents consume about 2.6kg of coffee per capita a year.

Singapore's coffee segment is estimated to bring in US$2 billion in revenue this year, according to data from Statista. By 2025, out-of-home consumption is expected to account for 93 per cent of spending in the coffee sector in Singapore.

Since the 2000s, marked as the third wave of coffee consumption, coffee has become more than just a mere caffeine boost. It has become a sensory experience, a symbol of taste, an artisanal approach, a bespoke lifestyle, defining our finer pursuits in life.

People are getting more particular about the types of beans used, roast levels and brewing methods that can bring out the special aroma and taste of their desire.

Lighter roasts and plant-based milk alternatives are gaining traction with the burgeoning health-conscious segment. Certified coffee has also seen higher demand in recent years due to the growing environmental and ethical awareness among consumers.

Moreover, cafes are not only competing on the quality of their coffee but also on their ability to provide a novel social or work environment for their customers. For example, Soul Coffee, thanks to its 3D immersive environment and horoscope readings last year, has become a must-clock-in destination for Instagrammers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Commentary: There's something brewing in Singapore's coffee scene

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Coffee is a widely favoured beverage in Singapore, enjoyed by individuals of all ages, genders, and income brackets. From a S$1 (US$0.75) cup of kopi in a hawker centre to a mug of hand-ground precision brew in a boutique coffee house for tens of dollars, consumers in Singapore are spoilt for choice where it comes to out-of-home coffee consumption.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The industry is given a year to comply with the new regulations "and reformulate their products to increase the range and variety of healthier choices for Singaporeans", said MOH.

From Dec 30, 2022, those who breach the regulations face a fine of up to S$1,000. This may be doubled for repeat offenders.

"The new labelling requirements and advertising prohibitions complement MOH's and the Health Promotion Board (HPB)'s public education efforts to shift the market towards healthier product offerings, as part of a sustainable long-term approach to reshape consumer behaviour and choices," the ministry added.

Singaporeans consume 12 teaspoons or 60g of sugar daily on average, MOH noted. More than half of their daily sugar intake comes from beverages, of which pre-packed beverages contribute 64 per cent.

"This is a concern, and more needs to be done to reduce Singaporeans' sugar intake," it added.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pre-packaged drinks must have new nutrition labels by end-2022, reflecting sugar and fat levels

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The industry is given a year to comply with the new regulations "and reformulate their products to increase the range and variety of healthier choices for Singaporeans", said MOH. From Dec 30, 2022, those who breach the regulations face a fine of up to S$1,000. This may be doubled for repeat offenders.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pump operators in S'pore cut petrol, diesel prices

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Caltex was the last to match these price reductions, doing so at around 12.30pm. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.headline
Electricity, petrol prices in S'pore to keep rising as global supply outlook worsens

# data[].attributes.subject
Electricity, petrol prices in S'pore to keep rising as global supply outlook worsens

# data[].attributes.body
Rising Energy Prices: Electricity and petrol prices in Singapore are expected to continue increasing due to a worsening global supply outlook.

Global Factors: Factors such as geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions have contributed to the rising energy costs.

Government Response: The Singapore government is monitoring the situation and considering measures to mitigate the impact on consumers.

Consumer Impact: Consumers may experience higher utility bills and transportation costs as a result of the rising energy prices.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
ST One Digital

No contract

ST app access on 1 mobile device

All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Electricity, petrol prices in S'pore to keep rising as global supply outlook worsens

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Global supply of motor fuels such as petrol and diesel remains tight due to limited production capacity. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
To avoid a recession, consumer spending is key

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It has powered the economic recovery from the pandemic shock. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Noise sensors in homes part of proposed laws to help resolve severe neighbour noise disputes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Officers will be able to install the sensors in homes to get data on the direction, timing and intensity of noise. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.headline
Another 87km of new cycling paths to be built in Singapore’s east, north-east by 2030

# data[].attributes.subject
Another 87km of new cycling paths to be built in Singapore’s east, north-east by 2030

# data[].attributes.body
Public Goods and Positive Externalities: The expansion of cycling paths can be viewed as the provision of a public good, which is non-excludable and non-rivalrous. This infrastructure can lead to positive externalities, such as reduced traffic congestion, lower pollution levels, and improved public health.

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Economists often evaluate such infrastructure projects through cost-benefit analysis to ensure that the benefits to society outweigh the costs incurred. This includes considering factors like construction expenses, maintenance costs, and the anticipated societal benefits.

Market Failures and Government Intervention: The development of cycling paths addresses market failures where private markets may underprovide infrastructure that benefits society. Government intervention, through funding and planning, ensures the provision of such infrastructure.

Economic Development and Job Creation: Infrastructure projects can stimulate economic activity by creating jobs in construction, materials supply, and urban planning. Additionally, improved transportation networks can enhance economic productivity by reducing travel time and costs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Another 87km of new cycling paths to be built in Singapore's east, north-east by 2030

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Construction will start from early 2026, and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2030. Read more at straitstimes.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Times Bookstores shuts last outlet in Holland Road, exits Singapore

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The English book retailer bid farewell in a statement on Instagram on Sept 16. Read more at straitstimes.com.