Latest news with #Singlish

Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Grab swings to $25.9 million profit in Q2 as revenue beats estimates
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Grab reported revenue of US$819 million for the six months to June 30, above analysts' expectations of US$811.3 million. Bengaluru - Grab Holdings beat Wall Street expectations for second-quarter revenue on July 30, as consumers boosted spending on its ride-hailing and food delivery platform despite global economic uncertainty. This drove it to a profit of US$20 million ($25.9 million) for the quarter, compared with a US$68 million loss in the same period a year earlier. Grab's push to turn its platform into a superapp, integrating ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery, and other digital services, has drawn a growing number of users willing to pay for its subscription plans. While ongoing US trade negotiations have cast a cloud over global economic stability, leading to concerns about tariffs and elevated costs in South-east Asia, the Singapore economy has remained resilient. It grew 4.3 per cent in the second quarter, avoiding a technical recession. 'What we're seeing is that the more you make our products more affordable, it drives that growth, and it also shields us from some of the macro that you're seeing across the globe,' Grab chief financial officer Peter Oey told Reuters. The company has been attempting to lure price-sensitive consumers to its ride-hailing platform while increasing the number of drivers to keep pace with a growing userbase. Grab reported revenue of US$819 million for the six months to June 30, above analysts' expectations of US$811.3 million, according to LSEG data. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business US Fed holds rates steady despite Trump's pressure, with two governors dissenting Asia Trump says US will impose 15% tariff on South Korean imports World Canada intends to recognise Palestinian state at UN General Assembly: Carney Life Singlish, rojak and NDP: Dick Lee's SingaPop! exhibition celebrates evolution of local pop culture Multimedia 60 years, 60 items: A National Day game challenge Singapore Regional eco-tours, more full-time staff: S'pore's Nature Society restructures to boost conservation Singapore School, parents on alert after vape peddlers approach primary school pupil Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made The company noted its strong performance in Indonesia, a market it had previously described as underpenetrated, aiming to capitalize on the country's large population and grow market share. Mr Oey said Indonesia is a profitable market for the company, which seeks to double down on investing in the country. The online service market in South-east Asia has been consolidating, with large players acquiring smaller firms to grow their product portfolios. Reuters reported in May that Grab was exploring acquiring smaller Indonesian rival GoTo, but Mr Oey reiterated that the company is not in discussions with them. REUTERS

Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Straits Times
'All gone': Beijing villagers left with nothing after deadly floods
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox An elderly man clears mud in front of a flooded market after heavy rains at Taishitun village in Miyun district, on the outskirts of Beijing, on July 28. Huairou, China - Villager Hu Yuefang returned to her home on the rural outskirts of Beijing to pick up medicine for her elderly and disabled father, only to find it had been washed away by some of the worst flooding to hit the Chinese capital in years. Swathes of northern China have endured deadly rains and floods this week that killed at least 48 people and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands. As clean-up efforts began on July 30, AFP journalists visited the northern Beijing district of Huairou – one of the worst-hit areas less than 100km from the bustling city centre. In Anzhouba village, muddy waters had receded, exposing scraps of metal and broken branches. Local Hu recounted a frantic call to her stepdaughter, 23, who was home with her parents when the waters struck on Saturday night. 'But before I could finish my words, the call dropped,' she told AFP. She later found out that rushing water from the river around 10 metres away had flooded the house and blocked the front door. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business US Fed holds rates steady despite Trump's pressure, with two governors dissenting Asia Trump says US will impose 15% tariff on South Korean imports World Canada intends to recognise Palestinian state at UN General Assembly: Carney Life Singlish, rojak and NDP: Dick Lee's SingaPop! exhibition celebrates evolution of local pop culture Multimedia 60 years, 60 items: A National Day game challenge Singapore Regional eco-tours, more full-time staff: S'pore's Nature Society restructures to boost conservation Singapore School, parents on alert after vape peddlers approach primary school pupil Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made Her daughter was forced to kick out the window and evacuate her grandparents to the neighbour's balcony, dragging her disabled grandfather as his wife pushed from below. 'I've never seen this before, in all my 40 years of life. Neither have those who've lived 80 or 90 years,' she said. 'I returned today to retrieve his medicine, but the water swept it all away.' 'It's all gone' Wearing slippers, she marched over downed powerlines and debris from broken fences and destroyed cars as she surveyed the damage to the village where she has lived her entire life. Mud with streaks of silt caked her walls – evidence that the flood waters had reached at least over a metre high. 'I've already lived here for many years – my parents have lived here for almost 70 years, I've lived here for 40 – I can't bear to leave.' A small blue sofa near the front door had washed out into the alley. The family of six subsists off 2,000 (S$360) to 3,000 yuan a month, Ms Hu – a stay-at-home carer whose husband works as a labourer – said. They grow their own vegetables – from green beans, cucumbers, potatoes – but the field has been destroyed. 'It's gone. All gone, flushed away,' she said. 'Unlivable' In Liulimiao town, which covers Anzhouba village, AFP journalists saw evacuations taking place throughout July 30, with elderly villagers driven by bus from their mountainous homes. An older woman who declined to give her name said she was 'not allowed' to return home but had gone back anyway to check in. When the floods hit, she said, 'there was nobody paying attention to us', adding the water hit 'suddenly' on July 26. Another villager, surnamed Wang, gazed at the destruction to his home which he built with government subsidies 15 years ago. He estimated his losses to be around 100,000 yuan. His wife and two daughters were home and unable to open the doors when the waters 'suddenly rose'. The waters reached 1.5m, leaving brown muddy residue on the wall and a mounted TV. Their car, which Mr Wang bought so his daughter could practice driving, was washed uphill from outside of their home. Five more minutes of flooding might have put his family's life in danger, he said. 'It didn't give people a chance,' Mr Wang said. His home was now 'unlivable', he explained tearfully. 'We've become wards of the state,' he said. 'My heart feels very bad.' AFP

Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Russia earthquake: Millions return home as Pacific tsunami warnings lifted
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Storm surges of up to four metres were predicted for some parts of the Pacific, after the 8.8 quake struck off Russia's Kamchatka peninsula. PUERTO AYORA, Ecuador – Tsunami warnings were lifted across the Pacific rim on July 30 , allowing millions of temporary evacuees to return home. After one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded rattled Russia's sparsely populated Far East, more than a dozen nations – from Japan to the United States to Ecuador – warned citizens to stay away from coastal regions. Storm surges of up to four metres were predicted for some parts of the Pacific, after the 8.8 quake struck off Russia's Kamchatka peninsula. The tsunamis caused widespread disruption. Peru closed 65 of its 121 Pacific ports and authorities on Maui cancelled flights to and from the Hawaiian island. But fears of a catastrophe were not realised, with country after country lifting or downgrading warnings and telling coastal residents they could return. In Japan, almost two million people had been ordered to higher ground, before the warnings were downgraded or rescinded. The Fukushima nuclear plant in north-east Japan – destroyed by a huge quake and tsunami in 2011 – was temporarily evacuated. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business US Fed holds rates steady despite Trump's pressure, with two governors dissenting Asia Trump says US will impose 15% tariff on South Korean imports World Canada intends to recognise Palestinian state at UN General Assembly: Carney Life Singlish, rojak and NDP: Dick Lee's SingaPop! exhibition celebrates evolution of local pop culture Multimedia 60 years, 60 items: A National Day game challenge Singapore Regional eco-tours, more full-time staff: S'pore's Nature Society restructures to boost conservation Singapore School, parents on alert after vape peddlers approach primary school pupil Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made The only reported fatality was a woman killed while driving her car off a cliff in Japan as she tried to escape, local media reported. In Chile, authorities conducted what the Interior Ministry said was 'perhaps the most massive evacuation ever carried out in our country' – with 1.4 million people ordered to high ground. Chilean authorities reported no damage or victims and registered waves of just 60cm on the country's north coast. In the Galapagos Islands, where waves of up to three metres were expected, there was relief as the Ecuadoran navy's oceanographic institute said the danger had passed. Locals reported the sea level falling and then rising suddenly, a phenomenon which is commonly seen with the arrival of a tsunami. But only a surge of just over a metre was reported, causing no damage. 'Everything is calm, I'm going back to work. The restaurants are reopening and the places tourists visit are also open again,' said 38-year-old Santa Cruz resident Isabel Grijalva. Earlier national parks were closed, schools were shuttered, loudspeakers blared warnings and tourists were spirited off sightseeing boats and onto the safety of land. The worst damage was seen in Russia, where a tsunami crashed through the port of Severo-Kurilsk and submerged the local fishing plant, officials said. Russian state television footage showed buildings and debris swept into the sea. The surge of water reached as far as the town's World War II monument about 400m from the shoreline, said Mayor Alexander Ovsyannikov. The initial quake also caused limited damage and only light injuries, despite being the strongest since 2011, when 15,000 people were killed in Japan. Russian scientists reported that the Klyuchevskoy volcano erupted shortly after the earthquake. 'Red-hot lava is observed flowing down the western slope. There is a powerful glow above the volcano and explosions,' said Russia's Geophysical Survey. Pacific alerts The quake on July 30 was the strongest in the Kamchatka region since 1952, the regional seismic monitoring service said, warning of aftershocks of up to 7.5 magnitude. The US Geological Survey said the quake was one of the 10 strongest tremors recorded since 1900. It was followed by dozens of aftershocks that further shook the Russian Far East, including one of 6.9 magnitude. The USGS said there was a 59 per cent chance of an aftershock of more than 7.0 magnitude in the next week. AFP

Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Forum: More national civic rituals like NDP can better integrate new citizens
There have been recent public discussions on the integration of new immigrants and the evolving local food scene jostling with foreign entrants. But beyond competition for jobs or space, the discourse probes a fundamental question: What is the core of our Singaporean identity? While quality and sustainable immigration mitigates issues of an ageing population, effective integration is necessary. As we welcome the vibrant cultures newcomers bring, we must simultaneously clarify what they are integrating into. National identity is a psychological bond, based on shared values, culture and history, which provides impetus for civic responsibility. Singapore's nation-building has always been a deliberate act of multicultural management, but the context of post-1965 is vastly different from today. Newcomers arrive in a nation with an established, yet evolving, character. Cultural identity elements like hawker food and Singlish are in flux and potentially challenged. The forging of our national identity and current loci of socialisation are heavily concentrated in the formative years through school and national service. This excludes many, especially new adult citizens who arrive after this period. Disenchantment may also creep in for existing citizens, the more distant they are from those seasons. Over the years, National Day celebrations have expanded into a spectacular and inclusive societal, cultural ritual, with celebrations extending into the heartland in the days surrounding it. I've personally enjoyed organising National Day Parade (NDP) watch parties for friends and family to come together to feast and celebrate the day, even if we cannot attend the parade. It is a national civic ritual that transcends age, language, religion and race. I suggest we strengthen our common ground through new national civic rituals like this – and they must be participatory, not just observational. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Asia Singapore urges all parties in Thailand-Cambodia border dispute to exercise restraint Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Life Hulk Hogan, who helped turn pro wrestling into a billion-dollar spectacle, dies at 71 Singapore Avoid water activities around Tuas Second Link, Raffles Marina after chemical tank accident: NEA Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Singapore Mindef to set up new volunteer management unit to grow volunteer pool Singapore Primary 1 registration: 29 schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2B Imagine a Civic Day where schools, businesses, and civil society organise a national day of community service. Or Racial Harmony Day as a public holiday fostering community-led feasts and gatherings in every neighbourhood. Such rituals enable meaningful shared experiences that reinforce our collective identity. While the state can provide the policy and infrastructure conditions for civic rituals to bloom, they must be catalysed by collaborative civil society and ultimately a commitment by everyone. A confident, collective conversation about our core Singaporean identity is essential for our nation's long-term existential survival. Ronald Wong


AsiaOne
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
From Singlish-themed cups to T-shirts repping our neighbourhoods: Here are some SG60 collections to look out for, Lifestyle News
Singapore turns 60 this National Day, and brands are marking the milestone with uniquely local merchandise and collectibles. From hawker-inspired treats to tees repping your neighbourhood, here's a roundup of some SG60 collectibles that celebrate the country in quirky and creative ways — so you don't have to go hunting! Singlish heritage When it comes to Singapore's identity, Singlish is something of a national treasure. Courts is tapping into that with a playful series of limited-edition Singlish stickers, available both in print and digital. The stickers feature a variety of Courts products (such as furniture or home appliances) paired with common Singlish terms. Picture a standing fan muttering "buay tahan" or a sofa saying "lepak". Spend a minimum of $60 (weekends only) till July 13 to redeem the sticker set, while stocks last. If you missed this giveaway, fret not. Courts will also be giving away enamel mugs in four collectible designs from Aug 2 (weekends only) with a minimum spend of $160. Be proud of your roots View this post on Instagram A post shared by adidas Singapore (@adidassg) Adidas is looking to celebrate SG60 by asking Singaporeans to literally wear their hearts on their sleeves. The brand's Rep Your Hood collection is back with 17 T-shirt designs inspired by iconic neighbourhoods. First introduced in May, the latest series adds six new designs that pay tribute to Bukit Timah, Chinatown, East Coast, Jalan Besar, Kampong Glam and Little India. Each design acknowledges the essence of the neighbourhood, from the seaside vibes of East Coast to the football roots of Jalan Besar. Whether you're repping the hood from your childhood or simply vibing with the aesthetics, you can get your tee heat pressed at any of these three Adidas outlets: Brand Centre Orchard VivoCity Performance (Level 1) Marina Bay Sands Hawker-inspired pet meals Is it truly a Singaporean celebration without hawker food? Homegrown fresh pet-food brand PetCubes doesn't think so, and they're making sure your furry companions don't miss out on the yummy feast either. Their exclusive SG60 Bundle ($60) transforms familiar local classics into pet-safe meals. Expect four trays of Braised Duck Rice (specially created for cats and dogs), a bottle of Duck Broth, a tub of Kaya Toast Ice Cream, a bottle of Kelp Supplement and a packet of Chicken Breast Jerky treats. Wholesome, nostalgic and proudly Singaporean for every member of the family. 3D-printed Fortune Merlion View this post on Instagram A post shared by UNIPLAY (@unigonsplay) Who said you had to head down to Marina Bay to catch a glimpse of Singapore's official mascot? Launched in conjunction with SG60, the Fortune Merlion is recognised by the Singapore Book of Records as the country's first limited-edition 3D-printed collectible crafted entirely from recycled plastic bottles. Created by local art toy brand Uniplay, each Fortune Merlion stands at 18cm tall and there will be only 60 of these figures, in 10 different colours. As a marker of its exclusivity, each figure is uniquely numbered with a serial number plate on the back of the packaging box as well as inside the accompanying certificate. A noticeable feature is the magnetic "bubble" attached to the Merlion's mouth, which represents flowing water and is a visual nod to the Merlion's fountain. Those keen to own a Fortune Merlion should keep an eye out for an exclusive retail launch by ActionCity, a toy retailer in Singapore, on July 25. [[nid:719687]] amierul@