SINGAPORE: A single lottery ticket holder has struck it big in Singapore, taking home nearly S$13 million in the Toto cascade draw held on Monday (May 4).

The winning combination for the draw was 7, 18, 19, 30, 36, and 48, with 11 drawn as the additional number. The Group 1 prize, totalling S$12,813,283, was claimed by just one ticket purchased through the Singapore Pools account betting service.

According to information published on the Singapore Pools website, the winning entry was a QuickPick Ordinary ticket. It remains unclear whether the ticket was bought by an individual or shared among a group.

While the top prize went to a single winner, 17 tickets secured the Group 2 prize, with each payout exceeding S$87,000.

The jackpot had been steadily growing in the lead-up to the draw. Starting at more than S$1.2 million on April 23, it climbed significantly after consecutive draws produced no Group 1 winners, reaching over S$5.7 million by April 30. The eventual payout was boosted further under Toto’s cascade system.

Under revised rules, if the top prize is not won for three consecutive draws, the jackpot rolls over and must be distributed in the fourth draw, regardless of whether any ticket matches all six numbers. This mechanism contributed to the substantial prize pool seen on May 4.

The previous cascade draw, held on Jan 29, saw six winning tickets share a jackpot of S$13.5 million.

Following the latest win, queues at Toto outlets are expected to grow as interest surges. Singapore Pools has reminded the public to gamble responsibly.

This article (Single ticket makes bettor overnight millionaire after Toto jackpot snowballed to S$13 million) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Party businesses in Singapore have recently reported that their overall operating expenses have risen amid higher helium costs linked to the Middle East conflict. However, it seems concerns over helium supply may spill over and disrupt Singapore’s manufacturing sector, especially the semiconductor industry, which is the backbone of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, risking Singapore’s chip output and driving up manufacturing costs in the coming months.

Barnabas Gan, group chief economist and head of market research at RHB Bank, told Singapore Business Review that business sentiment is expected to remain positive through September 2026 despite geopolitical uncertainty, thanks to “firms supporting the global semiconductor industry, particularly those in the semiconductor equipment industry, amidst strong AI-related investment globally.”

However, he warned that potential disruptions to helium supplies from the Gulf region could constrain semiconductor and high-value manufacturing output, pushing up costs and limiting Singapore’s capacity in the coming months.

This comes as Singapore’s manufacturing sector is showing signs of recovery, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 50.7 in April 2026, marking the ninth straight month it has expanded and the highest reading since February last year, thanks to an AI-fuelled electronics boom that has lifted new orders, exports, factory output, input purchases, and employment.

While often overlooked, helium, supplied mostly by the United States and Qatar, is essential in semiconductor manufacturing, especially in chip fabrication, where it helps maintain optimal conditions in various stages of production.

As American economist and Johns Hopkins’ applied economics professor Steve Hanke told Fortune, “Helium doesn’t get much attention in the AI supply chain, but it should. Not only is it essential for cooling wafers during chip etching, there is no viable substitute at scale.”

According to a recent Moody’s Ratings report, helium supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict could pose a US$650 billion (S$827 billion) risk to hyperscalers, including Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta, which are investing in AI infrastructure, assuming the supply chain holds.

Concerns over helium supply remain as tensions between the US and Iran continue, compounded by the fact that helium isn’t manufactured. In fact, liquid helium can only be stored in containers for about 45 days before it begins to degrade. /TISG

Read also: Global energy crisis could push countries towards renewables ‘within months,’ says IEA head

This article (Helium supply concerns amid the Middle East conflict may limit Singapore’s chip output and drive up manufacturing costs in coming months: RHB economist) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A customer has taken to social media to share what she described as a stressful encounter with a durian seller in Geylang, warning others to be cautious.

In her post, she said she and her mother were buying durians from a stall near Block 113 Aljunied, opposite Geylang East Market & Food Centre.

According to her, she first selected a durian and asked the seller to open it for inspection, which he agreed to. Satisfied with the fruit, she then requested two more.

However, she claimed the seller later insisted she take a different durian he had chosen instead.

“I picked a small one for him to open, but he put it back and asked me to choose the one he picked, which was bigger. I was sceptical, but he reassured me it had more flesh,” she wrote.

She said the durian turned out to have hard flesh and large seeds, and she told the seller she did not want it.

The situation then escalated. She alleged that the seller raised his voice and insisted she pay for the fruit as it had already been opened.

She also claimed the seller had earlier said he would taste the durian and give it to them for free if the flesh was hard, but later refused when asked to do so.

Feeling pressured, her mother eventually paid $100 before they left.

The post drew responses from other netizens, some of whom urged consumers not to give in to such situations and to report similar incidents to the authorities. Others thanked her for sharing the experience and said they would avoid the stall.

It is unclear what the stall’s policy is regarding open durians. The seller has not publicly responded to the claims.

This article (‘Felt pressured’: Customer recounts tense exchange with durian seller in Singapore) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

MALAYSIA: Former Minister in the Madani cabinet, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, has criticised the authorities in a video posted on his Facebook page, saying outright that an investigation against his colleague, ex-Minister Rafizi Ramli, reeks of political conspiracy.

Both Nik Nazmi and Rafizi hail from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), the party of Anwar Ibrahim, but since their resignations last year, they have been openly critical of the Madani government.

Rafizi is currently undergoing a grilling at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) and is bound to go for another grilling for the third consecutive day on May 6.

Rafizi has a strong following in PKR, with several MPs constantly showing him support in his criticism of the Madani government.

Rafizi is being investigated regarding a RM1.1 billion (S$352 million) semiconductor investment deal between the Ministry of Economy and the UK-based firm Arm Holdings. Rafizi was the Minister of Economy when the deal was sealed.

According to reports, the investigations are about alleged abuse of power and misappropriation, which is the misuse of an official position for gratification.

Another aspect of the investigation is about procedural misconduct, to which some NGOs have alleged the deal was rushed and “one-sided”, with the potential of financial implications for the government.

The NGOs also accused Rafizi of pressuring the Cabinet to expedite approval of the deal, while they also raised the issue of conflict of interest with allegations that a certain individual, who was also interrogated by the MACC and is a former Rafizi aide, was appointed to positions in the foreign company after leaving government service. Rafizi has denied all the accusations.

Hence, in the video, the Member of Parliament (MP) said: “Malaysia’s involvement in leading the semiconductor sector is a good effort to elevate the nation’s reputation as an innovation leader.

“Unfortunately, this effort has been misused by the Government to bring down certain names.”

Nik Nazmi asks whether the Arm Holdings case is really a bribery case or is it a political machination?

The deal involves an agreement of more than RM1.1 billion between the Malaysian government and the international company.

“The purpose is clear: to build a semiconductor industry in the country,” the ex-minister said.

He also said the decision to go forward with the project was passed by the Cabinet, involving all the Ministers.

He mentions the investment was also promoted by the Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, and the Minister of Investment at the time, Tengku Zafrul Aziz.

“The simple question is, is all this a conspiracy?” he asked, adding that there is no evidence of anyone pocketing money in the deal and no one benefited from personal gains.

He mentions James Chai, a former aide to Rafizi who was given a temporary position (after leaving his post under Rafizi) at the company to facilitate their plans in Malaysia.

Opponents to Rafizi had called Chai the Jho Low 2.0, saying he pocketed money in a similar manner to the former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s ‘friend’ and fugitive businessman Jho Low in the multi-billion dollar 1MDB scandal.

However, Chai came back to Malaysia to assist in the investigation after a stint abroad.

Rumours are, according to Rafizi himself, that he will be charged in the case.

But Nik Nazmi asked, if a strategic decision passed by the Cabinet, promoted by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Investment, can be turned into a case like this, “who else dares to invest in our country?”

“We want integrity, but it also needs justice. We have to differentiate between bribery and baselessness in this country,” he said in conclusion.

This article (Malaysia risks big with ‘witch-hunt’ of ex-minister: Pakatan strongman) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Back in the day, once folks got their university degree and landed a good job, the next thing on their list was usually “climbing the corporate ladder.” They wanted bigger paychecks, larger desks, cooler job titles, and more prestige. That was the common goal. 

Now, however, some mid-career workers in Singapore are deciding to ditch that ambition. 

In a recent Reddit thread, these workers revealed why they no longer care about moving up the ranks.

The discussion started after one user shared that they realised pushing for “more responsibility, a better title, and more money” is no longer worth it.

According to them, every promotion now seems to come with a price: “more stress, less energy, less patience, less presence outside work.”

“It feels like you earn more on paper while losing parts of your actual life,” they wrote. “What’s confusing is I can’t tell if this is maturity, burnout, or me becoming complacent. Part of me thinks I should still be hungry and pushing harder. Another part of me wonders if chasing growth for its own sake is how people wake up one day successful and quietly miserable.”

“I’m curious if anyone else went through this shift, where career progress stopped automatically feeling like the right answer. Did you lean in harder, step back, or redefine success completely?”

Life outside work

In the discussion thread, one Singaporean commenter said they stopped chasing promotions once they learned that everyone has ‘very finite time and energy.’

“I want to have more energy for my family, friends, hobbies, and my other interests. I want to pick up a life skill, hug my pets, travel to different places, read, and do my arts and crafts,” they wrote, seemingly hopeful about what life has in store for them outside of work.

“A job is just a means for me to earn income to supplement everything outside of my job. I see some people at the management level earning high income and having plenty of authority at work, but they’ve totally got no life/no hobbies—nothing going on outside of work. 

“I see all these people, and I thought to myself, that’s not who I want to become. If anything, even with lots of money, that’s a damn miserable and sad life.”

Taking a pay cut

Another user shared that they chose to leave a higher-paying role in exchange for better work-life balance.

“I resigned from a job that brought home S$5.5K SGD after CPF, and now I only bring home S$3.7K SGD. In exchange for better work-life balance and physical and emotional mental health, it’s so, so worth it.”

They added, “The only downside is my dating options are pretty much nonexistent when women find out about my salary, but so be it.”

Realisations during the pandemic

A third explained that their perspective didn’t change even after they had a kid, but when the pandemic started, and their company began work-from-home arrangements, they felt “liberated” and realised for the first time that work isn’t everything.

“It just went downhill from there,” they said. “You could be giving 200%, and everyone thinks you are amazing, BUT it does not translate into any increments, bonuses, etc.”

“I still work because I have bills to pay, but I don’t give 200%, I don’t give 150%, I don’t even give 100% (unless it’s a crunch time type of situation). I’m probably just giving something in the 50-70% range on a daily basis …. sometimes worse.”

Stepping out of the rat race

A fourth Redditor, now 38 and single, said they stopped focusing on career growth after securing their housing.

“Once my BTO mortgage was completed, I just didn’t want career growth anymore, and I started prioritising my well-being,” they wrote.

“I want to seek something more meaningful in my life instead of continuing to be stuck in the corporate rat race. Ambition is definitely still there to find ways to earn more than what I did in corporate life, but I want to find something that I have control of my time with and not something repetitive.”

Reassessing life after a health scare

A fifth individual wrote that a health scare forced them to rethink their priorities.

“After a bad experience where my health got compromised, I’ve redefined my priorities as 1) my own health, 2) my family, and 3) my job,” they said.

“I’ve turned down opportunities and ensured I can knock off on the dot and not bring work home so I can be fully present with my children.” 

“To me, success is being able to have good health, a close relationship with the people who matter to me, and doing things I find meaningful at work. I don’t care about prestige or a high title. I don’t need to be super rich.”

Read also: Intern struggles to say no as boss keeps inviting them to S$11-S$17 lunches daily: ‘How do I tell her I don’t want to eat lunch with her?’

This article (Mid-career workers reveal why they no longer care about climbing the corporate ladder: ‘I want to pick up a life skill, hug my pets, travel to different places’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean jobseeker has shared online that he feels rather “hopeless” after being unable to secure a job despite lowering his salary expectations to around S$3,000 to S$3,500.

Posting on the forum “singaporejobs” on Monday (May 4), the 26-year-old described the job market in the city-state as “brutal.”

“I’ve been unemployed for eight months and counting, and each day feels more hopeless than the last,” he said. “Seeing friends my age progressing in their careers also makes me feel very left behind.”

For context, he shared that after graduating from Kaplan, he initially took up a retail job out of necessity as he needed an income. However, the long 56-hour work week soon took a toll on him both physically and mentally, eventually leading him to resign.

Things eventually took a turn for the better when he secured a tech role at a Fortune 500 company, which felt more aligned with the career direction he had been aiming for.

For the first time in a long while, he felt he could finally breathe and begin rebuilding his confidence.

Unfortunately, that stability was short-lived.

According to him, shortly after receiving an email congratulating him for “passing probation,” he was abruptly informed that he had been laid off.

In total, he remained in the role for just five months.

Since then, he said each passing month without employment has gradually eroded his confidence and sense of optimism.

“It lowkey feels hopeless for me to even land something and stay there for long enough my resume doesn’t come across as ‘job hopper,’” he said. “I’m at the point where I have to take a part-time job to tide me over so I don’t dip into my very small investments.”

At present, the only thing offering him some relief is the fact that he still lives with his parents and has no major financial commitments. 

“It’s a godsend,” he wrote candidly, before adding, “but some days I just want to scream into the void.”

“Don’t lose hope, don’t compare with others.”

His post resonated with many online, particularly other young Singaporeans who said they are facing similar struggles in today’s highly competitive job market.

The most upvoted comment read, “It’s really bad. Can’t even get a job in public healthcare office roles.”

Another commented, “I just got retrenched at the end of last year too. Until now, nothing yet. The market is brutal. Stay strong, bro.”

A third shared, “You are still not the worst around. My girlfriend got retrenched at the end of Dec 2024 and is still unemployed now… [She had] a handful (I think 4-6) interviews for last year. For this year, she only has had 2 interviews.”

Still, amid the frustration and gloomy outlook, some commenters tried to encourage the man not to give up.

One older Singaporean offered a more hopeful perspective, writing, “I’ve been jobless for 19 months, and I am 50+ years old. You will most probably get a job before me. Chin up my friend, you’re only 26 and have a whole career ahead of you.”

Another commenter reminded him not to measure his progress against others. “Don’t lose hope, don’t compare with others. You are still young, and situations can change. Don’t stop upskilling. Are you an extrovert or introvert? Learn to network with people to create new opportunities.”

In other news, a Singaporean Threads user who tried to call out two national servicemen on the MRT has instead found himself at the centre of online criticism, after his post struck a nerve with many who felt the men were unfairly singled out.

In a post published on Tuesday (March 28), the user, who goes by the handle “chefphotodan,” shared a photo taken inside a crowded train carriage.

Read more: Man criticised online after calling out NSFs for using phones on MRT: ‘Cut our boys some slack, please’

This article (‘SG current job market feels brutal’: Singaporean applicant with S$3.5k salary expectations says he’s losing hope after 8 months of job hunting) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

MALAYSIA: Talks of fresh elections to be held in Malaysia, at least at the state level, are getting more pertinent with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s allies, Democratic Action Party (DAP), urging the party machinery to be ready for snap polls in at least three states: Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, and Johor.

DAP Secretary-General, Anthony Loke, said this was decided by the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), which held its monthly meeting last night at the DAP headquarters.

“The meeting discussed the latest developments of the political crisis in Negeri Sembilan and decided on five positions, among them directing the entire party machinery to be prepared to face the possibility of snap elections in those three states,” he said in a statement today.

He added that the party must be ready for any eventuality should the respective State Legislative Assemblies be dissolved in the near future. He said this in reference to the political situation in Negeri Sembilan, where the state government led by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) is now a minority government after the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) pulled out its support for the Menteri Besar (MB) of the state, Datuk Aminuddin Harun, who hails from the PKR. Both DAP and PKR are members of the PH.

Fourteen UMNO assemblymen in the state pressed for the removal of the MB, but Loke said that DAP is firmly against this.

“DAP will continue to give full support to Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun as MB of Negeri Sembilan.

“DAP always respects and upholds the institution of the Constitutional Monarchy. All issues involving the institution of the King and Adat Pepatih must be resolved with full respect and order according to the Constitution and the state laws.

“DAP expresses gratitude to the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, for His Majesty’s decree that the State Government should continue to function as usual under Aminuddin’s administration,” he said.

This article (Malaysia’s DAP urges party members to be ready for snap polls in 3 states) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A five-room Housing & Development Board (HDB) flat sold for an eye-watering S$1.728 million last month.  The unit is located at 96A Henderson Road and is part of City Vue @ Henderson.

The sale set a new record for resale units in Singapore, according to property portal and data analytics platform EdgeProp.

The flat, located on the 46th to 48th floor, spans 113 sq m (around 1,216 sq ft), which comes out to approximately $1,421 per square foot (psf). Importantly, because the flat’s lease started in 2019, the unit still has 92 years and one month on its lease, which is likely to have contributed to the high price it fetched.

This sale broke the previous resale record held by a unit of a similar size at SkyTerrace @ Dawson at 92 Dawson Road, which changed hands in February for S$1.7 million ($1,295 psf). While this unit was bigger, at 1,313 sq ft, it had slightly fewer years left on its lease (around 89 years).

“Less space, higher price per square foot. The trajectory here is hard to ignore. S$1.4 million in May 2022. S$1.588 million in June 2024. S$1.728 million now. Each time the market seemed to have found a ceiling, this development pushed past it.

This is also happening while the broader resale market just posted its first quarterly price dip since 2019. The average is softening. The top end is not,” noted Stacked Homes regarding the sale on May 1.

Prime location 

The unit’s location appears to have played a big part in its high price tag as well. While not actually central, it is still within an easy distance to the Central Business District and Orchard Road, as well as the Greater Southern Waterfront area.

City Vue @ Henderson is also close to Redhill, Tiong Bahru, and Outram, and Bukit Merah is easily accessible, as are Redhill MRT Station and Tiong Bahru MRT Station. There are also a number of well-known primary schools, including Alexandra Primary School and Gan Eng Seng Primary School, nearby. /TISG

Read also: 46-year-old ‘jumbo’ executive flat in AMK sells for S$1.35 million

This article (S$1.73 million Henderson Road flat breaks Singapore resale record) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: On Sunday (May 3), a year after GE2025, Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh reminded Singaporeans in a social media post not to miss the next elections, encouraging those who needed to to restore their names on the Register of Electors.

The context for his post was last year’s voter turnout, which he noted was the lowest for a GE in Singapore since the first polls were held after independence in 1968. In 2025, there were about 2.4 million votes that had been cast or around 92% of registered voters in all contested electoral divisions.

Mr Singh, who leads Singapore’s most important opposition party, reminded readers about the timing of last year’s polls, which had taken place during a long weekend that included the Labour Day public holiday, and noted that some who had planned in advance to be away from Singapore during this time had missed the chance to vote.

“Unlike in the past, many Singaporeans today look forward to long weekends as opportunities for travel. It follows that the Government should avoid holding elections over such ‘long weekends,’” he wrote.

When he raised a question about this in Parliament last September, Minister Chan Chun Sing had said, “I do not think it is possible nor in the interest of Singapore to commit to not holding an election on a particular date or during a particular period.”

When Mr Singh also asked how many absentee voters had restored their names on the Register of Electors, the government said that more than half, or 99,140 voters, had already done so, with 97% doing so online using SingPass.

Given this statistic, the WP chief added a link for those who were unable to vote in last year’s GE who wanted to apply to have their names restored.

The WP and GE2025

The party had done relatively well in GE2025, although arguably not as well as it had hoped. The WP was able to keep the two GRCs it previously held, Aljunied and Sengkang, as well as Hougang SMC. In addition, the WP now also has two Non-Constituency MPs in Parliament due to how well the party performed at the polls in Jalan Kayu and Tampines.

In his post, Mr Singh said that restoring one’s name on the register of electors matters in the year since GE2025 in light of electoral near misses.

He cited a post from the Business Times that said the WP had lost in Jalan Kayu by 806 votes, while the gap between registered voters and voter turnout in that constituency was 2,208. In Tampines, meanwhile, the WP lost by 6,379 votes, and the gap between registered voters and turnout was 10,810.

“While not every voter would have voted for WP or PAP or any other party, every eligible voter should be ready when the next election comes around! Because every vote matters, and as a Singaporean, you should make your vote count

Check your voter eligibility status and get yourself back on the Register if you have not already!” added the WP chief. /TISG

Read also: IPS GE2025 survey: Younger voters chose status quo, but WP more credible to S’poreans age 21-29

This article (‘Don’t miss next GE,’ WP chief Pritam Singh tells Singaporeans) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: One year after winning again at Sengkang GRC during GE2025, the Workers’ Party’s MPs noted how they’ve focused on residents’ everyday issues, enumerating what they have pushed for.

The Sengkang 4—He Ting Ru, Louis Chua, Jamus Lim, and Abdul Muhaimin—won 56.31% of the votes cast in the constituency last year, besting a slate from the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) that included former Senior Minister of State Lam Pin Min.

While the PAP had undoubtedly hoped to wrest Sengkang from the WP, especially in light of the lengthy consequences of the scandal surrounding ex-WP MP Raeesah Khan, it ultimately fell short, with residents evidently feeling that the second time MPs—Ms He, Mr Chua, and Assoc Prof Lim— had done enough of a good job as to deserve reelection. The perception from residents is that their MPs certainly are hardworking, and the video from the Sengkang 4 outlined just what they’ve been working on.

Taking turns, the MPs said, “Whether in Parliament or here on the ground, our main focus has been the cost of living. We’ve pushed for transparency on the structural costs and housing prices hurting our young families, fighting for things money can’t buy, like better mental well-being and stronger support for our caregivers. We also pushed for better local transport because a crowded LRT or a 400-meter walk to the nearest bus stop is a barrier to independence for our seniors or persons with disabilities.”

Nevertheless, they added that “debates in Parliament will only make a difference if we deliver right here in our estates,” going on to talk about Sengkang’s five-year master plan, which includes such spaces as the recently-opened Anchorvale Butterfly Garden and the Rivervale Dog Run.

However, what the MPs count as their “true successes” is made up of the assistance that has been extended to one resident at a time, such as the help given to a single mother in obtaining a flat or matching a resident with a job to get them back on their feet.

“For us, no resident’s problem is too small. We don’t take your trust for granted,” the MPs said, thanking residents and adding they’re looking forward to “more good years.” /TISG

Read also: WP’s master plan for Sengkang plan ‘sets the stage for the next lap’

This article (1 year after GE2025, WP’s Sengkang MPs say they’ve focused on cost of living, everyday issues) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: The conflict in the Middle East has caused a global energy emergency, with countries in the Asia Pacific region particularly affected, and yet, nations have not been affected in the same way, depending on the resources each one has.

The war, which began just over two months ago when the United States and Israel began bombing Iran, resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for 20% of the world’s fuel. Countries that are heavily dependent on oil and gas from the Middle East, as many in the Asia-Pacific region are, have had to scramble to secure enough supply for domestic use amid substantially higher prices.

Amid the crisis, a new trend of supply-chain security agreements is emerging. Beyond classic free trade deals, these are focused on critical minerals, energy, food, technology, and crisis resilience.

Singapore, for example, inked a pact in late March with Australia for energy supply chain resilience and with New Zealand on May 4 for the continuous flow of essentials, such as food and fuel, between the two countries.

This week, Japan and Australia also entered into agreements for boosting cooperation on critical minerals and energy. Japan has also been entering into deals with Indonesia and Vietnam.

However, while the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been entering into agreements as a bloc, such as an upgraded free trade deal with China, its member countries with fewer resources may find themselves out in the cold.

With a number of recent agreements focusing on critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and digital trade, the countries that lack capacity in these sectors are left out.

While Singapore is not a producer, it is an orchestrator when it comes to trade, finance, and supply chains. The city-state is a leader when it comes to “resilient trade” agreements, such as those dealing with essential goods and crisis supply. As such, Singapore stands to become a control centre for regional supply networks.

Vietnam, which has been attracting foreign investment and is emerging as an alternative to China for manufacturing, also has an edge in the region, as does Indonesia due to its mineral resources.

However, in other countries that are left out of these supply chains, such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the smaller ASEAN economies, this is not the case, and it will have adverse effects.

“In countries such as New Zealand and Australia, the shock will be absorbed and passed through — higher fuel costs feeding into inflation, squeezing households, and slowing economic activity.

However, in poorer, more fuel-dependent economies, the consequences are more immediate and more severe. Those economies cannot simply pay more. They consume less, or not at all. And that’s why richer countries can keep getting supplies: They pay for it.

That is the unspoken edge of the current crisis: it is global, but its pain is highly uneven,” reads a May 4 analysis in New Zealand’s The Post.  /TISG

Read also: Poorest across Southeast Asia are the hardest hit by energy crisis due to Iran war

This article (In Asia, richer countries are inking deals amid energy crisis, but poorer ones are left out) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Recently, a supermarket worker has captured the attention of a customer when he was seen cleaning grocery baskets before restocking them up. On Facebook, user Zoey Lim expressed her admiration to what she witnessed and declared: “This is the first time I’ve ever seen groceries basket been cleaned. I want to take this opportunity to share my appreciation & gratitude to this uncle who cleaned the groceries baskets before placing it back.” 

The simple yet impactful practice of hygiene highlights a commitment of some businesses to better cleanliness and services. With this, the user encouraged other supermarkets to do the same and remarked: “I hope others super market can follow such a good & hygiene practice.”

The post gained several reactions and comments from netizens. One netizen commended the user for posting such an inspiring post and stated: “We need more of this positive vibes! Thanks for sharing and appreciating!” 

Another comment suggested: “This should be the cleaning routine where baskets and trollley must go thru the Hygiene Safety Schedule on a monthly or quarterly routine. Thanks to uncle for the highlight… If the shop did not have this routine, it’s time for u to take up implementing the good practice.” 

For some, they believe that workers should not clean the baskets because items such as vegetables and fruits leave a stain that makes these baskets meticulously dirty. 

This small act of initiative has indeed started a conversation about hygiene. Some people think that it is normal for baskets to have stains and be smelly, and for some, cleaning them can make shopping a safer and nicer experience to many. At the end of the day, this post is can serve as a reminder to businesses to think about what’s best for their customers as they provide products and services to them. 

This article (Shopper praises uncle who cleans grocery baskets, says other markets should follow such good hygiene practice) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.