Our Crazy Rich Shores: Pulau Semakau
Celebrating Singapore Shores!
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Man fined S$7,600 for illegal import and possession of reptiles, another fined for abandoning cats
ASYRAF KAMIL Today Online 17 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE — A 28-year-old man was fined S$7,600 for the illegal import of a leopard tortoise, and possession of two endangered reptiles in his home.
In a statement on Wednesday (Oct 17), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA) and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said that Joey Law Swee Siang, 28, was fined S$4,000 for the illegal import of the tortoise, S$3,000 for possessing an African spurred tortoise, and S$600 for keeping a razor-back musk turtle.
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Malaysia to do away with single-use plastics
sim leoi leoi The Star 18 Oct 18;
KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no more drinking straws and plastic carrier bags by 2030 under an ambitious plan that will see local councils imposing a “pollution charge” and a “no straw by default” policy.
These measures will be introduced under Phase 1 of the Roadmap Towards Zero Single-use Plastics 2018-2030 from next year until 2021.
The roadmap will also eventually see the implementation of a circular economy for recycling as well as position Malaysia as a leader in biodegradable technology and industry within the region.
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Indonesia: Death toll of C Sulawesi earthquake reaches 2,102
Antara 15 Oct 18;
Palu, C Sulawesi (ANTARA News)- The death toll of a magnitude-7.4 earthquake and a subsequent tsunami that hit Central Sulawesi on Sept 28, 2018, reached 2,102, following discovery of two more bodies by a marine team in Patoloan seaport area, here, Tuesday.
The bodies of a mother and a child were handed over to their family for funerals.
The total number of injured people was 4,612, while 680 people were still missing, and 152 others remained under the debris of buildings destroyed by the natural disaster.
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Climate change 'at point of no return': Ban
AFP Yahoo News 16 Oct 18;
The Hague (AFP) - Former UN chief Ban Ki-Moon warned Tuesday the world is at the "point of no return" on climate change as he launched an international commission on responses to global warming.
The Global Commission on Adaptation is endorsed by 17 countries including major economic powers China, Germany and India and will look at ways the world -- especially poor nations -- can shield themselves against the impact of rising temperatures.
"We are at the point of no return," Ban told an audience at the commission's launch in The Hague, where the Netherlands hosted its 28 commissioners.
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Sentosa Island, Pulau Brani development plans in the works
Channel NewsAsia 17 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE: A comprehensive set of plans to reshape Sentosa Island is being developed, announced Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat on Wednesday (Oct 17) at the opening of travel trade show ITB Asia 2018.
Mr Chee spoke about Sentosa Island's status as a major tourism attraction in Singapore, and highlighted its need to remain competitive by constantly rejuvenating itself.
"We are currently developing a comprehensive set of plans to reshape the entire island and provide more scope for new attractions and investments on Sentosa," said Mr Chee.
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Singapore tops index measuring food security, but vulnerable to trade and climate-related risks
VICTOR LOH Today Online 17 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE — In a first for Singapore, the Republic has topped the Global Food Security Index, which measures the affordability, availability, quality and safety of food sources in 113 countries.
This is an improvement from its fourth position last year.
However, the index by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) highlighted Singapore's vulnerability to climate-related and natural resource risks, which is not reflected in the overall ranking.
Taking risks such as exposure to climate change (temperature rise, drought, flooding, etc) and the health of land and water resources into account, Singapore ranks 16th among the 113 countries, with Switzerland at the top.
“Singapore’s strong food-security score is largely attributable to its status as a high-income economy,” said the report, noting that the country’s GDP per capita has risen by nearly 30 per cent since 2012, and the percentage of household expenditure that is spent on food is the second-lowest in the index.
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PUB takes contractor to task for polluting Bukit Timah canal with silt from construction site
Tee Zhuo Straits Times 16 oct 18;
SINGAPORE - A contractor will be taken to task for polluting a canal in Bukit Timah with silt, PUB said on Tuesday (Oct 16).
In its statement, Singapore's national water agency said that it had investigated and confirmed the material discharged into the canal after a heavy downpour last Wednesday was silt.
"We have traced the silty discharge to a nearby construction site that had failed to provide adequate earth control measures on site," PUB added.
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Burger King Singapore to stop providing plastic lids and straws for drinks
Channel NewsAsia 16 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE: Burger King announced that it will no longer provide dine-in customers plastic straws and lids for their cold drinks at its 42 outlets in Singapore.
The initiative began on Monday (Oct 15).
Replying to Channel NewsAsia's queries, Burger King said that customers can however still request for the plastic lids and straws at the counter.
"We understand that some guests with children will still require straws, so we are happy to accede to their request," said a spokesperson, adding that the lids and straws will still be provided for takeaways and deliveries.
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Best of our wild blogs: 16 Oct 18
JOB OPPORTUNITY: Management Assistant Officer, Visitor Services/Casual Visitor Services Officer
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
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World's largest rice science conference opens in Singapore, to discuss challenges facing rice production
Jose Hong Straits Times 15 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE - The production of rice, one of the world’s most important crops, is facing major problems, such as slow growth and climate change, which could increase its price by more than 30 per cent by 2050.
“We need major changes to our rice and food production systems, to make them more resilient to weather disruptions, and also to reduce their emissions and their impact on the environment,” said Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong on Monday (Oct 15).
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