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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 September 2026 – WRITERS AT WORK, a Singapore English writing and enrichment provider recognised on the SME500 Singapore 2025 list, will introduce updates to its Primary Writing Programme, formerly the Pure Composition Writing Programme, across its seven centres in Singapore from 2 January 2027, as part of a wider curriculum refresh designed to help students sustain focused, independent thinking in an increasingly fast-paced learning environment.

Built for How Students Think Today

WRITERS AT WORK updates its curriculum annually in response to shifts in Singapore’s English examination and education landscape. The 2027 update also responds to how students today process language, sustain focus, and construct ideas, shaped by their environment, technology, and culture. As attention spans shorten in a faster, more visually driven world, the ability to sit with a difficult question and think it through has become more valuable. The renamed Primary Writing Programme reflects this shift, still anchored in composition instruction but built around how students actually develop writing competency today.

Three Updates to the Primary Writing Programme

Three updates anchor the programme. Under Flexible Writing Practice, students complete guided or independent compositions depending on lesson objectives, with the STORYBANKING® method recalibrated to sharpen critical thinking through adjusted pacing and difficulty. This gradual release of support, from guided modelling to independent application, meets students at different levels of readiness: those who need more guidance receive clearer structure, while more confident writers are pushed to transfer their learning independently and make more sophisticated writing choices.

The update also responds to a reality of how students learn today: with model compositions and ready-made phrases widely accessible, that accessibility is not itself the concern. The risk is students learning techniques without learning to think. Primary Writing Programme lessons are designed to keep that thinking process intact and complete within the lesson, so students build the ability to reason through difficult questions themselves, rather than simply recall a technique.

Selected modules also integrate bite-sized situational writing, oral, and listening comprehension practice alongside composition, giving students regular, low-stakes exposure to other examination components while reinforcing skills they have already built. The STORYBANKING® programme has also been expanded with material tied to current experiences and trends, building on rather than replacing existing content.

A Refresh for the Comprehensive English Programme

The Comprehensive English Programme, covering Primary and Secondary levels, is also being updated, with a focus on strengthening students’ ability to analyse questions and organise ideas. Existing scaffolding within the programme is being broken down further to make the thinking process more visible and explicit to students.

“The updates are not a departure from what has worked. They are a deliberate response to how our students engage with the world today,” said Jemmies Siew, Managing Director and Curriculum Director at WRITERS AT WORK. “Our aim is for students to leave each lesson still knowing how to think through a hard question themselves, not just recall a technique.”

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Writers At Work

WRITERS AT WORK is a Singapore English writing and enrichment provider founded in 2012. Its curriculum is built around a structured, results-oriented approach and a proprietary methodology called STORYBANKING®, and has expanded to include writing, comprehension, and oral communication instruction for Primary and Secondary levels across seven centres in Singapore. The company was recognised on the SME500 Singapore 2025 list and has a 14-year track record of students achieving full marks in composition and oral examinations.

The regulator said the work will focus on creating clearer rules for datasets used by embodied AI systems, which combine artificial intelligence with physical machines such as humanoid robots. The effort is intended to support more consistent data collection, processing, evaluation and use as companies race to improve machines that must perceive, reason and act in real-world environments.

China has already moved to build a broader standards framework around the sector. National standards published on August 27 cover the quality of real-world embodied-intelligence data and technical requirements for data-generation platforms, while several additional specifications remain under development.

Among projects overseen by the National Data Administration are proposed standards covering the sources and constituent elements of high-quality embodied-intelligence datasets, simulated synthetic-data generation and processing, and specifications for data collection and model training at training bases. The projects are being developed under the National Data Standardisation Technical Committee.

One draft programme, registered in April, sets a 12-month timetable for a standard on data collection and model training at embodied-intelligence training bases. Its drafting group includes the China Electronics Standardization Institute, Beijing Institute of Technology, the Institute of Software at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and robotics companies.

A separate draft addresses synthetic data, which is becoming increasingly important because collecting enough physical-world robot interactions can be expensive, slow and difficult to reproduce. China’s policy framework encourages the use of simulation and synthetic techniques to expand supply where genuine operating data are scarce or costly to obtain.

The National Data Administration has made high-quality datasets a central part of its wider artificial-intelligence strategy. An implementation plan issued in June called for faster construction of datasets in strategic and emerging fields including embodied intelligence, intelligent driving and the low-altitude economy. It also called for data covering physical interaction, environmental perception and motion control in key scenarios.

The plan directs authorities and industry participants to improve data cleaning, enhancement, labelling, alignment and quality inspection, while developing national standards covering formats, categories, annotation and quality assessment. The regulator said such work should produce datasets that are structurally complete, diverse, accurately labelled and suitable for model development.

China’s push reflects the distinct data demands of robots operating in the physical world. Unlike text-based systems trained largely on digital information, embodied AI requires large volumes of multimodal material that can include video, images, sensor readings, point clouds, movement trajectories and feedback from physical interaction.

Data supply has therefore emerged as a competitive constraint for developers seeking to train machines to perform long sequences of actions reliably across changing environments. The National Data Development Research Institute has said embodied intelligence and world models are driving sharply higher demand for three-dimensional, video and other multimodal data, while also raising requirements for collection and annotation quality.

The government has also been expanding the underlying pool of AI-ready datasets. At a national data industry event in Guiyang in August, the National Data Administration said more than 126,000 high-quality datasets had been built across China, with a combined volume exceeding 1,815 petabytes.

Officials described a system combining a national dataset management platform, an open-source community and a data-labelling network with sector-specific pilot programmes. The framework includes 106 leading organisations and 140 pilot tasks, with regional authorities encouraged to develop projects suited to local industrial strengths.

Embodied intelligence has featured in those pilots alongside other emerging fields. The administration has promoted cooperation among robotics companies, universities, research institutes and public bodies to increase the quantity and usefulness of machine-training data while testing standards before wider application.

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The robot has begun operating at Kalangan, the art museum inside the Domestic Security Hold Area, marking the first phase of a wider plan to introduce robotic assistance across the airport. CIAL Managing Director S. Suhas inaugurated the service, which is intended to give passengers access to travel information while they move through the terminal.

Passengers can interact with the robot to check flight schedules, gate numbers and CIAL services. It can provide directions to boarding gates and other airport facilities, helping travellers locate destinations without having to rely solely on static signs or information counters.

CIAL has also given the robot a cultural role. At Kalangan, it can explain Kerala art forms including Kathakali and Ottanthullal and provide information about sculptures and artworks displayed in the museum. The robot can guide passengers towards relevant exhibits, linking travel assistance with the airport’s cultural displays.

The airport operator said passenger assistance robots will be deployed in check-in halls during the next phase of the programme. CIAL is also examining the use of delivery robots capable of carrying food and other products directly to passengers waiting inside the terminal, though no timetable has been announced for that service.

Pune-based Kinetics Robotics developed the passenger assistance robot for CIAL. Executive Director Santhosh Poovattil, Head of Commercial Manoj P. Joseph and Kinetics Robotics representative Jignesh Nair were among those present when the service was launched.

The project adds another automated passenger-facing service to CIAL’s broader digital upgrade. The airport last year outlined a Rs 200-crore digital transformation programme, CIAL 2.0, covering operational systems, artificial intelligence, automation and cybersecurity. That programme included upgraded flight information and announcement systems, common-use passenger processing infrastructure and other technology intended to improve airport operations and passenger convenience.

CIAL 2.0 also identified facial-recognition check-in, artificial intelligence-based baggage tracking, lost-item tracking, prepaid cab booking kiosks and DigiYatra integration among its digital services. The passenger assistance robot extends that technology drive into a visible, interactive role inside the terminal rather than keeping automation largely behind the scenes.

For passengers, the robot’s main practical value is immediate access to frequently requested information. Flight updates and gate directions can change during the course of a journey, and an interactive unit positioned within the secure area can supplement display boards and staffed help points. Its deployment at Kalangan also allows CIAL to test passenger interaction with the technology in a controlled setting before placing more robots in busier check-in areas.

The cultural information function gives the device a second purpose beyond navigation. Travellers passing through the museum can request explanations of traditional performances and displayed works rather than using the robot only for airport queries. CIAL has presented that combination as part of its effort to improve passenger convenience while drawing attention to Kerala’s cultural heritage.

The first deployment remains limited to the domestic security hold area, and CIAL has not disclosed how many passenger assistance robots will be added in the next stage. The airport operator has also not announced technical details such as supported languages, operating hours, mobility range or whether future units will have additional functions.

Kalangan serves as the initial location because it combines passenger circulation with exhibits that require both directional and informational support. The robot can therefore handle airport questions while directing visitors towards artworks and explaining selected cultural forms.

CIAL’s move comes as airports increasingly use self-service and automated systems for routine passenger interactions, particularly for check-in, baggage processing, navigation and information delivery. At Kochi, the next expansion will move the assistance robots from the museum setting into check-in halls, where passenger volumes and the range of queries are likely to be greater.

The product, unveiled at Global Fintech Fest 2026, combines machine-learning risk assessment, dynamic authentication and protection against eligible fraud chargebacks. PayU said the system evaluates cross-border card payments using transaction and behavioural signals, then determines how much authentication each payment requires.

Low-risk transactions can pass with less friction, while payments assessed as higher risk are routed through stronger authentication checks. The approach is intended to address a persistent problem in online commerce: controls that are too strict can reject legitimate customers, while weaker screening can expose merchants to fraud and chargeback losses.

PayU said merchants using the technology have recorded an improvement of about 4% to 5% in international card payment success rates while reducing fraud exposure. The figures are company data and were not independently audited in the announcement.

One online travel merchant using Fraud Liability Protect achieved a 14% rise in payment success rates and an 83% reduction in its fraud-to-sales ratio, according to PayU. The company did not identify that merchant or disclose the transaction volume, testing period or baseline behind those percentages.

Manas Mishra, chief product officer at PayU and Wibmo, said fraud controls should not undermine payment acceptance as merchants expand across markets. He said the product was designed to distinguish genuine and risky international transactions and to protect businesses against both human-initiated and AI-enabled fraud.

The liability element is significant because chargebacks can transfer the financial cost of disputed card transactions back to merchants. PayU’s own documentation describes a chargeback as a transaction reversal following a successful customer dispute. Under its fraud-liability programme, cases classified as covered fraud can be closed with PayU bearing the chargeback amount, subject to applicable terms and eligibility.

Fraud Liability Protect is integrated with PayU Checkout and is being positioned mainly for small and medium-sized businesses in travel, online travel agencies, airlines, e-commerce, quick commerce and food technology. These sectors can face direct revenue pressure when overseas cards are declined or fraudulent transactions later result in disputes.

Zomato is among the businesses using the service, PayU said. The food delivery platform is applying the system to international card transactions so lower-risk payments can proceed with fewer obstacles while higher-risk transactions remain subject to additional controls.

The product also seeks to reduce so-called false positives, where legitimate purchases are blocked because conventional controls treat them as suspicious. That can be especially costly for merchants serving customers abroad, where differences in card issuance, geography and spending behaviour may raise risk scores even when a transaction is genuine during automated screening.

The launch comes as payment providers increasingly use machine learning to balance fraud prevention with checkout conversion. Card-not-present payments create particular challenges because merchants cannot physically verify the card or cardholder, making transaction data, device information, behaviour patterns and authentication signals more important to risk decisions.

PayU already uses automated risk controls across its payment infrastructure. Its published security material says machine-learning models and real-time monitoring are used to identify potentially fraudulent transactions and abnormal patterns. The new service extends that approach by linking risk scoring directly with variable authentication and an explicit chargeback-protection layer for qualifying international card transactions.

PayU’s international payment gateway supports cards issued overseas and allows merchants to offer multiple currencies, while settlement to participating merchants is made in rupees under its terms. The company also offers 3-D Secure-based controls for international card processing, which are designed to add cardholder authentication when required.

The distinction between authentication and liability remains important. A transaction that passes authentication is not automatically immune from every dispute, and chargeback outcomes depend on card-network rules, reason codes and the conditions attached to the merchant’s payment arrangement. PayU’s documentation requires merchants to respond to chargeback notices within specified deadlines where a dispute requires documentation.

To mark its official launch in Palembang, Green SM has also introduced the “Green Your Move, Refresh Your City” campaign, in support of initiatives led by the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) under the theme “Ecosystem & Air Protection” (Perlindungan Ekosistem & Udara).

The campaign encourages citizens to embrace more environmentally friendly modes of transportation, highlighting how every green journey in daily life can contribute to better air quality and a healthier urban environment.

Powered by a 100% electric vehicle fleet, Green SM is committed to delivering a 5-star mobility experience through its professional drivers, transparent pricing, and consistent service quality. By combining technology, service excellence, and sustainable mobility solutions, Green SM aims to set new standards for modern urban transportation.

Green SM’s presence in Palembang continues its journey of advancing green mobility in Indonesia, following its expansion into Jakarta, Makassar, Surabaya, Bali, and Bandar Lampung. This milestone also reaffirms the company’s long-term commitment to delivering reliable and sustainable mobility solutions to an increasing number of Indonesians.

As one of Sumatra’s largest hubs for trade and services, with a population of more than 1.8 million people, Palembang continues to see dynamic economic growth and rising demand for mobility. The city’s commitment to sustainable development and smart city initiatives also provides a strong foundation for advancing green, modern, and environmentally friendly transportation solutions that contribute to improving residents’ quality of life.

Mr. Pham Nhat Minh Hoang, Global CEO of Green SM, said: “I am delighted that Green SM has another opportunity to bring the positive values of green mobility to even more people across Indonesia. We believe that through our consistent service quality, professional drivers, and the outstanding benefits that green mobility offers, Green SM will become a trusted companion for the people of Palembang in their daily journeys, while contributing to ecosystem protection and cleaner air in Indonesia.”

To mark its launch in Palembang, Green SM is rolling out a series of special promotions. Riders can enjoy a 100% discount of up to Rp50,000 from September 12 to 16, 2026, followed by a 50% discount of up to Rp50,000 from September 17 to 25, and a 35% discount of up to Rp50,000 from September 26 to October 2, 2026. Green SM will continue introducing programs and offers designed to make travel more comfortable and affordable, while encouraging more residents of Palembang to make the switch to greener mobility.

Alongside providing all-electric transportation services, Green SM is committed to building a sustainable green mobility ecosystem through job creation, local talent development, and collaboration with stakeholders. As the company continues expanding across Indonesia, Green SM aims to improve access to modern mobility solutions while creating positive value for communities, the environment, and local economies.

Over the course of its global expansion, Green SM has completed approximately 850 million trips covering nearly 6 billion kilometers, helping reduce more than 800,000 tons of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to the carbon absorption capacity of approximately 36 million trees.

Hashtag: #GreenSM

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The Board of Investment approved the measures at a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, expanding the Thailand FastPass mechanism and launching a BOI-to-IPO programme with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

The 17 projects, submitted by 15 companies, are expected to create more than 14,000 jobs. Electronics and electrical manufacturers account for 10 projects worth 83.92 billion baht, close to 70 per cent of the latest batch, according to the BOI.

Two processed-food projects represent investment of 24.34 billion baht, two pet nutrition projects total 8.80 billion baht, and three precision machinery and automotive component projects amount to 4.36 billion baht.

The additions take the FastPass portfolio to 42 strategic projects across three rounds, with planned investment exceeding 344 billion baht and projected employment of more than 27,000 people. The scheme uses service-level agreements across state agencies to shorten licensing timelines, address approval bottlenecks and move projects more quickly from investment applications to construction and operation.

The first two FastPass rounds covered 25 projects from 23 companies worth more than 223 billion baht and were expected to generate over 13,000 jobs. All 25 have received investment-promotion approval, 19 have been issued investment certificates and 11 have completed all required permits within the prescribed service-level deadlines. Actual investment by projects in the programme has exceeded 21 billion baht.

Alongside the approval drive, the BOI said it was shifting the way it evaluates investment promotion, placing greater weight on realised investment, domestic value added, links with small and medium-sized suppliers, high-skilled employment, research and development, technology transfer and capital-market participation.

The policy overhaul also narrows support for activities that contribute limited local value, with the BOI saying incentives will increasingly favour advanced manufacturing, technology transfer and deeper integration of domestic vendors. New operational indicators will measure how many approved projects become investments and how quickly agencies process approvals.

Narit said the policy seeks to lift investment to 30 per cent of gross domestic product, support annual economic growth above 3 per cent and improve Thailand’s competitiveness ranking. Those objectives are government targets rather than assured outcomes and will depend on investment execution, productivity gains and economic conditions.

BOI secretary-general Narit Therdsteerasukdi said the agency was moving towards measuring the quality and domestic value generated by investment rather than focusing mainly on application volumes. He said the government wanted targeted measures in strategic sectors to support higher investment and productivity.

The BOI-to-IPO programme is designed to help promoted companies, particularly businesses in sectors classified as part of the New Economy, raise capital through Thailand’s exchanges and expand their operations. The SEC has shortened its IPO approval process, while the stock exchange is easing certain market-capitalisation and operating-track-record requirements for qualifying New Economy companies.

A special listing pathway is also being provided for companies promoted by the BOI or the Eastern Economic Corridor, linking investment incentives with access to equity financing.

Promoted companies that list on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the Market for Alternative Investment or the LiVEx board can qualify for additional tax relief. SET-certified New Economy companies may receive up to three additional years of corporate income-tax exemption, or a 50 per cent reduction for five years.

Other promoted companies that list can receive up to two additional tax-free years, or a 50 per cent reduction in corporate income tax for three years, subject to the programme’s conditions.

Narit said the policy was intended to allow companies that had established successful operations in Thailand to finance new plants and production lines, invest in research and technology, and expand overseas while retaining Thailand as a business base.

The Vietnamese electric-vehicle maker said the proposed outlets would span Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, extending its reach beyond major centres such as Metro Manila and Cebu into markets including Cagayan de Oro, Tacloban and Subic Bay. The sites are expected to combine vehicle display, customer consultations, sales and after-sales services under VinFast’s global showroom standards.

The agreements, announced on September 11, bring together Elite North Auto Cars Inc., MG Gateway Mantrade Corp., Grand Canyon Multi Holdings Inc., Britannica United Motors Incorporated, VF Auto Sto Tomas Inc., GR8 Marketing Motors Inc., ARCMA Motors Corporation, Autonomics Motor Corp., Gershom Car Trading Corp., Areza Motor Sales Inc., Central Auto Resources Inc., Autolink Global Motors Inc. and Greenport Mobility Inc.

VinFast said the partners’ distribution experience and regional networks would help accelerate expansion and improve access to its electric cars and support services. The company did not disclose investment values, opening dates for individual locations or how many of the 27 sites would provide full workshop facilities.

Antonio Zara, chief executive of VinFast Southeast Asia, said the Philippines remained a key market in the company’s longer-term regional and global plans. He said VinFast was seeking to develop not only its retail footprint but also products, services, infrastructure and the wider electric-vehicle ecosystem, working with local partners to make battery-powered mobility more accessible.

The latest dealer push builds on a network expansion already under way. VinFast said in April 2025 that it had reached agreements with six Philippine dealers to establish more than 60 new showrooms, including planned locations in Metro Manila, Quezon City and other urban centres. Its third-quarter 2025 financial disclosure later said the company had nine showrooms operating nationwide, underscoring the gap between announced development plans and sites actually opened.

That distinction remains important for the new programme: the 27 outlets are covered by memoranda of understanding and are expected to be developed, rather than being newly opened locations. VinFast’s stated target is to develop a total network of 60 dealerships in the Philippines in 2026.

The company has also been adding after-sales and charging capacity as it seeks to reduce practical barriers to electric-vehicle ownership. VinFast previously signed an agreement with Motech aimed at bringing up to 63 service workshops into its authorised repair, warranty and maintenance network. It has also worked with other service partners and has promoted charging infrastructure through V-Green, the charging-network business associated with the wider Vingroup ecosystem.

VinFast entered the Philippine passenger-vehicle market with a battery-electric range that has included the VF 3, VF 5, VF 6, VF 7 and VF 9. At the Philippine International Motor Show in June 2026, the company displayed its broader mobility offering and highlighted programmes combining vehicle access, charging and transport services.

Its expansion comes as carmakers compete for position in a Philippine electric-vehicle market supported by government measures intended to encourage cleaner transport. The Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act established a national policy framework for EV adoption, charging infrastructure and industry development, while tariff measures have lowered import costs for qualifying electric vehicles and components.

Dealer coverage is a central challenge for newer entrants because buyers expect servicing, spare parts and warranty support alongside vehicle sales. VinFast has increasingly used local dealer partnerships across Southeast Asia and other markets rather than relying solely on company-owned retail outlets, allowing it to add sales points faster while drawing on established operators’ local knowledge.

The 13 new partners are expected to help VinFast reach customers across several island groups, where distribution and after-sales logistics can be more complicated than in a single contiguous market. VinFast has separately worked with logistics providers in the Philippines to support vehicle inspection, distribution and servicing as its product range expands.