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Hong Lim, Chong Boon markets reopen, hawkers ask for easier grant disbursement

SINGAPORE - Some food sellers just emerging from their two-week quarantine are calling for easier access to financial compensation, having had to throw away much of their fresh ingredients and lost significant revenue due to mandated stall closures. They said the online application process - which should give them $100 for each day they are forced to shut - is too complicated. Many also did not know how to start or where to go online. Money should be more quickly dispensed to them, especially when whole food centres are being closed due to the cluster linked to Jurong Fishery Port, they said. The Straits Times was at the markets and food centres at Hong Lim and Chong Boon, which reopened on Tuesday (Aug 3) to crowds that were far from what they were before. At both, footfall was sparse and some stallholders chose not to reopen until after the National Day long weekend, due to the difficulty of getting fresh seafood. Others were waiting for more regular patrons to be aware that they are now reopened. Madam Yeo, 58, who wanted to be known only by her last name, was at Hong Lim to disinfect her roast meat stall before she reopens later in the week. She said she wanted to keep her stal...

800 more interim rental flats under HDB scheme but qualifying household income capped at $7,000

SINGAPORE - An additional 800 interim rental Housing Board flats will be set aside for families affected by Build-To-Order (BTO) construction delays, but there will be stricter eligibility criteria for those wishing to apply for these units. To apply for a unit under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) from Wednesday (Aug 4) onwards, the household combined monthly income cannot be more than $7,000, said the HDB on Tuesday. The income reflected at the point of sales application for the BTO flat will be the basis for consideration, said HDB. Households whose incomes have fallen to $7,000 and below since their sales application may contact HDB directly. The household income ceiling is to ensure that the flats, which are highly subsidised, are allocated to those who are less able to afford renting a flat on the open market, said HDB. The PPHS provides interim housing to households awaiting the completion of their BTO flats with units allocated by ballot. Rents range from $400 for a two-room flat in Marsiling, $600 for a three-roomer in Hougang and $1,500 for a four-room unit in Tiong Bahru. Priority will be given to married couples with children aged 18 and under in the se...

Singapore firms offer solutions to region’s demand for sustainability

SINGAPORE - Climate change, record-high temperatures and deadly heatwaves are making air-conditioning a necessity rather than a luxury in many places around the world. But air-conditioners are energy guzzlers and a major source of waste heat in urban areas, creating a vicious cycle and a dilemma for eco-conscious consumers. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Aug 2

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Monday, Aug 2. 10 new Covid-19 clusters in S'pore, including at Yishun Community Hospital and Westlite Mandai dorm The hospital cluster has two new cases, bringing its total to four. READ MORE HERE Lower-income S'pore households affected by Covid-19 to get more financial support More households in the lower-income bracket are also expected to qualify for payouts after changes to the criteria. READ MORE HERE Malaysia's opposition MPs to attend Parliament despite postponement of special sitting The DPM denied the postponement was due to politics and said it was based on science and health data; 11 Covid-19 cases were found among the attendees. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Myanmar junta chief names himself prime minister, says will cooperate with Asean The move will likely raise the stakes as Asean foreign ministers seek to find the way forward amid Myanmar's crisis. READ MORE HERE Singapore team finds drug cocktail effective against Covid-19 Delta variant The team is now looking to conduct clinical trials on Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate disease. READ M...

Singapore team finds drug cocktail effective against Covid-19 Delta variant

SINGAPORE - Researchers here have found a combination of drugs which can be used to treat Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate disease. The drug cocktail has also shown promising results in terms of effectiveness against the Beta and Delta variants of the virus. A team led by Professor Dean Ho, director of the National University of Singapore's Institute for Digital Medicine, had used an artificial intelligence (AI) platform and live virus testing to derive an optimal combination of drugs with the correct dosages to treat Covid-19. The team had collaborated with DSO National Laboratories to set up the platform last April. Prof Ho said drug dosing requires a level of precision that cannot be arbitrarily derived - an issue which AI seeks to address. The platform, named IDentif.AI, had identified antiviral drug remdesivir, together with lopinavir and ritonavir, which are drugs used to treat patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, despite being effective, not all of the drugs were readily available or could be easily administered at home. For instance, remdesivir has to be administered via intravenous (IV) drip in hospitals, making it challenging to use in a commu...

Experts working on map to help Singapore’s wild animals navigate fragmented forests

SINGAPORE - Many people enjoy getting around on well-lit and paved paths, but shy, wild animals favour quiet and leafy routes when travelling from one forest patch to another. To help native animals get around in Singapore, where development has fragmented forests into isolated patches of green, experts here are developing a map that aims to join up the green dots. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

Business brisk for mobile hairdressers in Singapore amid Covid-19

SINGAPORE - For more than a year since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms Carista Heng and her family of three have not stepped into a hairdressing salon. The last time was before the circuit breaker in April last year. But the locks of the 39-year-old housewife, her husband and eight-year-old son are neat and tidy. They have been having their hair cut in their home at Pine Close in Geylang by a mobile hairdresser. They are among a growing number of people tapping mobile hairdressing services, with some hairdressers reporting 20 per cent more business since the pandemic began. "My son dislikes wearing a mask, so it's hard to get his hair cut at a regular salon. Now our family get our haircuts done at home. I find it much safer," said Ms Heng, who engages the mobile hairdressing service provided by Ms Jacklyn Tan, 59, every two months. Ms Tan has been offering mobile hairdressing services since 2016. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, she juggles salon appointments and mobile appointments from her studio - Jacklyn Tan Hair Studio. She has two outlets - in Punggol and Fortune Centre. Ms Heng learnt about the mobile hairdressing service through an Internet search an...

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‘My patients are my family’: Healthcare worker awarded for going beyond the call of duty

SINGAPORE - Mr Ng, 80, is a dementia patient who suffered a stroke in 2020. He was depressed and refused to talk to anyone, including his wife and daughter, who visited him daily at Jurong Community Hospital. Healthcare assistant Ilandari Deva Nishantha made the effort to talk to Mr Ng tenderly whenever he sponged, changed diapers and fed him, and to greet him in Mandarin - Mr Ng's mother tongue. Mr Nishantha, a Sri Lankan, ended up being the first person Mr Ng spoke to after three months of not communicating with anyone. It moved Mr Ng's daughter to tears when she witnessed it. Mr Nishantha, 35, won the Exemplary Service Excellence Award at the Public Sector Transformation Awards 2021 on Friday (July 30). The ceremony was held virtually. He has been working at Jurong Community Hospital for five years, and has 15 years of healthcare experience under his belt. He moved from Sri Lanka to Singapore in 2006. Mr Nishantha said he was inspired to pursue a career in healthcare when, as a 15-year-old, he saw how his grandmother, then a nurse, tended to his mother and helped her recover from a fever. "The way that my grandmother took care of and communicated with my mother really touched my...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Aug 1

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Aug 1. Deadly, more transmissible Covid-19 variant can't be ruled out, but chances are low: Experts There's no such immediate threat, and that gives Singapore a chance to get more people vaccinated. READ MORE HERE 8 new Covid-19 clusters, with one at Selarang work release centre There were 117 new locally transmitted cases on Saturday, including 26 linked to Jurong Fishery Port. READ MORE HERE MOE looking at buddy systems to help students cope with problems: Chan Chun Sing Those who are providing peer support must be equipped with the skills to listen effectively, he added. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Social media use can trigger feelings of inferiority or inadequacy among young: Experts "It can be as simple as 'this is not funny' or 'you're ugly' and you start wondering whether what they say is true," said an influencer on TikTok. READ MORE HERE Muhyiddin blocks any further attempts to oust him as Malaysia's prime minister Muhyiddin's postponing of Monday's parliament sitting comes after his government was publicly rebuked by Malaysia's king. READ MOR...

Mental health advocates welcome plans to have more school counsellors but say barriers remain

SINGAPORE - Mental health advocates and social service agencies welcome having more school counsellors in Singapore's labour-strapped mental health system. But they say structural barriers should be addressed too. Former NMP Anthea Ong said the plan to increase the number of teacher counsellors deployed in schools from more than 700 to over 1,000 in the next few years is a first step in aiding "grossly under-resourced schools" in mental health support for students. Education Minister Chan Chun Sing had announced the "near term" measures in Parliament last Tuesday in his ministerial statement. Currently, every Ministry of Education school has one or two counsellors. Ms Ong, who is the founder of initiative SG Mental Health Matters, which reviews Singapore's mental health policies, added: "You can increase from one to two or three counsellors per school but how they are trained, evaluated and given continuous development is what matters." High costs for treatment, long wait times and social stigma are among key barriers that social workers and mental health advocates say remain unsolved. According to the Institute of Mental Health's website, using MediSave to pay for inpatient psychi...

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5 celebrities who spoke out about their mental health struggles

SINGAPORE - United States gymnast Simone Biles' departure from the team competition was applauded by many for shedding light on the importance of mental health. Cha Hae Won lists five personalities who have similarly opened up about their mental health struggles. 1. Michael Phelps PHOTO: AFP Considered by many as one of the greatest swimmers of all time, the Olympic champion struggled with depression and anxiety in the past. He now spends his post-Olympic life raising awareness about mental health. 2. Adele PHOTO: AFP The Grammy-winning singer revealed in 2016 that she battled postnatal depression after her son's birth, opening up about a subject that many mothers have experienced. 3. Billie Eilish PHOTO: REUTERS Revealing her struggles with her newfound fame and body image, the singer has been vocal about her battle with depression, encouraging fans to reach out to others struggling with mental health issues. 4. DeMar DeRozan PHOTO: AFP The American basketball player revealed in 2018 that he had suffered from depression in the past. He is vocal about the need to have broader conversations about a person's mental well-being. 5. Ariana Grande PHOTO: REUTERS The singer opened up abou...

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Social media use can trigger feelings of inferiority or inadequacy among young: Experts

SINGAPORE - With nearly 200,000 followers, 22-year-old TikTok influencer Tan Yeo Shi Lee is sometimes subjected to more scrutiny than his peers when he expresses himself on social media. The second-year Singapore Management University student said: "It can be as simple as 'this is not funny' or 'you're ugly' and you start wondering whether what they say is true." Mr Tan said: "Sadly, it can really make you more insecure, though for me, I try not to let it affect me too much and I trust the words of those close to me much more." Seeing picture-perfect people on social media has also made him more conscious about how he represents himself online. Mr Tan, who creates videos with his friend Ryan Han, added: "There are obviously many comments on TikTok about us, be it who's better-looking, funnier, has a greater personality and honestly, it does affect us quite a bit." Sharing the experience with his collaborator has helped both of them dull the sting of nasty comments. The Sunday Times spoke to 23 people including social workers, counsellors, psychologists and parents, who said the impact of social media on the mental health of the young in Singapore is concerning. And not just in term...

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Jurong Fishery Port reopens for tenants but few workers return

SINGAPORE - The Jurong Fishery Port remained quiet on Saturday (July 31), despite reopening for tenants after a two-week closure due to a Covid-19 outbreak on its premises. The Straits Times observed that only nine workers - employees of the port's tenants - turned up at the port's entrance between 6am and 10am. Most came in their own vehicles, which they parked outside the entrance, while others arrived in taxis. Those who spoke to ST said they had returned to open their companies' offices for disinfection, as instructed by their bosses. Friday was the last day of their quarantine. They also said they had not yet been instructed to prepare for Monday, when unloading and wholesale activities are allowed to resume in the port. But the workers were not allowed entry until about 9.40am. By then, five of them had left after asking another worker to open their offices on their behalf. The remaining workers had to don protective clothing and were subsequently escorted by a Singapore Food Agency (SFA) officer into the port. Three other visitors, believed to be staff tasked with disinfecting the premises, were seen entering the port between 9.15am and 9.25am. ST understands that there are ...

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Number of unvaccinated seniors aged 60 and above now 177,000: Ong Ye Kung

SINGAPORE - Vaccination rates have been going up among seniors who are aged 60 and above, though more work still needs to be done, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Saturday (July 31). Speaking at a mobile vaccination centre which was set up at 22A Whampoa Precinct Hall on Saturday, Mr Ong said that the mobile vaccination teams have been up and running for three weeks so far, and have been effective in ramping up vaccination rates among seniors. The number of unvaccinated seniors from this age group has fallen to 177,000, said Mr Ong on Saturday. During a press conference on July 20, the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19 had said that the figure was 200,000, with a bigger push in the coming weeks to get these seniors inoculated. Since July 7, mobile vaccination teams alone have reached out to about 3,240 individuals, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in an update on Saturday. These teams go to selected community clubs and centres that are not already being used as vaccination centres, as well as residents’ committee centres at residential blocks, in towns including Bukit Merah, Sengkang, Tampines and Yishun. Mr Ong noted that the vaccination drive has largely been working due...

About 50 KTVs and other nightspots not allowed to reopen; others must first clear inspections

SINGAPORE - Around 50 nightlife establishments that flouted Covid-19 rules since October last year will not be allowed to reopen. Others that previously pivoted to food and beverage (F&B) operations must remain closed until they have passed inspections and received a conditional permit, the authorities said. Such outlets were ordered to close for two weeks from July 16, to break the community transmission of the virus from clusters at KTV lounges and nightclubs. If these pivoted nightlife establishments are permitted to reopen, they have to adhere to additional safe management measures, on top of existing ones for the F&B sector, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment in a joint statement on Saturday (July 31) with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The additional measures include locking all private rooms and installing closed-circuit television cameras to cover all areas of operation, including the entrances of the locked private rooms. Equipment that facilitate public entertainment, such as pool tables and karaoke machines, must be moved out of their patrons' sight. All employees at these outlets are also required to undergo Cov...

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Labour market recovery in S’pore could be hit by heightened restrictions, Delta-variant cases

SINGAPORE - The heightened domestic Covid-19 restrictions and multiplying coronavirus infections globally due to the highly contagious Delta variant could put the brakes on Singapore's labour market recovery, observers told The Straits Times. Total employment, excluding migrant domestic workers, fell by 15,700 in the second quarter of this year, according to a report of preliminary estimates by the Manpower Ministry (MOM) published on Friday (July 30). This is after total employment recorded its first increase in the previous quarter, following four quarters of decline. Permanent Secretary for Manpower Aubeck Kam said: "There was modest growth in resident employment in the second quarter. But it was offset by the continued decline in non-resident employment as some foreign workers complete their contracts and leave, and we face challenges in facilitating the entry of foreign workers because of public health considerations." However, unemployment rates eased further last month, despite remaining elevated compared with pre-pandemic levels, said MOM. Since peaking last September, the rates have been falling steadily. Experts noted that while the latest data is still encouraging, it is...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on July 31

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, July 31. 10 new Covid-19 clusters including Zuellig Pharma; 7 cases in ICU The number of patients in ICU has more than doubled to 7, from 3 the day before. READ MORE HERE Five-room Bishan HDB flat sold for record $1.295 million The 120 sq m unit has about 89 years left on its lease and sits above level 35 in a 40-story block. READ MORE HERE US Vice-President Kamala Harris to visit Singapore and Vietnam She will engage leaders on regional security, the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change among other issues. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Table tennis: Tokyo 2020 is my Olympic swansong, says Singapore's Yu Mengyu The 31-year-old will exit sport's grandest stage with her head held high. READ MORE HERE Challenges and opportunities in S'pore's post-pandemic recovery What are some of these shifts, and what challenges - and opportunities - will they bring? READ MORE HERE School, interrupted: How Covid-19 has affected students around the world ST correspondents in India, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia report on how students there have fared. READ MORE HER...

Woman who was serving SHN at hotel allegedly climbed into balcony of another room

SINGAPORE - A 39-year-old woman allegedly left on two occasions the hotel room where she was serving her stay-home notice (SHN) and even climbed into the balcony of another room. Singaporean Jin Chensu was charged on Friday (July 30) with two counts of failing to wear a mask outside her room and two counts of exposing others to the risk of Covid-19 infection. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a statement on Friday that Jin arrived in Singapore from Cambodia on Oct 4 last year. She was served an SHN on the same day and that was to last until Oct 18. Jin was also briefed by an ICA officer that she was required to serve her SHN at a dedicated facility and was not allowed to leave her room there. But she allegedly left her room at Shangri-la Rasa Sentosa Resort without wearing a mask twice - on Oct 6 and 9. On the first occasion, Jin purportedly climbed into the balcony of another room on the floor above and remained there for about five minutes before returning to her room. She is said to have loitered along the common corridor in the second instance before a hotel staff member found her 25 minutes later. She was then escorted back to her room. On Thursday, Distr...

S’pore’s total employment falls in Q2 but unemployment rates improve: MOM

SINGAPORE - The heightened Covid-19 restrictions in May and June to curb Covid-19 infections have taken a toll on Singapore's labour market. The number of workers employed fell in the second quarter of this year, after registering its first increase in the previous quarter following a decline last year, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Friday (July 30). Its report of preliminary estimates for the labour market in the second quarter showed that total employment, excluding migrant domestic workers, contracted by 15,700. This comes as resident employment grew only modestly due to earlier phase two (heightened alert) measures from May 16 to June 13 and their impact on domestically oriented sectors. This slower growth was not enough to offset the steep decline in non-resident employment as a result of ongoing curbs on the inflow of migrant workers. The modest resident employment growth was attributed to declines in domestically oriented sectors that were more directly impacted by the stricter measures, such as the food and beverage services and retail trade, said the report. On the other hand, resident employment continued to rise steadily for outward-oriented sectors such as info...

7 cultural and historical buildings in Bras Basah-Bugis to be lit up in red and white to mark National Day

SINGAPORE - August sees the annual light-up of civic, cultural and historical landmarks, and for Singapore's 56th birthday this year, the Bras Basah-Bugis precinct will be bathed in red and white. Unlike last year's focus on big hitters such as the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall and The Arts House, less known arts avenues such as the National Design Centre, Objectifs - Centre for Photography and Film and the Stamford Arts Centre have been chosen. The Cathay, which was the tallest building in Singapore and South-east Asia when it opened in 1939, has also been selected. It was the first air-conditioned cinema and the first cinema to screen American and British films here at the time. Rounding up the crew of seven put together by the National Heritage Board (NHB) are the Central Fire Station, the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and the National Museum of Singapore. All seven buildings will be lit every night in August from 7.30pm to 12am, in conjunction with the usual light-ups in the civic district. This year's selection of buildings also illuminates interesting but forgotten histories. Nestled at a busy junction opposite the National Library, the National Design Centre occupies th...