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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Feb 17

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2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, Feb 17. Tanjong Pagar crash: Video shows girlfriend of driver running to burning car Footage obtained by ST shows the moment the woman ran into a burning car to save those trapped inside. READ MORE HERE Highlights of Budget 2021: From household vouchers to GST on imported low-value goods bought online Petrol duties will go up while lifelines for firms in worst-hit sectors like aviation will be extended. READ MORE HERE Budget 2021: Pivoting from Covid-19 crisis to what comes next As is usual with DPM Heng Swee Keat's Budgets, the measures are wide-ranging, with a lot to unpack. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Friends in Tanjong Pagar crash were doing charity work just hours before fatal accident They were helping to give out meals to low-income seniors living in rental flats at York Hill Estate in Tiong Bahru. READ MORE HERE Carrot-and-stick approach to speeding up electric vehicle adoption After a series of sweeteners to entice motorists to switch to electric cars, there is now a slightly bitter pill for those who do not. READ MORE HERE Philanthropist a...

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$11b Resilience package to help Singapore bounce back

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3 minutes

A total of $11 billion will be set aside for a Covid-19 Resilience Package which will support a three-pronged approach to help Singapore bounce back from Covid-19. It will address immediate needs to safeguard public health and reopen the economy safely, support workers and businesses, and target specific sectors under stress, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday. "The global economy is projected to recover to pre-Covid-19 levels this year, but the recovery is uneven across countries and sectors," he said. "The Singapore economy is projected to grow between 4 per cent and 6 per cent, with some sectors growing well, and others remaining under stress." The $11 billion will be used to support the recovery process. Of this, $4.8 billion will go towards safeguarding public health, including providing everyone who is eligible with free vaccination against the virus. The national vaccination programme and the medicines for those infected will cost $1 billion. The bulk of the money allocated to public health - $3.1 billion - will be used for testing, clinical management of those who become sick, and contact tracing to identify people who might have become infected, to prevent...

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Authorities have safeguards against risks in trading fuelled by online discussions: Ong Ye Kung

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Authorities here have three measures in place to safeguard against the risks related to securities trading like those fuelled by online discussion forums and social media chat groups. These measures are to provide market transparency, curb any sharp price movements and take enforcement action against market misconduct, said Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung, who is a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) board member. Mr Ong added that there have been no signs that discussions in online forums or social media chat groups have led to any significant increase in the trading of securities listed in Singapore, he said in the wake of the populist stock movement WallStreetBets' effect on certain US share prices last month. Market regulators MAS and Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) are also on heightened alert to such activities. He was responding to a parliamentary question on Tuesday (Feb 16) by Mr Desmond Choo (Tampines GRC) on concerns regarding securities trading driven by online discussions and the safeguards against this, which could destabilise the securities market. Stocks of firms such as video game retailer GameStop and cinema chain AMC Entertainment Holdings ...

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Teck Whye fatal stabbing: Man on trial for murder of co-tenant in quarrel over rent

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - A man who had been sleeping in the rough found a roof over his head after a stranger approached him to split the rent on a flat in Teck Whye Crescent. But the previously homeless Mohammad Rosli Abdul Rahim, now 51, started to suspect that his co-tenant Mohammad Roslan Zaini, 35, was overcharging him for his share of the rent. In the early hours of Aug 16, 2017, an argument over rent and utility payments ended with Rosli stabbing Roslan in the heart and killing him, while two acquaintances looked on. On Tuesday (Feb 16), prosecutors told the High Court on the first day of Rosli's murder trial that he had intentionally inflicted the fatal stab wound - between 11cm and 13cm deep - which penetrated the victim's sternum and pierced his heart. If convicted, Rosli faces the death sentence or life imprisonment. Rosli also inflicted two other stab wounds on the victim - one on his right thigh and the other on the right forearm - and numerous slash wounds on his upper back, right arm and thumbs. "The deceased was unarmed and defenceless, and the accused suffered nary a scratch. The attack only stopped after the deceased ran out of the flat," said Deputy Public Prosecutor Yang Zil...

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Four days added to River Hongbao 2021

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The popular River Hongbao event, which this year limited crowd sizes, has been extended by four days with a final show on Saturday (Feb 20). The free event, held at Gardens by the Bay from Feb 10, features 24 giant lanterns, pre-recorded performances and a lion dance exhibition with artefacts from private collectors and organisations, some dating as far back as the 1950s. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong, who was there on its first two nights, said: "Many Singaporeans enjoy River Hongbao each Chinese New Year. "I am glad that this year's edition has been extended, so that more can experience the spectacular offerings while keeping safe." Around 23,000 people attended the event over the first four days. Due to safe management measures, organisers had limited attendance to a maximum of 2,000 people for each 1½ hour time slot during the day and the two hour slots at night. Mr Tan Aik Hock, chairman of this year's River Hongbao organising committee, said: "Many visitors have told us that they really enjoyed coming to River Hongbao in the new venue, as it is less crowded and they still get a taste of Chinese New Year festivitie...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Feb 16

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2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Tuesday, Feb 16. Son couldn't drive and wasn’t a fan of fast cars, says dad of Tanjong Pagar crash victim Mr Wilson Teo's family remember him as a driven young man who was their pillar of support. READ MORE HERE Tanjong Pagar accident: Fires in car crashes rare with safer designs A flurry of questions have dominated conversations surrounding Feb 13's horrific crash. READ MORE HERE Singapore Budget 2021: Follow ST’s live coverage on DPM Heng’s speech from 3pm Find out how and why the Budget matters to you, with ST's live coverage. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news WHO approves AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use The approval will widen access to the relatively inexpensive shot in the developing world. READ MORE HERE Toa Payoh hit-and-run accident: Driver and passenger arrested The two were nabbed on Sunday and Monday respectively, said the police. READ MORE HERE Incoming WTO chief Okonjo-Iweala warns 'vaccine nationalism' could slow pandemic recovery The new chief said her top priority was to ensure the WTO does more to address the pandemic. READ MO...

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Solidarity shown by WWII generation can guide Singapore in pandemic: Lawrence Wong

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The sense of solidarity and collective responsibility that the pioneer generation embodied during the Japanese Occupation serves as a guide to how Singapore should deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said on Monday (Feb 15) on the anniversary of the fall of Singapore. Drawing parallels between the pandemic and World War II, he said the pandemic can be a defining moment in Singapore's history, where Singaporeans were tested but overcame the "toughest of circumstances" with resilience and resolve. The country's pioneers, who endured the hardships of war, were a generation who got things done, served with honour, and helped built Singapore, said Mr Wong, who also co-chairs the multi-ministry task force tackling the pandemic. "They have taught us that there is no trouble we cannot endure; no calamity we cannot overcome as a people." While the Japanese Occupation of Singapore lasted more than three years, said Mr Wong, it is unclear how long the pandemic will last, although "at some point, it will be over". "At that time, I hope we can look back and say that this has been a defining moment in our history. We have been tested in this crucible, bu...

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Singapore Budget 2021: 5 things to look out for

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7 minutes

SINGAPORE - This year's Budget will be unveiled on Tuesday (Feb 16) as Singapore continues to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic fallout. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat has said that helping workers and firms adapt, innovate and grow will be a key priority for Budget 2021 - his sixth Budget speech. The Government will also continue to support workers and businesses, especially those in hard-hit sectors, he said. Last year, the Government set aside a war chest of almost $100 billion - or nearly 20 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) - to cope with the pandemic, with most of the funds used to support businesses and help workers keep their jobs. Here are five things to look out for on Tuesday: 1. More targeted support This year's Budget is expected to target sectors hit hardest by the pandemic, but overall spending will be reined in after extensive support measures were rolled out last year. Mr Liang Eng Hwa, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Finance, Trade and Industry, told a pre-Budget round-table last month: "I expect this Budget to be a lot more targeted and differentiated than before, so we really channel and alloca...

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Public servant arrested for allegedly leaking police lookout message on Tampines stabbing

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A 37-year-old public servant has been arrested for allegedly leaking a police lookout message that identified the suspect of the Tampines stabbing incident, which took place last Wednesday (Feb 10). The police said on Monday that the man is suspected of wrongful communication of information under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). The man, who is from another government agency, had received the lookout message when the police sent it to various law enforcement agencies at around 7.30am last Wednesday, after they had established the identity of the suspect in the stabbing. The lookout message included the police report number, the suspect's name, picture, date of birth and nationality. It also included an image taken from a security camera showing a person believed to be the suspect. The public servant had allegedly taken a photograph of the lookout message and shared it via WhatsApp with his friend, a 60-year-old man, who was not authorised to receive the classified information. The message was then further disseminated by the friend to other unauthorised recipients, which led to wider circulation. Police said their investigations are ongoing. "The Government takes a serio...

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Three men investigated by police for allegedly protesting outside Myanmar Embassy in S’pore

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Three men are being investigated for purportedly participating in a public assembly without a permit outside the Embassy of Myanmar in Singapore, the police said on Sunday (Feb 14). Two of the men are Japanese nationals, aged 48 and 61, and the third is a 49-year-old Indonesian. The police were alerted at 3.45pm on Feb 10 to three men allegedly protesting outside the embassy to demonstrate "their support for the people of Myanmar". Two placards, three mobile phones and a letter were seized. The police reminded the public that "organising or participating in a public assembly without a police permit in Singapore is illegal and constitutes an offence under the Public Order Act". Organisers of illegal assemblies face fines of up to $5,000 and participants can be fined up to $3,000. "The police will not grant any permit for assemblies that advocate political causes of other countries," it said. "Foreigners visiting or living in Singapore should abide by our laws." On Feb 5, the police had warned against holding protests in Singapore related to the ongoing political events in Myanmar, saying: "The police are aware of online posts by Myanmar nationals working or residing in S...

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askST: Is there a quota on university places for polytechnic graduates?

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5 minutes

SINGAPORE - In this first of the askST series on university education, senior education correspondent Sandra Davie of The Straits Times responds to questions on university places for this year and the chances of polytechnic graduates getting into university Q: My son was supposed to go to Australia to study, but we decided against it because the courses are being delivered online. Will there be more places offered by the local universities this year, as was the case last year? A: Education Minister Lawrence Wong told The Straits Times in an interview earlier this year that the six local universities offered around 1,000 extra places last year, on account of the disruption caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic which forced students to readjust their plans. Some of the additional places went to Singaporeans like your son who had planned to study overseas, but switched to local universities when their plans were disrupted. Others went to polytechnic diploma holders who opted to study instead of joining a weak job market. So, all in, 17,500 places were given out. This extra enrolment pushed the student participation rate in universities beyond the stated target of 40 per cent for eve...

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Four in 10 HDB residents shop online, more interacting with neighbours on Internet: Survey

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5 minutes

SINGAPORE - Online shopping may have had an impact on Housing Board (HDB) shops. Close to 50 per cent of those who bought items online reported they had shopped less at HDB shops in the latest HDB Sample Household Survey which is conducted once every five years. The latest survey, done in 2018, also showed that HDB residents also generally interacted slightly less with their neighbours, though the proportion who communicated with their neighbours in online chat groups or through social media more than doubled from 2013. The survey results, released on Sunday (Feb 14), said that about four in 10 HDB residents had made online purchases through websites and mobile applications in 2018, with a higher proportion of online shoppers living in four-room or bigger flat types. The majority of online shoppers were also aged 45 years and below, and likely to be from families with young children. Clothing and footwear were the top items purchased online, followed by phones and electronic products. Commenting on the survey results, Associate Professor Lawrence Loh from the National University of Singapore Business School said that the question of HDB shops' survival amid the rise of e-commerce w...

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Tanjong Pagar car crash: Flowers, photo, clothes placed at site as people pay respects to the 5 who died

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5 minutes

SINGAPORE - Flowers, clothing and a photograph were placed at the scene of Saturday's (Feb 13) horrific crash at Tanjong Pagar, as people paid their respects to the five men who were killed when their BMW crashed into a shophouse and burst into flames. When The Straits Times arrived at the scene at around 7.45am, an old photo of a little boy had been placed on top of a set of clothes and a pair of shoes at the charred entrance of the shop. The photo, believed to be that of one of the victims, was later removed. Flowers, lit candles and condolence notes were among the items placed at the side and front of the shop. The accident on the second day of the Chinese New Year on Saturday killed all five men in the car. The police said it was the highest number of people killed in a single traffic accident in the past decade. Six workers from TS Engineering Works arrived to set up road safety cones at 8.28am. They started installing a metal barricade at 8.40am. Tanjong Pagar car crash: Workers install metal beams to cover the accident site on Feb 14, 2021 One of them, a man who wanted to be known as Harun, 38, said that he had been instructed to board up the place. A family member and frien...

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Race to go green on Singapore’s roads starts with clear rules and runway

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1 minute

SINGAPORE - American electric carmaker Tesla has returned to Singapore, posting prices which make equivalent petrol cars seem overpriced. An inter-ministerial Singapore Green Plan 2030 launched last week has also raised proposals to further incentivise the adoption of electric cars - on top of tax breaks already in place. 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 Feb 14

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2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Feb 14. ‘She did what she did for love’: Woman in ICU tried to save boyfriend in Tanjong Pagar crash The 26-year-old is a former Singapore Airlines air stewardess, and also sang getai on occasion. READ MORE HERE Tanjong Pagar car crash: Driver of BMW and passengers killed identified All had at one time worked as representatives for Aviva Financial Advisers. READ MORE HERE 5 killed in Tanjong Pagar car crash: What happened They were identified by their next-of-kin at about 10.30am on Saturday, about five hours after the accident. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Trump acquitted in second impeachment trial, but outcomes favour Democrats Trump was predictably acquitted in the Republican-majority Senate but the process, and the outcome, was a net win for Democrats, says Nirmal Ghosh. READ MORE HERE More Singaporean women finding a foreign Mr Right 1,727 Singaporean women tied the knot with a non-resident groom in 2019 - up 52% from 2009. READ MORE HERE A virtual Chinese New Year for a family of four generations Setting up a virtual gathering can be a source of ...

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Singapore Budget 2021: Stay updated with ST’s live coverage

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - This year's Budget, which will be announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on Tuesday (Feb 16), comes as Singapore has spent about a year tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic fallout. Mr Heng has said that helping workers and firms adapt, innovate and grow will be a key priority for Budget 2021 - his sixth Budget speech. The Government will also continue to support workers and businesses, especially those in hard-hit sectors, he said. Find out how and why the Budget matters to you with The Straits Times, which will be offering live coverage of this year's announcements as they are delivered in Parliament from 3pm. Real-time updates Our live show, starting at 2.55pm, will have a live stream of Mr Heng's speech. Get instant, bite-size updates on our special live blog on straitstimes.com. Watch video highlights of the speech, and read in-depth analyses on what the Budget means for you on our various platforms. Stay updated through our Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as our Telegram channel, and visit our microsite for more reports. Special-edition newsletter Get Budget highlights and a summary of key announcements ...

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5 killed in Tanjong Pagar car crash: What happened

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - The bodies of five people killed in a pre-dawn crash along Tanjong Pagar Road were identified by their next-of-kin at about 10.30am on Saturday (Feb 13), about five hours after the accident. This is a timeline of the events which took place early on Saturday: 5.30am: The roar of car engines is heard about 10 minutes before a loud crash. Eyewitnesses say the car, a white BMW, burst into flames soon after it slammed into a vacant shophouse previously occupied by Five Oars Coffee Roasters. 5.40am: Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is alerted to a fire at 37 Tanjong Pagar Road. A man is later seen crying hysterically at the scene and begging for his friends to be rescued from the car. 7.30am: Land Transport Authority announces road closures on Tanjong Pagar Road (towards Murray Street) after Maxwell Road. 7.50am: The Straits Times arrives at the scene of the crash. About 200m of Tanjong Pagar Road is cordoned off by the police. SCDF had sent four fire trucks to the scene. 10.30am: Next-of-kin of the occupants of the car are spotted at the crash site, identifying the bodies of the five killed. Two police hearses are at the scene. 10.50am: Police cordon is expanded to bloc...

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CNY Tanjong Pagar accident: Woman badly burnt trying to save boyfriend from burning car, says friend

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2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A friend of one of the five victims in Saturday's horrific crash at Tanjong Pagar Road said a woman tried to save one of them and got burned doing so. On Saturday (Feb 13) morning, five people were killed and one sent to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) after a car, a BMW, slammed into the front of a shophouse there. The Singapore Civil Defence Force was alerted at about 5.40am. Mr Akira Chan, 21, a friend of the victims, told The Straits Times one of the victims ran a popular Korean eatery in the area. He said: "They were at the restaurant around the time and were going back when the car skidded. "The fiancée of one of my friends in the car tried to open the door to save him and was burned as a result." ST understands she suffered 80 per cent burns to her body and is being treated at the SGH burns unit. Mr Chan, who spoke to ST at the accident scene, said his other friends who were at the restaurant at the time witnessed the accident and were assisting in police investigations. The family members of the victims arrived at about 10.30am, and were believed to have identified the bodies before they were taken away to the mortuary. They were heard wailing from about 30m aw...

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Small-scale Istana open house for CNY sees 18 guests return in person, new Inclusive Garden launched

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4 minutes

SINGAPORE - At a previous Istana open house, Mr Shariffuddin Ahmad only made it to its main gate in Orchard Road, giving up on visiting it due to the long queue. The 65-year-old finally made it in on Wednesday (Feb 10), as part of a group of 18 beneficiaries and caregivers from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore and St Luke’s ElderCare who were invited to a small-scale Chinese New Year open house. This is the sole physical open house in a year, after the past four open houses hosted by President Halimah Yacob took place virtually in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. "I feel privileged, I have never spoken with the President before and today I had a chance to do that," said Mr Shariffuddin, who previously suffered a stroke and uses a wheelchair. During the visit, he took in a performance by the Nanyang Primary School Chinese Orchestra and witnessed the launch of a new garden designed for visitors like him - seniors, wheelchair users and persons with disabilities. The new Inclusive Garden was mooted by Madam Halimah to make the Istana, the President's official residence, more accessible. A collaboration between the President's Office and the National Parks Board, the garden has a wh...