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Central banks in Singapore and the Philippines to work together on data connectivity

aseanpr 16 11 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The central banks of Singapore and the Philippines issued a statement of intent on Monday (Nov 16) that they will work together on data connectivity. Unlike data localisation - the practice of keeping data within a country's borders - data mobility in the financial sector supports economic growth and the development of innovative financial services, said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). They added that it also makes cross-border money laundering, terrorist financing patterns and proliferation financing easier to detect, and that it helps with the defence against cyber attacks and the management and assessment of risk on a global basis. In the statement, MAS and BSP said they intend to promote the adoption and implementation of policies and rules that facilitate three goals with respect to the operation of banks and non-bank financial institutions that fall under their jurisdiction. To begin with, the institutions should be allowed to transfer data, including personal information, across borders by electronic means, provided this activity is for the conduct of business within the scope of their licence, authorisation, or re...

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

aseanpr 16 11 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Monday, Nov 16. 15 countries, including Singapore, sign RCEP, the world's largest trade pact They comprise all 10 Asean members and key partners Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. READ MORE HERE TraceTogether app's upgrade will make contact tracing smoother for tourists The app will be upgraded by next month to allow tourists to do SafeEntry check-ins at shopping malls and dining venues. READ MORE HERE Who should be first to get access to a Covid-19 vaccine in Singapore? A committee has been formed to prioritise the people who should be given the vaccines as they become available. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Trump backtracks on acknowledging Biden won election, concedes ‘nothing' Twitter flagged the posts to indicate that the claims of election fraud are disputed. READ MORE HERE Why Biden will be tougher on China than Obama Congressional dynamics and popular sentiments in the US support a more confrontational stance. READ MORE HERE NTUC LearningHub CEO Kwek Kok Kwong dies at age 53 It is believed Mr Kwek collapsed after a cycling session wit...

ITE culinary arts graduate now runs his own hawker chain

aseanpr 16 11 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Before he graduated in 2013, Mr Shah Indra Jasni applied for an internship at La Pyramide, a two Michelin-starred restaurant in Vienne, France. The four-month stint was part of Mr Indra's final-year internship requirement for the Institute of Technical Education's (ITE) Technical Diploma in culinary arts programme. Said Mr Indra, who is now 28: "It was difficult to be there alone. I could speak a little French, enough to do my job and move around but it was tough to adjust to the restaurant and environment there. "It was different from school, back home." But the experience taught him a great deal. In 2017, Mr Indra started Burgs by Project Warung with two friends selling halal burgers at Golden Mile. The business has expanded to four outlets, although they have closed the original Golden Mile stall. Last month, he opened a new stall called Birdhaus by Project Warung, selling fried chicken. Daily sales across his different stalls have hit about four figures per outlet, he said. Mr Indra was among the first to be enrolled in the technical diploma programme, which started in 2011, and it has since produced a number of chefs and business owners. Mr Indra, who was one of fo...

A true Eureka moment: Dutch doctors went from cancer research to discovering new salivary glands

aseanpr 16 11 月

7 minutes

Puzzlement turned to wonder when a group of Dutch doctors who were carrying out cancer research stumbled upon a pair of new salivary glands. It was a feat made possible by their curiosity and new technology. The doctors from the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NCI) in Amsterdam were in 2017 studying scans from prostate and urethral gland cancer patients, which pinpointed pools of cancer cells in the body. The specialised scans detect salivary glands as well. When they called up the first images of the patients' head and neck regions, they expected to see the three known pairs of salivary glands near the ears and jaw light up in orange. But they were surprised to see a pair of curious-looking spindly structures smack in the middle of the head glowing too. The structures had never been seen before. "At first, we thought... it's not real. Or maybe it was some sort of tissue. But it looked a bit like a salivary gland, and then we wondered if it is a salivary gland," said Dr Wouter Vogel, a radiation oncologist at NCI. All 100 scans - 99 from males and one from a female - detected the hook-like pair lodged in the area where the nasal cavity and throat meet. The average length of each tiss...

Must-reads

aseanpr 16 11 月

2 minutes

THE BIG STORY Singapore signs world's largest trade pact The world's largest trade pact, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, was inked by ministers from 15 countries including Singapore. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said it was a "major step forward for the world, at a time when multilateralism is losing ground, and global growth is slowing". THE BIG STORY Who should be given a Covid-19 vaccine first? A number of Covid-19 vaccine candidates are undergoing late-stage trials and if successful, may be used to inoculate millions from as early as next month. Senior health correspondent Salma Khalik speaks to experts to understand who should be given priority and how much protection the vaccines can give, among other things. SINGAPORE ST photojournalists' personal take on their word of the year Words may fail many of us in trying to capture the misery of the past few months, but the wise folk at Collins Dictionary - lexicographers is the word for them - have hit on "lockdown" as their word of the year. Armed with the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words, The Straits Times photojournalists give a personal take on their word of the year. OPINION Why Biden will be t...

15 countries, including Singapore, sign RCEP, the world’s largest trade pact

aseanpr 15 11 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE - The world's largest trade pact was inked on Sunday (Nov 15) by the leaders of 15 countries after eight years of talks, a move seen as a boost for the region as it battles its worst crisis in decades. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will open up trade in goods and services, and includes protections in areas like e-commerce and intellectual property. The participating countries account for 30 per cent of the global economy and one-third of the world's population. They comprise all 10 Asean members - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - and key partners Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. Speaking at the RCEP leaders summit before the signing, Singapore's Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, said the agreement is a "major step forward for the world, at a time when multilateralism is losing ground, and global growth is slowing". "It signals our collective commitment to maintaining open and connected supply chains, and to promoting freer trade and closer interdependence especially in the face of Covid-19 when countries are turning inwards and are under protectionist pr...

Job fair for careers in environmental services offers more than 350 positions

aseanpr 15 11 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Since getting retrenched from oil and gas giant ExxonMobil two weeks ago, Mr Hameem Mustafa has applied for over over 20 jobs, with no replies yet. On Sunday (Nov 15) the job hunt for the 48-year-old continued at an environmental services sector job fair in his neighbourhood in Hong Kah North. The former workplace safety and health professional told The Straits Times that retrenchment has been difficult for him and his wife Ms Halimah Yazeen, 47. She was working in an administrative role but her contract ended in 2019. The couple, who do not have children, care for their elderly parents. “Now to survive, we have to be open. I’ll probably have to go for half of what I was earning because we can’t demand. “At this moment, the important thing is to get the job,” said Mr Hameem. The couple was among several attendees at the job fair, which is promoting careers in the environmental services sector for those who may have been impacted by the economic downturn. More than 350 job vacancies in about 21 organisations are on offer at the event, which is running from Sunday to Tuesday at the Hong Kah North Community Club. The jobs range from waste collection truck captain to waste ...

Orchard Road malls keeping it simple for Christmas; shoppers find decor subtle but brilliant

aseanpr 15 11 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Orchard Road malls are keeping it simple for Christmas, with pared-down decorations to mark the festive season. This year's light-up, which began last Friday (Nov 13), is a more subdued affair with malls cutting spending amid the slide in retail sales and the Covid-19 pandemic. Wisma Atria has outlaid 19 per cent less on Christmas decorations compared with last year, Tanglin Mall said it has spent "slightly less", while Mandarin Gallery's budget has been "moderated downward". Design and build company Dezign Format, which dressed up five Orchard Road malls this year, said decoration budgets have been "affected across the board". Malls such as Far East Plaza are reusing some decorations from last year, sprucing them up where necessary. Retail sales have taken a beating this year, with the latest government figures showing that for eight months since February, monthly retail sales excluding motor vehicles were down from a year ago. Sales excluding motor vehicles fell 12.7 per cent in September compared with the same month last year. Mr Amos Tan, a senior lecturer at Singapore Polytechnic's School of Business, said malls may be erring on the side of caution after retail sta...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Nov 15

aseanpr 15 11 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Nov 15. East Asia Summit leaders call for greater cooperation to tackle pandemic, economic crisis Countries must work together to rebuild economies, said PM Lee Hsien Loong. READ MORE HERE Stuck at sea: Seafarers who kept international trade humming despite Covid-19 Sailors around the world are stuck on ships due to the pandemic as few ports let crew disembark. READ MORE HERE A trade pact nearly 10 years in the making: 5 things to know about RCEP The world's largest trade pact is set to be signed on Sunday (Nov 15). READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Picking a reusable mask: Breathability v filtration efficiency With so many types of masks available, the question is: How effective are they against Covid-19 ? READ MORE HERE Lunch With Sumiko: Pastry chef Janice Wong on what sweet dreams are made of The dessert queen tells Executive Editor Sumiko Tan that chefs need an identity, and must innovate. READ MORE HERE Older interns impress with growth mindset Firms value their perspectives and past experience and younger interns view them as role models. READ MORE HE...

PM Lee urges countries to work with Asean to resume travel safely

aseanpr 15 11 月

5 minutes

The gradual resumption of travel will enable economic recovery and spur confidence in businesses in South-east Asia, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday, as he urged countries to lift restrictions on Asean states as the Covid-19 situation stabilises. Speaking at the virtual 23rd Asean Plus Three (APT) Summit between the regional bloc and China, Japan and South Korea, PM Lee emphasised the need to resume essential travel safely between countries. He noted that Singapore has bilateral green lane arrangements with some Asean member states and the three East Asian countries to facilitate essential travel. "Eventually, we look forward to resuming safe and smooth travel within the region. This will strengthen our people-to-people ties and give our economies a much-needed boost," he said. In separate meetings with Australia and New Zealand, PM Lee said the Republic has lifted border restrictions to allow visitors from the two countries, and hopes they will do the same soon. He added that the two countries and Asean should work towards "progressively and safely lifting travel restrictions", as the Covid-19 situation stabilises and economies get back on track. "The reopening of ou...

Kindergartens, temples and Government help migrant workers celebrate Deepavali despite Covid-19

aseanpr 14 11 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - The coronavirus pandemic may have put a dampener on Deepavali festivities for migrant workers here, but the spirit of the festival was not lost on Saturday (Nov 14), as various organisations came together to distribute goodies to the workers across 144 dormitories. They also helped pre-record religious prayers and greetings by the chief priests of various Hindu temples here, which were shared with migrant workers through social media. When the coronavirus pandemic hit Singapore's shores, the migrant workers in dormitories were the worst affected, with tens of thousands infected. Many were placed in quarantine or under lockdown in an effort to control the spread of the disease, and restrictions were imposed on what they could do on their rest days. Currently, they are still largely restricted to their workplaces and dormitories, or approved locations such as recreation centres. Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) chairman Yeo Guat Kwang said on Saturday: "The last few months have been very challenging for our migrant brothers in the dormitories. They have cooperated with measures implemented by the authorities and have generally taken all the controls in the right spirit... (i...

Asean Summit: Political security, economic ties key areas of cooperation for US and Asean, says PM Lee

aseanpr 14 11 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Singapore hopes that the United States will further broaden and deepen its presence in this region, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Saturday (Nov 14), highlighting political security and economic ties as two areas of cooperation. Speaking at the 8th Asean-US Summit, PM Lee said the US has been a vital partner for Asean since the end of World War II, and thanked it for its support to the region during the Covid-19 crisis. The virtual summit was attended by US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, who represented President Donald Trump. During the session, PM Lee said Singapore hopes that the US will further broaden and deepen its presence in this region, and welcomes the US' continued security presence in Asia. He said the Republic appreciates American support for the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which is the bloc's plan to develop the Indo-Pacific region. He also noted that operations of the US' Seventh Fleet help strengthen regional security and safeguard the rights of regional countries under international law, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. "We also hope to continue to work with the US to uphold the rules-based internati...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Nov 14

aseanpr 14 11 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, Nov 14. Will Covid-19 create a 'lost generation' in Asia? What is the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the young people of Singapore and Asia? READ MORE HERE Trump appears to acknowledge for first time that Biden could succeed him He appears to acknowledge the possibility of a Biden administration, in first public remarks since election loss. READ MORE HERE Hospitals should have flexible designs to adapt to changing needs, says Gan Kim Yong Changing demographics and disease patterns will require a changing model of care, he said. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Biden solidifies US election victory over Trump, with 306 electoral votes to 232 Biden wins Georgia, while Trump claims victory in North Carolina. READ MORE HERE More than 130 US Secret Service agents struck by Covid-19: Media Numerous agents had travelled to campaign rallies with Trump where many officials and most of the attendees went maskless. READ MORE HERE Family takes Covid-19 pandemic in its stride for Deepavali festivities While some customs have been disrupted this year, the spirit of ...

Weekly Podcasts: Beware pandemic of fake news; tips on sustainable investing

aseanpr 14 11 月

2 minutes

ST& BT Podcasts of the week (Nov 14) BT Money Hacks Ep 83: Demystifying ESG and sustainable investing (featuring Victor Wong, senior director and head of ESG Investments at UOBAM) The Big Story Ep 54: SIA's recovery progress as it posts record loss (featuring ST's associate editor Ven Sreenivasan) Life Weekend Picks Ep 102: The Crown's new Netflix season enters tumultuous era (featuring ST journalist Jan Lee & ST senior culture correspondent Ong Sor Fern) The Big Story Ep 56: Can new tech pass for foreign 'big fish' raise bar for local talent? (featuring OCBC Bank's chief economist Selena Ling) Editor Says Ep 3: Arming ourselves against pandemic of fake news (featuring Warren Fernandez, editor-in-chief of The Straits Times) #PopVultures Ep 35: US election memes, Worst Chris (Pratt?) and Red Velvet's Irene (featuring ST journalists Yeo Sam Jo & Jan Lee) Discover ST & BT podcasts: https://str.sg/JWVR Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf Life Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2 #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad Bookm...

S’pore, German defence ministers attend virtual dialogue

aseanpr 14 11 月

3 minutes

Multilateralism and international cooperation has served the world well since World War II, but global organisations and systems need to be updated for today's world, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen. The Covid-19 pandemic is but the latest event to have "shakened and weakened the very pillars" of the current global system, said Dr Ng. But countries should rethink and rework the system without throwing the baby out with the bath water, he added at a virtual dialogue yesterday. "Globalisation 1.0 was not perfect, but it did serve our needs," said Dr Ng, in an hour-long virtual dialogue organised by German think-tank Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). "A regression to parochial nativist and discriminatory policies by any country...will result again in bloc and misaligned interests which led to the previous two world wars." Of the many challenges facing this generation, Dr Ng said the threat to multilateralism and cooperation is the quintessential one as it affects the fundamental stability of the current world order. This order, rooted in multilateralism, had allowed for progress, development and peace for many, including Germany, J...

Coronavirus: 2 groups of 20 people or more probed for safe distancing breaches at nature reserves

aseanpr 13 11 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) - Two groups, each comprising 20 people or more, are under investigation for allegedly breaching safe distancing rules at Singapore's nature reserves. One involved 26 hikers who had attempted to go off-trail illegally in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, the largest on the island. The other was a group of 20 who had gathered for a birthday celebration at Labrador Nature Reserve in the south-west of Singapore. Of greater concern is that these two groups are not the only ones being investigated for possible violation of Covid-19 safety measures, nor are they even the biggest group. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) revealed on Thursday (Nov 13) that a group of 50 people is also being investigated. The New Paper understands this is the largest group linked to a breach since safe distancing measures were put in place in March. Responding to queries from TNP, an MSE spokesman said these incidents are among a spate of recent cases involving 12 to 50 people intermingling in large groups at various parks, birthday celebrations, baby showers, food and beverage outlets, and basketball and football games in Housing Board estate courts. Thes...

NParks to release over 280 new plots for gardening enthusiasts to exercise their green thumbs

aseanpr 13 11 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Gardening enthusiasts will have more space to exercise their green thumbs, with the National Parks Board (NParks) releasing over 280 gardening plots in four parks here. They are part of the 1,000 garden plots that will be made available across 18 parks and gardens in Singapore by next year. The plots announced on Friday (Nov 13) will be made available in Bedok Reservoir Park, Lower Seletar Reservoir Park, one-north Park and East Coast Park, which will have 120 plots for use. Gardeners can apply online from 10am on Nov 29. Applications will close at 10pm on Dec 6, and successful applicants will be notified within three months of this date. The plots will be allocated through computerised balloting. Each plot will be leased for three years at $57 annually, and comprises a raised planter bed measuring 2.5m by 1m. Those keen to dig up some dirt are encouraged to apply for the gardening plots nearest to their residence. NParks made more plots available to cater to the growing interest of avid gardeners in Singapore. By next year, there will be over 2,000 gardening plots around the island. NParks is providing additional spaces for growing plants and edibles, in the form of al...

CNB nabs largest heroin haul in 19 years, with drugs seized worth nearly $2 million

aseanpr 13 11 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - In its largest heroin bust in 19 years, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) seized 14.1kg of the drug in an operation that also saw officers haul in a significant cache of other drugs. In 2001, CNB recovered 14.9kg of the drug. The drug bust on Wednesday (Nov 11) saw about 2.8kg of crystalline methamphetamine, also known as Ice, 7.5kg of cannabis, 323g of Ecstasy fragments, 28 Ecstasy tablets, 1,008 Erimin-5 tablets and cash amounting to $12,629 seized from multiple locations. The total amount seized is estimated to be worth close to $2 million. Three men and two women, aged between 29 and 55, were arrested for their suspected involvement. Speaking to the media at the CNB headquarters on Friday, Superintendent Aaron Tang, CNB's director of intelligence division, said: "Even with movement restrictions due to the Covid-19 situation, drug traffickers are still taking huge gambles and exploiting the situation so they can profit off addiction and misery." The action started on Wednesday afternoon after CNB officers intercepted a vehicle near Siglap Road and arrested two men, aged 55 and 50, and a 52-year-old woman. All three are Singaporeans. In their vehicle, officers found ...

Jail, fine for ex-national footballer who molested Tinder date’s friend

aseanpr 13 11 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - A former national football player was sentenced on Friday (Nov 13) to 18 weeks' jail and a fine of $1,000 for offences including molesting his Tinder date's friend. The incident happened after Mohammad Imran Sahib Mohamed Ibrahim Sahib met a woman on the online dating platform and they went clubbing together in 2018 with one of her female friends. After the night out, the married man decided to take both women home in his car. But after dropping off his date, he molested the victim when they were alone. The victim and her friend cannot be named owing to a gag order. Last month, District Judge Kan Shuk Weng convicted the 38-year-old Singaporean after a trial of two counts of molestation and one count of using criminal force on the victim. On Friday, Judge Kan said that one of the acts of molestation took place while the car was on the move, reducing the victim's chance of escape. She noted that the father-of-three is a first-time offender and had contributed to Singapore's sporting scene when he was a national football player. In her submissions during the trial, Deputy Public Prosecutor Chee Ee Ling said that when Imran and the two women left a club called Baliza in Raf...

Debrief: New Tech.Pass work pass scheme a response to stiff competition for global tech talent

aseanpr 13 11 月

4 minutes

What's the story In a bid to raise its attractiveness to top-tier foreign tech talent, Singapore is launching a new work pass next year called Tech.Pass, which will be valid for two years and have the option to be renewed once for another two years. Pass holders can start and operate a business, serve on the board of directors of a Singapore-based company or be a shareholder or investor in companies here. They can also take up lecturing roles in institutes of higher learning, serve as a mentor or adviser to companies here, and conduct corporate training. Applications for it will start in January, and for a start, 500 places will be available when it is launched. Candidates for Tech.Pass must meet various criteria to show that they are high-level professionals in the tech industry. Renewal has stringent requirements too. The Economic Development Board will administer Tech.Pass, with the support of the Ministry of Manpower. Tech.Pass builds on the Tech@SG programme, which was introduced last year and which spells out more flexible requirements for foreign professionals to apply for an Employment Pass (EP) that applies to those with a fixed monthly salary of at least $4,500. Why it ma...

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