World’s biggest pension fund cuts US bond weighting by record
TOKYO (BLOOMBERG) – Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund made a record cut to the weighting of Treasuries in its portfolio last fiscal year as the world’s safest asset led a […]
Square to buy Afterpay for $39 billion as buy now, pay later booms
SAN FRANCISCO (REUTERS) – Square will purchase buy now, pay later (BNPL) firm Afterpay for about US$29 billion (S$39.3 billion) in Australia’s biggest-ever buyout, creating an online payments giant to […]
China’s indebted Evergrande sells stakes in Internet unit for $566 million
HONG KONG (BLOOMBERG) – China Evergrande Group has agreed to sell stakes in its Internet unit for a total of HK$3.25 billion (S$566 million) to ease funding pressure. The developer […]
Kitchen Culture files CAD report on payroll irregularities
SINGAPORE (THE BUSINESS TIMES) – The board of Kitchen Culture Holdings lodged a report on Friday (July 30)with the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) in relation to “suspected payroll irregularities” concerning two […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
‘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 […]
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 […]
5 things to know about Chinese stocks
(NYTIMES) – Americans have good reasons to be wary of investing in China. It’s easy to get caught up in the headlines and go no further. It’s easy to be […]
More young people jumping aboard the cryptocurrency train despite risks
SINGAPORE – When 21-year-old student Yong Jun put $2,800 into Ethereum in February this year, he did so with the view that it would be a long-term investment. He was […]
New York facing rental slump
(BLOOMBERG) – Condo sales are surging in New York City. But fewer of those buyers are tapping a once-popular investment strategy: leasing out units for income. The idea fell out […]
Oh yes, young people may be easier targets for scams
(NYTIMES) – If you’re a digital native and consider yourself immune to all scams, the thieves have you right where they want you. For years now, the Better Business Bureau’s […]
Work from home is spurring some to retire early
(NYTIMES) – For Ms Mona Janochoski, a chemist who ran a laboratory, working from home during the coronavirus pandemic was the deciding factor. It was the first time in her […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]