SeaPRwire

Brawijaya University develops the GAD65 Rapid Test Diabetes Screening Kit

pandora 26 11 月

2 minutes

Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Nov 25, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Brawijaya University (UB) in Malang, East Java has developed an initial screening kit for diabetes. The Bioscience Rapid Test GAD65, developed by aresearch team led by Prof. Dr. Aulanni'am, drh, DES, is ready for commercialization and use in early screening for Type I Diabetes Mellitus, before measures and treatment are determined.The reverse-flow immunochromatography-based detection kit identifies the presence of autoantibodies against GAD65, which indicate damage to beta-pancreatic cells, a marker for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA).Diabetes is a global health threat which can lead to complications that impact the quality of human life as well as substantially add to health costs for families and countries. Its increasing prevalence has raised concerns globally and prompted prevention efforts. Detecting and managing the condition through appropriate therapy is crucial for preventing deterioration in the condition of people suffering from the metabolic disease.The Bioscience Rapid Test GAD65 is among the downstream products developed as part of the cooperation between Brawijaya U...

4 years’ jail for woman who poured hot water on boyfriend’s groin, causing third-degree burns

aseanpr 26 11 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - A woman who poured hot water on her boyfriend's groin, thinking he was cheating on her, was sentenced on Thursday (Nov 26) to four years' jail. Zareena Begum P. A. M. Basheer Ahamed, 50, was found guilty by District Judge Brenda Tan of voluntarily causing grievous hurt after a trial which ended on Sept 28. The man was hospitalised for 26 days and unable to work for about six months as a result of the incident, which occurred while he was asleep. He suffered second- and third-degree burn injuries over 12 per cent of his body. In submissions at the end of the trial, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Jun Chong said the two became a couple in 2006 but over the course of their relationship, broke up several times while accusing each other of cheating. On Jan 12, 2017, Zareena saw her boyfriend at the HarbourFront Centre ferry terminal with a woman, someone Zareena suspected had been having an affair with her boyfriend since 2015. In the wee hours of July 5 that year, Zareena took her boyfriend's mobile phone from his bag as he slept in her living room. The DPP said she grew furious when she saw messages from the other woman to her boyfriend. "She wanted to teach him a lesson for l...

Public service report card: Incomes of Singaporeans rise and inequality falls, but growth hit by Covid-19

aseanpr 26 11 月

6 minutes

SINGAPORE - Even as Singapore wrestles with the fallout from Covid-19, the Government has managed to boost incomes and reduce wealth inequality, while making sure necessities such as housing and healthcare remain affordable. Singapore also continues to be business-friendly and internationally competitive. These are among the key achievements of the public service up till 2019 in most cases, according to a new report released by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on Thursday (Nov 26). The Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review (Spor), a stock-take of the sector's work that is unveiled every two years, rounds up key figures in such areas as the economy and social support. But unlike past editions, this year's review has a special section in recognition of the whole-of-nation effort to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Titled "Emerging Stronger as One", it highlights how Singaporeans, businesses and the community have stepped forward to partner the Government to help those in need. Here are four key takeaways from the report: 1. Lower income inequality, more work opportunities For the first time in five years, 2019 shows Singapore's Gini coefficient - a measure of income inequality - dippin...

US economic suffering may rise without stimulus: Fed minutes

elean 26 11 月

3 minutes

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Officials at the Federal Reserve feared the US economy was on a course for renewed pain without Congress approving more stimulus to help its recovery from the pandemic, according to minutes of the central bank's latest policy meeting released on Wednesday (Nov 25). Members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) also considered future changes in its strategy of buying Treasury assets and mortgage-backed securities, the minutes from the Nov 4-5 meeting said. US central bankers including Fed chair Jerome Powell have been gently prodding Washington lawmakers for more stimulus spending to help dig the US economy out of the deep hole the coronavirus pandemic pushed it into. But with Democrats and Republicans in Washington deadlocked over such a measure, FOMC staff said the lack of stimulus would cause "significant hardships for a number of households," according to the meeting minutes. Congress's passage earlier in the year of the US$2.2 trillion (S$2.9 trillion) Cares Act rescue package helped Americans build up their savings during the worst of the downturn, which FOMC members said may see households through. "The savings cushion accumulated by other households ...

Qantas offers fast-track to higher status to frequent flyers of rival airlines

elean 26 11 月

2 minutes

SYDNEY (REUTERS) - Qantas Airways said on Thursday (Nov 26) it will offer top-tier members of rival frequent flyer programmes a fast-track to higher status as its main domestic rival, Virgin Australia, pursues a less premium strategy under its new owner. The move could help boost Qantas' market share in lucrative corporate and high-end leisure travel as domestic flights ramp up in Australia due to the reopening of state borders. "With so much uncertainty in the market, we've seen a spike in requests from people wanting us to match their status with other airlines," Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth said in a statement. "If they are willing to bring their travel across to Qantas, we will fast track them to Gold status." Qantas Gold status includes access to its large network of airport lounges, priority check-in and boarding and preferential seating. By early December, Qantas expects 30 of its 35 domestic airport lounges will be open, whereas Virgin last week said it would maintain only six domestic lounges as part of its shift to becoming a more value-focused mid-market airline. Qantas also includes free Wi-Fi on its domestic flights, while Virgin is reviewing the future of its Wi-Fi...

China fintech giants scramble to rethink IPOs, raise capital

elean 26 11 月

5 minutes

BEIJING (BLOOMBERG) - Jack Ma's vision of the future of finance in China is being upended by regulators, along with the ambitions of conglomerates that followed his lead. Mr Ma's Ant Group is in talks with regulators about injecting capital into its micro-lending units just weeks after its US$35 billion (S$46.9 billion) initial public offering was halted in a sector-wide crackdown. The listing plans of e-commerce billionaire Richard Liu's JD Digits Technology Holding have also been thrown into limbo. Lufax Holding had to renegotiate terms with some shareholders after its recent IPO valued China's largest listed online lender at less than a previous funding round. The details come from people familiar with the discussions, who asked not to be identified speaking on private matters. It's all part of the rapidly shifting landscape for China's fintech leaders, which till recently offered the most compelling evidence of technology giants using their might - and a light regulatory touch - to rewire traditional financial services. They are now rushing to shore up capital, mulling business overhauls and bracing for more turbulence as industry watchdogs set their sights on areas spanning le...

S&P 500, Dow pull back from all-time closing highs after grim jobless data

elean 26 11 月

3 minutes

NEW YORK (REUTERS) - The S&P 500 index closed lower on Wednesday (Nov 25) as mounting US layoffs in the wake of new mandated lockdowns to contain surging Covid-19 infections dampened investor risk appetite. The index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated from record closing highs, pulled lower by cyclicals and small caps that drove the rally earlier in the week. Pandemic-resilient tech and tech-adjacent market leaders helped keep the Nasdaq afloat. "It's a growth day, flipping back the other way away from value," said Tim Ghriskey, chief investment strategist at Inverness Counsel in New York. "It's this ongoing struggle between the virus and the vaccine." "There's a reality setting in that while the vaccine will start being distributed fairly quickly, the virus isn't go away quickly and therefore the timeline for economic improvement is getting pushed out." A wide range of data released in advance of Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday was dominated by a second consecutive week of unexpected jobless claims increases, suggesting that new restrictions to combat spiking coronavirus cases could hobble the struggling labor market's recovery. "The economic data is not good, and we k...

Global recovery heading into critical period: MAS chief

elean 26 11 月

6 minutes

The global economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic is heading into a critical period as nations balance the need to prop up consumers and businesses against the threat of unmanageable debt, Singapore's central bank chief said. "The world is now entering a phase where the crisis is long, drawn-out, the peak of the crisis is behind us, but we're not in full recovery," Mr Ravi Menon, managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), told Bloomberg. "In this undefined twilight zone of sorts, what is the appropriate policy mix?" He said fiscal policy would have to start unwinding, but gradually, while monetary policymakers must recognise that extraordinary measures cannot continue indefinitely. Governments worldwide have pumped trillions of dollars into their economies, with that fiscal support taking the lead in combating the effects of the pandemic and winning the backing of multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund that are usually more cautious about debt. Meanwhile, central bankers have kept interest rates near record lows and tinkered with unconventional tools. If officials do not start the process now of fine-tuning their stimulus, they ris...

2 men accused of tampering with election posters charged

aseanpr 25 11 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Two men accused of tampering with election posters in separate incidents were charged in a district court on Wednesday (Nov 25). The two Singaporeans - Lim Song Huat, 48 and Constantine Paul, 51 - were charged with offences under the Parliamentary Elections Act. The general election in Singapore was held on July 10. Lim, who faces three charges, was along a service road in Woodlands Street 13at around 9.30am on July 3, during the campaigning period, when he allegedly used a black pen to draw a horizontal line across a People's Action Party (PAP) poster hung on a lamp post. He is also accused of using his hands to tear a second PAP poster about 15 minutes later. Lim is said to have then destroyed a third PAP poster by tearing it with his hands at around 9.47am. Paul, who faces two charges, allegedly removed two Progress Singapore Party (PSP) posters from lamp posts along Bukit Batok East Avenue 5 at around 8pm on June 30. In an earlier statement, the police said they had initiated investigations after officers came across an election poster belonging to the PSP at the bottom of a lamp post in Bukit Batok East Avenue 5 at about 1.50am on July 1. Later that day, the PSP lo...

Help for chartered bus operators to go digital

aseanpr 25 11 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Chartered bus operators, typically owners of small fleets of about five vehicles, will now receive more help from the Government to automate their processes, accelerating a transition already sharpened by the coronavirus pandemic. In a new thrust towards digitalisation headed by the Land Transport Authority and Enterprise Singapore, it was announced on Wednesday (Nov 25) that operators will receive financial subsidies, free consultancy advice and training to help with the change in what remains a stubbornly traditional industry. Improvements could include having buses' whereabouts tracked on a digital map, in-built cameras that monitor drivers' behaviour, and integrated systems for online payment and route planning. With many chartered buses used as school buses that deal with large numbers of students, real-time tracking can put parents' minds at ease, while online processes can lessen the administrative burden on chartered bus companies who still often take attendance physically and collect payment in cash, bus operators said. Senior Minister of State for Transport and Foreign Affairs Chee Hong Tat, speaking at the event announcing the launch of the digital plan for c...

Parents collect PSLE results of son who died from cancer

aseanpr 25 11 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE - In 2008, when he was but an eight-month-old baby, Raphael Lee was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in his left forearm. He underwent treatment for this rare form of soft tissue cancer for a year and the disease went into remission. But in 2016, when Raphael was a Primary 2 pupil, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, or bone cancer. It started in his left arm again, and eventually spread to his right collarbone and both lungs. On Nov 13, the 12-year-old died due to complications from surgery. His parents, Mr William Lee, 47, and Mrs Winnie Lee, 45, collected his Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results from Alexandra Primary School on his behalf on Wednesday (Nov 25). Raphael was their only child. Mr Lee, who works as a course manager with St John Singapore, said: "We expected his lifespan would be shortened, but we didn't know death would come so soon. "We told him that our focus was not on his studies but on his health. We would tell him 'Just do your best, there is no stress' but he wanted to prove himself. "As much as possible, he tried to complete his homework." The Catholic couple said that the Church of St. Bernadette, that they attend, as well as Raphael's...

140 P6 pupils granted special consideration at PSLE due to Covid-19-related reasons

aseanpr 25 11 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - This year’s Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) saw 140 Primary 6 pupils granted special consideration due to Covid-19-related reasons, with some missing papers because they were on medical leave for an acute respiratory infection. These pupils accounted for 0.4 per cent of the 2020 PSLE cohort. On Wednesday (Nov 25), 39,995 pupils received their results, down from 40,256 pupils last year. To ensure fairness to all in light of the pandemic, the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) said on Monday that it took multiple factors into consideration. These included the pupils’ performance in the other papers and their school cohort’s performance for that affected subject in the PSLE and their school-based examinations. The pupils collected their results in their classrooms, instead of the school hall which is the norm, due to the Covid-19 pandemic this year. Doing it that way gave them “the opportunity to be with their classmates and consult their teachers face-to-face on their next steps” when collecting their results, said the Education Ministry. Due to the younger age of PSLE pupils, a parent or guardian was allowed to accompany their child or ward to s...

4 men charged with corruption involving over $388,000

aseanpr 25 11 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Four men aged between 32 and 41 have been charged for allegedly taking part in an corruption conspiracy involving more than $388,000. Appearing before a district court on Wednesday (Nov 25), the men - Jeremy Yu Jin Han, 41; Ong Jiajie, 32; Darren Zeng Shao Rong and Isaac Lai Zhi Yao, both 40 - each face seven charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act. According to court documents, Zeng, Ong and Lai are said to have conspired together to pay Yu, then a purchasing manager of Lion City Rentals, for advancing the business interests of Aiden Solutions LLP and D&M Capital with Lion City Rentals. Yu is accused of receiving payments of between $9,766 and $95,000 between March and June in 2016. According to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) register, Aiden Solutions and D&M Capital were car dealerships. Aiden Solutions has since been struck off Acra's records. Lion City Rentals, is a vehicle leasing company previously owned by ride-hailing firm Uber. The car rental company was sold off last year. Court documents did not reveal the roles Ong, Zeng and Lai played within the companies. Yu and Lai are scheduled to be in court next on Dec 30. Ong will be i...

Global economic recovery from pandemic entering critical period, says MAS chief

elean 25 11 月

6 minutes

SINGAPORE (BLOOMBERG) - The global economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic is heading into a critical period as nations balance the need to prop up consumers and businesses against the threat of unmanageable debt, Singapore's central bank chief said. "The world is now entering a phase where the crisis is long, drawn-out, the peak of the crisis is behind us, but we're not in full recovery," Ravi Menon, managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), told Bloomberg. "In this undefined twilight zone of sorts, what is the appropriate policy mix?" Mr Menon said. "Fiscal policy would have to start unwinding, but gradually," while monetary policy makers must recognize that extraordinary measures can't continue indefinitely. Governments worldwide have pumped trillions of dollars into their economies, with that fiscal support taking the lead in combating the effects of the pandemic and winning the backing of multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund that usually are more cautious about debt. Meanwhile, central bankers have kept interest rates near record lows and have tinkered with unconventional tools. If officials don't start the process now of fi...

Elon Musk now world’s second-richest as Tesla market value crosses US$500 billion

elean 25 11 月

3 minutes

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG, REUTERS) - Elon Musk's year of dizzying ascents hit a new high as the Tesla co-founder passed Bill Gates to become the world's second-richest person. The 49-year-old entrepreneur's net worth soared US$7.2 billion to US$127.9 billion (S$171.6 billion), driven by yet another surge in Tesla's share price. Mr Musk has added US$100.3 billion to his net worth this year, the most of anyone on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a ranking of the world's 500 richest people. In January he ranked 35th. His advance up the wealth ranks has been driven largely by the electric-car maker, whose market value passed US$500 billion on Tuesday (Nov 24). Tesla shares surged 6.4 per cent to US$555.38 in New York, extending a meteoric rally that has seen the stock gain more than six times this year. The stock has risen nearly 28 per cent since the S&P Dow Jones Indices decided to add the company to the benchmark index from Dec 21. Tesla has become by far the world's most valuable automaker, despite a production that is a fraction of Toyota Motor, Volkswagen or General Motors. Shares of other electric vehicle (EV) makers have also risen in the last few months as US President-elect Joe B...

Bitcoin mania is back in flashback to 2017 as cryptocurrency tops US$19,000

elean 25 11 月

4 minutes

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - Celebrity endorsements, exchange outages, rafts of new trading accounts - Bitcoin mania is back. In a flashback to the frenzied run-up to Thanksgiving 2017, retail traders are piling into cryptocurrencies and driving prices back toward all-time highs. The number of first-time buyers is on course to eclipse December 2017, EToro, an Israeli-British firm, said. Bitcoin trades per day are 81 per cent greater than the rest of 2020 combined. Google searches for "coinbase," the crypto exchange, reached the highest level in at least a year, according to Google Trends. And crypto Twitter hasn't been this giddy in a long time. A quick tour through various hashtags yields a wealth of frothy posts. There's the GIF of a beaming waitress serving up glasses of champagne. "We bout to be rich," goes the tweet. Another fan charts Bitcoin's performance since 2017 and says, "...and here we are again." "Nothing like a pre-Thanksgiving Bitcoin run," said Catherine Coley, CEO of Binance.US. Bitcoin climbed within US$100 of its all-time high after surpassing US$19,000 (S$25,495) for the first time since 2017. It's now up more than 40 per cent in November alone and has more than doub...

MAS rolls out world’s first green loan grant scheme

elean 25 11 月

4 minutes

Companies of all sizes will get more support in securing green and sustainability-linked loans with a new grant scheme launched by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) yesterday. The initiative, called the Green and Sustainability-Linked Loan Grant Scheme, is a world first and will start in January next year, said MAS. It will also encourage banks to develop frameworks so that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can access such financing more easily. Green loans are those that help finance new or existing green projects, while sustainability-linked loans provide price incentives for borrowers to achieve sustainability performance targets. MAS managing director Ravi Menon said: "Loans are a key source of financing across Asia - be it for individuals, SMEs or large corporates. Therefore, there is significant opportunity to encourage firms across different industries to transition to more sustainable practices through green and sustainability-linked loans. "MAS' grants for green loans and bonds are an important part of the green finance ecosystem that Singapore is building - to support Asia's pivot towards a sustainable future." Singapore companies borrowed $10.2 billion th...

Events sector gearing up to help Republic retain its edge

elean 25 11 月

4 minutes

With several pilot events under way and others to come, Singapore's meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) industry is gearing up to ensure that the Republic retains its position as a leading Mice hub. Experts said that there is a first-mover advantage to be captured, and Singapore's handling of the coronavirus crisis means that it is ready to reinforce its position as a global Mice destination, but with the necessary precautions in place. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is currently processing up to 50 applications to hold pilot Mice events with up to 250 participants each. At least 20 pilot events have been approved so far. Applications opened early last month, with event organisers required to comply with strict safe management measures and guidelines. The pilot events like last month's Singapore International Energy Week and the upcoming TravelRevive, where prototypes such as meeting pods for Mice events are put in place, provide insights that enable measures and guidelines to be refined, said Dr Edward Koh, executive director of conventions, meetings and incentive travel at STB. Pilot antigen rapid testing for Covid-19 will be scaled up at TravelRevive to p...

VaultSwap Announces Its Token Sales and Exchange Listings

pandora 24 11 月

4 minutes

Singapore - Swapping cryptos on an exchange can be incredibly inefficient, as no exchange has all the coins in one fold. VaultSwap a project by Jason Wright, which is also the CEO zenomatrix.net, intends to proffer a solution to this problem. It has several high-paying investment schemes that reward investors for their confidence in the project. What Is VaultSwap? VaultSwap is a blockchain-powered exchange and Yield Farming where users can swap one cryptocurrency for another. VaultSwap is completely decentralized, as it also supports staking applications. Some of the groups that will receive VAULT after the token sale are Pre-Sale, Staking platform, as well as Exchange listings. The team behind VaultSwap comprise of technocrats who understand the dynamics in the asset swapping ecosystem. The team has a track record of delivering on their promises. Where to Buy VAULT Tokens The VAULT tokens sale is live. The sales started on November 20th and will end on December 20th. The maximum supply is 200,000 VAULT with 5,000 ETH hard cap. The team behind VaultSwap has also announced that VAULT will be listed on P2Pb2b. More listings are expected in the coming weeks. Token Sale Link Interested...

Couple plans to leave money to charity after their death in new campaign to promote legacy giving

aseanpr 24 11 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - It was their son's degenerative eye disease that set ophthalmologist Dr Audrey Looi and her neurosurgeon husband Dr Ang Beng Ti on the path of philanthropy. The couple was devastated around a decade ago to find out that James, now 19, suffers from Stargardt's disease, which causes progressive vision loss, when he was in primary school. To make matters worse, there was a serious lack of programmes then to support children with low vision in their educational and other needs, Dr Ang, 51, said. In 2011, the couple set up the charity iC2 PrepHouse, which teaches children with low vision the skills to cope with daily life and supports them to remain in mainstream schools. They now plan to leave $200,000 or more in their will to set up an endowment fund to support the iC2 PrepHouse's work and to fund scholarships for needy undergraduates of the Singapore Management University (SMU). James is now a business undergraduate at the SMU. The Angs have two other children, aged 13 and 21. Dr Looi, 50, said: "So instead of giving it (our wealth) all to our children, we have started thinking about putting aside a part of it for charity. I think we have to be a little less self-focused ...

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