SeaPRwire

Sellers of thorny fruit in Singapore taking a bite of Malaysian durian plantations

aseanpr
1 minute

SINGAPORE - Eager buyers converged at the lorry, loaded with durians in large 50kg baskets, as soon as it stopped in front of Mr Michael Siow's hardware store in Balestier Road on July 14. For Mr Siow, 54, it is the first harvest from his new durian venture - Titi Durian - to be sold in Singapore, two years later than planned due to the pandemic. 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.

SeaPRwire

Singapore firm taps goodness of human milk with cell-based tech

aseanpr
1 minute

SINGAPORE - A biotech start-up based here and in the United States is on a mission to unlock the key ingredients from human milk to enhance infant and elderly nutrition, and nourish athletes. Nutrients in human milk are especially beneficial for strengthening immunity, improving gut health and boosting brain development, said Ms Lin Fengru, co-founder of the start-up, TurtleTree. 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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The airline sector and where travel is headed

elean
7 minutes

SINGAPORE - As vaccinations are under way globally, the global airline industry is also getting jabs of confidence. Still, some parts are taking off faster than others and countries with a viable domestic market are faring better while business travel has taken a backseat. The International Air Transport Association predicts that while budget airlines will lead the recovery, it will take until mid-2023 for the global airline industry to return to pre-pandemic levels. In a similar vein, HSBC recently upgraded its rating of European low-cost carriers. With closed or partially closed international borders in the near future, industry experts say that low-cost carriers serving local or regional markets may have an advantage over long-haul airlines. Bain found that Asian domestic travel is starting to come back, largely driven by China. For example, during the extended May Day holiday, Chinese tourists made over 200 million trips. Both Asia to the United States and Asia to Europe flights are projected to be about 86 per cent of 2019 volumes by 2023. This does not bode well for full-service carriers that operate a high percentage of long-haul flights. While budget carriers appear to have...

SeaPRwire

Markets ride on optimism, liquidity after virus fears

elean
4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Several weeks ago, I suggested that markets would remain volatile as sentiment swings between fear and greed. Sure enough, after a massive plunge last Monday over fears of Covid-19 resurgence and its more contagious Delta variant, markets bounced back by mid-week, fanned by optimism, opportunism and ample liquidity. The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) did a 2.6 percentage point flip between its Monday lows and Thursday highs, before closing little changed on the week with a 0.2 per cent gain to 3,157.05 points. Over on Wall Street, the mainboard's Dow Jones index gained by over 1 per cent for the week to close at 35,061.55 points - the first time ever that it has breached 35,000 points. This brings total gains for the Dow this year to 14 per cent. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 index was up 2 per cent for the week, reaching a new record high at 4,411.79 points. Strong technology sector results from the likes of Twitter and Snap hoisted the Nasdaq to a new record at 14,836.99 points. All this came as the yield on the closely watched 10-year Treasury plumbed below 1.3 per cent. The Singapore market has proven to be more resilient than expected despite the latest lockdown meas...

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He started his haulage business smack in the middle of the pandemic – and thrived

elean
11 minutes

While many businesses are struggling to stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic, some industries have been fortunate enough to remain on an even keel. This includes companies that depend on the steady inflow of goods into Singapore to transport and sell them. One of these businesses is B&S Services hauling company, which was launched by Mr Mohd Noor Mohd Salim, 34, affectionately called Bai, just as Covid-19 started to gather pace. The venture is clearly a labour of love (he named it after the initials of his nickname and his wife’s name, Suzie), and definitely not a foolhardy move. Mr Mohd Noor has been in the hauling trade since 2007, which means he was already very familiar with this business of first-mile transport. While last-mile delivery services bring goods to their purchasers, first-mile hauliers transport goods from locations such as ports to destinations such as warehouses, where they are then processed for further distribution. Clients for such hauling companies include freight consolidators, which combine multiple shipments of goods for delivery to a common location. Mr Mohd Noor extensively discussed the pros and cons of starting his own business, during a global cri...

ACN Newswire
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HKTDC twin jewellery events open today

indie
9 minutes

HONG KONG, Jul 25, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The 37th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and 7th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and will run until 29 July. The twin shows are the first two physical trade fairs to be staged by the HKTDC since the pandemic began and are being held in a hybrid format for the first time, with both physical and online exhibitions. The online show will run until 5 August to help global jewellers capture business opportunities as the pandemic continues.The 37th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and seventh HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today and runs until 29 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), helping jewellers capture business opportunities as the pandemic continues. The twin shows are the first physical trade fairs to be staged by the HKTDC since the pandemic began.The highlight zone at the Jewellery Show, World of Glamour, showca...

SeaPRwire
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Korean Businesses Distribute Press Releases with AsiaPresswire’s Cryptocurrency Industry Distribution Packages

pandora
4 minutes

Seoul, KOREA / SEAPRWire / Cryptocurrency prices soared as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Investors will be closely monitoring the tech sector and C-suite Cryptocurrency executives will be looking to make every effort to boost brand perception. With AsiaPresswire's Cryptocurrency Distribution Platform, Cryptocurrency leaders can effectively distribute their company news, updates and performance reports to the KOREA's most-read Cryptocurrency media outlets and publications to effectively increase brand awareness. Via AsiaPresswire's KOREA press release distribution packages, executives and teams of Cryptocurrency companies can reach millions of potential KOREA readers by distributing company news on Yahoo Finance, Yahoo News, Bloomberg, BusinessInsider, Associated Press, advFN, MarketWatch, MarketScreener, FT.com, NASDAQ.com as well other popular KOREA Cryptocurrency websites available on-demand, such as Morning Star, Reuters, and The Street. "While there is a potential for strong government regulations in KOREA, looming over the tech sector in the months to come, there is also an opportunity for the firms to boost investor confidence through powerful Cryptocurrency campaigns...

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Canadian who robbed StanChart bank will not be caned; assurance was given to Britain by S’pore to secure his extradition

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - David James Roach, the Canadian sentenced to five years' jail and six strokes of the cane for robbing a bank of more than $30,000 in 2016, has been spared the cane. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Sunday (July 25) that Roach, who committed the Standard Chartered Bank robbery which took place on July 7, 2016, had his sentence of caning remitted on Saturday. This is because the Singapore Government had assured Britain that any corporal sentence on Roach, who had fled Singapore, would not be carried out in order to secure his extradition. The ministry said that the President, on the advice of the Cabinet, has exercised her powers under Article 22P(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to remit the sentence of six strokes of the cane imposed on Roach. "The Singapore Government has thus fulfilled the assurance given to the United Kingdom (UK) Government. No alternative punishment will be imposed on Roach in lieu of the remitted sentence of caning." David James Roach, now 31, had fled Singapore soon after the robbery, where he made off with $30,000. He was sentenced on Wednesday (July 7). MHA said that Roach fled Singapore to Thailand on the day of th...

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PM Lee visits site as mandatory Covid-19 testing begins for residents of Block 456 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Mandatory Covid-19 testing for residents of Block 456 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 started on Sunday morning (July 25). Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is one of the MPs for Ang Mo Kio GRC, arrived at about 12.20pm and spoke to residents, shop owners and swabbing staff before leaving around 1pm. The testing operation is being held at the pavilion at Block 460A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 and began at 9am on Sunday. The Ministry of Health (MOH) is investigating likely Covid-19 transmission at the block after eight cases of Covid-19 infection was detected in four households. Most of these cases are linked to the Jurong Fishery Port cluster and epidemiological investigations are ongoing, the ministry said on Saturday. It is also testing owners and staff of commercial units at Block 456. Testing is optional for those who have tested negative for Covid-19 infection from July 20 onwards. One of those who went to get tested was Madam Adeline Lum, 43, who headed to the pavilion at about 10.45am. The swab was slightly uncomfortable but the process was smooth, said the customer service officer who lives in Block 456. She added that she is worried about the Covid-19 clusters and the spread o...

SeaPRwire

Almost 50% more BTO projects launched in mature estates in 2020 than in 2017 to cater to demand: HDB

aseanpr
5 minutes

SINGAPORE - As property seekers continue to home in on flats in mature estates, the Housing Board (HDB) has rolled out more Build-To-Order (BTO) projects in these prime locations. It said on Sunday (July 25) that 13 such projects were offered last year, compared with nine in 2017 - an almost 50 per cent rise. Projects in mature estates formed 44 per cent of the overall BTO launches in 2017 but the proportion climbed to 55 per cent last year, said HDB. Still, it was not easy to bag a unit in a choice area like Bishan, Toa Payoh or Kallang/Whampoa. The average application rate for a BTO flat in mature estates rose from 2.8 times in 2017 to 6.7 times last year. The average rates in non-mature estates, which include Bukit Batok and Tengah, were 2.1 times in 2017 and 4.8 times last year. Overall, there has been buoyant demand for new flats in the past four years, with the number of applicants vying for each BTO unit increasing from 2.3 in 2017 to 5.8 in 2020. Some projects in particular have drawn sky-high interest. In the May launch, Telok Blangah Beacon in Bukit Merah attracted almost 50 applicants for each of its 70 four-room flats, despite a waiting time of more than five years for ...

SeaPRwire

Understanding economics, finance useful for youth, can help tackle real-world problems: DPM Heng

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - An understanding of economics and finance provides a valuable foundation for lifelong learning and can be applied to real-world problems, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Sunday (July 25) as he encouraged young people here to develop and deepen their interest in the topic. Speaking at the final round of the virtual National Economics and Financial Management Challenge, Mr Heng said the basics of economics and finance can be applied to public policy, for example to address climate change or changing demographics in Singapore and globally. "The discourse is not just theoretical, but it can lead to better outcomes that can improve the lives of billions of people on earth," he said. The challenge was organised by the National University of Singapore's Economics Society to make pre-tertiary education students become interested and appreciate economics and finance. Now in its 14th year, the challenge began this month with two earlier rounds that tested the participants' knowledge of tertiary-level economics and their ability to create a video applying economic and financial theories to an everyday life topic. Sunday's round included a case study and presentation s...

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16 quick test centres for Covid-19 set up in S’pore, 4 more planned

aseanpr
5 minutes

SINGAPORE - Sixteen Covid-19 quick test centres have been set up here since they were first announced about a month ago, and four more are on the way as Singapore ramps up its testing capabilities to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) - the national agency supporting Covid-19 testing - told The Straits Times on Friday (July 23) that each centre has a daily testing capacity between 400 and 1,000, depending on its size. This means that at least 6,400 tests can take place at these centres each day. HPB said that between June 21 and last Wednesday, about 13,900 tests were conducted at these 16 centres. They are located in Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Hougang, Jurong West and Pasir Ris, among other areas. "We plan to set up 20 quick test centres across the island, to make it more convenient for staff in the identified sectors to go for testing," said HPB. The 20 centres include the 16 already set up. The board was responding to queries from ST about a tender it had put up on Government procurement portal GeBiz on June 23, looking for service providers to set up more quick test centres. It awarded the tender to two private healthcare firms, Minmed group and iGene...

SeaPRwire

How a green future could look like

elean
4 minutes

(BLOOMBERG) - It's just after 5pm on Friday in late July 2035. You're driving home from work in your electric car. It's peaceful - more cars than ever run on a quiet battery, too. It was a good week. You're two months into an apprenticeship programme learning how to maintain wind turbines. Things were pretty rough for a few years after the factory where you used to make parts for internal combustion engines laid you off because the government banned new fossil-fuelled cars. But now you've joined a scheme that helps people find jobs in green industries. That's just a glimpse of the future in store if the policies contained in the European Union's Fit for 55 climate package become reality. The plan, which could require a trillion euros of investment, will be the most radical change to European economy since the creation of the euro and put the continent on a path to reach net-zero emissions by the mid-century. If the plans succeed, it will force Europeans to remake almost every aspect of the way they live, work and travel. On that day in July, 14 years from now, a panel on the wall in the downstairs hall beeps as you walk through the front door. It's set to tell you when an energy-ge...

SeaPRwire
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Pay $272k to return to life decades after death?

elean
7 minutes

(NYTIMES) - When an 87-year-old California man was wheeled into an operating room just outside Phoenix last year, the pandemic was at its height and medical protocols were being upended across the country. It was an elaborate workaround, especially considering that the patient had been declared legally dead more than a day earlier. He had arrived in the operating room of Alcor Life Extension Foundation - located in an industrial park near the airport in Scottsdale, Arizona - packed in dry ice and ready to be "cryopreserved", or stored at deep-freeze temperatures, in the hope that one day, perhaps decades or centuries from now, he could be brought back to life. As it turns out, the pandemic that has affected billions of lives around the world has also had an impact on the non-living. From Moscow and Phoenix to China and rural Australia, the major players in the business of preserving bodies at extremely low temperatures say the pandemic has brought new stresses to an industry that has long faced scepticism or outright hostility from medical and legal establishments that have dismissed it as quack science or fraud. In some cases, Covid-19 precautions have limited the parts of the bod...

SeaPRwire

Losing money is bad for the heart, says study

elean
3 minutes

(BLOOMBERG) - You probably know this already - high-risk investments are not for the faint-hearted. But what you may not know is that the ups and downs of your investment can also affect the health of your heart. Big financial gains are linked to better heart health, even later in life, and significant losses to worse cardiac outcomes, according to a 17-year study. Researchers reported their results in the Jama Cardiology journal after analysing data on over 5,000 middle-aged Americans with no initial history of coronary disease to see how losing or gaining money affected their hearts. If a population is divided into fifths in terms of wealth, moving up from one quintile to the next or higher is linked to a roughly 16 per cent lower risk of heart trouble in older age, said senior author Muthiah Vaduganathan, a Harvard cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Dropping down to a poorer fifth of the population is linked to a 15 per cent higher heart risk, according to the study. The study looked at major, long-term gains and losses rather than day-to-day market ups and downs. "We're talking about substantial shocks to an individual's life that can change their relative ...

SeaPRwire
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Will making salary public boost fairness?

elean
5 minutes

(NYTIMES) - Ms Carolyn Kopprasch earns US$225,000 (S$306,000) a year. Ms Maria Thomas makes US$267,890. Then comes Ms Darcy Peters with a salary of US$105,143. That information, taken in before I exchange pleasantries with these women, feels almost illicit. All three work at Buffer, a fully remote social media company that made the unusual decision eight years ago to disclose every employee's salary online. The goal was to close the firm's gender pay gap. It did not entirely work. It turns out that the gap between men's and women's earnings is a numbers problem; making those numbers public does not make them even. Even when women and men work the exact same jobs, men earn more. That is partly because women are less likely to negotiate for higher pay and more apt to be penalised when they do. "Instead of being seen as shrewd, a woman negotiating is seen as complaining," said the Institute for Women's Policy Research president C. Nicole Mason. In recent decades, some experts have argued that there is an obvious means of closing the pay gap: making salaries public. When women know how much their male counterparts earn, they are in a better place to demand the same compensation. And co...

SeaPRwire
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PM Lee Hsien Loong urges senior citizens not to delay Covid-19 vaccination

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged seniors to get the Covid-19 vaccination and not wait until it is too late, addressing about 200,000 seniors aged 60 and above who have yet to receive their jabs. In a Facebook post on Saturday (July 24), PM Lee said seniors were at risk of Covid-19 even if they did not go out much as they could catch the virus from friends or family, adding that the disease is dangerous for older people. He said that Covid-19 is even more dangerous for seniors with other medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. "The vaccine will protect you from Covid-19. Some people may experience side effects, but these are mostly not serious," said PM Lee, 69, who completed his vaccination at Singapore General Hospital on Jan 29. "You may feel unwell for a day or two, but you will be okay. It is just your body building up its immunity against Covid-19," he said in a video recording about the safety of the vaccine. On Monday, it was reported that seniors aged 70 and above have a vaccine take-up rate of about 70 per cent. Seniors can walk in to any polyclinic or vaccination centre to get their jab without registration or booking beforehand, PM Lee...

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$1.5m more to support HDB ground-up projects as pandemic highlights their importance

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - An obstacle course for pets in Bukit Panjang. A hub in Toa Payoh with an indoor hydroponics system and an art gallery. A calendar featuring recipes of 12 dishes such as Korean fried chicken, nasi goreng and chapati. These are examples of what Housing Board residents came up with in 2020 to liven up their neighbourhoods, where life had to go on despite the pandemic. About 650 people started 60 projects in eight HDB towns last year, taking ownership of their environment through HDB's Lively Places Challenge, an initiative started in 2016. It was begun to support HDB ground-up projects, and will get another $1.5 million for the next few years. National Development Minister Desmond Lee made the announcement on Saturday (July 24), recognising that community projects are more important now that people have been forced to stay home more. "Your neighbour may need to carry out renovations while you are taking important work meetings at home, or your family may be affected by second-hand smoke," he said. "Ultimately, good neighbourliness and strong communities are still the most critical ingredients to help residents overcome disagreements and find common ground." One of the winn...

SeaPRwire
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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on July 24

aseanpr
2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, July 24. Tokyo Olympics: An opening ceremony like no other as Japan welcomes the world The ceremony lacked the usual glitz with fewer than 1,000 people in attendance. READ MORE HERE Jurong Fishery Port Covid-19 cluster grows to 665 cases; free test kits for those who visited 2 markets Test kits will be provided to those who visited the Admiralty and Bukit Timah markets. READ MORE HERE Higher numbers of unlinked Covid-19 cases in S'pore due to slower identification of linkages: Experts Linking the cases is more for monitoring the situation in the community, said Prof Teo Yik Ying. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news askST: Why are more vaccinated people getting Covid-19? Fully vaccinated people currently make up 44 per cent of Covid-19 cases in Singapore. READ MORE HERE Reimagining Singapore: How the city might look like in the future A review of Singapore’s long-term land use plans is under way. What does it seek to achieve? READ MORE HERE 31-year-old motorcyclist killed, 6 injured in accident along CTE near Orchard Road CTE tunnel before the Cairnhill Circl...