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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on April 13

aseanpr
2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Tuesday, April 13. Panel to study licensing, mandatory theory tests for road cyclists as part of review The review comes on the back of a recent spate of complaints about errant road cyclists. READ MORE HERE Covid-19 vaccines vital but aren't designed to fully prevent infection: Experts Those who have had the jabs are much less likely to get seriously ill than unvaccinated patients. READ MORE HERE Buffets are back in S'pore, but self-service still not allowed under Covid-19 measures Staff-served food lines can resume at F&B outlets, corporate and work-related events, and Mice events. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Malaysian PM Muhyiddin to visit Singapore on May 4 to discuss reopening of border The pandemic is also making it difficult for Malaysia to send a representative to fill the High Commissioner position here. READ MORE HERE Most people wash their hands more than 3 times a day, soap still the 'gold standard': ST poll Three-quarters of people surveyed said they have developed better hygiene habits over the past 12 months. READ MORE HERE Duterte resurfaces af...

SeaPRwire

Jack Ma’s fortune jumps US$2.3 billion after record Alibaba fine

elean
2 minutes

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - China just slapped a record antitrust fine on Alibaba Group Holding. The company thanked the government and investors breathed a sigh of relief. Alibaba's American depositary receipts climbed 9.3 per cent on Monday (April 12) in New York, their biggest jump in almost four years. For Jack Ma, the founder of the e-commerce giant, it meant his fortune increased by US$2.3 billion (S$3.1 billion) to US$52.1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The US$2.8 billion fine is less severe than some investors feared and is based on only 4 per cent of the company's 2019 domestic sales, far less than the maximum 10 per cent allowed under Chinese law. While the internet giant will have to adjust the way it does business, its vice chairman said regulators won't impose a radical overhaul of its e-commerce strategy and its chief executive officer declared Alibaba ready to move on. "Alibaba would not have achieved our growth without sound government regulation and service, and the critical oversight, tolerance and support from all of our constituencies have been crucial to our development," the company said in an open letter. "For this, we are full of gratitud...

SeaPRwire

Jack Ma’s Ant Group to be financial holding firm in forced revamp

elean
5 minutes

BEIJING (BLOOMBERG) - Jack Ma's Ant Group will drastically revamp its business, bowing to demands from Chinese authorities that want to rein in the country's fast-growing Internet giants. Ant will now effectively be supervised more like a bank, a move with far-reaching implications for its growth and ability to press ahead with a landmark initial public offering that the government abruptly delayed late last year. The overhaul announced by regulators and the company on Monday (April 12) will see Ant transform itself into a financial holding company, with authorities also directing the firm to eliminate unfair competition in payments, increase oversight of how that business fuels it crucial consumer lending operations, and ramp up data protections. The firm will also need to cut the outstanding value of its money-market fund Yu'ebao. The directives come as China's regulators pledge to curb the "reckless" push of technology firms into finance and crack down on monopolies online. The twin pillars of Ma's empire - Ant and e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding - have been at the centre of the increased scrutiny, sending a clear message to the country's largest corporations and their le...

SeaPRwire

Temasek, BlackRock to raise billions for carbon-cutting start-ups

elean
5 minutes

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - Two of the world's most powerful money managers are joining forces to build a business on climate-change investing and raise one of the largest venture-capital funds dedicated to carbon-cutting technologies. BlackRock and Singapore's Temasek Holdings formed a new firm, Decarbonization Partners, to take stakes in start-ups that have the potential to reduce the world's reliance on fossil fuels and meet the goal of zero-carbon emissions in three decades. They're committing a total of US$600 million (S$804 million) to the effort, including US$300 million of seed capital for a US$1 billion first fund, and raising the rest from outside investors. Eventually, Decarbonization Partners aims to manage billions across multiple funds, BlackRock chief executive officer Larry Fink said in an interview with Bloomberg Television, adding, "I look at this as one of the greatest investment opportunities over our lifetimes." Although renewables are displacing coal in power generation and electric vehicles can be cost-competitive with gasoline-driven cars, there are no viable solutions for problems like large-scale storage of energy or clean alternatives to carbon-intensive cemen...

SeaPRwire

Wall Street ends lower as investors await earnings, inflation data

elean
3 minutes

NEW YORK (REUTERS) - The S&P 500 and Dow Jones industrial average ended lower on Monday (April 12), with investors waiting for cues from the upcoming corporate earnings season and a key inflation report later this week. The indexes had closed at record highs on Friday, after rallying for days on a pullback in the benchmark 10-year bond yield from 14-month highs. With US consumer price data for March due to be published Tuesday (April 13), this could drive Treasury yields higher. Big Wall Street names are due to kick off earnings season on Wednesday, giving new catalysts to buy or sell stocks in a record-high market. "Investors are now going to pay close attention to earnings season, because this is the time where they are expecting guidance from companies, where valuations start to matter again," said Ed Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA. "There's this nervousness that we're going to see that we can't just buy everything, as that was the trade for the last few months." Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Sunday the US economy was at an "inflection point" with expectations for faster growth in the months ahead, but he warned that a hasty reopening could lead to a continue...

ACN Newswire

都市丽人转型计划见成效 2020下半年扭亏为盈

tallulah
1 minute

HONG KONG, Apr 12, 2021 - (亚太商讯 via SEAPRWire.com) - 受疫情影响，各地零售行业均面临重大挑战，不少服装零售商无法继续经营。据产业研究院数据显示，2020全年内地服装行业营业收入同比下降11.3%。有企业积极应对，透过实施转型计划而成功发展出新局面，例如早前公布业绩的都市丽人(02298)，在去年推出新产品、调整销售及分销管道和提升供应链的效率、推动在线线下营销和加强与不同的电商平台合作的多项措施下，令全年营收超过30亿元 (人民币‧下同)，下半年更逆势增长。在采取改革转型措施后，都市丽人在2020下半年的销售取得显著的改善，在第四季度的销售更逐渐恢复至跟2019年第四季度相若的水平，反映出集团的转型计划已渐见成效。在2020年下半年，零售营收约7.29亿元，同比上升约9.3%；电子商业的销售同比上升至3.81 亿元，同比增长约25.5%。同时，与各个主要电商平台的合作和业务发展，包括阿里巴巴、京东、唯品会和抖音，进一步推动与会员的互动、推广品牌，有望在疫情稳定后开拓更多的增长机遇。同时，透过在线线下的营销和不同的活动，与主要的消费客群有机会一起打造下一个新的产品，以把握年轻市场的内衣需求。推出新产品在2020年，集团透过提出实用、功能、舒适、健康和高性价比的产品，还有更多优质和高科技新产品，减少无效品类和产品线。良好的产品管理让都市丽人的销售额大幅增加，公司2020年秋冬产品的累计售销率同比增长约10%，2021春夏产品的加盟商订单金额同比增长超30%。2020年秋冬家居服售销率达到85%，达到过去几年最高的营销额。同时，都市丽人还改善了供应链的效率，仅用5到10天的时间便能提供产品到门店，改善了公司的生产效率和库存量，同时改善了效率及降低成本。在推广新产品和供应链的配合下，都市丽人的毛利率明显改善﹐在疫情下逆势增长26.2%，上升至48.8%，是上市以来最高的数值；经营性现金也由负转正，可见其财务状况已大为改善。调整销售及分销管道在过去一年，都市丽人调整和翻新了其线下销售管道和关闭业绩不佳的门店，以新形象开设和翻新的七代店有691家，其中以「家庭生活理念」为主题、在购物中心开设和翻新的门店共有15家。在一系列的调整和翻新后，这些门店在2020年第四季度有较好的销售表现，达到了同期增长约7.40%。都市丽人线下门店销售的增长在2021年一季度获得了延续，截至3月14日，公司整体线下销售同比增长约40.20%，其中，直营门店同店可比增长约37.20%，加盟店同店可比增长约28.40%。都市丽人行政总裁兼执行董事萧家乐表示，公司未来或会发展更多的购物中心店，除了会展销内衣，也会集合更多其他种类的商品如家居用品。据悉，首个加盟商店将会在广州开店，在华南区的广州番禺和天河城也陆续有据点。推动在线线下营销、加强与不同...

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Tianyun International Participated in 2021 Spring China Food and Drinks Fair

indie
5 minutes

HONG KONG, Apr 12, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Tianyun International Holdings Limited ("Tianyun International", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group", Stock code: 6836.HK), a leading seller and manufacturer of processed fruits products in China, is pleased to announce that Shandong Tiantong Food Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and Tiantong Food (Yichang) Ltd. ("Yichang Tiantong") was invited to participate in the 104th Spring China Food & Drinks Fair (the "Fair") which has been recently held in Chengdu City in China. The Fair is one of the largest and most influential events in the food industry in Asia, with tens of thousands of exhibitors, and an estimated total transaction value of over RMB10billion. During the Fair, the Group successfully signed letter of intents with 30 new regional distributors, laying a strong foundation for the Group to continuously grow its own brand business in 2021.The Group's exhibition booth and new products display area at the FairDuring the Fair, the Group exhibited most of its popular processed fruit and beverage products under its own brands, "Bingo Times", "Tiantong Times" and "fruit zz", "Shiok Party", ...

ACN Newswire
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天韵国际携同全新「妖果季」大果粒饮料亮相2021年春季糖酒会

tallulah
1 minute

HONG KONG, Apr 12, 2021 - (亚太商讯 via SEAPRWire.com) - 中国领先的品牌加工水果产品销售商及制造商天韵国际控股有限公司（「天韵国际」及其附属公司统称「集团」，股份代号 : 6836.HK）欣然宣布，集团旗下全资附属山东天同食品有限公司（「山东天同」）及天同食品（宜昌）有限公司（「宜昌天同」）应邀参加近期于中国成都举办的第104届中国糖酒商品春季交易会(「糖酒会」)。糖酒会现为亚洲地区食品行业规模最大、最具影响力的行业盛会，参展商多达数万家，采购和成交额数以超过百亿人民币计算，是行业经销商采购商品的理想平台。集团于会上成功与30个地区经销商签订意向书，为自家品牌销售的高速增长趋势奠定良好的基础。集团于糖酒会的展览区域及新产品展示于糖酒会上，集团携同旗下「缤果时代」、「天同时代」及「果小懒」各种新款水果食品、以运动健康为理念的全新自家品牌「享派 Shiok Party」维生素运动饮料系列，以及于今年3月份刚上市的新品大果粒饮料「妖果季」等自家品牌产品系列，共几十多个品种的产品亮相糖酒会，为潜在消费者及经销商带来更多选择与新鲜感。大果粒饮料「妖果季」是集团根据国内饮料市场的数据调查结果分析之后， 为迎合市场及消费者需求而量身打造的新系列产品，该产品充分发挥集团自身水果制品条件成熟的优势，由自家研发团队重点研发打造、为消费者量身定制的集果肉、果汁和维生素营养为一体的重磅新产品。大果粒饮料「妖果季」自2021年3月推出以来，其健康的定位和真实大颗粒水果质量得到了众多消费者的青睐，将成为各个年龄层的消费者低糖健康饮的最佳选择。集团目前已推出的有桃粒、葡萄粒及草莓粒三款果汁口味。预计更多口味的饮料包括荔枝、橙子、椰子、山楂、梨、枇杷等品种的果肉果汁饮料将陆续推出。集团主席兼行政总裁杨自远先生表示：「我们很荣幸能再次参与此业界盛事。春季糖酒会为集团及同业提供了一个优质的营销、交易及宣传平台，亦让全国各地的经销商、买家、消费者等直接互相了解、沟通交流。市场调研报告统计显示，近年消费者的健康意识逐渐提高,，国内消费者对天然、健康、无添加的产品需求急剧扩张，集团抓紧机遇，致力为消费者提供健康安全的食品及饮料产品，继「享派 Shiok Party」维生素运动饮料后，再推出迎合消费者需求的「妖果季」大果粒果肉果汁饮料，有望成为天韵国际旗下另一爆品，拓展集团的自家品牌产品种类及销售范围，巩固集团的行业领导地位。」关于天韵国际控股有限公司 (股份代号﹕6836.HK)天韵国际控股有限公司（「本公司」集团「统称（及其附属公司）」主要从事(i) 生产及销售包装于金属罐、塑料杯、玻璃瓶及铝箔袋的加工水果产品，(ii) 生产及销售饮料产品及(iii) 新鲜水果买卖。加工水果产品以自家品牌「缤果时代」、「天同时代」和「果小懒」及原厂委托制造代工销售的...

JCN Newswire
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Eisai: Animation Featuring Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Activities Receives Animation Award at International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases Festival 2021

ruth
2 minutes

TOKYO, Apr 12, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced that its animation "Leave No One Behind-Disease of Neglected People" which features activities for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) has received the Animation Award at the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD) Festival 2021.ISNTD Festival is an annual event aiming to increase awareness about neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and this year marks the 5th ISNTD Festival. At the ISNTD Festival Awards, which accompanies this festival, outstanding projects will be selected and awarded in each of the seven categories of animation, app, art, awareness campaign, mass media, photo, and video, related to NTDs.The award-winning animation "Leave No One Behind" features the 10-year LF elimination activities of Eisai and its global partners which have been implemented since Eisai signed a joint statement with the World Health Organization (WHO) for the LF elimination in 2010. The animation highlights the feelings, thoughts and sufferings of patients which were perceived through activities for free provision of medicines and disease awareness. In addition, the animation highlight...

SeaPRwire

SGUnited traineeship and attachment schemes benefit 9,500 job seekers

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Some 9,500 job seekers have participated in two SGUnited schemes launched last year to tackle weakened hiring demand caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Four in five of those taking part in the SGUnited Traineeships and SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways programmes are recent graduates, while the rest are mid-career workers. As of end-February, about 200 have found full-time employment while still undergoing training in these programmes, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) in a jobs situation report on Monday (April 12). Another 160 have completed the programmes. The SGUnited Traineeships programme provides recent graduates or those who will soon graduate with opportunities to gain industry-relevant work experience amid weaker hiring sentiment, while the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways programme allows mid-career job seekers to gain in-demand skills and widen their professional networks while waiting for permanent jobs. About 2,500 organisations, including public agencies, have participated in the two schemes by offering traineeships or attachments. Nearly nine in 10 of them are small and medium-sized enterprises. The top sectors offering these opportu...

ACN Newswire
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HKTDC International Sourcing Show: Fashion industry experts reveal post-pandemic moves

indie
8 minutes

HONG KONG, Apr 12, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - As the fashion world continues to react to the impact of the pandemic, a new paradigm is emerging within the industry. The HKTDC International Sourcing Show | ONLINE hosted three fashion-related webinars last month, with industry experts revealing the changes and opportunities that the pandemic has brought to the fashion arena.At "The Perfect Storm: Future-Proofing Your Fashion Business" webinar, Harvey Mok, Senior Vice President, Business Development at CASETiFY, shared insights into the online-and-offline shopping experience and retail trends.Edwin Keh, CEO of the Hong Kong Research Institute at Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), showcased an innovative clothing material.Industry experts including Michael Leow, Asia/Pacific Sales & Marketing Head at Fashion Snoops, Matthew Olivier-Lovett, Director of Retail at Omnilytics, and Jaana Jatyri, CEO at Trendstop, shared the latest trend forecasts at "The Visionary Fashion Trends: Lifestyle and Retail" webinar.Expand product categories and enhance online salesIn the webinar titled "The Perfect Storm: Future-Proofing Your Fashion Business", Michael Ho, Marketing & Brand Par...

JCN Newswire
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Fujitsu Embarks on Partnership with Siemens Digital Industries Software Strengthening Global Competitiveness and Accelerating DX to Realize Smart, Sustainable Manufacturing

ruth
4 minutes

TOKYO, Apr 12, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Fujitsu today announced an agreement to collaborate with Siemens Digital Industries Software to enhance competitiveness for its customers and strengthen and accelerate Digital Transformation (DX) in the manufacturing industry beginning with the Japanese market.Through this collaboration, Fujitsu will initially resell industry-specific solutions from Siemens' Xcelerator portfolio in the Japanese market, including Siemens' Product Lifecycle Management System "Teamcenter"(1) and Manufacturing Operation Management System "Opcenter"(2), while providing solutions that draw on these capabilities in combination with Fujitsu's brand of manufacturing solutions and services, COLMINA. With the technical support of Siemens, Fujitsu is additionally developing 3D-BOP(3) functions that seamlessly link design and assembly processes to shorten time to market and improve productivity and quality.Going forward, Fujitsu will begin offering 3D-BOP functions to the Japanese market in July 2021. Based on the results achieved in the initial roll-out in Japan, Fujitsu will strengthen its global service provision and maintenance structure, and in April...

JCN Newswire
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Lexus to Display LF-Z Electrified Concept and New ES

ruth
1 minute

Toyota City, Japan, Apr 12, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Lexus plans to display the LF-Z Electrified Concept and hold the world premiere of the new Lexus ES at Auto Shanghai 2021*, which opens on April 19 in Shanghai, China. In the run-up to the ES reveal, Lexus has disclosed part of the new model's styling.Also, Lexus International President/Chief Branding Officer Koji Sato plans to virtually attend a press conference scheduled to be held at the show on April 19 to issue a message about Lexus's electrification initiatives and unveil the new ES.To watch the video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcEHYp5tS-g&t=6s*Officially known as: "The 19th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition"; press days: April 19-20, trade days: April 21-23, and general public days: April 24-28. Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

SeaPRwire
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Museum of Ice Cream to open in Dempsey in August

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Museum of Ice Cream will be setting up shop in Dempsey in August, making it the first time the United States-based attraction is venturing abroad. It is one of four new attractions that Singaporeans can expect from this year, as the Republic seeks to enhance its attractiveness to prepare its hard-hit tourism sector for recovery. Announcing the launch on Monday (April 12), the museum said plans to open in Singapore have been three years in the making. Welcoming the launch of the attraction, Mr Keith Tan, chief executive of Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said: "The opening of such innovative attractions adds vibrancy to our city, and underscores the tourism industry's confidence in Singapore's continuing appeal as a top travel destination." Also set to open in the second half of this year is the Slingshot, a thrill ride in Clarke Quay, which will be the tallest in Asia, catapulting riders to a height of almost 70m at a speed of 160kmh. Visitors to the Museum of Ice Cream will be guided through 14 multi-sensory installations spread over 60,000 sq ft of space, all dedicated to ice cream, which they will also get to try during their visit. While the museum originates fro...

SeaPRwire
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New initiative to get residents to pick up after their dog

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - There have been calls over the years for harsher penalties for dog owners and walkers who fail to pick up after their dogs in public spaces. Such behaviour can also cause friction among neighbours. To encourage dog owners to clean up their act in Bukit Timah, where up to a third of the households are dog owners, a group of young people launched the PAWsitive Norms campaign last Saturday (April 10). They aim to get dog owners to abide by what they describe as previously unwritten social norms - namely keeping dogs leashed on walks, cleaning up any dog waste and throwing it away in designated bins. "For a lot of us in the area, this issue (of dog waste littering) is a longstanding one so we decided to take it into our own hands," said Mr Tatum Khoo, chairman of the Bukit Timah Youth Network behind the campaign. The 24-year-old public servant said the idea had been in the works for a while, but was firmed up at the end of last year. For a start, the campaign has invited people to make virtual pledges to express their support for the guidelines. The campaign has started in the Mayfair Park Estate in Upper Bukit Timah, and organisers hope to take it throughout the estate and...

ACN Newswire

哔哩哔哩长期发展获看好 稀缺社区打造价值高地

tallulah
1 minute

HONG KONG, Apr 12, 2021 - (亚太商讯 via SEAPRWire.com) - 中国年轻一代的标志性品牌及领先的视频社区：哔哩哔哩（股份代号：9626.HK）继在美国纳斯达克交出三年十倍的成绩后，在港上市以来股票交投活跃，大行表示股价具有上升潜力，港股未来表现令人期待。本次上市，哔哩哔哩每股发售价为808港元，募资净额约198.7亿港元。认购情况上，在香港公开发售部分共接获约27万份有效申请，超额认购约174.19倍；在国际发售部分的超额认购约11.9倍，体现出投资者对哔哩哔哩的青睐。上市后股价更节节攀高，历史股价高位更达888元，高盛更给予哔哩哔哩「买入」评级，目标价1,219元，未来股价发展明朗。在上市次日，恒生指数公司发布公告称，哔哩哔哩符合相关指数的快速纳入规则要求，将于4月14日收市后被纳入恒生综合指数及恒生互联网科技业指数。由于市场中存在大量的被动指数基金或指数相关产品，被纳入指数就意味着潜在购买者增加，将为哔哩哔哩带来大量的被动资金流入。无论是散户投资者还是专业的机构，这些看多并做多的市场行为折射出哔哩哔哩的「独到之处」。 相互串联的生态系统打造独特的价值高地剖析企业的募资用途，就可以看出其未来发展方向及价值核心。哔哩哔哩的募资用途较为简单直接，数个关键词即可表达：用户增长、扩大内容生态、社区发展、用户体验提升以及加强商业化。哔哩哔哩的内容生态以PUGV内容（专业用户生成视频）为主躯干，OGV内容（专业机构生成视频）及直播为两臂。相辅相成的内容体系吸引大量用户进入社区，制作视频的UP主们通过优质视频与用户产生文化认同及建立情感纽带，用户获得优质的体验，UP主亦得到很大支持，利于刺激更优质的内容以反哺社区。由此，用户、内容与社区相互串联，成就了哔哩哔哩独特的经营模式及商业模式，亦打造出其他企业所不具有的价值高地。据公开数据显示，2018年至2020年的三年时间里，哔哩哔哩的月均活跃用户从7180万增至2.02亿，意味着每两个中国年轻人就有一个是其用户；而月均活跃UP主也从20万增长到190万，越来越多的人成为哔哩哔哩生态中的一员。同时，凭借优质的内容生态及社区，哔哩哔哩拥有极高的用户忠诚度。根据艾瑞咨询的数据，在2020年，单个活跃用户平均每天花在哔哩哔哩移动端应用上的时间超过80分钟，为中国移动端应用最高之一，远高于2020年业界平均的29.8分钟。如此一来，哔哩哔哩的商业化落地已是水到渠成。在2020年第四季度，哔哩哔哩的月均付费用户达到17.9百万人，而2019年同期为8.8百万人。哔哩哔哩的业绩也随之迎来爆炸式增长，根据招股书，哔哩哔哩于2018年、2019年及2020年的净营业额分别为人民币4,128.9百万元、6,777.9百万元及11,999.0百万元，同比增幅分别为67.3%、64.2%及77.0%。面向...

SeaPRwire

MHA calls tender for trial of fully automated motorcycle riding test circuit

aseanpr
4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Learner motorcyclists and drivers could in a few years' time be assessed for a road licence without the presence of a human tester, if a trial here proceeds smoothly. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has called a tender for a trial of a fully automated circuit that will use technology to test motorcycle riders. The Intelligent Driving Circuit (IDC) will eventually replace the current testing method, which involves a human assessor, for both car drivers and motorcyclists. According to the tender documents on government procurement portal GeBiz, the trial is to be conducted on selected Class 2, 2A and 2B motorcycles, which are to be fitted with analytical equipment such as sensors and cameras. The tenderer is expected to supply two motorcycle units for each class and set up automated testing systems at the motorcycle course stations within the test circuit at the Singapore Safety Driving Centre (SSDC) in Woodlands Industrial Park. The tender documents set out the riding errors that the automated testing system must be able to detect at the emergency stop station in a proof-of-concept test. These include failing to attain a minimum speed of 30kmh for Class 2B motorcycles...

SeaPRwire
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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on April 12

aseanpr
2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Monday, April 12. New laws planned to curb unethical adoption practices in Singapore Such practices will be made a crime, with fines or jail terms. READ MORE HERE Crowds return to Lucky Plaza, Peninsula Plaza after lifting of weekend entry curbs There were so many visitors to Lucky Plaza on Sunday morning that the mall had to close briefly. READ MORE HERE Migrant worker who received Covid-19 vaccine among 20 new cases in S'pore "This case is a reminder that it is possible for vaccinated individuals to get infected," said MOH. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Schools in Singapore continue to reap benefits of remote learning But it doesn't replace face-to-face lessons and CCA sessions, said teachers. READ MORE HERE ‘I still can’t call myself a Hong Konger’ Despite years of living in Hong Kong, some foreign-born residents continue to be treated like outsiders. READ MORE HERE Amid Covid-19 pandemic, South-east Asia's drug scourge proves resilient The region's US$61.4 billion (S$82.7 billion) narcotics trade is in full swing. READ MORE HERE Microbes on masks highlight n...

SeaPRwire

2 Korean battery makers settle dispute that threatened Biden’s green agenda

elean
4 minutes

WASHINGTON (NYTIMES) Two South Korean manufacturers of electric vehicle batteries that are building plants in the United States said Sunday that they had reached a US$1.8 billion settlement in a trade secrets dispute that threatened the domestic battery supply and, with it, the Biden administration's green agenda. The announcement came on the day of a deadline set by the United States' trade representative to decide whether to veto an International Trade Commission ruling in the intellectual property case between LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation. The commission's ruling in favour of LG had threatened SK with a ban on supplying batteries in the country and put its facility under construction in Georgia at risk. The plant, which is still under construction, will supply batteries for electric vehicles for Ford and Volkswagen, and with the settlement agreement, SK is now also free to seek business from other companies. The dispute had threatened the domestic supply of batteries for electric vehicles. The settlement prevents delays in the development of American electric vehicles and supplies. Georgia's politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, had been pressuring President Joe B...

SeaPRwire

Fed’s Powell: US economy at an ‘inflection point’

elean
4 minutes

NEW YORK (REUTERS) - The US economy is at an "inflection point" with expectations that growth and hiring will pick up speed in the months ahead, but some risks remain, particularly any resurgence in the coronavirus pandemic, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said. In a brief preview of a longer interview with CBS' news magazine program "60 Minutes" set to air in full on Sunday night, Mr Powell echoed both his recent optimism about the economy and a now-familiar warning that Covid-19 remains the main risk. "We feel like we're at a place where the economy is about to start growing much more quickly and job creation coming in much more quickly, so the principal risk to our economy right now really is that the disease would spread again," Mr Powell said. "It's going to be smart if people can continue to socially distance and wear masks." Indeed, recent data on the economy has been positive by and large, with a better-than-expected 916,000 jobs created in March and some Fed officials suggesting a run of a million new jobs a month is possible later this year. While pockets of the United States are seeing an upswing in Covid-19 cases - in Michigan in particular - infection rates in larg...