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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on May 29

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, May 29. McDonald's delivery rider, NParks employee and two pupils among 15 Covid-19 community cases The NParks officer was added to a new cluster linked to Chevy's Bar and Bistro, which has four cases. READ MORE HERE Singapore planning for possibility that Covid-19 becomes endemic here: Lawrence Wong This could mean Singaporeans will need to get booster jabs from time to time, said Mr Wong. READ MORE HERE Malaysia to impose total nationwide lockdown from June 1-14 as Covid-19 cases hit new record The country has reported a fourth straight day of record infections. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Slump and recovery: The two faces of Singapore's economy Insight looks at what lies ahead for sectors at both ends of the spectrum. READ MORE HERE Coronavirus hits India's villages India’s cities are on the mend, but the deadly virus is coursing through the vast rural hinterland. READ MORE HERE Imported Covid-19 case from Nepal not linked to Changi Airport cluster despite woman's claims: MOH Ms Sonal Wadde had claimed that she was infected "most probably" at Chan...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on May 27

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Thursday, May 27. MOH extends pre-departure Covid-19 testing requirement to S'pore citizens and PRs This updated measure will take effect from 11.59pm on May 29. READ MORE HERE 2 Concord Primary pupils, Grace Assembly of God pastor added to Jem and Westgate Covid-19 cluster The cluster now has 60 people and is the second-largest active cluster in Singapore. READ MORE HERE Women in S'pore less satisfied with their marriages during Covid-19 pandemic: Study It could be because women had to take on more than their fair share of housework, researchers say. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news In Pictures: Cloudy skies obscure super flower blood moon in Singapore Elsewhere, stargazers were treated to a rare cosmic show. READ MORE HERE S'pore-flagged container ship ablaze off Sri Lanka threatens chemical, oil spill Firefighters still trying to bring flames under control, after it intensified following large explosions. READ MORE HERE Dashed hopes for travellers after S'pore-HK travel bubble deferred again The travel bubble was deferred on May 17 for the second time. READ MORE...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on May 23

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, May 23. S'pore's construction blues: Manpower shortage exacerbated by barring of South Asian workers Asking workers to also work on Sundays is not appropriate as it will cause fatigue and expose them to more worksite risks, said a Scal spokesman. READ MORE HERE Jem and Westgate to close for 2 weeks from May 23; 10 recent Covid-19 cases linked to both malls Three of the seven unlinked cases announced on Saturday had been to Westgate recently. READ MORE HERE E-scooter population in S'pore plunges 91.5% to 8,500 The use of PMDs is still allowed on cycling paths and park connector networks. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news MOM apologises to ex-DJ Jade Rasif for saying her account of maid's Covid-19 scare was 'inaccurate' Ministry retracts its point about her account and redacts the word 'inaccurate' from its post. READ MORE HERE Home buyers sad, disappointed over longer BTO delays due to Covid-19 Many BTO projects are expected to be behind schedule by a year or more. READ MORE HERE Business owners in S'pore asked to declare on-site manpower details: MTI This is...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on May 22

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, May 22. First school-based Covid-19 transmission in S'pore after 2nd ACS (Junior) pupil tests positive The 11-year-old pupil is the classmate of another patient who tested positive on Wednesday. READ MORE HERE Singapore's largest active Covid-19 cluster: What went wrong at Changi Airport? Could Singapore have closed off for a short period, to review and tighten its defences? READ MORE HERE Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine safe, effective for those aged 12 to 15, says expert committee responding to open letter from some doctors The doctors had called for children to be given traditional Covid-19 vaccines instead of mRNA ones. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Close global and multilateral cooperation key to fighting pandemics: PM Lee at G-20 health summit Repeated waves of Covid-19 globally show no country is safe until everyone else is safe, he said. READ MORE HERE Facing new Covid-19 waves, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam fight to hold the line ST examines the reasons behind the spike in cases and what they are doing to fight the new wave. READ MORE HERE Covid-19 pan...

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

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Thursday, May 13. Changi Airport terminals, Jewel to be closed to public for 2 weeks from May 13; still open for air travel They will be closed to the public from May 13 while staff are being tested for Covid-19. READ MORE HERE Changi Airport Covid-19 cluster grows to 25; free testing for those who visited T3 since May 3 The sole unlinked case is a Sengkang General Hospital operating theatre nurse. READ MORE HERE Paid news model forces newsrooms to be more analytical, deliver quality journalism: Khaw Boon Wan Paid news model forces newsrooms to be more analytical, deliver quality journalism: Khaw Boon Wan "If your objective is just to chase eyeballs, then the easiest (way) is to make (news) free," he said. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Front-line officers in Singapore keeping Hari Raya celebrations simple Inspector Norhafizah Abdul Aziz relies on her family's support to keep her going. READ MORE HERE Bitcoin plunges after Elon Musk's Tesla stops taking it for car payments over climate concerns Bitcoin dropped as much as 15%, sliding below US$50,000 in Asian trad...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on May 9

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, May 9. 3 workers at Changi Airport among 7 new Covid-19 community cases As a precaution, MOH will test all staff working at Changi Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, and Jewel. READ MORE HERE Foreign worker levy rebates for construction, marine and process sectors to go up from $90 to $250 Some 15,000 firms facing manpower shortages and higher costs due to tightened border measures will benefit. READ MORE HERE Hotels, wedding venues in S'pore help couples adapt to new Covid-19 rules Some are offering refunds while others are absorbing the costs of pre-event testing. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news 'I thought I was going to die': Woman describes how stalker made her life a living nightmare From 2016 to last year, there was an average of about 50 cases each year of unlawful stalking in Singapore. READ MORE HERE What Mother's Day means to mums on front line of Covid-19 pandemic in S'pore Three nurses, a bus captain and a community police officer tell their Mother's Day stories. READ MORE HERE Goh Chok Tong story: Lessons for 4G leaders There are four episodes...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on May 8

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, May 8. S’pore stops accepting new work pass holders from high Covid-19 risk places, including maids Workers needed for key strategic projects and infrastructural works will be an exception. READ MORE HERE 3 of 4 new Covid-19 community cases unlinked, including man who visited Raffles Hospital, TTSH One of the new cases is linked to the Pasir Panjang Terminal cluster. READ MORE HERE Low-intensity physical activities can continue in S'pore gyms under new Covid-19 measures The changes were the result of talks with business owners and professionals in the sport industry. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Working at keeping economy open amid Singapore's Covid-19 fight Would Singapore have avoided what is happening now if it had shut the borders early? READ MORE HERE SPH media restructuring: The challenge of funding and sustaining quality journalism Many media titles around the world are grappling with the challenge of funding and sustaining quality journalism. READ MORE HERE Hiccups in Singapore's political transition process are to be expected: ESM Goh He adde...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on May 5

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, May 5. Pharmacist, patient and 3 visitors added to TTSH Covid-19 cluster, taking total to 40 All were detected from proactive testing of patients, visitors and staff at TTSH or their close contacts. READ MORE HERE S'pore extends SHN to 21 days for travellers from higher-risk places Travellers must also stay in dedicated SHN facilities. READ MORE HERE 5-person limit for social gatherings, gyms to be closed: What are S'pore's new Covid-19 measures? Stricter Covid-19 measures, such as fewer people allowed for events, will take effect from May 8 to May 30. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Singapore's tighter Covid-19 measures a blow to gym owners, while organisers reschedule, adjust mass sport events No spectators will be allowed for sports leagues and events like the S'pore Premier League. READ MORE HERE Novice cyclist killed in accident involving shuttle bus at NTU bought bicycle the week before Wong Siew Yuen, 49, was also bored at home as she had been unable to see her husband and son in Malaysia. READ MORE HERE Edibles gardening takes root in Singapore ...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on May 2

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, May 2. Patient in TTSH Covid-19 cluster dies; Edgefield Secondary School student among 7 community cases The 88-year-old S'porean woman had been warded in Ward 9D from April 14, and was confirmed to have Covid-19 on April 28. READ MORE HERE Lockdowns and tests: How Tan Tock Seng Hospital responded to a nurse getting Covid-19 It was through a message on their closed chat group that top administrators were informed that a nurse had Covid-19. READ MORE HERE When mum became Covid-19 patient 62,567 after being warded in Tan Tock Seng Hospital The first thing her mother expressed after receiving the positive test results was concern for those she might have inadvertently infected, says enterprise editor Li Xueying. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Anguish and anger as Covid-19 ravages India's health infrastructure WhatsApp and social media have become a roll call of desperate pleas for help. READ MORE HERE Her ex-boyfriend nearly killed her, now she wants to help women caught in violent relationships A victim of a violent relationship, Rachel Lim's face was bashe...

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Ripples from India’s Covid-19 surge: The struggle to cope with fewer foreign workers in Singapore

SINGAPORE - The frightening surge in Covid-19 cases in India has had repercussions around the world, and Singapore has not been spared, with delays and disruptions across the economy. Much of the impact stems from a ruling that has barred all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have travelled to India within the last 14 days from entering or transiting through Singapore since April 24. The same entry ban for all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have been in Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka kicked in at 11.59pm on Saturday (May 1). How will it impact various sectors in Singapore? Entry ban to further squeeze manpower in S'pore's construction sector Sectors such as construction and landscape maintenance - which employ many Indian and Bangladeshi workers - have been hard hit even as they have faced an already diminished workforce since the onset of the pandemic last year. Home buyers are being warned of longer waiting times for their property and higher costs as construction companies turn to countries such as China and Myanmar to source alternative manpower, which may be more costly given the increased demand. READ MORE HERE Builders: Hoping ...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on April 30

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Friday, April 30. TTSH Covid-19 cluster grows to 9 people; 2 wards locked down to stem spread A doctor, a healthcare assistant trainee and six patients are linked to a nurse working there who tested positive. READ MORE HERE New Covid-19 cluster involves 7 family members of infected ICA officer who met over meal The cases include his wife, a TTSH nurse who does not work in wards affected by the hospital cluster. READ MORE HERE New Covid-19 clusters: Who's in the TTSH and ICA officer-linked clusters Among them is a three-year-old boy, who is the nephew of the ICA officer. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Vaccinated cleaner at care facility among Singapore's new community Covid-19 cases The Vietnamese national also helps out at a food stall at NUS. READ MORE HERE NUS foodcourt, City Harvest Church and popular malls among locations visited by Covid-19 patients Malls such as Junction 8, Ang Mo Kio Hub and VivoCity were also added to the list. READ MORE HERE India accepts oxygen supply from 40 countries, including Singapore, amid new Covid-19 wave Singapore sent 256 oxyg...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on April 25

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, April 25. Myanmar junta chief 'not opposed' to visit by Asean delegation, humanitarian aid: PM Lee The bloc leaders' consensus calls for violence to end immediately and for start of constructive dialogue. READ MORE HERE Asean cannot be indifferent to Myanmar situation, has collective duty to act: PM Lee "Silence and inaction would undermine Asean's centrality, credibility and relevance," he said at leaders' meeting. READ MORE HERE Rescuers find debris from missing Indonesian submarine, indicating it has sunk Preparations are being made to salvage the submarine from a depth of 850m. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news More top-notch tech talents set their sights on Singapore About 60 applications have been approved under Tech.Pass scheme to get top-tier foreigners. READ MORE HERE Search for new Singapore PM: Start with a rethink It could be time to focus less on the age of a candidate and more on how long he stays in office, says editor-at-large Han Fook Kwang. READ MORE HERE Pre-event Covid-19 testing: Logistics, cost among concerns for couples and event organ...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on April 24

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, April 24. Singapore's Cabinet reshuffle: Field remains open for 4G leadership, say observers It is not where the 4G ministers are moved that is important, but who was moved, said one observer. READ MORE HERE PM Lee held off on major Cabinet changes last year as S'pore was in the thick of Covid-19 There were extensive consultations within the Cabinet before the line-up was decided, added PM Lee. READ MORE HERE Singapore's Cabinet reshuffle: Major changes but it's not time to read the tea leaves The one reality is that the latest appointments do not spell out the identity of PM Lee's successor. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Interactive: Who's helming S'pore's 15 ministries after PM Lee's Cabinet reshuffle? The reshuffle will see seven of the 15 ministries helmed by new ministers. READ MORE HERE Maid who stabbed S'pore employer more than 90 times gets life imprisonment for murder The victim sustained 94 knife wounds, most of which were on her head and neck. READ MORE HERE How Covid-19 has changed life in foreign workers' dorms in S'pore ST looks at how do...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on April 21

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, April 21. Entry approvals for non-S'poreans, non-PRs travelling from India cut due to Covid-19 Travellers from India will also have to serve an additional 7-day SHN at their place of residence. READ MORE HERE New Covid-19 cluster in S'pore linked to man who was 'probably reinfected in India' MOH said it will review border measures for recovered travellers. READ MORE HERE Public servant and her husband to be charged under OSA over leaking of circuit breaker details last April The woman had illegally sent the information to her husband before it was officially released. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Fully vaccinated dormitory resident is S'pore's sole Covid-19 community case He showed symptoms despite getting his first dose on March 12 and the second dose on April 13. READ MORE HERE Ex-US police officer Derek Chauvin convicted of murder in George Floyd case Chauvin was caught on video kneeling on Floyd's neck for more than 9 minutes in May last year. READ MORE HERE Grab's path to success built on strong culture, unwavering focus on South-east Asia The f...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on April 19

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Monday, April 19. Covid-19 vaccine take-up rate for seniors in S'pore expected to rise: Experts Despite mobility and literacy issues, more will go for the jab as they gain confidence in it. READ MORE HERE 34 cyclists in S'pore caught breaking rules on roads over 2 days: LTA They include 16 cyclists who rode on the road without helmets and another 16 who ran the red light. READ MORE HERE Sole Covid-19 community case in S'pore tests preliminarily positive for B117 strain The bunker tanker crewman did not disembark from the vessel except to go for Covid-19 testing and vaccination. READ MORE HERE S'pore takes Swiss cheese approach to Covid-19 contact tracing Each method may have its shortcomings, but put together, they make up a solid whole, said the head of MOH's contact tracing centre. READ MORE HERE ‘I wanted to escape this life by hiding who I was’ Japan’s ‘untouchables’ are still ostracised in modern times purely because of their lineage. READ MORE HERE US, China agreement set to spur global climate action The agreement is likely to bolster Mr Biden’s climate summit on Thursday and Friday. READ MORE HERE Gig workers in S'po...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on April 18

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, April 18. Arm pain, fever and fatigue: Side effects of Covid-19 vaccine mean immune systems are reacting Side effects tend to be more pronounced in those with more robust immune systems, such as young people. READ MORE HERE Brother, colleague of NUS researcher who tested positive among 4 new Covid-19 community cases The researcher's brother, who works at DBS Bank in Changi, had been working mostly from home. READ MORE HERE How best to counter the virus of disinformation on Covid-19 vaccines? Continue ground engagement and raise awareness of the agendas of those who deliberately mislead, says Singapore editor Zakir Hussain. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Sexual abuse of children on the rise in S'pore: Why victims are afraid to speak out More child sexual abuse cases have been investigated by the authorities in the past decade. READ MORE HERE Britain's Queen Elizabeth stands alone as royal family bids farewell to Prince Philip Mourners at the ceremony in Windsor Castle were limited in number due to Covid-19 rules. READ MORE HERE Heavy rain triggers flooding...

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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on April 17

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, April 17. Thomson Road building to be demolished: Owners of residential units left stunned "Taking the building away is like taking away my retirement fund," said one unit owner who is a semi-retired architect. READ MORE HERE 4 key challenges ahead for Singapore's next 4G leader Insight looks at the main issues that lie ahead and the traits needed to handle them. READ MORE HERE Senior research fellow at NUS one of two Covid-19 cases in the community His three tests done during quarantine on March 25, April 3 and April 10 were all negative. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news 'They played us for fools': Disgruntled vendors decry late, missing payments from Naiise They expressed frustration at how Naiise founder Dennis Tay blamed Covid-19 for the company's undoing. READ MORE HERE Biden, Suga vow unity as US, Japan take on China challenges While China loomed large in their discussions, Japan was also careful to appear to be isolating China. READ MORE HERE 5Cs? It's 3 new Cs such as caring for environment that resonate with young S'poreans: DPM Heng He acknowled...

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4 key challenges ahead for Singapore’s next 4G leader

SINGAPORE - A younger leader with a long enough runway to tackle the huge challenges of a post-pandemic world is what Singapore needs, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat when he stepped aside as the leader of the fourth-generation team. As the 4G political office-holders deliberate over their next leader, Insight looks at the main issues that lie ahead and the traits needed to handle them. Finding sweet spot amid volatile global landscape for next 4G leader 4G ministers (clockwise from top left) Chan Chun Sing, Ong Ye Kung, Lawrence Wong and Desmond Lee. PHOTOS: ST FILE Singapore's economy has just registered its first quarterly growth since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with gross domestic product growth this year likely to exceed the upper end of the official 4 per cent to 6 per cent forecast range. Some Covid-19 measures have lapsed in tandem with the recovery, and wage subsidies under the Jobs Support Scheme have tapered. But recovery is uneven. The export-oriented manufacturing sector has charged ahead, while the construction and services sectors are still affected by mobility curbs. Small and medium-sized enterprises which lack deep pockets and digital smarts ...

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

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Friday, April 16. Scoot flights from S'pore barred from landing in Hong Kong for 2 weeks after 2 Covid-19 cases detected Scoot's passenger service from Hong Kong to Singapore will not be affected. READ MORE HERE What are the safety concerns of vaccinating those under 16 and is it necessary to do so? It is unlikely that Singapore would reach herd immunity without vaccinating kids, said one expert. READ MORE HERE Uncertainty will be a bigger feature of Singapore's political successions Singaporeans should get used to not knowing who the next PM is going to be, says associate editor Chua Mui Hoong. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news US sanctions Russia over cyber attacks, Moscow calls actions 'hostile steps' The move is in retaliation for Kremlin's US election interference, a massive cyber attack and other hostile activity. READ MORE HERE Novena Global Healthcare's Terence Loh has two more weeks to stave off bankruptcy Maybank began bankruptcy proceedings against him in a bid to recover over $3 million in outstanding debts. READ MORE HERE S'pore's health insurance revie...

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

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...