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Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Feb 6

aseanpr 6 2 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, Feb 6. ACS(I) teen who died after Safra Yishun accident was 'a loving son and caring friend': Family "It's hard to let go because we had such a close bond with Jethro," they said. READ MORE HERE Myanmar's coup conundrum: How a return to military rule has impacted Asia Asia and the world have to balance concern and pragmatism in trying to return the country to civilian rule. READ MORE HERE Budget 2021: More targeted support for firms, workers to seize new opportunities Hopes are high that policymakers will not turn off the spigots too soon in Budget 2021 on Feb 16. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news BTO flats in Kallang/Whampoa, Bidadari and assisted living flats oversubscribed in a day As of 5pm on Friday, 319 applicants were vying for 169 Community Care Apartments. READ MORE HERE Remains found in pot case: Mum accused of murdering toddler faces extra charges She is said to have ill-treated a little girl by hitting her with a belt and a clothes hanger. READ MORE HERE Pilot for bars and pubs to reopen extended by 2 months, but will not include more outlets T...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Feb 3

aseanpr 3 2 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, Feb 3. Bill limiting police use of TraceTogether data to serious crimes passed by Parliament The Bill was put through all three readings in one parliamentary sitting. READ MORE HERE Critical need to rebuild the public's trust in TraceTogether What Singaporeans take issue with is the perceived lack of a timely and proactive admission of an error, says senior political correspondent Grace Ho. READ MORE HERE $900 million given to landlords under rental relief framework to help tenants stay afloat 115,990 cash grant notices were issued to property owners with tenants eligible for rental relief. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Hundreds of shoppers throng Chinatown Complex wet market ahead of Chinese New Year They were hoping to stock up on seafood and ingredients for steamboat dishes. READ MORE HERE GPs, polyclinics seeing rise in patients with flu-like symptoms as some let guard down Some patients could also be heeding advice to seek medical attention early for acute respiratory infections. READ MORE HERE 3 children among 19 new Covid-19 imported cases in S...

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

aseanpr 2 2 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Tuesday, Feb 2. Myanmar military removes 24 ministers, deputies in Suu Kyi's government, names 11 replacements Ms Aung San Suu Kyi and key officials were detained as the military seized power. READ MORE HERE Biden demands Myanmar military cede power, orders sanctions review This crisis marks a first major test of Biden’s pledge to collaborate more with allies on global challenges. READ MORE HERE Myanmar emergency: 5 things you need to know about the political crisis Why did the military challenge the latest vote? READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Singapore Parliament declares climate change a global emergency MPs raised suggestions on how Singapore can do more to tackle climate change. READ MORE HERE Covid-19 vaccines can't currently be given to S'poreans who wish to travel overseas, due to limited supplies: Janil Healthcare and front-line workers, as well as seniors, have to be prioritised, said Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary. READ MORE HERE 2 people at Mediacorp actor Jeffrey Xu's party face charges for breaking Covid-19 rules The party at a...

S’pore’s tourist arrivals fell 85% to 2.7m, lowest in four decades due to Covid-19

aseanpr 1 2 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Visitor arrivals to Singapore plummeted to 2.7 million last year, the lowest in about four decades, following unprecedented global travel restrictions and border closures amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year's arrivals nearly all took place during the first two months of the year, and the total number is a drop of 85.7 per cent from arrivals in the whole of 2019, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on Monday (Feb 1). Tourism receipts also tumbled 78.4 per cent to $4.4 billion in the first three quarters of last year, from the same period in 2019. This was largely due to the unprecedented global travel restrictions and border closures, the STB said. STB chief executive Keith Tan said: "STB remains confident in Singapore's position as one of the world's safest and most attractive leisure and business destinations, and the long-term prospects of Singapore's tourism sector." While mass international travel is unlikely to resume in a major way this year, he said the STB will continue to work with industry partners to prepare for a recovery. Domestic demand has now become critical to support tourism businesses, with international travel at a standstill. The SingapoRedisco...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Jan 31

aseanpr 31 1 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Jan 31. Singapore's nightclubs and karaoke outlets in the dark after pilot fails to take off Many had invested a significant amount in preparing for the pilot, which was to have started this month. READ MORE HERE Singapore's teen ISA case: Is the Internet to blame for youth self-radicalisation? News that a Singaporean teenager had planned to carry out a terror attack has parents worried about their children’s activities online. But is the Internet solely to blame? READ MORE HERE Do not lay out trays of CNY goodies; practise strict hand hygiene during visits, say experts This is because this kind of communal eating increases the risk of spreading Covid-19. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Lunch With Sumiko: Hip-hop and honesty go hand in hand, says rapper Yung Raja Yung Raja’s uniquely Singaporean English-Tamil hip-hop is inspired by his own experience as the son of immigrant parents. READ MORE HERE askST: What is a stay-home notice and how is it enforced in Singapore? The government has been constantly updating quarantine requirements for travellers as the ...

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

aseanpr 30 1 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, Jan 30. 409 staff working at Jewel Changi Airport, T3 test negative for Covid-19 after special testing op The testing was a precautionary measure after 3 past cases were found to have the UK strain. READ MORE HERE Will the Covid-19 pandemic derail plans to raise retirement and re-employment ages in Singapore? Companies short of manpower would welcome the extension of retirement and re-employment ages. READ MORE HERE Anaphylaxis and other Covid-19 vaccine side effects: Should I be worried? Allergic reactions are a common risk for all vaccines, and allergies may or may not be known. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news ST-WEF webinar: How America can win back Asia Geopolitical Reset 2021: Implications for Asia | ST-WEF Webinar | Davos Agenda 2021 Offer global leadership in economic development, focus on the positive and start listening to allies again. READ MORE HERE EU tries to restrict vaccine exports to Britain with emergency Brexit rules in 'act of hostility' The move is a steep escalation of the bloc's battle to secure vaccine supplies. READ MORE HERE Asia...

Two F&B outlets to be charged, four ordered shut, six others and 131 individuals fined for Covid-19 breaches

aseanpr 29 1 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Two food and beverage (F&B) operators are to be charged on Tuesday (Feb 2) for allegedly breaching safe management measures, one of them while continuing to operate despite being ordered to close for multiple infringements previously. They were among 12 F&B outlets sanctioned, four of which were ordered to close and six fined. A further 131 people have also been fined for flouting Covid-19 rules. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) in a statement on Friday (Jan 29) said all were nabbed as part of stepped up inspections by government agencies on F&B premises, malls and other public spaces last week on Jan 22 and Jan 23. The two F&B operators to be charged on Feb 2 are Mark Enterprise and Kim's Place Seafood Restaurant. Mark Enterprise had allegedly continued operations on July 18 despite having been issued an order to close for breaching multiple safe management measures. Kim's Place Seafood had allegedly allowed gatherings of more than five people split across multiple tables. It also allowed karaoke activities on its premises in September last year. For the breaches, Kim's Place Seafood was issued two closure orders totalling 30 days, from Jan 6 to...

GameStop frenzy has spread to Asia

elean 29 1 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE (REUTERS) - Asia's retail investors, emboldened by the meteoric rise of US videogame retailer GameStop, are taking on short sellers and making their brokers nervous enough to cut off margin lending. In South Korea, small investors known as "ants" have borrowed so much money to dabble in stocks that at least half a dozen brokerages have stopped offering them leverage. GameStop's global impact is the latest manifestation of a day-trading mania driven by amateur investors that is boosting the price of assets ranging from cryptocurrencies to new stock market listings. "Not afraid, not flinching," said Ji-Han Kim, who works at a food delivery chain in Seoul and whose stock portfolio includes Chinese drone-maker Ehang, which he says has made him a 412 per cent return, and chip giant Samsung Electronics. "I see it as a bubble that doesn't burst for a while." However, this euphoria is not universal and Korea Financial Investment Association data shows six South Korean brokerages stopped margin lending this month, after loan values hit a record 21.6 trillion won (S$25.8 billion) this week. "Any more lending to ants would go against the capital requirement ratio for brokerages," sa...

Co2Bitcoin (Co2B) Combatting Global Warming at Coinsbit Exchange

pandora 27 1 月

4 minutes

Co2Bitcoin will be available on January 28, 2021 at the www.coinsbit.io exchange. New York, NY - A decentralized group of innovators and visionaries, focused on mitigating the causes and potentially cataclysmic effects of climate change, has introduced a new financial instrument. A cryptocurrency, Co2Bitcoin, available to the public on January 28th, 2021, will help Countries to finance local projects to combat global warming’s negative effects on our environment and inhabitants. Co2Bitcoins have already been used to acquire and protect over 100 million trees in the Brazilian Rainforest, saving them from fires by clearing and maintaining the underbrush and using controlled burns, ensuring that they will be preserved, sequestering critical amounts of Co2 and its brimming habitats, for generations to come. Co2Bit (http://www.co2bit.com/news) has already signed partnerships with the Governments of Madagascar, Gambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Niger, Sudan, Guinea Bissau, Congo Brazzaville, Mali, Comores, Gambia, Guinee, Gabon, Ivory Coast, the Edo Province of Nigeria, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and individually the provinces of Kwango, Maniema, Bas Uele, Kwilu, and...

Techstars Announces ‘Startup City Acceleration Program’ in Partnership with Japanese Government to Support the Global Expansion of 50 Japan-Based Startups

ruth 27 1 月

3 minutes

BOULDER, Colorado, Jan 27, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Techstars, the rapidly-growing global investment and accelerator network that helps entrepreneurs succeed, today announced a new program supporting 50 Japan-based startups in partnership with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Taking place from February to April, the 10-week "Startup City Acceleration Program" will provide local startup businesses with guidance and hands-on mentorship, while also helping them progress toward overseas expansion by making connections with worldwide investors and business partners."Today's global environment has become a source of demand for new ideas and progress toward innovation across everything from healthcare to climate change, but at the same has restricted the collaboration and resources needed to propel promising innovations toward success," said Maelle Gavet, Techstars chief executive officer. "We're thrilled for the opportunity to support these startup ecosystems and help entrepreneurs make the connections they need to advance their businesses."Techstars has funded more than 2,300 startups including...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Jan 26

aseanpr 26 1 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Tuesday, Jan 26. Covid-19 pandemic could last four or five years: Lawrence Wong The world is likely to encounter many more bumps along the way in handling the crisis, he says. READ MORE HERE 1-year-old boy among 44 new Covid-19 imported cases in Singapore The dependant's pass holder had returned from the United Arab Emirates. READ MORE HERE Confidence levels in vaccines in S'pore expected to rise as more get Covid-19 shots: Chief health scientist Singapore has a "healthy paranoia" that prevents it from being complacent, said Prof Tan Chorh Chuan. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Covid-19 pandemic still taking a toll on public transport worldwide Over 40% of people around the world have cut back on public transport rides. READ MORE HERE 80,000 land transport workers to be offered Covid-19 vaccine from Jan 25 Bus captains were among the first batch of 12,000 workers offered the first dose of the vaccine. READ MORE HERE askST: Am I allowed to visit my friends during the Chinese New Year period? From Tuesday, every household will have a cap of eight visitors each day. ...

Amber Solutions Closes 2020 With Series B Funding Totaling More Than $8.5 Million

indie 25 1 月

3 minutes

DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA , Jan 25, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Amber Solutions, the young Silicon Valley company that is making the digital control of electricity in solid-state architecture a commercial reality, today announced that its 2020 series B funding round raised more than $8.5 million from new and existing investors, following a successful year of secured patents, partner discussions and multiple industry award wins. According to Amber Founder and CEO Thar Casey, the company's progress in 2020 is all the more remarkable given the challenges posed to the business by the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns that prevented most, if not all, in person product demonstrations."2020 presented a challenging business climate, but our commitment to revolutionize the world's building electrical infrastructure helped Amber enter 2021 with increased investment, new patents, as well as multiple industry award wins and nominations," Casey said. "Amber's progress is a sign of the accelerating demand from major electrical product manufacturers for solid-state electrification technologies and its ability to completely disrupt and transform the enormous global market for electrical products and se...

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

aseanpr 24 1 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Jan 24. S'poreans react to new rules ahead of CNY: Some disappointed while others welcome restrictions Some think the added curbs are necessary while others find them too restrictive. READ MORE HERE 50,000 jobseekers hired by 14,000 firms under Jobs Growth Incentive About 50 per cent of the new hires were aged 40 and over. READ MORE HERE Stricter measures ahead of CNY disappointing, but S'pore must remain vigilant: PM Lee He noted that the recent community cases are a reminder that the war against Covid-19 is far from over. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Singapore passport renewals down with travel unlikely amid Covid-19 Demand for travel insurance products has also taken a hit. READ MORE HERE Carnival firm Uncle Ringo stepping back into the game after year of sorrow Last month, Uncle Ringo reopened in a small space at the Social Innovation Park in Punggol. READ MORE HERE US talk show legend Larry King dies at age 87 The former CNN interviewer had been hospitalised with Covid-19 in Los Angeles. READ MORE HERE Covid-19 magnifies underlying problems that ne...

North West CDC raising $2 million to help retrenched residents

aseanpr 23 1 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Community Development Council (CDC) for Singapore's north-west region is raising at least $2 million to help laid-off residents amid the coronavirus pandemic. MP of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC and Mayor of the North West CDC, Mr Alex Yam, announced this on Saturday (Jan 23). He said schemes emerging from the CDC's fund-raising efforts will make sure people do not have to wait for approval under existing government programmes, which could take too long. He said: "Government schemes will remain the bread-and-butter, but we want to be able to plug the gap in terms of timeliness and urgency. "As we look ahead, we are hopeful that the economy will stabilise a little bit more, but (this is) in case there are still more people who may face retrenchments or termination due to the economic downturn." Mr Yam was speaking during the WeCare @ North West-Service Weeks campaign, into its eighth year, this year. From Jan 6 to Feb 7, festive packs containing foods worth $50 such as soya milk powder, instant noodles, coffee, sunflower oil and oatmeal will be given to some 20,000 residents living in rental units. Corporate volunteers will also install appliances in some households. Gain Ci...

New FairPrice supermarket at Parkway Parade promotes and stocks more local produce

aseanpr 22 1 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Local produce is getting a boost at a new FairPrice supermarket in Marine Parade, which will carry more goods from domestic makers. The new FairPrice Xtra hypermarket on the third floor of Parkway Parade will be the first here to have dedicated sections for local produce such as fish, eggs, vegetables and mushrooms, and is aimed at promoting local brands and products. More than 600 local products can be found here, compared with supermarkets of the same size which typically carry fewer than 500 local products. Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng, who was the guest of honour at the store's official opening on Friday (Jan 22), called on residents to support local products, which he described as vital in strengthening Singapore's food supply and resilience. Singapore aims to produce 30 per cent of the country's nutritional needs locally by 2030, an increase from the current figure of less than 10 per cent. Dr Tan, who is also the Second Minister for Manpower, said local food supply will help Singapore to mitigate external shocks, such as by forming a buffer during a food supply crisis. It is also important to generate demand for local produce when working t...

Nearly one-third of Singaporeans gained weight during Covid-19 pandemic: Survey

aseanpr 22 1 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Covid-19 has been a weighty affair in more ways than one, with almost one-third of Singaporeans saying they have piled on the kilos during the pandemic, at an average increase of around 5kg. And while many would point their fingers at how lifestyles have become more sedentary with many working from home, four in 10 reported that they are exercising more often. These are among the findings from an online study by marketing research company Ipsos, which looked at how health choices have changed during the pandemic. A total of 500 respondents, aged between 21 and 74, were interviewed between Oct 23 and Nov 6. More than half of those surveyed also said they were trying to lose weight but a majority of these - more than 70 per cent - added that this was unrelated to gaining weight during the pandemic. More exercise was the most popular way to slim down, followed by reducing one's food intake and eating healthily without dieting. However, these Singaporeans were least willing to give up meat and alcohol to lose weight. Only 10 per cent said that they could abstain from meat and alcohol, while 65 per cent of them could cut down or forgo sugar. Cheaper healthy food topped the l...

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

aseanpr 22 1 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Friday, Jan 22. 3 new Covid-19 cases in BS Industrial & Construction Supply cluster for a total of 7 The new patients included the wife of the cluster's first case and another of the firm’s employee. READ MORE HERE Help is on the way: Biden unveils Covid-19 plan but says US death toll could top 500,000 next month Biden’s plan includes mounting an aggressive vaccination campaign, requiring masks on interstate travel and international travellers to quarantine. READ MORE HERE Singaporean music director behind J.Lo's performance at US President Biden's inauguration Mr Lenny Wee produced, arranged, orchestrated and directed the songs for Lopez's segment. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Joe Biden's inauguration sends a message of resilience His inaugural speech, stressing unity, tolerance and humility, drew praise across the political spectrum. READ MORE HERE Fighting the unknown: Covid-19 task force co-chairs Gan Kim Yong, Lawrence Wong sum up challenges These included dealing with uncertainty and implementing their ideas. READ MORE HERE Malaysia extends Covid-19 movem...

14th Asian Financial Forum attracts 63,000-plus viewers

indie 20 1 月

9 minutes

HONG KONG, Jan 20, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 14th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) concluded yesterday. Running on the theme "Reshaping the World Economic Landscape", the two-day virtual event also featured an online poll to gauge participants' views on the global economy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various sectors. This year's AFF attracted more than 63,000 viewers from more than 70 nations and regions. To help facilitate more concrete collaboration between global investors, project owners and start-ups, the online forum included the AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session, with more than 700 one-on-one matchmaking meetings arranged.The keynote speaker on the second day of the Asian Financial Forum was Stephen A Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone (R). The session was chaired by Antony Leung, Group Chairman & CEO of the Nan Fung Group (L).Nobel Laureate economist and policy entrepreneur Paul Romer (R) shared at the keynote session moderated by Raymund Chao, PwC's Asia Pacific and China Chairman, on the first day of the AFF.The...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Jan 20

aseanpr 20 1 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, Jan 20. New local Covid-19 cluster formed; 8-year-old boy added to para-vet cluster The wife and housemate of a man who tested positive for Covid-19 last Saturday have also tested positive, forming a new local cluster. READ MORE HERE Little chance of honeymoon for Joe Biden amid crises He is inheriting twin crises which require immediate intervention: Covid-19 and a battered economy. READ MORE HERE Trump 'provoked' US Capitol mob, Republican leader Mitch McConnell tells Senate The senator stated publicly for the first time that he holds President Donald Trump at least partly responsible for the assault. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Covid-19 cluster linked to police para-veterinarian is a reminder to be vigilant, say experts Four cases linked to a new cluster did not seek medical treatment even though they fell ill with flu-like symptoms. READ MORE HERE Duty calls for Singaporean males who return from overseas to do NS Many overseas Singaporean males view their two years of NS as their natural duty, despite challenges such as adapting to life here. RE...

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

aseanpr 19 1 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Tuesday, Jan 19. Additional Covid-19 measures may be needed as community cases inch up: Lawrence Wong Two more community cases have been linked to the police para-vet cluster. READ MORE HERE Recent Covid-19 infections in S'pore dorms likely to be isolated cases, say experts They said there was no need for alarm unless more cases started cropping up. READ MORE HERE Vaccination centre at Changi T4 can inoculate 4,000 a day It aims to keep the total time it takes for a person to get vaccinated to under an hour. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Trump ends historically unpopular presidency with 34% approval The new Gallup numbers show Trump's approval rating falling 12 percentage points since before the Nov 3 election. READ MORE HERE TraceTogether tokens handed out again at 38 CCs - but without the long queues Residents said collection was fast and the queues were not as long as before. READ MORE HERE Strong winds recorded across Singapore on Jan 18, reaching 49.3kmh at Admiralty The rainy and windy weather in early January is expected to ease soon. READ MORE HERE Tech-...

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