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

aseanpr 27 12 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Dec 27. S'pore's sea cargo one bright spot amid pandemic but reviving air travel remains a challenge Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said ridership on public transport has bounced back. READ MORE HERE What happened to the McDonald's boys and other S'pore missing persons cases still unsolved? For cold cases, the police said they regularly review missing person reports. READ MORE HERE Malaysia records highest daily Covid-19 case count; KL most affected The capital city Kuala Lumpur made up one-third of country's total number of cases on Saturday. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Roller coaster of emotions for S'poreans spending year-end in UK amid tight lockdown "This has been the most challenging Christmas I've had in my life," said a Singaporean student. READ MORE HERE Covid-19 pandemic will not be the last: WHO chief Tedros Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was time to learn the lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic. READ MORE HERE Lebanese man who stayed at Mandarin Orchard among new Covid-19 cases in S'pore Saturday's cases also include two Singaporeans ...

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

aseanpr 26 12 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, Dec 26. S'pore PR tests positive for Covid-19 after completing SHN served partly at Mandarin Orchard The 47-year-old man was one of the 14 new Covid-19 cases announced by MOH on Friday. READ MORE HERE 2 S'poreans sentenced to death in China for drug trafficking; MFA has provided consular assistance Singapore's MFA said that the consulate-general provided regular assistance to Siti Aslina Junaidi and Mohd Yusri Mohd Yussof. READ MORE HERE Yoozoo Games CEO Lin Qi dies at 39 amid poisoning probe A 39-year-old male colleague surnamed Xu has been detained. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news 24 suspected secret society members nabbed in lead-up to Christmas They were arrested at various "congregation hot spots" and shopping malls. READ MORE HERE South Africa rejects claim its Covid-19 variant more dangerous than UK strain Britain said that the variant there was highly concerning, because it is "more transmissible". READ MORE HERE Hong Kong extends Covid-19 quarantine for visitors to 21 days The latest moves mark stepped-up efforts to prevent a new variant of the ...

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

aseanpr 25 12 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Friday, Dec 25. 'The deal is done': EU and Britain clinch narrow Brexit accord Deal is clinched just seven days before it exits one of the world's biggest trading blocs. READ MORE HERE More S'poreans may have to be vaccinated as more contagious Covid-19 strains detected: Public health school dean "This is the only way we can continue to ensure the community as a whole is protected," Prof Teo Yik Ying said. READ MORE HERE Around 1 in 4 Singapore residents surveyed believe false claim that Covid-19 vaccine alters DNA Older respondents were more likely to believe the false claim that Covid-19 vaccines alter DNA. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Zam Zam Restaurant fined a second time for flouting Covid-19 measures; S'poreans reminded to stay vigilant Over the weekend, 16 food and beverage outlets and 36 individuals were fined for breaching safe management measures. READ MORE HERE All set for Christmas in the heartland in Singapore From Sembawang to Clementi and Pasir Ris, locals are adding their own lights and tinsel to decorations put up in HDB estates. READ MORE HERE...

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

aseanpr 22 12 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Tuesday, Dec 22. First shipment of Covid-19 vaccine arrives in S'pore on SIA flight from Brussels It is the first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to arrive in Asia. READ MORE HERE S'pore's sole Covid-19 case on Monday was tested before cruise trip, visited Southern Islands in group of 12 Raffles City, Ngee Ann City and Anchorpoint were also added to the list of places visited by Covid-19 cases. READ MORE HERE Eyes to the sky to witness 'Christmas Star' - a close encounter between Jupiter and Saturn The event, also known as the Great Conjunction or Christmas Star, fell coincidentally on the winter solstice. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news WHO says no need for major alarm over new coronavirus strain WHO expects more detail on new coronavirus strain in coming days, weeks WHO said new tools to track the virus were working, even as a slew of countries imposed travel restrictions on Britain and South Africa. READ MORE HERE Lighting up a downturn: A look back at 4 Orchard Road Christmas light-ups in recession years The Orchard Road Christmas light-up has remained...

E-shopping addiction lays waste to green packaging drive in China

elean 22 12 月

5 minutes

SHANGHAI • If you worry about all the waste generated by the annual rush of holiday shopping and gift giving, it is nothing compared with the mountains of discarded packaging that comes from a single event in China. On Nov 11 each year, the world's biggest consumer market goes into overdrive as e-commerce giants like Alibaba Group Holding and JD.com lure shoppers with huge bargains during the Singles' Day sale. Alibaba reported almost 500 billion yuan (S$102 billion) in sales this year, nearly four times the United States' Black Friday and Cyber Monday spending combined. On its Tmall platform, transactions reached a peak when 583,000 orders were made in a single second. All those purchases meant 675 million packages had to be delivered, a 26 per cent increase from last year. Online shopping in China generated 9.4 million tonnes of packaging in 2018, according to Greenpeace, which projects that the amount could rise to 41 million tonnes by 2025, about the same as all the waste produced by Japan in a year. Greenpeace estimates that Singles' Day generated 52,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide from manufacturing, packaging and shipping in 2017. The national railway has to employ hundreds of ...

Oil price falls on fears of Covid-19 mutation

elean 22 12 月

3 minutes

NEW YORK • Oil fell to less than US$48 a barrel in Asian trading - after posting a seventh weekly gain - on concern a Covid-19 mutation discovered in Britain could speed the virus' transmission and lead to more lockdowns. Futures in New York dropped nearly 3 per cent after closing at the highest level in almost 10 months last Friday. Over 16 million Britons are now required to stay at home as a full lockdown came into force in London and the south-east of England, with some European countries limiting travel with Britain. A stronger dollar also reduced the appeal of commodities that are priced in the currency, while a stimulus deal in the United States could not stem the slide. Physical oil prices are also falling as Asian refiners ease purchases after an earlier-than-usual buying spree. Abu Dhabi's Murban crude was sold last week on the spot market below its official selling price for the first time since August, while differentials for Russia's Espo have fallen from a six-month high. Crude has rallied around 33 per cent since the end of October on a series of vaccine breakthroughs that have created expectations for a recovery in energy demand next year. In the short term, however...

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

aseanpr 20 12 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Dec 20. Coronavirus cases at Mandarin Orchard: Experts look at possible factors behind infections If they did not encounter each other during their stay, then it could be hotel staff or fomites (objects) that formed the transmission chain, said one expert. READ MORE HERE Britain says new coronavirus variant up to 70% more transmissible The new variant is thought to have first occurred in mid-September in London or Kent. READ MORE HERE Silent nights: How some countries are coping with Covid-19 amid surge during Christmas season Some countries, including Britain, will be placed under new restrictions over the Christmas period. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Interactive: A-Z inventions of Covid-19 The pandemic may have brought the world to its knees, but the side effects are not all negative. The Straits Times locks down the upsides of the coronavirus. READ MORE HERE Born with HIV, Nurafiqah is telling her story to fight stigma against people living with the virus Her father and late mother, both HIV-positive, did not tell her about her condition. READ MORE ...

Police investigating 336 alleged scammers and money mules after 14-day islandwide operation

aseanpr 19 12 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - More than 330 people are being investigated for their alleged involvement in scams where victims purportedly lost more than $4 million, the police said in a statement on Saturday (Dec 19). This follows a two-week islandwide enforcement operation conducted between Dec 5 and Dec 19 by officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and the seven police land divisions. The 221 men and 115 women, aged between 15 and 76, are accused of being involved in 641 scams. These comprised mainly Internet love, e-commerce and investment scams, as well as fake gambling platform and loan scams. The police are investigating the individuals for the offence of cheating or money laundering. Those found guilty of cheating under section 420 of the Penal Code can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined. Individuals convicted of money laundering under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act can be imprisoned for not more than 10 years and a fine of up to $500,000. The police said that it takes a serious view against anyone involved in scams. "To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to u...

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

aseanpr 19 12 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, Dec 19. Taxi drivers to get extra $300 a month in rental relief from Singapore taxi firms Including the separate payouts that the Government has announced, they will receive a total of almost $5,000 in the first half of next year. READ MORE HERE Over 400 attend biggest live concert since circuit breaker Everyone in the audience had to have a negative Covid-19 test result before they were allowed into the venue. READ MORE HERE 30 and under: Young Singaporeans to watch The Straits Times celebrates 30 young change-makers from diverse backgrounds who are making a difference in their respective fields. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news 30 and under: Young Asians to watch The Straits Times highlights 30 go-getters in Asia who have a gamut of achievements under their belt. READ MORE HERE Porsche Taycan is The Straits Times Car of the Year 2020 The first electric car from the German marque was voted best in seven out of nine categories. READ MORE HERE Man charged with murder of S'porean teen Felicia Teo: 4 other missing persons cases Here are four other unsolved m...

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase files for IPO as Bitcoin soars past US$23,000

elean 18 12 月

4 minutes

SAN FRANCISCO (BLOOMBERG) - Coinbase Global, the biggest US cryptocurrency exchange, said it has filed confidentially with the Securities and Exchange Commission to go public in what's anticipated to be a breakthrough moment for the industry. The San Francisco-based company said in a statement that it expects its draft registration filing to become effective after the SEC completes its review process. The company didn't provide further details of its listing plans and a representative declined to comment beyond the announcement. Coinbase was valued at more than US$8 billion (S$10.6 billion) in 2018 after a US$300 million funding round led by Tiger Global Management. The company, started in 2012, has raised more than US$500 million from backers that also include Andreessen Horowitz, Y Combinator and Greylock Partners, according to its website. Coinbase said it has has more than 35 million verified users in more than 100 countries and more than US$25 billion in assets on its platform. Kyle Samani, co-founder of MultiCoin Capital, said he expects Coinbase going public to be a "huge event" for the industry. "It is a watershed moment for the asset class, both as a form of legitimisation...

4 years’ jail for former MD of food firm who misappropriated more than $1m

aseanpr 17 12 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - The managing director (MD) of an international food trading firm misappropriated more than $1 million from it between 2016 and 2018. Ho Soo Ann, who was Frosts Food International's MD from 2001 to 2018, proceeded to gamble away his ill-gotten gains and has made no restitution. On Thursday (Dec 17), the 57-year-old Singaporean pleaded guilty to one count of criminal breach of trust involving more than $700,000 and was sentenced to four years' jail. A similar charge involving the remaining amount was considered during sentencing. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Shao Yan said that while working for the firm, Ho was responsible for overseeing its business operations including its revenue and account transactions. He was entrusted with collecting payments from the company's overseas customers but breached the trust placed in him when he misappropriated more than $700,000 from Sept 2, 2016 to Aug 2, 2017. The DPP said: "He did so by directing the overseas customers to make payments for their orders with the company into the accused's personal bank account... instead of the company's corporate bank account. "The overseas customers did not suspect that there was anything amiss with...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Dec 15

aseanpr 15 12 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Tuesday, Dec 15. 7 things to know about phase 3: Dining out in larger groups, free Covid-19 vaccinations Priority for the vaccines will be given to those at greatest risk, such as healthcare workers and the elderly. READ MORE HERE Answers to key questions on Singapore's Covid-19 vaccination strategy Why is the vaccination programme voluntary and not mandatory? Is there a target take-up rate? READ MORE HERE Singapore to enter phase 3 on Dec 28: Groups of 8 to be allowed for social gatherings Capacity limits in public places such as malls, attractions and places of worship will be increased. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Singapore to get first vaccines by end-Dec: The risk and reward of rushing to get a jab Getting vaccinated is not just about safety. There are other important considerations as well, says senior health correspondent Salma Khalik. READ MORE HERE WHO says authorities investigating new Covid-19 variant in England Over 1,000 cases of the variant have been identified in the past few days. READ MORE HERE Stage 2 of Thomson-East Coast Line to be delayed ...

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

aseanpr 13 12 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Dec 13. Hawker heritage: Passing on a legacy As Singapore awaits the Unesco decision on inscribing hawker culture on the intangible heritage list, three hawkers share why they are passing on their love of the trade to others through an apprenticeship scheme. READ MORE HERE Lonely elderly deaths that go undetected uncommon in S'pore For 39 men and nine women, none of their loved ones may have known - or cared - about their deaths this year. READ MORE HERE Unwinding in Ubin: Marooned in S'pore amid Covid-19, locals flock to island for kampung vibes and nature trails With international travel restricted, the island has drawn Singaporeans in droves especially with the school holidays now in full swing. READ MORE HERE Lunch With Sumiko: Daren Tang, Singapore's IP Man in Geneva, on his to-do list Lawyer Daren Tang made history when he became the first Singaporean to head a United Nations agency. READ MORE HERE Couple, son die in suspected electrocution incident: What to do when trying to help victims It is dangerous to touch someone who has been electrocuted, say experts. READ MORE HERE Former drug abuser in S'pore shares ...

Boutique PC builder puts S’pore on the map

aseanpr 13 12 月

3 minutes

Back in 2012, Aftershock was started in a small shophouse in Serangoon Road. Today, it is Singapore's biggest boutique PC builder, occupying nine units in a light industrial building in Bendemeer and employing about 150 staff. The firm has expanded its operations to Malaysia and Australia and has its own showrooms and production lines in both countries. It is now run by fraternal twins Marcus and Joe Wee, both 36. Mr Marcus Wee, who is managing director, started the company in 2012 with a business partner, but the partner exited after a year. Mr Joe Wee, who is creative director, came on board in 2013. The company has grown from its beginnings, when it found a niche in the market by offering customisable laptops and PCs. It now caters to a wider customer base. As Aftershock expands overseas, Singapore will not be its biggest market for long, said Mr Marcus Wee. It is looking to expand to two more countries in the next year. But things have not always been smooth sailing. "Once the firm started employing 60 to 70 staff, managing people was a whole new ball game," said Mr Marcus Wee. "I tried to take on a lot of the responsibility myself earlier on, thinking it was better if I did th...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Dec 12

aseanpr 12 12 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, Dec 12. Covid-19 vaccine: Will you take it? 8 in 10 say yes in ST poll But one in 10 will not consider getting the vaccination, citing safety as their top concern. READ MORE HERE Wuhan one year on: A city of resilience, a city of scars in wake of Covid-19 outbreak China correspondent Elizabeth Law reports after a third trip to the central Chinese city. READ MORE HERE Travellers from HK to serve 14-day SHN in S'pore from Dec 14 All travellers from Hong Kong, except Singapore residents, must also take a Covid-19 PCR test within 72 hours before departure. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news US Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to overturn election results in 4 key states The four states told the court that the lawsuit had no factual or legal grounds. READ MORE HERE $2.2 b over next 5 years to go towards grooming S'pore's future researchers and scientists Increased funding in the area underscores Singapore's efforts to remain competitive in the wake of Covid-19. READ MORE HERE Faulty KTPH test: What is the HER2 test and the breast cancer type linked to it? The tes...

Jail for doctor who took more than 3,000 upskirt videos; described as a prolific serial voyeur

aseanpr 11 12 月

1 minute

SINGAPORE - A doctor who concealed a camera in his shoe and used it to record more than 3,000 upskirt videos was sentenced on Friday (Dec 11) to three years' jail. Chu Ben Wee is one of the most prolific serial voyeurs to come before the courts, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Sruthi Boppana. The prosecutor added that Chu "fully exploited the available technologies to conceal his offending behaviour", and recorded videos in various locations including hospitals and junior colleges. Chu was initially arrested on Jan 18, 2018, but reoffended while he was under police investigations in April last year. Given bail that same month, he went back to his old ways in July. On Friday, Chu pleaded guilty to four counts of insulting the women's modesty. Thirteen other charges, mainly for similar offences, were considered during sentencing. As at Friday afternoon, his name is still on the list of registered healthcare professionals in Singapore. For each count of insulting a woman's modesty, an offender can be jailed for up to a year and fined.

School fees unchanged for S’poreans, PRs next year; small rise for non-Asean foreign students

aseanpr 9 12 月

1 minute

SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Wednesday (Dec 9) it will not be making any changes to school fees for Singapore citizens, permanent residents and students from Asean. However, there will be an increase of about 3 per cent in fees for non-Asean foreign students in government and government-aided schools, which takes effect from January 2021. These students will pay $25 to $50 more per month. The revision is part of MOE's regular review of school fees. Primary school education is free for Singaporeans, while those in secondary schools and at the pre-university level pay monthly fees of $5 and $6 respectively. The standard miscellaneous fees also remain unchanged next year. More on this topic Related Story Lower fees at more pre-schools next year with expanded partner operator scheme Related Story Coronavirus: Autonomous universities freeze fee hikes for citizens, offer more financial aid to students in need

Deputy director at FAS and wife allegedly cheated sporting body of over $600k

aseanpr 9 12 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A deputy director at the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and his wife allegedly worked together to cheat the sporting body of more than $600,000 in total between 2016 and 2018. Rikram Jit Singh Randhir Singh, 40, was handling commercial and business development at FAS, while his wife Asya Kirin Kames, 33, was a director of a firm called All Resource Network (ARN) which dealt with sporting goods. They were each charged with 45 counts of cheating on Wednesday (Dec 9). Responding to queries from The Straits Times, FAS said it had sacked Singh on Jan 7 last year. “We have extended our full cooperation with the authorities and are unable to comment as court proceedings are ongoing,” added a spokesman. Singh and Asya are accused of committing the offences with two other men - Shankar Suppiah, 43, and Pallaniappan Ravindran, 47 - who were also charged on Wednesday. Shankar, who was also a director at ARN, faces 37 cheating charges while Pallaniappan, a director at event organiser Myriad Sports & Events (MSE), was slapped with 15. In a statement, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said that invoices from ARN were submitted to FAS as part of the alleged co...

US food delivery giant DoorDash raises $4.5 billion in above-range IPO

elean 9 12 月

2 minutes

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - DoorDash raised US$3.37 billion (S$4.5 billion) in an initial public offering (IPO) above its marketed range, according to people familiar with the matter. The San Francisco-based company sold 33 million shares on Tuesday (Dec 8) for US$102 each after marketing them for US$90 to US$95 each, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information wasn't public yet. At that price, DoorDash has a fully diluted value of about US$38 billion, which includes employee stock options and restricted stock units. DoorDash's IPO is one of the largest US tech listings this year. The company is part of a cadre of consumer-facing, web-based businesses that are expected to go public in December - including home-rental platform Airbnb, which is set to price its IPO on Wednesday. Others include video-game company Roblox Corp, installment loans provider Affirm Holdings and ContextLogic, the parent of online discount retailer Wish. Food delivery start-up DoorDash has seized on the pandemic-fueled boom in demand for meals brought to your door, as well as investor exuberance over new stock listings as it moves ahead with its IPO. Revenue in the first nine months of ...

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

aseanpr 9 12 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, Dec 9. Suspected Covid-19 case on Royal Caribbean cruise to nowhere, ship returns to Singapore mid-sail Guests have been told to remain in their rooms for the journey back. READ MORE HERE 3 bars and pubs to reopen for 2 months under nightlife sector pilot Strict measures will be in place, such as no live music and dancing. READ MORE HERE Singapore and China lay groundwork towards post-Covid-19 world with new agreements DPM Heng Swee Keat identified connectivity, digitalisation and sustainable development as increasingly critical areas for collaboration. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Body of missing 41-year-old snorkeller found near Sisters' Island The man's wife said he had planned to snorkel for 30 minutes. READ MORE HERE Hosting WEF 'a feather in the cap' for Singapore: Experts The tourism and events sectors are expected to get a boost from the meeting. READ MORE HERE Children of divorced parents earn less than peers from intact families, more likely to be divorced: MSF study The study of more than 100,000 S'poreans found that their parents' divorce...

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