more

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

aseanpr 20 11 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, Nov 20. What the world did and didn't accomplish at COP26 How has the summit in Glasgow moved the needle in speeding up climate action and what does it mean for Singapore and the region? READ MORE HERE Dip in Covid-19 ICU rate in Singapore could pave way for the vaccinated to mix more freely However, the unvaccinated will likely have to continue living with tight restrictions. READ MORE HERE S'pore records 1,734 new Covid-19 cases; ICU utilisation rate at 57% The Covid-19 weekly infection growth rate also fell to 0.77, down from 0.90 on Thursday. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Day trips to Johor unlikely for some time even as S'pore, Malaysia plan land borders reopening Observers expect the reopening will be likely available to just long-term pass holders at the start. READ MORE HERE New fleet of vehicles among PUB's measures to respond to flash floods faster They can move through water 70cm deep and are fitted with cameras that live-stream information back to PUB's Joint Operations Centre. READ MORE HERE Liquidators of Park Hotel Management succeed in ...

Labour movement must transform itself to tackle job challenges: DPM Heng Swee Keat

aseanpr 17 11 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - The labour movement will have to transform itself to tackle present and future concerns about jobs, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Wednesday (Nov 17). First, it must work more directly with companies to transform their businesses so that their workers can succeed, he said. And as the labour market changes, it should serve more workers by expanding its outreach and addressing workers' lifelong needs holistically. The labour movement will also need to garner broader support from Singaporeans, he added. Mr Heng was addressing unionists, tripartite partners and other guests at NTUC's Ordinary Delegates' Conference. The one-day conference aimed to review the labour movement's progress in supporting members and workers since its previous edition in 2019. About 750 people attended online while 500 were physically present at Resorts World Sentosa. NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng said that since 2019, the trade union has done "good and practical work that brings real difference to workers". Citing some examples, he noted that NTUC has called for retirement and re-employment ages to be raised, as well as for improvements to Central Provident Fund contributions t...

Crunch at ports may mean crisis for American farms

elean 15 11 月

7 minutes

NEW YORK (NYTIMES) - It is just 96km from El Dorado Dairy in Ontario, California, to the nation's largest container port in Los Angeles. But the farm is having little luck getting its products onto a ship headed for the foreign markets that are crucial to its business. The farm is part of one of the nation's largest cooperatives, California Dairies, which manufactures milk powder for factories in South-east Asia and Mexico that use it to make candy, baby formula and other foods. The company typically ships 22,679 tonnes of its milk powder and butter out of ports each month. But roughly 60 per cent of the company's bookings on outbound vessels have been cancelled or deferred in recent months, resulting in about US$45 million (S$61 million) in missed revenue a month. "This is not just a problem; it's not just an inconvenience, it's catastrophic," said California Dairies chief executive Brad Anderson. A supply chain crisis for imports has grabbed national headlines and attracted the attention of the Joe Biden administration, as shoppers fret about securing gifts in time for the holidays and as strong consumer demand for couches, electronics, toys and clothing pushes inflation to its h...

More HDB upgraders buying condos as resale flat prices rise

elean 15 11 月

1 minute

SINGAPORE - More Housing Board upgraders are snapping up condominium units in a buoyant property market, spurred by resale flat prices climbing faster than those for private housing. The robust HDB resale market has enabled them to upgrade more easily to private homes. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

Better to be smart than lucky

elean 14 11 月

7 minutes

"I'd rather be lucky than be smart!" A lecturer in fund management for my Master of Science in Applied Finance course used to repeat this mantra in class. He used to say that some seats were luckier than others on the trading floor. And traders who occupied those seats usually did very well. The idea that you needed luck to succeed seemed like a good excuse. The fairy tale-like life of Forrest Gump, depicted in the hit movie starring Tom Hanks in the 1990s, added gloss to the notion. Wouldn't it be nice if we could stumble through life like Gump, and serendipitously encounter one positive event after another? In one part of the movie, the slow-witted Gump disclosed later in his life that he had bought into a fruit company on the advice of his superior in the army, and that he didn't "have to worry about money no more". The "fruit company" of course was Apple. Well, two decades on - the first decade as an observer and commentator on the markets, and the second as a practitioner - my view has flipped 180 degrees. The reason? Luck is not repeatable. In our life's journey, there are numerous decisions we make along the way. Where we are at any point in our life is the cumulative outcom...

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

aseanpr 13 11 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Saturday, Nov 13. 35-year-old among 14 new Covid-19 deaths in S'pore; 3,099 new cases The 35-year-old had not been vaccinated against Covid-19, and had multiple comorbidities, MOH added. READ MORE HERE Australia debates Covid-19 fees for unvaccinated by choice after move by Singapore PM Scott Morrison has rejected such calls, saying "we're not going to demonise people for making their own choices". READ MORE HERE Concerns in Malaysia as Covid-19 cases exceed 6,000 for third day running Rise in cases has raised alarm among some people as Melaka and Sarawak are due to hold elections. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Apec leaders vow to tackle economic recovery, Covid-19 and climate change Apec’s 21 member economies reject vaccine nationalism, pledging to boost vaccine manufacturing. READ MORE HERE Xi Jinping now close to 'Great Helmsman' in the party Officials rallied around the powerful president, using the word "core" to describe his leadership and political ideology. READ MORE HERE Asia's consumers spoilt for choice as e-grocery segment thrives In an industry with...

Why economists got it so wrong on US inflation

elean 12 11 月

5 minutes

NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) - Economists are getting a dose of humility on forecasting inflation after a resurgent coronavirus, a tenuous global supply network and stimulus-fueled consumers combined to send US prices well beyond the expectations of Wall Street and policy makers. The government's latest inflation read on Wednesday (Nov 10) showed a 6.2 per cent annual jump in consumer prices that exceeded all projections. Previously confined to categories mostly associated with the economy's reopening, the October data indicated a broadening of inflationary pressures. Forecasting inflation "has been incredibly challenging" over the past year and will remain tough, said Matthew Luzzetti, chief US economist at Deutsche Bank. "It is difficult to feel comfortable with a view that you are building in enough price pressures at the moment, and risks remain skewed to the upside for the inflation outlook." Since the start of the year, economists have been forced to ratchet up their projections for consumer price growth. What was once expected to be a bit of mirage, with so-called base effects distorting the figure higher, has proved to be a much more persistent problem. Fed chair Jerome Powell and ...

Comitted to ESG, Pertamina develops climate village

indie 12 11 月

4 minutes

Glasgow, Scotland, Nov 12, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - PT Pertamina (Persero) has been implementing four community programs, based on adaptation and mitigation approaches as its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), to support the government's climate village program on reducing carbon emission."In conducting the climate village program, Pertamina facilitates multi-stakeholders and multilevel collaboration in implementing a concrete climate action at the local level, especially in each nearby village from our operation areas," the company's corporate secretary Brahmantya Satyamurti Poerwadi said during an online talk show held at the Indonesia Pavilion on the sidelines of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow on Tuesday.The four approaches taken by Pertamina are greening to increase and maintain vegetation cover, waste management, utilization of new and renewable energy (NRE) as well as agricultural cultivation with low greenhouse gas emissions to prevent land and forest fires.By having planted more than 300,000 mangroves in collaboration with the community and local governments, Pertamina has succeeded in supporting economic independency thr...

Man accused of murdering his mum, grandma admits to consuming LSD on the day of the killings

aseanpr 11 11 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A man accused of murdering his mother and grandmother in 2019 admitted that he had consumed lysergide or LSD on the day of the killings, a district court heard on Thursday (Nov 11). Gabriel Lien Goh, now 24, was sentenced to 22 months' jail after he pleaded guilty to LSD consumption, as well as one count each of LSD and cannabis possession. His murder charges are still pending. Goh is accused of killing his mother, Madam Lee Soh Mui, 56, and grandmother, Madam See Keng Keng, 90, at Block 7A Commonwealth Avenue on Oct 27, 2019. Both murders are said to have occurred at about 7.25pm but in different units on the seventh storey. It was reported that Madam Lee was found dead in her flat, while Madam See was found in a next-door neighbour's unit, where she was believed to have died from her injuries. The police arrested Goh for murder at around 7.35pm that day and found a packet of "vegetable matter" in his bedroom. The next day, officers found more vegetable matter and nine stamps in the storeroom of the flat. The vegetable matter was later found to contain tetrahydrocannabinol - a psychoactive chemical substance in cannabis - while LSD was detected on the nine stamps. On T...

Wall Street ends sharply lower after inflation hit 30-year high

elean 11 11 月

2 minutes

NEW YORK (AFP) - United States shares fell sharply on Wednesday (Nov 10) after consumer inflation hit a 30-year high, and as investors headed for the exits after a streak of gains over the last few weeks. While some analysts said a decline was to be expected, the inflation data loomed large. The US consumer price index (CPI) surged 6.2 per cent in the 12 months ended last month, a 30-year high coming amid rising oil, auto and housing prices, according to Labour Department data. The benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.7 per cent to finish the day at 36,079.94, and the broad-based S&P 500 fell 0.8 per cent to 4,646.71. The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index sank 1.7 per cent to end at 15,622.71. The CPI spike added to concerns that supply bottlenecks, along with shortages of key components and workers, will lead to persistent inflation, despite assurances from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that the pressures will fade. Some economists think the central bank will have to be more aggressive to contain prices, pulling back more quickly on its bond buying programme and potentially raising the key borrowing rate multiple times next year. Ms Maris Ogg of Tower Bridge Advis...

13,000 disadvantaged students to get more help to stay in school

aseanpr 10 11 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - A pilot initiative by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to help at-risk students stay in school through after-school support and customised holiday programmes will be expanded to about 100 primary and secondary schools in the next few years. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday (Nov 10) that around 13,000 students will benefit from this expansion, part of a fillip to a slew of programmes aimed at narrowing inequality at the starting gate. The scheme, known as the Uplift Enhanced School Resourcing programme, has been piloted in 23 schools since 2019, and has supported more than 2,000 students each year with their academic work and school attendance. The MOE said an additional four to five teachers will be deployed to each school in this programme, starting with another 24 schools from next year. Speaking at a virtual appreciation event for educators and community partners, Mr Lee said that results from the pilot have been encouraging, with improvements in students' attendance. More primary school pupils have enrolled in their school's student care centre, while secondary school students in the pilot now get along better with their classmates, he noted. While Si...

Embrace technology to improve development of sustainable infrastructure: Indranee Rajah

aseanpr 8 11 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - With more data, financing sources and better use of the right technology, it is now possible to plan, design, construct, upgrade and maintain all types of infrastructure so that they are more sustainable, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah. Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for National Development and Finance, said that despite significant efforts by governments around the world to catalyse sustainable financing and investing, Covid-19 has strained already limited financial resources. "To ensure that the development of sustainable infrastructure continues to advance in tandem with population and economic growth, we need to prioritise projects and embrace technology to support growth areas that align with the trinity of national interests, regional needs and global trends." She was speaking on Monday (Nov 8) at the inaugural meeting of the Asia Sustainable Infrastructure Advisory Panel, which she chairs. The meeting of the international panel of experts provides a platform for the public and private sectors to exchange views on global trends and best practices on sustainable infrastructure in Asia. The meeting is being held in Singapore o...

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

aseanpr 8 11 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Monday, Nov 8. 12.5ha coastal forest in Labrador, along Greater Southern Waterfront, to be restored The restoration of the area - the size of 17 football fields - will include the planting of 5,000 native trees. READ MORE HERE Domestic workers long for visits home amid Covid-19 restrictions The Straits Times talks to four women who have not been home to see family and friends in a long while. READ MORE HERE S'pore reports 2,553 new Covid-19 cases and 17 deaths The Covid-19 weekly infection growth rate dropped slightly to 0.81, down from 0.83 on Saturday. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news S’pore doctors were looking out for inflammation linked to Covid-19 in children as early as 2020 They found no marked rise in number of children with Kawasaki-like symptoms last year from before pandemic. READ MORE HERE Returning Singaporeans, PRs and pass holders vaccinated overseas encouraged to upload certificate This will enable the Covid-19 vaccination record to be reflected on the HealthHub or TraceTogether app. READ MORE HERE Badminton: Singapore's Loh claims Hylo Open title ...

Airbnb profit soars on pandemic-era lifestyles

elean 5 11 月

2 minutes

NEW YORK (AFP) - Airbnb on Thursday (Nov 4) reported record-high profit in the recently ended quarter as bookings surpassed pre-pandemic numbers, with remote work trends boosting the home-sharing platform. Users spent nearly US$12 billion (S$16.2 billion) on overnight stays and associated "experiences" through Airbnb, up significantly from the same period a year ago as well as from the same quarter in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic stalled the travel industry. "Something bigger than a travel rebound is happening," Airbnb said in a letter to shareholders. "The world is undergoing a revolution in how we live and work." Remote work has freed people to work anywhere, including Airbnb lodgings at desirable destinations, according to the San Francisco-based company. "This newfound flexibility is bringing about a revolution in how we travel," Airbnb said in the letter. "Millions of people can now take more frequent trips, take longer trips, travel to more locations, and even live anywhere on Airbnb." Airbnb reported a record-high quarterly profit of US$834 million on unprecedented revenue of US$2.2 billion. Airbnb said user trends included people booking lodging closer to home and opti...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Nov 4

aseanpr 4 11 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Thursday, Nov 4. S'pore reports 3,635 new Covid-19 cases; weekly infection growth rate drops below 1 This is the first time it has dropped below 1.0 since MOH started reporting the figure. READ MORE HERE Commuters disappointed at public transport fare hikes; experts say next increase could be more Hikes have not factored in rising energy costs and need for safe management measures, say academics. READ MORE HERE New China, India climate plans can limit global warming to under 2 deg C for the first time Researchers caution against "hollow" promises if goals are not underpinned by effective climate policies. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news China, Russia fire back at US over climate 'no show' jibe US President Joe Biden had criticised Chinese and Russian leaders for not attending COP26. READ MORE HERE Food prices in Singapore expected to rise in the coming months: Gan Kim Yong With energy prices expected to rise further, food suppliers may need to adjust prices. READ MORE HERE Protocol for seniors with Covid-19 is flexible, patients may be cared for at home: MOH "Wher...

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

aseanpr 3 11 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, Nov 3. Political observers call on WP to take a strong stand against Raeesah Khan's actions How the party reacts to this incident will determine its credibility, say observers. READ MORE HERE EMA can now own and operate power infrastructure under changes to law Move aimed at safeguarding Singapore's energy security and reliability, as the country decarbonises its power sector. READ MORE HERE Changes to retirement, re-employment, CPF rules will make for a more inclusive economy and society Changes will allow older people to work longer if they choose to, and make it easier to build their retirement nest egg, says senior political correspondent Grace Ho. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean's wife, founder of a stroke support charity, dies aged 67 Ms Chew Poh Yim died peacefully on Sunday. READ MORE HERE S'pore reports 3,496 new Covid-19 cases as weekly infection growth rate rises The local cases included 538 people above 60 years old. READ MORE HERE ST multimedia projects on ‘Invisible Asia’, environmental toll of masks win globa...

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

aseanpr 2 11 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Tuesday, Nov 2. Raeesah Khan should not have shared account with untruths in Parliament: Pritam Singh Aware said that the MP's actions had set back advocacy around sexual violence in Singapore. READ MORE HERE S'pore reports 2,470 new Covid-19 cases and 14 deaths; weekly infection growth rate down to 1.05 The weekly infection growth rate is at 1.05, down from 1.12 on Sunday. READ MORE HERE COP26 leaders vow new drive to end deforestation by 2030 The pledge is endorsed by more than 100 leaders representing over 85% of the world's forests. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Extreme weather events are the new norm: World Meteorological Organisation Climate change contributed to the recent heatwave in north-west US and floods in western Europe. READ MORE HERE Britain defends PM Johnson's plan to jet out of COP26 back to London The PM's spokesman says the fuel used is sustainable and the emissions are offset as well. READ MORE HERE 5 changes to CPF rules: More flexibility for transfers, quicker disbursement of funds Various rules will be streamlined to make it easier for p...

VOOPOO with Drag Nano 2 Leads Cool Guys ‘Back to 80s’

indie 1 11 月

3 minutes

SHENZHEN, CHINA, Nov 1, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The labels of 'fashion', 'vitality', and 'dynamic' for young people seem to be incompatible with the elements of the 80s. However, on October 24, VOOPOO's Drag Nano 2 sponsored Indonesia's well-known electronic atomization media "Vapemagz", bringing the cool spirit of trendy new-adult generations to the "80s".Indonesia's BSD Xtreme Park, Tangerang, Banten: Well-known Indonesian media "Vapemagz" organized a new-adult generation cross-border event "Back to 80's", presenting fashion culture and retroelements, with Drag Nano 2 sought by people on the scene.In Indonesia's BSD Xtreme Park, Tangerang, Banten, the well-known Indonesian media "Vapemagz" organized new-adult generations cross-border event called "Back to 80's", which perfectly presented fashion culture and retroelements. Drag Nano 2 also immediately ushered in its debut in Southeast Asia and was enthusiastically sought after by people on the scene.As a strategic product released by VOOPOO this year, Drag Nano 2 has many innovative designs in terms of product design and packaging compared with the previous generation products. NANO 2 has eight selected colors, 3...

Troubles in China’s ‘Christmas town’ mean higher holiday prices

elean 1 11 月

5 minutes

BEIJING (BLOOMBERG) - This year, the Chinese city of Yiwu - the world's biggest hub for the manufacture of plastic reindeer, twinkle lights and other Christmas paraphernalia - is feeling a Grinch-like pinch. Factories are being hit by a shortage of raw materials that's raising their production costs, and once goods are on their way shipping snarls are delaying their journey to the store shelves of the West. Since mid-October, Yiwu has also been affected by China's ongoing electricity crunch, which has forced manufacturers to hunt for generators, or suspend production altogether. "I'm so stressed I couldn't sleep," said Lou Ting, the owner of a Christmas ornament factory, as she worked her storefront in Yiwu's biggest wholesale mall. "It should be great that we're getting more orders than last year, but there are so many uncertainties slowing the delivery process - and there's nothing we can do," said Ms Lou, who like many in Yiwu is battling manufacturing delays and record freight prices as she works to get candy canes and pine cones shipped to the US and Europe. Responsible for 80 per cent of the US$6.1 billion (S$8.2 billion) in Christmas products exported annually from China, th...

Investors can steer companies to be more sustainable

elean 31 10 月

1 minute

Although Covid-19 has proven to be the most wide-reaching public health crisis that has severely damaged the world economy, it has nonetheless highlighted a few important considerations that businesses need to bear in mind if they are to successfully compete in a post-virus world. First, companies that integrated sustainability and transparency strategically into their business operations prior to Covid-19 are more likely to display greater agility when responding to unexpected events. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

Copyright © 2020 ASEANPR.Com All rights reserved.