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Slightly hazy conditions with burning smell in parts of Singapore on Tuesday morning due to hot spot in Johor: NEA

aseanpr 2 3 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Smoke blown from a hot spot in Johor caused slightly hazy conditions with burning smell in parts of Singapore on Tuesday morning (March 2), said the National Environment Agency (NEA). The hot spot was detected in Johor in the late afternoon on Monday. The smoke plume was blown by the prevailing north-easterly winds towards Singapore before it dissipated later that evening. However, with prevailing winds expected to continue blowing north to north-east over the next few days, residents may continue to detect similar conditions over parts of Singapore on Tuesday, said the NEA in a Facebook post. The hourly concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) entered Band 2 (Elevated) between 6am and 7am in the east of Singapore on Tuesday before returning to Band 1 (Normal) from 8am. During periods of haze caused by forest fires in the region, the dominant pollutant is PM2.5. As at 11am, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) was 61-74, in the Moderate range. The hourly PM2.5 readings are normal when the concentrations are between 0 and 55 micrograms per cubic metre of air. The readings reach elevated levels when the concentrations are between 56 and 150 micrograms per c...

Pre-1987 HDB flats mostly upgraded; 56k newer flats next in line for home improvement programme

aseanpr 2 3 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - The majority of the 320,000 eligible flats built up to 1986 have undergone upgrading works under the Housing Board's Home Improvement Programme (HIP). Of these, about 215,000 flats, spread across 230 projects, have completed upgrading works, while works are currently under way for about 96,800 flats, spread across 101 projects, said the HDB in an update on Tuesday (March 2). Works on the remaining flats will be implemented progressively. Next in line for upgrading will be a newer batch of 230,000 flats built between 1987 and 1997. The HDB also said on Tuesday that the first batch of about 56,000 units have been selected for the Extended HIP, but did not specify a time frame for the roll-out. As at March 31, 2020, the Government has spent about $3.2 billion on HIP, which focuses on improvements within the unit to address common maintenance problems related to ageing flats. Under this scheme, the Government bears the full costs of repairing of spalling concrete and structural cracks, replacing piping for waste or soil discharge, and upgrading the electrical load in eligible flats. The programme can proceed only when at least 75 per cent of a block's eligible households th...

New Drug Approval for in-House Developed Anti-Insomnia Drug Dayvigo (Lemborexant) in Hong Kong

ruth 2 3 月

6 minutes

TOKYO, Mar 2, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced that its Hong Kong subsidiary Eisai (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. has obtained approval for the in-house-discovered and developed orexin receptor antagonist DAYVIGO (generic name: lemborexant) for the treatment of adults with insomnia, characterized by difficulties with sleep onset and/or sleep maintenance. This approval is the first approval for DAYVIGO in Asia outside of Japan.DAYVIGO is a dual orexin receptor antagonist that inhibits orexin neurotransmission regulating sleep-wake rhythm by binding competitively to the two subtypes of orexin receptors (OX1R and OX2R). DAYVIGO acts on the orexin neurotransmitter system and is believed to facilitate sleep onset, sleep maintenance, and wake by regulating sleep-wake rhythm. DAYVIGO binds to orexin receptors OX1R and OX2R and acts as a competitive antagonist with stronger inhibition effect on OX2R, which suppresses both REM and non-REM sleep drive, such that DAYVIGO may provide faster sleep onset and better sleep maintenance to patients.In June 2020, DAYVIGO was launched in the U.S. for the treatment of adult patients with insomnia, characterized by difficulties with sleep onset ...

Budget debate: Transformation to next-gen SAF on track despite Covid-19, says Ng Eng Hen

aseanpr 1 3 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE - Despite the pandemic, the transformation of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) into a new-generation defence force by 2040 remains on track, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Monday (March 1). The delivery of new hardware such as helicopters and fighter jets is also still on schedule, along with the launch of new facilities and initiatives to sharpen the SAF's ability to meet emerging threats, Dr Ng said during the debate on the budget of the Ministry of Defence (Mindef). For instance, the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) upgraded F-16 fighter jets are expected to be rolled out in the coming months, and its earlier-acquired H225M and CH-47F multi-role helicopters will arrive this year to replace the older Super Pumas and Chinooks respectively. "We remain on track to receiving four F-35 Joint Strike Fighters around 2026 and for the RSAF to start basing training in Guam from 2029 onwards," he added. But some key plans have been delayed, such as the completion of military training facility Safti City by 2024 instead of 2023, and the six-month delay for the navy's Invincible-class submarines to mid-2022. SAF continuing its transformation A new army "sense and strike...

Off to climb ‘Mount Fuji’ here to raise funds for special needs youth

aseanpr 28 2 月

2 minutes

Over the next three months, eight people with special needs in Singapore will each attempt to scale the equivalent of Mount Fuji, which stands at 3,776m. They will climb hills and stairs around Singapore, and track the distance on the Strava mobile app. The eight are participants of YMCA's Special Needs Inclusive Challenge 2021, which was flagged off by President Halimah Yacob at the Istana yesterday. It aims to raise $250,000 to support YMCA's programmes for youth with special needs, and will end on May 29. Addressing participants in a recorded message, Madam Halimah said: "I am encouraged by the confidence and courage shown by YMCA and their special needs ambassadors. It proves that those with special needs also have special talents." Among the eight are returning participants, Ms Oh Siew May, 50, and Mr Harun Rahamad, 32, who both took part in a 2019 edition of the challenge in Japan. They climbed Mount Fuji together with eight others but had to abandon the effort less than 500m from the top because of harsh weather. Ms Oh said: "Disabled does not mean being unable. For those with special needs and those going through hard times due to Covid-19, I want to stir up our spirits and...

Hospitals report spike in cases of harassment, abuse of staff

aseanpr 28 2 月

1 minute

When a patient who used a wheelchair tried to go to a convenience store minutes before her medical procedure, nurse manager Ann (not her real name) stopped her, afraid she might miss her appointment. But the agitated woman repeatedly slapped Ann's legs and hurled vulgarities at her. 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.

Half of all two-room flexi flat buyers are aged above 55, says HDB

aseanpr 27 2 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE - Two-room flexi flats have proved popular with older buyers, with more than half of them aged 55 and above, figures revealed on Saturday (Feb 27). Singles have been the second-largest group purchasing the units since they were introduced six years ago, the Housing Board (HDB) said. As at Dec 31, about 34,700 two-room flexi flats had been launched for sale since they were brought in by the HDB in 2015. Around 84 per - or 25,189 flats - of the 29,924 units offered have been booked by home buyers, said the HDB. Selections are still ongoing for the remaining 4,700 units. Of these buyers, 56 per cent were older people aged 55 and above. Singles made up 38 per cent while the remaining 6 per cent of home buyers were families. Among the flats purchased by older buyers, 92 per cent were on short leases. The remainder were on 99-year leases. The 40-year lease was the most popular, at 4,046 units, followed by the 35-year lease at 3,526 and the 30-year lease at 2,291 units. Only 215 older buyers opted for the shortest lease of 15 years, with the oldest being 99 when applying for a flat with such a lease. Sizes for these flats range from 36 to 46 sq m. Older buyers pay less for a fla...

Singapore factory output extends rebound, rising 8.6%

elean 27 2 月

3 minutes

Electronics and precision engineering put in the heavy lifting last month to keep manufacturing output heading north. Factory output rose 8.6 per cent year on year in January for a third straight month of growth, the Economic Development Board (EDB) noted yesterday. This came in below the upwardly revised 16.2 per cent growth rate racked up in December, but topped the 3.6 per cent forecast of analysts in a Bloomberg poll. If biomedical manufacturing was excluded, output grew 12.1 per cent. Production in the key electronics cluster rose 19.8 per cent with all segments recording growth except infocomms and consumer electronics. The semiconductor sector was particularly robust, surging 23.8 per cent on the back of demand from cloud services, automotive and 5G markets. OCBC Bank economist Howie Lee said the global chip shortage is the biggest reason Singapore's industrial production could continue to outperform in the near term. "Semiconductors, in particular, are in severe shortage due to increased work-from-home trends, supply chain disruptions from the 2019 United States-China trade war and years of prior de-stocking and under-investment," he added. The precision engineering cluster...

Govt to review 3 areas to ensure abuse of Myanmar maid who died doesn’t happen again

aseanpr 25 2 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - The abuse suffered by Myanmar domestic helper Piang Ngaih Don must never happen again, and the Government is reviewing three key areas to ensure this. Speaking to the media at a virtual doorstop on Thursday (Feb 25), Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said the three areas are safeguards against abusive employers, the reporting system for doctors, and the involvement of community and partner organisations. "Let me be absolutely clear. There is no place for abuse against foreign domestic workers in Singapore. There is simply no place for it," she stressed. Mrs Teo, who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs, said: "The Singapore Government takes very seriously the safety of all of our foreign domestic workers who are here." She noted that while there are already safeguards in place, Singapore, as a society, must do better. "We appreciate the many foreign domestic workers who have come to Singapore to help us look after our families," she said. "We recognise the sacrifices that they have made and we are determined to put an end to any form of abuse towards them and to ensure their safety." Ms Piang was 24 when she died on July 26, 2016. She weighed just 24kg then, having lo...

Nearly 400 animals born in 2020, including first Malayan tiger cubs in over 20 years: WRS

aseanpr 25 2 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Nearly 400 animals, including some critically endangered and threatened species, were born in local wildlife parks last year, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) said on Thursday (Feb 25). Among the brood from 107 species - of which 29 are threatened in the wild - were two critically endangered Malayan tiger cubs, the first successful births in Singapore since 1998. Dr Cheng Wen-Haur, deputy chief executive and chief life sciences officer at WRS, said: "With an estimated 150 Malayan tigers left in the wild (in the world), the birth of this duo is a significant addition to the population of this sub-species." Born on Dec 27, 2020, the cubs have yet to be named and are currently cared for by their mother Intan in an off-exhibit area at Night Safari, where the animal care team monitors their progress via closed-circuit cameras. Other births that have helped sustain the dwindling populations of rare species include two red-fronted macaws and seven black-legged poison frogs. Both species are endangered owing to habitat destruction and illegal trade. The black-legged poison frogs are kept as illegal pets despite being extremely poisonous and requiring high humidity levels to en...

Marriott taps veteran Tony Capuano as new CEO after Arne Sorenson’s death

elean 24 2 月

4 minutes

WASHINGTON (BLOOMBERG) - Marriott International named Tony Capuano as chief executive officer, tapping the veteran development executive to lead the hotel giant's recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Capuano, 55, will replace Arne Sorenson, who died at 62 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a statement on Tuesday (Feb 23). He becomes just the fourth leader in the company's history and faces the daunting task of navigating a global crisis that has sapped travel demand and raised doubts about the long-term prospects for corporate travel. Mr Capuano was one of two executives running the company's day-to-day operations in recent weeks, after Mr Sorenson stepped back to undergo treatment. Stephanie Linnartz, the marketing and technology executive who was sharing those responsibilities, was named president, the company said in a statement. "The term that keeps popping into my head is resolve," Mr Capuano said in an interview. "It is humbling to be given responsibility for this great company, and bittersweet because I consider Arne a mentor and a friend. It's also really energizing." Largest Loss Last year was Marriott's worst ever, as the pandemic forced the company to...

Parkson Announces the Annual Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2020

indie 23 2 月

7 minutes

HONG KONG, Feb 23, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Parkson Retail Group Limited ("Parkson' or the "Company", with its subsidiaries collectively referred as the "Group", HKEx stock code: 3368.HK), the leading nationwide lifestyle concept retailer in China, today announces the Group's annual results for the year ended 31 December 2020 ("Year under Review").2020 had been full of challenges and uncertainties for the global market. The global outbreak of COVID-19 at the start of the year had caused significant reduction and suspension of social and economic activities which inevitably caused the global economy to face downward pressure. In addition to this, the continuous tension of Sino-US trade relations brought many uncertainties to the global economic and political environment. Hence, the overall performance of the Group declined as a result of the negative impact brought upon by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic which the Group has actively adopted cost control measures to reduce its impact. Meanwhile, the Group is committed to strengthening its position as a leading retailer of fashion and lifestyle concepts in China through a diversified development strategy.During the year under review,...

3 former Shell employees linked to $200 million gas oil heist charged with graft

aseanpr 23 2 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Three former Shell Eastern Petroleum employees linked to a $200 million gas oil heist have been charged with bribing employees of surveying companies who inspected vessels which the oil giant supplied fuel to. Juandi Pungot, 44, Muzaffar Ali Khan Muhamad Akram, 40, and Richard Goh Chee Keong, 51, appeared before a district court on Tuesday (Feb 23) to have their charges read out to them. All three had previously been charged with criminal breach of trust over their alleged involvement in a conspiracy that led to more than 300,000 tonnes of gas oil worth about US$150 million (S$200 million) being stolen from Shell's biggest global refinery. Juandi and Muzaffar Ali Khan face 13 charges each while Goh faces four charges, all for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Between 2014 and 2017, Juandi and Muzaffar Ali Khan allegedly conspired to give bribes totalling about US$91,900 to 10 employees of surveying companies to inaccurately report the amount of gas oil loaded onto vessels which the employees were engaged to inspect. Between 2016 and 2017, Goh is accused of bribing three employees of surveying companies with a total of US$25,000 for the same reason. The th...

WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann nears settlement with SoftBank: Source

elean 23 2 月

2 minutes

BENGALURU (REUTERS) - WeWork co-founder and former chief executive Adam Neumann is nearing a settlement with SoftBank Group that could include a nearly US$500 million (S$660.8 million) cut in his payout from the office space-sharing company's new owner, according to a person familiar with the matter. The settlement would put to rest a prolonged legal battle between Neumann and Softbank, which dates back to 2019 when WeWork's IPO plans fell apart. It would also clear the decks for WeWork as it pursues a talks to go public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). SoftBank had agreed in October 2019 to purchase around US$3 billion in WeWork stock belonging to Mr Neumann as well current and former WeWork employees. SoftBank later contested its obligation to purchase the shares. Under the new proposed terms, SoftBank would purchase around half the shares it had originally agreed to buy, the source said, requesting anonymity as the matter is private. SoftBank declined to comment. WeWork was not immediately available for comment. The talks were reported earlier by the Wall Street Journal. SoftBank, which poured more than US$13.5 billion into WeWork, was pulled i...

China returns as top India trade partner even as relations sour

elean 23 2 月

2 minutes

MUMBAI (BLOOMBERG) - China regained its position as India's top trade partner in 2020, as New Delhi's reliance on imported machines outweighed its efforts to curb commerce with Beijing after a bloody border conflict. Two-way trade between the longstanding economic and strategic rivals stood at US$77.7 billion (S$102.65 billion) last year, according to provisional data from India's commerce ministry. Although that was lower than the previous year's US$85.5 billion total, it was enough to make China the largest commercial partner displacing the US - bilateral trade with whom came in at US$75.9 billion amid muted demand for goods in the middle of a pandemic. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi banned hundreds of Chinese apps, slowed approvals for investments from the neighbor and called for self-reliance after a deadly clash along their disputed Himalayan border, India continues to rely heavily on Chinese-made heavy machinery, telecom equipment and home appliances. As a result, the bilateral trade gap with China was at almost US$40 billion in 2020, making it India's largest. Total imports from China at US$58.7 billion were more than India's combined purchases from the US and the UAE, w...

Black Spade Capital Aims to Build an SPAC-themed Portfolio

indie 22 2 月

5 minutes

HONG KONG, Feb 22, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - 2020 proved to be a great year for Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs). The market saw more high-profile investors joining the party while a record number of companies went public through this unique structure. With a whopping US$80 billion raised by over 230 blank-cheque companies, SPAC IPOs not only represented approximately 50% of total IPO issuance in the US in 2020, the massive amount raised by SPACs even eclipsed traditional IPOs last year. Mr. Dennis Tam, President and CEOSPAC Trend Continues To Heat UpWhile SPACs continue to be favoured by institutional and private investors alike in the US, they are also gaining momentum in Asia. Savvy investors in the East are catching up fast with the trend and among them is Black Spade Capital Limited, the family office of casino magnate Lawrence Ho Yau Lung. "We aim to be one of the first Asian family offices to build an SPAC-themed portfolio," said Mr. Dennis Tam, President and CEO of Black Spade Capital. He added that "of course, we have to be selective - only high-quality SPACs with great potential are considered".One catalyst, Two CriteriaMr. Tam considers the current close-to-ze...

Eisai: MHLW Grants Orphan Drug Designation in Japan to Novel FGF Receptor Selective Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor E7090

ruth 22 2 月

5 minutes

TOKYO, Feb 22, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that it has received orphan drug designation for a prospective indication for unresectable biliary tract cancer with FGFR2 gene fusion by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (MHLW) for its in-house discovered fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor (FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3) selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor E7090, which is currently under development as an orally available novel anti-cancer agent.FGFRs with genetic aberrations are known to play an important role in the proliferation, survival and migration of cancer cells as well as tumor angiogenesis and drug resistance. These genetic aberrations in FGFRs have been observed in various types of cancers, therefore, there is growing interest in FGFRs as a promising target for cancer therapy. By selectively inhibiting FGFR1, 2 and 3, and blocking those signals, E7090 has the potential to become a new molecular targeted therapy for cancers with FGFR genetic aberrations.In Japan, a Phase I clinical trial of E7090 was conducted, and E7090 has been designated as the target drug for the SAKIGAKE Designation System of the MHLW for the treatment of unresectabl...

Reigniting drivers of growth key to Asean’s economic resilience

elean 22 2 月

1 minute

SINGAPORE - Pivoting towards the Asian global growth engine is one of the major world transitions of this century with a strong contributor coming from the economic emergence of Asean. South-east Asia's trade and economic integration, relatively lower labour costs and the growing wealth among its 650 million-strong population has made it a key destination for many multinational companies seeking new opportunities to produce, invest and sell. 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.

Battle for young hearts and minds as extremists grow savvy online

aseanpr 22 2 月

1 minute

A 17-year-old detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in January last year had begun to walk down the path of radicalisation in 2017 when he was 15 years old, after imbibing Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) material online. Last December, a 16-year-old became the youngest detainee yet to be dealt with under the ISA, and the first to be enthralled by far-right extremist ideology. 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.

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

aseanpr 21 2 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Feb 21. Over 8,600 fines issued for breach of Covid-19 safety measures From April to December last year, more than 6,900 fines were meted out to those who broke safe distancing and safe management rules. READ MORE HERE Two killed in Mandalay city in bloodiest day of Myanmar protests Hundreds of police and soldiers gathered at Yadanarbon shipyard in Mandalay to disperse protesters. READ MORE HERE Tanjong Pagar crash: Several factors could impact insurance claims If you voluntarily get into a car knowing there are risks involved, and end up in an accident, the amount - and result - of your compensation claims may be affected. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news 'I jaywalk because I'm fast enough': Why senior jaywalkers continue to risk life and limb The number of senior pedestrian deaths ranged from 25 to 28 between 2015 and last year. READ MORE HERE Marina Bay view could be priciest real estate feature in Singapore A collection of five penthouses, put up for sale recently at Marina Bay Residences with an indicative price of $138 million, will give a sense of ho...

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