Singapore Morning News For May 17

Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports dip 0.7% in April
AFTER five consecutive months of growth, Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports (NODX) saw a slight pullback of 0.7 per cent in April 2017.
– The Business Times

Singtel, AXA launch safe driving smart car service
Singtel has collaborated with AXA Insurance to launch a joint smart car solution aimed at promoting better and safer driving habits.
– Telecomasia

500 local IP addresses affected by WannaCry worm
Home and business computers tied to some 500 Internet protocol addresses in Singapore could have been infected by the global ransomware WannaCry, the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) said last night.
– The New Paper / THE STRAITS TIMES

EU court says Singapore free trade deal needs national ratification
The top EU court ruled on Tuesday (May 16) that a free trade agreement between the European Union and Singapore cannot fully enter force until ratified by all EU countries, in a legal opinion that could slow down other planned EU trade deals.
– Channel NewsAsia

Singapore responds to European court decision on EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has said that Singapore is committed to working with the European Commission to ratify the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA) expeditiously and have it provisionally applied.
– The Straits Times

World at risk of serious ‘digital sabotage’, warns spy chief
The world may be close to a “serious act of digital sabotage” that could trigger unrest, “chaos” and “disorder”, Dutch spy chief Rob Bertholee warned yesterday.
– The New Paper / AFP

Apple store along Orchard Road to open May 27
After a long-anticipated wait, Singapore’s first Apple store will finally open for business on May 27 at 10am along Orchard Road.
– Today

Almost 9 in 10 Singaporeans prefer cashless payments
Most consumers in Singapore refuse to bring cash now for payments, as revealed in the latest Visa consumer survey.
– Singapore Business Review

Diplomas sponsored by Certis Cisco help officers improve skills
Staff Sergeant Mohamed Nazreen, 37, and senior aviation security supervisor Gordon Lane, 40, lead aviation security teams of over 100 men each at Changi Airport.
– The New Paper

Man who left luggage unattended at Hougang Station charged with causing public nuisance
The man who left a luggage behind at Hougang MRT station last month has been charged with one count of causing public nuisance on Wednesday (May 17) after his unattended luggage sparked a security scare, leading to the station’s closure for around two hours.
– Today

Fintech start-up 4xLabs gets additional US$1.5m in funding
Singapore-based 4xLabs, a fintech start-up that develops solutions for cash exchange businesses, has recentlysecured an additional US$1.5m in funding. The pre-series A round saw follow-up investment from Dymon Asia Ventures, as well as participation from new investors such as Malaysia-based OSK Ventures International.
– Singapore Business Review

GoSpree app gives GSS a timely reboot
This year’s Great Singapore Sale (GSS) has a mobile app, the first time organisers are venturing into the digital sphere.
– The New Paper

Singapore exports dip in April, ending growth streak
Non-oil domestic exports (Nodx) posted a surprise contraction last month, against economist’s expectations of an expansion, due to the decline in non-electronic exports which outweighed the growth in electronic exports.
– Today

Singtel, StarHub join forces to help combat WannaCry ransomware
With the current global ransomware attack by the WannaCry virus, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore has sought the helping hand of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) Singtel and StarHub to provide further information on the ransomware to businesses and members of the public.
– Singapore Business Review

Fire at Changi T2 leaves thousands stranded
A fire which broke out in a room holding air-conditioning equipment led to an unprecedented evacuation at Changi Airport Terminal 2 (T2) on Tuesday (May 16), with thousands of passengers stranded as about 40 flights from at least 13 airlines were affected.
– Today

SilverNeedle Hospitality buys Brand Karma; KPMG Digital Village-TiA accelerator
SilverNeedle Hospitality has acquired Brand Karma while KPMG Digital Village has partnered with Tech in Asia to launch a corporate accelerator initiative.
– Deal Street Asia

Deep ties can help Singapore, China tackle common issues: DPM Teo
Although Singapore and China are different in size, they face common challenges in innovation and governance, noted Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday as he kicked off a high-level bilateral forum on leadership.
– Today

Wilmar’s sugar business suffers bitter $48.9m loss
It would seem like all the sweetness has been sucked out of agri-player Wilmar, as it recorded a loss of $48.9m (US$35m) in its sugar segment.
– Singapore Business Review

StanChart said urged by Blackstone to buy back SG food company Phoon Huat & Co
Standard Chartered Plc (StanChart) the lender trying to wind down its private-equity unit, faces pressure from two of the world’s biggest asset managers to buy back the stake in a Singaporean food company it sold them less than a year ago, people familiar with the matter said.
– Deal Street Asia

Singapore vending machine to dispense luxury cars
According to a report from Reuters, used car seller Autobahn Motors opened a futuristic 15-story showroom in December, with vehicles on display in 60 slots, billing it as the “world’s largest luxury car vending machine”.
– Singapore Business Review

Feature photo Jason Goh
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Introducing The AEC News Today Mobile App

In an era of hectic schedules where time is precious, the AEC News Today mobile app enables you to stay up to date with the latest Asean news on governance and policy issues affecting the Asean Community while you are on the move and whenever you have a few minutes to spare.

See full details, including our AEC News Today Mobile App Privacy Statement here: Stay up to Date With The AEC News Today Mobile App

Download the AEC News Today mobile app from Google play or the App stores by clicking the icons below.

Singapore morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Singapore news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Singapore Morning News For May 17 added by John Le Fevre on May 17, 2017
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

Bio
Latest Posts

John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.