Singapore Morning News For April 2

University of Sydney and NTU Singapore enter into partnership for engineering research
Engineers from the two institutions are collaborating on research in diverse areas ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) and food technology to clean energy and waste management.
— Open Gov Asia

Six local universities offer course on imagining Singapore’s future
For the first time, the six publicly-funded local universities have one common course for all their undergraduates.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

Can Singapore be the Asian furniture hub by 2021?
Founder of Ipse Ipsa Ipsum says multi-cultural Singapore could even play a pioneering role in creating “a new design language” for the region.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

NGO Human Rights Watch slams S’pore’s Select Committee hearings as theatrics
Human Rights Watch issued a statement on Friday, March 30, 2018, rebuffing the invitation extended by the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods to send a representative to Singapore to give oral testimony.
— Mothership

Singapore ‘can lead growth in region’s digital economy’
SINGAPORE’S chairmanship of Asean 2018 will present it a worthwhile opportunity to lead the region in developing its various digital economies, said Ravi Rajendran, managing director (Asia’s south region) at multi-cloud data management company Veritas.
— The Business Times

Vertex Ventures co-leads $11m round in Israeli transcription startup Verbit
In the latest in its Israel investment spree, venture capital firm Vertex Ventures has co-led an $11-million seed funding round in Israeli transcription startup Verbit.
— DealStreetAsia

OCBC the first bank in Singapore to set up its own artificial intelligence unit
With an initial investment of S$10 million over three years, OCBC Bank is the first bank in Singapore to establish an AI unit to strategically develop in-house AI capabilities.
— Open Gov Asia

Most commuters think Grab-Uber merger should be reviewed or rejected: Survey
Almost three quarters of commuters here feel that the Grab-Uber merger should be reviewed or rejected, according to a recent survey by independent research consultancy Blackbox Research.
— Today Online

Singapore applauds Indian businesses contribution
The Indian business community in Singapore is an integral part of the enterprise eco-system that has actively contributed to the country’s economy and society, a Singaporean minister has said.
— Business-Standard

More senior positions for early childhood educators under new scheme: ECDA
Although the Anchor Operator scheme is expected to create 1,000 more senior positions in the next five years, there are concerns that those working for non-anchor operators will be left behind.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

Singapore reports 25% rise in Indian cruise tourists
Singapore-based cruise companies are reporting strong growth in footfall of Indian tourists, with some 1,27,000 of them having sailed on luxury liners last year, up 25 percent from 2016.
— MoneyControl

Why the REACH survey tells Singaporeans they should disagree with 92% of themselves
At the Parliamentary hearing for the Select Committee on fake news held in the evening of 27 March, a panel of individuals comprising Vice-President of human rights group MARUAH Ngiam Shih Tung, chief editor of The Online Citizen Terry Xu, freelance journalist Kirsten Han and myself were effectively asked to swear our allegiance to the majority of Singaporeans.
— The Independent Singapore

Grab-Uber merger may have infringed competition laws, says Singapore watchdog
The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) suspects that Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing app Grab has infringed the country’s Competition Act by purchasing rival Uber’s Southeast Asian operations, it said in a statement.
— Tech In Asia

Further enhancements needed to improve water safety teaching: Dr Teo Ho Pin
Singapore’s national water safety programme needs a “major revamp” to fit into the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) school curriculum and enrichment programmes to achieve better outcomes in swimming survival.
— Channel NewsAsia

Has Singapore ever been affected by fake news?
The concept of fake news can be challenged by applying various strands of communications theory from both journalistic practice and academia which have been surveyed earlier on this blog.
— The Independent Singapore

Singapore needs to ensure diversity among top government leaders: Ong Ye Kung
Singapore has to ensure that its top government leaders – whether political leaders, civil servants or Members of Parliament – need to come from a wide range of sectors, with different expertise, outlooks in life and views about Singapore’s future.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

S’porean who spent 17 years as a prison officer: For ex-offenders, world outside is a new “prison”
Meet Hilary Lo. After spending 17 years as a prison officer, he runs a social enterprise cafe to provide “second chances” to at-risk Singaporeans.
— Mothership

Singapore Flyer reopens after faulty part replaced, thorough inspection
The Singapore Flyer reopened on Sunday (Apr 1), more than two months after operations were suspended.
— Channel NewsAsia

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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).

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 April 2 added by Leakhena Khat on April 2, 2018
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Leakhena Khat

Leakhena is a junior journalist at AEC News Today who is also currently studying International Relations, which she finds adds perspective to her work reporting on the Asean Community.

“I love what I am doing so much as it gives me a lot of great experience and provides challenges to my mind.