Singapore Morning News For April 27

Mongolia and Singapore reportedly shortlisted to host historic US-North Korea summit
The list of countries which might potentially host the high profile meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been narrowed down to two contenders: Mongolia and Singapore.
— Business Insider

38 people killed in road accidents this year: Police
More people were killed in road accidents this year compared to the same period last year, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Thursday (Apr 26).
— Channel NewsAsia

Singaporeans lack 80% of critical illness protection needs: Life Insurance Association
In times of critical illness, economically active Singaporeans and permanent residents are only covered for a year of their expenses – or 20 per cent of what is needed should they be out of the workforce for five years.
— Today Online

Singapore and Zhejiang deepen collaboration in urban solutions, e-commerce, wholesale trade and logistics
At the 13th Singapore-Zhejiang Economic and Trade Council (SZETC) meeting in Zhoushan city, meeting co-chaired by Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Culture, Community and Youth & Trade and Industry, and Zhejiang Vice Governor Zhu Congjiu, 14 agreements were signed by Singapore companies.
— Open Gov Asia

MPA steps up measures to align marine fuel industry with new rules
SINGAPORE has stepped up efforts to align its marine fuel industry with an upcoming regulation aimed at cutting ship emissions.
— The Business Times

Singapore ranked slowest in adopting new ways of working
Recent research The Modern Workplace 2018: People, Places & Technology by Condeco, has showed that while working patterns are becoming more flexible worldwide, Singapore has been the slowest to adopt new ways of working.
— Human Resources Online

How A*STAR is enhancing the research ecosystem in Singapore: ExaNet
This is the last part of a series on how the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is constantly working to support researchers in Singapore and enhance the research ecosystem.
— Open Gov Asia

Singapore Inks Another Fintech Pact
Vietnam is the latest country to ink a financial technology agreement with Singapore, making it the 20th cooperation agreement signed by the city-state.
— Finews.asia

3 start-ups eyeing share of Singapore’s private-car hire market
With the impending departure of Uber from Singapore, a trio of start-ups have announced plans to start their own private-hire car service, two of them as early as next week.
— The Straits Times

Role of AI in Singapore’s Smart Nation plan shared at SMU AI conference
Representatives from Smart Nation & Digital Government Office under PMO and AI Singapore iterated the role of AI in Singapore’s Smart Nation plan at SMU inaugural AI Conference.
— Open Gov Asia

Singapore manufacturing output rose 5.9% in March as semiconductors stayed strong
Singapore’s factory output grew 5.9 per cent in March compared to a year ago, comparable to economists’ predictions of a 5.7 per cent rise, according to preliminary Economic Development Board figures on Thursday (April 26).
— The Straits Times

Goodbye, Inuka: Zoo staff gather in private memorial for Singapore’s last polar bear
Staff of the Singapore Zoo gathered to say their goodbyes to Inuka the polar bear in a private memorial on Thursday (Apr 26).
— Channel NewsAsia

How did Gan Kim Yong keep his appointment as Health Minister through latest Cabinet reshuffle?
Several ministers retained their appointments in the latest Cabinet reshuffle that was announced earlier this week, despite the shake-up being touted to give fourth-generation leaders more exposure and responsibilities so they can better support Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s successor.
— The Independent Singapore

Singapore broker arranges first Crypto Currency Storage Insurance
Insurance Market, Singapore’s first online broker, has arranged insurance for customers that store crypto currencies with The Safe House, a vault facility owned by Singapore bullion dealer Silver Bullion Pte Ltd.
— AEC News Today/ PRNewswire (media release)

A False Portrait of Singapore
Kirsten Han’s article paints Singapore as an authoritarian paradise, where critics of the government are squelched and drug traffickers are hanged.
— The New York Times

Buses to go through X-ray scanners at Tuas Checkpoint
Buses passing through Tuas Checkpoint will soon undergo an X-ray scan as part of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) plans to implement “future-ready” checkpoints.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

Six Senses Hotels names new Singapore marketing director
Sereena Supaat has been handed the role of sales and marketing director for Six Senses Duxton and Six Senses Maxwell.
— Mumbrella Asia

The Goldilocks dilemma of Singapore’s carbon tax
Too high or too low? Singapore’s carbon tax bill was passed this year, but questions around its level of ambition, and therefore effectiveness, linger.
— Eco-Business

Motorists to turn right only at green arrows at most junctions in 5 years: LTA
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is doing away with “discretionary” right turns at traffic junctions where feasible and, in five years, most junctions will allow motorists to make right turns only when the green arrow signal appears.
— Today Online

New initiative to fast-track Fintech patent application-to-grant process in Singapore
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has launched a new Fintech Fast Track initiative which provides expedited patent application-to-grant process for Fintech inventions.
— Open Gov Asia

Govt subsidies not needed for int’l shipping, says Maersk Line CEO
GOVERNMENTS no longer need to subsidise or fund international shipping, which operates in “a competitive and effective market”, Maersk Line CEO Søren Skou said on Thursday.
— The Business Times

Singapore’s GIC sells iconic Phoenix hotel to Blackstone for $403m: Report
Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC has sold The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, the 89-year-old iconic resort in Phoenix that it acquired in 2013, for $403.4 million, according to a report published by AZCentral.
— DealStreetAsia

Diplomat ‘cannot recognise’ the Singapore painted by Kirsten Han in The New York Times
Singapore’s ambassador to the United States rebutted a New York Times opinion piece by freelance journalist Kirsten Han, saying she portrayed Singapore as an “authoritarian paradise, where critics of the government are squelched and drug traffickers are hanged”.
— Today Online

Eight men arrested, more than 5,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized
Five Singaporeans and three Malaysians were arrested and more than 5,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized in an operation on Tuesday (April 24).
— Channel NewsAsia

Temasek backs Chinese biotech firm Innovent’s $150m Series E
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings joined a $150-million Series E funding round in Chinese biotech firm Innovent Biologics, Inc., according to a company announcement on Thursday.
— DealStreetAsia

Feature poto ngotoh

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 27 added by Leakhena Khat on April 27, 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.