Singapore morning news for August 17

Singapore morning news for August 17
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Singapore morning newsSingapore fintech firms joining the dots in Africa’s digital frontier
ONE of the world’s leading mobile-money markets is farther afield than many might venture – but Kenya, on Africa’s east coast, is fertile ground for Singapore firms tapping the digital economy. And other countries on the continent are no slouch, either.
— Business Times

An independent, united and neutral Asean is key for Singapore and the region: Tommy Koh
It is in both in Singapore’s and Asean’s interest that the regional grouping remain independent, united and neutral despite some member states’ wishes to be aligned with one of the major powers.
— The Straits Times

Singaporeans are spared from New Zealand’s ban on foreign homeowners
Reuters reported that the New Zealand government has been in talks with Singapore on whether to grant an exception for its citizens in their newly passed law which bans foreigners from owning homes in New Zealand. Both countries have entered into a free trade agreement in Singapore which allows foreign ownership.
— Singapore Business Review

Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong testifies against his maid in theft trial
Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong, who has accused his maid of stealing his family’s belongings, had previously misplaced some items and blamed the Indonesian, said the defence lawyer on Thursday (16 August).
— Yahoo News

BUZZ-Singapore’s Straits Times Index may test support at 3,170
Singapore’s Straits Times Index falls as much as 0.83 pct to its lowest since July 9, may test support at 3,170.21 points – technicals show
— Reuters

Nanyang Technological University team invents new natural food preservative
A team of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) scientists has come up with a “100 per cent natural” preservative that is purported to be healthier and more effective than its artificial counterparts.
— Yahoo News

Tighter competition couldn’t hurt Singtel’s Singapore and Australia operations: Moody’s
Singtel could sustain its stability as its Singapore and Australia operations fared well despite tight competition, Moody’s Investors service said. The firm’s outlook could also be bolstered by continued stable leverage and good liquidity.
— Singapore Business Review

Sushiro Singapore is well aware of their convoluted captions, which started as an in-joke
The jig is up: Japanese food joint Sushiro Singapore confessed to The Straits Times that the ebulliently verbose descriptions of its food on social media is intentionally comedic.
— Coconuts Singapore

Sluggish sales could hit property market in August: analysts
The significant drop in sales may even continue to September, according to Colliers International. In addition, buyers’ knee-jerk reaction to the latest cooling measures will add to the yearly ghost month trend.
— Singapore Business Review

Singapore couple accused of deviant religious practices counselled by Muis
A couple here who have been accused of developing deviant religious practices against the teachings of Islam have been counselled by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis).
— The Straits Times

S’pore chilli crab 17th on Lonely Planet’s best food experiences
Singapore’s well-loved chilli crab has been ranked 17th in a league table of the world’s 500 best gustatory experiences, with Malaysia coming in a lofty second with its curry laksa.
— The New Paper

Review ‘no air-conditioning’ norm for subsidised wards?
Singapore has progressed significantly in the past decades. Yet, when it comes to hospital care, it is still sticking to some principles set out 25 years ago.
— The Straits Times

Future leaders must serve with dedication and humility: President Halimah
As future leaders, President’s Scholars have the responsibility to lead fellow Singaporeans in introducing innovative solutions and implementing practical policies to tackle tomorrow’s challenges, President Halimah Yacob said as she presented the scholarship to five recipients at the Istana on Thursday (Aug 16) evening .
— Channel NewsAsia

2019 school year to start on Jan 2 and end Nov 15: MOE
Primary and secondary school students will start classes on Jan 2 and end on Nov 15 next year, the Ministry of Education said on Wednesday (Aug 15).
— The Straits Times

Ohmyhome CEO Rhonda Wong to share insights in SBR’s Hottest Startups Panel Briefing 2018
Ohmyhome is a real estate platform which aims to make buying, selling, and renting HDB flats in Singapore easier for those looking for a good living space. Through Rhonda and her sister, Race’s efforts, they were able to develop an app of their own for Ohmyhome which home searchers could easily use. As the founder of Anthill Realtors, a real estate agency in 2014, Rhonda grabbed the opportunity to fund Ohmyhome and make it the company that it is today.
— Singapore Business Review

Most SE Asian markets fall as risk appetite remains fragile
In Southeast Asia, Singapore stocks closed at a more than one-month low, dragged by financials. The city-state’s top lenders led the decline, with Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd and DBS Group Holdings Ltd shedding 1.4% and 0.5%, respectively.
— The Edge Markets

More than 1,000 apply for women-only boot camp for a taste of army life
More than 1,000 women have applied for a two-day camp next month which will give them a taste of military service in Singapore.
— Channel NewsAsia

Property curbs may push Singaporeans to seek New Zealand homes
It is a secondary investment destination for Singaporeans and the countries are bound by good bilateral trade relations.
— Singapore Business Review

Singapore’s Minister of Finance calls on SMEs to embrace change
Singapore’s Minister for Finance, Mr Heng Swee Keat’s keynote address encourages SMEs to be sensitive to changes and opportunities around them. A good grasp of these will help businesses excel.
— OpenGovAsia

LTA warns Ryde against using private-hire, taxi drivers to do deliveries without passengers
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued a warning to ride-hailing firm Ryde on Wednesday (Aug 15), hours after the company announced plans to roll out a peer-to-peer, on-demand courier service on September 3 using its pool of 60,000 private-hire and non-commercial drivers.
— TodayOnline

CapitaLand-CDL JV secures prime site in Sengkang Central for $777.8 mil
CapitaLand and City Developments Limited (CDL) jointly announced that they, in a joint venture (JV), have secured a mixed-use residential and commercial site in Sengkang Central for $777.78 million.
— The Edge Singapore

Hot weather in Singapore expected to ease in last 2 weeks of August
While the dry and warm weather in Singapore is expected to ease in the second half of August, rainfall for August is expected to be below average for many parts of Singapore.
— TodayOnline

New home sales in Singapore ascend to 55 per cent in July triggered by panic buying
The Sale of private homes in Singapore increased to 55 per cent in July from a year earlier which is a 16-month high.
— MSN

From food court to IPO: Koufu fires up appetite for expansion
Hungry for growth, the Singapore-listed F&B firm has plans for overseas expansion and a new integrated facility on its plate.
— Channel NewsAsia

Man in Haj tour scam arrested for allegedly cheating 80 people of nearly S$100k
The arrest on Wednesday (Aug 15) came hours after a report was lodged when the 80 pilgrims, who were due to depart for a Haj tour on Thursday, did not receive their flight confirmation and visa details.
— TodayOnline

Companies not required to stamp government forms from October
Companies will no longer need to affix their company stamps on government forms starting this October, unless required by legislation.
— Channel NewsAsia

Project aims to quantify worth of forests and marine habitats
How much are Singapore’s forests, parks, waterways, and coastal and marine habitats worth?
— TodayOnline

Operating mystery prize vending machines is illegal: Singapore police
While they are a common sight in shopping malls such as NEX, Bugis Junction and White Sands as well as pasar malaams, police are warning that operating vending machines that dispense random mystery prizes upon receipt of cash payments is illegal.
— Yahoo News

Most Singaporeans support ban on feeding of wild animals
Almost three-quarters of Singaporeans polled feel the feeding of wild animals should be banned.
— The New Paper

Some animals without backbones could be protected, but not illegal to kill mosquitoes and cockroaches
Threatened invertebrates – or animals without backbones – such as the Common Rose butterfly and horseshoe crabs in Singapore will be offered more protection under proposed changes to the law spearheaded by Member of Parliament Louis Ng.
— TodayOnline

 

Feature photo Bernard Spragg. NZ

 

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.

 

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Maria Mirasol Rasonable graduated with a Bachelors Degree in journalism from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines.

She previously covered police rounds for Philippine Daily Inquirer as a trainee before becoming editorial staff at Gospel Komiks under the Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA-MG), Santa Mesa, Manila where she wrote lifestyle and trending fashion and styles articles.

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