British Foreign Secretary hails Singapore as model for post-Brexit Britain
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has suggested the UK should follow the example of low-tax Singapore as it forges a new position in the world after Brexit.
— Breaking News
Britain considering a new military base in S-E Asia, with Singapore or Brunei as possible sites
Five decades after Britain announced its military pullout from Singapore, it is considering a renewed presence in South-east Asia – with the Republic as a possible site.
— Straits Times
Electricity, gas tariffs to drop in 2019 first quarter
Electricity and gas tariffs are set to drop in the first quarter of 2019. Electricity tariffs will decrease by an average of 1.2 per cent or 0.28 cent per kWh from Jan 1 to Mar 31 next year, compared to the previous quarter, SP Group announced on Sunday (Dec 30).
— Channel News Asia
1 in 3 eligible consumers switches to electricity retailer
Take-up rate is expected to stay at about 30% as the market fully liberalises by next May, said the Energy Market Authority.
— The Straits Times
Minimum legal age for smoking goes up to 19 from Jan 1
From tomorrow, smokers will have to be 19 years old before they can light up, up from the current age of 18, while Orchard Road will become a smoke-free zone.
— Straits Times
Singapore’s 4G leaders step up
As 2018 draws to a close, The Sunday Times writers look back on key highlights of the yeargone by, and give a preview of what to expect in 2019. Nation needs more open political leaders who are willing to share power with the people
— The Straits Times
Changes in Singapore’s primary and secondary schools from next year
In September this year, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced changes to get schools, students and parents to move away from focusing too much on grades, and help students discover the joy of learning.
— The Straits Times
Inequality under the spotlight
The issue of inequality dominated national conversations in the past year, as fears of a widening income divide and declining social mobility became a growing concern.
— Straits Times
Commentary: The future of Singapore housing is in bigger HDB flats
Consider building more jumbo flats to encourage young Singaporean couples to live with their aged parents and have kids, says Sing Tien Foo, director of the NUS Institute of Real Estate and Urban Studies.
— Channel News Asia
Four Asian elections to watch out for in 2019
There will be plenty of election fever in Asia in 2019. Many major economies in the region are expected to hold national elections in the coming months.
— The Business Times
A made-in-Singapore solution to the world’s plastic waste problem
NUS scientists have found a way to turn plastic bottles and other wastes into ‘one of the most promising materials in the 21st century’.
— Channel News Asia
SMEs ho-hum about 2019 outlook; more look to Asean for opportunities
CAUTION appears to be the pervading sentiment among Singapore businesses as external uncertainties such as the US-China trade war, rising interest rates and slowing global growth weigh on their outlook for the coming year.
— The Business Times
More deaths, fewer injuries in construction from Jan to Nov
The construction sector has promised that there will be “no let-up” in its efforts to promote safety after new figures showed an increase in deaths due to workplace accidents this year.
— The Straits Times
The Weekly Nibble: Blue-Chip Dividend Galore
High yielding blue-chip dividend shares, REITs with growth prospects, and ways to pick winning shares are discussed in this week’s instalment.
— Motley Fool sg
Commentary: Disruption is coming for Singapore business schools
Business schools need to foster a spirit of innovation in graduates who face a world of disruption but many programmes remain outdated, says Oon Tian Sern.
— Channel News Asia
Forget Bitcoin! This Market Crash Could Be An Opportunity To Make A Million
Stocks could offer better risk/reward ratios than Bitcoin.
— Motley Fool sg
Singapore hospitality industry can expect a good 2019
In Singapore, the hotel industry is heading into 2019 in good shape thanks to the Trump-Kim summit and the romantic comedy “Crazy Rich Asians.”
— eTurbo News
STO Global-X announces global release of blockchain-based digital asset exchange platform
STO Global-X, a Singapore based technology company, announced the global release of its institutional-grade, end-to-end digital asset exchange solution — STO Global Exchange (“STGX”).
AEC News Today / PR Newswire (media release)
How to Protect Yourself in Volatile Markets?
Three ways investors can protect themselves in volatile markets.
— Motley Fool sg
City Harvest Church finance manager Serina Wee released from jail in less than 2 years, receives online flak
SBack in September 2016, the High Court was urged by the prosecution to dismiss the appeal of six leaders from City Harvest Church (CHC) who were convicted with the largest mishandling of charitable funds in the history of Singapore.
— The Independent sg
Renting out your home? The most common scams Singapore landlords fall for
Mention rental scams, and you could be forgiven for thinking that tenants are usually the victims, for example by giving a deposit to a fake landlord.
— Channel News Asia
Yakult Singapore to stop providing straws
Yakult Singapore will no longer provide straws with its probiotic cultured milk drinks, joining a stream of companies who have pledged recently to ditch plastic, single-use straws.
— Channel News Asia
Community gardening scheme plants a million native species in a decade
Retiree May Lee initially took up gardening after her doctor advised her to spend more time in the sun to boost her Vitamin D levels following a severe bout of meningitis in 2012.
— The Straits Times
Marking bicentennial milestone with 200km trek
This is no walk in the park but a trek of 200km that started in East Coast Park last night and is slated to end at the same place only tomorrow.
— The Straits Times
Singapore Tourism Board makes music video to attract travellers who like to ‘socialise’
A music video around the concept of tourist ‘tribes’ has been revealed as the latest work for Singapore Tourism Board’s ‘Passion Made Possible’ global marketing campaign.
— Mumbrella Asia
Bus and train fares to increase 6 cents for standard users starting from Dec. 29
Singapore – Starting December 29, adult EZ-Link card users taking the bus or train will be charged an additional 6 cents per trip.
— The Independent sg
On my 50th birthday, the sewage pipe above my work station burst
The day I turned 50, the sewage pipe above my work station burst.
— The Straits Times
Celebrate with gifts of giving
For her birthday party next month, Sasha Marimuttu wants her friends to donate money to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) instead of giving her presents.
— The Straits Times
Feature photo The Cabin Singapore
This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo focuses on the death, pain, and loss that typically occurs at this time of year on Asean roads due to drunk driving, speeding, and a failure to wear protective helmets when travelling on motorbikes.
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 December 31 added by Mark Roy on
View all posts by Mark Roy →
A a professional photographer since the days of film, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photomedia and a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism.
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