Singapore Morning News For March 13

President Trump halts Broadcom takeover of Qualcomm
U.S. President Donald Trump issued an order on Monday prohibiting semiconductor maker Broadcom Ltd’s proposed takeover of Qualcomm Inc on grounds of national security, bringing an end to what would have been the technology industry’s biggest deal ever.
— Channel NewsAsia

Singapore: Reject Sweeping Public Order Bill
Singapore’s proposed public order law would further empower the government to repress freedom of assembly and speech, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should revise the Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) bill, introduced in Parliament on February 27, 2018, to ensure that protection of public safety does not violate fundamental rights.
— Human Right Watch

Smart Bus Stop being trialled in Singapore to improve commuter experience
Trials of a world-first next-generation smart bus stop have been initiated in Singapore today to address the dual problems of urban heat [1] and air pollution (PM2.5) faced by commuters.
— Open Gov Asia

N Korea: UN claims Singapore firms illegally sent luxury goods
A leaked draft of a United Nations report claims two Singapore companies have violated UN sanctions by supplying luxury goods to North Korea.
— BBC

Good measures launched by MOE, but ‘insufficient’ to transform society’s addiction to paper chase: Denise Phua
The Education Ministry (MOE) has launched “good measures”, but they are insufficient to transform society’s addiction to the “proverbial paper chase”, said Member of Parliament and Mayor of Central Singapore Denise Phua. The job, she stressed, is not that of MOE alone, and everyone else has to chip in.
— Channel NewsAsia

Singapore will remain world’s top bunkering hub post 2020: Maersk executive
Singapore will continue to be the world’s largest ship refueling destination going into 2020 and beyond, Maersk regional trading head Peter Beekhuis said Friday at the S&P Global Platts Asian Refining Summit in Singapore.
— Hellenic Shipping News

Singapore Navy developing new USVs
The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has revealed the development of a new type of unmanned surface vessel (USV), which will be used to improve the country’s maritime security and homeland defence capabilities.
— Naval-technology

Bangladesh, Singapore ink two MOUs to boost connectivity, business
Visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong witnessed here Monday the signing of two memoranda of understandings (MOUs) which will boost air connectivity and business opportunities between the two countries.
— Xinhua Net

Singapore appoints new defence, army chiefs
Major-General (MG) Melvyn Ong has been appointed the Chief of Defence Force and Brigadier-General (BG) Goh Si Hou the Chief of Army, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced on Monday (Mar 12).
— Channel NewsAsia

The government is trying to hijack the GST hike debate
Create distraction and divert attention. Attack Sylvia Lim for speaking up and then demand an apology. Praise Low Thia Khiang for speaking up like a PAP MP.
— The Independent Singapore

GTR Ventures makes debut investments in Singapore trade-linked fintechs
GTR Ventures, the world’s first investment platform targeted at trade-related fintechs, has closed its first five investments, including in several Singapore fintechs that are taking aim at the US$5 trillion trade-finance gap globally.
— The Business Times

Singapore woman suffering from upset tummy gets warded for appendicitis after identity mix-up
An identity mix-up nearly had drastic consequences for a 32-year-old Singapore woman who visited Parkway East Hospital last Tuesday, 6 March.
— The Independent Singapore

Property app for buyers and sellers to rate agents, view listings launched
Home buyers and sellers can now contact property agents and rate their service using a new mobile app called RealHome. A beta version was launched on Monday (Mar 12) and when it is fully rolled out in a month’s time, users will also be able to search for property listings in real-time as well as schedule viewings with agents handling those units.
— Channel NewsAsia

75 students affected by theft of A-Level Chemistry script will retake exams: SEAB
Seventy-five of the 238 students affected by the theft of the A-Level Chemistry exam scripts last year have opted to retake the examination, said the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB).
— Today Online

Singapore firms to get direct access to Bangladeshi infrastructure projects
SINGAPORE companies will be able to capture opportunities in fast-growing Bangladesh as International Enterprise (IE) Singapore partners the country’s Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) to ease the market entry process, the agency said on Monday.
— The Business Times

Airbnb offers to collaborate with Singapore government
Airbnb has offered to work with Singapore’s government to address concern of the impact of short-term rental service on private housing and the hotel industry in Singapore.
— Global Property Guide

Feature photo Jakub Michankow

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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 March 13 added by Leakhena Khat on March 13, 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.