Singapore Morning News For March 7

U.S. sees national security risk from Broadcom’s Qualcomm deal
A U.S. government national security panel has identified potential risks that warrant a full investigation of Singapore-based Broadcom Ltd’s (AVGO.O) $117 billion bid for chipmaker Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O), a senior U.S. Treasury official said in a letter to the companies on Monday.
— Reuters

Singapore is a global leader in fingerprint biometrics and voice recognition technologies in the financial services sector: Survey
Singapore is a global leader in adopting fingerprint biometrics and voice recognition technologies to authenticate a customer’s identity in the financial services sector, found a recent international study.
— Business Insider

Continuity Behind Strengthening Singapore-Malaysia Ties
The eighth Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat held in Singapore on January 14 and 15 2018 witnessed a milestone in bilateral ties.
— AEC News Today

Singapore to launch nationwide e-invoicing framework for businesses
BUSINESSES will soon be able to adopt a nationwide, interoperable electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) framework that could help them process payments more efficiently and increase productivity at work.
— The Business Times

Tax and not spend in Singapore
By almost any measure, 2017 was a good year for Singapore’s economy.
— Asia Times

Mandatory e-waste management system to be implemented in Singapore by 2021
Singapore’s e-waste management system will adopt the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach. NEA will set collection targets for manufacturers and importers to take back a proportion of the products they put on the market. They will be required to work with NEA-licensed Producer Responsibility Organisations.
— Open Gov Asia

Empowering ASEAN: The Two Opportunities from Singapore’s Chairmanship
Earlier this month, the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat was held in Singapore — the first
of its kind this year as the city-state assumed the regional bloc’s chairmanship in 2018.
— The Independent Singapore

Blockchain trial successfully tracks and traces cargo movement from Chongqing to Singapore
The trial was conducted jointly by PSA International, Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd and IBM Singapore. For the next stage, the scope of the POC will be widened and more participants engaged from the different nodes of the distribution network that form the supply chain logistics ecosystem.
— Open Gov Asia

PUB looking to roll out automated meter reading system to encourage water conservation: Masagos Zulkifli
National water agency PUB is exploring an islandwide roll-out of an automated meter reading system (AMS), Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli announced in Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 6).
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

Rockmelons linked to Australia listeria outbreak were sold in Singapore but have been recalled: AVA
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said on Monday (March 5) that two consignments of rockmelons linked with the recent listeria outbreak in Australia have been pulled off the shelves in Singapore.
— Asia One

Cyber security can be a ‘growth engine’ for Singapore: Yaacob
Investing in cyber security would not just reap gains in keeping Singapore secure – it could also be a source of revenue and growth, Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim told Parliament yesterday.
— The New Paper

Bitcoin SMS scams on the rise
In January this year, a text message from an unidentified sender informed Mr James Quak, 41, that he had one bitcoin waiting to be redeemed in his account.
— The New Paper

Singapore Plans Steady Defense Budget
Singapore will keep its defense budget steady as a fraction of its economy even as its neighbors’ spending increases and new security threats emerge.
— Aviation Week

Singapore to offer dedicated accelerator for cybersecurity startups
A new accelerator will soon be available in Singapore to young companies focused on building cybersecurity products and services.
— ZDNet

Singapore company cancels blue diamond initial coin offering
The Singapore-based organizer of a $2 million initial coin offering linked to a promotion involving a 2.08-carat blue diamond ring and luxury dinner raffle cancelled the plan Tuesday, leaving thousands of investors from dozens of countries in need of refunds.
— Financial Post

Legislative changes to strengthen Singapore’s Criminal Justice Framework
The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) announced that it has tabled the Criminal Justice Reform Bill and the Evidence (Amendment) Bill for First Reading in Parliament on last Wednesday (28 February).
— The Online Citizen

After Italy, Rahul to visit Singapore, Malaysia this week
After returning from Italy, Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Singapore and Malaysia from March 8-10 as part of his outreach to the Indian diaspora.
— The Economic Times

No plastic bag surcharge as ‘greener’ disposables not better for environment
Often touted as “greener” alternatives to plastic bags, paper and degradable bags may not actually be better for the environment — at least not in Singapore’s case.
— Today Online

Temasek subsidiary Ion to earn up to $1b by paring stake in South Korean firms
Ion Investments, which is controlled by Temasek Holdings of Singapore, is selling part of its stake in South Korean pharmaceutical company Celltrion and distributor Celltrion Healthcare, IFR reported on Tuesday, citing a term sheet.
— DealStreetAsia

HDB to remove three-year time-bar policy for divorcees to buy subsidised flats: Lawrence Wong
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) will remove its three-year time-bar policy for divorcees to buy subsidised flats, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong announced in Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 6).
— Channel NewsAsia

Feature photo Carolien Coenen

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 March 7 added by Leakhena Khat on March 7, 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.