Singapore morning news for January 14

Singapore morning news for January 14
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Singapore morning newsSingapore protests ‘provocative’ visit by Johor’s chief minister to Malaysian vessel in its territorial waters
The Republic has sent a diplomatic note to Malaysia to protest against the visit by Johor’s chief minister to a vessel that intruded into the city-state’s territorial waters, calling it a “provocative act”.
— Today Singapore

Vaping: 67 offenders nabbed
Sixty-seven people were caught using electronic vaporisers (e-vaporisers) in the 10 months since they were outlawed last February, new figures reveal.
— Straits Times

SPH posts 6.3% drop in 1Q earnings to $58 mil on lower investments contribution
Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), the media and property group, reported 1Q19 earnings dropped by 6.3% to $57.9 million, due to a 74.3% decline in contribution from investments as the Treasury & Investment portfolio was partially divested by August 2018
— The Edge

Religious organisations get more help on handling fake news
A new module on combating deliberate online falsehoods has been launched and it will be a mainstay for counter-terrorism seminars for religious leaders and organisations.
— Channel News Asia

Spike in fish prices likely to continue in run-up to CNY
A recent spike in the price of fish that is likely to continue with Chinese New Year just weeks away was partly the result of recent bad weather, which caused some shortages among Singapore’s regular suppliers, fish sellers told The Straits Times.
— Straits Times

How Singapore is using tech to rehabilitate prisoners
Making sure that prisoners can stay in touch with their families goes a long way in helping them integrate back and rebuild their lives after their release.
— GovInsider

S’pore gives British drug trafficker 24 strokes caning & 20 years jail, British people support it
Ye Ming Yuen, 29, a London-born British citizen, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being arrested in August 2016 for seven drug-related offences.
— Mothership

TodayOnline reportedly facing legal challenge for article on NUS and NTU’s academic turnover
According to a press statement issued from TodayOnline to Mothership.sg, the publication had to take down an article that was published on 6 Jan after a legal challenge was filed against it. According to the quote, Todaywrote wrote, The article was taken down on 10 Jan as it is the subject of a legal challenge …
— The Online Citizen

Singapore postpones annual meeting with Malaysia after Johor Menteri Besar visits vessel in Tuas waters
Singapore has postponed a scheduled annual bilateral meeting with Malaysia, following the intrusion by Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian into Singapore territorial waters off Tuas on Wednesday (9 January).
— Yahoo News

SME business sentiment slides for third straight quarter
BUSINESS sentiment among Singapore small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) eased again for the third straight quarter, even as they remained marginally optimistic about the outlook for the first six months of 2019.
— The Business Times

Production ‘to stay as key driver of growth’
MANUFACTURING will remain a key part of Singapore’s economy although it will encounter greater disruption in the years ahead, said Singapore’s Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing.
— The Nation (very annoying popups)

Growing co-working market bolstering office rentals
Besides providing hip and cosy work locations, co-working spaces are also shaking up the real estate scene by bolstering office rentals.
— Straits Times

Smuggling cases turn spotlight on the underground pet trade
Crammed into tight spaces and deprived of food and water, they are hidden in vehicles and driven across the Causeway from Malaysia.
— Straits Times

Victims of voyeur sites can file criminal charges and seek compensation, say lawyers
Wong Pei Ting NEO RONG WEI 6 min 6 sec ago SINGAPORE — Following a TODAY report that showed the existence of more than 70 sites
— Today Singapore

More turn to crowdfunding to finance business needs
Banks gave restaurateur Prasad Raj the cold shoulder when he asked to borrow $50,000 to renovate his Indian vegetarian eatery in Syed Alwi Road, so he turned to a far more accommodating source of financing – crowdfunding.
— Straits Times

IMDA, Singtel and DBS launch new platform to strengthen SMEs’ omnichannel capabilities
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singtel and DBS has rolled out a new 99%SME e-commerce platform (99sme.sg) that aims to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) merchants in Singapore easily adopt digital technologies and provide their customers with omnichannel experiences.
— SMB World

The spirit of policies past, present and yet to come
This year marks 200 years since Stamford Raffles landed on an island located between Peninsula Malaysia and Java. Raffles established the free and open port of Singapore by treaty, and since then the island state has flourished into one of the richest economies in the world.
— The Edge

SIA warns of phishing scam promising free plane tickets
Free Singapore Airlines (SIA) tickets by clicking on a link?
— Straits Times

India’s Amaravati smart city project a launchpad for S’pore firms
For Singapore-based Cutech Group, the opportunity to help build the new capital city of Amaravati, India’s first smart city, in southern Andhra Pradesh state, represents a new lifeline.
— Straits Times

Social enterprise hawkers get 5-day week
More than one-third of the hawkers at the Hawker Centre @ Our Tampines Hub, one of Singapore’s seven social enterprise hawker centres (SEHCs), have opted to take two full days off a week.
— Straits Times

Resurrected bull market faces earnings test this week
THE bull market’s resurrection faces an earnings test this week.
— The Business Times

Youth push for hawker culture to get Unesco listing
As Singapore prepares to nominate its hawker culture for inscription into Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, some young Singaporeans have stepped up to lend their support to the bid.
— Straits Times

Pongal festivities add buzz to Little India
People thronged the streets of Little India yesterday for some last-minute shopping to prepare for the annual Pongal festival, traditionally celebrated by farmers in India to give thanks for a year of bountiful harvest.
— Straits Times

340,000 pledges to reduce carbon footprint in 2018. Zero waste will be next challenge in 2019.
Action speaks louder than a pledge.
— Mothership

Malaysia, Singapore ministers to meet on ‘other bilateral issues’ after ministerial committee talks postponement: Malaysia’s foreign ministry
Malaysia’s economic affairs minister Azmin Ali will meet Singapore ministers to discuss other bilateral issues following the postponement of the 14th meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM), Malaysia’s foreign affairs ministry said on Sunday (Jan 13) …
— Channel News Asia

Mover in S’pore returns S$50,000 inside cabinet that customer had forgotten, wins praise
That’s great!
— Mothership

’45-minute city, 20-minute towns’: Advisory panel outlines vision for Land Transport Master Plan 2040
A 45-minute commute to work, and 20 minutes to reach amenities within residential towns.
— Channel News Asia

SME business optimism dips for 3rd straight quarter
Business sentiment among Singapore small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) eased again for the third quarter in a row, even as they remained marginally optimistic about the outlook for the first six months of this year.
— Straits Times

Children’s theme park? No, it’s the new paediatric centre at NUH
With its playgrounds, colourful design and pictures of animals, the new paediatric centre at the National University Hospital (NUH) can be easily mistaken for a children’s theme park.
— Straits Times

NUS expands overseas colleges programme to Toronto, Shenzhen
A National University of Singapore (NUS) programme to nurture entrepreneurs in different nodes of the world has now expanded to Toronto and Shenzhen.
— Straits Times

Authorities relax rules for this year’s Thaipusam after feedback from Hindu community
After taking in feedback from the Hindu community, the authorities have decided to relax the rules governing the annual Thaipusam procession to allow for an earlier start time for music to be played, as well increase the number of static points where music can be played.
— Today Singapore

2-hour panic as Eunos family finds 3m-long python in toilet: “We felt really helpless”
When his wife’s screams woke him up at 6.45am, he found a slithery intruder in their Housing Board maisonette in Eunos
— Stomp (StraitsTimes)

An open, candid talk on issues: Dr Balakrishnan on meeting with Malaysia Economic Affairs Minister
Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said on Sunday (Jan 13) that he had an open and candid discussion with Malaysian Minister of Economic Affairs Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is in Singapore to discuss bilateral issues.
— Channel News Asia

PAP member visiting homes in WP-held Aljunied GRC butchers Tamil words in flyers
PAP member Shamsul Kamar has drawn flak for not checking the accuracy of the Tamil words in flyers that he distributed during home visits at the Kaki Bukit division of Workers’ Party (WP)-held Aljunied GRC.
— The Independent sg

Prisons exploring use of digital platforms to help ex-offenders better reintegrate into society: Shanmugam
The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) is exploring the use of video counselling and a mobile application to help ex-offenders better reintegrate into society.
— Channel News Asia

About 30,000 workers found jobs through Adapt and Grow initiative in 2018: PM Lee
About 30,000 job seekers found work last year through the Adapt and Grow initiative designed to help Singaporeans affected by the economic slowdown and restructuring, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Jan 11).
— Channel News Asia

The great tortoise migration
Some ducked into their shells. Others flailed their limbs wildly. And then there were those who kept calm and got ready to move on, slowly.
— Straits Times

Why Singapore is heating up twice as fast as the rest of the world
Extreme heat, combined with the island’s high humidity, could be life-threatening, the programme Why It Matters discovers.
— Channel News Asia

2 Asian leopard cats abandoned at Bukit Batok, rescued by ACRES
Two critically endangered Asian leopard cats were rescued by an animal welfare group after being found abandoned in a carrier at Bukit Batok West last month.
— Channel News Asia

Lim Tean calls out the fake WhatsApp message circulating in regards to the rally on 26 Jan
Lawyer and politician, Lim Tean has posted on his Facebook page that there is a fake WhatsApp message that has been circulating on social media about the speakers for the rally this coming 26 Jan.
— The Online Citizen

How much money should you give in a hongbao this Chinese New Year?
Is there a magic number or a socially acceptable amount? CNA Lifestyle breaks it down for you, from your parents to your office cleaning auntie.
— cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com

 

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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.

 

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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.

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