Singapore morning news for August 5

Ikea Singapore apologises after more than 400 e-mail IDs revealed to customers
Swedish retailer Ikea apologised to affected customers in Singapore on Sunday (Aug 4) after the company inserted 410 individual e-mail addresses in the wrong message field of a promotional mailer and sent it out.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore banks brace for rate impact
SINGAPORE banks have flagged muted loan demand amid dour sentiment as they head into the second half of this year, with flattish rates also set to weigh on lending margins.
— The Business Times

KPMG to pay auditors 20% more if they get SCA qualification by next July
KPMG in Singapore will raise salaries by 20 per cent for its auditors who obtain the Singapore Chartered Accountant (SCA) qualification by July 1, 2020, in a bid to improve the quality of audits for its clients and benefit the capital markets.
— The Business Times

Honestbee creditor sues ex-CEO for US$3.8m loaned to startup
HONESTBEE co-founder and former chief executive Joel Sng is being sued by a creditor of the company for the repayment of a US$3.8 million loan that was made to honestbee, according to High Court filings dated July 19 obtained by The Business Times .
— The Business Times

S’pore may see slight haze in next few days
Singapore could experience slightly hazy conditions in the next few days, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said yesterday as it released its first daily haze advisory for the year.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singaporeans advised to defer travel to Jammu and Kashmir due to ‘uncertain security situation’: MFA
Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Saturday (Aug 3) issued a travel advisory for Jammu and Kashmir, citing the uncertain security situation in the region.
— Channel News Asia (very annoying popups)

Microsoft, SkillsFuture jointly offer training and certification
Singaporeans can now learn and receive certification from Microsoft as part of a new collaboration between the tech giant and the SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) scheme.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

S’pore has world’s best education system but govt prefers foreign talents
The government has given notice that it would be starting a new programme to get more foreigners to work in Singapore on Employment Pass (EP), which does not carry any quota limitation.
— The Online Citizen

Malaysian drug suspect arrested at Shenton Way junction after attempting hasty getaway on motorbike
A 21-year-old Malaysian suspect was arrested at the junction of Shenton Way and Maxwell Road last Thursday (Aug 1) after he allegedly disposed of a plastic bag containing 336g of Ice at a carpark in the vicinity of Orchard Towers.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Government rolls out tech measures to prevent bogus SkillsFuture claims
THE government plans to roll out QR codes for attendance-taking at SkillsFuture courses by next year to reduce cases of fraudulent claims.
— The Business Times

S’pore has to renew economy, train people to stay ahead: Chan Chun Sing
MWholesale distributor Hai Sia Seafood might have started from a hawker centre in Queenstown, but is now expanding to overseas markets after it used automation to increase productivity.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

SM notes Joo Chiat’s progress on return visit
Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean returned yesterday to the ward in which he began his political career – Joo Chiat.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Materiality test among new bank guidelines on cloud services
THE Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) has published updated guidelines for financial institutions (FIs) when they enter into cloud outsourcing arrangements.
— The Business Times

Opposition parties won’t win voter confidence if they remain ‘disparate’: Chee Soon Juan
As long as Singapore’s opposition “remains disparate and as a motley bunch”, it will not win the confidence of voters, said Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) Chee Soon Juan on Sunday (Aug 4).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Strengthen ties with all nations to diversify strategic links: Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean
It is important for Singapore to strengthen relations with all countries – not just the United States and China – amid growing trade tensions that threaten to divide the world, said Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

ISIS bride and a fighter from Singapore said to have died in Syria
A Singaporean woman who travelled to Syria with her Bosnia-born husband to join terror group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria is reportedly dead.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

SDP to contest five constituencies at next General Election
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has confirmed it intends to contest five constituencies at the next General Election – the same electoral divisions it contested in 2015.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Chart of the Week: Story of Hutchison Port Holdings Trust’s 9% Dividend Yield
This week’s installment shows how Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (SGX: NS8U) has destroyed shareholder value over the long term.
— The Motley Fool

SATS Ltd’s Robust Track Record in Growing Its Business
SATS Ltd (SGX: S58) has a strong track record of growth in both profits and dividends over the last five years.
— The Motley Fool

Fault lines: A look at defect resolution in condos
Other alleged defect issues previously reported in the media include flooded staircases and rotting timber pool decks at Sentosa’s The Coast; a leaking basement car park at Emery Point in Tanjong Katong, and cracks in the plaster at Seasons Park in Yio Chu Kang Road.
— The Business Times

Preetipls video incident: Racism exists in S’pore, but situation has improved over the years, says Shanmugam
We want to build a cohesive society, but racism corrodes and deepens the fault lines in society.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat files police report over scam Facebook post using his photo
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has filed a police report over a Facebook post that carried a false headline along with his photo.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

370 pilgrims fly off to Mecca
Around 370 Muslim Singaporeans left Changi Airport yesterday to perform their haj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Fire hits 2 units storing PMDs, electrical items
A fire raged for at least three hours early yesterday at two warehouse units in Bukit Batok.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Security beefed up to ensure a safe and smooth NDP
The National Day Parade (NDP) will have enhanced security at the Padang.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Union Gas all fired up for growth in energy sector
Listed on the Singapore Exchange’s Catalist board in July 2017, home-grown Union Gas Holdings (Union Gas) is a provider of fuel products to the residential, commercial and industrial sectors in Singapore.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

ESM Goh on Tan Cheng Bock: I deserve some credit or blame for who he has become
Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong shared his thoughts about Tan Cheng Bock’s recent speech on how the late Lee Kuan Yew persuaded him to join the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
— Mothership

CPF Bishan officer helps explain schemes to seniors
Central Provident Fund (CPF) customer service executive Chong Loo Kuang assists around 15 elderly customers a day with their CPF-related queries at CPF Bishan Service Centre.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Creating jobs, lower voting age among issues Progress Singapore Party aims to champion at next General Election
“Since they have a duty to defend our country, these 18-year-olds should also have the right to elect their leaders,” party secretary-general Tan Cheng Bock on why the voting age should be lowered to 18.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

The silent majority has a lot to apologise for, so let’s start here
Yesterday, I published a story on The Pride about the Nets Brownface Preetipls saga that got many hurt and upset.
— The Pride

The Weekly Nibble: Cheap Singapore REITs
Cheap REITs to consider buying, building portfolios with S$50k, and a look at Sembcorp Marine Ltd’s (SGX: S51) valuation.
— The Motley Fool

Co-working spaces and car-free days: Youths suggest ideas to develop ‘Somerset Belt’
Co-working spaces, car-free days and zones where local entrepreneurs can set up shop.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Padang and three bridges to be national monuments
Singapore’s de facto town square and the site of this year’s National Day Parade, the Padang, as well as the Cavenagh, Anderson and Elgin bridges in the vicinity, will be gazetted as national monuments.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Rap siblings Preeti and Subhas Nair issue unconditional apology after MHA criticism
A day after they were criticised for a mock, insincere apology, YouTuber Preeti Nair and her brother Subhas offered a fresh unconditional apology for their controversial rap video.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Bus driver arrested after accident with 72-year-old woman in Marine Parade
A 49-year-old man was arrested after the double-decker Go-Ahead bus he was driving hit a pedestrian on Friday (Aug 2).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Moving out sale as Times bookstore at Centrepoint prepares to close
Times Bookstores is closing its Centrepoint branch on Sept 23 as part of an ongoing renewal of store locations from time to time, said a spokesman for the chain.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

The unseen beauty of Singapore’s Southern Islands
The cluster of islands to the south of the main island is where most of Singapore’s offshore islands are located.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Some single unwed parents under 35 allowed to apply for subsidised flats on appeal
Since 2014, 28 single unwed parents were allowed to apply for a subsidised two-room flexi flat. This works out to about a quarter of the 121 who had appealed.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Youth arrested after armed robbery at Fernvale Lane shop; makes away with cigarettes, burger
An 18-year-old suspect was arrested for an alleged armed robbery on Sunday (Aug 4).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Feature photo Lee Hsien Loong

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo acknowledges Singapore national day, August 9.

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).

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About Singapore morning news.

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Singapore morning news for August 5 added by Justhine De Guzman Uy on August 5, 2019
View all posts by Justhine De Guzman Uy →

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Justhine De Guzman Uy

Writer at AEC News Today

Justhine De Guzman Uy completed a Bachelor of Arts Major in Mass Communication at New Era University, Quezon City, the Philippines in 2016

After graduation she worked at the Philippine Broadcasting Service performing transcription and business news writing, before moving to Eagle Broadcasting Corporation where she worked as a news editor, translator and production assistant.