Singapore morning news for December 12, 2019

Singapore’s 2019 growth forecast raised to 0.7%: MAS survey
The Singapore economy is expected to grow 0.7 per cent this year, according to private-sector economists polled in a quarterly survey by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Wednesday (Dec 11).
— CNA

Blood donations needed in Singapore as stock for all blood groups fall to low levels
Calling for blood donors – Singapore’s stock for all blood groups, in particular type O blood, has fallen to low levels.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Wow! Watch Singapore Changi Airport’s incredibly polite baggage system (video)
Frequent travellers are all too familiar with the sight of expensive travel luggage being banged around on airport baggage carousels.
— AEC News Today

Singapore and Malaysia both fall in global ranking of English standards – as did most of Asia
Singapore and Malaysia have both fallen several places on this year’s annual Education First (EF) English Proficiency Index, which measures the English levels of countries with non-native speakers worldwide.
— Business Insider

Singapore is 3rd most prepared in the world to take advantage of the online shopping boom: UN Index
About 1.3 billion people – or one quarter of the world’s population – shopped online in 2017, a 12 per cent increase from 2016.
— Business Insider

Singapore economy to quicken as manufacturing recovers
Singapore’s economy is likely to pick up next year as manufacturing and trade recover although tensions between the U.S. and China will continue to muddy the outlook, a central bank survey showed.
— Nikkei Asian Review

First three stations of Thomson-East Coast Line to begin service on Jan 31; free travel for commuters for three days
A new, more user-friendly map of the MRT system was also unveiled at the new Woodlands South station.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Policy changes that will affect you in 2020
From Jan 1, subscribers to Netflix and other overseas digital services will have to pay a 7 per cent goods and services tax.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Certis CISCO officer suspended from active duty after kicking PMD rider off road
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Wednesday (Dec 11) that it is looking into an incident in which a man who appears to be an enforcement officer is seen on video kicking a personal mobility device (PMD) rider off the road.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

New MRT map launched with Circle Line as focal point
A new and refreshed MRT system map was launched on Wednesday (Dec 11), featuring the Circle Line as a focal point and some of Singapore’s most distinct landmarks.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Two partners in steel manufacturing firm jailed and fined for under-declaring income of more than $3 million
Two partners of a steel manufacturer were fined and jailed for under-declaring income of more than $3 million in total and evading personal income tax, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 11).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Wage Credit Scheme payouts to eligible employers to go fully cashless from March 2020
Payouts to eligible employers for the Wage Credit Scheme – a government grant that co-funds wage increases – will go completely cashless from March next year.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Private-sector economists tighten Singapore’s 2020 growth forecast to 1.5-1.9%
PRIVATE-SECTOR economists have bumped up the forecast for Singapore’s 2019 growth by a hair’s breadth, even as they tweaked their hopes of a bright new year, a poll showed on Wednesday.
— The Business Times

Using fake news law on PSP member’s Facebook post does not affect free speech as post remains online: MCI, MinLaw
The recent use of Singapore’s fake news law to correct a Facebook post by Progress Singapore Party member Brad Bowyer does not affect his rights to free speech, said the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Communications and Information on Wednesday (Dec 11).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

‘Get your act together’: Singapore athletics criticised after poor SEA Games
The lack of stable governance within the athletics fraternity has cost its athletes, said Singapore Sports Institute’s (SSI) head of high performance and athlete life Richard Gordon, following the sport’s poor outing at the 30th SEA Games.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Ann Wee, pioneer of social work education in Singapore, dies aged 93
Mrs Ann Wee, the pioneer of social work education in Singapore, died at home on Wednesday (Dec 11) morning. She was 93.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

New safety training, smart helmets for Grab delivery riders switching to bikes
Grab announced on Wednesday (Dec 11) new safety training for delivery riders switching to bicycles, promising free smart helmets to those who complete the course.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Training course for food delivery riders switching from e-scooters to e-bikes following footpath ban
Funds for about 2,000 riders have already been secured, although more food delivery riders looking to sign up for the courses will not be turned away, said an NTUC spokesman.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Help for special needs kids left without support
As the parent of a child with special needs, Ms Kalai Sylvie Sadayappan’s biggest worry is that her son would not be well taken care of if something were to happen to her.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

DIY chain Home-Fix closing stores amid financial woes
Once a familiar name in many a Singapore shopping mall – and with more than 20 outlets at its peak – home-grown hardware chain Home-Fix will be shutting its last store here by the end of the week.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

President Halimah meets Chancellor Merkel during state visit to Germany
Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob and German Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirmed bilateral ties between the two countries as they met on Tuesday (Dec 10) in Berlin.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Tourists surging to Singapore help push hotel deals to record
Hotel deals in Singapore are set for a record amid a surge in tourist arrivals buoyed by people wanting to avoid the protests in Hong Kong.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

SEA Games: Debutants star as Team Singapore surpasses 900 gold medals mark
Team Singapore’s largest away contingent in history won 53 gold medals at the 2019 SEA Games, crossing the 900th gold medal mark as it concluded its 2019 campaign.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore conductor Wong Kah Chun awarded Germany’s highest tribute
Singapore conductor Wong Kah Chun was on Tuesday (Dec 10) conferred Germany’s Order of Merit, the highest tribute for services to the country.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Pound drops against Singapore dollar as election poll suggests Tory lead faltering
The pound fell in early Asia trading on Wednesday (Dec 11) as an update to an election poll which successfully predicted the 2017 election suggested UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative party is on track to win a smaller majority than previously projected.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

CDL calls for easing of curbs ‘to prevent Singapore property glut from worsening’
The Republic’s second-biggest private home builder said the supply glut is an unintended consequence of government measures to force developers to build and sell apartments quickly or face stiff penalties.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Interactive digital art exhibition brings colourful floral lights, floating eggs to Gardens by the Bay
The magical sight of 334 large inflated egg-shaped lights floating on the Dragonfly Lake at Gardens by the Bay will surely entrance passersby and it’s easy to see why.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

The Singapore SEA Games surfer who started a swimwear brand, all in pursuit of a dream
The first time Beckie Liu surfed, she got hit on the head by her surfboard.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

340 families to get new insurance and care programme ensuring long-term therapy for children with special needs
As the parent of a child with special needs, Ms Kalai Sylvie Sadayappan’s biggest worry is that if something were to happen to her, her son would not be well taken care of.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

SPH contributes $20,000 to Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift project
Seventeen-year-old Danial Arfan and his six younger siblings had a simple wish – all they wanted was a bag each for the new school year.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

FAS’ action will not affect SNOC’s disciplinary proceedings against Singapore footballers who broke curfew
Any additional action taken by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) against the nine footballers who broke curfew at the SEA Games will not affect the Singapore National Olympic Council’s (SNOC) disciplinary proceedings.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

One search and you shall save one pound of sea garbage: Here comes an ‘eco-friendly’ search engine
He has always wanted to escape civilisation and recede into nature at every opportunity he got, for he was perturbed about the ill-treatment inflicted on the environment by human beings.
— e27

Yishun resident hangs live myna from laundry pole to ‘teach’ it a lesson
A myna has been rescued after a woman hung it from a laundry pole outside her HDB flat, apparently in an attempt to teach it a lesson and serve as a deterrent for other birds.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

SUSS, MHA launch full-time, direct honours degree in public safety and security
Those looking to pursue further studies in public safety and security will be able to do so in a new full-time bachelor’s degree programme that starts in July next year.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

More than 100 firefighters battle blaze at Tuas Crescent building, fire put out after six hours
About 130 firefighters and 34 emergency vehicles were deployed in a battle against a raging fire at a building in Tuas Crescent on Wednesday morning (Dec 11).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Contraband cigarettes found hidden in loaves of bread at Woodlands Checkpoint
A man’s efforts to smuggle contraband cigarettes into the country went stale on Sunday morning (Dec 8) as Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers found 32 packets of the cigarettes hidden in loaves of bread at Woodlands Checkpoint.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

5 people from 3 companies charged after tricking WDA into issuing $72k in training grants
Five people from three companies were charged on Wednesday (Dec 11) after they made false claims and falsified documents to the former Workforce Development Agency (WDA), tricking it into issuing more than $72,000 in training grants over two years.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

JustCo to open new Singapore, Seoul co-working centres
Co-working space operator JustCo on Wednesday (Dec 11) said it is expanding its Asia-Pacific network to 40 centres with the addition of two new spaces – one in Singapore and another in Seoul.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Apple’s Tim Cook is in Singapore, tours Tiong Bahru with local photographers
Cook tried chwee kueh, carrot cake and steamed layer cake for breakfast after getting a quick history of the buildings in the area.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Why Google, Facebook are among the top 10 companies to work for in Singapore
Having a strong corporate culture with a clear mission and values that resonate with people may no longer be a “fluffy” or unimportant aspect for businesses.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Mixed reactions from netizens over enforcement officer’s action of kicking errant rider off his PMD to stop him
On Tuesday (10 December) a video captured by a vehicle’s dashcam saw an enforcement officer kicking a Personal Mobility Device (PMD) rider off his device along Bedok Reservoir Road.
— The Online Citizen

Remember the movie? Coyote Ugly bar is opening at Clarke Quay – and it’s holding auditions
The bar and restaurant chain that inspired the hit 2000 movie of the same name is opening its doors in January.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

M Cash’s backer Kresna Graha Investama to invest in US, Singapore-based biotech startups
Indonesia-based Kresna Graha Investama (IDX: KREN), through its subsidiary Kresna Biotech Ventures, announced plans to invest in two life sciences and biotech startups.
— e27

Condo rents rise 1.2% in November, fastest pace since January: SRX data
Rents for non-landed private homes rose last month as its strongest pace since January, despite four straight months of lower leasings, while HDB rents inched down, according to flash data from real estate portal SRX Property on Wednesday (Dec 11).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore’s swimmer Quah Zheng Wen is most valuable male athlete of SEA Games 2019
Singaporean swimmer Quah Zheng Wen was given the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for male athletes on Wednesday (Dec 11), having won the highest number of medals at SEA Games 2019, with six gold and two silver in his haul.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

NUS student, 25, suspended for photographing 2 female students in the shower
He will also be sent for mandatory counselling and rehabilitation sessions.
— Mothership

Elderly man jailed, banned from driving for crashing car into man and daughter on e-scooter
An elderly man failed to give way to a man and his daughter crossing the road on an electric scooter in Yio Chu Kang earlier this year, crashing into the pair and seriously injuring the man.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Instead of getting a baby sitter, I settle with a tech sitter called YouTube
People tell me that being a stay-at-home Mom who works from home -thanks to technology- is the most ideal setting for women, and I agree.
— e27

Former employee sues Parkway Hospital over alleged unfair dismissal
A former employee of one of Singapore’s top private healthcare providers has brought a civil suit against her former employer for allegedly subjecting her to an unfair dismissal over nine months ago whilst she was over four months pregnant.
— The Online Citizen

Feature photo Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo focuses on International Anti-Corruption Day, December 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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Singapore morning news for December 12 added by Justhine De Guzman Uy on December 12, 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.