Singapore morning news for June 26

Team effort needed for climate action: Khor
Fighting climate change needs to be a consolidated effort, and the Government cannot tackle the pressing issue alone, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor said yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Victim of botched female circumcision urges Muslim parents against circumcising their daughters
A victim of a botched female circumcision procedure has spoken out against the practice and has urged Muslim parents against circumcising their daughters.
— The Independent

S’pore 4th telco TPG giving 200,000 users free unlimited data roaming in M’sia & Indonesia
Some of you didn’t even know TPG exists or is the fourth telco.
— Mothership

S’pore banks’ earnings growth, dividend yields attractive: UBS
Local bank stocks are starting to look more attractive at current levels while real estate investment trusts (Reits) are appearing overpriced, said UBS Global Wealth Management in its monthly report.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Region must harness digitalisation to drive inclusive growth: President
Leaps in digital technology have disrupted lives across the Asia-Pacific, but countries must harness digitalisation to achieve inclusive growth and raise their standard of living, President Halimah Yacob said yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Father of 6 in S’pore suffers burns on 80% of body after PMD explodes, family appealing for donations
The family is looking for donations of medical and childcare supplies. The father, who is the sole breadwinner of the family, suffered from third degree burns to 80 percent of his body, after an e-scooter exploded at his mother’s house.
— Mothership

PM Lee: Relations between US and China can be ‘poisoned irreversibly,’ third-world countries could become collateral damage
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said during the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on June 23 (Sunday) that Singapore “must expect some fallout” from the ongoing trade dispute between the US and China.
— The Independent

Highest paying part-time jobs in Singapore
With Singaporeans having the highest global life expectancy, chances are that many people will be working well into their senior years.
— The Independent

First woman detained for radicalism in Singapore released with restrictions
Syaikhah Izzah Zahrah Al Ansari, the first woman detained for radicalism under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Singapore, has been released.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Why Singapore voters are asking for Santas Claus as their ideal politician to challenge the ruling party
The common complaints that Singapore voters have with Singapore’s alternative parties and its candidates are that the parties and its candidates are not their ideal type of politicians.
— The Online Citizen

National Taxi Association, Comfort form training committee to help cabbies gain digital skills
THE National Taxi Association (NTA) and ComfortDelGro Taxi have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a training committee for cabbies, providing them relevant digital training so they can keep up with technological changes and seize opportunities in the industry.
— The Business Times

Urban development work in Zhejiang beckons for Singapore companies
SINGAPORE companies can expect more business opportunities in Zhejiang, as the Chinese province moves to build sustainable cities in its pursuit of quality living and urban development.
— The Business Times

Training committee set up to help cabbies gain digital skills
THE National Taxi Association (NTA) and ComfortDelGro Taxi have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a training committee for cabbies, providing them with relevant digital training to keep up with technological changes and seize opportunities in the industry.
— The Business Times

Linde investing US$1.4b to expand Jurong Island gas complex
GAS and engineering giant Linde has signed a long-term agreement with ExxonMobil Asia Pacific which will see it investing US$1.4 billion to expand its existing gasification complex at Jurong Island and integrating it with ExxonMobil’s project to produce and supply additional hydrogen and synthesis gas.
— The Business Times

Three radicalised persons dealt with under ISA
A 40-year-old unemployed Singaporean man who intended to travel to Syria to join terror group ISIS was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in January.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

How ICA officers spot fake passports: It takes an eye for detail
On the fifth level of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Building is a restricted-access room.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

3,700 sheep available at 26 mosques for Korban
A total of 3,700 sheep will be offered at 26 mosques for the annual sacrifice ritual of Korban this year, the Singapore Mosques Korban Committee (JKMS) said on Tuesday (Jun 25).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Firms can pay for expat kids to get spot in school
Three popular international schools in Singapore allow expatriate families to secure places for their children, largely paid for by companies looking to attract the expatriates to work here.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Fugitive of 13 years caught after using another man’s IC
A man who attacked a newspaper vendor with a blade and managed to evade the authorities for 13 years was caught this year after he repeatedly used a photocopy of a stranger’s NRIC when registering for medical services.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Funan fills 95% of retail space; tenants include Taobao store
Ahead of its Friday opening, the new shopping mall at Funan has achieved 95 per cent committed occupancy for its retail space, including Singapore’s first standalone physical Taobao store.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

ICA officers seize cigarettes hidden in modified cars
More than 389 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers last Friday (Jun 21) in two attempted smuggling cases at Woodlands Checkpoint.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

PM Lee: Hong Kong protests a difficult issue as China sees it as question of sovereignty
It remains to be seen if the protests will be raised at the G20 summit.
— Mothership

Police warn of scam messages threatening to set victims’ premises on fire
Police issued a news release on Tuesday (Jun 25) alerting members of the public to a new variant of scams, which involves victims receiving Short Message Service (SMS) messages threatening to set their premises on fire.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

DPM Heng stresses importance of preparing to stay healthy in one’s senior years
The country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Heng Swee Keat, participated in a 12-kilometer charity heritage walk, a fundraising activity for Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) on Sunday, June 22.
— The Independent

Singaporeans being more kind and gracious towards others, reveals Singapore Kindness Movement survey
According to the latest Graciousness Survey commissioned by the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM), it is said that considerate behaviour among local residents have progressed and corresponded with an improvement in more international acts like volunteering and donating.
— The Online Citizen

Online hiring in Singapore up 16% in May; financial talent tops demand in S-E Asia
ONLINE hiring in Singapore saw 16 per cent year-on-year growth for the month of May, according to a report by online recruitment services firm Monster.com on Tuesday.
— The Business Times

Temasek’s slower pace of global investments trains spotlight at home
AS stock markets climbed a wall of worry over the last year, Temasek Holdings has been spending less on new investments around the world, while extracting more value from its existing portfolio at home.
— The Business Times

Second Raffles hotel to open in 2022 on Sentosa Island
MORE than a century after Raffles Hotel welcomed its first guests in Singapore, a second Raffles hotel is slated to open here in 2022 on Sentosa Island.
— The Business Times

Arrests of 3 Singaporeans under ISA show radicalisation threat remains, say experts
They said that the ideologies of extremist groups still have appeal even though the groups have been defeated.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

A trial by fire for SCDF at massive LPG facility blaze
It was the first fire for Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer Muhammad Fazlan Rozali, but as his team approached the blaze and saw 30m-high thick black smoke and flaming cylinders whizzing through the air, his excitement gave way to fear.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Local drone community aware of no-fly zone, say observers
Two drone incidents in a week that have disrupted flights at Changi Airport have baffled observers, who believe it is likely not the work of local hobbyists or commercial groups.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

‘Buying places’ a thing of the past for local schools
Making donations to secure places for children in local schools is forbidden today, though it was not unheard of in the past.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Jail, caning for drug abuser who submitted forged MCs
A drug offender, who did not want to go for compulsory urine tests, submitted forged medical certificates (MCs) for outpatient sick leave.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Sim Lim Square extends deadline for sale tender
Sim Lim Square is keeping its sale tender open for an extra month to give potential buyers more time to assess if the commercial site on Rochor Canal Road can be turned into a mixed-use project that could include a hotel.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Survey: Rich Chinese turn to sustainable investments
Wealthy Chinese are leading the way as affluent or well-off regional investors turn to sustainable companies, according to a new report.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Consumers less loyal to brands now, survey finds
Consumers are far less loyal to brands these days and are increasingly willing to try new products, a new survey out yesterday noted.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

S’pore-based start-up Trax buying US rewards app Shopkick
Singapore-based start-up Trax is acquiring US rewards app Shopkick, adding a customer-tracking service to its growing stable of retail technology.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Is It a Good Time to Buy Singapore Press Holdings Limited?
Singapore Press Holdings Limited (SGX: T39) is trading near a five-year low. Is it time to buy?
— The Motley Fool

Have Electronic Companies’ Businesses Peaked?
Is the cyclical effect of the electronics industry still present?
— The Motley Fool

3 arrested for stealing S$50,000 worth of spectacle frames: Police
Three men aged between 22 and 38 have been arrested for allegedly stealing spectacle frames and electronic appliances from an office near Serangoon, the police said on Tuesday (Jun 25).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Jalan Buroh fire: Air of caution lingers at shuttered Summit Gas Systems site
The Singapore Civil Defence Force says it remains on fire watch and will rotate its firefighters on four-hour shifts.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Eagles, lasers and nets: Options for dealing with rogue drone flights
For the second time in less than a week, operations at Changi Airport have been disrupted because of unauthorised drone activity in the area.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

3 suspects arrested, drugs worth S$70,000 seized in raid near Outram
Three suspected drug offenders were arrested by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Monday (Jun 24) during a raid near Outram.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore’s Grab invests in London startup Splyt
Singaporean ride-hailing firm Grab has invested in London-based startup Splyt Technologies and extended a partnership between the two companies that will expand the reach of Grab’s services beyond Southeast Asia.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

What are the next steps for startups graduating from an accelerator program?
After graduating, entrepreneurs should immediately seize on opportunities to take their startups to the next stage Startups are indeed at an inflection point as they graduate from an accelerator program.
— e27

Fundraising dinner to support TOC in upcoming General Election coverage
We are embarking on a fundraising initiative in hope to build our warchest, which will go towards the expenses involved in our coverage of the upcoming General Election – most likely to be held in a few months’ time.
— The Online Citizen

Yahoo journalist highlights the problem with Singapore journalism – unequal access and self-censorship
On 14 June, renowned veteran journalist PN Balji launched his book Reluctant Editor in which he shares stories from his time as editor of The New Paper and Today with a look behind the scenes on the relationship between the government and mainstream media.
— The Online Citizen

The Better Dividend Share: Nordic Group Ltd or Boustead Singapore Limited?
Nordic Group Ltd (SGX: MR7) and Boustead Singapore Limited (SGX: F9D) both have dividend yields of nearly 4% but which company gives investors more bang for their buck?
— The Motley Fool

Fugitive on run for 13 years is caught after he uses another man’s IC to see a doctor
A man who spent 13 years on the run after slashing a man at a 7-Eleven store was arrested this year after he used a copy of another man’s identification card to obtain medical services.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Anthony Bourdain’s famous chef friends toast to him in Singapore on his 63rd birthday
Jose Andres and Eric Ripert, who are in town for the World’s Best Restaurants awards, have designated Jun 25 as #BourdainDay and urged fans to “celebrate Tony’s life”.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singaporean-turned Canadian slams fellow countryman who wrote Singaporeans should be “grateful” to Government
On 20 June (Thursday), a local man who migrated to Canada lashed out at a Canadian named Eric J. Brooks on a Facebook post after the latter went all out to point out the reasons why Singaporeans should be grateful of the Government in his letter, which was published in the Straits Times Forum Page.
— The Online Citizen

Retrenched young working Singaporeans cannot find jobs; Many turn to becoming a private-hire driver
It was recently reported in the media that a young Singaporean in his late 20s lost his engineering job and was unable to secure another job.
— The Online Citizen

Feature photo fabcan

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 June 26 added by John Le Fevre on June 26, 2019
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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.