Singapore morning news for March 6

Singapore morning news for March 6
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Singapore morning news

Singapore now able to certify products under global cybersecurity standard
Singapore says its new status as a certifying body for a global cybersecurity standard will enable local developers to attain the certification more quickly and at a lower cost.
— ZD Net

Singapore plans $300 mil to spur innovation in digital push
Singapore will allocate a further $300 million to spur research in digital innovation as the government transforms the economy through technology.
— The Edge Singapore

Malaysians exiting Singapore caught smuggling woman in car boot at Woodlands Checkpoint
Four Malaysians were arrested for trying to smuggle a woman out of Singapore by storing her in the car boot.
— The Independent

Singapore business sentiment slips for 3rd straight quarter
SINGAPORE businesses are less confident about prospects for the second quarter of 2019, making it the third straight quarter of waning sentiment, going by the latest quarterly Business Optimism Index released on Tuesday by the Singapore Commercial Credit Bureau (SCCB).
— The Business Times (paywall)

Volvo’s first driverless electric bus begins trial in Singapore
Sweden’s Volvo Buses began trial services for its first full-sized driverless electric bus in Singapore on Tuesday, in what its president has dubbed “the world’s first.”
— CNBC

Singapore water agency may take over Hyflux’s Tuaspring plant
Singapore’s national water agency PUB said on Tuesday it might take control of a water treatment plant owned by Hyflux as the company had been unable to fulfil its contractual obligations.
— Nasdaq

New UPLIFT Programme Office to improve coordination between schools, community for disadvantaged students
This is one of two initiatives announced on Tuesday (Mar 5) by Second Minister for Education Indranee Rajah, who was speaking about the work of UPLIFT, a task force that aims to strengthen support for underperforming students from disadvantaged families.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore, unions agree to raise retirement age
Singapore, the world’s second-fastest ageing society, has reached agreement with trade unions and employers to increase the retirement age, its manpower minister said on Tuesday.
— The Star Online

Subject banding overcomes drawbacks of streaming: PM Lee
Schools should tailor the education they offer to students’ varying needs and talents, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday (Mar 5) in response to changes to be made to the secondary school streaming system.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Govt finally disbands streaming 38 years after Dr Tan Cheng Bock spoken against it
Education Minister Ong Ye Kung announced in Parliament today (5 Mar) that streaming in secondary schools will be removed and replaced by subject-based banding (SBB) by 2024.
— The Online Citizen

Chan Chun Sing: We need to take uncertainties in Malaysia very seriously so that economy is never held to ransom
In Parliament on March 4, Monday, the country’s Trade and Industry Minister, Chan Chun Sing, brought attention to the economic impact that troubles in Malaysia can bring to Singapore.
— The Independent

Government to end current system of secondary school streaming: What you need to know
Streaming as we know it will soon be a thing of the past, with the Government on Tuesday (Mar 5) announcing major changes to the secondary school system.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Higher salary threshold for local workers from July under rules for hiring foreigners
The local qualifying salary, which stipulates the minimum amount companies must pay their local workers each month if they want to hire foreigners, will be raised to S$1,300 in July.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Social stratification would have been worse without streaming, says Ong Ye Kung
But Mr Ong also acknowledged the pitfalls of streaming and MOE has grappled with the trade-off between customisation of learning and the downside of stigmatisation.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore’s workforce faced with conservative salary increments; less likely to enjoy bonuses in 2019: Hays
Companies in Singapore are predicting conservative salary increases in the year ahead after a stagnant 2018, finds a recent research report by recruitment specialist Hays.
— The Edge Singapore

Raffles Place MRT protestor charged under the Public Order Act yet again
Serial protestor Yan Jun faces charges under the Public Order Act yet again. The former research assistant was protesting outside Raffles Place MRT shortly after 5 o’clock in the afternoon of February 28, and by March 1 and 2 he was facing various charges.
— The Independent

Parliament: 60 more secondary schools to offer after-school care programmes
By 2020, a total of 120 secondary schools will offer after-school engagement programmes, up from the current 60, Second Minister for Education Indranee Rajah said on Tuesday (March 5).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Is Singapore Telecommunications Limited a Buying Opportunity After Falling 16%?
This article compares Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SGX: Z74) current valuation to the market average.
— The Motley Fool

Scheme to encourage flexi-work arrangements gets S$70 million boost
The Government has added S$70 million to a scheme that provides incentives for companies to offer flexible work arrangements, in a move aimed at making such workplace practices more pervasive.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Cautious Budget spending necessary for long-term planning: Heng Swee Keat
Singapore may have accumulated huge surpluses during the current term of government, but that does not indicate an upcoming spending spree.
— The Edge Singapore

Rooftop car-park greens on the menu, as Singapore innovates to grow agri-tech sector
It took Mr Teo Hwa Kok seven years of research before his urban farm in Ang Mo Kio finally bore fruit.
— Today Online

Driverless electric bus launched by NTU and Volvo in ‘world first’
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Volvo Buses on Tuesday (Mar 5) launched a 12-metre autonomous electric bus in what they said was a world first.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

AHTC Trial: Pritam Singh posts “Unrebutted Evidence” of the Town Councillors
On Monday, March 4, Workers’ Party (WP) leader Pritam Singh posted the reply submissions in their high-profile AHTC case on his Facebook account, on behalf of himself, Sylvia Lim and Low Thia Khiang.
— The Independent

Ivy Ng signed documents at a MINDEF submarine launch event, in what capacity?
On 18th February 2019, MINDEF celebrated the launch of the Singapore Navy’s First Type 218SG Submarine.
— The Online Citizen

Facebook sets up Singapore operations centre on ‘election integrity’ ahead of polls across Asia
Facebook on Tuesday (Mar 5) said it is setting up an operations centre in Singapore focusing on election integrity ahead of key elections across Asia Pacific.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Beware of the “Event Horizon” When Making Investment Decisions
Investors should be careful of passing the point of no return without even realizing it.
— The Motley Fool

8Telecom reshuffles board after directors quit; reveals changes among major shareholders
Information communications company 8Telecom International Holdings has replaced two executive directors on its board with two former staff of Eastern Airlines, according to announcements on Tuesday (March 5).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Digital era will force Singapore banks to be more transparent with customers
IF THE Singapore banks had missed the memo before, they will have no excuse now.
— The Business Times (paywall)

Part-time roles included in Career Trial programme to help more job seekers
A programme that makes it easier for job seekers to try out new careers will now include part-time positions, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo announced on Tuesday (Mar 5).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

More companies beat FY18 expectations this earnings season
The earnings season is over for now and more companies have beat their FY18 results expectations than missed, with large-caps mostly boosted by one-off gains, according to CGS-CIMB Research in a Monday report.
— The Edge Singapore

Parents praise move to remove Normal and Express labels, but some concerns remain
Education Minister Ong Ye Kung’s announcement in Parliament on doing away with the Normal (Technical), Normal (Academic) and Express streams in secondary schools by 2024 was met with approval from the House and later, from parents as well.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

In-N-Out Burger Coming To Singapore — At 3-Hour Pop-Up On March 6
Julia Roberts famously went for a burger run there after the Golden Globes awards show this year, and In-N-Out burgers are regularly served at the Oscars’ after-parties.
— Today Online

Changes in permanent secretary appointments from Apr 1
Eight civil servants will be taking on a new position or seeing a change to their portfolio from Apr 1, the Public Service Division (PSD) announced on Tuesday (Mar 5).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

ST Podcast: Can soursop or ketogenic diets be used to treat and control cancer?
Health Check is a fortnightly podcast series by The Straits Times on Tuesdays, where we guide you to healthier living, debunk the misconceptions, or examine the impact of national health policies with expert guests.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Moody’s cuts Singtel outlook to ‘negative’ on price war, Bharti debt
Credit rating agency Moody’s has downgraded its outlook on Singtel to negative, from stable, on glum expectations for the telco’s underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) in the next one and a half years.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Studies say vaping may be as dangerous as smoking but netizens rubbish the claim
There’s no dispute that smoking is addictive, and it causes endless health issues which eventually could lead to death. But when it comes to vaping, there is no consensus.
— The Online Citizen

Singapore first port of call in Asia Pacific for Facebook’s new digital literacy initiative
The social media giant says it’s partnering the People’s Association to bring its We Think Digital initiative to Singapore.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

mm2 Asia devises plot for regional growth, but new funds needed
Four years ago, mm2 Asia went public to fund its ambition to become a regional media powerhouse.
— The Edge Singapore

The Independent Singapore retracts articles alleging NTUC Foodfare bullied hawkers
Socio-political website The Independent Singapore has retracted two articles that made allegations against food-centre operator NTUC Foodfare Co-operative, saying on Friday (March 1) it has since learnt that “some of the facts in the articles were not as what we were led to believe”.
— Today Online

Singapore business confidence slips for 3rd straight quarter
BUsiness confidence among Singapore companies remained downbeat for the second quarter of 2019, and waned for the third consecutive quarter, according to the latest quarterly Singapore Commercial Credit Bureau’s (SCCB) Business Optimism Index released on Tuesday …
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

2 Things Investors Should Know About Keppel DC REIT
We’re taking a look at the latest financial performance and valuation of Keppel DC REIT (SGX: AJBU).
— The Motley Fool

Tripartite workgroup sees need to raise retirement and re-employment ages
The tripartite workgroup tasked to look at issues concerning older workers has reached a consensus that the country’s retirement age and re-employment age will need to be raised, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo on Tuesday (Mar 5).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Accused persons can retract guilty plea during mitigation stage of sentencing without giving reasons: Apex court
In a criminal reference brought by the Public Prosecutor, the Court of Appeal has ruled that accused persons who had pleaded guilty before sentencing, should generally be allowed to retract their plea of guilt at the mitigation stage of sentencing, without the need to provide valid and sufficient reasons for doing so.
— The Online Citizen

DBS bets on ‘poisoned chalice’ of India banking to lift profits
DBS Group Holdings, South-east Asia’s biggest bank, aims to bolster loans to Indian consumers and small businesses as part of a plan to reduce its reliance on Singapore.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

When Looking For Answers, Remember To Ask The Right Questions
Investors search hard for answers to numerous questions they may have, but are they really asking the right questions?
— The Motley Fool

Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip Davidson, calls on Ng Eng Hen
The commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Philip Davidson called on Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Tuesday (March 5) as part of his introductory visit to Singapore, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

S’porean couple ‘dumps’ baby in Taiwan: Post-mortem to determine if infant died before or after birth
An autopsy has been conducted on the baby to extract samples for forensic tests to determine the cause of death.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

 

Feature photo Cirrus Yachting

 

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.

 

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Piseth Pov graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics Science from the Royal University of Law and Economics, Phnom Penh in 2017, and a Bachelor’s degree in English Communications from Western University, Phnom Penh, the same year.

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