Singapore morning news for March 27

Singapore morning news for March 27
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Singapore morning news

S$48.4b more to fight pandemic, with up to S$17b from reserves
THE government has committed a record S$48.4 billion in a supplementary budget unveiled on Thursday to help Singapore weather the Covid-19 crisis, with in-principle support gained to draw up to S$17 billion from past reserves, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat.
— The Business Times

Trade bellwether Singapore signals deep recession for world as virus batters economy
Singapore is bracing for the worst recession in its 55-year history after the coranavirus pandemic knocked its bellwether economy into a sharp contraction in the first quarter, reinforcing fears global activity will tank this year.
— Reuters

52 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, 2 new infections linked to PCF Sparkletots in Fengshan
Singapore reported 52 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday (Mar 26), bringing the total number of cases to 683.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore Airlines secures $13 bln to survive coronavirus and grow after
Singapore Airlines Ltd said it had secured up to S$19 billion ($13 billion) of funding to help see it through the coronavirus crisis and expand afterward, in a sign of confidence travel demand will eventually return.
— Reuters

2020 deficit to rise to record S$39.2b, but Singapore’s fiscal position remains robust
SINGAPORE’S overall budget deficit for financial year 2020 will rise to a record S$39.2 billion, or 7.9 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), as the government rolls out a massive support package to save the economy, but the country’s fiscal standing remains solid, say analysts.
— The Business Times

Failure to keep 1m apart could result in a fine, jail
From today, those who inten-tionally sit down less than 1m away from another person in a public place, on a fixed seat marked not to be occupied, or stand in a queue less than 1m away from another person, will be guilty of an offence.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore factory output feels Covid-19 hit with 1.1% drop in February as electronics slumps
Singapore’s factory output fell in February on a year-on-year basis, after the key electronics industry slumped, according to figures released by the Economic Development Board (EDB) on Thursday (March 26).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Resilience Budget: Government freezes all fees and charges for a year till March 2021
The government is freezing all government fees and charges for one year starting from April 1, 2020, in a bid to offer greater flexibility on its fees and loans amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Thurday.
— The Business Times

Singapore coronavirus task force chief weeps in parliament
A government minister leading Singapore’s coronavirus task force broke down in tears midway through a speech in parliament on Wednesday as he thanked healthcare workers and others for their efforts in tackling the pandemic.
— Reuters

COVID-19 Budget: Income tax payments for companies, self-employed people delayed for 3 months
Companies and self-employed people will get an automatic deferment of income tax payments for three months, announced Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in Parliament on Thursday (Mar 26), amid an economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Covid-19 impact pushes Singapore’s 2020 GDP forecast into negative turf
SINGAPORE’s official growth forecast has hit negative territory for the first time in nearly a decade.
— The Business Times

Resilience Budget: Jobless can get S$800 monthly; new fund to give families urgent help
LOW and middle-income workers who become unemployed due to Covid-19 can apply for a grant of S$800 per month for three months, to tide them over while they find new jobs or go for training.
— The Business Times

MAS to offer US$60b in US dollar lending to banks from new swap line with Fed
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said on Thursday (March 26) it will draw on its new currency swap line with the US Federal Reserve to provide up to US$60 billion (S$86.8 billion) of US dollar (USD) funding to banks in Singapore.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Covid-19: Sparkletots Preschool cluster increases to 20 cases, forming 3rd largest local cluster
15 of the cases are staff at the preschool, while five are family members of a staff.
— Mothership

COVID-19: Messages online that Singapore will go into lockdown, DORSCON Red are untrue, says Government
Messages circulating online that Singapore will go into lockdown, that the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level will be raised to red and transport systems will be halted are untrue, said the Singapore Government on Thursday (Mar 26).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: Malls must limit shoppers on premises, disperse groups of more than 10
Shopping malls and standalone stores must limit the number of shoppers on their premises and disperse groups of more than 10 people, said the authorities on Thursday (March 26).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Fine & jail term for patients who leave house during 5-day MC for non-medical purposes
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has announced that those who are issued a five-day sick leave must stay at home.
— Mothership

Resilience Budget: S$95m more for taxi and private-hire drivers, S$55m for arts sector
TAXI and private-hire drivers affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic will benefit from enhanced rescue measures that will cost the government an additional S$95 million, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Thursday.
— The Business Times

Resilience Budget: Aviation, tourism-related firms to get 75% wage offsets
TO support Singapore’s aviation sector during the coronavirus pandemic, the government has rolled out an enhanced support package as well as hefty wage offsets to help retain workers.
— The Business Times

Resilience Budget: Firms can get trade loans of up to S$10m, bridging loans of up to S$5m
SUPPORT will be provided so businesses will be able to continue to access credit amid the coronavirus pandemic, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said in Parliament on Thursday.
— The Business Times

Resilience Budget: No property tax for landlords hit by coronavirus, others to get 30% rebate
QUALIFYING commercial properties that have been badly affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic will pay no property tax in 2020 while businesses in other non-residential properties will get a rebate of 30 per cent, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Thursday.
— The Business Times

Resilience Budget: Aim to create 10,000 jobs in public and private sector over the year
AN initiative to create 10,000 jobs in both the public and private sector will be launched as part of the government’s Resilience Budget, with the public sector taking a lead and accelerating its hiring plans.
— The Business Times

Foreign workers who flout gathering size rules may lose work passes if they refuse to disperse: MOM
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Thursday (Mar 26) warned that foreign workers who do not comply with gathering size rules could have their work passes revoked if they fail to disperse when told to by the authorities.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

COVID-19: Vehicle Entry Permit for Malaysia-registered vehicles extended until Jun 30
The validity period for a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) for Malaysia-registered vehicles will be extended until Jun 30 to help Malaysians who have opted to stay in Singapore during the period of Malaysia’s movement control order, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Thursday (Mar 26).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: No more than two lawyers or litigants per party to appear at court hearings from April 1
From April 1, the Singapore courts will allow no more than two lawyers or litigants per party to appear at a hearing, as part of the raft of measures introduced in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Several gyms, yoga studios announce closures due to stricter COVID-19 safe distancing measures
A number of gyms and yoga studios have announced outlet closures following the Government’s announcement of stricter safe distancing measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

COVID-19 Budget: More than S$1 billion for aviation, tourism, other sectors
As part of the second assistance package in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, more than S$1 billion will be set aside for sectors such as aviation and tourism that have been hardest hit by the pandemic.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: SPH directors, senior management take pay cuts; SPH Reit to fully pass on rebates to tenants
Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) board members will take a voluntary 10 per cent reduction in directors’ fees, and the salary of those in senior management will be cut.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

$433 million Tuas Water Reclamation Plant contract awarded to Sembcorp
A $433 million contract to build a biosolid treatment facility for the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) has been awarded to Sembcorp Design and Construction (SDC).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Some Singapore court hearings to take place via video conference as judiciary rolls out COVID-19 measures
As part of its measures to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, Singapore’s judiciary will be enabling certain court hearings to be heard via teleconference or video conference, the Chief Justice said in a message on Thursday (Mar 26).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

All new bus and MRT interchanges to have nursing rooms: Khaw Boon Wan
The Goverment will provide nursing rooms at all new bus interchanges and integrated transport hubs, as well as new MRT interchange stations, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Thursday (Mar 26), in a written answer to parliamentary questions by Member of Parliament Louis Ng.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

COVID-19 Budget: Self-employed people, firms, first-time jobseekers to receive more support
Self-employed people, firms and first-time jobseekers will receive more financial support, announced Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Thursday (Mar 26), amid an economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

CAAS lets aviation companies defer fee payments by a year
THE Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced on Thursday that Singapore carriers and the airport operator will be allowed to defer payment of certain fees by up to a year for fees due between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021.
— The Business Times

Singapore’s reserves are for rainy days, COVID-19 already a ‘mighty storm’: DPM Heng
The COVID-19 pandemic is the sort of event Singapore has been accumulating its reserves for, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said, as he explained the need to draw up to S$17 billion from the reserves for measures to protect jobs and support the economy.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Casinos in S’pore will limit entry after new movement restrictions
All bars and entertainment venues like night clubs, discos, cinemas, theatres, and karaoke outlets, where there is a high risk of transmission due to sustained close contact over a period of time, are to close.
— Mothership

Staff at PCF coronavirus cluster were at work while sick; experts urge people to stay home unless 100% well
Infectious disease experts here are urging people to stay home unless they are 100 per cent well, following news that staff in the coronavirus cluster at PCF Sparkletots Fengshan were at work while sick.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Government has responsibility to parents to ‘maintain high standards’ across pre-schools: Desmond Lee
The Government owes parents a responsibility to “maintain high standards” across all pre-schools so that they can have “peace of mind” when they go to work, said Social and Family Development Minister Desmond Lee on Thursday (Mar 26).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore’s current account surplus to tumble in 2020 due to Covid-19: Fitch
FITCH Solutions has forecasted Singapore’s 2020 current account balance to shrink substantially due to impact from the coronavirus pandemic.
— The Business Times

Resilience Budget: Enhancements for digitalisation and skills upgrading programmes
THE government is enhancing programmes for digitalisation and skills upgrading so that businesses can make use of this downtime during the novel coronavirus pandemic, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Thursday.
— The Business Times

Government columbaria to close on weekends, public holidays as part of safe distancing measures
As part of stricter safe distancing measures against COVID-19, the government-managed columbaria at Choa Chu Kang, Mandai and Yishun will close on weekends and public holidays until Apr 26.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

COVID-19: Travellers to Singapore will receive notice of stay-home requirement before arrival
Travellers arriving in Singapore from 9am on Friday (Mar 27) will be notified of their stay-home requirement via email before they arrive in the country, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a news release on Wednesday.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Amid sweeping lockdowns, why Singapore’s food supply can endure: Chan Chun Sing
There will be some delays and adjustments needed, but there is no need for panic buying, says Minister Chan Chun Sing, who also speaks publicly for the first time about last month’s audio leak of his comments on hoarders.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Apex court hears appeals by prosecution and defence in case of doctor convicted of sexually assaulting patient
Prosecutors argued in the Court of Appeal on Thursday (Mar 26) that general practitioner Wee Teong Boo should be convicted of raping a patient at his clinic, while the defence appealed for him to be completely cleared of all charges.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Four men charged with cheating, illegal trading activity, causing banks to disburse over $2.2 million
Four men are facing charges of illegal trading that involved cheating two banks into disbursing more than $2.2 million to buy shares.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Covid-19: All shows & tours at Universal Studios S’pore & S.E.A. Aquarium unavailable from Mar. 27
Tourist attractions have been hit hard by the Covid-19 outbreak, as Singaporeans seclude themselves at home and travel restrictions for visitors have been imposed.
— Mothership

$874,000 lost to illegal online betting websites and app scams in 2019
The police said they received at least 13 reports of such scams last year, where victims often befriend scammers through online dating platforms such as Tinder, OkCupid and PakTor.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: Charities to distribute care packs to over 5,000 vulnerable individuals
More than 50 charitable organisations will distribute care packs of surgical masks, hand sanitisers and food items to more than 5,000 vulnerable and marginalised individuals on Thursday (March 26) amid the fight against the Covid-19 outbreak.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Indonesian man fined after not reporting carrying more than S$3 million in and out of Singapore
An Indonesian man was fined after failing to declare a total of more than S$3,160,000 as he travelled in and out of Singapore, the police said in a news release on Thursday (Mar 26).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore Airlines calls for trading halt pending announcement
SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) on Thursday morning called for a halt in the trading of its shares pending the release of an announcement.
— The Business Times

Multi-vehicle accident in MCE tunnel leaves 3 injured, 1 with half his leg severed
Several graphic Facebook posts about a major traffic accident in the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) tunnel have been circulating on social media recently.
— Mothership

Cleaning lady at Lakeside MRT patiently helps agitated man top-up EZ-Link card
Even as the Covid-19 pandemic brings out the worst in some of us, others have demonstrated kindness and resilience.
— Mothership

Man jailed over ruckus at Ang Mo Kio spa after friend duped in sex scam
A part-time driver, who was promised sexual services at a spa, transferred $400 to a man posing as a masseuse’s employer – only to find out later that he had been scammed.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Woman jailed, fined for running sex escort business after learning from Sammyboy Forum
A woman who ran a sex escort business with seven women under her was jailed for 14 months and fined S$4,700 on Thursday (Mar 26).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Love in the time of Covid-19 is a wedding stuck in limbo
After planning for 18 months and spending more than $15,000, Ms Vivian Kwok has had to put her dream of a perfect wedding on hold indefinitely.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Man fined for moving undeclared $3.16m cash in and out of Singapore
A man was convicted on Wednesday (March 25) for failing to declare the movement of $3.16 million in cash in and out of Singapore over 11/2 years.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Fire breaks out at 18th storey of Liat Towers in Orchard Road; one person taken to hospital
A fire broke out at the 18th storey of Liat TowersinOrchard Road on Wednesday evening (25 March).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

 


Feature photo Gregory Lehner

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo focuses on World Meteorological Day, March 23.

 

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).

 

 

About Singapore morning news.

Singapore morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Singapore English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Singapore English language news today.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Singapore daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Singapore news headlines and first paragraphs before 8.15am Singapore time.

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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.

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