Singapore morning news for March 31, 2020

High Court rejects challenges against law criminalising sex between men
The High Court has dismissed three separate legal challenges against Section 377A of the Penal Code, which criminalises consensual sex between men.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

National Wages Council recommends lower MVC or 10% of basic pay, if cuts needed
IF wages must be cut, the National Wages Council (NWC) is recommending that the Monthly Variable Component (MVC) be adjusted downwards, the extent of which hinges on the company’s situation and any key performance indicators or guidelines agreed with unions.
— The Business Times

Singapore reports 35 more COVID-19 cases, 3 new clusters identified
Singapore reported 35 new COVID-19 cases on Monday (Mar 30), including 26 with no recent travel history.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Support package to see Singapore through next 3 to 6 months, says Chan Chun Sing
The Government has frontloaded many of the relief measures with the aim of supporting businesses and workers through the next three to six months as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to unfold, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore ready to deploy third stimulus package if COVID-19 outbreak worsens: DPM Heng
The Government is ready to deploy a third stimulus package if the COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore deteriorates, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Monday (Mar 30).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Free disposal scheme for non-compliant e-scooters extended by three months
Owners of non-compliant motorised personal mobility devices (PMDs) have until the end of June to dispose of their devices, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Monday (March 30).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

PM Lee warns against fake COVID-19 email purportedly sent by him asking people for ‘contributions’
An email purportedly sent by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong asking for contributions and thoughts as Singapore tackles the spread of COVID-19 is fake, said Mr Lee on Monday (Mar 30).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

PM Lee’s interview with CNN praised by Americans but criticised in China
Chinese state media picked up on his comments asking China and the U.S. to work together but left others out.
— Mothership

MAS eases monetary policy as economy reels from impact of COVID-19
Singapore’s central bank eased monetary policy as expected on Monday (Mar 30), as the economy reels from the impact of a novel coronavirus pandemic.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

2,300 polytechnic and university students asked to return from overseas placements amid COVID-19 pandemic: MOE
About 2,300 students in the Autonomous Universities and polytechnics have been asked to return from their official overseas placements “as soon as practicable”, said the Ministry of Education (MOE).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Temporary job placements, training opportunities for members of sports community affected by COVID-19
Sport Singapore (SportSG) introduced a round of measures aimed at helping members of the sports community here whose livelihoods have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, including temporary job placements and training opportunities.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: 70 healthcare workers dedicate the song Home to all Singaporeans
Around 70 healthcare workers across seven hospitals have put together a video of themselves singing the song Home, a dedication to all Singaporeans and fellow healthcare workers during this time of the coronavirus outbreak.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore gives coronavirus frontliners a round of applause
At 8pm on Monday night (March 30), applause rang out across the rooftops of Singapore.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Tripartite partnership can help S’pore through crisis: Council
Singapore is home to more than 8,000 multinational companies, which may receive directives from their global headquarters regarding retrenchments as the Covid-19 impact becomes more severe.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

After 13 days in ICU, Case 119 finally won his battle against coronavirus
Doctors say only 5 per cent of cases turn out to be as severe as Ben’s, who literally had to fight for his life. Here is an account of his struggle.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

SIA cost cuts continue as S$15b from cash call must ‘last as long as possible’
WITH no certainty as to when the Covid-19 outbreak will abate, Singapore Airlines (SIA) will continue to press ahead with cutting spend, even after announcing a S$15 billion cash call last week.
— The Business Times

Firms urged to back staff who need 2nd job due to Covid-19
Employers should support local staff who want to take on a second job to supplement their incomes if they have been affected by a shorter work week or temporary layoffs due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Wages Council (NWC) said yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Improving support levels for migrant workers in Singapore
Apart from brief interactions with service crew when dining out, or an occasional greeting to some of his neighbours, stay-at-home father Brian, 45, has scant contact with migrant workers in his daily life.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Time to bring consideration and kindness to the fore amid coronavirus outbreak
The streets of Singapore were increasingly empty at the weekend as safe distancing measures came into play and many heeded the Government’s advice to stay home and venture out only for essential needs.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

S’pore and Japan firms to explore hydrogen for energy
Five Singapore and two Japanese companies will explore ways to use hydrogen as a low-carbon energy source here.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: Local company invents new mask to tackle global shortage; 1,000 being shipped here for sale
A Singaporean company has come up with an invention that could significantly extend the lifetime of masks, which are now facing a global shortage .
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19: No guests allowed at SAF BMTC on Pulau Tekong on enlistment day
Guests will not be allowed at the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) on Pulau Tekong on enlistment day as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: PCF Sparkletots pre-schools reopen but Fengshan centre to remain closed till April 7
The PAP Community Foundation (PCF), which operates 360 Sparkletots pre-schools here, has reopened all its schools except its Fengshan centre – it will remain closed till April 7.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19: Grab’s senior leaders to take pay cut of up to 20%
Ride-hailing giant Grab announced on Monday (Mar 30) that its senior leaders, including the co-founders, will take a pay cut of up to 20 per cent, as part of measures to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Cheaper, extended licences for responsible massage parlour operators: MHA
Massage establishments that comply with regulations and conduct their business in a responsible manner will have their licences’ validity extended under an updated regulatory regime.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

SIA to let staff take up temporary jobs outside group
FACED with a long, harsh “Covid-19 induced winter”, Singapore Airlines (SIA) will press ahead with efforts to contain costs after announcing a massive cash call last week, and will allow employees to take up temporary placements outside the SIA group following major cuts to flight operations.
— The Business Times

Singapore’s fundamentals still strong although COVID-19 could slow foreign investments: DPM Heng
The COVID-19 outbreak could slow down foreign investments but the country’s fundamentals remain strong and the reasons why global firms will want to invest in Singapore are still “intact”, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Monday (Mar 30).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Quick takes: MAS carefully nipped Singdollar strength in the bud, analysts say
FACED with a certain recession in 2020, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) eased the Republic’s exchange rate-based monetary policy in two steps on Monday.
— The Business Times

CDL names veteran hotelier as group CEO for Millennium & Copthorne Hotels
The board of City Developments Limited (CDL) has appointed Clarence Tan as the group chief executive officer of Millennium & Copthorne (M&C) Hotels, effective this Thursday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Finance manager jailed for siphoning S$1.3 million using company’s Internet-banking tokens
Over more than three years, a finance manager siphoned about S$1.3 million from company accounts using Internet-banking tokens meant for his CEO and general manager.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Nominations open for inaugural Singapore 100 Women in Tech list
Nominations are now open for the inaugural Singapore 100 Women in Tech list, it was announced on Monday (Mar 30).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: Public can pose health questions to volunteer doctors on online forum
Could you have Covid-19 despite not having a fever? How does the coronavirus affect pregnant women? And should you keep your home at a higher temperature to fight the virus?
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19: ComfortDelGro Taxi extends daily rental relief to September in move costing up to S$80 million
ComfortDelgro Taxi announced on Monday (Mar 30) it was extending its daily rental relief until September to hirers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Two Nanyang Optical shops may take break as sales slide
Nanyang Optical may temporarily shut two stores – at Paragon and Ngee Ann City – after sales plunged more than 70 per cent on the weekend amid new coronavirus crowd control rules.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Woman, granddaughter die after traffic accident, a week apart
A tragic traffic accident on March 22 claimed the lives of a woman and her granddaughter, the two of them dying within a week of each other.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Retractable laundry racks, laminated timber doors among modern fittings for ageing HDB flats
Retractable laundry racks, laminated timber doors and modern bathroom walls and floor tiles – these are some of the fittings owners of ageing Housing & Development Board (HDB) flats that are eligible for upgrading works can look forward to.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Man sentenced to 1 year’s jail for assaulting victim who lost sight in one eye
A packer accused an e-scooter rider of bumping into him before assaulting the man, who lost his sight in one eye.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

21 months’ probation for teen who peeped at woman in NUS toilet
A junior college student, who went to the National University of Singapore (NUS) almost every Sunday to look at female students, entered a toilet there in March last year and peeped at a woman inside a cubicle.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Feature photo Ericssen Wen

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo focuses on COVID-19 in Asean.

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 March 31 added by Justhine De Guzman Uy on March 31, 2020
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.