Singapore morning news for January 23, 2020

Aussie-Sing exchange rate hits 11-year low on fears of central bank rate cut
INCREASED market expectations that the Australian central bank will cut rates in the face of fallout from Australia’s raging bush fires have pushed the Aussie unit down against its Singapore counterpart, with the cross-rate on Wednesday hitting its lowest since 2008.
— The Business Times

Public should use surgical masks, not N95 masks, to guard against Wuhan virus spread: Experts
A top infectious disease expert and the Ministry of Health (MOH) have said that the public should not rely on N95 masks to guard against the Wuhan virus, even as they fly off the shelves at pharmacies.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

MOH issues travel advisory for Wuhan, recommends caution when travelling to rest of China
Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued a Public Health Travel Advisory advising travellers to avoid non-essential travel to Wuhan in light of the novel coronavirus that has plagued the capital of Hubei.
— Mothership

Singapore, Malaysia continue discussions on implementation of international court ruling on Pedra Branca
Government officials from Singapore and Malaysia met in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (Jan 21) to continue discussions on the implementation of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Judgment on Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

S’pore dietician advises limiting hotpots to 1-2 times a month, especially those with spicy broths & processed food
Chinese New Year means snacking on festive goodies and indulging in hotpot reunion dinners.
— Mothership

50 flights delayed, 9 diverted after Changi Control Tower evacuated
Fifty departure flights were delayed and nine arriving flights diverted after Changi Control Tower was evacuated early on Thursday (Jan 23) morning.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Wuhan virus: SIA, Scoot step up precautionary measures for all China flights
Precautionary measures for all flights from China are in place, Singapore-based airlines told CNA on Wednesday (Jan 22), as the world struggles to contain a deadly coronavirus following an outbreak in China.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

School buses to get ‘smart’ makeovers to allow e-payment, GPS tracking and attendance taking
Smart technology is being introduced gradually in buses ferrying schoolchildren from 2020, a move that will allow parents to make e-payments and communicate more easily with the driver who will also know for sure all the kids have boarded the bus before moving off.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore High Court dismisses cybersquatter’s lawsuit against Grab unit
THE Singapore High Court has dismissed a lawsuit by management consultancy 3 Corporate Services (3CS) against Grabtaxi Holdings, a unit of Grab, over a dispute involving 3CS’ attempt to sell an online domain name to the super-app player.
— The Business Times

Singapore ‘relentlessly optimistic’ but challenges remain: PM Lee on US-China trade tensions
Even with the signing of a “phase one” trade deal, challenges remain when it comes to resolving the geopolitical confrontation and competition between the United States and China, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday (Jan 22).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Commentary: The revival of the digital economy – building citizen confidence as Smart Nation momentum picks up
Smart Nation has been firing on all cylinders since it started, and building citizen confidence will be crucial as its implementation scales up to achieve its vision, says Poon King Wang of Singapore University of Technology and Design.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

CCT, CMT unveil plan for Reit juggernaut in S$8.27b merger
TWO CapitaLand S-Reits (Singapore real estate investment trust) are joining the sector’s consolidation trend with a deal that if successful will propel the emergent entity to be Singapore’s biggest Reit and Asia-Pacific third largest.
— The Business Times

Sino Group scion buys District 10 GCB for S$37m
TWO transactions each of over S$30 million last month, including one by the scion of one of Singapore’s richest families, have provided a fillip to the tally of deals in the Good Class Bungalow (GCB) market for 2019.
— The Business Times

World Economic Forum: Pact on Singapore-pioneered framework to foster trust in trade digitalisation
The adoption of digital technologies in trade and commerce has taken another step forward with the signing of a landmark agreement yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore forms Wuhan virus ministerial task force, imported case ‘inevitable’: Gan Kim Yong
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Wednesday (Jan 22) that he will co-chair a multi-ministerial task force to deal with the eventuality of the Wuhan virus on Singapore’s shores.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

No time to waste ‘fighting yesterday’s battles’, says Vivian Balakrishnan on ties with neighbours
Rather than fighting yesterday’s battles, Singapore needs to look to the future to see how it can cooperate with immediate neighbours, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday (Jan 22).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Support for businesses to innovate, go green on KPMG’s Budget wish list
The Budget next month should look at ways to help businesses for the long haul given the challenges of digitalisation and sustainability, noted audit firm KPMG on Wednesday (Jan 22).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore Red Cross gives $67,000 to victims of Taal volcano, launches public appeal for donations
Singapore Red Cross Society (SRC) will be giving around $67,400 to support humanitarian relief efforts in the Philippines, to help the victims affected by the eruption of the Taal volcano.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

CPF members now able to make nominations online
Central Provident Fund (CPF) nominations can now be made online, making it more convenient and secure for members to authorise who would inherit their CPF savings.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore partners with ICC, 17 firms to accelerate digital adoption in trade and commerce
Singapore on Wednesday (Jan 22) signed an agreement marking its partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and 17 international corporations in accelerating the adoption of digital technologies in trade and commerce.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore introduces 3 new initiatives to bolster AI governance and consumer trust
On Tuesday (21 Jan), Singapore announced at the annual 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland a set of three initiatives whose purpose is to boost consumer trust on the governance and use of artificial intelligence (AI).
— The Online Citizen

KPMG focuses on ‘transformation as business’ in Budget 2020 proposals
INSTEAD of a wish list or a focus on tax tweaks for Budget 2020, KPMG in Singapore has proposed that economic transformation should be seen not just as a challenge, but a business opportunity.
— The Business Times

MOM investigating employment agency of helper who allegedly scalded child
MOM is investigating the employment agency for a possible breach of the Employment Agencies Act.
— Mothership

Malaysian rights group ‘absolutely stands by’ claims on Changi prison execution methods, will not comply with correction direction
A Malaysian human rights group said on Wednesday (Jan 22) it would “absolutely stand by” its claims that prisoners on death row in Changi prison are executed brutally, adding that it will not comply with a correction direction issued by Singapore’s POFMA (Protection From Online Falsehoods And Manipulation Act) Office.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

MOH confirms same eye drop medication costs $45.80 in NUH but $34.24 in TTSH
A member of the public Liu I-Chun wrote to TodayOnline last Wednesday (15 Jan) to point out that different public hospitals were selling the same medication at “drastically different prices”.
— The Online Citizen

COE prices end mixed ahead of Chinese New Year
This came on the back of a more muted response to the recently concluded Singapore Motorshow.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Look out for 108m-long flying dragon at Chingay 2020
Spectators at this year’s Chingay Parade can expect a 108m-long dragon, touted by its makers to be the world’s largest and longest, flying above their heads during the parade on Jan 31 and Feb 1.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Netizens call out Heng Swee Keat over remark about “nativist tendencies”
Speaking at the Institute of Policy Studies’ annual Singapore Perspectives Conference on Monday (20 Jan), Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat noted that he and his colleagues – the fourth-generation (4G) leaders are committed to earn the trust and build a future of progress for Singaporeans.
— The Online Citizen

Diversity in the workforce: Where do we go from here?
Recently, there was a controversy sparked by Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing when he made a parliament speech on how Singapore’s economic growth and job creation has benefitted citizens more than foreigners.
— e27

2nd Golden Village movie ticket at S$8.80 for screenings till Jan. 27, 2020
With the Chinese New Year long weekend approaching, some of us might be thinking of catching a new movie at the cinema.
— Mothership

Religious services group member cheated victims of thousands of dollars, tried to steal from mosque
A member of a religious event services group cheated multiple victims into paying him thousands of dollars for services that he had no intention of providing.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Police investigating doctored photo of Chinese New Year banner featuring Tin Pei Ling
The police said on Wednesday (Jan 22) that they are investigating a report lodged on Tuesday by MP Tin Pei Ling in relation to a doctored photo of a banner which contains a manipulated image of her wearing revealing clothes.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

MOH acknowledges NUH has overlooked patient’s polyclinic referral resulting in overcharging
Last month (21 Dec), a member of the public Ian Lee Chi Meng wrote to ST Forum relating that his mother was charged with high bill by National University Hospital (NUH), despite being referred through a polyclinic (‘Forum: Stuck with high bill for cataract operation and follow-up visits’).
— The Online Citizen

Li Shengwu unfriends cousin Li Hongyi, pulls out of legal proceedings with AGC
Lee Hsien Yang’s son Li Shengwu is no longer Facebook friends with his cousin, the son of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Li Hongyi.
— Mothership

Ex-security guard jailed 10 years and 4 months for forcing daughter, 15, to perform oral sex on him
A former security guard who forced his 15-year-old daughter to perform oral sex on him was sentenced to 10 years and four months’ jail on Wednesday (Jan 22).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coca-Cola Strawberry available at 7-Eleven S’pore outlets from Jan. 23, 2020
On Jan. 20, Coca-Cola Japan launched a new limited-edition flavour – Coca-Cola Strawberry.
— Mothership

Jail, caning for nursing home technician who molested bedbound resident after acquittal overturned
A nursing home technician on Wednesday (Jan 22) was sentenced to jail and caning for molesting a 55-year-old resident, after the Court of Appeal overturned his acquittal and restored his conviction.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Barred driver did not surrender licence and kept flouting traffic laws, gets 6-year driving ban
A delivery driver who was handed a three-year driving ban did not surrender his driving licence, and instead carried on driving and committing traffic offences.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Largest Professor Brawn outlet opens in Enabling Village at Lengkok Bahru
Professor Brawn celebrated the official opening of its third and largest outlet on Wednesday (Jan 22), in the heart of the Enabling Village at Lengkok Bahru.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Apex court reverses acquittal of nursing home worker for molesting patient
A 35-year-old nursing home employee who was convicted, then acquitted of molesting a patient was on Wednesday (Jan 22) sentenced to 16 months’ jail and three strokes of the cane after the Court of Appeal overturned the acquittal.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Ex-instructor at muay thai gym found guilty of sexually assaulting woman after class
Tan Wai Luen, 30, can be jailed for up to 20 years and fined or caned.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Book Excerpt: How I survived an elevator pitch session with Tim Draper
Royston Tay co-founded Zopim in Singapore in 2007 with Wenxiang Wu, Yang Bin Kwok, Qing Ru Lim, and Julian Low, who all met while studying abroad at Stanford University through the National University of Singapore Overseas College program.
— e27

Acquittal reversed for nursing home molester
A 35-year-old nursing home employee who was convicted, then acquitted, of molesting a patient was yesterday sentenced to 16 months’ jail and three strokes of the cane after the Court of Appeal overturned the acquittal.

Feature photo Institute for Adult Learning Singapore

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo focuses on focuses on International Day of Education, Jan 24.

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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About Singapore morning news.

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Singapore morning news for January 23 added by Justhine De Guzman Uy on January 23, 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.