Singapore Morning News For September 28

Singapore’s population size remains stable at 5.61m, with fewer non-residents
There was little change in Singapore’s population size from 2016 to 2017, with total population growing by 0.1 per cent to 5.61 million.
— Channel NewsAsia

S’pore ‘one of the best cities for driving, but not for road safety’
Singapore has been ranked among the best cities in the world for driving, but the roads may not be as safe as statistics tout them to be, two separate studies have shown.
— Today Online

Persecuted Singapore blogger free in America
Teen blogger Amos Yee is finally a free man in the United States after a three-member panel at the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled unanimously to grant him asylum, making him the first Singaporean in years to receive political refuge in the West.
— Asia Times

Exclusive: Singapore-based Vulpes to raise second Myanmar-focused fund of $25m
Singapore-based investment firm Vulpes Investment Management Pte Ltd is planning to raise a $25-million Myanmar-focused fund to invest in tech and non-tech companies in the frontier market.
— DealStreetAsia

Singapore drops one spot to 3rd most competitive economy: WEF
Singapore has slipped a notch from its place as the world’s second most competitive economy, according to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) published on Wednesday (Sep 27).
— Channel NewsAsia

Singapore’s competitiveness: The good, the bad and the ugly
SINGAPORE remains one of the world’s most competitive economies across the board. Period. But if you prefer to nitpick, let’s do that (too).
— The Business Times

AVA investigating blue stains on vegetables sold at NTUC Fairprice
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) is investigating reports of “blue dots” on several vegetables from NTUC Fairprice, it said on Wednesday (Sep 27).
— Channel NewsAsia

Singapore’s first electric car-sharing programme to launch in December
The first electric car-sharing programme in Singapore will be launched in December with 30 charging stations and 80 electric cars being rolled out progressively, operator BlueSG said on Wednesday (Sep 27).
— Channel NewsAsia

78% of CPF investors made returns higher than OA interest rate in FY2016
The latest numbers are based on a new calculation method which includes unrealised profits or losses.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

Cases of abuse against Home Team on the rise; Shanmugam vows action
There were 484 cases last year — or more than one a day — of Home Team uniformed officers being physically or verbally abused, revealed Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam yesterday, as he vowed to take action against such unacceptable behaviour.
— Today Online

Consortium picked to build fifth desalination plant
National water agency the Public Utilities Board (PUB)has chosen Tuas Power–Singapore Technologies Marine Consortium as the preferred bidder to build Singapore’s fifth desalination plant, to be located on Jurong Island.
— Today Online

Singaporean Banks Abruptly Terminate Accounts of Bitcoin Exchanges
Earlier this week, two local bodies representing the local financial technology (fintech) industry have revealed that Singaporean banks have denied banking services to bitcoin and blockchain startups.
— CrptoCoinNews

Black Uber driver bullied online is Singapore PR who has been here for 15 years: Uber clarifies
Private-hire vehicle service facilitator Uber has clarified that the black driver captured in a viral video that circulated in several social media platforms this week is a Singapore permanent resident who has been living in Singapore for the last 15 years.
— The Independent Singapore

Many recipes but Singapore’s cashless appetite still not sated
TOO many cooks are spoiling the broth in Singapore’s pursuit of a cashless society. Competition among e-payment players will improve user experience, certainly, but Singapore does not need another new e-wallet; it needs a standardised Quick Response (QR) code or Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal, observers tell The Business Times.
— The Business Times

This Teenager Was Jailed For Being Critical of Singapore. The U.S. Just Upheld His Bid for Asylum
A teenage blogger from Singapore was released from U.S. custody on Tuesday following an immigration appeals court’s decision to uphold his bid for asylum.
— Time

Hydrogen a more sustainable bet for Singapore’s energy future — Jason Tan Han Wei
The government recently announced big steps forward in Singapore’s renewable energy future, it intends to install solar panels across all new Housing Development Board blocks, with costs of installation about 40 per cent less than before.
— The Malay Mail Online

NCSS and CHAT challenge the Singapore marketing community to help destigmatise mental health at Do It Day 2017
Singapore government department National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and Institute of Mental Health (IMH) programme Community Health Assessment Team (CHAT) have partnered with The Drum to bring together the hive mind of the Singapore creative community in destigmatising mental health.
— The Drum

Yotel to expand to Singapore with $250m strategic investment from Starwood
Starwood Capital Group has committed to invest $250 million for a 30 per cent stake in Yotel, a affordable hotel chain.
— DealStreetAsia

Employers who abuse maids may face stiffer jail terms
Employers who starve their maids may face stiffer jail terms than the 10 months a couple in a recent high-profile case received after their conviction in March last year.
— The New Paper

Bubble tea brands to have healthier drinks
Major bubble tea brands here are working with the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to provide healthier choices for consumers.
— The New Paper

Feature photo Reggie Wan
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 September 28 added by Leakhena Khat on September 28, 2017
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Leakhena Khat

Leakhena is a junior journalist at AEC News Today who is also currently studying International Relations, which she finds adds perspective to her work reporting on the Asean Community.

“I love what I am doing so much as it gives me a lot of great experience and provides challenges to my mind.