Singapore Morning News For January 17

Singapore’s exports growth slows further as electronics decline
The growth of Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports (NODX) slowed further in December as sales of electronics cooled, official data showed on Wednesday (Jan 17).
— Channel NewsAsia

Tax e-commerce instead of raising GST, say firms here
Ahead of Budget 2018 which will be delivered next month, the business community here has urged the Government to impose a tax on e-commerce to “level the playing field” — a call backed by a KPMG report which said such a move makes “for far better math” compared with raising goods and services tax (GST) across the board.
— Today Online

Singapore, Malaysia sign bilateral agreement on JB-Singapore Rapid Transit System
A legally binding agreement between Singapore and Malaysia brings the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) one step closer to fruition.
— Channel NewsAsia

Citi expands China desk in Singapore
CITI on Tuesday said the US bank has expanded its China desk, adding a second desk in Singapore.
— The Business Times

Hong Kong way ahead of Singapore, topping Asia expat rental list
Hong Kong retained its title as Asia’s most expensive rental city for expatriates, while Singapore fell further down the ranking due to a slower economy and fewer relocations, according to consultancy firm ECA International.
— The Star Online

About 700 cases of dislodged tiles reported in first 2 weeks of Jan: HDB
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) received 700 reports of dislodged tiles in the first half of this month, with more than half of the cases involving tiles installed by the HDB.
— Today Online

Black money stashed in Singapore banks since 2008 now under govt scanner
Those hiding unaccounted income in banks in Singapore will come under the scanner of Indian authorities, with New Delhi soon getting information of all accounts opened in the country since 2008.
— Business-Standard

Singapore’s crime rate is so low that many shops don’t even lock up
Singapore was recently ranked second on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Safe Cities Index for 2017, coming in just behind Tokyo.
— CNBC

Singaporeans beginning to buy less ringgit as currency strengthens
The rise in the ringgit against the Singdollar has sent demand for the Malaysian currency plunging at some money changers in Singapore
— The Straits Times (paywall)

Fast Asia Open: Australia home loans, Singapore exports
Citigroup has swung to its first annual loss since 2009 after the Republican tax reforms forced the US bank to take a $22bn accounting hit, one of the biggest such charges in corporate history.
— The Financial Times

Public consultation on recommendations to enhance corporate governance launched
A “nine-year rule” that will reassess whether an independent director (ID) still qualifies as independent after nine years in serving on the board has been proposed to be enforced by the Corporate Governance Council.
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

New high in number of mediation cases
More people embroiled in disputes are choosing to talk things through, going by the record number of cases handled by the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) last year.
— The New Paper

Do you agree that the PTC’s reply to the cancellation of seniors’ off-peak passes is illogical?
YOU never thought it was going to happen. You never imagined anyone could ever come close to this divine-like English Premier League football club called Manchester City.
— The Independent Singapore

More firms paid bills on time in 2017
In a sign of improving business conditions, more firms paid their bills on time last year, after the payment performance of companies here hit an all-time low in 2016.
— Today Online

Longtime Type 2 diabetes patients at risk of having colour vision impaired: Study
Researchers here have found a link between Type 2 diabetes and colour vision deficiency, and they would recommend that this impairment be tested in future as part of the screening for diabetic patients.
— Today Online

Hoya surgical optics opens research facility to develop solutions for cataracts
Optics technology firm Hoya Corporation’s intraocular lenses manufacturing division Hoya Surgical Optics (HSO) opened its global research and development (R&D) facility in Singapore on Tuesday (16 Jan).
— Channel NewsAsia (video)

Temasek, Kuehne Nagel set up JV to invest in logistics tech startups
Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings and Kuehne Nagel International AG, a global logistics group, are planning to establish a 50:50 joint venture (JV) entity that will have the mandate to invest in early-stage logistics technology companies.
— DealStreetAsia

Feature photo Walter Lim

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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 January 17 added by Leakhena Khat on January 17, 2018
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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.