Singapore morning news for January 9

Singapore’s greenhouse gas emissions top 50m tonnes: Report
Singapore generated more than 50 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2014, the bulk of it from the burning of fossil fuels to generate energy for industries, buildings, households and transportation.
— Today Singapore

Healthcare boosted Singapore’s capital markets in 2018
Singapore’s capital markets were significantly lifted up by the Lion city’s reputation as a medical hub and its relatively high price-earnings ratios which attracted healthcare players to list on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), according to PwC’s latest Equity Capitals Market Watch report.
— Singapore Business Review

Companies’ bill payments worsen for 3rd straight quarter
LOCAL firms’ payment performance deteriorated in the last quarter of 2018, making for three straight quarters of worsening.
— The Business Times

Coastal Oil troubles hit Singapore banks, others with US$350m exposure
TROUBLE at Coastal Oil Singapore, a crude oil products supplier which has filed for liquidation, has hit at least 10 banks, including all three Singapore banks which are owed about half of the total debt of US$354 million, as well as Cosco Shipping International (Hong Kong).
— The Business Times

Silkair flight makes emergency landing at Chiang Mai due to suspected hairline crack
A SilkAir flight had to turn back and make an emergency landing at Chiang Mai Airport on Tuesday (Jan 8) due to a suspected hairline crack in a cockpit window, resulting in a delay of more than 10 hours.
— Channel News Asia

Declaration of restricted area affects Seletar’s flight path
On Dec 25, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) declared a permanent restricted area in the airspace over Pasir Gudang for the purpose of military activities.
— Straits Times

NTU, F&N in partnership to develop healthier products and greener packaging
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and beverage company Fraser and Neave (F&N) on Monday (7 January) jointly opened a laboratory, kickstarting a four-year partnership to develop healthier products and greener packaging.
— Yahoo News

Scoot flight turned back to Changi Airport due to weather radar fault
A Scoot airplane was forced to turn back to Changi Airport less than an hour into its flight to Melbourne on Tuesday (Jan 8) due to a fault in its weather radar.
— Channel News Asia

With farms atop malls, Singapore gets serious about food security
Visitors to Orchard Road, Singapore’s main shopping belt, will find fancy malls, trendy department stores, abundant food courts – and a small farm.
— Today Singapore

Singapore stocks with high yield, low expectations are what Credit Suisse prefers for the year
Credit Suisse is recommending Singapore investors stick with a portfolio of quality, high-yield stocks and stocks with low embedded expectations to ride out any volatility in 2019 while positioning for a market recovery.
— The Edge

Powerbank sharing and ‘smart’ helmets: Singapore start-ups aim for CES 2019 splash
Shareasy, the company behind the Brezze-branded powerbank rental boxes, and smart helmet device maker Whyre are among more than a dozen homegrown businesses heading to the annual consumer tech conference later in January.
— Channel News Asia

Developers get more clarity on Golden Mile en bloc site
The iconic Golden Mile Complex may be developed as an integrated project with a gross floor area (GFA) of 85,977.5 sq m if it finds a buyer, but its landmark main building will have to be retained, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said.
— Straits Times

ILS – helping pilots to land safely even in bad weather
When Singapore decided to build a new and bigger passenger terminal at Seletar Airport – which opened in November – the plan was to introduce an Instrument Landing System (ILS).
— Straits Times

Malaysia, Singapore agree to suspend permanent restricted area over Pasir Gudang, ILS for Seletar Airport
Malaysia will immediately suspend its permanent restricted area in the airspace over Pasir Gudang, while Singapore will similarly suspend its implementation of Instrument Landing System (ILS) procedures for Seletar Airport.
— Channel News Asia

Safety lapse at TTSH Dental Clinic: Disciplinary action taken against 18 staff
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has taken disciplinary action, which included warnings and financial penalties, against 18 staff who were responsible for a safety lapse at the hospital’s dental clinic.
— Straits Times

Case issues second alert on online retailer
Singapore’s consumer watchdog issued a fresh warning against Danish online retailer LuxStyle yesterday, after consumers received letters from a debt collection firm last month, asking them to pay for purchases they did not make.
— Straits Times

Singapore National Eye Centre promises to cut charges for complex procedures after $4.50 MediShield Life fiasco
The Singapore National Eye Centre has promised to cut charges for complex procedures, days after an 82-year-old revealed that MediShield Life paid out only $4.50 of his $4477 post-subsidy bill for cataract surgery at SNEC because there the national health insurance scheme imposes a $2,800 cap on such procedures.
— The Independent sg

Bicentennial Edition of i Light Singapore to have 5 festival hubs
The special Bicentennial Edition of the annual i Light Marina Bay art festival will for the first time extend to the historic Raffles Terrace at Fort Canning Park, as Singapore commemorates the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles on the island.
— cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com

DBS, UOB or OCBC: Who has a Better Share Valuation for 2019?
The final showdown. Compare the valuation of DBS, OCBC, and UOB; three local banks to determine the best dividend stock of the three
— Motley Fool sg

SGX partners CCI Administrative Bureau to support cross-border financing in Western China
Singapore Exchange (SGX) on Tuesday signed a new cooperation agreement with the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI) Administrative Bureau, as part of its efforts to support Singapore-China financial cooperation.
— The Edge

China Taiping Insurance Singapore eyes regional growth, wealth management
CHINA Taiping Insurance Singapore has launched its life insurance business here citing the significant market for savings, retirement and protection products fuelled by increasing wealth in the Asia-Pacific.
— The Business Times

Nasdaq-listed Equinix to invest US$85.3m to build fourth data centre in Singapore
NASDAQ-LISTED Equinix plans to build a fourth data centre in Singapore at an initial cost of US$85.3 million.
— The Business Times

AVA can make arrests for offences under 9 Acts
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) is authorised to make arrests for offences that fall under nine Acts and their subsidiary legislation.
— Straits Times

Singtel Dash e-remittance service opens to Myanmar users
Myanmar nationals in Singapore will be able to send money home using mobile wallet Singtel Dash from March, under a new grant agreement signed yesterday.
— Straits Times

Government to take over administration of ElderShield from 2021
The Government will take over the administration of ElderShield from private insurers in 2021, a move that will allow policyholders a smoother upgrade to CareShield Life, a new national disability insurance scheme scheduled to be introduced next year.
— Channel News Asia

Taiwanese Air Force video makes S’poreans feel like they’ve seen it before
Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.
— Mothership

Respected international publication says Heng Swee Keat is expected to mentor Li Hongyi like how Goh Chok Tong mentored Lee Hsien Loong
Respected international publication, the Nikkei Asian Review, has said that Heng Swee Keat is expected to mentor Li Hongyi to be Singapore’s potential fifth-generation Prime Minister, just like how second-gen PM Goh Chok Tong mentored current PM Lee Hsien Loong. Goh succeeded founding PM Lee Kuan Yew and has been seen as a “seatwarmer” PM […]
— The Independent sg

Comparisons between Khaw Boon Wan who paid $8 for heart bypass and 83-year-old who paid over $1400 for cataracts surgery fly
Several netizens online are comparing the case of the 82-year-old Singaporean, who had to pay over $1,400 for cataracts surgery after MediShield Life paid out a measly $4.50 of the bill, to Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan who bragged that he only paid $8 out of pocket for heart bypass surgery, years ago. The elderly […]
— The Independent sg

MP David oblivious to high cost in Singapore as main reason for not having children
In a recent radio show by MONEY FM 89.3, Ang Mo Kio GRC Member of Parliament Darryl David said he hasn’t encountered any couple citing high cost as a deterrent to starting a family and having children. The radio show was part of REACH and the MOF’s Pre-Budget Feedback Exercise on Budget themes such as …
— The Online Citizen

Attorney-General stresses need for more lawyers to deal with increasing and complex cases
Attorney-General Lucien Wong says there is a need for the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to beef up their manpower to deal with the increasing number of cases, as well as more complex ones, citing the many bilateral issues that have cropped up in the past year with Malaysia. Mr Wong, who has been AG since 2017 …
— The Online Citizen

How To Compound Your Wealth Through Investing
Investing in equities for the long-term provides the best chance to grow and compound your wealth.
— Motley Fool sg

How Singapore is upskilling its workforce
IN recent months, tens of thousands of Singaporeans have attended government-organised workshops that would help them find courses that could expand their skill sets and uplift their careers.
— asiancorrespondent.com

Singapore’s Best Shares For 2019: How Cheap And Good Are They?
A look at the valuation and financial data of the best shares in Singapore’s stock market for 2019 according to the Magic Formula.
— Motley Fool sg

Nine deals inked, spanning areas such as fintech, financial services
CHONGQING • Singapore and Chongqing companies yesterday inked nine deals in such areas as fintech, financial services and technology.
— Straits Times

Huawei kicks off the New Year with second customer service centre in Singapore
Huawei, the world’s second largest smartphone manufacturer, today announced that it will open its second Customer Service Centre in Westgate, Singapore on 11 January 2019. Huawei’s products and services are available in more than 170 countries, and are used by a third of the world’s population.
— The Online Citizen

Oil giant Shell fined $400,000 for fire
Oil giant Shell has been fined $400,000 for a health and safety breach that led to a fire at the Pulau Bukom petroleum refinery which left six workers with burns.
— Straits Times

9.5m-tall lantern to usher in the Year of the Pig
The official light-up and opening ceremony of Chinatown’s annual Chinese New Year celebrations are not due till Jan 20, but preparations have set people talking.
— Straits Times

Will Founders’ Memorial station be another white elephant like the one in Buangkok?
The announcement of a new trains station along the Thomson-East Cost Line (TEL) to cater for the yet-to-be-built Founders’ Memorial has some property analysts scratching their heads. On 7 January, The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced that it will begin works to convert a TEL facility building into the Founders’ Memorial station. Construction has already …
— The Online Citizen

Construction tech startup Novade on paperless crusade with one-stop solutions platform
WHEN he led Autodesk’s Asia sales team, Denis Branthonne wanted to sell the engineering and architecture software that his company was famous for.
— The Business Times

Feature photo Ray in Manila

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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 9 added by John Le Fevre on January 9, 2019
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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.