Singapore morning news for December 13, 2019

Singapore climbs 2 spots to become 7th most expensive city in Asia for expats; Hong Kong at No. 3
The Republic climbed five spots to become the 13th most expensive city in the world for expatriates.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore retail sales down for 9th month in October with steeper 4.3% decline
RETAIL sales fell for the ninth straight month in October, coming in below market expectations, even as, in a blow to demand outlook, separate government data showed signs of a weaker labour market.
— The Business Times

Unemployment rate inches up to 2.3%, even as total employment grows in Q3
The overall unemployment rate in Singapore inched up slightly in the third quarter of this year, even as total employment growth more than tripled from the previous quarter.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore defends misinformation law after criticism
Singapore has defended a controversial new law against misinformation that it has wielded against Facebook, after an opposition party launched a withering attack on the legislation.
— The Online Citizen

Singapore’s internet fees amongst world’s lowest at 39th place: study
At $21.78 per month, the country’s average fee is cheaper than most countries.
— Singapore Business Review

GCE N-level results out on Dec 19
Students may collect their result slips from their schools from 2pm while private candidates will be notified of their results by post.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore economic growth may be better next year
Singapore may clock a faster pace of economic growth next year, according to Nomura Holdings.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Blood donors urgently needed – Type O, A, and B national blood stock at critical levels
Singapore Red Cross (SRC) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) are calling for blood donors to help restock the low levels for all blood groups, particularly type O.
— The Online Citizen

LTA’s version ‘clearer than before’, but has room for improvement, says architect who redesigned MRT map
The architect whose redesigned MRT map earned plaudits and went viral has praised the version released by the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Questionable points in MinLaw and MCI’s response to PSP’s statement on POFMA
Earlier on Tuesday (10 December) the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) called for Courts of Singapore to be the authority that declares a piece of news as falsehood and impose corresponding penalties to ensure that Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation (POFMA) is in line with the value of ‘independence’.
— The Online Citizen

Mynah hanging from laundry pole: Authorities ‘looking into’ it; woman responsible could face prosecution
The Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) is looking into an incident in Yishun where a woman hung a live mynah from a laundry pole outside her HDB flat, it said on Thursday (Dec 12).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Financial comparison platform SingSaver launches instant digital comparisons, with a nod from MAS
SingSaver.com.sg, Singapore’s financial comparison platform, has launched instant digital insurance comparisons and secured a brokerage license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
— e27

Indonesian fined for moving S$1.6 million across Singapore borders without declaring it
An Indonesian man regularly came to Singapore with large sums of undeclared cash, purportedly to gamble.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

New initiative rolled out to help retail sector stay relevant amid changing consumer habits
A new programme was launched on Thursday (Dec 12) to help retail workers upskill and take on higher value roles.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

PAP town councils to provide outsourced workers with dedicated rest areas
The People’s Action Party’s (PAP) town councils are working with contractors to set aside designated rest areas for outsourced workers, including in utility or store rooms.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

MAS pulls CT Bright Investment’s licence to conduct fund management business
CT Bright Investment (CTBI) is no longer allowed to continue its fund management business in Singapore after the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) revoked its capital markets services licence with effect from Dec 9.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Reit IPOs reign in Singapore, but more diversity welcome
SINGAPORE initial public offerings (IPOs) raised more money in 2019 than a year ago, but more diversity would be welcome, with Reits dominating new listings and set to continue doing so.
— The Business Times

Good training system can benefit both workers and firms: Minister
The gap between jobs and skills will widen as businesses transform in the digital economy, but Singapore must see this as an opportunity, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

NUS helps PhD students get a Grip on enterprise
Launched in September last year, the Graduate Research Innovation Programme is part of the university’s strategy to grow entrepreneurs and deep-tech start-ups for Singapore.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore public housing policy: Comparing amendment proposals from WP, SDP & FOSG
In March 2017, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said that not all old HDB flats will be automatically eligible for the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS).
— The Online Citizen

Gap between jobs and skills will widen as businesses transform: Josephine Teo
The gap between jobs and skills will widen as businesses transform in the digital economy, but Singapore must see this as an opportunity, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Top 2019 Google searches in Singapore: Haze, Hong Kong protests and Avengers: Endgame
The haze topped not only the overall Trending Searches chart, but also the Trending Singapore News chart this year, which the firm compiles from the country’s top searches via its search engine.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Analysts see clearer signs of a pick-up next year: MAS survey
HOPES of an economic boost from fiscal stimulus have dimmed, even as global trade tensions continue to weigh on the growth outlook, according to the latest quarterly survey of private-sector analysts by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
— The Business Times

Lawyer M. Ravi files constitutional challenge over TOC criminal defamation case
Lawyer M. Ravi has filed a court challenge over a criminal defamation case involving Daniel De Costa, arguing that the charge faced by his client contravenes his constitutional right to equality before the law.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Final first generation member of AKB48 quits: 5 facts about AKB48 and Minami Minegishi
Popstar Minami Minegishi – the last of AKB48’s first generation members – has shocked fans by biding farewell to the Japanese idol group.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Store closures an end of chapter, but Home-Fix to come back in a very different form: Co-founder
Beleaguered family-run hardware firm Home-Fix may have pulled the shutters down at its stores for good after a 26-year run, but its founders are not giving it up without a fight.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Drugs worth $113,000 seized, including 1.5kg of heroin; 2 people arrested
Two people were arrested after the authorities seized drugs worth about $113,000, including 1.5kg of heroin, from a Woodlands Housing Board flat.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

S’pore woman claims GrabPay charged her S$2,680.53, Grab says she triggered payment
She was initially refunded in GrabPay credits instead of a direct refund to her credit card.
— Mothership

Upskirter caught in the act by ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint, gets jail
A man who took upskirt videos of a woman at Woodlands Checkpoint was spotted by two Immigration Checkpoints & Authority (ICA) officers and sentenced to four weeks’ jail on Thursday (Dec 12).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Lack of maintenance is top reason most windows fell from Jan-Nov; home owners surprised by penalties
If windows fall because they are not maintained enough, home owners, if found guilty, can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to a year, or both.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Electric car-sharing firm BlueSG opens more charging points to public
The company added another 140 charging points across Housing Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority carparks, bringing its total to 239 in Singapore.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

SingSaver gets licence to offer instant comparisons of insurance products online
Financial comparison platform SingSaver has secured a brokerage licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to offer over 100 insurance policies from 12 providers on its platform.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

2 youths claim to be students from S’pore Poly, ask money from residents for fundraiser
Two youths in Singapore have been called out for posing as fundraisers on behalf of a charity and going door-to-door to ask for money from residents.
— Mothership

Singapore stock watch: Straits Trading sells 4 properties, makes $11m gain
The following companies saw new developments that may affect trading of their securities on Thursday (Dec 12)
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Motorcyclist, 23, in ICU after accident with taxi on MCE. Family looking for witnesses.
On Dec. 11, one Fiera N. took to Twitter to appeal for witnesses in an alleged accident that happened the day before at around 8pm.
— Mothership

Cabby on girlfriend’s medication lost control of vehicle, crashed into motorcyclist who died
A taxi driver who took his girlfriend’s pills and some cough syrup for a headache drove dangerously and lost control of his vehicle, mounting a divider and crashing into a motorcycle and lorry.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Free immersive art exhibition at Gardens by the Bay from Dec. 15, 2019 – Mar. 15, 2020
Advanced ticket reservations for indoor exhibits begin on Dec. 15, 2019.
— Mothership

Second mandatory treatment order unsuitable for woman who wounded neighbour’s religious feelings
Lee Dji Lin was given her first mandatory treatment order in June 2017 for acts such as placing raw pork outside her Malay-Muslim neighbour’s home.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

SkillsFuture scam: Man jailed for 3 years and 3 months for helping to launder $3.15m
A 50-year-old former security guard has become the latest individual linked to a $39.9 million SkillsFuture scam to be convicted.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Quick-thinking 5-year-old saves her mother from being thrown out of the window by her father in S’pore
The man was upset that his wife sent money back to Vietnam.
— Mothership

Alfa Romeo hits tree & flips along Havelock Road
The driver refused to be sent to the hospital.
— Mothership

Ryde passenger says he’d bank transfer S$27.50 fare, but then ignores driver’s 20 calls
Taxi and private-hire car drivers often go through their fair share of customer-related troubles.
— Mothership

Feature photo Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo focuses on International Anti-Corruption Day, December 9.

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 December 13 added by Justhine De Guzman Uy on December 13, 2019
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.