Singapore morning news for February 1

Singapore morning news for February 1
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Singapore morning newsProposed changes to give injured workers greater assurance of compensation
New measures are in the works to improve insurance coverage for employees and give those injured on the job greater assurance of compensation – and much sooner after an accident.
— Straits Times

More locals employed, overall improvement in labour market in 2018: MOM
The labour market improved in 2018, with employment of locals growing over the year, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Thursday (Jan 31).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Budget 2019 expected to register deficit of S$2.5b for FY19: DBS economist
THE fiscal balance for FY2019 is projected to register a deficit of S$2.5 billion, down from an expected surplus of S$3.3 billion in the previous financial year, according to the final report in a three-part series by DBS.
— The Business Times

Chinese tech firms expand R&D reach into Singapore
CHINESE technology firms may be eyeing Singapore as a good spot to expand their R&D development.
— The Business Times

e-payment protection guidelines to be adopted on June 30
Banks and credit card issuers will get an extra five months to adopt the e-payments user protection guidelines that were due to kick in on Jan 31. The effective start date is now June 30.
— Straits Times

Manufacturing, services firms gloomier about next six months
MANUFACTURING and services firms have become more downbeat about business prospects in the next six months, with both sectors expressing overall pessimism, according to two surveys released on Thursday.
— The Business Times

Singapore Army to review scope of exercises amid focus on safety
The Singapore Army will be reviewing the scope of its military exercises, redesigning training programmes and even removing certain courses as part of the lowered training pace in the next few months to focus on safety, said Chief of Army Goh Si Hou yesterday.
— Straits Times

Helping shops sell better with smart tech
THE use of artificial intelligence in Singapore has been growing by leaps and bounds. According to a recent report on artificial intelligence in South-east Asia, more than 24,000 AI-related papers have been published in the South-east Asia region, with Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand accounting for 86 per cent of output.
— The Business Times

More people in jobs in 2018, with layoffs at 6-year low: MOM data
More people in Singapore, including foreigners, were working last year as the labour market improved, but observers say the year ahead may be challenging.
— Straits Times

SCDF paramedics to be equipped with Body-Worn Cameras starting from 1 February
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedics will be progressively equipped with Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs), which is is a compact device worn over the ear, starting from Saturday (1 February 2019).
— The Online Citizen

Diabetes battle: Alchemy Foodtech launches new Singapore lab, announces partnerships with food firms
Singaporean start-up Alchemy Foodtech has moved its proprietary glycaemic index-lowering technology a step further with the opening of a dedicated laboratory, as well as new pilot partnerships with food manufacturers.
— Food Navigator

New innovation modules for lawyers to launch next month
It is no longer enough for lawyers and legal professionals to be just well-versed in the law, as there is an increasing need for them to think like tech entrepreneurs and use the skill to find new solutions to problems they encounter in their practice.
— Straits Times

Singapore is helping to build a city in China for up to 500,000 people
Singapore was China’s largest foreign investor in 2018 — and it was for the sixth consecutive year, according to the city state’s trade ministry.
— CNBC

200 YEARS SINCE RAFFLES, SINGAPORE CAN EMBRACE ANOTHER BRITISH IDEA
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of modern Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles, an occasion the city state plans to mark with a year-long series of activities.
— SCMP

MOH must learn from breaches to build more robust, secure system
MOH has to build systems that make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for anyone to needlessly access such information. One way is to have two-factor authentication.
— Straits Times

This retired uncle creates Star Wars models from recycled cardboard
From Darth Vader to the Death Star, Iron Man to The Lord Of The Rings, 65-year-old retiree Simon Tan spends his time creating movie props and models out of discarded stuff he picks up at the void deck.
— Channel News Asia (very annoying popups)

Singapore launches book on Pedra Branca amid lingering dispute with Malaysia
Three prominent Singaporeans have published a new book detailing the city-state’s legal fight with Malaysia over Pedra Branca, as a maritime dispute continues to stand in the way of relations between the two neighbours.
— Free Malaysia Today

RHB appoints new Singapore CEO
The Malaysian bank hired veteran banker Danny Quah as country head of Singapore as well as CEO of RHB Bank Singapore. He takes on the role from Friday.
— The Business Times

Deferred High-Speed Rail deal: Malaysia informs Singapore of $15m remittance
Malaysia informed Singapore on Thursday afternoon (Jan 31) that it has remitted $15 million as payment for the abortive costs the Republic incurred as a result of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project being suspended.
— Straits Times

Lee Kuan Yew wrote “The only answer against a bad government that refuses to be voted out of office is armed revolution” in 1969 letter to veteran architect
A veteran architect and assistant professor at the National University of Singapore shared his letter that was given by the late Lee Kuan Yew.
— The Independent

Singapore real wages expected to grow 3% in 2019: Korn Ferry
SALARIES in Singapore are expected to grow by 3 per cent in 2019 after adjusting for inflation, according to a forecast by consulting firm Korn Ferry.
— The Business Times

Singapore’s driverless vehicle ambitions reach next milestone with new national standards
The set of provisional standards, called Technical Reference 68, will promote the safe deployment of fully autonomous vehicles here.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

More initiatives to help upskill workers in the logistics sector: Koh Poh Koon
Efforts are under way to boost the logistics industry by improving the skills of workers in the sector, said the Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry.
— Straits Times

AIA sets benchmark with first insurance policy for mental illnesses
SPARKLING news for those with mental illnesses: Insurer AIA has launched Singapore’s first insurance policy offering coverage for mental setbacks. Named AIA Beyond Critical Care, the plan covers these five conditions: Major Depressive Disorders (MDD); Schizophrenia; Bipolar Disorder; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD; Tourette Syndrome.
— The Independent

Recent data breaches have tarnished Singapore’s image as tech innovator
The country’s ‘smart nation’ portal says ‘Data is the new currency, and with open data, the possibilities are endless!’ Singapore has long been pushing this island as a technology hub and the government is constantly championing greater use of technology in various sectors to increase efficiency.
— The Online Citizen

Singapore manufacturing, services sentiment turns gloomier for H1 2019
MANUFACTURING and services firms have grown more downbeat about their business prospects in the first half of this year, with both sectors now expressing overall pessimism, according to two separate surveys released on Thursday.
— The Business Times

2 Things Investors Should Know About First Real Estate Investment Trust Now: Latest Result & Valuation
In this article, we will look at the latest financial performance and valuation of First Real Estate Investment Trust
— The Motley Fool

Teachers and parents should work together to teach children to read: Ong Ye Kung
Parents and teachers have a role in teaching kids how to read, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jan 30).
— Straits Times

Are Singaporean pre-schoolers more independent than we think they can be?
It’s been said before that Singaporeans tend to be helicopter parents. But one group of parents have decided to let go, and send their tiny tots out on their own for the first time, to see the results.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

River Hongbao out to attract youth with interactive exhibition and social media drive
An interactive exhibition held in a display modelled after a twakow – bumboat that used to ply the Singapore River – will be one of the main features of River Hongbao as the organisers go all out to attract the young.
— Straits Times

Singapore must stay connected to the world or cease to be relevant: ESM Goh Chok Tong
As Singapore commemorates its bicentennial, it is imperative the country stays connected to the world or cease to be relevant, said Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on Thursday (Jan 31).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

MINDEF clarifies safety record and SOPs for Self-Propelled Howitzer, convenes COI to probe into CFC (NS) Aloysius Pang’s death
Following the death of Singaporean actor and reservist Corporal First Class (National Service) Aloysius Pang on Wednesday (23 Jan) after sustaining serious injuries while carrying out repair works inside the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer (SSPH) in New Zealand, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has issued a clarification regarding the safety record and standard operating procedures (SOP) of the SSPH.
— The Online Citizen

Difficult questions about MOH HIV data theft & leak asked by S’pore media
Many of the questions focused on how the man behind the leaks was able to do what he did.
— Mothership

Google opens up data analytics programme to local undergrads for first time in tie-up with SMU
Singapore Management University (SMU) undergraduates looking to enter the data and analytics sector are getting a leg up.
— Straits Times

Student claims media is exaggerating the incident where a teacher made students feel uncomfortable during attire check
Chinese paper Shin Min Daily News recently reported that a female teacher from Nanyang Girls’ High School (NYGH), believed to be the Secondary 4 year head, had unbuttoned students’ uniforms to check the colour of their bra straps during an attire check on Tuesday (22 January).
— The Online Citizen

Manufacturing, services firms more downbeat in outlook, with electronics sector especially gloomy: Surveys
Manufacturing and services firms are more pessimistic about their prospects for the first half of 2019, two separate government surveys showed on Thursday (Jan 31).
— Straits Times

Singapore Academy of Law rolls out new initiatives under innovation programme
SINGAPORE Academy of Law (SAL) is marking the first anniversary of its Future Law Innovation Programme (Flip) with new initiatives.
— The Business Times

HSA issues alert on 5 cosmetic creams with very high levels of mercury and potent undeclared ingredients
It promised to give users white, fluffy, glowing skin and claimed to be made from 100 per cent natural ingredients, but in fact contained mercury levels that were more than 40,000 times over the permissible limits.
— Straits Times

 

Feature photo Weekend Notes

 

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.

 

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Piseth Pov graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics Science from the Royal University of Law and Economics, Phnom Penh in 2017, and a Bachelor’s degree in English Communications from Western University, Phnom Penh, the same year.

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