Singapore morning news for October 16, 2019

‘Hugely disproportionate’?: Singapore to ban SSB ads alongside colour-coded nutrition label plan
Singapore is set to introduce mandatory colour-coded front-of-pack nutrition label and ban advertising for pre-packaged sugar sweetened beverages (SSB), a move that has caused the industry to voice doubts, while health policy experts have welcomed the move
— FoodNavigator- Asia

More Singaporean children to get first passport free
More Singaporean children will get their first passport free, after a scheme to waive passport application fees was expanded, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced on Tuesday (Oct 15).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Smart poultry factory developed in Singapore
A poultry factory in Singapore, billed as the first smart and green site in the region, is being built with the help of a $40m loan.
— GlobalMeat News

4 in 10 S’pore households switched to retailer in Open Electricity Market; many enjoy up to 30% savings
Four in 10 Singapore households have switched to an electricity retailer since the launch of the Open Electricity Market (OEM) in April last year, said the Energy Market Authority (EMA) on Tuesday (Oct 15).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore’s No. 1 competitiveness ranking masks some weak spots
Last week, Singapore made headlines around the world for topping the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index, edging ahead of the United States, which was top last year.
— The Straits Times

MAS eases monetary policy ‘slightly’ in October
THE Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has eased monetary policy slightly in its half-yearly monetary policy review on Monday, in a move that economists see as leaving the door open for another possible easing in April 2020.
— The Business Times

Singapore has to resist divisive forces tearing at other countries: PM Lee
In Hong Kong, the most vocal complaints arising out of the ongoing protests are political in nature and relate to how the “one country, two systems” policy is working out.
— The Straits Times

Clearing the air over fire and haze: It’s complicated, say experts of fire situation in Indonesia
Singapore is no longer shrouded in haze, thanks to the recent rains.
— The Straits Times

Technical recession or not, underlying factors matter more
SINGAPORE’S narrow escape from recession in the third quarter may be good news for consumer sentiment, but it is arguably more productive to focus on specific aspects of the economy, rather than the narrow binary of whether a technical recession is upon us – which, at any rate, could be overturned by updated figures.
— The Business Times

F intech investments in Singapore jump 69% to $1b in first 9 months of 2019: Report
Fintech investments in Singapore for the nine months ended Sept 30 jumped 69 per cent to US$735 million from US$435 million (S$595.4 million) in the same year-ago period, according to research from professional services firm Accenture.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore and China sign 9 agreements, exchange views on ‘excellent’ state of relations
Singapore and China have signed nine agreements and Memoranda of Understanding, following the conclusion of a top-level bilateral meeting in Chongqing on Tuesday (Oct 15).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

SCCCI calls on government to help businesses with wages
THE Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) is calling on the government to help ease businesses’ wage costs after its latest survey found that wages remain the biggest driver of rising business costs.
— The Business Times

Commentary: The silent heart attack, and why Singaporeans don’t realise they’re having one
People who suffer a silent heart attack don’t get help because they don’t realise they have a problem, says Nobel Heart Centre’s Dr Leow Khang Leng.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

September private home sales rise to 7-year high
Sales of private homes by developers in Singapore rose 36.3 per cent year-on-year in September, official data showed on Tuesday (Oct 15).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Company in Singapore stripped of bunker craft licence for equipment tampering
The Maritime And Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore has stripped marine fuel services provider Inter-Pacific Petroleum (IPP) of its bunker craft operator licence in the port of Singapore, effective immediately, it said on Tuesday (Oct 15).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Defence chiefs from FPDA members meet in Singapore to discuss regional security concerns
Defence chiefs from five countries met on Tuesday (Oct 15) to discuss ways to tackle new security threats in the region, even as they looked forward to the jubilee of their security pact in 2021.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

International rule of law an existential necessity for small states like Singapore: CJ Sundaresh Menon
The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

5 things to know about the newly gazetted Singapore River bridges
The Cavenagh, Anderson and Elgin Bridges have stood at the Singapore River’s historic mouth for decades, facilitating easy access between the waterway’s north and south banks.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

National Library Board to get new chairman and CEO; new CEO for SkillsFuture Singapore
The National Library Board (NLB) will be getting a new chairman and chief executive. SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) will have a new CEO as well.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Another S$15 million set aside for restoration of national monuments
An additional S$15 million will be set aside over the next five years to support the restoration of national monuments, announced Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu on Tuesday (Oct 15).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Public entertainment nightspots set up watch group to fight crime, potential security threats
Public entertainment (PE) nightspots have come together to set up an industry safety and security watch group with the police to implement crime prevention and counter-terrorism measures.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Electronic signing made easy for modern businesses
How Kdan Mobile’s DottedSign changes the way we do e-documents Back when the idea of an electronic scheme was merely a theory, signing documents was not without hiccups.
— e27

Hip fracture rates for men and women in Singapore on the decline
Hip fractures continue to be a concern but the good news is that the incidence rate has declined for both men and women, according to a new study.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

RedDoorz to add 11 Singapore budget hotels to network by end-2020
Singapore-based hospitality start-up RedDoorz will expand its portfolio of 18 budget hotel properties in Singapore to 29 by the end of 2020, it said on Tuesday (Oct 15).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

UOB launches course for all 26,000 employees to help build core skills in digital age
United Overseas Bank (UOB) launched on Tuesday (Oct 15) a learning and development programme to prepare its 26,000 employees for a digital future, at a time where the financial services sector is seeing rapid change.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore Shipping Association building e-registry based on blockchain
A BLOCKCHAIN-BASED ship registration preparation system for international adoption is in the works, with hopes that it could reduce time, costs and the incidence of error and fraud in the ship registration process.
— The Business Times

TransferWise rolls out multicurrency debit card in Singapore
UK-BASED fintech player TransferWise has ruled out applying for a digital bank licence in Singapore.
— The Business Times

Khaw Boon Wan: Need to guard against regulatory bias
Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan has warned of regulatory capture, where the regulator becomes too cosy with the regulated.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Applying for a visa? Beware of fake sites
Some travellers pay marked-up fees on sites disguised as official ones, while others said they never received the visas and were told their application was denied.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

PM Lee offers ‘deepest condolences’ after Typhoon Hagibis hits Japan, killing nearly 70
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wrote to his Japanese counterpart on Tuesday (Oct 15) to offer his deepest condolences after a powerful typhoon over the weekend left more than 70 people dead.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Competition watchdog gives nod for BreadTalk to buy Food Junction for S$80 million
The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has cleared a proposed deal by BreadTalk Group to buy food court operator Food Junction Management (FJM) for S$80 million, saying that the transaction “will not lead to a substantial lessening of competition within the relevant markets in Singapore”.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

GIC, KKR shell out 35b pesos for 42.5% stake in biggest Philippine hospital chain
SINGAPORE’S sovereign wealth fund GIC and private equity giant KKR will take a 42.5 per cent stake in Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings (MPHH), the Philippines’ largest operator of private hospitals and healthcare services.
— The Business Times

Football: Singapore handed tough draw for SEA Games
Singapore was handed a tough draw for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games men’s football tournament on Tuesday (Oct 15).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore’s 3D printing startup Structo raises funding; to develop digital additive manufacturing solutions for dental industry
Structo, a Singapore-headquartered dental 3D printing solutions startup, has closed a new round of funding from EDBI, GGV Capital, Wavemaker Partners, and Pavilion Capital.
— e27

Bond between PAP, NTUC must be sustained and strengthened, says PM Lee
The bond between the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) must be sustained and strengthened, as Singapore navigates the uncharted waters of global uncertainties, a new phase for its economy and technological disruptions, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday (Oct 15).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Pine Capital unit sues 2 ex-directors for breach of duties, conspiracy
Advance Capital Partners Asset Management (ACPAM), a subsidiary of Catalist-listed Pine Capital Group, has commenced legal proceedings against two former directors.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Billionaire Tang couple widen control of Chip Eng Seng after rights issue gets poor response from minority shareholders
Poor interest from minority shareholders has resulted in Chip Eng Seng insiders taking up the bulk of shares in its controversial rights issue.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

JLC Advisors’ Jeffrey Ong faces more charges
THE JLC Advisors lawyer allegedly linked to Allied Technologies’ missing S$33 million is now staring at a total of 26 charges, having been arraigned on Monday on four fresh counts including the most serious criminal breach of trust (CBT) offence.
— The Business Times

EDBI joins dental 3D printing firm’s latest funding round
SINGAPORE Economic Development Board corporate investment arm EDBI is among the investors in dental 3D printing firm Structo’s latest funding round, which closes on Oct 15, EDBI told The Business Times without disclosing the amount.
— The Business Times

ST Singaporean of the Year cited as role model
When she saw that an elderly man had soiled himself in a supermarket, sales assistant Noriza A. Mansor stepped forward to help.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Needy children get mentors to help them read, level up in life
A chat about retirement by six former classmates and colleagues in their late 50s led them right back to primary school.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

‘Just doing what any ordinary person would’: Man helps police nab suspected drink driver along CTE
The motorist who alerted the police last week about another driver suspected of drink driving on the Central Expressway (CTE), has been hailed by netizens as a hero. But he said he was only doing what any ordinary person would.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Hour Glass co-founder Jannie Chan’s share from forced sale of $3.85m apartment to be paid to Official Assignee
Four months after the bank took possession of their apartment for defaulting on mortgage payments, prominent businesswoman Jannie Chan and her younger daughter granted a pair of potential buyers an option to purchase the property.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Maid jailed after falsely accusing employer of raping her
A domestic helper made a police report falsely accusing her employer of rape after finding out that her work permit was going to be terminated due to her poor work performance.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Generation Grit: Undergrad who was sexually abused when she was 3 now ready to embrace life
Miss Law Mei Ting always felt like the odd one out. She has never met her father, lives with her aunt and she has an unspeakable secret – she was sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend. But now she is speaking up in this series on millennials who have overcome the odds.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Feature photo PolyU HKCC – Associate in Statistics and Data Science

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo focuses on World Statistics Day, October 20.

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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About Singapore morning news.

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Singapore morning news for October 16 added by Justhine De Guzman Uy on October 16, 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.