Singapore morning news for February 19

Singapore morning news for February 19
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Singapore morning news

1-year-old baby among 5 COVID-19 patients discharged, 4 new cases: MOH
Five more COVID-19 patients have been discharged after making a full recovery, including a one-year-old baby, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday (Feb 18).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Expansionary Budget could run deficit of $10.9b
Armed with a $6.4 billion arsenal to fight the coronavirus and its fallout on the economy, this year’s expansionary Budget could run a historic deficit of $10.9 billion – the highest in recent times.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore doubles down on tighter foreign worker quotas
AFTER foreign labour caps in the services sector were tightened in last year’s Budget, the same fate has now befallen the construction, marine and shipyard and process industries.
— The Business Times

New coastal, flood protection fund to tackle rising sea levels
A new coastal and flood protection fund, with an initial injection of $5 billion, will be set up to help protect Singapore against rising sea levels, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore, Thailand strengthen measures to cope with COVID-19 outbreak
Singapore will roll out a new stay-home notice for its residents and long-term pass holders returning from mainland China as part of efforts to respond to the acute respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
— Vietnamplus

White-collar jobs in growth sectors: 3 in 4 filled by locals
About three in four white-collar jobs in growth sectors such as healthcare, finance and insurance services, and information and communications are filled by Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs), said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

GST stays at 7% next year; $6b fund to help when rise kicks in
The goods and services tax (GST) hike will not kick in next year, while $6 billion has been set aside this year to help cushion the impact when the increase does take effect.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: SIA, SilkAir cancel more than 700 flights between March and May due to weak demand
More than 100 Singapore Airlines and SilkAir flights between Singapore and countries like Japan, Korea, Germany and the United States between March and May have been cancelled due to weak demand amid the coronavirus epidemic.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Delivery services see spike in business because of COVID-19
The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted many businesses in Singapore – from retail to food establishments.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Companies get more control over training dollars
THE latest changes to Singapore’s SkillsFuture efforts will give companies more control over matching training to workforce needs – an improvement on earlier measures, watchers told The Business Times on Tuesday.
— The Business Times

Care and Support Package worth S$1.6b to help households
AN S$1.6 billion Care and Support Package was unveiled to help Singaporeans with their household expenses in the light of the economic slowdown and uncertainties of the Covid-19 outbreak, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in his Budget speech on Tuesday.
— The Business Times

Singapore will continue monitoring COVID-19 situation, prepare for different scenarios: Gan Kim Yong
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Tuesday (Feb 18) expressed confidence in Singapore’s ability to overcome the COVID-19 outbreak and “emerge stronger as a nation”.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Budget 2020: Government sets aside S$1b over 3 years for cyber and data security
The government is setting aside S$1 billion over the next three years to build up its cyber and data security capabilities, to safeguard citizens’ data and critical information infrastructure systems, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said in his Budget speech on Tuesday.
— The Business Times

NUH staff infected with Covid-19, related to S’pore’s Case 66
On Feb. 18, a 38-year-old staff from the National University of Hospital (NUH) was confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus (Covid-19)
— Mothership

Covid-19 outbreak: Grace Assembly of God cluster grows to 21 cases
Three out of the four new cases are linked to the church.
— Mothership

3 shipments of pangolin scales destined for China seized in 2019, 14 suspects arrested
NParks is working closely with China and international organisations in their investigations.
— Mothership

Budget 2020: Govt aims to phase out all vehicles with internal combustion engines by 2040
BY 2040, the government hopes to phase out all vehicles with internal combustion engines and replace them with ones that run on cleaner energy.
— The Business Times

Coronavirus: Flights between Singapore and mainland China plunge, traffic from other regions also declining
More than 80 per cent of flights between Singapore and mainland China have been cancelled since the coronavirus outbreak, and passenger traffic from other regions have also started to fall, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Tuesday (Feb 18).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Plans unveiled to help older workers stay employed
A SLEW of measures were unveiled on Tuesday to give a boost to jobs for mid-career and older workers who find themselves left insecure by corporate restructuring and technological disruptions.
— The Business Times

More qualify for Silver Support, with payouts raised by 20%
More seniors will have their retirement incomes enhanced with changes to the Silver Support scheme, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

$8.3b to spur businesses to transform and grow
A slew of measures were unveiled which could cost $8.3 billion over the next three years to spur enterprises to transform and grow.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

New wage offset scheme for firms hiring people with disabilities
To encourage a more inclusive workforce and society, a new wage offset scheme will be implemented from next year.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Govt to match cash top-ups to seniors’ CPF savings
A new Matched Retirement Savings Scheme will be introduced to help those with less Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Aid given to those eligible regardless of constituency: Minister
While grassroots advisers appointed by the People’s Association (PA) should share the Government’s objectives and convictions, no eligible resident will be denied welfare assistance because of the constituency he is living in, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said in Parliament.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

$350m leg-up for social service agencies
To support and encourage more people to donate to social service agencies, the Government and the Singapore Totalisator Board (Tote Board) will set aside $150 million in total to match donations dollar for dollar.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

More help to give every Singaporean child a good start in life
Quality pre-school education will soon be more accessible, allowing children in Singapore to have a good start in life.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Some hiring professionals to make care decisions in later years
Mary, an 80-year-old childless widow, is concerned about who will look after her if she becomes mentally incapacitated and unable to care for herself.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore Budget 2020: Companies get 25% corporate tax rebate, other measures to improve cash flow
Businesses will get a rebate on corporate income tax and some enhanced tax treatments in moves aimed at improving their cash flow.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Budget 2020: New target for overseas opportunities for students, with focus on SE Asia, China, India
To help students in acquire cross-cultural skills and understand the region, the Government has set a new target for 70 per cent of local graduates from Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to have overseas exposure, and 70 per cent of the exposure to be in Southeast Asia, China or India.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore Budget 2020: $1,000 SkillsFuture Credit top-up for mid-career workers; more places in re-skilling programmes
This comprises a top-up of $500 that will be given to all Singaporeans aged 25 and older, and an additional top-up of $500 specifically for those aged 40 to 60 as at Dec 31 this year.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore construction firms seeking force majeure advice as coronavirus causes labour crunch
Singapore construction firms are asking for advice about whether they have the option of invoking force majeure clauses in building contracts as the government turns away or quarantines Chinese labour to stop the spread of the coronavirus, lawyers told Reuters.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: More than 600 GP clinics activated to provide subsidised treatment to contain Covid-19 outbreak
The 667 GPs activated on Tuesday are found in all major Housing Board estates like Ang Mo Kio, Tampines, Woodlands and Jurong.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

S’pore philanthropists & foundations pledge S$350,000 for Covid-19 community projects
The fund will hopefully support up to 100 community initiatives.
— Mothership

Singapore Budget 2020: New programme to ensure sustainable living in HDB estates
Called the HDB Green Towns Programme, it will focus on reducing energy consumption, recycling rainwater, and cooling HDB towns.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

20 weeks’ jail for SAF captain who used credit card details of others to buy e-vouchers online
A captain with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) bought multiple credit card details that belonged to others from someone he met on the Dark Web.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore Budget 2020: Merchants’ association in Chong Pang takes heartland shops online
The heartland shops in Chong Pang City, a neighbourhood centre in Yishun, might seem like traditional ones.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore Budget 2020: Aviation sector to get $112m package to tide over coronavirus outbreak; Changi Airport to get property tax rebate
Help will be provided for a six-month period. Changi Airport will also get a 15 per cent property tax rebate.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Man who unlawfully flew drone near Singapore Flyer during last year’s NDP fined $2,500
A full-time national serviceman (NSF) who unlawfully flew a drone near the Singapore Flyer at last year’s National Day Parade (NDP) was fined $2,500 on Tuesday (Feb 18).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Grab ties up with pilotless air travel firm to conduct feasibility study in South-east Asia
Ride-hailing firm Grab and German air mobility start-up Volocopter will conduct a joint feasibility study to explore the prospect of offering airborne rides in South-east Asia.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Eagle Hospitality Trust posts Q4 DPS 24.4% below IPO forecast
Eagle Hospitality Trust (EHT) posted a distribution per stapled security (DPS) of 1.179 US cents for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 24.4 per cent lower than its initial public offering (IPO) forecast of 1.56 US cents.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: Office floor at Ngee Ann City cordoned off after DBS staff working there infected
The man is the second employee from the bank to be infected and is a close contact of the first case, DBS said.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Commentary: Disruptive tech is coming for COVID-19 threat, but needs more funding
Artificial intelligence has shown a potential to be a game-changer this coronavirus outbreak.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

COVID-19 outbreak: What you need to know about the Public Health Preparedness Clinics
About 900 general practitioner (GP) clinics will be reactivated as Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) starting Tuesday (Feb 18), to care for patients with respiratory symptoms in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

SIA makes changes to top posts; seen as grooming next-gen leaders
IN A move aimed at succession planning, Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced a management shuffle on Monday, which included promoting two airline veterans seen as potential frontrunners for the top job in the future.
— The Business Times

Virus’ impact on new home sales expected to be short-term; demand could pick up in H2
AFTER the year-end holiday season, developers posted their best January private home sales figure in seven years.
— The Business Times

Ex-policewoman jailed 2 weeks for maid abuse
A police sergeant repeatedly abused her domestic helper and assaulted the Indonesian woman just two weeks after she started working for the household.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Ridiculously cheerful pomeranian at Farrer Park MRT looks overjoyed to tag along with owner
Most dog owners probably have to leave their furkids alone at home at times despite knowing that they will very much prefer to tag along.
— Mothership

Babysitter on trial for allegedly giving sleeping drug and other ‘poisons’ to 2 babies under her care
A babysitter is on trial after she allegedly administered an assortment of medication or poisons, including those used to treat insomnia and anxiety disorders, to two babies under her care.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Three-year-old boy found dead at foot of Ang Mo Kio HDB block
A three-year-old boy was found dead at the foot of an HDB block in Ang Mo Kio on Tuesday morning (Feb 18).
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

 

Feature photo Malay Language Academy

This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo focuses on International Mother Language Day, February 21.

 

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).

 

 

About Singapore morning news.

Singapore morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Singapore English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Singapore English language news today.

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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.

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