Singapore morning news for June 8

Singapore morning news for June 8
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Singapore morning newsCircuit breaker sends April retail sales into sharpest fall in 30 years
SINGAPORE’S retail sales tumbled 40.5 per cent year on year in April – the sharpest fall in more than three decades – triggered by “circuit-breaker” measures implemented between April 7 and June 1 to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
— The Business Times

Parliament passes Fortitude Budget, 4th package of COVID-19 relief measures this year
Singapore may take years to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and must work to prevent a “COVID generation” of workers and students in Singapore, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Friday (Jun 5) as he wrapped up the debate on the Fortitude Budget.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Resident unemployment rate rose to 3.3 per cent in March, highest in over a decade: Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat
Singapore’s resident unemployment rate rose to 3.3 per cent in March this year – the highest since December 2009 according to preliminary estimates, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.
— The Online Citizen

Singapore reports 383 new COVID-19 cases, including 14 community cases
Singapore reported 383 new COVID-19 cases as of noon on Sunday (Jun 7), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its daily preliminary update.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

COVID-19: Private car inspections to resume from Jun 8
Private car owners will be able to take their vehicles for inspection from Monday (Jun 8) as economic activities resume in phases, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a news release on Friday.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Good progress in virus fight, with one of world’s lowest fatality rates
With a fatality rate that is one of the world’s lowest and new cases in the community coming down, Singapore has made good progress in the fight against the coronavirus.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19: Govt developing wearable contact tracing device, may be distributed to everyone in Singapore
The Government is developing and will soon roll out a portable and wearable contact tracing device, Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation initiative Vivian Balakrishnan told Parliament on Friday (Jun 5).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

SIA rolls out enhanced COVID-19 safety measures as travel set to take off again
Enhanced safety measures for Singapore Airlines (SIA), SilkAir and Scoot flights are being rolled out to protect passengers and crew amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the airlines announced on Sunday (Jun 7).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

About 3,800 companies ceased operations in April, more to follow in the coming months: Chee Hong Tat
Speaking in Parliament on Friday (5 June), Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat said that about 3,800 companies closed down in April, which is nearly equivalent to the average of 3,700 recorded in the same month over the past five years.
— The Online Citizen

Rise in US-China tensions has created a more dangerous world for Singapore
Tensions between the United States and China have risen during the coronavirus pandemic, creating a more dangerous world for Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Consider charging tenants a share of income instead of fixed rent
Instead of fixed monthly rents, landlords can charge tenants based on their gross turnovers (GTOs) during this downturn and earn themselves some goodwill.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

More than 3,900 COVID-19 patients discharged under new 21-day time-based criteria
More than 3,900 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals and community facilities between May 29 and Jun 2, after the Ministry of Health (MOH) revised its discharge criteria.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

PM Lee, Cabinet ministers to deliver series of national broadcasts on Singapore’s post-COVID-19 future
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, along with several Cabinet ministers, will deliver a series of national broadcasts from Jun 7 to Jun 20.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: New facility at Changi to house 1,700 more recovering cases
Changi Exhibition Centre has treated more than 6,000 Covid-19 patients since it was turned into a community care facility about a month ago, with more patients on the way.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore did not take in ‘large flows’ of Hong Kong deposits: MAS
THE Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Sunday stepped out to clarify that Singapore has not received “large flows” of bank deposits from Hong Kong to Singapore.
— The Business Times

Singapore considers tightening casino rules for customers to curb money laundering, terror financing
Singapore is considering tightening the due diligence process for customers at its casinos in an effort to prevent money laundering and financing terrorism, according to the Casino Regulatory Authority.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Economic transformation must speed up for Singapore’s survival beyond Covid-19 crisis
DESPITE Singapore’s best efforts to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of unemployed residents here could rise from about 73,000 in 2019 to more than 100,000 in 2020, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Friday.
— The Business Times

Mustafa Centre, Tampines Mall and Geylang Serai Market among places visited by COVID-19 cases
Mustafa Centre, Tampines Mall and Geylang Serai Market were on Sunday (Jun 7) added to the list of public places visited by COVID-19 cases during their infectious period.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore should not allow despair to prevail and celebrate NDP despite the difficulties, says Minister Ng Eng Hen
The National Day Parade (NDP) Funpack which each costs around $2.40 will be produced for 80 per cent of households by taking into account those who said that they do not need a funpack, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in Parliament on Friday (5 June).
— The Online Citizen

Four Budgets may help Singapore avoid output loss of 5 percentage points or S$23.4b: DPM Heng
SINGAPORE’S four Budgets this year may help it avoid an annual average output loss of five percentage points or S$23.4 billion, over 2020 and 2021, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Friday.
— The Business Times

A stronger and better Singapore will emerge from COVID-19 crisis despite ‘immense challenges’: PM Lee
The next few years will be disruptive and difficult, but Singapore will emerge stronger and better from the COVID-19 crisis, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Jun 7) in a televised address to the nation.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore must strengthen social compact, improve safety nets: PM Lee
THE government will think carefully about how to improve the country’s social safety nets beyond the Covid-19 crisis, as having sustainable social support will give people the confidence to cope in an uncertain environment and make changes to their lives.
— The Business Times

4 students and 1 school employee contract COVID-19; all had ‘low viral loads’: MOE
Four students and one non-teaching staff member have tested positive for COVID-19, as part of the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) extended surveillance testing.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Scoot passengers will not be allowed to choose seats
Scoot passengers are no longer allowed to pay to choose their seats.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19 case dies from blood clot in lung artery more than 2 weeks after recovery, discharge: MOH
A 41-year-old man died from complications due to COVID-19 more than two weeks after recovering from the disease and being discharged, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Saturday (Jun 6).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Starting salaries mostly holding steady though a few show drop
Fresh graduates who become fresh hires this year may find themselves earning less than newbies last year as employers grapple with the effects of Covid-19.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: More bank branches, post offices reopening with safety checks
Providers of essential services like banks and postal operator Singapore Post are gearing up to resume activities safely post-circuit breaker, with more branches reopening for business.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Singapore fishery ports to be consolidated amid review of fresh food wholesale industry
Singapore consumers will be able to buy wholesale seafood at a single location in several years’ time, amid a consolidation of the country’s fishery ports.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: 97% attendance for those rostered to return to class in Singapore
Schools in Singapore, from primary to junior college levels, experienced no drop in attendance as they reopened last Tuesday.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Coronavirus: Fewer SIA and SilkAir planes grounded, from 138 in late March to 94 now
As passenger flights slowly resume, SIA knows it is unlikely to be among the first few carriers to benefit because recovery is expected in the domestic air travel market first.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

COVID-19: PM Lee calls for unity, resilience to face ‘crisis of a generation’
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Jun 7) urged Singaporeans to be united and resilient in order for the country to tide over the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Imports of fresh food remained steady during circuit breaker
The amount of fresh food imported in April and last month did not change much compared with the same period last year and the year before, figures from the Singapore Food Agency showed.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

The government now wants to focus on a post COVID-19 future, but Singaporeans must still hold them to account over COVID-19 failures
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and cabinet ministers are speaking on a post COVID-19 future to Singaporeans in several national broadcasts starting 7 June.
— The Online Citizen

Most mosques to extend opening hours for five daily prayers as phased reopening continues
More than half of Singapore’s mosques will extend their operating hours to be open for the five daily prayers from next week, as part of progressive reopening plans amid the COVID-19 situation.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Coronavirus: Ridership doubles after circuit breaker measures eased
Even as trains and buses became noticeably more crowded on Tuesday after the Covid-19 circuit breaker measures were eased, public transport ridership during the morning rush hour was still at just 36 per cent of the levels prior to the coronavirus outbreak.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Launch of CareShield Life and MediSave Care delayed to end-2020 due to COVID-19
Long-term care support schemes CareShield Life and MediSave Care will be launched by end-2020, instead of mid-2020 as originally planned, said Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong on Friday (Jun 5).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Study loan repayments suspended for graduates, IHLs to provide free training modules
The Ministry of Education has suspended the repayment and interest for all study loans for a year, to give graduates peace of mind during their job search, said Minister for Education Ong Ye Kung in Parliament on Friday (Jun 5).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Rare sighting of large colony of flying foxes in Singapore on World Environment Day
World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 every year, and Singapore marked the occasion last Friday (June 5) with a rare sighting: A colony of large flying foxes soaring over the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

ST Engineering conducts ‘rigorous review’ of systems after data breach at US subsidiary
ST Engineering is conducting a rigorous review of its systems after a data breach at its US subsidiary VT San Antonio Aerospace, the company said on Sunday (Jun 7).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Diversifying operations and talent pool helps medtech firm find new income streams amid Covid-19
EAGER to tap Singapore’s growing reputation for healthcare innovation and to spread out risks amidst uncertainty elsewhere in the world, homegrown medtech firm Forefront Medical Technologies (FMT) made a concerted effort two years ago to diversify its product and service offerings.
— The Business Times

UOB seeks to maintain dividend policy despite Covid-19 woes
UNITED Overseas Bank (UOB) is targeting to maintain its 50 per cent dividend payout ratio this year amid the challenging business climate.
— The Business Times

Elderly man charged with refusing to comply with COVID-19 quarantine, saying doctor declared him ‘fit’
A 78-year-old man is accused of not complying with his quarantine order and hanging up repeatedly on officers who tried to serve the order.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Trimming of green verges to be stepped up as measures ease after circuit breaker
The National Parks Board (NParks) will gradually step up the trimming of green verges as measures are eased after the circuit breaker period, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for National Development Sun Xueling said in Parliament on Friday (Jun 5).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Organ transplants, donations hit by Covid-19
While urgent transplants are allowed, doctors had to make sure the organ is taken from someone who does not have Covid-19.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Contactless service and cleaning robots: Here’s what your next travel experience may be like
Imagine this – while sipping your welcome cocktail at a hotel lobby, you get surgical masks, gloves and hand sanitisers along with your room key.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Progress Singapore Party members shares reasons and hopes behind joining the party during Online MPS
On Thursday (4 June), Singapore newest political party Progress Singapore Party (PSP) conducted its second virtual Meet the People session via video conferencing tool Zoom.
— The Online Citizen

Tan Meng Wah urges Singaporeans to consider if 4G leaders work for the interests of Singapore as a whole, or are they working for interests of specific groups of people
As the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) conducted a Meet The People session online on Facebook Live, they asked the public to vote on the poll, asking the people if the Singaporean government handled the COVID-19 pandemic well.
— The Online Citizen

Shares in Sembcorp Marine, Sembcorp Industries remain halted for second day
Shares in Sembcorp Marine and Sembcorp Industries remained halted for a second day on Friday (Jun 5), prompting speculation among some analysts about a potential deal between the Singapore rigbuilder and its parent company.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

81-year-old man among 33 people arrested for illegal gambling activities
Thirty-three men, aged between 28 and 81, were arrested on Wednesday (Jun 3) during a police operation targeting illegal horse betting activities.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Blackface photograph from Raffles Institution highlights the racism and ignorance that is present at every level of our society
Playwright and writer Alfian Sa’at has drawn attention to a photograph taken in 2016 of a group of students from Raffles Institution doing “blackface” and holding up props like skin whitening kits and wads of cash in their version of a Slumdog Millionaire poster to celebrate the birthday of their Indian classmate.
— The Online Citizen

Motorist dies after accident along CTE
A 32-year-old man died following an accident along the Central Expressway (CTE) on Saturday (Jun 6) morning.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

 

 

Feature photo PwC Singapore
This week’s Singapore morning news feature photo focuses on World Blood Donor Day, June 14.

 

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.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Singapore daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Singapore news headlines and first paragraphs before 8.15am Singapore time.

We clearly identify the source of all the Singapore news headlines, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the news site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you too. If a website uses particularly invasive pop-up adverts, we’ll tell you.

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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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