Singapore

J&K: Seminar on Disaster Management and Community Resilience held at Srinagar’s Amar Singh College
Asia, Singapore

J&K: Seminar on Disaster Management and Community Resilience held at Srinagar’s Amar Singh College

In the back drop of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which emphasizes on the empowerment of local communities to mitigate and prevent loss of life and property, Amar Singh College in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar city organized a seminar on ‘Disaster Management and Community Resilience’.The seminar was organized by the Department of Geography in collaboration with the debates and seminars committee of the college.Prof Shujat Ahmad Banday, Head, Department of Geography laid emphasis on the preventive measures of disasters and natural calamities. He argued that use of planning and application of preventive technologies can be helpful in the prevention of life and property.Prof. Bashir Ahmad Rather, Principal of the college, who presided over the seminar, in his pres...
J&K govt withdraws 30% fare hike on public transport
Asia, Singapore

J&K govt withdraws 30% fare hike on public transport

The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Government has withdrawn 30 per cent fare hike on public transport in the union territory which was earlier imposed in view of the coronavirus pandemic.Government has accorded sanction to the withdrawal of “30 percent of fare hike on authorized fare” ordered vide government order no: 30 JK (TR) of 2020 dated 22-06-2020 in view of restrictions imposed on seat capacity of stage carriage passenger vehicles due to covid-19 pandemic, an order said.“Only authorized fare (charged prior to the issuance of government order number 31: JK (TR) of 2020 dated 22-06-2020) shall be charged from the passengers by the operators of stage carriage passenger vehicles in the Union Territory,” the order read.“Any violation of this order shall strictly be dealt with under the prov...
12 new imported COVID-19 cases in Singapore, largest increase in more than a week
Asia, Singapore, World

12 new imported COVID-19 cases in Singapore, largest increase in more than a week

SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 12 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday (Nov 22), all of which were imported infections, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). This is the largest increase in infections since Nov 13, when 12 imported cases were reported as well. No locally transmitted cases were reported for the 12th consecutive day. All the imported COVID-19 cases were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, MOH said. They were asymptomatic, and detected from proactive screening and surveillance, the ministry added. Of the 12 cases, three are Singapore permanent residents who returned from India. Two other cases also arrived from India, a dependent's pass holder and a student's pass holder. Five are work permit holders currently employed in Singapore who arrived from the Philippi...
Former Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min joins car rental firm Lumens as senior adviser
Singapore, World

Former Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min joins car rental firm Lumens as senior adviser

SINGAPORE: Former Senior Minister of State for Transport and Member of Parliament Lam Pin Min has joined Lumens, a private car rental company, as a senior adviser. Dr Lam was part of the People’s Action Party team that lost to the Workers' Party in the newly formed Sengkang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) at the Jul 10 General Election. He was previously an MP for Sengkang West Single Member Constituency. On Tuesday (Oct 27), Dr Lam said he was “pleased” to join Lumens in a Facebook post. “I am glad to have met the motivated and professional team this morning to better understand their vision, aspiration and challenges in today’s increasingly complex environment,” Dr Lam said. “And I look forward to working with the team to advance Lumens’ business development and growth ...
Commentary: No worker is untrainable. Employers have to step up to help
Market, Singapore, World

Commentary: No worker is untrainable. Employers have to step up to help

The words 'upskill' and 'retrain' accompany almost every report on jobs. PeopleSearch’s Jaime Lim weighs in on how companies can work with employees who find it a struggle. SINGAPORE: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to batter the economy, the threat to jobs remains formidable. According to the Ministry of Manpower, retrenchments in the second quarter more than doubled to 8,130 from the first quarter figure of 3,220. Global economic uncertainties are likely to continue weighing down the labour market for the rest of the year. As displaced workers struggle to take their next steps, the Government has been substantially boosting its training support programmes. Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced a six-month extension of the Enhanced Training Support Package to...
Stanford University enlists Kashmiri among top scientists
Asia, Singapore, USA

Stanford University enlists Kashmiri among top scientists

Bringing laurels to Kashmir, a young scientist, Dr Ahsanulhaq Qurashi has been enlisted in the top two percent scientists of 2020 by Stanford University.The list has been compiled on the basis of “multiple citation indicators and their composite across scientific disciplines.”Hailing from Karnah area of Kupwara district in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Qurashi was listed in energy discipline. His major research work is based on developing new materials for clean energy generation and storage, environment, and biomedical applications.Dr Qurashi completed his PhD in Nanotechnology, in 2008, from Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea and later completed his two-year post-doctoral fellowship from Toyama University, Toyama, Japan. He joined as an Assistant Profe...
Philippines braces for another cyclone, after typhoon kills 20
Singapore, World

Philippines braces for another cyclone, after typhoon kills 20

MANILA: Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday (Nov 2) warned of another potentially damaging cyclone approaching the country, as the death toll from the world's strongest typhoon of the year rose to 20. Typhoon Goni, which battered provinces south of the capital Manila on Sunday with gusts of up to 310kmh, is the 18th to hit the Philippines this year and one of the strongest typhoons since Haiyan killed more than 6,300 people in 2013. The country's disaster agency on Monday said 20 people had been killed in Albay and Catanduane provinces, up from the 16 it had previously reported. Officials said a forcible evacuation of more than 345,000 people had averted more deaths. The remains of a truck submerged in mudflow from Mayon Volcano triggered by heavy rains from Typhoon Gon...
Japan hopes RCEP deal pushes Biden and U.S. to rejoin trade frameworks
Asia, China, Singapore, World

Japan hopes RCEP deal pushes Biden and U.S. to rejoin trade frameworks

The long-awaited free trade agreement signed Sunday between 15 Asia-Pacific countries after eight years of talks reflect their determination to strengthen economic unity and promote free trade, regardless of political differences, as questions loom over how U.S. President-elect Joe Biden will engage with the region. Japan hopes the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which includes China and South Korea and represents 30% of the world’s trade and population, will encourage the United States to return to a multilateral trade framework. “Regarding RCEP, it may create discussions in the United States, such as ‘is it okay that we are sitting out when a free trade network is created in the Indo-Pacific?'” a senior Japanese diplomat said. The Trans-Pacific Partnership had been promot...
PM Lee says Singapore to contribute US$100,000 to COVID-19 ASEAN fund, hails RCEP signing as ‘major achievement’
China, Singapore, World

PM Lee says Singapore to contribute US$100,000 to COVID-19 ASEAN fund, hails RCEP signing as ‘major achievement’

related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery. 2 related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery. SINGAPORE: Singapore will contribute US$100,000 to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund as the region continues to work together to combat the pandemic, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday (Nov 12). Speaking at the ASEAN Summit, which is being held via video conference, Mr Lee also called the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) later in the week a “major achievement”. “The RCEP affirms ASEAN’s collective commitment to economic integration and to an inclusive, open and rules-based multilateral trading system,” Mr Lee said. The trade pact includes the 10-member ASEAN bloc, along with Chin...
Australia may open borders to Asia as it records third day without local COVID-19 case
Asia, China, Singapore, World

Australia may open borders to Asia as it records third day without local COVID-19 case

SYDNEY: Australia is considering opening its borders to Asian countries, including parts of China, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday (Nov 10), as Canberra seeks to revive an economy ravaged by COVID-19. Australia in March shut its borders to all non-citizens and permanent residents, though in October, Canberra allowed New Zealand residents to enter. Internal travel is limited, although those restrictions are scheduled to be removed by the end of the year. Morrison ruled out entry from the United States or Europe, but said Australia may allow people from low-risk places such as Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and even provinces in China. "We ... are looking at what alternative arrangements could be had to channel visitors through appropriate quarantine arrangements for low-risk ...