Singapore

Former Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min joins car rental firm Lumens as senior adviser
25Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
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 ...
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Commentary: No worker is untrainable. Employers have to step up to help
25Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
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...
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Stanford University enlists Kashmiri among top scientists
24Nov mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
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...
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Philippines braces for another cyclone, after typhoon kills 20
22Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
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...
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Japan hopes RCEP deal pushes Biden and U.S. to rejoin trade frameworks
17Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
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...
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PM Lee says Singapore to contribute US$100,000 to COVID-19 ASEAN fund, hails RCEP signing as ‘major achievement’
16Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
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...
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Australia may open borders to Asia as it records third day without local COVID-19 case
14Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
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 ...
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Malaysia says aviation firms may need three years to recover from COVID-19
12Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, Market, Singapore, World

Malaysia says aviation firms may need three years to recover from COVID-19

KUALA LUMPUR: Airlines in Malaysia could take three years to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic, depending on the outbreak in the country and abroad, the transport ministry said. Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said earlier this week that in the Malaysian Aviation Commission's (MAVCOM) revised projections for passenger traffic this year, it expects passenger numbers to shrink as much as 75.6 per cent to 26.6 million, compared with the 109.2 million passengers recorded in 2019. "In this regard, airlines are expected to need a period of three years to fully recover the situation from the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, subject to the of the outbreak in the country and abroad," Wee said in a written parliamentary reply dated Monday (Nov 9). Airlines globally have taken a hit from ...
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Japan eases COVID-19 travel curbs for China, eight others
8Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, China, Singapore, World

Japan eases COVID-19 travel curbs for China, eight others

TOKYO: Japan has eased travel curbs for China, Australia, South Korea and six other countries and regions, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Friday (Oct 30), as Tokyo steps up efforts to revive its economy while preventing the spread of COVID-19. Japan lowered its infection risk advisory level for Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, New Zealand, Brunei and Vietnam, besides China, South Korea and Australia, to 2 from 3, telling its citizens to avoid non-urgent, non-essential trips. Under the infection risk advisory level of 3, the public are instructed not to take any trips. Singapore and Japan launched a reciprocal green lane to facilitate short-term essential business and official travel between the two countries on Sep 18. The business track will allow the safe resumption of cr...
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Borrowers to get more time to repay loans as MAS extends financial relief measures
5Nov By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, Singapore, World

Borrowers to get more time to repay loans as MAS extends financial relief measures

SINGAPORE: With many borrowers expected to continue to face financial issues amid a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is extending its support measures for various groups of borrowers, including allowing those with property loans to apply to temporarily reduce their monthly instalment payments. Those with renovation and student loans may also opt for a longer repayment period, while small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will get to partially defer principal payments for some loans and receive customised restructuring options. These were announced by the MAS on Monday (Oct 5) as the clock ticks down to the end of the relief measures on Dec 31 this year. Since April, companies and individuals hurt by the pandemic have been able to request to d...
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