World

Select’s editorial team works independently to review financial products and write articles we think our readers will find useful. We may receive a commission when you click on links for products from our affiliate partners. Managing your finances as a college student is often easier said than done. You may find yourself trying to balance the various expenses of attending school (paying for textbooks, meal plans, supplies and commuting) on a limited budget without a lot of guidance. Sometimes, it can be hard to know where to even start. Making a habit of saving, investing and budgeting as early as possible can help get you on the road to financial flexibility. Having an emergency fund, for example, will allow you to cover unexpected expenses that pop up in everyday life, from car repairs ...

SINGAPORE: Mediacorp has said that it hires on merit while also rejecting claims that its editor-in-chief made a comment suggesting the skin colour of potential presenters is a factor in decision making. The national broadcaster was responding to comments made by former BBC presenter and producer Sharanjit Leyl in a BBC radio programme about what she said were her experiences in Singapore trying to “get my foot in the door at the local news broadcaster”. Ms Leyl’s segment was part of the programme From Our Own Correspondent, which was aired on Saturday (Aug 7). She said in the programme that she had “confronted” the man who runs the newsroom of that TV channel "who ironically happens to be Indian Singaporean" about why there were so few Indian or Malay anchors presenting its programmes....

ZURICH :German engineering and technology company Siemens raised its profit guidance on Thursday for the third time this year on the back of a post-pandemic surge in demand. The trains-to-industrial software maker is seeing a broad-based increase in demand as customers around the world rebuild their inventories and vaccination campaigns have accelerated the economic recovery. The Munich company said orders surged 47per cent, driven by a strong upswing in areas like automotive, machine building and electronics, while previously hard-hit aerospace and defence sectors were showing signs of improvement. Siemens raised its profit guidance again after beating forecasts for sales, profit and orders. "In the third quarter, once again we delivered – with strong and profitable growth in all busi...

MUMBAI : India's trade with Afghanistan has dried up as borders and banks have closed since the Taliban took over the country, but industry officials said that the disruption was temporary and that it would be business as usual soon. New Delhi is one of the leading suppliers of essential commodities to Afghanistan, which exports mainly dry fruits to India. Shipments between the two countries were delayed or disrupted after Taliban insurgents started making military advances earlier this month, leading to the fall of the capital Kabul on Sunday, industry officials said. "There is a temporary glitch in trade as Afghanistan is witnessing a transition of power. But within a few days trade will restart," said Rahil Shaikh, managing director of Mumbai-based MEIR Commodities, which exports sug...

NEW YORK :Oil prices fell over 2per cent to a three-week low on Monday, extending last week's steep losses on the back of a firmer U.S. dollar and concerns that new coronavirus-related restrictions in Asia, especially China, could slow a global recovery in fuel demand. A United Nations panel's dire warning on climate change added to the gloomy mood after fires in Greece razed homes and forests and parts of Europe suffered deadly floods last month. Brent futures fell US$1.66, or 2.4per cent, to settle at US$69.04 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude lost US$1.80, or 2.6per cent, to settle at US$66.48. Those were the lowest closes for both benchmarks since July 19. In intraday trade, WTI fell to its lowest level since May. "Crude prices are declining as a slowdown in ...

SINGAPORE: More thundery showers are expected in the first half of August 2021 compared to the last two weeks, said the Meteorological Service Singapore on Monday (Aug 2). During the next two weeks, the prevailing southwest monsoon conditions are expected to persist over Singapore and the surrounding region, with low-level winds forecast to continue blowing from the southeast or southwest. As the monsoon rain band is forecast to lie close to the Equator, more rainfall over the equatorial Southeast Asia region is expected. On most days in the fortnight, short thundery showers are expected between the late morning and afternoon over parts of the island. The thundery showers could be heavy due to "strong day-time heating of land areas coupled with convergence of winds over Singapore and t...

WASHINGTON: The US Senate voted to advance a historic, trillion-dollar infrastructure package late Wednesday (Jul 28), a breakthrough after weeks of often-bitter negotiations on a Bill that President Joe Biden said could "transform America". The deal, if passed by Congress and signed into law, would pump historic levels of federal funding into fixing US roads, bridges and waterways, ensuring broadband internet for all Americans and expanding clean energy programs. The bipartisan measure passed 67-32, with 17 Republicans joining all 50 Democrats to formally begin debate on the Bill. The plan, part of Biden's sweeping domestic agenda, includes around US$550 billion in new spending. It came together despite a near collapse of the volatile talks, which Biden and his Democrats wanted to see ...

HAVANA : Cubans on Sunday celebrated their 14th place showing in the Olympics' medal ranking, hailed their gold medal winners and said goodbye to the Games that provided a welcome diversion from the many challenges they face. On the last day of the Games boxer Andy Cruz won Cuba’s seventh Olympic gold, surpassing its five titles at the Games in Rio de Janeiro (2016) and London (2012), as well as the three golds won in Beijing (2008). State-run television broadcast much of the Games with a 13 hour time difference, forcing residents to watch their champions in the early hours of the morning. Friends Victor Montiel and Pavel Ortega laughed upon recalling when Montiel, 61, called Ortega, 46, at 2am after boxer Julio Cesar La Cruz won the gold. "What happened, you scared me," a sleeping Ort...

NEW YORK :Oil prices fell on Thursday after the International Energy Agency (IEA) said the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus would slow the recovery of global oil demand. Brent crude futures fell 13 cents to settle at US$71.31 a barrel. Earlier, Brent hit a session high of US$71.90. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 16 cents to settle at US$69.09 a barrel. The international energy watchdog's monthly report said rising demand for oil reversed course in July and was set to proceed more slowly for the rest of the year after the latest wave of COVID-19 infections prompted countries to bring in restrictions again. "Growth for the second half of 2021 has been downgraded more sharply, as new COVID-19 restrictions imposed in several major oil consuming countries, parti...

SINGAPORE: United States Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Singapore and Vietnam in a fortnight's time, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday (Aug 3), adding that such high-level visits to the region are "greatly valued". Ms Harris' visit to Singapore, made at the invitation of Mr Lee, was announced last week. It will be her first official visit to the country. Singapore is "glad" that the US is "actively visiting" Asia-Pacific countries at a high level, said Mr Lee in his opening remarks at the virtual Aspen Security Forum on Tuesday. He noted the recent visits of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to Japan and South Korea, as well as Mr Austin's visits to Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines. "Such high-level visits are greatly...