World

Commentary: Singapore needs better public opinion polls to sharpen focus for national agenda
3Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
China, Market, Singapore, World

Commentary: Singapore needs better public opinion polls to sharpen focus for national agenda

In a world of rapid seismic changes, we would need regular, published polls on public sentiments regarding policy matters to understand emerging gaps, says SUSS’ Leong Chan-Hoong. SINGAPORE: A new Cabinet was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday (Jul 25), with key ministries shored up with new faces from this election that would bring to bear their experience in public engagement and from the private sector. The new Cabinet has their job cut out for them. Singapore is now in the throes of a worldwide economic recession. COVID-19 has disrupted our strategic advantage in aviation, tourism and as a regional business hub. Gross domestic product (GDP) has contracted by 0.3 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2020, while the second quarter saw a deeper dec...
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UK transport minister: ‘It is now safe to return to work’
2Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
China, World

UK transport minister: ‘It is now safe to return to work’

LONDON: Britain's government is urging people to return to their offices and workplaces to help the economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, transport minister Grant Shapps said on Friday (Aug 28). "Our central message is pretty straightforward: We are saying to people it is now safe to return to work," he told LBC radio. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will launch a campaign extolling the virtues of returning to the office while a new online tool will help people avoid the most crowded trains and buses, a report in The Telegraph newspaper said. According to the Centre for Cities think tank, only 17 per cent of workers in British cities had returned to their workplaces by early August. Last month Johnson encouraged people working from home to get back to their workplaces to help th...
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Don’t rely on a second stimulus check: How to manage your money during the coronavirus pandemic
2Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Market, World

Don’t rely on a second stimulus check: How to manage your money during the coronavirus pandemic

Millions of Americans who expected to receive a second stimulus check amid the continued economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic may not see the $1,200 for some time, if ever. With negotiations ending in a standstill as Congress left for summer recess until early September, Americans likely won't receive any sort of stimulus money until October at the very earliest — and only if Congress and the White House can agree on a deal. The House and Senate have another big piece of legislation on their plate when they return: the September 30 deadline for deciding the federal budget for the next fiscal year. That doesn't leave a whole lot of time for coronavirus relief talks Whatever happens, it's not a great idea to count on receiving this windfall of cash. CNBC Select has rounded up some ...
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Targeted measures needed to help different types of companies, says Chan Chun Sing
2Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Market, Singapore, World

Targeted measures needed to help different types of companies, says Chan Chun Sing

SINGAPORE: Support measures must be “targeted” in order to help the different types of businesses survive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing on Thursday (Aug 13). Speaking during an interview on CNA’s Asia First, he said there are three different types of companies. The first type refers to those that continue to see a growing market despite the pandemic-fuelled downturn, such as those in the biopharma and precision engineering industries. The second category includes those in sectors such as retail, and food and beverage where demand has shrunk temporarily but will eventually recover. The third type of companies has been the hardest hit, according to Mr Chan, as “demand is not likely to come back in the short to medium term”. Thi...
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US consumer prices push higher; high unemployment likely to keep lid on inflation
2Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

US consumer prices push higher; high unemployment likely to keep lid on inflation

WASHINGTON: U.S. consumer prices rose more than expected in July, with a measure of underlying inflation increasing by the most in 29-1/2 years amid broad gains in the costs of goods and services. The report from the Labor Department on Wednesday, however, probably does not mark the start of worrisome inflation, and the Federal Reserve is likely to continue pumping money into the economy to aid the recovery from the COVID-19 recession. The jump in prices is likely an unwinding of sharp declines experienced when nonessential businesses were shuttered in mid-March to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The higher prices further dispel fears of deflation, a decline in the general price level that is harmful during a recession as consumers and businesses may delay purchases in anticipati...
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New SCDF vehicle, dubbed ‘first in the world’, can treat first responders with signs of heat injury
2Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Singapore, World

New SCDF vehicle, dubbed ‘first in the world’, can treat first responders with signs of heat injury

SINGAPORE: Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) firefighters battling a raging industrial blaze can spend hours doing backbreaking work while enduring intense heat. Their body temperatures spike, not helped by the bulky protective equipment they have to wear. These responders work in 30- to 40-minute shifts before rotating with another team. This is when they remove their gear, have a drink and rest under shade. But because they are so acclimatised to the heat, they might not realise their body temperatures have hit alarming levels. Some can exceed 39.5 degrees Celsius, putting them at a higher risk of heat stroke. Left unchecked, heat injuries can have serious consequences, including multiple organ failure and death. The key is to reduce the body temperature as quickly as possib...
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Hong Kong activist warns West to shun Chinese technology ties
2Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

Hong Kong activist warns West to shun Chinese technology ties

ROME: Chinese businesses like Huawei Technologies pose a threat to the West, Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law said on a visit to Italy on Tuesday (Aug 25), shortly before the Italian foreign minister was due to meet China's top diplomat. Law, a former legislator, left Hong Kong last month after China imposed a new national security law on the territory that has been heavily criticised by the West. Law spoke to reporters in Rome shortly before Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio was due to meet Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi, with the pair expected to discuss the roll out of new generation 5G technology in Italy. Italy has not joined the United States in imposing restrictions on Huawei, but the company was excluded from a recent Telecom Italia tender to supply technology for ...
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Malaysia should not be ‘dragged and trapped’ between superpowers in South China Sea dispute: Hishammuddin
1Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
China, World

Malaysia should not be ‘dragged and trapped’ between superpowers in South China Sea dispute: Hishammuddin

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia must ensure it is not “dragged and trapped” in a geopolitical tussle between superpowers in its efforts to resolve disputes over the South China Sea, its Minister for Foreign Affairs Hishammuddin Hussein said on Wednesday (Aug 5). Mr Hishammuddin was speaking in parliament, answering questions from Members of Parliament (MPs) on the status of China’s demands for territory in the South China Sea and how this impacts Malaysia’s security and sovereignty. He outlined that his ministry is keen on resolving the dispute constructively through “appropriate diplomatic negotiations”, and highlighted two main issues facing Malaysia. “Firstly I do not want Malaysia to be dragged and trapped in a geopolitical tussle between superpowers,” said Mr Hishammuddin. “We must preven...
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Jobless because of SARS, she built a thriving hostel. Now with COVID-19, it’s closing
1Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Market, Singapore, USA, World

Jobless because of SARS, she built a thriving hostel. Now with COVID-19, it’s closing

Last month, Viji Jagadeesh had only eight guests at Mitraa Inn, not even enough to cover the Internet bill. CNA Insider looks at how hostels like hers could face a wipe-out, in a series on micro SMEs beaten down or changed drastically by the coronavirus pandemic. SINGAPORE: During the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, Viji Jagadeesh lost her job when the accounting firm she was working in struggled with poor business. After being jobless for more than a year, she started a small outfit with 12 beds, offering short-term rental to budget travellers. Three years later, Viji opened hostel Mitraa Inn with 60 beds, riding the low-cost aviation boom which saw a spike in budget travellers in Singapore. Her business flourished and, over the years, became one of the ...
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UAE ends boycott of Israel, permits economic and financial deals
1Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

UAE ends boycott of Israel, permits economic and financial deals

A cargo plane operated by Etihad Airways prepares to land at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on June 9, 2020. The United Arab Emirates flew its first publicly announced flight to Israel on May 20, when Etihad sent medical supplies to help Palestinians cope with the coronavirus. The president of the United Arab Emirates has issued a decree canceling a law on boycotting Israel and allowing trade and financial agreements between the two countries, the UAE official news agency WAM reported on Saturday. The decree from UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan aims at "supporting bilateral cooperation in order to arrive at (the establishment) of bilateral relations," the agency said. The announcement comes as El Al Airlines plans to operate Israel's first direct flight between Tel ...
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