World

New COVID-19 TraceTogether tokens to be manufactured and designed by two bidders: GovTech
30Aug By Desk TeamNo Comments
Singapore, World

New COVID-19 TraceTogether tokens to be manufactured and designed by two bidders: GovTech

SINGAPORE: The tender to design and manufacture subsequent batches of TraceTogether tokens has been awarded to two bidders, the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) said on Friday (Aug 21). The first bidder is a consortium comprising electronics distributor Siix Singapore and wireless connectivity solutions firm iWOW, and the second bidder is PCI, an electronics manufacturer which won the tender for the first batch of TraceTogether tokens. Each token is expected to cost about S$10, down from the S$20 in the first batch, with GovTech managing and pacing production of further batches based on demand. "Drawing from the experience gained in producing the initial batch, GovTech will work with both tenderers to review their designs to further reduce cost, while ensuring effectiveness of...
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EU wants to negotiate solution with US on aircraft subsidy row, Commission says
30Aug By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

EU wants to negotiate solution with US on aircraft subsidy row, Commission says

The European Union's executive on Thursday acknowledged the United States' decision not to exacerbate a 16-year-old dispute over aircraft subsidies by imposing fresh tariffs, and said it wanted to negotiate a solution to end the row. BRUSSELS: The European Union's executive on Thursday acknowledged the United States' decision not to exacerbate a 16-year-old dispute over aircraft subsidies by imposing fresh tariffs, and said it wanted to negotiate a solution to end the row. "The Commission acknowledges the decision of the US not to exacerbate the ongoing aircraft dispute by increasing tariffs on European products," a Commission spokesperson said, adding that the coronavirus pandemic had severely hit the aviation sector, making it even more urgent that the dispute is resolved. Both si...
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COVID-19: China face questions over ‘vaccinated’ workers sent to Papua New Guinea
30Aug By Desk TeamNo Comments
China, World

COVID-19: China face questions over ‘vaccinated’ workers sent to Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY: China faced demands on Thursday (Aug 20) to explain why a state-backed firm claimed it had vaccinated dozens of staff against the coronavirus before sending them back to work at a mine in Papua New Guinea. The China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) - which controls a major nickel mine in the country - warned local authorities that 48 staff who returned from China this month may test positive for the virus because they had received a vaccine. In response, Papua New Guinea authorities called for "immediate clarification" from Beijing and blocked a charter flight full of Chinese workers that was due to land on Thursday. The pandemic has disrupted operations at several lucrative mines in Papua New Guinea, one of the Pacific's poorest nations. While moving its staff i...
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Police arrest Thai activist Anon Nampa over rally calling for reform of monarchy
30Aug By Desk TeamNo Comments
USA, World

Police arrest Thai activist Anon Nampa over rally calling for reform of monarchy

BANGKOK: Police in Thailand said they had arrested human rights lawyer Anon Nampa for a third time this month on Tuesday (Aug 25), to charge him for sedition over his role in a political rally where calls were made for reforms to the country's powerful monarchy. “The police brought Anon to the station to read him the charges for his protests on Aug 10, and will question him before bringing him to court to file for detention,” Police Lieutenant General Amphol Buarabporn told Reuters. The rights lawyer will be held along with another political activist, Panupong Jadnok, who was arrested on Monday during a protest against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who first seized power in a 2014 coup. Protesters vowed to move ahead with a planned demonstration on Sep 19, the anniversary of a p...
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China denounces statement of ‘five eyes’ on Hong Kong as meddling
30Aug By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, USA, World

China denounces statement of ‘five eyes’ on Hong Kong as meddling

The Chinese embassy in Canada has denounced the five eyes alliance for their statement on Hong Kong government's disqualification of candidates and postponement of Legislative Council elections.On July 9, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States (the five eyes) had said that the disqualification of candidates and postponement of elections have undermined the democratic process that has been fundamental to Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.In a sharp response, the Chinese embassy in Canada, in a statement said, “…the foreign ministers of Canada and other countries made a statement which once again contained irresponsible comments on the Hong Kong affairs and amounted to gross interference in China's domestic affairs. China expresses its strong dissatisfac...
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Free lunch! Bosses lure bankers back where they can see them amid COVID-19
30Aug By Desk TeamNo Comments
Market, USA, World

Free lunch! Bosses lure bankers back where they can see them amid COVID-19

LONDON: Investment banks in London are trying to tempt more staff members into the office, laying on free food, Friday night drinks and other perks to lure bankers back where they can pass skills to others - and compliance departments can keep a closer eye on them. Mass remote-working has been largely successful for many financial firms, improving communications and sparing staff from long commutes during a near-global COVID-19 lockdown. But some firms are keen to reunite teams after the hiatus. In public, they tend to cite the importance of building teams, boosting morale and mentoring junior staff. "Relationship building and developing a knowledge base are important for new associates and others, and that's easier in the office," said Ram Nayak, Deutsche Bank's global head of fixe...
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Billionaire Fredriksen names Svelland head of holding firm Seatankers
30Aug By Desk TeamNo Comments
Market, World

Billionaire Fredriksen names Svelland head of holding firm Seatankers

Norwegian-born billionaire John Fredriksen appointed a hedge fund manager on Friday as next head of his family's key holding company, which controls assets ranging from oil tankers and rigs to real estate, fish farming and finance. OSLO: Norwegian-born billionaire John Fredriksen appointed a hedge fund manager on Friday as next head of his family's key holding company, which controls assets ranging from oil tankers and rigs to real estate, fish farming and finance. Fredriksen, 76, said Tor Andre Svelland, 53, will become chief executive of Seatankers Group, top shareholder of world number one salmon producer Mowi , tanker firm Frontline and offshore driller Seadrill . Seatankers also controls dry bulk shipper Golden Ocean and real estate firm Norwegian Property , as well as Fredriks...
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Cycling: Roglic fires Bernal Tour warning with Ain win
29Aug By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

Cycling: Roglic fires Bernal Tour warning with Ain win

LELEX: Primoz Roglic edged Tour de France holder Egan Bernal in a tight finish to clinch the second stage of the Tour de l'Ain on Saturday (Aug 8) exactly three weeks ahead of the start of this year's 'Grand Boucle'. Jumbo-Visma's Roglic, who won last year's Vuelta a Espana, also took the overall leader's jersey to press home his claims for the Tour which begins on Aug 29. Roglic paid tribute to his team-mates including Steven Kruijswijk, George Bennett and Tom Dumoulin, who all finished within the top 25. "It was a perfect day. The whole team did a really great job and I was super happy that I could finish it off," Roglic said. "It was definitely nice to see that other guys are also strong. We are here to find the right feelings and we are concentrating on that," the 30-year-old a...
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Indonesian teachers warn of new coronavirus clusters as schools reopen
29Aug By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

Indonesian teachers warn of new coronavirus clusters as schools reopen

JAKARTA: Indonesia's move to reopen schools in some areas risks creating new clusters of coronavirus cases, with at least 180 students and teachers infected since a new academic year started in July, a teachers' federation said on Thursday (Aug 13). The world's fourth-most populous country has allowed schools to reopen with limited capacity in "yellow" and "green" zones, with fewer reported cases and covering 43 per cent of the student population, according to government data. Parents can opt not to send their children to schools in these areas and extracurricular activities are not allowed. Heru Purnomo, the secretary general of The Federation of Indonesian Teachers Associations (FSGI), said distance learning was still preferable. "We've always sounded out our worries that schools...
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Are second $1,200 stimulus checks coming? Here’s what we know
29Aug By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

Are second $1,200 stimulus checks coming? Here’s what we know

Capitol Hill has come to a standstill following heated discussions last week on what to include in the next coronavirus stimulus package. One thing they did seem to agree on was another set of $1,200 checks to Americans, similar to the payments that went out this spring. While Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he wanted to start getting those second checks out this month, that seems more and more unlikely the longer that Congress fails to seal a deal. "What I would say to people is there is still a pretty good chance that you're going to get these payments," said Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. "But it's impossible to know when or how long it's going to take." Who could be included in the second $1,200 checks Both Senate Republicans and H...
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