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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: Even as the country tackles the immediate challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, Singapore must look further ahead and invest in areas that develop its “intangible strengths”, its infrastructure, as most of all, its people and businesses, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing. Mr Chan was speaking on Sunday (Jun 14) in the fourth of a series of six national broadcasts by Cabinet ministers laying out the nation’s plans for the future. The first of these speeches was delivered by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Jun 7. SINGAPORE’S INTANGIBLE STRENGTHS Noting the Future Economy Council, formed in ...

SINGAPORE: Singapore Pools will resume online sports betting from Monday and online horse wagering for overseas races from Wednesday, said the gaming operator on Sunday (Jun 14). Its branches, authorised retailers, Livewire venues and off-course betting centres will remain closed, "in line with the Government’s phased approach for safe reopening and resumption of business activities", said Singapore Pools in a press release. Lottery draws, such as 4D, TOTO and Singapore Sweep, will also continue to be suspended. "Customers who are holding on to tickets for postponed draws are advised to retain their tickets for upcoming draws," said Singapore Pools. Prize payment services also remain suspended. An announcement will be made for the extension of eligible prize-winning tickets for...

TAIPEI: Taiwan said on Thursday (Jun 18) it will set up a dedicated office to help those thinking of fleeing Hong Kong as Beijing tightens its grip on the former British colony. Months of anti-government protests in Hong Kong won widespread sympathy in democratic Taiwan, which has welcomed those who have already moved to the island and expects more to come. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen last month became the first government leader anywhere to pledge measures to help Hong Kong people who leave due to what they see as tightening Chinese controls, including new national security legislation, smothering their democratic aspirations. China denies stifling Hong Kong's freedoms and has condemned Tsai's offer, while pushing ahead with the new legislation. Taiwan's China-policy making Main...

RIYH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (Jun 23) said only around 1,000 pilgrims of various nationalities already in the kingdom will be allowed to perform a dramatically scaled-down Haj, as it battles a coronavirus surge. The decision to exclude pilgrims outside Saudi Arabia, a first in the kingdom's modern history, sparked disappointment among Muslims worldwide even as many accepted it was necessary due to the health risks involved. The reduced number is a far cry from the 2.5 million who attended the five-day ritual last year and it remains unclear what the selection process will be for this year's Haj, scheduled for the end of July. "The number of pilgrims will be around 1,000, maybe less, maybe a little more," HajMinister Mohammad Benten told reporters in Riyadh. "The number won't be in...

U.S. legislation introduced on Tuesday would create a taxpayer-backed insurance program to protect businesses from revenue losses during future pandemics and require insurers to pay a slice of the claims. REUTERS: U.S. legislation introduced on Tuesday would create a taxpayer-backed insurance program to protect businesses from revenue losses during future pandemics and require insurers to pay a slice of the claims. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat from New York, would provide up to US$750 billion in taxpayer funds to pay insurance claims for business loss revenue during future pandemics. Insurers would first have to pay out a total of US$250 million in losses, according to the bill. Insurers are turning their focus to future pandemics after facing laws...

KUALA LUMPUR: Two Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leaders aligned to party founder Mahathir Mohamad have been removed from their posts. In letters dated Jun 2 and signed by party president Muhyiddin Yassin, Mr Marzuki Yahya and Mr Akramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi were informed that they have been relieved of their duties as Penang chief and supreme council member respectively. This came after Dr Mahathir and four others had their memberships nullified last week, following their decision not to sit with the newly formed Perikatan Nasional (PN) government headed by Mr Muhyiddin in the parliament sitting on May 18. However, Dr Mahathir had disputed the legitimacy of the termination and insisted that he is still the party chairman. Similarly, Mr Marzuki maintained that he is s...

My junior and senior years in high school were 1968 and 1969; five decades later, I can still remember some of the main events of that era: the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy, the bombing of Cambodia, the Apollo 8 spaceflight that orbited the moon, and Woodstock, which I pleaded with my parents to let me attend. (They said no.) In my personal life, I remember playing on the basketball team, buying my first car, working in my family’s corner grocery store and wishing I had the nerve to ask certain girls out on a date. Here’s what I don’t remember: the pandemic of 1968-1969. And yet there was one. It was called the H3N2 virus — less formally, the Hong Kong flu — and it took a significant toll. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that 1 m...

Kevin O'Leary: Now is the time to start your business Lately, when Kevin O'Leary is asked the question, "Is now a good time to start a business?" he replies, "Yes, it is!" O'Leary says because so many people have time to sit and think, it's a wonderful time to start a business leveraging the growing popularity of online services.