Month: April 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
Legislative action may be taken to make sure landlords pass on rebates to tenants, says DPM Heng
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: The Government is prepared to take legislative action when necessary to ensure that the property tax rebates granted to commercial landlords are passed on to their tenants during the COVID-19 outbreak, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Wednesday (Apr 1). “I want to urge the landlords to not only pass on these
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
Gaming firm Razer to set up face mask manufacturing line in Singapore amid COVID-19 shortage
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Singapore gaming company Razer announced plans on Wednesday (Apr 1) to set up an automated face mask manufacturing line within 30 days to produce “a couple of million certified masks” each month. Razer CEO Tan Min-Liang announced the plans on his Facebook page at about 9am, calling on Singaporeans or Singapore companies to buy
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
China reports 36 new COVID-19 cases, all but one imported
News Business Article
BEIJING: China reported on Wednesday (Apr 1) a fall in new confirmed coronavirus cases, with almost all cases imported from overseas. China had 36 new cases on Tuesday, the National Health Commission said on Wednesday, down from 48 a day earlier. Advertisement Advertisement All but one of the cases were imported, bringing the total number
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
NTUC FairPrice closes Finest store at Bedok Mall for cleaning after employee contracts COVID-19
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: NTUC FairPrice Finest at Bedok Mall will be closed for three days starting from Wednesday (Apr 1), after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee has been quarantined and is being monitored by medical personnel. Advertisement Advertisement All employees who work in the Bedok Mall oulet have been put on leave of absence, said
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
China starts to report asymptomatic COVID-19 cases
News Business Article
BEIJING: Chinese health authorities began on Wednesday (Apr 1) reporting on asymptomatic cases of the coronavirus as part of an effort to allay public fears that people could be spreading the virus without knowing they are infected with it. China, where the coronavirus emerged late last year, has managed to bring its outbreak under control and
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
With Japan on brink of COVID-19 emergency, Tokyo might keep schools closed till May
News Business Article
TOKYO: Japan remains on the brink of a state of emergency as the rate of new COVID-19 cases accelerates across the country, its top government spokesman said on Wednesday (Apr 1), amid reports the capital may order public schools to stay closed for a second month. Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that controlling
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
COVID-19: Rise in Singapore’s locally transmitted and unlinked cases, Health Minister stresses importance of safe distancing
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: The number of locally transmitted and unlinked cases of COVID-19 in Singapore is increasing, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Tuesday (Mar 31), as he stressed the importance of taking safe distancing measures seriously. On average, there are 25 locally transmitted cases a day, Mr Gan said during a press conference that was
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
New Zealand waits to see if lockdown working as COVID-19 cases stay low
News Business Article
WELLINGTON: New Zealand on Wednesday (Apr 1) reported 61 new coronavirus cases, but said it was too early to assess if the lower number of cases this week meant the nationwide lockdown measures were working. The country was placed into a complete lockdown last Thursday, and a national emergency was declared, to beat the local transmission of
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
Keep global food supply chains intact: WTO, UN agencies
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GENEVA: Food supply chains must be protected from any trade-related measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, the heads of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and UN food and health agencies said on Tuesday (Mar 31), warning of possible shortages and price spikes. They voiced concern that disruptions to the movement of agricultural and food industry
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
HDB resale prices unchanged in Q1 after 2 quarters of increase
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Resale prices in the public housing market held steady in the first quarter of 2020 amid the COVID-19 outbreak, a contrast to the decline in the private property sector. The resale price index was 131.5, unchanged from the fourth quarter of last year, according to flash estimates released by the Housing & Development Board
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
From zero to hero: Italy’s Chinese help beat coronavirus
News Business Article
FLORENCE: In the storm of infection and death sweeping Italy, one big community stands out to health officials as remarkably unscathed – the 50,000 ethnic Chinese who live in the town of Prato. Two months ago, the country’s Chinese residents were the target of what Amnesty International described as shameful discrimination, the butt of insults
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
Finance Minister orders correction direction for Facebook user over supplementary Budget post
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat has instructed that a correction direction be issued to a Facebook user for a post about Singapore’s Resilience Budget, said the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office on Wednesday (Apr 1). The post by Facebook user “超静” (“tifinnytara”) contains “false statements concerning Singapore’s Resilience Budget (Supplementary
Written by Gabriel HerveyApril 1, 2020
Pet cat tests positive for COVID-19 in Hong Kong
News Business Article
HONG KONG: A pet cat has tested positive for the coronavirus in Hong Kong after its owner was confirmed with having the virus, the city’s Agricultural and Fisheries department said, cautioning that the animal has not shown any signs of the disease. In a notice late on Tuesday (Mar 31), the department said there is
Commentary: COVID-19 could shrink earnings of 2020 graduates for years to come
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee: Before the coronavirus pandemic forced businesses and schools to close, US high school and college students graduating in 2020 could have expected to enter the strongest job market in 50 years. Now, due to massive economic fallout, the Class of 2020 is at risk of graduating into a recession. Advertisement Advertisement This souring