Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Hyflux to hold scheme meetings on Apr 22 and 23 for creditors to vote on restructuring plan
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Embattled water treatment firm Hyflux will hold scheme meetings next month for different classes of creditors to vote on its restructuring plan, it announced in a bourse filing on Wednesday (Mar 18). The first scheme meeting on Apr 22 will start at noon for banks, medium-term noteholders, trade creditors and contingent creditors, while the
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Cruise passenger traffic in Singapore down 52% since COVID-19 outbreak; STB to give industry more support
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Cruise passenger traffic in Singapore has fallen by 52 per cent year-on-year since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak on Jan 23, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said as it pledged to give the industry more support. “The COVID-19 outbreak has had a serious impact on the cruise industry, both in Singapore and globally,” STB’s
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Congestion at JB checkpoint, shortage of taxis to Singapore as travellers cross Causeway ahead of Malaysia’s travel restrictions
News Business Article
JOHOR BAHRU: As the clock struck midnight on Tuesday (Mar 17), the cars stuck in the queue just outside the Johor Bahru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex broke into an orchestra of honking. They ran out of patience, as Malaysia’s COVID-19 restricted movement order, which bars citizens from leaving the country, came into effect for the
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
‘Do not travel overseas’: Australia raises restriction to highest level
News Business Article
SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday (Mar 18) strongly discouraged the country’s residents against all overseas travel as he declared a human biosecurity emergency and banned all non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people. The prime minister announced at a press conference what he called an “indefinite ban” on foreign travel. Advertisement
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Trump calls for national unity against coronavirus
News Business Article
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Mar 17) called for a unified national response to the coronavirus threat, after coming under fire for downplaying the pandemic and allowing states to go their own way. Trump’s call came as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the White House was presenting a massive economic stimulus plan to Congress
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
China expels US journalists in biggest crackdown in years
News Business Article
BEIJING: China on Wednesday (Mar 18) expelled American journalists at The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal in the Communist government’s most severe move against foreign media in recent memory. The drastic move came as the two powers are feuding over the deadly coronavirus pandemic, with President Donald Trump provocatively branding
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Commentary: World Cup 2034 may seem like a long shot but Singapore can surely get behind this dream
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: They have stopped walking over to my desk with their usual offering of snacks, and for that my colleagues have my gratitude. There’s a little wager I’ve taken up, to sculpt a six-pack from spare tyre, and the support and goodwill coming my way has been nothing short of sensational. This is – at
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Last commuters from JB enter Singapore ahead of COVID-19 travel restrictions | In pictures
News Business Article
Singapore One of the world’s busiest border crossings, the Causeway saw hours-long queues as people tried to enter Singapore from Johor Bahru in the final hours before Malaysia’s travel restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 came into force on Wednesday (Mar 18). A couple with a baby outside Singapore’s Woodlands Checkpoint shortly after midnight Wednesday
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
US man gets four-year prison sentence for spying for China
News Business Article
SAN FRANCISCO: A San Francisco tour operator who handled dead drops of sensitive information on behalf of Beijing’s Ministry of State Security was sentenced on Tuesday (Mar 17) to four years in prison for spying for China. Edward Peng Xuehua, a naturalise US citizen, was arrested in Hayward, California, in September for arranging transfers of money
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Australia, New Zealand cancel ANZAC Day events due to coronavirus
News Business Article
WELLINGTON: New Zealand and Australia has cancelled joint ANZAC Day services at Gallipoli this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, authorities said on Wednesday. The cancellation covers the ANZAC Dawn Service, the Australian Lone Pine Service and the New Zealand Service at Chunuk Bair, New Zealand said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement READ: New Zealand unveils
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Manchester bomber’s brother convicted over concert attack
News Business Article
LONDON: The brother of a suicide bomber who killed 22 people in the British city of Manchester was found guilty on Tuesday (Mar 17) of 22 counts of murder over the 2017 attack. Hashem Abedi was also convicted of one count of attempted murder and conspiring with his brother Salman to cause explosions at an
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Need for ‘global effort’ to tackle growing economic crisis brought on by COVID-19 outbreak: Lawrence Wong
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: A “global effort” is needed to tackle the growing economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak, in addition to coordinating public health measures, said Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong on Tuesday (Mar 17). Noting that countries around the world have been “realising the seriousness of the situation” and more are actively pursuing containment
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Singapore reports 23 more COVID-19 cases in new high, 17 imported
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 23 more cases of COVID-19 infection on Tuesday (Mar 17), bringing Singapore’s total to 266. This is the highest number of confirmed daily cases reported so far and the first time the number has breached 20. Of the new cases, 17 are imported. Advertisement Advertisement MOH added that five
Commentary: North Korea’s nuclear testing during COVID-19 outbreak multiplies South Korea’s headaches
BOSTON: South Korea has become one of the worst-hit countries outside of China by the coronavirus, with more than 8,000 cases and 70 deaths. South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in has faced severe criticism in recent weeks for his handling of the virus – an online petition on the Presidential Blue House website calling for his