Singapore morning news for October 25

Singapore on track to pursue industry 4.0 vision
SINGAPORE has been moving fast towards the achievement of industrial transformation.
– The Nation

60 electric nozzles worth S $ 50m to hit the road in 2020
Sixty-two-year-olds in the 2020s, providing the two-year-olds with the driver, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Wednesday (Oct. 24).
– Today Online

Malaysian national set to be hung this Friday in Singapore. Malaysian Ministers urge the Singapore Government to halt the execution.
In a day address, Minister Keong also called upon the Singapore Government to halt Prabu's execution.
– TOC

Changi Airport Group full-year net profit up 28% to S $ 849m
CHANGI Airport Group's net profit rose 28.3 per cent to S $ 849 million for the last financial year, which saw Changi Airport hitting record highs for passengers, concession sales and air freight throughput, its annual report on Wednesday revealed.
– The Business Times

6 MRT stations on EWL to close at 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays in November
SINGAPORE – Stations on a short stretch of the East-West Line will be closed earlier this year.
– Straits Times

60 electric nozzles worth S $ 50m to hit the road in 2020
Sixty-two-year-olds in the 2020s, providing the two-year-olds with the driver, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Wednesday (Oct. 24).
– Today Singapore

NTU scientists may have discovered new 'game-changing' treatment for Zika virus
SINGAPORE – Scientists from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have come up with a drug that could kill the mosquito-terminal Zika virus before severe infection sets in.
– Straits Times

Singapore ranks third in educational mobility, but gaps remain: Report
More than 55 percent of adults aged 26 years old and above in Singapore attained higher education than their parents.
– TodayOnline

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, US 'Pompeo Cat Asean, East Asia Summits
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Tuesday (Oct. 23), the State Department said.
– Straits Times

Study by NTU ranks Singapore as a second in terms of affordability out of 12 cities
Singapore ranked second in terms of affordability, across 12 major cities, which is measured as the second quintile household group, reported to the Public Transport Council (PTC) on Tuesday (23 October).
– TOC

iGTB Oxford School of Transaction Banking Huge Success on First-Time Visit to Asia
The Asian Tiger Singapore showed its success for growth and digital transformation when 50 participants representing 25 leading Asian banks attended the IGTB Oxford School of Transaction Banking, held at the Fullerton in Singapore – the first outside its home base, Oxford.
– AEC News Today / PR Newswire (media release)

Illegal medicines, weight-loss products worth $ 9,000 seized during Internet-based sting operation
Weight-loss tablets and illegal drugs to treat sleep disorders, worth a total of S $ 9,000, were among the world's largest Internet-based sting operations coordinated by the Interpol last week.
– TodayOnline

Oil sinks 5% on global equities slump
NEW YORK (REUTERS) – Oil prices plunged about 5 per cent on Tuesday (Oct 23) needed, easing concerns ahead of US sanctions on Iran.
– Straits Times

The digital divide is impeding development
For example, in July, Amazon sold more than 100 million products to customers worldwide during its annual Prime Day event, to US $ 4.2 billion, Coke Zero in Singapore, and toothbrushes in China.
– The Asean Post

For pharma, volatility and value are two sides of the same corner
For the month to July, Singapore's export-oriented drug industry is notched up double-digit growth, while July exports are strong.
– The Business Times

Osaka pines Singapore losses on serving woes
Naomi Osaka used to be a potent victim to the United States of America to win the WTA Finals, losing her round two round robin matches in tight three-setters.
– Reuters

Industry 4.0: Are businesses stepping up to be future-ready?
THE inaugural Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP), Hannover Messe event, concluded in Singapore recently. As business leaders, experts, government representatives, and other stakeholders. Industry 4.0, what emerged clear to all – including me as a panelist of the Asia Industry 4.0 Dialogue – was that technology adoption across Asia remained uneven.
– The Business Times

Man has almost $ 50,000 transferred without consent in phishing incident
SINGAPORE – A 22-year-old man had $ 49,500 transferred from his bank account to his account in a kidnapping scam.
– Straits Times

Singtel puts US $ 250m
SINGTEL will invest US $ 250 million in African telco Airtel Africa Ltd. in a bid to tap the continent's burgeoning use of mobile money and mobile wallets.
– The Business Times

Shielding Grab users hit by 'rain' over pricing, NTUC Income gives commuters payout when they hail wrinkles in rainy conditions
Anyone using ride-hailing services knows the curse of surge pricing all too well, but a new product aims to take some of the sting.
– Straits Times

Driverless hover-taxis to take off in Singapore
Test flights of a driverless hover-taxi will take place in Singapore next year, a German aviation firm said, the latest innovation to offer an escape from Asia's monster traffic jams.
– The Economic Times

Divorced woman must contribute to children's education
The Court of Appeal has ruled that it has been divulged to the extent of having sex when it comes to hearing it.
– Straits Times

Two men charged over grenades put in public spots
Two 58-year-old Singaporean men were taken to court yesterday after they allegedly placed grenades in public places with the intention of duping others into believing that the devices would explode.
– Straits Times

NTUC allegedly coercing hawkers into signing legal documents in English without a translator present, pressuring them to buy mandatory insurance
A viral Facebook post by Gary Ho on Tuesday (23 Oct.) revealed to the hawkers are treated by the management of the hawker center, and in this particular case, NTUC oppressive rules against hawkers at the iconic Hawker Center takeover was highlighted.
– The Online Citizen

All applicants for Temasek 's first retail bonds get some allocation after public offer upsized by $ 100m
This means a total of $ 300 million was offered under the retail tranche. Temasek said this was to enable all applications to receive some allocation.
– Straits Times

FCT posts 3.6% drop in Q4 DPU to 2.862 cents on higher property expenses
SINGAPORE – Frasers Centrepoint Trust (FCT) posted a 3.6 per cent per capita distribution per unit (DPU) to 2.862 cents for its fourth quarter, compared to 2.97 Singapore cents a year ago.
– Straits Times

Workers' Party MPs call for public donations to fight legal battle & potential bankruptcy
The Three Workers' Party (WP) MPs involved in the ongoing Aljunied Hougang Town Council (AHTC) trial are preparing for the worst, even though they would "fight the claims vigorously".
– Mothership

Meritocracy still the best model, says Ong Ye Kung
While on the subject of social mobility, it is still the best model for Singapore, said Education Minister Ong Ye Kung.
– Straits Times

NTUC Income launches Droplet – insurance plan to shield Grab customers from surge pricing when it rains
Droplet will pay up to 60 per cent of a trip fare or cancellation fee if he or she hails a ride through a ride-hailing platform and it is raining at the point of pickup.
– Straits Times

Cabinet approves India-Singapore pact for setting up JWG on fintech
The government on Wednesday approved an MoU between India and Singapore to a joint working group (JWG) on financial technology (fintech).
– Economic Times

NTUC Income's New Insurance Plan Shields Commuters from Surge Pricing on Grab When It's Rains
NTUC Income on Wednesday announced the launch of droplet, a first-of-its-kind insurance product that protects against unpredictable surge pricing on ride-hailing platforms when it rains.
– The Business Times

More than 303,300 people and groups climate change pledge to reduce carbon footprint
SINGAPORE – Over 300 people attending an environment-themed event made a pledge on Wednesday (Oct. 24) to make a difference in the fight against climate change.
– Straits Times

Companies say they are ready to move supply chains from China
BEIJING (BLOOMBERG) – Earnings reporting season is underway, and analysts are eager to hear from executives on how to escalate trade between the US and China is impacting their businesses. A common theme is that they are ready to relocate supply chains if the cost of Chinese imports becomes prohibitive.
– Straits Times

Former DBS employee given stern warning for Facebook post of torn Singapore flag: Police
SINGAPORE – To train DBS employee who posted an image of a ripped Singapore flag to Facebook has been given a stern warning by the police.
– Straits Times

Global Invacom to buy Malaysia biometric firm solutions Tactilis for US $ 200m
SINGAPORE – Satellite communications equipment provider Global Invacom Group (GInva) has agreed to acquire the equity and pay-up share capital of Tactilis, a Malaysian firm which makes proprietary biometric system-on-card solutions.
– Straits Times

Suntec Reit DPU up 0.3% for Q3
SINGAPORE – Suntec Reit has posted a third-quarter distribution per unit (DPU) of 2.491 Singapore cents, up 0.3 per cent from the same period a year earlier.
– Straits Times

Taxi driver opens door on expressway, causes chain reaction resulting in 2 motorcyclists crashing
A video posted to the Singapore Road Accident Facebook group on Oct. 24 showed an accident purportedly on the SLE at the BKE exit.
– Mothership

Majority of self-pay machines at faulty Ci Yuan Hawker Center
SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) – Ci Yuan Hawker Center in Hougang was the first in Singapore to have a self-payment facility at every stall when it opened in August 2015.
– Straits Times

Feature photo Ghetto Singapore / National Archives of Singapore

This week's Singapore morning news feature photo acknowledges World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, October 27.

AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Singapore morning news by AEC News Today is a one stop source for Singapore asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.