At the annual Singapore Perspectives conference organised by the Institute of Policy Studies, Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung said that: “Singapore is a small country, so it has to stay agile; a one-party system may give Singapore its best shot at success“. This statement is so sweepingly loaded that I am still trying to quell the …

Singaporean employers planning to take on domestic helpers from the Philippines can lend up to $1,100 to the workers to cover the expenses for their employment, the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) [AEA(S)], president K. Jayaprema announced. The AEA(S) president said, the new payment structure, which will take effect immediately, is meant to provide more clarity for workers and employers. …

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told reporters on the sidelines of a defence exercise on Wednesday (25 January) that he hopes for the nine Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICVs) which was held in Hong Kong for two months to be returned to the country in time to celebrate reunion for Chap Goh Meh, which falls on 11 February …

25,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes was seized by Singapore Customs (SC) from two related operations conducted on 17 and 23 January 2017, noting that this is the largest seizure of duty-unpaid cigarettes since April 2015. On 17 January 2017, SC said that it conducted an operation at a logistics company in Jurong Port Road, where its officers seized 4,900 cartons …

The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) said that it had received 15 complaints against a furniture company, Artmani Italia Pte Ltd, since 1 January 2016. Cited from The Straits Times, an associate director of a recruitment agency, Ms Teo bought a $3,000 two-seater leather sofa from the company. She paid it in two instalments, one on July and the other in this …

In celebration of the Chinese New Year the public could visit the Istana grounds on Sunday (29 Jan) from 8.30am to 6pm, the President’s Office announced today (25 Jan). Members of the public can enjoy the performances of lion dance, a rooster and instrumental dance show, a sunflower dance and a Youthful Spring! dance. The public can also look forward …

New Ocean Maritime Pte Ltd was convicted in court on 17 January 2017, for providing services in the port of Singapore without a bunker craft operator licence and was fined a total of $81,000. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) brought the charges against New Ocean Maritime Pte Ltd between 3 January 2015 and 28 March 2015. It was …

Dr Chee Soon Juan, the Secretary-General of Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), commented on the statement by Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung who stated that Singapore is a small country, so it has to stay agile, a one-party system may give Singapore its best shot at success. At the annual Institute of Policy Studies’ Singapore Perspectives conference on 23 …

By Property Soul Bloomberg just published an article on ‘Hong Kong Property Tax May Help End Singapore’s Housing Slump’ (Bloomberg, Jan 19). The journalist cites the remarks of a Cushman & Wakefield spokesperson that foreign buyers may turn to Singapore after the 15 percent increase (30 percent in total) of stamp duty in Hong Kong. This can benefit Singapore to …

By Margaret Yang, CMC Markets US equities rallied last night, spurred by better-than-expected corporate earnings on Tuesday and animal spirit backed up by Trump’s new policies to support American industrial and manufacturing sectors. Materials (+2.5%), financials (1.2%), information technology (+1.0) and industrials (1.0%) were among the best performing sectors yesterday. So far, more than two thirds of the S&P 500 …