Singapore

Singapore minister says RCEP trade deal on track for year-end signing

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal is still on track to be signed by the end of 2020, Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said on Sunday.

RCEP brings together the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The countries have made an offer to India, which pulled out of talks last November, to see if it is prepared to rejoin discussions.

Singapore’s recovered foreign workers to be housed on cruise ships

SINGAPORE, May 1 (NNN-CNA) — Some foreign workers who have recovered from COVID-19 in Singapore have started living aboard a cruise ship docked at Marina Bay Cruise Centre, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said.

The first workers boarded the SuperStar Gemini – one of two cruise ships cleared to house these workers temporarily – on Wednesday.

The second ship, the SuperStar Aquarius, has also passed checks by the authorities and is ready to receive the workers.

Crude crash brings down Singapore oil tycoon

1 May 2020; AFP: Singapore tycoon O.K. Lim built up his oil empire from a single-truck outfit through hard work and high-risk gambles, a rags-to-riches tale that made him a legend among crude traders.

But it all came crashing down when oil markets were plunged into unprecedented turmoil by the coronavirus pandemic and revealed the keen poker player appeared to have overplayed his hand.

Singapore to enter into recession this year due to coronavirus pandemic

Singapore, Apr 28 (PTI) Singapore will enter into a recession this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and the city-state's economic growth could even dip below the forecast range of -4 to -1 per cent to record its worst-ever contraction, the country's central bank said on Tuesday.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in its latest half-yearly macroeconomic review warned of job losses and lower wages, with significant uncertainty over how long and intense the downturn will be.

Coronavirus cases cross 3000-mark in Singapore, foreign workers including Indian worst-affected

Singapore, Apr 26 (PTI) Coronavirus cases in Singapore crossed the 13,000-mark on Sunday after 931 positive cases were confirmed with majority of them continued to be foreign workers, including Indian nationals, living in dormitories.

The vast majority of the new cases are work permit holders residing in dormitories for foreign workers, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its preliminary release of figures.

20 port authorities sign declaration to keep ports open during corona

SINGAPORE, April 24 (NNN-BERNAMA) —  Twenty port authorities around the globe today signed a declaration to keep ports open to seaborne trade to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 20 members of the Port Authorities Roundtable (PAR) from Asia, Europe, Middle East and North America recognise the critical role played by the maritime sector in keeping trade flows open in the global fight against COVID-19, said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

Singapore will ‘care for Indian migrant workers’, PM Lee tells Indian PM Modi

SINGAPORE, April 24 (NNN-CNA) — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong assured his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that Singapore will care for Indian migrant workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Lee outlined his phone call with Modi where both leaders discussed the ongoing COVID-19 situation in their respective countries.

Singapore to extend "circuit breaker" period over COVID-19 to June 1: PM

SINGAPORE, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Singapore will extend its COVID-19 "circuit breaker" period by four weeks to June 1 to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday.

These circuit breaker measures, which involved home-based schooling and shutting most workplaces temporarily, were implemented two weeks ago and initially supposed to end on May 4.

In his address to the nation, Lee said that many will be disappointed by the extension of the circuit breaker, especially business and workers, who are hurting greatly.

Singapore corona cases top 9,000 after 1,111 new cases reported

SINGAPORE, April 21 (NNN-CNA) — Singapore reported 1,111 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the national total to 9,125.  

The vast majority of the new cases are work permit holders residing in foreign worker dormitories, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in its release of preliminary figures. 

Twenty cases are Singaporeans or permanent residents.

“We are still working through the details of the cases, and further updates will be shared via the MOH press release that will be issued tonight,” the ministry added. 

Oil prices collapse on storage fears, Asia equities mixed

Hong Kong, Apr 20 (AFP/PTI) Oil prices collapsed to more than two-decade lows Monday as traders grow concerned that storage facilities are reaching their limits, while equities were mixed, with some support coming from signs that the coronavirus may have peaked in Europe and the United States.

US crude benchmark West Texas Intermediate briefly plunged almost 20 percent to below 15 -- its lowest since 1999 -- as stockpiles continue to build owing to a crash in demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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