The Straits Times - January 09, 2025
The Straits Times - January 09, 2025
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In this issue
January 09, 2025
Landmark Bill tackling workplace discrimination passed in Parliament
MPs unanimously back new law to give workers greater protection against biases
6 mins
Review of Acra NRIC incident likely to end in Feb; findings to be made public
Head of Civil Service Leo Yip is leading a review to get to the bottom of how full NRIC numbers came to be revealed by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) on its recently launched business portal.
5 mins
Strong ties, cooperation in many areas as Singapore and Malaysia mark 60 years of diplomatic links
Singapore aims to open consulates in Sabah and Sarawak to deepen economic links with East Malaysia and strengthen ties between people on both sides.
4 mins
Malaysia Unveils Tax Incentives for Firms, Workers in Johor-Singapore SEZ
Move aimed at drawing investments to area and boosting Johor as key economic hub
2 mins
International Law Crucial in Times of Geopolitical Divisions: Vivian
Support for international law and a strong rules-based system are essential and have an impact on the sovereignty and security of all countries, especially small, vulnerable states like Singapore, said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Jan 8.
3 mins
New law to boost safety regulations, safeguard food security in S'pore
It will enable more food types, beyond rice, to be stockpiled in future if needed
3 mins
NRIC numbers remain personal data, should not be widely circulated: Josephine Teo
The information should be collected and used only when necessary, says minister
4 mins
What individuals, private sector should do
While Singapore is moving away from the use of masked NRIC numbers, it does not mean that they should be widely shared.
2 mins
Over 500,000 searches made in 5-day period when Bizfile had full NRIC numbers available
More than 500,000 searches for individuals were made on the Bizfile portal during the five-day period from Dec 9 to 13 when full NRIC numbers were made available.
2 mins
Canada, Mexico, NATO, Greenland: Remarks from President-elect's press conference
Republican US President-elect Donald Trump held a press conference on Jan 7 and spoke about a range of issues including Nato, Israeli hostages in Gaza, and his wish for the US to buy Greenland and take control of the Panama Canal.
2 mins
Trump's 'all hell will break out' threat to Hamas likely meant to stop any dithering
Warning injects urgency into stalled Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations
4 mins
'A snowball's chance in hell,' Trudeau says of Canada being a US state
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Jan 7 dismissed a suggestion by US President-elect Donald Trump that he might use \"economic force\" to make Canada the 51st US state.
1 min
Trump says he will revoke Biden offshore drilling ban immediately
President-elect Donald Trump said on Jan 7 he will move quickly to revoke an offshore oil and gas drilling ban announced by outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden.
1 min
No proof fentanyl is produced in Mexico, says president
Mexico has found no proof that fentanyl is being produced in the country, President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Jan 7, following threats from US President-elect Donald Trump to impose tariffs over drug trafficking.
1 min
V-P Harris to visit Singapore, Bahrain, Germany before leaving office
US Vice-President Kamala Harris will travel to Asia, the Middle East and Europe from Jan 13 through 17, the White House said on Jan 7.
1 min
True friend or security threat? Japan dumbfounded by US Steel deal veto
The decision underscores the difficulty of 'friendshoring' and could deter some foreign investments in the US, expert says
4 mins
Impeached Yoon Faces Second Bid to Arrest Him as Protests Continue
Call for calm as supporters of S. Korea's leader and those opposed to him rally
2 mins
Ukraine claims attack on oil depot in Russia
Ukraine launched an overnight strike deep inside Russia that set fire to an oil depot in the city of Engels that serves an air base for Russian nuclear bomber planes, the Ukrainian military said on Jan 8.
1 min
Urgency Mounts in Search for Survivors of Quake in Tibet
People trapped are at risk of hypothermia and may survive only 5 to 10 hours: Experts
3 mins
Bali Monitors Arrivals From China, Malaysia Amid HMPV Outbreak
The authorities in Bali are monitoring foreign arrivals, particularly from China and Malaysia, amid concern over the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak.
2 mins
Disinformation experts slam Meta's decision to end fact-checking in US
Zuckerberg's sweeping policy shift an attempt to appease Trump, analysts say
3 mins
COE prices mixed, with Cat B and Open premiums at 13-month highs
The first certificate of entitlement (COE) tender exercise of 2025 saw the premiums for larger cars and the Open category surge to their highest levels in 13 months.
2 mins
Incentive for Golden Mile Tower's owners to retain iconic cinema block
URA offers 25% bonus gross floor area in redevelopment if 'familiar marker' is conserved
4 mins
Reading beyond school years vital for preventing decline in literacy skills: Chan
Recent study flagged a significant drop in literacy after the age of 35 in Singapore
3 mins
Larger PSLE cohort may have contributed to more stringent cut-off points in some popular schools
Pupils could face more \"stringent\" cut-off points when more of them with the same Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) scores pick the same schools, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Shawn Huang on Jan 8.
2 mins
Checks after Jeju Air crash find no issues with the Boeing 737-800 fleet here
Checks by the Singapore authorities in the wake of the deadly Jeju Air crash in December have found no anomalies or reliability issues in the fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft here, said Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat on Jan 8.
2 mins
Rising mercury can affect mental health of workers: Experts
This could lead to issues including conflicts in workplace and impaired decision-making
3 mins
Dengue cases up 36% in 2024, with mid-year surge 'largely subdued'
There were more than 13,600 cases of dengue locally in 2024, an increase of over 36 per cent from the year before.
1 min
PAP and PSP volunteers get into altercations during outreach to residents
A series of altercations between volunteers from the ruling PAP and the opposition Progress Singapore Party (PSP) in Bukit Gombak on Jan 4 has gone public on social media.
3 mins
STI up 1.5% despite Wall Street blues and mixed regional results
• Yangzijiang, up 4.4%, is STI's most active by volume • OCBC gains 4.2%; UOB up 2%; • Biggest loser is CapitaLand Investment, down 2.7% to $2.51
1 min
Wee Hur asset sale may see it declare special dividends
PhillipCapital surprised the market on Jan 3 by initiating coverage on Singapore-listed Wee Hur Holdings with a \"buy\" recommendation and a price target of 62 cents, substantially above the stock's closing price of 42 cents on Jan 2.
2 mins
Indonesia's Bukalapak to Stop Selling Physical Goods as Competition Mounts
Indonesian e-commerce pioneer Bukalapak.com will stop selling physical goods, underscoring the cut-throat competition in a market where the likes of ByteDance's TikTok Shop and Sea's Shopee are vying for users.
1 min
HK banks hoard record piles of cash as economy sputters
Concerned that SMEs are struggling to get funding, regulators are monitoring situation
3 mins
Centurion shares rise as it unveils plan to set up Reit for SGX listing
Centurion said it is exploring the establishment of a real estate investment trust (Reit) comprising some of its worker and student accommodation assets, sending its shares surging.
1 min
Zhai Lingyun takes over as Cordlife chairman after Teo Tong Kooi quits
Embattled cord blood bank Cordlife Group announced on Jan 8 that Mr Zhai Lingyun, the company's non-independent non-executive director, has been appointed its new chairman.
1 min
Firms need more help to develop sustainability, AI capabilities
KPMG, SID's Budget proposals also include apprenticeship schemes for future directors
3 mins
Micron's $9.5b chip plant to give S'pore foothold in AI space
American tech giant Micron Technology has broken ground for what will be Singapore's first plant producing advanced semiconductors vital for artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
2 mins
6 in 10 S'pore firms worry skills gaps will hinder transformation
Firms also feel that weakening trade links may have a bigger impact here: WEF report
3 mins
A Korea hostile to US and Japan? Yoon's martial law blunder opens the door
A liberal political party, wary of the US, may win the South Korean presidency and totally alter the country's foreign relations.
7 mins
Zuckerberg and Meta drop their misinformation charade
Trump's return to power offers a convenient cover for platform to drop fact-checking efforts.
4 mins
AI-driven robots can transform our lives. Are we ready for them?
Great power comes with greater risks. Organisations and governments need to address them.
5 mins
Shaping the future of AI requires global collaboration
How do we get the AI transition right? There are three priorities in focus as we head towards the AI Action Summit in 2025 in France.
3 mins
SpaceX Flying High Despite European Fury at Musk's Political Meddling
Trump backing and Europe's tech weakness are fueling tech tycoon's attacks.
3 mins
How the Gulf's rulers want to harness the power of science
A stronger R&D base, they hope, will transform their countries' economies. Will their plan work?
5 mins
Credit cards • Sufficient safeguards in place to mitigate risks of over-indebtedness
We thank Mr Foo Sing Kheng for his suggestions on possible measures to curb the rise in credit card debt (Take more effective measures to curb rising credit card debt, Jan 6).
1 min
AI ● NLB move unfair to literary community
I refer to the report \"68 S'pore writers sign statement criticising NLB's 'uncritical endorsement' of generative AI\" (Jan 8).
1 min
Road safety ● Disturbing trend at zebra crossings
I refer to the report (Cyclist dies in accident with private bus in Pioneer Road North; driver arrested, Jan 7). The accident highlights a pressing concern of mine.
1 min
Power plant ● Steps taken to address biodiversity concerns
We refer to the report (PacificLight Power to build $1b hydrogen-ready power plant on Jurong Island by 2029, Jan 3).
1 min
Clear leave policies and open communication win-win for all
Singapore will have four public holiday long weekends this year.
1 min
Travel aid ● Install info display system at major bus stops in all housing estates
The passenger information display system showing bus arrival times and other relevant information located at bus stops outside MRT stations, town centres and busy areas are helpful to commuters.
1 min
PRICE TAKES MAGIC MILLIONS UNKNOWNS IN HIS STRIDE
Melbourne trainer adds finishing touches to squad, even if Gold Coast venue is a query
3 mins
CHOI UNLOADS HIS PLATINUM PACK AT KL TRIAL HEATS
Pacific Stable's Vampire bares fangs with scarily good show
3 mins
Loeb pulls out again as teen wins Dakar stage
Sebastien Loeb was forced to withdraw from the Dakar Rally after a crash on Jan 7, denying the Frenchman his dream of a first title in the event.
1 min
Win streaks on the line as NBA's best clash
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the third- and second-best teams in the Eastern Conference, en route to extending their overall winning streak in the National Basketball Association (NBA) to a franchise-best 15 games.
2 mins
YOUNG'S SHOT 'ONE TO WATCH ON FILM'
Incredible half-court effort from Atlanta star beats buzzer and Utah, leaves opponents in awe
3 mins
DESIRE DRIVES DJOKOVIC
Serb, 37, puts age talk aside as he looks for record 25th Slam title at Australian Open
3 mins
McEnroe wants to be commissioner of tennis
Recent doping controversies involving top players have not damaged tennis' reputation but having a single commissioner for the sport would go a long way towards clearing up any confusion surrounding cases, John McEnroe said.
2 mins
No boycott as UK govt urges ICC to back women's cricket
The British government says the International Cricket Council (ICC) should \"deliver on their own rules\" relating to women's participation, as the England men's team resist calls to boycott their upcoming match against Afghanistan.
2 mins
Simpson misses late friend Murray 'a ton'
Webb Simpson and Grayson Murray were born eight years apart in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina.
2 mins
LIV Golf returns to Sentosa in March, tees off in Riyadh
The 2025 LIV Golf schedule, announced this week, will take the circuit to nine countries and territories and six new venues, including a first-time location for the season-ending team championship.
2 mins
DESCHAMPS TO QUIT AFTER CUP
Coach wants to leave France at 'highest level' in 2026; Zidane favourite to take over
3 mins
Data not dampening Forest fans' fantasy
Nottingham Forest have a zero per cent chance of becoming English champions, according to English Premier League data partner Opta, but fans of the club can be forgiven if they are dreaming of a fairy tale.
2 mins
TOUGH HOME LEG TO COME, SAYS HOWE
Magpies have 2-0 edge in League Cup semi, but manager wary of comeback by Arsenal
2 mins
Kluivert's Remit - 2026 Showpiece for Indonesia
Netherlands and Barcelona great Patrick Kluivert was named Indonesia football coach on Jan 8, tasked with taking the country to their first World Cup since independence.
2 mins
LO WINGING HIS WAY BACK
Former laser sailor who won silver at 2007 SEA Games makes return with wingfoiling
3 mins
Duo in awe as their dream turns into virtual reality
After a one-year delay, the new tech-infused indoor golf league created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy finally launched on Jan 7 in Florida under bright lights in prime time, ushering in what organisers hope would be a new chapter for the sport.
2 mins
Han Sai Por: Sculptor turns Padang into forest at Light To Night fest
A 9m-high installation on a patch of the Padang is the closest Singaporean sculptor Han Sai Por has got to her dream project, as the 81-year-old has always wished she could make a landscape work the size of a football field.
3 mins
Private collector Richard Koh: Exhibiting his collection is like exposing himself
Enter Osbourne House, the site of The Private Museum, and one comes face to face with the muscular physicality of British artist Thomas Houseago's gigantic sculpture The Walking Man.
2 mins
Najip Ali scores double gigs on singing shows
Entertainment veteran is a judge on Suria's Kaki Nyanyi and a panellist on Channel 5's I Can See Your Voice Singapore
4 mins
TV adaptation honours Gabriel Garcia Marquez's magic
This first eight-episode season landed on Netflix in mid-December, with a puzzling lack of marketing.
3 mins
In Stranger Eyes, the voyeur becomes the viewed
Film-maker Yeo Siew Hua asks heavy questions with a light touch in the crime story
2 mins
Better Man and Count Of Monte Cristo are electrifying tales
Britpop superstar Robbie Williams is a walking, talking, singing chimpanzee in an autobiography of his childhood through his three decades in the music industry, breaking away from the 1990s boy band Take That for solo success.
2 mins
The Substance director not surprised by Demi Moore's late-career comeback
Demi Moore's Golden Globe Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy win for The Substance has, almost overnight, transformed the 1990s megastar into a seemingly unlikely favourite for the Oscars.
3 mins
American Millionaire's Blueprint for Longevity
Bryan Johnson, subject of the documentary Don't Die: The Man Who Wants To Live Forever, says Singaporean Chuando Tan's agelessness shows what biology is capable of
3 mins
Girls' Generation's Taeyeon to perform in Singapore
South Korean singer Taeyeon, a member of K-pop girl group Girls' Generation, has a new concert tour for 2025, which will make a stop in Singapore.
1 min
TV Networks Drop Smap's Masahiro Nakai Over Sex-Crime Allegations
Major TV networks have distanced themselves from one of Japan's biggest 1990s boy band stars, after media reports said he paid a woman a large settlement related to alleged sexual misconduct.
2 mins
Missing actor found near Myanmar border
A Chinese actor who went missing near Thailand's border with Myanmar has been found, the Thai authorities said, as they sought to contain the fallout of the incident on the nation's vital tourism industry.
2 mins
Disney's LinaBell Wins Hearts in China
Each week, whenever she has time off from her marketing job, Ms Ida Jia can be found at Shanghai Disneyland, queueing for hours to spend a few minutes with LinaBell, a fluffy pink fox character with big blue eyes.
2 mins
The Straits Times Newspaper Description:
Publisher: SPH Media Limited
Category: Newspaper
Language: English
Frequency: Daily
Unlock your access to award-winning journalism on Singapore and the world. With bureaus in major cities around the world, The Straits Times correspondents bring world news to readers on a Singapore platter, helping them appreciate world events from a Singaporean perspective.
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