Friday, 3 May 2024

Asia

Asia News – Get latest breaking news & top stories today in Asia, South-East Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Australia/New Zealand at…

SkillsFuture Singapore to reduce costs for training providers while regulating sector

SINGAPORE – SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) is reducing costs such as regulatory fees for the training providers it funds. These providers include private education institutions, which can offer both government-approved Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) and non-WSQ programmes. At the same time, SSG will also be increasing scrutiny on non-WSQ programmes, in a bid to regulate the […]

A new energy frontier called 'Polar Silk Road': China Daily contributors

In their article, the writers call for further cooperation between China and Russia to develop the potential of the Arctic. Ernesto Gallo and Giovanni Biava BEIJING (CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – The Arctic matters and, being a “near-Arctic state”, China is fully engaged in its affairs. This is in stark contrast with the United States, […]

Movie launched to mark St Nicholas Girls' School's 85th anniversary

SINGAPORE – A documentary-drama that pays tribute to the contributions of former educators from CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School premiered on Thursday evening (April 11) at the Capitol Theatre. Set in the 1950s, the 70-minute film From Victoria Street To Ang Mo Kio was directed and produced by former St Nicholas girl Eva Tang. The […]

Indonesia votes: Rivals to focus on economy, infrastructure

Economic growth and physical infrastructure development would likely be among the hot issues discussed in Indonesia’s final presidential debate tomorrow, four days before almost 193 million voters go to the polling stations. In the last of five debates leading up to the April 17 elections, both candidates will be allowed to question each other on […]

Smart water meters to be rolled out to 300,000 properties here to help save water

SINGAPORE – Smart water meters will be installed in 300,000 residential and commercial premises here by 2023, with an eventual goal of having such devices islandwide, national water agency PUB announced on Friday (April 12). This will help people and companies keep tabs on their water usage, while allowing the PUB to optimise resources as […]

Brunei responds to human rights outrage

Brunei’s foreign ministry has said implementing Sharia is about prevention rather than punishment, after intense criticism of its decision to implement the strict Islamic code. Under the new laws, adultery and sex between men is punishable by stoning to death. Brunei said there would be a high threshold for evidence in those cases, suggesting punishment […]

Japan braces for clash with Trump as China trade war cools

TOKYO (BLOOMBERG, REUTERS) – Japan is finally stepping into the ring for a fight it had managed to dodge for more than two years: Bilateral trade talks with United States President Donald Trump. The world’s third-biggest economy has a lot at stake in the talks, which are expected to start next week in Washington just […]

Venezuela debt placed on 'index watch' by JPMorgan

(Reuters) – Venezuela’s debt is another step closer to being removed from a key emerging market bond index series after JPMorgan Chase & Co placed the country’s securities on “index watch” because of trading disruptions caused by U.S. sanctions against President Nicolas Maduro’s government. In an advisory to JPMorgan index clients seen by Reuters, the […]

Australia polls on May 18 with likely focus on economy, wages and climate change

SYDNEY – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday called an election for May 18, clearing the way for a battle that is likely to centre on the economy, wages and climate change. The election will pit Mr Morrison, the head of the ruling Liberal-National Coalition, against Labor leader Bill Shorten, whose party has long enjoyed […]