JAKARTA (BLOOMBERG) – Indonesia has cancelled its planned restrictions for the year-end period as its Covid-19 vaccination coverage and testing capacity have improved. The government will not impose the second-highest level of restrictions, or level three, across the country and will instead order varied curbs depending on the local situation, said Coordinating Minister for Maritime and […]
JAKARTA (REUTERS) – An Indonesian court on Tuesday (Dec 7) rejected a bid by two companies to reinstate permits for oil palm plantations in its easternmost region of Papua, in what was seen as a test of the government’s pledge to halt such land conversions to contain deforestation. The verdict comes two months after Indonesia […]
SINGAPORE – More than 5,000 people travelled quarantine-free by land between Singapore and Malaysia via the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) in the first five days after border measures were eased. Another 2,771 people entered Singapore from Malaysia through air VTL over the same period. Last Monday (Nov 29), the rules were relaxed for those fully […]
MUAR, JOHOR (BLOOMBERG) – Hani Bin Sha’ari spent more than two decades rising through the ranks at STMicroelectronics NV’s facility in Malaysia. He prided himself on working hard to provide for his wife and four children. So when the chip plant remained open through a spike in Covid-19 infections this year, he kept doing his […]
SINGAPORE – A total of 662 new Covid-19 infections and four deaths were reported in Singapore on Monday (Dec 6). This is the fourth day in a row that new virus cases have fallen below 1,000. Meanwhile, two imported Covid-19 cases who got a positive result for the Omicron variant in preliminary tests have been […]
SINGAPORE – Companies in the construction, marine shipyard and process sectors are expecting their projects to be delayed by a few months. This comes after employers in these sectors were no longer allowed to make new applications for workers holding S Passes or work permits to enter Singapore via the vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs). The […]
SINGAPORE – The Committee of Privileges decided to present its special report in its investigations of the complaint against former Workers’ Party MP Raeesah Khan on Friday (Dec 3) based on the oral evidence it heard on Thursday and Friday, said the Office of the Clerk of Parliament on Monday (Dec 6). Responding to queries […]
Green Pulse Ep 66: Article 6 – Rise of the carbon markets? 18:59 min Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. At the recent COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, negotiators from nearly 200 nations concluded discussions […]
HONG KONG (AFP) – Hong Kong’s government has warned the Wall Street Journal it may have broken the law by publishing an editorial that said casting blank ballots was one of the “last ways” for residents to voice dissent. The warning letter, which the United States media outlet published on Monday (Dec 6), comes as […]
SINGAPORE – For security officers on duty, saying no can lead to tense encounters with members of the public. And Covid-19 safety measures have made officers on duty more susceptible to abuse as they try to enforce rules like safe distancing measures and perform duties such as manning gantries. Please subscribe or log in to continue […]