SINGAPORE – There will be no Chinese New Year Bazaar at Chinatown next year because of the ongoing pandemic. The decision to halt the bazaar for the first time in its history was a result of concerns over crowd control, said the organisers. The Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee also told Chinese daily Lianhe […]

SINGAPORE – The lawyer defending national water agency PUB against a lawsuit from a woman who fell into an open manhole five years ago accused her of faking her mental illness on Tuesday (Nov 24) in the ongoing trial. Mr K. Anparasan made the contention after noting that while Madam Chan Hui Peng, 47, was […]

NEW YORK/BOSTON (Reuters) – U.S. federal agencies have begun scrutinizing lenders for potential misconduct when distributing $525 billion in pandemic aid to struggling small businesses, according to half a dozen people with knowledge of the matter, regulatory filings and statements. The sources told Reuters the scrutiny of banks’ roles in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) […]

SEOUL (REUTERS) – A new round of social distancing rules took effect on Tuesday (Nov 24) in the South Korean capital of Seoul, dealing a blow to small business owners despite brighter hopes for economic recovery after earlier success in battling the coronavirus. The measures range from closures of nightclubs and karaoke bars and curbs […]

BEIJING (CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi undoubtedly has a busy agenda to get through during his back-to-back visits to Japan and the Republic of Korea from Tuesday (Nov 24) to Friday. Many are speculating Mr Wang will take advantage of the visits to pave the way for […]

JAKARTA (THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – The triumph of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the United State election and the Biden-Harris administration will have significant impact in strengthening global leadership and international cooperation to combat Covid-19. Biden-Harris in their campaign as well as in their victory speech strongly emphasised the importance of science, […]

TOKYO (REUTERS) – China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to visit Tokyo on Tuesday (Nov 24) marking the first such high-level trip since Japan picked a new leader in September and amid mounting concerns over Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the region. Mr Wang could make a courtesy call on Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who […]

GENEVA (REUTERS) – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has had assurances from China that an international field trip to investigate the origins of the new coronavirus will be arranged as soon as possible, its top emergency expert said on Monday (Nov 23). Chinese researchers are carrying out epidemiological studies into early cases and conditions at […]

SINGAPORE – A single platform to redeem the soon-to-be-distributed digital tourism vouchers would be ideal, but having options has its draws too, observers say. The five online booking platforms appointed by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to administer the redemption of the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers are courting merchants and consumers ahead of the scheme’s launch next […]

SIBU, SARAWAK (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – The family of Irene Chung will be filing a civil suit against several authorities in Taiwan for alleged negligence that led to her death on Oct 29, says their lawyer. These include the Chang Jung Christian University (CJCU), Taiwan City Council, and Taiwanese government. Ms Chung’s family lawyer […]