ANDRABI, NEW DELHI (AFP) – More than 100 people have tested positive for coronavirus in India after attending the wedding – and then funeral – of the groom, who reportedly tied the knot while ill with the disease. Officials in Bihar state said on Wednesday (July 1) that the 26-year-old groom had symptoms of the […]
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina battled last year to trim its fiscal deficit, but its progress has been crippled by the coronavirus pandemic as emergency spending has ballooned while tax revenues flatlined. The South American grains producer, which is renegotiating $65 billion debt and has been locked out of capital markets after a default in […]
Good evening! Catch up on some of the main headlines on Wednesday, July 1. Singapore GE2020: Special voting hour for Singaporeans on SHN at home and unwell voters Those on medical leave for acute respiratory infection and those who are detected with a temperature of 37.5 deg C and higher at polling stations on Polling Day […]
SINGAPORE – There are 215 new coronavirus cases confirmed as of Wednesday noon (July 1), taking Singapore’s total to 44,122. They include 10 community cases, comprising six Singaporeans or permanent residents and four work pass holders, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday. There are also four imported cases, all of whom had been […]
SEOUL (REUTERS) – South Korean President Moon Jae-in has said US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un should meet again before the US presidential election in November, a Seoul official told reporters on Wednesday (July 1). Moon’s remarks were made during a video conference with European Council President Charles Michel on […]
SINGAPORE – About 1.4 million Singaporeans will benefit from $570 million in goods and services tax (GST) vouchers in August, in the form of cash payouts and Medisave top-ups. Eligible Singaporeans will receive text messages or letters to inform them of their benefits by July 3, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Wednesday (July […]
BRISBANE (AFP) – Australia announced an assertive new defence strategy on Wednesday (July 1), beefing up its long-range strike capabilities and cyber-warfare efforts amid escalating tensions with China. Prime Minister Scott Morrison earmarked A$270 billion (S$260 billion) for new and upgraded defence capabilities over the next decade – a nearly 40 per cent increase – […]
BEIJING (CHINA DAILY (ASIA)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Tuesday (July 30) unanimously approved the national security law for Hong Kong. The law, which applies to Hong Kong by way of Annex III of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), will come into […]
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday signed a decree to extend emergency stipends to informal workers hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis, as official figures showed record deficits and mounting unemployment. The decree keeps alive a popular and crucial program for millions of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people, but which […]
HONG KONG (Reuters) – UBS, long the dominant bank in Australian equities markets, has closed this half-year outside the top three for the first time in 15 years, even as a rush of coronavirus-related share sales have generated bumper investment banking fees. Its slide to fourth place in the equity capital markets (ECM) league table […]