World News

Singapore finds Delta most prevalent among virus variants locally

Singapore has found the Delta variant of the coronavirus to be the most prevalent among local cases of variants of concern (VOCs), according to health ministry data, highlighting its level…

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Singapore PM says can relax social curbs if local virus situation improves

Singapore should be able to relax recently imposed restrictions on social gatherings after two weeks if the local COVID-19 situation continues to improve, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on…

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Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble postponed for a second time

A travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore due to open on May 26 has been postponed for a second time, officials said on Monday, after a spike in cases…

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Singapore warns children susceptible to virus variants, shuts schools

Singapore warned that the new coronavirus variants, such as the one first detected in India, were affecting more children, as the city-state prepares to shut most schools from this week…

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Singapore reports 38 new local COVID-19 cases, highest in months

Singapore’s health ministry on Sunday preliminarily confirmed 38 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the highest daily number since mid-September, as the city-state returned to the strictest curbs on gatherings since a…

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Singapore tightens COVID-19 curbs on social gatherings, dining

Singapore announced on Friday the strictest curbs on social gatherings and public activities since easing a COVID-19 lockdown last year, amid a rise in locally acquired infections and with new…

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Singapore reports most COVID-19 cases in 8 months amid airport cluster

Singapore's health ministry on Thursday reported 24 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the highest daily number since mid-September, with 17 of the fresh cases linked to a cluster at Changi Airport.…

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BioNTech to build mRNA vaccine manufacturing site in Singapore

BioNTech plans to set up a regional centre and a new factory in Singapore for its vaccines, it said on Monday, boosting its presence in Asia as a debate over…

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Start-ups aim to change car battery recycling, clean up world’s most polluting industry

A handful of startups are trying to find a new way to recycle used car batteries, using water, chemicals and electricity to produce lead instead of the hazardous, high-heat smelting…

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UPDATED: Singapore to block visitors from most South Asian countries as local cases climb

Singapore will block entry to visitors with recent travel history to Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka from May 2 due to sustained increases in COVID-19 cases in the region,…

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UPDATED: Singapore PM names new finance minister in cabinet shakeup

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong named Lawrence Wong, tipped as a contender to be future premier, as the new finance minister in a broader cabinet reshuffle which comes at…

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Singapore probing COVID-19 re-infections after cases in workers dormitory

Singapore's manpower ministry said authorities were investigating the possibility of COVID-19 re-infections among residents in a migrant workers' dormitory, after finding more positive cases in the facility. Authorities had conducted…

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Sanofi to invest 400 mln euros in new vaccine production site in Singapore

French drugmaker Sanofi said on Monday it would invest 400 million euros ($475.40 million) over five years in a new vaccine production site in Singapore. The new site would provide…

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Singapore deputy PM unexpectedly steps aside as future PM, in succession setback

SINGAPORE, April 8 (Reuters) - Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat will step aside as the designated successor to current premier Lee Hsien Loong, in an unexpected decision that…

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Singapore becomes a global cruise leader, for now

Singapore currently accounts for a third of the world's cruises its tourism body said on Wednesday, owing to the roaring success of its "cruises to nowhere" at a time of…

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Singapore to accept COVID-19 digital travel pass from next month

Singapore will next month accept visitors who use a mobile travel pass containing digital certificates for COVID-19 tests and vaccines, its aviation regulator said on Monday, becoming one of the…

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Singapore tests distancing dongles to track mingling at meetings

A Singapore business gathering is using movement dongles to make sure participants keep their distance, as the region's business hub prepares to start hosting big events safely as the world…

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Singapore says discussing vaccine certification with other countries

Singapore is discussing the mutual recognition of vaccine certificates with other countries, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said, calling it a necessary step towards resuming global travel. Singapore, a regional…

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Singapore Airlines begins flights with fully vaccinated crew

Singapore Airlines (SIA) began operating flights on Thursday with full sets of crew members vaccinated against COVID-19 as the city-state seeks to rejuvenate its status as an international travel hub.…

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Business investments into Singapore rise 13%, highest in over a decade

Business investment commitments into Singapore rose 13% last year to their highest in more than a decade, helped by sectors such as semiconductors, energy and chemicals even as the city-state…

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Singapore to consider relaxing curbs for vaccinated travellers

Singapore will consider relaxing travel restrictions for people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, the co-head of the government’s virus taskforce said on Monday. The Southeast Asian travel hub has…

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Singapore set for slow recovery from pandemic after worst recession

Singapore marked its worst ever recession in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although contraction moderated in the fourth quarter as the city-state lifted more coronavirus-related curbs, putting the economy…

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Singapore confirms first case of new coronavirus variant found in UK

Singapore has confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus variant found in the United Kingdom, the city-state said, while 11 others who were already in quarantine had returned preliminarily…

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COVID-19 scare aboard Royal Caribbean cruise a false alarm

A passenger who tested positive for COVID-19 aboard a 'cruise-to-nowhere' from Singapore, forcing the ship to return to dock and nearly 1,700 guests to isolate, has been found not to…

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Britain says it’s back as it signs trade deal in Singapore

Britain said it was re-emerging as a major trade force as it signed a free trade deal with island nation Singapore on Thursday, its latest agreement globally as it prepares…

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Passengers confined to cabins after COVID-19 case on Singapore cruise

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Nearly 1,700 passengers on a Royal Caribbean 'cruise-to-nowhere' from Singapore were told to stay in their cabins on Wednesday after a COVID-19 case was detected on board,…

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Singapore approves sale of lab-grown meat in world first

Singapore has given U.S. start-up Eat Just the greenlight to sell its lab-grown chicken meat, in what the firm says is the world's first regulatory approval for so-called clean meat…

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Baby born with coronavirus antibodies in Singapore

A Singaporean woman, who was infected with the novel coronavirus in March when she was pregnant, has given birth to a baby with antibodies against the virus, offering a new…

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Singaporeans snap up properties during worst ever recession

Singaporean Jason Chen recently bought a S$1.7 million ($1.26 million) three-bedroom apartment in a swanky condominium, upgrading his home in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic which has triggered the…

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Singapore launches its first ‘cruise to nowhere’

Hit by cabin fever, hundreds of Singapore residents itching to get out of the tiny country boarded a "cruise to nowhere" on Friday, a rare chance to sail the seas…

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Singapore sees local jobless rate peaking this year

Singapore expects its local unemployment rate to peak in the second half of this year but remain high in 2021 as the city-state plots a slow recovery from its coronavirus…

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Singapore factory output surges at fastest pace in 9 years on pharma boost

Singapore's industrial output blew past forecasts to rise 24.2% year-on-year in September, its fastest pace in nine years, boosted by pharmaceutical manufacturing more than doubling last month, official data showed…

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Singapore temporarily halts use of two flu vaccines after South Korea deaths

Singapore has temporarily halted the use of two influenza vaccines as a precaution after some people who received them in South Korea died, becoming among the first countries to publicly…

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Singapore PM in court for defamation suit against blogger

Singapore's prime minister arrived at court on Tuesday for a case in which he is suing a blogger for sharing an online article linking him to Malaysia's 1MBD state fund…

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‘World’s best airport’ warns of prolonged crisis

Singapore's Changi Airport has warned of a "daunting period" ahead as the impact from the Covid-19 pandemic shows no signs of abating. The Asian transit hub has been voted world's…

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As foreigners depart, Singapore sees population drop for first time since 2003

Singapore’s population has shrunk for the first time since 2003 as travel curbs and job losses brought about by the coronavirus pandemic have pushed foreign workers from the global business…

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Singapore grapples with coronavirus in migrant workers’ dormitories

Singapore is battling new clusters of coronavirus infections in migrant dormitories that had won the all-clear from authorities, highlighting the difficulty of stamping out the disease, even in a closely…

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Singapore Airlines to cut 4,300 jobs due to pandemic, most in its history

Singapore Airlines Ltd announced it would cut 4,300 positions, or around 20% of its staff, due to the debilitating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on demand in the largest job…

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Singapore detects new COVID-19 clusters at migrant worker dormitories

Singapore health authorities have detected new COVID-19 clusters at foreign worker dormitories previously found to be clear of the infection, highlighting the challenge in containing the spread of the highly…

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Singapore battles record dengue outbreak

Singapore is experiencing a record outbreak of the tropical disease dengue, which is carried and spread to humans by infected mosquitoes. The Southeast Asian Island – home to 5.7 million…

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Singapore scientists find coronavirus variant with milder infections

Researchers in Singapore have discovered a new variant of the COVID-19 coronavirus that causes milder infections, according to a study published in The Lancet medical journal this week. The study…

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Singapore registers lowest count of cases in over four months

Singapore on Wednesday reported 42 new COVID-19 cases, its lowest daily count in about four and a half months. The city-state went into a lockdown in mid-April after mass outbreaks…

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Photo Story: Singapore celebrates National Day amid COVID-19 pandemic

A man carries a young boy on National Day in Singapore, 09 August 2020. Singapore celebrates the country's 55th anniversary of independence on National Day 09 August 2020, with a…

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Photo Story: National Day-themed light up in Singapore

A man takes pictures of the Asian Civilisation Museum, lit in red and white, during a National Day-themed light up in Singapore. Major buildings and monuments in the civic district…

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Singapore’s Universal Studios deploys facial recognition for entry

Visitors to Universal Studios in Singapore will now have to pass through facial recognition scanners to enter the park, in the city-state's latest foray with a technology that has stoked…

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Singapore to make travellers wear electronic tags to enforce quarantine

Singapore will make some incoming travellers wear an electronic monitoring device to ensure that they comply with coronavirus quarantines as the city-state gradually reopens its borders, authorities said on Monday.…

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Photo Story: National Day parade rehearsals in Singapore

Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15SG fighter aircraft fly in formation past a building during a National Day Parade (NDP) rehearsal in Singapore, 01 August 2020. Singapore's National Day parade…

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Singapore spy case reawakens fears China recruiting on island state

The case of a Singaporean caught spying for China in the United States has reawakened fears over China recruiting intelligence assets on an island state which has won trust among…

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Singapore seeks local boost for tourism sector facing existential crisis

Singapore's tourism sector is facing an existential crisis, its tourism board chief said on Wednesday, laying out plans to boost local demand after a collapse in visitor arrivals due to…

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Singapore says blockchain payments project ready for commercial rollout

Singapore has developed a blockchain-based payments network that could enable faster and cheaper international settlements, authorities said on Monday, adding that the next step was a commercial rollout. The final…

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In masks and gloves, Singaporeans vote during pandemic

Singaporeans wearing masks and gloves cast their ballots on Friday under the cloud of the COVID-19 pandemic that is pushing the city-state's economy towards its worst-ever recession, making saving jobs…

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Voting in time of the coronavirus, Singaporeans expected to share gripes on foreigners

For many Singaporeans, voting on Friday under the cloud of the coronavirus pandemic, a big election issue is job prospects and whether their rich little island needs so many foreigners taking better-paid roles. No-one expects a…

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Singapore bans group of Britons for breaking lockdown

A group of British men living in Singapore have been banned from working there again after breaking lockdown to go on a "bar crawl". The men were also fined around…

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Singapore approves remdesivir drug for emergency COVID-19 treatment

Singapore on Wednesday approved the use of Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral drug remdesivir for the treatment of severely ill patients with COVID-19 infection. Remdesivir is the first drug shown to…

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Half of Singapore’s new COVID-19 cases are symptomless

At least half of Singapore's newly discovered coronavirus cases show no symptoms, the co-head of the government's virus taskforce told Reuters on Monday, reinforcing the city-state's decision to ease lockdown…

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Singapore heading for record unemployment in 2020

Singapore's finance minister said its unemployment rate could rise to a record of over 100,000 in 2020 due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Singapore's highest annual average number of…

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Photo Story: Singapore confirms 518 more coronavirus cases

Singapore has confirmed 518 more coronavirus infections, the health ministry said on Sunday, taking its tally to 34,884. Migrant workers living in dormitories make up the vast majority of the…

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