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☆ Singapore’s central bank boss faces a tough start
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, Sept 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Central banks pride themselves on being predictable. He is a former deputy to Menon, and currently a permanent secretary at the manpower ministry after spending 18 years in various stints at the central bank. He has led MAS’ financial stability assessment of the city state and completed a two-year secondment to the International Monetary Fund. During his 12-year term, he built up Singapore’s reputation as a global fintech hub and boosted its appeal as a leading financial centre. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Ravi Menon, Chia Der, There’s, Chia, Menon, Pernod Ricard, Una Galani, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Reuters, Monetary Authority of, MAS, International Monetary Fund, X, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Singapore, China

☆ Singapore picks Chia Der Jiun as central bank head from next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore named Chia Der Jiun as chief of its central bank on Monday, replacing Ravi Menon, the city state's longest-serving central banker, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said. Menon, who turns 59 this year, had been re-appointed as recently in May for two more years in his role but will retire from public service after more than a decade at the central bank, MAS said. Chia, a permanent secretary at Singapore's manpower ministry, had previously spent 18 years at the MAS and led major functions from implementing monetary policy to managing reserves. Singapore's central bank was one of the earliest to tighten monetary policy as the country of 5.6 million exited the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of who is at the helm the independence and high standing of the central bank is unlikely to change," said OCBC economist Selena Ling.

Persons: Chia Der Jiun, Ravi Menon, Menon, Chia, Selena Ling Organizations: Monetary Authority of Singapore, MAS Locations: Singapore

☆ China's Country Garden says $100 billion Malaysia project on track
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( A. Ananthalakshmi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Embattled Chinese developer Country Garden (2007.HK) said on Monday its $100-billion project in Malaysia was proceeding as planned and it had sufficient assets, despite concerns over its financial strength. Country Garden is building its largest overseas development, the massive Forest City project, across four reclaimed islands in the southern Malaysian state of Johor bordering the wealthy city state of Singapore. Malaysia's incentives should be "very positive" for Country Garden, said Steven Leung, Hong Kong-based director of UOB Kay Hian. Shares of Country Garden were up more than 8% on Monday.

Persons: Aly, Anwar Ibrahim, Anwar, Loong Kok Wen, Steven Leung, UOB Kay Hian, Clare Jim, Martin Petty, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, HK, Malaysian, . Forest, Esplanade, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Singapore, Forest, Malaysian, Johor, Forest City, Hong Kong

☆ Malaysia's domestic banks have limited exposure to Country Garden -cbank
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Fathin Ungku/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Malaysia's central bank said on Monday that banks incorporated in the Southeast Asian nation faced limited financial stability risk arising from exposure to China's largest property developer, Country Garden (2007.HK). Such banks' exposure to Country Garden Real Estate Sdn Bhd (CGRE), the developer's wholly-owned subsidiary in Malaysia, amounted to less than 0.1% of total banking system loans and bonds by June 2023, the bank told Reuters in an email. "In the property sector, risks from unsold units from CGRE’s various projects in the country remain manageable," it added. "The current development with Country Garden Holdings Ltd in China is not expected to pose any material impact on the overall property market activity and prices in Malaysia," it said. Country Garden is building its largest overseas development, the massive Forest City project, across four reclaimed islands in the southern Malaysian state of Johor bordering the wealthy city state of Singapore.

Persons: Fathin, Anwar Ibrahim, Yantoultra Ngui, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, HK, Garden, Sdn, Reuters, Bank Negara, Garden Holdings, Malaysian, Thomson Locations: Forest City, Johor, Malaysia, Bank, Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysian, China, Forest, Singapore

☆ In a rare win, a migrant worker sued his bosses in Singapore. And won
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

In July, 26 men were taken to hospitals after three lorries, two ferrying migrant workers, collided on a major highway. Migrant workers sit in the back of a lorry in Singapore on May 15, 2020. Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto/Getty ImagesSingapore is home to about 1.4 million migrant workers, nearly a quarter of its population. “Recent tragic incidents have highlighted the continued grave risks posed by transporting migrant workers on lorries,” the statement read. Still, victories for migrant workers are rare, said local civil rights activist Jolovan Wham and a worker taking on his powerful employer was almost unheard of.

Persons: Murugan, Muhamad Ashraf Syed Ansarai, “, ” Ansarai, ”, – Toffazal Hossain, Sugunan, Edgar Su, Transport Amy Khor, ” Khor, Khor, Tan May Tee, ” Tan, ” “, Suhaimi Abdullah, Jolovan, Wham, ” Murugan, “ He’s, It’s Organizations: CNN, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Labor, ”, State, Ministry, Transport, “ Employers, Rigel Marine Services, Reuters, Getty, Singapore, Workers, Ministry of Transport, Singapore’s Ministry of Transport Locations: India, Singapore, Tamil Nadu, Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, ”, alighting

☆ India's rice export ban to hurt millions globally. These countries will be the worst hit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

20 Xinhua News Agency | Xinhua News Agency | Getty ImagesIndia's rice export ban could ripple across global rice markets — and millions are expected to be impacted, with Asian and African consumers set to bear the biggest brunt. The scale of people impacted by Indian rice ban will be in millions. Other affected regionsAsia is not the only region hit by India's rice export ban, many African and Middle East nations are also vulnerable. That means up to 40% of India's rice exports are now offline, according to BMI forecasts. India's rice export ban is expected to ripple across global rice markets.

Persons: Mohanty, Samarendu Mohanty, Narendra Modi Organizations: Xinhua News Agency, Getty, Barclays, El Nino, BMI, Fitch Solutions, Workers, International Potato Center, CIP Locations: Nagaon district, India's, Assam, India, Malaysia, Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Pakistan, Vietnam, Philippines, Saharan Africa, East, North Africa, Djibouti, Liberia, Qatar, Gambia, Kuwait, Cambodia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal

Djamani was sentenced to the mandatory death penalty in 2018 after being convicted of possessing 31 grams of heroin. Djamani is the first woman to be hanged in Singapore since hairdresser Yen May Woen, 36, in 2004, who was also convicted of drug trafficking. Criminal lawyer Joshua Tong said those convicted of drug trafficking were usually men, but he had seen “his fair share” of women drug offenders. We demand an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty,” the group wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. The case put Singapore’s zero-tolerance drug laws back under scrutiny, with rights advocates arguing the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking is an inhumane punishment.

Persons: Saridewi, Djamani, Yen, Woen, ”, Celia Ouellette, “, ” Adilur Rahman Khan, Chiara Sangiorgio, Joshua Tong, Tong, Mohd Aziz bin Hussain, Kirsten Han, “ TJC, Suppiah, Dharmalingam Organizations: CNN, Singapore, Central Narcotics Bureau, Business Initiative for Justice, International Federation for Human Rights, Ministry of Home Affairs, Twitter, United Nations Office, Drugs Locations: Changi, Singapore, “ Singapore, France, Asia, East, Southeast Asia

☆ Gig workers are ‘here to stay': Singapore minister on why they shouldn't be left behind
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

watch nowSINGAPORE — Gig workers in Singapore face "vulnerabilities" that need to be addressed, said the country's senior minister of state for manpower. Gig workers face 'significant management control'The minister clarified that a legal mandate for gig workers is "not exactly the same as a union." That includes changes in matching and pricing algorithms on platforms that may affect the livelihood of gig workers. The expense-to-income ratio of gig workers was 112% in May — "significantly higher" than the median customer's 57%, DBS said. "Tripartism involves both government, platform companies in this case, and also platform workers in the unions … the three parties working closely together will form the foundation for that relationship of trust."

Persons: Koh Poh Koon, Koh, Singapore's Organizations: DBS, for, Workers, Singapore National Employers Federation Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore

☆ Taylor Swift: It's a 'Cruel Summer' for fans in Asia as Singapore shows sell out
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —It’s been a Cruel Summer for Taylor Swift fans in Asia. Among them was Jordan Lee, a die hard Swiftie from Jakarta who told CNN that he had come “close to snagging” a ticket, priced $80 and up. “They weren’t violent but they made their views very clear, the same would happen with Taylor Swift if she came to Malaysia,” he said. Venues can only hold about 20,000 people, which is too few for Taylor Swift and her Eras Tour, which will be a big production. Taylor Swift performs onstage during her US-leg of the Eras Tour.

Persons: CNN — It’s, Taylor Swift, Swift, “, Jordan Lee, ” Lee, Taylor Hill, Nur Hazlina, Pita Limjaroenrat, Thais, Suzanne Codeiro, Syed Saddiq, ”, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Stuart MacFarlane, Song Seng, “ Swift Organizations: CNN, Organizers, Ticketmaster, Swift, Rights, Kuala Lumpur, Party, T, Getty, Philippine, Coldplay, Malaysian Islamic, “, ”, Arsenal FC, Kallang, Management, Singapore’s Ministry of Culture ,, Youth Locations: Asia, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Bangkok, Manila, Jakarta, United States, South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Kuala, Thailand, “ Thailand, Philippines, Arlington , Texas, AFP, Malaysia, Indonesia, British, Malaysian, Kuala Lumpur, “ Malaysia, Hong Kong

Hong Kong CNN —A corruption investigation in Singapore has expanded to include Ong Beng Seng, a hotel tycoon best known for bringing the Formula 1 Grand Prix to the wealthy city state. The agency had earlier launched an investigation into a case involving the transport minister, in a rare corruption probe involving a cabinet-level official. Ong’s company said he had posted bail of 100,000 Singapore dollars ($76,000) after being given a notice of arrest. Ong is also the sole shareholder of the Singapore Grand Prix, organizer of the marquee sporting event, his spokesperson confirmed to CNN. Rare caseThe news about Ong emerged just days after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong asked the transport minister to take a leave of absence.

Persons: Ong Beng Seng, Ong, “, Lee Hsien Loong, Iswaran, CPIB, Lee, Eugene Tan, Bernie Ecclestone, Hoch, Lawrence Wong, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hotel Properties, Practices, Transport, Singapore, Prix, CNN, Singapore Management University, Party Locations: Hong Kong, Singapore, Properties, Maldives, Malaysia, London, Bangkok, Abu

SINGAPORE, July 7 (Reuters) - After standing in line for 36 hours, Qayyum Lukman on Friday emerged triumphant from a kiosk where he had just scored tickets to see pop sensation Taylor Swift perform in Singapore, her only stop in Southeast Asia next year. I don’t know what to think, indescribable, I’m very happy I got tickets! Indonesian Friski Riana, 31, joined virtual queues of millions of fans, even borrowing her friend's credit card to try and get tickets. [1/5]Qayyum Lukman, 25, full-time national servicemen, poses with a Taylor Swift vinyl album, as he waits first in line to buy Taylor Swift concert tickets, at a post office in Singapore July 7, 2023. Hours after the pre-sale closed, touts were marking up S$358 ($264.73) tickets to at least S$1,000 on marketplace app Carousell.

Persons: Qayyum Lukman, Taylor Swift, Swift, Lukman, I’m, ”, couldn't, Edgar Su, Friski, Thailand's, Pita Limjareonrat, Lavender, Chayut, Ananda, Kanupriya Kapoor, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Coldplay, Business Times, Twitter, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, British, Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Ananda Teresia

Change is afoot in the conservative city state with a softening of attitudes and growing tolerance of gay issues, which some members of the LGBT community and academics attribute to the November lifting of a ban on sex between men. But the historic lifting of the ban was not all welcomed by LGBT people. The repeal of the gay sex ban was not universally welcomed. LGBT issues are appearing in the typically conservative domestic media, known for toeing the government line. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore this month advised teachers to "address socio-religious issues, including LGBT issues, with wisdom, kindness, compassion and mercy".

Persons: Yeo Sam Jo, Yeo, JoJo Sam Clair, Laavanya Kathiravelu, Carol, Dot, Nishanthiy Balasamy, Corinna Lim, Lim, Cally Chia, Ching Chia, Ching, Clement Tan, Pink Dot, We're, Tan, Xinghui Kok, Chen Lin, Robert Birsel, William Mallard Organizations: Nanyang Technological University, Institute of Policy, Islamic, Council of, Pink, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Council of Singapore, Instagram

☆ Abortion is ancient history and that matters today
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

This long view of abortion matters, according to Mary Fissell, a professor of the history of medicine at Johns Hopkins University. That’s because assumptions about how abortion was viewed in the past color present-day arguments about abortion rights. Abortion opponents portray the rights granted by Roe v. Wade and legal access to abortion as an historical aberration, according to Fissell, which is not accurate, historians say. Earliest references to abortionThe first written references to abortion are contained in an ancient Egyptian papyrus written about 3,500 years ago. For most of history, abortion has not been an issue about the fetus, like it is today, but rather about women’s behavior.

Persons: Mary Fissell, Roe, Wade, ”, Fissell, “, Dobbs, it’s, Lysistrata, Aristophanes, —, Lisa Briggs, Briggs, Pliny the Elder, ” Briggs, It’s, Maeve Callan, Callan, ’, Saint Brigid, Patrick, Brigid, Peter Morrison, God, ” Callan, “ quickening, Pope Sixtus V, Pope Gregory XIV Organizations: CNN, Johns Hopkins University, US, Jackson, Health Organization, Cranfield University, British Museum, “, Simpson College, AP, quicken Locations: United States, Dobbs v, Rome, Cyrene, Libya, Iowa, Medieval Ireland, Ireland, Leixlip, Kildare

☆ Singapore has pledged billions to fight climate change. Experts say it's not enough
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesSingapore, a tiny city-state with an import-dependent economy, is especially vulnerable to rising sea levels, heat waves and other adverse effects of climate change. Around the globe, financing for climate adaptation has traditionally lagged behind mitigation investments that are focused on slowing or stopping the rise in fossil fuel emissions. Singapore's climate challengesIn 2019, Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said climate change was a matter of "life and death" for the city-state. An initiative of London's Imperial College and Singapore Management University, SGFC was launched in 2020 to advance climate financing solutions. In 2020, Vena Energy became the first Singapore-based company to issue green bonds in U.S. dollars with a $325 million five-year green bond aimed at refinancing existing corporate loans for green projects.

Persons: Xinying Tok, Lee Hsien Loong, Grace Fu, Emirhan Ilhan, SGFC, issuances, Vena Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty Images, Singapore, Carbon Trust, National University of Singapore Business School, Green Finance Institute, City State, Singapore Green Finance, London's Imperial College, Singapore Management University, Monetary Authority of, Insurance, Vena Energy, Resources Locations: Getty Images Singapore, Singapore, Southeast Asia, City, Monetary Authority of Singapore

☆ Vatican court orders climate activists to pay almost 30,000 euros
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Italy's ''Ultima Generazione'' (Last Generation) climate activists block a road to highlight the need to combat the climate crisis, in Rome, Italy, October 31, 2022. REUTERS/Yara NardiROME, June 12 (Reuters) - Two Italian climate change activists who glued themselves to the base of one of the Vatican Museums' most famous statues must pay almost 30,000 euros ($32,232) in damages and costs, a Vatican criminal court ruled on Monday. Guido Viero and Laura Zorzini of the Ultima Generazione (Last Generation) group pulled the stunt against the Laocoon statue in August. The Tribunal of the Vatican City State, which has lay rather than religious judges, told Viero and Zorzini to jointly pay 28,148 euros in damages to Vatican authorities, and 1,000 euros in legal costs, a court ruling showed. Ultima Generazione has performed several high profile protests in Italy, often targeting artworks or monuments.

Persons: Yara, Guido Viero, Laura Zorzini, Troy, Viero, Zorzini, Generazione, Trevi, Alvise Armellini, Richard Chang Organizations: REUTERS, Vatican City State, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, ROME, Vatican

☆ Jocelyn Chia: Comedian in New York jokes about Malaysia, sparks backlash diplomatic backlash
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —A comedian in New York who joked about the safety of Malaysian planes in an apparent reference to the disappearance of flight MH370 has sparked a heated backlash in Malaysia and Singapore. Controversy over the joke by lawyer-turned comedian Jocelyn Chia at Manhattan’s Comedy Cellar erupted soon after a short clip of her stand-up performance was posted online earlier this week. Chia’s bit had centered on the uneasy past between Singapore and Malaysia, which were once part of the same country. An air safety expert did not exclude it could be a part of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. “(Chia) does not in any way reflect our views,” he added.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, MH370, Jocelyn Chia, Andre de la, Yannick Pitonyaninick Piton, –, Muhamad Akmal Saleh, ”, Chia, Gopala Menon, Menon, “, Vivian Balakrishnan, Chia “, Dr Zambry Abd Kadir Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Malaysian, Malaysia Airlines, ” Police, Getty, United Malays National Organization, Singapore’s, Bernama, CNN, Facebook Locations: Hong Kong, New York, Malaysia, Singapore, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, La, AFP

☆ Singapore's love affair with air conditioning shows a Catch 22 of climate change
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Thankfully, Chee said, his home has five air conditioners – one in each bedroom and a larger unit in the living room. “I drank plenty of water, took cold showers and kept the air conditioning on for the entire weekend. Indeed, in this city, air conditioning has become almost a way of life. But Singapore’s love affair with air conditioning has an enormous cost. Here are some possible solutions 02:39 - Source: CNNBreaking the loopStill, experts say there are ways to break the air conditioning doom-loop.

Persons: Chee Kuan Chew, ” Chee, “, Mo Kio, Chee, Lee Kuan Yew, Edgar Su, Suhaimi Abdullah, Matthias Roth, Roth, Radhika Khosla, ” Khosla, Heng Chye Kiang, Smart, Heng Organizations: CNN, Reuters, Economic, International Energy Agency, Urban, United States Environmental Protection Agency, National University of Singapore, United Nations, Montreal Protocol, Oxford University’s Smith School of Enterprise, Environment, Bloomberg, Getty, Singapore’s National Environment Agency, NEA, ”, National University of Singapore’s School of Design Locations: Singapore, New York City, Japan, United States, ”, Kigali, Montreal, Orchard

☆ More than 180 years of horse racing in Singapore is coming to an end
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Horses being ridden by work riders during a Singapore Turf Club trackwork session on May 15, 2014 in Singapore. The Singapore Turf Club on Monday announced that it will hold its final race on October 2024, closing a 180-year-old chapter on horse racing in the city state. At the same time, we understand the land needs of Singapore, including housing and other potential uses such as leisure and recreation," Turf Club Chairman Niam Chiang Meng said in a press release. Demand for housing in Singapore has been soaring, pushing 2023's first-quarter private residential property price index up 11% compared to the same period last year. "Young people don't bet on horses, they go to casinos now," Jimmy, a 67-year-old avid horserace bettor from Singapore told CNBC, adding that racing takes place only once a week on Saturdays and at 30-minute intervals.

Persons: Niam Chiang Meng, Jimmy Organizations: Singapore Turf Club, Monday, Government, Turf, CNBC Locations: Singapore

☆ Singapore will end horse racing to make space for housing development
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —The space starved island state of Singapore is bringing the curtain down on more than 180 years of horse racing with its sole racecourse set to be handed back to the government to make way for public housing. The final race at the Singapore Turf Club will be the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup on 5th October 2024. The site will be redeveloped to meet the country’s future needs for housing and potentially include venues for leisure and recreation, it added. Jockeys sprint at Kranji Racecourse on May 25, 2019 in Singapore. Lo Chun Kit/Getty ImagesDespite its long history, horse racing in the city state has seen a decline in viewership over the past decade, the club added.

Persons: Chiang Meng, ” Niam, Lo Chun Kit, Queen Elizabeth II Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Singapore Turf, 100th Grand Singapore, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of National Development, ”, Singapore Turf Club, Racecourse Locations: Hong Kong, Singapore, Kranji, New York City

☆ Singapore overtakes Hong Kong as the most expensive Asia-Pacific city for private homes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Tobiasjo | E+ | Getty ImagesSingapore's private homes are now the most expensive in Asia-Pacific, having overtaken Hong Kong, according to a new report. Private rental homes in Singapore also had the highest monthly rent in the region at $2,600 — "far exceeding" other cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Hong Kong, according to the report. Hong Kong vs. SingaporeHome prices in Hong Kong "dropped substantially" in 2022, ULI said, citing the significant increase in mortgage interest rates as Hong Kong keeps pace with the U.S. Federal Reserve. Rental pricesSingapore's private rental homes have the highest monthly rent in the region, having increased by nearly 30% in 2022. Home attainabilityDespite Singapore's private homes being the most expensive in the region, the city state also has the highest homeownership rate at 89.3%.

Persons: ULI, Hong, Kong's, David Faulkner, homeownership, Ho Organizations: Yacht, Urban Land Institute, ULI, Asia Pacific Centre for Housing, Singapore, U.S . Federal, Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, Urban Land Institute Asia Pacific Centre, Housing, Hong, Housing Private, CNBC, Housing Development Board, Board Locations: Singapore, Keppel, Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, U.S, Shenzhen, Beijing, Brisbane, Covid, Australia, China, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Da Nang

☆ Berlin chooses change in rerun election with clear lead for conservatives
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Riham Alkousaa | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/7] Berlin?s frontrunner for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Kai Wegner, for the rerun of state elections reacts at the regional state parliament in Berlin, Germany, February 12, 2023. The Social Democrats, who have governed the German capital in a coalition with the environmentalist Greens and hard-left Die Linke, scored 18.2%. "Berlin chose change", CDU top candidate Kai Wegner said of the results, adding that there was a clear mandate for his party to form a state government. Berlin's left-wing mayor Franziska Giffey acknowledged the election defeat but said the CDU would still need a stable majority to govern in the city. Talk of a possible two-way coalition with the CDU was received with booing at the Greens election party on Sunday.

☆ Baltimore man who stood trial 4 times in killing is freed after charges are dismissed
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Baltimore, Maryland's newly elected top prosecutor dismissed all charges against a Black man who stood trial four times in a 2015 killing despite his repeated claims that he was innocent and set up by police. Keith Davis Jr. walked free Friday after Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates announced his decision. Keith Davis Jr. hugs supporter Peggy Amaker as he arrives at a gathering following his release from custody in Baltimore on Jan. 13, 2023. Supporters of Davis said he was "cornered by police in a West Baltimore garage" and shot at 44 times, according to the website Free Keith Davis Jr. The website denied Davis' involvement in the killing and said the gun police claimed he used "was never fired."

Like many residents, he's been on a spree - because on Jan. 1 Singapore's sales tax goes up for the first time in 15 years. From next year, the sales tax on everything from groceries to diamond rings goes from 7% to 8%. By buying everything now before the hike, Soif said he's saving S$250 ($185) on his purchases, now in storage at retailers' facilities. The upbeat spending comes against a backdrop of concern, and some opposition, among the population about the tax hike. It has also said it would review the second step of the tax hike if there was a major global downturn next year.

☆ Extreme cold weather stretches U.S. homeless shelters' capacity
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Gabriella Borter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/4] A man stands outside of his tent during a period of cold weather in Denver, Colorado, U.S. December 22, 2022. Officials prepared the indoor arena to house 225 people but increased its capacity to 359 on Wednesday night. The report found that homelessness among people in shelters declined by 1.6%, while unsheltered homelessness increased by 3.4%, compared to 2020. "Severe weather exacerbates the cruel reality of homelessness in America," said Donald Whitehead, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. Nearly 1,000 migrants were staying at Denver city shelters or partner shelters as of Thursday, according to a city statement.

That puts Hong Kong in a league of its own. The competitive tension between Hong Kong and Singapore is greater than ever. The danger is that Hong Kong’s new embrace of virtual assets will set up a regulatory race to the bottom, even if FTX’s collapse means it might happen at a slower pace. The policy statement notes that retail investors in other markets have been granted exposure to virtual assets including through exchange-traded products. Column by Thomas Shum in Hong Kong, Pranav Kiran in Bengaluru.

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