Singapore

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - French junior transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said on Monday that he saw no need to close down transport borders between France and Italy, despite the spread of coronavirus.

“Closing down the borders would make no sense, as the circulation of the virus is not just limited to administrative borders,” Djebbari told BFM Business.

SINGAPORE, Feb 19 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Singapore’s Ministry of Health today confirmed three additional cases of COVID-19 in the republic, bringing the total number of positive cases to 84.

All three new cases are Singapore citizens with no recent travel history to China. One of them is a 54-year-old man who is linked to The Life Church and Missions Singapore church, and who travels frequently to Malaysia for work purposes.

SINGAPORE, Feb 17 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Singapore’s economy grew by 0.7 per cent in 2019, slower  than the 3.4 per cent growth recorded in 2018, according to the republic’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

For 2020, MTI said, it has downgraded the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast to -0.5 to 1.5 per cent, with growth expected to come in at around 0.5 per cent, the mid-point of the forecast range. 

SINGAPORE, Feb 14 (NNN-CNA) — A S$77 million Point-to-Point Support Package to help taxi and private-hire car drivers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak was announced by the Singapore government.

The Government will contribute S$45 million towards the package, with the remaining provided by taxi and private-hire car operators. 

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices edged higher Friday, on track for their first weekly gain in six weeks, backed by expectations that major producers will implement deeper output cuts to offset slowing demand in China caused by the coronavirus epidemic.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up 13 cents at $56.47 a barrel by 0731 GMT, after gaining 1% the previous session. Brent is 3.7% higher for the week, the first increase since the week of Jan. 3.

SINGAPORE, Feb 11 (NNN-CNA) — The tourism sector will take a “significant hit”, with visitor arrivals estimated to fall by 25 per cent to 30 per cent this year due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). 

The coronavirus outbreak has significantly impacted visitor arrivals, especially from China, which accounts for about 20 per cent of international visitor arrivals here, said STB in a media release. 

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices edged down on Monday but held recent ranges as traders assessed China’s oil demand following the coronavirus outbreak and awaited a decision by major producers to cut output further to balance markets.

Oil is off more than 20% from peaks struck in January after a spreading virus hit demand in the world’s largest oil importer and fueled concerns of excess supplies.

Brent crude LCOc1 slipped to $53.63 a barrel in early Asian trade, the lowest since January 2019, before recovering to $54.37 by 0517 GMT, down 10 cents.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Britain takes U.S. concerns about its use of Huawei equipment seriously but is confident a trade deal with the United States will be among its first after leaving the European Union, its foreign secretary said on Monday.

U.S. officials have hinted future trade talks could be affected by Britain’s decision last month to grant Huawei a limited role in its 5G mobile network, frustrating a global bid by the United States to exclude the firm from the West’s next-generation communications systems.

SINGAPORE, Jan 28 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Singapore’s Health Ministry today confirmed the fifth case of imported Wuhan coronavirus in the city today.

In a statement issued today, the ministry said the latest case involved a 56-year old Chinese citizen, who had arrived here from Wuhan together with her family on January 18.

She is currently being treated in isolation at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and her condition is reported to be stable.

Based on a report, the ministry said the woman had not displayed any symptoms during her flight to Singapore.

SINGAPORE, Jan 24 (NNN-CNA) — Singapore on Thursday announced a confirmed case of the Wuhan virus, a new coronavirus that has sickened hundreds of people and killed at least 25. 

In a media briefing, the Ministry of Health said the patient is a 66-year-old Chinese man. The Wuhan resident, who arrived in Singapore with his family on Jan 20, flew from Guangzhou via China Southern flight CZ351.