ASEAN News

SINGAPORE – On 1 January 2021, the minimum mandatory age for the purchase, use, possession, selling, and supply of tobacco products will be increased from the existing 20 years to 21. This is the third and final change to the minimum age requirement under the amendments to the Tobacco (Advertising and Sale Control) Act passed in November 2017 by Parliament. …

A power curb has been lifted on vehicles ferrying workers. The change to remove the 25% reduction in carrying capacity is in line with the beginning of phase three of the reopening of Singapore, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said yesterday. The reduction in maximum passenger capacity was announced in late May as the …

The Covid-19 vaccination exercise in Singapore will begin with healthcare staff at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on Wednesday, followed in the coming weeks by those from other healthcare institutions. As of February next year, seniors aged 70 and above will get vaccinated, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said yesterday in a statement. This is in line with …

Data from Shanghai Customs has shown that the trade between Shanghai and the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) has continuasly remained strong this year despite being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. China’s Xinhua news agency reported has reported that Shanghai imported goods worth more than 339.3 billion yuan (about RM210.6 billion) from Asean in the first 11 months of …

Changi Airport in Singapore charges clients up to $269 a night for the ability to camp in its retail wing in a tent, the most uncommon travel experience aimed at raising revenue during the pandemic. “Glamping” experience tickets, which have already sold out, offer visitors the opportunity to “wake up to the refreshing view of the majestic HSBC Rain Vortex,” …

Indonesia has the highest number of infections with COVID-19 in ASEAN, but it remains the only country in the region to avoid the general lockdown. However, as with other ASEAN nations, air travel remains highly restrictive. The wait may be over for the vaccine, but before opening the borders, Indonesia or ASEAN can not afford to wait for it to …

SINGAPORE: Digital health passports have been developed by Singapore companies that can check the COVID-19 test results of travelers, as the country is steadily reopening its borders with safe management measures in place. Affinidi said that it is working on trials for inbound travellers with government agencies and private sector partners, while two other companies said they were involved in …

SINGAPORE: As of January, Singapore Airlines (SIA) will resume flights to Dubai, Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Moscow and Munich, the carrier said on Friday (Dec 18). SIA said in a Facebook post that adjustments would also be made to the flight schedules for its SilkAir regional wing and Scoot budget carrier. “The changes are part of a “detailed analysis” to …

According to a recent report, an increasing need for a sharper emphasis on sustainability issues is obvious in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Jointly conducted by the United Overseas Bank and the Institute for Emerging Market Studies of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the researchers also found that …

For its next five-year action plan, the Asean Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) prioritizes transparency, regulatory harmonization, and capital building, with the objective of sustainably growing regional capital markets and promoting transactions in the field of environmental, social, and governance (ESG). Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol, Secretary-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand (SEC), virtually attended the 33rd meeting of ACMF Chairs …