ANKARA: Singapore’s core inflation annually rose to 3.6% in May, its highest level since December 2008, according to official data released on Thursday. Core inflation, which excludes the components of accommodation and private transport, was up 3.3% in April its highest annual increase in 10 years, the Department of Statistics said. Overall inflation in the […]
Singapore
US says China’s sea claims have ‘no basis’ in international law
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea have “no basis in international law”, taking aim at China’s growing assertiveness in the hotly contested waters. “That assertion treads on the sovereignty of the states in the region,” he said at the start of a trip to Southeast Asia, […]
UK mandates climate disclosure for companies
The UK government on Thursday will detail plans to safeguard the City of London’s future under a post-Brexit agenda that requires companies to disclose their impact on the climate. Finance minister Rishi Sunak will vow to “make this country the world’s most advanced and exciting financial services hub for decades to come”, according to Treasury […]
Sri Lanka’s marine disaster worsens as environmental toll rises
Damage to Sri Lanka’s marine environment from a sinking chemical ship is worse than feared, officials said Friday, as more dead turtles, dolphins and whales washed up on the island’s beaches. As of Thursday, 130 marine animals have been found dead on the Indian Ocean’s beaches since the MV X-Press caught fire last month before […]
Singaporean woman jailed 30 years for torturing, killing maid
A Singaporean woman who starved, assaulted and ultimately killed her domestic worker was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday, with the judge describing the case as “among the worst types of culpable homicide”. The affluent city-state is home to about 250,000 domestic workers who mostly come from poorer Asian countries, and stories of mistreatment […]
Sri Lanka arrests captain over ship fire pollution
The Russian skipper of a container ship that caught fire and burned for almost two weeks before sinking off Sri Lanka’s coast has been arrested and is expected to be charged with marine pollution, police said Monday. The island nation is seeking $40 million in damages from the operators of the ship, which released tonnes […]
International experts deployed for Sri Lanka oil spill
Foreign experts have been deployed to help Sri Lanka contain a potential oil leak from a burnt-out container ship partially sunk off Colombo, the ship’s operator said Friday. Representatives from the International Tankers Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) and Oil Spill Response (OSR) were onshore monitoring the MV X-Press Pearl, X-Press Feeders said. “They continue to […]
Sri Lanka prepares for worst oil spill as weather hits ship salvage
Sri Lanka was preparing Thursday for a possible major oil leak from the burnt-out cargo ship sinking off Colombo’s main harbour, as worsening weather stalled salvage efforts. The Marine Environment Protection Authority readied oil dispersants and skimmers in case of a leak from the MV X-Press Pearl, which had 350 tonnes of fuel oil […]
Sri Lanka ship fire extinguished after 13 days
A fire aboard a Singapore-registered cargo ship was finally extinguished Tuesday after a 13-day international operation off Sri Lanka’s coast, the navy said. Experts from Dutch salvage company SMIT boarded the MV X-Press Pearl and reported massive flooding of the engine rooms, Sri Lanka navy spokesman Indika de Silva told AFP.
Virus-hit Singapore, Airlines report biggest annual net loss
Singapore’s national airline reported Wednesday its worst annual net loss of $3.2 billion in the aftermath of the “toughest year in its history” due to the corona-virus pandemic. The airline industry has been hammered hard by recurring waves of infections worldwide which have grounded air travel as governments restrict movement to halt the surges. Singapore […]