Singapore on February 18 announced a financial package worth 6.4 billion SGD (4.6 billion USD) to address economic impact of the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Singaporean people wear face masks to prevent coronavirus (Source: AFP/VNA)
Singapore (VNA) – Singapore on February 18 announced a financialpackage worth 6.4 billion SGD (4.6 billion USD) to address economic impact of theacute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
In the Budget 2020 statement, Deputy PrimeMinister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said that it is not clear howbadly the outbreak will hit the economy. “We must be prepared that the economicimpact may be worse than we projected,” he added.
According to the minister, a 4 billion SGDpackage will be rolled out to keep workers in jobs, help companies with theircash flow and provide additional support for sectors directly affected by thedisease.
Households will get additional help withthe cost of living from a special 1.6 billion SGD package, with those lesswell-off receiving more.
This includes a one-off cash payout rangingfrom 100 SGD to 300 SGD for every Singaporean aged 21 and above.
Apart from this, 800 million SGD in extrafunding will be given to front-line agencies fighting the outbreak.
Heng said the economic packages may cause adeficit of 10.9 billion SGD, or 2.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).However, the Government has accumulated sufficient surplus to fund theprojected deficit without drawing on past reserves./.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore downgraded its economic growth forecast to between 0.5-1.5 percent from the rate of between 0.5-2.5 percent estimated in November 2019.
Singapore will roll out a new stay-home notice for its residents and long-term pass holders returning from mainland China as part of efforts to respond to the acute respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Singapore Airlines Ltd said on February 18 that it will temporarily cut flights across its global network in the next three months due to falling demand as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Singapore has set a goal of phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles and using more electric ones by 2040 as part of its efforts to cut greenhouse gases and fight climate change.
The forum, which involves global experts and creative leaders from across 14 cultural sectors, aims to expand Thailand’s presence on the world stage through innovation and cultural exchange.
In his article, Oscar Sanchez Serra highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s founding of the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on June 21, 1925, which marked the birth of Vietnam's revolutionary press rooted in a bold and far-sighted vision.
Several ASEAN meetings are scheduled to take place in Port Dickson this September, including the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) for ASEAN Plus Three (APT), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the 15th ASEAN Maritime Forum, and the 13th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered the urgent implementation of a national policy to crack down on all forms of call centre scams, online fraud, and illegal gambling, which are now considered threats to national security.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and EAEU Trade Minister Andrey Slepnev jointly declared the conclusion of FTA talks on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), according to the statement.
The article stressed that throughout his revolutionary career, the founder of modern Vietnam consistently regarded the revolutionary press as a vital part of the Vietnamese Party’s and nation’s revolutionary struggle.
Pichai said the trade talks with the US are important and need to move forward professionally, without regard for any political changes in Thailand, believing that Thailand has clear principles, guidelines and procedures in place.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
Singaporean people wear face masks to prevent coronavirus (Source: AFP/VNA) 
