The Straits Times - February 04, 2025
The Straits Times - February 04, 2025
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In this issue
February 04, 2025
Heat-reflective paint initiative to be rolled out to all HDB estates by 2030
An initiative to coat Housing Board blocks with heat-reflective paint will be rolled out to all HDB estates by 2030, after a pilot project in Tampines showed that the cool paint reduced ambient temperatures by up to 2 deg C.
3 mins
Racial and religious harmony scores rise in Singapore: IPS study
General trend over past 5 to 10 years shows improvement across broad set of markers
4 mins
Trump Says UK May Be Able to Avoid Tariffs But EU Won't
US President Donald Trump said on Feb 2 that although Britain was \"out of line\" when it came to trade, he thought it may be able to avoid tariffs, adding of the imbalance: \"I think that one can be worked out.\"
1 min
PM Wong to Deliver Budget Speech at 3.30pm on Feb 18
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will deliver the 2025 Budget statement at 3.30pm on Feb 18 in Parliament.
2 mins
Tariffs to be delayed by a month, says Mexican President
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Feb 3 that the US would delay a proposed 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming into the country from Mexico for one month, after Mexico agreed to ramp up security at its border.
3 mins
Lim Tze Peng, dubbed S'pore's national treasure, dies at 103
Pioneer artist best known for ink scenes of old Chinatown and Singapore River
3 mins
Australia to Fast-Track Job Applications of Nurses From Six Countries
Singapore on the list; Aussie health workers welcome move to address chronic shortage
3 mins
FBI Staff Told To Reveal Their Role In Probe On US Capitol Attack
Federal Bureau of Investigation employees were ordered on Feb 2 to answer a detailed list of questions about any work they may have done on criminal cases related to the Jan 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, stoking fear among staff about a fresh round of firings at the law enforcement agency.
2 mins
Musk given access to vital Treasury system: Reports
Billionaire Elon Musk, who is heading US President Donald Trump's mission to shrink the federal government, will give an update on the effort early on Feb 3 amid reports that he has been given access to a vital payment system at the Treasury Department.
1 min
Staff at US securities regulator told to seek approval for probes
Lawyers at the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) have been told they need to seek permission from the politically appointed leadership before formally launching probes, two sources briefed on the matter said, in a marked change in procedure that could slow down investigations.
2 mins
Thailand to push for dustproof rooms in 20,000 restaurants
It aims to hit goal within 3 months, as part of wider initiative covering public areas
1 min
Narita Airport counts over 20 million non-Japanese passengers in 2024
The total number of non-Japanese passengers aboard international flights arriving at and departing from Narita Airport near Tokyo exceeded 20 million in 2024 for the first time since its opening in 1978, according to Narita International Airport Corp (NAA).
1 min
Taipei says liaison office in S. Africa told to move by end-March
The South African government has given Taiwan a deadline of the end of March to relocate the island's de facto embassy outside of the capital city Pretoria, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry said, blaming Chinese pressure for the move.
1 min
Taiwan, China need peace given 'multifold changes': President Lai
Taiwan and China need to talk to each other to achieve peace given the \"multifold changes\" in the international situation, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Feb 3, calling for dialogue instead of confrontation.
1 min
Hezbollah Plans to Hold 'Grand Funeral' for Slain Leader Nasrallah
The head of Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah said on Feb 2 that his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah would be laid to rest on Feb 23, nearly five months after he was killed in an Israeli air attack on Beirut's southern suburbs.
1 min
Freed Thai hostages recount how they survived in captivity
Mr Pongsak Tanna, one of five Thai hostages released by Hamas on Jan 30, is currently receiving medical care at a hospital in Tel Aviv under the supervision of the Israeli government.
2 mins
OpenAI chief says 'no plans' to sue China's DeepSeek
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman said on Feb 3 that the US company has \"no plans\" to sue Chinese start-up DeepSeek, which rattled Silicon Valley with its powerful and apparently cheaply developed chatbot.
1 min
Greece's Top Tourist Isle Santorini Hit by Fresh Tremors
Fresh overnight tremors shook Greece's top tourist island Santorini, media reports said on Feb 3, prompting people to sleep outdoors and others to leave by plane or ferry.
1 min
Taiwan Bans Govt Agencies From Using DeepSeek AI
Taiwan on Feb 3 banned government departments from using Chinese start-up DeepSeek's artificial intelligence (AI) service as it was a security risk, toughening language from last week which said it should not be used.
1 min
OpenAI Cites US Roots to Dodge India Courts Over Copyright Case
But Lawyers Say Case Can Be Heard as Telegram Failed With Similar Defense in 2022
3 mins
Riyadh, UAE Possible Hosts for Trump-Putin Summit
Russian Sources Point to Recent Visits by Kremlin Officials to Saudi Arabia and UAE
3 mins
Pioneering surgeon behind nation's first kidney transplant dies at 95
His work enabled the procedure to become a standard treatment for kidney failure here
3 mins
Foreign family members of GE candidates allowed to show support but cannot canvass for votes
In Singapore's next general election, candidates' immediate family members will be exempted from a longstanding rule barring foreigners from being involved in election activities.
1 min
Fire breaks out in Little India shophouse; no injuries reported
A fire broke out at a two-storey shophouse in Little India on Feb 3, damaging neighbouring shops and a car.
1 min
AT THE COURTS 14½ years' jail, caning for Ninja Van driver who delivered meth to POPStation locker
A former Ninja Van delivery driver who delivered a package of drugs to a POPStation locker in 2020 was sentenced to 14 1/2 years' jail and 13 strokes of the cane on Feb 3.
3 mins
Woman admits causing mischief at adult son's lion dance contest
A woman who was fined in 2022 for harassing her neighbour and his family amid the Covid-19 outbreak created a ruckus a year later during her son's lion dance competition.
1 min
Serial sex offender who had unprotected sex with girlfriend, 14, back behind bars
The repeat drug abuser also smoked methamphetamine with the minor, the court heard. The 24-year-old man was sentenced to five years, nine months and six days' jail on Feb 3.
2 mins
Over 970,000 Illegal Health Product Units Seized by HSA in 2024
More than 7,300 online listings taken down, and nearly 3,000 online sellers warned
2 mins
Man deported after jail time here, arrested in Montenegro on arrival in private plane
Police there accuse him of organising illegal online betting platforms
2 mins
STI Tracks Regional Declines as Trump's Tariffs Rattle Markets
• Local index down 0.8%, with Singtel sliding 3.3% to $3.22 • Decliners beat gainers 348 to 201 in the broader market • Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Australia all end in the red
1 min
Chipmaker STMicroelectronics May Cut Up To 3,000 Jobs In France And Italy
STMicroelectronics is considering reducing its workforce by as much as 6 per cent through early retirements and attrition, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Franco-Italian chipmaker confronts a prolonged demand slump in the industrial and auto sectors.
1 min
SoftBank, OpenAI to Jointly Offer AI Services to Companies in Japan
SoftBank Group and OpenAI will create a joint venture to develop and sell artificial intelligence (AI) services to businesses across Japan, establishing one of the broadest efforts yet to sell the fast-growing start-up's tools to enterprise customers outside of the US.
1 min
Data centre euphoria starts to ebb after DeepSeek's emergence
Market turmoil sparked by its chatbot has left some rethinking credit frenzy around AI
2 mins
SingPost's Singapore CEO quits after less than a year
Shahrin Abdol Salam will be succeeded by his predecessor who had rejoined as COO
2 mins
Former chairman of E-Bridge Pre-School Ng Hark Seng, 77, dies
Mr Ng Hark Seng, former chairman of E-Bridge Pre-School and a pivotal figure in Singapore's early childhood education landscape, died on Jan 30. He was 77.
2 mins
Singapore factory activity grows at slower pace as trade war looms
Electronics still the main driver, but its growth also slows in January
2 mins
Manufacturing growth slowed across Asia in Jan ahead of Trump's tariffs
Factories across Asia expanded at a lacklustre pace in January as demand cooled, ahead of a trade war that US President Donald Trump kicked off on the weekend.
2 mins
Trump Puts 'Madman Theory' to the Test
There is power in unpredictability in international relations, but there is also a catch.
7 mins
Gen Z seeks safety above all else amid constant crisis and existential threats
The shift in perspective has profound implications for the future of this generation and those to come.
4 mins
Fires ● Flee carpark first, worry about vehicle later
When there's a fire in the home or in the office, one doesn't think of fleeing with anything but one's life.
1 min
Environment ● Earth and its ecosystems cannot adapt to destruction wreaked by humans
I was shocked to read Mr Goh Ee Kiat's letter \"Is it worth disrupting tradition to get grandpa to forgo shark's fin soup?\" (Jan 27).
1 min
Queiroz Rises To The Occasion
Singapore champion jockey eyeing more Malaysian trips and New Zealand stint
3 mins
Official Secret can reveal himself over longer
Exciting newcomer (1) ARABIAN BLUE could be the next in line to show her talent.
2 mins
RYBAKINA REVEALS STUBBORN STREAK
World No. 5, who refreshes coaching team, says she’s not an easy player to work with
3 mins
No Defence For City: Guardiola
Spaniard blames his side and himself after errors lead to a capitulation against Arsenal
3 mins
Forest back in business with Brighton drubbing
ST's weekend football debrief
3 mins
At Spore Tennis Open and S'pore Smash, crowds proclaim some faith in sport
The city should be silent. It's a working Monday, kids back in school, 7.45pm on a Singapore night. But hell no, it's smoke, lights and passionate pandemonium in OCBC Arena.
3 mins
Lessons For The Locals
Singapore's entries on Day 2 all beaten, with only Pang and men's doubles pairings left
3 mins
Beyonce wins best album
The singer takes home the top prize for her eighth album Cowboy Carter, while Kendrick Lamar scores five awards
5 mins
Ready for her close-up in S'pore
At 64, soprano Sarah Brightman feels she is the right age to play Sunset Boulevard's faded star Norma Desmond
3 mins
10 things to know about Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu
News of popular actress Barbie Hsu's sudden death due to influenza-related pneumonia has left the Taiwanese entertainment industry and her fans reeling.
4 mins
How influenza can turn deadly
Although influenza – better known as flu – is a common illness that most people recover from without treatment, it can result in life-threatening or even deadly complications.
3 mins
The Straits Times Newspaper Description:
Publisher: SPH Media Limited
Category: Newspaper
Language: English
Frequency: Daily
Unlock your access to award-winning journalism on Singapore and the world. With bureaus in major cities around the world, The Straits Times correspondents bring world news to readers on a Singapore platter, helping them appreciate world events from a Singaporean perspective.
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