Transition

SINGAPORE: A total of S$113 million will be set aside by the Government to provide road tax rebates for petrol and petrol-hybrid vehicles to ease the transition towards higher petrol duties, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a news release on Tuesday (Feb 16). Petrol duty rate was raised by 15 cents per litre for premium petrol on Tuesday, while intermediate petrol duty will be raised by 10 cents, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced in his Budget 2021 speech in Parliament. READ: Budget 2021 - More incentives to encourage early adoption of electric vehicles Here are four things to know about the tax rebates: 1. ROAD TAX REBATES A 15 per cent road tax rebate will be given to owners of private cars for one year, while motorcycle owners will get 60 per cent road tax rebate. As it happened: DPM Heng Swee Keat's Budget 2021 speech With the 15 per cent road tax rebate for cars, the minimum road tax payment for petrol and petrol-hybrid … [Read more...] about Petrol duty rate hike: Tax rebates in Budget 2021 to ease transition to higher duties

SINGAPORE - A cleaner who works in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 3 has tested positive for Covid-19, one of two cases of local transmission reported on Tuesday (Dec 1). She is 66 years old and lives in Yishun with her husband, who is unemployed, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a statement on Tuesday night. She tested positive on Monday, and was asymptomatic when tested. Her infection was detected through the MOH's bi-weekly rostered routine testing (RRT) of front-line workers. The patient was taken to hospital after her test came back positive. Her serological test is negative, which is likely to indicate a current infection, said the ministry. The MOH added that she wears personal protective equipment at work, including a face mask, face shield, gloves and gown, and that her earlier swabs done as part of RRT were negative. Epidemiological investigations are in progress. All of her identified close contacts, including her family members and co-workers, have … [Read more...] about Cleaner who works at Changi Airport T3 transit area is Singapore’s sole Covid-19 community case

SINGAPORE: All students will be able to return to schools and people will be able to dine out only if the COVID-19 situation remains under control following the exit from the “circuit breaker” on Jun 1 . Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Tuesday (May 19) that economic activities that do not pose a high risk of transmission will restart first on Jun 2. Only a portion of students will attend school, while some cohorts will alternate between home-based learning and returning to school for lessons. Many shops will remain closed and eateries can only provide takeaway services for this period. READ: Singapore to exit circuit breaker on Jun 1, visiting of parents, places of worship allowed with restrictions READ: Singapore to gradually reopen borders, plans to resume essential travel among countries with low COVID-19 transmission rate "If community transmission rates can remain low and the situation remains under control over the next few weeks, we can then move … [Read more...] about Transition to a ‘new normal’ after circuit breaker: How will measures be lifted beyond Phase 1?

India on Sunday sent its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port in Iran, seen as a 'landmark' move to operationalise the new strategic transit route, bypassing Pakistan. The shipment was flagged off from the Kandla port in Gujarat with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani joining the ceremony through video conferencing. 'The shipment of wheat is a landmark moment as it will pave the way for operationalisation of the Chabahar port as an alternate, reliable and robust connectivity for Afghanistan,' the ministry of external affairs said in a statement. In June, India and Afghanistan had launched an air freight corridor between the two countries to boost trade as Pakistan has been refusing land transit access through its territory. "I am extremely delighted that today we have joined on a momentous occasion for the people of our three countries and the region," Swaraj said, terming the move as … [Read more...] about India sends first wheat shipment to Afghanistan via Chabahar port

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhan during a joint press conference after their meeting at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran on Monday. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo Iranian President Dr. Hassan Rouhani on Monday announced that May 23 will henceforth be called the ‘Day of Chabahar’ as India, Iran and Afghanistan signed the historic Chabahar Agreement. ‘This is a very important day for Iranians and now on it is going to be even more important because today is going to mark the day of cooperation between three of us, Iran, India and Afghanistan and from now on this day can be called the day of Chabahar,’ he said at trilateral summit. Asserting that it was an important day in the history of the relationship between the three countries, Iranian President said that Tehran, Delhi and Kabul would give this message to the region that the path of progress of the countries of the region goes through cooperation and utilization of … [Read more...] about May 23 to be observed as ‘Day of Chabahar’: Rouhani