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Tag: Singapore

  • Uniqlo plans five more stores in Singapore

    Uniqlo plans five more stores in Singapore

    Apparel retailer Uniqlo says it will open another five stores in Singapore, taking its network there to 31 stores.

    The first neighbourhood store will open at Ang Mo Kio and Clementi in the first quarter of this year. Uniqlo says the 1297sqm store will be a testbed for inclusive in-store features such as a wheelchair-friendly fitting room, community partnership projects, and sustainability initiatives.

    The locations of the other four new stores have yet to be confirmed.

    Yuki Yamada, CEO at Uniqlo Singapore and Malaysia, said: “To complement our existing network of mall-based outlets, the new store at Ang Mo Kia 51 will bring LifeWear essentials closer home to the heartlanders to enjoy shopping convenience.

    “As a global retailer, we are in a unique position to use our business to benefit the community around us by offering greater inclusivity and contributing meaningfully to a more sustainable society,” she added.

    The brand works with special education schools and social service organisations to provide an assisted shopping experience to customers with special needs in their preferred time slots which must be booked in advance.

    The company has also launched Uniqlo Repair Studio in store, the first permanent offering in Asia to extend the life of Uniqlo’s clothing. Trained staff at the site will repair and alter damaged clothing.

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  • Dyson opens Demo store in Singapore

    Dyson opens Demo store in Singapore

    Southeast Asia’s largest Dyson Demo store has landed in Singapore’s VivoCity, creating what the brand describes as an immersive experience retail space.

    The launch of the Dyson Demo store is part of the brand’s global drive to “further grow its direct-to-consumer retail ambitions”. The new store will join Dyson’s three smaller stores in the city – Dyson Demo Zones in Westgate, Nex and Tampines Mall, together with a Demo Store in Capitol Singapore.

    Located on the first floor of the shopping mall and spanning 172sqm, the store features several demonstration zones and interactive displays to create an in-store experience. Customers will be able to access Dyson’s full portfolio of household appliances and try the products before purchasing.

    Meanwhile, Dyson’s Beauty Labs are designed for in-house hair care, equipped with three styling stations. Customers can have their hair styled and meet the brand’s experts to get advice based on their hair type and styling preferences.

    At the Personalisation Bar, customers can enjoy complimentary case embossing for their Dyson Supersonic hairdryer, Dyson Airwrap styler, and Dyson Corrale straightener with a selection of colors for the foil initials and gift-wrapping services.

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  • Switzerland and Singapore to Teamup on Fintech

    Switzerland and Singapore to Teamup on Fintech

    Switzerland and Singapore, the often called Switzerland of Asia, are looking towards financial sector digitalization. A conference slated for June in Zurich seeks to do just that.

    The Point Zero Forum» intends to bring public sector leaders together with top private sector counterparts in businesses and finance, from June 21 to 23 in Zurich, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) announced on Monday.

    The event will feature a high-caliber lineup, including Swiss Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer and Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who will open the event. The President of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), Thomas Jordan , and UBS Group CEO Ralph Hamers, will also be in attendance, according to the program from the website.

    The directors of the respective financial supervisory authorities, Ravi Menon from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Urban Angehrn from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Finma) will also join the conference.

    Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who also serves as Coordinating Minister for Economic Policy,  sums up the need for such an endeavor.

    Digital technology has enormous potential to change the world for the better, especially through finance. To unleash the potential, we need to seek new ways of working together, address key global challenges in partnership, and seize the new opportunities.

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  • SpaceDC to build largest hyperscale data center in the Philippines

    SpaceDC to build largest hyperscale data center in the Philippines

    SpaceDC, a Singapore-based visionary data center provider, is working with JLL, a global real estate services firm, to build a secure, resilient, network-rich, data center called <MNL1, which will be situated in Cainta, part of Greater Manila. The green data center will be fully powered with renewable energy – wind, geothermal – and is slated to open in 2022. 

    At 43,000 square meters, MNL1 will be the largest hyperscale data center campus in the Philippines, and will deliver 72 megawatt of critical power. With an outstanding PUE of 1.3, MNL1 will also lead in terms of energy efficiency and design, to minimize carbon footprint.

    SpaceDC CEO, Darren Hawkins said, “The Philippines ranks second in terms of data center growth in Southeast Asia. With only 47 megawatts of available capacity in the country it is a dramatically underserved market. We are excited to be a first mover in a new market where we see our customers are investing heavily in.”

    “SpaceDC is in the right place at the right time to take advantage of the strong customer interest we are seeing in the Philippines. MNL1’s design is setting new standards in terms of technology, quality and operational excellence in the Philippines.” commented Ralph Davidvon, executive director, data center services for JLL, the appointed project construction manager.

  • Strong end to the year for Singapore retail sales

    Strong end to the year for Singapore retail sales

    Retail sales in Singapore will continue to see modest growth in December as well as in the first quarter of 2022 on the back of increased mobility, according to a report by RHB.

    RHB said retail sales in Singapore have been on an uptrend since July based on the three-month moving average.

    “Retail sales are anticipated to rise in the year ahead as domestic demand continues to recover amid the pick-up in overall business activities. This is also aided by the expected improvement in the labor market in 2022 as the unemployment rate steadily falls, with the latest monthly print of 2.6% for October,” RHB said.

    It said that fluctuations in sequential readings may occur due to year-end demand increase, particularly on spending in the discretionary industries.

    The Department of Statistics Singapore reported that retail sales for November 2021 inched up 1.9% year-on-year (YoY), reaching a value of $3.7b, whilst food and beverage sales climber 0.6% YoY in November 2021 reaching $706m.

    Travel restrictions in Singapore are also expected to occur gradually in 2022 which will increase visitor arrivals and support spending on retail sales especially in the second half of the year, RHB said.

    However, it said that the new strains of the coronavirus may slightly delay the re-opening of borders and easing of restrictions.

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  • Singtel partners with Microsoft their first public MEC solution in Asia

    Singtel partners with Microsoft their first public MEC solution in Asia

    Singtel will launch the first Microsoft Azure Edge Zones integrated with Singtel’s 5G network, delivering multi-access edge compute (MEC) for enterprises in Asia. The solution combines the speed, hyperconnectivity, and high bandwidth of Singtel’s 5G network with Microsoft Azure services, enabling developers to deploy and manage mission-critical applications that require high throughput and low latency. It will boost business capabilities in areas such as metaverse-based real-time simulations, and live video analytics in a multi-tenant environment. Customers will be able to use their existing Azure subscriptions.

    Bill Chang, chief executive officer, group enterprise at Singtel said, “This collaboration is a key milestone for edge computing in Asia. We’re always looking for ways to support enterprises in leveraging the potential of 5G for digital transformation to drive innovation for the benefit of consumers, business users and entire industries. This solution enables enterprises to streamline the integration of 5G and MEC into business operations, facilitate the development of new solutions, and scale and transform their business.”

    In addition to running low-latency applications at the edge using Singtel’s 5G network, the solution has the potential to transform operations in sectors such as public safety, urban planning, healthcare, banking, civil service, transportation and logistics. It also offers public sector customers high security and better performance for end-users, enabling new intelligent edge scenarios.

    Customers can leverage these capabilities, only paying for the amount of compute and storage they use for the duration which they use it, replicating the cloud consumption model at the network edge and saving on additional operational overhead.

    Dr. Yousef Khalidi, corporate vice president Azure for operators, Microsoft said, “With Azure for operators, Singtel empowers its customers to unlock business value at the network edge. The integration of Azure compute services with Singtel’s 5G network will enable enterprises and developers to provide low-latency applications across industries such as public sector and healthcare.”

    The solution will be publicly available in the second half of 2022 for Azure customers in Singapore through the Azure portal to rapidly develop, test and deploy 5G applications such as autonomous guided vehicles, drones, robotics and virtual, augmented or mixed reality, at the edge of Singtel’s 5G network. Government agencies and enterprises of all sizes that have built their business applications and operations on Microsoft Azure’s plug-and-play cloud computing service can conveniently leverage the benefits of 5G and MEC as well.

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  • Behind e-commerce giant Lazada’s success in pandemic-hit year

    Behind e-commerce giant Lazada’s success in pandemic-hit year

    In light of its proud achievements in 2021, Lazada Vietnam expects more breakthroughs in 2022 to bring more value for their customers and partners.
    Lazada hit impressive milestones in 2021, with remarkable profits, site traffic and record number of orders and new sellers on the platform, and step-by-step attracted consumers and partners across the country.

    Looking back on a breakthrough year, Lazada Vietnam’s leaders shared their experiences in surviving the pandemic, thereby continuously creating more value for customers, users as well as business partners.

    An amazing digital migration

    The pandemic has posed many challenges, but it has also pushed businesses to adapt the digital transformation. Ladaza Vietnam’s CEO described this amazing “digital migration” of Vietnamese businesses as an “astonishing wave”.

    Since October 2021, the number of new sellers joining the platform has increased by about 30 percent per month. According to the recent report: “E-commerce in 2021: Adapting and quickly overcoming obstacles from Covid-19”, in the first 11 months of the year, sellers from non-urban areas accounted for 40 percent of all new merchants on Lazada.

    The percentage of new sellers from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City also increased by 29 percent and 31 percent, respectively. Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) recorded the highest increase, followed by fashion, home furniture and electronics. James Dong, CEO of Lazada Vietnam and Thailand, believes this is a good sign for Vietnam’s fastest growing momentum.

    James Dong, general director of Lazada Vietnam and Thailand. Photo by Lazada Vietnam
    James Dong, CEO of Lazada Vietnam and Thailand. Photo by Lazada Vietnam

    To support sellers, Lazada has shortened the listing process, and integrated business management solutions with real-time charts. The platform has also implemented marketing, promoting transportation process, ensuring on-time, non-contact, non-cash delivery to reduce risks of Covid-19 contamination for buyers and sellers.

    During the peak of the pandemic in HCMC, Lazada shortened the sales registration process to three hours for fresh food suppliers, and reduced the delivery time. These solutions helped reduce the risk of spreading infections, stabilizing food prices, and meeting urgent consumption needs.

    Moreover, Lazada’s “three Easy” (3Es) strategy including “Easy to buy – Easy to sell – Easy to deliver” has yielded achievements. “The benefit and safety of customers and business partners are always the top priority of the platform,” according to the CEO.

    “The practical test” for the supply chain

    Vu Duc Thinh, Chief Logistics Officer of Lazada Vietnam, described the supply chain situation during the epidemic as “terrible”. For more than four months, transportation, sales, and trading activities were almost frozen. The flow of raw materials, goods production, distribution and transportation were all interrupted.

    “Without goods, sellers fail to conduct business. Without duct tape, sellers can’t pack their goods. Even after tackling those difficulties, if shipping units shut down, buyers won’t receive the goods,” Thinh explained.

    Overcoming obstacles, Thinh and the Lazada Vietnam logistics team made several efforts to adapt in order to maintain operations and maintain item flow. Epidemic-prevention solutions at working sites were quickly deployed to ensure the safety of employees and customers.

    Vu Duc Thinh, logistics director of Lazada Vietnam,
    Vu Duc Thinh, Chief Logistics Officer of Lazada Vietnam. Photo by Lazada Vietnam

    “We all work from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. At the end of the day, we usually evaluated the effectiveness of our work and make adjustment for the next day,” said Thinh.

    Looking back at 2021, Thinh is proud that Lazada is one of the few e-Commerce platforms in Vietnam to maintain its supply chain during the pandemic. The logistics system completed the target from the beginning of the year. Some indicators exceeded expectations. Efforts to ensure smooth operations not only helped business remain stable, but also meet the increasing demand of consumers. That contributed to maintaining growth for Lazada, ensuring jobs and stable income for all staff.

    “The ability to adapt with a long-term vision for sustainable development is Lazada’s strength. Lazada has focused on technology and logistics since the early days of development and the importance of this strategy is proved,” Thinh stated.

    Besides logistics, Lazada has carried out many marketing activities to help the community overcome the challenges in the past year.

    Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, Chief Marketing Officer of Lazada Vietnam, said the marketing team always set their KPIs as the peace of mind, optimism and comfort of users and the community. Lazada has flexibly approached and interacted with customers via many activities.

    By offering discount vouchers, Lazada has encouraged shopping. For loyal customers, the platform has provided the “Voucher club” package with many benefits like collecting vouchers with a total value of up to VND850,000 and VND50,000 a month.

    Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, marketing director of Lazada Vietnam
    Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, Chief Marketing Officer of Lazada Vietnam. Photo by Lazada Vietnam

    “Incentives can solve cost-related problems, but it needs more factors to really share with the community,” said Hang. That is why in 2021, Lazada’s shoppertainment (shopping and entertainment) activities were heavily invested. Hundreds of livestream episodes were performed every day with diverse content, meeting entertainment needs via LazCook, LazMusic, LazGetfit, LazLearn, LazHome, LazPlay…

    According to statistics from Lazada Vietnam, during the peak days of its Shopping Festivals, the platform created more than 400 livestream episodes per day, attracting a 5-6 times increase in viewership compared to weekdays. SuperShow, a music festival, also reached tens of millions of views on its platforms.

    Total orders during the Nov. 11 shopping festival nearly doubled. Customer numbers increased 1.5 times over the same period last year. On the 12.12 Super sale day, sales from LazLive increased seven times. The SuperShow hit 26 million views, contributing to a 20-fold increase in sales.

    “Technology is expected to be the key to enhancing the user experience. This year, we will apply more modern technologies, accompanying users in the shopping experience on the Lazada platform,” Hang shared.

    “The best person is not necessarily the most suitable one”

    In terms of recruitment and training human resources, Van Thi Hong Hanh, Chief People Officer of Lazada Vietnam, said the success of Lazada last year was thanks to its young, adaptive, proactive and creative staff.

    This platform set out a competency framework consisting of seven criteria as the foundation for personnel, recruitment, training and career development decisions and plans. The criteria include problem-solving ability; creativity and improvisation; communication – coordination; business knowledge; management capacity – group leadership; corporate culture creation; awareness – change management.

    Van Thi Hong Hanh, human resources director of Lazada Vietnam
    Van Thi Hong Hanh, Chief People Officer of Lazada Vietnam. Photo by Lazada Vietnam

    During the pandemic, Lazada has implemented the “Covid Care 2.0” program, ensuring the health of both employees and the community. Working from home, getting fully vaccinated, providing protection kits, and supporting Covid-19 infected employees were quickly implemented. Many programs were also implemented to motivate, connect and honor outstanding individuals and groups.

    In 2021, Lazada’s workforce rose by 20 percent in comparison to 2020. According to HR Asia magazine, Lazada was named “Asia’s Best Place to Work” for three years in a row due to a range of policies and initiatives with a people-centric strategy. In addition, at Best Choice Awards 2021, the platform was named “eCommerce platform of the year”.

    “What makes Lazada so outstanding is that we don’t get distracted by short-term financial goals or transient statistics. Instead, we always strive for long-term, more sustainable growth by constantly improving the customer experience and extending our brand partners and sellers,” James Dong emphasizes.

  • M1 and Blacknut to deliver 5G-powered cloud gaming services in Singapore

    M1 and Blacknut to deliver 5G-powered cloud gaming services in Singapore

    M1 Limited (M1) has announced an exclusive partnership with market-leading cloud gaming specialist Blacknut, to bring an all-you-can-play 5G-powered cloud gaming service to Singapore.

    Boasting the world’s largest catalog for cloud gaming, Blacknut has a unified gaming platform that is fully integrated within the M1 ecosystem, enabling users to have unlimited access to more than 450 high-quality PC and console titles, including renowned hits like Overcooked, Lord of Fallen, Modern Combat 5, Asphalt9 and more. Serious and casual gamers will soon be able to discover a seamless “click & play” experience, anytime and anywhere, regardless of their device – television, PC, tablet, or mobile.

    Leveraging the high speed and ultra-low latency of M1’s True 5G network, this upcoming cloud gaming service ensures seamless and uninterrupted gaming experiences for subscribers.

    “True 5G not only transforms businesses but also consumer experiences. We are excited to show the game-changing prowess of 5G through our partnership with Blacknut, to level up gaming experiences for Singaporean gamers. Powered by 5G connectivity, M1 is on track to create an inclusive gaming ecosystem by enabling affordable and accessible gaming options,” said Manjot Singh Mann, chief executive officer, M1.

    “We are very proud to support M1 in their 5G deployments with Blacknut Cloud Gaming. We are pleased that our platform is a great fit and fully aligned with M1’s 5G ambitions. Pairing Blacknut with M1’s 5G connectivity delivers ultra-responsive cloud gaming backed by a fast, reliable network and the best market solution to fulfil M1’s vision for Singapore,” said Olivier Avaro, chief executive officer, Blacknut.

    Since its launch in July, M1’s True 5G network coverage has expanded to about 65% of Singapore, and with the continual growth of the infrastructure, customers can expect to soon enjoy more innovative and diversified digital experiences and even more OTT offerings.

    M1 has been a frontrunner in Singapore’s 5G development and was the first telco in the nation to embark on 5G trials as early as 2018. To date, M1 has a record of more than 15 5G use cases and trials across consumer, enterprise and government sectors. To further the 5G ambition and fully unleash the power of True 5G for all, M1 is also working with Workforce Singapore (WSG) to upskill and train close to 10% of the entire workforce to build a pool of talent with up-to-date skills in 5G and emerging technologies.

    Details of the cloud gaming subscription plan will be announced during the official launch in Q2 2022.

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  • Singapore education institution and Nvidia launch AI training for students

    Singapore education institution and Nvidia launch AI training for students

    Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and Nvidia have entered a three-year partnership to collaborate in enhancing AI training for ITE students, through a jointly developed AI workforce readiness programme.

    This involves the establishment of an AI training facility at ITE College Central, which hosts Nvidia’s supercomputing platform. Called AiTE, it serves as a living lab where students can work with companies to co-develop AI solutions that address business needs. This will be the first facility at ITE which enables students to work directly on real-world AI projects.

    Minister for education Chan Chun Sing officiated the launch of the AI Workforce Readiness Programme at ITE College Central, where he also viewed a showcase of Nvidia-powered AI applications that support students’ learning.

    Besides nurturing young AI talents, the AI workforce readiness program aims to drive the adoption of AI among companies in Singapore and create related job opportunities. Through the program, companies can use AiTE to explore and develop AI solutions that meet their digitalization needs. Students from ITE’s AI-related courses will have the opportunity to participate in such industry projects and play an active role in areas such as data collection and annotation for AI model training.

    Nvidia will also be training ITE lecturers as its certified instructors, who will in turn deliver Nvidia’s AI curriculum to students. Close to 400 students will benefit from the partnership each year.

    Ms Low Khah Gek, chief executive officer of ITE, said, “AI is a key driver of Singapore’s digital economy and smart nation vision. More companies are also seeking to reap gains in productivity through AI. With the strong push towards AI, there is a strong demand for skilled AI talents. What is special about this partnership is that it allows our students to hone their skills through real-world AI projects, while supporting businesses in the adoption of AI. This reinforces our efforts to equip students with skills that are relevant to industry needs.”

    Mr Dennis Ang, senior director, enterprise business, SEA and ANZ region, Nvidia worldwide field operations, said, “AI is a once-in-a-generation technology that is transforming industries around the world. As a leader in this space through GPU accelerated computing, NVIDIA will work closely with ITE to share and transfer knowledge, advance AI curriculum, and prepare the workforce of tomorrow for Singapore.”

    Capable of processing data and performing complex calculations at high speeds, supercomputers are widely used for the development of AI applications.

  • First Adidas Brand Centre launches in Singapore, brand’s largest there yet

    First Adidas Brand Centre launches in Singapore, brand’s largest there yet

    Sportswear brand Adidas launched its first Singapore brand center, named Homeground, in Knightsbridge along Orchard Road. Occupying three floors, it claims to be the largest mono-brand retail sports destination in the country. It offers the largest array of Adidas performance and Originals apparel, footwear, as well as accessories in Singapore.

    Adidas claims that the design of the brand center is “deeply rooted in Singapore identity” and “celebrates its diversity as a multicultural country”. Created in partnership with numerous local designers, the design takes inspiration from iconic everyday Singapore scenes. For example, a wall-mounted mural that takes the form of an Adidas shoe is actually a collage of locally-inspired elements weaved together in a wall-mounted mural.

    In addition, the brand center’s sustainability wall is inspired by the coastline of the Singapore River and is made with layers of crafted reclaimed wood.

    The “Local Delights” section features vibrant artwork that is inspired by traditional cakes and snacks such as Tutu Kueh, Ang Ku Kueh, Kueh Bahulu, Muruku, and the colorful Kueh Lapis cake.

    There’s also an anamorphic ceiling installation in the MakerLab, where 180 pieces of stainless-steel trefoils come together to form an intricate ceiling artwork that is both a trefoil and the coastline of Singapore at the same time.

    Besides enjoying first-in-region launches and Singapore exclusives at the Homeground store, shoppers can look forward to the Singapore Key City Tee, a local-themed graphic print t-shirt.

    In line with the brand center’s launch, Adidas will be rolling out the “Bring it to Me” service over the next few months, which will be exclusive to the brand centre.

    Shoppers can have the products delivered to them as they continue browsing the other items at the store by scanning the footwear via the Adidas app or QR code to indicate their preferred sizes.

    For more information, you can check out the Adidas Homeground website, Adidas Singapore’s Instagram, and Facebook pages.

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  • M1 partners with AWS to improve customer experiences

    M1 partners with AWS to improve customer experiences

    M1 Limited (M1), one of Singapore’s leading Mobile Network Operators (MNO), announced its collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), to launch Maxine, a VoiceBot for M1’s hotlines.

    Maxine is built on Amazon Connect, AWS’s omnichannel cloud-based contact center service that helps improve contact center agent productivity and end-user customer experiences. Powered by AWS Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as automatic speech recognition and natural language understanding, Maxine is able to engage in more lifelike conversations with customers. Combined with M1’s Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunk services for high quality digital voice communication, Maxine will help improve end-user customer experiences by engaging them in open-ended conversations instead of menu-driven interfaces.

    Since Maxine’s rollout in the last quarter of 2021, M1 is seeing an improved performance to the existing call system with the VoiceBot performing sophisticated functions such as authentication of callers with a One-Time Pin (OTP), or sharing the customer’s position in the call queue and estimated waiting time. In comparison with December 2020, M1’s Net Promoter Score (NPS) for December 2021 has seen a marked 40% increase, largely attributed to Maxine’s ability to capture callers’ intentions which then improves call agent productivity by freeing them up to focus on more complex cases.

    The deployment of Maxine is part of M1’s continuous transformation journey to be a digital platform. As a cloud native solution, M1 is able to regularly develop and deploy new and incremental features and capabilities that enhance Maxine’s services.

    The easy to use and quick to deploy solution enables M1 to scale up and down in a short period of time. It also provides call center agents the flexibility they need to work remotely, without compromising the customer experience.

    M1 has its 1627 (Bespoke), 1622 (Business) and 1800-843-8288 (Prepaid) hotlines operating on the Amazon Connect platform. This will be progressively rolled out to other hotlines. M1 is also supporting other members of the Keppel Group that are making the transition to adopt Maxine, starting with Keppel Electric.

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  • AS Watson expanding online presence with Amazon Singapore

    AS Watson expanding online presence with Amazon Singapore

    This will launch an extensive product range and offer free scheduled delivery. Amazon Singapore and Watsons entered a partnership to launch a wider range of beauty, health, and personal care products on Amazon.sg through a dedicated storefront.

    According to Amazon, Prime members will find products available on Watson’s storefront from various brands such as as Aveeno, Bioré, Cetaphil, Bifesta, Wavertree & London, L’Oréal Paris, Oral-B, Anessa, Tsubaki, ZA, and other items ranging from facial care to health supplements.

    Customers are also given a free two-hour scheduled delivery of their items within the same day for orders over S$25 until 10 February. Prime members, meanwhile, will still receive free shipping on Watsons for orders above S$60 after the promotion period, Amazon said in a press release.

    This is Amazon Singapore’s first partnership with leading beauty and health retailers, creating a dedicated storefront on Amazon.sg.

    Henry Low, Amazon Singapore’s country manager, said the partnership is “the perfect next step to improve our offerings in Singapore.

    Irene Lau, Managing Director of Watsons Singapore, also noted the two-hour delivery offered by Amazon.sg to its prime members.

    “This is in line with our proactive customer-centric and Offline+Online strategies to offer our shoppers more convenient options to shop seamlessly, whenever and wherever, be it on watsons.com.sg or partner sites, like Amazon.sg,” she said.

    Special deals and promotions such as Weekend Specials and 1-for-1 Deals would also be available for Prime members until 6 February in line with the partnership.

  • Singapore Weighs Open Borders Amid Omicron

    Singapore Weighs Open Borders Amid Omicron

    The country’s COVID-19 task force said closing its Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) would not stop the spread of Omicron.

    Closing Singapore to visitors from countries with high numbers of Covid-19 cases would affect the republic’s reputation and connectivity with the rest of the world, and rules have already been tightened to contain the Omicron variant, the country’s multi-ministry task force on Covid-19 said at a press briefing.

    Even if we close all the VTLs, there will still be non-VTL connections between Singapore and other countries and Omicron will still be able to enter Singapore unless we impose a total lockdown and close our borders entirely, Ong Ye Kung, taskforce co-chair said about whether it was looking to review border and VTL measures.

    At the same time, the task force warned of an upcoming Omicron wave» and said that it does not intend to relax further social restrictions currently, but will try not to have to tighten them until at least the Chinese New Year in February. Current gathering limits permit groups of five.

    Compliance with safe management measures will give Singapore a much higher chance of getting through this upcoming wave without having to tighten further, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said at a press briefing.

    Switzerland is among Singapore’s top investment and trading partners, and there are around 1,000 Swiss companies and around 3,000 Swiss expatriates in the city-state. UBS is a notable example, with several thousand employees in Singapore and frequent travel between Zurich and Southeast Asia.

    The city-state stopped new ticket sales for VTL flights and buses from December 23 to January 20 amid Omicron concerns and said it would cap VTL quotas and ticket sales for travel after January 20 at 50 percent.

    Last week, it said that on-arrival tests for non-VTL travelers, who are all required to serve a 7 or 10 day Stay Home Notice (SHN) either at their place of residence or at a dedicated facility, are no longer required. From 8 January, all non-VTL travelers entering Singapore will also no longer be required to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival.

    The Ministry of Health on Wednesday said that from 14 February 2022 onwards, persons aged 18 years and above who have completed the primary vaccination series of COVID-19 vaccines and are eligible for booster vaccination will only be considered as fully vaccinated for 270 days after the last dose in their primary vaccination series.

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  • Singapore Toughens COVID Rules for Expats

    Singapore Toughens COVID Rules for Expats

    The city-state is cracking down on expats who refuse to vaccinate against the coronavirus.

    Singapore will require applicants for work passes, long-term passes, and permanent residence to be vaccinated, effective February 1, citing a government task force communication. This applies to those renewing their work passes as well.

    The measure represents a toughening of measures in Singapore, which has 1.1 million foreign workers according to recent government data. Many of them work in finance, where foreign banks have established sizeable hubs in Singapore as well as Hong Kong as a gateway to wider Asia.

    The pandemic has slowed the frequent flight traffic to Singapore, with executives like UBS boss Ralph Hamers not able to visit Asia until last month – more than one year into his tenure running the Swiss wealth management giant.

    The new Singaporean measures are being spurred by the rapid spread of Omicron, a variant of COVID-19 which the WHO pegged as concerning last month due to the ease with which it spreads as well as the severity of illness it can cause.

    The aim is to loop in employers, which will have to attest that their employees, as well as dependents, are up to date on their vaccinations when they arrive in Singapore. They do not apply to children under 12, nor those medically ineligible for the vaccine.

    These measures will help sustain our high vaccination rates and facilitate the safe reopening of our society and economy, the Singaporean task force said, according to the outlet.

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  • Which Cryptocurrencies Are Best for Gambling Online in Singapore?

    Which Cryptocurrencies Are Best for Gambling Online in Singapore?

    Online casinos have swept through the world like a storm, and Singapore has been no exception. The state has seen a huge influx of online casino sites in recent years, and many of them come with brand-new and exciting features. Even though officially online gambling is banned in Singapore, offshore casinos offer their services to players from the state.

    The best Singapore online betting sites offer plenty of bonuses and promotions, thousands of games, and safe and secure payment methods. While many players ignore the importance of fast payment options, they’re vital for a proper online gambling experience. In recent times, more and more casinos have been jumping on the crypto hype train. And rightfully so. Cryptocurrencies are fast and very easy to use, and considering the number of people that own cryptos in Singapore, it’s no wonder why they’re so popular in casinos.

    Why Are Cryptocurrencies So Popular?

    Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve surely heard about Bitcoin and Ethereum. The two biggest names on the cryptocurrency market, both have soared to incredible heights in 2021. By many accounts, Bitcoin is just as worth, if not more than gold.  This is a big win for cryptocurrencies after the 2017 bubble burst that all but made them obsolete. With financial instability and inflation rampaging traditional markets, people are looking for promising assets to invest in.

    The price of cryptocurrencies is much more volatile than gold or crude oil. That’s a big problem for governments and financial organizations, yet it doesn’t faze investors around the world. Everyone’s willing to invest in Bitcoin instead of trading stocks or investing in bonds or gold. Even people who have never invested money in anything before are pouring money into cryptos now. Bitcoin has infiltrated nearly any aspect of our lives, including gaming online.

    Online casinos have been looking for reliable payment methods with fast transactions for a while. E-wallets were and still are a great option, but they can’t compete with the speed Bitcoin offers. Deposits made with cryptos in online casinos are instant, and so are withdrawals for the most part. Fees are almost non-existent. The blockchain is a piece of technology that’s perfect suitable for the online gambling market, offering fast and safe transactions.

    Cryptocurrencies are not just another payment method in online casinos. They aim to completely revolutionize the market, and so they will in the future. If you’re looking for the best cryptos to play in online casinos, check our list below.

    Bitcoin

    The world’s leading cryptocurrency by market volume and popularity, Bitcoin is the most commonly used crypto. It’s available across all crypto casinos and can easily be bought on legit exchanges such as Binance. Its price is 10 times higher than the second cryptos on the list, Ethereum. Bitcoin is the world’s first cryptocurrency that started the trend. It offers fast deposits and withdrawals and a price over $50,000, which no other crypto will reach anytime soon.

    Of course, the main problem is that it’s highly volatile, but that’s the trade off for the price. Still, it remains a highly popular payment option in online casinos, and that won’t stop anytime soon.

    Ethereum

    Ethereum was first thought of as a Bitcoin killer, but it never really became that. That wasn’t its purpose at all. By ‘fixing’ some of the original Bitcoin mistakes and adding features such as smart contracts, it’s in a league of its own. Currently the second-most valuable cryptocurrency in the world, it’s a very popular crypto to use at the best online casinos in Singapore.

    It’s fast, can be used with ease, and most importantly, many altcoins are built on an ETH network.  The gas (transaction) fees are a bit higher than expected, but if you own a lot of Ether, that shouldn’t be a problem.

    Litecoin

    Another coin that exceeded all expectations, Litecoin is a very popular crypto in Singapore casino sites. Most sites will accept Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin deposits all in tow, so you’re welcome to use the one you want. The great news is that just like the others, Litecoin is a fantastic option for online casinos.

    It allows instantaneous deposits and withdrawals for much lower fees when compared to Ethereum. If you invested in it years ago, you’re probably reaping the benefits of Litecoin’s record price now.

    Ripple

    Ripple is a cryptocurrency, but also a stablecoin. Stablecoin’s have a 1:1 price ratio with USD, so it’s always worth $1 (with small variations). This is the best crypto to use in Singapore online casinos if you want to use cryptos, but are afraid of the volatility. You can buy XRP for dollar a coin, and connect your wallet to the casino for fast deposits and withdrawals.

    All on the blockchain, of course, so you won’t have to worry about the security.