Singapore: Streets decorated brilliantly to welcome Lunar New Year
A warm and bustling atmosphere has overwhelmed corners of Singapore and all get ready for the Lunar New Year 2022 with the hope for a “stronger” year after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Streets in Singapore are decorated brilliantly to welcome Lunar New Year (Photo: VNA)
Singapore (VNA) – A warm andbustling atmosphere has overwhelmed corners of Singapore and all get readyfor the Lunar New Year 2022 with thehope for a “stronger” year after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Central streets and community centres inresidential areas in Singapore have been decorated brilliantly, while manycultural activities have been and will be held to celebrate the Year of the Tiger.
The highlight of festive activities is the light festival themed"Usher in a Roaring New Year", which will last until March 2.
This year's organisers also collaborated with exhibitors to exhibit tigersculptures at Kreta Ayer Square in order to raise awareness of preserving thisanimal.
A wishing treehas been up at Chinatown Point Atrium until February 17.Visitors can donate a minimum of 2 SGD (1.49 USD) for a card of wishes. Allproceeds will be sent to a welfare fund to support the elderly with difficultcircumstances and low-income families.
Due to the complicated developments of COVID-19, a Lunar NewYear market in Chinatown will not be held to reduce crowds. However, stallsselling goods serving the festival on Smith, Pagoda, Trengganu and Sago streetswill remain open until the New Year's Eve to serve the shopping demand of thepeople.
Another iconic part of the New Year celebration in Singapore is the RiverHongbao festival, which will take place at Gardens by the Bay from January 30 to February 6. Residents and visitors will be able to attend entertainment gamesand art performances here./.
Trade ministers of Singapore and Japan on January 12 pledged to maintain the high standards of market access and rules of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
In the context of inflation being at its highest level in almost a decade, the Singaporean government has devised a multi-pronged strategy to minimise inflationary pressures on businesses and consumers.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ASEAN's centrality, unity and resilience.
No serious suspected adverse effects associated with COVID-19 vaccines have been reported among children aged between 5-11 years since the vaccination roll-out began at the end of last year, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore.
The Singaporean Ministry of Health on January 21 informed that the number of COVID-19 cases began to increase sharply in recent days, from an average of 800 cases last week to nearly 1,500 cases on January 20, with community infections accounting for the majority.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The new framework is designed to ensure that incoming investments deliver tangible national benefits, such as the creation of high-quality jobs for Malaysians and the development of local company ecosystems and technologies.
Singapore led with a total of 8.8 billion USD in realised investment, followed by Hong Kong and mainland China, Malaysia, and Japan with 8 billion USD, 1.7 billion USD and 1.6 billion USD, respectively.
Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on August 7 outlined his strategy for tackling drug problems in Thailand, aiming for a "Zero Drugs Thailand" within three months.
The US has described Malaysia's role as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as vital in helping ease tension between Thailand and Cambodia.
Streets in Singapore are decorated brilliantly to welcome Lunar New Year (Photo: VNA) 
