Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Dec 16

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Thursday, Dec 16, 2021.


Singapore raises additional buyer’s stamp duty, tightens HDB loan limit to cool property market


ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

The total debt servicing ratio will also be tightened from today. 

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WP’s Pritam Singh disputes giving Raeesah Khan choice on correcting lie

Committee of Privileges Hearing on 15 December 2021 – Mr Pritam Singh

Mr Singh said he “communicated to her quite clearly” that she had to take ownership and responsibility for her untruth. 

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WP leaders issued summons after failing to produce documents requested by privileges committee


PHOTOS: GOV.SG

The committee will consider the responses from the leaders to the summons when it next meets on Monday.

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Couple who dined at 4 restaurants and airport employee test preliminarily positive for Omicron


PHOTOS: MIZUKI/FACEBOOK, MARRIOTTBONVOYASIA.COM, MERCI MARCEL ORCHARD ROAD/FACEBOOK, CHANDRA SUCIADI

All close contacts will be placed on a 10-day quarantine at designated facilities and undergo testing.

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People who take Sinovac jab at higher risk of severe disease from Covid-19: Study


ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

This supports the need for three doses of Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine as a primary series, said NCID. 

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Further unease across Asia as Philippines, Cambodia report first cases of Omicron variant


PHOTO: EPA-EFE

The variant has already spread to Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

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Italy bans tourists from Singapore till Jan 31 next year


PHOTO: AFP

Italy has placed Singapore on a list of countries deemed to be of higher risk of Covid-19 infections.

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Changi Airport’s passenger traffic crosses 5% mark of pre-Covid-19 levels


PHOTO: ST FILE

Launch of VTLs has brought about a gradual return of more flights and passengers but experts warn of long road to recovery.

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RSAF unveils Super Puma replacement for more demanding missions


ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

The latest H225M medium-lift helicopter can carry heavier loads, fly farther and last longer.

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Badminton: S’pore’s Loh Kean Yew eases past Wraber to make World C’ships last-16


PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Loh Kean Yew defeated the world No. 93 in 24 minutes.

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