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SINGAPORE: The pressure on jobs brought about by the effects of COVID-19 has had an unexpected casualty: Santa Claus. Demand for appearances by him has been crippled, amid weak business sentiment and continued efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19. “We haven’t had any bookings at all from the malls or corporate companies … In the past, we could get over 15 bookings just from one client alone,” said Christina Krishnan, the founder of Budget Events & Entertainment Services, which offers Santa Claus appearances. “There’s not been any response from clients, because I guess companies are not doing well and not willing to spend,” Ms Krishnan told CNA. She added that she has only had two bookings this season, which were for small family events. That means most of her pool of about 15 Santas are just “ready and waiting”. READ: COVID-19 keeping most US Santas at a distance It is a similar tale for entertainment company Event Magic, which has seen an 80 per cent drop in … [Read more...] about COVID-19 limits demand for Santa Claus to appear at malls, events

SINGAPORE: It's the most wonderful time of the year ... if you're a fan of all things Christmas, that is. For the fifth year running, Gardens By The Bay has brought its European-style Christmas fair to Singapore. Crowd favourites like luminaries - giant handmade light sculptures from Italy - are back, along with new offerings including a mirror maze and a magic show. The fair opens on Friday evening (Nov 30) and runs until Dec 26. Here are five things to look out for at Christmas Wonderland this year: 1. GET LOST IN A MIRROR MAZE For the first time, visitors can weave through a maze of mirrors within the main luminarie sculpture at the heart of Gardens By The Bay's Supertree Grove. Christmas Wonderland's organiser, Blue Sky Events, says the activity is an "absolute must". "We took inspiration from Alice in Wonderland; we took inspiration from all the different mazes (for it)," Blue Sky Events creative director Sarah Martin told CNA Lifestyle. "You go … [Read more...] about 5 things to look out for at Gardens By The Bay’s Christmas Wonderland

SINGAPORE: As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, co-working spaces in Singapore are seeing signs of recovery – fuelled by companies seeking flexible contracts and people hoping to escape working from home. While business was hit hard during the country’s “circuit breaker”, operators said occupancy rates have since gradually gone up, easing initial concerns that the pandemic would kill off the industry. These co-working centres revolve around shared amenities, with offerings ranging from hot-desking places for individuals to dedicated studios for firms. “Our hot-desking membership was at very healthy levels, but when COVID-19 hit, at the lowest point, it dropped to maybe 30 per cent of that. But now it’s slowly warming up to about 70 per cent,” said JustCo's vice president and head of Singapore and Indonesia Brandon Chia. The co-working player has 19 outlets across Singapore, accommodating both individuals and enterprises. READ: Is safe distancing enough to save Singapore’s … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a flight to flexibility’: Why co-working spaces are seeing rising demand amid COVID-19

WASHINGTON: President-elect Joe Biden is set to nominate Katherine Tai to be the top United States trade envoy, according to two people familiar with his plans. Tai, who is chief trade counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee, will be tapped as the US trade representative, according to the two people, who spoke on Wednesday (Dec 9) on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorised to speak publicly about it. The role is a Cabinet position, and the Senate will vote on whether to confirm Tai's nomination. Biden's selection of Tai, who is Asian American, reflects his promise to choose a diverse Cabinet that reflects the makeup of the country. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Tai earlier oversaw China trade enforcement for the Office of the US Trade Representative, setting US strategy in trade disputes with China. Biden’s trade representative will inherit a trade war with China, put on pause by an interim trade pact in January that left many of the hardest issues … [Read more...] about Biden to pick Katherine Tai as top trade envoy: Sources

BEIJING: China's foreign ministry said on Friday (Nov 13) that it extended congratulations to US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris, who won the Nov 3 election that President Donald Trump has refused to concede. "We respect the choice of the American people. We extend congratulations to Mr Biden and Ms Harris," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular daily briefing. "We understand the results of the US election will be determined according to US laws and procedures," he added. READ: 'Welcome back America!' World leaders congratulate Biden and Harris on win China was previously among a handful of major countries including Russia and Mexico that had not congratulated the president-elect, with Beijing commenting earlier this week that it had "noticed Mr Biden declared he is the winner". In 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent congratulations to Trump on Nov 9, a day after the election. Since the US media … [Read more...] about China says it extends congratulations to Biden

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: President-elect Joe Biden has selected Katherine Tai, the chief trade lawyer for the House Ways and Means Committee, to serve as U.S. trade representative, four sources familiar with the decision said on Wednesday. Tai, 45, who won the backing of congressional Democrats, labor and business circles in recent weeks, played a key role in negotiating stronger labor provisions with the Trump administration in the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal. If confirmed as Biden's "trade czar," Tai will play a pivotal role in helping to rebuild ties with key allies, re-energize manufacturing at home and punish Beijing for anti-competitive trade practices. She would be the first woman of color to hold the job. Her name surfaced as the leading contender for the job earlier this month, as reported by Reuters. Biden is expected to formally announce Tai as his top trade negotiator later this week, said one of the sources. A spokesman for the Biden transition … [Read more...] about Biden picks Capitol Hill staffer Tai as US trade ‘czar’ – sources