Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on March 31

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, March 31.


World leaders, WHO push for pandemic preparedness treaty

The goal is to prevent a recurrence of the missteps that have dogged the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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S'pore start-ups draw $5.5b of funding in 2020 despite Covid-19 challenges

But funding gaps remain in its ecosystem, with the country ranking below the global average for early-stage funding.

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Upper Bukit Timah Road near Bukit Timah Plaza to become two-way

A new city-bound road has been completed, shortening journeys in the direction of Dunearn Road and Clementi Road.

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12 people probed for breaching Covid-19 rules at Joo Chiat shophouse

The occupants were allegedly found consuming alcohol, singing karaoke and socialising.

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S'pore can play key role in China's 'dual circulation' economy: Vivian

He also said Singapore welcomes China's recent proposal on the mutual recognition of health certificates.

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Chat groups circulating obscene images of women in Singapore re-emerge on Telegram

NUS student Nisha Rai and 20 others have helped to uncover almost 60 such groups and reached out to victims.

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Indonesian maid found lying at foot of Hougang block dies in hospital

She was believed to have been employed by an elderly woman who is usually in a wheelchair.

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Nanofilm founder's wife buys Nassim Road good class bungalow for $128.8m

Ms Jin Xiao Qun bought the 32,159 sq ft property - about the size of 33 four-room HDB flats - for about $4,005 per sq ft.

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Economic Affairs: The wild world of NFTs

Are non-fungible tokens (NFTs) a fad or revolution, a bubble or a playground for scammers?

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Many people in sunny S'pore lack vitamin D, which may affect their health

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include fatigue and lethargy, bone pain, muscle pain and falling sick often.

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