The Straits Times
Second mask distribution from Oct 23; S’poreans aged 60 and up eligible
A second haze mask distribution exercise will begin on Oct 23, with more Singaporeans eligible to collect them from community clubs, dedicated vending machines and other venues. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on Oct 22...
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Singapore and UAE to start talks on economic pact, form joint energy task force
Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to begin talks on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement that seeks to create new opportunities for businesses on both sides. The deal, which is similar to a free trade pact, will facilitate...
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Singapore, Sweden to boost cooperation in clean energy transition, public policy
STOCKHOLM – Singapore and Sweden reaffirmed on Oct 20 their commitment to closer energy cooperation, particularly in the area of clean energy transition. Educational institutions from both countries also agreed to deeper collaboration in areas such as...
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S’pore to use ‘every legal and regulatory lever’ against errant firms over haze
Vowing to use “every legal and regulatory lever” at Singapore’s disposal in confronting companies linked to the region’s choking haze, Senior Minister K. Shanmugam on Oct 19 warned recalcitrant firms not to underestimate the Government’s determination...
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Home buyers using more cash and CPF savings to fund down payments
Home buyers are putting more of their own money into property purchases, even as home prices and mortgage sizes have climbed sharply over the past five years. This suggests that buyers are not simply borrowing proportionately more to keep up with...
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Fans refuse to let haze cloud excitement at BigBang concert
There was no hiding the excitement among the tens of thousands of BigBang fans who turned up at the National Stadium on Oct 17 despite the heavy downpour and haze blanketing Singapore. Armed with light sticks and concert merchandise, the K-pop boy...
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Haze situation fluid, PSI could exceed 300 before conditions improve in a few weeks
Singapore should brace itself for hazy conditions to persist in the near future, with the possibility of air quality reaching hazardous levels where PSI readings exceed 300, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on Oct...
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MRT reliability hits new all-time high after previous record in August
The MRT network has reached an all-time high in reliability, with four of the five mature rail lines recording improvements in September. Between October 2025 and September 2026, MRT trains clocked an average of 3.38 million trainkm between delays...
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Haze shelters to open, N95 masks to be distributed as air quality worsens
Amid the worsening haze situation in Singapore, masks will be distributed to vulnerable Singaporeans from Oct 14, and air-conditioned rooms in community clubs and some residents’ committee centres will open for residents to seek respite in. The...
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Singapore to roll out new measures to block malware, phishing sites
The authorities will soon block Singapore users from accessing known phishing and malware sites amid a sharp rise in the number of infected computer systems here. The new measure, called a protective domain name service (PDNS), was announced on Oct 13...
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Indonesia’s Prabowo steps up fire fight; foreign aid offers not discussed
JAKARTA – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered more action to fight forest and land fires that have sent thick haze to Singapore and Malaysia, but offers of help from the two countries were not discussed at a meeting he chaired on Oct...
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Subsidy schemes for treatment of haze-related ailments kick in on Oct 12
From Oct 12, Singaporeans seeking treatment for haze-related conditions will be able to receive subsidised care at polyclinics and participating GP clinics under the Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC) Scheme. All Singapore citizens will pay no...
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IMH to be redeveloped, expanded and renamed
Singapore’s sole psychiatric hospital, the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), will be renamed the National Centre for Mental Health Singapore in 2027, reflecting a broader shift in how the country approaches psychiatric care. Highlighting a steady rise...
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N95 masks will be distributed to vulnerable S’poreans when PSI hits 201
N95 masks will be distributed to eligible Singaporeans who may be more vulnerable to the effects of haze or who may have limited means of obtaining them when air quality hits “very unhealthy” levels, the authorities said on Oct 9. Such levels are...
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Merging Cat A and B among proposed changes to COE system
A merger of the two certificate of entitlement (COE) car categories is among several proposed changes to better differentiate the price of mass-market cars from higher-end models. Besides combining categories A and B, the Land Transport Authority...
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Only 15% of Phase 2C P1 students at 12 popular schools live in public housing
Fewer than 1 in 6 students who enter 12 popular schools here during Phase 2C of the Primary 1 registration come from public housing. Education Minister Desmond Lee cited this statistic on Oct 7, as he responded in Parliament to 16 questions that MPs...
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8 public officers referred to police over property buys near MRT stations
Eight public officers whose property purchases warrant further examination have been referred to the police, Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing said in Parliament on Oct 6. He told the House that the Public Service Division (PSD)...
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S’pore to join international pact on neutrality of Panama Canal
Singapore will join an international agreement to observe and respect the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. It will also negotiate a bilateral mutual legal assistance agreement with Panama to...
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Nearly $50m given to 8,000 severely disabled S’poreans for long-term care under ElderFund
Nearly 8,000 lower-income Singaporeans who are severely disabled have received close to $50 million for their long-term care needs under a government social safety net scheme. Since the launch of ElderFund in 2020, the amount of payouts and number of...
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S’pore’s sugar consumption falls, but sodium, calorie intakes rise, surveys show
More people in Singapore are taking less sugar, and they are engaging in physical activity and getting screened for chronic diseases and cancers. However, as more residents eat out frequently, the country’s consumption of calories and sodium has...
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RTS Link now expected to open in February instead of December
The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link’s opening will be delayed to February 2027, said RTS Operations (RTSO), the company appointed to run the cross-border rail line. RTSO expects to complete all system tests and trial runs for the...
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HDB Q3 resale prices dip despite lifting of 15-month wait-out period
Prices of Housing Board resale flats dropped for the third straight quarter, even after a cooling measure imposed on private property downgraders was lifted. Early estimates published on Oct 1 showed that HDB resale prices fell by 0.2%. Prices dipped...
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Cases of healthcare worker abuse almost double in two years
Abuse and harassment cases reported in the public healthcare sector have nearly doubled over two years. Serious cases reported to the police accounted for 13% of them. This reflects a growing awareness of unacceptable behaviour, and greater confidence...
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Singapore proposes UN framework convention on AI safeguards
PHILADELPHIA – As the US and China accelerate their artificial intelligence push, it is too late to ask for a safety pause, but what would help is the creation of institutions that can set safeguards and standards, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian...
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Trump, Xi discuss Mid-East war as Iran presses truce plan
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK – US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping turned to the Middle East war at their summit on Sept 25, as Iran pressed Washington to accept a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt regional...
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Singapore population rises 1.6% to 6.21 million
The population of Singapore has risen to 6.21 million as at June 2026, up from 6.11 million the year before. Overall, the total population grew by 97,300, with non-residents adding 70,300, citizens 24,200 and permanent residents 2,800. The increase –...
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Trump and Xi urge pursuit of common ground as they meet
PHILADELPHIA – In a reference that could only have pleased China, President Donald Trump kicked off his summit with President Xi Jinping at the White House on Sept 24 with warm words about how the two countries had fought together in World War...
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S’pore cannot be complacent about peace, security: PM Wong
The many years of peace and security in Singapore may result in people letting their guard down, but this is a form of complacency the Republic cannot afford, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sept 23. In a speech to mark SGSecure’s 10th...
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New MSF unit analyses data from agencies to better detect child abuse
A new government unit has been set up to better detect and prevent child abuse by connecting the dots between information about families with child protection concerns held by law enforcement and other agencies. In its first two months of operations,...
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Labour market expands even as layoffs rise and job vacancies fall
Retrenchments in Singapore rose to a post-pandemic high in the second quarter of 2026, while job vacancies continued to fall. The number of laid-off workers reached 4,620 in the second quarter, the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2020 during...
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US fears rapid escalation in Middle East after Houthis attack Riyadh
RIYADH – The United States warned on Sept 19 that hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Iranbacked Houthis could “escalate rapidly” after a missile attack targeted Riyadh for the first time since the Yemen conflict resumed. US President Donald Trump...
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Singapore and Canada sign declaration for economic partnership framework
Singapore and Canada aim to establish an Economic Partnership Framework to deepen cooperation in multiple areas and advance practical initiatives in areas of mutual interest, including emerging technologies. Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian...
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Malaysia’s ex-PM Najib allowed to serve rest of jail term at home
KUALA LUMPUR – Jailed former Malaysian premier Najib Razak has been granted conditional permission to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest, a development that could widen the rift between the ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan (PH) and the...
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Lower fees, more places in facilities for people with disabilities
By 2028, families will pay less for disability services, as the Government lowers fees and increases means-tested subsidies. More spaces will also be added to day activity centres and sheltered workshops by 2030. Around 5,000 people with disabilities...
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Firms must plan for workers alongside business transformation: PM Wong
Businesses must plan for their workers at the same time as they transform their operations rather than treat workforce issues as an afterthought for human resources (HR) departments, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sept 16. Companies should also...
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Organisations take haze-related measures as air quality worsens
Air quality deteriorated over Singapore on Sept 15, with the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reaching unhealthy levels in all parts of the country in the early hours of the morning before improving slightly. Previously, bouts of unhealthy haze were...
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PSI hits unhealthy range in most of Singapore
Air quality in Singapore worsened on Sept 14, with the PSI across the island, except for the north, hitting the unhealthy range, following several days in the moderate range. The skyline (pictured) towards Toa Payoh from Moonstone Lane could be seen...
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6.1 million steps for heart health
Samsung Electronics Singapore welcomed more than 610 participants to its first Galaxy Walkathon on Sept 13. Held at The Kallang, the event brought the community together for a morning of active living through the help of technology. Held in support of...
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Saudis shut down oil pipeline after drone attack launched from Iraq
RIYADH – A drone attack launched from Iraqi territory led Saudi Arabia to shut down a critical oil pipeline on Sept 11, heightening fears that widening clashes in the region could further disrupt energy supplies. The global price of oil briefly jumped...
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Iran-backed Houthis reach island at mouth of vital shipping lane
ADEN/DUBAI – Yemen’s Iranaligned Houthis on Sept 10 reached the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, four Yemeni government sources told Reuters, moving to tighten their grip on a vital global shipping route in the widening Middle...
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More P1 places set aside for kids without prior school ties to boost access and social mixing
More Primary 1 places will be reserved for children without prior connections, as part of efforts to widen access to schools and improve social mixing. From the next registration exercise in 2027, 60 spots will be set aside for this group of children...
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Terrorist threat in S’pore remains high, says ISD
A volatile global security environment fuelled by the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East is contributing to the high terrorism threat facing Singapore, said the Internal Security Department (ISD). In its annual terrorism report on Sept 10, the ISD...
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Ministerial pay to rise by up to 9% in first adjustment since 2011
Political office-holders will get a one-off pay increase of up to 9 per cent, as the Government accepts the recommendations of a committee convened in December 2025 to review political salaries. This means a minister at entrylevel grade MR4 getting...
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Anak Krakatau ash disrupts 2,300 flights; Jakarta airport stays shut
JAKARTA – Jakarta’s main international airport will remain closed until at least 1am Singapore time on Sept 8 as volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau continues to disrupt air travel, with thousands of flights affected since Sept 5. The closure of...
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Hundreds of flights hit by Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau eruption
JAKARTA – Eight airports in western Indonesia, including Jakarta’s main international gateway, will remain closed until Sept 7 as shifting winds spread volcanic ash from the continuing eruption of Anak Krakatau. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi...
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Police looking into ‘shameful’ racist comments targeting Indians: Shanmugam
The police are looking into racist and xenophobic comments relating to the Nepal floods and Singapore Airlines’ investment in Air India, Senior Minister K. Shanmugam said on Sept 5. Speaking to the media at Social Space @ Chong Pang, Shanmugam noted...
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CCs, some RCs to open air-con rooms to public if PSI exceeds 200
Air-conditioned rooms in all community centres and selected residents’ committee centres will be on standby for people to seek respite from the haze should air quality here breach “very unhealthy” levels when the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) exceeds...
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Green jet fuel levy: Deferred for cargo, starts Jan 1 for passengers
A green jet fuel levy for air cargo will be deferred for a year and start from Oct 1, 2027, for flights leaving Singapore from Jan 1, 2028. In a statement on Sept 3, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said the air cargo levy is being...
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Singapore-Thailand ties in excellent shape, says PM Wong
BANGKOK – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has described Singapore and Thailand relations to be in excellent shape and said both sides will develop a multi-year agenda for ASEAN, with Singapore set to chair the regional group in 2027, followed by Thailand...
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S’pore’s economic links with Central Asia could grow over next decade: SM Lee
TASHKENT – A free trade agreement (FTA) between Singapore and Uzbekistan could help reduce uncertainty in an unfamiliar market for local companies, while opening up opportunities in services, investment and selected goods, Senior Minister Lee Hsien...
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Lost in Little India MRT station? Ask Olly for help
Commuters were thrilled to get a bit of help from the newest member of the Little India MRT station crew – Olly the humanoid robot. The robot even found a new fan in Zach Chuah, five, who circled the droid a few times for a closer look while it helped...
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New private not-for-profit hospital in east due to high occupancy rates there: MOH
Consistently high hospital occupancy rates in the eastern and central regions are one reason the new private not-for-profit hospital in the works will be built in the east, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). This is despite the majority of public and...
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Flats with shorter waiting times being built in Sin Ming, Toa Payoh
Hundreds of Built-To-Order flats with shorter waiting times will be launched in Sin Ming and Toa Payoh, with construction of the new homes underway and slated for completion by mid-2030. In Sin Ming Street, which is part of Bishan town, a 1,076-unit...
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Singapore to recruit 1,800 more infant care educators
By 2030, Singapore will hire 1,800 more infant care educators to meet the expected rising demand for infant care as services become more affordable for families. A hiring grant for pre-school operators will also be expanded to help them recruit more...
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Death toll rises, rescuers search for 1,400 missing after Nepal-Tibet floods
BIDUR , Nepal – Rescue teams waded through mud on Aug 27 searching for more than 1,400 people missing after flash floods and landslides struck the Nepal-Tibet border, as the death toll rose to at least 362, with villages swept away. Experts warned of...
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Losses from scams dip to $410.6m in first half of 2026
The scam situation in Singapore has continued to improve since 2025, with losses dropping to $410.6 million in the first six months of 2026. Victims lost $500.2 million during the same period in 2025, with $913.1 million lost that year. In releasing...
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S’pore, Vietnam to deepen leadership exchanges, expand tech cooperation
Singapore and Vietnam will deepen exchanges and training between their government officials, and also expand technology cooperation. This was formalised on the sidelines of the first Singapore-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue on Aug 25, when the two...
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NDR measures give parents more money and time; mindset shift next
The new support measures address the practical demands of having a family and recognise the need for more time with older children, said parents. They added that these initiatives, announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the National Day Rally,...
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PM Wong announces major reset in family support
Parents will get more childcare leave, greater financial support and pay lower preschool fees, as the country makes a fundamental shift in how it supports families. The Government wants to support parents more consistently throughout the journey of...
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LTA proposes tighter rules for deregistered cars amid rise in illegal use on roads
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is considering a new scheme that would shift responsibility for deregistered vehicles from their owners to authorised exporters amid a rise in cases of such vehicles being driven illegally on roads. Under the...
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China, Indonesia reaffirm economic commitment on Wang Yi’s Jakarta visit
JAKARTA – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Indonesian counterpart, Sugiono, at the Indonesian Foreign Ministry in Jakarta on Aug 21, Both ministers reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to strengthening already substantial business and...
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S’pore, India agree to boost ties in telecoms, food safety
Singapore and India have agreed to cooperate more closely in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors, and to exchange best practices relating to food safety. These were part of two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and a letter of intent...
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New foreign work pass track, tax perks to strengthen asset management in Singapore
Singapore is seeking to strengthen its position as a leading asset management hub with three new measures that would make the industry more attractive to fund managers and encourage them to anchor their business activities, capital allocation and...
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Philippines school shooting: ‘I thought it was just another drill’
MANILA – Students at Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School in the southern Philippines thought the first gunshot they heard on the morning of Aug 18 was part of another drill. The school had undergone one only a month ago, after a shooting...
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Drones used for first time to fight ship fire in Pasir Panjang terminal
Drones were used for the first time in fighting a blaze on a ship, when a container vessel in Pasir Panjang Terminal caught fire in April. The drones were used to help emergency workers locate hot spots on the London-registered vessel, said Maritime...
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More help at home for patients in Jurong with organ failure
Patients in the Jurong area with advanced organ failure, including chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis and heart failure, will now get more support at home after their hospital discharge. Under a new scheme rolled out on Aug 16, retired nurses and...
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Workgroup finds consensus on challenges of starting a family: Indranee
A new inter-agency workgroup has identified clear areas of consensus among Singaporeans on the challenges of starting and raising a family, where action can be taken sooner. Ahead of its full report in early 2027, it has come up with a set of interim...
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White House flags 40 economies, including Singapore, in China’s ‘shadow transshipment network’
Singapore and dozens of other economies are at risk of being used by Chinese exporters to avoid US tariffs, President Donald Trump’s administration said on Aug 13. A report issued by the White House, titled “The Great Transshipment Scam”, frames the...
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S’pore adopts a ‘just in case’ approach to strategic vulnerabilities: Minister
Adopting a “just in case” instead of “just in time” approach to deal with potential crises is what Singapore requires, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said. The essence of the “just in case” approach is investing ahead of time in capabilities that...
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Istana Park, Dhoby Ghaut Green, Penang Rd areas to form new park
The Penang Road open space at the intersection of Orchard and Oxley roads is set to be turned into an Orchid Park, as part of plans to give the Dhoby Ghaut area a facelift. The Orchid Park will be part of a new park that incorporates the existing open...
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S’pore raises 2026 GDP growth forecast to 4.5%-5.5% on AI boom
Singapore has sharply raised its economic growth forecast for 2026 to 4.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent, up from an earlier 2 per cent to 4 per cent range, on the back of a strongerthan-expected first-half performance and a surge in global AI-related...
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More young people behind terror threats with radicalisation taking just weeks: Experts
The rapid pace of youth radicalisation is driven by the internet, social media algorithms and gaming environments, with extremist networks exploiting the vulnerabilities of impressionable youth, experts said. In a report in March, the...
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KALLANG ROARS
As the Kallang Wave rippled across the National Stadium, some 42,000 people buzzed with excitement as they waited for Singapore’s 61st birthday celebrations to begin. It was the first time in a decade that the National Day Parade was held at the...
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PM to give details on support for families, costs of raising kids at NDR
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will soon provide more details on plans to help parents with the costs of raising children and to lighten the load on families. He will share more about the Government’s plans on Aug 23 at the National Day Rally (NDR) –...
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