The Straits Times
ASEAN, Russia reaffirm commitment to deepening cooperation at summit
ASEAN and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in areas of shared interest at a summit held in Kazan, a city in south-west Russia. The ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit, held on June 17 and 18, marked the 35th anniversary of...
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First tankers cross Hormuz after US, Iran ink interim deal to end war
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM/LONDON – Three Saudi-flagged supertankers carrying six million barrels of crude sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on June 18, hours after US President Donald Trump signed a deal with Iran to end the war that has disrupted global...
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Zero Waste Masterplan to be reviewed as S’pore recycles less
The 2030 targets for recycling and reducing waste in Singapore will be reviewed, in the wake of lacklustre recycling rates and a record high amount of trash being produced. Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil...
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Nearly $100m to be spent on R&D of water solutions for towns and industries
Close to $100 million will be channelled into the research and development of water solutions for towns and industries, including setting up a research facility for used water treatment. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong revealed this on June 16 at...
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Cities can learn from one another despite geopolitical differences: PM
Singapore is guided by pragmatism and not ideology – an approach that means it must continue to learn, adapt and innovate as its circumstances change, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on June 15. This is especially as cities like Singapore are often...
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US, Iran inch closer to deal but timing remains unclear
WASHINGTON/DUBAI – US and Pakistani leaders forecasted on June 14 the signing of a long-elusive framework agreement to end months of fighting between the United States and Iran, but Tehran cast doubt over the timing and hardline protesters in Iran...
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S’pore AI drive creates hot demand for forward deployed engineers
Singapore’s drive to put artificial intelligence to work is creating a surge in vacancies for forward deployed engineers – tech professionals who combine software skills with the ability to explain technology to clients to solve everyday...
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US-Iran peace memorandum could be inked by tomorrow, says source
DUBAI – A memorandum between the United States and Iran to halt their war could be signed as soon as June 14, a source told Reuters on June 12, with Geneva emerging as the likeliest venue. The source said language in the memorandum was still being...
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S’porean households get latest tranche of $500 CDC vouchers
Some 1.38 million Singaporean households will each receive $500 in CDC vouchers from June 11 to help them with their daily expenses, with the vouchers valid till Dec 31, 2027. This tranche of vouchers has been brought forward by half a year from...
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S’pore must be more cohesive as global outlook remains uncertain: PM Wong
Singapore’s first-quarter growth was solid and reflects the diversity and strength of its economy, but the global outlook remains uncertain, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on June 8. The country is making broad adjustments in areas like economic...
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More retrenched white-collar workers seeking unions’ help
More white-collar workers are seeking help with unions and trade associations after losing their jobs. The National Trades Union Congress has also seen more cases of retrenchments due to business restructuring recently, said its assistant...
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S’pore blocks foreign online posts criticising its Indian community
The authorities have ordered social media platforms to block access to 14 online posts that target the Indian community, such as by suggesting that Singapore was being overrun by Indians. Investigations showed that the content most likely originated...
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Marina Bay skyline could see bolder night light-ups to elevate experience
The Marina Bay skyline could get more vibrant and animated lightups after the sun sets, as Singapore looks to relax lighting guidelines for building owners in the area. New hotels, backpacker’s hostels and serviced apartments could also be given the...
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Iran says no progress in talks with US amid clashes in Lebanon
TEHRAN – Iran said there has been no recent progress in talks with the United States over an interim peace deal, while fighting persisted in Lebanon despite Washington’s declaration of a ceasefire between Israel and the country. Iranian Foreign...
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Life expectancy at birth for Singapore residents rose in 2025 to 83.9 years
Singapore residents are expected to live longer than before, surpassing the life expectancy projected in pre-pandemic years. Women also continue to have a longer lifespan than men, according to the latest numbers from the Department of Statistics...
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Religious Rehabilitation Group studying impact of AI, tech on radicalisation
With technology accelerating radicalisation, the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) is building capabilities to understand how artificial intelligence and digital platforms affect individuals. The voluntary organisation is studying the links between...
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S’pore to create a registry of AI agents for public officers
A registry of artificial intelligence agents is being developed for 150,000 public officers in Singapore to use cutting-edge AI in their work without compromising data security. This registry is a safeguard to track the owners and activities of AI...
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Defence spending alone may not result in better capabilities: Chan Chun Sing
What matters is not how much countries spend on defence, but how the money is used, said Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing, noting that there is no straight line between defence expenditure and capabilities. Speaking to reporters on May 31 at the close...
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Devotees perform Buddhist ceremony to mark Vesak
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong sends his greetings to all Buddhists on Vesak Day. The Sunday Times also sends Vesak Day greetings to all its Buddhist readers. Bowing once every three steps, more than 6,000 devotees took part in a Buddhist ceremony at...
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S’pore, Vietnam deepen cooperation in food and supply chain resilience
Singapore and Vietnam will deepen cooperation in areas such as supply chain resilience, agricultural trade and higher education, building on a partnership of more than five decades. Both countries exchanged several agreements on May 29, witnessed by...
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S’pore workers’ real wages grew by 4% in 2025 as inflation eased: MOM
Resident workers in Singapore saw their spending power improve in 2025 as wages rose while inflation eased, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Nominal wages of full-time workers – including employer Central Provident Fund contributions –...
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Iran says war with US unlikely to resume, but it’s ready to retaliate
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on May 27 that a return to war with the United States is unlikely, while warning that the Islamic republic stands ready against any attack. The statement came a day after Iran accused the US of breaching the ceasefire...
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Charity to release index to measure gaps in access to opportunities in Singapore
A new national index to measure gaps in social capital and disparities in access to opportunities that may influence life outcomes here will be released in early 2027. Developed by local charity Access Singapore, with support from research firm Milieu...
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Farmland south of Lim Chu Kang to be used for defence; land farther north set for agriculture
Agricultural land south of Lim Chu Kang will be zoned for defence use in the near future, and military land in the north, closer to other farms, will be reallocated for future farming use. Concentrating farmland in the north of the area will advance...
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Nearly 1 in 10 commuters tapped scheme for free off-peak train rides, easing NEL crunch
Almost one in 10 commuters along Singapore’s north-east corridor has made use of a scheme to take off-peak train rides for free. This shift in behaviour among 9 per cent of commuters has eased congestion and is a win-win situation, said Acting...
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US and Iran both report progress towards a deal to end their war
Iran, the US and mediator Pakistan all said on May 23 that progress had been made in talks on ending almost three months of war. Tehran is focused on finalising a memorandum of understanding, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said after Iran’s top negotiator...
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Koh Poh Koon resigns from political office for family reasons
Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Health Koh Poh Koon will step down from political office due to family reasons, with effect from June 1. In a Facebook post after his resignation was announced by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on May 22,...
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All IHL students to learn AI skills via compulsory modules by 2027
By 2027, all students from institutes of higher learning (IHLs) in Singapore will have opportunities to develop artificial intelligence skills within their disciplines. The IHLs have identified baseline AI competencies, which will be infused into...
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When Putin met Xi: Was timing everything?
LONDON/CHONGQING – The arrival of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, hard on the heels of the departure of US President Donald Trump, has confirmed the Chinese capital’s status as the meeting place for the world’s most powerful leaders. But...
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Singapore to undergo review by UN atomic watchdog in 2027
Singapore will undergo an assessment by the UN atomic watchdog in 2027 to determine if the country is ready to make an informed decision on whether to deploy nuclear energy. The assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will include...
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IMDA suspends review of proposed Simba-M1 merger
The authorities have suspended their review of Simba Telecom’s $1.43 billion bid for the telecommunications business of M1 amid a probe into an alleged breach. On May 18, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said it is investigating...
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Suburban malls eye grey market as more seniors make them social hubs
Part-time security officer Lizah Salim takes a 15-minute bus ride from her home in Woodlands Circle to Causeway Point at least once a week. She can spend up to five hours shopping and dining at the mall in Woodlands, often accompanied by her sister,...
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18,000 flats in 12 towns across S’pore to be upgraded under HIP
Around 18,000 flats across Singapore have been selected for home upgrading works under the Housing Board’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP). The 198 blocks chosen for upgrades are located in 12 towns including Bedok, Bishan, Jurong West, Pasir Ris,...
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Trump downplays risk of conflict with China over Taiwan
– US President Donald Trump downplayed the risk of conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan after his twoday summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after departing Beijing on May 15,...
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Trade, stability dominate Xi-Trump talks, although their priorities differ
Trade and stability in the relationship between the world’s two biggest powers emerged as key issues discussed during Chinese President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Donald Trump’s highly watched summit on May 14. But while the two leaders...
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S’pore sets out economic strategy road map to create good jobs, stay competitive
Singapore has set out a strategic road map to position the country to stay competitive, create good jobs and remain relevant in the near and longer term, amid a turbulent global environment. The committee reviewing Singapore’s economic strategies has...
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New network aims to double number of defence volunteers in 3 to 5 years
A new volunteer network has been set up to support Singapore’s defence and will, for a start, create the capacity for nearly 400 new volunteers. These will include new roles such as curating content for an NS gallery. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)...
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Long-term planning helps countries better absorb external shocks: DPM
Countries that have planned ahead, such as by diversifying their supply sources, are better placed to absorb external shocks like disruptions in oil markets, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on May 11. “Disruptions in global oil and gas markets...
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2 S’porean hikers on Indonesian volcano confirmed dead
Halmahera – Two missing Singaporean hikers were confirmed dead in the eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Dukono, the head of the local search-and-rescue agency told The Straits Times on May 10. Mr Iwan Ramdani, head of the Ternate search-and-rescue office,...
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ASEAN can better shape outcomes, manage shocks working together: PM Wong
ASEAN is better able to shape outcomes and manage the disruptions and shocks of a more fragmented world when it works together as a bloc, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 9. This solidarity was clearly articulated by all leaders of the...
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10-year MOP for executive condos; more units to be set aside for first-timers
Buyers of new executive condominiums (ECs) will soon have to live in their homes for 10 years before they can sell them – double the current minimum occupation period (MOP) of five years. More units will also be set aside for first-time home buyers to...
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Three more areas designated as Age Well Neighbourhoods
Bedok, Bukit Panjang, and Tiong Bahru-Redhill have been designated as Age Well Neighbourhoods (AWNs), where seniors can access enhanced care services and seniorfriendly infrastructure to help them age independently and comfortably, with a sense of...
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Deep dive into robotics
OceanOneK, Stanford University’s underwater robotic avatar, took to the Singapore Oceanarium’s Shipwreck Habitat like a seasoned diver on May 6. Outfitted with eight multi-directional thrusters for precise manoeuvring, and controlled by a human...
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Labour chief outlines proposals to help workers navigate AI shift
Singapore must build its own localised market intelligence that better reflects workforce realities to help workers seize opportunities in an artificial intelligence-driven economy, labour chief Ng Chee Meng said as he filed a parliamentary motion...
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S’pore, NZ ink pact to keep critical supplies flowing even during crises
Singapore and New Zealand pledged on May 4 to keep essential goods such as food, fuel and other critical supplies flowing, even in times of crisis, through a legally binding agreement. Both prime ministers witnessed the signing of the pact and also...
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Middle East conflict could spur S-E Asia’s nuclear energy ambitions: Experts
The war in Iran could accelerate South-east Asia’s plans to tap nuclear energy as it seeks to wean itself off its dependence on Middle Eastern oil and gas, experts told The Straits Times. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a major global shipping...
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Germany urges stronger European defence after US reduces troops
A planned drawdown of US troops from Germany should spur Europeans to strengthen their own defences further, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on May 2, following the latest salvo from Washington against transatlantic ties. The Pentagon...
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New tripartite council to help workers keep jobs, companies transform amid AI disruption
A new tripartite council will be set up to double down on plans to upskill workers, and help companies redesign jobs and adopt new tools, amid a disruption driven by artificial intelligence. The Tripartite Jobs Council will comprise workers’ trade...
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New work group to drive marriage, parenthood reset amid record low fertility
A new inter-agency work group will aim to mobilise the broader society to support Singaporeans in marrying and having children, amid the Republic’s fertility rate declining to a new low of 0.87. Aimed at helping Singaporeans as they navigate marriage...
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Collective interest to keep critical sea lanes open and secure, says Zhulkarnain at UN
Unlawful restrictions on the flows of trade, energy and critical supplies impose a cost that small island-nations cannot afford, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim said on April 27. It is in the collective interest of all...
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Year-long drive to urge victims, witnesses of sex crimes to report offences
If you see someone being sexually assaulted, do not be afraid to report it. Such crimes do not just affect the victims, but their families and the community as well. And if you are a victim of a sex crime, report it, no matter when it...
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Trump likely target of gunman at Washington gala dinner: Attorney-general
US President Donald Trump and administration officials were the likely targets of a suspect who fired on a security agent guarding the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on April...
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US cancels envoys’ trip to Pakistan for fresh peace talks with Iran
– US President Donald Trump on April 26 said Iranian negotiators could call Washington “any time they want” after he cancelled a trip by his envoys to peace talks in Pakistan. “They can call us any time they want, but you’re not going to be making any...
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HDB resale prices post first decline in nearly seven years
Prices of resale HDB flats have declined for the first time in close to seven years, even as more flats were sold. This “comes on the back of five consecutive quarters of slower or no price growth”, said the Housing Board on April 24. HDB resale...
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S’pore blocks 6 websites flagged over potential use in hostile info campaigns
Internet users in Singapore have been blocked from accessing six websites after the authorities flagged them for being operated by foreign actors and having the potential to be used in hostile information campaigns. The websites are masquerading as...
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Regulators move to get listed S’pore firms to disclose how CEO pay is set
Companies may soon be compelled to disclose what goes into how their executives are paid, under proposals mooted by regulators on April 22. The move addressing that lack of transparency is key to rejuvenating the Singapore stock market, where more...
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Maritime hubs like S’pore critical amid global disruptions: DPM Gan
Maritime hubs like Singapore are critical in ensuring trade carries on at a time when disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz cascade across the global economy, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on April 21. Delivering the Singapore Maritime Lecture...
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Standing up for freedom of navigation sends right message: UN maritime chief
Countries standing up for freedom of navigation in international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz are sending “the right message”, said the head of the UN agency regulating global shipping, as a continued impasse between Iran and the US over the...
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More babies born to women in their 40s amid Singapore’s fertility decline
At a time when fewer Singaporean women are having children, more of those in their 40s are bucking the trend. In 2025, 9.6 babies were born per 1,000 women aged between 40 and 44, up from 8.9 babies in 2015 and 6.2 babies in 2005. The increase in the...
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29,000 HDB households to benefit from neighbourhood upgrading
Nearly 29,000 households living in HDB flats across Singapore will get upgrades to their neighbourhoods under two schemes. These upgrades could include fitness trails linking senior-centric amenities, seating areas and features that guide those with...
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Illegal weaponisation of Hormuz sets dangerous precedent: PM
Allowing any party to illegally weaponise an international waterway would set a dangerous precedent, and other maritime chokepoints could be similarly targeted, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Singapore feels this acutely as it sits along the...
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Trump says Israel, Lebanon have agreed to 10-day truce
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to begin a 10-day ceasefire, US President Donald Trump said on April 16. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said he held “excellent conversations” with the leaders of both countries and directed his top...
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Healthpoint rewards among measures to attract and retain blood donors
With a potential blood supply crisis looming in 2033 and the youth donor pool trending downwards, the authorities are introducing new incentives to attract and retain blood donors, including giving out Healthpoint rewards. “Difficult times lie ahead....
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Long-term planning goes beyond the surface
The Jurong Rock Caverns, which opened in 2014, can store crude oil or compatible products to increase storage capacity for all of Singapore’s local refineries, said Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Tan See Leng in a Facebook post....
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Refreshed NS medical classification system to take effect from Oct 2027
Full-time national servicemen (NSFs) will soon be able to take on a wider range of vocations than they would have been eligible for in the past following changes to the medical classification system (MCS). Under the refreshed system, those enlisting...
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Trump vows to blockade Strait of Hormuz after Iran peace talks fail
US President Donald Trump said on April 12 that the US Navy would immediately start blockading the Strait of Hormuz, raising the stakes after marathon talks with Iran failed to result in a deal to end the war, jeopardising a fragile twoweek...
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US, Iran begin direct talks in Islamabad in bid to end the war
Senior US and Iranian officials met on April 11 in Islamabad for the highest-level talks between Washington and Tehran in half a century as they sought to bring an end to their six-week war. The talks between US Vice-President J.D. Vance, special...
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Singapore, Australia commit to keep LNG, diesel flowing between both countries
Singapore and Australia have committed to keeping essential goods – including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and refined petroleum products – flowing between the countries. Both countries are working quickly to turn this commitment into action through a...
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Land to be released for not-for-profit private hospital in the east
To provide people with more lower-cost private healthcare options, the Government intends to release a plot of land for a new private, notfor-profit acute hospital in eastern Singapore, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung announced on April 9. This would...
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2-week Iran war truce declared but concerns remain as strikes continue
AVIV/ Relief over a truce between the United States and Iran gave way on April 8 to alarm that fighting was still raging across the region, as Israel launched its biggest attacks yet on Lebanon, and Iran struck Gulf neighbours’ oil facilities. World...
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‘Unprecedented’ energy disruption from Iran war: Govt unveils support measures
Singaporeans should be prepared that disruptions from the Middle East conflict will impact more sectors of the Republic’s economy and lead to higher electricity and food prices, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong. He warned that the effects of...
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S’pore’s first 3D-printed pedestrian bridge to be completed in Jurong West in 2028
In 2028, the first pedestrian bridge in Singapore to be constructed using 3D printing will go across the Jurong River, connecting Jurong West to the new Tengah town, where more housing developments have been planned. The use of the new technology is...
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US snatches airman from Iran as Trump ratchets up pressure
US special forces rescued a downed airman in Iran in a complex operation that averted a potential crisis for President Donald Trump, as the war entered its sixth week with little sign of progress in diplomatic efforts for a resolution. Mr Trump...
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Ministerial committee to deal with fallout from Middle East conflict
The Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee (HCMC) will address supply disruptions and price increases arising from the Middle East conflict, as well as diplomatic and security issues, said Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam. He...
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