The Straits Times
A labour of love at a horse-picious void deck
Walk past a moon gate and spot a white horse, Cai Shen Ye – the God of Wealth – and a Chinese pavilion among a series of Chinese New Year decorations at the void deck of Block 8 Cantonment Close. Created from recycled materials, the decorations are a...
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S’pore lifts 2026 growth forecast to 2%-4% after strong Q4
Singapore upgraded its full-year 2026 growth forecast to a range of 2 per cent to 4 per cent, with the economy projected to continue benefiting from a sustained global artificial intelligence (AI) investment boom. The growth outlook was raised from an...
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Singapore netted bigger haul of $14.2b in investments in 2025: EDB
Singapore managed to net a bigger haul of investments in 2025 – raising the prospects of new jobs and higher economic growth in the coming years – despite the persistent global uncertainty over tariffs and protectionism. The Republic’s lead investment...
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Huge crowds turn out for Singapore Airshow on first public day
Since 2012, aviation enthusiast Rafi Damar has been a visitor to the Singapore Airshow, flying in from Jakarta with his father, who is similarly fascinated by planes. For the 2024 and 2026 editions, however, the Indonesian logistics executive did not...
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ASEAN chair says no change to stance on Myanmar, even as questions persist
ASEAN is sticking to its position on Myanmar and not recognising the outcome of its recent militaryrun election unless violence stops, Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro reiterated on Feb 6, even as questions continue to be asked about the...
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$40m fund to push promising green solutions from S’pore labs to market
A $40 million fund has been launched to push promising climate and sustainability innovations out of the lab and into the marketplace. The Urban Solutions and Sustainability Translation Fund aims to translate research in the areas of agri-food, waste,...
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New transport Bill passed, paving way for ERP 2 and stricter mobility scooter rules
Parliament passed a raft of changes to transport laws on Feb 4, including new rules aimed at curbing the abuse of mobility scooters and protecting pedestrians. New laws under the Land Transport and Related Matters Bill will require...
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S’pore’s tourism receipts hit new high in first three quarters of 2025
Tourism spending in Singapore hit a record $23.9 billion in the first three quarters of 2025, up 6.5 per cent from the same period in 2024. This puts the sector on track to surpass the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) full-year forecast of $29 billion...
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Singapore to set up national space agency in April
A national space agency will be formed on April 1 to enable Singapore to seize opportunities in the expanding space economy and develop its space capabilities, said Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Tan See Leng. The National Space...
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S’pore to face AI challenge sooner than many others, says President Tharman
The Republic will face the challenge of artificial intelligence (AI) sooner than many countries because it is small, open and relies on technology as a source of its competitiveness, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. By the same token, it has the...
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Shorter waits for 1.3k BTO flats in Feb sale; one project ready in less than 2 years
About 1,300 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats with shorter waits of less than three years will be offered in the upcoming February sales exercise across three projects in Tampines and Sembawang. One of the projects, the 284-unit Tampines Bliss in Tampines...
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7 strategies for S’pore to secure growth, good jobs amid tariff and AI threats
Committees formed to conduct Singapore’s Economic Strategy Review (ESR) are asking the Government to take calculated risks and try new ideas to protect growth and jobs as protectionism and technology reshape the global economy. The five ESR...
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Exam difficulty, use of PSLE results being studied to lower exam stakes
In reviewing how to reduce the stakes of exams, the Ministry of Education (MOE) is considering changes including adjusting their difficulty and studying how PSLE results are used in secondary school admission. Education Minister Desmond Lee said these...
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Race against time as peat fire rages in Johor
Firefighters are racing against time to snuff out a peat fire that has been raging underground for almost a week in Pengerang, Johor. It is one of several wildfire spots that have been reported in Johor. On Jan 27, a Johor fire and rescue department...
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Micron building $30.5b semiconductor plant here, creating 1,600 jobs
Memory chip giant Micron Technology is building a US$24 billion (S$30.5 billion) plant here to ramp up its production of semiconductors as booming artificial intelligence (AI) demand causes an unprecedented shortage of hardware powering data...
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More young adults, teens in Singapore being diagnosed with cancer
In January 2024, Mr Joshua Lee began experiencing abdominal pains, which he brushed off as aches from recreational rock climbing. “I thought I had pulled something,” said the 25-year-old, who was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the...
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New facility to support active lifestyles
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong trying out an exercise machine at the gym at ActiveSG Sport Park @ Teck Ghee on Jan 25, with Kebun Baru MP Henry Kwek (left) and fitness instructor Mohamed Haiqal Mohamed Suhaimi (in red) looking on. The Sport Park was...
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Singapore to invest $1 billion over 5 years to boost AI public research
Singapore is setting aside $1 billion over a period of five years from 2025 to 2030 to boost its public research capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI). Announced by Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo at a gala dinner...
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SGX proposes reducing lot sizes to make trading more affordable
The Singapore Exchange is proposing to reduce the minimum amount required to invest in stocks and other instruments – a move that will make trading on the local bourse more affordable for investors, such as younger people. This will be done by...
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Building jobs worth up to $53b expected in 2026: BCA
Some $47 billion to $53 billion in construction contracts across the public and private sectors are expected to be awarded in 2026, driven by projects such as Changi Airport Terminal 5 and the Marina Bay Sands expansion. In 2025, an estimated $50.5...
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Trump says he won’t take Greenland by force, wants immediate talks to get it
AUSTIN/DAVOS – US President Donald Trump has softened his stance on taking Greenland by force, saying he was seeking immediate negotiations to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory. He cast his demand as a “small ask” that was purely for...
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Singapore invited to join Trump’s Board of Peace and is assessing invitation: MFA
AUSTIN, Texas – Singapore has been invited to join the US-led “Board of Peace” proposed by the Trump administration to supervise the next phase of the Gaza peace plan. “The Singapore Government has received an invitation from the US to join the Board...
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Migrant worker dorms to benefit from $100m retrofitting grant
Dormitory operators that house some 200,000 migrant workers are expected to receive more than $100 million of government funding to defray the cost of enhancing the liveability of about 900 existing dormitories to meet stricter requirements. On Jan...
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PM Wong removes Pritam Singh as Leader of the Opposition
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has removed Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh as Leader of the Opposition (LO), and asked the opposition party to nominate another MP to fill the position. In a statement on Jan 15, PM Wong said: “Having considered the...
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Trump vows 25% tariff on goods from Iran’s ‘business’ partners
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said he is imposing a 25 per cent tariff on goods from countries “doing business” with Iran, ratcheting up pressure on the government in Tehran that has been rocked by widespread protests. He posted on social...
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GLS, commercial deals lift 2025 property investment to $40b
Property investment activity in Singapore hit a new eight-year high of $40 billion in 2025, fuelled by robust participation in Government Land Sales (GLS) tenders and more commercial transactions as interest rates eased amid geopolitical and economic...
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Parliament set to debate Pritam’s suitability as Leader of the Opposition
Parliament is set to debate if Mr Pritam Singh is suitable to continue as Leader of the Opposition following his conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee. Leader of the House Indranee Rajah has tabled a motion for the upcoming session of...
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Growing unease in Asia-Pacific over US strike on Venezuela
MANILA – While governments across the Asia-Pacific region have responded cautiously to the US attack on Venezuela, lawmakers and former officials have hit out at Washington’s move, saying its actions risk accelerating the erosion of the rules-based...
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Passenger numbers at Changi hit new high of about 70 million in 2025
Changi Airport handled about 70 million passengers in 2025, with volumes surpassing pre-Covid-19 levels, said Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow on Jan 5. This means passenger numbers at the airport reached an all-time high in 2025, eclipsing the...
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Venezuela’s Maduro sits in US custody as loyalists vow defiance
NEW YORK – Venezuela’s toppled leader Nicolas Maduro was in a New York detention centre on Jan 4 awaiting drug charges after US President Donald Trump ordered an audacious raid to capture him, saying the US would take control of the oil-producing...
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Captured Maduro to face drug charges, says US after strike on Venezuela
WASHINGTON/CARACAS – The US attacked Venezuela and deposed its long-serving President Nicolas Maduro on Jan 3, President Donald Trump said, in Washington’s most direct intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. “The United States...
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Singaporean households can begin redeeming $300 in CDC vouchers
Every Singaporean household can claim $300 worth of CDC vouchers from Jan 2. This is part of continued government support to defray households’ daily expenses, and to help participating hawkers, heartland merchants and supermarkets. The vouchers can...
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Tengah residents settle in as S’pore’s newest HDB town fills up
When Mr Mohd Zaki moved into his two-room flexi flat in Tengah in October 2024, much of the Housing Board town was still under construction. But despite the teething problems of living in a new estate, Mr Zaki – who lives with his wife, 18month-old...
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Economy grew 4.8% in 2025, but S’pore needs fresh ways to stay competitive: PM Wong
Singapore posted stronger-thanexpected economic growth of 4.8 per cent in 2025 amid a changing global order and deepening geopolitical tensions. But Singaporeans must be realistic and know that sustaining this pace of growth will be challenging, Prime...
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SGX renews push for Chinese firms, with focus on strong listings
Investors could see more familiar Chinese names on the local bourse in 2026 as the Singapore Exchange (SGX) makes a renewed push to draw Chinese companies for listings. Fresh from grant injections by the Government and recent regulatory nods from both...
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Myanmar holds restricted election, its first since 2021 coup
YANGON – Gallery owner Su Htwe was in hospital after giving birth to a baby boy during the last Myanmar general election back in 2020. Despite pain from her caesarean operation and her newborn being in intensive care, she made her way to a polling...
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Cambodia, Thailand agree on immediate ceasefire after weeks of deadly border clashes
BANGKOK – Cambodia and Thailand have inked a fresh ceasefire agreement aimed at ending a fractious cycle of deadly clashes along their shared border that lasted for nearly three weeks. But given the high level of distrust between the two sides, it...
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Najib gets new jail term of 15 years, $3.6b fine over 1MDB scandal
PUTRAJAYA – Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was sentenced to 15 years’ jail on Dec 26 in a case involving the alleged misappropriation of about RM2.3 billion (S$730 million) in funds linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state...
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Floating solar farm to cover one-third of Lower Seletar Reservoir by 2029
A new floating solar farm occupying an area larger than Gardens by the Bay will soon cover 36 per cent of Lower Seletar Reservoir. Construction is slated to begin in 2027. When completed two years later, the facility will generate at least 130...
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Cambodia, Thailand to hold ceasefire talks on Dec 24
BANGKOK/KUALA LUMPUR – Cambodian and Thai officials will meet on Dec 24 to negotiate the potential return to a ceasefire. This comes after a Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting convened in Kuala Lumpur appeared to provide a key circuit breaker as...
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Prime HDB flats still oversubscribed, but demand eases with higher supply
Demand for new flats in the choicest locations has eased in the year since the Housing Board rolled out its Prime, Plus and Standard classification framework, following a ramped-up flat supply. Of the three categories, demand for Plus flats has been...
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41,800 foreigners denied entry to S’pore in 11 months
Around 41,800 foreigners were turned away at the Republic’s checkpoints in the first 11 months of 2025, but undesirable travellers will face even greater scrutiny from 2026 with a new no-boarding directive (NBD) initiative. From January 2026,...
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Electricity retailers to face stricter rules when auto-renewing contracts
From June 19, 2026, households will have more leeway to cancel electricity contracts with retailers, following complaints that such contracts were being automatically renewed without ample warning. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) said on Dec 19 that...
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92 SMRT trains to be upgraded by mid-2030s
By the mid-2030s, 92 trains on Singapore’s oldest and busiest MRT lines will be upgraded with new systems to detect problems early and reduce breakdowns, rail operator SMRT said on Dec 18. The trains to get these advanced systems make up just under...
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About 1 in 6 families on ComLink+ scheme faced violence at home
About one in six lower-income families on a national scheme to support them in improving their lives faced violence at home. As at December 2024, 16 per cent of ComLink+ families had cases involving domestic violence or child protection concerns, up...
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Bondi Beach shooting sparks ‘lone wolf ’ fears in Australia
SYDNEY – Even as the authorities probe possible foreign terror links in the Dec 14 Bondi Beach mass shooting, they say the father-and-son duo appear to have acted alone – a scenario that analysts say is hardest to prevent. As the nation reels from the...
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At least 12 dead, 29 injured in terrorist attack at Australia’s Bondi Beach
SYDNEY – A mass shooting by two gunmen on Dec 14 targeting a Jewish festival event at Sydney ’s Bondi Beach – Australia’s best-known beach – left at least 12 people dead and 29 injured, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describing the attack as “an...
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Thailand vows to continue military operations against Cambodia
SURIN, Thailand/ODDAR MEANCHEY, Cambodia – Thailand has vowed to continue military operations in its border conflict with Cambodia, with its foreign minister saying that earlier comments made by US President Donald Trump – including that the latter had...
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38 Oxley Road gazetted as a national monument
The site at 38 Oxley Road – where key discussions between Singapore’s founding leaders took place – has been gazetted as a national monument. The preservation order for the site – published in the Government Gazette on Dec 12 at 5pm – takes effect on...
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Rise in number of child abuse cases in Singapore in 2024
Child abuse cases rose in Singapore in 2024, with those aged seven to 12 making up the largest group of children abused by a loved one. New high-risk cases increased by 14.5 per cent, from 2,011 in 2023 to 2,303 in 2024. These cases managed by the...
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New hospitals will be built faster, could cost less: Minister
With standard design guidelines in place, new hospitals can now be built faster at a potentially lower cost. Key to this effort is the Healthcare Facility Design Standards (HFDS) – the first framework in Singapore that harmonises hospital design...
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Smooth resumption of MRT service on EWL after track works
The resumption of MRT service on the East-West Line (EWL) from Bedok to Tampines and Tanah Merah to Expo got off to a smooth start on Dec 8, a day ahead of schedule after works were completed early. Passengers whom The Straits Times spoke to were...
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'Singapore's independence was not inevitable'
Till the final ys before Separation, foundin prime minister Lee Kuan Yew wa ambivalent about Singapore lea ng Malaysia. Senior Mi ster Lee Hsien Loong recou ed how the Lee family were o holiday in Cameron Highlands on Aug 3, 1965, when his fat r...
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Over 14,000 flats in Tengah completed; 2nd neighbourhood centre to open in 2026
More than 14,000 flats across 14 projects in Tengah have been completed to date, with over 12,000 households having collected their keys, HDB said in an update on Dec 6. This is close to half of the 30,000 or so flats planned for Tengah, it...
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S’pore, Malaysia to allow cross-border taxi drop-offs anywhere: Ministries
Cross-border taxis will be able to drop off passengers anywhere in their destination country under new agreements by Singapore and Malaysia aimed at improving travel convenience between the neighbouring nations. Foreign taxis will still only be...
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S’pore, Malaysia deepen collaboration; continue talks on longstanding issues in ‘constructive spirit’
Singapore and Malaysia will deepen collaboration and continue talks on longstanding issues, with the leaders of both countries emphasising moving forward with a “constructive spirit”, mutual respect and goodwill. The two countries have inked an...
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Businesses must develop wide networks for resilience amid uncertainty: President
MEXICO CITY – With a weakened and less predictable global economic order likely to be the new normal, it is all the more important that businesses diversify and develop wide networks for resilience amid such uncertainty, said President Tharman...
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Private housing land supply to fall further in H1 of 2026
Land set aside for private housing on the confirmed list of the Government Land Sales (GLS) programme will shrink further in the first half of 2026, while supply on the reserve list will increase. The confirmed list, which comprises eight private...
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Longer wait times for CCL trains from Jan 17 to April 19 due to tunnel works
Passengers using the Circle Line (CCL) will face delays of up to 30 minutes from Jan 17 to April 19, 2026, as work is carried out to strengthen the tunnels linking Mountbatten, Dakota and Paya Lebar stations. This stretch of underground tunnels was...
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No smartphone and smartwatch use in secondary schools from 2026
From January 2026, secondary school students will not be allowed to use smartphones and smartwatches outside of lesson time, such as during recess and cocurricular activities, as part of tightened guidelines on screen use. Currently, they are limited...
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Singapore’s largest polyclinic opens in Serangoon
Serangoon Polyclinic, the largest polyclinic in Singapore, opened its doors on Nov 29 with a new care model that has a healthcare team looking after patients from the same family and a more structured approach to assess and treat frailty. It will also...
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Real median income in S’pore up 4.3% in 2025 amid lower inflation
Singapore workers saw their incomes grow in 2025 after taking lower inflation into account, while the proportion of the workforce in permanent jobs hit a high of over 90 per cent, according to data released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Nov...
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Integrated Shield Plan riders soon won’t cover minimum deductibles
To address rising insurance premiums and private healthcare costs, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is putting a stop to health insurance plans that protect policyholders almost “to the last dollar”. New riders sold from April 1, 2026, will no longer be...
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Countries should find ways forward together, even if US is not involved: PM Wong
ADDIS ABABA – Countries should come together and find ways forward on their own, even if the United States is not involved in discussions or chooses not to be, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at the end of his trip to Africa, where he attended the...
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Singapore to open embassy in Ethiopian capital as ties grow
ADDIS ABABA – Singapore will establish an embassy in the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa, as both countries cooperate to connect their respective regions. Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong announced this on Nov 24, during his...
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Address concerns over AI’s impact on jobs and livelihoods: PM Wong
JOHANNESBURG – Amid all the innovation brought about by artificial intelligence (AI), a key challenge for governments worldwide is addressing concerns about jobs and livelihoods and helping workers adjust, said Prime Minister and Finance Minister...
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New infectious diseases agency to chart S’pore’s pandemic plans: PM Wong
Singapore’s newest public health agency will take the lead to refresh and update the country’s pandemic plans, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Speaking at the official launch of the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), PM Wong likened pandemic...
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HDB’s deficit eases slightly to $6.34 billion amid BTO roll-out
The roll-out of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats and the disbursement of housing grants led the Housing Board to report a deficit of $6.34 billion for the 2024 financial year (FY) from April 2024 to March 2025. This eased slightly from the record housing...
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Green jet fuel levy to start for flights out of S’pore from Oct 2026
Passengers flying out of Singapore from October 2026 will pay a levy of between $1 and $41.60 that will go towards the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel. The levy will apply to tickets sold from April 1, 2026, for flights leaving Singapore from...
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Beyond policy, PAP must also set the tone for politics in S’pore: PM Wong
The PAP has to speak up each time it sees something that crosses the line, or politics in Singapore will gradually take a turn for the worse as seen around the world, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Nov 9. This could include distorting facts to...
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80% of homes now equipped with smart electricity meters
At least four electricity retailers are offering plans with lower off-peak rates, as 80 per cent of all residential premises in Singapore have smart electricity meters that tell users how much power they consume and when. These plans offer different...
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Singapore and Thailand ink deals in rice trade, healthcare
Singapore and Thailand have signed pacts to expand the sale of rice to the Republic, and to deepen cooperation in healthcare capabilities to meet the needs of their ageing societies. The two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed on Nov 7...
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Govt will keep all options open for 38 Oxley Road: David Neo
In deciding to gazette the site at 38 Oxley Road as a national monument, the Government’s considerations were for the entire site and not for the buildings and structures within it, said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo. The...
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