The Straits Times
Deadly blasts rock Iran as its leaders rally in show of defiance
Deadly explosions rocked Tehran close to a pro-government rally attended by top officials on March 13, as Israel and Iran unleashed fresh strikes in a war that has ignited the Middle East and threatens to torpedo the world economy. Since erupting on...
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War creating largest oil shock in history as Iran hits new Gulf targets
The war in the Middle East is creating the biggest oil supply disruption in history, as unchecked Iranian attacks on oil terminals and cargo ships across the region again sent crude prices spiking above US$100 a barrel on March 12. The Paris-based...
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RSAF plane returns from Middle East with largest group of S’poreans so far
Seeing enciks (military warrant officers) pushing meal carts and serving food on board a repatriation flight from the Middle East was a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” for Mr Tan Wei Heng. Mr Tan, 28, arrived in Singapore on the morning of March 11 on...
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East-West Line begins operations from new integrated depot
The operation of the East-West Line (EWL) has been moved to the new East Coast Integrated Depot (ECID), after the line was connected to the depot in December 2025. Trains from the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) and Downtown Line (DTL) are expected to...
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IP rider premiums to cost at least 30% less amid new requirements
Private health insurers gearing up for the launch of new riders have revealed that policyholders who switch schemes come April 1 could see premium reductions of at least 30 per cent, with one insurer offering premium reductions of up to 84 per...
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S’poreans on second repatriation flight from Mid-East arrive to cheers
Cheers erupted among those waiting eagerly for the return of their friends and family members from the Middle East at about 9.30pm on March 8, as passengers on the second repatriation flight from Muscat, Oman, arrived at Changi Airport Terminal...
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Iran vows never to surrender, but apologises for attacking neighbours
US President Donald Trump threatened to escalate the bombing of Iran on March 7, as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed that his country would never surrender, despite a fresh blitz of US and Israeli air strikes that set Tehran’s airport...
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S’pore’s fiscal prudence provides buffer in turbulent world: Indranee
Singapore’s approach of fiscal prudence provides buffer and assurance in a world rocked by developments like the Middle East conflict, said Leader of the House Indranee Rajah on March 6. Speaking after Parliament unanimously passed a record $154.7...
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Families welcome S’poreans home as some Mid-East flights resume
The first travellers from Dubai trickled into Changi Airport on the morning of March 5, after days of flight cancellations caused by the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran closed airspaces across the Middle East. Many travellers had...
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HDB explores taller blocks; 60-storey BTO project to be built in Pearl’s Hill
Singapore’s tallest HDB blocks, set to rise over 60 storeys high, will be built at the foot of Pearl’s Hill in Outram Park. The 1,700 unit Build-To-Order (BTO) project will be the first time in more than 40 years that public housing is built on the...
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Heat resilience office, $40m for heat research as part of S’pore adaptation efforts
Protecting Singapore from climate impacts will be a major focus for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) in 2026, with a suite of new initiatives to address threats ranging from unbearable heat to rising seas. These initiatives...
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S’pore, S. Korea to upgrade FTA; President Lee makes state visit
Singapore and South Korea will upgrade an existing free trade agreement (FTA) to ride on strong growth of trade and economic ties between the two countries, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting South...
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Iran hits back at Israel, Gulf states as top leader’s death is confirmed
As the war in the Middle East enters its third day, Iran has surprised most political observers with its defence capabilities. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and most of his Defence Council are dead, yet the country not only continues to...
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Israel, US launch strikes on Iran, targeting Tehran’s leadership
The United States and Israel carried out military strikes on Iran on Feb 28, targeting its top leaders and plunging the Middle East into a conflict that President Donald Trump said would end a security threat to the US and give Iranians a chance to...
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Alcohol limit for drink driving to be lowered by more than half
The alcohol limit determining drink driving will be more than halved, and the authorities are looking to reduce the maximum number of demerit points that can be accumulated to make it easier to suspend reckless drivers. Announcing these moves on Feb...
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Singapore’s fertility rate sinks to new low, raising concerns
Singapore’s resident total fertility rate (TFR) sank to a new low of 0.87 in 2025, according to preliminary figures, deepening concerns over how this trend and the rapidly ageing population will reshape society and the economy. Deputy Prime Minister...
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MPs call for life-cycle approach, structured shifts as AI reshapes jobs
With artificial intelligence reshaping careers across industries, MPs who joined the second day of the Budget debate called for a lifecycle approach to supporting Singaporean workers. NTUC deputy secretary-general Desmond Choo called for a new...
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MPs debate if $15.1b surplus is insurance in volatile world or ‘unnecessary hoarding’
A larger-than-expected surplus of $15.1 billion proved the main point of contention on the first day of the Budget debate, with MPs disagreeing over whether these funds should be spent more freely for Singaporeans’ benefit. PAP MPs on Feb 24 held that...
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Record 245 million travellers passed through S’pore checkpoints in 2025
Close to 245 million travellers passed through Singapore’s checkpoints in 2025, surpassing the 230 million figure seen in the previous year, and the 217.3 million recorded in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority...
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S’pore to seek clarity from US on implementation of new 15% tariff
The Government will engage its US counterparts to seek clarity on the implementation of a potential new 15 per cent tariff on all goods entering the US from Feb 24, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong. He noted that if the 15 per cent minimum...
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Levy on S’pore goods to stay at 10% as Trump declares new global tariff
Goods from Singapore will face a tariff of 10 per cent, even after the US Supreme Court threw out President Donald Trump’s signature reciprocal tariffs policy in a stunning decision. The apex court ruled in a 6-3 decision on Feb 20 that the US...
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About 22,000 civil servants to get pay rise of between 2% and 9%
About 22,000 civil servants in roles ranging from policy to planning and operations will see salary increments of between 2 per cent and 9 per cent from Aug 1. The adjustments are to keep pace with market standards and enable the public service to...
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South Korea’s ex-president Yoon gets life term for insurrection
A South Korean court sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison on Feb 19, after finding him guilty of masterminding an insurrection, stemming from his December 2024 attempt to impose martial law. Prosecutors had sought the death...
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Task force’s proposals will help bolster MRT network ‘over the next decades’: Experts
The rail reliability task force’s recommendations, accepted by the Government on Feb 13, are comprehensive and a step in the right direction in reducing MRT disruptions, even though many are not new, said transport experts. In the meantime, some...
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S’pore key exports rise 9.3% in Jan amid electronics surge due to AI
Singapore’s key exports saw further gains in January as electronics shipments surged on strong demand related to artificial intelligence (AI). Analysts cautioned that there may be some volatility in the first quarter of 2026 owing to the Chinese New...
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Enhanced ComLink+ packages give families stronger nudge up social ladder
For children born to Singapore’s poorest families, the climb up the social ladder is getting steeper. New data released by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) showed that about one in four children born to fathers in the lowest 20 per cent of income earners...
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Rubio casts US as ‘child of Europe’ in message of unity at Munich Conference
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cast the US as the “child of Europe” in a message of unity on Feb 14, offering some reassurance as well as levelling more criticism at allies after a year of turmoil in transatlantic relations. Mr Rubio was addressing...
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NEL power system to be upgraded to improve reliability
Renewal works involving the power supply system for the North East Line (NEL) will begin in 2026, following recommendations from a task force looking into solutions to improve rail reliability, which the Government accepted on Feb 13. This includes...
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A $155b bumper Budget to secure Singapore’s future
Singapore will provide more support for firms to stay competitive and make a national push to tap the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as part of its plans to navigate an uncertain and fractured world. Families and individuals will also...
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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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