Singapore

In Singapore, whenever an election looms, talk is never about whether the ruling party will lose power. Rather, attention centres on how much or little support the opposition can prise from the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) firm grasp to advance its chances.With the new electoral boundaries published this week ahead of what pundits have predicted will be a May election, all sides are deciding whom to field where. But for the opposition parties, it is a more fraught task as constituencies they had long been eyeing and tilling for votes have been redrawn, and they lack the formidable party machinery of the PAP to redirect resources in double quick time.After 66 years in power, the PAP is one of the longest-ruling parties among modern parliamentary democracies. If it wins the coming 14th gen

The visit of Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam, to Singapore serves as a vital political foundation for further strengthening the already excellent relationship between Việt Nam and Singapore, elevating it to a higher, more substantive and deeper level. This was affirmed by Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Trần Phước Anh in an interview with VOV ahead of General Secretary Tô Lâm and his wife’s official visit to Singapore from March 11-13. What is the purpose and significance of General Secretary Tô Lâm's official visit to Singapore? This visit holds immense significance for Việt Nam-Singapore relations, marking a new milestone in their 52-year-long diplomatic ties. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973, upgraded them to a Strategi

Singapore Airlines (SQ) and American Express announced significant upgrades to their joint Business Credit Card, offering improved travel rewards and redemption options for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The updated benefits will take effect from April 23, 2025, providing business owners with more value from their travel spending.HighFlyer points to KrisFlyer milesThe refreshed card increases the limit for converting HighFlyer points to KrisFlyer miles from 100,000 to 150,000 miles, with conversions available at a 1:1 ratio. Card members can now redeem KrisFlyer Elite Gold status for 100,000 HighFlyer points, down from the standard requirement of 125,000 points, offering faster access to premium travel benefits. Businesses new to the HighFlyer program receive 10,000 HighFly...

Singapore’s government will boost payments and rebates to households to defray living costs that remain top of mind for voters, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his first budget presentation since taking office last year. Acknowledging that rising prices have pinched consumer budgets, Wong said households will receive S$800 ($596) in vouchers to help cover costs at supermarkets and restaurants, with the first S$500 coming as soon as May, Wong said Tuesday. That marks an increase from a total of S$600 announced the previous year. “Singaporeans are still adjusting to these new price realities,” Wong, who is also the finance minister, said in his speech. “Some have had to tighten their belts, rethink their spending habits or make difficult trade-offs to manage their expenses.” W

In anticipation of upcoming legislation, food and beverage (F&B) operators in Singapore have been encouraged to integrateblockchain technology into their operations to enhance compliance standards. The call came as lawmakers in the city-state focused their efforts on enhancing traceability standards within the local ecosystem to ensure consumer protection in line with the new Food Safety and Security bill. Members of Parliament (MPs) advanced the bill past the second reading as it moves toward its final stages. The bill seeks to eliminate unsafe and expired food products from the supply chain before the final consumer can access them. A community reading of the bill makes it mandatory for sector players to keep clear information on food items, handling processes, and importers. ...

The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) said Friday (February 7) that former transport minister S Iswaran has been placed on home detention, reported Channel News Asia. In a statement to the outlet, the SPS said Iswaran will be serving his remaining sentence at his residence under “specified conditions”. The former minister’s 12-month jail term began on October 7 last year. “Like all inmates emplaced on the Home Detention Scheme, S Iswaran will serve his remaining sentence at his residence under specified conditions, which include curfew monitoring using an electronic monitoring tag, being gainfully occupied either in work, study or training, and reporting to SPS for counselling,” the prison service said. What is Singapore’s home detention scheme?Under the country’s Prisons Act, in

Subhas Nair, a Singaporean rapper known for his outspoken views on racism, began his six-week prison sentence on February 5 after being convicted of inciting ill will between different racial and religious groups. The 32-year-old, who has openly criticised Chinese privilege and racial discrimination against minorities, was found guilty of multiple charges stemming from social media posts and public statements. His supporters argue that Nair’s punishment is disproportionate, alleging that he is facing repercussions for challenging systemic inequality in Singapore. They point to his past warnings from authorities as evidence of an ongoing effort to silence his activism. The charges and the case against Nair Nair’s legal troubles began in 2020 when he received a two-year conditio

Startup firms Mistral and Zoltix have won the U.S.-Singapore joint challenge on maritime and unmanned aerial systems, or UAS, defense innovation. The event was the first collaboration between the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit and Singapore’s Ministry of Defence under a memorandum of understanding for defense innovation. Challenge WinnersThe first prize challenge involved identifying and scaling dual-use technologies to help ships stationed near the shore continuously detect, track, identify and disrupt unauthorized drones. Mistral won $80,000 for its counter-UAS Victus C2 Gateway offering. The system features radio frequency sensors and kinetic and non-kinetic effects in a single package that meets the challenge’s operational requirements. The Minstral technology is capab

Singapore has introduced stricter measures to regulate screen use among children in schools and preschools as part of a broader multi-ministry health initiative launched on Tuesday. From February 1, preschools will enforce updated rules banning screen use for children under 18 months and limiting it to teaching and learning purposes for those aged 18 months to six years, according to a joint statement by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Social and Family Development. Educators will also be guided to prioritise "meaningful experiences" over sedentary activities such as prolonged screen time and sitting, Xinhua news agency reported. Primary and secondary schools have implemented similar measures, requiring students to store their phones in ...

Singapore’s currency weakness against the US dollar is likely to endure amid expectations that its central bank pivots to easing and US tariffs ripple through the global economy. The Singapore dollar is already near a two-year low against the US dollar and options data show trading of bearish wagers is dominating the market in anticipation of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) adjusting its stance. Investors wager that may take place on Jan 24, though a move later this year is also possible, which would allow more time to see how Donald Trump retaking the US presidency plays out. Singapore is one “of the most vulnerable economies to US tariff hikes in the Asean region”, said Singapore MUFG Bank currency strategist Lloyd Chan. He predicts the MAS will ease policy in