Category: Singapore

Singapore

Singapore Just Unveiled a Major Family Support Reset — But the Biggest Change Isn’t the S$70,000

SINGAPORE — Singapore is making a major shift in how it supports families, moving beyond policies that concentrate assistance around the birth of a child toward a longer-term system designed to help parents throughout the years of raising their children. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the changes during the National Day Rally on Aug. 23, unveiling a new SG Child Support Package, expanded childcare leave and plans to significantly reduce preschool costs. Taken together, every Singaporea

August 24, 2026

Singapore

Singapore Inflation Just Jumped to 2% — And the Next Few Months Could Be Even More Important

Singapore’s inflation picture is heating up again — and households could feel the pressure more clearly in the months ahead. Singapore’s core inflation rose to 2.0% year-on-year in July 2026, accelerating sharply from 1.6% in June, as electricity and gas, services and food became more expensive, according to data released by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on Monday. The increase marks the strongest core inflation reading in recent months and

August 24, 2026

Business

Singapore Raises BTO Income Ceiling to $16,000 — But Will More Eligible Buyers Make Housing Even Harder to Get?

Singapore’s public housing landscape is entering a new phase after the government announced a major adjustment to income limits for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, resale flat grants, and executive condominiums (ECs). During the National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the income ceiling for families applying for BTO flats will rise from $14,000 to $16,000 per month, while the ceiling for singles will increase from $7,000 to $8,000. The move is expected to allow more middle-

August 24, 2026

Business

Singapore Is Bringing Driverless Vehicles to Its Roads — But the Real Battle Is What Happens to Thousands of Drivers Next

Singapore is preparing for a major transformation of its transport system as the government looks toward autonomous vehicles (AVs) to tackle a growing manpower challenge — but the technology shift is also raising questions about the future of thousands of drivers who depend on the industry for their livelihoods. During the National Day Rally 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Singapore intends to expand the use of autonomous vehicles once the technology proves reliable, highlighting AVs as

August 24, 2026

Entertainment

Jennie Just Dropped a Major Hint About Her Next Chapter—Here’s What ‘Fallen Angel’ Could Mean for BLINKs

MANILA/SINGAPORE — BLACKPINK’s Jennie is opening another chapter of her solo career—and this time, she is promising fans something notably personal. The K-pop superstar will release her new digital EP, Fallen Angel, on Friday, August 28, 2026, through her own label Odd Atelier (OA Entertainment) in collaboration with Columbia Records. The project will contain three tracks: “FALLEN ANGEL,” “HEAVEN,” and “Less than a Lover.” The EP is scheduled to arrive at 1 p.m. Korea Standard Time (KST), or 1

August 24, 2026

Politics

17 Bukit Timah Homes Lost Water for Nearly Nine Hours — But the Bigger Question Is What Caused the Pipe to Fail

SINGAPORE — A pre-dawn water pipe leak in Bukit Timah left 17 homes without their normal water supply for nearly nine hours on Saturday, August 22, prompting emergency repairs, a temporary road closure and the deployment of a water wagon as authorities worked to restore service. Singapore’s national water agency PUB said it was alerted to the leak along King’s Road in Bukit Timah at about 5am, after water began escaping from an underground pipe. Video footage shared by a resident showed water

August 23, 2026

Politics

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa Lands in Singapore for a Historic First—But What Comes Next Could Reshape Ties

SINGAPORE — Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Azín has arrived in Singapore for a two-day state visit that could open a new chapter in relations between the South American nation and the Southeast Asian financial and logistics hub. Noboa’s visit, running from August 23 to 24, 2026, is the first state visit by an Ecuadorian head of state to Singapore, according to Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). He is visiting at the invitation of Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The h

August 23, 2026

Politics

PM Wong to Unveil New Family Support Measures Tonight — But How Much Will Singaporeans Really Get?

SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is set to use his 2026 National Day Rally to unveil new measures aimed at supporting Singaporean families, as the city-state confronts a record-low fertility rate, rising pressures on parents and an ageing population. The highly anticipated address is being held on Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Headquarters in Ang Mo Kio. Mr Wong’s Malay speech began at 6.45 p.m., followed by Mandarin, while his English address is schedul

August 23, 2026

Singapore

Geylang Crash Flips Van on Its Side—Then Police Uncover What the Car Driver Was Allegedly Doing

SINGAPORE — A 34-year-old man was arrested after a collision in Geylang early Sunday morning, with police alleging that he had been driving after consuming alcohol and without a valid driving licence. The crash happened at about 3.30am on Aug. 23 at the junction of Guillemard Road and Geylang Road, involving a car and a van, according to information provided by the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to The Straits Times. The impact left the van flipped onto its sid

August 23, 2026

Politics

Lee Hsien Loong Is Heading to Central Asia—But What Singapore May Sign in Uzbekistan Could Be the Bigger Story

SINGAPORE — Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong is set to make his first official visit to Central Asia, travelling to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from Aug. 24 to 31 as Singapore looks to deepen economic and strategic ties with two of the region’s key economies. According to Singapore’s Prime Minister’s Office, Lee will visit Kazakhstan from Aug. 24 to 27 before travelling to Uzbekistan from Aug. 27 to 31. The trip will take him to Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, followed by Tashkent and Samarkand i

August 23, 2026