Singapore

IKEA Singapore announced on Dec 21, 2023, that it will absorb the 1 percent GST rate increase that will take effect from Jan 1, 2024¹. This means that the prices of its products online and in-store will remain unchanged, despite the GST hike from 8 percent to 9 percent. How will this decision affect your shopping habits? Here are some …

Singapore is a nation of coffee lovers, but not the kind you might expect. Instead of fancy lattes and cappuccinos, most Singaporeans prefer their coffee the traditional way: brewed with a sock filter, sweetened with condensed milk, and served in a kopitiam, or coffee shop. Kopitiam is a Malay word that combines kopi, meaning coffee, and tiam, meaning shop. These …

A Vietnamese university student who broke into an Apple office in Singapore twice to steal and return electronic devices has been sentenced to 11 months’ jail. The 22-year-old student, whose name was not disclosed, pleaded guilty to two counts of housebreaking and one count of theft in a district court on Monday. According to the prosecution, the student was studying …

Singapore has charged two individuals and three companies for their alleged involvement in exporting gasoil to North Korea, in violation of the United Nations sanctions. According to a statement by the Singapore Police Force on Thursday (Dec 23), Kwek Kee Seng and Justin Low Eng Yeow were accused of supplying about 12,260 tonnes of gasoil to North Korea between September …

Several Singaporeans are already troubled by the rising cost of living amid high inflation. Public transport fare increases, therefore, are bound to cause unhappiness. From December 23, public bus and train rides have started to cost more, by up to 11 cents more per journey. Financial pressures are mounting for both the public and public transport operators – facing lower …

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has deployed four F-15SG fighter jets to Guam for a two-month training detachment with the US Navy, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Tuesday (Dec 21). The deployment, which began on Dec 6, is part of the RSAF’s regular overseas training to enhance its operational readiness and interoperability with its counterparts, MINDEF …

Singapore is experiencing a surge of international students from China and Southeast Asia, who are drawn by its high-quality education, safety, and proximity. However, this influx also poses challenges for the city-state, such as finding affordable accommodation and hiring experienced teachers. According to Mr Lee, the founder of an education consultancy firm, his company has seen a 30% increase in …

A hotel keeper was charged in court on Monday (Dec 18) with allowing sex workers to occupy rooms at a hotel in Beach Road. Tan Ah Teng, 52, is accused of permitting four women to use the rooms at Tropicana Copacabana Apartment Hotel for the purpose of prostitution between October and November 2023. He faces four counts of an offence …

Asia is home to some of the most mature and dynamic financial markets in the world, and also to some of the most diverse approaches to regulating crypto assets. In this article, we will explore how three of the region’s leading financial centers – Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan – are shaping their crypto policies and what implications they have …

Singapore and Indonesia are facing a surge in Covid-19 cases, prompting some experts and officials to call for the return of masks, airport scanners and other preventive measures. Singapore reported 1,650 new infections on Wednesday, the highest daily tally since the pandemic began. The city state has been easing restrictions since October, when it shifted to a strategy of living …