Singapore

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) of Singapore has reduced its growth projection for 2023 due to anticipated ongoing sluggish demand from significant external economies. Recent data demonstrating the country’s modest economic development coincide with the decision.  The MTI said that the revised range for Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP) for 2023 is 0.5% to 1.5%, a smaller range …

The EG.5 Omicron sub-variant, nicknamed “Eris”, of COVID-19 has raised alarm in Singapore as cases surge, prompting global health authorities to closely monitor the situation. The sub-variant has also been detected in new cases in the United States.  The World Health Organization (WHO) says EG.5 is similar to other omicron variants, but not more deadly than its counterparts. This sub-variant …

Young scam victims in Singapore are seeking counseling and help for mental health issues to get through the pain of losing huge sums of money in various scams. In 2022 alone, victims were cheated of $660.7 million in job scams and cyber-fraud. Job con, e-commerce hoax, investment fraud and phishing attacks make up more than 80 percent of the top …

Singapore Presidential hopeful Tan Kin Lian promised to influence policies if elected is unrealistic and misleading, say analysts. The former chief executive of NTUC Income had run for the 2011 election, and is now vying for the election next month.  Felix Tan, a political analyst at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), pointed out that Singapore’s President does not shape policies, and …

An Indian woman, Reetha Sahani, onboard the Royal Carribbean Cruise (Spectrum of the Seas) has died after reportedly jumping from the vessel when it was sailing through the Singapore Strait from Penang, the northern island state of Peninsular Malaysia. The 64-year-old’s son, Apoorv, had earlier asked for assistance from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Ministry of External Affairs …

Christopher James de Souza, a Member of Parliament (MP), has been cleared of engaging in unlawful professional conduct as a lawyer by the Court of Three Judges, the legal profession’s highest disciplinary authority. The verdict followed an earlier finding by a disciplinary board that he had helped a client suppress evidence from a court hearing. After a three-year legal battle, …

Due to India’s prohibition on the export of non-basmati rice, the largest rice exporter in the world, Singapore is currently concerned about its rice supply. As 17 per cent of Singapore’s total rice imports are non-basmati rice from India, this decision will substantially impact the city-state. To obtain a waiver from the export restriction and guarantee a steady supply of …

Singapore is set to carry out its first execution of a woman, since 2004, found guilty of possession of about 30g of heroin. Saridewi Djamani was sentenced to the mandatory death penalty in 2018 for drug trafficking. The last woman to be executed was 36-year-old Yen May Woen, a hairdresser. She was hanged in 2004.  Chiara Sangiorgio, Amnesty International’s death …

The Singaporean government faces a delicate balancing act as the investigation into corruption charges against Transport Minister S Iswaran progresses: upholding public confidence while upholding the confidentiality of the ongoing probe. Analysts know the difficulties in supplying information during a current CPIB (Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau) probe. However, they underline the value of openness in addressing public concerns and dispelling …

Seah Kian Peng, a famous Singaporean politician who served as Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore between 2011 and 2016, can be nominated as the new Speaker of Parliament in August. The Singaporean Prime Minister’s Office announced the news on Friday. Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore and Secretary-General of the People’s Action Party (PAP), will nominate …