Singapore

An American expatriate in Singapore learned the hard way that racism does not pay, after he was fined US$4,000 for hurling racial slurs at a Russian woman in a Hainanese restaurant. The man, who was identified as David Christopher James Roach, also faced other consequences for his offensive behavior, such as losing his job, facing public backlash, and being banned …

A former Reform Party member who spread false and libellous statements about Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam having an extramarital affair has issued a public apology and agreed to pay the minister’s legal costs. However, the apology, which was posted on TikTok and Facebook, does not undo the damage and the harm caused by the falsehoods, which have …

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 …