Singapore Customs seized more than 1,540 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and arrested three male Chinese nationals in two enforcement operations on Nov 4 at Joo Koon Circle and Bendeemer Road. The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $167,125, Singapore Customs said on Wednesday (Nov 12). During the first operation at Joo Koon Circle, officers observed a man transferring a black rubbish bag from an industrial unit to a van. Checks uncovered 768 cartons and 12 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes inside the unit and vehicle. The cigarettes and van were seized and two men, aged 38 and 44, were arrested. In a follow-up operation at Bendeemer Road, officers stopped a 41-year-old man alighting from a truck, and a search of the vehicle revealed more than 768 cartons and 10 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes. Checks at his residence at Moulmein Rise uncovered another four cartons and five packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes. The truck and all cigarettes were seized. 

SINGAPORE — The guardians of a teenager who in 2021 died after a basketball backboard structure fell on him have settled a civil suit filed against East Coast Town Council (ECTC) and EM Services, a real estate services company.The Straits Times learnt that the guardians of 17-year-old Mohd Ridwan had filed claims in July 2024 seeking $150,000 from the two parties.ST understands that the matter was settled in April 2025 for an undisclosed sum, with the parties signing a non-disclosure agreement.Lawyers K. Anparasan and Grace Tan from WhiteFern, who were acting for ECTC, said: «We wish to state that the civil proceedings have been amicably resolved on a confidential basis.»In response to queries from ST, a spokesperson for the town said: «We have extended our deepest sympathies and support to his family. Our thoughts remain with his loved ones.»The guardians were represented by Thirumurthy Ayernaar Pambayan of Murthy & Co, while CIVIC Legal represented EM Services.The teenager died on July 26, 2021, after sustaining serious injuries while playing basketball at a court near Block 18 Bedok South Road.

Singapore must be better prepared for future pandemics, and the new Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) will play a key role in strengthening the nation's response readiness, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Wednesday (Nov 12).Officially launching the statutory board, which falls under the Ministry of Health's purview, PM Wong said the Covid-19 pandemic required an integrated response from various sectors and pushed the nation to improve processes and systems.«But we also know that we cannot simply copy the same playbook and end up fighting the last war because with every new emerging disease, there will be new challenges,» he stated.By marrying public health functions previously under various agencies, CDA will enhance collaboration and ensure pandemic preparedness plans are quickly refined and implementable.PM Wong, who is also Minister for Finance, said the statutory board must firstly focus on strengthening international co-operation, as support for multilateralism in global health is weakening.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Algerian President Abdulmajid Tabboun on Tuesday witnessed the signing of a series of landmark agreements aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation between the two nations across key sectors including education, energy, livestock, and agriculture.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre on Tuesday held a high-level meeting with German Ambassador to Somalia Sebastian Groth to discuss expanding cooperation between the two countries in key areas including security, investment, and economic development.

Mogadishu (HOL) - Somalia and Saudi Arabia signed the 1447/2026 Hajj quota agreement in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. Under the agreement, Somalia’s annual Hajj quota is set at 11,500 pilgrims.

Police are investigating if the recent Red Fort blast was part of a foiled plot targeting Republic Day. Suspect Dr Muzammil Ganaie conducted multiple reconnaissance visits to the Red Fort area in January 2025, suggesting a planned attack on January 26. This plan may have been thwarted by heightened security during the celebrations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a two-day state visit to Bhutan, reinforcing bilateral ties through cultural, spiritual, and developmental initiatives. Discussions focused on energy, trade, technology, and connectivity, including progress on the Gelephu Mindfulness City Project. India reaffirmed support for Bhutan's Five-Year Plan and inaugurated the Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project.

A 3.6 magnitude earthquake struck Assam's Dima Hasao district on Wednesday afternoon at 12:40 pm IST. The tremor originated at a depth of 30 km, with its epicenter recorded at latitude 25.19°N and longitude 92.92°E. No damage or injuries have been reported so far.

A Hyundai i20 exploded near Delhi's Red Fort, killing at least 12 people in what investigators are treating as a terrorist strike. The car's 11-hour journey, traced through CCTV, suggests a planned attack linked to a Jaish-e-Mohammed network involving radicalized doctors. Forensic analysis points to high-grade explosives, with the driver identified as Dr. Umar Un Nabi.

[allAfrica]

The police have warned members of the public to be wary of a new scam variant that targets access to victims' WhatsApp accounts.In an advisory issued on Wednesday (Nov 12), the police said that such scams begin with SMSes containing phishing links, informing victims that there are issues with their WhatsApp accounts due to the prolonged lack of verification.Victims would be prompted to verify their accounts through the phishing links that lead to a fake WhatsApp webpage.Entering their mobile number and a verification code on the fake WhatsApp webpage would then grant scammers access to their WhatsApp accounts, allowing scammers to send fraudulent loan requests to the victims' contacts.Victims would only realise that they had been scammed when they were logged out of their WhatsApp accounts, discovered unknown devices linked to their accounts, or when they were notified by their contacts about the fraudulent loan requests.Users who suspect that their WhatsApp account has been compromised should contact WhatsApp to recover their accounts, said the police.

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers foiled an attempt to smuggle over 250 cartons and over 1,500 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes at Woodlands Checkpoint on Nov 1.In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Nov 11), ICA said the cigarettes were hidden in various compartments of a Malaysia-registered car including the boot and the glove compartment.The car was driven by a 38-year-old Malaysian man. The cigarettes were discovered after ICA officers directed the vehicle for enhanced checks.The man has been arrested and the case referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation. Buying, selling, conveying, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are considered serious offences under the Customs Act and the Goods and Services Tax Act.If convicted, offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded, jailed for up to six years, or both.Vehicles used in these offences and proceeds of sales of duty-unpaid goods are also liable to be forfeited.[[nid:724835]]editor@asiaone.com 

Vivienne Taylor yesterday pleaded guilty at Westminster magistrates court to stalking and threatening Tina Rashid - who specialises in surgery for trans women.

Malawi has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform its poultry industry into a key driver of nutrition, job creation, and inclusive economic growth — with government and development partners pledging bold reforms and investments to unlock the sector’s full potential. The two-day National Poultry Delivery Lab, which opened in Lilongwe on Tuesday, has brought together […] The post Government, AGRA Launch Delivery Lab to Transform Malawi’s Poultry Sector appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its journey to transform agri-food systems. With the Kampala CAADP Declaration (2026–2035) setting ambitious targets for resilience, sustainability, and inclusivity, the continent must confront a persistent challenge: the gap between policy formulation and implementation. The solution? Bold, visionary, and execution-driven leadership. Despite progressive frameworks like the Malabo Declaration […] The post OP-ED | Africa’s Food Systems Need Bold Leadership: From Vision to Action appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

For 18-year-old Josephine Moses, the dream of becoming an accountant once felt like a distant mirage — something beautiful but painfully out of reach. It wasn’t because she lacked ability or ambition. It was because poverty — cruel and unrelenting — stood in her way. “I remember my primary school teacher at Mdzobwe Primary School […] The post From Hopelessness to Renewed Dreams: How Education Revived Josephine’s Future appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Dr. Jean Mathanga has announced a series of bold measures to stabilise Malawi’s fuel supply chain, including restocking empty strategic reserves, addressing forex shortages, and opening alternative transport routes to end persistent fuel queues across the country. Speaking after inspecting the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) strategic fuel […] The post Mathanga Orders Bold Reforms as NOCMA Moves to End Malawi’s Fuel Crisis appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Ward councilors in Chikwawa were on Tuesday expressed strongly that they will be vigilant to ensure that public resources in the district are protected. The call was made soon after the councilors took their oath of office and election of Chikwawa district council Chairperson and vice following the 16 September Tripartite Elections. But speaking to […] The post Chikwawa Ward Councilors Vow to Control Public Resources appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Keir Starmer has all but confirmed the cap will be lifted in this month's Budget yesterday as he seeks to shore up his faltering leadership against a challenge from the Left.

The Supreme Court has revamped the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DMRB) into a 13-member body headed by the Delhi chief secretary to streamline protection of the Delhi Ridge. The court directed the DMRB to remove all encroachments and submit six-monthly reports on the Ridge's health, emphasizing its conservation and ecological restoration.

The Supreme Court has approved the Navy's Rs 450 crore 'Nausena Bhawan' project in Delhi Cantonment. The Central Empowered Committee cleared the project, noting the land has no trees despite being in the Morphological Ridge area. The Ministry of Defence assured sustainable construction practices and will deposit Rs 22.5 crore for ridge development.

Uttarakhand has been awarded the «Top Achievers Award» under the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) 2024, securing top achievements in five major reform categories. This recognition highlights the state's significant progress in Ease of Doing Business, moving from 23rd in 2015 to a national leader. The state's focus on digitisation and investor facilitation has transformed its business ecosystem.

Following a deadly car blast in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir police conducted extensive raids on over 200 locations linked to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami. This operation, alongside intensified security checks across the capital and the Valley, stems from a suspected Jaish module's involvement in the Red Fort explosion. Authorities are on high alert, with enhanced security measures in place.

Faridabad Police have officially refuted claims circulating on media and social platforms. Reports suggesting a suspicious i20 car, linked to the Red Fort blast, was parked at Al-Falah Hospital or University in Dhauj for over ten days have been denied. The police spokesperson stated they do not confirm this information and are refuting the news.

«According to the German government, both the REPowerEU directive and the 19th sanctions package mean that SEFE must stop purchasing LNG under the old Yamal contract and may invoke force majeure,» the ministry said

«Our citizens keep standing interest in visiting Turkey and the Turkish side certainly endeavors to provide comfortable conditions of stay here for Russians,» Charge d’Affaires ad interim of Russia to Turkey Alexey Ivanov said

Larry Johnson answered in the negative when asked whether it is likely that Trump will resume live nuclear testing, and whether the US leader could decide to do so despite warnings from US experts and opposition from a number of US Congress members

The list contains data on more than 5,000 patients, and scientists use various methods, including artificial intelligence, Professor Nadezhda Vorobyova said

The terminal's annual cargo capacity is more than 200,000 tons

[allAfrica]

Figure discrète mais essentielle du monde culturel polynésien, la déléguée générale du Fifo, chercheuse et éditrice, Mareva Leu est décédée en Nouvelle-Zélande le 11 novembre. Elle aurait eu 44 ans le 25 novembre prochain.

One of the men charged with murder following a fatal fight at a Chin Swee Road HDB block was taken back to the scene on Wednesday (Nov 12) morning.Poh Choon Kiat, 59, arrived at Block 51 Chin Swee Road at about 9.40am and was escorted by police officers to the 15th, 17th and 19th floors of the building.Poh and another man, 58-year-old Tan Boon Hui, are accused of killing Jaganthan Arunasalam between 1am and 3am on Nov 8.The three men, and another 36-year-old man who is a friend of the deceased, were allegedly involved in a fight that led to Jaganthan being stabbed. The 56-year-old man was found lying outside his unit and later died in hospital.Poh, who was wearing a foot brace, showed no emotion as he was brought to the crime scene. The murder suspect was first brought to the 17th storey, where Jaganthan lived, and answered questions posed by investigators. He was then taken to the 15th and 19th floors, where the fight is believed to have spanned.

One person was taken to hospital after a fire broke out in the kitchen of a second-floor HDB flat in Yishun on Wednesday morning (Nov 12).The incident took place at about 10.10am at Block 839 Yishun St 81.In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the fire was extinguished with a water jet, and that one person from the affected unit felt unwell and was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. It added that preliminary findings indicate that the fire likely originated from cooking left unattended. Speaking to AsiaOne, a female resident in her 30s, who wished to be known only as Ng, said that the occupier is an elderly Indian lady who lives alone.