Singapore’s plans to tap into the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) by encouraging its timely adoption, several firms told AsiaOne on Friday (Feb 13).It comes after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a slew of initiatives in his Budget 2026 speech on Thursday (Feb 12) — part of a nationwide push for businesses, workers and students to harness AI as a strategic advantage.PM Wong, who unveiled a record $154.7 billion budget, said: «AI will change how we work. The pace of change can be unsettling, especially when livelihoods are at stake. »We will press ahead with AI because we must. At the same time, we will put in place strong support to help our workers adapt and progress, because we will take care of our own."Adeline Liew, country business leader of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise in Singapore, said that the immediate challenge for businesses is ensuring that there are resources in place to adopt AI in their operations.

SINGAPORE – Blind boxes offered in Singapore will soon be regulated, following a review by the authorities.In a written reply to a parliamentary question on Feb 12, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) have studied the issue and have decided to introduce regulations.The regulations, which are currently being drafted, will stipulate conditions under which blind boxes may be offered here, to better manage gambling inducement risks, he added.He was responding to a question from Mr Dennis Tan (Hougang) about whether the Government intends to legislate mandatory and standardised disclosure of odds and probability ranges for blind box or “gacha” products.Mr Shanmugam said Mr Tan’s suggestion will be among the points considered for the regulations.Blind boxes are sealed boxes that contain a random collectible, such as a figurine, toy or accessory.Buyers purchase blind boxes not knowing what collectible they will get, with the odds of getting specific collectibles not always disclosed explicitly by manufacturers.

The movement of between 6,000 and 7,000 detainees to Iraqi government control, underway for weeks, could be complete as soon as Friday.

Standard Bank is facing a growing backlash from angry customers who say the bank has been quietly bleeding their accounts through endless, unexplained deductions — and only speaking up after the outrage exploded on social media. Across platforms, customers are sharing screenshots and complaints of repeated charges hitting their accounts without warning. One customer reported […] The post Standard Bank in the Dock: Customers Slam “Secret” Deductions as Bank Hides Behind Taxes appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

In a firm response to mounting public criticism, the Malawi Judiciary has issued a hard-hitting statement defending the Supreme Court of Appeal’s controversial ruling in favor of Finance Bank of Malawi. The statement, released on February 13, 2026, by Chief Registrar Innocent Nebi, comes after a wave of speculation and social media frenzy over alleged […] The post Malawi Judiciary Strikes Back: Defends Supreme Court Ruling on Finance Bank Case Amid Public Outcry appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Five people were taken to hospital after an accident involving a car and a van along the TPE on Friday (Feb 13) morning.The accident, involving a red Tesla and a van, happened at about 2.30am towards the PIE, before Punggol Road exit. When AsiaOne reached the scene at about 3.45am, the van was lying on its side. A video posted on its Facebook page by SG Road Vigilante shows passing motorists helping the 38-year-old male van driver and the three male passengers out of the van.They were later taken to hospital.

A 27-year-old Indonesian man was arrested on Feb 29 on suspicion of attempting to smuggle a drug called Kratom via Singapore.Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia, according to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), and its leaves contain Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine which can affect the brain and cause mood swings.It is commonly consumed by chewing on raw leaves or boiled as a tea.The stimulant can cause effects including nausea, seizures, and hallucinations.In a Facebook post on Friday (Feb 13), the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the man was flagged for additional checks at Singapore Cruise Centre as he appeared nervous.A search of his luggage revealed a wrapped package, which is suspected to contain 1.02kg of Kratom in powder form.Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine are classified as Class A controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act.For importing Class A controlled drugs, offenders face a mandatory jail term of at least five years and five strokes of the cane.The case has been referred to CNB for further investigation.

Thomas Partey has been charged with two additional counts of rape. The ex-Arsenal midfielder has already appeared in court where he denied raping two women.

[allAfrica]

[allAfrica] The National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence, which was released in 2020, pledged to combat harmful gender norms. However, a new study reveals that the battle over what it means to «be a man» is being fought online in real time, with fractures on the frontlines more than ever.

A new workgroup has been set up to develop strategies and strengthen Singapore's position as a global leader in private capital, said Minister for National Development and deputy chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Chee Hong Tat.Speaking to the media on Friday (Feb 13), Chee said that the Growth Capital Workgroup will recommend measures to support the financing needs of companies from Singapore and the region across the various growth stages.The workgroup, first announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during his Budget statement on Thursday, will be chaired by Chee. It will comprise key private sector stakeholders and public sector representatives, including organisations like DBS, Temasek Holdings and Goldman Sachs. Shawn Huang, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Manpower, is the other political office holder in the workgroup.«The supply of capital and the demand for capital presents an opportunity for us as a trusted financial hub to see how we can benefit from this growth,» said Chee.

The police conducted enforcement operations against illegal activities in Chinatown and Jalan Besar on Thursday (Feb 12) which led to the arrest of seven women aged between 32 and 43.The seven women are being investigated for various offences, including working without a valid work pass; providing massage services without a licence; and keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a place of assignation.There have been previous media reports of shops suspected of offering «special» services to male customers.Most recently, in December 2025, there were reports of shops on the ground floor and third floor of People's Park Centre in Chinatown offering such services.Business owners in the complex noted that the authorities had conducted anti-vice raids, but the seedy parlours would resume their activities afterwards.

Anthropic has injected $20 million into a political advocacy group that backs candidates favoring AI regulation Read Full Article at RT.com

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun collided with fast combat support vessel USNS Supply near South America Read Full Article at RT.com

The Justice Department has said it logs searches made by congressional investigators on its systems only to protect sensitive information Read Full Article at RT.com

The Bangladesh National Party has reportedly secured over 200 seats in the 300-member parliament Read Full Article at RT.com

[New Times] For years, Rwandan patients with severe knee injuries, complex fractures, or chronic joint pain learned to pack their bags long before they knew their surgical dates--heading to India, South Africa, and sometimes Europe, wherever a referral letter and personal savings could take them.

Prime Minister Modi congratulated Tarique Rahman on the BNP's decisive election victory, pledging India's support for a democratic Bangladesh. The BNP secured a significant majority, signaling a new political era after months of unrest. Rahman, son of a former president, is poised to become prime minister, marking a shift after former PM Sheikh Hasina's departure.

FOGSI has urged the National Medical Commission to immediately review and withdraw repeated reductions in the NEET-PG qualifying percentile. The body expressed concern that lowering the threshold dilutes meritocracy, compromises academic rigor, and raises questions about specialist training quality and patient safety.

Ob-gyn body says merit, patient safety and professional dignity at stake; seeks fee rationalisation

WESTERN BUREAU: More than four years after fire destroyed the Granville Police Station in St James, there is still no clear picture as to when the promised replacement facility will be constructed. Deputy Superintendent of Police Roderick Reid, the acting operations officer for St James, told Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC) that discussions about the police station are still being held between the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Ministry of National Security.

An elderly American couple who lost US$70,000 to a Jamaican lottery scam syndicate got dressed “on several occasions” in their “best clothes” and waited for their million-dollar ‘prize’ to be delivered to their home, according to authorities in the United States (US). The allegations were outlined in an indictment charging a Jamaican man, Richard Murray, 31, with money laundering and fraud-related crimes for his alleged involvement in a lottery scam that defrauded mainly elderly American citizens of millions of dollars.

A detective corporal told the Home Circuit Court on Wednesday that police intelligence had identified one of the three men killed during a January 2013 operation on Acadia Drive as an area don in Grants Pen. The officer, who initially led the investigation before it was taken over by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), said intelligence indicated that Eucliffe Dyer was regarded as an area don. He made the disclosure in response to a question about whether he considered Dyer to hold that status.

Negril Councillor Arthel Colley is calling for greater investment in the resort town, arguing that insufficient spending by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has left critical infrastructure issues unresolved and is negatively affecting both residents and visitors. Speaking at this month’s Westmoreland Municpal Corporation general meeting yesterday, Colley said repeated attempts to get answers from the relevant agencies have yielded no response.

The Government’s 2026-27 Budget has sparked a stark divide between public-health advocates celebrating a new sugary drink levy and industry leaders warning that it will hit low-income consumers hardest. The Budget will lean on eight revenue measures that blend classic ‘sin taxes’, modernisation of the tax base, and the continuation of extraordinary flows from the National Housing Trust (NHT) as Government seeks to close fiscal gaps widened by back-to-back climate shocks.

[allAfrica]

[New Times] Local government officials have raised concerns over the centralisation of public procurement under the 2022 law, warning that the approach has led to service delivery delays, inflated costs and operational challenges across public institutions.

A 63-year-old man's HDB home was turned into a cat farm after he unknowingly took in a pregnant stray cat, which gave birth to four kittens that continued to interbreed until over 30 felines occupied his flat in Tampines. Chen Baodu (transliteration), who lives in a three-room flat in Tampines Street 11, told Shin Min Daily News that he adopted the stray in 2019 after he felt an affinity for the animal and started feeding it.A few months later, the cat gave birth to four kittens, which continued to mate. Eventually, more than 30 cats were living in the flat. A Shin Min reporter who visited the flat smelled a stench in the air as several cats wandered at the entrance. Inside, clutter filled the flat — an old desk, religious artefacts, plastic boxes, wooden planks. In one corner was a cardboard box covered in cat faeces. The reporter had to step over items and and squeeze their way through the clutter. Cats were seen climbing over the clutter and several newborn kittens were crawling around the flat. 

[Nile Post] Despite decades of government programs aimed at boosting rural livelihoods, President Museveni has acknowledged that millions of Ugandans remain in subsistence-level farming, or what he described as «working for the stomach.»

[Namibian] Opposition parties are united in opposing a bill that proposes shifting oil and gas regulatory powers from the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Energy to the Presidency.

[Daily Maverick] Cyril Ramaphosa's 2026 State of the Nation Address delivers a political balancing act, addressing diverse interests while avoiding contentious issues, showcasing the art of subtle governance.

If you're outside and not smelling the haze, breathe in deep - you may just end up missing the fresh air in the coming weeks, as Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu warned in Parliament on Thursday (Feb 12) that haze may linger over Singapore.«The Meteorological Service Singapore has assessed that hot spot activity could increase in the coming weeks over nearby areas due to wind patterns and drier conditions in the current dry phase of the north-east monsoon,» Minister Fu stated.«This could result in hazy conditions affecting Singapore.»She was responding to questions from various Members of Parliament on the transboundary haze affecting Singapore.A taskforce to combat the impacts of the haze led by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and comprising 28 government agencies will take measures to protect the public should air conditions worsen, Fu added.The measures include ensuring sufficient supply of N95 masks, deploying indoor air purifiers in schools, public hospitals, nursing homes and polyclinics as well as issuing advisories to minimise outdoor activities.

When a man tumbled down an escalator at Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ), mallgoers standing behind moved quickly to break his fall.The incident was captured on camera by one of the Good Samaritans, David King Raj, who posted the footage on social media on Wednesday (Feb 11).In the two-minute clip, the man riding an upwards escalator is seen gripping a panel instead of the handrail. He loses his balance and barrels backwards into two women, knocking one of them to the side.Raj immediately reaches out his hands to hold the man, supporting him to stand upright.«Stand steadily, its okay, it's okay,» one of the women dressed in a dark blue top assures the man in Mandarin. The woman who had been pushed to the side straightens up and looks on in concern.As the group reach the upper floor, they noticed that the man had suffered cuts on his left foot.«I don't think he can walk,» the woman in dark blue tells Raj, who then offers to carry the man or assist him in walking to find mall security to attend to his injury.Along the way, the man thanks them for their help.