SINGAPORE — Graduates fresh out of local universities saw a further drop in employment, especially among those who found full-time roles, though salaries held steady.Results from the latest graduate employment survey, which were released on March 5, showed that 74.4 per cent of graduates secured full-time positions in 2025, down from 79.4 per cent in 2024.Overall, a higher proportion of graduates entered the labour force, from 90.7 per cent in 2024 to 92.2 per cent in 2025. This refers to those who are either working or unemployed but actively looking for a job.Among those who did find full-time jobs, the median gross monthly salary stayed at $4,500 in 2025, the same as in 2024.A higher proportion of graduates applied for jobs but did not get any offers in 2025, rising to 8.5 per cent, from 5.7 per cent in 2024 and 4.1 per cent in 2023. At the same time, more graduates took on part-time or temporary employment, with 7.2 per cent doing so in 2025, from six per cent in 2024 and 4.1 per cent in 2023.
Many Singaporeans are complacent about terrorism, said Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong on Thursday (March 5).«The SGSecure social experiments conducted last year showed that many of us are not as vigilant as we think, perhaps because many Singaporeans don't think that a terrorist attack is likely to happen in Singapore,» he said.Through the Play Your Role campaign as part of SGSecure, Singaporeans are encouraged to take action in keeping the country safe, instead of simply being aware of threats.Speaking to reporters at the launch of the new SGSecure campaign and roadshow at Bishan's Junction 8, Tong said: «A terror attack in Singapore is not unimaginable. With the new series of the SGSecure roadshow, we hope to drive home the point that terrorism is perhaps closer than we think, and it is really not a question of 'if', but 'when'.»
A total of 50 multipurpose courts for badminton or pickleball will be built over the next five years as part of plans by Sport Singapore (SportSG) to democratise sports in the community, said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo.Neo, who is also Senior Minister for Education, made the announcement at the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's (MCCY) Committee of Supply debate on Thursday (March 5).The 50 courts include the recently opened eight dual-use pickleball courts at The Kallang and soon-to-be completed eight pickleball courts at the Little India Bus Terminal.The acting minister acknowledged that there may be issues relating to noise levels at courts near residential estates, adding that SportSG will work with community stakeholders to mitigate this.
A new high-performance entity to support athletes and help them stay longer in competitive sport will be launched on April 1, said David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.Speaking during the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's (MCCY) Committee of Supply debate in Parliament on Thursday (March 5), Neo said that the High Performance Sport Institute, Singapore Sports School (SSP) and Unleash the Roar! will be consolidated into Sport Excellence Singapore, or SpexSG, from April.By combining the expertise and capabilities across the three entities, the ministry will be able to optimise resources, enhance athletes' daily training environment and strengthen governance of Singapore's high-performance sport system.«This consolidation will materially transform the sporting ecosystem for the better,» Neo said.Comprehensive athlete support systemAthletes can look forward to enhanced support through a dedicated Athlete Life Management system and receive holistic guidance from a team of athlete life performance managers, said Acting Minister Neo.
Singaporean students studying in the Middle East are safe and experienced «minimal disruptions» to their studies, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim.The status of these students was shared in a Facebook post on Thursday (March 5) by Assoc Prof Faishal Ibrahim after he held an online meeting with over 40 student leaders and representatives on Wednesday night.During the meeting, students shared their concerns on the ongoing situation in the Middle East, but also expressed their resilience amidst the uncertainty, Assoc Prof Faishal wrote.«I was reassured to hear that they are keeping safe and continuing to focus on their studies. »I assured them that their safety, welfare and well-being remains our priority, and we stand ready to assist where needed," the acting minister said.
The Government is planning a flight from Oman's capital city Muscat on Saturday (March 7) to bring back Singaporeans stranded in the Middle East.Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gan Siow Huang said about a quarter of Singaporeans who have e-registered with her ministry have sought assistance to return home since the war broke out between Israel and the United States, and Iran. She said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has deployed crisis response teams to the Middle East — three officers are in Muscat and two more will be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.The government-planned repatriation flight will serve Singaporeans who are currently in Oman and the United Arab Emirates, where about 60 per cent of e-registered Singaporeans are located.Gan added that over the next few days, MFA will also launch assisted overland trips for Singaporeans in Bahrain and Qatar to Riyadh, where there are commercial flights available to Singapore.
By moving forward together with one heart, every member of the Malay/Muslim community can be the best version of themselves at every stage of their lives, said Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim.Assoc Prof Faishal, who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, set out this vision for the community during the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth's Committee of Supply debate on Thursday (March 5). Elaborating on his plan, Assoc Prof Faishal said this can be achieved through three key pillars: uplifting individuals across all life stages; developing trusted religious institutions; and nurturing a vibrant cultural sector.Uplifting social, economic outcomesNoting that families are the bedrock of the community and society, the acting minister said its face-to-face interaction programme for newly solemnised couples will be expanded to include parenthood support to allow for «more seamless assistance from marriage to parenthood».
A Singaporean family of three spent nearly $5,000 to rebook their flight tickets after they found themselves stranded following a two-week trip to Antarctica, when several airports were shut due to rising tensions in the Middle East.The family spent three days travelling across four flights, with more than 34 hours in transit, before finally arriving in Singapore on Wednesday (March 4), reported Shin Min Daily News.Speaking to the Chinese daily, Liu Shanglai (transliteration), 66, said he, his wife and their daughter had joined an Antarctic tour organised by EU Holidays on Feb 14 and were scheduled to return to Singapore on March 3.However, due to the escalation of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, airports across the Middle East were closed and flights suspended. As a result, the 26 members of the tour group were unable to transit through Dubai and have been stranded in Argentina since Feb 28. Flight prices rose by $500–$1,000Liu shared that, as his daughter needed to return to work and could not delay her trip, he and his wife decided to accompany her back to Singapore.
Singaporeans diagnosed with complex chronic conditions will soon be able to withdraw up to $1,000 from their MediSave accounts annually to pay for their treatments.This is up from the present annual withdrawal limit of $500 for patients with non-complex chronic conditions, $700 for those with more complex conditions.From Jan 1, 2027, the limits will be raised to $700 and $1,000 respectively, announced Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at his ministry's Committee of Supply debate on Thursday (March 5).«This will benefit over 910,000 patients who currently tap on the scheme, roughly 20 per cent of whom have annual bills exceeding the current limits,» he told Parliament.The scheme, which has been renamed from MediSave500/700 to MediSave Chronic and Preventive Care scheme, helps Singaporeans pay for outpatient treatment of chronic conditions on the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) and selected vaccinations and preventive tests at polyclinics.
A 65-year-old man was found dead at the foot of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Tampines on Wednesday (March 4) night.The incident happened at about 11.35pm at Block 381 Tampines Street 32.When AsiaOne reached the scene at about 2.10am, a police cordon was in place around an area near the lift lobby. In response to AsiaOne's queries, police said the man is believed to have fallen from height. A police cordon was in place at an area off the block's lift lobby. PHOTO: AsiaOne/Shafiq Apandi He was found lying motionless at the foot of the said block and pronounced dead at the scene by a Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedic.Based on preliminary investigations, no foul play is suspected, the police added.Police investigations are ongoing.
Singapore's query to the Israeli government on allegations of Singaporeans fighting for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has yet to be met with a response, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister of Home Affairs K Shanmugam said in Parliament on Thursday (March 5). He was responding to a supplementary question from Workers' Party MP Dennis Tan, who asked if the Government has sought clarification with Israel on these allegations. «We have not received a response, and one must understand that there are obviously difficulties that other governments may face in complying with this request,» Shanmugam said. «While it's an offence under Singapore law, and we consider it to be contrary to our national interest, it may not be an offence in Israel, nor may be it an offence in other countries,» he added. Should the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) get «any credible information», action will be taken.
An artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can predict the risk one has for developing diabetes or high cholesterol will be made available to healthcare providers from early 2027, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Thursday (March 5).By assessing factors including the age and medical history of a patient, the Assisted Chronic Disease Explanation using AI (ACE-AI) tool could help detect such health conditions earlier, he told Parliament during the Ministry of Health's (MOH) Committee of Supply debate.A person detected to be at high risk for diabetes and/or hyperlipidaemia by ACE-AI has more than a 75 per cent chance of being diagnosed within the next three years.The tool will be rolled out to Healthier SG general practitioner (GP) clinics and polyclinics from 2027. There are about 1,100 Healthier SG clinics as at February, said an MOH spokesperson.Care providers will be able to view the tool's risk assessment of their patients enrolled in Healthier SG, and use the result to recommend and adjust personalised care plans.
A 29-year-old man, who was arrested for driving under influence after the car he was driving crashed into two elderly pedestrians in Choa Chu Kang in November last year, is among three persons to be charged in court on Thursday (March 5).The trio, aged between 29 and 36, are allegedly accused of driving under the influence of etomidate. They ended up in separate accidents between August 2025 and January this year.2 similar offences in 3 monthsAsiaOne reported on the fatal Teck Whye accident, which happened along Teck Whye Lane at about 2.50pm on November 8, 2025.Two elderly women, aged 83 and 84, were standing on the pavement preparing to cross the road when the 29-year-old male driver mounted the pavement and crashed into them.
A total of 14 Indian nationals, aged between 19 and 44, were arrested on Tuesday (March 3) for alleged immigration offences following an enforcement operation in Hougang. In a news release on Wednesday, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the suspects who were rounded up comprised 13 overstayers and one harbourer. The alleged overstayers — 11 men and two women — are purported to have remained in Singapore after their visit passes had expired. Meanwhile, the suspected harbourer — a 26-year-old man — allegedly provided the 13 overstayers with lodging. The offence of overstaying carries a penalty of up to six months' jail, along with caning of at least three strokes or a fine of up to $6,000. Overstayers will also be deported and barred from re-entering Singapore after their sentencing and/or payment of fines. Meanwhile, anyone found guilty of recklessly or knowingly harbouring overstayers and/or illegal immigrants faces a jail term of between six months and two years, along with a fine of up to $6,000.
Two truck drivers were taken to separate hospitals after an accident involving their trucks along Jurong Island Highway on Tuesday (March 3) afternoon. Videos posted on social media show debris and broken tree branches strewn across two of four lanes of the highway. The trucks, a trailer and a waste collection truck operated by Stream Environment, were stopped across three lanes of the highway. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police and SCDF said they were alerted to the accident at about 2pm, adding that the two 41-year-old male truck drivers were conveyed conscious to National University Hospital and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. A SCDF spokesperson told AsiaOne that the trailer driver was trapped in his seat and had to be rescued by officers using hydraulic equipment.AsiaOne understands that the 41-year-old trailer driver is assisting with police investigations, which are ongoing.[[nid:730685]]editor@asiaone.com
A 60-year-old man has been arrested for his suspected involvement in a case of housebreaking at a landed home in Paya Lebar.The alleged crime took place at about 9.12pm on Feb 28 at a house in How Sun Estate.Checks by AsiaOne indicate that the estate is a freehold landed housing enclave.Police said the man allegedly broke into the unit and stole cash amounting to $400 and a luxury watch valued at $38,900. The watch has since been recovered and seized as a case exhibit. The 60-year-old suspect was identified and arrested by officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division on Tuesday (March 3) through ground enquiries and with the aid of police cameras and closed-circuit television footage.He will be charged in court on Thursday with housebreaking.If found guilty, he faces up to 10 years' jail and a fine.[[nid:730747]]editor@asiaone.com
The police have disrupted more than 300 scam attempts during a two-month-long operation which ended on Feb 28, preventing potential losses of over $24 million.In a news release on Wednesday (March 4), the police said they partnered with five banks — DBS, GXS, OCBC, Standard Chartered Bank, and UOB — for the operation which began on New Year's Day (Jan 1).Calling it an «innovative system», the police said the use robotic process automation (RPA) allowed rapid information exchange between the police's Anti-Scam Centre (ASC) and partnering banks, thereby enabling quick identification of potential victims and timely intervention to safeguard the potential victims' finances.RPA is the technology that enables computer software to emulate and integrate actions typically performed by humans interacting with digital systems. The use of RPA has enabled the police to automate information sharing and processing, and the mass distribution of SMS alerts.
