Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam said on Thursday (Feb 26) that he was «heartened» to hear what Singapore's chief Rabbi had to say on the suffering of Palestinians amid the conflict in Gaza.Shanmugam had attended the annual Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) Iftar event on Monday when Rabbi Mordechai Abergel delivered an emphatic speech on the plight of Palestinians via recorded video as he was overseas.«We cannot remain indifferent to the plight and suffering of many ordinary Palestinians affected by this long and tragic conflict,» Mordechai said.The chief Rabbi added that as part of a global community, Singapore must be vigilant to ensure that emotions stemming from conflicts abroad do not erode the social cohesion at home.The ongoing war in Gaza is an example of such conflict, and those in Singapore must «acknowledge the pain on all sides».

As Singapore rethinks its approaches amid a fast changing international order and domestic landscape, civil servants will be readied to better understand the world, technology and people, said Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing.Chan, who is also Minister for Defence, was speaking at the Committee of Supply debate for the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday (Feb 26).Responding to questions on how the public service will ensure that it can continue to meet the needs of Singapore and Singaporeans well, the coordinating minister set out three areas which the public service must do well.«Understand the world well; understand our people well; and, understand technology well.»He explained that understanding the world is key to sharpening the public service's clarity on how Singapore and Singaporeans can stay relevant in the new world.«Given how small and open Singapore is, everything is affected by global developments elsewhere — from security to trade, to food and technology access,» said the minister, adding that the public service needs to make «sound decisions».

The second day of search operations for a 13-year-old boy, who was reported missing and is suspected to have drowned in Kallang River on Wednesday (Feb 25), ended with no sign of him.AsiaOne was among members of the media who observed the search operations and spoke to Daniel's (the missing boy) mother, Madam Siti, who has been keeping a vigil at the river, along with her two other sons.Madam Siti told AsiaOne that her husband is in prison and she takes care of the house largely by herself.According to Madam Siti, she didn't know that Daniel was going fishing as he does not have a habit of loitering outside after school and would usually head back to their home in Redhill.

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of 16-year-old Nurul Ashwiny Abdullah and 19-year-old Chloe Lim Jia Xuan.In a news release on Thursday (Feb 26) evening, the police said Nurul Ashwiny and Chloe Lim were last seen at about 6am on Feb 13, in the vicinity of Defu Avenue 1 in Hougang. Defu Avenue 1 is flanked by flatted factories on both sides of the road. Those along Defu Lane 7 and 9 are currently being demolished. IMAGE: Google Maps Checks by AsiaOne indicate that the road is flanked by flatted factories on both sides.Anyone with information is urged to contact the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.All information will be kept strictly confidential, said the police.

If you're an iPhone user under the age of 18, you might find the range of apps on the Apple App Store a little more restrictive.Apple's app store has begun blocking users in Singapore from downloading apps rated 18+ should they not be verified as adults, according to an Apple blog post to app developers on Tuesday (Feb 24).«Starting February 24, 2026, Apple will block users in Australia, Brazil, and Singapore from downloading apps rated 18+ unless they have been confirmed to be adults through reasonable methods,» the post reads.«The App Store will perform this confirmation automatically.»This comes ahead of the March 31 deadline for app stores to block underage users from downloading apps not meant for their age group, as per the new Code of Practice for Online Safety for App Distribution Services.According to the Info-communications Media Development Authority, the Code aims to enhance online user safety, particularly for children, and curb the spread of harmful content on their service.This includes the distribution or online storage of harmful content on apps, including sexual, violent, suicide and self-harm content.

The number of traffic accidents resulting in fatalities and accidents resulting in injuries have continued to rise, said the Traffic Police (TP) in their annual Road Traffic Situation report on Thursday (Feb 26). There were 147 traffic accidents resulting in fatalities in 2025 compared with 139 such cases in 2024 — a 5.8 per cent increase. Of these accidents, there were 149 deaths in 2025 compared with 142 deaths in 2024 - a 4.9 per cent rise.Meanwhile, there were 7,560 traffic accidents resulting in injuries in 2025 compared with 7,053 such cases in 2024 — a 7.2 per cent increase. Of these accidents, there were 9,955 victims in 2025 compared with 9,342 victims in 2024 — a 6.6 per cent rise. «This persistent upward trend over the last few years is worrying,» said TP. Motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians continue to be the most vulnerable road user groups, added TP.Elderly pedestrians«Accidents involving elderly pedestrians continue to be a significant concern,» said TP.

Singapore's resident total fertility rate (TFR) reached a new low of 0.87 in 2025, revealed Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong in Parliament on Thursday (Feb 26).Speaking at the committee of supply debate for the Prime Minister's Office, DPM Gan said that low birth rates and population will «profoundly» affect Singapore.«Low birth rates and population will profoundly shape our nation, our society and our economy in the years ahead of us. Even with immigration, the growth of our citizen population has slowed over the decade.» Singapore's birth rates fell from 0.9 per cent per annum between 2015 and 2019, to 0.8 per cent between 2020 and 2024, and falling further to 0.7 per cent in 2025.DPM Gan also cautioned that Singapore's citizen population will start to shrink by the early part of the 2040s if no new measures are taken.Echoing what PM Lawrence Wong said during the earlier Budget debate wrap-up, DPM Gan said that Singapore «cannot give up» on improving its birth rates.

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers called the bluff on the driver of a Malaysia-registered lorry during checks at Tuas Checkpoint on Feb 13.In a post on its Facebook on Thursday (Feb 26), ICA said the lorry, driven by a 38-year-old Malaysian man, declared its consignment of goods as machine and mechanical appliances.The lorry was directed for further checks where search and examination officers uncovered more than 2,400 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes.The driver was arrested and the case referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation.Buying, selling, conveying, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the Goods and Services Tax Act. 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 may also be forfeited. [[nid:730465]]editor@asiaone.com

Singapore experienced better-than-expected growth in the past year, but Singaporeans are still facing cost of living pressures, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said rounding up the three-day debate on his Budget 2026 statement in Parliament on Thursday (Feb 26).He said that Singapore's economy saw growth exceeding 5 per cent last year, which was more than what was projected.«The data may show improvement, but lived experience and realities do matter,» he said.«So the question is this, what more must we do to ease cost pressures and ensure every Singaporean can continue to progress?»He explained that the first step is understanding why affordability and cost concerns have surfaced, which is something not unique to Singapore.Citing the Covid-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine, PM Wong said that inflation has moderated since, but price levels remain higher.To deal with this, the Government has provided more than $10 billion through the Assurance Package, he said.Budget 2026 also features CDC vouchers, cash support, rebates, Child LifeSG credits and CPF top ups for seniors.

SINGAPORE — The website of the People's Power Party (PPP), peoplespowerparty.sg, has been taken over by an unaffiliated entity.The site had previously been registered to the political party and was under maintenance from May 2025, less than a month after the 2025 general election on May 3.A party spokesperson said then that it was in the process of revamping the website.However, checks by The Straits Times showed that the site changed owners on Jan 21, 2026, and is now registered under Targa Ltd, which is not based in Singapore.It is unclear where the foreign entity is based or if it is directly involved in the management of the site.ST's checks showed that it had registered Singapore websites mimicking defunct Singaporean eateries, between December 2025 and January 2026. These sites link to foreign websites that list food recipes.The revamped PPP site continues to be about the party, publishing information on the party's history and leadership.The page now carries a disclaimer that it is not the official website of the party, and that it is meant to document the background of the PPP for «educational purposes».

SINGAPORE — The mother of a 13-year-old boy who went missing around Kallang River on Feb 25 said her son had no fishing experience and should not have joined his friends.Madam Siti, who is from Surabaya, Indonesia, said in Bahasa Indonesia that her son, Daniel, is not a strong swimmer.«Someone called me at 5pm on Feb 25 to say my son had slipped into Kallang River while fishing and was missing. Why would he go? He has no experience fishing.»I was told his teacher also warned him not to go fishing during the fasting month (of Ramadan)," the mother of three told The Straits Times.Madam Siti has been keeping a vigil at the river, near Block 8B, Upper Boon Keng Road, since her son went missing. She was there on Feb 26 with her two other sons, who are 14 and 11.Madam Siti said she has little support at home and had to take her children with her. Her husband, a Singaporean, is in prison and her in-laws are unwell.She added that she was at work as a food stall operator when she found out her son was missing, and immediately rushed over.

A total of 20 motorists, aged between 21 and 52, will be charged in court for drink driving on Thursday (Feb 26).In a media release on Wednesday night, the police said they were arrested between July 2025 and February this year after failing breathalyser tests.Seven of them face additional charges including, driving without due care and attention, leaving their vehicles in a manner that caused undue inconvenience to others, speeding and being repeat offenders.Among them, two men, aged 28 and 44, were found driving at a speed of 112 kmh along Pan Island Expressway after allegedly consuming alcohol. They will face an additional charge of speeding.

A ComfortDelGro taxi driver has been dismissed after videos of him opening a car door while driving went viral.Responding to AsiaOne's queries, a spokesperson for the transport operator said that it is aware of the two incidents involving the same vehicle and that the driver is no longer with the company.«Safety is our absolute priority and we do not tolerate breaches of our safety protocols.»The driver, who drove a yellow Toyota Prius, was captured on video opening the door while driving along Jalan Ismail on Tuesday (Feb 24) at around 5.50pm. 

A search and rescue operation is underway after a 13-year-old boy was reported missing and is suspected to have drowned in Kallang River on Wednesday (Feb 25).Speaking to AsiaOne on Thursday (Feb 26), the boy's friend, who wished to be known only as Azrul, said they had been fishing in a group of four when the incident occurred.«He (the boy) tried to help me with the fishing rod when it got stuck, and as I was trying to fix it, I saw him fall into the water,» said Azrul, who attends the same secondary school as the missing teenager.He added that during the rescue attempt, another boy also fell into the river but was saved.«We couldn't save him (the missing boy) because the wind pushed him too far away. The three of us were trying to figure out how to save him, and we had no choice but to call the police,» said Azrul. In a video shared on Instagram page Sgfollowsall, rescuers could be seen operating at the site, with several bystanders nearby. 

Generation Z may be the first generation to show lower average intelligence quotient (IQ) and cognitive scores than previous generations according to studies, said Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Foo Cexiang in Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 25). «There have been studies that suggest that Gen Z may be the first generation that shows lower average IQ and cognitive scores than previous generations for attention, memory and literacy,» Foo said during the Budget 2026 debate.Foo added that this dip in average IQ and cognitive scores may be attributed to screen time, digital devices and social media.«I have no doubt that AI (artificial intelligence) will compound these challenges,» he said. «We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg.»Generation Z, or Gen Z, is usually defined as those born between 1997 to 2012. In his speech, Foo also expounded on his views towards national exams and the «education arms race» that has resulted from the segregation of students based on their performance.«I do not think that this needs to be, or should be the case if 40 per cent of our cohort are considered top performers in mathematics globally,» he said.

Some of us live and die by our phones - for this woman, the latter could have nearly happened.A woman crossing Tan Quee Lan Street in Bugis narrowly avoided a car accident because she was looking at her phone, according to a video uploaded by SG Road Vigilante to Facebook on Tuesday (Feb 24).«Head down looking at mobile phone. Ear piece on, totally have no idea she is a step away from the hospital,» the post reads.In the dashcam footage from the driver's vehicle, the driver avoids a FedEx van to his left on the single-lane road, hugging the right side of the lane.Abruptly, a woman walks out from the left, in front of the FedEx van, visibly engrossed in her phone.Slamming the brakes, the driver blares his horn at the woman.Shocked, the woman briefly lowers her phone, making eye contact with the driver.Noticing that the danger was over, however, she quickly goes back to staring at her phone as she crossed to the other side of the road.The driver, audibly incensed, can then be heard shouting at the woman: «Hey! Watch the road, don't watch your phone!»

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers literally tore off the rear bumper of a Malaysia-registered car during checks at Woodlands Checkpoint on Feb 11, but for a necessary cause.In a video posted on its social media, ICA officers are seen prying off the rear bumper of a white Nissan saloon car, immediately revealing cartons of what appears to be a China-brand cigarette.As officers continued their checks, more cartons and loose packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found in various compartments of the car, including under its bonnet.ICA said that the Malaysia-registered car was directed for further checks where search and examination officers uncovered more than 200 cartons and 1,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes. 

Generation Z may be the first generation to show lower average intelligence quotient (IQ) and cognitive scores than previous generations according to studies, said Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Foo Cexiang in Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 25). «There have been studies that suggest that Gen Z may be the first generation that shows lower average IQ and cognitive scores than previous generations for attention, memory and literacy,» Foo said during the Budget 2026 debate.Foo added that this dip in average IQ and cognitive scores may be attributed to screen time, digital devices and social media.«I have no doubt that AI (artificial intelligence) will compound these challenges,» he said. «We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg.»Generation Z, or Gen Z, is usually defined as those born between 1997 to 2012. In his speech, Foo also expounded on his views towards national exams and the «education arms race» that has resulted from the segregation of students based on their performance.

The 34-year-old male driver of a red BMW saloon car, who evaded a police roadblock in Paya Lebar on the first day of Chinese New Year (Feb 17) and later abandoned the vehicle in Punggol, was arrested on Tuesday (Feb 24).Users in a Telegram group said on Feb 17 that they had sighted the pursuit of a red car in Hougang Street 12 and Rivervale Drive. Multiple police vehicles were later seen near Block 122A Edgedale Plains. 

About 14,000 cases of voluntarily causing hurt (VCH) were reported each year between 2023 and 2025, said Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam.Shanmugam, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security, was responding to a parliamentary question on Wednesday (Feb 25) by Member of Parliament Kenneth Tiong. Tiong, who represents Aljunied GRC, had asked about the police's criteria for investigating cases of voluntarily causing hurt, including when victims are referred to file a magistrate's complaint. He also asked whether the criteria accounted for repeated assaults by the same perpetrator, and for the number of such cases in the last three years. In his reply, the minister said that police will initiate investigations into reports of VCH when there is harm to public interest and safety, if it involves vulnerable victims, or there are other aggravating factors, such as whether it is a repeat offence by the perpetrator. A vulnerable person is one who, because of physical and/or mental infirmity, disability or incapacity, is unable to protect themself from harm. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs and Traffic Police (TP) are considering further measures to enhance road safety and will make further announcements in due course, said Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam.Shanmugam, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security, was responding to a parliamentary question on Wednesday (Feb 25) by Member of Parliament Louis Chua.Chua, who represents Sengkang GRC, had asked the minister for the number of dangerous driving and careless driving offences in each year since 2021.He also asked what additional measures the Government will take to address such offences, given its stated «zero tolerance» for road traffic fatality rates.In his reply, Shanmugam said that in the five-year period between 2021 and 2025, TP recorded an annual average of about 190 dangerous driving and close to 18,000 careless driving offences.He explained that the Government adopts a four-pronged approach to road safety involving enforcement, penalties, public education, and road infrastructure.