Even though the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in litigation is at an early stage, its pace of evolution, client expectations and global competition are coalescing to bring the legal industry to an inflexion point, said Minister for Law Edwin Tong on Tuesday (April 21). He was speaking at the 2026 Litigation Conference organised by the Law Society, themed «The human essence of advocacy in an AI-enhanced world».Tong, who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs, was formerly co-head of Allen and Gledhill's litigation and dispute resolution department, and concurrently head of its restructuring and insolvency practice. He was appointed a senior counsel in 2015. 

Good policies do not emerge on their own and require a strong public service working closely with political leaders, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.Speaking at the Administrative Service Dinner 2026 on Tuesday (April 21) at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, SM Lee said a high-quality public service is needed to develop and implement policies effectively, alongside ministers who are familiar with policy issues to provide both political input and guidance.He stressed that while civil servants must remain apolitical, this does not mean being neutral about policy direction. «You cannot be indifferent as to whether ultimately a policy is decided upon or its opposite,» he said, adding that civil servants must have conviction in the policies they help develop and implement. SM Lee noted that Singapore's system also depends on the stability and consistency in policy direction, which has allowed the civil service and political leadership to develop a close yet proper working relationship over time.

A 47-year-old man will be charged in court on Wednesday (April 22) for allegedly assaulting a woman in Lucky Plaza in February.In a press release on Tuesday, the police said that they received a report regarding the alleged assault on a 33-year-old woman on Feb 8 from 304 Orchard Road, where Lucky Plaza is located.She suffered injuries and experienced body pain after allegedly being hit and kicked by the man. He also allegedly damaged her personal property during the altercation, said the police.Videos of the incident had gone viral at the time, showing the man chasing after a woman on the sixth floor of Lucky Plaza. 

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and South Korea's television and radio network Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly develop media content for global audiences and strengthen capabilities across both countries' media industries.In a joint statement released on Tuesday (April 21), IMDA said the partnership aligns SBS' ambition to produce globally appealing content with Singapore's push to create high-quality productions for international audiences.Projects may include long-form dramas, variety shows, micro-dramas, non-fiction content and other entertainment formats, the statement said. The agreement was witnessed by Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How during an industry learning trip to Seoul.Under the MOU, media companies and professionals from both countries will collaborate across the entire media value chain — from development and production to post-production and cross-border distribution. 

Global maritime order has become «increasingly fragile» in recent times, and hubs like Singapore which offer connectivity, standards and trust are critical, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on Tuesday (April 21).He was delivering the Singapore Maritime Lecture at the opening of Singapore Maritime Week, which is being held at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre from Monday (April 21) to Friday (April 24).DPM Gan pointed to the «broadly stable» maritime system which operated based off the legal order laid down in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.«But what was once a multilateral system underpinned by shared commitment is now increasingly fragile,» he said, highlighting how the blockage at the Strait of Hormuz from the Middle East conflict has «quickly cascaded across the global economy» and affected industries including energy and transport, as well as production chains.He said the global system has seen three structural changes: greater strategic and security considerations, the fragmentation of shared rules, as well as increasing digitalisation and decarbonisation.

The police are putting an end to licensing exemptions for massage establishments as new set of regulations come into effect from the second half of this year.This means that open-concept massage establishments — presently exempted from licensing — will soon need to comply with «fit and proper» requirements under a new «Category 3» licensing regime.Category 1 licences are granted to those which operate in HDB shop houses, shopping centres and hotels, while Category 2 licences are given to those operating away from residential areas, schools and places of worship.Among the requirements: ensuring that rooms, partitions or cubicles are not set up within the establishment, and obtaining land use approval from HDB and Urban Redevelopment Authority before the premises can be used as an open-concept massage establishment.Police said in a news release on Tuesday (April 21) that they have observed a steady rise in public unhappiness over the system, which they said came from the increase in number of open-concept massage establishments and the social disamenities they create. 

A 46-year-old male driver has been arrested after he was caught on dashcam footage driving against the flow of traffic in Bukit Batok.The incident happened at about 4.20pm on April 17, along Bukit Batok Road towards Jurong Town Hall Road. Map showing where the BMW 5 series saloon car was seen driving against the flow of traffic on April 17. INFOGRAPHIC: AsiaOne Dashcam footage of the incident shared on Facebook page SG Road Vigilante shows a black BMW 5 series driving against the flow of traffic on the second rightmost lane.A row of vehicles were seen forming up on the rightmost lane, which is a right-turn lane towards the Pan Island Expressway. Several vehicles were also seen stopping briefly as the BMW car passed them.

37-year-old Singaporean activist Kokila Annamalai will be charged on April 23 (Thursday) for failing to comply with a correction direction issued under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) in 2024.In her posts, Annamalai alleged that the Government schedules and stays executions arbitrarily without regard for due legal process.She also claimed that the State does not bear the legal burden of proving a drug trafficking charge against an accused person.The posts were published on October 2 and October 3, 2024, on Annamalai's Facebook and X accounts. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam had earlier instructed the POFMA office to issue a correction direction to the 37-year-old on October 5, 2024. It is alleged that she did not comply with the correction.This does not require Annamalai to remove or make edits to her original posts, though she is required to publish a correction notice, providing access to the correct facts on the Government's Factually website. Annamalai will be charged with one count of failing to comply with the correction direction, without reasonable excuse.

A man who was caught on CCTV defecating at the stairwell of an HDB block in Punggol has been fined $800.In a statement to AsiaOne, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said it has completed its investigations into the incident which happened at the staircase landing at Block 138 Edgedale Plains. The agency added that the offender was identified and issued with three summonses on March 27 for two counts of urinating and defecating in a public place, and one count of smoking in a prohibited place.He has since paid the fine for all three offences. The incident came to light after a 36-year-old resident spotted a man defecating at a public stairwell on Feb 23.CCTV footage of the incident was subsequently posted on social media in an appeal to identify the culprit.NEA reminded members of the public that it will take enforcement action against any person found committing such unhygienic and socially irresponsible acts.

As modern societies become more complex, effective social governance will require an effective combination of governance through the rule of law, and soft influence such as virtue and propriety, said Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Ong Ye Kung. Ong, who is also Minister for Health, was speaking at the 5th China-Singapore Social Governance Forum, themed «Building cohesive and stable communities through dispute resolution», in Hangzhou, China, on Monday (April 20).He co-chaired the forum — one of the key bilateral cooperation platforms between Singapore and China — with China's Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission Chen Wenqing.Pointing to shrinking family sizes alongside an increase in the number of households, Ong said there are challenges in fostering a strong community spirit with people staying in their respective spaces. 

A 21-year-old man was charged in court on Monday (April 20) for allegedly trafficking etomidate vaporiser pods, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). In a press release on Monday, HSA said officers conducted an enforcement operation at the residence of Brandon Loke Jo Kit on April 19 following reports of alleged sales of etomidate vaporisers in the vicinity of the Kovan area.During a search of the unit, officers seized 21 vaporisers, 116 pods, and cash allegedly obtained by Loke from the sale of these illegal products.HSA added that laboratory testing confirmed that the seized pods contained etomidate, and investigations are ongoing. Loke's case has been adjourned to May 18. Under the enhanced penalties framework that took effect on Sept 1, 2025, importers face between three and 20 years' imprisonment and five to 15 strokes of the cane. Sellers and distributors face between two and 10 years' imprisonment and two to five strokes of the cane.

A white BMW smashed into the front wall of Choa Chu Kang polyclinic on Monday (April 20) morning, according to a video posted on Instagram by user Charlie Lim.In the post, Lim drives past Choa Chu Kang polyclinic and spots a white BMW X2 premium compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) mounting the roadside pavement outside the clinic.A man on his phone walks past, staring at the vehicle, while a traffic police motorcycle can be seen parked behind the crashed car.A woman holding a yellow bag is also seen as she stands beside the open passenger-side door of the BMW with a traffic police officer standing behind her.No one was injured in the incident, Lim claimed in his Instagram post.AsiaOne has contacted National University Polyclinics and the police for more information.Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the police said that they were alerted to an accident involving a car which was believed to have self-skidded along Teck Whye Crescent towards Teck Whye Avenue at around 7.15am on Monday.No injuries were reported and a 72-year-old female car driver is assisting with ongoing police investigations.

Businesses in Singapore are facing higher operating costs amid higher energy prices, but most have held off on workforce changes for now, according to a recent poll by the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).The poll was conducted from April 10 to 16, and involved 153 small and medium-sized enterprises and 57 large enterprises across the manufacturing, services and construction sector.In the findings published on Monday (April 20), 96 per cent of the businesses reported facing increased operating costs due to higher energy prices.Of these, 60 per cent say they face cost increases of more than 10 per cent — with utilities, fuel, materials and supplies, and air and sea freight the often cited cost components.In their responses, businesses also highlighted that higher energy prices have a knock-on effect on their operations, such as higher costs for raw materials, supplies and logistics.Meanwhile, respondents in the hospitality, food and beverage, and retail sectors, also reported facing upward pressure on temporary labour costs as the market adjusts to the higher-cost environment.

A multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) collided with a van, resulting in the van crashing through a road divider at Woodlands.Footage of the incident shared one SG Road Vigilante Facebook page shows a white MPV with a Malaysian-registered car plate failing to give way to a white van.The impact of the collision pushes the white van across two lanes, then through the road divider, before crashing into another MPV on the opposite side of the road.The Malaysian MPV is also seen going a short distance before coming to a stop at the kerb.In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said that the incident occurred on Saturday (April 18) at around 6.40pm along Woodlands Road before the Kranji Expressway. No injuries were reported and a 59-year-old male car driver is assisting with investigations, the police added. Police investigations are ongoing.

A Singaporean singer based in Taiwan was at a temple event when he noticed a man wearing a smiling theatrical mask behaving suspiciously and holding «something shiny» in his hand.Fearful that the man might harm others, Willis Loye said he and his friends gave chase and helped subdue the suspect, who was later discovered to be carrying two knives.The 43-year-old told AsiaOne that the incident occurred in the city of Taichung last Saturday (April 18) night.According to him, the masked man was standing at the side of the performance stage and had waved to the 100-strong crowd, where several children were present.The Singaporean had just finished his performance and was watching with the crowd when he saw an unusual glint of light and suspected the man might be armed.When asked about his identity, he did not answer and immediately turned tail, prompting Loye and his friends to give chase.

Two Singaporean men, aged 45 and 51, were fined more than $2.6 million for under-declaring the values of vehicles. In a joint media release on Monday (April 20), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Singapore Customs said the duo's actions resulted in the fraudulent evasion of excise duties, goods and services tax (GST) and the underpayment of the additional registration fee (ARF) during vehicle registration.Loke Chern Meng, 45, and Desmond Phang Boon Wee, 51, were sentenced on March 6, 2023 and April 20 this year respectively. Loke was fined more than $1.2 million in March for abetting the fraudulent evasion of duty and GST by allowing Phang to manage the company. Loke did not pay the fine and will serve 26 months' imprisonment in default.On April 20, Phang pleaded guilty to two amalgamated charges of fraudulent evasion of duty under the Customs Act and was fined more than $1.3 million.According to charge sheets, Phang suppressed the declared values of 142 vehicles imported by Metalox Autos Pte Ltd between January 2021 and January 2022, resulting in duty evasion amounting to $185,477.

SINGAPORE  — Despite being blocked in Singapore since late 2024, a gambling platform that allows users to place bets on future events remains accessible here through alternative means.Checks by The Straits Times show that Polymarket has seen a surge in bets related to the Republic in recent weeks, with punters staking their money on, for instance, Singapore’s daily temperature since March 13.In April, an average of more than US100,000 (S$127,000) was wagered each day, as users bought “yes” or “no” shares tied to a specific temperature.On April 17, nearly US$125,000 had been wagered by the 8pm deadline. Most people had bet that the daily mercury would read 33 deg C at its hottest.Those who bet correctly receive payouts in cryptocurrency. In this case, the payouts are credited daily.According to information on its website, the subjects of the bets are selected by the platform’s markets team, after taking into account input from users.Polymarket’s website says users in Singapore are not allowed to place bets because of geographical restrictions and regulations. 

About 80 residents were evacuated from a condominium in Choa Chu Kang after a fire broke out on Sunday (April 19) morning.In a video shared on Xiaohongshu on the same day, residents are seen gathered on the ground floor as thick smoke billows from the building.In the caption, the user noted that the elevators were out of service, requiring residents to use the stairs to evacuate. The user also reminded residents to be cautious when charging devices overnight.Speaking to 8world, a resident at the condominium said she heard sirens at around 8.15am, with fire engines and ambulances arriving shortly after.«When we came downstairs, we saw very thick black smoke coming out of the windows. At around 8.30am, firefighters came down to check if anyone was injured,» she said.«By then, the smoke had subsided and residents from the other blocks were allowed to return.»Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the Singapore Civil Defence Force said it was alerted to a fire at 60 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5 at about 8.05am. 

A passenger finally recovered her missing earring after two weeks thanks to the unwavering persistence of the Kovan MRT station staff.In a Facebook post on Sunday (April 19), SBS Transit shared details of the incident which occurred earlier in March when a passenger dropped her earring while on the escalator at Kovan MRT station.The passenger reported the missing earring to the assistant station manager, De Torres Jose Ma Paz, who immediately stopped the escalator and carried out a thorough check to help find it.De Torres was unable to find the earring and told the passenger that it likely fell into an area under the escalator that could only be accessed during maintenance works.He assured her that he would personally follow up with the maintenance team and keep her updated.It was only two weeks later that a contractor spotted the earring during a maintenance check, which prompted De Torres to contact the passenger with the good news.«I always aim to serve every commuter to the best of my ability and be helpful to everyone,» he said. 

Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) on Friday (April 17) inked a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC) to enhance nuclear safety capabilities.In a media release on Monday, NEA said a new training programme will be designed under the MOC to develop nuclear safety capabilities and regulatory understanding for NEA and its newly formed nuclear safety division.Responding to parliamentary questions on deployment timeframe, potential sites and nuclear safety-related concerns from Members of Parliament on November 6, 2025, Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology Dr Tan See Leng said dedicated nuclear energy teams have been established at both the Energy Market Authority and NEA. The Singapore government, he added then, has not made a decision on deploying nuclear energy, and is instead focusing on safety and viability considerations.

Singaporeans can focus on the practical things within their control when responding to the impact from the ongoing Middle East conflict — now in its eighth week, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.SM Lee was speaking at Teck Ghee constituency's education merit award present ceremony held at Ang Mo Kio Primary School on Saturday (April 18), where he assured Singaporeans that the Government is prepared to do more if the situation worsens.«In times like this, we have to watch what is happening in the world. But there is no point getting anxious about things which are beyond our control. »As the saying goes, keep calm and carry on. Focus on the practical things that each of us can do to respond to the situation and make ourselves more secure, and to help one another," he said.Among the practical measures suggested by SM Lee were simple actions such as switching off lights when not required, noting that energy costs have gone up due to fuel scarcity, resulting in costlier household electricity bills. 

If you receive a Google Meet video call from individuals claiming to be police officers, do not provide your personal banking information, or you may be the next victim of a scam.This scam variant was revealed by the police in a news release on Sunday (April 19), following losses amounting to at least $32,000 in some 13 cases reported to the police since April 1.According to the police, victims would purportedly receive unsolicited Google Meet video calls from scammers dressed in police uniforms impersonating officers. They may also use the police's logo as their profile picture and use words such as «police» and «Singapore» in their email addresses. Victims would be told that there are issues with their bank cards or accounts. They would also be asked to provide their internet banking, card credentials and/or One-Time Password (OTP), for the purpose of investigations.They would only realise that they have been scammed after realising that unauthorised transactions were made with their bank accounts.

How should youths prepare themselves for the increasingly fragmented world? With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), how can students ensure that what they are learning in universities remain relevant?These were among the questions raised by students from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) during a ministerial forum, themed «Strength in smallness — from the individual to the nation», held on April 2.PM Wong said that he could not get through all the questions and decided to respond on social media through a «Ask Me Anything» (AMA) video.This is not the first time that the prime minister has used an AMA video format to address questions raised by Singaporeans.On Dec 17, 2025, PM Wong used the same format to address questions such as exam stress, online harms and even a request to bring South Korean band BigBang to Singapore to celebrate their 20th anniversary.The Sunday (April 19) video starts off with a question on how students can prepare themselves for the increasingly fragmented and complex world.

It is not uncommon to see vehicles switching lanes to follow emergency vehicles on expressways — especially during rush hour traffic — but this time five motorists ended up needing help.An accident involving five cars took place at about 7.10pm on Friday (April 17) along the Central Expressway (CTE) towards Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), before Bukit Timah Road exit. Map showing where the five-vehicle pileup happened. INFOGRAPHIC: AsiaOne Videos posted on social media show a Traffic Police (TP) expressway patrol car on the rightmost of four lanes with its emergency blinkers on. 

Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung will co-chair the 5th Singapore-China Social Governance Forum with China's Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission (PLAC) Chen Wenqing during his visit to Hangzhou, China, from Sunday (April 19) to April 22.In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said the forum is one of the key bilateral cooperation platforms between Singapore and China.«It provides an opportunity for officials from both countries to share experiences and exchange views on issues related to social governance,» the ministry said.Themed «Building cohesive and stable communities through dispute resolution», the forum will feature keynote addresses by the Coordinating Minister and Secretary Chen, who oversees national security and intelligence. He is also a member of the Chinese Communist Party's political bureau.At the forum, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli will deliver a speech on the main theme.

A group of seniors who exercise at a public space near a HDB estate in Ang Mo Kio have been hit with noise complaints from an irate resident.Taking to Facebook group Complaint Singapore on Wednesday (April 15), the resident voiced frustration over how the group would allegedly play «extreme loud music for their own entertainment» weekly.«They start to play from 7.30pm to 10pm. Such selfish behaviour. People need to rest, study or even work,» the resident said.The common area where the exercise sessions are held is between Blocks 230 and 231 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, reported Shin Min Daily News.Speaking to the Chinese publication, organiser Yu Ziying (transliteration) said the group of seniors live in the neighbourhood and had been practicing qigong together once a week for almost 40 years.«Everything was fine but in the last four years, we would frequently get complaints from a resident,» said the 78-year-old.In 2025, the group relocated their sessions to a courtyard about 200 metres away.That was until a car accident this January, which killed a 59-year-old pedestrian at that courtyard.

Three people were taken to Changi General Hospital after a multi-vehicle crash involving two buses, two cars and a lorry on Saturday (April 18) afternoon.The accident happened at about 2.30pm along Pasir Ris Drive 1 towards Loyang Avenue 1. Map showing where the accident took place. INFOGRAPHIC: AsiaOne Videos posted on social media show a service 39 bus turning into Pasir Ris Drive 1 from Pasir Ris Street 11. Moments later, instead of remaining on the leftmost lane, the bus is seen veering towards the right lane.It then crashes through a section of centre railings along the road divider, and into several vehicles stopped on the other side of the road.

A total of 17 Housing and Development Board (HDB) neighbourhoods will undergo upgrading works under the latest batch of Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP), announced National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat at a community event in Sembawang on Saturday (April 18).The works, which are expected to cost more than $130 million, will benefit about 20,000 HDB households across Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok, Bukit Merah, Bukit Panjang, Chai Chee, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Jurong, Sembawang, Sengkang, Serangoon, Toa Payoh, Woodlands and Yishun. First introduced in August 2007, the NRP focuses on improvements at the block and precinct levels, for HDB projects built up to 1995. It was extended to include blocks built up to 1999 in 2025.Upgrading works are tailored based on residents' feedback on the features they hope to see in their neighbourhood and may include enhancements such as fitness trails, seating areas and communal spaces.

Customers of several internet services providers (ISPs) in Singapore, including Singtel, Starhub, M1, MyRepublic and Simba, have reported issues with broadband services on Saturday (April 18).Checks by AsiaOne on outage tracking platform Downdetector at 1.30pm show spikes in reports from around 10.50am.Based on reports from users, broadband internet services were the most commonly reported issue.In a statement issued on its social media platforms at 11.45am, Singtel said it is aware of the issue, adding that it understands that this may be due to construction activities at a site that is affecting several operators.«Our engineers are investigating. We apologise for the inconvenience caused,» a Singtel spokesperson said, adding that further updates will be provided.In response to a customer's feedback on its Facebook, M1 said that it was informed of the issue by NetLink Trust at around 10.40am. The ISP added that some connections may not be affected.

As generations of families and children grow up in Yishun and their needs evolve, improvements have been made to the town while keeping the shared bonds and values, said Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam on Saturday (April 18).Shanmugam, who is also MP for Nee Soon GRC, was speaking at the topping out ceremony for the new 0.9ha Chong Pang City, an integrated development which will have swimming pools, a gym and fitness studio, as well as an upgraded hawker centre, market and community club.He said that the community has seen Yishun's transformation over the years as it became more accessible and better connected with new and improved facilities.«Families have grown up here. Children grow up here, and more seniors. As our community changes, its needs have changed as well. Nee Soon has progressed to meet those needs,» Shanmugam said.

Starbucks Singapore will be removing straws from their condiment bars, and customers are not happy about it. The coffee chain announced the news on their social media platforms on April 17. «Starting April 22, we'll be omitting straws from our condiment bar — a small change that goes a long way. Enjoy your iced beverages in-store with for-here cups or sip through our sippy lids instead,» they wrote.Those who still need a straw can request for a 100 per cent biodegradable, compostable straw.[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DXNxCcLiRC1/[/embed]Customers who order a Frappuccino or frozen drink can request a straw too. There is also the option to bring your own tumbler, and those who do so can enjoy $0.50 off their drink. «Let's make a positive impact together with every sip!» said Starbucks Singapore. But the environmental move hasn't been well received by the public. In the comments section, many netizens expressed dissatisfaction with the change.

«Would you have tried it?»That is the question one woman had for her followers on Instagram after finding a curious dish at a buffet at a Marina Bay Sands restaurant: Crocodile feet.A Reel posted by user MsNikkolette on April 12 showed the dish to be a «crocodile toast» with Vietnamese «nuoc cham sauce».«I am adventurous with food, but this was pushing the limits,» she wrote in the caption. «Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to see crocodile feet served this way, at an Australia Day buffet, at Rise Marina Bay Sands.»Though Nikkolette did not share how she came across the dish in the video, many were curious to know her verdict.She responded to one of the comments: «I did have a small bite, it's way too fishy because of how it was prepped.»However, others were more horrified than intrigued.«Tell me it's AI,» a comment read.Another read: «I see the nails and I cannot.»One netizen suggested: «There is a plate on the right [with] just the sliced meat portion without the feet? Maybe just try that section, okay?»[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DXCI7bEzWxf/[/embed]

Kim Lim's grandmother has died at the age of 107. The local socialite and billionaire heiress took to Instagram on Thursday (April 16) to share the news, posting several photos of herself and her brother, Kiat Lim, grieving by their grandmother's casket. «Last post in memory of Ah Ma. I don't usually post sad things, but my grandma meant too much to us,» Kim wrote. The elderly woman died on April 12. [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/DXK6ih3kvPR/?img_index=1[/embed]Kim, 34, shared that her grandmother had cared for her and Kiat since they were young, and when she had her son Kyden, the elderly woman took him under her wing as well. «She was just with us every time, waiting for us to come home and eat. »She was always just there for us. We are sad but time will heal,« she wrote. Despite her grief, Kim pointed out that her grandmother had lived to the ripe old age of 107, so her life should be celebrated. She also thanked those who sent their condolences. »We read and acknowledge and know who you are. Thank you," wrote Kim. [[nid:733742]]

A migrant worker who wanted a portrait of Lee Kuan Yew tattooed on his neck was initially turned away by a tattoo artist — who asked him to return the next day “to see if he was serious”.He did.On April 12, 38-year-old air-conditioning technician Sugumar Surendran visited a tattoo studio along North Bridge Road with a bold request: to ink Singapore's founding father's image on his neck.Speaking to Stomp, Surendran, who arrived from Tamil Nadu, India at 18 and has since worked across various companies as an air-conditioning technician, said he admires Lee for building Singapore into what he calls a «golden country», where laws ensure fairness and equality.Widely regarded as the architect of modern Singapore, Lee led the nation through its uncertain early years after independence in 1965 — a period he later described as his greatest political setback.Yet it also steeled his resolve. In the weeks after separation, he urged Singaporeans to press on: «This is not a country that belongs to any single community… Ten years from now, this will be a metropolis. Never fear!»It is this sense of determination that resonates with Surendran.

Since the outbreak of the Iran war, Vignesh Kumaravel's quantitative trading models have struggled to perform due to «extreme volatility» in global stock markets.The quant finance professional, whose job involves coding systems to turn market signals into profits, said that higher prices have also hit him personally. He and some Vietnamese friends cancelled a trip to Kuala Lumpur after short-haul airfares doubled.«For now, I haven't changed my daily habits or food choices, but I am definitely being more careful with extra spending,» said the 26-year-old.Just as Vignesh fine-tunes his trading algorithms, Singaporeans are adapting their daily routines to cope with the higher prices unleashed by fighting in the Middle East.The Feb 28 air strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel triggered a series of retaliatory responses that have damaged oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf, as well as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.