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».

The Supreme Court has issued a show-cause notice to the NCERT director, calling the inclusion of a chapter on judicial corruption in a Class 8 textbook a «deep-rooted conspiracy.» The court ordered the seizure of all copies of the textbook in circulation, emphasizing the need for a deeper probe to prevent erosion of public faith in the judiciary.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney begins a four-day visit to India, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The agenda includes discussions on trade, investment, energy, critical minerals, and people-to-people connections, seeking to inject fresh momentum after a diplomatic row.

Narendra Modi has said defense and security are “important pillars” India’s relationship with Israel Read Full Article at RT.com

[allAfrica]

[New Times] A new cultural documentary by Zion Films Company is set to present a fresh perspective on Rwanda's post-1994 recovery by examining Umuganda as a long-standing philosophy that continues to shape the country's social fabric.

[UN News] Fresh from holding the most extensive elections in its history, the Central African Republic (CAR) is entering what the UN's top envoy in the country describes as a «decisive period» in consolidating fragile peace gains, even as security challenges persist and disarmament efforts continue.

[HRW] Six Years after Kizito Mihigo's Death, Free Speech Crackdown Continues

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.

The National Water Commission (NWC) says it has suffered a $3-billion loss in revenue following the passage of Hurricane Melissa and another $3.7 billion in estimated damage to infrastructure. Acting Vice-President of the NWC, Herman Fagan, told members of Parliament’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) yesterday that service has been restored to 95 per cent of the commission’s customers. He gave the assurance that by the end of March, all customers impacted by Hurricane Melissa should receive water.

An uncle of Matthew Lee, one of the three men killed during a police operation in 2013, testified that he had no knowledge of repeated warnings allegedly given by the young man’s father about his association with men from Grants Pen in St Andrew. “I couldn't answer that part. I don't know — he never said it to me,” the electrical engineer responded when defence counsel Hugh Wildman asked whether Lee’s father had consistently cautioned him about the company the deceased was keeping in the Grants Pen community.

Some judges appear to be misinterpreting the Child Diversion Act by compelling minors to plead guilty to criminal charges before steering them to intervention programmes, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has said. The Child Diversion Programme, which is grounded in the Child Diversion Act 2018, seeks to steer children between ages 12 and 17 years old away from the formal criminal justice system in circumstances where they are charged with specific crimes, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

In a clear signal of renewed diplomatic focus, the United States has pledged to “reinvigorate” ties with CARICOM countries, framing the region’s economic stability and security as “intricately tied” to its own national interests. In an address to CARICOM heads of governments yesterday, and on the heels of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and a partially lifted oil blockade on Cuba, United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration is aiming to make the region a magnet for inbound investment.

Even as Washington, DC in the United States (US) has reportedly eased conditions allowing individuals to apply for licences to supply Cuba with Venezuelan oil, one of the Caribbean’s leaders has been condemned to the “dustbin of history” for her perceived role in the capture of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro, Cuba’s oil lifeline.

[allAfrica]

Among the most notorious cases was Victoria Climbié, tortured to death by relatives believing she was possessed - while Mardoche Yembi is among survivors speaking out.

All were of Cuban descent and were approaching the country as part of a terrorist plot, Cuba's government claimed in a statement on Wednesday night.

Nadiya Hussain was axed by the BBC because her star had 'waned', her recipes became 'tired' and she became 'increasingly hard to work with', insiders have told the Daily Mail.

NCERT is recalling 38 copies of a Class 8 textbook after the Supreme Court strongly criticized its content on the judiciary. The Chief Justice of India took suo motu cognizance, calling the portrayal a «deep-rooted conspiracy to defame» the institution.

A Maoist commander, Anwesh, with a Rs 22 lakh bounty, was allegedly killed by his leader, Sukru, for planning to surrender to Odisha Police. His decomposed body was exhumed, revealing internal conflicts within Maoist groups over surrendering to authorities. The murder is believed to have been executed by Sukru with assistance from other cadres.

India strongly rebuked Pakistan at the UN Human Rights Council, dismissing its allegations regarding Jammu and Kashmir as «incessant propaganda.» New Delhi highlighted the region's development budget exceeding Pakistan's IMF bailout and pointed to infrastructure projects like the Chenab Rail Bridge as proof of progress, asserting that Kashmir is an integral part of India.

DNPA chairperson Mariam Mammen Mathew highlighted how AI and digital shifts are transforming news creation, distribution, and monetization. She stressed the importance of credible journalism anchoring technological advancements and DNPA's role in fostering collaboration and policy engagement to navigate these disruptions and ensure sustainable growth.

US Secretary of State Rubio has denied Washington’s involvement in a deadly gunfight between Cuban border guards and a US-flagged boat Read Full Article at RT.com

Cuba’s Interior Ministry has released new findings from its investigation into a deadly gunfight between border guards and a US‑flagged boat Read Full Article at RT.com

MPs have demanded answers over the 'serious mistake' after John Davidson, 54, shouted the N-Word while Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were speaking.

Ofgem announced the typical annual household bill will drop by £117 from April, less than the £150 reduction pledged by the Chancellor in her Budget.

IT is only a very short time since the notion of the Green Party walking the corridors of power was unthinkable.

When it was publicly announced that Andrew would quit his role as the UK trade and investment envoy - the convicted sex offender wrote: 'I assume he knows that this is Charles doing.'

The flyer was put through voters' doors in the Greater Manchester constituency on Wednesday evening, before they head to the polls on Thursday.

Le gouvernement de la Polynésie française envisage d’interdire la fabrication, la mise sur le marché et l’importation des pipes en verre dites « bubble », utilisées pour la consommation de méthamphétamine. Une mesure présentée comme un levier supplémentaire dans la lutte contre cette drogue.