Singapore aims to produce 30% of its food by 2030
On 7 Mar, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli had announced Singapore Food Agency’s (SFA) aim to produce 30 percent of Singapore’s food needs by 2030. Currently, Singapore imports over 90 percent of its food. As such, we are “exposed to the volatilities of the global food market,” Mr. Masagos said in his Committee […]
BTO balloting time to be reduced; BTO projects to be released earlier
Potential home buyers will soon be able to get more information about the built-to-order (BTO) projects six months in advance, instead of three so that they can plan their purchases. The Housing Development Board (HDB) will also shorten the waiting time for applicants to receive their ballot results, from six weeks to three. Minister of […]
Singapore to ban partially hydrogenated oils
Partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), a major source of artificial trans-fat, will be banned by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Amrin Amin said in Parliament on 6 Mar. Agreeing on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) stand in the removal of artificial trans-fat from food supplies, Mr. Amrin also warned about the […]
Oil royalty unfair, just like water deal with Singapore: Sabah politician
On 5 Mar, Sabah assemblyman Jamawi Jaafar urged Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamed to consider Sabahan’s feelings on the oil royalty agreement. Agreeing with Mahathir that Singapore is exploiting Malaysia’s water, Jamawi urged the federal government to consider Sabahans’ feelings and expectations on the issue of the oil agreement, pointing out that the rate in […]
Retirement, re-employment age to be raised
Both the retirement and re-employment age is set to be raised as the Government, labor unions and employer agreed on the need for these changes, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said on 5 Mar. As for how far and how fast the ages should be raised, she said that her Tripartite Workgroup on Older Workers would […]
No more N- & O-Level exams from 2024 onwards!
On 5 Mar, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung announced that a new common national examination and certificate framework would replace the current N- and O-Level examinations. As announced in the Parliament, the O-Level and N-Level examinations will be combined into one common national, and the streaming in secondary schools will be replaced by subject-based banding […]
Grab to charge users S$4 cancellation fee
Starting from 11 Mar, Grab users will be charged S$4 cancellation fee if they cancel the ride after securing a booking for more than five minutes, Grab announced on its website on 3 Mar. For ride-sharing service, GrabShare, passengers will incur the S$4 charge if they cancel the ride upon securing the booking for more […]
Fire near Lim Chu Kang cemetery
A fire, size of one football field in length, broke out on 4 Mar near Lim Chu Kang Chinese Cemetery. Firefighting efforts had continued through the night and the fire was only extinguished at about 2am on 5 Mar. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to the fire at about 7.05am. A total of […]
Exact timing of GST increase yet to be decided
On 28 Feb, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said that the date for the 2% increase in Goods and Services Tax (GST) has yet to be decided and that the government will exercise care in doing so. In response to the reservations on the approach and timing of the GST hike, Mr. Heng highlighted that […]
Please siam Pakistan and India temporarily
Singaporeans are advised to refrain from traveling to Pakistan, and India unnecessarily, due to the escalating tensions between both countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on 27 Feb. Both countries have always been in conflict over disputed Indian Kashmir. However, the tension had skyrocketed on 14 Feb after a suicide bombing in Kashmir […]