SINGAPORE: A scheme in which consumers pay a S$0.10 (US$0.07) deposit for bottled and canned drinks will start on Apr 1 as planned, with beverage companies to be given more time to clear stocks that are ineligible for packaging refunds.

The deposit will be added to the price of the beverage and will be refunded when the empty bottle or can is returned at designated return points. 

The beverage container return scheme was originally meant to start in April 2025, but authorities pushed it back by a year as major beverage producers had requested more time to operationalise the scheme.

Beverage producers and retailers will now get a longer transition period of six months to clear their existing stock of older drink cans and bottles, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Dr Janil Puthucheary said on Saturday (Jan 3).

“One key feedback we’ve heard is that the original three-month transition period may not be enough for companies to clear their existing beverage stocks. In response, we’ve extended the transition period to six months – spanning Apr 1 to Sep 30,” he said in a Facebook post. 

“This means that while the scheme officially begins on Apr 1, 2026, most beverage containers with the refundable 10-cent deposit are likely to hit the shelves only closer to the later part of the transition.”

During the transition period, consumers can expect to see a mix of containers on the shelves – some with the refundable deposit and some without.

The beverage container return scheme was first announced in 2020 as part of efforts to reduce waste and increase recycling rates in Singapore. Pre-packaged beverages in plastic and metal containers ranging from 150ml to 3L will have a 10-cent refundable deposit applied to them.

Public consultation was conducted in 2022, and a legislative framework for the scheme was part of the Resource Sustainability (Amendment) Bill that was passed in parliament in 2023.

The National Environment Agency announced in 2024 that it had issued a licence to a consortium called Beverage Container Return Scheme Limited (BCRS Ltd) to design and operate the scheme.

BCRS was formed by Coca-Cola Singapore Beverages, F&N Foods and Pokka. The consortium will act on behalf of all beverage producers, and it is required by law to appoint at least two board directors to represent the interests of smaller beverage producers.

“We know that change takes time and effort, and we’ve been working closely with the scheme operator, BCRS Ltd, as well as other stakeholders – from beverage producers to retailers – to ensure the rollout is practical and smooth for everyone,” Dr Janil said, calling the scheme a significant step towards Singapore’s circular economy goals.

He added that in the coming weeks, BCRS will provide more details, such as the scheme’s mark on the labels of beverage containers and where to return the empty drink cans and bottles. 

“We will also be stepping up our outreach and engagement with all producers, retailers, and F&B outlets,” Dr Janil said.

Editor’s note: The end date of the transition period cited in the article has been amended from Oct 1 to Sep 30 after Dr Janil corrected the information in his Facebook post.

SINGAPORE: Singapore and the United States have started the new year by reaffirming their partnership, with 2026 marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the nations.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had a telephone call with US President Donald Trump on Friday (Jan 2), said the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

"PM Wong and President Trump noted that 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Singapore and the United States," the ministry said in a press statement. 

"They reaffirmed the enduring strength of the mutually beneficial partnership that spans multiple domains, and looked forward to deepening cooperation in established areas and expanding into new ones." 

MFA added that Mr Wong thanked Mr Trump for inviting Singapore to the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Summit that will be held in Miami, Florida, in December.

"Singapore looks forward to contributing to the US' G20 agenda, and advancing economic growth for all," it said.

Mr Wong said in a Facebook post that Singapore will play a "constructive role" at the summit and contribute to the shared agenda for growth and stability.

"I look forward to visiting the United States later this year to mark this important milestone in our bilateral ties, and to deepen cooperation in new areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and civilian nuclear power."

He also said he thanked the US president for his leadership in advancing peace efforts globally, including in helping to secure the recent ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia.

Both leaders met in South Korea in October last year. They were among the world leaders who were in Gyeongju to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economic summit.

Mr Wong had presented Mr Trump with a customised Republic of Singapore Air Force bomber jacket as a token of appreciation for America's long-standing support of the Singapore Armed Forces' training in the US.

The jacket presented to Mr Trump is like the ones worn by Singapore pilots training in the US, said Mr Wong. 

"Singapore values our security partnership with the US," Mr Wong wrote on Facebook at the time, adding that he also conveyed Singapore's deep appreciation for the US' support.

According to the MFA website, Singapore is a "long-standing, reliable and steadfast strategic partner" of the US, with substantive cooperation across multiple fronts.

"We are one of the US' closest partners in Asia. Our partnership is underpinned by mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic, defence, security and people-to-people spheres, which in recent years have expanded to new frontier areas such as in cybersecurity, climate change, space, critical and emerging technologies."

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Jan 2) sent their condolences to Bangladesh after the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. 

Ms Zia, who served as Bangladesh's prime minister three times, died on Tuesday at the age of 80. Her condition had deteriorated from a raft of health issues after she was rushed to hospital in late November.

In a letter addressed to Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Mr Wong expressed his deepest condolences on the passing of Ms Zia.

Mr Wong said she "played an important role in Bangladesh's journey towards parliamentary democracy and a market economy".

Besides being the South Asian country’s first female prime minister and a champion for women's education and development, Ms Zia was also instrumental in strengthening relations between Bangladesh and Singapore, Mr Wong added. 

"Her legacy of dedication and service to her nation will be deeply remembered," he said.

In a letter to the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and Ms Zia's son, Mr Tarique Rahman, Mr Lee said that he was deeply saddened over Ms Zia's passing and offered his heartfelt condolences. 

"Prime Minister Khaleda Zia personified the resilience of the Bangladeshi people," Mr Lee said. 

"During her tenure, she expanded Bangladesh's private sector, championed women's education and improved the livelihoods of the Bangladeshi people, especially rural communities," he added.

Mr Lee noted that Ms Zia fostered closer engagement between Bangladesh and Singapore, and "laid a strong foundation for the enduring friendship" between the two countries. 

"Her many contributions will be long remembered," Mr Lee said.

Despite years of ill health and imprisonment, Ms Zia had vowed to campaign in elections set for Feb 12 – the first vote since a mass uprising toppled her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina last year.

The BNP is widely seen as a frontrunner in the elections, and Mr Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh last week after 17 years in exile, is seen as a potential prime minister if they win a majority.

Bangladesh bid farewell to Ms Zia in a state funeral on Wednesday that drew vast crowds.

Flags were flown at half-mast, and thousands of security officers lined the streets as her body was carried through the streets of the capital Dhaka in a vehicle in the colours of the national flag.

SINGAPORE: It was supposed to be another bustling lunch hour for hawkers at Hong Lim food centre on the first business day of the year.

Instead, the afternoon went up in smoke for many when a fire broke out at 80-year-old hawker Teo Koon Guan's stall on Friday (Jan 2).

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted at about 12.40pm to a fire at 531A Upper Cross Street involving the kitchen exhaust ducting on the second floor.

Firefighters put out the blaze with three water jets and evacuated four people from the block as a precautionary measure.

There were no reported injuries, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Mr Teo appeared to still be in shock when he and other hawkers were allowed back to their stalls to clean up and assess the damage at about 3.15pm.

He has been selling tze char dishes at the stall, Ho Kee Seafood at unit 02-21, for 23 years.

Mr Teo told reporters that he was outside his stall when another hawker alerted him to the fire that had broken out at his stove.

Speaking in Mandarin, he said that the flame was not on at the time, but that there was a hot wok with oil on the stove.

Mr Eddy Wan, 46, who runs western stall Eddy's opposite Mr Teo's shop, helped to pull the elderly man away from the blaze.

Mr Wan said he was cooking when he looked up and saw the fire in Mr Teo's stall.

He tried to put out the blaze with a tablecloth that he had wet with water, but could not as the fire was too big.

He said Mr Teo was "stunned and shocked" and lingering in the stall, so he pulled the elderly man away to safety.

HAWKERS DEAL WITH DAMAGE

Hawker association vice-chairman Heng Check Kwang, 66, said that five stalls in the affected row must remain closed for now so that their electrical circuits can be inspected.

This includes Mr Teo's stall, which is at the edge of the row, and the four neighbouring stalls.

The inspection may take more than a week, with the affected stalls likely to reopen between Jan 10 and Jan 12, according to Mr Heng.

Mr Heng also said that the affected stalls would be filing fire insurance claims.

When asked about the damage to his stall, a resigned Mr Teo said "worrying is no use". He said he did not suffer any burns.

Mr Teo's daughter Ms Kelly Teo, 23, said he usually mans the stall by himself at lunchtime before her mother takes over in the late afternoon for the dinner shift.

After this incident, Ms Teo said they were worried and no longer felt safe letting him continue to run the stall by himself given his advanced age.

The damage was not contained to Mr Teo's stall and its neighbouring units.

Fire damage could be seen at the exhaust system one aisle away from Mr Teo's row, and stalls there also suffered water damage after the sprinkler system was activated.

Hawkers Sax Peter Choa, 60, and Evelyn Tan, 58, sell prata and curry at Midas Every Touch is Gold, one aisle away from where the fire started.

Ms Tan said that they initially continued to cook after seeing white smoke, as customers did not appear alarmed and were still eating.

When the smoke grew thicker, Ms Tan said she walked out of the stall to see what had happened and saw fire above. They then evacuated.

Surveying the damage, a frustrated Mr Choa said that their stall's signboard was waterlogged and no longer worked. Other equipment like portable lights were also not working.

Ingredients they had prepared for the lunchtime rush were soaked with water and had to be thrown away.

While his stall, like others not in Mr Teo's row, was cleared to open for business, Mr Choa questioned when they would actually be able to resume business given the damage.

He added that it was fortunate no one was injured in the fire.

Regulars who frequent stalls at the affected block of Hong Lim food centre said the market is a busy lunchtime destination.

Freelancer Roxanne Yeo, 32, usually patronises a noodle shop that was among those shuttered by the fire on Friday.

She said she had spoken to the noodle stall owner, and that the woman seemed shocked by what had happened.

Retail worker Tan Yan Hui, 24, said she was "a little worried" after seeing a video of the fire.

She still headed to Hong Lim food centre for lunch as she expected only a small section of shops to be closed, but the cordon was wider than she had anticipated.

Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, who is also a Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC, said on Friday evening that she was "deeply relieved" that the fire was extinguished and no one was hurt.

She said in a Facebook post at around 6.30pm that the SCDF and the Building and Construction Authority have conducted a thorough inspection of the exhaust duct system to ensure the premises are safe.

The town council has barricaded the common walkway where the exhaust system was damaged, but the rest of the food centre remains operational, she added.

"My team and I are in touch with the Hawker Association to check in with the affected stallholders and see how best to support them," she said, adding that the stalls’ insurers are also helping them with the fire claim.

SINGAPORE: A man who was working as a customer relations officer at Marina Square Shopping Mall used his position to fraudulently obtain S$27,915 (US$21,700) in e-vouchers for use in the mall. 

Aravindran Vallaban, a 26-year-old Malaysian, was on Friday (Jan 2) sentenced to 20 months' jail after he pleaded guilty to one charge of cheating and dishonestly inducing a delivery of property under Section 420 of the Penal Code.

Three other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. 

Between May 13, 2024, and Apr 3, 2025, he created 2,172 fraudulent Marina Square membership accounts. This was after the mall launched a referral campaign in April 2024 to increase membership applications.

The referral campaign required new membership applicants to use referral codes from existing members. Upon a new member's successful registration, both the new member and the referring member would receive S$5 in e-vouchers credited to their accounts, which could be used at stores in the mall or transferred as e-gifts to other accounts. 

To complete the registration, new members had to verify their identities using one-time passwords (OTPs) that would be generated and sent to their mobile devices.

WHAT HAPPENED

At the time, Aravindran was employed as an assistant customer relations supervisor at Singapore Land Group, the parent company of Marina Centre Holdings, which in turn owns Marina Square. His job duties included handling customer enquiries and assisting with the mall's promotions and redemptions.

As part of his role, he was given access to an in-house customer relationship management system used to manage customer data for the mall. Through his account, he could view store listings, member lists and voucher issuance details.

His supervisor also had access to the system, but possessed superior access rights that gave him access to additional information and features unavailable to the lower-ranking customer relations officers.

With his rights, the supervisor was able to view all the OTPs that had been generated and sent to the phone numbers of people who had signed up for Marina Square membership. This was so that the customer relations staff could manually retrieve an OTP and send it to a customer in the event that the customer did not receive the OTP.

For convenience, the supervisor shared his login credentials for his management system account with Aravindran, so that Aravindran could assist customers who needed help in obtaining their OTPs without needing to consult the supervisor.

Aravindran used his access to the OTPs to circumvent the Marina Square membership account verification process and create the fraudulent accounts.

He would first generate fake phone numbers using ChatGPT and use those numbers to sign up for new membership accounts.

He would then use his supervisor's management system account to manually obtain the OTPs associated with the fake numbers to complete the registration of the fraudulent accounts.

Whenever he created a new fraudulent account, he would use referral codes from existing Marina Square membership accounts, inducing S$5 e-vouchers to be credited into both accounts.

This enabled him to accumulate the S$27,915 in e-vouchers, which he used for his own personal expenditure in the mall.

Aravindran was eventually caught after a deputy general marketing manager at Marina Centre Holdings noticed that certain member accounts were getting an abnormally large number of referral e-vouchers.

The company later discovered that many of the referred accounts had invalid phone numbers. A review of internal logs showed that many of the fraudulent accounts shared the same device ID as the one associated with Aravindran's Marina Square membership account.

On Apr 17 this year, the deputy general marketing manager lodged a police report against Aravindran for cheating the company.

In the State Courts' statement of facts issued on Dec 3, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ryan Lim said Aravindran committed an amalgamated cheating offence under Section 420 of the Penal Code, read with Section 124 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Aravindran has made full restitution of S$27,915 to Marina Centre Holdings, he noted.

The prosecution had sought at least 22 months' jail for Aravindran, citing deterrence as the main sentencing consideration.

Aravindran could have been jailed for up to 20 years and also faced caning or a fine, or both.

SINGAPORE: Eight fresh faces are set to be appointed as new Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs), with CEO of apparel company Sing Lun Holdings Mark Lee Kean Phi to return for a second term.

The nine names were released by the Office of the Clerk of Parliament on Friday (Jan 2).

They will be appointed by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Jan 8, and take their oaths at the next sitting of Parliament this month.

The nine individuals are:

• Mr Azhar Othman, executive chairman of Enercon Asia
• Associate Professor Goh Toh Chuan Kenneth, President of Singapore Aquatics
• Dr Haresh Singaraju, family physician at National University Polyclinics
• Associate Professor Terence Ho Wai Luen, academic/university administrator
• Ms Kuah Boon Theng SC, managing director of Legal Clinic LLC
• Mr Mark Lee Kean Phi, CEO of Sing Lun Holdings
• Dr Neo Kok Beng, Founder and CEO of NEO Aeronautics Pte Ltd
• Professor Kenneth Poon Kin Loong, professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University
• Mr Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari, general secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees

The Special Select Committee had invited the general public and functional groups to submit names for its consideration on Oct 8. Submissions closed on Nov 6.

A total of 57 proposal forms were received, and the committee considered all eligible candidates in its assessment of suitable candidates for appointment as NMPs, said the Office of the Clerk of Parliament in a press release.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, Speaker of Parliament and the chairman of the committee, said they received applications from a "strong pool" of candidates. 

"Having to determine the maximum of nine NMPs to nominate is challenging and we deliberated very carefully on all the candidates. We are satisfied that these nine nominees meet the constitutional requirements, demonstrated by their distinguished contributions to society and in their respective fields. 

"We are confident they will strengthen and add value to parliamentary debates through their varied backgrounds and experiences, diverse perspectives, and commitment to serving Singapore and Singaporeans."

Leader of the House and member of the committee Indranee Rajah welcomed the new cohort to the 15th Parliament.

"They have made notable contributions in work, community and society, and excelled in their respective fields. I am confident that their diverse expertise and experience will enrich the discussions in Parliament as we chart Singapore’s path forward in an uncertain and disrupted world.

"It was a challenging task to select from the pool of many highly qualified candidates who applied. We wish to thank and express our appreciation to all applicants for the NMP position and are greatly encouraged by their interest to serve," she added. 

Up to nine NMPs, who are meant to offer alternative voices in the House, can be appointed to parliament by the president for a term of two-and-a-half years on the recommendation of the Special Select Committee of Parliament.

The other members of the committee are Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Desmond Lee, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Ms Sim Ann and Mr Louis Chua.

Under the Constitution, a person can qualify to be an NMP if they are a Singapore citizen aged 21 or above, their name appears on the current register of electors, has been a resident in Singapore for a period of not less than 10 years and is a resident on the date of their nomination for the role.

They should also be able to take an active part in the proceedings of parliament, and are able to speak and write at least one of the country's official languages.

The nominated person should also not have been disqualified from being an MP under the Constitution.

NMP NOMINEES EXPRESS GRATITUDE, LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING

President of the Singapore Aquatics Assoc Prof Goh said he was "deeply honoured" by the appointment and grateful for the trust of the special select committee and his nominators.

"I recognise that this is a privilege, and I approach the role with a strong sense of responsibility to contribute thoughtfully to parliamentary debate," said the associate professor of strategy and entrepreneurship (education) at the Singapore Management University.

The former national swimmer said his background as a business academic, educator, and in sport leadership and governance has shaped how he thinks about policy.

Assoc Prof Goh is a board member of the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 and a recipient of the Singapore Sports Council Scholarship and the Lee Kuan Yew Postgraduate Scholarship.

"As an NMP, I hope to contribute on issues relating to education and skills development, entrepreneurship and innovation, and the development of sustainable ecosystems for talent, particularly in sport and the arts. I am especially interested in how policies can support long-term capability building, widen access to opportunity, and balance performance with wellbeing," he added.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Prof Poon is the inaugural Lien Foundation Chair professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University where he serves concurrently as dean, research, as well as centre director of the Centre for Research in Child Development.

He received the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 2024. 

Prof Poon said he was "very humbled to be given this opportunity to serve". 

"I will contribute to the best of my ability, especially by bringing voice to those less heard, especially persons with disabilities, in raising conversations around how families may be strengthened amid social change, and in how we can support positive youth development. 

"Of course, I cannot do this alone and so I will need to count on the partnership of the many who work in this space," he added. 

On top of being senior counsel and the managing director of Legal Clinic LLC, Ms Kuah serves on the board of the Singapore Institute of Legal Education.

She is also a director on the board of Assisi Hospice, the president of the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents, honorary legal advisor to the Singapore Medical Association and the chairperson of the Safe Sport Disciplinary Panel.

Ms Kuah was awarded the Public Service Star in 2021 and the Public Service Medal (Silver) in 2008.

SINGAPORE: A traffic police officer was injured on Thursday (Jan 1) after a van driver's refusal to stop for a routine check sparked a chase in Choa Chu Kang.

In response to CNA’s query, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Friday that traffic police officers patrolling along Old Choa Chu Kang had signalled for the van to stop at around 5.20pm on Thursday. 

“The van driver refused to comply with the officers’ instructions and sped off,” said the police. 

The officers gave chase and during the pursuit, the van collided with a traffic police outrider. 

“The van was subsequently believed to have self-skidded at the junction of Choa Chu Kang Avenue 7 and Keat Hong Link,” said SPF. 

The Singapore Civil Defence Force told CNA that they had been alerted to an accident at the same location at around 5.50pm on Thursday, and two people were taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

According to the police, the 25-year-old officer and the van driver were conscious while taken to hospital. 

The officer is in stable condition and the van driver was later arrested for a slew of offences.

A knife, a baton, and items suspected to be controlled drugs and drug-related paraphernalia were found inside his vehicle, said police

The 34-year-old driver has been detained for reckless driving causing hurt, driving without a valid licence, driving without valid insurance, failing to stop when ordered by a police officer in uniform, using a forged licence, possession of scheduled weapons and various suspected drug-related offences.

“The suspected drug-related offences have been referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau,” said the police, adding that investigations were ongoing. 

SINGAPORE: Teachers and software developers remained among the most sought-after professionals in Singapore in 2025, driven by growth sectors such as information and communications, as well as financial and insurance services.

Data from the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) job vacancy and labour market surveys, released on Tuesday (Dec 30), showed that teaching and training professionals and software, web and multimedia developers topped the list of professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMET) vacancies in 2025.

Overall PMET demand remained high compared with a decade ago, accounting for more than half of all job vacancies.

As Singapore moves to further embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools, demand for specialised skill sets – including AI governance and machine learning – is expected to grow.

“SKILLS ARE THE NEW CURRENCY”

Industry observers say the strong demand reflects the growing premium placed on specialised and future-ready skills.

“Skills are the new currency of the labour market. These are not skills that are very easily available. They are core to Singapore's economic strategy,” said Mr Dhilip Kumar, head of strategic talent partnerships for Southeast Asia at Aon Consulting, a global human capital and risk advisory firm.

“For example, the infocomm media powers digital transformation across industries, while finance underpins regional trade and investments. Teaching and software development reflect the need for building the talent for the future,” he added.

Mr Kumar expects competition for talent to remain intense in 2026, particularly in sustainability, healthcare and AI governance.

“2026 will be the year of green jobs, health tech and AI risk related roles, because AI is on the rise, you will now need to factor in all the guardrails and governance is required … the premium war for scarce skills isn't going away at all.”

He added that demand for roles in AI, machine learning, cybersecurity and data risk and compliance will continue to grow as companies, especially in the finance sector, adopt automation and cloud computing.

COMPETITION FOR AI GOVERNANCE ROLES

The talent war is intensifying within the tech sector as well, and even general roles, such as software engineers and data scientists, are starting to list AI experience as a requirement, according to recruiters.

Tech companies are also creating new roles and seeking more employees with expertise in AI governance and cybersecurity, amid a shortage of such specialists in the market.

Human resource consultants estimate that demand for these roles has risen by about 5 to 10 per cent year-on-year.

“For strong candidates in the market, they often hold multiple offers on hand, which makes it more competitive to secure good talents,” said Ms Neo Miao Xia, a tech recruiter at Michael Page.

To ease manpower shortages, firms are willing to pay up to 20 per cent more for AI-related roles compared with general tech positions, with annual salaries ranging from S$110,000 (US$85,600) to S$210,000.

How quickly a role can be filled depends on its seniority and level of specialisation, said Mr Rumi Mohd, associate director at recruitment firm Randstad Singapore.

“If I can hire one every four weeks, I'm happy. But I would say this type of niche roles really depends on the level. So if you look at AI specialists or executives … I would say mid-level will probably take between one to three months.”

He added that recruiting more senior candidates with startup experience can take up to four months.

Recruiters also note a broader shift in hiring preferences, with employers placing more weight on practical experience and adaptability.

“Companies are moving forward from less of a traditional certification or degree, to the projects you have handled …  certification from different providers, which shows your tech capabilities … instead of formal education,” Mr Rumi said.

TALENT SHORTFALL MAY STIFLE AI AMBITIONS

However, industry players caution that Singapore may need to do more to nurture and attract sufficient talent to support its AI ambitions.

“I do not think at the current rate of our graduates, we have enough of those resources,” said Dr David Leong, managing director of recruitment firm PeopleWorldwide Consulting.

He pointed to China’s large graduate output and rapid expansion of its AI talent pipeline, contrasting it with Singapore’s smaller graduate base. 

“For Singapore to catch up right in terms of having sufficient talent … we have to be open to hiring more of such talent.”

At the same time, Dr Leong said schools will play a critical role in developing future AI talent, with AI expected to become more embedded in education.

“Students will be exposed to AI learning. AI will be part of the curriculum, and that will come very naturally,” he said.

“That also means that teachers would have to go through a lot of AI education to be able to impart to the students the use of AI.”

CONSTRUCTION TOPS NON-PMET DEMAND

Beyond PMET roles, MOM also highlighted the rising demand for non-PMET workers, particularly in the construction sector.

Construction labourers topped the list of non-PMET vacancies in 2025, driven by an uptick in infrastructure projects such as transport network upgrades.

Aon Consulting’s Mr Kumar said attracting workers to these roles will require a shift in how construction careers are perceived.

“To attract talent to these sections, we need to reposition some of these jobs as skilled and tech-enabled careers, highlighting the modern tools and safety standards that it might require for progression.”

Firms can also make such roles more appealing by offering structured training or linking them to sustainability projects, he added. 

“For example, take drones for construction or prefabrication digital safety with structured apprenticeship, so the discipline becomes much more lucrative,” he said.

SINGAPORE: A former employee of Cortina Watch on Friday (Jan 2) admitted to swindling customers through a staff purchase scheme in order to finance his credit card debt.

Soh Jian Kun, 33, pleaded guilty to four amalgamated charges of cheating. Another 13 charges will also be considered at his sentencing in February.

In total, he swindled S$494,583 (US$385,000) from 14 victims between September 2024 and July 2025.

Soh had worked at luxury watch retailer Cortina Watch since 2015, and was arrested when his offences came to light in 2025.

He started applying for credit cards when his salary rose after he was deployed to Cortina Watch's Marina Bay Sands store in 2017 or 2018.

At one point, he had about seven credit cards and began splurging on luxury items and travel, incurring debt.

He entered a debt consolidation plan after seeking help from Credit Counselling Singapore, but was unable to keep up with the plan.

Unable to change his spending habits even after borrowing from moneylenders, he decided to swindle victims ranging from friends to acquaintances to previous customers.

Soh knew the victims trusted him because of their relationships and his long employment at Cortina Watch, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Quek Lu Yi.

Cortina Watch had a staff purchase scheme where employees who had worked there for at least one year could buy watches that were "hard to obtain" on the open market for themselves or their next-of-kin, said Ms Quek.

This involved filling up a hard copy form with purchase details like the watch model, price and quantity.

Soh "was of the view that Cortina Watches did not closely scrutinise the purpose of the purchase under the scheme, and thought that this was a loophole he could exploit", said the prosecutor.

Knowing that such luxury watches typically had high resale value, he believed he would be able to convince people to buy watches through him using the scheme.

To maintain this ruse, he sent the victims forged receipts, forged copies of forms with Cortina Watch's company stamp and fabricated screenshots of conversations with the retailer's purported employees.

He collected payment from the victims, lying to some that they had to pay deposits of up to half of the retail price of the luxury watches upfront.

One such victim, Soh's friend from National Service, transferred S$181,350 to him to buy seven luxury watches made by Rolex and Patek Philippe.

"However, the accused never intended to obtain luxury watches from Cortina Watch for the victims. Instead, he used the deposit payments from the victims to repay his debts," said Ms Quek.

She added that Soh intended to refund his initial victims with deposit payments from subsequent victims. He planned to lie that the company had caught him abusing the scheme and would cancel and refund all the purchases.

However, this intended Ponzi scheme failed, said the prosecutor.

Soh eventually resigned from Cortina Watch. He cooperated with investigations and voluntarily gave details of victims who had not yet made police reports against him, said Ms Quek.

One of Soh's victims, a friend from secondary school, addressed the court in support of his application to recover S$26,100 from Soh.

The man said that their friendship was the key reason why he had gone ahead with plans to buy two luxury watches through Soh.

Apart from seeing Soh at work in the Cortina store, the victim said he had seen Soh's pay slip and even conducted a surprise check by calling the shop to verify that Soh worked there.

These were the reasons why he believed Soh's offer to buy the watches was legitimate and why he went ahead with the purchases, he told the court.

The man said that after paying an initial deposit of 25 to 30 per cent of the watch's retail price, he was progressively asked to make more payments.

He said that Soh's requests for money eventually shifted from deposits for the watches to financial help to tide him through his mother's hospital bills.

The man said that when Soh told him his mother had died, he considered this "quite serious" and gave Soh additional funds as he believed him.

Ms Quek urged the court to sentence Soh to 58 to 67 months in jail, while the defence sought a lighter sentence.

The judge adjourned sentencing for Soh's lawyer to submit proof that he does not have the financial means to compensate the victims for their losses.

Soh has partially restituted S$13,000 to two of the victims so far.

The punishment for cheating is up to 10 years in jail and a fine. The maximum penalty is doubled for amalgamated offences.

The Singapore Motorshow 2026 will return to the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre from Jan 8 to 11, as electric vehicle brands and new model launches take centre stage alongside celebrity appearances across the four-day event.

Spanning an expanded 21,000 sq m across four levels of the venue, the 19th edition of the event will feature 37 automotive brands, with more than 95 per cent of exhibitors showcasing electric or hybrid models.

Several major brands are expected to draw attention with high-profile launches and previews. BMW will launch the Skytop, a limited-production model with only 50 units worldwide, as well as showcase the Neue Klasse X concept car, which previews the next-generation iX3 that was recently launched globally in Munich.

BYD will preview the Tai 7 and present the new Seal 6 DM-i, alongside the BYD Shark, showcasing the brand's latest advancements in hybrid and electric technologies.

XPeng will launch the new G6 Air, its first Cat A COE model in Singapore. Visitors will also be able to view the brand’s full EV range, including the G6 SUV, X9 MPV and P7 sedan, as well as an appearance by the XPeng Iron humanoid robot.

Leapmotor will be showcasing its recently launched all-electric C10 SUV, adding to the growing number of newer EV brands competing for attention in Singapore’s market.

Hongqi is making its Singapore debut at this year's event. Distributed by Eurokars Group, the brand will unveil its flagship electric SUV, the E-HS9, alongside ultra-luxury models Guoli and Guoya. Visitors can also take part in an interactive activity at the Hongqi booth.

Other participating brands include Audi, Mazda, Nissan, Omoda, Proton, Toyota, Subaru, Volvo, Kia, Mercedes and Smart, among others. 

Beyond the cars, visitors can also look forward to meet-and-greet sessions with Mediacorp celebrities, including Elvin Ng, Paige Chua, Ayden Sng, Herman Keh, Cheryl Chou and Denise Camillia Tan.

Singapore Motorshow 2026 will also be packed with interactive activities, exclusive offers and experiential showcases where visitors can test-drive vehicles.

There's also a lucky draw, where one winner will drive away in a brand-new Dongfeng Box. 

Tickets for the general public are priced at S$10 via Sistic, with limited preview tickets available on-site on Jan 8. Children under 1.2m enter for free.

Visit the Singapore Motorshow website for more details.

A netizen recently kicked off a heated Reddit debate after pointing out a small but sore point about dining in Singapore.

In a post titled “Why Singapore eateries do not give tissue and water for free”, the person vented after returning from a holiday in Japan.

“It's standard issue no matter where I went, there is tissue and water served, no questions asked. Service charge was non-existent even in a restaurant. If there was any appetiser, it would be explained on the menu that there is a fee,” they wrote.

They then contrasted that experience with dining in Singapore: “Water is charged minimally at 50 cents and wet tissue also charged. Service charge is almost everywhere. Appetiser is sneaked in and charged at the bill, Chinese restaurants I'm looking at you. Is Singapore really a money grab due to the REITs? Or is there a cultural difference?”

Unsurprisingly, netizens had a lot to say.

Many agreed that in Singapore, “profit comes before customer service”, with some recalling a time when free water was the norm.

Others blamed rising costs. With rentals skyrocketing – especially in prime locations – eateries are “forced to charge for everything”.

One commenter summed it up neatly: “It’s a mix of culture and business model. Japan treats water and tissue as basic hospitality, while Singapore eateries rely more on add-on charges to survive high rents.”

Another was far less diplomatic: “It's because of greedy landlords.”

“There is an obsession with cost cutting and profit maximising in Singapore. Owners want to maximise profits so that they can afford their cars and condo mortgages. They will continue to do so if the consumers are okay with it,” another wrote.

Some argued that charging for water and tissues is simply the reality of running an F&B business here. While overseas eateries may operate at lower costs, family-owned restaurants in Singapore are often priced out – leaving only hawker stalls, while larger chains dominate the scene.

One netizen urged diners to push back: “Stop going to restaurants that has service charge but do not even give you tap water.”

They argued that proper service – greeting guests, offering water, checking on condiments – should be the bare minimum, and that diners shouldn’t accept service charges when these basics aren’t met.

Others suggested alternatives, pointing to Japan-owned chain Saizeriya, where water and tissues are still free.

That said, not everyone sided with the OP.

One commenter offered a counterpoint: “On the flip side, Singaporean customers are likely to abuse the system whenever there are free things. I see people taking serviettes at Starbucks and drinking free water without ordering anything.”

The issue is by no means a new one, and some F&B folks have given their views elsewhere. While some eateries such as Swensen’s, The Coconut Club and Paul do offer free tap water, it does come at a cost. “Utilities cost money and (when you offer free tap water), it often translates to reduced beverage sales, so it’s an opportunity cost at the end of the day,” Daniel Sia, chef-owner of the Coconut Club, had previously told CNA Lifestyle. 

One owner of a neighbourhood cafe, who declined to be named, also reiterated the current tough times as a reason for charging for water. 

“On a good month, eateries like ours make about 10 to 20 per cent profit. More often than not, we make a lot less, especially in this current economic climate. So we charge 50 cents for free-flow of tap water because every cent counts.”

In the end, the debate highlights the tug-of-war between rising business costs, customer expectations, and cultural norms in Singapore’s F&B scene – with no clear winner in sight.

Balancing fair service with business survival? Clearly, it’s not as simple as offering a free cup of water.

The original version of the story was first published in 8Days.

For more 8Days stories, visit https://www.8days.sg/

SINGAPORE: A father who reported himself to the police for using excessive force in child discipline was sentenced to 15 months' jail on Friday (Jan 2).

The 47-year-old earlier admitted to ill-treating his two sons. He cannot be named to protect the identity of the victims.

He had pleaded guilty to three counts under the Children and Young Persons Act. Another five charges were considered in sentencing.

The court previously heard that the man has two sons with his ex-wife aged 15 and 11.

The older boy has special needs, but is high-functioning.

According to the man's ex-wife, he would slap and pinch the boys, making them kneel and denying them meals as punishment.

In 2020, when disciplining his older son over an unspecified incident, the man pinched his chest, causing bruises.

In March 2020, the boy's tuition teacher noticed the bruises when the boy happened to pull his shirt up.

The then-nine-year-old boy said the bruises were caused by his father, and the teacher took a photo, feeling that this was "not normal".

While at home sometime in early January 2024, the man was angry at his older son for being rude.

He hit him multiple times and threatened to hit him with an object but his then-wife stepped between them to stop him.

The man also made the boy, then 13, kneel on the floor. The boy sustained bruises and scratches from the abuse.

In 2021, the man was angry with his younger son and told him to take off his pants and face the wall.

He then used a cane and forcefully hit the then-six-year-old's buttocks and legs multiple times, leaving marks and abrasions.

The man's ex-wife moved out with her two boys to ensure their safety after an incident in January 2024.

In March 2024, the man lodged a police report against himself for use of excessive violence when disciplining his older son.

Two months later, on the advice of a social worker, the boys' mother lodged a police report against the man for family violence, which she said had been occurring against her sons for the past five years with increasing intensity.

The prosecution had sought 16 to 18 months' jail for the man, while his defence lawyer had argued that the offences involved "misguided discipline" and not "unprovoked aggression".

The punishment for ill-treatment of a child is up to eight years in jail, a fine of up to S$8,000 or both penalties.

SINGAPORE: Singaporean households can claim and use S$300 (US$233) in Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers from Friday (Jan 2).

The vouchers, aimed at helping households manage cost-of-living challenges, will be divided equally for spending: S$150 at heartland merchants and hawkers, and S$150 at participating supermarkets.

As with previous rounds, one member of each Singaporean household can visit go.gov.sg/cdcv and log in with their Singpass to claim the digital vouchers.

Once claimed, an SMS from gov.sg will be sent to the registered mobile number, containing a unique voucher link that can be shared among household members. The vouchers are valid until Dec 31, 2026.

Announcing the launch of the vouchers at Punggol 21 Community Club on Friday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said that more than 24,000 heartland merchants and hawkers are on board the CDC Vouchers Scheme.

This is up from about 23,000 merchants that participated in 2025.

Eight supermarket chains are also part of the scheme. The participating supermarkets are Ang Mo Supermarket, Cold Storage, Giant Singapore, HAO Mart, NTUC FairPrice, Prime Supermarket, Sheng Siong and U Stars Supermarket.

Mr Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, said in his speech that while advance estimates show that Singapore's economy grew by 4.8 per cent in 2025, challenges lie ahead.

These include supply chains being reshaped, trade policies becoming more fragmented, technology such as artificial intelligence transforming businesses and jobs, and growth that is likely to be more uneven and uncertain, he said. 

"The CDC Vouchers provide immediate assurance and practical support, while the ESR (Economic Strategy Review) lays the groundwork for the future. Both go hand in hand,” said Mr Gan, who chairs the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce.

The Economic Strategy Review was launched in August 2025 to chart an economic blueprint to keep the country globally competitive in the long term. 

This tranche of vouchers was announced at Budget 2025, when Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that every Singaporean household would get S$800 in CDC vouchers to help offset rising costs.

The first S$500 in vouchers was disbursed in May 2025. In July, all Singaporean Citizens above 21 also received S$600 in SG60 Vouchers, while seniors above 60 received S$200 more.

Speaking at the launch, Mayor of the South West District Low Yen Ling said heartland merchants in the food sector remain a key focus of the CDC Voucher Scheme. 

Over half of the 24,000 participating hawkers and heartland merchants are from the F&B sector, said the Senior Minister for State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Trade and Industry. 

CDC vouchers have an average claim rate of more than 97.7 per cent across the past seven tranches in the last four years, she added. 

More than 1.3 million Singaporean households have claimed the previous tranche of CDC vouchers issued in May, representing a claim rate of 98.1 per cent, she added. 

As of Dec 31, households spent more than S$652 million of these vouchers. Out of this, about S$325 million was spent at participating hawkers and heartland merchants, and the remaining S$327 million was spent at participating supermarkets. 

Overall, households have spent nearly S$4 billion through the past seven tranches of CDC Vouchers and SG60 vouchers. Of this, around S$2.13 billion was spent through CDC vouchers since the nationwide launch of the scheme in December 2021.

ASSISTANCE FOR RESIDENTS

Notification letters will not be issued for this eighth tranche of the CDC Vouchers Scheme.

Instead, information on the claiming process will be available through digital platforms, social media, newspaper advertisements and community posters.

From Jan 2 to 15, SG Digital Office’s Digital Ambassadors and Silver Infocomm Wellness Ambassadors will be present at selected Community Centres and SG Digital Community Hubs to guide residents.

In the first week of the launch, over 500 volunteers from institutions such as the Institute of Technical Education, St Andrew’s Junior College, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Singapore Management University will also be deployed at high-traffic community centres. They will work alongside CDC ambassadors to help residents with the claiming process.

The People's Association (PA) and CDC said that members of the public should exercise caution when claiming the CDC vouchers.

Claiming CDC vouchers does not require residents to disclose any bank log-in details, transfer money, or install mobile applications from unofficial app stores.

Those who receive any suspicious messages related to gov.sg or CDC Vouchers should contact PA at 6225 5322.

The CDC Vouchers Donation Scheme is open until Jan 31, 2026 for households that wish to donate their unused vouchers to participating Institutions of a Public Character.

HOW CDC VOUCHERS HAVE HELPED

Ms Nurul Syakirah Binti Ishak, a Tampines resident, said the CDC vouchers have provided a "financial cushion" for herself and her parents in helping them with grocery costs. 

"I hope to see that CDC vouchers will be something that is sustainable and will be able to prolong in the coming years, because it's not only supporting residents, like myself, but also the local merchants and local businesses," said the 25-year-old, who is also a CDC ambassador. 

Mr Joe Chen, the general manager of Ai Muay Group, which manages six wet markets and a wholesale centre, has also reaped the benefits of the scheme. Since the wet markets started accepting CDC vouchers in 2022, they have seen a 30 per cent increase in traffic flow. 

Initially, there was some inertia towards adopting a new payment method. To address this, one manager was allocated to each market to guide tenants on how to use the CDC vouchers. 

Still, Mr Chen said he hopes to see a separate category of vouchers for wet markets. 

More people, especially the younger generation, are eating out and using food delivery. This translates to fewer people buying from wet markets, he said.

"And now with various prices going up, having one specific CDC component for wet markets especially, will actually help the wet market operators to actually survive and even thrive in these turbulent times," he said. 

Asked whether the CDC will relook the eligibility criteria for participating merchants after some retailers raised concerns about being excluded from the scheme, Ms Low said they take a "very balanced approach" and are on the ground to ensure that heartland shops are onboarded to meet the needs of Singaporeans. 

"I wanted to stress that we are paying a lot of attention in new HDB (Housing Development Board) estates to ensure that when the shops are opened, we take a proactive approach to evaluate whether the products and services are in line with the policy intent of supporting our residents in their everyday needs," she said. 

SINGAPORE: Private home prices rose by 3.4 per cent in 2025, the smallest increase in a year since 2020, according to a flash estimate from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) released on Friday (Jan 2).

The overall price increase in 2024 was 3.9 per cent.

Huttons Asia CEO Mark Yip noted that price pressures had alleviated since 2021, when prices grew by 10.6 per cent. 

These are "clear signs that the market has stabilised after several rounds of calibration from the government", he said. 

Prices also rose at a slower pace in the fourth quarter of 2025, increasing by 0.7 per cent, compared with 0.9 per cent in the previous quarter.

Non-landed private residential property prices slipped 0.1 per cent, reversing a 0.8 per cent increase in the third quarter.

“Prices of non-landed private residential properties in the Core Central Region decreased by 3.2 per cent, compared to the 1.7 per cent increase in the previous quarter,” said URA in a news release.

For properties in the Rest of Central Region, prices climbed by 0.7 per cent, up from 0.3 per cent in Q3.

Prices in the Outside Central Region saw the largest increase, rising by 1 per cent, as compared to the 0.8 per cent increase in the previous quarter.

“For landed properties, prices increased by 3.5 per cent, compared to the 1.4 per cent increase in the previous quarter,” said URA.

The flash estimates are compiled based on transaction prices submitted for stamp duty payment and data on units sold by developers up to mid-December. 

The statistics will be updated on Jan 23 when URA releases its full set of real estate statistics for 2025's fourth quarter.

SUPPLY FOR FIRST HALF OF 2026

Looking ahead, URA said that 4,575 private residential units will be tendered out via the confirmed list for the first half of the 2026 Government Land Sales (GLS) programme.

This is 50 per cent above the average confirmed list supply per GLS programme over the past decade, said URA.

The units are part of eight private residential sites.

An additional 4,610 units will be made available via the programme’s reserve list.

“Together, the total GLS supply of nearly 9,200 units in the first half of 2026 will be comparable to that in the second half of 2025,” said URA.

“Given the uncertain macroeconomic outlook, households should continue to exercise prudence when purchasing properties and taking on mortgage loans,” it added.

OUTLOOK

Private home prices are expected to increase moderately in 2026, said Ms Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist of Realion (OrangeTee & ETC) Group. 

"The number of new project launches is expected to be lower than in 2025, which may lead to fewer new sale transactions. Further, more than half of the new launches will be in the suburban area, where prices tend to be lower than in other market segments," she explained. 

Ms Sun also noted that more resale homes would be completed in 2026, which would invigorate and sustain buyer interest in the secondary market, possibly putting some downward pressure on private home prices. 

"Overall prices are projected to increase by 2.5 to 4.5 per cent for the whole of 2026, which is on par with the 3.4 per cent growth for 2025 and 3.9 per cent in 2024," she said. 

Mr Yip of Huttons said units in the Outside Central Region would make up around 59 per cent of units launched for sale in 2026. 

"In view of the high proportion of launches in the Outside Central Region, there may be more transactions in the S$1.5 million (US$1.2 million) to S$2 million range in 2026," he said.

SINGAPORE: Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat resale prices rose by 2.9 per cent in 2025, compared with 9.7 per cent in 2024, marking the slowest price growth since 2019.

The HDB resale price index, which reflects the general price movements in the resale market, remained largely unchanged at 203.6 in the fourth quarter, according to HDB’s flash estimate on Friday (Jan 2). It stood at 203.7 in the previous quarter.

This is the first time resale prices have remained unchanged since the first quarter of 2020.

"This follows four consecutive quarters of slower price growth for resale flats," said HDB in a media release. "Specifically, the last three quarters of 2025 saw price growth of under 1 per cent".

Resale volume in the fourth quarter of this year was 5,129, an 18.8 per cent decrease from the 6,314 cases recorded in the same period last year. 

It was the second consecutive quarter with a double-digit year-on-year percentage drop in quarterly resale volume, HDB said.

Meanwhile, total resale volume for the full year up to Dec 30, 2025, was 26,042, a 9.8 per cent drop from the 28,876 cases recorded in the corresponding period last year.

The last time annual resale volume declined was in 2023, when it fell by 4.2 per cent compared with 2022 - less than half the current rate of decline.

ANALYSTS' VIEWS

Property analysts expect the pace of growth of resale prices to moderate in 2026 compared with the previous year, as a large supply of flats reaching their minimum occupation period (MOP) is expected to boost supply.

“An estimated 13,484 flats are projected to reach their MOP in 2026, nearly double the number in 2025,” said Singapore Realtors Inc head of research and data analytics Mohan Sandrasegeran.

“This sizeable cohort is likely to introduce a larger pool of newer flats into the resale market, giving buyers a wider range of options with longer remaining leases and easing some of the supply tightness seen in recent years.”

ERA Singapore key executive officer Eugene Lim said HDB resale transactions should range between 26,000 and 27,000 units in the year ahead.

“This outlook is driven by two key factors: a larger pipeline of about 13,840 MOP flats entering the resale market and steady price growth, which may encourage more homeowners to sell,” he said.

Huttons Asia senior director of data analytics Lee Sze Teck said a reduced BTO supply in 2026 and 2027 may not be able to meet demand. This could drive some buyers to the HDB resale market.

However, the increased number of flats reaching their five-year MOP in 2026 will offer buyers more options, stabilising the HDB resale market.

Ms Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at Realion (OrangeTee & ETC) Group, said that anticipated lower mortgage rates, healthy income growth and population expansion may boost demand.

“An increase in premium flat transactions is expected, as more resale flats in mature estates will be reaching MOP in 2026,” she said. “All these factors are likely to soften the market impact from the supply surge and help prevent significant price corrections.”

“We expect HDB resale prices to rise by 2 to 4 per cent for the whole of 2026, which will be on par with the 2.9 per cent for 2025 but lower than the 10-year average of 5.1 per cent from 2016 to 2025,” she added.

OUTLOOK

HDB will launch about 4,600 Build-to-Order (BTO) flats in Bukit Merah, Sembawang, Tampines, and Toa Payoh in February.

It will also conduct a concurrent Sale of Balance Flats exercise comprising about 3,000 units.

“The government will continue to monitor the property market closely and adjust its policies as necessary to promote a stable and sustainable property market,” said HDB.

“Given the uncertain macroeconomic outlook, households should continue to exercise prudence when purchasing properties and taking on mortgage loans.”

SINGAPORE: A man accused of arranging a gathering with late lawyer M Ravi, where he allegedly knew drugs would be taken, received a fresh charge on Friday (Jan 2).

Shawn Loo Zhi Jian, 40, was given an additional charge of taking methamphetamine on or before Dec 24, 2025.

The offence carries a jail term of one to 10 years, a maximum S$20,000 fine or both penalties.

Loo now faces two charges in total.

He was charged last week with arranging a gathering with Mr Ravi while knowing that methamphetamine, a controlled drug, would be consumed.

This allegedly happened between 1am and 5am on Dec 24, 2025 at an apartment along Upper Boon Keng Road.

This offence carries a jail term of between three and 20 years, and up to 10 strokes of the cane.

Loo, dressed in a white shirt, appeared at the State Courts in person. He is out on bail of S$20,000.

The prosecution sought an adjournment of four weeks for the police to complete investigations. Loo's case will be heard again on Jan 28.

Mr Ravi, a lawyer known for taking on human rights cases and pro bono work, died on Dec 24, 2025. He was 56.

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and the police previously said that according to preliminary investigations, Loo said that he and Mr Ravi had met at his apartment on that day to consume drugs that allegedly came from both of them.

Loo had said that Mr Ravi began to exhibit concerning symptoms and became unresponsive after they allegedly consumed the drugs.

He administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Mr Ravi before calling for assistance.

Mr Ravi was admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital unconscious, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.

Follow-up investigations revealed that Loo may have deliberately disposed of some drugs before the police arrived at the apartment.

The police and CNB previously said that he has therefore also been referred to the police for a possible offence of perverting the course of justice.

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s economy grew 5.7 per cent in the last quarter of 2025, with the strongest growth reported in the manufacturing sector, according to advance estimates released by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on Friday (Jan 2).

The pace of growth is faster than the 5 per cent growth reported in the same period a year ago, and the 4.3 per cent growth recorded in the third quarter of 2025.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the economy grew 1.9 per cent, down from 2.4 per cent in the third quarter.

The manufacturing sector expanded 15 per cent in the fourth quarter from the same period a year ago, accelerating from the 4.9 per cent growth posted in the previous quarter.

Output expansions in the biomedical manufacturing and electronics clusters largely drove the expansion, said MTI, noting robust output growth in the pharmaceuticals segment and sustained demand for artificial intelligence (AI) related semiconductors, servers and server-related products.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the manufacturing sector grew by 9.2 per cent, compared with 11.1 per cent in the third quarter of the year.

Singapore's economic growth for the full year was 4.8 per cent, up from 4.4 per cent for 2024.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his New Year message that the economic growth for 2025 was a "better outcome than we expected", given fractured trade and geopolitical tensions globally.

He warned, however, that "sustaining this pace of growth will be challenging", and that Singapore cannot do "more of the same" if it is to be competitive.

Singapore in November upgraded its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to "around 4 per cent".

Advance estimates are largely computed from data in the first two months of the quarter, October and November in this case. They are intended as an early indicator and may be revised later when more data is available.

"SUPERCHARGED" MANUFACTURING GROWTH

DBS senior economist Chua Han Teng said the growth in the manufacturing sector was "surprisingly supercharged" in the fourth quarter, and outweighed the cooler performance by services and construction sectors.

Resilient manufacturing and trade-related services sectors contributed to the better-than-expected overall growth for 2025, he said, noting that the sectors handled the US tariff shock surprisingly well.

"The US tariff implementation in 2025 was staggered and proved to be less blanket and burdensome than initially feared," said Mr Chua. "Exports were also lifted by an artificial intelligence-related boom."

In a research note, Mr Chua described the manufacturing surge as "unsustainable", and said Singapore's trade-related activities are likely to be restrained in 2026 in tandem with a weaker global trade cycle.

The lagged effect of tariffs, downside risks of additional semiconductor levies and unwinding of frontloading activity will drag exports, and AI-related exceptional growth momentum is likely to ease somewhat.

Ms Selena Ling, OCBC chief economist, said manufacturing "led the vanguard" in 2025, though there was broad-based strength in the Singapore economy. 

Looking ahead, OCBC expects manufacturing growth to ease from its high base while construction is likely to remain resilient.

SECTORAL PERFORMANCE

The construction sector expanded by 4.2 per cent in the fourth quarter, moderating slightly from the 5.1 per cent growth in the previous quarter.

Growth was supported by an increase in both public and private sector construction output, MTI said. 

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the sector contracted by 0.4 per cent after expanding 0.7 per cent in the third quarter.

The group of sectors comprising the information and communications, finance and insurance, and professional services sectors grew 4.2 per cent year-on-year in the fourth quarter, extending the 4.5 per cent growth reported in the third quarter.

All sectors within the group grew, with expansion in the information and communications sector primarily driven by the IT and information services segment. The professional services sector was mainly supported by the head offices and business representative offices segment.

The finance and insurance sector grew across all segments, particularly the banking and insurance segments.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, this group of sectors expanded by 5.6 per cent, faster than the 1.8 per cent growth recorded in the third quarter.

The wholesale and retail trade, and transportation and storage sectors collectively grew 3.9 per cent in the fourth quarter from a year ago, up from 3.7 per cent growth in the previous quarter.

All sectors expanded during the last three months of the year, with growth in the wholesale trade sector benefitting from strong sales volumes, led by the sales of telecommunications and computer equipment, and electronic components amid the AI boom.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the wholesale and retail trade, and transportation and storage sectors as a whole expanded by 0.4 per cent, a reversal from the 1.0 per cent contraction in the third quarter.

Accommodation and food services, real estate, administrative and support services, and other services grew by 3.2 per cent in the fourth quarter, slightly slower than the 4 per cent growth in the third quarter.

All sectors posted growth, and the accommodation sector, in particular, expanded because of a rise in international visitor arrivals.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, the sectors contracted by 0.5 per cent, compared with 1.2 per cent growth in the third quarter.