Fans can now cast their votes for Star Awards 2026 as the annual popularity race officially opens ahead of the ceremony on Apr 19.

Voting for the Top 10 Most Popular Male and Female Artistes, Most Popular Rising Stars, My Pick! awards and partner-sponsored categories began on Friday (March 13) at mediacorp.sg/StarAwards.

This year’s ceremony, themed “Born to Glow”, marks the 31st edition of Singapore’s long-running awards show honouring local Chinese entertainment.

Two artistes will reach a milestone this year. Carrie Wong and Romeo Tan, who have each won 10 Top 10 Most Popular Artiste awards, will be inducted as All-Time Favourite Artistes, an honour given to those who achieve 10 wins in the category.

A total of 165 artistes are in the running across the three main popularity categories – 59 in each of the Top 10 Male and Female lists, and 47 in the Rising Stars category.

The Top 10 awards are open to artistes with more than five years of experience, while the Rising Stars category is reserved for those with five years or fewer in the industry.

Among the male contenders are Andie Chen, Ayden Sng, Desmond Tan, Jeffrey Xu, Richie Koh, Desmond Ng, Shaun Chen and Xu Bin. Female nominees include Paige Chua, Chantalle Ng, Dawn Yeoh, Denise Camillia Tan, Ferlyn G, Hong Ling, Tasha Low and Ya Hui.

The Rising Stars list features newer faces such as Abigail Chue, Benzo Zhong, Clement Yeo, Fiona Chua, Herman Keh, Jernelle Oh, Tyler Ten and Zhang Ze Tong.

Artistes qualify for the popularity awards through a set framework. To be eligible, they must have anchored at least two episodes of a programme as a lead or main host, or accumulated 13 episodes in leading or supporting roles across programmes or one-off specials. Performance Award nominees automatically qualify.

Public votes will account for 80 per cent of the final results, with the remaining 20 per cent determined by a nationwide popularity survey conducted by an accredited market research company. The voting results will be verified by professional auditors.

Beyond the main popularity awards, viewers can also vote in the My Pick! categories: Favourite CP, The Show Stealer, Most Emotional Performance and Most Hated Villain.

Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story features prominently across these categories, with nominations for Jesseca Liu, Tasha Low, Chantalle Ng and Dawn Yeoh, among others. Other programmes represented include The Gift Of Time, Fixing Fate and Another Wok Of Life.

Partner-sponsored awards like the Bioskin Most Charismatic Award will also return, alongside the BYD Favourite Male and Female Character categories, which recognise standout roles from the past year. Voters in the BYD Favourite Male and Female Character categories will be entered into a draw to win a BYD Sealion 6 DM-i plug-in hybrid SUV (excluding COE), with one winner to be selected via an electronic draw witnessed by independent auditors.

Voting for the Top 10 Most Popular Male and Female Artistes and Most Popular Rising Stars runs until Apr 19. During the first phase, which ends on Apr 18 at 11.59pm, users can cast up to 10 votes per account per day for the Top 10 categories and three votes per account per day for Rising Star. On Apr 19, unlimited voting will be available during specified hours.

Voting for Best Theme Song, the My Pick! awards, BYD Favourite Male and Female Characters and partner-sponsored categories closes earlier, on March 31 at 11.59pm.

For more information, visit https://www.mediacorp.sg/starawards.

Catch the Walk of Fame at 5pm and the Star Awards ceremony on Apr 19 at 7pm on Channel 8, Channel U, mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel. Backstage Live begins at 3.30pm on mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube channel. 

SINGAPORE: The reliability of the MRT network hit a six-month high in February as the performance of the North-East Line doubled, according to the Land Transport Authority’s monthly report on Friday (Mar 13). 

LTA publishes its reliability figures using a 12-month moving average of mean kilometres between failures (MKBF) - a metric that measures train reliability. It tracks the average distance that a train travels before it encounters a delay of more than five minutes. 

The overall MRT network’s MKBF increased to 1,740,000 train-km in February 2026 from 1,670,000 train-km in January. 

The overall metric was last at this level in August 2025. 

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It was boosted by the doubling of the North-East Line’s (NEL) performance in February. The NEL’s MKBF increased two-fold to 4,420,000 train-km last month from 2,210,000 train-km in January. 

The other MRT lines saw mixed performances. 

The Downtown Line (DTL) also saw its MKBF rise to 2,800,000 train-km from 2,790,000 train-km. 

However, the East-West Line’s (EWL) MKBF fell to 1,440,000 train-km from 1,450,000 train-km, while the Circle Line’s (CCL) MKBF also dropped to 1,800,000 train-km from 1,830,000 train-km. 

The North-South Line’s (NSL) MKBF remained the same at 1,240,000 train-km. 

LTA also utilises other metrics to measure rail reliability, including train service delivery, which tracks whether trains were operating according to schedule.

It is calculated by measuring the actual distance travelled by trains compared to the scheduled distance, and expressed as a percentage.

All MRT lines saw better train service delivery in February.

Train punctuality, another metric to measure rail reliability, calculates the percentage of train trips that are completed on time at the end of each line within two minutes of schedule.  

It is affected by service disruptions and other operational problems that do not result in a full stoppage of services.

Lower punctuality means train intervals are less regular, which can lead to longer wait times and more crowding.

Overall, the MRT network saw better train punctuality, although the individual MRT lines saw mixed results in February. 

The NEL and CCL had better train punctuality compared to January, while the NSL's, EWL's and DTL's punctuality fell. 

LTA has been issuing monthly updates since August last year to give commuters greater scrutiny of Singapore’s rail network, following a string of disruptions. Updates prior to August 2025 had been provided on a quarterly basis.

The reliability performance of Singapore's newest MRT line, the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), was not included in LTA's monthly report. 

This is because newer lines tend to operate significantly lower mileage since ridership is relatively low and trains are not run at more typical frequencies when compared with more mature lines.

Last month, LTA told CNA that longer service closures on the MRT could be implemented in the coming years as the authority and operators expedite upgrades to critical rail infrastructure across the MRT and LRT networks.

This came as the Ministry of Transport accepted a wide-ranging set of recommendations from the Rail Reliability Taskforce, formed in September last year after a spate of disruptions.

SINGAPORE: Fees for driving, riding and theory tests will increase from Friday (Mar 13), and will progressively go up over the next few years. 

This is due to rising operating costs, the police said in a news release, adding that driving test fees were last revised in 2016.

The revised fees are as follows:

Basic Driving Theory Test, Final Driving Theory Test and Motorcycle Riding Theory Test

• Increase from S$6.50 to S$7.20 (effective Mar 13, 2026) 
• Increase to S$8 (effective Mar 13, 2027)

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Practical Riding Test, Practical Driving Test and Proficiency Driving Test

• Increase from S$33 to S$40 (effective Mar 13, 2026)
• Increase to S$45 (effective Mar 13, 2027)
• Increase to S$50 (effective Mar 13, 2028)

The police said the fee revision applies to applicants who book their tests on or after the respective effective dates. 

Those who booked their tests before those dates will not be affected.

ROAD ASSESSMENT FOR CLASS 3C/3CA LICENCE HOLDERS

The police also said that those with Class 3C/3CA driving licences - which are for work permit holders and S-Pass holders who have converted their foreign driving licence to a Singapore licence - can book their mandatory road assessment from Friday. 

This applies to those whose employers have submitted declarations of support for them to take the Class 4/4P driving licences (for heavy vehicles) since Sep 15, 2025.

They will only be able to enrol for Class 4/4P driving lessons after passing the road assessment, said the police.

The traffic police introduced the mandatory road assessment requirement on Sep 15 to enhance road safety.

"The road assessment evaluates the motorist’s overall competency to drive a Class 3/3A motor car in actual traffic conditions, covering basic vehicle control, including mirror checks, signalling, speed control, positioning, junction navigation, interaction with other road users, and adherence to traffic laws," the police said.

All Class 3C/3CA driving licence holders whose employers have submitted declarations of support from Sep 15 will be contacted by the traffic police to proceed to the Singapore Safety Driving Centre (SSDC) to register for their road assessment from Friday.

The traffic police will conduct the road assessment at Woodlands Test Centre within SSDC.

The road assessment fee will be the same as the practical test fee of S$40, effective Friday.

This is also subject to the same progressive increase to S$45, effective Mar 13, 2027, and subsequently to S$50, effective Mar 13, 2028.

Additional fees will apply for the road assessment beyond the test fee, including vehicle rental and administrative charges imposed and determined by the driving school. 

Class 3C/3CA licence holders who fail the road assessment will not be allowed to enrol for Class 4/4P lessons.

“Their Class 3C/3CA licences will also be revoked given that they are found to be not competent to drive even Class 3/3A motor cars. They will not be allowed to obtain a driving licence of any class within one year of the licence revocation date,” said the police. 

SINGAPORE: More Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers have been redeployed from other areas of Woodlands Checkpoint to help with checks on travellers amid stepped-up security measures.

This means officers and resources are reassigned as situations evolve to areas where they are most needed, such as zones experiencing heavier traveller traffic.

ICA told CNA on Friday (Mar 13) that more X-ray lanes have also been opened at the bus arrival hall at Woodlands Checkpoint.

On Feb 28, ICA announced that security checks at Singapore's checkpoints have been stepped up amid the heightened global security situation, including recent developments in the Middle East.

These include checks on arriving travellers, cargo and conveyances at the land, air and sea checkpoints.

CNA spent about two hours on Friday morning at Woodlands Checkpoint observing checks at the bus arrival hall, as well as motorcycle and car lanes.

ICA said more in-depth checks are being conducted, but it could not provide specific details for security reasons.

However, the authority did say officers are spending more time examining passengers' belongings and inspecting vehicles.

At the bus arrival hall, travellers were required to pass their bags through X-ray scanners after clearing the automated immigration lanes.

Previously, officers would select some travellers for bag checks. But since Feb 28, the screening applies to most travellers.

Assessment and investigation officers were also stationed at the hall to identify travellers who may require further checks.

ICA said more riders are being stopped for more in-depth inspections. 

Some motorcyclists were asked to dismount and open their storage compartments for checks.

While such higher-tier checks are conducted on normal days, they are now being carried out more frequently, the authority added. 

Similarly, cars were also being pulled aside for screening.

Beyond inspecting the boot, officers were seen checking glove compartments and passenger seats. 

In some cases, drivers were asked to open the vehicle’s hood for further inspection.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Deputy Superintendent Sia Jian Hua, assistant commander of Woodlands Checkpoint, said that while these additional measures may result in longer wait times for immigration clearance, they are necessary to keep Singapore safe and secure.

“We seek the public's understanding and cooperation as we continue to do our best to safeguard our borders while facilitating the movement of people and goods through Singapore’s checkpoints.”

On Feb 28, the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader and plunged the Middle East into conflict.

Iran responded by launching retaliatory attacks against Israel and other countries in the Middle East.

Mediacorp has unveiled its slate of Hari Raya Aidilfitri programming for 2026, featuring variety specials, telemovies, children’s content and digital exclusives across platforms, including mewatch and Suria.

Leading the festive line-up is the annual Raya eve variety special Sinar Lebaran 2026, airing on Mar 20 at 9pm. Hosted by local actress and host Farhana M Noor and performers and content creators Hafidz Rahman and Zuhairi Idris, this year’s edition carries the theme “bagai sirih pulang ke gagang” (homecoming), celebrating the idea of Hari Raya as a cultural return to shared traditions and values.

The show will feature musical performances by iconic Malaysian singer M Nasir, along with local artistes including Taufik Batisah, Hetty Sarlene, Iskandar Ismail and Sufi Rashid. Comedy skits will be performed by local personalities such as Adi Putra, Era Farida, Hisyam Hamid, Najip Ali, Roslan Shah and Zack Zainal.

Other highlights include the children’s special JMJ Magika Raya, airing on Mar 21 at 10am. The show follows a young girl who, after quarrelling with her mother, is transported into a dreamlike world of Malay legends such as Hang Nadim, Radin Mas and Badang, where she learns about forgiveness, gratitude and togetherness.

Also airing on Mar 21 is the telemovie Mimpi Raya, starring Hafidz Rahman and Zuhairi Idris as cousins competing to impress their neighbour Aliza, played by Shazza. This will be her Mediacorp acting debut after winning the reality competition Berani Lakon!.

The film also features Malaysian veteran Jalaluddin Hassan as Tok Budi, with local veterans Hashimah Hamidon and Junaidah Eksan portraying the cousins’ mothers.

Beyond television, Mediacorp will roll out a series of festive digital and audio programmes. 

This includes Ini Baru Bujang Things Beraya! on Mediacorp Untukmu’s Instagram and TikTok on Mar 16, where content creator Zhin Sadali shares ketupat-inspired recipes and reflections on Ramadan and Hari Raya. 

Also part of the line-up is Diari Dayyan, Mediacorp’s first Malay microdrama on Mediacorp Untukmu’s TikTok on Mar 15. It stars Syarif Ahmad who continues the story of Ustaz Dayyan from the Mediacorp drama Keranamu Khadijah.

Radio stations are also joining the celebrations, including Raya eve programming at 9pm on Mar 20 on Warna 942 hosted by Noreha Bajuri and Elfie Rafiee with chats and classic tunes to spice up last-minute preparations. Also on Warna 942, look forward to a karaoke segment, Shiok Karaoke Berhari Raya, helmed by Sue Kassim on Apr 16 at 3pm. 

Meanwhile, RIA 897 personality Fadli Kamsani will host a special TikTok Live busking session featuring musician Kidzer Salim & Gang, bringing audiences a blend of current Hari Raya songs along with classics live from Rumifolks cafe.

Mediacorp will also release a refreshed version of its Hari Raya theme song, Ini Baru Raya! 2.0, featuring a rap verse written by Berani Lakon! finalist OmarKenobi. The track is performed by Kaki Nyanyi winners Izat Ibrahim, Myra, Sunny Jackson and Syaz Smooth, with choral backing by Ardwinda, who was the champion of the Piala Suara Serumpun 2024 dikir barat competition.

The full schedule of the Hari Raya programming is available on Mediacorp’s website.

Warning: This story contains details of abuse which are distressing.

SINGAPORE: The stepmother of a severely malnourished five-year-old girl who was beaten to death by her father was sentenced to six years and three months' jail on Friday (Mar 13) for joining in the abuse of the girl and her younger brother.

In sentencing, the judge said the case involves ill-treatment of especially vulnerable victims which stretched from hours to days to weeks to months.

"It is painfully ironic now to seek mercy when so little was shown to those two children," said District Judge Eugene Teo.

The 35-year-old Singaporean woman, who had her own children whom she looked after while the two kids were being abused, was dressed in black and remained expressionless at this statement.

She pleaded guilty to three charges which include ill treatment of a child and giving false information to the police. Another three charges were taken into consideration.

The girl, named as Ayeesha by the High Court so that "society may remember her", had been confined naked in a toilet with her younger brother for almost 10 months before her death, as part of several "naughty corners" devised by the offenders. 

The children suffered almost two years of abuse and neglect, eating their own faeces and parts of a mattress out of hunger. They were not taken to school, with their father giving various lies to the authorities about their attendance, while the stepmother's own children went.

Ayeesha died of a head injury in August 2017 after her stepmother complained about the children to their father, and the father responded by slapping the girl repeatedly such that her head tilted back awkwardly.

He carried out a second round of assault in the toilet where the naked children were confined after the stepmother complained about them again, this time punching both. He administered additional kicks, stamps and slaps on the girl, who later died in the toilet.

After the couple realised that Ayeesha was dead, they planned how to cover up the death. As part of the plan, the stepmother filed a police report claiming her husband had beaten and raped her, a lie she continued to perpetuate even in her High Court testimony during her husband's trial.

The father, then a 45-year-old man, was sentenced to life imprisonment last year, after failing in an appeal to reduce his 35-year jail term.

A gag order protecting the surviving brother, who is a year younger than Ayeesha, means the offenders cannot be named. The district court on Friday maintained the High Court's practice of lifting part of the gag order in order to allow publication of Ayeesha's first name. 

Ayeesha's brother was also seen by doctors after the case was uncovered and was found to be severely malnourished, dehydrated and with a weight lower than the third percentile of kids his age.

He was also found to be suffering from global developmental delay with social deprivation as a factor, was socially withdrawn and was unable to speak or stand on his own. 

Videos previously shown in court showed Ayeesha's brother looking on quietly while a fearful Ayeesha was being assaulted. In another clip, the kids appeared expressionless and listless, moving only when their stepmother told them to. 

The prosecution sought five to seven years' jail for the stepmother, calling her acts "inhumane" and "cruel", while acknowledging that she had pleaded guilty while her co-accused had claimed trial.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Maximilian Chew said that the extreme physical, emotional and psychological suffering the two children endured cannot be understated.

"A toilet is not a place for any human being to live in, let alone a young child. This was the place that the accused and the co-accused relieved themselves and showered in," he said.

"It was often wet and dirty, with faeces on the wall, and yet the two children were forced to live in that small and unsanitary space."

He said the numerous wounds and abrasions all over Ayeesha's body, including the patchy red and wet scald-like marks between and around her toes, illustrated the unsanitary conditions.

Her brother also had skin infections such as scabies and lower limb cellulitis, and his social deprivation resulted in global developmental delay.

The stepmother was represented by Mr Ashwin Ganapathy from the Public Defender's Office (PDO), who sought five years' jail.

Mr Ganapathy said that despite the vastness of the English language, he found it difficult to find the words to describe the tragedy before the court today.

He said a young life has been lost, and another has suffered great harm and other major psychological issues.

He said he agreed with the prosecution that the sentences must be stiff and send a message.

Mr Ganapathy said the PDO had carefully considered all the factors in suggesting a sentence that should not be seen as "lenient" but commensurate with his client's overall culpability.

He said the biological father of the children was the main perpetrator who ultimately had care of the two children, and his client's culpability must be assessed within the "proper hierarchy of duty and trust".

Five years would be an adequate sentence, he said.

In sentencing, Judge Teo said that while the court recognises that the betrayal of the father towards his own children was perhaps more deplorable, the abusive acts the stepmother participated in "remain gravely serious".

He thanked the PDO for its "measured" submissions and allowed the woman to speak to her fiance before being taken away.

BACKGROUND

Ayeesha's biological parents divorced in 2013. Ayeesha and her brother were placed in foster care by the Child Protection Service in June 2014. At around the same time, their father started living with their stepmother.

In early 2015, Ayeesha and her brother returned to the care and custody of their father and lived with the two offenders.

While their father was mainly responsible for them, their stepmother fed and showered them at times.

Their stepmother married their father on Valentine's Day in 2015. She had a daughter from a previous marriage, and later had three other children with Ayeesha's father.

After Ayeesha and her brother were returned to their father from foster care, Thye Hua Kwan - Tanjong Pagar Family Service centre continued monitoring the case to check on the two children.

The children were enrolled in a childcare centre to attend nursery sometime before March 2015, but were withdrawn by May 2015.

Their father gave various lies to case officers, including that the kids were living with the stepmother's mother, or that they were at another childcare centre.

He later stopped responding to any calls, messages or emails from case officers. When a case officer visited the flat, no one responded.

The children were initially given three meals a day consisting of bread, rice or instant noodles. But when their father started having financial difficulties in 2015, he bought fewer diapers and less food.

The two offenders reduced Ayeesha and her brother's meals to twice a day. Around this time, the children began playing with and eating their own faeces because they were hungry.

Towards the end of 2015, the offenders began hitting the children. They were then aged three and two.

In February 2016, when the stepmother returned to the flat from a period of confinement as she had given birth, she complained to her husband that Ayeesha and her brother always woke up earlier than them and often caused a mess.

They decided to create the first of several "naughty corners" to confine them. At first, the children were placed there when they misbehaved, but this became permanent - they were let out only to eat or bathe.

For around eight months from February 2016, the two children were barricaded in the first naughty corner measuring 90cm by 90cm and were given only diapers to wear.

In early October 2016, Ayeesha's father called the case officer and said he was unable to care for his children.

He asked for them to be placed in foster care as he feared he might harm them out of frustration.

The case officer informed the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and asked the father to take his kids to Thye Hua Kwan Family Service Centre the next day.

The case officer also asked him to get his neighbours or parents to help care for the children that night.

The next day, Ayeesha's father went to the family service centre alone and lied that his kids were with his mother.

The case officer suggested arranging to place the kids in foster care, but the father said he wanted to give them up for adoption.

During the process, the man lied again that the children were being cared for by his mother.  

An officer from the adoption service, Apkim Centre of Social Services (ACOSS), said the adoption process could not go ahead unless the children's biological mother also gave consent, or unless MSF helped to dispense with the need for this consent.

That same month, the two offenders shifted the naughty corner to the toilet in the kitchen. The kids were confined there for almost 10 months until Ayeesha died.

They were allowed to go out only during feeding time or when the offenders wanted to use the toilet.

The kids were kept inside naked and the toilet was often stained with their faeces.

Another officer from the family service centre took over the case in early November 2016. Ayeesha's father also lied to this officer that his children were staying with his mother.

In April 2017, the new family service centre officer visited the flat. The stepmother requested to step out of the flat to talk, and did so at a void deck.

The stepmother told the case officer that ACOSS was still processing the adoption of the two children. The case officer did not see Ayeesha, her brother, or their father during this visit.

In June 2017, the stepmother informed the case officer that her husband was following up with ACOSS on the adoption and requested that the family service centre close their case.

Since May 2015 when the children's father had taken the kids to the family service centre as required, he had not taken the children along for all subsequent visits.

He often lied that they were with their relatives, and no case officer saw the bruised and skinny children since the May 2015 visit.

Court documents said that had the case officers seen the children, they would have checked them for bruises or wounds.

AYEESHA'S DEATH

On the night of Aug 10, 2017, the stepmother went to the toilet and found Ayeesha and her brother sleeping on the toilet floor.

She told them to stand up and move their legs as they had not been moving the entire day while in the toilet.

The boy followed instructions, but Ayeesha refused.

The stepmother then complained to her husband about Ayeesha's refusal.

He went to the toilet, pulled Ayeesha up by her arm and smacked her 15 to 20 times on her face before subsequently going to bed.

At about 3am on Aug 11, 2017, the stepmother complained to her husband that Ayeesha and her brother were sleeping in weird postures.

The man went to the toilet and punched Ayeesha and her brother on their backs, before kicking and stamping Ayeesha's buttocks and shoulder. He turned her around and slapped her face three to four times.

He left the flat later to take the other children he had with the stepmother to school.

Ayeesha and her brother remained in the toilet until evening. When the stepmother entered the toilet at around 6pm to 7pm on Aug 11, 2017, she asked Ayeesha to turn away so she could use the toilet bowl.

Ayeesha did not respond. The stepmother tapped the child with her right leg, tapped her arm and sprinkled water on her face, but Ayeesha did not move.

Upon realising that Ayeesha's body was very cold, the stepmother shouted for her husband. He attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but the girl was dead.

The man then told his wife that he was going to clean up the evidence and told her to lie so she would not be implicated.

He carried out his plan of "forcing" his wife to have sex with him and punching her face so she could make a police report to shield herself.

After this, the pair placed Ayeesha's brother next to her lifeless body into a pram and took them to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The stepmother filed a police report according to her plan with her husband. She claimed that he had assaulted her and that this was not the first time it had happened.

She said she would be pursuing the matter and applying for a personal protection order. However, the circumstances she described were false.

For each charge of ill-treating a child by common intention with her then-husband, the woman could have been jailed for up to four years or fined up to S$4,000 per charge.

For giving false information to a public servant, she could have been jailed for up to a year, fined up to S$5,000, or both.

Singapore Blinks, the Blackpink Deadline official pop-up store has officially landed on our shores. This comes two weeks after the superstar K-pop girl group released their mini-album, Deadline, on Feb 27 after a three-and-a-half-year wait. 

The pop-up store is open now at level 1 of Wisma Atria from 10am to 10pm until Mar 31. 

Fans can purchase a physical copy of the third mini-album, Deadline, in the black, pink, grey and silver versions, the official lightstick and apparel including T-shirts, hoodies and ballcaps.

The pop-up also offers a character series with four characters themed after the Blackpink members – Jisoo, Jennie, Rose and Lisa – with items like a character lightstick strap, plush keyring, plush doll, face cushion and many more. Fans can even purchase Blackpink-themed clothing for these character dolls.

Advanced online booking is required for entry into the pop-up with walk-ins only being permitted depending on the crowd situation. Forty-five-minute slots will start from 10am with a maximum capacity of 50 attendees at a time. Each user can only reserve one slot per event day. To bring a friend, both must have booked a slot individually. 

Fans can book a slot on the KKTIX website (booking closes one day before) and will receive a QR code upon successful booking. All attendees are required to queue for entry at Wisma Atria’s level 2 entrance due to size constraints, where they will present their QR codes for verification and receive further instructions for entry.

The pop-up also brings along some benefits for Blinks. For every S$50 spent on official merchandise, fans will receive one random special postcard from a set of four, while stocks last.

With every album purchased in the black, pink and grey versions, fans will also receive one of four random exclusive selfie photocards along with one of four random shared individual jacket photocards.

For every silver version purchased, fans will receive one of four random exclusive selfie photocards together with four exclusive selfie photocards.

With the lead single Go, Deadline topped the iTunes Top Albums chart in 32 regions and debuted at No 2 on the Billboard's Top Album Sales chart. 

According to Hanteo, the world's only real-time music chart for K-pop, Deadline broke the record for the highest first-day sales of any girl group album on the chart and the record for the highest first-week sales by a female artist in the chart’s history.

Blackpink's Deadline pop-up store is open from now until Mar 31 at Wisma Atria Level 1. Advanced online booking is required for entry. 

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s esports community now has a home base and big ambitions to match.

A newly opened national training centre at GR.iD mall in Selegie will anchor preparations for this year’s Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, where esports will feature 11 medal events.

Further ahead, the focus is on building a strong Team Singapore contingent for the 2029 SEA Games on home soil.

The 600 sqm training centre is equipped with more than 100 gaming stations and a competition arena that can seat up to 150 spectators.

Its launch last month came as parliament passed a Bill in January to formally recognise gaming as a sport.

Mind sports such as chess and bridge were also formally recognised under changes to the Singapore Sports Council Act, which updated Sport Singapore’s role to support a wider range of sporting aspirations.

The training centre is run by the Singapore Esports Association (SGEA), Singapore’s national sports association for esports.

A BOOST FOR ASPIRING PLAYERS

The move has been welcomed by current and former players.

“It was a bit bittersweet for me, because I'm already pretty old … considered old for an esports athlete,” said Mr Benedict "Benkai" Tan, 29, a former professional gamer. 

“I wish that it would have come earlier when I was younger. But I think it's a very exciting thing for new and upcoming talents in Singapore. It's becoming more of a viable career option for them, which is exciting to see,” he added.

Mr Tan, who has about a decade of experience in the industry, now coaches at Motiv Esports, a local esports organisation, where he helps to develop Singaporean and Malaysian talent.

He said government recognition and media coverage of players’ achievements overseas could help inspire the next generation to pursue esports more seriously.

EYES ON THE ASIAN GAMES

With the Asian Games taking place in September, there is little time to start from scratch, said SGEA president Ng Chong Geng.

The association is working with selected coaches to pick and prepare players for specific titles at the Games.

“In some cases, we'll also open qualifiers. And the winning team, we'll work out with them and their coach a process for training, and also for making sure that they are ready for the Games,” he added.

Beyond elite training, SGEA plans to identify younger talent through boot camps for teenagers and children, to assess whether they can develop into future esports athletes.

BUILDING TOWARDS SEA GAMES 2029

Further ahead, with Singapore set to host the 2029 SEA Games, SGEA wants to make sure both teams and supporters are ready.

Mr Ng said that the association is working with regional partners to harmonise game titles for the event, so countries can train their athletes with greater certainty.

Singapore’s preparations must also begin early, Mr Ng stressed, starting with identifying the titles where its players have the best chance of success.

“What we must do is identify the titles we believe that (we) will be good at, and after that, start building the team … We have the time to make sure that the team which comes up for that will be the best,” he said

Beyond performance, Mr Ng hopes to foster stronger community support for local teams.

The association is also exploring grassroots efforts such as community events and watch parties to bring players and fans together.

It began, curiously enough, with a volunteer stint tutoring maths. In 2019, Sapna Kewalramani Malhotra started helping a girl from a financially challenged background with Secondary 2 maths. But after only a few months, she stepped back. 

Kewalramani genuinely wanted to help, but she was not trained to teach maths. Surprisingly, the volunteer manager who had paired them suggested Kewalramani help the girl’s mother, Nooril Azurah Suntek Noor, instead. 

Azurah has five children, including one with special needs, making it difficult to hold a full-time job. She was living in a small rental flat and supporting her children by baking delicious Nutella tarts from home. 

But she was not earning much – around a couple of hundred dollars monthly. She needed to earn more.

Having previously run a branding and illustration home business, Kewalramani began mentoring Azurah. Every week for the next few months, she sat with Azurah, who came with her infant, discussing pricing, product differentiation, packaging and branding. Azurah’s business Qwalaaa grew.

A few months later, the volunteer manager introduced Kewalramani to another financially challenged woman running a home-based Malay food catering business. Then, Kewalramani got to know a third woman selling murukku part-time.

The community grew. And volunteers with entrepreneurial, marketing, communications, finance, and photography experience started pouring in to help.

That is how Rise and Thrive began in 2019.

A volunteer-led initiative, it has since grown into a charity in 2025. It has helped 91 women from lower-income households with small home-based businesses work towards financial stability through a structured training and mentorship programme, and community support. 

These include food businesses, beauty services like facials and manicures, and craft businesses like sewing and crocheting. 

Qwalaaa now frequently takes larger corporate orders and repeat catering orders, and Azurah has since moved out of her rental home into her own Housing Development Board flat, supported by her family’s hard work and earnings.

WHEN FULL-TIME WORK ISN’T POSSIBLE

The path to founding the charity was not entirely accidental. 

Kewalramani, 40, a British national and Singapore permanent resident is from a well-established entrepreneurial family in Singapore. In 2018, she joined her family foundation Kewal Ramani Foundation (KRF) as director of grants.

The foundation supports education, health, and initiatives for women and children in India, Singapore, Nigeria and the United Kingdom. In India, Kewalramani oversees the foundation’s grants, holding quarterly reviews with partners and advising on projects. In Singapore, however, KRF’s involvement had been limited to financial donations.

Wanting to make a deeper impact, Kewalramani began attending workshops and courses under the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre’s Company of Good initiative that helps companies give back to society in more structured and meaningful ways. She also volunteers with South Central Community Family Services, starting with maths tutoring, and now serving on its board as director.

Her family foundation role and on-ground work helping women to grow their home-based businesses revealed a gap. 

“As a foundation, we could give grants to wonderful organisations working to help women go back to employment, where income is a lot more stable than running a small business,” she told CNA Women.

These organisations do a lot to make employment happen for these women – working with employers, supporting mindset shifts, and sometimes providing help with childcare, she said. 

Yet many of the women drop out of these jobs over time as they need to be physically present to provide stability for their family and children – something they could not do with a full-time job, Kewalramani added.

“If you are out of the house from nine to seven, and your children are latchkey kids, playing up behaviourally, not thriving in the education system, or if you’re married to someone who is not so whole and is struggling… If all of that is crumbling, what is the point of that financial stability journey?” she questioned. 

A stable home is the foundation on which financial stability is built, she said.

As a mother of two daughters aged 11 and eight, Kewalramani personally relates to this. 

Previously a civil servant, she took a career break from 2015 to 2018 to be present for her then young children when her husband was training to be an orthopaedic surgeon. During that time, she ran her branding and illustration business. 

Kewalramani acknowledged that her financial situation and family support were entirely different from the women she supports. But that inspires her to work even harder for them.

“I watch other women have a completely different set of cards dealt to them. 

“Some may not have a husband in the picture, or they may have one who is not very reliable. Some have multiple children or children with special needs. Some may not have gone through the whole education system, and may be less hireable, or have confidence issues,” she said.

Despite their differences, Kewalramani feels connected to these women as a mother and woman, and empathises with their struggles. 

“In dark moments, you just need someone to remind you that you are very capable, give you tools and resources, and open doors for you to see your capability,” she said.

BUILDING INCOME BEYOND A 9-TO-5

That is what Rise and Thrive seeks to do for these women – whom she calls Risers – over a three-year journey.

During the first six months, Risers learn business essentials such as branding, pricing and marketing from a mentor. 

After this, they are connected to corporate and consumer sales opportunities through the charity’s network. They may also benefit from additional programmes such as book-keeping to further strengthen their financial literacy.

They then graduate into the alumni programme one-and-a-half to two years later, where they will have access to more self-improvement programmes, represent Rise and Thrive as ambassadors, and may even share some of their learnings with other Risers.

Risers are referred to Rise and Thrive via social service agencies in Singapore. Two full-time staff, an intern, and more than 100 volunteers support this community. 

To qualify, the per capita income of the Riser’s home has to be below S$1,600, they must have access to a tablet or laptop and a phone, be able to speak basic business English, have a marketable skill or product, and show commitment. 

Each woman goes through an interview and selection process. Last year, the charity accepted 20 Risers out of 47 referrals because of limited mentor capacity. This year, the charity has 30 spots. 

The Riser community is diverse. It encompasses teenage mothers, grandmothers, women whose husbands are incarcerated, former offenders and single women struggling with physical or mental health challenges. 

The charity invests S$6,000 in each woman over three years, funded by grants, public donations, corporate partnerships, and earned income from its programmes and corporate engagements. In March 2026, public donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Tote Board’s Enhanced Fund-Raising Programme, a government-backed scheme.

After going through the programme for a year or so, Risers typically earn an average monthly revenue of S$1,300, which helps them tide over the period when they are unable to take on full-time work for family or personal reasons. Many do end up going back to full-time work a few years later when they are able to, said Kewalramani.

The business-building process has also been transformative for Risers, she added. 

Home baker and founder of Chitz Bakez, 47-year-old Chitra Munusamy, said the programme has helped her grow her business and confidence. 

The mother of three children aged 22, 20 and 18 told CNA Women that her late husband had been in and out of prison for most of the 22 years of their marriage. Wanting to be present for her children during this turbulent period, she gave up full-time work and took on temporary or part-time administrative or factory jobs. 

An avid baker since her teens, she also sold homemade cookies, cakes and desserts to family, friends and customers through social media to supplement her income.

When her husband died in 2021, she did not allow herself time to grieve, instead, she threw herself into baking to support her girls. Joining Rise and Thrive a year later helped her expand her business and inspired her to develop more interesting products.

Some of her most popular bakes include Masala Chai Cookies; Pineapple Tarts infused with cinnamon, anise seed and pandan; and Rose Butter Cookies with white chocolate drizzle and rose petals.

“I want to introduce more unique bakes, just like how I tell my daughters not to be afraid to be themselves and stand out,” she said. “I bake with a lot of love and extra care. I don’t want people to buy from me out of pity. I want to make the best products so that people who eat them feel good.”

Such stories of grit and courage keep Kewalramani going. And she makes it a point to share these stories with friends and acquaintances whenever she gifts items made by Risers, bringing these treats to dinners and parties.

“We live in Singapore, where it’s so easy to buy things anytime, anywhere. So, when you support a small, home-based business, you might feel that it is a bit more work. You have to send a WhatsApp message, place the order and pick it up yourself,” Kewalramani acknowledged. 

“But there is a ripple effect of what that purchase does for someone’s confidence and their family. When you purchase consciously, host consciously, gift consciously, you are investing in women who invest in themselves,” she said.

SINGAPORE: The second Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft deployed to Saudi Arabia to evacuate citizens stranded in the Middle East arrived in Singapore on Friday (Mar 13).

A total of 81 Singaporeans and their dependents were on the flight from Jeddah to Singapore, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said in a news release.

"After prioritising and catering for Singaporeans who registered, available seats were also extended to nationals from Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam," the ministry said.

"This is in the spirit of solidarity, just as how other countries have assisted Singaporeans in returning home in past crises."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said 42 students studying in Jordan were among those who returned to Singapore on Friday, adding that it had arranged their overland transport to Jeddah.

A recent university graduate told CNA that the entire bus journey from Jordan to Jeddah took about 26 hours. Recounting his experience when the Middle East conflict broke out, he said he was very scared.

“I was more nervous because of the uncertainty of the conditions," he added. "Thanks to MFA and everyone who was part of the team who really helped us, gave us reassurance.”

Another student who arrived on Friday said she was studying for her A-Levels and was currently separated from her mother.

"She still plans to work there in the Middle East ... but I have to start school," she said.

She added that the first evacuation flight from Riyadh was "busy". "A lot of seats were filling up fast, but thankfully, I got on this one," she said.

Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim said that the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will engage those who are studying in the Middle East to help them navigate the disruptions to their studies.

"Some have just begun studies in their first year, while others are in their final semester and are close to completing their studies. So naturally, they are concerned about disruptions to their studies and what this may mean for their plans," he said at Changi Airport.

Assoc Prof Faishal noted that the situation in the Middle East remains uncertain. 

"This episode is a reminder that circumstances abroad can change very quickly. MFA has advised Singaporeans to defer all travel to the region due to security concerns ... disruptions to flights," he added. 

"Singaporeans who are in the region should remain vigilant, monitor developments closely, follow the instructions of local authorities and heed MFAs travel advisories."

A Bruneian man travelling with his wife and three children told CNA after arriving at Changi Airport that the Brunei embassy had informed him about available seats on the second RSAF flight. 

He said he was very grateful for the assistance, describing the process of getting onto the flight as "very well organised and straightforward".

"It's one thing to provide an evacuation flight for your own citizens, but it's another thing to provide an evacuation flight for citizens of neighbouring countries as well," he said.

A Portuguese man and his wife, who is Singaporean, also expressed his gratitude to the Singapore authorities. 

"Saudi Arabia is fairly safe, but the closure of the airspace has resulted in few commercial flights left. And so it's great for the Singaporean government to have organised this ... It gave a lot of options to other people, even from outside Singapore, like myself," he said.

Over the two evacuation flights conducted by the RSAF, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has successfully supported the return of 299 Singaporeans and their dependents from the Middle East, MINDEF said.

Singapore had also previously mounted two repatriation flights out of Muscat, Oman. The flights served Singaporeans in Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

It had also arranged a flight to Oman for foreign visitors affected by the airspace disruptions.

Additional reporting by Eugene Chow and Sherlyn Seah

SINGAPORE: The Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc) has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh.

According to the public hearing list, a case management conference between LawSoc and Mr Singh was scheduled for Thursday (Mar 12) afternoon in a Supreme Court chamber.

The listing states that the nature of the case is: Others (disciplinary proceedings for advocates and solicitors of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Singapore).

CNA understands that the case is linked to Mr Singh's conviction over lies told by former Member of Parliament Raeesah Khan.

LawSoc was represented by a team of lawyers from Drew & Napier, including its chief executive officer, Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull.

The listing indicated that Mr Singh was self-represented.

A case management conference takes place away from the public and media in the early stage of proceedings for the purpose of managing proceedings efficiently, such as by narrowing issues.

For disciplinary issues involving lawyers, LawSoc typically brings charges against the lawyer and a disciplinary tribunal rules on whether the lawyer is guilty or not.

This is followed by a hearing by the Court of Three Judges, where sanctions are imposed if the lawyer is found guilty. Sanctions can range from a fine, suspension to striking out.

CNA has confirmed that Mr Singh listed in the hearing is the WP chief. 

LawSoc and Mr Singh have also been contacted for more information.

A search by CNA on Friday morning for Mr Singh's name on the Ministry of Law's website listing lawyers and law practices yielded no result.

The case comes after Mr Singh lost his appeal against his conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee.

This was in relation to a lie by former MP Raeesah Khan.

He was convicted and sentenced to a total fine of S$14,000 (US$10,700). The fine, at S$7,000 per charge, did not disqualify him from being a member of parliament as it did not meet the threshold for disqualification.

Mr Singh paid his fine in full the day his appeal was dismissed.

After the appeal was dismissed, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong removed Mr Singh as the Leader of the Opposition.

WP later rejected the role after being asked to nominate a replacement.