With the Covid-19 pandemic still raging in many parts of the world and the possibility of mass international travel looking increasingly unlikely for this year, fewer Singaporeans renewed their passports or applied for new ones last year. A total of 320,709 passports were issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) last year, compared with... » read more
SINGAPORE – A full-time national serviceman (NSF) who duped the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) into disbursing $2,500 from the Temporary Relief Fund (TRF) for his benefit was sentenced on Tuesday (Jan 19) to 18 months’ probation. The court heard that Yee Jia Hao, 20, used his ill-gotten gains to gamble and has... » read more
SINGAPORE – When Singapore raised its alert level in response to the potential spread of Covid-19 on Feb 7 last year, event company Hydse started receiving cancellations or postponements of contracts. And while a few events went ahead before the circuit breaker was imposed last April, “June was bad”, said project director Nazran Ahmad. Please... » read more
After her first season in the Netball Super League (NSL) last year was prematurely terminated, Magic Marlins midfielder Tan Yi Jie was keen to make up for lost time this year. But she will have to wait as the first round of the tournament, slated to start next Saturday, has been cancelled due to the... » read more
SINGAPORE – Expelled from Queensway Secondary School a decade ago, sentenced to eight years’ jail in 2018 for drug-related offences, David (not his real name) could not stop the downward spiral. All that changed when he was given a shot at taking the O-levels while in prison. On Monday (Jan 11), the 25-year-old got his... » read more
SINGAPORE – Over the last six months, Mr Murteza Kaizar Zakir has worked as a trainee at tech company Neo Aeronautics, with his pay subsidised by a government scheme to help fresh graduates. He earns between $2,000 and $2,500 a month, and is hoping to be converted to a full-time employee by the end of... » read more
SINGAPORE – Singapore students once again came out tops in the latest International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma results released last Monday, outshining their global peers. Of the 99 students worldwide who attained the perfect score of 45 points in the exam last November, more than half – 55 – were from schools in Singapore. Please subscribe... » read more
Total share buyback transactions for last year amounted to $1.03 billion, with 100 primary-listed stocks conducting buybacks, said the Singapore Exchange. While the number of companies conducting buybacks was up by 20 per cent, the full year’s consideration represents a 75 per cent increase from $590 million in 2019. SEE BUSINESS
LONDON • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes winning the League Cup would be a “big step” in Manchester United’s development as he prepares for today’s semi-final showdown with Manchester City at Old Trafford. United went out to Pep Guardiola’s men in the final four of the competition last season, before also losing in the semi-finals of... » read more
LONDON • Premier League football and other forms of elite professional sport in England will be allowed to continue despite new national lockdown restrictions announced by the British government on Monday. Under Tier 5 restrictions, nearly 56 million people in England will return to a full lockdown, possibly until the middle of next month, to... » read more
SINGAPORE – The counsel for a woman who claimed the law did not apply to her when told to wear a mask in public amid the coronavirus outbreak has asked for the case to be adjourned to a later date. On Tuesday (Jan 5), lawyer Anil Singh Sandhu told District Judge Adam Nakhoda that he... » read more
SINGAPORE – Robinsons will close its last store at Raffles City by Jan 10, bringing 162 years of history to an end. Liquidator KordaMentha told The Straits Times that while the last day of operation will be no later than next Sunday, the actual last day may come sooner depending on stock levels left. “Discounts... » read more
The national handball team will look to make amends at next year’s SEA Games in Vietnam, with the sport listed among the 40 approved for the biennial meet. At last year’s Games in the Philippines, Singapore were whitewashed, losing all their four men’s group matches 2-0 to finish bottom of the inaugural beach handball event.... » read more
LOS ANGELES • The National Basketball Association (NBA) will take another step towards normalcy with the launch of its 2020-21 season that has installed the Los Angeles Lakers, bolstered by a flurry of off-season moves, as favourites to repeat as champions. After the league held the final three months of last season at Disney World... » read more
LONDON • When Fulham were awarded a penalty in the 36th minute at Leicester on Monday, fans watching at home might have been inclined to avert their gaze. So lamentable has the Cottagers’ recent record from the spot been that having a penalty awarded in their favour has become a poisoned chalice for whoever lines... » read more
SINGAPORE – A male primary school teacher is accused of committing indecent acts on a 14-year-old girl last year. Micky Ng Chee Siong, 38, whose case was last heard in a district court on Nov 12, now faces three charges under the Children and Young Persons Act. There is no gag order on the Singaporean’s... » read more
ATHENS • Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has backed his attacking players to hit top gear after sealing qualification to the Champions League last 16 with a 1-0 win at Olympiakos on Wednesday. City have scored 10 goals in four European games this season, as many as they have managed in eight Premier League matches.... » read more
LONDON • Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool could have no complaints after they wasted a chance to book their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, but took out his frustrations on broadcaster BT Sport for scheduling yet another early kick-off on Saturday. The hosts could have guaranteed qualification from Group D with a... » read more
Incomes in Singapore have continued to rise in the past five years, while necessities such as education remain affordable. The country also continues to be business-friendly and internationally competitive. These are among the key achievements of the public service up until last year in most cases, according to a new report released by the Ministry... » read more
LONDON • Everton’s in-form striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted a brace and midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure scored his first goal for the club as they beat Fulham 3-2 to return to winning ways in the Premier League yesterday. The Toffees took just 42 seconds to open the scoring, with Brazil forward Richarlison, returning from a three-match ban,... » read more