ISAS dialogue discusses how AI can enable better economic and people-to-people interactions between Singapore and India
The 17th India-Singapore Strategic Dialogue public forum (ISSD), organised by the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore, focused on how AI can be used to bridge the countries and their people.
The panel was chaired by Mr Benjamin Ang, head of the Centre of Excellence for National Security and Future Issues and Technology and head of Digital Impact Research at Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS)
The guests included co-chairman (India), 17th ISSD Mr Rajan Navani, who is also the Chairman of Ananta Aspen Centre and Chairman and Managing Director, JetSynthesys (Jetline Group of Companies); founder and chief architect of Aarnâ Protoco Mr Srikumar Misra; editor of The Straits Times Mr Jaime Ho; and senior fellow at RSIS Ms Asha Hemrajani.
Singapore steps up haze precautions
Haze wards, care packs with coconut water and child-size masks are some of the efforts organisations are preparing for vulnerable communities affected by the oncoming haze.
These measures come amid worsening air quality caused by forest fires in Indonesia, though the fires are likely worsened by the El Nino weather phenomenon, which is associated with drier-than-usual weather.
Temasek-backed Sembcorp’s India renewables unit files for $500 million IPO
Indian renewable energy arm of Temasek-backed Sembcorp Industries, Sembcorp Green Infra, has filed for an initial public offering in Mumbai to raise up to approximately $500 million. Sembcorp Green Infra, which builds, owns and runs wind and solar power plants across India
This is Sembcorp’s second attempt to take its Indian energy business public and comes as India’s IPO market sees signs of revival after a muted first half of the year.
Restaurant chef sexually assaulted girl, 11, while staff and customers present
Kassim Juhamat, a 63-year-old chef, sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl in a restaurant for about half an hour while other staff and customers were present.
He was sentenced to 8 and a half years’ jail on Aug 26, after pleading guilty to a charge of sexual assault by penetration. Three other charges for sexual offences against the victim in the same incident in June 2025 were considered during sentencing – two for molesting her and one for committing an obscene act with her.
Over $410m lost to scams in first half of 2026
Scam losses for the first six months of this year have amounted to over $410.6 million, a significant drop compared to the same period in 2025, which had an amount of $500.2 million.
The police said there were significant dips in the number of cases for certain scam types like insurance services, fake friend call and phishing scams in the first half of 2026.
Measures that led to the drop included efforts to prevent and block scammers from reaching victims by directing Apple, Google and Meta to implement anti-scam measures on their platforms.
AI will drive Singapore’s economic growth, but may not fuel job creation as before: Minister Tan
During the Ministry of Trade and Industry Economic Dialogue on Aug 26, Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) Tan See Leng said the Government recognises that artificial intelligence and automation may allow firms to produce more with fewer workers.
“What we will do is to make sure that all of our AI adoption, always at the core, is human-centric,” he said.
Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore committed to ensure the Malacca and Singapore straits remain free, open
Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said that Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are committed to ensuring the Malacca and Singapore straits remain free, open and safe for all seafarers.
The three littoral states and other partners regularly upgrade infrastructure like navigational aids that guide ships through the straits today, such as deploying virtual navigational aids which convey information to ships when physical aids are under maintenance.
Singaporean injured after tour bus overturns on Malaysia’s North-South Expressway near Melaka
A tour bus travelling near Melaka, on Malaysia’s North-South Expressway, veered off the side and overturned, injuring three passengers including a 62-year-old Singaporean.
Preliminary investigations found that a lorry ahead of the bus had slowed down, Jasin district police chief Lee Robert Lee said. “The bus driver tried to avoid hitting the lorry before veering off the road to the left,” Malaysian news agency The Vibes reported him as saying.
Work on Tuas checkpoint automated clearance to cause some closed lanes
Car drivers heading to Malaysia via Tuas Checkpoint may face some temporary lane closures from Sept 1 when works on a new automated border clearance system begin.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a Facebook post on Aug 26 that construction works are expected to last until late 2027.
The planned construction works involve the removal of existing car counters manned by ICA officers, which will be replaced with Automated Passenger Clearance System lanes.
Trio Charged With Harbouring Indian Overstayers
Three individuals were charged by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Aug 27 for harbouring immigration offenders in separate cases.
The ICA accused Indian nationals Patil Shubham Bhagwan, Laddi, and Chumber Dheeraj Kumar in three separate cases of harbouring immigration offenders with reckless disregard as to whether their stay in Singapore was valid.
