ASEAN’s external partnerships key to regional resilience: Vivian Balakrishnan
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has emphasised the importance of keeping good relations and partnerships with countries outside of ASEAN.
“They have helped to advance our shared prosperity, strengthen our resilience, and contribute to peace and stability in our region and beyond,” he said in a Facebook post after attending a series of post-ministerial conferences on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila.
He also reaffirmed Singapore’s support for the Palestinian Authority (PA), speaking with the PA’s Minister of Social Development Samah Hamad, and attending the Conference on Cooperation Among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development.
Sitoh Yih Pin, Patrick Daniel appointed as non-resident envoys to Maldives, Sri Lanka
Former MP Sitoh Yih Pin and media veteran Patrick Daniel have been appointed Non-Resident High Commissioners to the Maldives and Sri Lanka respectively, both receiving their letters of credence from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on July 21.
A three-term MP for Potong Pasir SMC until 2025, Mr Sitoh is a member of the Board of Management of the People’s Association since 2021, and non-executive director of China Taiping Insurance in Singapore.
Mr Patrick is currently the non-executive chairman of AlphaInvest Holdings and president of the Singapore Press Club, and also holds non-executive director positions with SBS Transit and SPH Media Trust.
S$4 billion to be invested into air navigation systems, including revamping Changi Airport control tower
Over the next 15 years, S$4 billion will be invested into air navigation systems, including air traffic control systems and revamping the Changi Airport control tower.
Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore director-general Han Kok Juan said the investments are aimed at meeting growing demand for air travel and strengthening Singapore’s position as a global aviation hub.
New law centre providing legal aid to those with special needs, mental conditions
The Inclusive Justice Law Centre, a pro bono initiative which provides legal aid to those with special needs and mental conditions, had its first branch of operations start at the MINDS Community Hub in Geylang Serai.
A community lawyer and a programme coordinator at the centre work with other social service professionals to assist individuals in need, who may have run into trouble when their behaviour is misunderstood by others or those who struggle with navigating the legal system.
Nightclubs to pay S$6.8 million in taxes and penalties for under-declaring garland figures
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has imposed over S$6.8 million in taxes and penalties on eight nightclubs for improper tax declarations of flower garland sales.
These garlands are bought by customers and presented to performers at the club as a show of appreciation. The performer usually receives a percentage of the amount received for each garland.
Fire breaks out at Serangoon Road Shophouse
A fire broke out at a shophouse along Serangoon Road on July 22, resulting in the evacuation of about 40 people in the surrounding buildings. No injuries were reported in the incident. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) stated that it was alerted to the fire at unit 562C Serangoon Road at around 9.30am. Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters found smoke emerging from the fourth storey of the shophouse. They used water jets to extinguish the blaze and to prevent it from spreading to adjacent shophouses. The fire was extinguished within an hour. Damping-down operations were carried out on the burnt area to ensure the fire did not reignite.
SAF explores quantum computing for mission, logistics planning
The Singapore Armed Forces has teamed up with tech giant IBM and the Defence Science and Technology Agency to explore quantum computing, which can be faster and more efficient than regular computers, to optimise mission planning and improve national security.
Beyond the military, the initiative highlights the potential for quantum computing to transform sectors like port logistics and finance by solving complex challenges. Experts anticipate quantum computers will reliably run complex algorithms by 2030, leading to breakthroughs in fields like artificial intelligence, medicine, and encryption.
Scammer jailed for collecting 1,600 gold bars worth S$412,000 from victim
Mr Turah Raju Subramaniam, 39, was sentenced to three years and two month’s jail on July 21 for his role as a runner for a crime syndicate, an offence he pleaded guilty to. The Malaysian was instructed to collect 1,600 gold bars worth over $412,000 from a 54-year-old Singaporean victim.
Scammers impersonating officials instructed the victim to undergo a “priority financial check”, where she would buy gold bars and pass them on to a plainclothes officer named “Bala Krishnan”, who was Mr Subramaniam. Although the victim alerted authorities later, the gold was never recovered.
Singapore passport ranked world’s most powerful again
Singapore holds its position as having the world’s strongest passport, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 192 destinations. The latest Henley Passport Index, released in July 2026, places the UAE, Japan, and South Korea in second place, with access to 188 destinations each. Afghanistan ranked last of 199 passports, with access to just 22 destinations.
New specialised hospital opens in Mandai to treat Singapore’s wildlife
Mandai Wildlife Centre’s new hospital focused on the rehabilitation of rescued native wildlife officially opened on July 22. While previous intakes of rescued wildlife have declined, largely due to greater public awareness, the new facility focuses on treating animals that need intensive, even round-the-clock care, especially young animals.
The centre also acts as a research hub, gathering critical data to fill knowledge gaps in native wildlife medicine. With a 62 per cent success rate for animal recovery and releases, the centre aims to serve as a regional training hub to advance applied conservation science across South-East Asia.
