World’s most powerful passports: Singapore shares top spot with 5 other countries
The Republic no longer holds sole claim to having the world’s most powerful passport, sharing the distinction in 2024 with five other nations, according to the latest ranking published by the Henley Passport Index.
The six countries – France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Spain – have visa-free entry to 194 out of 227 travel destinations.
In 2023, Singapore took the top spot with visa-free access to 192 destinations. Germany, Italy and Spain were second, with 190.
O-level results: 86.8% of students get 5 or more passes in record performance
Students who sat the O-level examinations in 2023 fared better than previous cohorts, achieving the best set of results in at least three decades.
Out of the 23,503 students who received their results on Thursday, 20,389 or 86.8 per cent of them attained five or more passes. This is up slightly from 86.2 per cent in 2022, and 85.6 per cent in 2021.
The Ministry of Education and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board said that 96.7 per cent of the class of 2023 passed at least three or more subjects. Nearly all the candidates, or 99.8 per cent, passed at least one subject.
7 people charged after they allegedly sold bank accounts to criminals
Five men and two women were charged in court on Thursday over their suspected involvement in money mule activities, including facilitating unauthorised access to computer materials.
The accused individuals allegedly sold or rented their bank accounts to criminal syndicates for as much as $3,000.
They are believed to have deceived banks into opening accounts before handing over the ATM cards and Internet banking PINs to criminal syndicates.
8 infants in Tanjong Pagar pre-school affected in stomach flu outbreak
Eight children in Haven Infant and Toddler Centre Tanjong Pagar have experienced gastroenteritis symptoms, including diarrhoea and vomiting, that appears to have been caused by a viral infection. The pre-school has an enrolment of 16 infants and six staff members.
All the staff are well, said the centre’s principal Ms Angelyn Leong, adding that none of the affected children were hospitalised and two have since made a full recovery.
The authorities have also contacted the school and will collect stool samples from a few of the children who fell ill for further investigation.
TEL Stage 4 from Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore targeted to open in first half of 2024
The authorities aim to open the fourth stage of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) in the first half of 2024, said Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.
The Land Transport Authority said last month it was conducting train testing on TEL Stage 4 – comprising seven stations from Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore – before operator SMRT does further testing and staff familiarisation.
Mr Chee said the testing of trains would take at least three months. Industry sources told The Straits Times that train testing usually takes between three and six months.
CPIB probe into Iswaran completed; findings now before AGC
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) has completed its investigation into Transport Minister S. Iswaran, with the matter now before the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing was replying to Progress Singapore Party Non-Constituency MP Hazel Poa, who had requested an update into the investigations, in Parliament on Tuesday.
Mr Iswaran was arrested by CPIB on July 11, 2023, over a case uncovered by the agency.
