Government lifts 15-month wait-out period for private home owners, stricter rules for property agents
National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat announced that the 15-month wait-out period for private home-owners to buy HDB flats has been lifted, in order to stabilise falling HDB prices. Introduced in September 2022, the 15-month wait-out period was aimed at curbing demand from cash-rich private home owners looking to buy a non-subsidised resale Housing Board flat.
Additionally, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Transport Sun Xueling announced that property agents will have to brace for stricter rules like completing at least three transactions over three years or passing a refresher examination to remain registered under new rules aimed at improving transparency and raising standards in Singapore’s real estate agency industry.
Incoming Chief Justice Sushil Nair says he is committed to ensuring lawyers have healthy and sustainable careers
In his first public speech since the announcement of his appointment, incoming fifth Chief Justice of Singapore Sushil Nair said that he is committed to ensuring the sustainability of the legal profession.
Mr Nair said that while the practice of law, especially at the high end, is inevitably demanding, it is incumbent on the leaders of law firms to appreciate and consider the issues faced by young lawyers.
He said: “Harassment and bullying are an unacceptable red line, whether in the context of the work environment or in the way lawyers are treated in court.”
First specialised gym for stroke patients opens to aid with rehabilitation and fitness
Singapore’s first specialised gym for patients with stroke has opened in AMK Hub in Ang Mo Kio. S3 Summit, by Stroke Support Station (S3), hopes to bridge the gap between hospital rehabilitation and long-term fitness. The facility features specially adapted equipment and is staffed by stroke-trained exercise trainers alongside a senior physiotherapist. Supported by a $1.5 million investment from the Lien Foundation, S3 Summit aims to empower 1,200 stroke survivors over the next five years to exercise safely.
Porsche owner disqualified from driving after allowing his sons to sit on the boot of his car while he drove
Prem Anan Sugunakumar was fined $5,000 on July 29 after allowing his two sons to sit on the boot of his Porsche while he was driving. He is also disqualified from driving for six months after pleading guilty to one count of committing a rash act to endanger the personal safety of children below the age of 14.
The 40-year-old Singaporean was arrested on Mar 12, after a driver witnessed the act and reported it to the police on Oct 25, 2025. Prem had multiple prior convictions for traffic offences dating back to 2004. Several were speeding offences, for which he was fined.
New national reading movement wants people to read 15 minutes a day – in exchange for cash
The National Library Board (NLB) has introduced a new five-year national reading movement called ReadSG, a gamification initiative which hopes to encourage people to develop a consistent reading habit. To combat the growing trend of consuming short-form content, the campaign encourages people to read for at least 15 minutes every day. Participants can log their daily reading sessions on the government’s crowdsourcing site CrowdTaskSG portal, to earn virtual coins, which can be redeemed for cash. The campaign will begin in September.
