SG must sharpen its edge in high-value areas, improve agility, and build resilience: ESR
The Economic Strategy Review committee, led by 10 political office-holders, has provided a road map to keep the nation competitive through three main strategies: sharpen its edge in high-value areas such as AI, improve adaptability to rapid changes, and build resilience to global disruptions.
Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who is part of this team, said, “It is about how Singapore positions itself for the longer term, to stay competitive, create good jobs, and remain relevant in a more fragmented, contested, and fast-changing world.”
Economic Strategy Review proposes “career-bridges” to workers affected by disruption
Workers affected by rapid industrial shifts such as AI should be offered “career-bridges” or structured pathways to retraining, upskilling and job-matching services to help transition them into more “resilient occupations”, as recommended by the Economic Strategy Review (ESR).
Though the ESR did not specify which industries are at risk or more resilient, they said, “We could prioritise areas with more acute disruption pressures, and where there are ready industry partners, trade associations and chambers we can work with to support the effort.”
New trials for multi-cancer early detection tests and targeted cancer screening by NCCS
The National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) is recruiting 1,000 people at a higher risk of cancer, genetically or due to pre-cancerous conditions, for a clinical study in the second half of 2026 to test the effectiveness of popular multi-cancer early detection tests.
Another study by Nanyang Technological University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, called the Cancer Risk Assessments and Early detection, will focus on targeted screening and prevention of cancers linked to metabolic dysfunctions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.
US charges SG and Indian firms with crimes linked to Baltimore Bridge crash in 2024
The US Justice Department indicted two companies and one employee in the crash of a 300m cargo ship, Dali, with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The companies are the Singapore-based Synergy Marine and India-based Synergy Maritime, while Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, is the employee charged, who worked for both companies and was the technical superintendent of the ship.
They were charged with conspiracy to defraud the US, with causing the workers’ deaths, and for providing false statements and documents, among other charges.
MINDEF sets up new network to double community volunteers to 3,000 in three to five years
A new volunteer network has been created to support Singapore’s defence as the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) aims to expand ways for the community to support national servicemen.
The scheme seeks to double the current 1,500 military and civilian volunteers in three to five years, creating capacity for nearly 400 new volunteers in roles such as curating NS gallery content and tour guides for defence-themed exhibitions.
Major traffic worksite testing AI to provide early high heat alerts to keep workers safe
A major traffic worksite in Pasir Ris used AI, which was trained with weather forecasts and the previous day’s heat stress data, to alert its 400 workers of high heat levels in advance.
The AI will update forecasts throughout the day and also offer cooling solutions from the Ministry of Manpower to supervisors via WhatsApp.
Offering AI-powered alerts, makeshift showers, and cooling vests are among the additional measures that the construction firm has undertaken.
2 men charged with corruption linked to priority cargo handling at Keppel warehouse
Director of transport company Islandwide Truckers, Suresh Nagaraj and forklift driver Puchikarupiah Tamil Selvan with logistics firm Hup Soon Cheong Services, have been charged for the former allegedly bribing the latter, with an amount totalling around $170, for priority cargo handling at Keppel Distripark.
Both men were handed three graft charges each, where offenders can be jailed for up to five years, fined up to $100,000, or both, involving an amount between $20 and $80.
Public Hygiene Council brings cleaning initiative to daily commutes
Thirty-five SBS Transit staff kicked off the “Cleaner Journeys For All” initiative with a mass clean-up at Little India on May 14. Following this, the Public Hygiene Council, SBS Transit, and Speco Singapore, an environmental technology company, signed a memorandum of understanding to boost station hygiene at Little India MRT and Downtown MRT Stations. The event concluded with a mural unveiling and the expansion of the Neighbourhood Toilets programme to encourage considerate use.
MCCY and SBF launch new corporate volunteering initiative to engage more companies
Launched at the Future Economy Conference by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Singapore Business Federation, the VolunteerInc. initiative connects companies with community service opportunities, such as organising adaptive and inclusive sports.
Featuring over 50 partners, the initiative aims to engage 600 companies and 6,000 employees by 2030. At the conference, Minister of State for MCCY Dinesh Vasu Dash and three other panellists discussed ‘Creating Business Value through Social Impact.’
Police exploring using jet packs, armed drones in special operations on ships, buildings
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is exploring the use of jet-propelled manpacks for officers to fly in to board ships or storm buildings, and a weaponised unmanned system, or drone, that can be deployed in tandem to provide cover fire for the officers.
Minister for Home Affairs and Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam said on the new drone usage, “For some time now, I have asked SPF (and) other Home Team departments to really push down this route aggressively - and essentially this technology can protect our officers. So, it’s a quantum upgrade from how policing was done some years ago.”
