Singaporean gets elected as International Court of Justice judge
Ambassador for International Law, Rena Lee, became the first Singaporean and woman from Southeast Asia to join the bench of the world’s top court.
She was elected to the ICJ on Nov 3 after she secured an absolute majority of votes in the 193-member UN General Assembly and the 15-member UN Security Council in the first round of voting. She will start her nine-year term on Nov 6, 2027. “This strong result reflects the broad international support...and the trust that countries around the world have placed in her,” Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in a social media post.
Lianhe Zaobao introduces English edition
SPH Media’s Chinese newspaper launched an English edition on Nov 5, with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam gracing the event as guest of honour. With AI-powered translations, readers can now discover a wider gamut of stories, managing director of SPH, Mr Kuek Yu Chang, said. “In a country with different languages and cultures, shared stories enrich the multicultural fabric that binds Singaporeans closely together,” he added.
Lianhe Zaobao’s English edition leverages frontier AI translation models and will be supported by a team of copy-editors who review selected content for cultural context and clarity prior to publication.
Three new MRT stations to open on Dec 26
The last two stations of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) – comprising Bedok South and Sungei Bedok stations – will commence operations along with Xilin station on the Downtown Line (DTL). Sungei Bedok will serve as an interchange between both lines, improving connectivity for eastern residents.
The development also prepares commuters for the Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System, expected to begin operations in Feb 2027. Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said: “These new stations will stitch together two major train corridors, and give commuters in the east new routes, and faster journeys.”
MPs question delay in strengthening haze law
Parliament debated amendments to Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act during a six-hour session. MPs questioned the delay in strengthening the legislation and the proposed $20 million maximum fine.
Minister Grace Fu said that investigations into the four companies issued legal notices in 2015 remain open despite procedural delays. Three of these companies are also implicated in the 2026 haze episode.
ICA refutes Malaysian media report of power outage
There was no power outage at the Woodlands Checkpoint on Nov 4, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said, refuting The Star’s media report of a disruption at the key border crossing. ICA said on Nov 5 that it conducted planned electrical maintenance at the Old Woodlands Checkpoint on Nov 4, from 10am to 2pm.
During this period, some Singapore-bound cargo traffic built up on the Causeway, ICA said, adding that operations at the Old Woodlands Checkpoint resumed at around 4pm that day. Meanwhile, in a travel advisory on Nov 1, ICA said that travellers planning to enter Malaysia during the upcoming Deepavali long weekend can expect heavy traffic and longer waiting times at both Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.
DBS chairman Peter Seah to retire in 2027
He will retire on Jan 1, with board member Anthony Lim succeeding him. Meanwhile, DBS reported third-quarter 2026 net profit of $2.81 billion, down 5 per cent year-on-year.
However, nine-month net profit increased 2 per cent to a record $8.82 billion. The bank declared a dividend of 81 cents per share for the quarter, supported by growth in loans, deposits and wealth management.
More graduates secure employment within a year
Government data showed that around seven in 10 university graduates who were unemployed six months after their examoinations secured jobs by the one-year-mark.
Among polytechnic graduates who were unemployed six months after graduation, about eight in 10 had found paid work or enrolled in full-time studies at local institutes of higher learning by the one-year mark. The corresponding figure for Institute of Technical Education graduates was nine in 10.
Visa establishes six global technology hubs in Singapore
This includes a new Paya Lebar Green centre accomodating approximately 1,500 employees. The hubs will focus on emerging technologies, including agentic artificial intelligence, digital payments and cybersecurity.
The investment reinforces Singapore’s position as a regional financial technology hub and is expected to create high-value employment opportunities. The initiative comes amid Visa’s broader global restructuring, which includes plans to reduce 2,600 jobs worldwide.
26 people hospitalised following three-vehicle accident in Tuas
The accident, involving a bus. lorry and tipper truck, happened along Tuas South Avenue 9 on Nov 4 at about 7.30 pm. Those hospitalised included a 45-year-old lorry driver and 25 male passengers aged between 25 and 48. All were conscious when transported to hospital.
The tipper truck driver, aged 69, is assisting police with investigations into the incident.
HDB launches nearly 8,000 built-to-order (BTO) flats
The 7,964 flats are launched across seven projects in Bedok, Geylang, Sembawang, Tengal, Toa Payoh and Yishun. Around 1,300 flats in Sembawang North offer shorter waiting times, of under three years.
The launch also introduces higher income ceilings of $16,000 for families and $8,000 for singles. The developments include Prime and Plus projects, which come with subsidy recovery requirements of between 8 and 11 per cent upon resale.
