SINGAPORE: The Singapore Grand Prix not only boosted demand at luxury hotels and restaurants near Marina Bay but also lifted tourism and spending across the Asia-Pacific. CNBC reported, citing data from marketing platform Sojern, that a quarter of American and Canadian racegoers booked flights to Japan, while nearly one-third of Australians travelled to Indonesia, mostly []

SINGAPORE: With the nomination of Sanae Takaichi, 64, as head of Japans ruling party on Saturday (Oct 4), the country appears to be headed towards having its first female Prime Minister. Due to tensions across the globe and a sluggish economy at home, whoever leads Japan next has a challenging road ahead. Ms Takaichi is []

SINGAPORE: Singapores retail sales rose 5.2% year-on-year (YoY) in August 2025 to S$4.3 billion, lifted by stronger online retail sales, which made up 13.1% of the total. However, food and beverage (F&B;) sales slipped 0.4%, after a 1.7% gain in July. According to Singapore Business Review, excluding motor vehicles, retail sales were about S$3.7 billion []

CHINA: The Chinese government has quietly warned the UK that it could face retaliation if ministers proceed with plans to label parts of Chinas security apparatus as a foreign influence threat. According to two government sources, Beijings warning was delivered privately to the UK Foreign Office after reports emerged that ministers were considering placing Chinese []

SINGAPORE: A woman initially bought 10 opera tickets from a said performer, but found out on the day of the event that other people had also claimed the same tickets and seats. Due to this, some of her relatives were unable to enter the venue, which made her confused, and prompted the family to complain. []

SINGAPORE: A tech professional who spent the past 10 years climbing the corporate ladder recently shared on a local forum that he'sconsidering enrolling in the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to acquire practical skills in a new field. I have always been hands-on and have loved fixing and tinkering with things all my life, but []

SINGAPORE: A healthcare worker in Singapore recently opened up on social media about the stress shes facing at her new job, saying she now dreads going to work because her strict supervisor yells at her whenever she makes mistakes. In a post on a local forum, she explained that she has only been in her []

SINGAPORE: A 23-year-old local took to social media to share that her mum demanded she start paying for all the household expenses, including the HDB mortgage, town council fees, utilities, and Wi-Fi, just two months after she landed her first job. Sharing her dilemma on Reddits Ask Singapore forum on Sunday (Oct 6), the woman, []

SINGAPORE: Its a big day for both bus commuters and drivers, as SMRT Buses has officially started running operations from the brand-new Gali Batu Bus Depot (GBBD). The depot, built by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), isnt just another bus park; its designed to be a greener, smart

MALAYSIA: Move aside, early retirementtheres a new lifestyle trend taking hold among affluent Malaysians, and its reshaping how we think about success and work-life balance. Say hello to the mini retirement. Unlike a typical two-week getaway or even a short sabbatical, a mini-retirement is something more substantial. Think six months to a couple of yearslong []

SINGAPORE: A 22-year-old woman recently took to Reddit to share how her self- esteem has taken a serious hit after being ghosted by men shortly after their first or second date. Posting her experience on the r/sgdatingscene forum on Thursday (Oct 2), she said that things usually start off really well. According to her, their text []

SINGAPORE: Commuters who have been tempted by cheap or convenient cross-border rides might want to think twice. In a recent islandwide operation, 10 vehicles were impounded for offering illegal ride-hail and cross-border transport services. This is part of LTAs latest effort to crack down on unlicensed drivers operating without proper insurance or approval. The operations, []

SINGAPORE: A disgruntled commuter recently took to social media to vent his frustration about what he described as the worsening behaviour of some aunties and uncles on public transport. He said it seems that basic courtesy has gone out the window, with some older commuters now feeling entitled enough to shove others and cut queues []

SINGAPORE: Just when you think people have finally learned to follow the MRT rules, another case pops up. This time, not one but two separate incidents of commuters eating and drinking on trains have made their rounds online, leaving many Singaporeans shaking their heads in frustration. The first incident involved a young woman who was []

SINGAPORE/JOHOR BAHRU: For the thousands of people who make the daily or weekly journey across the Causeway, help is finally in sight. The long-awaited Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link connecting Johor Bahru and Singapore is steadily taking shape, with several key milestones reached and the project still on track to open by December 31, 2026. []

SINGAPORE: Over on Facebook, a viral video showing an elderly man getting struck by a motorcycle while jaywalking along Rangoon Road has sparked a heated discussion. The incident, which reportedly took place on Oct 4, was shared on the SGRV Facebook page, drawing thousands of views and comments from Singaporeans divided over who was at []

SINGAPORE: Getting around the north-east will soon get a little easier. Starting October 26, 2025, a brand new Bus Service 104 will hit the roads, giving residents in Punggol, Buangkok, Serangoon, and Woodleigh a more direct and convenient way to travel between their neighbourhoods. With this change, Service 43M will be discontinued. The new route []

SINGAPORE: How much do people usually spend on engagement rings just to hear that life-changing yes? This question recently sparked a lot of discussion online after a man planning to propose shared that he was thinking of buying a S$5,000 engagement ring for his long-time girlfriend. For context, the man explained in his post on []

MALAYSIA: A video showing a Singapore-registered Honda Vezel refuelling with RON95 petrol at a Malaysian petrol station has gone viral online, drawing widespread backlash from netizens. The incident, posted on the SGRV Facebook page, has once again brought attention to ongoing tensions over fuel subsidy misuse by foreign vehicles. Under Malaysias current regulations, foreign- registered vehicles []

SINGAPORE: If youre travelling along the East-West Line (EWL) later this year, do take note: from Nov 29 to Dec 8, there will be no train service between Bedok and Tampines stations, as well as between Tanah Merah and Expo stations. These temporary changes are to make way for important works that will connect existing []

SINGAPORE: A viral dashcam video showing a bus running a red light and almost crashing into a Toyota Hiace at a junction in Tuas has sparked outrage and concern among Singaporeans online. It could have been a disastrous T-bone accident, but thankfully, no one was hurt because the van driver was able to brake on []

SINGAPORE: On September 30, 2025, at Woodlands Checkpoint, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers seized more than 400 packets of duty- unpaid cigarettes that had been cleverly tucked away inside a motorcycle. The Malaysia-registered bike was held for further checks after officers received information from ICAs Integrated Targeting Centre (ITC). Upon closer inspection, it was revealed []

SINGAPORE: Getting to Kovan Hub is about to get a little easier. From Sunday, Oct 26, SBS Transits Service 53M will be extended to improve connectivity for residents and commuters in the Kovan and Hougang areas. Under the new route, Service 53M will now start and end its trips at the bus stop in front []

WASHINGTON: As tensions continue to simmer in the Taiwan Strait, Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is leading a new push in Congress aimed squarely at deterring China from making any military move against Taiwan. On Friday, Risch unveiled the Deter PRC Aggression Against Taiwan Acta bill that would []

SINGAPORE: A Reddit user took to the platform to express their unhappiness at the rudeness and entitlement of tourists in Singapore, saying they had never experienced it this much anywhere else. In a post on r/askSingapore, u/hooli- failure identified themself as a Canadian Chinese and said that they normally try to be considerate and approach a []

SINGAPORE: A non-Singaporean wondered about a custom they observed while watching Mediacorp dramas. When sitting down to a meal, theyve observed that characters say something to one another before they themselves eat. Do Chinese Singaporeans actually tell people to eat before they start eating dinner? asked u/northbyPHX in a post on r/askSingapore on Thursday (Oct []

SINGAPORE: Singapore is known all over the world for safety and security, and one foreigner recently chose to put this to the test by leaving her mobile phone at a train station. Spoiler alert: She got it back. Mary, who goes by @swizzyinsg on TikTok, asked in a Sept 30 (Tuesday) video, How safe is []

SINGAPORE: Several news outlets reported this week that another Food & Beverage establishment from the Philippines, Mary Grace Caf, is preparing to open an outlet in Singapore. The eatery has more than 140 shops in its homeland, and is famous for cheese rolls and ensaimada, a pastry topped with Edam cheese imported from Holland. Details []

SINGAPORE: What seemed like a routine stop turned into quite a find for officers at Woodlands Checkpoint. On Sept 25, a Malaysia-registered car was pulled up for inspection, but what the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers discovered inside was definitely far from routine. Hidden deep within a modified dashboard compartment, officers uncovered 398 e-vaporisers, []

SINGAPORE: Singapore home buyers who have invested in Johor properties have been left paying bank interest and facing significant losses, as projects remain unfinished past their scheduled completion dates. According to Channel News Asia (CNA), 65-year-old Singaporean swimming coach Chu Siew Hoe refinanced his Sengkang executive condominium and borrowed S$300,000 to fund a RM1 million []

SINGAPORE: A Punggol resident fell victim to a scam when he paid $50 for a parcel that he thought someone in his family had ordered. He was used to his mother buying things online and preferred paying on delivery, so it was no surprise when a delivery guy handed a parcel to his dad, for []

SINGAPORE: A foreign vlogger now in Singapore recently expressed unhappiness with not being allowed to vape. Sam Najm, who talks about the importance of investing for women, said in a TikTok video from earlier this week that within 10 minutes of landing in Singapore, she was reminded that the city-state is not for her. Since []

SINGAPORE: A man who recently ordered from a Pasir Ris coffee shop stall was shocked when the vendor charged him an extra 80 cents, even though his food was separated in his own container. The diner who experienced this had previously ordered roast pork and char siew rice at the same shop and paid S$7 []

SINGAPORE: Elderly passengers complain that the priority seat steps at the new electric buses are inconvenient to get on and off, given that these are as high as 33 centimetres. With this, some of them would choose to stand rather than sit, and several also fell while leaving their seats. Local bus operators have launched []

SINGAPORE: In an Instagram post on Friday morning (Oct 3), the alternative news site Wake Up, Singapore (WUSG) wrote that its Facebook page had been suspended by Meta for cybersecurity reasons. WUSG posted a screenshot, said to be from Meta, saying that the page had been removed. Weve confirmed that it does not follow our []

TOKYO: In a busy train station outside of Tokyo, the late afternoon activity is perforated by the voice of Sohei Kamiya, the leader of the Sanseito party, as he stands on an improvised platform, encircled by many supporters with flags and holding placards. His message is blasting and not defensive Japan and the Japanese []

KUALA LUMPUR/BEIJING: China and Malaysia have begun early-stage talks on a potential joint venture to build a rare earths processing facility in Malaysia a move that could mark a major shift in Beijings long-standing policy of tightly guarding its critical technology. According to sources familiar with the matter, Malaysias sovereign wealth fund, Khazanah Nasional, []

WARSAW, POLAND: At a high-stakes security summit in Warsaw this week, two seasoned American military leaders delivered a sobering message to their European counterparts the clock is ticking for Taiwan, and Europe must act now. With the calm authority of those whove spent decades in uniform, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery and []

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean felt deflated upon discovering that his overseas experience offered him no advantage in the local job market. Sharing his story on Reddits Ask Singapore forum on Wednesday (Sep 17), he said he had recently returned after working abroad for several years and had hoped that the experience would boost his career to []

SINGAPORE: A local Reddit user took to the platform to seek advice for a job offer they have received, asking others what they would consider to be a good job offer. In a Wednesday (Sep 17) post on r/askSingapore, u/_red_dude wrote that they had finally got the offer after they had been on the job []