- NewsStaff Writer, Singapore
Josephine Teo explains CPF exemption for employers of public university interns
SINGAPORE — The practice of not requiring employers of interns from public universities to pay Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions helps to encourage employers to take them on.
- NewsStaff Writer, Singapore
'Very few' cases of parents harassing or abusing teachers: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE — There are “very few” cases where parents harass or abuse teachers in Singapore, said Education Minister Ong Ye Kung in a written reply to a parliamentary question.
- NewsStaff Writer
MOE spent $130M annually on foreign student scholarships and funding in 2014-2018
SINGAPORE — From 2014 to 2018, the Ministry of Education (MOE) spent $130 million annually on scholarships and other forms of financial aid given to foreign students studying in Singapore schools and universities.
- NewsStaff Writer, Singapore
No evidence that tattoos lead individuals towards a life of crime: Shanmugam
SINGAPORE — There is no data to suggest that tattoos cause people to indulge in criminal behaviour, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam.
- NewsNicholas Yong
Singaporeans must be prepared to pay more for increased MRT reliability: Khaw Boon Wan
SINGAPORE — While train reliability in the Republic is now on a level comparable with that of world class rail systems in Hong Kong and Taiwan, Singaporeans must be prepared to pay the cost for maintaining a reliable rail network, warned Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Monday (8 July).
- NewsDhany Osman
MHA to update 'archaic' definition of 'animals' under Road Traffic Act: Sun Xueling
SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is looking to update the definition of “animal” under the Road Traffic Act.
- NewsDhany Osman
Singapore to impose mandatory drone registration, tougher penalties for errant operators: Lam Pin Min
SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is looking to implement mandatory registration for drone operators in Singapore, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min in Parliament on Monday (8 July).
- NewsDhany Osman
Air, water quality in Singapore not affected by Pasir Gudang pollution incidents: Masagos
SINGAPORE — The quality of air and water in Singapore has not been affected by the recent pollution incidents in Pasir Gudang, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli in Parliament on Monday (8 July).
NewsStaff Writer, SingaporeHighlights: Shanmugam's opening speech on fake news law in Parliament
SINGAPORE — Parliament last Wednesday (8 May) passed the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill (POFMA), which will give the government the power to take individuals as well as online news sources and platforms to task if they disseminate “deliberate online falsehoods”.
NewsAmir HussainA look at fake news laws around the world
SINGAPORE — Amid criticism from observers on the wide-ranging powers under Singapore's fake news law, here's a look at similar legislation elsewhere.
NewsWong CasandraNew scanning technology may be adopted to combat illegal wildlife trade: Sun Xueling
SINGAPORE — The Ministry of National Development (MND) will continually review enforcement measures to combat illegal wildlife trade, including the adoption of more effective technologies, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and National Development Sun Xueling.
NewsStaff Writer, SingaporeMuslim MPs and NMP break fast together late night after passing of POFMA
SINGAPORE — After debating intensely over the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill (POFMA), 10 Muslim parliamentarians came together to break fast on Wednesday (8 May).
NewsChia Han Keong60% of Singaporeans say fake news have little to no influence on their views: survey
SINGAPORE — A majority of Singaporeans believe that online falsehoods and fake news do not have much influence on their views and opinions, according to a poll commissioned by Yahoo News Singapore.
NewsStaff Writer, SingaporeProtecting Johor River's condition more vital than raising water price: Vivian Balakrishnan
SINGAPORE — Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that, while Malaysia wants to raise the price of supplying its water from Johor to Singapore, the more pertinent concerns for Singapore are to increase the yield of the Johor River, and to safeguard its environmental conditions especially the quality of water.
NewsAmir HussainSingapore's fake news law passed amid partisan divide
SINGAPORE — The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) was passed in Parliament on Wednesday (8 May), bringing to a close a process which began with the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods holding public hearings early last year.
NewsWong CasandraLeon Perera and Walter Theseira fear fake news law could be abused by future government
SINGAPORE — A future rogue government could exercise the powers under the fake news law to stifle criticism or perpetuate fear, said Workers' Party Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leon Perera on Wednesday (8 May).
NewsVernon LeeFake news law: Academic research should not be conflated with activism, says Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE — As such, they want opinions, satires and criticisms to be explicitly excluded from the law, Ong said.
NewsAmir HussainIMDA to set up POFMA office to administer fake news law: S Iswaran
SINGAPORE — A new office will be set up within the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) to administer the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill (POFMA), said Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran on Wednesday (8 May).
NewsAmir HussainGovernment must have powers to deal with falsehoods initially and swiftly, not courts: Shanmugam
SINGAPORE — The government must have the powers to deal with online falsehoods swiftly, as seeking recourse with the courts cannot be expected to happen within a matter of hours, said Law Minister K. Shanmugam on Wednesday (8 May).
NewsWong CasandraParliament: 682 enforcement notices issued for pigeon feeding offences in past 3 years
SINGAPORE — 682 enforcement notices were issued for pigeon feeding offences over the past three years, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and National Development Sun Xueling on Wednesday (8 May).
NewsWong CasandraParliament: Not beneficial to foreign domestic workers to be brought in for short-term help
SINGAPORE — It could be detrimental to a foreign domestic worker (FDW) to be brought into Singapore to provide short-term help, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Low Yen Ling on Tuesday (7 May).
NewsVernon LeeFake news law is ploy by government to hold on to ‘absolute power’: Workers' Party MP Low Thia Khiang
SINGAPORE — The Workers’ Party (WP) argued against the proposed fake news law on Tuesday (7 May) with its Member of Parliament (MP) for Aljunied GRC Low Thia Khiang saying it is a ploy by the government to cement its “absolute power”.
NewsWong CasandraNo need for independent body to assess falsehoods, Parliament is accountable: Shanmugam
SINGAPORE — All functions of an independent council to tackle falsehoods can be achieved under the current structure of the executive in Parliament, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said on Tuesday (7 May), amid calls by various segments of society for its creation.
NewsAmir HussainParliament: Appeal against minister's decision under fake news law could be heard in court in 6 days
SINGAPORE — An appeal against a minister’s decision under the proposed fake news law could be heard in court in as little as six days.
NewsWong Casandra7 pollution incidents along Johor river have caused PUB plant's temporary shutdown since 2017: Masagos
SINGAPORE — There have been seven pollution incidents along the Johor river since 2017 that caused the Public Utilities Board’s (PUB’s) Johor River Waterworks plant to be shut down temporarily, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli on Tuesday (7 May).
