Singapore: News
Asian students beat US peers as AI reshapes classroom learning
Asian high-school students have outperformed their Western counterparts in reading, science, and math, according to the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
PhonePe, Visa introduce tap to pay and cross-border QR payments
PhonePe and Visa have launched three new payment features at the Global Fintech Fest 2026.
PM of world's least-corrupted nation gets salary hike of $1M
Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has announced a major salary hike for political leaders in the city-state.
Singapore probes 'racist' comments against Indians after Nepal flash floods
Singapore authorities have launched an investigation into "racist and xenophobic" comments against people of Indian origin.
Indonesia: 50,000-feet high volcanic ash delays 2,300 flights
The Anak Krakatau volcano in Indonesia has erupted multiple times since Friday, sending ash clouds up to 50,000 feet into the atmosphere.
Indian Bank to open representative office in Dubai
Indian Bank has announced its plans to set up a representative office in Dubai. The decision comes after the bank's board approved the move as part of its strategy to expand overseas operations.
Bodies not found, Nepal relatives are holding symbolic funerals
The death toll from the devastating flash floods in the Nepal-Tibet region has risen to 1,243 as of Thursday.
Toxic haze from Indonesia spreads to Malaysia, Philippines
Toxic haze from forest and land fires in Indonesia has spread to neighboring countries, including the Philippines and Malaysia.
JioHotstar goes global, launches in UK, Canada, Singapore
India's leading streaming platform, JioHotstar, has officially launched in the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Singapore.
What's special about deep-sea diving vessel INS Nipun commissioned today
The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Nipun, its second indigenous Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel (DSV), at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
This city has the most number of billionaires in Asia
The global billionaire population has seen its fastest growth since 2020, driven largely by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom.
Indian Bank to open 100 new branches, recruit 2,500 employees
Indian Bank plans to expand its operations by opening around 100 new branches in the current fiscal year, according to PTI.
Will Air India get new funding from Singapore Airlines?
Singapore's state-owned investment firm Temasek has backed Singapore Airlines's (SIA) long-term strategy in India.
SHEIN to raise $1.7B in Hong Kong IPO
SHEIN, the popular online fast-fashion retailer, is gearing up for its Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO).
Singapore offering $55,000 per child to boost birth rate
In a major move to combat its declining birth rate, Singapore has announced a new family support package.
Death penalty necessary for high-level corruption, says Zoho's Sridhar Vembu
Sridhar Vembu, the founder of Zoho, has suggested that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay should consider adopting Singapore-like laws to combat drug dealing and high-level corruption.
Singapore's new data center runs on living human brain cells
Singapore has unveiled a revolutionary biological data center prototype, the first of its kind in the world.
YouTube Premium gets another price hike
YouTube Premium prices are rising in countries worldwide, Google confirms to users.
Bilibili takes on YouTube with global expansion
Chinese video-sharing platform Bilibili is gearing up for a major international expansion. The company has relaunched its international app and is working on an English-language website.
Zubeen Garg death case: SC orders speedy witness examinations
The Supreme Court of India on Monday ordered the speedy conclusion of witness examinations in the Zubeen Garg death case.
Indian diaspora could help UPI expand globally
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the body behind India's popular mobile payments system, is eyeing global expansion.
Modi government might raise CCEA approval threshold for FDI proposals
The Indian government is mulling a proposal to increase the threshold for foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals that need Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approval.
Iran, Oman negotiate temporary shipping route through Strait of Hormuz
Iran and Oman are in talks to finalize a temporary shipping route through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
British duo banned from Singapore for displaying Palestine flag onstage
British band Massive Attack has reacted to its recent ban from Singapore after it displayed a Palestinian flag during a performance.
RBI likely to keep rates unchanged at upcoming policy meeting
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to maintain its interest rates at the upcoming policy meeting, bucking the trend of several global central banks.
UPI hits record 23.6B transactions in July
India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has hit a new record, processing 23.66 billion transactions worth ₹29.88 lakh crore in July 2026.
Shein swung to $99M loss in Q1. Reason? Donald Trump
Fast-fashion giant Shein, which is headquartered in Singapore but was founded in China, has reported a loss of $99 million in Q1 2026.
Oil surge above $100 puts central banks on alert
The recent spike in crude oil prices, briefly crossing the $100 mark for the first time in two months, is raising alarm bells among policymakers.
Jeff Bezos has invested in this £2B UK AI start-up
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and the UK government have invested in a £2 billion British artificial intelligence (AI) start-up called CuspAI.
Who is William Ishmael? Meet Jennifer Winget's husband
Popular television actor Jennifer Winget, who has been a part of the industry for over two decades, recently surprised fans by announcing her marriage to William Ishmael.
Lalu Yadav to be shifted to Delhi's AIIMS on Saturday
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav will be shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Saturday.
How Indonesia's copyright overhaul could impact Google and others
Indonesia is planning to introduce major changes to its copyright law, a move that could have far-reaching implications for tech giants like Google.
Byju Raveendran's Singapore jail sentence upheld
The High Court of Singapore has rejected an appeal by Byju Raveendran, the founder of failed education start-up BYJU'S.
How NVIDIA will stop its AI chips from reaching China
NVIDIA has cut its list of approved AI chip customers in Asia by more than half, The Financial Times reported.
This is the world's most expensive city for luxury spending
Singapore has been named the world's most expensive city for luxury spending for the fourth consecutive year.
NSE set to kick off $3B IPO marketing next week
The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), the world's largest derivatives exchange by trading volume, is gearing up for a major milestone.
Pakistan: Cryptocurrency dispute emerges in gang-rape case involving foreign women
The investigation into the alleged kidnapping and gang rape of two foreign women in Pakistan has taken a new turn. Investigators are now probing whether a cryptocurrency dispute worth millions was involved.
Pakistani deputy PM's relative among 4 arrested in gang-rape case
Four suspects, including a close relative of Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang-rape of two foreign nationals in Lahore.
Iran offers discounted crude to India after US sanctions waiver
After a recent sanctions waiver from Washington, multiple middlemen have started offering discounted Iranian oil to Indian refiners.
BTS fans lose over $1,00,000 in concert ticket scams
The recent surge in demand for tickets to K-pop group BTS's mammoth global tour has left many fans, known as ARMYs, disappointed and heartbroken.
ED attaches over ₹1,000cr assets in Goa 'illegal' mining case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth over ₹1,023 crore in connection with an alleged illegal iron ore mining case in Goa.
VLC creator is now building software to control robots, drones
Jean-Baptiste Kempf, the mastermind behind the popular VLC Media Player, is now focusing on a new venture in robotics.
Zepto founders face ED scrutiny over foreign investments
Quick commerce start-up Zepto has revealed that its co-founders Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra were summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) earlier this year.
Why AUKUS will deploy unmanned drones in its waters
The AUKUS alliance, comprising Australia, the UK, and the US, has announced plans to develop advanced unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs).
Zubeen Garg death case: Murder charges framed against 4 accused
A fast-track court in Guwahati has framed murder charges against four of the seven accused in the Zubeen Garg death case.
Byju Raveendran breaks silence after Singapore jail order
Byju Raveendran, the founder of Indian edtech company BYJU'S, has been sentenced to six months in jail by a Singapore court.
Byju Raveendran sentenced to 6 months in Singapore jail
Byju Raveendran, the founder of Indian edtech firm BYJU'S, has been sentenced to six months in prison by a Singapore court.
Henley Index 2026: Indian passport slips to 78th rank
India's passport has slipped three ranks to the 78th position in the latest Henley Passport Index. The fall comes from its previous standing of 75th in February this year.
Meet investor who helped Skyroot become India's first space-tech unicorn
Skyroot Aerospace has become India's first space-tech unicorn after raising $60 million (approximately ₹570 crore) in a funding round.
How Meta plans to undo its $2.5B Manus acquisition
Meta is preparing to reverse its acquisition of AI start-up Manus after the Chinese government blocked the deal on national security grounds, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Singapore: French teen faces jail for licking vending machine straw
An 18-year-old French student, identified as Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, is facing legal trouble in Singapore after he posted a video of himself licking a straw from an orange juice vending machine and putting it back.
India likely to receive $90B foreign direct investment in FY26
India's Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran has projected that the country will attract over $90 billion in gross Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during the fiscal year 2025-26.
IIFA 2026 set for August-September in Asia
The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2026 will take place in Asia between August and September, confirmed Andre Timmins, the founder-director of the event.
Iran war impacts global condom supply; prices to rise 20-30%
Karex Berhad, the world's largest condom manufacturer, has announced plans to increase prices by 20-30% and possibly even more due to supply chain disruptions caused by the ongoing Iran war.
Air India announces 4-day sale on international routes: Check deals
Air India has launched a limited-period Summer Sale, offering major discounts on international flights.
India tightens digital payments safety with new BIS guidelines
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has launched new guidelines to boost the security of India's digital payments system.
Foreign funds saw ₹10L crore drop amid Iran-US war
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in Indian stocks suffered a massive loss of nearly ₹10 lakh crore in March 2025, owing to the escalating tensions between Iran and the US.
Google to kickstart $15B India data center project this month
Google is gearing up to start the construction of its massive $15 billion data center project in Andhra Pradesh.
Jane Street faces I-T notice over ₹20,000cr derivatives gains
The Income Tax Department has issued a draft notice to high-frequency trader (HFT) Jane Street.
Singapore police close Zubeen Garg's death case: No foul play
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has concluded its investigation into the death of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg.
No foul play in Zubeen Garg's death: Singapore coroner
A state coroner in Singapore has ruled that the death of Indian singer Zubeen Garg was due to "an unfortunate and tragic accidental drowning" near an island in September last year.
India's aviation maintenance industry set to hit $5.7B by 2030
India's aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry is set for unprecedented growth.
Flipkart CFO Sriram Venkataraman quits amid IPO preparations
Sriram Venkataraman, the Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Flipkart, is set to step down from his position.
China's ByteDance just secured access to top NVIDIA AI chips
ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, is reportedly planning to set up an artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Malaysia.
These data centers are powered by human brain cells!
Australia-based biotech start-up Cortical Labs is developing a new kind of data center, powered not by traditional silicon chips but by human brain cells.
Asia's wealthy families reconsider Dubai investments amid Israel-Iran war
Asia's wealthiest families are having second thoughts about their investments in Dubai, as the ongoing Iran war shakes the city.
IPO-bound Flipkart shifts domicile from Singapore to India
Flipkart, the Walmart-owned e-commerce giant, has officially changed its domicile from Singapore to India, according to The Economic Times.
Zubeen Garg death case: Court unfreezes Shyamkanu Mahanta's bank account
The Kamrup Metropolitan District and Sessions Court in Assam on Monday ordered the de-freezing of the bank account of Shyamkanu Mahanta, one of the accused in the singer Zubeen Garg's death case.
Yogi Adityanath announces 3-day holiday for UP government employees
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced a three-day holiday for government employees on the occasion of Holi. The holidays will be observed from March 2-4.
Middle East travel warnings expanded as US-Iran tensions rise
Several countries have advised their citizens to leave Iran and its neighboring regions as tensions between the United States and Iran escalate.
Apple launches age verification tools to meet child safety laws
Apple has announced the global launch of new age-verification tools across its platforms. The move is part of the tech giant's effort to comply with a growing number of child safety laws.
UP bags investments worth ₹6,650cr in Singapore
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth ₹6,650 crore during his visit to Singapore.
Why urban planners are thanking AI
Urban planning has always been a tedious task, involving tons of data, design iterations, and consultations with stakeholders.
India rises 10 spots to 75th in passport power rankings
India's passport has climbed to the 75th position in the Henley Passport Index, up from last year's 85th position.
Anthropic hits $380B valuation after massive $30B funding round
Anthropic has raised a whopping $30 billion in its latest funding round, bringing the company's valuation to $380 billion.
Chinese hackers infiltrated Singapore's telcos, but no data leaked
Singapore's government has confirmed that a known Chinese cyber-espionage group, UNC3886, targeted four of its largest telecommunication companies.