The Straits Times

As part of the strategy, the Professional Services Industry Transformation Map 2025 was launched to strengthen Singapore as a leading business hub.

Despite that, the sector exceeded its value-added target and achieved growth of 11.2 per cent a year. It is one of three industries in the modern services cluster. “These ITM sectors outperformed the economy as a whole, which saw value-added growth in real terms at 2.8 per cent per annum and productivity growth at 3.5 per cent per annum,” he said. During that period, the financial services sector performed the best, achieving real value-added growth of 6.8 per cent a year over the same period, exceeding the real value-added growth target of 4.3 per cent set between 2016 and 2020. “From 2020 to 2025, we expect our professional services sector to achieve value-added growth of 3 per cent to 4 per cent per annum to $27 billion, and create 3,800 additional PMET (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) jobs annually for locals,” said Mr Tan. Across the 23 ITMs from 2016 to 2021, their value-add in real terms grew by 2.9 per cent a year and productivity grew by 4 per cent a year, he said.

Digital Connectivity Blueprint also has plans for more subsea cables to boost digital trade and data flow. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Complementing these efforts are plans to attract top-tier AI researchers to be based in Singapore to mentor and groom promising talent. Projects are being worked on at the Singapore University of Technology and Design’s Future Communications Connectivity Lab, launched in September 2022. While 5G networks are 10 times faster and enable about 1,000 more devices to be connected without any transmission lag compared with 4G ones, 6G networks could be up to 100 times faster than 5G networks. Broadband plans with surfing speeds of up to 1Gbps are the current standard in households here. Greater competition brought down the prices of broadband plans, allowing more homes to afford the high-speed connectivity. Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Janil Puthucheary co-chairs the panel with Mr Irving Tan, Western Digital’s executive vice-president of global operations.

After more than three years of living with Covid-19 restrictions, Singapore's disease outbreak response reverted to the lowest level – green – on Feb 13. Under ...

Visitors to 29rooms at Gardens by the Bay on Feb 16, 2023. The multi-sensory funhouse of themed, Instagrammable experiences made its Asia debut in Singapore on Feb 10. People watching a singing competition at Hougang Ave 4 on Feb 26, 2023. The supply chain management student from Tamil Nadu had headed there with his friend Pandiyan Stalin after his morning classes at Bukit Merah on Feb 14, 2023. (Left) Even as Singapore reverts to Dorscon green, this e-scooter rider and a boy riding pillion are well shielded from both virus and the day’s rainy weather while travelling along Pasir Ris Central on Feb 20, 2023. Masks were no longer required on public transport from Feb 13.

SINGAPORE - Singapore-based decentralised digital asset exchange DigiFT has raised US$10.5 million (S$14.2 million) to fund its expansion.

Singapore investment firm Xin Enterprise that is wholly owned by Mr Liang Xinjun, co-founder of Chinese conglomerate Fosun Group, is also an investor, as is boutique investment firm North Beta Capital that focuses on high-growth areas. This fundraise is a testament that this industry has huge potential if the gap between traditional finance and Web3 can be bridged,” Mr Zhang said. The pre-series A funding round was led by Chinese privately-owned investment firm Shanda Group.

The MOE said that as JCs remove their mid-year exams, this will not be replaced by more school-based assessments. PHOTO: ST FILE.

The aim is not to perpetuate a paper chase, said Mr Chan. Said Mr Chan: “There is no need to rush to frontload education, as there will be more subsidised places for CET pathways to support upgrading later in life. To this end, stackable pathways drawn up by the institutes of higher learning offer skills upgrading at different levels, he said. The increase in places will be weighted towards enabling adult learners from the workforce to access a university upgrading pathway. The programme is conducted via a mix of online and face-to-face lessons. In addition, GP will be made compulsory for all JC and MI students, starting with the 2024 intake. These include micro-credentials that could be stacked up to a degree. Said Mr Chan: “The time saved from preparing for examinations can be channelled towards deeper student engagement and learning through more varied experiences. The MOE said on Wednesday that as JCs remove their mid-year exams, this will not be replaced by more school-based assessments. “Over the years, we have gradually reduced curricular content to free up more time and space for the development of 21st Century Competencies, or 21CC. Their performance across these subjects are considered for admission to the autonomous universities. “Our students have done well in PW over the years.

Singaporeans welcomed March in cool sweater weather as rain poured over the island. On Wednesday (1 Mar) morning, central Singapore's temperature dropped to ...

The agency had also predicted that temperatures would dip to around 22°C. From Thursday (2 Mar) to Sunday (5 Mar), the weather is expected to reach a low of 23°C and a high of 32°C. [National Environment Agency (NEA)](https://www.facebook.com/NEASingapore/posts/pfbid0T2PizZHZV74TnUDHVor5U5wUF6H37T2zXhKiVnhFmokJQ8pbyGYE9UPaVCWnHr3Ll) said rainy and windy weather is expected from 28 Feb to 1 Mar. There will be afternoon showers on Thursday (2 Mar), while the following three days are expected to be filled with thundery showers in the afternoon and evenings. [The Straits Times (ST)](https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/temperature-drop-to-211-deg-c-at-newton-on-wednesday-morning), temperatures in Clementi and Ang Mo Kio also dipped to 21.7°C and 21.9°C, respectively. According to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS), this rainy weather will persist over the next four days.

Under Lock+Store's terms and conditions, goods are stored at the “sole risk and responsibility” of the customer. Read more at straitstimes.com.

She said the non-air-conditioned unit, which cost about $4,000 to rent for a year, looked fine when she inspected it. Ms Lo said customers are reminded not to store valuable items such as jewellery, artworks and luxury handbags in their storage units. “I never expected the damage to be this bad.

The judge said that his offences were “especially odious” as they involved vulnerable victims. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Later that month, the girl told her aunt and grandparents, who alerted her mother. The maid also sent Tan 51 photos of another pre-pubescent girl and three photos of her employer’s pre-pubescent son naked. On Jan 12, 2017, after dropping off the other children, he molested the girl and took a video of himself committing the offence. He molested her again on Jan 16, 2017 and shot a video of the acts. Tan took an upskirt photo of the girl in his vehicle after persuading the maid that he would look after her. Although his contract with the kindergarten ended in 2012, some parents continued to engage him to ferry their children to and from school.

SINGAPORE - When a teacher heard that his student was engaging in self-harm to cope with stress, he suggested that the student sexually stimulate himself ...

When the boy returned home that day, he told his mother that his teacher had spoken to him and expressed his surprise and gratitude that an adult could understand him so well. The school authorities were informed, and a police report was filed. As he changed, his teacher watched him. The teacher then called the mother and said he had been intending to speak with her son as he was falling behind on his schoolwork. Before eating, the teacher said the weather was hot and asked the victim if he wanted to remove his T-shirt and offered him a singlet. On the same day, he took the boy aside after class.

Dr Maliki said the ministry will launch two more Sped syllabuses in communication and language and socio-emotional learning. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH.

With full subject-based banding, some may take subjects at the G2 level, and we are exploring allowing one G2 subject to be considered for admission.” In 2023, ITE will launch four new work-study diplomas and three technical diplomas. Dr Maliki said: “Students will have more time to make informed choices. The ministry has since 2020 come up with teaching and learning syllabus across seven areas, he said. The new school partnerships, he added, will also focus on mutual professional learning among teachers. This includes further integrating processes with other social service initiatives like ComLink and KidStart.

SINGAPORE - The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) are working on a cross-agency pilot programme to strengthen the ...

[4,916 people were caught for vaping last year](/singapore/more-caught-using-vaporisers-in-2022-hsa) – up from 4,697 in 2021 and 1,266 in 2020. Ms Rahayu Mahzam said the pilot is aimed at ensuring meaningful enforcement in light of the increase in vaping here and to address growing concern in the community of this trend. The pilot will see NEA enforcement officers be able to take action against those caught vaping, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam said in Parliament on Wednesday.

SINGAPORE - Singaporeans continue to face peak-hour congestion and long wait times at Malaysia's two land checkpoints six weeks after e-passport holders were ...

First-time users are also required to verify their biometric data at the immigration counter. Singaporeans who want to utilise the e-gates require an e-passport with three months of validity and submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online three days before travel. [e-gates were extended to Singapore users from Jan 20](https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/singaporeans-can-start-using-e-gates-at-johor-checkpoints-malaysia-minister) to reduce human congestion at both the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar and Sultan Abu Bakar checkpoints in Johor Bahru, which connect to Woodlands and Tuas respectively.

A teacher who used to work at a top school was found guilty for showing porn to his former student who self-harmed to help him de-stress.

The former teacher will return to court on 28 Mar for sentencing. However, he told the student to save his contact under a different name. Upon hearing that his student was engaging in self-harm activities to cope with stress, the man suggested pornography as an outlet to de-stress. On 6 Feb 2021, the teacher invited the student to his house for dinner. The student trusted the teacher and even told his mother that he was thankful for having such a trustworthy adult to speak to. The teacher then passed his phone number to the student.

SINGAPORE - A 50-year-old cleaner was slapped with four charges on Monday over 125 cartons and 70 packs of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized by Singapore Customs ...

Meanwhile, the goods and services tax (GST) evaded was over $1,200. The contraband found there was valued at $16,193.50, with the duty evaded amounting to more than $14,000. The remaining contraband was stored in his bedroom, and at his workplace in Tai Seng Drive, Singapore Customs said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

It will aim to develop innovative, sustainable and smart solutions for Singapore's urban and land-squeezed environment. Read more at straitstimes.com.

This includes developing sustainable coastal protection solutions, integrating the use of nature-based solutions such as mangroves and smart management solutions, such as through the use of artificial intelligence. The new programme will consist of four research areas that collectively aim to develop innovative, sustainable and smart solutions for Singapore’s urban and land-squeezed environment – a challenge which many other coastal cities also face, said PUB. SINGAPORE - A $125 million research programme dedicated to strengthening Singapore’s coastal protection and flood management capabilities will be launched, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon on Thursday.

SINGAPORE - The amount of venture capital funding raised by Singapore-headquartered tech companies dipped last year, as investors turned cautious amid an ...

Still, a number of start-ups managed to carry out blockbuster funding rounds that helped Singapore maintain the lion’s share of equity fund raising in South-east Asia. The Singapore Government has continued to spur start-up investments through co-funding initiatives. The number of equity deals involving Singapore start-ups has been on a downward trend beginning from the fourth quarter of 2021. This is almost double the amount from five years ago, said the agency. Deal volume decreased from 198 to 127. The study primarily tracked equity fund raising – debt funding, bridge loans, initial coin offerings and grants were excluded.

Also check out Derrick Chew's film Boom, an adaptation of Singaporean playwright Jean Tay's 2007 stage play of the same name. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Goh says: “I hope Hokkien opera purists will give this a chance by viewing it as an alternative way of delivering the art form. The exception is veteran theatre performer Wei Li Fen, who used to perform with Singapore’s oldest Hokkien opera troupe Sin Sai Hong. I think I do have the liberty and licence to create a different look.” Although I want it to be safe-kept as it is, I am from the theatre arena. Info: This 60-minute work marks the feature film debut of director Derrick Chew, who has more than 15 years of production and directing experience in theatre and entertainment.