Posts of The Straits Times

Update: The air quality in Singapore’s central region has slipped back into the unhealthy range overnight, with the PSI reading hitting 103 at 3am. https://str.sg/gKuD

Trip.com has listed a suborbital space tourism package on its platform for $973,000. 🚀 The 6-day luxury itinerary, offered in partnership with Virgin Galactic, includes a 90-minute suborbital flight, several minutes of weightlessness and views of the Earth’s curvature. https://str.sg/KC2E

📚☀️ Good news if you are both an early bird and a bookworm. Starting Oct 5, 8 selected public libraries across Singapore will open earlier at 9am. Here's the list of the libraries: https://str.sg/gUU4

For the first time in Singapore, dog training as an industry sector gets its own Code of Animal Welfare to ensure more humane ways of getting dogs to listen and obey. One significant change for pet groomers is that they must be physically present with the animals during grooming sessions. https://str.sg/HAWy

School uniforms are a defining part of growing up in Singapore, a marker of identity and belonging for many. From blue, white, or green polka-dots, we looked at the designs of more than 100 secondary school uniforms and examined the stories and styles behind them. Try creating your ideal uniform in our interactive: https://str.sg/wuoNK

For 52 years, this man could not burp, and doctors couldn't figure out why. He finally got a diagnosis after searching the internet and a specialist treated him with Botox. Learn more about RCPD, or "no-burp syndrome": https://str.sg/cgGP

If you watched the Singapore v Malaysia ASEAN Cup match on Oct 1, you may have noticed some unusual commentary. There were mentions of Tiger Woods, Manchester City, and the Lions' singing of Majulah Singapura was described as "a wonderful rendition of Japan's national anthem". Here's what happened: https://str.sg/YLt4

This week's trending stories: 🍂 Malayan crape myrtles herald 'autumn' in Singapore: https://str.sg/AR4j 🤰🏻 She's pregnant, he’s moving to Singapore: Meet the new 90 Day Fiance couple: https://str.sg/eGpf 🏎 Tzuyu from K-pop girl group Twice to visit Singapore for Atlassian Williams F1 Team collab: https://str.sg/8J7M

The air quality in Singapore is deteriorating, with the PSI in the central region back in unhealthy range at 102. https://str.sg/dhHA

A car drove into a crowd in Newcastle, Sydney, injuring multiple people, including children. The driver has been arrested. https://str.sg/nhXC

Eligible women looking to guard against cervical cancer will be able to get the HPV9 vaccine at a subsidised rate in Singapore from Jan 1, 2027. Secondary 1 and 2 girls will also be given the vaccine in schools in place of the HPV2 vaccine from the same date. https://str.sg/yuYz

The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link is expected to open in February 2027 instead of December 2026, said the company appointed to run the rail line. https://str.sg/CZJB

Full train service on the Sengkang West LRT line will resume 2 weeks ahead of schedule on Oct 4. It comes 6 months after the inner loop was closed for upgrades to the Sengkang-Punggol LRT depot. https://str.sg/otga2

Always wanted to own Singapore’s biggest blue-chip stocks, but priced out by how expensive they are? SGX is cutting the minimum trading quantity for 11 major stocks – including DBS, OCBC and UOB – from 100 shares down to 10 shares. Here's what the Oct 5 change means for you: https://str.sg/d8dQ Follow Headstart's Instagram account: https://str.sg/kjWc #stheadstart

F1 is back in Malaysia after 9 years, and KL is about to get very hectic with 200,000 spectators expected to attend. If you’re heading to the Sepang International Circuit or simply trying to get around, here’s how to navigate the city: https://str.sg/vyx75

Hang in there. The heat and haze could linger over Singapore for a longer period as the super El Nino delays the retreat of the dry season, experts say. https://str.sg/yNQS

Are you a Singapore civil servant thinking of joining the Government’s new dating service FirstDate? 💗 Don't worry, you won't be paired with your colleague as officers from the same agency won't be matched, says GovTech. https://str.sg/j44W

Crystal Jade's holding companies in Singapore and Hong Kong have been placed under receivership – but what does that mean? Will the restaurants continue to operate? Lawyers explain: https://str.sg/arum

⛈ News for your morning! Sport Singapore out of FIFA ASEAN Cup after 6-0 thrashing by arch-rivals Malaysia READ: https://str.sg/36KYq Singapore Fake image of crocodile in reservoir put through AI checks, but results were inconclusive: PUB READ: https://str.sg/f9kg 'No justification for such cruelty': ACRES slams clips showing taped-up bird being 'scolded' READ: https://str.sg/AKJY Missing: Girl, 12, last seen near Buangkok Crescent READ: https://str.sg/qj2k Stay in the know: https://str.sg/wyYP

Victims who took part in rigged mahjong games, some of which were held at SAFRA Toa Payoh, lost over $100,000. They were lured to the games by fake profiles on dating apps. How the scam worked: https://str.sg/xGYy

🥵 Expect a drier start to October in Singapore after a rainy end to September. Total rainfall for the first half of the month is forecast to be below average, while the daily maximum temperatures are likely to range between 34 and 35 deg C on most days. https://str.sg/vg6u

84% of young adults surveyed in Singapore said they ideally wanted at least one child, but only 1 in 10 knew the answers to basic fertility questions. The inaugural study polled respondents on their parenthood aspirations, reproductive timing and fertility knowledge. Other findings: https://str.sg/Ejxw

🎧 $8,000 mortgages and double tuition for the same subject? While MOE has made policy changes, including scrapping PSLE T-scores to ease the stress on students, what’s driving parents to continue taking part in the education “arms race”? Join the discussion on The Usual Place podcast: https://str.sg/quEa

SIA has cancelled flights to and from Dubai until Dec 1, while Scoot has halted services to and from Jeddah until Dec 2. Affected customers may request a full refund, said the airlines. https://str.sg/rSkf

Pilot Smit Machchhar has been hailed as a hero for helping to avert catastrophe after he was attacked by his co-pilot in an attempt to crash the flydubai Israel-bound flight. He is currently being treated at a hospital in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk, where the plane was diverted. https://str.sg/jnvp

Singapore media firms can apply for funding and training to develop live action and AI-generated micro-dramas under a new IMDA-TikTok programme. The goal is to help firms produce 50 to 100 episodes under 3 minutes optimised for vertical viewing on phones. https://str.sg/9gyA

🥚 Shoppers can get cheaper chicken and eggs at FairPrice supermarkets from now until Dec 31. Discounts on selected fruits and vegetables will also be extended until the end of year. https://str.sg/HyiX

The popular X2 roller coaster at California's Six Flags Magic Mountain has been permanently shut down after more than 100 people claimed to have suffered brain injuries while riding it. https://str.sg/FpWn

HDB resale prices in Singapore fell for a 3rd straight quarter, even after the 15-month wait-out period for private property downgraders was lifted. https://str.sg/etCF

⛈ News for your morning! Singapore AI humanoid robots to be deployed with Home Team officers by 2028: Edwin Tong READ: https://str.sg/7xVP Committee formed to strengthen safeguards for children in religious settings, report due end-2026 READ: https://str.sg/d8CQ Koh Poh Koon rejoins Singapore General Hospital as colorectal surgeon READ: https://str.sg/qwxm Stay in the know: https://str.sg/wyYP