Singapore's labour market soars with 11,300 new jobs in Q2; Circle Line services disrupted for second day in a row: Singapore live news

The US government is suing the Singapore owners of the cargo ship Dali, following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

The lawsuit claims Grace Ocean Private Ltd and Synergy Marine Group neglected necessary repairs and cut corners on safety, leading to the tragedy that killed six construction workers.

The US Justice Department seeks to recover over $130 million (US$100 million) for costs associated with the disaster and debris removal.

The Dali, a Singaporean-flagged vessel, suffered from significant mechanical issues that were ignored, resulting in a power failure just before the collision.

This lack of maintenance is said to have left the crew ill-prepared and the ship unseaworthy.

Investigations revealed that critical safety features were disabled, which would have otherwise allowed the crew to regain control in time to prevent the crash.

The companies involved have sought to limit their liability, but the US government asserts that such attempts lack legal merit.

Read more on the US government's legal action against the two Singapore companies that owned the Dali here.

Singapore has identified four unsafe food products that contain banned substances, including two types of slimming coffee and tea from Japan and two types of candies from Malaysia.

These products were marketed as effective weight-loss aids but have been found to contain dangerous ingredients like sibutramine, which can lead to severe health issues.

Following this discovery, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) worked with e-commerce platforms to remove these products and warned sellers to halt sales immediately.

Consumers are advised not to consume these items and to seek medical attention if they have already done so.

The SFA underscored the legal repercussions for selling unsafe food, with fines and potential imprisonment for offenders.

They also encourage the public to report any suspicious food products to help maintain safety standards in Singapore.

Read more on the SFA's recent food alert here.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is set to deliver humanitarian aid to Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam following the devastation of Typhoon Yagi, which has claimed over 500 lives.

Utilising an A330 Multi-Role Tanker and two C-130 transport aircraft, the mission includes essential supplies like blankets and water filters.

Collaboration with NGOs and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre has ensured a comprehensive aid response.

SAF leaders emphasise the significance of regional cooperation in disaster relief efforts.

Read more on SAF's delivery of humanitarian aid to areas devastated by Typhoon Yagi here.

Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing emphasised the importance of collaboration between parents and teachers to enhance children’s development at the Schools Work Plan Seminar on Wednesday (18 Sept).

To support this, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has refreshed the Guidelines for School-Home Partnership and introduced a new initiative called Parenting for Wellness, aiming to strengthen parent-child relationships and promote mental well-being.

The updated guidelines were created through discussions with over 300 teachers and parents.

They focus on respectful communication and clear boundaries for teachers, allowing them to manage their time effectively without the pressure of after-hours communications, except in emergencies.

Teachers are encouraged to use official channels for communication to maintain professionalism and protect their personal time.

MOE is also taking steps to alleviate teacher workloads.

Starting in 2026, schools will have more autonomy in choosing whether to implement the Applied Learning Programme or the Learning for Life Programme, thus allowing better resource management.

A pilot program will also allow parents to submit absence documents electronically to streamline administrative tasks.

Find out more about the MOE's latest initiative to fight teachers' burnout here.

The Certificate of Entitlement (COE) bidding exercise on Wednesday (18 Sept) revealed a significant jump in prices for larger vehicles in Singapore.

Premiums for Category B cars, which include larger and more powerful vehicles, rose to $110,001 from $106,300.

The Open category COE, which is primarily used for large cars, also saw an increase, reaching $113,104 from $106,901, marking the highest price this year for that category.

Smaller car premiums under Category A, which includes vehicles with engine capacities of 1,600cc and below, climbed to $98,524, up from $96,490 in the previous bidding.

Meanwhile motorcycle COE prices increased slightly to $9,900, compared to $9,801 previously.

Notably, commercial vehicle COEs remained stable, decreasing only marginally to S$74,000.

The recent bidding exercise attracted 3,593 bids, but only 2,567 COEs were available, indicating strong demand despite rising prices.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced an overall increase in COE supply for the August to October period, with adjustments in quotas across categories.

The latest COE prices are listed here.