There were 29,864 live births and 26,499 deaths recorded in Singapore in 2025.

This gives rise to a natural increase of 3,365, down from 7,261 in 2024.

This is the first time recorded live births have fallen below 30,000, according to data available on SingStat which dates back to 1960, before independence.

Compared to 2024 figures, the number of live births has gone down, while the number of recorded deaths has gone up slightly.

The 2025 numbers were reported in the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority's (ICA) annual Report on Registration of Births and Deaths, released on Jul. 27, 2026.

Births

Compared to 33,703 live births in 2024, the number of live births in 2025 was 11.4 per cent fewer.

Of the 29,684 live births in 2025, 26,071 were citizen live births, where at least one parent is a Singapore citizen.

Including births where at least one parent is a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, or resident live births, the number increases to 27,393.

2,471 were non-resident live births, whose parents are neither Singapore citizens nor permanent residents.

The median age of first-time mothers in 2025 has gone up slightly to 32.1 from 31.9 in 2024.

The median age of mothers giving birth to their second or subsequent child has also shown a gradual upward trend over the same period

There were 258 single-parent birth registrations in 2025, down from 330 in 2024.

Ethnic groups

Out of the total newborns in 2025, Chinese newborns accounted for 56.6 per cent, Malays for 22.5 per cent, Indians for 11.5 per cent, and other ethnic groups for 9.4 per cent.

The crude birth rate, or live births per 1,000 Singapore residents, remained highest among Malays at 11.8, although there had been a dip from 12.1 in 2024.

This is followed by Indians at 7.3 and Chinese at 5.3.

Deaths

There were 26,499 registered deaths in 2025, with the median age at death being 78.2 years.

The median age of death for females was 82.5 years, compared to 75.7 for males.

In 2024, there were 26,442 registered deaths.

Cancer, heart disease among leading causes of death

Based on provisional data, the leading causes of death in 2025 were cancer and heart and high blood pressure diseases.

Together, such diseases accounted for 52.1 per cent of all registered deaths.

Male mortality in 2025 surpassed female mortality with a ratio of 1,194 per 1,000 female deaths.

Males had a higher proportion of deaths attributed to heart and high blood pressure diseases, as well as accidents.

Females exhibited a higher proportion of deaths associated with kidney and disorders of the urinary system and cerebrovascular disease.

Cerebrovascular disease refers to conditions that affect blood flow to the brain, such as stroke.

Suicides

The number of suicides in 2025 stood at 256, according to provisional data.

The finalised figure for the number of suicides in 2024 was 441, up from the provisional 314 recorded in last year's report, which was released in July 2025.

There were more male suicides than female suicides in both 2024 and 2025.

Of late, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly emerged as one of the biggest conversations at work.

For some workers, it has been a helpful assistant — checking grammar, summarising information, keeping track of deadlines or helping them get started on unfamiliar topics.

For others however, the concern with AI goes beyond having to learn a new tool.

Rather, it is the fear that parts of their role could be automated, that their experience might be less valued or that they may even find themselves eventually displaced by AI one day.

Anxiety of job loss has been acknowledged by PM Wong

Such fears have been acknowledged by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

In his May Day speech, PM Wong acknowledged that “not everyone feels ready” and that many are anxious.

He said, "I cannot promise that there will be no disruption. Jobs will change. Some will disappear. And the pace of change will be faster than anything we have seen before."

There have also been at least a few job losses amidst a drive to adopt AI.

In June 2026, Shopee began cutting hundreds of developer jobs amidst its push towards AI, with eight per cent of its developer workforce affected.

And in May 2026, Standard Chartered announced that it plans to reduce its support workforce by more than 15 per cent, which is equivalent to about 7,800 jobs, by 2030, as the bank accelerates its adoption of AI in a move to improve operational efficiency.

Such instances are an indication of how AI is changing the way work gets done, with some jobs likely to be reshaped, some tasks to be automated, and some workers needing to pick up new skills in the process.

Will AI eventually replace me as it becomes better?

Among the professionals we spoke to, a common worry was that AI is no longer just a tool to learn, but something that could eventually take over parts of their work.

For Shannon, a 35-year-old senior manager in branded services, this anxiety has already surfaced in a core part of her role: vetting content.

She said, “AI is already so good at grammar checks, rewriting, and reviewing content. It feels like more and more of what I do can be automated.”

Her concern has grown as AI becomes capable of handling more complex work.

“My role is more about coordinating with colleagues, managing projects, and following up on tasks.

But then I started thinking: what if AI eventually becomes good enough to coordinate work, summarise discussions, track action items, and even manage projects?”

Raymond, a 37-year-old physical fitness coach, shared a similar concern. He noted that AI can already help create fitness and dietary plans, raising questions about how much clients may still rely on human coaches.

“Clients might eventually see less need for coaches when AI can provide the information they need, and all that is left is to execute the AI-planned workouts,” he said.

“In such a scenario, the role of a physical fitness coach is reduced to counting reps at best,” Raymond added.

Unclear expectations over AI, while still needing to worry about how it factors into my performance

For Samuel, a 63-year-old executive director of a charity, the anxiety is less about whether AI should be used, and more about the lack of clarity on how it should be used.

He said his organisation has signalled that teams should stay lean by tapping AI, but without a clear roadmap.

“The difficult part is that the expectation to be ‘lean and light’ is not always matched with a clear plan for how the team is supposed to become AI-savvy.”

Staff have generally been left to their own devices to figure out how to use AI, which has been a source of frustration and anxiety for him, as it means AI is now a new, unknown factor in his performance.

“Are we even doing the right thing, according to what the organisation wants? Do they want us to use AI to help analyse reports?”

Thus far, his use of AI has been self-directed, largely through online tutorials.

Samuel said, “There is a difference between saying ‘use AI to be more productive’ and actually investing in structured training, workflow redesign, responsible-use policies, and practical support for staff to learn how to use AI properly.”

Even then, he worries about how any productivity gains may be interpreted.

“In principle, if I use AI well, that should make my role more valuable because I am helping the organisation become more effective.

But if AI adoption is discussed mainly in terms of staying lean, reducing cost, or doing more with fewer people, it can feel as though the better I become at using AI, the more I may be proving that fewer people are needed.”

The AI disruption can therefore leave workers caught between two worries: not wanting to be left behind, but also not knowing what meaningful upskilling looks like.

For some workers, AI has made work easier though not always in dramatic ways

That being said, it is not all doom and gloom, however.

For Shannon, AI has still made a key task easier, keeping track of her deadlines.

And for Raymond, AI has helped to automate many repetitive administrative tasks such as answering enquiries, following up with prospects and scheduling consultations.

“AI has allowed our team to focus more of our energy on coaching and member engagement,” he said.

In the case of Daniel, he highlighted how providing a ChatGPT Pro subscription to each of his staff has improved the quality of their reports as they can use it to quickly provide information on unfamiliar topics.

He said, “My staff no longer have any excuse that they do not know how to do a piece of work.”

This in turn means he can focus on developing their critical thinking skills, Daniel pointed out.

What does the Tripartite Jobs Council have to do with all of this?

The bigger question then, is not whether AI is good or bad.

It is whether workers, employers and the wider system can manage the transition in a way that gives people confidence, rather than leaving them to figure it out alone, or worse, only after displacement happens.

On Apr. 30, 2026, the creation of the Tripartite Jobs Council to help workers and businesses was announced.

The council brings together NTUC, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), and the employers’ trade union, Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), to look at how jobs are changing, where workers may need support, and how companies can adopt AI without leaving people behind.

Speaking at the launch of the council, NTUC Secretary General Ng Chee Meng said the aim of the council is to address concerns such as PMEs lacking full AI workplace application awareness, a growing perception amongst youth that skills and qualifications no longer guarantee employment, and increasing anxiety by seniors’ over skills obsolescence.

According to The Straits Times, the council will focus on providing coordinated support for transformation of the workforce in tandem with AI adoption.

It will also provide targeted transition support for workers and occupations that are at risk due to the AI disruption, and help to raise public awareness about AI so that more members of the public will go for training.

That means looking at broad-based and sector-specific training, identifying roles that may be more exposed to disruption, and giving workers clearer pathways to adapt.

So, where can I start?

For a PME who is unsure whether AI is relevant to their role, the first step may not be to sign up for the nearest course.

Instead, it may be to understand how their work is likely to change, which parts of their role can be supported by AI, and what skills would help them stay useful in that new environment.

This is where initiatives such as NTUC’s AI-Ready SG can come in handy.

Launched in February 2026, the AI-Ready SG initiative involves making structured AI training pathways available to all workers and will offer more than a million places through NTUC LearningHub for training over the next few years.

These pathways include courses in using AI for sales, marketing and human resources, as well as managing workplaces and workflows amidst AI-driven digital transformation.

NTUC members will also be able to receive subsidies of up to 50 per cent for the subscription costs of eligible AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and Github Copilot, among others, under the Union Training Assistance Programme.

At the same time, the transition cannot fall only on workers.

If AI is introduced by employers without proper job redesign, employees may experience it as a threat rather than a tool.

According to NTUC Secretary General Ng Chee Meng in his May 5 speech in Parliament, NTUC will work with companies, through the Company Training Committees (CTCs), to identify jobs that may be affected by transformation, close skills gaps and map out clearer progression pathways.

This is to help ensure that AI adoption can lead to better jobs and not just leaner teams.

What if my job is already being affected?

For workers whose roles are already being affected by AI or business transformation, the support needed may be more immediate, as it may no longer be enough to simply be told to “upskill”.

Such workers may need help to understand what is changing in their job, identify transferable skills, explore new roles, and access career guidance or training support.

Here, NTUC has provided support for workers via its Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).

Affected workers can seek out career coaching services to help identify their career moves and join employability workshops to enhance their job search, resume writing and interviewing skills.

For professionals who are pressed for time, or prefer a “self-help” option, they can make use of NTUC’s AI Career Coach which can analyse their resume, identify strengths and gaps and recommend additional job possibilities based on their skills and experience.

Workers can also make use of the NTUC LearningHub Career Mentorship Programme to connect to certified mentors who will provide guidance through an AI‐enabled match‐scoring system that pairs mentees with mentors aligned to their career goals.

The Tripartite Job Council, which supports the National AI Council, is also stepping up to make sure you are not left behind as AI changes the workplace.

The council will continuously study the impact of AI, review policies and introduce programmes aimed at helping workers and businesses, especially SMEs, adopt AI with confidence, strengthen career conversion pathways, and ensure workers have access to skills that they need for new opportunities.

Through these, NTUC can help workers take practical next steps to navigate into a new area of work.

Should workers panic?

Probably not. But they should not ignore AI either.

The professionals we spoke to show that AI’s impact is not the same for everyone.

Some workers are already using it confidently. Some are curious but unsure. Others are worried that the technology may reduce the value of their experience or make their roles more vulnerable.

All of these reactions are valid.

What matters however, is whether workers receive practical support — not just broad messages that AI is important, but clear guidance on what to learn, how to apply it, and where their jobs may be heading.

Fortunately, help exists in the form of initiatives under AI-Ready SG, so you do not have to figure this out alone.

This sponsored article made the author consider looking up a course in AI

A 14-year-old self-radicalised youth in Singapore who had planned a mass-casualty attack on his school during the June holidays earlier this year was arrested just weeks before the school break began.

This was revealed by Senior Minister K Shanmugam, who is also the Minister for Home Affairs and Coordinating Minister for National Security, at a media doorstop on Jul. 27.

The youth had been radicalised by Composite Violent Extremism (COVE), after being exposed to violent content online and through first-person shooter games via Roblox.

"He had gotten quite close to carrying out his plans. It is worrying, but every case is worrying," SM Shanmugam said.

"I've said this many times before. The Internal Security Department (ISD) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have got to get it right every single time. The would-be attacker needs to get it right only once."

The 14-year-old was one of three self-radicalised male Singaporean youths issued Orders of Detention (ODs) under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in April, May and June this year.

All three were self-radicalised online by violent extremist ideologies and had made preparations to carry out attacks in Singapore.

They were at varying stages of planning and preparing their attacks when they were arrested.

All 3 youths had planned attacks in Singapore

The youths who are under 18 years of age were not named.

The first case involved a 15-year-old Secondary Four student who was self-radicalised online by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)’s extremist ideologies.

He believed that ISIS-inspired attacks were justified as revenge for the deaths of ISIS fighters and planned to carry out an attack in Singapore.

He had researched methods of making improvised explosives and looked into obtaining materials needed for such devices.

Fortunately, he was arrested while still in the early stages of planning.

At that point, he had not identified a specific location, target or timeline for the attack, but had envisioned carrying it out in an urban setting and causing multiple civilian casualties.

The second case involved 19-year-old Tan Jun Jie, a Muslim convert who began practising Islam in 2022 after being introduced to the religion through social media content.

He saw himself as a member of ISIS, and in late 2025, made plans to attack two groups in Singapore: Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel stationed at the entrance of Sembawang Air Base, and LGBTQ students at his school.

He also admitted to attempting DDoS cyberattacks in mid-2025 against the websites of several local and foreign Muslim organisations, which he regarded as "deviant".

The third case involved the 14-year-old youth, who was 12 when he began to radicalise.

He is the third individual and the first youth dealt with under the ISA to have been radicalised by Composite Violent Extremism (CoVE), and the first detention involving CoVE ideologies.

This was through First-Person Shooter (FPS) games on Roblox and consuming violent content online.

Fuelled by grievances over being bullied by schoolmates and academic stress from teachers, the youth subsequently planned a mass-casualty attack at his school against non-Muslim schoolmates during the June 2026 school holidays.

He drafted a 21-page manifesto detailing his plans, and intended to livestream the attack, pledge allegiance to ISIS and then take his own life.

Family and friends best placed to spot signs of radicalisation: Shanmugam

Since 2015, a total of 23 young people aged 20 and below have been dealt with by ISD, Shanmugam said, noting the concerning trend of younger people becoming radicalised.

He added that MHA is working with the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and other agencies to tackle harmful extremist content online.

However, it is impossible to block everything, he said.

As such, tackling harmful extremist content must involve the wider community, with family and friends playing an important role in spotting signs of radicalisation.

In all three cases, the youths had shared their extremist views with people around them.

"It takes less and less time for people to become radicalised and decide to become violent. That is why it is extremely important to report early, and that allows for early intervention," Shanmugam said.

Early reporting can allow the individual to receive the help they need and keep society safe.

In some cases, early intervention can also allow the individual to be managed without the use of the ISA.

Asked whether such cases could affect perceptions of Singapore's Malay-Muslim community, Shanmugam said it was important not to associate the actions of a small extremist minority with the wider community.

"For 25 years, our mantra has been, and we have been successful in telling people, those who want to do you harm are a very small extremist minority. The majority are law-abiding Singaporeans," he said. "They are the same as us, and you don't draw artificial lines."

Drawing lines based on race or religion could have serious consequences for Singapore's social cohesion, he said.

"The moment you draw these lines, that's when it becomes self-fulfilling.

We have been working very hard to build the bonds between the communities, make sure our Malay-Muslim Singaporeans feel the same as everybody else in every aspect of society at life, and for Singaporeans of all races, religions... to recognise that we are all one."

"If we go down that route of looking at somebody else with suspicion based on skin colour or religion or race, we are asking for trouble," he said.

MOE to support youths' education while in detention

Separately, Minister for Education Desmond Lee said while ISD would focus on the youths' rehabilitation,  the Ministry of Education (MOE) would support their education while they are in detention.

"We will work together to try to help them to recover and move on positively and purposefully," he said.

He added that MOE will work with MHA to tackle youth online radicalisation through three areas: education, prevention and emergency response.

Lee said one of the three cases was reported by someone in a school who had picked up signs of radicalisation and alerted the authorities.

"We are encouraged by this, as it shows that counter-radicalisation efforts are bearing fruit on the ground, and we will work with MHA to do more on this front," he said.

Schools to balance security with open learning environments

When asked if security measures in schools would be stepped up, given that two of the three youths had planned attacks in schools, Lee said schools would not respond to the threat of radicalisation by simply increasing physical security measures.

"It is very natural that when you have something like this happen, the people's instinct is: 'Let's tighten up. Let's put perimeter fences. Let's do 100 per cent checks. Let's go around and check every bag'," he said.

However, that cannot be the main approach the government takes when it comes to this, Lee said.

Instead, schools would continue to adopt multiple layers of vigilance, training and contingency planning.

On the security front, measures include closed-circuit television cameras and trained security staff who can identify matters or people of concern.

Selective bag checks and other checks can also be carried out where necessary, he said.

But schools must remain places where students can learn comfortably, Lee added.

He noted that not all institutes of higher learning are gated, closed communities, with some operating as open campuses where people can move in and out freely.

"We want to make sure that we strike the right balance, and put in place the right measures to getting people more aware of what they need to look out for and strengthening this overall community of vigilance, so that we look out for one another, care for one another, and take the necessary steps to protect the community."

Three self-radicalised male Singaporean youths were issued with Orders of Detention (ODs) under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in April, May and June 2026, respectively.

All three were self-radicalised online by violent extremist ideologies, and had each made preparations to conduct attacks in Singapore.

According to a press release by the Internal Security Department on Jul. 27, the youths were at varying stages of planning and preparing for the local attacks when they were arrested.

The three youths are aged 14, 15, and 19.

First case - Sec 4 student, no one reported him

The first case involved a 15-year-old Secondary Four student who was self-radicalised online by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)’s extremist ideologies.

His radicalisation had been triggered by Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attacks against Israel, after which he was exposed to a proliferation of content online depicting the suffering of Palestinians.

He had also joined several online groups to learn more about Islam. Through them, he was exposed to violent extremist content, which in turn encouraged him to support terrorist groups.

His repeated exposure to extremist narratives about the Israel-Palestinian conflict fuelled his hatred towards Israelis, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Zionists.

He also viewed the violence carried out by groups fighting against Israel, including Hamas, Hizbollah and the Houthis, as a form of jihad against Israeli oppression.

Considered travelling to Gaza to fight for Hamas

In 2024, the 15-year-old briefly considered travelling to Gaza to join Hamas in their fight against the IDF.

He conducted cursory research into possible travel routes, but did not make further preparations as he felt he lacked the resources to do so.

Instead, he expressed his support for Hamas and hatred towards Israel on social media.

This included creating and posting a video encouraging Muslims to carry out armed violence for the Palestinian cause.

At the same time, the youth developed an interest in historical Islamic caliphates and ISIS through the online groups he frequented.

He became convinced that establishing an Islamic caliphate to revive the 'Golden Era' for Islam and for Muslims to live in a society ruled by sharia (Islamic law) was necessary.

He also felt proud about ISIS’s success in establishing a caliphate in Syria in 2014, and believed that the use of violence was the most effective way to achieve this.

Wanted to establish "Islamic Caliphate" in SEA

By mid-2025, he had set his sights on establishing an Islamic caliphate in Southeast Asia comprising Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, which he called the "Malaya Caliphate".

He believed that the proximity of these countries to Singapore would make it easier to recruit like-minded individuals.

He also considered starting the caliphate in Aceh, Indonesia, as it was already governed by sharia.

As part of his preparations, he researched online about making explosives and created several social media chat groups to recruit others to his cause.

He also shared pro-ISIS content in the groups and created a flag for his proposed caliphate.

He told his mother the flag was meant to show his support for Palestine, and his mother had assisted him in printing it via an e-commerce retailer.

The youth publicly pledged allegiance to ISIS on social media in late 2025 and came to see himself as a member of the terrorist group.

He supported ISIS' acts of violence and viewed fighters who died while carrying out attacks as martyrs.

He also aspired to travel to Syria or Iraq to live under ISIS rule and support the group.

He searched online for flights from Singapore to the region and looked for overseas shooting ranges where he could familiarise himself with firearms.

He also intended to use his future National Service stint to gain firearms training and build the physical fitness and mental resilience needed to fight for ISIS.

Planned to carry out attack in Singapore

The youth also planned to carry out an attack in Singapore, believing that ISIS-inspired attacks were justified as revenge for the deaths of ISIS fighters.

He viewed secular states which labelled ISIS as a terrorist organisation as enemies of the group, and this included Singapore.

To him, attacks by ISIS against such states were justified.

He had researched methods of making improvised explosives and looked into obtaining materials needed for such devices.

He was subsequently arrested while still in the early stages of planning.

At the time, he had not identified a specific location, target or timeline for the attack, but had envisioned carrying it out in an urban setting and causing multiple civilian casualties.

Although the youth claimed he had not shared his attack plans with anyone, his family and friends appeared to be aware of his extremist views.

None reported him to the authorities.

Second case - Muslim convert, wanted to attack Air Force personnel and LGBTQ schoolmates

The second case involved 19-year-old Tan Jun Jie, a Muslim convert who began practising Islam in 2022 after being introduced to the religion through social media content.

In late 2022, he was exposed to online extremist teachings of foreign preachers and subsequently to rigid and fundamentalist religious beliefs.

These made him susceptible to pro-ISIS and other extremist content he encountered online from January 2025.

By late 2025, Tan believed that armed violence was permissible against "kuffar", or disbelievers.

He included non-Muslims, Shi'ite Muslims, Muslims whose understanding of Islam differed from his own, and individuals who served secular governments in this category.

Self-identified as ISIS member

By January 2026, Tan saw himself as an ISIS member and had taken the bai'ah, or pledge of allegiance, in his heart.

He was convinced of ISIS' religious legitimacy and believed the group was fighting "disbelievers" to establish an Islamic caliphate.

Tan was prepared to carry out attacks in Singapore if ordered to do so by ISIS.

He was also convinced that he would be a martyr if he died while fighting on the battlefield, and hence wanted to travel overseas to undertake armed jihad.

He initially considered travelling to Gaza under the guise of humanitarian work to join Hamas in its fight against the IDF.

He later abandoned the plan, deeming it unfeasible, and instead planned to travel to Somalia to join an ISIS affiliate there.

As part of his preparations, Tan researched travel to Somalia and looked up information related to making explosives.

Wanted to attack SAF personnel & LGBTQ schoolmates

In late 2025, he also made plans to attack two groups in Singapore: Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel stationed at the entrance of Sembawang Air Base, and LGBTQ students at his school.

He was also prepared to be killed while executing the attacks.

He regarded the SAF personnel as enemy combatants serving what he called the "kuffar Government" of Singapore.

He viewed the attack on SAF personnel as his priority, believing it would bring greater divine rewards and increase his chances of dying as a martyr.

Tan also viewed the behaviour of LGBTQ students as "un-Islamic".

He researched knife techniques and identified a knife he intended to purchase from a local shopping mall.

He did not have a specific timeline for the attacks, but was prepared to carry them out if he failed to travel to Somalia and join ISIS.

Tan also had violent thoughts about killing Muslim acquaintances who disagreed with his religious beliefs.

While preparing food at home, he had imagined that his kitchen cleaver was a knife to slit his acquaintances’ throats, mimicking executions in ISIS’s propaganda videos.

He was eventually reported to the authorities by acquaintances who were concerned about his extremist views and intention to engage in violence in Singapore and overseas.

Attempted cyberattacks

Tan is also undergoing a separate investigation for potential offences under the Computer Misuse Act.

He admitted to attempting DDoS cyberattacks in mid-2025 against the websites of several local and foreign Muslim organisations, which he regarded as "deviant".

He had downloaded malware to carry out the attacks and wanted to restrict access to the websites as he believed their teachings were misguided.

Tan had also recorded an oral declaration justifying his actions:

"… Anyways, the point is, I gave y’all enough time and patience. So, here's what I'm gonna do.

With the skills that Allah has given me, nothing haram, everything within the Shariah, I'm going to use my skills to cyber attack these organisations and their forms of dakwah.

InshaAllah, I hope I can take down their sites. Dox and expose the relevant individuals."

However, he later decided against spreading the recording as the websites continued to be accessible after his DDoS attempts.

Third case - Youth aged 12 at the time, radicalised on Roblox

The third case involved a 14-year-old youth, who was aged 12 at the time.

In 2024, he encountered First-Person Shooter (FPS) games on Roblox that recreated real-life school shootings.

Curious, he searched for more information online and learnt about mass shooters who had been victims of bullying and who viewed their attacks as retaliation against those who had wronged them.

The youth, who said he had also been bullied, identified with the shooters.

He also consumed violent gore and mass shooting content on social media recommended by algorithms, as well as from online channels linked to the True Crime Community.

As he consumed such content and played games recreating mass shootings, he imagined his own bullies as the victims depicted in the videos and games, while seeing himself as the perpetrator.

In 2024, he also came across the 2016 mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Florida, United States, carried out by ISIS supporter Omar Mateen, on social media.

The youth idolised Mateen, relating to his experiences of bullying, and admired the high number of people he killed.

He believed killing gay people was justified because he considered homosexuality to be haram, or forbidden, in Islam.

He subsequently consumed more ISIS content and came to support the group's killing of "kuffar", which he defined as non-Muslims.

Shared extremist content with schoolmates, none were radicalised

He was also willing to attack non-Muslims if instructed to do so by ISIS.

The youth also considered travelling to Syria to join ISIS, but ultimately did not do so due to a lack of resources.

To flaunt his support for ISIS and promote the group, he shared ISIS-related videos to his friends and schoolmates.

None of his schoolmates were radicalised by his attempts.

The youth was also exposed to far-right extremist materials, including anti-Semitic and neo-Nazi narratives.

Over time, he developed anti-Semitic views and supported Adolf Hitler's killing of Jews.

He also subscribed to the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division’s accelerationist beliefs. and supported white supremacist ideas.

Planned attack on schoolmates

By late 2025, fuelled by grievances over being bullied by schoolmates and academic stress from teachers, he planned a mass-casualty attack at his school against non-Muslim schoolmates during the June 2026 school holidays.

The reason for planning the attack during the holidays was he felt there would be fewer teachers present to stop his attack.

He also identified specific days when he and his intended targets would be at school for co-curricular activities.

The youth initially considered using firearms but abandoned the idea because of Singapore's strict gun laws.

He later explored using a handmade bomb, before abandoning that idea due to the cost of obtaining the required materials.

He then decided to use knives instead, saying he was confident in his ability to carry out a stabbing attack, after repeatedly watching ISIS execution and stabbing tutorial videos.

He also intended to livestream the attack and planned to pledge allegiance to ISIS during it.

He also saw the attack as a form of jihad and intended to kill himself afterwards, believing he would die a martyr.

He also hoped to honour what he regarded as the "first ISIS member in Singapore" through the attack.

Wanting to mimic Columbine High School shooter Dylan Klebold’s outfit, the youth took to an e-commerce site to search for tactical apparel to wear during the attack.

In January 2026, he drafted a 21-page manifesto detailing his plans.

The manifesto contained neo-Nazi and far-right symbols and glorified mass shooters whom he idolised.

He titled it "A Call to Action" and intended it to encourage other bullied youths to respond to their grievances with violence.

He planned to disseminate it on social media a day before the attack.

Someone at his school eventually noticed signs of his radicalisation and alerted the authorities.

The youth admitted that he would have carried out the attack had he not been arrested.

Threat of youth radicalisation in Singapore

ISD said the three youths "harboured a strong resolve to enact violence and were at varying stages of their attack plans and preparations at the point of their arrests".

All three had identified easily available weapons, including bladed weapons, for their intended attacks and had sought information online about making explosives.

Dangers of violent and extremist material online

The cases highlight how violent and extremist material can be easily accessed online, ISD said.

Repeated exposure to graphic violence and violent games that recreate or glorify terror attacks and mass shootings can normalise violence among youths and make them more receptive to extremist narratives, it added.

This can also make them more receptive to extremist narratives, priming them for radicalisation.

The youths were also able to find information online that helped them develop their violent plans, highlighting the dangers and ready accessibility of violent and extremist material online.

Tan is also the first self-radicalised individual dealt with under the ISA to have attempted cyberattacks in furtherance of his extremist beliefs.

ISD said the ready availability of online resources, including malware and hacking tools, could facilitate cyberattacks.

The authorities have and will continue to block access to terrorist websites, ISD said.

However, tackling harmful extremist content online requires a whole-of-society effort, it added.

The government will continue working with community partners on outreach efforts to raise public awareness of the threat of radicalisation.

Public and parental vigilance can also help guard against youths' exposure to violent extremist content online.

Extremist threats becoming more diverse

The cases also show that the extremist threat extends beyond ISIS ideology.

The 14-year-old was exposed to anti-Semitic, accelerationist and racial supremacist beliefs in addition to ISIS propaganda.

He is the third individual to have been radicalised by CoVE, and the first detention involving CoVE ideologies.

ISD said individuals radicalised by CoVE may have a shallow understanding of different extremist ideologies, and their support for these ideologies may be fluid.

However, the threat they pose is no less severe.

Such individuals may have more potential triggers for violence because they subscribe to multiple extremist ideologies, which can cause them to escalate quickly from radicalised beliefs to violent action, ISD said.

Public reminded to be vigilant

ISD reminded members of the public to remain vigilant to signs that someone around them may have become radicalised and to seek help from the authorities early.

Early reporting can allow the individual to receive the help they need and keep society safe.

In some cases, early intervention can also allow the individual to be managed without the use of the ISA.

The three youths will undergo a holistic rehabilitation programme addressing their religious or ideological misconceptions, as well as psychological and social vulnerabilities.

ISD will also work closely with their families and schools to facilitate their continued studies while they are in detention.

It also reiterated that anyone is susceptible to radicalisation, and urged the public to stay alert to warning signs and report concerns early.

Possible signs of radicalisation include:

• Displaying symbols of extremist or terrorist groups (eg. using a Hamas flag as a social media photo);
• Frequently visiting radical websites;
• Posting or sharing extremist views online, including support for terrorists or the use of violence;
• Sharing extremist views with friends and family;
• Making remarks that stoke hatred toward other races, religions or communities;
• Expressing intent to take part in violence, locally or abroad; and/or
• Inciting others to violence.

Anyone who knows or suspects a person has been radicalised, or is involved in terrorism-related activities, should contact ISD at 1800-2626-473.

After working as an engineer in Singapore for about five months, a Myanmar woman was forced to head home after she was unable to afford surgery in Singapore following a traffic mishap.

She suffered fractures after a car ran over her right foot on Jul. 23 in Sembawang and had to pay S$40,000 in deposit alone for surgery.

Got into accident days after leaving her job

According to Shin Min Daily News, the woman, Myat, 35, had arrived in Singapore to work as an engineer five months ago.

However, she left the job on Jul. 20, three days before the accident.

On Jul. 23, Myat was walking near Block 508A in Wellington Circle when she saw a parked car on the road.

"I thought it wouldn't move, so I crossed the road. However, the car suddenly made a turn and ran over my right foot," Myat told Shin Min in an interview at Changi Airport on Jul. 25.

Her leg became stuck between the car's fender and tyre.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the accident at about 8pm, it said in response to Mothership's queries.

SCDF eventually freed her leg using hydraulic equipment.

She was later sent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital for treatment.

S$40,000 deposit for surgery

Myat spent three days and two nights at the hospital, Shin Min wrote.

Her bill for the stay amounted to about S$3,000.

She was also told that she needed to undergo surgery, and would have to pay a S$40,000 deposit.

"I do not have the money, so I can't do the surgery", Myat said.

The 35-year-old was unemployed and did not have insurance.

Myat had been looking for a new job before she met with the accident.

Former employer helped with bills

Myat reached out to her former employer for help.

"He kindly lent me money to pay for the medical bills and bought me a plane ticket back to Myanmar," the 35-year-old said.

She said she would return the borrowed sum as soon as she receives compensation.

However, at the time she spoke to Shin Min on Jul. 25, the driver had not yet contacted her.

Will be out of work for some time

Myat was discharged from the hospital on Jul. 25 afternoon, and caught a 9pm flight home.

She was accompanied by several friends at the airport and was seen with a cast on her right leg and abrasions on her left arm.

One of her friends told Shin Min that Myat came to Singapore to work and earn an income for her family back home.

She would have to undergo surgery back at home and would not be able to work for a while, the friend said.

A 39-year-old male car driver is assisting with investigations, the Singapore Police Force said in response to Mothership's queries.

Police investigations are ongoing.

A Malaysian woman who has worked as a street sweeper for over 12 years was moved to tears on her 50th birthday when her four daughters surprised her at work.

They each were dressed in their professional uniforms as a pilot, nurse, Singapore Airlines cabin crew member and teacher.

The heartwarming moment was captured in a video shared by The Chindian Diaries on Facebook, which has since gone viral.

M Kavitha works at SWM Environment, a waste management company in Seremban, Malaysia earning RM1,800 (S$568.76) a month. Despite her children's success, she continues to work by choice.

When asked why she still works in her 50s instead of letting her children take care of her, Kavitha said:

"It's not like that my dear, it's good to be independent. Each child has their own life. I'm just 50, there are people who still work in their 70s."

She added:"I'm doing this work with my full heart."

A month in the making

The surprise was organised by her daughter L Bharathi and her siblings over about a month, according to New Straits Times (NST).

The idea came from Bharathi's younger sister Santhia, 29, during a conversation among the siblings about what would make the most meaningful birthday gift for their mother.

Bharathi told NST: "We knew no material gift could ever repay Amma for everything she has sacrificed. We wanted to give her something that wasn't valuable because of its price, but because of the happiness it would bring her."

Bharathi also shared that their mother had once expressed a wish to see their youngest sibling surprise her at work in a pilot's uniform, a dream they were able to fulfil on her 50th birthday.

The biggest challenge, Bharathi said, was coordinating schedules as some siblings are based in Singapore and Langkawi, while also ensuring Kavitha remained unaware of the plan and was working as usual on the day.

"Her sacrifices inspired us"

Kavitha has spent more than 12 years working as a street sweeper alongside her husband, a painter, to give their children a better future.

The family has five children in total, her son works at the same company as Kavitha.

Bharathi told NST: "Since we were young, we watched Amma work under the scorching sun and in the rain without ever complaining. Her sacrifices inspired us to study hard, work hard and change our family's life."

The moment she turned around

During the surprise, an interviewer was asking Kavitha questions about her work and family. When asked what her children were doing, she answered without knowing they were standing behind her.

She said:

"All my kids are in good positions. My first child is a nurse, the second one is a stewardess at Singapore Airlines. The third one is a government high school teacher, fourth one is a boy working with me, and my last daughter, she is a pilot."

When asked what she would do if her children were there with her right now, she replied: "They're working right now, why would they be here."

The interviewer then told her to turn around. She found her four daughters waiting behind her in their uniforms and was immediately overcome with emotion, embracing each of them.

"One of the most precious memories of my life"

Kavitha told NST that the surprise made every hardship feel worthwhile.

She said: "I'm grateful because all the hard work and sacrifices I made raising my children felt worthwhile that day. It is one of the most precious memories of my life."

A deaf e-hailing driver in Malaysia recently filed a civil suit against the country's police and government over the alleged mishandling of his police report about an assault.

According to the driver, Ong Ing Keong, a security escort punched him in the face without warning while he was picking up passengers at the St Regis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on May 28, 2024, The New Straits Times reported.

After he made a police report about the incident, police officers pressured him to withdraw the report and delete the video footage of what happened, Ong claimed.

The assault

Ong alleged that at St Regis Hotel that day, several people ordered him to move his car while his passengers were getting on

Then, as he was about to drive off, a security escort dressed in plain clothes allegedly reached in through the open driver's window and punched him in the face.

The assault reportedly resulted in facial pain, soft tissue injuries, and bruising beneath his upper lip.

The incident was captured on video from Ong's dashboard camera.

The police report

The 48-year-old driver lodged a police report later that same day at Travers police station, before seeking treatment at a hospital, Free Malaysia Today reported.

When he went back to the station afterwards, officers allegedly took his phone and told him it would only be returned if he withdrew his police report and deleted the video from his dashboard camera.

Ong said that without his phone, he was left without his primary means of communication for several hours.

He was also not provided a sign language interpreter or translation assistance despite his disability, he added.

Allegedly asked to settle

A police officer at the station allegedly pressured him to settle the matter regarding the assault by accepting RM800 (S$253) in compensation.

Ong said he initially agreed out of fear that his phone would be permanently seized, but told the police the next day that he wished to proceed with the investigation.

The security escort involved ultimately pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing hurt to Ong.

On Nov. 4, 2024, he was fined RM1,000 (S$316) or 20 days in jail in default.

Suing police and government

On Jul. 10, 2026, Ong filed the civil suit at the Malaysia High Court against the security escort, the police officer who allegedly pressured him, the Kuala Lumpur police chief, the inspector-general of police, and the government.

He alleged that the police officer committed misfeasance in public office by allegedly attempting to coerce him into withdrawing his police report.

He is also suing the senior police officers and the government based on vicarious liability for the conduct of the officers who handled his case, according to Free Malaysia Today.

Ong also accused the police of breaching their statutory duties by not providing communication assistance to a deaf complainant and not properly investigating the reported offence.

His case will be heard at the High Court on Aug. 12.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced on Jul. 27 that it will be increasing the rate of appreciation of the Singapore dollar very slightly as inflation is forecast to step up in July and remain elevated into early next year.

This is the second consecutive quarter in which the central bank has tightened Singapore's monetary policy.

The first took place after the macroeconomic review in April 2026.

MAS said that the extent of July's increase in the rate of appreciation will be smaller than that of April's.

Sustained inflationary pressure

In its Jul. 27 monetary policy statement, MAS noted that the core inflation rate came in at 1.5 per cent year-on-year in Q2 2026, up from 1.2 per cent in January-February prior to the outbreak of the Middle East conflict.

It now expects core inflation rates to step up in July and remain elevated into early next year.

It has maintained its core inflation and Consumer Price Index-All Items (CPI-All Items) inflation projection at an average of 1.5 to 2.5 per cent for 2026 as a whole.

The projection was raised previously following April's macroeconomic review, up from one to two per cent.

Electricity and gas inflation will pick up due to higher energy prices, while food and retail and other goods inflation should increase alongside the passthrough of imported costs, MAS explained.

In the quarters ahead, Singapore's imported costs are likely to rise as higher fuel and electronic input costs will lift prices for items such as construction materials, capital equipment and food commodities.

Adverse weather conditions arising from El Niño in Singapore's import sources are also expected to lower agricultural output and drive up food prices.

However, MAS said that inflation should "ease more discernibly" in the second half of 2027 as global energy prices gradually moderate.

Global economy remained resilient

In terms of growth, global economic activity has been more resilient than anticipated, MAS observed.

This in part reflects the retreat in global prices of crude oil, natural gas and related chemical components from their peaks in April.

Alternative oil and gas supplies and utilisation of existing stockpiles have tempered supply disruptions, MAS noted.

At the same time, AI-related investments have remained robust, underpinning strong production and trade of IT-related goods and services in regional economies.

MAS also expects growth in Singapore's major trading partners to continue apace in the near term, with firm investment spending on technology sustaining activity in the global electronics supply chain.

Energy costs are still elevated compared to a year ago, and will contribute further to inflationary pressures worldwide.

Weaker real incomes could crimp final consumer demand in some economies, MAS noted.

S'pore's growth buoyed by AI spend

On the home front, Singapore's economy has also been stronger than expected, with the impact of the Middle East conflict discernible but contained.

Advance estimates from the Ministry of Trade and Industry placed Singapore's economic growth in Q2 2026 at 5.7 per cent year-on-year.

The disruption to oil-related sectors was more than offset by robust growth in the technology-related segments.

MAS expects the Singapore economy to continue to grow at a firm pace in the second half of the year as global AI-related investments continue to drive activity in Singapore's technology-related sector.

According to MAS, the recently imposed 12.5 per cent tariff by the U.S. on Singapore's exports would raise the effective tariff rate marginally.

However, the impact would be cushioned by export diversification and the boom in tariff-exempt electronics exports.

Altogether, Singapore's positive output gap is now forecast to widen slightly in 2026, reflecting the above-trend growth in the first half of the year, as well as the expectation that overall GDP will be sustained at high levels in the near term.

The output gap is the difference between an economy's GDP and its estimated potential GDP.

A positive output gap represents higher-than-expected economic activity and may be a precursor to rising costs and possibly rising inflation.

Tightening

Given these forecast conditions, the latest tightening of monetary policy builds on April's policy move to cap inflationary pressures, the central bank said.

Despite stronger-than-expected growth, the macroeconomic outlook continues to be uncertain, with MAS noting that inflation could pick up more strongly than anticipated if energy prices spike.

On the flip side, if there is an unexpected pullback in AI-related investments or tightening of financial conditions, inflation could weaken and GDP growth could be affected.

"MAS is well-positioned to respond effectively to any risk to medium-term price stability and will continue to closely monitor economic developments," the central bank said.

The Singapore Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, is appealing for the family and friends of a 44-year-old Singaporean man to come forward.

Its Jul. 24 Facebook post stated that Li Yong Zhe / Lee Yong Kwang Gavin, who was born on Oct. 27, 1982, passed away in Batam on Jul. 15, 2026.

Members of the public who know him, or have any information about him, may contact the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs at +65 6379 8800 or the Singapore Consulate-General in Batam at +62 811 7049 084.

44-year-old media personality and television host Pornsak Prajakwit will be returning to school to pursue his Master’s degree at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

“I’m going back to school again. Recently, I’ve been accepted into NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine to pursue my Master’s in Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine,” he announced in an Instagram video on Jul. 25.

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A post shared by PORNSAK ดร. พรศักดิ์ (@pornsakp)

According to 8world, Pornsak will officially begin his Master's programme on Aug. 3.

The part-time programme is expected to take around two years to complete.

Pornsak holds a business degree from the Singapore Management University and is also a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner.

He told 8world that he decided to return to school part-time to deepen his medical knowledge and better support his clinical practice, as he has been receiving more in-depth questions from his patients.

According to the NUS website, the NUS' Master of Science in Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine programme is a postgraduate programme that can be completed either full-time in one year or part-time over two years.

Despite returning to school, Pornsak said he will continue juggling his studies with work.

"I can choose to take classes on Thursday and Friday mornings, which allows me to balance practising medicine, livestreaming and studies," he told 8world.