The launch of autonomous ride-hailing service Waymo in Singapore by 2028 was announced on Sep. 18.

Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow said during the launch event that the robotaxis will be first deployed in the west of Singapore, starting with the Labrador and HarbourFront area.

In his speech, Siow also emphasised that Singapore will expand the deployment of autonomous vehicles (AV) with safety as a priority.

He also touched on the growing AV industry, saying new jobs will be created while drivers will be supported in finding new opportunities in the industry.

Waymo in Singapore

An independent subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, Waymo was the first company to launch a self-driving public robotaxi service in the U.S. in 2020.

The expansion to Singapore is in partnership with the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA), Waymo said in a press release.

Siow shared that talks with Waymo's Tekedra Mawakana, co-chief executive officer, on the partnership began in March this year.

Mawakana was also in Singapore for the launch announcement on Sep. 18.

Siow said that AVs would complement public transport, adding to the capacity of the country's taxi and private hire car fleet.

It could also fill some gaps, such as going to places where human drivers are not keen to go, and providing service after hours, when public transport is not operating, he said.

Expanding to West

Singaporeans first experienced AV rides when trials with fixed routes were first launched in Punggol in April 2026.

Siow said that with Waymo, their AVs will be deployed in the western part of Singapore, starting with the Labrador and Harbourfront area.

This will include new use cases such as travelling to work, weekend travel, and serving industrial areas which have fewer transport options, he added.

Within Punggol, Siow said they will start trialling point-to-point service within the whole estate, without the need for fixed routes.

This will be done progressively, by adding more pick-up and drop-off points, he said.

"Beyond Punggol, we plan to deploy autonomous vehicles in one to two more HDB towns that are further away from the city, which will benefit from more transport options, like Tampines North and Tengah," he added.

Currently, there are 16 passenger AVs that are all in Punggol, though current operators in the market are planning to expand their fleet.

Just a few days prior, on Sep. 14, Grab had announced that it will be expanding its AV fleet from 10 to 50 vehicles over the next six months and also broaden its AV service coverage beyond Punggol.

With Waymo also bringing vehicles into Singapore, Siow said Singapore's total fleet of AVs will increase to several hundred vehicles in the next two years.

Safety is the key priority

In expanding the AV deployment in Singapore, Siow said that the key priority is safety.

He noted that while Singapore’s roads are safer than many other cities, there is still one fatal road accident every three days.

"In theory, driverless vehicles should improve safety on our roads. After all, they do not drink-drive, they do not road rage, they do not speed," he said.

Data indicates AVs are "significantly safer" than human drivers, including in mixed environments, and the technology is still improving, Siow said.

"Nevertheless, we will still expand the deployment of autonomous vehicles carefully, only when we are confident that it is safe," he said.

New jobs

Siow noted that as the AV industry grows, new jobs will be created.

"We will need people to manage the vehicle fleets, operate vehicles remotely, maintain sophisticated systems, test new applications, analyse data, and ensure that the services run safely and reliably," he said.

Such jobs will be open to taxi and private hire car drivers, and operators have launched training programmes to help drivers who are interested in these roles, Siow said.

He announced that the government will subsidise up to 90 per cent of salaries during training.

Waymo will also be opening a local office in Singapore, giving rise to new jobs, he noted.

"Driverless technology sits at the intersection of some of the most important technologies of this decade: AI, robotics and the application of intelligence to the physical world," Siow said.

"I believe that Singapore will be one of the best places in the world to design and deploy such technologies."

The range of concerns about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) should not be ignored, said Acting Minister for Manpower and Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Jasmin Lau on Sep. 17.

Speaking at the launch of SG AI Xchange, a new forum for companies to swap notes on their AI adoption journeys, Lau devoted part of her opening address to the "groundswell of workers and younger students who are somewhat anti-AI".

The fourth group

"They fear how it will be taking away many of their jobs and aspirations," said Lau. "They also conflate what AI can do with the environmental damage that they are seeing around the world."

Rather than brush off these concerns, Lau said they're genuine and shouldn't be dismissed.

She explained that more needs to be done to keep Singapore society united, from employers and business leaders to workers and anxious students.

"Everybody has a different view of how AI should or should not be used. Everybody has a different view of how fast or slow the pace ought to be. I think in Singapore, we do realise that the world is changing, and we want to make sure that AI in Singapore is adopted widely enough to create real value for our companies and good jobs for our workers."

Quiet doesn't mean okay

Lau also reminded business leaders that a silent workforce isn't necessarily a content one.

"Don't take a quiet workforce for an agreeable workforce," she said.

"The fact that they are quiet and not pushing back yet doesn't always mean that they are happy with where things are going. They want to know what their business leaders are really thinking, whether you are already planning retrenchments and slowdown in hiring."

Her ask: more transparency, even when the news isn't good.

Employers should tell workers if automation plans are in the pipeline, along with what retraining might look like, she said, adding that communication and transparency keep workers and companies together.

What SG AI Xchange is meant to fix

In her speech, Lau credited GlobalFoundries as a "very strong supporter" of Singapore's Economic Strategy Review work.

The company shared about its experience in scaling AI in the manufacturing sector at the forum. This example was one of the benefits that SG AI Xchange brings to the table, said Lau.

"That is not a common culture because we tend to be quite shy about where we have not done well and reserved about sharing our secrets with each other," she said, adding that there's "a lot of value in naming what you were trying to solve, what proved difficult, what you had to change mid-course, and what you needed to do differently."

The bigger picture

Lau also gave a broader update on Singapore's AI push, adding that there are now close to 100 AI Centres of Excellence spanning sectors from finance to manufacturing.

Centres of Excellence are dedicated teams that focus on AI development and deployment to support business goals.

She also cited recent high-profile tech movements, including Google Cloud's new Singapore Engineering Centre, Anthropic's entry into the country, and Databricks' local AI skills efforts.

She also urged companies not to hold back on hiring young graduates over uncertainty about how AI might reshape jobs, urging employers to bring them onboard, give them training and exposure, and trust that roles will evolve alongside the technology.

Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng has apologised for falling asleep during a parliament sitting on Sep. 9, saying that it "should not have happened".

In a Facebook post dated Sep. 18, he explained that he was sick at the time and had taken medication.

"I had been feeling a bit unwell that day and had taken medication. But that does not excuse what happened," he wrote, stating that he takes full responsibility for the incident.

"I should have called for a break earlier rather than continuing with proceedings. I normally do so after four to six hours and this incident took place after the four-hour mark."

Seah added that the incident fell short of the standards expected of the office of Speaker.

A 36-year-old Malaysian man and a 35-year-old Malaysian woman have been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs, including more than 10kg of cannabis, in a Malaysia-registered motorcycle at Tuas Checkpoint on Sep. 15.

ICA said in a Sep. 18 press release that its officers referred the motorcycle for enhanced checks based on information received from ICA's Integrated Targeting Centre.

During the checks, ICA officers uncovered four bundles of vegetable matter believed to be controlled drugs underneath the motorcycle seat.

Officers from the Central Narcotics Bureau were alerted, and further checks led to the uncovering of six more bundles of vegetable matter in a black haversack on the motorcycle's handlebar.

The seized bundles were found to contain a total of 10,164g of cannabis.

According to ICA, the drugs seized have an estimated worth of more than S$203,000.

It could potentially feed the addiction of about 1,450 drug abusers for a week.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, anyone found guilty of importing into or exporting from Singapore more than 500g of cannabis may face the death penalty.

Investigations are ongoing.

Matsuya might finally be here.

The Japanese gyudon chain's branding was seen adorning hoarding in Suntec City.

In a post on X, user @valterria shared a picture of the storefront with the caption, "Its not a drill! There’s Matsuya opening in Singapore!"

Its not a drill!

There’s Matsuya opening in Singapore! pic.twitter.com/qks1Mfhilg

— Valterria ✈️ TGU 2026 🇹🇭 (@valterria) September 17, 2026

The hoarding stated that the outlet would open in November 2026, and is located at B1 of the mall's Tower 2.

It will be the first Matsuya outlet in Singapore.

Currently, Matsuya operates outlets across Japan, mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

The trinity

Matsuya, alongside rivals Sukiya and Yoshinoya, is one of the three biggest gyudon chains in Japan.

It was founded in 1966.

It is the third-largest gyudon chain in Japan, with Sukiya coming in first place.

Gyudon is a dish of stewed beef slices and onions served over rice.

Chains focusing on gyudon are known in Japan for their price competitiveness, sometimes offering 24-hour service.

According to The Japan Times, the three chains have been noted to be locked in a fierce rivalry, engaging in price wars and competing through unique menu offerings.

Matsuya is the latest entrant to the Singaporean market, with Yoshinoya first entering in 1997 at Ngee Ann City and Sukiya, also in Suntec City, in 2021.

Another two Crystal Jade Singapore outlets are set to shutter in 2026, bringing the total number of closures this year to five.

The chain's Hong Kong Kitchen branch in Clementi mall was closed on Sep. 15.

The restaurant was cordoned off and a notice dated Sep. 16 was put up indicating that its tenancy has been forfeited.

Crystal Jade's Jurong Point outlet will also close on Sep. 18.

Ongoing review

The Group said, in response to a query from Mothership, that the closures are part of an ongoing review into its operations and outlet network.

It ensures the business "remains aligned with evolving market conditions and long-term business priorities".

However, Crystal Jade confirmed affected employees were informed of the closures directly and are being supported with redeployment opportunities within the company.

More details on the review are expected to be shared with stakeholders at a later time.

Fifth closure this year

The closure of the Jurong Point outlet will be the group's fifth one this year.

On Sep. 1, the company shut its Great World outlet, also citing the same operations review.

Its Hillion Mall and Suntec City outlets were closed earlier this year, while its La Mian Xiao Long Bao outlet at Holland Village was shut in June 2025 after 20 years.

A total of 13 outlets under Crystal Jade group remain in Singapore, including four Hong Kong Kitchen branches, four La Mian Xiao Long Bao branches and two CJ Go branches, their online delivery and pick up outlets.

Crystal Jade was founded in Singapore in 1991 and grew to 120 restaurants worldwide in 2015.

47 of these were in Singapore.

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) caught 27 motorists committing traffic offences at Woodlands Checkpoint during the September school holidays between Sep. 4 and 13.

ICA officers stepped up traffic enforcement operations at the checkpoint during this period, the agency said in a Sep. 18 news release.

Among the 27 caught, 24 committed offences at the departure area.

They were found crossing double white lines, making illegal right turns, and queue cutting.

Some were stopping in positions likely to cause danger, obstruction, or undue inconvenience.

Most, or 16 of them, were directed to make a U-turn and join the queue again.

8 foreign-registered vehicles subject to entry bans for offences

Eight people were driving foreign-registered vehicles, and they were subjected to entry bans into Singapore for offences including crossing double white lines, and queue cutting.

ICA added that 16 motorists were also referred to the Traffic Police for further action.

At the arrival area of Woodlands Checkpoint, three motorists were caught queue cutting and crossing double white lines.

They were referred to the Traffic Police for follow-up.

ICA reminded the public that they take a very serious stance against motorists who violate traffic laws or do not comply with officers’ instructions at the checkpoints, as such behaviour compromises the safety of other motorists.

A Malaysian soldier was arrested and is facing charges after kicking his 5-year-old daughter on Sep. 11 2026.

According to The Star, Mohamed Nisa Mohamed Nasir, 40, was charged with allegedly abusing a child under his care on Sep. 17.

He pleaded not guilty.

In a widely shared video on social media, Nisa was captured in the act on security camera footage at a restaurant in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

While leading his daughter out of the restaurant, Nisa was seen forcefully kicking his daughter to the floor while startled onlookers watched.

He then dragged her back up on her feet and led her away.

According to a Facebook post by the Kelantan police, the incident occurred at a Thai restaurant, and the footage was uploaded online by the shop owner.

As Nisa pleaded not guilty to the charges, the case will proceed to a trial.

Lawyers debated over bail

The Star said that the prosecution did not offer bail, citing the fact that the victim was Nisa's biological daughter, and subsequent fears that he might interfere with her.

On the other hand, Nisa's lawyers requested for bail, saying that he had served in the military for 19 years and has three children.

The court also noted that Nisa's wife was not employed and relied on him to accompany her for her kidney dialysis treatment and hospital appointments.

They further raised that he had no prior instances of domestic abuse, and that he is not a flight risk as he had to answer to his military unit.

Ultimately, the court granted him bail of RM10,000 (S$3,095) under the condition that he not interfere with the victim and witnesses.

He was also required to surrender his passport and report to a police station every two weeks until the case is resolved.

The next mention in court will be on Oct. 22.

If found guilty, he faces a fine of up to RM50,000 (S$15,479), or imprisonment for up to 20 years, or both.

On Sep. 16, the United States Federal Reserve voted unanimously to raise its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 per cent.

The decision comes against the wishes of U.S. President Donald Trump, who criticised the move and demanded on social media that the interest rates be lowered “and fast”.

The conflict between Donald Trump and the Chair of the Federal Reserve would be unsurprising if it were a year ago.

But the current chair, Kevin Warsh, is Trump's own nominee from earlier this year.

What does the rate increase mean? How was it decided upon, and what is the political background behind Walsh's decision?

Raising rates

In a statement released by the Federal Open Market Committee, the 12-member group that effectively decides what interest rates are set at, the primary reason for the increase was in order to support a “timely return” to the committee's 2 per cent inflation goal.

Interest rates are considered a critical indicator of how U.S. economic performance, and hence the health of the global economy.

This could be seen in how the U.S. stock market reacted immediately to the news, falling initially, before recovering as trades assessed the news, as the Wall Street Journal reported.

Higher interest rates, make borrowing more expensive, benefiting lenders and making things more expensive for people and businesses borrowing money.

CNBC reported that the Fed also signaled that it was not yet done, and that it was likely to raise rates one more time before the end of the year, where as the WSJ suggested that traders had been expecting two more raises, hence the recovery was an indication of relief.

The BBC quoted Fed Chair Kevin Warsh as saying that inflation had been too high for too long and that raising rates was a “sober” and “responsible” decision.

The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics puts the current inflation rate at 3.4 per cent, and it has not been below the 2 per cent target since 2021.

Fighting inflation, but also growth

Higher interest rates mean that the cost of major items of household spending will go up, such as mortgage rates for home buyers.

U.S. consumers are increasingly using debt to purchase items such as vehicles or even home goods, and increasing interest rates will make such spending more expensive.

But at the same time, years of high inflation have exacerbated a cost-of-living crisis in the U.S., and the present moment is a timely reminder of why the Fed, and other central banks like it, are given so much power to rein it in.

However, just as crucial is the impact higher interest rates will have on business.

Higher interest rates make it more expensive for businesses to borrow money, effectively slowing economic growth as companies find it harder to expand and customers find it harder to make purchases.

How did Trump react?

Trump was apoplectic.

He took to Truth Social to declare that interest rates should be 1 per cent or less, and that the US had the best credit in the world.

Resorting to all caps, he demanded: “LOWER THE INTEREST RATES FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND FAST!”

But when he spoke to the press later, he absolved Warsh from blame, saying that the 12-member board he was part of was “very hostile” and “very political”, and that Warsh “might as well vote with the board, because it's not going to matter.”

Is this chair taken?

Warsh is Trump’s own pick for Fed chair, after feuding for the entirety of 2025 with Jerome Powell, Warsh’s predecessor.

Powell, also pursuing lower inflation, resisted Trump’s urging to either lower interest rates or quit his position early in order to enable Trump to nominate a Fed chair who would.

But the Fed Chair is not the only person who determines interest rates.

That is done by the FOMC, made up of Warsh as the chair, but also the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the heads of the various regional reserve banks.

Powell, as the former chair, remains on the board, also against the wishes of Trump.

There are a few moments of irony regarding the ongoing bad blood between Trump and Powell: Trump famously threatened to fire Powell earlier in 2026, an action he’s not allowed to take.

One irony is that Powell spent most of the first year of Trump’s second term not raising interest rates, unlike Warsh, who has raised them within six months of taking office.

The other irony is that Trump literally only has himself to blame for Powell’s appointment; he nominated him in 2017 during his first term.

A hawk in dove's clothing

Although the BBC suggested that some had feared Warsh would simply rubber-stamp Trump’s demands in his role, it was noted at the time of his nomination that Warsh was a “relatively safe choice”, a former financier with central bank experience.

The Guardian, at the time of Warsh's nomination, quoted an expert as saying that Warsh was "one of the better outcomes".

Warsh was also known for having strong views on monetary policy, even being classified as a "hawk", someone more willing to use interest rates to fight inflation, although the closer he got to being appointed, the less he emphasised those views, as reported by Morningstar magazine.

When asked by the press about what message the move had for the president, Warsh simply chuckled and said: “I’ve got nothing for you on a discussion with the president.”

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max launched in Singapore on Sep. 18, 2026.

Wait

When Mothership arrived at the Apple store in Orchard at about 5:35am, a long queue had already formed.

More than 120 people were seen in line.

Those in the queue were issued a wristband a day before on Sep. 17, which allowed them to get in line to purchase the phones.

According to a security staff managing the crowd, the queue started forming in earnest at about 4am.

The Apple store was set to open its doors at about 8am.

Open

Ten seconds before the doors opened, Apple staff started a countdown.

Once the store opened for business, customers were seen inspecting the new phones and making purchases.

The first customer to get his hands on a new iPhone 18 Pro Max was Hector Yong, a 19-year-old student.

His brand new phone came in the “Glacier” colourway.

Yong said he felt “very honoured” to be the “first in Singapore” to try the new phone and was mainly excited about its features.

“I am very particular about its display, to see that the iPhone has cut down the dynamic island, I am quite happy to see,” he said.

Yong added that he had been queuing for the phone since 11pm overnight.

Another customer, Vu Tran, a 30-year-old Vietnamese national who works in construction, was a returning customer.

He had bought the previous year's iPhone and came back to Singapore for this year’s iteration.

Tran added that he flew in to Singapore to also help his “wife and mum” get their hands on the new phones.

He was at the launch with his friends.

Observations

One man was seen collecting at least 33 iPhones.

When Mothership reached out to him, he declined to comment.

He was likely picking up the purchases on behalf of others.

Mothership understands that each person is limited to buying two iPhone 18 Pro and two iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Another man was also seen purchasing the phone in cash.

Out of stock

The phones ran out of stock before 10am.

But the phones were still available next door at Courts Nojima at The Heeren.

They are limited to one set per customer.

A line could be seen outside Courts.

Price

The new phones come in four new colourways: Burgundy, Glacier, Silver, and Black.

Here is the price list for the iPhone 18 Pro:

256GB: S$1,899

512GB: S$2,199

1TB: S$2,799

2TB: S$3,699

Here is the price list for the iPhone 18 Pro Max:

256GB: S$2,099

512GB: S$2,399

1TB: S$2,999

2TB: S$3,899