At the age of 18, Singaporean powerlifter Muhammad Hazrul has broken a world record.

Hazrul, a student at Temasek Polytechnic, was competing at the 2026 IPF World Championships in Sun City, South Africa, on Aug. 21.

He deadlifted 273kg, breaking the previous world record of 271kg in the Sub-Junior Men's 66kg category.

The student also placed second overall in his category.

Speaking to Mothership, Hazrul shared that getting to the world stage took more than just hours in the gym.

Failed to make it to football team

As a kid, Hazrul was always keen on sports.

But when he failed to make it to the football team in secondary school, he joined a gym "to pass the time".

One of his seniors noticed him and thought he had potential. He introduced him to powerlifting, and Hazrul took to it like a duck to water.

For the past three and a half years, the teen has been training in the sport. Last year, he entered the 2025 Singapore Nationals and finished second.

It was an achievement, but he had an even bigger dream: The World Championships. "I told myself that I would work as hard as possible to achieve that goal," he said.

Almost burnt out

To fund his way to the World Championships, he took up a part-time job at an Anytime Fitness gym.

The teen refused to ask his mum for money, even after she offered. He knew supporting his dream financially would be difficult for her.

So he pushed himself to fund his dream himself.

Hazrul had to balance his work alongside studying and training. "I would go to school, train, return home, and study. Or I would go to school, work, return home, and study," he told Mothership.

"It was extremely difficult to sustain because it felt as though I was working every day without a break...

I often asked myself, 'How many more shifts can I take before I burn out?'"

In addition to work, he had to give up social activities and closely manage his diet as he prepared for the competition. Some days, he felt "completely empty", he said.

“It was an extremely lonely journey, but what kept me going was knowing that every sacrifice brought me closer to the dream I wanted most."

Breaking a world record

After months of hard work, Hazrul made it to South Africa.

But upon stepping onto the platform, he felt "extremely nervous". "The crowd, and the thought of thousands of people watching me through the livestream got the better of me," he confessed.

On his second attempt, he tried the record-breaking weight.

But he failed because of cramps and competition jitters.

With one attempt left, Hazrul knew it was his last chance to succeed.

He returned to the platform, felt the weight of the bar, and pushed himself until the bar moved upward.

Then came the three white lights, confirming that the lift attempt was successful.

He had deadlifted 273kg, breaking the previous 271kg world record.

Overwhelmed, he fell to the ground before a coach helped him back to his feet.

It was the culmination of months of hard work — "not only in the gym but also working to earn enough money to chase this dream", he said.

"I felt an overwhelming sense of joy... The experience made every sacrifice I had made feel truly worthwhile."

Tears of joy

Hazrul finished second overall in his category with a 613kg total.

He recorded a 220kg squat, 120kg bench press and 273kg deadlift, finishing just 7kg behind the world champion.

Standing on the podium with a silver medal around his neck, Hazrul said he felt a "sense of pride" representing Singapore on the world stage.

But it was only later that night, while sitting on a shuttle back to his hotel, that Hazrul fully realised what he had achieved.

As he thought about his months of sacrifices that resulted in his record-breaking attempt, he cried tears of joy.

His family's support

Behind the achievement was, of course, the support of his family.

The teen calls his mother his biggest supporter. Throughout his powerlifting journey, she listened to his problems, attended his competitions, and was present through the highs and lows.

"Whenever she is there, I always notice her and hear her voice first," he said.

He also credits his older brother as being the "father figure" who pushed him to become the independent young man he is today.

"He played an important role in shaping me into someone with strong mental fortitude," he explained.

As this is his final year in the Sub-Junior category, Hazrul now has his sights set on becoming a Junior Under-23 World Champion.

"Breaking a world record at 18 taught me that dreams are not meant to remain in your head. If there is something you truly want, you will not stop working towards it," he said.

"I will continue working hard and, most importantly, enjoying the process of becoming the athlete and person I aspire to be."

Sales will continue for the Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream in Singapore.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in an Aug. 28 statement that the prohibited ingredient Sudan IV was not detected in the samples submitted by two companies, APR SG Pte. Ltd. and Rirora International Pte. Ltd.

As such, the sale of the unaffected batches can resume.

Minute amounts of Sudan IV were found in only two samples of the Medicube product sold by Venus Beauty Pte. Ltd, and these batches will be recalled.

Suspension of sale lifted for APR

APR, Medicube's parent company, told Mothership it was officially informed by HSA that as of Aug. 26, 5:55pm, the suspension of the sale and supply of Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream was lifted.

It added that all quantities of the Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream currently stored in Singapore belong to the aforementioned batch.

Recall of two affected batches from Venus

Prior to this, HSA had directed the three companies marketing the Medicube cream to suspend sales of the product on Jul. 31 while it tested their product samples.

HSA told Mothership that its testing detected minute amounts of Sudan IV in two samples of the product sold by Venus Beauty Pte. Ltd.

On Aug. 26, HSA instructed the recall of these affected batches.

The two affected batches are 2E122I.2E117I and 2E191G.2E193G.

Product batch numbers can typically be found on the item's packaging or container.

Additional safeguard

As an additional safeguard, HSA has instructed the three companies to ensure that every batch of their Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream products intended for sale in Singapore is tested by an accredited laboratory for the absence of Sudan IV.

This should be done before supplying the batches locally.

These companies must also provide HSA with their test reports of their products for local sale, the agency said.

Consumer advisory

HSA noted that Sudan Red dyes, including Sudan IV, are not permitted for use in cosmetic products.

Although the quantities detected in the affected batches are in minute amounts and are unlikely to pose any serious health risks from previous use, HSA warned consumers to stop using the affected products.

Those who have concerns related to refunds should also contact the seller.

The agency has not received any local reports of "adverse events" associated with the product to date.

Consumers are also advised not to purchase or use cosmetic products from dubious or unfamiliar sources, particularly where the products' source or quality cannot be verified.

HSA added that consumers should purchase from reputable retailers with an established presence in Singapore so that there is recourse if problems arise.

Cosmetic product notification is not HSA approval

Cosmetic products are regulated under the Health Products (Cosmetic Products – ASEAN Cosmetic Directive) Regulations 2007, the agency said.

Under the regulations, dealers must notify HSA before any cosmetic products can be placed on the market.

The notification facilitates regulatory follow-up by HSA if safety concerns arise.

HSA pointed out that product notification is not a form of premarket approval and should not be construed as product certification or registration by HSA.

Dealers of cosmetic products must ensure that their products comply with the regulatory requirements.

This includes the prohibition and restriction of the use of certain ingredients, the reporting of serious adverse effects to HSA and product labelling.

Any person who supplies cosmetic products that do not comply with the regulatory requirements, including having prohibited ingredients in their products, may face enforcement action.

Anyone found to have supplied such products may face a fine of up to S$50,000 and/or up to two years' jail.

A former swimming coach has been handed a jail term and caning after he molested his 10-year-old female student three times in a month.

49-year-old Quek Yeong Kang, who also went by Alex, was sentenced to two years' jail and three strokes of the cane after he claimed trial to three charges of molestation.

He alleged that the victim had complained about him so that she could change coaches.

Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan convicted Quek of the three charges, rejecting his evidence, "including his denial of the charges and his bare assertion that the victim had fabricated the allegations against him".

There is a gag order on the girl's identity.

Molested girl on 3 separate occasions

According to the judgment seen by Mothership, Quek had been a swimming coach for about 20 years, from 2003 to 2023.

The victim, who was about to turn 13 at the time of the trial, testified that her first class with Quek was on Oct. 7, 2023.

The victim attended Quek's classes on Saturday evenings alongside her sister, her brother and six other students.

The molestations occurred in subsequent classes on Oct. 14, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, 2023.

She said she had swum a couple of laps on Oct. 14 and was standing in the water when Quek came up behind her and touched her vagina.

She initially thought it was an accident but said it kept going on for two or three separate occasions.

She used two dolls to demonstrate Quek's actions and said he repeated the molests on Oct. 21.

The victim noted that she felt uncomfortable and said Quek had molested her two or three times in the class.

Confided in sister

On Oct. 28, Quek molested her three to four times in the same manner.

During the class, the victim asked her sister if Quek had ever touched her privates, and her sister confirmed that he had.

After the class, as the siblings were walking out of the swimming complex, the victim told her elder brother that Quek had touched her and their sister.

Victim told father

On Oct. 29, 2023, at around 8:50pm to 9pm, the victim told her father that Quek had been touching her and her sister.

The children's father informed his wife before he called Quek's co-coach, telling him what had happened and requesting Quek's number from him.

The father called Quek on the speakerphone and questioned him.

The victim's mother, who was present for the call, said that Quek could not answer and was stuttering.

The victim's father made a police report that night at around 9:17pm through a "999" phone call.

CCTV footage

The victim was shown CCTV footage from all three dates and pointed out parts where she thought Quek had molested her.

The victim was also asked if she had not enjoyed Quek's classes and had wanted to change coaches.

She said she wanted to switch to Quek's co-coach but denied that her motive for making the complaint was to change coaches and that it was the touching that made her disclose the offences.

Her younger sister, who was 11 years old at the time of the trial and nine at the time of the alleged offences, also testified and said Quek had touched her while she was floating in the pool.

Tickled students

Statements were also given to the police by four other students from the swimming class.

While they confirmed that  they had not been touched inappropriately, three of them noted that Quek had tickled students during lessons.

The first student said the accused had tickled his and his brother's feet but found it unusual as Quek pressed his feet.

The second student remarked that Quek had tickled other students and found it unusual, stating that he felt "only family members should tickle others in such a manner".

The third student noted that Quek would tickle him and his sister on the stomach after their laps and that it would last a few seconds.

The student said Quek would do this to others in the class and added that Quek's co-coach never did that.

Fellow coach testified

Quek's fellow coach testified that coaches should only hold students' hands or arms above water level when demonstrating strokes so that it was visible to parents and other students.

He acknowledged that when teaching strokes such as the front crawl, a coach's hands would necessarily go underwater but maintained that unnecessary physical contact under the water should be avoided as it could give rise to complaints.

He said in the 13 years he had known Quek, he had never received any complaints from parents or students about him and had never personally observed the accused behaving inappropriately towards any student.

Quek testified that molest was 'almost impossible' given the height difference

Quek maintained he had not touched the victim and said it was "almost impossible" for him to do so given their height difference and the way he taught her the freestyle stroke.

He testified that he would avoid touching the "main body" of a student but admitted to tickling the students at the waist or belly button area as a form of discipline.

The prosecution also showed him CCTV footage and put forth that he had touched the victim's buttock in one clip.

Quek initially denied this but later conceded that he made contact, elaborating that he was rushing the victim to put on her goggles quicker.

Judge rejected defence's submission

Tan noted that while the CCTV footage did not show Quek molesting the victim, this was unsurprising as the alleged acts happened briefly and underwater.

Tan added that the footage had considerable evidential value nonetheless as it confirmed the physical setting that the victim described and showed Quek making physical contact for which he lacked credible coaching justification.

Court documents noted that the footage also captured the victim's reactions, including kicking Quek away in the incident on Oct. 21, 2023, consistent with her growing discomfort.

Tan added that the victim was unusually convincing, with clear, consistent and compelling evidence.

The victim also candidly testified that she did not want to accuse when she was unsure.

The judge also noted that when Quek's co-coach asked him about the allegations, Quek responded with "I don't know" despite clearly denying the allegations to the victim's father moments earlier.

Judge said accused had no remorse

Tan said that while Quek had no prior convictions, he had shown no remorse throughout the proceedings and put the victim through the ordeal of testifying in court.

Tan added that while Quek had several health conditions including heart disease and diabetes, it did not warrant a reduction in his sentence or the exercise of judicial mercy.

The victim suffered psychological harm as a result of Quek's conduct and was diagnosed with adjustment disorder.

According to court documents, "she experienced fear, anger, insomnia, nightmares, recurrent intrusive thoughts, fear of males, being easily startled, and difficulty focusing in class".

Japan's north-central prefectures of Toyama and Ishikawa have been hit by heavy torrential rain, with officials calling on residents to protect themselves from flooding and landslides.

The Japan Times reported that hundreds of thousands of residents were subject to evacuation orders.

According to NHK World, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a level 5 emergency warning, its highest alert, for five municipalities.

A spokesperson for the agency's atmosphere and ocean department said: "We are seeing rainfall unlike anything we have experienced before".

"There is an extremely high possibility that disasters are already happening, especially in the expected flood area, which is under the level 5 alert."

Cars submerged

Over 320 millimetres of rain fell in the cities of Himi and Hakui while Hodatsushimizu saw around 230 millimetres.

NHK World reported that these figures broke records, with multiple landslides, overflowing rivers and flooded homes observed.

According to Kyodo News, around 180,000 people were urged to take safety measures.

Several cars have been submerged, but there have been no reports of casualties so far.

The agency said a front extending eastward from the Sea of Japan is expected to move southward through Friday.

Heavy rain also hit Niigata Prefecture, which neighbours Toyama.

2 cases where rescuers saved people from submerged cars

According to The Japan Times, 10 rivers in Ishikawa were flooded, and some levees were breached.

Authorities in Ishikawa Prefecture said there have been at least two cases in which rescuers helped drivers and passengers from cars.

Around 270 households were stranded as roads were blocked due to landslides.

The Hokuriku Electric Power Transmission & Distribution reported that over 1,000 households were without power as of around 4:30pm on Aug. 27; the figure was half what was reported earlier that day.

A 90-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced on Aug. 28 to a notional imprisonment period of five years for attacking and killing his 74-year-old wife in their Bukit Panjang flat in 2024.

Ridawi Morsudin faced one charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, but the High Court previously found him unfit to plead or stand trial due to his unsound mind and dementia.

His mental state was assessed by medical practitioners from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), who said that he was in a delirium at the time of the murder for this reason.

Judge's decision

Due to the severity of Ridawi's brain condition, medical reports have deemed him unfit to stand trial or plead guilty.

CNA's coverage of the Aug. 28 court proceedings described how Ridawi looked frail as he appeared over video link from Changi Prison Complex.

The judge noted that Ridawi was medically assessed to have a low risk of reoffending due to the extensive care he needed for daily living.

She also considered the prosecution's argument stating offenders in previous cases who suffered from reality-altering conditions tended to get between six and nine years' jail.

The prosecution had previously called for a notional imprisonment period of five years for Ridawi.

To that, his lawyer argued that he was already frail at the time of the offence, and was unlikely to reoffend given his physical state.

As such, the lawyer sought two to three years' jail.

Man posed a danger: Judge

According to CNA, the judge could not agree with that.

This is because there was still a need for an element of protection.

Ridawi, who was 88 then, had been able to kill his wife in a "forceful and brutal manner", which showed that he posed a danger.

An earlier report mentioned that the case is believed to be the first of its kind.

Under the new regime that came into effect in February 2025, the court must determine if the accused is indeed incapable of making his defence.

If so, the court must report the case to the Minister of Law and specify the notional imprisonment period that the accused would have been required to undergo, if he was convicted of the offence.

An appropriate order would then be taken by the minister.

Accused was only person who could have inflicted injuries

Court documents seen by Mothership stated that Ridawi was the only person who could have inflicted the injuries on his wife.

This is because his wife was last seen alive at about 7pm on Jun. 4, 2024.

She was then found dead slightly after 12:58am on Jun. 5, 2024, which meant she was killed sometime in between this six-hour window.

Court documents further state that Ridawi and his wife were the only people in the flat during the six-hour window.

No one else could have gained entry into the flat for the following reasons.

Firstly, the main door to the flat was locked and this was intact when Ridawi's wife was found dead.

The code to the lock was not known to anyone aside from the accused’s family members and the healthcare assistant.

Secondly, the window pane and window grilles to the bedroom were closed and intact when the police arrived.

Nobody knew that the window pane and window grilles were unlocked, much less entered the flat through the window pane and window grilles.

Background

Prior to the incident on Jun. 4, 2024, Riwadi was diagnosed with mixed dementia, and had started losing the ability to recognise his family members.

Though he lived with his wife and their 26-year-old grandson in their flat at Block 137 Petir Road, the couple were alone at home when the murder happened.

An autopsy conducted on the wife later found a large injury extending from the left side of her jaw, across the left side of her neck to the left side of her chest exposing her jawbone, collarbone, ribs, and a lung.

There were at least 34 lacerations across the body, including stab injuries and sharp force injuries.

The certified cause of death was sharp force injuries to the head, neck, and chest.

When the police talked to Ridawi at the scene, he was incoherent.

Following a forensic psychiatric evaluation later, he was found to have major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer’s disease and vascular disease, with behavioural disturbance.

The traffic police is trying out a new way to track speeding on the expressway in Singapore, the police said in a Aug. 28, 2026 news release on the mid-year road traffic situation.

They would do so by trialling average speed enforcement on Singapore’s expressways, starting with the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE).

The trial involves the progressive testing and calibration of the new Expressway Average Speed Enforcement (EASE) system.

How system works

According to the police, the EASE system uses police cameras at the entry and exit of an enforcement zone on the expressway to detect and compute the average speed of a vehicle.

The speed is measured based on the distance travelled and the time taken.

Vehicles that exceed the stipulated average speed limit will be flagged for speeding violations.

No summons will be issued during the trial period, the police added.

The traffic police will provide further details when the system is ready for operationalisation.

"Speed remains a key factor in road safety. Lower speeds give motorists more time to react and avoid collisions, while reducing the severity of accidents when they do occur," the police also said.

Mid-year update

Fatal accidents and fatalities in Singapore declined in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, the police said in its news release.

However, the overall number of accidents and casualties have been increasing, the statement highlighted.

A 25-year-old former teacher aide was charged on Aug. 27 over sexual offences allegedly committed against a male pupil, beginning when the boy was 11 years old.

The role of a teacher aide typically involves preparing teaching materials and resources.

According to charge sheets seen by Mothership, the man was handed two counts of procuring an obscene or indecent act by a child under the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA), as well as one count of molestation.

The man’s identity and the school cannot be disclosed due to a gag order protecting the victim’s identity.

Allegedly directed victim to perform indecent act on him

On Mar. 7, 2025, the man was in an activity room at the school when he allegedly directed the victim to perform an indecent act on him.

He allegedly did so again at the school at about 3:30pm on Feb. 13, 2026.

He is also accused of touching the boy's genitals over his clothing the same day.

His case will be heard again in court on Sep. 24, 2026.

For each charge under the CYPA, a first-time offender can be jailed for a maximum of seven years, fined up to S$10,000, or both.

A repeat offender can face up to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to S$20,000, or both.

For the molestation charge, the man can be jailed for up to five years, fined, caned, or punished with any combination of these penalties, if convicted.

Fatal accidents and fatalities in Singapore declined in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, the police said in a Aug. 28, 2026 news release on the mid-year road traffic situation.

Fatal accidents fell by 23.1 per cent to 60, while fatalities fell by 22.8 per cent to 61, compared with the same period in 2025, when there were 79 fatalities.

The reduction was largely due to fewer fatalities among motorcyclists and pillion riders.

However, the overall number of accidents and casualties have been increasing, the statement highlighted.

Overall traffic situation for January to June 2026

The traffic police said "the broader road traffic situation remains worrying".

"This underscores the need for further enforcement and policy measures to deter irresponsible road user behaviour and improve road safety," the police said.

Increase in accidents and casualties, decrease in fatal accidents and fatalities

The total number of accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities increased by 2.7 per cent to 3,929, while the total number of injured persons and fatalities increased by 3.6 per cent to 5,151 in the first half of 2026, compared with the same period in 2025.

The number of accidents resulting in injuries increased by 3.2 per cent to 3,869 in the first half of 2026, from 3,748 in the first half of 2025, while the number of injured persons also increased by 4.0 per cent to 5,090 in the first half of 2026, from 4,894 in the first half of 2025.

The number of fatal accidents decreased by 23.1 per cent to 60 in the first half of 2026, from 78 in the first half of 2025.

Fatalities had also decreased by 22.8 per cent to 61 in the first half of 2026, from 79 in the first half of 2025.

This was largely due to fewer fatalities among motorcyclists and pillion riders.

But motorcyclists, pillion riders, and elderly pedestrians continue to be the most vulnerable road user groups, and remain over-represented in traffic fatalities, it was observed.

Speeding violations

The number of speeding violations increased by 6.1 per cent to 126,976 in the first half of 2026, from 119,640 in the first half of 2025.

This may be attributed to enhanced enforcement operations and the activation of the speed enforcement function in more red-light cameras islandwide.

Speed-related accidents

The number of fatal speed-related accidents increased by 5.3 per cent to 20 in the first half of 2026, from 19 in the first half of 2025.

This was despite an overall decrease in speed-related accidents by 4.4 per cent to 437 in the first half of 2026, from 457 in the first half of 2025.

The number of red-light running violations decreased by 31.7 per cent to 9,454 in the first half of 2026, from 13,832 in the first half of 2025.

Red-light running violations and accidents

Correspondingly, the total number of red-light running accidents also decreased by 3.8 per cent to 102 in the first half of 2026, from 106 in the first half of 2025.

The number of fatal red-light running accidents also decreased to two in the first half of 2026, from four in the first half of 2025.

Drink-driving situation

The total number of drink-driving accidents decreased by 8.1 per cent to 68 in the first half of 2026, from 74 in the first half of 2025.

The number of fatal drink-driving accidents has also decreased to four in the first half of 2026, from five in the first half of 2025.

However, the number of persons arrested for drink-driving increased by 1.6 per cent to 888 in the first half of 2026, from 874 in the first half of 2025.

Parliament has passed the legislative amendments to lower the prescribed alcohol limits for drink-driving offences in July 2026.

The newly prescribed limits only indicate the point at which driving impairment begins.

"There is no 'safe' number of drinks before driving, and TP reminds all drivers to never drink and drive," the statement said.

Traffic accidents involving elderly pedestrians

The total number of accidents involving elderly pedestrians increased by 19.0 per cent to 144 in the first half of 2026, from 121 in the first half of 2025.

The number of elderly pedestrians injured in accidents increased by 24.5 per cent to 132 in the first half of 2026, from 106 in the first half of 2025.

Of the 132 cases reported in the first half of 2026, 38.9 per cent involved elderly pedestrians who engaged in unsafe pedestrian behaviour.

These include jaywalking and crossing outside of designated pedestrian crossings.

The number of elderly pedestrian fatalities decreased by 40 per cent to nine in the first half of 2026, from 15 in the first half of 2025.

However, they accounted for half of all pedestrian fatalities.

Traffic accidents involving motorcyclists

The total number of accidents involving motorcyclists increased by 4.3 per cent to 2,186 in the first half of 2026, from 2,096 in the first half of 2025.

The number of injured motorcyclists and pillion riders also increased by 5.8 per cent to 2,470 in the first half of 2026, from 2,335 in the first half of 2025.

Motorcyclists and pillion riders were involved in 55.6 per cent of all traffic accidents in the first half of 2026.

The top three causes of motorcyclist-involved accidents were failure to keep a proper lookout, failure to have proper control, and failure to exercise due care when changing lanes.

Motorcyclist and pillion rider fatalities decreased by 34.9 per cent to 28 in the first half of 2026, from 43 in the first half of 2025.

However, they remained the largest group of road users involved in fatal traffic accidents.

They also accounted for 45.9 per cent of all road deaths.

Sustained enforcement and public education

The trends underscore the need for sustained enforcement and public education, the statement said.

To deter irresponsible road user behaviour, enforcement measures have been implemented over the past two years.

They include expanded speeding enforcement operations and activation of speed enforcement functions in red-light cameras.

The number of speeding violations detected in the first half of 2026 alone was equivalent to the total number of speeding violations detected for the entire year of 2023, it was noted.

The new mobile traffic violation enforcement cameras were also introduced from Mar. 1, 2026.

This is coupled by enhanced penalties for speeding offences, effective from Jan. 1, 2026, which will attract more demerit points and higher composition fines across all speeding bands.

Enhanced penalties for road traffic offences committed within Friendly Streets, were also effective from Jan. 1, 2026, where offenders will incur an additional two demerit points and S$100 in composition sums on top of the existing penalties.

To target heavier vehicles, the expansion of the speed limiter regime for lorries saw 94.2 per cent and 98.9 per cent of lorries completing speed limiter installation in the first and second phase, respectively.

The offence of failing to ensure that a speed limiter is fitted carries a fine of up to S$1,000 or a jail term of up to three months.

Strict enforcement action has been taken against non-compliant lorry owners, including towing away lorries, requiring vehicle inspections, and penalising those who install speed limiters after the stipulated deadline.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has also strengthened legislative levers to improve road safety, with an amendment passed in parliament in August 2026 to strengthen accountability for egregious road conduct, further deter driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and enhance the traffic police's ability to detect and enforce against traffic offences.

The demerit points regime for Singapore driving licence holders to deter traffic violations and keep errant motorists off the roads for longer periods will be tightened from Jan. 1, 2027.

Tariffs have hit the headlines again as U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policy comes up against Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Canada and the U.S. have been engaged in a trade war since Trump returned to power in 2025, when Trump levied new tariffs against his northern neighbour, despite having negotiated a wide-reaching trade deal with them during his first term in office.

Trade negotiations between the two countries were underway, seemingly heading to a successful conclusion when they broke down, as Politico reports, over the span of three days, culminating in Carney telling his negotiators to quit and return to Canada.

Ever since then, there has been a rhetorical and tariff war ratcheting up, with Trump renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America” and both countries leveraging 50 per cent tariffs and import bans on a range of goods.

New tariffs, who dis

The Trump administration has long believed in tariffs as a way to remake the global trading order more in its favour, but this worldview was struck a major blow in February 2026, when the U.S. Supreme Court said they were unconstitutional.

But those tariffs come under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), despite the administration trying to justify them, saying that trade imbalances and the import of the drug fentanyl represented national threats.

While Canada was not targeted by that set of tariffs, it was accused of being complicit in the fentanyl trade, and the new phase of the trade war is feared to be a testing ground for new approaches and justifications for tariff action by the administration.

The specific set of tariffs that the Trump administration is using against Canada is the Section 338 Tariff Act of 1930, and as the name implies, it's a nearly century-old set of laws.

The act was meant to protect U.S. industry in the throes of the Great Depression, and as The New York Times observes, it has never been tested in a court of law.

This presents a conundrum for all involved:

For Trump, it runs the risk of being overturned like his Liberation Day tariffs, which resulted in the administration having to repay over US$160 billion dollars in collected tariffs.

But it also means that affected parties, whether they be the Canadian government or businesses on either side of the border, are unsure how a case will turn out, or how long it might take.

Border, and broader, concerns

Of course, for Singapore and other countries, concern about the tariffs is not limited to the U.S.-Canada bilateral relationship.

There are at least two other concerns: firstly, the Section 338 tariffs might be utilised as a tool against other countries, and secondly, one of the specific reasons why trade negotiations between the two broke down: trade deals with other countries.

Flexible tool

The first concern is straightforward: the Liberation Day tariffs were based on the nearly half-century-old IEPPA tariffs, creatively adapted to suit the administration’s goals.

So if the new Canadian tariffs are successful or unchallenged, it could be used to target other countries.

An expert the NYT spoke to said that if Trump succeeds in implementing the Canadian tariffs, “you have to expect that we’re going to see a lot of 338 use”, describing it as a “very flexible tool.”

The law is not meant to allow tariffs without cause, and is meant to be used “In response to unreasonable and discriminatory trade practices” by other countries.

And the Trump administration has been able to find such grievances.

Most of the Liberation Day tariffs were justified by Trump suggesting that targeted countries had exploited loopholes in trade law, or disguised countries of origin.

Singapore would be vulnerable to such action, already having been targeted by a 12.5 per cent tariff in July 2026 for ostensibly trading in goods made with “forced labour”, a charge Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry denied.

Trade wars within trade wars

The second aspect is a kind of secondary shadow trade war fought in the shadows of the U.S.-Canada Trade War.

In the aftermath of the trade negotiations, the Canadian side alluded to sovereignty concerns, mainly in French language requirements, but also saying that the U.S. had demanded the ability to interfere in Canada's trade deals with third parties.

This has been widely interpreted to target China, with whom Canada's trading relationship has significantly warmed over the past two years.

The South China Morning Post suggested that chilling ties between the US and Canada could be beneficial for China-Canada trade, with China buying oil that would otherwise be bought by the U.S.

The Global Times published an editorial that backed Canada's reaction, saying that in the face of Washington's tariff stick, Canada had launched a Chinese-style counterattack, by which it meant responding firmly and proportionately while defending its sovereignty without compromise.

“No country has the privilege to monopolise the rules or dictate the fate of others.”

"Foolish" deals with "bad people"

Nearly a week on from the failure of Trade Talks, tensions between the two countries remain high. Although in some areas, such as French language requirements, the U.S. stance has softened, and Canada has said that might open the way to renewed negotiations.

Carney has been forthright about what he thinks is going to happen with the U.S.’s relationship, not just with his country, but the world at large, saying that the world lived in “an age of rupture, not transition” earlier in the year.

He also said that “you can't get a good deal with a bad person” when referring to Trump.

Trump has been equally critical of Canada and Carney, saying that Canada wanted the benefits of being a state without being one.

He called Canada’s stance “foolish", and that Canada clearly relied more on the U.S. economically than the reverse.

Meanwhile, the world watches cautiously how Carney’s attempts to brace against U.S. economic pressure turns out.

Related story

Residents across Singapore will have more avenues to address neighbour disputes at an earlier stage, with enhancements to mediation and community intervention measures being rolled out nationwide.

This was announced by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), the Ministry of Law (MinLaw), as well as the Ministry of National Development (MND) in a joint press release on Aug. 28.

From Sep. 1, 2026, the Mediation Direction framework, which allows disputing neighbours to be required to attend mediation, as well as the Community Relations Unit (CRU) model, will be expanded across Singapore.

This move is aimed at helping neighbours resolve disagreements before they escalate, while providing stronger intervention for more serious cases.

Enhanced framework to address neighbour disputes

The three ministries introduced enhancements to the Community Disputes Management Framework in November 2024 to strengthen the community's ability to manage and resolve disputes at an early stage.

These included the introduction of the Mediation Direction framework and the establishment of the CRU.

Under the framework, disputing neighbours are brought together for constructive dialogue and mediation before their disagreements escalate.

Mediation Directions are legally binding orders requiring disputing neighbours to attend mediation at the Community Mediation Centre.

Parties who are issued with such directions must comply with them.

On the other hand, the CRU was established to address severe neighbour noise disputes and hoarding cases where efforts by neighbours and agencies to resolve the issues have been unsuccessful.

It is also empowered to investigate cases and intervene where appropriate.

The two measures have been piloted in Tampines Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates since April 2025.

According to the three ministries, the pilot showed that the enhanced measures can help resolve disputes more effectively.

Expansion of the framework islandwide

With the nationwide expansion of the Mediation Direction framework, residents will be able to access mediation at an earlier stage, providing them with another avenue to resolve neighbour disputes amicably.

In public housing estates, HDB and the People's Association (PA) will be authorised to issue Mediation Directions.

For private housing estates, PA will have the authority to issue such directions.

Parties who reach a settlement following community mediation can register the settlement agreement as a Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) order, with the consent of both parties.

Such settlements are recognised by the Tribunal, allowing for faster and simpler enforcement if necessary.

CRU model will also be extended nationwide

In a similar vein, the CRU model will be expanded across Singapore to address severe neighbour noise cases in both public and private housing estates.

This will target excessive and prolonged noise disturbance cases that cannot be adequately addressed through community mediation or the CDRT.

CRU officers have legal powers to take statements from disputing neighbours and other individuals who may assist with investigations.

They can also issue warnings and abatement orders requiring individuals to stop the noise nuisance.

Failure to comply with an abatement order is a criminal offence.

However, the ministries stressed that government intervention is not intended to replace communication and mediation between neighbours.

"Government intervention through the CRU will therefore be reserved for the most severe neighbour noise cases, after neighbours and agencies have exhausted other avenues to resolve the dispute or the circumstances warrant such intervention," they said.

This will also allow CRU resources to be focused on cases where they are most needed.

Shared responsibility

The nationwide expansion of the Mediation Direction framework and CRU model marks a further step in Singapore's efforts to manage neighbour disputes.

According to the three ministries, the measures will provide residents with greater support to resolve disagreements amicably, whilst ensuring that severe neighbourhood noise cases can be addressed more effectively when required.

"Ultimately, building harmonious neighbourhoods is a shared responsibility," they said.

"Strong communities are built when neighbours treat one another with consideration, respect, and understanding; and when neighbours come together early and resolve their differences in an amicable manner."