Singapore’s population saw a record drop due to COVID-19 countermeasures, according to the annual report Population in Brief issued by the Singaporean Government on September 28.
Singapore (VNA) –Singapore’s population saw a record drop due to COVID-19 countermeasures,according to the annual rep﷽ortPopulation in Brief issued by the Singaporean Government on September28.
As of June, thenumber of citizens, permanent residents and non-permanent residents declined to 5.45 millioncompared to 5.69 million last year, or a 4.1 percent drop, the highest fall since1950. The decrease was seen across all types, with the largest dropin work permit holders in the construction, marine shipyard and processingsectors, accounting for 20 percent. According to the report, travel restrictions during thepandemic was the main factor affecting the size of the citizen and permanentresident population in 2021, as more of them were staying overseas continuouslyfor 12 months or more, who therefore were not counted as part of the residentpopulation. The proportion of seniors – aged 65 and above – is rising,and at a faster pace than the last decade, as large cohorts of “baby boomers”have begun joining this age group. This proportion is expected to increase to about 23.8 percent in 2030, the report said./.
Singapore's first-ever sale of bonds to finance infrastructure projects, slated for next week, is considered to be ideal as signs that the global recovery is stuttering increases demand for top-rated debt.
Singapore reported 1,939 new COVID-19 cases on September 26, a daily record since the start of the pandemic and marking the sixth consecutive day new infections have exceeded the 1,000 mark.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) plan to begin a phased linkage of Malaysia’s DuitNow and Singapore’s PayNow real-time payment systems in late 2022.
A participant in the Malaysia Economic Forum 2025 said despite challenges, there are significant opportunities in AI, digital transformation, and green technologies, requiring the country to balance both risk and potential thoughtfully.
Themed “emerging trends in terrorism and violent extremism”, the event drew over 200 participants from domestic and international agencies, discussing the rapid evolution of terrorism and the need for stronger regional and global cooperation.
Indonesia aims to start nuclear power generation by 2034, with a government roadmap already in place to develop small modular reactors (SMRs) with capacities ranging from 300 to 500 megawatts.
The package, endorsed on June 24, comprises 481 projects designed to boost GDP by an additional 0.4% and generate temporary employment for about 7.4 million people nationwide.
An Indonesian official emphasised that energy security is extremely essential amid global geopolitical and economic fragmentation, highlighting the need for the energy industry to strengthen resilience and responsiveness in the face of fluctuating oil prices and the shift to clean energy.
ASEAN must deepen collaboration through platforms such as the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) to ensure regional responses keep pace with the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape.
Speaking at the launch of the Indonesia Economic Prospects June 2025 edition on June 23 in Jakarta, Turk noted that Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 4.9% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
Anti-dumping duties will continue to be imposed on producers from China and Japan while those on relevant exporters from the RoK and Vietnam will be terminated, starting from June 23.
A specialist police unit has acquired a fleet of off-road vehicles to help officers navigate rough, unpaved terrain – and flood waters – to respond more quickly to public security incidents.
The pact covers goods, services, investments, intellectual property rights, customs facilitation, competition policy, sanitary and phytosanitary, trade and sustainable development, government procurement and economic cooperation.
The talent programmes mark another milestone in the technical partnership between PETRONAS and the Energy Institute, which focuses on three pillars: promoting decarbonisation and operational excellence through innovative solutions, enabling informed decision-making with expert advice, and nurturing the next generation of energy professionals.
The firefighters found an active blaze at the lorry depot located in the city of Pasir Gudang near the state capital of Johor Bahru, with flames spreading quickly due to strong winds and igniting a neighboring disused oil storage area.
Investigators believe the operation is part of a broader scam network involving romance scams, where victims are lured into fake relationships and persuaded to transfer money.
Ambassadors, Consuls General, along with staff and their families, joined traditional sports and cultural activities of Southeast Asia and performances bearing regional identity, thus contributing to strengthening unity and the ASEAN community spirit in New York.
In his post on social media the same day, Hun Manet said energy companies would be able to import sufficiently from other sources to meet domestic fuel and gas demands in the country.
Illustrative image (Photo: AFP) 
