The American Express Times
Thursday, October 1, 2026
More lower-income Singapore residents to benefit from increased thresholds for legal aid from Oct 1
Starting October 1, Singapore’s Ministry of Law will raise income and asset limits to expand eligibility for government legal aid, enabling up to 1,000 more lower-income residents to access support annually. This adjustment aligns civil legal aid thresholds with criminal defence aid and reflects efforts to keep assistance targeted amid rising household incomes and wealth.
★ Featured Stories
Bee Cheng Hiang customers’ e-mail addresses exposed in data breach
Bee Cheng Hiang accidentally exposed the e-mail addresses of over 95,000 customers in April due to an employee’s incorrect use of an AI tool to…
Antonelli Vows Return to His ‘Usual Level’ in Sepang Race
Kimi Antonelli aims to regain his championship momentum and extend his lead over rival George Russell as Formula 1 returns to the Sepang International Circuit,…
Oxford Tops Global University Rankings for Eleventh Year
The University of Oxford retained its top global university ranking for the 11th year in a row, narrowly edging out MIT in the 2027 Times…
‘Shameful’ failure over protecting victims ahead of early release scheme
The government has launched an early release program for certain offenders, including domestic abuse perpetrators, despite significant concerns over delayed electronic monitoring and insufficient victim…
★ All Stories
Entrepreneur Susan Chong is growing the farms of the future
Susan Chong, founder and CEO of Greenphyto, launched Singapore’s tallest indoor hydroponics farm in Jurong West in January 2026, utilizing advanced automation and AI technology…
Japan’s rice shortage becomes a glut
Japan’s rice market is shifting from last year’s shortages to a large oversupply in 2026, causing prices to drop sharply and farmers to face financial…
A Sampling of Japan’s Regional Specialties
Japan's regional culinary specialties, from Oma's prized tuna to Yamagata's communal imoni stew and Yamanashi's sustainable wild game, showcase the country's rich history and diverse…
PM’s time management focus of proposals on office reform
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering reforms to reduce Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s extensive parliamentary duties and improve her work-life balance amid concerns over…
Data of 6.6 million hacked, Times Car Rental says
Times Mobility reported a data breach affecting 6.6 million accounts, during which unauthorized parties accessed personal details and 1.6 million identity verification documents, including images…
Racing venues raise entertainment ante
Japan’s government-sanctioned boat racing takes place year-round at 24 venues, featuring high-speed six-boat competitions that allow both men and women to race together. These events…
Man gets 20-year term for murder of pregnant woman
Takumi Ouchi was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the premeditated murder of his ex-girlfriend, Haruka Komatsumoto, whom he tracked and attacked in her…
Insolvency, bankruptcy applications against Mary Chia stayed
Mary Chia Holdings secured a court order to halt insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings initiated by lender Fullink Capital, pending a $651,500 security deposit to be…
All eyes on Melaka, Malaysia’s electoral sandbox
Melaka’s state assembly was dissolved on September 23, triggering a state election expected by late October or early November, with the Election Commission set to…
Encourage youngsters to exchange physical letters, cards
Singapore Post has introduced Singapore’s first lenticular stamps featuring images that change when viewed from different angles, released to coincide with World Post Day on…
Population fell 2.5% from 2020 to 2025, census shows
Japan’s population fell by 3.17 million to 122.9 million as of October 2025, marking the third consecutive decline in census records and an accelerated decrease…
Conundrum over coalitions’ minor parties
Malaysia’s major political coalitions, including Perikatan Nasional (PN), are grappling with internal disputes, the role of smaller parties, and coalition arrangements ahead of the Melaka…
S’pore Parkour Scene Gets Vote of Confidence
Singapore’s parkour scene has garnered international praise for its innovative training programs that include senior citizens practicing safety and fitness techniques. This inclusive approach, highlighted…
I choose shoe! Adidas drops Pokemon collection
Adidas has released a limited-edition Pokémon collection featuring sneakers, apparel, and accessories inspired by nine popular Pokémon characters to celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary. Available…
‘Retrofit-first’: Stolz Engineering optimises old cooling towers for energy savings
Stolz Engineering has developed a Smart Cooling Tower IoT Sustainability Framework that uses AI-driven data from existing sensors to optimize industrial cooling tower efficiency and…
Perchance to Dream: Andy Burnham’s second term prospectus omits pressing issues
Andy Burnham outlined plans for expanded social services, including a national care service for the elderly and electoral reform commissions, while delaying major changes until…
Chinese Automakers’ Surge in UK Automotive Market
Chinese automobile manufacturers have rapidly gained up to a quarter of the UK new car market, with brands like Jaecoo, Omoda, Chery, MG, and BYD…
Court says voice rights recognized but dismisses actor’s AI case
The Tokyo District Court dismissed Kenjiro Tsuda’s lawsuit to remove TikTok videos featuring an AI-generated imitation of his voice but affirmed that voice is protected…
Investing for babies involves knotty trade-offs
New parents face complex choices in balancing investments between financial savings and human capital development to build long-term wealth and opportunity for their children. Experts…
Muscles, mayhem and middle age in a memoir
Several prominent Hollywood actors, including Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Ke Huy Quan, Michael Douglas, Kyle MacLachlan, and Joe Manganiello, are releasing candid memoirs this autumn…
DP Architects sets the benchmark for sustainability disclosure and design
DP Architects voluntarily disclosed its 2024 sustainability data, reporting a rise in carbon emissions due to expanded global reporting and committing to ambitious targets including…
Real estate agent held on suspicion of giving info to criminal group
Tokyo police arrested real estate agent Shinobu Ishihara on suspicion of providing client information to a criminal group and aiding an attempted robbery in Koto…
Singlish a record of how S’poreans learnt to live together
Singlish, a unique blend of Malay, Chinese dialects, Tamil, and English, reflects Singapore’s multicultural history and social integration. Recognized by experts as a living linguistic…
Booker Prize nominees among headliners at event
The Singapore Writers Festival will take place from November 13 to 22, 2026, featuring Booker Prize nominees Amitav Ghosh and Tan Twan Eng and focusing…
Lendlease delivers on both its 2020 climate and social pledges
Lendlease has exceeded its 2025 social value target by delivering A$284.6 million through community initiatives and achieved net-zero emissions for operational energy on schedule, demonstrating…
Sound and fury on the Labour conference’s outer fringe
The Labour Party conference was accompanied by a series of intense and diverse protests outside the venue, including demonstrations on animal rights, Gaza, Kashmir, and…
Morocco’s World Cup PM must win over Gen Z voters
Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri has been appointed as Morocco’s first female prime minister following her party’s success in the recent elections, tasked with overseeing preparations…
Energy Policy Debate: Calls for Pragmatism Amid Rising Bills
The UK energy price cap is expected to rise by 16 percent in January, increasing the average household annual bill to nearly £2,000 and sparking…
Japan's luxury ice revered by bars worldwide
Kuramoto Ice, a century-old Japanese company, produces premium clear ice blocks that are increasingly exported to high-end bars in markets like the U.S. and Australia,…
Towns lean on humor to boost tourism
Several Japanese municipalities are using humor and self-deprecating campaigns to attract tourists by embracing their low name recognition as a unique selling point. This strategy…
SpaceX ushers in a new era, and with that, more junk into orbit
SpaceX successfully launched its first commercial mission using the Starship vehicle, deploying advanced V3 satellites into orbit and demonstrating its significantly higher payload capacity compared…
Temple Prepares for Seldom Seen Ritual
Zenkoji Temple in Nagano Prefecture will hold the rare Gokaicho religious event from April 4 to June 19, 2027, during which a replica of Japan’s…
Specter of breakup or takeover haunts Nidec
Nidec Corporation announced the abrupt resignation of CEO Mitsuya Kishida amid a major accounting scandal involving potential impairment charges of around $6.4 billion and ongoing…
What is really behind the raising of multilingual kids
Japanese parents raising multilingual children often do so to foster broader social adaptability and a sense of cross-cultural belonging rather than focusing solely on language…
Do more to manage bolder macaque behaviour at parks
Long-tailed macaques in Singapore’s Central Catchment parks have become increasingly bold, frequently approaching visitors, snatching items, and disrupting park facilities. Authorities and wildlife experts are…
Being ‘kiasu’ backfires for Cynthia Koh after Bangkok flight cancelled
Local actress Cynthia Koh faced flight cancellations and baggage delays during her trip to Bangkok caused by flooding at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Her experience underscores how…
SaladStop! bets on practical steps to reach net zero as sustainability loses its buzzword appeal
SaladStop! is working toward achieving net-zero emissions across all its outlets by 2030, employing sustainable store designs, local sourcing, and largely plant-based menus in Singapore,…