SINGAPORE - DBS’ affluent and high-net-worth customers in Singapore will be able to access two new wealth centres here by the end of 2027, in a move to meet increasing demand for wealth management services.

The two new wealth centres will add to three existing DBS Treasures centres – at Marina Bay Financial Centre, Siglap and Ngee Ann City – which offer wealth management services.

Will this increasing inflow of wealth into Singapore be a good thing?

Warning: Long post ahead.

Tldr: Intermonsoon conditions have prevailed in Singapore for the entire month of May and is gradually expected to give way to the more dreaded Southwest Monsoon. The MJO has become active again and is currently in the suppression phase which will result in lower rainfall until around Jun 20. An El Nino is expected to form this month at a 72% chance right now. The odds of a super El Nino has also increased to 37% in November, December and January which tends to be the peak for most El Nino events. At this time, there is a 30% chance of a strong El Nino, 22% for a moderate one and a 9% chance for a weak one. As a result, we may experience dry and warm weather this southwest monsoon. For June, I am anticipating below normal to near average rainfall (-60% to 10%).

Let us look at May. May has improved yet again compared to April with an anomaly of 24.83%, which puts us at near average. Most stations reached above normal rainfall while some are still struggling to reach normal rainfall. We have received 248.4 mm against the normal 209 mm.

North: 230.2 mm (13.08%)

South: 259.5 mm (40.06%)

East: 240 mm (33.53%)

West:260.6 mm (16.09%)

Central: 252.9 mm (23%)

(Disclaimer: This is based on what I found in this image here **and made some estimates using the ranges provided here. So there may be a few inaccuracies. Also for simplicity sake, all the rainfalls normals would be based on the middle of the range given. So 110,130,150,170,190 and so on(except for Changi where exact details have been provided by MSS since it is the climate station))

Classification: Well-below average (-100% to -70%), Below Average: (-70% to -30%), Average (-30% to 50%), Above Average: (50% to 100%), Well-above Average (100% and above)**

NOTE: Brand new weather station names have been issued by MSS stating that from now on, the weather station names will be linked to the relevant street names. Additionally, I have consolidated all the stations into the 5 regions listed above, compared to the 9 earlier. This is for my current project which I am working on right now. Also there are now 81 weather stations in total.

Now, as we look at Jun 2026, MSS has yet to release any stats as at 5 pm but so far, looking at the 4 day forecast, we can see a lot of fair and warm weather prevailing here and this is in line with the current MJO which is strong in Phase 7 and 8 which is in the suppressive phase for Singapore. Additionally the El Nino is predicted to set some time in the middle to end of this month. However, like we saw recently, there could be a sudden rise in the number of Sumatra squalls and as a result lead to close to normal rains. But for now, I am leaning more to less than normal rainfall for now and I am anticipating below normal to near average rainfall (-60% to 10%).

Next talk about Temps

Highest temperature table.

Lowest temperature table

The lowest temperatures recorded in Mar 2026 is as follows

For June 2026, expect above average temperatures as cloud cover will be quite low in the afternoon in the coming days. Expect highs to exceed 34 almost everyday and on some days 35. On days with close to normal cloud cover, expect highs close to 36. For nights, due to Sumatra Squalls, temps may fall to 21-25 on these days and on others, may be between 26-30 on other nights. Overall, expect generally warm weather.

Disclaimer: I had gone for outfield for NS and had taken a small break of 8 days for temps and 2 days for rain, hence data may be slightly different but not too much should change. Also my outfield was wet. Everyday got Cat 1

Recently, I hosted a small community event at my void deck called Kampong Soup Kitchen.
The basic idea was simple: serve free soup to people who signed up, and if there was extra, anyone passing by was welcome to have some too.

This came partly from reading and thinking about how many people feel socially isolated today, even though we technically have so many ways to connect. Initially, I wanted to use private venues for community events, but rental costs made it hard to keep sustainable.

Then someone in a social Telegram group mentioned that they had organised a potluck at their void deck before, and suggested I try asking my town council. So I did. I explained clearly that it was a free community food event, with no money exchanged, and that I would cap it at around 50 people to keep it manageable for both me and the residents.

To my surprise, they were okay with it.

I ended up serving two soups:

- A clear chicken soup with crêpes and vegetables

- A spiced pumpkin and carrot soup with red lentils and coconut milk

I tried to keep the ingredients halal-friendly, although I also made it clear that I’m not from a halal household.

The total cost for using the space came up to $89.38. That included $50 for the rental, plus charges for the use of electrical and water points. Compared to private venue rental, it was honestly very affordable, and I’m quite grateful that my town council was open to the idea.

Small clarification: I paid for everything myself and ran this independently. Nobody paid me anything, and the soup was free for anyone who came by, though I set aside portions first for those who had signed up.

There were some hiccups. I could only use one electrical point because the other one required a 15A round-pin plug, which I did not have. One water point also was not working, though thankfully there was another one nearby. I also could not confirm the wattage of the electrical point, so I was slightly worried about overloading or tripping it.

I spread the word to my neighbours quite last-minute because the event itself was also planned in a bit of a rush. Still, some neighbours came down to try the soup, and a few even offered to help out at the next one. Some of them also naturally started chatting with people who had signed up, which was honestly one of the nicest parts of the whole thing.

I also want to thank the people who volunteered to help. Their support made the event much easier to run.

What surprised me most was not just that people came down for soup, but that neighbours and strangers naturally started chatting with one another. It made me realise that sometimes people are open to community, but there just needs to be a simple excuse for everyone to gather.

For anyone thinking of doing something similar at their own void deck, here are a few things I learnt:

-LifeSG may not list the void deck directly below your block, so going through your town council may be the better route. That was what I did, since I had seen weddings and funerals held at my void deck before.

-Be very clear about what your event is. In my case, I stated that it was a free community event with no money exchanged. I’m not sure how commercial events would be handled, so check directly with your town council.

-Ask about the exact water and electrical points available. Check whether they are working, what plug type they use, and what the wattage limit is.

-If the electrical load allows, bring fans. Singapore is hot and humid, and people will be much more comfortable if there is some airflow.
If you do not have enough chairs, floor mats can help too.

-Keep the first event small and manageable. It is easier to scale up later than to be overwhelmed on the first try.

-I also tried to keep things manageable by capping the numbers, preparing the food properly, keeping the area clean, and making sure we cleared everything after the event.

-Also, be mindful of accessibility and foot traffic. Avoid blocking corridors, lift lobbies, ramps, letterboxes, bicycle paths, or common walking routes. People should still be able to move through the void deck comfortably, especially elderly residents, wheelchair users, families with prams, and anyone just passing by.

Overall, I’m hoping to host more free community events at my void deck. I also hope this helps others see the void deck as more than just a space for weddings and funerals. It can also be a simple, affordable space for neighbours and strangers to meet.

TL;DR: I asked my town council whether I could host a free community food event at my void deck. They said yes. I paid about $89 and hosted a soup event.

Here’s the recipe but made for 2 person instead of 50 😂

Creamy Roasted Pumpkin, Carrot & Red Lentil Soup

Makes about 1.5 to 2L soup
Ingredients

600g pumpkin, peeled and cubed
300g carrot, chopped
1 onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic
20g ginger, sliced
100g red lentils, rinsed
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika or sweet paprika
Small pinch chilli powder, optional
1.5L water or vegetable stock
250ml coconut milk
1 to 2 tbsp lemon or lime juice
Salt and black pepper
Oil

Steps:
Roast vegetables
Toss pumpkin, carrot, onion, garlic, and ginger with oil, cumin, paprika, and a little salt.
Roast at 200°C for 35 to 45 minutes, until soft and lightly browned.
Simmer
Transfer roasted vegetables to a pot. Add rinsed red lentils and water/stock.
Simmer 25 to 35 minutes, until lentils are fully soft.
Blend
Blend until smooth. Add more water if too thick.
Add coconut milk
Stir in coconut milk and warm gently. Don’t boil hard.
Final seasoning
Add salt, black pepper, and lemon/lime juice.

Clear Chicken Soup with Sliced Savoury Crepes

Ingredients

Broth
400g to 500g chicken bones / wings / carcass / necks
1 small chicken thigh or drumstick, optional but useful for meat
1/2 onion
1 small carrot
1/2 celery stalk
1 clove garlic
1 small bay leaf
Tiny pinch dried thyme
3 to 5 black peppercorns
1.2L water
Salt, to taste

Final soup

A little diced carrot
A little diced celery
Shredded chicken from the thigh/drumstick
Fresh herbs, if you have
Steps:

Roast chicken bones, onion, carrot, celery, and garlic at 200°C for 25 to 35 minutes until browned.
Put everything into a pot with 1.2L water, bay leaf, thyme, and peppercorns.
Simmer gently for 1 to 1.5 hours.
Add the thigh/drumstick for the last 30 minutes, if using.
Remove chicken meat, shred it.
Strain the broth.
Add diced carrot/celery and simmer until tender.
Add shredded chicken back in.
Season with salt properly.

Savoury Crepes

Ingredients
50g plain flour
1 egg
100ml milk
25ml water
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp oil or melted butter

Steps
Whisk everything smooth.
Rest 10 minutes if you can.
Cook 2 to 3 thin crepes.
Cool, roll, and slice into thin ribbons.
Put ribbons in bowl, ladle hot soup over.

EDIT/UPDATE:

Thanks everyone for all the kind comments, messages, offers to help, and even offers to donate or contribute food. I honestly did not expect this to go beyond the subreddit. I mainly posted because I thought it was pretty cool that it was possible to host a small free community food event at a void deck with town council approval.

Just adding more details since some people asked.

The event was planned for around 50 pax, but I kept it registration-based so that it would be manageable for me and also considerate to the neighbours living around the void deck. In the end, about 40 plus registered participants turned up, which honestly felt like a nice size for a first run.

I served two soups: one meat soup and one vegetarian soup.

The meat soup was a clear chicken soup with sliced savoury crepes and fresh herbs. I chose chicken soup because it has that warm, homey feeling to it. Like “chicken soup for the soul” kind of thing. It reminds me of being sick and someone cooking something comforting for you, or that feeling of grandma/home cooking. (Do bring your Ah Ma to give me the seal of her approval if she's okay to travel)

The sliced savoury crepes were inspired by German-style pancake soups, like Flädlesuppe, where thin savoury pancakes are rolled up, sliced into ribbons, and served in a clear broth. I thought it was a nice way to make the chicken soup a little more special without making it too weird or inaccessible.

The vegetarian soup was a creamy roasted pumpkin, carrot and red lentil soup with coconut milk. I wanted it to contrast with the chicken soup. So one was clear, light and more Western/European-style, and the other was thicker, creamier, gently spiced, and maybe a bit more familiar to local palates because of the coconut milk.

The cooking itself took close to 20 hours, partly because I had work in the morning and had to work around that. There was roasting bones and vegetables, simmering broth, making the vegetarian soup, preparing the crepes, cooling and storing everything safely, then reheating and finishing the soups on the day itself. It was tiring, but I felt that just because the event was free, it should not mean the food is an afterthought.

I also really could not have done it alone. Volunteers, participants, friends and family helped with a lot of the prep and setup: making the savoury pancakes, shredding chicken, cutting vegetables, plucking herbs, moving chairs, arranging the space, serving and cleaning up. The event started with me cooking soup, but by the end it really felt like everyone had a hand in making it happen.

The atmosphere was honestly warmer than I expected! At one point, the void deck felt like a shared dining room.

Quite a few people also travelled from other parts of Singapore, including the West, to Tampines. I was really grateful for that. What touched me was that many people did not just come to receive something, they came to contribute too.

Some things I learnt from the first run:

• Keep the first one manageable.
• Registration helps to keep things manageable!
• Be upfront about allergens and dietary stuff.
• Inform neighbours and remind people to keep volume down.
• Check power points and plug types properly. (Type M connectors was one of them)
• Fans are important. (humidity!!)
• A void deck could use a bit of effort to make it feel warm. (lights!)
• Volunteers are extremely helpful. (Thank you to everyone who had offered to help out!)
• Cleanup matters a lot.
• Don’t overcomplicate the first session.

There are also things I want to improve next time.

Because most of the outreach was through Telegram, Reddit and Instagram, the crowd leaned younger, mostly people in their 20s and 30s. I would like to reach older neighbours more intentionally next time, maybe through simple flyers, speaking to residents nearby, and making the invite less dependent on online spaces.

I also want to make future sessions more meaningfully halal-friendly. For the first session, the meat soup used halal ingredients, but it was prepared in a non-halal-certified home kitchen, and I made that clear. I’m trying to learn more about how the sertu process works so that Muslim friends and neighbours can feel more included too.

For future sessions, I’m thinking of keeping soup as the main theme and maybe “travelling the world through soup”, going country to country or region to region. If people cannot travel to those places, maybe I can bring a small part of those places to the void deck through a bowl of soup.

I also usually try to include some kind of charity/fundraising element in my food events. The food itself is free because I can absorb some of the cost, but if people want to give something, I’d rather direct that generosity to charities or social service organisations that need the money more than I do.

Anyway, thanks again for the very kind response. I really did not expect this level of attention. I’m still figuring things out as I go, but the first one gave me a lot of hope.

A bowl of soup obviously does not solve loneliness or social isolation, but it can create a small moment where people sit together, talk, and remember that community can still happen in very ordinary places.

For me, the soup was just a way to create that space. I hope people left with both a full stomach and a small reminder that community can still happen in ordinary places, like the void deck below our homes.

Overall, I’m hoping to host more free community events at my void deck. I also hope this helps others see the void deck as more than just a space for weddings and funerals. It can also be a simple, affordable space for neighbours and strangers to meet.

Used to get several a week, and now I can't remember the last time I got them. Think the last ones were over whatsapp, did telcos start blocking scam phone numbers? I remember they started to use actual SG registered mobile numbers without the +65, but after several people were caught by police that seems to have died down too.

What matters is not how much countries spend on defence, but how the money is used, said Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing, noting that there is no straight line between defence expenditure and capabilities.

Speaking to reporters on May 31 at the close of the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue, Chan said that what matters is how innovative the ideas are and how much “bang for the buck” one can get for the same or less expenditure.

Easy to say when you can rely on underpaid conscripts I guess 😅

[SINGAPORE] CapitaLand Investment said its workforce in China plunged by about 10 per cent, or 365 people, last year as the asset manager continues to grapple with a major real estate crisis in Asia’s largest economy.

🌻☀️Good morning all have a great day and stay strong, stay safe and stay healthy! Jiayou!

Talk about your day. Anything goes, but subreddit rules still apply. Please be polite to each other!

Saw this from Yi Zhe Ang's LinkedIn post and honestly think this looks pretty cool. https://yizhe-ang.github.io/art-in-transit/

It's an unofficial project showcasing LTA's Art in Transit (AIT) programme.

Was busy running errands at home when I noticed the reddish sunset.

Just wanted to share the view - hope you guys enjoyed it the same way my daughter and I did.

The heartlands may not be touristy or exotic, but it can be beautiful nontheless.

"In Singapore, we only have 1.3 per cent (of the residential population) who are blood donors, and every day we require 400 units of blood for transfusion needs across Singapore."

The Singapore Red Cross and the Health Sciences Authority said in April that Singapore faces a looming blood supply crisis, with the demand for blood potentially outstripping supply in as early as seven years based on current population trends.

From packed workout schedules to expensive classes to social media pressure, some working adults are pushing themselves to the limit in the pursuit of health, which in turn causes more stress on their bodies and in their daily lives than necessary.