01

Parliament backs 'no jobless growth' AI motion

  • 7-hour debate, unanimous PAP-WP vote
  • Govt to study lifting income cap for retrenchment scheme
  • Tan See Leng: full AI replacement risks vendor lock-in
Sources (6) STBTZBTMBH
  • ST ST Front Page — “Parliament supports call for 'no jobless growth' amid AI disruption”
  • ST Big Story — “S'pore will support workers through AI transition with a 'fair deal': Jasmin Lau”
  • BT Top Stories — “AI transition here need not pit workers against businesses, says Tan See Leng”
  • ZB News Front Page — “陈诗龙:政府在AI转型上 投资培养国人非补偿冲击 (Tan See Leng: Govt invests in upskilling people, not compensating for AI shocks)”
  • TM Front Page — “'வேலைகளற்ற வளர்ச்சி' தீர்மானம்; மனிதவள அமைச்சர் ஆதரவு ('Jobless-free growth' resolution; Manpower Minister voices support)”
  • BH Front Page — “See Leng: Pastikan tiada pekerja terpinggir, impak AI terhadap pekerjaan dipantau (See Leng: Ensure no worker is left behind; AI's job impact will be monitored)”
02

Singapore wins top FATF rating, sanctions gap flagged

  • Cited for public-private cooperation and $3b case asset recovery
  • 11,189 money-laundering cases probed 2020-2024, mostly mule-linked
  • Gaps: sanctions enforcement, systemic risk assessment, non-financial sectors
Sources (6) BTSTZBTMBH
  • BT Front Page — “Singapore earns top rating from global watchdog in fight against financial crime”
  • ST ST Front Page — “S'pore tough on financial crime but can improve in some areas: Report”
  • ST Big Story — “Rating for Singapore in 11 key areas”
  • ZB News Front Page — “我国反洗钱力度被评入国际最佳级别 (Singapore's anti-money-laundering efforts rated at global top tier)”
  • TM Front Page — “நிதிக் குற்றங்களைத் தடுக்கும் வழிகளை வலுப்படுத்த அழைப்பு (Call to strengthen ways of preventing financial crimes)”
  • BH Berita — “Laporan badan pengawas kewangan global: S'pura tegas terhadap jenayah kewangan, namun perlu penambahbaikan (Global financial watchdog report: Singapore firm against financial crime but needs improvement)”
03

COE premiums up in every category in May round

  • Cat A $124,790; Cat B about $125,000
  • Large/commercial category up 4.3% to $126,236
  • Cat B has overtaken Cat A for two consecutive months
Sources (4) STBTZBTM
  • ST Singapore — “COE prices up across the board; Cat A premium rises to $124,790”
  • BT Front Page — “COEs for large cars up 4.3% at S$126,236, mainstream cars near S$125,000”
  • ZB News Focus — “投标竞争加剧 拥车证成价全面上扬 (Bidding intensifies; COE premiums rise across the board)”
  • TM Local News — “அனைத்துப் பிரிவுக்கான 'சிஓஇ' கட்டணம் அதிகரிப்பு (COE prices rise for every category)”
04

Political salary review put on hold over Iran-war fallout

  • Committee submitted recommendations last month
  • Chan Chun Sing: defer until Middle East impact is clearer
  • Cost-of-living pressure makes pay debate politically risky
Sources (3) STZBBH
  • ST Big Story — “Govt defers consideration of political salaries until impact of Middle East conflict is clearer”
  • ZB News Front Page — “陈振声:政治职位薪金检讨建议上月已提交但暂缓讨论 (Chan Chun Sing: Political salary review recommendations submitted last month but discussion deferred)”
  • BH Berita — “Semakan gaji politik: Pemerintah tangguh cadangan hingga kesan konflik Timur Tengah lebih jelas (Political salary review: Govt defers proposals until Middle East impact is clearer)”
05

P4 pupils to start using AI in class, with limits

  • MOE: tools designed not to 'feed answers'
  • Approach pegged to child-development research
  • Tertiary students get free AWS Kiro credits to build apps
Sources (4) STZBTMBH
  • ST Big Story — “P4 pupils have 'executive functioning skills' to start using AI: Education Minister”
  • ZB Local News — “教育部AI工具不喂答案 (MOE AI tools won't 'feed' answers)”
  • TM Front Page — “சிங்கப்பூர்ப் பள்ளிகளில் 'ஏஐ' வயதுக்கேற்ப பயன்படுத்தப்படுகிறது: டெஸ்மண்ட் லீ (AI used in Singapore schools in age-appropriate way: Desmond Lee)”
  • BH Berita — “Murid Darjah 4 akan mula guna AI di bawah pengawasan (Primary 4 pupils to start using AI under supervision)”
06

30%+ media stakes to need IMDA nod

  • Covers SPH Media, Mediacorp, similar majors
  • Includes effective-control transfers, not just direct buys
  • Govt cites guard against 'undue influence'
Sources (2) ZBBH
  • ZB Local News — “政府拟加强媒体业审查 收购三成股权须先获批 (Govt to tighten media industry review; 30% stake purchases need approval)”
  • BH Berita — “Kelulusan IMDA wajib bagi peroleh 30% kepentingan dalam syarikat media utama (IMDA approval mandatory for 30% stake in major media companies)”
07

Indonesia eyes e-commerce ban for under-16s

  • Floated days after social-media ban for under-16s
  • Driven by debt-treadmill concerns from BNPL apps
  • Forces age verification at scale on Tokopedia, Shopee, TikTok Shop
Sources (1) ST
  • ST Front Page World News — “Indonesia eyeing e-commerce ban for those under 16, says minister”
08

Japan fires Type 88 missile in PH drill, postwar first

  • Two volleys hit target ship within 6 minutes
  • First offensive missile firing abroad since WWII
  • Held during US-Philippines Balikatan exercise
Sources (1) ZB
  • ZB World News — “日本在菲律宾军演首次发射进攻型导弹 (Japan fires offensive missile for first time at Philippines exercise)”
09

DeepSeek nears US$45b round led by China state chip fund

  • National IC 'Big Fund' in lead-investor talks
  • First external raise after open-source model success
  • Cements DeepSeek as Beijing-backed AI flagship
Sources (1) ZB
  • ZB China News — “"国家大基金"拟领投首轮融资 DeepSeek估值或达450亿美元 ('National Big Fund' plans to lead DeepSeek's first funding round; valuation may reach US$45b)”
10

Pyongyang scraps 'unification', enshrines Kim's solo authority

  • 'Two hostile states' doctrine now in constitution
  • Territory clause added; founders' references reduced
  • Ends a 50-year framing built around eventual reunification
Sources (1) ZB
  • ZB World News — “朝鲜修宪删祖国统一表述 强化金正恩"唯一领导"地位 (North Korea's constitutional revision deletes 'reunification' wording, strengthens Kim Jong Un's 'sole leader' status)”

Follow-ups

Iran/Hormuz war and ceasefire

Trump pauses Hormuz convoy plan; Wang Yi hosts Iran FM in Beijing

  • Operation Liberty paused a day after launch on near-deal hopes
  • Wang Yi tells Araghchi 'comprehensive ceasefire is urgent'
  • Vivian wraps 4-nation Gulf tour, thanks Oman and Saudi for evacuation help
Sources (5) STZBBH
  • ST World — “Strait of Hormuz among topics discussed in Vivian's visit to 4 Mid-East nations”
  • ST World — “China willing to play bigger role in restoring Mid-East peace: Wang Yi”
  • ZB News Focus — “王毅会伊朗外长 称全面止战刻不容缓 (Wang Yi meets Iranian FM, says comprehensive ceasefire is urgent)”
  • ZB News Focus — “特朗普暂停"自由计划" 美伊停战协议或临近 (Trump suspends 'Freedom Plan'; US-Iran ceasefire deal may be near)”
  • BH Dunia — “AS henti seketika langkah iringi kapal lalui Selat Hormuz (US briefly halts ship-escort step through Strait of Hormuz)”

SM Lee Hsien Loong Malaysia visit

SM Lee meets Pahang MB; Sultanah leads Pekan royal-textile tour

  • Day 3 of 5-day Pahang-Terengganu trip
  • Bilateral business ties top discussion
  • Sultanah Azizah personally guides royal-textile and history tour
Sources (4) STZBBH
  • ST Big Story — “SM Lee meets Pahang Menteri Besar”
  • ZB News Focus — “李资政参访彭亨古都 苏丹后亲自导览介绍王室织锦与州史 (SM Lee visits Pahang's old royal capital; Sultanah personally guides tour on royal textiles and state history)”
  • BH Front Page — “Warisan Pahang tarik perhatian SM Lee (Pahang's heritage catches SM Lee's attention)”
  • BH Berita — “S'pura, Pahang bincang cara perkukuh jalinan perniagaan (Singapore, Pahang discuss ways to strengthen business ties)”

Negeri Sembilan throne crisis

Undangs sue NS govt for cabinet minutes; MB hints at dissolving assembly

  • 4 chieftains demand cabinet minutes in court
  • Renewed call to remove MB Aminuddin Harun
  • UMNO restores PH partnership; assembly dissolution still possible
Sources (3) BHZB
  • BH Malaysia — “Krisis diraja Negeri Sembilan: Undang heret kerajaan negeri ke mahkamah, tuntut dedah minit mesyuarat (NS royal crisis: Undangs drag state govt to court, demand cabinet minutes be disclosed)”
  • BH Malaysia — “Umno-PH sepakat kekalkan kerjasama kerajaan perpaduan di Negeri Sembilan (UMNO-PH agree to keep unity government cooperation in Negeri Sembilan)”
  • ZB World News — “森州巫统恢复支持 大臣不排除解散州议会 (NS UMNO restores support; MB does not rule out dissolving state assembly)”

India state elections 2026

Congress backs TVK with conditions; 4 killed in Bengal unrest

  • Congress: support TVK only if it spurns communal forces
  • DMK calls it a betrayal as alliance fissure widens
  • 4 killed in West Bengal post-result clashes; 23 women elected MLAs in TN
Sources (4) STTM
  • ST World — “Four killed in aftermath of state elections in India's West Bengal”
  • ST Front Page Opinion — “Tamil film star's shock poll win is playbook for slaying giants in Gen Z era”
  • TM Front Page — “தவெகவுக்கு காங்கிரஸ் நிபந்தனையுடன் ஆதரவு (Congress backs TVK with conditions)”
  • TM India News — “விஜய்யை காங்கிரஸ் ஆதரிப்பது முதுகில் குத்தும் செயல்: திமுக (Congress backing Vijay is a 'stab in the back': DMK)”

MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak

3 suspected hantavirus cases off MV Hondius evacuated to Netherlands

  • WHO chief Tedros confirms airlift
  • ~150 still onboard, ship 3 days from Canary Islands
  • WHO continues to monitor the cruise
Sources (1) ZB
  • ZB World News — “世卫:疑感染汉坦病毒 三人已离船到荷兰治疗 (WHO: 3 suspected hantavirus cases have left ship for treatment in Netherlands)”

Reading modes & shortcuts

Reading modes

ConciseC
A quick scan of each story, focused on the key facts.
NewswireN
The standard report, with a balanced amount of detail and context.
JuniorJ
Best for young children. Uses simple words and clear explanations to make the news easier to understand.

Other shortcuts

←
Previous date
→
Next date
?
Show or hide this guide
Esc
Close this guide