Singapore news digest: 25 June 2026

2 Singaporeans hit with ISA orders over Gaza radicalisation

19-year-old student restricted for online incitement
30-year-old detained, planned to join Hamas in Gaza
Both self-radicalised by the Israel-Hamas war

Sources (4) STZBTMBH

ST ST Front Page — “2 S'poreans issued ISA orders over radicalisation triggered by Gaza war”
ZB News Front Page — “两男因激进化一人接限制令一被拘留 (Two men radicalised: one given a restriction order, one detained)”
TM Front Page — “உள்நாட்டுப் பாதுகாப்புச் சட்டத்தின்கீழ் சிங்கப்பூரர்கள் இருவருக்கு உத்தரவு (Two Singaporeans issued orders under the Internal Security Act)”
BH Front Page — “Pelajar 19 tahun antara 2 lelaki dikenakan arahan ISA (A 19-year-old student among two men placed under ISA orders)”

Economic review urges faster AI adaptation

Final report fleshes out 32 recommendations
Calls for new growth engines, AI readiness
Help for startups to draw foreign talent

Sources (4) STBTZBBH

ST ST Front Page — “Economic review wraps up with call for S'pore to adapt faster to AI-driven world”
BT Front Page — “Singapore releases Economic Strategy Review Final Report with more detailed proposals”
ZB Local News — “经济策略检讨委会发布《最终建议报告》全文 (Economic Strategy Review committee releases full final recommendations report)”
BH Berita — “Laporan Akhir Semakan Strategi Ekon diterbit dengan saranan lebih terperinci (Economic Strategy Review final report published with more detailed proposals)”

S'pore seizes $600m in Prince Group laundering probe

2 men linked to Prince Group under investigation
Over $600m in cash, assets seized
Both Chinese nationals left before police moved

Sources (2) STTM

ST Big Story — “S'pore police probing 2 men linked to Prince Group over alleged money laundering”
TM Local News — “பிரின்ஸ் குழுமம் தொடர்பில் ஆடவரிடம் விசாரணை (Men questioned in connection with the Prince Group)”

Red alert issued for severe haze in H2 2026

SIIA flags high risk of transboundary haze in Aug, Sep
Strong El Nino to lengthen, worsen dry season
Costlier fuel may push farmers to slash-and-burn

Sources (5) STBTZBTMBH

ST Front Page Singapore — “High risk of severe haze in S'pore, S-E Asia in second half of the year”
BT Top Stories — “Haze beckons as South-east Asia's planters come under strain. A 'Godzilla' El Nino may just be the start”
ZB News Front Page — “本地智库警告8月9月或出现严重跨境烟霾 (Local think-tank warns of possible severe transboundary haze in August and September)”
TM Local News — “தென்கிழக்காசியாவில் கடும் புகைமூட்டம் ஏற்படலாம் (Severe haze could occur in South-east Asia)”
BH Berita — “Risiko tinggi jerebu rentas sempadan pada separuh kedua 2026 (High risk of transboundary haze in the second half of 2026)”

S'pore chip firms expand US footprint for AI wave

Firms grow US facilities, manpower near big tech
Move tracks surging AI chip demand
Analysts see SG tech stocks resilient after sell-off

Sources (3) STZBTM

ST Front Page Business — “S'pore semiconductor firms ramp up US presence to ride AI wave”
ZB Business News — “分析：基本面稳健　我国半导体科技股料还将持续攀升 (Analysis: with sound fundamentals, Singapore's semiconductor tech stocks are likely to keep climbing)”
TM Local News — “பகுதி மின்கடத்தி நிறுவனங்கள் அமெரிக்காவில் விரிவாக்கம் (Semiconductor firms expand in the United States)”

Alibaba sues Pentagon over military blacklist

Suit filed in California federal court
Seeks removal from list of alleged PLA-linked firms
Says designation lacked evidence or explanation

Sources (2) STZB

ST Business — “Alibaba sues the US, seeking removal from Pentagon's blacklist”
ZB China News — “阿里巴巴起诉美国防部寻求从涉军名单中移除 (Alibaba sues the US Defense Department, seeking removal from the military-linked list)”

Japan to revise Imperial Law, female succession stays barred

Imperial family down to 16, just 3 male heirs
Planned reform avoids female succession
Aims to shore up the shrinking royal line

Sources (1) ST

ST Front Page World News — “Female succession still off the table as Japan plans overhaul of Imperial Law”

Local tomatoes, fish, rice eyed for airline and school meals

SATS, Temasek Life Sciences in 2-year tie-up
Scaling up local tomatoes, jade perch, rice
Targets airline, school, hospital, NS menus

Sources (3) STZBTM

ST Singapore — “High-nutrition S'pore tomatoes and fish could soon be on airline menus and in schools”
ZB Local News — “本地番茄鲈鱼稻米或引入航空与学校餐单 (Local tomatoes, perch and rice may be introduced to airline and school menus)”
TM Local News — “உள்ளூரில் தயாராகும் புதியவகை உணவை அதிகரிக்க பங்காளித்துவம் (Partnership to scale up new types of locally produced food)”

Woodlands, Bishan, Bukit Merah lead June BTO demand

22,634 applications for 6,952 flats
Woodlands 4-room, Bishan, Bukit Merah Prime hottest
Ang Mo Kio, Sembawang see softer interest

Sources (4) STZBTMBH

ST Singapore — “Woodlands, Bishan and Bukit Merah flats most popular in June BTO launch”
ZB News Focus — “碧山红山黄金地段预购组屋买气最旺 (Prime-location BTO flats in Bishan and Bukit Merah draw the strongest demand)”
TM Local News — “முதல்முறை வீடு வாங்குபவர்கள் உட்லண்ட்ஸ் 'பிடிஓ' மீது ஈர்ப்பு (First-time buyers drawn to Woodlands BTO flats)”
BH Berita — “Projek BTO di Woodlands, Bishan, Berlayar tumpuan pemohon kali pertama (BTO projects in Woodlands, Bishan and Berlayar the focus of first-time applicants)”

AirAsia X misses supplier payments amid fuel costs

Long-haul arm behind on some supplier payments
Seeking deferrals on at least a dozen jets
Fuel-cost spike from Iran war squeezes finances

Sources (2) STBT

ST Front Page Business — “AirAsia missing payments to some suppliers as fuel costs bite”
BT Companies & Markets — “AirAsia is missing payments to some suppliers as fuel costs bite”

Follow-ups

Iran/Hormuz war and ceasefire

Trump threatens to end Iran talks over Hormuz tolls

Trump: any Hormuz fees will end US-Iran talks
Iran calls the deal 'a declaration of US defeat'
US Senate passes symbolic War Powers resolution

Sources (5) STZBBH

ST ST Front Page — “Hormuz No charging of tolls, says US”
ST World — “Iran says deal to end Middle East war a 'declaration of US defeat'”
ZB News Focus — “伊朗若在霍尔木兹海峡征费特朗普：立即终止美伊谈判 (If Iran charges fees in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump will immediately end US-Iran talks)”
ZB News Focus — “美参院通过战争权力决议促特朗普撤海外参战美军 (US Senate passes War Powers resolution urging Trump to withdraw forces deployed abroad)”
BH Dunia — “Washington, Teheran terus berselisih isu nuklear dan aset Iran (Washington and Tehran keep clashing over nuclear and Iranian asset issues)”

World Cup 2026

Ronaldo scores twice as England held by Ghana

Ronaldo's brace in Portugal's 5-0 win over Uzbekistan
First to score at six different World Cups
England draw Ghana 0-0; Croatia, Colombia advance

Sources (5) STZBTMBH

ST Sport — “'Role model' Ronaldo back with historic brace”
ST Front Page Sport — “Close shave for England”
ZB Sports — “帅罗王者归来葡萄牙大胜哥伦比亚提前晋级32强 (Ronaldo returns in style as Portugal romp; Colombia advance early to the last 32)”
TM World News — “விளையாடிய ஆறு உலகக் கிண்ணப் போட்டிகளிலும் கோலடித்து ரொனால்டோ வரலாற்றுச் சாதனை (Ronaldo sets a record by scoring in all six World Cups he has played)”
BH Back Page — “Ronaldo bangkit, tekad lakar sejarah Piala Dunia (Ronaldo rises, determined to make World Cup history)”

Singapore migrant wage arrears

NTUC finds 150 jobs for unpaid migrant workers

About 400 workers owed wages across three firms
All three share one director, said to have left S'pore
NTUC offers $200 aid; MOM issues special passes

Sources (5) STZBTMBH

ST Big Story — “NTUC finds 40 firms with 150 job openings for unpaid migrant workers”
ST Big Story — “Workers from third company say they are also owed wages”
ZB News Focus — “涉欠薪公司增至三家董事皆为同一人 (Firms involved in wage arrears rise to three, all with the same director)”
TM Front Page — “சம்பளம் வழங்கப்படாத 400 வெளிநாட்டு ஊழியர்களுக்கு 40 நிறுவனங்கள் உதவி (40 firms help 400 unpaid foreign workers)”
BH Berita — “NTUC bantu 400 pekerja migran terjejas isu gaji tertunggak cari kerja kosong (NTUC helps 400 migrant workers hit by wage arrears find vacant jobs)”

Europe heatwave 2026

France power outage as Europe's heatwave persists

Major French outage hits tens of thousands
Eiffel Tower closed early amid record heat
Severe heatwave now forecast for Vietnam

Sources (3) STBTBH

ST World — “Major power outage in France as Europe wilts under record heat”
BT International — “Deadly heatwave grips Europe”
BH Dunia — “Eropah berdepan gelombang haba terburuk awal musim panas (Europe faces its worst early-summer heatwave)”

Malaysia Bersama and snap polls

BN names 56 Johor candidates after three delays

BN slate: 37 Umno, 15 MCA, 4 MIC
PN finishes seat split, Bersatu contests the most
Bersatu rejects new party amid unresolved PAS rift

Sources (3) ZBBH

ZB World News — “国阵三次展延终公布柔州选举候选人名单 (After three delays, Barisan Nasional finally announces its Johor election candidate list)”
BH Malaysia — “PN selesai agihan kerusi PRN Johor, Bersatu paling banyak bertanding (PN finalises Johor seat allocation, Bersatu contests the most)”
BH Malaysia — “Bersatu tolak Wawasan sertai PN ketika krisis dengan PAS belum selesai (Bersatu rejects Wawasan joining PN while its crisis with PAS is unresolved)”