SGNews
01

Singapore builders turn to robots amid labour crunch

  • 25-plus robot types now across about 60 projects, up from near-zero in 2022
  • Still only about 5% of larger construction projects
  • Aims to cut reliance on hard-to-recruit foreign labour
Sources (2) STTM
  • ST Big Story — “More builders look to robots to tackle S'pore's construction labour crunch”
  • TM Front Page — “கட்டுமானத்துறையில் பெருகிவரும் இயந்திர மனிதக் கருவிகள் (Robots increasingly used in the construction sector)”
02

IRAS claws back $49m from 279 high earners

  • 279 high earners caught for sham tax arrangements to date
  • 124 cases probed from 2021 to 2025; $49m in extra tax recovered
  • High Court dismissed a challenge by three doctors
Sources (3) STTM
  • ST Big Story — “IRAS nabs 279 high-income earners over sham arrangements to pay less tax”
  • ST Invest — “Taxman has last laugh over doc who made millions but reported low monthly income”
  • TM Local News — “வரியைக் குறைக்க போலி ஏற்பாடுகள்: அதிகம் சம்பாதிக்கும் 279 பேர் சிக்கினர் (Sham arrangements to cut tax: 279 high earners caught)”
03

WhatsApp reserves usernames for Singapore politicians

  • New feature lets users be reached without a phone number
  • Usernames of Singapore politicians pre-reserved
  • Aims to block impersonation of public figures
Sources (3) STZBTM
  • ST Big Story — “WhatsApp locks down usernames of Singapore politicians in new privacy feature”
  • ZB News — “WhatsApp将推新功能 我国政要用户名获预留防冒充 (WhatsApp to launch feature reserving Singapore politicians' usernames against impersonation)”
  • TM Local News — “வாட்ஸ்அப் பயனர் பெயர் அம்சத்தில் கட்டுப்பாடு (Controls on WhatsApp's username feature)”
04

1 in 3 EC income-ceiling waiver appeals approved

  • 845 of 2,583 appeals granted from 2020 to 2025
  • EC income ceiling is $16,000 a month
  • Waivers considered case by case
Sources (2) STTM
  • ST Big Story — “One in three appeals for EC income ceiling waiver approved: HDB”
  • TM Local News — “'இசி' வீடுகள்: விலக்கு கோரிய மூவரில் ஒருவருக்கு அனுமதி (EC homes: one in three who sought a waiver approved)”
05

New orientation scheme for Employment Pass holders

  • EP holders introduced to Singapore's history and norms
  • Aims to help foreign professionals integrate
  • Part of a wider push on newcomer settling-in
Sources (1) ST
  • ST Front Page Singapore — “EP holders learn about nation's history under orientation scheme to boost integration”
06

Higher Chinese entry rules eased for secondary students

  • Strong PSLE mother tongue result now enough to qualify
  • Overall four-subject score no longer a barrier
  • About 1,625 Sec 1 students took Higher Chinese under the change
Sources (1) ZB
  • ZB Front Page — “中学高华门槛放宽 逾1600新生受惠 (Secondary Higher Chinese threshold eased, over 1,600 new students benefit)”
07

Apple sues OpenAI over alleged secrets theft

  • Apple alleges OpenAI sought its trade secrets
  • Claims candidates were asked to share project info and bring prototypes
  • Escalates a tech rivalry centred on AI
Sources (1) ST
  • ST World — “Apple sues OpenAI over alleged theft of company secrets”
08

China evacuates 1.8m as Typhoon Bavi lands

  • Bavi is the strongest typhoon to hit China this year
  • More than 1.8 million evacuated in Zhejiang
  • 17 killed in the Philippines; no deaths in Japan or Taiwan
Sources (3) STZBBH
  • ST Big Story — “China evacuates over 1.8m as severe typhoon nears”
  • ZB China — “台风“巴威”登陆浙江逾200万人转移 (Typhoon Bavi makes landfall in Zhejiang; over 2 million relocated)”
  • BH News — “20 penerbangan dari S'pura dibatal dek Taufan Bavi di Jepun (20 flights from Singapore cancelled due to Typhoon Bavi in Japan)”
09

Japan's Lower House passes imperial succession Bill

  • Aims to ease a looming shortage of heirs
  • Would let female royals keep their status after marriage
  • Male-only succession left unchanged
Sources (2) STZB
  • ST Front Page World News — “Bill to secure Japan's imperial succession clears Lower House”
  • ZB World — “日本众议院通过修改皇室法 确保男丁不凋零女性婚后保留皇籍 (Japan's Lower House amends the Imperial House Law; female members keep royal status after marriage)”
10

Sapporo school plan draws local backlash

  • Singapore-based group's international school project opposed
  • Reflects a culture war brewing in Japan
  • Centres on unease over foreign influence
Sources (1) ST
  • ST Front Page World News — “Plan for international school draws backlash in Sapporo”

Follow-ups

Iran/Hormuz war and ceasefire

US presses Iran to reopen Hormuz as talks go on

  • US seeks Iranian pledge to free up the Strait of Hormuz
  • Talks continue despite weekend escalation
  • New supreme leader's whereabouts a growing liability
Sources (4) STZBBH
  • ST Front Page — “US seeks Iranian pledge to free up Strait of Hormuz”
  • ST Big Story — “How absence of Iran's new supreme leader is becoming a liability”
  • ZB Main — “特朗普：若德黑兰暗杀我 千枚导弹已锁定摧毁伊朗 (Trump: if Tehran assassinates me, 1,000 missiles are locked to destroy Iran)”
  • BH News — “Trump: AS, Iran setuju teruskan rundingan (Trump: US and Iran agree to continue talks)”

World Cup 2026

Spain beat Belgium to reach semis, will face France

  • Merino's late goal seals a 2-1 win over Belgium
  • Spain to meet France in a 'final before the final'
  • Belgium's golden generation exits; Argentina next face Switzerland
Sources (4) STZBBH
  • ST Sport — “Spain to raise level against France in 'final before final'”
  • ST Sport — “Courtois proud of 'small' Belgium's major displays”
  • ZB Sports — “西班牙2比1险胜比利时 半决赛硬碰大热门法国 (Spain edge Belgium 2-1, face favourites France in the semis)”
  • BH Front Page Sport — “Merino wira tidak disangka, bawa Sepanyol ke separuh akhir (Merino the unlikely hero, takes Spain to the semi-finals)”

Malaysia Bersama and snap polls

BN wins Johor in a landslide, takes 48 of 56 seats

  • Barisan Nasional wins 48 of 56 seats, up from 2022
  • MCA takes 8 seats as Chinese votes swing back
  • Turnout over 67%; early general election now more likely
Sources (3) STZBBH
  • ST Front Page — “BN retains Johor with landslide win in state election”
  • ZB Front Page — “柔州选国阵赢48席大胜蝉联执政 马华获八席显示华人票回流 (BN wins 48 seats in Johor to keep power; MCA's eight seats show Chinese votes returning)”
  • BH News — “PRN Johor: Lebih 67% warga keluar undi (Johor state election: over 67% turnout)”

Russia-Ukraine war

Russia bans diesel exports as fuel prices climb

  • Russia halts diesel exports, jolting global energy markets
  • Follows Ukrainian drone strikes on its refining
  • Ukraine sets up a long-range strike command
Sources (2) ZB
  • ZB World — “俄禁柴油出口冲击市场 推高全球燃油价 (Russia bans diesel exports, jolting markets and pushing up global fuel prices)”
  • ZB Main — “乌军新设特别指挥部 远程打击俄罗斯 (Ukraine's military sets up a special command for long-range strikes on Russia)”

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