Singapore news digest: 25 August 2026

Core inflation hits 2% as utility prices jump

Fastest core increase since October 2024
Electricity and gas prices up 8.7%
2026 forecast retained at 1.5% to 2.5%

Sources (5) STBTZBTMBH

ST Business — “S’pore’s core inflation rises to 2% in July as electricity prices surge”
BT Top Stories — “Core inflation climbs to 2% in July; electricity prices rise sharply”
ZB News Front Page — “7月核心通胀达2％创近两年新高能源价格高企物价上行风险仍存 (July core inflation reaches a near two-year high of 2% as elevated energy prices keep upward risks alive)”
TM Local News — “ஜூலையில் அடிப்படைப் பணவீக்கம் 2%ஆக அதிகரிப்பு (Core inflation rises to 2% in July)”
BH Berita — “Inflasi teras S’pura naik kepada 2% pada Jul (Singapore core inflation rises to 2% in July)”

Physical crime dips but sexual offences rise

10,287 physical crimes in first half
Molestation cases up from 739 to 762
Rape cases up from 230 to 261

Sources (4) STZBTMBH

ST Big Story/Big Story — “More rape and molestation cases, but number of physical crimes falls”
ZB Local News — “本地上半年实体罪案五年来首次减少 (Singapore physical crime falls for the first time in five years in the first half)”
TM Front Page — “ஆண்டின் முற்பாதியில் பாலியல் குற்றங்கள் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரிப்பு (Sexual offences increase in the first half of the year)”
BH Berita — “Kes serangan seksual, curi naik separuh pertama 2026 (Sexual assault and theft cases rise in the first half of 2026)”

Singapore and Ecuador sign development pact

First Ecuadorian presidential visit to Singapore
Cooperation across trade, health and digitalisation
Gateway links between Asia and Latin America

Sources (3) STZBTM

ST ST Front Page — “Singapore, Ecuador ink deal to cooperate in human development”
ZB News Front Page — “我国与厄瓜多尔可深化合作互为区域门户 (Singapore and Ecuador can deepen cooperation as gateways to their regions)”
TM Front Page — “மனிதவள மேம்பாட்டில் ஒத்துழைக்க சிங்கப்பூர் - எக்வடோர் உடன்பாடு (Singapore and Ecuador agree to cooperate in human development)”

Public health workers build 12,000 AI agents

AgentSea open to 80,000 public-health staff
Tools for patient notes, rosters and reviews
More than 300 agents shared for reuse

Sources (2) STZB

ST Singapore — “New platform to create AI agents available to all public healthcare professionals”
ZB News Focus — “本地公立医疗保健AI平台已创1.2万智能体提高效率 (Public healthcare AI platform creates 12,000 agents to raise efficiency)”

Shein offers US$3.5b after valuation slide

Hong Kong IPO values firm at up to US$27b
Earlier funding round reached US$98.2b
Investor compensation nearly twice new capital

Sources (3) STBTZB

ST Front Page Business — “Shein to pay up to $4.4b to selected pre-IPO investors over valuation slide”
BT COMPANIES & MARKETS — “Shein to pay up to US$3.5b to select pre-IPO investors in HK listing”
ZB China News — “希音预计下月赴港上市　估值缩水七成至340亿元 (Shein expected to list in Hong Kong next month as valuation falls 70% to S$34 billion)”

Taiwan charges 9 over AI server smuggling

74 Nvidia B300 servers reached mainland China
More than US$21.2m in alleged proceeds
Another 56 servers stopped before export

Sources (1) ZB

ZB China News — “串谋走私AI服务器至大陆台控英伟达美超微员工等九人 (Taiwan charges nine, including Nvidia and Supermicro employees, over AI server smuggling to mainland China)”

Xi may visit India after a seven-year gap

BRICS summit in New Delhi on Sept 12 and 13
Delegation may include about 400 officials
Border representatives resume talks in Beijing

Sources (1) ZB

ZB China News — “传习近平隔七年访印度下月率团出席金砖峰会 (Xi reportedly to visit India after seven years and lead delegation to BRICS summit next month)”

Fuel shock squeezes regional budget airlines

Net losses at AirAsia and Cebu Pacific
Scoot operating loss reaches S$32m
Weaker currencies lift dollar-based costs

Sources (2) BTZB

BT International — “Region’s budget airlines eye recovery but fuel scars linger”
ZB World News — “燃油飙升货币贬值双重夹击东南亚廉航第二季普遍走弱 (Soaring fuel costs and weaker currencies hit South-east Asian budget airlines in the second quarter)”

Gan visits United States amid 12.5% tariff

Meetings in New York and Washington
Trade and investment ties on agenda
Tariff applied to several exports since July

Sources (1) TM

TM Local News — “துணைப் பிரதமர் கான் கிம் யோங் அமெரிக்கா பயணம் (Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong visits the United States)”

India lifts four-year wheat-flour export ban

Restrictions in place since July 2022
Record harvest of 120.6m tonnes
Supply opens to Asian, African and Middle Eastern buyers

Sources (1) TM

TM India News — “கோதுமை மாவு ஏற்றுமதித் தடையை நீக்கியது இந்தியா (India lifts wheat-flour export ban)”

Follow-ups

Transboundary haze 2026

Singapore PSI reaches 98 as Indonesia arrests 72

Unhealthy air begins at PSI 101
48,656 hot spots found across Indonesia
Company licences at risk over ordered fires

Sources (3) STZBBH

ST Big Story — “NEA monitoring air quality as PSI nears unhealthy range”
ZB World News — “印尼林火令区域烟霾恶化　普拉博沃警告撤销纵火企业执照 (Indonesian fires worsen regional haze as Prabowo threatens to revoke licences of companies behind burning)”
BH Berita — “Mutu udara S’pura hampir cecah paras kurang sihat, NEA pantau kadar PSI (Singapore air quality nears unhealthy level as NEA monitors PSI)”

Singapore energy security and nuclear options

Western island plan puts coral reefs at risk

Nearly 60% of local reefs may be buried
Some habitats about 8,000 years old
Site also considered for low-carbon energy

Sources (3) STBTZB

ST Big Story/Big Story — “Western island reclamation will create space for industries: Analysts”
BT Front Page — “Singapore’s new Western island offers real opportunity to create ‘next-generation energy hub’: analysts”
ZB Local News — “西部岛屿计划引环保忧虑本地六成珊瑚礁或永久消失 (Western island plan raises environmental concerns as 60% of local coral reefs may disappear permanently)”

Cost of raising children and family support

Childcare leave eases costs but strains rosters

Up to 12 days tied to number of children
Government cap of S$500 per leave day
On-site and specialist roles hardest to cover

Sources (3) BTZBBH

BT Top Stories — “Childcare leave salary caps still leave gaps for higher-income parents”
ZB Local News — “育儿假恐加剧人手紧缺商界吁增援助与适应期 (Childcare leave may worsen manpower shortages as businesses seek more support and time to adapt)”
BH Berita/Berita — “Majikan perlu ubah pola pemikiran, budaya kerja demi sokong institusi keluarga (Employers need to change mindsets and work culture to support families)”

Iran/Hormuz war and ceasefire

Iran advances plan for Hormuz transit fees

Charges proposed for navigation and security
Rule-breaking ships risk fines or seizure
US prepares expanded financial sanctions

Sources (3) BHSTZB

BH Dunia — “Parlimen Iran lulus bayaran bagi kapal lalui Selat Hormuz (Iranian Parliament approves fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz)”
ST World — “Pakistan to hold talks in Tehran as US threatens Iran with ‘economic D-Day’”
ZB World News — “伊朗袭击暴露美军基地脆弱性　美或调整中东驻防布局 (Iranian attacks expose vulnerability of US bases and may reshape Middle East deployments)”

Thailand southern insurgency attacks

Thailand counts 78 attacks, reviews warnings

Four southern provinces hit
Rail line damaged and 3 people injured
Threat warning received nearly 2 months earlier

Sources (3) STZBBH

ST Front Page World News — “Over 70 spots in Thailand’s deep south hit by arson attacks”
ZB World News — “泰南发生78起暴力袭击政府承认预警情报失误 (Southern Thailand suffers 78 attacks as government admits warning failure)”
BH Dunia — “51 serangan gegar tiga wilayah selatan Thailand dalam masa empat jam (51 attacks hit three southern Thai provinces within four hours)”

Social media age limits

New Zealand proposes under-16 social ban

Platforms required to verify users' ages
Fines up to 10% of global revenue
Coalition partner says it will oppose Bill

Sources (2) STTM

ST World — “New Zealand to introduce Bill banning social media for kids under 16”
TM World News — “நியூசிலாந்தில் 16 வயதுக்குட்பட்டோருக்கு சமூக ஊடகத்தைத் தடைசெய்யும் மசோதா (New Zealand Bill would ban social media for children under 16)”

Malaysia Bersama and snap polls

Bersama exodus deepens PKR succession gap

29,200 members claimed by Bersama
One-quarter reportedly came from PKR
Both parties target similar voters

Sources (2) STBH

ST Front Page World News — “PKR facing existential threat as top leaders and veterans drift to Bersama”
BH Malaysia — “Parti Bersama pilih jalan sukar, tidak ikut arus kerjasama politik (Bersama chooses a difficult path outside prevailing political cooperation)”

US-Canada tariff dispute

Fine print sinks United States-Canada trade talks

Draft terms diverged from Canada's understanding
Heavy-vehicle tariff relief among disputes
Canadian retaliation starts Sept 8