SGNews
01

Singapore blocks 6 foreign info-op websites

  • 6 foreign-run sites, linked to overseas hostile-info networks
  • Impersonated real news outlets, mixed genuine stories with fakes
  • Officials warn of targeting during sensitive periods
Sources (4) STZBBHTM
  • ST Front Page — “S'pore blocks 6 websites flagged over potential use in hostile info campaigns”
  • ZB Front Page — “我国屏蔽六境外势力运营假新闻网站 (Singapore blocks six websites operated by foreign powers running fake news)”
  • BH News — “Pemerintah sekat laman web asing tidak sahih potensi lancar kempen niat jahat (Government blocks inauthentic foreign websites with potential to launch malicious campaigns)”
  • TM Front Page — “ஆறு இணையத்தளங்கள் சிங்கப்பூரில் முடக்கம் (Six websites blocked in Singapore)”
02

March inflation hits 1.8% headline, 1.7% core

  • Petrol prices led the month's rise
  • Iran war keeping global oil supply tight
  • Economists warn of spread into transport, food, services
Sources (5) STBTZBBHTM
  • ST Big Story — “S'pore inflation accelerates as Iran war drives up petrol prices; higher costs expected to spread”
  • BT Top Stories — “Economists expect broader price hikes as core inflation rises in March”
  • ZB Front Page — “我国3月核心通胀率升至1.7%未超预期 (Singapore's March core inflation rises to 1.7%, not exceeding forecasts)”
  • BH Front Page — “Inflasi naik 1.8% pada Mac ekoran lonjakan harga petrol, runcit (Inflation rises 1.8% in March following surge in petrol, retail prices)”
  • TM Local News — “ஈரான் போரால் 1.8% அதிகரித்த சிங்கப்பூரின் பணவீக்கம் (Singapore's inflation rises 1.8% due to Iran war)”
03

FairPrice price freeze expanded to 300+ staples

  • Rice, oil, instant noodles, canned goods covered
  • Freeze runs until 31 May
  • Response to Iran-war-driven cost-of-living pressure
Sources (4) STZBBHTM
  • ST Big Story — “FairPrice expands price freeze to cover more than 300 staple products”
  • ZB Local News — “平价超市扩大价格冻结范围 逾300必需品6月前不涨价 (FairPrice expands price freeze; more than 300 essential items not to rise before June)”
  • BH Economy — “FairPrice beku harga lebih 300 barangan keperluan hingga 31 Mei (FairPrice freezes prices on over 300 essential items until 31 May)”
  • TM Local News — “அத்தியாவசியப் பொருள்களின் விலையை ஏற்றாத ஃபேர்பிரைஸ் (FairPrice not raising prices of essential products)”
04

Jakarta, KL rule out Malacca tolls after Iran's Hormuz move

  • Indonesia FM: any unilateral toll would breach international law
  • Malaysia echoes same line
  • Framed as direct contrast to Iran's Hormuz toll start
Sources (4) STBTZBBH
  • ST Front Page — “Indonesia will not impose tolls on Malacca Strait shipping, says Foreign Minister”
  • BT Opinion — “Lessons on toll-free shipping from straits of Malacca and Singapore”
  • ZB News Focus — “马印重申：马六甲海峡不收费　不容单方面改变现状 (Malaysia, Indonesia reaffirm: no fees in Malacca Strait, unilateral changes not tolerated)”
  • BH News — “Menteri Luar Indonesia: Tiada tarif dikenakan di Selat Melaka (Indonesia Foreign Minister: No tariffs to be imposed in Strait of Malacca)”
05

Singapore tops world in per-capita Claude AI use: GIC

  • Disclosed at closed-door GIC-Anthropic event
  • GIC led US$30b Series G round in Feb; Anthropic valued at US$380b
  • 150 local business and tech leaders attended
Sources (1) BT
  • BT Top Stories — “Singapore leads global per capita use of Anthropic's Claude AI, says GIC”
06

Big 3 Singapore banks cut ~3,000 roles in 2025

  • Combined workforce 104,266 at end-2025, down 2.6%
  • DBS down 1,624, OCBC down 333, rest from UOB
  • Restructuring and AI-led productivity cited
Sources (1) BT
  • BT Front Page — “DBS, OCBC, UOB shed nearly 3,000 jobs in 2025”
07

CLI wins S$2.4b Income property mandate

  • Covers retail, commercial and industrial holdings
  • CLI's SG deals now at over S$12.1b in 16 months
  • Continues shift from owning to managing
Sources (2) BTZB
  • BT Top Stories — “CapitaLand Investment to manage Income's S$2.4b real estate investment portfolio”
  • ZB Business News — “凯德投资获英康保险委托 管理24亿元本地房地产组合 (CapitaLand Investment entrusted by Income Insurance to manage S$2.4b local property portfolio)”
08

Turkey bars under-15s from social media; Japan looks to follow

  • Turkish parliament vote: 22 April
  • Grounds cited: mental health, online safety
  • Japan now considering age-based limits; Singapore also reviewing
Sources (3) STTB
  • ST World — “Turkey votes to ban social media for under-15s”
  • ST World — “Japan is latest country to look at age limits for social media”
  • TB Opinion — “Social media is the New Big Tobacco”
09

China signals nuclear carrier, vows more island building

  • Recruitment video title: homophone of 'nuclear vessel'
  • Would be China's first nuclear-powered carrier
  • Beijing also vows to continue South China Sea outpost build-up
Sources (2) STZB
  • ST World — “China hints at new nuclear carrier, vows to build up islands”
  • ZB China News — “中国宣传片暗示第四艘航母采核动力 (China promotional video hints fourth aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered)”
10

Malaysia King to personally pick next MACC chief

  • Announced by Sultan Ibrahim, bypassing usual PM-led nomination
  • Follows controversy over current anti-graft head
  • Signals push for MACC independence from partisan politics
Sources (4) STZBBHTM
  • ST World News — “Malaysia's King says he will choose a new anti-graft chief”
  • ZB World News — “马国元首要亲自挑选反贪会主席 (Malaysian head of state to personally pick anti-graft commission chairman)”
  • BH Malaysia — “Agong M'sia akan pilih ketua SPRM baru (Malaysia's King will pick new MACC chief)”
  • TM World News — “'எம்ஏசிசி'யின் புதிய தலைவரை மன்னரே தேர்ந்தெடுப்பார் (The King himself will choose the new head of MACC)”

Follow-ups

Iran/Hormuz war and ceasefire

Iran pockets first Hormuz tolls; US Senate rejects war powers a 5th time

  • Iran collects first transit tolls, seizes 2 more ships
  • Pakistan-brokered talks stalled: Iran wants blockade lifted first
  • US Senate rejects war powers bill 5th time; Trump's 60-day clock nears end
Sources (7) STZBBHTM
  • ST Big Story — “Iran collects first tolls from ships as it defies US' Hormuz blockade”
  • ST Big Story — “US-Iran stalemate short on time as risks for Trump, Tehran grow”
  • ST Big Story — “Why China's support for Iran has its limits”
  • ZB News Focus — “伊朗首次扣押商船　美称完全控制海峡 (Iran seizes first merchant ship; US claims full control of strait)”
  • ZB News Focus — “特朗普：结束伊战不设时间表　中期选举不影响决策 (Trump: no timetable to end Iran war; midterms do not affect decisions)”
  • BH World — “Iran enggan buka Selat Hormuz, rampas kapal di tengah sekatan AS (Iran refuses to reopen Strait of Hormuz, seizes ship amid US blockade)”
  • TM Front Page — “ஹோர்முஸ் நீரிணை திறக்கப்படாது: ஈரான் சூளுரை (Hormuz Strait will not be opened: Iran's vow)”

India state elections 2026

Tamil Nadu votes: 84%+ turnout; Vijay's TVK debuts against DMK, AIADMK

  • All 234 seats polled; 57.3m voters, 4,023 candidates
  • About 1.45m first-time voters
  • Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay among early voters
  • Three-cornered fight: DMK vs AIADMK bloc vs TVK
Sources (4) TMTB
  • TM Front Page — “தமிழகச் சட்டமன்றத் தேர்தலில் 84%க்குமேல் வாக்குப்பதிவு (Over 84% voter turnout in Tamil Nadu assembly election)”
  • TM India News — “கட்சிகளின் மோதல்களுக்கு இடையில் வாக்குப்பதிவு (Voting amid clashes between parties)”
  • TM India News — “மேற்கு வங்கம்: வாக்குப்பதிவு மையத்துக்கு வந்த காட்டு யானை (West Bengal: wild elephant comes to polling station)”
  • TB India — “Tamil Nadu votes in high-stakes three-cornered Assembly battle”

Negeri Sembilan throne crisis

4 chieftains skip Negeri Sembilan assembly opening; sitting postponed

  • Undang seats around the ruler left empty
  • Tuanku Muhriz: absence does not affect legitimacy
  • Sitting postponed; King expected to be briefed
Sources (4) STZBBHTM
  • ST World News — “Negeri Sembilan's royal dispute deepens as dissenters' seats vacant at state assembly”
  • ZB World News — “四酋长抵制开幕式 森州议会无限期展延 (Four chieftains boycott opening; Negeri Sembilan assembly indefinitely postponed)”
  • BH Malaysia — “Sidang DUN Negeri Sembilan ditangguh susulan 4 Undang tidak hadir (Negeri Sembilan state assembly sitting postponed after 4 Undang absent)”
  • TM World News — “சட்டமன்றத்தைப் புறக்கணித்த ஆட்சி எதிர்ப்பாளர்கள் (Rule-opponents boycott the assembly)”

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