SGNews
01

Singapore real wages up 4% in 2025 as inflation eases

  • up from 3.2% in 2024
  • share of firms raising pay fell to 72.4% from 78.3%
  • finance, insurance, admin led; junior managers up 5.1%
Sources (7) STBTZBTMBH
  • ST Front Page — “S'pore workers' real wages grew by 4% in 2025 as inflation eased: MOM”
  • BT Front Page — “Singapore real wages up an improved 4% in 2025 as inflation eases”
  • ZB Front Page — “去年实际薪金涨4%　疫情来最高增幅 (Real wages rose 4% last year, the biggest increase since the pandemic)”
  • ZB Local News — “去年各级雇员薪资上涨　初级管理人员增幅最高达5.1% (Pay rose across all employee levels last year; junior managers saw the biggest gain at 5.1%)”
  • TM Front Page — “சிங்கப்பூர் ஊழியர்களின் சம்பளம் 2025ல் 4% உயர்வு (Singapore workers' wages rose 4% in 2025)”
  • BH Front Page — “MOM: Gaji sebenar pekerja di S'pura naik 4% pada 2025 (MOM: Singapore workers' real wages rose 4% in 2025)”
  • BH Berita — “Sektor kewangan, insurans, pentadbiran catat kenaikan gaji tertinggi pada 2025 (Finance, insurance and administration sectors logged the highest wage rises in 2025)”
02

Shangri-La Dialogue opens; China downgrades delegation

  • 44 countries, 54 ministerial-level delegates, May 29-31
  • China's Defence Minister Dong Jun skips the forum
  • Chan Chun Sing to speak Sunday; To Lam gives keynote
Sources (5) STZBTMBH
  • ST Big Story — “44 countries attending Shangri-La Dialogue”
  • ZB News Focus — “中国代表团层级降低　防长董军不出席香会 (China's delegation downgraded; Defence Minister Dong Jun skips the Shangri-La Dialogue)”
  • ZB News Focus — “陈振声星期天香会演讲 探讨安全伙伴关系演变 (Chan Chun Sing to speak Sunday at the dialogue on the evolution of security partnerships)”
  • TM Local News — “23வது ஷங்ரிலா கலந்துரையாடலில் உலகப் பிரமுகர்கள் பங்கேற்கவுள்ளனர் (World leaders to attend the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue)”
  • BH Berita — “44 negara bakal hadiri Dialog Shangri-La ke-23 pada 29-31 Mei (44 countries to attend the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue on May 29-31)”
03

Vietnam's To Lam in Singapore for four-day state visit

  • first stop on his Asean tour
  • several cooperation MOUs expected
  • To Lam to give Shangri-La Dialogue keynote
Sources (3) BTSTZB
  • BT Top Stories — “Vietnam's top leader To Lam to make state visit to Singapore, give Shangri-La Dialogue keynote”
  • ST Big Story — “Vietnamese President To Lam in Singapore for four-day state visit”
  • ZB News Focus — “苏林来新展开四天国事访问　新越料签多项合作备忘录 (To Lam begins four-day state visit; Singapore and Vietnam expected to sign several cooperation MOUs)”
04

Singapore start-up scene ranked 4th globally; S$5.9b raised

  • ecosystem grew 24.4%, top of the global top 10
  • venture funding S$5.9b across fewer deals
  • AI and deep tech draw the bulk of capital
Sources (2) BTZB
  • BT Top Stories — “Singapore venture funding hits S$5.9b despite fewer deals: EY-Parthenon”
  • ZB Local News — “我国初创生态居全球第四 年增长24.4%列10强之首 (Singapore's start-up ecosystem ranks 4th globally, growing 24.4%, top of the top 10)”
05

Singapore household debt climbs for 10th straight quarter

  • mortgages and personal loans drive the rise
  • first-quarter household savings turned higher
  • analysts read it as more cautious spending
Sources (2) ZB
  • ZB Front Page — “房贷个人贷款持续增 家庭债务连涨10季度 (Mortgages and personal loans keep rising; household debt climbs for 10 straight quarters)”
  • ZB News Focus — “首季个人储蓄由跌转升 分析：国人更谨慎支出 (First-quarter personal savings turn from decline to rise; analysts say Singaporeans spending more cautiously)”
06

Byju's founder jailed 6 months in Singapore for contempt

  • failed Indian edtech once a global star
  • six-month sentence for contempt of court
  • tied to disputes from the company's collapse
Sources (3) STTMTB
  • ST Business — “Byju's founder given jail by S'pore court for contempt”
  • TM Local News — “பைஜுஸ் நிறுவனருக்கு ஆறு மாதச் சிறை (Six months' jail for Byju's founder)”
  • TB India — “S'pore court hands Byju's boss jail term”
07

Taiwan conflict could trigger US-China nuclear escalation: study

  • both militaries likely to mount sweeping strikes
  • Asia-Pacific seen edging toward a nuclear arms race
  • lands as Shangri-La Dialogue opens
Sources (2) STZB
  • ST Big Story — “Any conflict over Taiwan would risk US-China nuclear escalation: Study”
  • ZB News Focus — “世界濒临以亚太为主场核武竞赛边缘 (The world is on the brink of a nuclear arms race centred on the Asia-Pacific)”
08

Singapore sets emission limits for fridges, vehicle air-cons

  • covers large commercial refrigeration, car air-cons
  • mandates more climate-friendly refrigerants
  • supports Singapore's 2030 climate targets
Sources (3) STZBTM
  • ST Singapore — “S'pore sets emission limits for commercial refrigeration systems, vehicle air-cons”
  • ZB Local News — “超市与新车冷气系统 须改用更环保制冷剂 (Supermarket and new-vehicle cooling systems must switch to greener refrigerants)”
  • TM Local News — “வர்த்தகக் குளிர்சாதனங்களுக்கு கரிமக் கட்டுப்பாடு (Carbon limits for commercial refrigeration)”
09

6 Chinese jailed for life in Cambodia over Korean student's killing

  • victim tortured and killed, linked to scam compounds
  • among the harshest verdicts tied to the syndicates
  • intensifies scrutiny of Cambodia's crime networks
Sources (1) ZB
  • ZB World News — “在柬虐杀韩大学生罪名成立 六中国籍电诈犯判终身监禁 (Guilty of torturing and killing a South Korean student in Cambodia; six Chinese scam offenders jailed for life)”
10

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah steps down; Shivakumar to take over

  • resolves a disputed power-sharing deal
  • D.K. Shivakumar set to become chief minister
  • leadership change in a major Indian state
Sources (1) TM
  • TM India News — “பதவி விலகிய சித்தராமையா; புதிய முதல்வர் டி.கே.சிவகுமார் (Siddaramaiah resigns; D.K. Shivakumar to be the new chief minister)”

Follow-ups

Iran/Hormuz war and ceasefire

US-Iran reach outline ceasefire extension amid fresh strikes

  • US hits Iran a 2nd time in 3 days; Israel bombs Beirut suburbs
  • Trump says he can outwait Iran; Tehran wants frozen funds freed
  • Iranians reconnect after 88-day internet shutdown
Sources (7) STZBBHTM
  • ST Front Page — “Iran and US reach outline ceasefire deal amid fresh strikes: Report”
  • ST Big Story — “Trump says he can outwait Iran, dismisses midterms pressure”
  • ST Big Story — “'Greetings after 88 days': Iranians reconnect after long internet shutdown”
  • ST Big Story — “Israel strikes Beirut suburbs for the first time in weeks”
  • ZB World News — “传美伊就延长停火等谈判达成一致 (US and Iran reportedly reach agreement on extending the ceasefire and other talks)”
  • BH Dunia — “AS serang tapak tentera Iran kali kedua dalam tempoh tiga hari (US strikes Iranian military sites for the second time in three days)”
  • TM Front Page — “ஈரானும் ஓமானும் ஹோர்முஸ் நீரிணையைக் கட்டுப்படுத்தாது (Iran and Oman will not control the Strait of Hormuz)”

Hari Raya Haji 2026

Haj rites wind down as Aidiladha is marked under strain

  • pilgrims complete tawaf ifadah, stone the jamrah
  • Gaza's Aidiladha overshadowed by Israeli strikes
  • Kelantan pre-dawn crash kills three, including a baby
Sources (6) BHSTTB
  • BH Dunia — “Jemaah haji lengkapkan tawaf 'ifadah' selepas wuquf, lontar jamrah (Pilgrims complete the tawaf ifadah after wuquf and stone the jamrah)”
  • BH Dunia — “Sambutan Aidiladha di Gaza dibayangi serangan Israel (Aidiladha in Gaza overshadowed by Israeli strikes)”
  • BH Dunia — “Dana negara biaya 1,098 lembu korban Prabowo (State funds 1,098 cattle for Prabowo's korban)”
  • BH Malaysia — “Tiga termasuk bayi 6 bulan, maut dalam nahas pagi Aidiladha di Kelantan (Three, including a six-month-old baby, killed in an Aidiladha-morning crash in Kelantan)”
  • ST World — “More Muslim S'poreans heading to Johor for Hari Raya Haji ritual”
  • TB Singapore — “President Tharman Wishes for "Peace, Compassion, and Friendship" This Hari Raya Haji”

Vivian Balakrishnan North-east Asia trip

North Korea not keen on engagement, Vivian says after visit

  • focus is self-reliance, military deterrence
  • tempers his earlier call to keep dialogue open
  • little appetite in Pyongyang for opening up
Sources (4) STZBTMBH
  • ST Big Story — “North Korea not keen on external engagement, says Vivian after visit”
  • ZB News Focus — “朝鲜持续发展经济　对外立场趋强硬 (North Korea keeps developing its economy as its external stance hardens)”
  • TM Local News — “விவியன்: நீண்டகால நண்பர்களை அலட்சியமாகக் கருதக்கூடாது (Vivian: long-standing friends should not be taken for granted)”
  • BH Berita — “Vivian seru Korea U kekal saluran dialog terbuka (Vivian urges North Korea to keep dialogue channels open)”

WHO Ebola outbreak (DRC/Uganda)

WHO urges DRC ceasefire to contain surging Ebola

  • cases rising in conflict-hit eastern DRC
  • fighting is blocking the outbreak response
  • WHO ties halting the war to halting the virus
Sources (1) ST
  • ST World — “WHO urges ceasefire in DRC to contain Ebola as cases surge”

Russia-Ukraine war

Zelensky asks Trump, Congress for air defences amid Russian threats

  • request addressed to both Trump and Congress, a rare move
  • follows escalated Russian strike threats on Kyiv
  • tests US willingness to keep supplying defensive arms
Sources (1) ST
  • ST World — “Zelensky asks Trump for air defences as Russia escalates strike threats”

Malaysia Bersama and snap polls

Bersatu denies joining PH; Rafizi denies RM8.5m Bersama payment

  • Bersatu calls PH-merger claim absurd
  • Rafizi denies paying RM8.5m to take over Bersama
  • Hamzah Zainudin reported to form a new party next month
Sources (4) BHZBTM
  • BH Malaysia — “Bersatu nafi akan sertai PH, dakwaan disifat tidak masuk akal (Bersatu denies it will join PH, calling the claim absurd)”
  • BH Malaysia — “Rafizi nafi bayar RM8.5j untuk ambil alih parti Bersama (Rafizi denies paying RM8.5 million to take over the Bersama party)”
  • ZB World News — “马土团党前署理主席韩沙传下月创新党 (Former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah reportedly to form a new party next month)”
  • TM World News — “பெர்சத்து-பக்கத்தான் ஒத்துழைப்பு; விவாதம் இல்லை (Bersatu-Pakatan cooperation: no discussion)”

DOJ SS Teo container price-fixing

SS Teo to exit SBF chair, extends leave to PIL and NUS

  • won't seek re-election as SBF chairman
  • leave now extends to PIL and NUS roles
  • follows earlier step-back over US price-fixing claims
Sources (2) BTST
  • BT Top Stories — “SS Teo to take leave of absence from Pacific International Lines and NUS in addition to SBF”
  • ST Business — “Teo Siong Seng will not seek re-election as SBF chairman, takes leave of absence from PIL, NUS”

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