Singapore news digest: 29 July 2026

15-month HDB resale wait-out scrapped for private home owners

Measure in place since Sept 2022, lifted Jul 28
Applies to non-subsidised resale flats without an HDB loan
Analysts expect more activity in million-dollar flat segment

Sources (5) STBTZBBHTM

ST ST Front Page — “Wait-out period for private home owners to buy resale flats removed”
BT Top Stories — “Mobility wins, more buzz in million-dollar HDB market with lifting of 15-month wait-out period”
ZB News Front Page — “卖私宅买转售组屋15个月等候期取消 (15-month wait-out period for private home owners buying resale flats removed)”
BH Front Page — “Tempoh tunggu 15 bulan pemilik rumah privet beli flat HDB dimansuh (15-month wait-out period for private home owners buying HDB flats abolished)”
TM Front Page — “தனியார் வீட்டு உரிமையாளர்க்கு 15 மாதக் காலக்கெடு இல்லை (No 15-month wait for private home owners)”

ABSD deadline stretched to 7 years for big en bloc sites

Standard remission window is five years
Applies to large residential collective sale projects
Consultants say seller price expectations still the main blocker

Sources (4) BTSTZBTM

BT Front Page — “Residential en bloc sales get nudge with extended ABSD deadline, but high asking price still a big hurdle”
ST Big Story — “ABSD deadline extended for large residential collective sale projects”
ZB News Focus — “大型集售项目ABSD豁免期最长延至7年 (ABSD remission period for large collective sale projects extended to up to seven years)”
TM Local News — “பெரிய நில மறுமேம்பாட்டுத் திட்டங்களுக்கு கூடுதல் கால அவகாசம் (Extra time for large land redevelopment projects)”

Suicides among Singaporeans in their 30s rise 50% to 99

441 total suicide deaths in 2024, up 1.6%
30-39 band now the highest of any age group
Most other age bands recorded declines

Sources (4) STZBBHTM

ST Front Page Singapore — “Rise in number of suicides among adults in their 30s”
ZB Local News — “本地30至39岁自杀死亡人数逆势激增50% (Local suicide deaths among those aged 30 to 39 surge 50% against the trend)”
BH Berita — “Mati akibat bunuh diri dalam kalangan dewasa 30-an naik 50% (Suicide deaths among adults in their 30s rise 50%)”
TM Local News — “சிங்கப்பூரில் 30வயதுகளில் உள்ளோரிடையே உயிர்மாய்ப்பு அதிகரிப்பு (Rise in suicides among those in their 30s in Singapore)”

MAS posts $20b profit, flags AI investment boom as top risk

Net profit $20b for FY ended Mar 31, 2026
Assets under management up 10.1% to $6.7t, third straight double-digit year
Financial sector grew 4.3% in 2025, 4,200 jobs added annually

Sources (6) BTSTZBBHTM

BT Front Page — “MAS chief flags AI investment boom as key risk to global financial stability”
ST ST Front Page — “MAS records $20b net profit on strong investment gains”
ST Big Story — “S'pore's financial sector grew 4.3% in 2025; 4,200 jobs created annually”
ZB News Front Page — “去年金融业资产管理规模升10.1%第三年双位数增长 (Financial sector assets under management rose 10.1% last year, a third straight year of double-digit growth)”
BH Berita — “MAS raih untung bersih $20b ekoran hasil pelaburan kukuh (MAS earns $20b net profit on strong investment returns)”
TM Front Page — “கடந்த நிதியாண்டில் $20 பில்லியன் நிகர லாபம் ஈட்டிய சிங்கப்பூர் நாணய ஆணையம் (Monetary Authority of Singapore posts $20 billion net profit last financial year)”

SM Lee: rule of law is never a finished project

Spoke at launch of four-volume series on 25 years of legal reform
Close to 1,000 laws passed in that period, says Shanmugam
Series covers pandemic response through to technology challenges

Sources (5) STZBBHTM

ST Big Story — “Each generation must improve laws to suit new realities: SM Lee”
ST Big Story — “Govt proactively reformed laws to deal with real-world problems: Shanmugam”
ZB News Front Page — “李资政：法律制度须演进代代持续完善并传承下去 (SM Lee: the legal system must evolve, refined and passed on by each generation)”
BH Berita — “SM Lee: Setiap generasi perlu sesuaikan undang-undang demi tangani cabaran baharu (SM Lee: every generation must adapt the laws to handle new challenges)”
TM Front Page — “தேவைக்கேற்ப சட்டங்களில் மாற்றம் அவசியம்: மூத்த அமைச்சர் லீ (Laws must change as needed: Senior Minister Lee)”

Magnitude 7.1 quake hits Kumamoto, mall blast traps dozens

Struck Jul 28 afternoon, maximum intensity 7 on Japanese scale
20 to 30 unaccounted for after Aeon Mall Kumamoto explosion
About 3,600 Self-Defence Force personnel deployed

Sources (3) STZB

ST World — “Deaths feared in mall blast after 7.1-magnitude quake hits Kyushu”
ZB News Front Page — “日本熊本发生7级强震酿逾100死伤 (Magnitude 7 quake in Japan's Kumamoto leaves more than 100 dead or injured)”
ZB News Focus — “日本出动3600名自卫队员紧急救援 (Japan deploys 3,600 Self-Defence Force personnel for emergency rescue)”

Myanmar allows death penalty for scam bosses, Johor raids net 330

Law passed Jul 28 covers forced scam labour resulting in death
At least 330 foreigners held after Forest City raids, Interpol to assist
UN report flags youth recruited into illegal online gambling

Sources (6) STZBBHTM

ST Front Page World News — “Myanmar approves death penalty for online scam offences”
ST World — “At least 330 foreigners arrested after scam centre raids in Forest City”
ST Front Page World News — “Youth in South-east Asia being lured into illegal online gambling”
ZB World News — “缅甸通过反网诈新法迫人诈骗致死可判死刑 (Myanmar passes new anti-cyberfraud law; forcing people into scams resulting in death can carry the death penalty)”
BH Dunia — “Myanmar lulus hukuman mati terhadap dalang pusat penipuan dalam talian (Myanmar approves death penalty for masterminds of online scam centres)”
TM World News — “மோசடி நடவடிக்கைகள்; 330க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் கைது (Scam operations: more than 330 arrested)”

Property agents face refresher exam below three deals in three years

Licence and registration validity extended to three years from 2027
Commission collection must be disclosed
CEA planning online listing verification platform

Sources (5) STBTZBBHTM

ST Singapore — “Refresher exam for property agents not hitting deal threshold”
BT Real Estate — “Stricter rules for property agents to raise standards, reduce fake listings, clarify commissions”
ZB Local News — “理事会拟推出网络平台核实房源信息辨别真伪 (Council plans online platform to verify listing information and identify fakes)”
BH Ekonomi — “Ejen hartanah perlu jalani ujian jika gagal selesai 3 transaksi dalam 3 tahun (Property agents must sit an exam if they fail to complete three transactions in three years)”
TM Local News — “சொத்துச் சந்தையில் மந்தமாகச் செயல்படும் முகவர்களுக்கு மறுதேர்வு (Re-examination for agents operating sluggishly in the property market)”

China said to start producing home-grown immersion DUV lithography tools

About five machines expected to ship this year
Scholars call it a milestone against US export controls
Singapore chip stocks Frencken, UMS, AEM fell on the news

Sources (3) ZBBT

ZB News Focus — “传中国启动国产DUV光刻机生产　学者：美科技围堵下"里程碑式突破" (China said to have started domestic DUV lithography machine production; scholars call it a milestone breakthrough under US tech containment)”
ZB Business News — “中国光刻机震撼未损本地半导体股基本面 (China lithography shock does not damage local semiconductor stocks' fundamentals)”
BT Companies & Markets — “Singapore tech stocks slide as chip sell-off spreads in Asia despite CXMT surge”

SIA posts $76m Q1 loss despite record $5.7b revenue

Revenue up 19.3% to a quarterly record
Fuel costs and Air India losses drove the reversal
Lounge and amenity upgrades continuing regardless

Sources (3) BTSTZB

BT Companies & Markets — “SIA sinks into the red with S$76m Q1 loss as fuel costs jump”
ST Business — “SIA spruces up passenger amenities even as it reports quarterly net loss”
ZB Business News — “燃油成本和印度航空亏损增加新航首季由盈转净亏7600万元 (Fuel costs and rising Air India losses turn SIA's first quarter from profit to a $76 million net loss)”

Follow-ups

Commonwealth Games 2026

Amanda Yap, 16, takes beam silver for Singapore's first Glasgow medal

Commonwealth Games debut for the gymnast
Singapore's opening medal of the Glasgow Games
Olympic champ McClenaghan misses out on pommel horse defence

Sources (3) STZB

ST Front Page Sport — “Amanda Yap, 16, shines on debut”
ST ST Front Page — “Gymnast Amanda Yap strikes silver in Glasgow”
ZB Local News — “16岁叶祎琳平衡木摘银斩获我国本届共运会首牌 (16-year-old Amanda Yap takes balance beam silver, Singapore's first medal at these Commonwealth Games)”

Iran/Hormuz war and ceasefire

Oman proposes joint Hormuz mechanism with voluntary transit fees

Tehran would not hold sole control of the strait
Gulf states backing the proposal
US says talks going well, strikes ready if they fail

Sources (3) STZBBH

ST World — “Oman proposes to Iran voluntary fees for use of Hormuz”
ZB World News — “消息：阿曼向伊朗提建议设联合区域机制管理海峡 (Sources: Oman proposes to Iran a joint regional mechanism to manage the strait)”
BH Dunia — “AS dakwa 'rundingan baik' dengan Iran, sedia gempur jika gagal (US claims 'good talks' with Iran, ready to strike if they fail)”

Youth radicalisation and ISA detentions

23 young people issued ISA orders over the past decade

Majority radicalised through online content
More than half intended attacks inside Singapore
Forum writers push for religious knowledge in schools

Sources (2) ST

ST Singapore — “23 youngsters here issued restriction or detention orders in past decade”
ST Forum — “Time for schools to bring back religious knowledge programme”

$3 billion money laundering case

47 luxury cars from $3b laundering case head to closed-bid auction

Vehicles linked to foreigners investigated in the 2023 raids
Closed-bid format rather than public auction
Part of continuing asset realisation

Sources (1) ST

ST Singapore — “47 luxury cars linked to $3b money laundering case up for closed-bid auction”

Malaysia Bersama and snap polls

Racial remark inflames Negeri Sembilan days before Aug 1 vote

PH trying to refocus campaign on governance
Over 91% of security personnel voted in early polling
About US$4.7b in approved projects awaiting execution

Sources (4) STBTBHZB

ST World — “Remark on Malays' 'homeland' stirs up racial storm in Negeri Sembilan”
BT International — “Negeri Sembilan's record investment pipeline faces execution test at Aug 1 poll”
BH Malaysia — “Lebih 91% anggota pasukan keselamatan undi awal PRN N. Sembilan (More than 91% of security force members cast early votes in the Negeri Sembilan state election)”
ZB World News — “森州选举种族争议发酵希盟政权或失守 (Racial controversy ferments in the Negeri Sembilan election; PH's hold may slip)”

Bangkok bar fire

Bangkok shuts 79 venues after inspecting 1,204 premises

Checks ordered nationwide within 30 days of the fire
Fire killed more than 30 people
Overloaded wiring and locked exits blamed

Sources (2) STBH

ST Front Page World News — “79 Bangkok entertainment venues ordered shut after checks in wake of deadly fire”
BH Dunia — “Bangkok periksa 1,204 pusat hiburan, 79 diarah henti operasi (Bangkok inspects 1,204 entertainment centres, 79 ordered to halt operations)”

Northern Hemisphere heatwave 2026

New heatwaves to worsen French and Spanish wildfires

EU commissioner says France and Iberia will deteriorate
Worst fire season in modern records for both countries
US facing overlapping heat and severe storms

Sources (3) STBHZB

ST World — “New heatwaves set to hit western Europe this week”
BH Dunia — “Gelombang haba baharu ancam burukkan kebakaran hutan di Perancis, Sepanyol (New heatwave threatens to worsen forest fires in France and Spain)”
ZB World News — “法国西班牙林火肆虐　美多地遭热浪强风暴叠加冲击 (Forest fires rage in France and Spain; many parts of the US hit by overlapping heatwaves and severe storms)”

Singapore-Australia pacts

Singapore and Australia target binding carbon capture deal this year

Covers cross-border electricity trade and low-emissions tech
Legally binding CCS agreement targeted before year-end
Vivian Balakrishnan met Western Australian officials in Perth

Sources (3) ZBBH

ZB Local News — “新澳深化双边能源合作争取年内达碳捕集协议 (Singapore and Australia deepen bilateral energy cooperation, aiming for a carbon capture agreement within the year)”
ZB Local News — “维文出访珀斯　会晤西澳政要 (Vivian visits Perth, meets Western Australian officials)”
BH Berita — “S'pura, Australia kerjasama pastikan bekalan barangan penting, pertahanan tidak terjejas (Singapore and Australia cooperate to ensure supplies of essential goods and defence are not disrupted)”