Newsflash Asia – Breaking Stories, Smarter and Faster

Today Free Charge

Join the Community

Industry News


Leisure & Entertainment

The Purple Symphony celebrates SG60 with inclusive concert

The Purple Symphony, Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra, is marking the nation’s 60th anniversary with a special concert series aimed at reaching vulnerable groups and heartland communities. The event, themed “Perhaps It’s Love,” will take place on 14 and 15 June 2025 at the Singapore Conference Hall, showcasing the orchestra’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and community connection through music.

Since its 10th anniversary in June 2024, The Purple Symphony has been dedicated to promoting a more inclusive society. This year’s concert is part of a broader initiative to engage with seniors and at-risk groups, reflecting the orchestra’s ongoing mission to build deeper community ties. The concert will feature a blend of classical and pop music, including the premiere of “Fortitude,” an original composition by Liong Kit Yeng, which honours Singapore’s 60 years of nation-building.

Artistic Director Quek Ling Kiong expressed pride in the orchestra’s progress, noting the musicians’ dedication to honing their skills and the unique blend of Eastern and Western musical elements. “Their dedication to perfecting every note shows their love for music,” he said.

Mayor Denise Phua, an adviser to The Purple Symphony, highlighted the concert’s role in promoting love and inclusion. “This year’s concert is a reminder that love is a collective effort—to care for and uplift one another regardless of ability,” she stated.

With performances scheduled throughout the year, The Purple Symphony continues to champion inclusion, aiming to inspire and unite through the power of music.
“`


Shipping & Marine

Crane accident at Tuas Port leaves operations unaffected

A new quay crane tipped over at Tuas Port on 15 June 2025 at approximately 1:20pm whilst being delivered to a non-operational berth. Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities reported, and the incident did not impact the port’s operations or facilities.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and PSA Singapore have confirmed that all current operational berths remain fully accessible, ensuring that port activities and development works continue without interruption. The incident is currently under investigation, with both PSA and MPA collaborating with relevant authorities to determine the cause.

PSA Singapore operates the world’s largest container transhipment hub, handling 40.9 million TEUs in 2024, and maintains connections to 600 ports globally. Despite the crane accident, PSA’s commitment to providing seamless port operations and services remains steadfast.

The MPA, established in 1996, continues to play a crucial role in developing Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre. It partners with industry and research communities to enhance safety, security, and environmental protection within the maritime sector.

As investigations proceed, both PSA and MPA are focused on maintaining the safety and efficiency of port operations, ensuring that such incidents do not disrupt Singapore’s strategic maritime interests.
“`


Shipping & Marine

2025 Land-Sea Forum boosts China-ASEAN cooperation

The 2025 Land-Sea Economic Forum, held on 12 June in Singapore, brought together nearly 200 participants from political, business, and academic sectors to discuss the expansion of Chinese industries into Southeast Asia. Themed “Connectivity for Shared Success: Trends and Visions for Chinese Industries Expanding into Southeast Asia,” the forum aimed to promote coordinated regional economic development.

Kishore Mahbubani, a Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Research Institute at NUS, emphasised the importance of ASEAN’s effective functioning as a regional organisation in fostering smooth ASEAN-China relations. He Dong, Chief Economist at the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office, noted that whilst China’s direct investment in ASEAN has doubled since the pandemic, it still accounts for less than 10% of total investment, indicating significant growth potential.

Guan Xin, Vice President of Changan Auto Southeast Asia Co Ltd, highlighted the company’s recent achievements, including the launch of its first overseas new energy vehicle manufacturing base in Rayong, Thailand, and the creation of over 300,000 jobs across Southeast Asia. Changan has also established over 190 stores and partnered with more than 200 suppliers in the region.

China Securities released the “Southeast Asia Investment Report 2025” during the forum, identifying digitalisation, manufacturing, and services as key areas for China-ASEAN cooperation. Representatives from MINISO, Tencent, and the Singapore Exchange shared insights on global expansion, with discussions on AI’s impact on cross-border e-commerce and the strengthening of financial services between China and Singapore.

The forum underscored the potential for further collaboration between China and ASEAN, with Singapore and Chongqing serving as models of successful partnership.
“`


Government

HSA cracks down on illegal evaporiser sales

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has intensified its efforts against the illegal sale of evaporisers, conducting a significant raid on 15 May at Club Slim, located in Excelsior Shopping Centre, Coleman Street. The operation led to the arrest of a 45-year-old club manager who confessed to selling evaporisers to staff members. Further investigations revealed his involvement in a broader illegal distribution network.

During the raid, HSA officers also found three men and two women, aged between 22 and 40, in possession of evaporisers and related components. These individuals were fined on the spot as part of HSA’s ongoing crackdown on unauthorised evaporiser sales in nightlife venues.

The possession, use, or purchase of evaporisers in Singapore is prohibited under the Tobacco Control of Advertisements and Sale Act, with offenders facing fines up to $2,000. More severe penalties apply for importing, distributing, or selling prohibited tobacco products, with fines reaching $10,000 and potential imprisonment for repeat offences.

HSA continues to warn the public about the health risks associated with all tobacco products, including evaporisers. Information on these risks is available on the HealthHub website. The public is encouraged to report any illegal activities related to evaporisers to the Tobacco Regulation Branch.

This raid underscores HSA’s commitment to enforcing tobacco regulations and protecting public health, with further actions anticipated as part of their ongoing strategy.
“`


HR & Education

AI curiosity amongst children doubles in 2025

Kaspersky’s latest annual report highlights a significant increase in children’s interest in AI-powered chatbots, accounting for over 7.5% of all search queries from May 2024 to April 2025. This marks more than a doubling from the previous year’s 3.19%. The report, released to coincide with International Children’s Day, also notes the viral rise of Italian brainrot memes and the growing popularity of the rhythm-based game Sprunki.

The most common online activity among kids was searching on Google for streaming platforms — almost 18% of all queries were related to watching videos.

Unsurprisingly, YouTube remains the clear favourite Android app in Singapore, with the proportion of time spent on the platform standing at 22.19%. WhatsApp rose to second place with 21.35%, overtaking TikTok (13.14%), while Facebook continued to decline.

Kaspersky’s findings also reveal that AI tools are becoming integrated into children’s digital lives, with platforms like Character.AI gaining traction. However, the report warns of potential risks associated with AI chatbots, such as exposure to inappropriate content due to user-generated material and lack of strict moderation.

Anna Larkina, a privacy expert at Kaspersky, emphasises the importance of parental involvement: “When parents take time to understand what their children are watching, playing or searching for, it opens the door to meaningful conversations — and helps build safer, more trusting digital habits.”

To ensure a safe digital environment, Kaspersky recommends open communication about online risks, securing gaming experiences with trusted solutions, and using digital parenting apps like Kaspersky Safe Kids. The full report is available on Kaspersky’s website, providing further insights into the digital trends shaping children’s online activities.
“`


Financial Services

MoneyHero Group narrows Q1 losses amid strategic shift

MoneyHero Group, a prominent personal finance platform in Greater Southeast Asia, has reported a significant reduction in its financial losses for the first quarter of 2025. The company’s adjusted EBITDA loss improved by 49% year-on-year to $33m, whilst net loss decreased to $24m from $131m in the same period last year. This progress is attributed to a strategic pivot towards high-margin verticals such as insurance and wealth, which now constitute 25% of total revenue, an increase of 11 percentage points year-on-year.

The company’s CEO, Rohith Murthy, highlighted the success of their car insurance platform, launched in partnership with bolttech, which has exceeded expectations by enhancing conversion rates and generating recurring revenue. Murthy stated, “Our strategy is delivering. By reallocating resources towards higher-margin verticals, we are steering the business towards sustainable, profitable growth.”

Operational efficiency has also been a key focus, with the company leveraging artificial intelligence to maintain a lean cost structure. This has resulted in a 26% reduction in total operating expenses year-on-year. The member base has expanded by 38% to over 8 million, enabling more personalised marketing efforts and a 25% reduction in marketing costs.

In the Philippines, MoneyHero has secured new partnerships with BPI and RCBC, strengthening its market position after a major banking partner exited last year. Looking forward, the company plans to launch the Credit Hero Club in collaboration with TransUnion, offering free credit scores and personalised financial recommendations to boost user engagement.

Interim CFO Danny Leung noted the improved revenue mix, with personal loans, insurance, and wealth products increasing their share of total revenue. Despite a 35% year-on-year revenue decline, the focus on high-margin products has improved gross margins and reduced reliance on lower-margin credit cards.

With $366m in cash and no debt, MoneyHero is well-positioned to invest in growth initiatives and aims to achieve positive adjusted EBITDA later in the year.
“`


Cards & Payments

Mastercard accelerates onboarding with Cloud Edge

Mastercard has unveiled a new cloud-based connectivity solution, Cloud Edge, which allows banks and fintechs in the Asia Pacific region to onboard to its network up to four times faster. Developed in collaboration with cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), this innovation aims to enhance agility and efficiency in launching new payment solutions amidst growing digital demand.

Cloud Edge provides seamless, private connectivity to Mastercard, enabling financial institutions to avoid reliance on a single IT infrastructure. This flexibility is crucial as fintechs are projected to grow three times faster than the traditional banking industry by 2028, driven by emerging markets in Asia Pacific. The region’s fintech market is expected to reach nearly $311 billion by 2029, largely due to the integration of cloud computing.

Sandeep Malhotra, executive vice president of Core Payments at Mastercard, highlighted the benefits of Cloud Edge, stating, “Cloud Edge reinforces Mastercard’s commitment to resiliency, redundancy and security whilst offering customers cost efficiency as well as greater choice, speed and flexibility.”

The solution also reduces capital expenditure by eliminating the need for physical data centres and provides direct access to modern payment technologies. Episode Six, a global provider of enterprise-grade ledger and cards infrastructure, is already leveraging Cloud Edge to assist banks and fintechs in the region.

Scott Mullins, Managing Director of Financial Services at AWS, noted that the AWS Regions across Asia Pacific offer Mastercard extensive connectivity and secure cloud services, ensuring compliance with regional data residency regulations.

Mastercard Cloud Edge is now available in several Asia Pacific markets, including India, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong SAR, as well as in the US, Canada, and other regions worldwide.
“`


Aviation

Emirates launches cabin crew recruitment in Singapore

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is set to hold a cabin crew recruitment roadshow in Singapore on 19 June 2025. This event is part of the airline’s global initiative to recruit 5,000 new cabin crew members this year, supporting its fleet expansion and continued growth. Candidates interested in joining the multinational team must apply through the Emirates Group Career website to be shortlisted for the invite-only event.

The recruitment drive is one of several planned in Singapore throughout the year, with the next event scheduled for 19 July 2025. Emirates is seeking individuals passionate about delivering personalised hospitality and maintaining high safety standards. Successful candidates will undergo seven and a half weeks of training at Emirates’ state-of-the-art facility in Dubai, where they will develop skills in communication, leadership, and teamwork.

The recruitment initiative coincides with Emirates’ recent acquisition of six A350 aircraft, with an additional 59 A350s and 205 777-9s and 777-8s on order. This expansion will enable the airline to introduce new routes and enhance its global network. As of June 2025, Emirates boasts over 24,000 cabin crew members, including more than 70 from Singapore.

Emirates’ cabin crew enjoy a cosmopolitan lifestyle in Dubai, with benefits such as a tax-free salary, profit sharing, and discounted travel for friends and family. The diverse team, representing over 149 nationalities and speaking more than 76 languages, fosters a strong sense of community and shared service philosophy.
“`


Residential Property

Government unveils 2H 2025 GLS Programme details

The Government has announced the Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme for the second half of 2025, featuring eight private residential sites and two executive condominium (EC) sites. This initiative is expected to yield 3,735 private residential units, 990 EC units, and 4,515 square metres of commercial space. The programme aims to moderate private property price growth, despite a slight decrease in the number of private residential units compared to the first half of 2025.

The distribution of GLS sites across the island is notable, with 42.8% of the new supply directed to the Rest of Central Region (RCR) and 39.1% to the Outside Central Region (OCR). This marks the third consecutive decrease in the overall number of units supplied in the half-yearly GLS programme, following the peak in the first half of 2024, which offered 4,740 private residential units.

Among the notable land parcels is the Bukit Timah Road plot, located in the Newton planning area. This site is expected to attract significant interest due to its proximity to Newton MRT, Orchard Road, and the city centre. The Dover Road parcel is also highlighted for its strategic location near the Dover Knowledge District and one-north employment hub, with a substantial commercial component of 3,000 square metres.

The Turf City site at Dunearn Road will add 1,400 square metres of commercial space, continuing the area’s redevelopment. Additionally, the Tanjong Rhu plot will be the first GLS site in the area in over 20 years, potentially drawing moderate interest as new amenities are developed.

Justin Quek, CEO of OrangeTee & Tie, noted that the high supply of EC units provides more accessible alternatives for HDB upgraders and first-time homeowners. The programme’s diverse offerings are expected to cater to both owner-occupiers and investors.
“`


Information Technology

Google Cloud and DISG launch AI transformation programme

Google Cloud, in collaboration with Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), has unveiled the AI Cloud Takeoff (AI CTO) programme, designed to foster AI transformation in 300 Singapore-based companies over the next 12 months. This initiative, part of the Singapore Government’s Enterprise Compute Initiative, seeks to establish AI Centres of Excellence (AI CoEs) to enhance competitiveness and unlock new revenue opportunities.

Building on a successful pilot with 30 companies in November 2024, AI CTO provides a structured framework for companies to centralise AI expertise and resources. Participants will receive up to $365,000 (SG$500,000) in financial incentives to develop AI-driven solutions. The programme includes a two-week AI capacity building bootcamp, technical consultancy services, and Google Cloud credits for solution development.

Philbert Gomez, Senior Vice President of Digital Industry Singapore, highlighted the programme’s potential to drive innovation and productivity across industries. “Our successful pilot with Google Cloud laid a strong foundation, enabling Singapore-based companies to harness tailored AI solutions,” he stated.

The programme offers technical implementation services to integrate AI solutions with existing systems, ensuring data privacy and security. Companies will work with DISG-appointed, Google Cloud-certified partners, including Accenture and Deloitte, to establish their AI CoEs.

Applications for the AI CTO programme are now open, marking a significant step towards AI-driven transformation in Singapore’s business landscape.
“`


1 67 68 69 70 71 246
[the_ad id="889990"]
[the_ad id="889991"]
[the_ad id="889992"]
[the_ad id="889977"]
[the_ad id="889994"]
[the_ad id="889993"]

Warning: Attempt to read property "post_status" on null in /var/www/html/wp-admin/includes/template.php on line 2298

Warning: Attempt to read property "post_status" on null in /var/www/html/wp-admin/includes/template.php on line 2302

Warning: Attempt to read property "post_status" on null in /var/www/html/wp-admin/includes/template.php on line 2308

Warning: Attempt to read property "post_status" on null in /var/www/html/wp-admin/includes/template.php on line 2312

Warning: Attempt to read property "ID" on null in /var/www/html/wp-admin/includes/template.php on line 2316

Warning: Attempt to read property "post_status" on null in /var/www/html/wp-admin/includes/template.php on line 2320

Warning: Attempt to read property "ID" on null in /var/www/html/wp-admin/includes/template.php on line 2325

Warning: Attempt to read property "ID" on null in /var/www/html/wp-admin/includes/template.php on line 2329

Warning: Attempt to read property "ID" on null in /var/www/html/wp-admin/includes/template.php on line 2334