The Straits Times - March 25, 2025
The Straits Times - March 25, 2025
Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Read The Straits Times along with 9,000+ other magazines & newspapers with just one subscription View catalog
1 Month $14.99
1 Year$149.99 $74.99
$6/month
Subscribe only to The Straits Times
Buy this issue $1.99
In this issue
March 25, 2025
Deal • S'pore's Cold Storage, Giant sold
Malaysian retail group Macrovalue has secured a deal to buy the 48 Cold Storage stores and 41 Giant outlets in Singapore for an initial price of $125 million.
1 min
Heightened tensions, uncertainty could be turning point in world trade: SM Lee
Serious economic, strategic implications if trade-to-GDP ratio starts to fall, he warns
6 mins
Belgian Royals Roll Out the Red Carpet for President Tharman
Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde received President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his spouse, Mrs Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, at the Royal Palace on March 24, marking the start of the first state visit by a Singaporean leader since bilateral relations were established nearly 59 years ago.
4 mins
Asean can boost trade cooperation amid uncertain geopolitical outlook: SM Lee
It can also work harder with external partners to conclude more FTAs, he says
4 mins
Digital Twin of Singapore's Port to Be Tested in Second Half of 2025
Powered by AI, it aims to improve efficiency and response time to oil, chemical spills
3 mins
Concerns of sexual assault victims should not be minimised: Shanmugam
Views expressed by Law Society V-P may misrepresent norms in S'pore, says minister
4 mins
How villagers on Pulau Ubin live with floods caused by high tide
At a former village headman's house on Pulau Ubin on March 2, a sunny day — Madam Tan Luay Ching's daughter and domestic helper were sweeping away flood waters from the porch.
4 mins
S. Korean PM Han reinstated, but split verdict hints at bigger impasse for Yoon's case
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is back in office, nearly three months after the National Assembly voted to impeach him over his alleged role in the Dec 3, 2024, martial law fiasco.
3 mins
PM Wong to visit Vietnam from March 25 to 26, will meet country's leaders
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will be making a two-day visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, starting from March 25, to meet the country's top leaders and build upon recently strengthened bilateral ties.
1 min
All Cold Storage, Giant Outlets Here to Be Sold to Malaysian Group for $125m
Current owner DFI to focus on its Guardian and 7-Eleven outlets here and in the region
3 mins
Malaysia seeks trade boost with China, Thailand via inland port
KL building new $148m facility in Perlis as it eyes expanding regional connectivity via railway
3 mins
Malaysia to Tighten Semiconductor Rules Under US Pressure
Malaysia plans to tighten regulations on semiconductors as it comes under US pressure to stanch the flow to China of chips crucial to the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the Financial Times reported on March 23.
1 min
Johor Bahru Launches Massive Post-Flood Clean-Up
With flood waters receding across affected districts in Johor, the authorities have launched a large-scale clean-up operation to clear debris and assist residents in rebuilding their lives, especially with Hari Raya just around the corner.
2 mins
Japan Sets Up Joint Command to Make Military More Potent
Japan has put the branches of its military under a single operational command, joining the US, China and other nations to better prepare for conflict by ensuring coordination between their air, land, sea and other forces.
1 min
Thai PM Paetongtarn grilled in censure motion over father Thaksin's influence
Thailand's opposition on March 24 grilled Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the first day of a parliamentary no-confidence motion, accusing her of being unqualified and of allowing her powerful father to wield influence over her administration.
2 mins
Taiwan President's Gambit: Time for a Harder Line on China
Lai believes Beijing will limit actions against Taipei amid trade war with US, says analyst
5 mins
Trump's firing of US climate scientists sends ripples across Asia
Many countries rely on US agency's data to predict, prepare for extreme climate events
5 mins
Greenland officials see red over planned visit by US delegation
Relations between Greenland and the US sank further on March 23 as Greenland's Prime Minister erupted over what he called a \"highly aggressive\" delegation of senior officials the Trump administration said it would send to the island this week.
2 mins
Canada's New PM Calls Snap Polls, Says Trump Wants to 'Break' Country
New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on March 23 called a snap election for April 28, saying he needed a strong mandate to deal with the threat posed by US President Donald Trump, who \"wants to break us so America can own us.\"
2 mins
Iran Says It Is Open to Indirect Nuclear Talks With America
Iran said on March 24 that it was open to indirect talks with the US, after President Donald Trump had demanded negotiations for a new nuclear deal.
1 min
Some Europeans Reconsider Trips to US in Protest Against Trump
His explosive meeting with Ukrainian leader, upending of European alliance among factors
3 mins
Re-election pledges set to tip Australia's budget back into the red
Australia is set to deliver a budget deficit this week, snapping two rare years in the black, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese doles out household relief to boost his re-election chances and global risks cloud the economic outlook.
2 mins
In Turkey, a vote of confidence for Istanbul's embattled mayor
\"We won't give in to despair,\" insisted 38-year-old Aslihan, referring to the massive protests sweeping across Turkey since the arrest of Istanbul's popular mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
2 mins
Working from home becomes Aussie election issue
A plan by Australia's opposition to force government workers back to the office full time could affect millions, a trade union grouping said on March 24, with the issue featuring in a nationwide election due within months.
1 min
US, Russia Hold Black Sea Ceasefire Talks After Overnight Strikes Pound Kyiv
Aim is to allow free flow of shipping, says US, before securing wider deal in Ukraine
3 mins
Houthi attacks force 75% of US shipping to make costly detour: Waltz
Attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen have forced three-quarters of US-flagged ships to avoid the Red Sea and instead take the long and expensive detour around the southern tip of Africa, the US national security adviser said on March 23.
2 mins
Egypt Makes New Proposal to Restore Gaza Truce, Sources Say
They say both US and Hamas have agreed to the plan, but Israel has yet to respond
2 mins
Colour-coded price labels for economy rice dishes at Koufu outlets
Diners at foodcourts and coffee shops run by Koufu will be able to tell at a glance the price of each dish in their economy rice order via colour-coded labels, in a new tie-up with the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case).
2 mins
Rehab programme helps over 100 seniors with advanced heart failure
TTSH trial patients gain muscle mass, lower body fat, see fewer re-admissions
3 mins
Updated voter rolls open for inspection; 2.75 million eligible to vote at GE
Singaporeans eligible to vote in the next general election can now check their names in the updated voter rolls.
1 min
Some SBS Transit bus, train services to be extended on eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Those planning to stay out late on the eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, March 30, will have more transport options, with SBS Transit offering later services on selected train lines and bus routes.
1 min
Kenneth Mak to chair new communicable diseases agency
The Republic's chief medical adviser, Professor Kenneth Mak, has been appointed the chairman of the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) – a new statutory board.
1 min
Over $200,000 Worth of Vapes Seized by HSA on Two Days
More than $200,000 worth of electronic vaporisers meant for sale were seized by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Feb 28 and March 1.
1 min
$130m RNA research programme launched to fight disease
It will formally study applications of RNA in vaccine development, among other things
3 mins
What is Safti City, and how will it improve SAF training?
Facility resembles densely populated urban city, boosting training realism
4 mins
Jail for man who flashed SIA stewardess during flight to S'pore
After downing two glasses of champagne, a business class passenger on board a Singapore Airlines plane decided to expose himself to an air stewardess.
2 mins
Singapore shares edge up amid falls in most regional bourses
• Advancers beat decliners 276 to 226 in broader market • Local banking trio mixed: DBS and OCBC up but UOB down • US stocks rise on hopes that tariffs may be less severe
1 min
AI Boom Turns Asian Data Centers Into Magnets for Loan Deals
Demand to expand by about 32% a year, outpacing US' expected growth of 18%
2 mins
Proposed Billion-Dollar US Levies on Chinese Ships Risk ‘Trade Apocalypse’
For a symbol of the chaos engulfing world trade since the Trump administration walked into the White House, look no further than a pile of 16,000 tonnes of steel pipes.
2 mins
The dot.com bubble burst 25 years ago this month. Could AI be next?
A revolutionary new technology comes along and infatuates investors with its seemingly limitless possibilities.
4 mins
China Promotes Business Potential to US Firms
China sought to reassure foreign corporate chiefs of the country's business potential when Vice-Premier He Lifeng met the heads of Apple, Pfizer, Mastercard, Cargill and others on March 23.
2 mins
As gold prices soar, customers in Asia race to cash in jewellery, coins
Retailers say rush could lead to major markets cutting imports, tempering rally
2 mins
Cold Storage, Giant customers can expect wider range, says buyer
DFI Retail Group to sell 89 supermarket outlets and 2 distribution centres to Malaysia's Macrovalue for $125m
4 mins
S'pore core inflation falls to 0.6% in Feb, lowest since June 2021
Singapore's core inflation declined for the fifth straight month in February after falling sharply in January as most spending categories saw smaller year-on-year price increases.
3 mins
America and China's Race to the Top Has a Jobs Problem
China's AI push may worsen youth unemployment, while the US struggles to bring back manufacturing jobs.
7 mins
Neither country has a clear path to dominance
unhappy Chinese youth react to the fact that they can't make a living in their country?
3 mins
Why ships are the new chips
The Trump administration wants to make America's maritime capacity great again.
4 mins
No children, no problem?
Should I worry about who's going to look after me as I age? There are at least four areas I need to plan for as I navigate my childfree future.
8 mins
What counts as ultra-processed food? It's too complicated
There is no real evidence that a pizza made at home is better than a frozen store-bought one with the same ingredients.
4 mins
The Unstoppable Rise of the Strawberry Should Worry Us
It tracks growth in the use of plastics, but we are unlikely to resist the allure of unsustainable practices.
3 mins
Families: Allow foreign parents of Singaporean children to automatically qualify as PRs
We refer to the article \"Married without kids? It's becoming a lot more common in Singapore these days\", on the total fertility rate (TFR) of Singapore for 2024 remaining at an all-time low of 0.97, the same as 2023.
1 min
Mental health: Could NSmen's resilience capacity be a weak link?
I refer to the article \"NSmen and mental health: Our soldiers don't need to suffer in silence\" (March 20), and wonder if the mental health or mental endurance capability of our NSmen could be the weakest link in our country's defence.
1 min
Regulating psychologists a good step but unlikely to curb unethical practices
As an advocate of greater regulation of mental health services in Singapore, I find the recent proposal requiring psychologists to be registered before practising represents a significant step towards ensuring ethical and competent provision of mental health services (Singapore to register psychologists to safeguard patient safety, boost public confidence, March 7).
2 mins
It's Champions Galore at Turffontein Day 3 Finale
Eight Grade 1 and 2 events to wrap South Africa's The Championships up with a bang
2 mins
Laughing William can bounce back on turf over 1,500m
March 25 South Africa (Vaal) form analysis
2 mins
Arapaho Takes Aim At Second Tancred Win
Trainer Baker confident his 8YO veteran is going well enough for repeat in Group 1 race
2 mins
Australia Has New Plans for Brisbane Olympics
Australia said on March 24 it is overhauling its multi-billion-dollar plans for hosting the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane after years of \"chaos and crisis\".
2 mins
Foreman's unique record is 'simply unbreakable'
The death of George Foreman signals the end of the golden age of heavyweight boxing and the gap of over two decades between his two world titles is a unique record that will never be broken, World Boxing Council (WBC) president Mauricio Sulaiman said.
2 mins
Bright Suns Primed for Bucks Battle
Phoenix coming off win over East leaders Cavs as Budenholzer meets his former team
3 mins
Sport is a high-wire walk — Exhilarating but fraught with falls
Competitive sport is akin to a high-wire walk. Everyone fears falling. Rivals jostle you like the wind. And challenges arise just as suddenly as the wire rotates underfoot. In the beginning, just getting on the wire in public is awkward, for it's hard to find nerve and balance even as someone is trying to shove you off.
3 mins
Family Key To Eala's Rise To Stardom
Philippine teen savours 'amazing' feat after toppling second Slam champion in Miami
3 mins
Hovland regains belief with Valspar victory
Viktor Hovland finally found a solid rhythm for the first time in a month, and it paid off at the Valspar Championship.
2 mins
Fruitful outing for papaya orange of McLaren while Ferrari see red
This was a weekend that began with red and ended with red, albeit of an altogether different shade, but it was the orange in between that painted the most vivid portrait of the Formula One world championship race thus far.
3 mins
Blind Bulgarian finishes 'Everesting' challenge
Ultramarathon runner Victor Asenov may be blind, but the Bulgarian defied sleeplessness and exhaustion to repeatedly scale Vitosha mountain near Sofia nonstop for nearly two days last week, climbing the equivalent of the height of Mount Everest in one of the toughest challenges of its kind in the world.
1 min
Veterans Get Kiwis Over Line
New Zealand seal first World Cup spot since 2010, thanks to Boxall, Barbarouses
3 mins
'Germany Learnt Lessons From Dip'
Nagelsmann's side narrowly squeeze into semis after second-half lapses against Italy
3 mins
Maignan into the spotlight after spot-kick heroics
France produced a great attacking performance to overturn a two-goal deficit against Croatia and level their Nations League quarter-final tie, but it was goalkeeper Mike Maignan who stole the spotlight with his penalty heroics in a 5-4 shoot-out victory on March 23.
2 mins
US Will Be Ready Before World Cup: Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino called for patience after the United States slumped to a 2-1 defeat by Canada on March 23, insisting there was still time to turn things around ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
2 mins
Exciting time for strongest Hong Kong side: Orr
Even as England-born Perry Ng is taking steps to obtain Singapore citizenship and join the likes of Japan-born Kyoga Nakamura to play for the Lions, Hong Kong have called up 14 footballers with foreign heritage to their 24-man squad for the sides' Asian Cup qualifier at the National Stadium on March 25.
3 mins
Exciting time for strongest Hong Kong side: Orr
Even as England-born Perry Ng is taking steps to obtain Singapore citizenship and join the likes of Japan-born Kyoga Nakamura to play for the Lions, Hong Kong have called up 14 footballers with foreign heritage to their 24-man squad for the sides' Asian Cup qualifier at the National Stadium on March 25.
3 mins
Ilhan Seeks Lions Revival
Stronger after injury hell, forward hopes to shine for S'pore against Hong Kong
3 mins
Hiking into the heart of Japan
Each day is sumptuous.
7 mins
Hiking into the heart of Japan
Local delicacies, hot spring baths and scenic walks abound on a journey through rural Kyushu
3 mins
Flights may cost less in 2025
New routes, falling fuel prices are some of the developments on the horizon for passengers
3 mins
Flights May Cost Less in 2025
New routes, falling fuel prices are some of the developments on the horizon for passengers
4 mins
Step off the beaten track, explore quiet towns
Each day's walk reveals more stories of Japan.
2 mins
Quiet time in Lombok
Dive, paraglide and enjoy the beaches without the crowds on the island often referred to as \"Bali's little sister\"
7 mins
Young orchestras SNYCO and Nusso prove mettle in weekend concerts
Just a fortnight after the Singapore National Youth Orchestra's sterling performance under Singapore Symphony Orchestra music director Hans Graf comes another weekend with two youth orchestras making their mark.
2 mins
The Grey's Anatomy actress is starring in the drama Good American Family about an adoption gone wrong
At the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Ellen Pompeo stood in a room of Picassos, mostly in the Cubist style. She paused in front of a portrait of a woman in a blue dress. The eyes were at strange angles, the mouth tucked to one side. The nose was somehow everywhere.
4 mins
Actress Jesseca Liu says her crying scenes in Emerald Hill were cut
Many bad things happen to Malaysian actress Jesseca Liu's character in the ongoing Mediacorp series, Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story.
2 mins
K-pop girl group Stayc to perform in Singapore
K-pop girl group Stayc will perform here in August as part of their second world tour, which was announced on March 24.
1 min
NewJeans Announce Hiatus Amid Legal Dispute With Label Ador
K-pop girl group NewJeans are saying goodbye for now following a Seoul court ruling that temporarily barred them from pursuing independent activities under their new name, NJZ.
2 mins
The Straits Times Newspaper Description:
Publisher: SPH Media Limited
Category: Newspaper
Language: English
Frequency: Daily
Unlock your access to award-winning journalism on Singapore and the world. With bureaus in major cities around the world, The Straits Times correspondents bring world news to readers on a Singapore platter, helping them appreciate world events from a Singaporean perspective.
Cancel Anytime [ No Commitments ]
Digital Only
