The Straits Times - April 18, 2025
The Straits Times - April 18, 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
April 18, 2025
PM Wong Launches PAP Manifesto, Introduces New Faces in Fresh Team
He says it cannot be politics as usual with the changes going on in the world
4 mins
WP launches manifesto, keeps electoral cards close to its chest
The opposition Workers' Party launched its election manifesto and introduced its first batch of four candidates on April 17, with secretary-general Pritam Singh saying that the party has firmed up its slate.
5 mins
PAP to field 32 new candidates, including 13 women
Group will inject fresh energy, new ideas and help strengthen leadership team: PM
5 mins
Who are the 32 new PAP candidates being fielded in the election?
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on April 17 introduced all 32 new candidates the PAP will be fielding in the upcoming general election.
5 mins
PAP's GE2025 manifesto 'It is our road map to navigate a changed world': PM Wong
He describes manifesto as PAP's promise to Singaporeans, seeks mandate to address needs
6 mins
PAP Manifesto: A Fresh Start That Strikes a Familiar Chord
Five years ago, the PAP launched its election manifesto at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic was ravaging the economy.
3 mins
Ex-NMP Raj Joshua Thomas not running in coming election
He says he will spend more time on the ground, after having been expected to be fielded by PAP
1 min
WP's GE2025 manifesto: It's a plan for a fairer, more secure Singapore, says Gerald Giam
Proposals cover affordability, GDP growth, social equality, accountability and security
4 mins
WP manifesto charts what it sees as working for Singapore
In the 122 pages of the Workers' Party manifesto, launched on April 17, some 10 pages early on are perhaps the most interesting.
3 mins
WP Introduces Four Fresh Election Candidates, Including Ex-Diplomat
Pritam says party is invested in looking for people who can carry it forward
4 mins
PSP to field former West Coast A-team member in Marymount
Party will also field a former SAF scholarship holder in Kebun Baru
4 mins
Singapore United Party unveils its Ang Mo Kio GRC slate
The opposition Singapore United Party (SUP) on April 17 unveiled its slate of candidates for Ang Mo Kio GRC that will face off against Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong's team at the polls.
2 mins
Singapore Must Prepare for New Global Order, Seek Opportunities: DPM Gan
It will expand trade partnerships, forge new alliances amid turmoil caused by US tariffs
3 mins
Chipmaker Kept Some China Customers in the Dark About New Curbs
Nvidia did not warn at least some major customers in advance about new US export rules it was told about a week ago, requiring it to obtain licenses to sell its China-focused artificial intelligence (AI) chip, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
2 mins
Washington Takes Aim at DeepSeek and Its American Chip Supplier Nvidia
Two months after DeepSeek, China's artificial intelligence (AI) star, rattled Washington and shook Wall Street, US officials are taking steps to crack down on the Chinese start-up and its support from America's leading chipmaker, Nvidia.
4 mins
California files lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of tariffs
California on April 16 filed a lawsuit seeking to block US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on foreign trading partners, accusing him of abusing his powers and inflicting financial harm on the state and nation.
1 min
Japan's Trade Talks With US Offer Nations Few Clues on Way Forward
First round of talks seen in Tokyo as relative success, but concrete details remain scant
6 mins
China to convene UN meeting to criticize US for weaponizing tariffs
China will convene an informal United Nations Security Council meeting next week to accuse the US of bullying and \"casting a shadow over the global efforts for peace and development\" by weaponizing tariffs.
1 min
Xi Visits Cambodia as China Continues Charm Offensive
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on April 17, capping a three-stop tour of South-east Asia, according to live footage from Beijing's state-run CGTN.
1 min
Kudos for Xi's Malaysia visit eclipsed by flag furore
Focus shifts from landmark event to slip-ups by two local Chinese-language newspapers
4 mins
Myanmar Junta to Free Nearly 5,000 Prisoners in Amnesty
Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra organised a dinner meeting with visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing at a Bangkok hotel on the evening of April 17 under tight security.
3 mins
Putin Meets Freed Russian Gaza Hostages
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on April 16 met Russian nationals freed from captivity in the Gaza Strip, after militant group Hamas' October 2023 attacks on Israel, and said Moscow's longstanding ties with Palestinians helped secure their freedom.
1 min
Lebanon Detains Suspects Over Rocket Attacks on Israel
The Lebanese army on April 16 said it had detained a number of Palestinians and Lebanese suspected of involvement in two attacks from the country on Israel in March but did not mention Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has denied any role.
1 min
Image of Palestinian boy who lost both arms wins World Press Photo of the Year
A haunting portrait of a nine-year-old Palestinian boy who lost both arms during an Israeli attack on Gaza City won the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year Award on April 17.
1 min
Israel Says It Has Turned 30% of Gaza Into a Buffer Zone
It Vows to Maintain Blockade on Humanitarian Aid to Force Hamas Into Releasing Hostages
3 mins
Little bites, big returns: India's snacks sector draws foreign investors
Remarkable success of market leader Haldiram Snacks whets investment appetite
4 mins
Foreign Students Mount Court Challenges as Trump Revokes Their US Visas
Judges in at Least 7 States Issue Orders Barring the Authorities From Deporting Them
3 mins
Meloni seeks to break tariff impasse with 'soulmate' Trump
Italian PM will try to coax him about merits of transatlantic cooperation on US visit
3 mins
Zuckerberg Denies Buying Rival Apps To Eliminate Them
He Testifies TikTok Is Biggest Threat To Instagram And Facebook
2 mins
Trump Blocked Israeli Strike on Iran's Nuclear Sites, Favoring Diplomacy
Attack Would Have Needed US Help, But Some Officials Had Doubts About Its Success
7 mins
Europeans, Ukrainians to Make Their Case to Key US Envoys in Paris
High-Level Meeting Reflects EU's Worry About US Overtures Towards Moscow
2 mins
US Tariffs May Pose Threat to Security Situation in Singapore: Shanmugam
Tariffs imposed by the US may pose a threat to global security as international relations are fundamentally reshaped.
3 mins
SMU's Class of 2025 to get transcript listing skills gained during CCAs
Initiative shows university's commitment to developing holistic graduates, says don
3 mins
Briton in Netflix show Con Mum allegedly linked to offences involving $500,000
A British national featured in a Netflix documentary on scammers has been offered bail of $50,000, with a police prosecutor on April 17 saying that she is allegedly linked to offences involving around $500,000 in total.
3 mins
Naked man nabbed after one person, three cops injured in violent attacks
A 22-year-old man was arrested after allegedly slashing another man in Hougang Avenue 8 on April 17.
2 mins
Forward SG Youth Panels' Ideas to Be Implemented or Studied Further
Boosting financial resilience, backing regional ventures among the proposals
3 mins
STI gains 1.6%, shrugging off overnight Wall Street retreat
• DFI Retail tops index again; local banks continue rebound • Kospi, Nikkei, Hang Seng lead surge among regional bourses • US tech sell-off worsens after Nvidia's note on its bottom line
1 min
CapitaLand Investment to Launch Retail REIT in China With Assets Worth $500m
CapitaLand Investment (CLI) announced on April 17 that it intends to launch its first real estate investment trust (REIT) in China, to be named CapitaLand Commercial C-REIT (CLCR).
2 mins
Trump tariffs could put Fed in a bind, warns its chairman
US President Donald Trump's tariffs will likely push up prices and constrain growth, and could put the Federal Reserve in the unenviable position of having to choose between tackling inflation and unemployment, said the US central bank's chairman on April 16.
2 mins
ECB Cuts Interest Rates Again as Trade Tensions Threaten Recovery
The European Central Bank (ECB) lowered interest rates for the seventh time since June 2024 as trade tensions threaten to derail the region's economic recovery.
3 mins
Better access to rural Japan from Singapore under SIA-ANA tie-up
Travellers can expect shorter layovers, better-value fares on trips to places off beaten track
3 mins
OCBC chairman defends bank's takeover offer for Great Eastern, calls it the 'right strategy'
OCBC Bank chairman Andrew Lee has defended a takeover offer for Great Eastern (GE), saying the insurer gives the bank an added advantage over its peers.
3 mins
Singapore Key Exports May Shrink in 2025 Amid Global Trade Chaos: Economists
Latest data shows Nodx growth slowed in March ahead of Trump's tariff salvo
3 mins
Shake Hands, Not Fists: Xi's Weapon in China's Trade War Game Plan
China is ahead on diplomatic points, but it is not entirely game over for the US.
7 mins
Singapore: A safe harbour in a turbulent world
In his S. Rajaratnam Lecture on April 16, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong outlined Singapore's response to the challenges posed by the new geopolitical landscape. The following is an abridged version of his speech.
10+ mins
The Fertility Conversation That We Need to Have Early
Many couples struggle to have children because they don't understand the biological clock.
4 mins
Fertility treatments shouldn't cost a career or a promotion
I met the man who was to become my husband in December 2019.
5 mins
Faulty bus Driver counselled
We refer to the letter \"Bus driver continued journey even though air-con was not working\" by Ms Molly Lim (April 9).
1 min
GE Laws forbid those below 16 from taking part in poll activities
We thank Mr Steven Lim for his letter \"Keep children out of politics\" (April 15).
1 min
Replies Cyber security. Steps taken to raise standards
We thank Mr Zulkifli Jalil for highlighting that cyber security must extend beyond an organisation's own systems to include its vendors (Hold vendors to same high cyber security standards, or they may become weakest link, April 14), and agree with his views.
1 min
Women should know that even without subsidies, vaccine is accessible and beneficial
I'm an entrepreneur in the sexual wellness industry in my early 30s. I first heard about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in my 20s when I received a government letter about subsidies available up to age 26.
1 min
Healthcare: It's fortunate that the doctor discovered mum-in-law had a silent stroke
For most people, a stroke is often associated with signs and symptoms that include an inability to move or feel on one side of the body, problems understanding or speaking, dizziness, and loss of vision.
1 min
Give boost similar to CDC vouchers for SMEs' digital transformation
We all enjoy our CDC vouchers, whether it's redeeming them at the nearby hawker stall or helping to stretch the grocery budget.
1 min
Buffalo Ready To Pop The Champagne
Sires Produce's third-place horse can go two better in last Autumn Carnival 2YO feature
2 mins
Save your shot of Bourbon Reserve for the last race
April 19 South Africa (Turffontein) form analysis
3 mins
Bott Excited With Royal Patronage In Hong Kong
Sydney trainer and Waterhouse dream of first foreign win in Group 1 Champions Mile
3 mins
British Top Court's Verdict on Trans Hailed
Campaigners have insisted that there are \"no excuses\" for allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports events after a landmark legal decision in Britain on April 16.
2 mins
Alif Is RI's Serial Final Decider
He scores winner in B Div boys' hockey final against Saints, just like in 2023
2 mins
'Having each other's back' key to Mavericks' progress
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd hailed a team effort, as Anthony Davis recorded 27 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots in a 120-106 National Basketball Association (NBA) victory over the hosts Sacramento Kings in a Western Conference play-in game on April 16.
2 mins
Banned 20 Years If I Failed Drug Test
Williams says she would also lose her Slam titles if she were in a similar state to Sinner
2 mins
Bryan to appeal ban for competing in LIV-backed event
The PGA Tour has suspended Wesley Bryan for playing in a LIV Golf-backed event two weeks ago.
2 mins
Hinault excited for return to 1980 world championships route
French cycling legend Bernard Hinault is licking his lips at the prospect of current superstars Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel tackling the same route at the 2027 world championships that he rode when he claimed his one and only rainbow jersey in 1980.
2 mins
Piastri Eyes 3rd Win To Take Lead
He will become first Australian to top standings since 2010, but three others stand in his way
5 mins
'Adopted Scouser' van Dijk proud to join Salah in staying on at Liverpool
Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk has extended his contract, with the Dutch centre back signing to remain at Anfield until 2027, the English Premier League club said on April 17, ending a protracted saga that had dragged on for several months.
2 mins
Outrage as China club play hours after death of striker
Football fans in China were outraged by Zhejiang FC's decision to go ahead with a league match hours after the death of their Gabon international striker Aaron Boupendza.
2 mins
Special Things In Coming Years
Rice affirms trust in Arteta as Arsenal come of age with 5-1 aggregate win over Real
3 mins
Magpies miss Howe but maul Palace 5-0
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is missed by his players in the dugout at St James' Park, but they again did him proud with a 5-0 English Premier League home win over Crystal Palace on April 16 that bolstered their quest for Champions League football next season.
2 mins
Inter's mentality is to conquer all before them: Martinez
Inter Milan's treble dream is alive and kicking after reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League on April 16, thanks to a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich that saw the Serie A giants win a pulsating last-eight tie 4-3 on aggregate.
2 mins
Li to Lead FAS After Rivals Disqualified
Darwin's opposing slate barred from running as one candidate is not eligible
2 mins
OCBC Cycle to go virtual owing to clash of dates
The annual OCBC Cycle on May 3 and 4 at the Singapore Sports Hub will not go ahead as planned, with the event now converted to a virtual-ride format, said the local bank in a statement on its website on April 17.
2 mins
Second-hand items, first class in style
2nd Street, one of the largest secondhand chain stores in Japan and a hot spot for fashionistas on a budget, is changing thrifting in Singapore
3 mins
Encouraging sustainable shopping
That year, it opened its first stores in the US and Malaysia, prioritizing the former as it was a mature market for second-hand goods.
6 mins
Blue Origin's all-women flight Bringing a little spice to space
Amazon boss Jeff Bezos' fiancee Lauren Sanchez teamed up with US fashion label Monse to design the spacesuits
4 mins
Henry Thia Offers Reward for Return of Lost Sun Parakeet
Henry Thia is still holding on to hope that his lost bird will return to him.
2 mins
Nat Ho scores songwriting contract with Warner Music Korea
Former actor and singer-songwriter Nat Ho has achieved a new milestone in his music career.
2 mins
Michelle Trachtenberg Died From Complications of Diabetes
American actress Michelle Trachtenberg, who was found dead in a Manhattan apartment in February, died from complications of diabetes, the New York City medical examiner's office said on April 16.
1 min
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
