Daily Debrief: What Happened Today (Mar 12)

Stories you might have missed

Singapore, Vietnam upgrade ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

[SINGAPORE] Singapore has upgraded its bilateral relations with Vietnam to the highest tier of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) on Wednesday (Mar 12), marking the first such tie between the city-state and an Asean member state.

CPF Special, MediSave and Retirement Accounts’ interest rate remains at 4% for Q2 2025

[SINGAPORE] Central Provident Fund (CPF) members will earn an interest of 4 per cent per annum for their Special, MediSave and Retirement Accounts (SMRA) in the second quarter of 2025, the same as the first quarter.

Chocolate Finance slaps limits on card transactions; says ‘no set timeline’ for instant withdrawal resumption

[SINGAPORE] Wealth investment firm Chocolate Finance has temporarily implemented a S$250 per transaction spending limit on its debit card, it said in an e-mail update to customers on Tuesday evening (Mar 11). The company added that this is to help manage its liquidity “programme”.

Asean’s Digital Economy Framework Agreement will ensure no SMEs, MSMEs left behind, says Malaysian minister

[KUALA LUMPUR] The efforts by South-east Asia to enhance trade and digital integration will ensure that more than 70 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-SMEs (MSMEs) are not left out, Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said on Tuesday (Mar 11).

At the heart of a cross-border extradition case is Indonesia’s most wanted man. Who is Paulus Tannos?

[SINGAPORE] Businessman turned fugitive Paulus Tannos, also known as Tjhin Thian Po, recently made news for his alleged involvement in a multitrillion rupiah corruption case – said to be one of Indonesia’s largest scandals in recent history.

Singapore shares up as regional markets end mixed; STI up 0.2%

[SINGAPORE] Shares on the Singapore bourse ended higher on Wednesday (Mar 12) amid mixed performance in the region.