TODAY’s brief, Tuesday, April 12

Committee of Supply debates to continue

After kicking things off on Monday with speeches putting the spotlight on safety protocols and train reliability issues, the Ministry of Transport Committee of Supply debate is set to continue on Tuesday. Also scheduled to be debated are the budgets and plans of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources and the Ministry of Social and Family Development.


Malaysia to conduct cloud-seeding exercises

Malaysia is expected to conduct cloud-seeding exercises at its northern states of Kedah, Penang and Perlis on Tuesday following a punishing heatwave which has forced schools to close temporarily. Schools in two districts in Pahang — Jerantut and Temerloh — remained closed on Tuesday for a second consecutive day. The sweltering heat in Malaysia has reportedly slowed vegetable production, leading to price hikes.

United States-China relations to strain further over US Navy officer case

United States-China relations are expected to experience further stress on Tuesday after a US Navy officer with access to sensitive US intelligence was charged with providing classified information to Beijing. Ties between the world’s two largest economies have been strained recently over issues such as China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

Weather forecast

Thundery showers are expected mainly over southern, western and central Singapore in the pre-dawn hours and early morning. Temperatures are expected to range from 24° C to 33° C.