TODAY’s brief, Wednesday, April 6

Budget debate ends

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat will round up three days of budget debate on Wednesday before Parliament moves on to hear the plans that each ministry has for the coming year in what is called the Committee of Supply. In all, 483 “cuts” have been filed by Members of Parliament — a call for a nominal S$100 reduction in a ministry’s budget, allowing them to raise questions, feedback or suggestions over its programmes — with the Ministry of Health garnering the highest (49), followed by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (45) and Ministry of National Development. The first three ministries slated to announce its plans are Home Affairs, Law and Foreign Affairs.

COE bidding exercise

The first COE bidding exercise for this month ends at 4pm on Wednesday. Price movements were flat for the last exercise on March 23. Closing prices then: Cat A S$45,504; Cat B S$46,502; Cat C S$46,502; Cat D S$6,589; Cat E S$46,667.

TRS case continues

Alleged former editor of The Real Singapore Yang Kaiheng is expected to mount his defence against seven sedition charges starting Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors have produced evidence that sought to prove its case that Yang, 27, was involved in the running of the now-defunct sociopolitical site despite his denials, such as the use of Singlish in Skype chats using an account he shares with his Australian wife of Japanese descent, as well as his entry form for a start-up competition with an unrelated business idea.

Chinese foreign minister in Myanmar

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi wraps up his two-day trip to Myanmar on Wednesday, as relations with Beijing becomes foreign policy priority for Ms Aung San Suu Kyi’s newly installed pro-democracy government. China, which had helped shield Myanmar’s former junta from international backlash, is by far the country’s largest foreign investor, despite reforms in recent years that have seen Western firms surge back into the long-cloistered nation.

Trial for murder of Kevin Morais commences

The trial of seven men, including a doctor, charged with murdering and abetting in the murder of Malaysia’s deputy public prosecutor Anthony Kevin Morais will begin on Wednesday. Morais handled many high profile cases including ones in which the doctor was charged with bribery and unlawful trade while being a civil servant. The prosecution will be calling 60 witnesses over 16 days of hearing until June 28.

Weather forecast

Thundery showers are expected over northern and western Singapore in the afternoon, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 34°C.