AI for manufacturing: Temasek-led funding lifts London startup PhysicsX to a US$2.4bn valuation, as it sells AI tools that help manufacturers design and optimise hardware. Water & industrial resilience: Singapore International Water Week 2026 returns with a focus on municipal water, coastal and flood resilience, and industrial water solutions amid rising climate and data-centre demand. Shipping & logistics pressure: Container freight rates jump as Middle East disruptions and seasonal demand collide, while a Batam-area incident highlights ongoing operational risks in the region’s sea lanes. Maritime tech: Clear Robotics secures US$1.75m to scale a fleet of zero-emission autonomous ships, expanding into Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Finance & payments: FXC’s Cross-Border Payments 100 shows Singapore leading APAC with six honourees, underscoring the city-state’s role in cross-border payments growth. Wealth products: OCBC and Bank of Singapore move into physical gold bar trading and storage for wealthy clients, responding to demand for local bullion custody. Policy & economy watch: Bloomberg survey points to softer Singapore growth in 2026 and higher inflation expectations, with Middle East-linked supply disruptions a key risk. Legal/brand: A Singapore trademark ruling reiterates that “bad faith” claims need more than speculation, and credible explanations can matter once a prima facie case is raised. Food security data: BNOW pushes an AI livestock platform using ingestible biosensing to improve cattle health monitoring and supply chain visibility for import-dependent markets like Singapore.