ASEAN-Russia Diplomacy: PM Lawrence Wong will attend the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan on June 17-18, with talks expected to cover energy, connectivity, education and culture, and a separate expected meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Philippines-Russia Ties: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will meet Putin for the first time on the sidelines of the same summit, aiming to deepen cooperation on energy and food security amid the Middle East crisis. Water Security Push: Singapore will commit nearly $100m to R&D for urban and industrial water solutions at Singapore International Water Week, alongside plans for a new water treatment research facility in 2027 and the Tengah Service Reservoir. PUB Desalination Study: PUB has appointed Jacobs to assess feasibility of a potential dual-mode desalination plant, including options that better fit Singapore’s space constraints. AI Research Grants: Imperial Global Singapore will co-lead two NRF-funded programmes worth nearly S$20m to use AI for chemistry discovery and software reliability. Local Business Tech: AI Account Pte Ltd says it is helping SMEs prepare for the phased GST InvoiceNow rollout, which runs from 2028 to 2031. Global Finance/Gold: DBS plans Singapore’s first retail-ready tokenised physical gold offering via One Digital, as Singapore moves to strengthen gold market infrastructure. Crypto-Heat Reuse: Canaan will supply Bitcoin mining hardware to a Nordic district heating network, using mining heat to warm homes. Solar Industry Watch: Wood Mackenzie’s 2026 solar PV module ranking puts China’s Longi at No. 1, while Singapore-based Elite Solar ranks eighth amid trade barriers.