Australia presents Budget

Australia will present its federal Budget today amid increased scrutiny as it doubles as an unofficial launch of the election on July 2. The Turnbull government is keen to show voters that it can be trusted to manage the economy and balance public finances after years of deficits, and Treasurer Scott Morrison is expected to announce a A$5 billion (S$5.1 billion) fund for major public transport projects.

$1.2m drive to train marine engineers

A $1.2 million Tripartite Engineering Training Award Programme will be launched today to train more Singaporeans to be marine engineers on board commercial ships. The programme, to be unveiled by Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say at the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability (e2i), hopes to address the acute shortage of marine engineers faced by the maritime industry.

Heng in Germany for meetings

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat is on a three-day visit to Frankfurt, Germany, starting today to attend the 19th Asean+3 finance ministers' and central bank governors' meeting and the 49th annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank.The first meeting will discuss the global and regional macroeconomic outlook as well as ways to continue strengthening regional financial cooperation among Asean+3 member countries.