February 18, 2026 – Singapore Headlines

1About 23,000 community care sector employees could get at least 7% pay raise as part of new salary guidelines

Story gist: New salary guidelines propose at least a 7% pay raise for about 23,000 community care sector employees.
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No major left-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Center
About 23,000 community care sector employees could get at least 7% pay raise as part of new salary guidelines
— CNA
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Right
No major right-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provide no coverage, omitting the story and its implications for workers or public spending. Center outlet CNA reports neutrally, using the official announcement headline verbatim with factual tone and no added emphasis on benefits, costs, or policy context.

2Beware excessive ‘fire energy’ in Year of the Horse: Hong Kong feng shui masters

Story gist: Hong Kong feng shui masters warn of excessive ‘fire energy’ in the 2026 Year of the Fire Horse. They provide Chinese zodiac predictions ahead of Lunar New Year.
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Chinese zodiac predictions: What’s in store for 2026 as we enter the Year of the Fire Horse
— CNN
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Center
Lunar New Year 2026 live: Year of the Fire Horse
— BBC
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Right
No major right-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Bias summary: Left-leaning CNN frames the story with curiosity as ‘zodiac predictions: What’s in store for 2026,’ emphasizing forecasts and intrigue. Center BBC presents neutral live coverage of ‘Lunar New Year 2026: Year of the Fire Horse,’ focusing on the event. Right-leaning outlets offer no coverage, absenting skeptical views on feng shui or cultural superstitions.

3$15.1b budget surplus reflects uncertain economy, cyclical windfalls: Economists

Story gist: Economists attributed a $15.1 billion budget surplus to an uncertain economy and cyclical windfalls. The analysis appeared in The Straits Times.
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No major left-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Center
$15.1b budget surplus reflects uncertain economy, cyclical windfalls: Economists
— The Straits Times
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Right
No major right-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Bias summary: Only center-leaning The Straits Times covered the story, framing the surplus neutrally as temporary and tied to economic uncertainty per economists. Left-leaning outlets omitted it, absent any emphasis on progressive spending or inequality angles. Right-leaning outlets also missing, forgoing focus on fiscal prudence, tax relief, or government competence. Coverage limited to centrist perspective.

4Singapore weather: Thundery showers in second half of February

Story gist: Singapore’s weather authority forecasts thundery showers in the second half of February. More thundery showers are expected in the early fortnight, per weather.gov.sg.
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No major left-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Center
More Thundery Showers Expected in the Early Fortnight
— weather.gov.sg
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Right
No major right-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets offer no coverage, leaving their perspectives absent and unrepresented. Center source weather.gov.sg frames the story neutrally with factual forecast language, emphasizing expected thundery showers without tone variation, drama, or omissions of key details. Lack of partisan outlets results in uniform, official meteorological reporting.