Singapore

Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security was speaking in the wake of the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, an influential ally of US President Donald Trump. There are worrying trends of politicians in Singapore playing identity politics based on race and religion, said Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Friday (Sep 12). He was speaking on the sidelines of a charity event at Laguna National Golf Resort Club, where reporters asked him about the murder of US right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. The Coordinating Minister for National Security said that identity politics, such as asking for votes based on a specific identity such as skin colour or religion, was a “basic fundamental of politics”. “We have seen that, and in every country there is political profit in d

On regional and international issues, the two sides stressed the importance of multilateralism, equality, and balanced interests among nations as prerequisites for peace and stability. Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyễn Mạnh Cường and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Albert Chua co-chaired the 17th Việt Nam–Singapore Political Consultation in Hà Nội on Tuesday. During the event, Cường underlined the significance of the consultation mechanism, noting that this year’s meeting came as the two countries celebrate major anniversaries – Singapore’s 60th National Day, and Việt Nam's 80th August Revolution and National Day (September 2). The two sides reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation and discussed ways to implement agreements in key areas reac

On the 60th anniversary of Singapore’s independence, archival accounts and historian insights shed light on the tense, covert negotiations that led to the “bloodless coup” of 9 August 1965, ending a two-year union with Malaysia. On the morning of 9 August 1965, Singaporeans woke to news that would change their history. At 9.30am, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman told Parliament that Singapore was leaving the Federation of Malaysia. Barely three hours later, in Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew appeared on television. His voice broke, his eyes brimmed with tears, and he called it “a moment of anguish” — the end of the merger he had fought for just two years earlier. For decades, the story would be told as a sudden expulsion. Yet, arc

In a Facebook post, Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Cao Zhongming shared a photo of his 7 August meeting with Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam, noting in-depth exchanges on bilateral ties and security. Shanmugam had earlier flagged UNC3886 as a cyber threat but declined to name any country, even when the entity was linked to China earlier. SINGAPORE: On 7 August 2025, Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Cao Zhongming met with Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, as revealed in a Facebook post by the ambassador. The meeting appeared to take place at the Ministry of Home Affairs office, where the two officials engaged in what Cao described as “in-depth exchanges” on bila

Singapore’s High Court has cleared activist and SDP candidate Ariffin Sha to join the Bar despite objections over his past criminal defamation conviction. Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon ruled he is a fit and proper person, citing his accountability and lack of dishonest intent. The High Court has ruled that Mr Ariffin Iskandar Sha bin Ali Akbar, better known as Ariffin Sha, may be admitted to the Singapore Bar despite objections from some stakeholders over a past criminal conviction. Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon decided on 1 July 2025 that Mr Ariffin was a fit and proper person for admission and that no deferment was necessary. The ruling follows Mr Ariffin’s conviction on 26 August 2024 for criminal defamation under section 500 of the Penal Code. He was fined S$

In a radio interview, the Workers’ Party chief argues that MPs are serious about issues and not debating for political effect Singapore’s parliamentary debates may lack the fireworks seen in other legislatures, but that reflects the city state’s pragmatic culture, according to opposition leader Pritam Singh. In his first-ever radio interview, the Workers’ Party (WP) chief said the tone of debate mirrored the national character – serious, results-oriented and not prone to theatrics. “When you come in from that perspective, you’re really not there to throw things around, but you want to see certain outcomes,” Singh said on Monday during an appearance on Kiss92’s morning show. “Like society, we’re all quite pragmatic, so we want the thing to work … and part of making the thin

"Singapore Airlines have been a great partner. Since we took over, they have helped us in many dimensions. Even some of the safety procedures and best practices, we have taken from Singapore Airlines," Chandrasekaran said in an exclusive interview with Group Editor-in-Chief of Times Now and Times Now Navbharat, Navika Kumar. Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran, in an exclusive interview with Times Now, addressed recent political comments about Singapore Airlines and Air India’s response following the AI-171 crash. "Singapore Airlines have been a great partner. Since we took over, they have helped us in many dimensions. Even some of the safety procedures and best practices, we have taken from Singapore Airlines," Chandrasekaran said in an exclusive interview with Group

In 1965, few gave Singapore a chance. Thrust into sudden independence, devoid of natural resources, rocked by communal tensions and political isolation, the island city-state seemed destined to fail. Yet by the 1990s, Singapore had transformed into one of the most dynamic and prosperous economies in the world. At the helm of this improbable rise was Lee Kuan Yew. His leadership combined bold vision, ruthless pragmatism, and an uncompromising commitment to long-term national development. His immediate assurance to his people was to build a Singapore that would be recognisable and identifiable. But beyond charisma and control, Singapore's rise offers a more replicable asset for a country like Bangladesh today: an economics-driven blueprint for navigating uncertainty and achieving pro...

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was caught disparaging Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang during a call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra held make-up talks on Friday (Jun 20) with an army commander she criticised in a leaked phone call as she struggled to defuse a crisis threatening to topple her government. The daughter of controversial billionaire ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and in office for less than a year, Paetongtarn is facing calls to quit or announce an election as anger flares over the call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. Her main coalition partner, the conservative Bhumjaithai party, pulled out on Wednesday, saying she had insulted the country and the

US President Donald Trump’s return to power has begun to reshape global politics once again—but not always in ways that favour his ideological allies. In recent national and regional elections across Canada, Australia, Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, Trump’s aggressive policy shifts have become a defining, and often divisive, backdrop for voters and political leaders alike, the New York Times reported. Canada and Australia: Anti-Trump messaging helps centrists win In both Canada and Australia, centre-left incumbents defied predictions and secured electoral victories that, just months earlier, had seemed unlikely. What united these otherwise distinct political contests was a growing backlash against conservative leaders seen as too closely aligned with Trump-style populis