Tag: Singapore

South Korea, Singapore aim to become strategic partners next year

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -South Korea and Singapore have agreed to embark on a strategic partnership next year, marking the 50th anniversary of their establishment of diplomatic relations, the city state’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Tuesday. The two nations signed an extradition treaty and will look to deepen co-operation in fields such as artificial intelligence, defence and climate change, as well as upgrade their free trade pact. “The upgrade is not just a change in […]

Intrigue in Singapore as ex-minister prepares for rare corruption trial

By Xinghui Kok SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The highly anticipated corruption trial of Singapore’s former transport minister is due to start on Tuesday, in a rare graft case involving a state official in an Asian financial hub that prides itself on a clean governance. S. Iswaran faces 35 charges in a case that has gripped Singapore, a wealthy city-state where allegations of graft and political scandal are almost unheard of. Iswaran, 62, has rejected the allegations. […]

Singapore plans law to restrict banking transactions of scam targets

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore’s home ministry said on Friday that it will introduce a law in coming months to grant police the power to temporarily restrict the banking transactions of targets of scams who refuse to believe they are being duped. The proposed law comes as the number of scam cases involving the voluntary transfer of money by the victim to the scammer remains high, despite measures and efforts to educate the public on how […]

Malaysia beaches hit by Singapore oil spill

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – An oil spill off Singapore has spread to beaches in southern Malaysia, a government official said Friday, with clean-up operations underway. Around 25 people were involved in the clean-up of two beaches spanning one kilometre (0.6 miles) in southern Johor state, local government official Ling Tian Soon told AFP. “Work began today and we hope to complete the task tomorrow. From our observation, marine life or fishermen activities have not been […]

Oil spill forces beach closure on Singapore’s Sentosa island

SINGAPORE, June 15, 2024 (AFP) – Beaches on Singapore’s top resort island of Sentosa, which also house luxury waterfront homes, were shuttered on Saturday due to an oil spill at a nearby port, maritime authorities said. The oil spill resulted from an accident on Friday at the Pasir Panjang terminal between a Netherlands-flagged dredger and a stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said. Waters of three popular beaches on the island […]

Zelensky says China working hard to ‘prevent’ countries from attending peace summit

By Jing Xuan Teng and Martin Abbugao SINGAPORE, June 2, 2024 (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused China on Sunday of working hard to stop countries from going to a peace summit, which Beijing has publicly criticised because Russia is not invited. Zelensky made the remarks at a security forum in Singapore as he sought to rally support for the conference and appealed for more military aid for Ukraine, which has been ceding ground […]

China defence chief says Beijing ready to ‘forcefully’ stop Taiwan independence

By Jing Xuan TENG SINGAPORE, June 2, 2024 (AFP) – Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun warned Sunday his military is ready to “forcefully” stop Taiwan independence but called for greater exchanges with the United States. The remarks at an annual security forum in Singapore followed the first substantive face-to-face talks in 18 months between the two countries’ defence chiefs. “We have always been open to exchanges and cooperation, but this requires both sides to meet […]

China defence minister warns of ‘limits’ to Beijing’s restraint on South China Sea

SINGAPORE, June 2, 2024 (AFP) – China’s defence minister warned Sunday of “limits” to Beijing’s restraint on the South China Sea and over the deployment of ballistic missiles in the Asia-Pacific region. Dong’s remarks at a security forum in Singapore were a clear reference to the Philippines and the United States, which have been boosting defence ties in the face of China’s growing military might and influence. “China has maintained sufficient restraint in the face […]

Zelensky arrives at Singapore security forum

By Jing Xuan Teng and Satish Cheney SINGAPORE, June 1, 2024 (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at a Singapore security forum on Saturday as he seeks to rally support for Kyiv while a Russian offensive gains ground. Zelensky got out of a white Audi sedan in front of the luxury hotel hosting the Shangri-La Dialogue and walked quickly into the lobby, which was crowded with defence officials from around the world, journalists and […]

Austin says US ‘can be secure only if Asia is’

SINGAPORE, June 1, 2024 (AFP) – US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday the Indo-Pacific region remained a “priority” for Washington, saying the United States was secure “only if Asia is”. Lloyd made the remarks at a major security forum in Singapore, a day after he met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun. “The United States can be secure only if Asia is and that’s why the United States has long maintained its presence in […]

Philippines’ Marcos says US presence crucial to regional peace

By Satish Cheney and Martin Abbugao SINGAPORE, May 31, 2024 (AFP) – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Friday that the presence of the United States was “crucial to regional peace”, as the Southeast Asian country faces growing Chinese pressure in waters off its coastline. Marcos has sought to deepen defence cooperation with the United States as he stands up to Chinese actions in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely. “China’s determining influence […]