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HONG KONG • A British consulate employee detained in China has returned to Hong Kong, his family said, ending a two-week ordeal during which Beijing’s state media smeared him with lurid allegations. Mr Simon Cheng disappeared after visiting the neighbouring city of Shenzhen on Aug 8 and was placed in administrative detention by the police, […]

BIARRITZ • Efforts to salvage consensus among the Group of Seven rich democracies frayed yesterday in the face of US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable America-first approach even before the official start of the summit in southern France. European Council President Donald Tusk said the three-day summit in the seaside resort of Biarritz would be “a […]

Among the various challenges facing Singapore, the ongoing US-China trade war was foremost on the minds of many participants at a public forum held yesterday. But it is no longer just a trade row, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, who chaired the session, and there are many competing interests between the two […]

US President Donald Trump has escalated the trade war with China as he declared higher retaliatory tariffs on virtually all Chinese imports while demanding that American companies exit China. His move on Friday dimmed hopes that the protracted conflict would end soon, as he arrived in France for the G-7 summit of world leaders. China […]

In two years’ time, a revised mother tongue curriculum that aims to boost national identity will be launched in secondary schools. In the same year, primary school pupils who find learning their mother tongues challenging will receive more support in the subject, following a successful pilot scheme, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung said yesterday at […]

Violence erupted during anti-government protests in Hong Kong yesterday as protesters and riot police exchanged Molotov cocktails and tear gas, after a week of relative calm. Amid concerns that the authorities could potentially use technology to identify them, protesters were even seen using an electric saw to fell a “smart” lamp-post equipped with surveillance cameras, […]

An 18-month-old toddler died in hospital on Friday after a standalone full-length mirror fell on her inside fashion store Urban Revivo at Jewel Changi Airport. Staff at the store administered first aid to the child while waiting for the paramedics to arrive. A spokesman for Jewel Changi Airport confirmed the incident. “We are working closely […]

From claims of terrorist plots in Orchard Road to eyewitness accounts of an attempt to kidnap a child in Jurong Point, social media has made it convenient for rumours to spread widely and quickly. The latest involves a photo of an unidentified youth with a gaping wound on his chin. The first few messages shared […]

Embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s plea yesterday for a chance to talk failed to move anti-government protesters, who again clashed with riot police in eastern Kowloon as demonstrations in the city entered the 12th straight weekend. After a brief respite the previous weekend when demonstrations were peaceful, a group of hardcore protesters yesterday clashed […]

Riot police fired tear gas and demonstrators hurled rocks and bottles in street battles yesterday in the New Territories town of Yuen Long, in the latest violent protest in Hong Kong. More unrest is feared today with another protest planned in Central on Hong Kong Island. Thousands of black-clad activists, many wearing face masks and […]

Since June 9, Hong Kong’s embattled police force has been tested to the hilt, caught between a hostile public and the city’s pro-Beijing government. Protests that started out peacefully have escalated into heated confrontations that stretched late into the night, and violent clashes have grown in scale with each march. Please subscribe or log in […]

Do not tell Joseph Schooling that he does not belong among the best in the world. Even after enduring his worst outing at last week’s Fina World Championships, where the Singaporean swimmer returned home empty-handed for the first time since his debut at the 2013 edition in Barcelona, Schooling does not believe that. Please subscribe […]

GWANGJU • Two South Koreans were killed and several athletes competing in the swimming world championships were injured early yesterday when a balcony collapsed inside a nightclub in Gwangju, according to local media. The authorities suspect the balcony inside the nightclub, which is located near the athletes’ village, may have collapsed due to too much […]

By October, more people here will qualify for healthcare subsidies, and many of those who are already entitled to pay less will get additional help to offset their medical expenses. At least 365,000 Singapore residents will enjoy more healthcare subsidies after the Health Ministry’s revision of income eligibility criteria for various schemes, ranging from basic […]

Black-clad protesters fought street battles with riot police in Hong Kong yesterday during a protest in retaliation for an attack by suspected triad gangs on activists and commuters last Sunday. Defying a police ban, thousands of protesters gathered near Yuen Long MTR station in the New Territories where last week’s attack occurred. Some protesters set […]

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump has taken aim at rich countries, including China and Singapore, that he said are unfairly taking advantage of their self-declared status as “developing countries” to gain preferential treatment in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). In response, Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said yesterday that it does not […]

The People’s Action Party takes governance and governing Singapore very seriously and has always worked hard to improve the lives of Singaporeans, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday as he rebutted the assertion by Progress Singapore Party (PSP) leader Tan Cheng Bock that the ruling party had lost its way. “We fundamentally disagree […]

Although faith in meritocracy is weakening, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung says the ideology will remain a key principle for recognising individuals in Singapore. Speaking at the Raffles Institution’s (RI) 196th Founder’s Day ceremony yesterday, Mr Ong stressed that though meritocracy is “under siege”, it has not failed. In the last few years, meritocracy in […]

Singapore’s fourth-generation political leaders are focused not just on helping Singaporeans overcome the current economic challenges, but on strengthening the foundation for the economy in the next five to 10 years, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing. “The world is changing very fast. Technology is changing, supply chains are being reorganised, and we […]

RIYADH • Saudi Arabia’s King Salman approved hosting US forces in the country to boost regional security and stability, the state news agency SPA reported on Friday. The US Defence Department confirmed the move in a statement, saying it would deploy troops and resources to Saudi Arabia to “provide an additional deterrent” in the face […]

The sea was calm in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s constituency of Port Dickson but his Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was in stormy waters ahead of its weekend leadership retreat in the beach resort town. The party has been in turmoil since viral videos allegedly of deputy party president Azmin Ali involved in gay sex were […]

PETALING JAYA • While the rift between the two top leaders of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) continues to dominate headlines, many Malaysians are generally fed up with the whole affair. They have taken to social media to voice their disappointment at the endless politicking between Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and […]

SERDANG (Selangor) • Malaysian leaders should fight to improve the lot of voters and not for their personal interest or high positions, said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad yesterday. “We do not fight for our own interests, but we fight for race, religion and the country, so when we succeed, we will be looked upon highly […]

Half of Singapore’s 10 largest charities by donations collected have business subsidiaries, a practice which has drawn a reminder from the charities watchdog that charities should keep the relationships at arm’s length. A check by The Sunday Times found these charities with business subsidiaries to be the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University […]

Singapore’s full-year economic forecast could be cut again in view of the weak performance in the second quarter and strong headwinds in the global economy, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has told The Sunday Times. The forecast stands at between 1.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent, and may be downgraded further. Please […]

TEHERAN • The British government is stepping up pressure on Iran to release a British oil tanker seized in the Strait of Hormuz, an incident that sent tension soaring in one of the world’s critical energy choke points. The United Kingdom has demanded the immediate release of the Stena Impero and yesterday summoned Iran’s charge […]

Even as former Russian beauty queen Oksana Voevodina insists she remains married to the Sultan of Kelantan, his Singapore lawyer has confirmed the split. Lawyer Koh Tien Hua told The Sunday Times that Sultan Muhammad V had divorced her last month by three talaqs in the presence of two competent Muslim witnesses. The traditional Islamic […]

Hong Kong actor Simon Yam is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery following a brazen stabbing incident yesterday during a promotional event in the southern Chinese city of Zhongshan. According to his management company, he suffered minor damage to his internal organs and four fingers on his right hand but is now in a stable […]

TEHERAN • Iran has taken a British-flagged oil tanker seized in the Strait of Hormuz to a nearby port, Iran’s Fars news agency said yesterday, as Britain’s Foreign Secretary voiced “extreme disappointment” at Teheran’s behaviour. In a tweet, Mr Jeremy Hunt said he had spoken to his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif “and expressed extreme disappointment […]