Sunday, 20 Jul 2025

Asia

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Singapore and South Korea to co-host 18-country maritime security exercise

SINGAPORE – Singapore and South Korea have jointly organised a maritime security field training exercise that is due to begin on Tuesday (April 30). The exercise is part of efforts to strengthen cooperation within the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), which comprises the 10 Asean countries as well as Australia, China, Japan, India, South Korea, […]

May is for maids as Helper Appreciation Month is launched

SINGAPORE – Throughout next month, domestic helpers here will be able to enjoy activities and services specially organised to thank them for their contributions. Helper Appreciation Month is a new initiative organised by parenting website Sassy Mama Singapore – extending its previous one-day event to a full month to raise awareness of maids’ working conditions, […]

Running out of children, a South Korea school enrols illiterate grandmothers

GANGJIN COUNTY, SOUTH KOREA (NYTIMES) – Every morning on her way to school, first-grader Hwang Wol-geum rides the same yellow bus as three of her family members: One is a kindergartener, another a third grader, and the other a fifth grader. However, Hwang is 70 – and her schoolmates are her grandchildren. Illiterate all her […]

PM Lee Hsien Loong and Djibouti president discuss potential cooperation

BEIJING – Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met President of the Republic of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh on Sunday (April 28) on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. Both leaders reaffirmed the friendly ties between the two countries and discussed potential cooperation in urban development, port and maritime development, logistics […]

Top stories from The Straits Times on Sunday, April 28

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, April 28. Where are the patients? Three years after it opened, Farrer Park hospital is half-empty Singapore’s first “mediplex” is opening in phases to keep costs low, in view of fewer medical tourists. READ MORE HERE Monica Baey and NUS case: A generational shift in values […]

Knives found at Japan prince’s desk

Police in Japan have launched an investigation after two knives were found near the school desk of Emperor Akihito’s 12-year-old grandson, local media report. The knives were discovered on Friday in a classroom at a junior high school attended by Prince Hisahito. Police are probing CCTV footage of a man trespassing on the school grounds. […]

China's President Xi touts more than US$64 billion in Belt and Road deals

BEIJING (REUTERS) – President Xi Jinping on Saturday (April 27) hailed deals worth more than US$64 billion (S$87 billion) signed during China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) this week as he sought to reassure sceptics the project will deliver sustainable growth for all involved. Xi said market principles will apply in all Belt and Road […]

Singapore's first life skills centre for young adults with Down syndrome opens

SINGAPORE – The first life skills facility for young adults with Down syndrome opened on Saturday (April 27) . The Independent Living and Training Centre being run by the Down Syndrome Association (Singapore) will provide training for young adults to practise and apply skills for everyday living so they may be more independent. Down syndrome […]