
Fringe Party Vows to Put ‘Japan First' to Chip Away at LDP Rule
The party, Sanseito, is gaining traction in the polls and is focused on peeling away current LDP voters in the upper house election on July 20. Led by Sohei Kamiya, a former high school teacher, it advocates for restrictions on immigration as well as laws against foreigners buying Japanese companies or land. Sanseito promises to cut taxes, protect rice farmers, boost the country's birth rate and curb the use of pesticides.

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Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Albo fires back on China trip claim
Anthony Albanese has hit back against the Coalition's criticism of his 'indulgent' trip to China, accusing them of 'constant negativity' and a failure to acknowledge the importance of Australia's 'most important trading partner'. Liberal frontbencher James Paterson earlier said the Prime Minister's six-day trip was 'starting to look a little bit indulgent,' which he described as 'a Gough Whitlam history tour on the Great Wall of China' and questioned whether 'a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas, and whether a hit of tennis is strictly necessary'. 'I hope it's not for the Prime Minister's personal enjoyment,' Senator Paterson told Sky News on Thursday. 'I mean, the appropriate time to do a nostalgic history tour of Labor Party mythology is after you retire, in your own time, at your own expense, not on the taxpayer dime.' Sussan Ley also said she was 'disappointed' Mr Albanese 'didn't get the assurances that he should' about circumnavigation of Chinese navy warships in Australia, or the live firing exercises which were done without advanced notice. Asked for his response to the comment during a press conference in the city of Chengdu, Mr Albanese rejected the claims. 'I think the opposition have got some issues they need to sort out within themselves, including over the relationship with China,' he told reporters. He said China was Australia's 'most important trading partner', with one in four Australian jobs dependent on the relationship, and reiterated the importance of a stable relationship. 'They've just had an election result because in part, they themselves have characterised it as their constant negativity' and said the trip had been 'very successful'. 'They need to stop looking for reasons to say they're against and decide what they're for.' Mr Albanese also described Chinese President Xi Jinping as 'warm and engaging' and said China was a 'confident,' 'creative' and 'dynamic' country. Mr Albanese said he wanted to see Australia and China establish a 'stronger relationship' with 'more agreement and less disagreement' over the next three years, while acknowledging the two countries had different political systems, cultures and values. 'We have different values. So we understand that,' he said. 'What I'd like to see is to be able to talk about those issues regularly, get as much agreement as possible, but understanding of where our nations are coming from, out of understanding, can come greater co-operation.' Speaking after the press conference, Coalition education spokesman Jonno Duniam said while it was important to show 'deference to your host,' he questioned the value of the trip. 'We have our prime minister there on a multi-day trip, a range of high-level meetings with very little in the way of outcomes that can be perceived back here home in Australia,' he told Sky News. 'At the same time, we've got drills occurring in Taipei for potential and perhaps eventual invasion by Chinese forces of Taiwan's territory there. 'There's a lot of water to go under the bridge, but I'm failing to see the benefits of what you've don, or what will come from this visit.'
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ho Ching takes veiled swipe at Jamus Lim in FB post; Jail for van driver who tragically hit and killed his 2-year-old daughter: Singapore live news
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong's recent social media exchange with opposition MP Jamus Lim on Singapore's certificate of entitlement (COE) scheme made headlines locally. And now SM Lee's wife Ho Ching appears to have entered the debate. She did not name Lim specifically in her Facebook post on 17 July but warned her followers to "beware of Hep A virus in raw or uncooked cockles" which has been seen as a reference to Lim. A father has been jailed after the delivery van he drove – without a licence – fatally ran over his two-year-old daughter in a Woodlands carpark in March 2023. He was sentenced to 12 weeks' jail and banned from driving for three years on Wednesday (16 July). Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates: Ho Ching takes veiled swipe at Jamus Lim in FB post? Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong's wife Ho Ching has warned her Facebook followers to "beware of Hep A virus in raw or uncooked cockles" in a post which has been seen as a veiled swipe at Workers' Party MP Jamus Lim, who was not named specifically. The comment was in a FB post which was directed at a male individual who – in her words – posted "some virtue signals on social media" instead of expressing opinion in a "roomful of economists, practitioners, investors and academic leaders, as well as younger professionals and academicians." She added: "Maybe he was afraid to lose his credibility among the thinking people - academicians who test their ideas with knowledgeable peers through publications, investors and business leaders who live with the consequences of their decisions, or political leaders who have to balance the diverse needs of a population against the constraints of resources whether land or money?" The FB post follows a social media exchange between SM Lee and WP's Lim about the former Prime Minister's comments on the certificate of entitlement (COE) scheme during a dialogue at the Economic Society of Singapore's (ESS) annual dinner on 15 July. The "cockles" reference at the end of Ho's post is likely in relation to Lim's famous remarks following WP's stunning win of Sengkang GRC at GE2020 where he said the victory "warms the cockles of our hearts". Jail for van driver who tragically hit and killed his 2-year-old daughter A man who tragically hit and killed his two-year-old daughter while driving a delivery van without a licence has been jailed. He was sentenced to 12 weeks' jail and banned from driving for three years on Wednesday (16 July). On the day of the fatal accident (13 March 2023), his wife was initially driving the rented delivery van – with the man, their son and daughter in the vehicle – to the Woodlands Street 32 area to deliver parcels. After the couple made some deliveries, the man asked to drive the van to several other blocks to clear the remaining deliveries quickly so the family could have lunch. When the man drove off, the van was too close to the side of the road and it made contact with the foot of his wife as well as the stroller resulting in his daughter being run over. The couple cannot be named to protect the identity of their surviving child. The man was on the run for an unlicensed moneylending offence at the time of the accident and previously fined for unlicensed driving. You can read more of the events in court in the link. Police probe 15 people for sharing Singpass credentials used in scams Police are investigating 15 people for sharing their Singpass credentials, which were later used in scams where victims lost over $890,000 in total. Authorities alleged that some people sold their Singpass credentials – these were later used to open new bank accounts and register for new mobile phone lines. Others appeared to have given parties access to their Singpass accounts without verifying their identities. And some people also shared their Singpass information after being deceived by scammers. Among the 15 under probe, police said five men and one woman were arrested. Disclosing your Singpass credentials to facilitate an offence is a crime, and those found guilty face a jail term of up to three years, a fine, or both. Fire destroys main stage at Belgium's Tomorrowland festival ahead of opening The main stage at Belgium's world-famous Tomorrowland electronic music festival has been destroyed by a huge fire. Footage of the fire showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the main stage on Wednesday (16 July). Festival organisers confirmed that no one was injured during the incident. Tomorrowland is a major dance music event with David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia and Eric Prydz among the big names scheduled to perform this year. The annual festival attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends. The event was set to open this weekend and organisers have said their DreamVille campsite will go ahead as planned on Thursday (17 July). Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen was quoted as saying by CNN that a lot of workers were devastated to see the main stage destroyed given that it took years to build. "We're going to make it a great festival. It will be without a main stage. But hopefully, we can do something else, but I can't say much about that yet." Less rain, more warm days forecast for second half of July Singapore can expect less rain and more warm days the rest of July, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS). "More warm days are expected in the second half of July 2025, as compared to the first half of the month, with daily maximum temperatures reaching slightly above 34°C on some days," said MSS. While the skies will be mostly fair, MSS forecasts short-duration thundery showers in the late mornings and afternoons. Sumatra squalls may also result in gusty winds before dawn on one or two days. More on what to expect from the weather for 16-31 July, here. SM Lee, WP's Jamus Lim exchange differing views on COE Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Workers' Party (WP) MP Jamus Lim recently exchanged views on Singapore's certificate of entitlement (COE) scheme for car ownership. The hot topic of COE came up during a dialogue at the Economic Society of Singapore's (ESS) annual dinner on 15 July. ESS president Euston Quah had asked SM Lee about calls to let some groups pay less for COEs. The Senior Minister said there were many 'good arguments' for why certain groups are more deserving of a car but he felt if the government were "to design a scheme which worries about all those things, it will fail." You can read the full transcript of SM Lee's response on COE and other topics, here. Professor Lim, who was also at the ESS dinner, penned his thoughts on Lee's comments in a Facebook post the following day (16 July) saying that what is "sorely missing" in the current COE system is "how those with genuine needs may not have the purchasing power to meet those needs, even if their needs may have more merit." You can read professor Lim's full FB post on COE, here. Lee, in the comment section of Lim's post, later clarified that he had "also made the point that rather than complicate the COE scheme", the government has ensured "that everyone has access to affordable and efficient transport options, though not necessarily to own a car" and directly helped "the groups who need more help, e.g. increasing the grants to families with young children, so that if they want they can use it to help pay for a COE." "Therefore where we disagree is not over who cares more for our fellow Singaporeans, but what is the best way to meet people's needs and take care of them," wrote Lee. Lim has since responded to SM Lee's "additional elaborations" and closed his reply by saying: "I should also add that I did not mean to suggest that you do not care for Singaporeans, or that one of us somehow cares more. The disagreement, as you state, is the manner by which this is done. And that, in turn, hinges on our differing beliefs about the behaviour of people, and the efficacy of markets." You can read both of their replies in full in the comment section of Jamus Lim's original post. Trump turns on MAGA 'weaklings' for believing Epstein 'hoax' US President Donald Trump has lashed out against his own supporters for continuing to question if his administration is hiding details of crimes related to the late Jeffrey Epstein. Trump, in a lengthy post on Truth Social, called his usually loyal Make America Great Again (MAGA) base gullible "weaklings" for falling for what he called a 'radical left' hoax by the opposition to discredit him. The high-profile socialite Epstein has long been associated with running a network of super-rich and privileged people rumoured to have exploited young women and girls as part of a sex-trafficking scheme. Republican voters have been pressing Trump to publicly release documents related to the case, which have become known as the 'Epstein Files'. "Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bullshit,' hook, line, and sinker," wrote Trump. "They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years." Trump added: "Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support any more!" HSA cracks down on vaping in schools The Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) crackdown on vaping has extended to areas near schools, reveals the Straits Times. The paper reported enforcement officers had conducted checks outside five institutes of higher learning (IHL) across Singapore on 14 July. A total of 27 people were caught and fined while 31 e-vaporisers were also seized. "Another eight persons were caught for underage smoking. Those caught were aged 17 to 66 years," HSA was quoted as saying. Teachers – mentioned in the report on the condition of anonymity – said vaping has been a problem in Singapore schools. This week the HSA said more than 600 Telegram groups advertising or selling vapes and drug-laced Kpods to Singaporeans have been taken down since April 2024. Tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter named CEO of Shangri-La Asia Kuok Hui Kwong, who is the daughter of Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok, has been named the chief executive of Shangri-La Asia. Hui Kwong is the sixth of Kuok's eight children and has been the company's executive director since June 2016 and its chairman since January 2017. She will assume her new role on 1 August. Her current employment contract has a monthly base salary of HK$576,000 (S$94,300). The Shangri-La group was founded in 1971 by billionaire Robert Kuok, who retained top spot on Forbes list of Malaysia's 50 Richest in 2024. Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong's wife Ho Ching has warned her Facebook followers to "beware of Hep A virus in raw or uncooked cockles" in a post which has been seen as a veiled swipe at Workers' Party MP Jamus Lim, who was not named specifically. The comment was in a FB post which was directed at a male individual who – in her words – posted "some virtue signals on social media" instead of expressing opinion in a "roomful of economists, practitioners, investors and academic leaders, as well as younger professionals and academicians." She added: "Maybe he was afraid to lose his credibility among the thinking people - academicians who test their ideas with knowledgeable peers through publications, investors and business leaders who live with the consequences of their decisions, or political leaders who have to balance the diverse needs of a population against the constraints of resources whether land or money?" The FB post follows a social media exchange between SM Lee and WP's Lim about the former Prime Minister's comments on the certificate of entitlement (COE) scheme during a dialogue at the Economic Society of Singapore's (ESS) annual dinner on 15 July. The "cockles" reference at the end of Ho's post is likely in relation to Lim's famous remarks following WP's stunning win of Sengkang GRC at GE2020 where he said the victory "warms the cockles of our hearts". A man who tragically hit and killed his two-year-old daughter while driving a delivery van without a licence has been jailed. He was sentenced to 12 weeks' jail and banned from driving for three years on Wednesday (16 July). On the day of the fatal accident (13 March 2023), his wife was initially driving the rented delivery van – with the man, their son and daughter in the vehicle – to the Woodlands Street 32 area to deliver parcels. After the couple made some deliveries, the man asked to drive the van to several other blocks to clear the remaining deliveries quickly so the family could have lunch. When the man drove off, the van was too close to the side of the road and it made contact with the foot of his wife as well as the stroller resulting in his daughter being run over. The couple cannot be named to protect the identity of their surviving child. The man was on the run for an unlicensed moneylending offence at the time of the accident and previously fined for unlicensed driving. You can read more of the events in court in the link. Police probe 15 people for sharing Singpass credentials used in scams Police are investigating 15 people for sharing their Singpass credentials, which were later used in scams where victims lost over $890,000 in total. Authorities alleged that some people sold their Singpass credentials – these were later used to open new bank accounts and register for new mobile phone lines. Others appeared to have given parties access to their Singpass accounts without verifying their identities. And some people also shared their Singpass information after being deceived by scammers. Among the 15 under probe, police said five men and one woman were arrested. Disclosing your Singpass credentials to facilitate an offence is a crime, and those found guilty face a jail term of up to three years, a fine, or both. Police are investigating 15 people for sharing their Singpass credentials, which were later used in scams where victims lost over $890,000 in total. Authorities alleged that some people sold their Singpass credentials – these were later used to open new bank accounts and register for new mobile phone lines. Others appeared to have given parties access to their Singpass accounts without verifying their identities. And some people also shared their Singpass information after being deceived by scammers. Among the 15 under probe, police said five men and one woman were arrested. Disclosing your Singpass credentials to facilitate an offence is a crime, and those found guilty face a jail term of up to three years, a fine, or both. Fire destroys main stage at Belgium's Tomorrowland festival ahead of opening The main stage at Belgium's world-famous Tomorrowland electronic music festival has been destroyed by a huge fire. Footage of the fire showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the main stage on Wednesday (16 July). Festival organisers confirmed that no one was injured during the incident. Tomorrowland is a major dance music event with David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia and Eric Prydz among the big names scheduled to perform this year. The annual festival attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends. The event was set to open this weekend and organisers have said their DreamVille campsite will go ahead as planned on Thursday (17 July). Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen was quoted as saying by CNN that a lot of workers were devastated to see the main stage destroyed given that it took years to build. "We're going to make it a great festival. It will be without a main stage. But hopefully, we can do something else, but I can't say much about that yet." The main stage at Belgium's world-famous Tomorrowland electronic music festival has been destroyed by a huge fire. Footage of the fire showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the main stage on Wednesday (16 July). Festival organisers confirmed that no one was injured during the incident. Tomorrowland is a major dance music event with David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia and Eric Prydz among the big names scheduled to perform this year. The annual festival attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends. The event was set to open this weekend and organisers have said their DreamVille campsite will go ahead as planned on Thursday (17 July). Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen was quoted as saying by CNN that a lot of workers were devastated to see the main stage destroyed given that it took years to build. "We're going to make it a great festival. It will be without a main stage. But hopefully, we can do something else, but I can't say much about that yet." Less rain, more warm days forecast for second half of July Singapore can expect less rain and more warm days the rest of July, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS). "More warm days are expected in the second half of July 2025, as compared to the first half of the month, with daily maximum temperatures reaching slightly above 34°C on some days," said MSS. While the skies will be mostly fair, MSS forecasts short-duration thundery showers in the late mornings and afternoons. Sumatra squalls may also result in gusty winds before dawn on one or two days. More on what to expect from the weather for 16-31 July, here. Singapore can expect less rain and more warm days the rest of July, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS). "More warm days are expected in the second half of July 2025, as compared to the first half of the month, with daily maximum temperatures reaching slightly above 34°C on some days," said MSS. While the skies will be mostly fair, MSS forecasts short-duration thundery showers in the late mornings and afternoons. Sumatra squalls may also result in gusty winds before dawn on one or two days. More on what to expect from the weather for 16-31 July, here. SM Lee, WP's Jamus Lim exchange differing views on COE Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Workers' Party (WP) MP Jamus Lim recently exchanged views on Singapore's certificate of entitlement (COE) scheme for car ownership. The hot topic of COE came up during a dialogue at the Economic Society of Singapore's (ESS) annual dinner on 15 July. ESS president Euston Quah had asked SM Lee about calls to let some groups pay less for COEs. The Senior Minister said there were many 'good arguments' for why certain groups are more deserving of a car but he felt if the government were "to design a scheme which worries about all those things, it will fail." You can read the full transcript of SM Lee's response on COE and other topics, here. Professor Lim, who was also at the ESS dinner, penned his thoughts on Lee's comments in a Facebook post the following day (16 July) saying that what is "sorely missing" in the current COE system is "how those with genuine needs may not have the purchasing power to meet those needs, even if their needs may have more merit." You can read professor Lim's full FB post on COE, here. Lee, in the comment section of Lim's post, later clarified that he had "also made the point that rather than complicate the COE scheme", the government has ensured "that everyone has access to affordable and efficient transport options, though not necessarily to own a car" and directly helped "the groups who need more help, e.g. increasing the grants to families with young children, so that if they want they can use it to help pay for a COE." "Therefore where we disagree is not over who cares more for our fellow Singaporeans, but what is the best way to meet people's needs and take care of them," wrote Lee. Lim has since responded to SM Lee's "additional elaborations" and closed his reply by saying: "I should also add that I did not mean to suggest that you do not care for Singaporeans, or that one of us somehow cares more. The disagreement, as you state, is the manner by which this is done. And that, in turn, hinges on our differing beliefs about the behaviour of people, and the efficacy of markets." You can read both of their replies in full in the comment section of Jamus Lim's original post. Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Workers' Party (WP) MP Jamus Lim recently exchanged views on Singapore's certificate of entitlement (COE) scheme for car ownership. The hot topic of COE came up during a dialogue at the Economic Society of Singapore's (ESS) annual dinner on 15 July. ESS president Euston Quah had asked SM Lee about calls to let some groups pay less for COEs. The Senior Minister said there were many 'good arguments' for why certain groups are more deserving of a car but he felt if the government were "to design a scheme which worries about all those things, it will fail." You can read the full transcript of SM Lee's response on COE and other topics, here. Professor Lim, who was also at the ESS dinner, penned his thoughts on Lee's comments in a Facebook post the following day (16 July) saying that what is "sorely missing" in the current COE system is "how those with genuine needs may not have the purchasing power to meet those needs, even if their needs may have more merit." You can read professor Lim's full FB post on COE, here. Lee, in the comment section of Lim's post, later clarified that he had "also made the point that rather than complicate the COE scheme", the government has ensured "that everyone has access to affordable and efficient transport options, though not necessarily to own a car" and directly helped "the groups who need more help, e.g. increasing the grants to families with young children, so that if they want they can use it to help pay for a COE." "Therefore where we disagree is not over who cares more for our fellow Singaporeans, but what is the best way to meet people's needs and take care of them," wrote Lee. Lim has since responded to SM Lee's "additional elaborations" and closed his reply by saying: "I should also add that I did not mean to suggest that you do not care for Singaporeans, or that one of us somehow cares more. The disagreement, as you state, is the manner by which this is done. And that, in turn, hinges on our differing beliefs about the behaviour of people, and the efficacy of markets." You can read both of their replies in full in the comment section of Jamus Lim's original post. Trump turns on MAGA 'weaklings' for believing Epstein 'hoax' US President Donald Trump has lashed out against his own supporters for continuing to question if his administration is hiding details of crimes related to the late Jeffrey Epstein. Trump, in a lengthy post on Truth Social, called his usually loyal Make America Great Again (MAGA) base gullible "weaklings" for falling for what he called a 'radical left' hoax by the opposition to discredit him. The high-profile socialite Epstein has long been associated with running a network of super-rich and privileged people rumoured to have exploited young women and girls as part of a sex-trafficking scheme. Republican voters have been pressing Trump to publicly release documents related to the case, which have become known as the 'Epstein Files'. "Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bullshit,' hook, line, and sinker," wrote Trump. "They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years." Trump added: "Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support any more!" US President Donald Trump has lashed out against his own supporters for continuing to question if his administration is hiding details of crimes related to the late Jeffrey Epstein. Trump, in a lengthy post on Truth Social, called his usually loyal Make America Great Again (MAGA) base gullible "weaklings" for falling for what he called a 'radical left' hoax by the opposition to discredit him. The high-profile socialite Epstein has long been associated with running a network of super-rich and privileged people rumoured to have exploited young women and girls as part of a sex-trafficking scheme. Republican voters have been pressing Trump to publicly release documents related to the case, which have become known as the 'Epstein Files'. "Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bullshit,' hook, line, and sinker," wrote Trump. "They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years." Trump added: "Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support any more!" HSA cracks down on vaping in schools The Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) crackdown on vaping has extended to areas near schools, reveals the Straits Times. The paper reported enforcement officers had conducted checks outside five institutes of higher learning (IHL) across Singapore on 14 July. A total of 27 people were caught and fined while 31 e-vaporisers were also seized. "Another eight persons were caught for underage smoking. Those caught were aged 17 to 66 years," HSA was quoted as saying. Teachers – mentioned in the report on the condition of anonymity – said vaping has been a problem in Singapore schools. This week the HSA said more than 600 Telegram groups advertising or selling vapes and drug-laced Kpods to Singaporeans have been taken down since April 2024. The Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) crackdown on vaping has extended to areas near schools, reveals the Straits Times. The paper reported enforcement officers had conducted checks outside five institutes of higher learning (IHL) across Singapore on 14 July. A total of 27 people were caught and fined while 31 e-vaporisers were also seized. "Another eight persons were caught for underage smoking. Those caught were aged 17 to 66 years," HSA was quoted as saying. Teachers – mentioned in the report on the condition of anonymity – said vaping has been a problem in Singapore schools. This week the HSA said more than 600 Telegram groups advertising or selling vapes and drug-laced Kpods to Singaporeans have been taken down since April 2024. Tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter named CEO of Shangri-La Asia Kuok Hui Kwong, who is the daughter of Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok, has been named the chief executive of Shangri-La Asia. Hui Kwong is the sixth of Kuok's eight children and has been the company's executive director since June 2016 and its chairman since January 2017. She will assume her new role on 1 August. Her current employment contract has a monthly base salary of HK$576,000 (S$94,300). The Shangri-La group was founded in 1971 by billionaire Robert Kuok, who retained top spot on Forbes list of Malaysia's 50 Richest in 2024. Kuok Hui Kwong, who is the daughter of Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok, has been named the chief executive of Shangri-La Asia. Hui Kwong is the sixth of Kuok's eight children and has been the company's executive director since June 2016 and its chairman since January 2017. She will assume her new role on 1 August. Her current employment contract has a monthly base salary of HK$576,000 (S$94,300). The Shangri-La group was founded in 1971 by billionaire Robert Kuok, who retained top spot on Forbes list of Malaysia's 50 Richest in 2024.


New York Times
15 minutes ago
- New York Times
Faith Leaders Can Now Endorse. Will That Swing the N.Y.C. Mayor's Race?
Four days after his remarkable showing in New York's Democratic mayoral primary, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani appeared at the Harlem headquarters of a group headed by the Rev. Al Sharpton. He acknowledged the leaders and biblical scriptures that fueled his campaign. 'Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning,' Mr. Mamdani said, a reference to Psalm 30:5, a scripture that is especially popular in Black churches. 'And it has been night for far too long in this city.' Mr. Mamdani did not come to the gathering on June 28, for the National Action Network, explicitly seeking an endorsement from the faith leaders in the crowd. But under a new rule change from the I.R.S., he and his opponents in the mayoral race may be able to secure one without tax repercussions. The I.R.S. said in a court filing last week that houses of worship could endorse political candidates to their congregations without losing their tax-exempt status. The move was initially seen as the agency's formal termination of a longstanding but spottily enforced rule against campaigning from the pulpit. But in New York, the ruling could also open up a new front in the city's heated mayoral race, offering candidates the chance to formally consolidate support from not only faith leaders but their congregations. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.