Deep Dive Podcast - PAP's Jasmin Lau on saying 'yes' to politics but staying true to herself
PAP new face Jasmin Lau, who is contesting in Ang Mo Kio GRC, went from government scholar to rising up the ranks in the civil service.
She tells Otelli Edwards on this special series of the Deep Dive podcast how she copes with self-doubt and why she said yes to joining politics.
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Independent Singapore
an hour ago
- Independent Singapore
Red Dot United elects new CEC
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CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
Singapore-Britain ties shaped by shared values and complementary strengths: UK state secretary
SINGAPORE: Singapore and the United Kingdom are deepening their partnership amid global uncertainties, focusing on boosting trade and stepping up defence cooperation, said British Secretary of State Peter Kyle. His visit to Singapore came as the HMS Prince of Wales docked at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre last week – the British aircraft carrier's first formal port call in its eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment. Mr Kyle said the port call represented a symbolic moment for ties between Singapore and Britain, which have been shaped by six decades of shared values and complementary strengths. 'It is a real milestone. (These) 60 years we have communicated, built diplomatic relations, traded together," said the British secretary of state for science, innovation and technology. 'We've worked together to solve lots of challenges (and) create lots of opportunities. We've got a great history of working together diplomatically and economically.' Mr Kyle added that Singapore is a gateway to the Indo-Pacific – a region Britain is keen to increase engagement in, especially in the areas of science, technology and trade. 'The fast growing sectors of the future – we look at space, AI (artificial intelligence), automation, drone technology. All of these areas are things that Britain … Singapore and the (surrounding) area (are) very good at,' he said. 'We should be working closer together to seize the opportunities that these industries of the future present.' He also spoke about the common issues both nations are facing, including ageing populations, and said both sides will mutually benefit from knowledge exchange. 'As we look to the future, you can see some of the common threads from our societies. Both Singapore and Britain are facing an ageing population … (which) poses challenges for the way that we govern,' he said. He praised Singapore's digital transformation, saying the future lies in cooperation and collaboration 'fit for the digital age, not just the manufacturing age that we've been living in for the last 60 years.' "Singapore has really led the world when it comes to transforming the way that government is delivered to citizens using digital technology. This is something that we in Britain are really trying to learn from," he added. DEFENCE AND DIPLOMACY The HMS Prince of Wales is the flagship of a strike group involving ships, aircraft and personnel. The deployment involves 30 countries through exercises, operations and visits across the Mediterranean, Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific, and includes exercises with the United States, India, Singapore and Malaysia. The deployment comes at a time of geopolitical tensions and uncertainty. On the British government's position on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Mr Kyle said the priority is to deescalate and return to diplomatic solutions. 'The (British) government is clear that it would be wrong for Iran to develop nuclear weapons. But we are part of a group of nations trying to deescalate the tensions in the region. We are supportive of diplomatic progress,' he said. 'Britain will continue to work with our allies, to use all the diplomatic influence we have, to deescalate and return as swiftly as possible to a long-term diplomatic solution to the many challenges faced in the region.' Mr Kyle said the strike force is a 'friendly mission of … like-minded countries' that 'demonstrates the scale of strength that is there in order to deliver the peace and stability that this region needs.' 'Peace has a purpose, and that's in that environment, we can trade, have friendly diplomatic relations and our people can explore opportunities together. Prosperity grows through having stability,' he added. He said Britain's primary interest in the region is to 'become a solid economic partner'. 'Most of the Indo-Pacific is fast growing. Britain is a consumer of goods, but also a producer of innovation and trade and goods for which we want to sell into the region,' he said. 'We want to be part of a peaceful diplomacy into the future where (when) there is conflict, we seek to deescalate; where there is opportunity for economic growth, we want to be part of that. I think that the two go hand-in-hand.'
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
PM Wong congratulates South Korea's newly elected President Lee in phone call
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung expressed gladness on the cooperation achieved by Singapore and South Korea in various fields. PHOTO: REUTERS SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lawrence Wong spoke to South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung on June 30 to congratulate him on his recent election win, in their first call since Mr Lee took office. During the call, the two leaders agreed to establish a strategic partnership as Singapore and South Korea mark 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2025. In a Facebook post on June 30, Mr Wong said the relationship between the two countries 'has grown steadily over the decades'. 'We are now upgrading our ties to a Strategic Partnership, to deepen cooperation in key areas of mutual interest,' he added. 'I look forward to continuing our conversation when Korea hosts the Apec meeting later this year.' The Apec meeting will be held in the city of Gyeongju. In a news release, the South Korean embassy in Singapore said PM Wong conveyed his warm congratulations on the call and 'expressed his expectations for the development of Korea-Singapore relations, as well as his commitment to cooperation during President Lee's term'. Mr Lee, meanwhile, 'expressed his gladness' on the cooperation achieved by Singapore and South Korea in various fields since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975. This includes politics and security, economy, society and culture and regional and international issues. The embassy also said that in addition to the establishment of a strategic partnership, Singapore and South Korea agreed to accelerate strategic cooperation in comprehensive areas, including peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, as well as future-oriented sectors such as artificial intelligence and digital technology. It quoted Mr Lee as saying that he looks forward to PM Wong's attendance at the Apec summit. PM Wong also expressed his confidence that Korea would successfully host the Apec summit, and suggested that both countries maintain active high-level exchanges on various occasions, the embassy added. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
