Singapore unveils new Cabinet line-up
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Independent Singapore
an hour ago
- Independent Singapore
‘More embarassador than ambassador.' Donald Trump's pick for envoy to SG roasted online
SINGAPORE: United States President Donald Trump's choice for ambassador to Singapore had a humiliating time before the Senate earlier this week. 'I'm trying to help you here,' Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth told Dr Anjani Sinha, an orthopaedic and sports surgeon Mr Trump handpicked for the position. 'But you haven't even done your homework.' Ms Duckworth asked Dr Sinha a series of questions regarding Singapore's economy, the US Navy's work with Singapore, and when the city-state will chair the ASEAN, which the would-be envoy visibly struggled to answer. This resulted in the Senator telling him: 'You are not taking this seriously. You think this is a glamour posting. You think that you're going to live a nice life in Singapore, but what we need is someone who's actually going to do the work.' @thechillicrap Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth reprimands Dr. Anjani Sinha after the US ambassador to Singapore nominee fails to answer questions on the country and its ties with the US during a Senate hearing… #singaporetiktok #tiktoksingapore #tiktoksg #tarrifs ♬ original sound – thechillicrap – thechillicrap The senator underlined how important Singapore is to the United States, especially in the region, in the context of the tensions between the US and China. Ms Duckworth told Dr Sinha, 'I want to reinforce for you again right now. You are not currently prepared for this posting. Period. And you need to shape up and do some homework.' As the clip of Dr Sinha's grilling was shared on social media, some commenters took to calling him more of an 'embarassador than ambassador.' 'Anjani Sinha has absolutely zero expertise or experience in international relations or diplomacy whatsoever,' a Facebook user noted. Another wrote, 'Jialut la. As an HR practitioner, this is a big FAIL for an interview. The end of US supremacy is near.' Dr Sinha, a staunch supporter of the Republican Party in the US, was nominated for the post by Mr Trump in March, which means he's certainly had ample time to prepare for the ambassadorship to Singapore. In a post on Truth Social , the US President wrote, 'I have no doubt that Anji will strongly represent our Nation's interests, and put America first. Congratulations, Anji!' He is said to have been friends with Mr Trump for over 10 years, according to an introduction from Senator Lindsey Graham. In May, the U.S. Department of State touted Dr Sinha's 'deep social and cultural ties to the Indo-Pacific region' and wrote that he is 'uniquely positioned to relate to its key stakeholders.' 'His appreciation for Singapore's role as a financial hub, and his own business expertise — particularly in the life sciences and healthcare sectors – render him well qualified to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Singapore,' it added. Despite Dr Sinha's poor showing this week and the backlash that ensued online, he is still likely to be confirmed as ambassador to Singapore, given the Republican Party's majority. /TISG Read also: U.S. Defence Secretary compares Donald Trump to Lee Kuan Yew, but Singaporeans say 'ah gong confirm flip in his grave' See also Billionaire Bezos buys estate for $165 mn: report
CNA
4 hours ago
- CNA
China foreign minister Wang Yi slams South China Sea ruling as ‘farce' at regional meeting
KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi restated Beijing's rejection of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling on Friday (Jul 11), on the eve of the ruling's ninth anniversary, amid renewed tensions and growing speculation about a potential second legal challenge. Calling the decision a 'farce', Wang said the case, brought by the Philippines against China 's South China Sea claims and ruled on by a tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, was 'orchestrated and manipulated by external powers'. Their purpose 'was to destabilise the South China Sea for their own benefit', Wang said during the annual East Asian Summit foreign ministers' meeting in Kuala Lumpur. He said China works to maintain stability in the region and has been speeding up the negotiation of a binding South China Sea code of conduct with Asean. 'All attempts to stir up trouble or sow discord will ultimately fail,' he added at the meeting attended by top diplomats of 18 countries, including the 10 ASEAN member states and the United States. The Philippines filed the case with the court in 2013, but Beijing refused to participate. The court, in China's absence, ruled on Jul 12, 2016, in support of most of the Philippines' submissions, including its contention that China's extensive claim via the 'nine-dash line' appearing on Chinese maps since 1953 was invalid under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Additionally, the court ruled that China's land reclamation projects in the area were environmentally harmful. The ruling also held that no land features in the disputed Spratly Islands could be classified as 'islands', meaning that China could not claim exclusive economic zones around the reefs it occupies, while the Philippines could extend its zone from its coastline to include those reefs. Despite having signed UNCLOS in 1982 and ratified it in 1996, China strongly rejected the ruling and improved ties with former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte by 'putting aside' the ruling during his 2016-2022 term. However, tension has escalated since the current Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, took office. It has been reported that Manila is considering filing a new UN arbitration regarding the maritime conflicts. In his remarks on Friday, Wang repeated China's declaration of 'four noes' in the case – no acceptance, no participation, no recognition and no implementation. He contended that the case addressed the issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation, which exceed the jurisdiction of both UNCLOS and the arbitration tribunal's authority. China and other major world powers, he said, had excluded maritime delimitation when they joined the convention. 'The tribunal's handling constituted an overreach, abusing the convention's dispute resolution mechanism and undermining international maritime rule of law. They are violating the convention under the banner of the convention,' Wang said. He added that the Philippines did not seek prior consultations with China before filing to the tribunal, and that therefore the initiation of the arbitration was legally flawed. He also accused Manila of breaking its commitment to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China calls for South China Sea disputes to be solved through dialogue, as well as its bilateral promises to Beijing. Wang also condemned the tribunal's 'flawed and erroneous' decision to classify the Taiping Island (Itu Aba) of the Spratlys – a 0.5-square-kilometre island with fresh water and vegetation occupied by Taiwan – as a 'rock' that could not sustain an exclusive economic zone. 'If this standard were applied globally, the international maritime order would be rewritten, potentially depriving many nations ... of their maritime rights,' he said, referring to how the reefs of countries like the US and Japan would similarly lose their basis for claiming maritime rights and interests. "Would these countries be willing to give up their claims as well?" Besides the Philippines, three other ASEAN members – Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam – have competing claims with China in the South China Sea. Beijing sees the self-governed island of Taiwan as a rogue province, to be reunited eventually with the mainland, by force if necessary.
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Straits Times
UN, Netherlands cancel LGBTQ event in Senegal after government warning
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox DAKAR - The U.N. and the Dutch foreign ministry said on Friday they had cancelled an LGBTQ-themed event in Senegal after the West African nation warned of repercussions for organisers and voiced opposition to all "promotion of the LGBTQI phenomenon". Anti-gay laws are in place in many conservative West African countries, including Senegal, where anyone who commits an "act against nature" with someone of the same sex can be punished by up to five years in prison. In a statement published on X, Senegal's foreign ministry on Friday said it had been informed of a film screening to be hosted by the U.N. and the Dutch embassy that would have been followed by "discussions on LGBTI issues". The statement did not specify when the event was scheduled to occur. "Accordingly, the government reserves the right to take any appropriate action against any organisers of such activities, and even against participants, whatever their origins, status or rank," the foreign ministry statement said. The activities of diplomatic missions and international organizations must comply with the country's regulations, it said. Later on Friday, Seif Magango, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, told Reuters the event "has been cancelled, and we continue to engage with the authorities". Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore ST will have Govt's 'full confidence and support' in its mission: PM Wong Singapore ST will aim to become an indispensable partner to S'pore's communities: Editor Jaime Ho Singapore Wishes for ST beyond 180: Odes to its enduring role in the Singapore story Singapore Heartbeats & Headlines: ST's 180-year legacy comes to life in immersive exhibition Singapore Trusted news, smarter experience with new Straits Times website and app Singapore Community space Stranger Conversations blossoms as 'library of human stories' and life experiences Singapore Man who killed 5-year-old daughter gets life sentence after he appeals against 35-year jail term Singapore Judge declines to void alleged sham marriage in S'pore, says it is for Parliament to decide The Dutch foreign ministry said in a statement that, while the Netherlands "stands for human rights and equal treatment" it had decided to cancel the event "considering various factors". In 2022, Senegalese lawmakers rejected a bid to toughen anti-LGBTQ provisions in the penal code, saying the existing legislation was sufficiently clear. Earlier this year, Ghana reintroduced a bill that could become one of Africa's most restrictive pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation after an earlier attempt to enact it fell short because of legal challenges. The fate of that legislation, which would need to be signed into law by the president, is unclear. REUTERS
