Turkey and Pakistan discuss defence industry and energy cooperation
ANKARA - Turkey's foreign and defence ministers discussed cooperation in defence and energy with officials in Pakistan during a visit to Islamabad on Wednesday, Ankara said.
Turkey and Pakistan have strong ties and Ankara expressed solidarity with Pakistan during the military conflict with India in May, angering India.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defence Minister Yasar Guler met Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Air Force chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, and others during the visit.
In a statement after the talks, Turkey's defence ministry said Guler and Sidhu discussed regional defence and security, as well as areas of cooperation in the defence industry, and added Sidhu had conveyed Pakistan's desire to improve ties in advanced training operations and aviation technologies.
Guler also stressed the importance of joint projects in the defence industry, including on aviation and drones, it added.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Fidan said the two countries were evaluating the possibility of cooperating in mining, natural gas, oil, and rare elements, after agreeing in April to jointly carry out oil and gas exploration off Pakistan.
Ankara also has cordial ties with India, but after its support for Pakistan over the conflict, small Indian grocery shops and major online fashion retailers boycotted Turkish products, while New Delhi also cancelled Turkey-based aviation service provider Celebi's clearance over "national security" reasons. REUTERS
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Straits Times
21 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Heaven sent? India's opposition parties build temples to woo Hindu voters
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox – Bengalis have always flocked to Digha, a coastal resort town in the Indian state of West Bengal. But a new attraction is now proving to be a hot draw for thousands of visitors. It is Jagannath Dham, an imposing sandstone temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a much-loved deity in Bengal and whose hulking chariot lies at the origin of the English word 'juggernaut'. Among the thousands of visitors on July 5 was 45-year-old sari-clad Sandhya Dutta, who was busy taking selfies against the temple's towering 65m-tall central complex. 'The possibility of seeing such a beautiful temple in Digha gives this place a different attraction,' said Mrs Dutta, who has visited the town several times. 'With this temple, I felt like coming here again.' Constructed by the state government at a reported cost of 2.5 billion rupees (S$37.3 million), Jagannath Dham opened with much fanfare in April 2025. It is an attempt by the opposition All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), which governs West Bengal, to mobilise support from Hindus at a time when the party has been accused by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of appeasing Muslims. The BJP seeks to dethrone its rival from power in a state election in early 2026. Building temples is proving to be a key way for political parties to attract Hindu votes. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day Singapore From Normal stream to Parliament: 3 Singapore politicians share their journeys World Deal or no deal? EU faces critical decision in response to Trump's latest tariff salvo Singapore Segregated recycling bins found to lower contamination rate as more spring up Sport Two participants injured after another breached safety protocol during Pesta Sukan archery event Asia Mahathir discharged from hospital after feeling fatigued during birthday gathering Singapore Medics treat 7 after blaze at HDB block lift lobby in Chai Chee Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Mr Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party (SP) – another key opposition force in the state of Uttar Pradesh – is overseeing the construction of a major temple in his party's traditional stronghold in Etawah district ahead of an assembly election in 2027. Mrs Sandhya Dutta (in green sari), 45, with Ms Bhabani Das (on her left), a supporter of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, at the Jagannath Dham temple in Digha. ST PHOTO: DEBARSHI DASGUPTA While the ruling Hindu-nationalist BJP has long been known to use its support for temples to garner votes from Hindus, it is becoming increasingly important for other Indian political parties to cater – or at least, be seen as catering – to the religious sentiments of Hindus. They make up around 80 per cent of the country's population. Ms Saba Naqvi, a senior political commentator, said: 'Faith, under the BJP's domination, has become a way of mobilising people in India.' This, she noted, is especially true, given the lack of meaningful socio-economic empowerment, with marginalised Hindu caste groups still stuck at the bottom of the ladder. 'Temples, on the other hand, are a place that are open to everyone. They're a place where there is egalitarian participation. And people who are on the margins of caste feel they are insiders when they go there and participate equally in mass worship,' Ms Naqvi told The Straits Times. A formidable political force today, the BJP's rise in popularity in the 1990s was shaped by its vocal pitch for a grand temple dedicated to Hindu deity Ram in Ayodhya. Its veteran leader L.K. Advani went around the country on a tour in 1990 to whip up public support for the construction of such a temple at the site of the 16th century Babri Mosque, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. Constructed by the state government at a reported cost of 2.5 billion rupees (S$37.3 million), Jagannath Dham opened with much fanfare in April 2025. ST PHOTO: DEBARSHI DASGUPTA The mosque was demolished by a Hindu mob in 1992, giving way to a protracted legal battle over the fiercely contested site. It ended when the Supreme Court gave custody of the site to Hindus in 2019 and cleared the path for the construction of a temple. The opening of a Ram Temple at the site – a promise first made in the BJP's election manifesto in 1996 – marked a high point for the party as Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the temple's inauguration in January 2024. Its fruition even formed a key plank of the party's voter outreach during the general election later in 2024 that saw the BJP return to power, albeit with a significantly reduced share of seats in Parliament. The BJP continues to deploy its temple strategy, investing massively in the development of temple towns such as Varanasi and Mathura, along with Ayodhya in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It recently announced a 'Mission Temple' campaign, aimed at rejuvenating ancient temples across the state, according to a July 9 report on online news portal News18. In West Bengal, the TMC is leaving no stone unturned to capitalise on the Jagannath temple. The road from Kolkata to Digha – a distance of about 190km – was lined with banners put up by the state government and TMC leaders, welcoming visitors to the chariot festival of Lord Jagannath at the temple from June 27 to July 5. A beaming Ms Mamata Banerjee, the state's Chief Minister, graced the banners with her palms joined together in a namaste, the traditional Hindu gesture for a greeting. The party's temple propaganda reached more than 10 million households across the state with the distribution of sacred offerings, packed in a box together with a postcard featuring Ms Banerjee's printed greetings, along with photos of the deity and the temple. Banners, featuring the Jagannath temple and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, welcoming visitors to Digha on the road from state capital Kolkata. ST PHOTO: DEBARSHI DASGUPTA At Digha, visitors were clearly happy. 'We are Hindus. If a temple is constructed, no matter where, we will surely welcome it,' said Mr Sumanta Mondal, a 48-year-old West Bengal farmer, who came with his family from Bankura, nearly 180km away. 'If one is created in my district, it would be even better. I would not have to come this far.' Supporters of Ms Banerjee and her party were jubilant. Ms Bhabani Das, a municipal contractual health worker in her early 50s from the North 24 Parganas district, was thrilled to visit the Jagannath temple in Digha as she has not had the time or money to visit the 12th century Jagannath temple farther away in Puri in the state of Odisha. The temple in Digha is a replica of the more famous one in Puri. 'May her lifespan increase by as many years as the number of hairs on my head,' said Ms Das, whose head is full of black hair. She showed her left arm, which has the name 'Mamata' tattooed on it, an expression of her support for the state's chief minister. In recent years, the BJP has emerged as the single largest opposition party in West Bengal, posing a growing threat to the TMC's dominance as it racks up voter support from more Hindus. This has prompted the TMC to change tact and also mobilise Hindu support by throwing its weight behind local Hindu festivals, such as the Tribeni Kumbh Mela, and now the construction of this major temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath. Ms Naqvi said: 'With this temple, Mamata seems to be telling the BJP and her critics, I'm also a keeper of the faith. Who the hell are you?' The BJP has targeted Ms Banerjee by calling her a 'fake Hindu' and stating that government funds cannot be used to construct temples. It has even alleged that the sacred offerings from the Jagannath temple that were sent out by the TMC were made by Muslims. In Uttar Pradesh, the S P's move to build a temple also aims to counter the BJP's narrative, which accuses it of pandering to Muslim sentiments, while neglecting Hindus. Modelled after the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand, a key pilgrimage site for Hindus, the Kedareshwar Mahadev Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is being built by a trust headed by Mr Yadav. Mr Yadav laid its foundation stone in 2021, seven months after Mr Modi did the same for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The Kedareshwar Mahadev Temple is slated for completion in 2026, well before the next state election in the following year. Its opening is also being seen as an attempt by the Yadavs to assert their claim on the Hindu faith. The Yadavs in Uttar Pradesh are formally included as 'Other Backward Classes', a group that includes marginalised castes and disadvantaged communities. In May 2024, Mr Yadav visited a temple in Kannauj, following which a viral video purportedly showed BJP workers washing the temple with holy water from the Ganges to 'purify' the temple. The incident was exploited by the SP to portray the BJP as a party that does not favour the interests of marginalised caste groups. And what of the Congress, India's leading opposition party? It has not launched any such high-profile temple construction initiative, although its leader Rahul Gandhi was seen visiting temples during his 2024 election campaign. For all the building and intense competition, the temple strategy does have its limits – something that became evident when the BJP lost the parliamentary seat in Faizabad, which includes the city of Ayodhya, to its rival SP in the 2024 General Election. Marginalised Hindu caste groups rallied around SP because of their fear that the BJP – in case it won a majority – would alter the Constitution and dilute job reservations allocated in it for them. Anger over unemployment was another factor that led to the BJP's loss. The SP candidate won by a margin of 54,567 votes, indicating that religion is just one of the many factors Indian voters keep in mind when they queue up to elect their leaders.
Straits Times
28 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Art by Pathlight students to be displayed along Singapore River
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox (From left) Pathlight School students Marcus Goh, Nurdaanya Mohamed Hafiz, and Brennan Tay with their artwork. SINGAPORE – A construction hoarding in Kim Seng Linear Park – which runs alongside the Singapore River – will soon be turned into a community art canvas, showcasing 30 works by neurodivergent students from Pathlight School. The works, inspired by the Singapore River, represent the students' interpretations of the river's history, community and culture. They will be exhibited on the hoarding for three years throughout the construction of the River Green development, a 524-unit riverfront condominium consisting of a single 36-storey tower. The project is a collaboration between real estate developer Wing Tai Group and Pathlight School. Measuring 200m long and 4.8m high, the transformed hoarding will be ready by July 17. The 30 works to be displayed on the hoarding were selected from among 69 entries in an art competition organised by Pathlight School and Wing Tai Group that was open to secondary and vocational track Pathlight students. The competition was judged by Ms Cecilia Chow, senior manager of programmes at Singapore Art Museum; Dr Joseph Lim, associate professor at NUS School of Architecture; and Mr Edmund Cheng, deputy chairman of Wing Tai Holdings. An awards ceremony to recognise the students whose works were chosen for the display was held at Pathlight School Ang Mo Kio Campus 1 on July 11. Ms Stacey Ow Yeong, head of marketing at Wing Tai Property Management, said the developer saw an opportunity to convert the hoarding for its River Green development in Kim Seng Linear Park into an art canvas because it is highly visible, and many people pass by the area. The current hoarding near the Singapore River where artworks by Pathlight School students will be displayed. PHOTO: WING TAI GROUP 'This collaboration with Pathlight School shines a light on the unique perspectives and artistic talents of neurodivergent individuals,' she added. Marcus Goh, 16, created two artworks which placed within the top 10 in the art competition. His acrylic painting, Flowing Through History, was inspired by the things that he sees around the Singapore River, such as the boats, the buildings and the people passing by. 'I feel very happy and proud,' said the Secondary 1 student, when asked how he feels about having his art displayed. His second winning artwork, A Spectrum Of Colours, uses colourful buildings to reflect the vibrancy of Singapore's culture, where different ethnicities and communities live together. An acrylic painting by student Marcus Goh was inspired by the things he sees around the Singapore River, like the boats, the buildings, and the people. PHOTO: GOH WEI-YU MARCUS Sec 2 student Nurdaanya Mohamed Hafiz, 14, depicted the teeming quays of the Singapore River in her pen and watercolour work, A Playful Night At The Singapore River. 'As a little history buff myself, I learnt that the Singapore River holds cultural and historical significance to Singapore, especially in our early days,' she said. Another inspiration for her was seeing youth her age or younger, like her younger brothers, disconnect from their gadgets so they can enjoy outdoor activities. Student Nurdaanya Mohamed Hafiz's pen and watercolour work. One inspiration for her was seeing young people disconnect from their gadgets so they can enjoy outdoor activities. PHOTO: NURDAANYA BINTE MOHAMED HAFIZ 'I wanted to bring out that sense of nostalgia to our older and current generations by combining two significant parts of their childhood and Singapore's history into one frame,' the schoolgirl reflected. Community & Wellness Along Singapore River, an entry by Year 8 vocational student Brennan Tay, 20, which placed within the top 30, captures the joy of wellness and community in a lively green park by the river. 'I visited Kim Seng Park and I saw a group of children running together, and I liked what I saw because I am also in a running club CCA in school,' he said. 'I like to share the joy of wellness and connecting with nature through my artwork.' Student Brennan Tay's artwork capturing the joy of wellness and community in a lively green park by the river. PHOTO: TAY HONG YAO BRENNAN At Pathlight School, art education classes are tailored to the diverse profiles, strengths and learning needs of students. Ms Nurhilda Anuar, subject head of the art department at Pathlight School, said: 'In my art lessons, I will study each student profile in order to determine the suitable approach for each student. For instance, autism-friendly strategies such as visual supports and simplified work systems may apply for a student who requires explicit structure to understand and execute the art task.' Senior principal of Pathlight School, Ms Linda Kho, hopes the public will recognise the students' talents and abilities through the artworks, and be more open to embracing neurodivergent people. 'It's not about being different or focusing on their deficit. It's about their talents and their voice, and that there's a place for them to contribute to society,' she said.
Straits Times
28 minutes ago
- Straits Times
OCBC CEO Helen Wong to retire; SGX sees biggest Reit IPO in a decade
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The benchmark Straits Times Index hit a new all-time high at around 4,100 points on July 11. SINGAPORE - Shares of OCBC Bank climbed 2.6 per cent over the week to close at $16.89 on July 11, just before the bank announced after market hours that its chief executive would be retiring. Ms Helen Wong, 64, will be retiring on Dec 31 , OCBC announced in a bourse filing. She will be succeeded by Mr Tan Teck Long, 55, who will assume the role on Jan 1, 2026.
