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Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Mum at 15: More teens in Singapore gave birth in 2024
Find out what's new on ST website and app. In Singapore, abortions are legal for women up to 24 weeks into their pregnancy. SINGAPORE – Despite her mother's vehement objections and her former partner's indifference to her pregnancy, Sarah dropped out of school at Secondary 3 and became a mum at the age of 15. Sarah (not her real name), whose baby daughter is now 11 months old, said: 'I considered abortion at first, but when I saw my baby on the ultrasound, I felt a very strong connection to her.' The 16-year-old added: 'I feel the baby is innocent. I wanted to step up and take responsibility for the mistake I made.' More teenagers, like Sarah, are becoming mothers, according to the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2024 released by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority on July 18. In 2024, there were 244 babies born to teenagers aged 19 or younger, up 7 per cent from the 228 such babies in 2023. In 2022, the figure was 218. The slight increase marks a reversal from the steady fall in teen births in the past 20 years, especially when the numbers for teen births were much higher in the decade leading up to 2010. For example, there were 853 teen births in 2005. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Woman taken to hospital after car falls into sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road Singapore Students hide vapes in underwear, toilet roll holders: S'pore schools grapple with vaping scourge Singapore 'I've tried everything': Mum helpless as son's Kpod addiction spirals out of control Singapore NDP 2025: How Benjamin Kheng is whisked from Marina Bay to Padang in 10 minutes by boat, buggy Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Singapore From libraries to living rooms: How reading habits take root in underserved S'pore children Asia Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along frontier as death toll rises Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur for resignation of PM Anwar Ms Melisa Wong, executive director at Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support, a charity that provides support to pregnant teens, cited a combination of reasons for the rise. She said many teens felt isolated or struggled with other negative emotions during the Covid-19 pandemic, and they may have had unprotected sex to seek connection or to cope with whatever they were going through. While teenagers generally explore romantic relationships at an earlier age these days, some may not use contraceptives for various reasons, she added. The rise in the number of teen births could also be due to fewer of them choosing an abortion, she noted. Non-profit groups that help pregnant women in distress, such as Babes and Safe Place, have seen those as young as 12 seeking help, though most of the pregnant teens are between 16 and 18 years of age. In the past five years, the average age of pregnant teens was 18, the Health Ministry said in 2024. Mrs Jennifer Heng, director of Safe Place, said many of the teens the group sees chose to keep their baby because of their religious beliefs and a sense of attachment to their unborn child. They also have supportive families or partners. Ms Wong said some teens seek help only in their third trimester, when it is too late to get an abortion, so they end up giving birth. In Singapore, abortions are legal for women up to 24 weeks into their pregnancy. Social workers say these teen mums were not ready – mentally, emotionally or financially – for parenthood. And they struggled with feelings of fear and helplessness, and judgment from their friends and relatives, as Sarah did. Sarah said: 'Some of my relatives and friends say things like, 'So young, pregnant already'. I feel they look down on me for being a single mum.' She moved out from her mother's home to stay with her grand-aunt, the only person who supported her decision to keep her baby and who helps her with infant care. Her grand-uncle supports Sarah financially. She also broke up with her partner, who is five years older, before the baby was born. She said: 'I felt he didn't care about the baby, and there is no point staying if I have to do everything by myself. I didn't feel seen or heard.' She is thankful for Safe Place and its social workers, who give her counselling support and free necessities for her baby, such as milk powder and diapers, every month. 'Whenever I feel very overwhelmed, I would text my social worker and she comforts me. She also checks on me regularly,' Sarah said. 'It's exhausting to care for a baby, but I feel very happy to see my baby. She smiles a lot, and she is my pride and joy.' Baby's father not named Meanwhile, 330 babies were registered in 2024 without their father's name. This number has remained relatively stable in the past few years. In 2024, one in four of these babies was born to teens aged 19 or below, the report on registration of births and deaths stated. Besides teens, Mrs Heng said women in their 20s comprise the other major group with babies registered without the father's name. She said the women do so because the fathers do not want to be involved in the child's life. Or the woman does not want the man to be involved, and she is afraid he would fight for custody of the child if his name is listed as the father. Ms Wong said there are also teens with multiple partners who are unsure who the father is – hence the absence of a father's name. She added that some do not list the father's name 'as a way of starting afresh or emotionally detaching from a painful chapter'.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Straits Times
Turkey marks 50.5 deg C heat record in south-east
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Over 130 weather stations registered record temperatures in Turkey for the month of July ISTANBUL - Turkey's environment ministry said on July 26 that meteorologists had registered a reading of 50.5 deg C in the south-east of the country, a nationwide record. The record temperature was registered on July 25 at Silopi, the ministry said in a post on X. And across the country, 132 weather stations had registered record temperatures for the month of July, the statement added. Silopi, in the province of Sirnak, sits just 10km from Turkey's borders with Iraq and Syria. The previous heat record in temperature, recorded in August 2023, was 49.5 deg C. The country is currently in the grip of a heatwave and is fighting fires in a number of regions. Firefighters have been struggling for four days to contain one in the northern Karabuk province, forcing the evacuation of several villagers. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Woman taken to hospital after car falls into sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road Singapore Students hide vapes in underwear, toilet roll holders: S'pore schools grapple with vaping scourge Singapore 'I've tried everything': Mum helpless as son's Kpod addiction spirals out of control Singapore NDP 2025: How Benjamin Kheng is whisked from Marina Bay to Padang in 10 minutes by boat, buggy Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Singapore From libraries to living rooms: How reading habits take root in underserved S'pore children Asia Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along frontier as death toll rises Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur for resignation of PM Anwar On July 23, 10 people perished fighting a fire in Eskisehir province. The heatwave, which is expected to last several days more, has forced some local authourities to announce restrictions on water consumption, including the seaside resort of Cesme, near Izmir on Turkey's west coast.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
India seeks to take over Bitra island in strategically located Lakshadweep to build naval base
Find out what's new on ST website and app. – Fisherman Muhammad Yaseen O.C., who lives on Bitra Island in the strategically located Lakshadweep archipelago, is extremely concerned that he may lose both his home and job amid India's quest for greater oversight over the Arabian Sea to counter China's growing footprint. On July 11, the Revenue Department of Lakshadweep, a federally administered area situated off the south-western coast of India, unveiled a proposal 'for the acquisition of the entire land area of Bitra Island'. The objective is to transfer the island in Lakshadweep, which is in the northern Indian Ocean, to 'relevant defence and strategic agencies of the government of India', according to the notification. Residents of Bitra Island fear that this transfer would ultimately require them to relocate to another island. The union territory of Lakshadweep is strategically perched amid maritime trade routes between the Malacca Strait, the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Hormuz. India has a strong naval and coast guard presence in Lakshadweep. However, China's investments in infrastructure, such as ports and a base in the African nation of Djibouti, and its incursions into the Indian Ocean are prompting India to strengthen its presence. India sees how China has increased its presence through investments and cultivating leaders in the region, spanning Pakistan and Nepal in the north to Sri Lanka and the Maldives in the south, which Indian experts term a 'string of pearls' encirclement strategy. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Woman taken to hospital after car falls into sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road Singapore Students hide vapes in underwear, toilet roll holders: S'pore schools grapple with vaping scourge Singapore 'I've tried everything': Mum helpless as son's Kpod addiction spirals out of control Singapore NDP 2025: How Benjamin Kheng is whisked from Marina Bay to Padang in 10 minutes by boat, buggy Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Singapore From libraries to living rooms: How reading habits take root in underserved S'pore children Asia Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along frontier as death toll rises Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur for resignation of PM Anwar The July 11 notification sent shockwaves across Bitra Island, the archipelago's smallest island with a population of only 271 people, according to the most recent 2011 census. While the archipelago also relies on tourism and coconut cultivation, the bulk of Bitra Island's population make a living by fishing in the surrounding marine-rich reef. 'I am feeling very nervous. Some people are calling us anti-nationals (because of the opposition to the takeover). 'We are not against India's defence interest. But if they take the island away from us, where will we go?' said Mr Yaseen. 'This is our home,' he added. A 'Save Bitra Island' social media campaign has also been launched to rally support from people living on the other nine inhabited islands, out of the 36 that make up Lakshadweep. A video for the campaign features aerial photographs of the island, ringed by golden sand beaches bathed by emerald blue waters. The video ends with the message: 'Save Bitra, Save Lakshadweep.' While no timeline for the acquisition has been made public, the administration has set a two-month deadline starting from July 11 to carry out a social impact assessment survey to analyse how the acquisition would affect individuals and communities. A local district official, who was not authorised to speak to the media, said they had been asked to conduct the survey, noting that nothing would move forward till it is concluded. But residents are not waiting around for the report to be done, and are already discussing their next course of action, including taking a petition to the high court. 'We will even take the legal route if necessary,' said Mr Yaseen. China's growing presence in Indian Ocean About 40 per cent of global trade and 80 per cent of the maritime oil trade pass through the Indian Ocean. Lakshadweep's proximity to important shipping lanes makes it a critical asset for India's maritime security. It allows the South Asian country to monitor vital shipping lanes like the Nine Degree Channel in the Indian Ocean, which connects South-east Asia to the Middle East and Europe. And it boosts India's ability to swiftly deploy defence resources to effectively combat maritime threats like drug smuggling and piracy. Eighty per cent of China's oil has to pass through the Malacca Strait that lies east of the Indian Ocean. The move to take over Bitra Island – situated in the northern part of Lakshadweep – is clearly a sign of mounting Indian insecurity about China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean, noted analysts. Lakshadweep already has two naval bases, the second of which was inaugurated in 2024 on Minicoy Island, which is the southernmost atoll and closest to the Maldives at a distance of about 130km. The Indian Navy had said at the time of the inauguration that the base was 'part of efforts to augment security infrastructure at the strategically important' islands. Its first base in the Lakshadweep islands on Kavaratti was commissioned in 2012. 'If this move (to take over Bitra Island) is approved and implemented, it would add a third Indian defence base in the Lakshadweep island chain, alongside the naval bases on Kavaratti and Minicoy. This would increase India's presence and ability to deploy into the western Indian Ocean,' said Mr Viraj Solanki, research fellow for South and Central Asian defence, strategy and diplomacy at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. India fortifying Andaman and Nicobar Islands 'This is similar to India's growing presence in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which enhances India's presence in the eastern Indian Ocean,' Mr Solanki noted. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal, near sea lanes including the Malacca Strait. Notwithstanding environmental concerns and the possible effects on the local indigenous tribal communities, India is going ahead with plans for a transshipment port, an airport, a power plant and a settlement on Great Nicobar Island, the largest and southernmost of the Nicobar Islands, within the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar. The government plans to handle four million containers by 2028 in the first of the transshipment port's four phases. While Great Nicobar is spread across 921 sq km, Bitra Island is a mere 0.105 sq km. It has a primary school up to Class 8 for those between 13 and 14 years old, and children who want to continue their education must go by boat to the neighbouring island of Chetlat, which is about 48km away. The island is also known for a small shrine to Malik Mulla, an old Arab saint who is said to have been buried there, and is a place of pilgrimage. According to the government website for Lakshadweep, the first permanent settler on Bitra Island was a woman and her son from Chetlat, who started living on the island from around 1945. The opposition Congress party also held protests against the takeover of Bitra Island on July 22 and has vowed to continue to support the residents of the island. 'The more pertinent aspect is that Bitra Island is the smallest in area and population, but in terms of economic zone, Bitra Island has the largest lagoon in Lakshadweep. It is a very lucrative economic zone. 'Fishermen of different islands park their boats and do fishing,' MP Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed, who represents Lakshadweep in Parliament and belongs to the Congress party, told The Straits Times. 'We don't want to compromise on national security. But why take over the entire island? Where will they go?' Maldives balancing ties with India and China On a visit to Lakshadweep in January 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a submarine optical fibre connection from Kochi in the southern Indian state of Kerala to boost communications infrastructure. He shared photos and videos of himself snorkelling to promote tourism and persuade Indians to visit Lakshadweep. The visit, however, triggered a row with the Maldives , which saw it as an effort to draw away Indian tourists from its own pristine beaches and natural beauty. Ties have since improved between the two countries. Like other island nations in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives has continued to balance its ties with India and China. Underlining the importance of the Maldives for India, Mr Modi, who was on a two-day visit to the Maldives from July 25 to boost trade and defence ties, called the island nation a 'true friend' of India. He and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu officially opened the Maldives National Defence Force's new office building, which was constructed with funding from India, on July 25. India has also offered a US$565 million (S$724 million) line of credit to the Maldives. Can the elephant and the dragon bed down together in Indian Ocean? India has been alarmed by China's increasing incursions into the Indian Ocean. A 2024 report by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think-tank, on China's dual-use research operations in the Indian Ocean said that the country 'is undertaking sweeping efforts to transform its navy into a formidable 'blue water' force capable of projecting power far beyond its shores', like in the Indian Ocean. It noted that between 2020 and 2024, 13 Chinese research vessels with 'concerning organisational ties' were active in the Indian Ocean region. India and China have a complicated relationship due to a row along several sections of their de facto border. Of late, the two countries have moved to improve ties, but distrust remains, with India wary of China's growing clout in South Asia and among the Indian Ocean littoral states. India is also seeking to greatly expand its naval footprint, with 59 warships now being built in Indian shipyards, according to Indian media sources. Additionally, plans are afoot for building a further 31 warships, including submarines. The question remains whether India, which is a net security provider in the Indian Ocean, can counter the growing Chinese presence effectively. Ms Suyesha Dutta, an independent foreign policy analyst based in New Delhi, noted that India could do more to counter China in the region. 'India has certainly laid a strong foundation in the Indian Ocean, but it needs to elevate its approach to effectively counter China in the region,' she said. 'This requires deepening economic and infrastructural ties with littoral states to offer viable alternatives to China's 'quid pro quo' diplomacy, investing in advanced maritime domain awareness technologies, enhancing multilateral cooperation beyond existing forums, and developing agile, forward-deployed logistical capabilities to solidify its primacy in the region.' In 2024, India and Mauritius, which is in the Indian Ocean close to Madagascar, inaugurated an airstrip and a jetty, financed by India, on the tiny island of Agalega. Mauritius' then Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has repeatedly denied allegations that Agalega would serve as a military base for India. In April 2025, India and Sri Lanka signed a five-year memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation, which will govern port calls and high-level military exchanges. Still, Commodore Chitrapu Uday Bhaskar, a retired military officer who served in the Indian Navy, noted that China has deeper pockets than India. China has infrastructural investments in countries like Sri Lanka, where it is operating the Hambantota Port. 'Delhi is constrained by its ability to fund such long-term investments in the manner that China is doing, but it is seeking to maximise the geographic assets it has been endowed with,' he said. 'In the long term, the elephant and the dragon will have to find consensual strategic accommodation in the Indian Ocean region.'
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Colombia denounces mass deportation of citizens from Ecuador
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Colombians who are deported by the Ecuadorian government line up at the Rumichaca International Bridge in Colombia, July 26, 2025. Colombian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS BOGOTA - Colombia's Foreign Ministry on Friday criticized Ecuador for deporting large numbers of Colombian citizens without a formal protocol, describing it as a "unfriendly gesture," while Quito said the removals followed legal procedures and upheld human rights standards. On Thursday, the Colombian government reported that authorities in the neighboring country had announced plans to deport Colombians currently imprisoned in various Ecuadorian penitentiaries. "Through diplomatic channels, Colombia has formally lodged its strongest protest against the Ecuadorian government for this unfriendly act, and is currently evaluating appropriate measures in response," the Foreign Ministry said Friday night. The ministry emphasized that Ecuador had taken this action "without implementing any protocol to guarantee the safe, orderly, and respectful transfer of detainees, in line with their human rights." Ecuador's Foreign Ministry said in a statement it had notified Colombia via diplomatic channels of individual deportation proceedings starting July 8, and that the process followed the country's legal framework. Authorities underscored their commitment to due process, citing the issuance of individual rulings and judicial release orders. "Ecuador therefore rejects claims of mass deportations," the ministry said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Woman taken to hospital after car falls into sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road Singapore Students hide vapes in underwear, toilet roll holders: S'pore schools grapple with vaping scourge Singapore 'I've tried everything': Mum helpless as son's Kpod addiction spirals out of control Singapore NDP 2025: How Benjamin Kheng is whisked from Marina Bay to Padang in 10 minutes by boat, buggy Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Singapore From libraries to living rooms: How reading habits take root in underserved S'pore children Asia Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along frontier as death toll rises Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur for resignation of PM Anwar Meanwhile, Radio Caracol reported that Amilcar Pantoja, mayor of the Colombian border town of Ipiales, confirmed that around 700 Colombian detainees were being sent across the binational bridge without prior official notice. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Driver escapes with minor injuries after car plunges off ferry in Switzerland
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A 50-year-old man drove too far onto a Lake Zurich ferry and tipped his car over the bow of the ferry into the lake. ZURICH - A car plunged off a ferry into Lake Zurich on July 26, Swiss police said, with the driver able to escape with only minor injuries. The incident happened in Horgen, south of Switzerland's biggest city Zurich, shortly before 7am (1pm in Singapore), with the car going straight through and overshooting the end of the boat. A 50-year-old man drove his car onto the ferry and 'for reasons still unknown, he drove too far and tipped his vehicle over the bow of the ferry into Lake Zurich', a police statement said. 'The injured man was able to exit the vehicle by his own efforts and was rescued and brought to shore,' Zurich Cantonal Police said. There he received initial medical treatment before being taken to hospital for further assessment. Police said he sustained only minor injuries. The car was later recovered from a depth of around 30 metres, the statement said. Police and public prosecutors have opened an investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident. AFP Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Woman taken to hospital after car falls into sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road Singapore Students hide vapes in underwear, toilet roll holders: S'pore schools grapple with vaping scourge Singapore 'I've tried everything': Mum helpless as son's Kpod addiction spirals out of control Singapore NDP 2025: How Benjamin Kheng is whisked from Marina Bay to Padang in 10 minutes by boat, buggy Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Singapore From libraries to living rooms: How reading habits take root in underserved S'pore children Asia Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along frontier as death toll rises Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur for resignation of PM Anwar
