LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Golden State Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins says he was forced to get the one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine in order to keep playing in the National Basketball Association. “I guess you don’t own your body,” Wiggins said after the Warriors exhibition game on Monday against Portland. “That’s what it comes... » read more
SINGAPORE – Most issues arising from poor living conditions at a Covid-19 community care facility (CCF) in Ang Mo Kio had been resolved several weeks before a Facebook post slammed the “dire conditions” there, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Manpower (MOM). In response to queries from The Straits Times on Monday... » read more
SINGAPORE – As a young lawyer, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam believed the solution for every problem lay in the courts. But his experience in the real world changed that, he said on Monday (Oct 4) in the debate on the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (Fica), which has been criticised for the limits... » read more
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND (REUTERS) – Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said his side did not deserve to win following a toothless attacking display in a 0-0 draw away to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (Oct 2), but the Spaniard took some comfort from a solid defensive performance. After a thrilling 3-1 win over bitter rivals Tottenham... » read more
SINGAPORE – A terrorist attack targeting the ethnic Chinese and triggering intercommunal unrest in Singapore, serving as a pretext for China’s intervention. Beijing’s use of Malaysian-based intermediaries to conduct disinformation operations against Singapore, to exploit the city-state’s closeness with its neighbour. These are examples of how Singapore’s structural vulnerabilities could be targeted and exploited by... » read more
SINGAPORE – After a long day at work, Mr Ismail, 65, usually unwinds at an open-air plaza in Lorong 4 Toa Payoh before going home at about 10pm. There, he grabs a cup of coffee from the nearby coffee shop, listens to music, and chats with friends from the neighbourhood. Like many seniors who were... » read more
SINGAPORE – Staff at Thye Hua Kwan Nursing Home in Hougang are soldiering on despite the challenges brought on by the surge in Covid-19 cases in the community, said the home’s chief executive Ardi S. Hardjoe. Mr Ardi said that most staff are working longer hours, doing 12-hour shifts, and staying away from social gatherings... » read more
LONDON (REUTERS) – Sergio Garcia may not have got much sleep after Europe’s Ryder Cup letdown but the Spaniard said on Wednesday (Sept 29) his energy level is good ahead of his title defence this week at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi. Garcia, who is the lone participant from last week’s Ryder Cup... » read more
LONDON (REUTERS) – Ireland’s Shane Lowry said his only focus for the next two years is to help Europe regain the Ryder Cup when the biennial competition is held at the Marco Simone Golf Club in Italy in 2023. Padraig Harrington’s European team were overwhelmed as the United States reclaimed the Ryder Cup on Sunday,... » read more
SINGAPORE – Nature is not, and cannot be, a passive victim of economic development, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Wednesday (Sept 29). Not only does nature help make city life more liveable, it can also contribute to mankind’s fight against climate change, he said, urging delegates gathered at the Ecosperity Week sustainability... » read more
SINGAPORE – Climate change can wreak “catastrophic and irreversible” damage on societies and economies, so taking action to avoid such an outcome is a responsibility that businesses must take, said President Halimah Yacob on Tuesday (Sept 28). Climate action also presents a business opportunity, she said during the launch of Ecosperity Week – a sustainability conference... » read more
WASHINGTON – Singapore’s first priority is to control the Covid-19 pandemic at home and ensure healthcare facilities are not overwhelmed, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said. The issue of relaxation of travel curbs with Asean is being actively discussed, he told The Straits Times on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in... » read more
SINGAPORE – A Ministry of Manpower (MOM) division that has been caring for migrant workers here over the past year will be made permanent. The Assurance, Care and Engagement (Ace) Group has to look beyond the current pandemic to the next big outbreak, said its chief Tung Yui Fai, even as it is being kept... » read more
SINGAPORE – The rustic isle of Pulau Ubin is known as a treasure trove of biodiversity. But plans are afoot to ensure that nature continues to flourish on the island in the Republic’s north east,and is not threatened by coastal erosion or sea level rise. From next year, the National Parks Board (NParks) will begin... » read more
KOHLER, UNITED STATES (AFP) – Brooks Koepka says he enjoys the Ryder Cup despite its differences from a typical golf week and the American vows he is ready for this weekend’s showdown despite nagging injuries. The four-time major winner cleared the air on several issues on Thursday (Sept 23) on the eve of the 43rd... » read more
SOCHI, RUSSIA (REUTERS) – Max Verstappen hit back with sarcasm on Thursday (Sept 23) after seven times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton suggested his young Red Bull rival was feeling the pressure of a first title tilt. “I’m so nervous I can barely sleep,” the Dutch 23-year-old told reporters at the Russian Grand Prix... » read more
SINGAPORE – One of Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF’s) most complex and high-end overseas drills, Exercise Forging Sabre, has returned with the debut of several army assets and an upgraded command post. The biennial live-firing exercise is being held at Mountain Home Air Force Base in the state of Idaho, United States, said the Ministry of... » read more
SINGAPORE – A study by researchers from three universities here had identified the market and hawker centre in Toa Payoh Lorong 8 as an area significantly more vulnerable to Covid-19, two months before it was identified as a cluster. The high human traffic in the area and the inability of many people living there to... » read more
KOHLER, WISCONSIN (REUTERS) – Bryson DeChambeau said on Tuesday (Sept 21) that he and US Ryder Cup team mate Brooks Koepka have made progress in improving their frosty relationship. DeChambeau, speaking to reporters at Whistling Straits where the biennial team competition against holders Europe begins on Friday, suggested the feud has been driven by a... » read more
SINGAPORE – In the sleepless hours after she had been raped by a man she once thought she would marry, Bella (not her real name), felt lost. The 23-year-old was alone at home as her parents were away. She could hardly face the thought of making a police report. Speaking to The Straits Times about... » read more