2 BTO projects with shorter waiting times to go on sale in July; SM Lee does not expect US tariffs to be temporary: Singapore live news
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong believes that once trade and economic policies are set, it becomes politically unfeasible to remove them. Therefore, Singapore should not expect current US tariffs to be rolled back even after US President Donald Trump is no longer in office.
Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates:
Around 1,400 BTO flats with waiting times of less than three years located in Clementi and Bukit Panjang will go on sale in July.
Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat revealed the news in a Facebook post on 16 July as part of an announcement that over 10,000 new flats – comprising of BTO and SBF flats – will be offered in the upcoming sales exercise.
"About 5,500 BTO flats will be offered across various locations islandwide. This includes around 1,400 flats with shorter waiting times of less than three years located at Clementi Emerald and Bangkit Breeze in Bukit Panjang," Chee said.
Over 4,600 balance flats will also be put up for sale in July by HDB. You can read more on this story in the previous link.
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong believes the impact of US President Donald Trump's trade policies are long lasting and the world will not simply go back to "status quo" even after his presidency ends.
SM Lee, who was speaking at the Economic Society of Singapore's (ESS') annual dinner on 15 July, said that once tariffs are in place it becomes politically unfeasible to remove them as businesses which emerged from the new policy will push back against any rollback. He used the example of former US president Joe Biden who did not overturn earlier tariffs that Trump had imposed on China in his first term.
"It will not go back to the status quo in trade policy, in economic policy. Once you make a move, you can't take it back," Lee said.
Instead, SM Lee has urged countries that support free trade to work closer together and adapt to evolving trade landscapes.
You can read more on SM Lee's comments from the dinner, here.
A woman has been arrested in Thailand for allegedly seducing a number of Buddhist monks into sexual relationships – and then blackmailing them to cover up their intimate acts.
At least nine abbots and senior monks reported to be involved in the scandal have been disrobed and cast out of the monkhood, the Royal Thai Police Central Investigation Bureau said.
Wilawan Emsawat was arrested at her home in Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, on charges including extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods.
According to police, the 30-year-old woman received around 385 million baht (S$15.2 million) in the past three years. However, most of the money has already been spent on online gambling websites, it has been revealed.
Nominations for the 2025 Emmy Awards have been announced.
Ben Stiller's dystopian office drama 'Severance' led all shows with a total of 27 nominations – including leading acting nods for stars Adam Scott and Britt Lower.
Seth Rogen's 'The Studio' secured 23 nominations making it a good day for Apple TV+ which also produces 'Severance'. Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese received his first acting Emmy nomination for his cameo in 'The Studio', and his daughter could not wait to share the 82-year-old's reaction to the news on social media.
But it was HBO Max who led the overall network tally with 142 nominations, thanks to shows 'The Penguin', 'The White Lotus', 'The Last of Us' and 'Hacks'.
Netflix still holds the record for most nominations ever with 160 secured back in 2020. However, one of Netflix's most popular shows, 'Squid Game' saw its final seasons snubbed by the Emmys this year.
US President Donald Trump has clarified that he does not want Ukraine to target Moscow with strikes.
The development comes after the Financial Times reported Trump had privately encouraged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to escalate attacks on Russia. FT, citing anonymous sources, said Trump also asked if Ukraine could do so if the US provided the country long-range weapons.
However, the White House – in a statement – told the BBC that Trump was "merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing."
Trump has given Russia 50 days to make a deal with Ukraine or face 100% tariffs.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Las Vegas Sands' new US$8 billion (S$10.3b) project to expand Singapore's iconic Marina Bay Sands resort will "refresh our skyline."
PM Wong was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday (15 July) and added that the plans for Marina Bay were part of Singapore's broader, more ambitious transformation of its entire southern waterfront.
The new MBS complex is expected to open in 2031, pending government approval. It is set to include a 55-storey hotel tower with 570 luxury suites and a 15,000-seat arena.
"We're writing the next chapter for Marina Bay and making an even more vibrant and inclusive destination for all to enjoy," said Wong in a Facebook post.
Las Vegas Sands co-founder Miriam Adelson, the wife of late billionaire Sheldon, was also at the ceremony, and she thanked Singapore for trusting the company. "You took a chance on us... we took a chance on you," she said.
More on Las Vegas Sands' billion-dollar bet on Singapore, here.
Criminal operations selling drug-laced vapes known as Kpods are becoming an increasing problem across multiple countries in Asia – including Singapore. Authorities have been cracking down hard on vapes and the government is also considering enhancing current enforcement laws, following a spike in seizures of Kpods.
The Straits Times recently launched its anti-vaping campaign, which saw readers share personal stories on how Kpods – and also vapes – destroyed their families.
A 35-year-old woman revealed how her husband spiralled into repeated episodes of violence and emotional outbursts while using Kpods, causing their children to fear him. "We dated for 10 years and were married for nine. Now, I don't even know who he is any more. Kpods broke our marriage and shattered our children," she said.
Another woman said she had seen both her sons experience seizures from Kpods. She went on to describe how her eldest son would 'walk around like a zombie' and she has videos of her younger son struggling to perform simple tasks such as closing the gate to their flat.
Earlier this month, a father also shared the heartbreaking story of his daughter's addiction to Kpods which he believes played a part in her tragic death at the age of 19.
Around 1,400 BTO flats with waiting times of less than three years located in Clementi and Bukit Panjang will go on sale in July.
Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat revealed the news in a Facebook post on 16 July as part of an announcement that over 10,000 new flats – comprising of BTO and SBF flats – will be offered in the upcoming sales exercise.
"About 5,500 BTO flats will be offered across various locations islandwide. This includes around 1,400 flats with shorter waiting times of less than three years located at Clementi Emerald and Bangkit Breeze in Bukit Panjang," Chee said.
Over 4,600 balance flats will also be put up for sale in July by HDB. You can read more on this story in the previous link.
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong believes the impact of US President Donald Trump's trade policies are long lasting and the world will not simply go back to "status quo" even after his presidency ends.
SM Lee, who was speaking at the Economic Society of Singapore's (ESS') annual dinner on 15 July, said that once tariffs are in place it becomes politically unfeasible to remove them as businesses which emerged from the new policy will push back against any rollback. He used the example of former US president Joe Biden who did not overturn earlier tariffs that Trump had imposed on China in his first term.
"It will not go back to the status quo in trade policy, in economic policy. Once you make a move, you can't take it back," Lee said.
Instead, SM Lee has urged countries that support free trade to work closer together and adapt to evolving trade landscapes.
You can read more on SM Lee's comments from the dinner, here.
A woman has been arrested in Thailand for allegedly seducing a number of Buddhist monks into sexual relationships – and then blackmailing them to cover up their intimate acts.
At least nine abbots and senior monks reported to be involved in the scandal have been disrobed and cast out of the monkhood, the Royal Thai Police Central Investigation Bureau said.
Wilawan Emsawat was arrested at her home in Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, on charges including extortion, money laundering and receiving stolen goods.
According to police, the 30-year-old woman received around 385 million baht (S$15.2 million) in the past three years. However, most of the money has already been spent on online gambling websites, it has been revealed.
Nominations for the 2025 Emmy Awards have been announced.
Ben Stiller's dystopian office drama 'Severance' led all shows with a total of 27 nominations – including leading acting nods for stars Adam Scott and Britt Lower.
Seth Rogen's 'The Studio' secured 23 nominations making it a good day for Apple TV+ which also produces 'Severance'. Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese received his first acting Emmy nomination for his cameo in 'The Studio', and his daughter could not wait to share the 82-year-old's reaction to the news on social media.
But it was HBO Max who led the overall network tally with 142 nominations, thanks to shows 'The Penguin', 'The White Lotus', 'The Last of Us' and 'Hacks'.
Netflix still holds the record for most nominations ever with 160 secured back in 2020. However, one of Netflix's most popular shows, 'Squid Game' saw its final seasons snubbed by the Emmys this year.
US President Donald Trump has clarified that he does not want Ukraine to target Moscow with strikes.
The development comes after the Financial Times reported Trump had privately encouraged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to escalate attacks on Russia. FT, citing anonymous sources, said Trump also asked if Ukraine could do so if the US provided the country long-range weapons.
However, the White House – in a statement – told the BBC that Trump was "merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing."
Trump has given Russia 50 days to make a deal with Ukraine or face 100% tariffs.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Las Vegas Sands' new US$8 billion (S$10.3b) project to expand Singapore's iconic Marina Bay Sands resort will "refresh our skyline."
PM Wong was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday (15 July) and added that the plans for Marina Bay were part of Singapore's broader, more ambitious transformation of its entire southern waterfront.
The new MBS complex is expected to open in 2031, pending government approval. It is set to include a 55-storey hotel tower with 570 luxury suites and a 15,000-seat arena.
"We're writing the next chapter for Marina Bay and making an even more vibrant and inclusive destination for all to enjoy," said Wong in a Facebook post.
Las Vegas Sands co-founder Miriam Adelson, the wife of late billionaire Sheldon, was also at the ceremony, and she thanked Singapore for trusting the company. "You took a chance on us... we took a chance on you," she said.
More on Las Vegas Sands' billion-dollar bet on Singapore, here.
Criminal operations selling drug-laced vapes known as Kpods are becoming an increasing problem across multiple countries in Asia – including Singapore. Authorities have been cracking down hard on vapes and the government is also considering enhancing current enforcement laws, following a spike in seizures of Kpods.
The Straits Times recently launched its anti-vaping campaign, which saw readers share personal stories on how Kpods – and also vapes – destroyed their families.
A 35-year-old woman revealed how her husband spiralled into repeated episodes of violence and emotional outbursts while using Kpods, causing their children to fear him. "We dated for 10 years and were married for nine. Now, I don't even know who he is any more. Kpods broke our marriage and shattered our children," she said.
Another woman said she had seen both her sons experience seizures from Kpods. She went on to describe how her eldest son would 'walk around like a zombie' and she has videos of her younger son struggling to perform simple tasks such as closing the gate to their flat.
Earlier this month, a father also shared the heartbreaking story of his daughter's addiction to Kpods which he believes played a part in her tragic death at the age of 19.
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