No idle punt: Why Singapore called out cyber saboteur UNC3886 by name
Singapore's naming of cyber threat group signals to state actors that their infiltration is known and is being countered.
Cyber attacks on civilian infrastructure aren't unprecedented, says the writer.
When the Government revealed that
the country's critical infrastructure was under attack from cyber threat group UNC3886, Singaporeans responded by snapping up those 4-D betting numbers. From a glass-half-full perspective this, at least, showed that the message was heard.
This was 'peak Singapore' behaviour, as one commentator put it on X.
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Straits Times
25 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Younger generation must inherit and strengthen Singapore's multiculturalism: David Neo
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo speaking at Kaleidoscope: Harmony in Motion on July 27. SINGAPORE – Singapore's multiculturalism must continue to be core to the country's shared values as it looks to SG100, and this is something the younger generation must inherit, strengthen and pass on, said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo. This multiculturalism is a unique strength and especially crucial in an increasingly divided world, said Mr Neo as he addressed around 500 youth participants at the inaugural Kaleidoscope: Harmony in Motion showcase. 'Our multiracial, harmonious and cohesive society is a priceless asset that generations of Singaporeans have collectively nurtured,' he said. 'It underpins our safety and security and allows us to bring our families up in peace and pursue our dreams to go further.' Held on the evening of July 27 at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, the youth-led cultural showcase and community fair was the collective effort of over 100 young people from 10 religions and 25 community and faith-based organisations. Mr Neo said he was heartened to see Singapore's youth step forward to lead efforts on the multiculturalism front, stressing that it was more important than ever in a fractured, increasingly divided world. He said Singapore is not immune to vulnerabilities such as 'new driving forces that seek to pull us apart' – citing the spread of misinformation and the subsequent creation of echo chambers as an example. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 'Our youth are our future... We need to create space for them to have a voice and to have a hand in shaping our future Singapore society,' added Mr Neo, who is also Senior Minister of State for Education. It was a sentiment shared by 18-year-old Thaddeus Tan, one of the youngsters leading Kaleidescope and who has been a grassroots member in MacPherson since the age of 13. He said his experience on the ground gave him a different perspective on the increasingly diverse concerns among young people. 'It made me realise that young people require a national-level platform to both showcase their skills and talents, and their concerns about issues like social, racial and religious harmony that extend beyond a (one-off) Racial Harmony Day,' said Thaddeus, a student in Nanyang Junior College. 'By bringing this to a national level, we are actually telling the youth: We appreciate you and it's important that you have a seat at the table.' Civil servant Didi Amzar, 27, one of the youth leaders in the Racial and Religious Harmony Circle and a leader of the Kaleidoscope project, said: 'There have been youth-led events in the past but definitely not something of this scale and in this format.' Mr Didi Amzar (right) and Mr Thaddeus Tan at the inaugural Kaleidoscope: Harmony in Motion showcase. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO The Racial and Religious Harmony Circle currently has more than 1,700 members, including representatives from religious organisations, civic groups and grassroots organisations from across Singapore. Mr Didi, who conceptualised and shaped the storyline for the Kaleidoscope: Harmony in Motion showcase, said he wanted to feature 'the real diversity of Singapore' beyond the standard Chinese-Malay-Indian-Others communities to also feature the often overlooked 'in-betweens'. Hence, the production, a three-act performance about three young protagonists' aspirations for a harmonious society, featured actors of mixed-race heritage for a more inclusive representation of Singaporeans. 'The youth leaders have to find a solution to unite their tribes and society, and I think that's a really good reminder – that if we really want youth leaders to be the future generation leading us forward, we have to give them the chance to do so,' he said. The Kaleidescope event also featured a fair with interactive booths, cultural demonstrations by musicians, and sharing sessions on the various religions in Singapore by partners such as the Inter-Religious Organisation; Climate Interfaith; Dialogue Centre; and Roses of Peace. The event concluded Singapore's Racial and Religious Harmony Month celebrations. Racial Harmony Day is celebrated on July 21, with July designated as Racial and Religious Harmony Month since 2023. In 2025 , Harmony Circle and community partners organised more than 60 activities, bringing together more than 100,000 people through sports, arts, carnivals, dialogues and tours.
Straits Times
37 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Syria expected to hold parliamentary election in September
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: A man casts his ballot at a polling station during parliamentary elections, in Damascus, Syria July 15, 2024. REUTERS/Yamam al Shaar/File Photo Syria is expected to hold its first parliamentary election under the new administration in September, the head of the electoral commission told state news agency SANA on Sunday. Voting for the 210-member People's Assembly is scheduled to take place between September 15 and 20, said Mohamed Taha, who is overseeing the electoral process. President Ahmed al-Sharaa has received a draft electoral law that amends a previous decree and raises the number of seats from 150 to 210. A third of the seats will be appointed by the president. The government has pledged broad representation and said it will allow foreign observers to monitor electoral committees overseeing the vote. Officials said areas outside government control, including Kurdish-held regions in northern Syria and the Druze-majority province of Sweida, would continue to have seats allocated based on population. The new assembly is expected to lay the groundwork for a broader democratic process, which critics say currently lacks sufficient participation from minority groups. It will also be tasked with approving landmark legislation aimed at overhauling decades of state-controlled economic policies and ratifying treaties that could reshape Syria's foreign policy alliances. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 In March, Syria issued a constitutional declaration to guide the interim period under Sharaa's leadership. The document preserves a central role for Islamic law while guaranteeing women's rights and freedom of expression. It raised concerns of civic groups and Western nations about the concentration of power among the country's Islamist-led leadership. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
UK's Starmer to convene cabinet meeting, most likely to discuss Gaza
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India (not pictured) as they meet for bilateral talks at Chequers near Aylesbury, England, Thursday, July 24, 2025. Kin Cheung/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo LONDON - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will convene a cabinet meeting next week, a government source said on Sunday, most likely to discuss the situation in Gaza after coming under growing pressure to recognise a Palestinian state. The Financial Times, which initially reported the story, said ministers, currently in a summer recess until September 1, would reconvene to discuss Gaza. Starmer's office did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment. The recall comes after Starmer said on Friday the British government would recognise a Palestinian state only as part of a negotiated peace deal, disappointing many in his Labour Party who want him to follow France in taking swifter action. President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday France would recognise a Palestinian state, a plan that drew strong condemnation from Israel and the United States, after similar moves from Spain, Norway and Ireland last year. More than 220 members of parliament in the UK, mostly Labour members representing about a third of the House of Commons, wrote to Starmer on Friday urging him to recognise a Palestinian state. Successive British governments have said they will formally recognise a Palestinian state when the time is right, without setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 Starmer's approach has been complicated by the arrival in Scotland on Friday of U.S. President Donald Trump, with whom he has built warm relations. In foreign policy terms, Britain has rarely diverged from the United States. Israel has been facing growing international criticism, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government rejects, over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. REUTERS
