While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, July 21, 2025
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba meeting the media following upper house elections, at the Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo on July 20.
Japan PM's future in doubt after election debacle
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's future was unclear on July 21 after his coalition appeared to have disastrously lost its upper house majority in elections that saw strong gains by a right-wing populist party.
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed almost continuously since 1955, and its partner Komeito had to win 50 seats in the July 20 vote but they secured only around 41, according to local media projections.
Voters angry at inflation turned to other parties, notably the 'Japanese first' Sanseito, which made strong gains with its 'anti-globalist' drive reminiscent of US President Donald Trump's agenda.
The debacle comes only months after Mr Ishiba's coalition also lost its majority in the lower house, suffering the LDP's worst result in 15 years.
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Indonesia ferry fire kills five as hundreds rescued
PHOTO: FACEBOOK/ABDUL RAHMAN AGU
An Indonesian ferry fire killed at least five people on July 20, the country's coast guard said, while more than 200 others were saved with many jumping overboard to flee the huge blaze.
The KM Barcelona 5 ferry was engulfed in flames off the coast of Sulawesi island, Indonesia's Maritime Security Agency said, just weeks after at least 19 people were killed when a ferry sank off the popular resort island of Bali.
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Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise
Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT
Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung
Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger
Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle
Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations
Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event
Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi
'Five people were reported dead, two of whom have yet to be identified. Meanwhile, 284 people have been evacuated safely,' the agency, also known as Bakamla, said in a statement.
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Pakistan arrests suspect in viral 'honour' shooting
SCREENSHOT: X/@SHERRYREHMAN
Pakistan on July 20 arrested a suspect after a video emerged on social media of a woman and a man being shot and killed for marrying against the wishes of their families, in a so-called honour killing, authorities said.
The couple, who were not identified, were shot dead on the orders of a local tribal council in June in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, according to provincial authorities, who investigated after the video went viral.
One of the suspects has been arrested after the location and people in the video were identified, the provincial chief minister, Mr Sarfraz Bugti, said in a statement.
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London opera as performer unfurls Palestinian flag
London's Royal Opera House on July 20 condemned as 'wholly inappropriate' the actions of a performer who held up a Palestinian flag onstage at the end of a performance.
Video footage posted online shows a brief scuffle at the edge of the stage as a figure dressed in a shirt and tie unsuccessfully attempts to stop the performer.
The incident in the British capital on July 19 during the curtain call came on the closing night of an 11-night run of Il Trovatore, a four-act opera by Giuseppe Verdi.
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Scheffler a class apart as he romps to first Open title
PHOTO: AFP
A relentless Scottie Scheffler sealed his first British Open triumph by four shots as he turned the final day of the tournament into a procession at Royal Portrush on July 20.
The 29-year-old American world number one started out with a four-stroke lead and apart from one mid-round blip, never looked like relinquishing his iron-like grip as the chasing pack were left scrapping for minor places.
Scheffler resembled a towering giant amongst men all week on the glorious Causeway Coast, rekindling memories of 15-times major winner Tiger Woods in his pomp, and he rubber-stamped his fourth major title with a clinical final-round 68.
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Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trump, Carney to speak in coming days, Canadian official says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at a press conference to make an announcement on recognizing Palestinian statehood, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, July 30, 2025. REUTERS/Patrick Doyle/File Photo WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will likely talk "over the next number of days" after the U.S. imposed a 35% tariff on goods not covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, a Canadian official said on Sunday. Dominic LeBlanc, the federal cabinet minister in charge of U.S.-Canada trade, also told CBS News' "Face the Nation" that he was "encouraged" by recent discussions and believed a deal to bring down tariffs remained an option. "We're encouraged by the conversations with Secretary Lutnick and Ambassador Greer, but we're not yet where we need to go to get the deal that's in the best interest of the two economies," LeBlanc said, referring to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The trade minister said he expected Carney and Trump to speak "over the next number of days." "We think there is an option of striking a deal that will bring down some of these tariffs provide greater certainty to investment," LeBlanc said. Washington linked Friday's tariff announcement in part to what it said was Canada's failure to stop fentanyl smuggling. It was the latest blow in a months-long tariff war which Trump initiated shortly after returning to power this year. Carney says Canada accounts for just 1% of U.S. fentanyl imports and has been working intensively to further reduce the volumes. REUTERS
Business Times
4 hours ago
- Business Times
Opec+ makes another large oil output hike in market share push
[LONDON] Opec+ agreed on Sunday (Aug 3) to raise oil production by 547,000 barrels per day for September, the latest in a series of accelerated output hikes to regain market share, as concerns mount over potential supply disruptions linked to Russia. The move marks a full and early reversal of Opec+'s largest tranche of output cuts plus a separate increase in output for the United Arab Emirates amounting to about 2.5 million bpd, or about 2.4 per cent of world demand. Eight Opec+ members held a brief virtual meeting, amid increasing US pressure on India to halt Russian oil purchases – part of Washington's efforts to bring Moscow to the negotiating table for a peace deal with Ukraine. President Donald Trump said he wants this by Aug 8. In a statement after the meeting, Opec+ cited a healthy economy and low stocks as reasons behind its decision. Oil prices have remained elevated even as Opec+ has raised output, with Brent crude closing near US$70 a barrel on Friday, up from a 2025 low of near US$58 in April, supported partly by rising seasonal demand. 'Given fairly strong oil prices at around US$70, it does give Opec+ some confidence about market fundamentals,' said Amrita Sen, co-founder of Energy Aspects, adding that the market structure was also indicating tight stocks. The eight countries are scheduled to meet again on Sep 7, when they may consider reinstating another layer of output cuts totalling around 1.65 million bpd, two Opec+ sources said following Sunday's meeting. Those cuts are currently in place until the end of next year. Opec+ in full includes 10 non-Opec oil producing countries, most notably Russia and Kazakhstan. The group, which pumps about half of the world's oil, had been curtailing production for several years to support oil prices. It reversed course this year in a bid to regain market share, spurred in part by calls from Trump for Opec to ramp up production. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The eight began raising output in April with a modest hike of 138,000 bpd, followed by larger-than-planned hikes of 411,000 bpd in May, June and July, 548,000 bpd in August and now 547,000 bpd for September. 'So far the market has been able to absorb very well those additional barrels also due to stockpiliing activity in China,' said Giovanni Staunovo of UBS. 'All eyes will now shift on the Trump decision on Russia this Friday.' As well as the voluntary cut of about 1.65 million bpd from the eight members, Opec+ still has a 2-million-bpd cut across all members, which also expires at the end of 2026. 'Opec+ has passed the first test,' said Jorge Leon of Rystad Energy and a former Opec official, as it has fully reversed its largest cut without crashing prices. 'But the next task will be even harder: deciding if and when to unwind the remaining 1.66 million barrels, all while navigating geopolitical tension and preserving cohesion.' REUTERS
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Singapore must stay socially progressive while conserving its cultures: Tharman
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox President Tharman Shanmugaratnam speaking at an event to launch the Encyclopedia of Singapore Tamils on Aug 2. SINGAPORE – Singapore must continue to be a place where cultures can be preserved, including that of its many sub-ethnic groups. At the same time, it must also remain socially progressive, where discrimination in any form is not tolerated, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. At an Aug 2 event to launch the Encyclopaedia of Singapore Tamils (EST) , Mr Tharman said the story of the city-state's Tamil community is, in many ways, that of Singapore itself – one of resilience, multicultural integration and also deep social transformation over the country's 60 years of independence. The EST is an online resource that documents the history and contributions of the Tamil community here over the past 200 years, and is a collaboration between the Centre for Singapore Tamil Culture (CSTC) and the National Library Board (NLB). The President noted that in Singapore's early years, migrants from southern India naturally brought with them their caste traditions and practices. As a result, segregation in their social interactions, jobs and living arrangements closely resembled those in their places of origin. For instance, the encyclopaedia records how almost all Indian enclaves here had designated Adi-Dravida zones for those lowest in the caste hierarchy, such as the area between Jalan Besar and Rochor Canal. While attitudes towards caste started to change in the 1930s and 1940s due to reformist movements such as the Tamil Reform Association and the Japanese Occupation, the most profound changes came after Singapore gained independence, said Mr Tharman. A national education system promoted meritocracy regardless of social background, public housing brought people of all communities together, and a growing economy provided opportunities for all, he noted. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No plans to fully liberalise cross-border ride-hailing services between S'pore and Johor: LTA Singapore LTA, Singapore bus operators reviewing Malaysia's request to start services from JB at 4am World Trump is winning his trade war, but Americans will pay the price Singapore President Tharman meets migrant workers who saved driver of car that fell into sinkhole Opinion The charm – and drawbacks – of living in a time warp in Singapore Singapore Now flying solo, Acres CEO Kalaivanan Balakrishnan presses ahead with wildlife rescue efforts Life KPop Demon Hunters to get sequels, expanded universe to include musical, live-action remake The result was a dilution of caste traditions and better appreciation for inclusivity. But there are still remnants of caste practices among those who have been higher up in the traditional social hierarchy, and a renewed influx of such practices among new immigrants, said Mr Tharman. More also needs to be done to help those who have faced disadvantages passed down through generations, from the time their forefathers arrived here as coolies and indentured labourers, he added. 'As much as we have done away with the most regressive social practices, we have to keep working at this... even as we conserve the core of our cultures, Singapore must remain a socially progressive place, where discrimination of all forms is not tolerated, and inclusivity becomes part of all our lives,' said Mr Tharman. 'It is what makes us as Tamil Singaporeans, and as Indian Singaporeans, distinctive among Indian communities globally.' At the event, CSTC chief executive Arun Mahizhnan said the encyclopaedia addresses a longstanding lack of a comprehensive historical record of Singapore's Tamil community. It currently contains more than 350 entries, covering a range of topics that includes historical events, arts, community organisations, journalism, education, politics and personalities. Being online means it will be accessible to a broad audience both in Singapore and abroad, added Mr Mahizhnan, who is also EST's chief editor. 'Besides preserving our history, it can also inspire younger generations to appreciate and connect with their heritage.' EST deputy editor Sivanantham Neelakandan said the encyclopaedia is meant to be a living document that will continue to grow and 'serve as a lasting testament for generations to come'. The encyclopaedia, published in conjunction with SG60 and NLB's 30th anniversary, can be accessed both in Tamil and English. In his speech, Mr Tharman paid tribute to the generations of Tamils who contributed to Singapore society in areas such as education, women's rights, politics, medicine, law, sports and the arts. He also spotlighted the Tamil community's influence on the city-state's culinary landscape, such as how mee goreng (spicy fried noodles) was created and popularised by the Muslim Chulias of Madras. 'As we celebrate SG60, may this be a reminder of each of our communities' contributions, from the labourers who led the most difficult of lives to the civil servants, educationists, professionals and entrepreneurs, each contributing to making this nation that we treasure,' he said. The event was attended by almost 600 guests, including Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo and Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash. Following the launch, a roving exhibition will tour four venues across Singapore from August 2025 to February 2026, showcasing key aspects of Singapore's Tamil heritage through interactive panels and displays. The exhibition will highlight lesser-known facts about Tamil publishing, postage stamps, schools and signages.
