Latest news with #MinistryOfHomeAffairs
Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Top countries attracting international students beyond American shores
Even though America seems to be rolling back the red carpet for international students, they are not starved of choices. They could consider other countries if their visa applications have been put on hold by US embassies ordered to pause interviews while the Trump administration weighs stricter vetting of visa applicants' social media activity. According to Study International, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, China and Germany are among the leading host countries for international students. France and Japan are also in the big league. And let's not forget Singapore. A small island, it obviously cannot house the same large numbers as the big players in education, but it's a magnet, too, for foreign students. There were about 65,400 international students in Singapore at end-April 2022, up roughly 10 per cent from 59,100 in April 2021, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a combined reply to queries from The Business Times back then. The figure included student pass holders in all school types, including schools under MOE, universities, polytechnics and private education institutions. The foreign students in Singapore came mainly from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, China and India. From 2008 to 2017, out of 7,251 foreign students who applied for permanent residency on their own merits, close to 82% (5,932) were granted PR, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Of those granted PR between 2008 and 2017, 1,072 (18%) subsequently took up citizenship as of end-2017. International student numbers have been rising worldwide, reaching 6.9 million in 2022. China and India remain the two largest source countries, collectively sending over 1.6 million students abroad in 2022. India alone accounted for around 622,000, while China contributed more than a million. Key destinations United Kingdom: The UK, hosting over 750,000 international students in 2022–2023, continues to be an elite academic destination. However, recent immigration policy changes have made it more restrictive. Still, the UK remains attractive due to its globally respected institutions, cultural richness, and strong career prospects—especially in business, engineering, medicine, and technology. Public opinion remains largely supportive, though housing concerns are mounting. Canada: Canada has experienced rapid growth, hosting over one million international students by late 2023. Its strengths lie in clear post-graduation pathways to permanent residency and a reputation for inclusivity. Canada retains one of the highest international student retention rates globally — 44% remain ten years after starting their studies However, surging demand has placed strain on housing and public services, prompting a new study permit cap. See also Louis Koo donates to buildings schools in China Australia: Long favoured for its lifestyle and quality, Australia has also introduced tighter immigration controls. New rules include higher English proficiency demands and stricter financial requirements. These measures aim to ease housing and labour market pressures. Australia, which hosted over 463,000 foreign students in 2020, maintains a solid international student retention rate of 29%. However, recent surveys point to rising dissatisfaction among foreign students, driven in part by negative public sentiment and regulatory uncertainty. China: In 2020, China hosted nearly half a million international students. Although permanent residency remains elusive for most, the Chinese government is relaxing immigration policies to compete with Western countries. China's appeal lies in strong universities, affordable living costs, and career prospects in sectors like English teaching, engineering, and finance. Germany: With over 469,000 foreign students between 2023 and 2024, Germany has become a standout example of integrating international students into its labour force. Germany offers tuition-free education at public universities, a solid economy, and strong job prospects — particularly in IT, healthcare, and engineering. The country's 45% retention rate after ten years is among the highest globally. France: France hosted over 430,000 international students in 2023–2024 — a 21% rise in five years. It is on track to meet its 2027 goal of 500,000 students. France remains highly attractive for its rich culture, relatively low tuition, and access to the Schengen area. Strong ties between universities and industries enhance student employability, particularly in business, engineering, and the humanities. See also Education's Moonshot Moment Japan: Japan is working to attract more international students to address its demographic decline and labour shortages. It hosted over 228,000 international students in 2020 and aims to exceed 300,000 annually. While Japan's educational quality and cultural appeal draw students, its immigration system remains strict. Job offers are mandatory for all migrants. Although over half express a desire to stay, Japan's retention rate remains low — just 30% post-graduation and 21% over ten years. The government now targets a 50% retention rate. Choose with care: The global education landscape is in flux. Countries like Canada and Germany have a record of integration and long-term retention, recognising international students as vital contributors to their economies and demographics. Others, such as the UK and Australia, are recalibrating under domestic political and social pressures. Students face complex choices. Beyond academic excellence, they must now weigh immigration rules, post-graduation work rights, social climate, and long-term career opportunities.
CNA
6 days ago
- General
- CNA
MHA to conduct SGSecure 'controlled social experiments' to test public response to terror threats
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be conducting a series of "controlled social experiments" in the heartlands from early to mid-June to understand the public's level of vigilance and response to terror threats. These experiments, which fall under the SGSecure movement, will involve planned scenarios with actors and realistic props, and will be executed with "careful oversight" to ensure that they are carried out safely, MHA said in a press release on Thursday (May 29). It added that there will be "minimal inconvenience" caused, and authorities will also be on standby to safeguard the public during the experiments. Footage of public reactions to the social experiments will be used to create an educational web series to raise awareness on key SGSecure advisories such as "run, hide and tell" and "press, tie and tell". The first advises the public on the immediate response in the event of an attack, while the second is a first aid skills advisory that educates the public on commonly available items that can be used to help those injured during an attack. Consent from members of the public will be sought or appropriate measures will be taken, such as masking of identity, before footage of public reactions is used, MHA said. The first episode of the web series will be released on Jul 30, along with more information on the results of the social experiments. Members of the public are encouraged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities promptly. The SGSecure movement was introduced in 2016 to sensitise, train, and mobilise Singaporeans to play a part in preventing and dealing with a terrorist attack. Since its launch, "significant progress" has been made in raising public awareness of terror threats, as well as institutional and individual preparedness against such attacks, the Home Affairs ministry said. The were launched in July 2023. This phase focuses on the importance of social cohesion in the fight against terrorism and radicalisation.
Malay Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Home Ministry bans seven books including ‘Tuan Ziyad: Forbidden Love', ‘Kougar 2' for threatening morality, public order
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — The Ministry of Home Affairs has banned seven books under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, citing concerns over content that could undermine public morality or threaten societal harmony. The prohibition orders were gazetted between 15 and 17 April 2025, with Tuan Ziyad: Forbidden Love by Bellesa and Kougar 2 by Shaz Johar among those banned for content deemed potentially harmful to morality. Other titles included Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood and The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas, that were also banned for the same reason. Local works Darlingku Mr. Cold Mafia by Nur Firsha Nadia and Mischievous Killer by Aira Syuhairah Noradzan were similarly listed as being potentially harmful to morality. Meanwhile Suhuf Abraham, was banned over concerns that it could threaten public order. According to the ministry, 'This prohibition order under Act 301 serves as a mechanism of control and prevention before any threat or harm occurs.' Under Section 7(1) of the Act, the possession, distribution, printing, or sale of any banned publication is strictly prohibited. Violators may face fines of up to RM5,000 for possession, or up to RM20,000 and/or three years' imprisonment for distribution-related offences. 'The government remains committed to regulating and enforcing controls on printing and publishing, particularly to prevent the spread of elements, beliefs or movements that could disrupt security and public order,' the ministry said.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Identity politics gained more prominence in GE2025, unity is S'pore's key strength: SM Teo
SINGAPORE – Identity politics over race and religion gained more prominence in the 2025 General Election, and it is something Singapore should be careful about, said Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean on May 20. It goes against the nation's multiracial and multi-religious society where everyone has a place, lives together and does better as a country together, he said. 'We live side by side. By and large we go to schools together. We have many, many more opportunities together. So unity is the core of our strength,' he said, speaking to reporters during an interview at the Ministry of Home Affairs building on May 20. Yet in the recent election, identity politics as well as external issues which had been imported into domestic politics had become part of some parties' political agendas. Some candidates even said that this was the motivating factor behind their entry into politics. 'We also saw some attempts of foreign interference into Singapore politics because they noticed that within Singapore, political parties were prepared to make use of this chip,' SM Teo said. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had called a press conference a week before the May 3 polls to ask all political parties to clarify their stance on two fundamental principles: that identity politics has no place in Singapore, and that religion and politics should not mix. This came a day after the Government moved to block access to Facebook posts by two Malaysian politicians and a former Internal Security Act detainee for attempting to interfere in the election. They, along with a Singaporean self-styled religious teacher based in Malaysia, Mr Noor Deros, had spotlighted several opposition politicians in social media posts, including WP's Faisal Manap, who contested Tampines GRC. Fortunately, SM Teo said, during the election, Singaporeans saw the importance of cohesion, harmony and unity, and the issues of identity politics did not become over-emphasised. 'It is very easy to create divisions based on race and religion, and that's why we treat them so sensitively,' he stressed. 'It's much more difficult to build unity, harmony, consensus, and it's even more difficult to rebuild harmony once that sense of community – one community – breaks down. So we should be very careful with that. 'And perhaps after this GE all the political parties ought to have a careful look at what this is all about and resolve whether or not this is a direction in which we want Singapore politics to go. I would be very wary if we went down that line.' While it is valid to discuss the issues that all the communities in Singapore face, this should not lead to identity politics where different groups try to outbid one another and champion particular communities, he said. Giving one example, he said that during GE2025, one political party said Thaipusam should be made a public holiday. Other political parties then tried to 'outbid them' by suggesting more public holidays. 'So you support something, somebody outbids you, somebody else will outbid you. And then what happens? It is very easy to go down this line, and this happened during this election. This was the agenda of some of the parties.' During the election, the WP had asked that Thaipusam be reinstated as a public holiday. The Progress Singapore Party proposed increasing the number of public holidays from 11 to 14. It suggested that the new holidays should represent each of the three major ethnic groups in Singapore, with possible additions including Chinese New Year's Eve, the day after Hari Raya Puasa and Thaipusam. External conflicts should not be part of Singapore's quarrels either, said SM Teo. They are a chance for Singaporeans to show compassion and extend help, but should not become a cause because 'these are not our quarrels', he noted. Singaporeans have, in fact, come together to help the victims of the Syrian war and Palestine conflict, regardless of race and religion, he pointed out. Unity is Singapore's core strength as a small nation, SM Teo added. While Singapore lacks resources, it can pull all its strengths together so that it can project itself as larger than it is, and be strong when facing the world. Policies like the Ethnic Integration Policy in Housing Board estates contributed to Singapore's unity, he said. Singaporeans have become more enlightened as a people living side by side, going to schools together and enjoying many more opportunities together, he added. Different communities in Singapore also work together to tackle radicalisation, which has evolved with the internet and social media platforms indoctrinating people rapidly, teaching them to build bombs and carry out acts of terror. SM Teo spoke about how a self-professed white supremacist was educated by the Religious Rehabilitation Group – a voluntary group of Islamic scholars and teachers – and eventually changed his mind about attacking Muslim targets. In January 2024, a Secondary 4 student who identified as a white supremacist and was radicalised by far-right propaganda received a restriction order for planning attacks overseas. SM Teo, 70, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, is stepping down from the Cabinet and politics. Both he and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat confirmed their retirement from politics on Nomination Day on April 23. SM Teo said he would continue to help and assist in any way that would be helpful. Singapore is quite unique because in many countries, the party that wins power often tries to burnish its own reputation by condemning everything that the former party did, he said. 'We can see that in so many countries, they rubbish everything the previous government did, and so there's no continuity, whereas here we have continuity,' he said, pointing out that as Coordinating Minister for National Security, he consulted former deputy prime minister S. Jayakumar. 'It's a wonderful resource... We build on what we did. And that is, again, one of the strengths that we have in Singapore,' said SM Teo. He is happy to see that PM Wong has put together a strong team of good people. There are people who stand for election because they want to do good for their fellow Singaporeans and improve their lives, 'who derive happiness from seeing other people happy'. There are also others who 'feed on anger and unhappiness', SM Teo said. 'So you have to discern between the two, who you really want to represent you, what kind of Parliament you want, and what will really improve your life.' His advice to the new parliamentarians is to uphold truth, honesty and integrity. 'I think we have many strengths today,' he said. 'We have found a formula over many years which helps us to be united, synergise and multiply our strengths so that we can stand up to the world and be taken seriously, and this is something which we should continue.' He added: 'I want them to succeed, we want them to succeed, because we want Singapore to succeed.' Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times covering topics such as community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Drills across India as country prepares for possible war with Pakistan
India is preparing for war. Air raid sirens are being checked, bomb shelters readied and evacuation plans for schools and hospitals drawn up. For the first time in more than 50 years, and with relations with neighbouring Pakistan reaching a nadir, the government in Delhi has ordered drills across the country on Wednesday to check contingency plans if hostilities break out. The Ministry of Home Affairs will be preparing to camouflage and protect key structures and control rooms, including industrial and power plants, telecom towers, military posts and government buildings, against air attack. Civilian workers will be trained on how to protect themselves and respond to power cuts across 244 of India's 796 districts. Armed security forces personnel have been deployed across Indian-controlled Kashmir since 26 civilians were killed in a terrorist attack on April 22 SHARAFAT ALI/REUTERS Such preparations have not been seen since before the Indo-Pakistan war
