In a rare praise for a starkid, actress-MP Kangana Ranaut has lauded Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s elder son Aryan Khan for choosing direction over acting as his career option. In an Instagram note, Kangana, who is often cynical about the starkids, wrote, “It is great that children from film families are going beyond just wanting to wear make-up, lose weight, doll up and think they are actors.
Kangana praises Aryan Khan’s debut as director in Netflix web series | Photo courtesy: Kangana Ranaut X handle/Aryan Khan Instagram
“We should collectively uplift the standards of Indian cinema, that is the need of the hour. Those who have resources often end up taking the easiest roads. We need more people behind the cameras, good that Aryan Khan is taking the road less travelled. Look forward to his debut as a writer and filmmaker.” Shah Rukh Khan on Tuesday announced his elder son Aryan Khan’s debut Netflix web series.
The web series, which SRK claims to be “a one of a kind Bollywood series”, will be created and directed by Aryan Khan.
It will be produced by Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment. Gauri happens to be the wife of Shah Rukh Khan.
Announcing the project, SRK wrote on X, “It’s a special day when a new story is being presented for the audience. Today is even more special as @RedChilliesEnt and Aryan Khan embark on their journey to showcase their new series on @NetflixIndia.
“Here’s to untamed story telling….controlled chaos…gutsy scenes and lots and lots of fun and emotions. Go forth and entertain people Aryan and remember, There’s No business like Show business!!”
It’s a special day when a new story is being presented for the audience. Today is even more special as @RedChilliesEnt and Aryan Khan embark on their journey to showcase their new series on @NetflixIndia . Here’s to untamed story telling….controlled chaos…gutsy scenes and lots… pic.twitter.com/8v0eBzRZ6S
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday, November 21, said it has signed an Implementation Agreement (IA) with Australian Space Agency (ASA) for further strengthening of cooperation in space activities between the two countries.
The agreement was signed by DK Singh, Director, HSFC on ISRO’s and Jarrod Powell, General Manager, Space Capability Branch, on ASA’s side. Photo courtesy: www.isro.gov.in
The IA enables cooperation between both space agencies on crew and crew module recovery for Gaganyaan missions, the country’s first crewed spaceflight program, it said.
The IA was signed by D K Singh, Director, Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) on ISRO’s side at Bengaluru and Jarrod Powell, General Manager, Space Capability Branch, on ASA’s side at Canberra on November 20, the space agency said in a statement.
ISRO has embarked on the Human Spaceflight programme with an objective of demonstrating capability to carry out Low Earth Orbit in an Indian Crew Module with up to three crew members onboard, for up to three days and to safely recover the module.
The IA enables the Australian authorities to work with Indian authorities to ensure support for search and rescue of crew and recovery of crew module as part of a contingency plan for ascent phase that aborts near Australian waters, ISRO said.
India and Australia are enduring strategic partners, and both space agencies are working closely and are committed to explore current and future collaboration activities, it said.
The three-year pilot programme being launched by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) of Singapore is focused on affordable, safe and reliable infant caregiving option for parents. Representative photo courtesy: Pixabay/blankita_ua
The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) of Singapore has today announced the 1 December 2024 launch of a new pilot to provide childminding services for infants, and this pilot service will run for three years.
An ECDA media release said that this pilot programme “aims to grow childminding services to be an affordable, safe and reliable infant caregiving option for parents” in Singapore.
It added: “This is part of the Government’s commitment under Forward Singapore to offer parents with greater assurance in the first stage of their child’s life.”
Childminding operators and pilot service model
The ECDA has appointed three operators to provide infant childminding services under the pilot programme. These operators are:
EduNanny by Butler
Kidibliss
NannyPro Care
These operators will engage childminders to look after infants. Each childminder will care for one to three (at the most) infants at any one time.
This limit on the number of babies per minder will allow the childminders to provide more attention to infants; accommodate parents’ caregiving preferences; and forge stronger bonds with the family.
Singapore citizen infants aged 2-18 months are eligible to participate in the pilot. Parents can directly contact the appointed operators to sign up for services under the pilot.
The childminders will provide services at their homes or community spaces (e.g., community centres/clubs (CC)). The provision of childminding services at community spaces is a new model that ECDA is trialling, to increase parents’ access to services in convenient locations.
The ECDA media release said: “We have identified spaces at Tampines East CC and Nee Soon East CC for a start. Parents can expect to register their infants for childminding in these community spaces in the first half of 2025. ECDA will also work with operators to secure more spaces in locations where there is higher demand for infant care services.”
On its Instagram account, Tampines East CC posted today: “Big news for busy parents: ECDA is shaking things up with a brilliant new idea — childminding services in community spaces!”
Imagine running errands, hitting a yoga class, or just grabbing a coffee, all [the] while knowing your little one is in safe hands nearby. The first pilot site [is] at Tampines East CC, where infant care services are set to roll out by [the] first half of 2025. Convenient? Check. Localised? Check. Life-changing? Absolutely! Get ready to enjoy the perks of parenting with a little extra help!
Tampines East CC on Instagram
Tampines East Community Club. Screenshot courtesy: Instagram/tampeastcc
Childminding services to be more affordable
Childminding services under the ECDA pilot will be made more affordable through the provision of Singapore Government subsidies for services during typical working hours.
● The subsidies will be available for the consumption of services in 5-hour or 10-hour blocks between 7am to 7pm from Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays.
● Depending on their caregiving needs, parents have the flexibility to choose the number of days a week they require infant childminding services, and blocks of hours for each day. Parents who only require care for selected days a week will only need to pay for the blocks of hours used.
● The 5-hour and 10-hour blocks will cost SGD 16.50 and SGD 33 (before GST) respectively. This means that parents would pay SGD 719.40 per month for full-time use of the services (i.e., 10-hour block for five days a week for four weeks, with GST), which is lower than the typical cost of childminding services at present. Additionally, parents can tap on Child Development Account (CDA) monies to further defray their expenses for childminding services.
Ensuring the safety and well-being of infants
The safety and well-being of infants under the pilot programme is of utmost importance. The ECDA has prioritised the safety of infants through service requirements and worked with operators to develop industry service standards expected of all operators and childminders.
The ECDA has prioritised the safety of infants through service requirements. Representative photo courtesy: Instagram/tampeastcc
Once appointed, operators and their childminders must adhere to both the service requirements and industry standards. Operators found to have breached these will be penalised and may be removed from the pilot.
Childminders found to be unsuitable to care for infants may be removed from the pilot or barred from working in the early childhood sector.
As part of service requirements, operators must adhere to the following:
Childminders’ homes and community spaces must be clean, safe and conducive for infants, and outfitted with the necessary amenities, e.g., baby cots, play areas.
Before they are deployed, childminders must undergo mandatory training on infant first-aid, food safety and preparation, as well as how to care for infants.
Operators must submit potential childminders’ details to the ECDA for background checks prior to deployment.
As part of industry standards, operators and childminders must adhere to the following:
Childminders must be certified medically fit to work with infants by a medical practitioner.
Childminders must ensure that infants receive adequate supervision and are constantly monitored.
Operators should have a set of child-safe policies and procedures to guide childminders, including a workflow to investigate and manage incidents.
Operators should establish channels/platforms to facilitate communications between parents and childminders, and childminders should ensure that parents are updated about their infant’s well-being.
Prodigy Finance is thrilled to announce the winners of the Allan & Gill Gray Foundation African Student Scholarship. Three African students have been awarded the scholarship to support their international master’s degree studies starting in Spring 205. Each winner will receive $5,000.
Meet the 2024 Allan Gray African Student Scholarship Recipients
Program: MA/MPA in Geospatial Sciences and Public Administration
Emmanuella’s academic journey has been driven by her passion for solving public health and environmental issues in Ghana. Her work on the SCORETB project with Afro Global Alliance made her realise the complexity of the health and environment intersection, which led her to create the Sustainable Health and Environment (SHE) organisation.
She hopes her studies in global health and geospatial sciences will enable her to design targeted health interventions and advocate for healthcare equity. The Prodigy Finance scholarship will allow her to focus on her research and establish international partnerships to scale up SHE’s impact in Ghana.
Winner 2: Jane Chidera Ohia from Nigeria
University: University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Ray P. Authement College of Sciences
Program: MS in Informatics with a concentration in Health Informatics
Jane’s love for healthcare informatics has been her guiding light throughout her academic and professional life. Her undergraduate project on digitising patient records shows her commitment to improving healthcare. As a first-generation college student, Jane faced many financial challenges but her resilience and determination never wavered.
The scholarship from Prodigy Finance will assist with her financial needs, so she can focus on her studies and contribute to healthcare innovation. Jane wants to mentor other students in her community and share her experience and knowledge to help others achieve their academic goals.
Winner 3: Oluwasola Esho from Nigeria
University: Florida International University, Chapman Graduate School of Business
Program: Professional MBA-Flex
Oluwasola is driven to create opportunities for women in Nigeria and will be pursuing her MBA at FIU to build a strong foundation for leadership. Inspired by the educational inequality she saw in her community, Oluwasola created the Women for Nations community to advocate for women’s empowerment.
She wants to apply her MBA knowledge to advocate for women’s career development and gender equality in Nigeria’s workforce. With the Prodigy Finance scholarship, Oluwasola can focus on her studies and work towards becoming a leader who will drive change for women in Nigeria.
Sonal Kapoor, the Global Chief Commercial Officer of Prodigy Finance, congratulates the winners, “We are thrilled to support these three amazing individuals. Emmanuella, Jane, and Oluwasola are a testament to the impact of education. We believe this scholarship will help them overcome the obstacles and reach their full potential.”
These three recipients embody the dedication and passion Prodigy Finance seeks to support through its scholarship programs. By awarding these scholarships, Prodigy Finance and the Allan & Gill Gray Foundation are investing in African talent and building a new generation of global changemakers.
Adani Green Energy Ltd, the renewable energy arm of billionaire Gautam Adani’s conglomerate, on Thursday, November 21, scrapped a USD 600 million bond issue after its promoter was charged in an alleged bribery case in the US.
(Left to right) Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet S. Jaain have been charged by the US with USD 250 million bribery and fraud. Photo courtesy: www.connectedtoindia.com
Hours before the US prosecutors charged Gautam Adani and associates with participating in a scheme to pay over USD 250 million bribe to Indian officials in exchange for favourable terms for solar power contracts, the firm sold a 20-year green bond in the US-investment-grade market.
The issue was over-subscribed three times. But following the allegations, the issue was scrapped.
“The United States Department of Justice and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission have issued a criminal indictment and brought a civil complaint, respectively, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, against our Board members, Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani.
“The United States Department of Justice has also included our Board member, Vneet Jaain, in such criminal indictment. In light of these developments, our subsidiaries have presently decided not to proceed with the proposed USD denominated bond offerings,” Adani Green Energy said in a stock exchange filing.
The firm had tried to sell a similar offering a month ago but postponed the deal after some investors pushed back on pricing.
Last year, the ports-to-energy conglomerate had crapped a INR 20,000 crore (approx. USD 2.36 billion) Follow-on Public Offer (FPO) at its flagship firm, Adani Enterprises Ltd following damning allegations by US short-seller Hindenburg Research.
That issue too was fully subscribed but the company decided to call it off and refund all investors.
Hindenburg had alleged “brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud” in January 2023 that led to the conglomerate seeing USD 150 billion wipeout in market value at its lowest point. Adani Group had denied all allegations made by Hindenburg.
US Embassy in Ukraine shuts down amid possible air attack threat. Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
The US government on Wednesday said its embassy in Kyiv will remain shut on Wednesday after receiving information about a possible air attack in Ukraine.
“The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has received specific information of a potential significant air attack on November 20. Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy will be closed, and Embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place,” the US government said in a statement.
Ukraine: The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv received specific information of a potential significant air attack on Nov 20. The Embassy will be closed and recommends U.S. citizens be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced. https://t.co/ah0bpDfULKpic.twitter.com/m8cWXCXT2V
The US further instructed its citizens currently present in the country to be prepared to immediately shelter in the event an air alert is announced.
The alert was issued just a day after Ukraine reportedly fired US-supplied long-range missiles at Russian territory for the first time since Washington permitted Kyiv to conduct such attacks.
As per CNN report, Russia’s Defence Ministry said Ukraine fired six ballistic missiles at a facility in Bryansk at 3:25 a.m. local time (7:25 p.m. ET) Tuesday and that ATACMS missiles had been used in the attack.
It is the first time Ukraine used the longer-range American weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not confirm striking Russia with the ATACMS missiles.
During a press conference on Tuesday, the Ukrainian President was quoted as saying by CNN: “Ukraine has long-range capabilities. Ukraine has long-range drones of its own production. We now have a long ‘Neptune’ (Ukrainian cruise missiles) and not just one. And now we have ATACMS. And we will use all of this.”
The US has not officially commented on the strikes so far.
US President Joe Biden recently authorised Ukraine long-range American missiles inside Russia.
UNICEF issues new alert on heatwave and its impact on children in its latest report. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash
UNICEF has warned in its latest report that children could face eight times more heatwaves in 2050 than what was faced in 2000.
The future of childhood hangs in the balance if urgent action is not taken to safeguard children’s rights in a changing world, UNICEF warned in its flagship report released on World Children’s Day today.
The State of the World’s Children 2024: The Future of Childhood in a Changing World, projects how three major global forces – or megatrends – will impact children’s lives by 2050 and beyond.
The megatrends – demographic change, climate and environmental crises, and breakthrough technologies – provide key indications of the challenges and opportunities children may face in the future.
“Children are experiencing a myriad of crises, from climate shocks to online dangers, and these are set to intensify in the years to come,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
“The projections in this report demonstrate that the decisions world leaders make today – or fail to make – define the world children will inherit. Creating a better future in 2050 requires more than just imagination, it requires action. Decades of progress, particularly for girls, are under threat,” Russell said.
The climate crisis is already dire, with 2023 being the hottest year on record.
According to the report, in the decade of 2050-2059, climate and environmental crises are expected to become even more widespread, with eight times as many children exposed to extreme heatwaves, three times as many exposed to extreme river floods, and nearly twice as many exposed to extreme wildfires, compared to the 2000s.
How these climate hazards impact children will be determined by their age, health, socioeconomic setting, and access to resources.
For example, a child with access to climate-resilient shelter, cooling infrastructure, health care, education, and clean water has a greater chance of surviving climatic shocks compared to a child without access.
The report underscores the urgent need for targeted environmental action to protect all children and mitigate the risks they face.
Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are projected to have the largest child populations in the 2050s.
They also indicate an aging population, with the share of children expected to decrease in every region of the world. While still high, the child population drops below 40 per cent in Africa – down from 50 percent in the 2000s.
It falls below 17 percent in East Asia and Western Europe – where children made up 29 percent and 20 percent of the populations, respectively, in the 2000s.
These demographic shifts create challenges, with some countries under pressure to expand services for large child populations, while others balance the needs of a growing elderly population.
Meanwhile, the report acknowledges that frontier technologies – like Artificial Intelligence (AI) – offer both promise and peril for children, who are already interacting with AI embedded in apps, toys, virtual assistants, games, and learning software.
But the digital divide remains stark.
In 2024, over 95 percent of people in high-income countries are connected to the internet, compared to nearly 26 percent in low-income countries.
The report notes that a large percentage of youth in low-and middle-income countries have difficulty accessing digital skills, and this will impact their ability to effectively and responsibly use digital tools in education and future workplaces.
These barriers are often linked to socio-economic settings, gender, linguistics, and accessibility.
The report contains some good news. Life expectancy at birth is projected to increase.
Gains in children’s access to education over the last 100 years are also projected to continue, with nearly 96 percent of children globally expected to have at least a primary education in the 2050s, up from 80 percent in the 2000s.
Likewise, with increased investment in education and public health, and more stringent environmental protection, the report states that outcomes for children could improve significantly.
For example, the gender gap in educational attainment would narrow, and exposure to environmental hazards would be reduced.
The world is reconfiguring itself around geopolitical interests and conflicts, and trade and commerce are impacted accordingly. In this scenario, “it’s not so much an era of deglobalisation, but an era of reglobalisation”, said Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, speaking on the last day of the G20 Summit 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (second from right) at Rio G20 Summit with ASEAN leaders. He captioned it: “Getting together with ASEAN counterparts at the @g20org summit. The ASEAN spirit shines no matter where we are!” With him are (from left): Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh; Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim; and President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto. Photo courtesy: Instagram/lawrencewongst
While Singapore is not part of G20 — it has 19 sovereign nations; the European Union; and the African Union — the island nation is regularly invited to take part in the international summit. Former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had attended the G20 Summit 2023 in New Delhi, India, and now PM Wong has attended the Rio summit.
Rio de Janeiro G20 Summit 2024 group photo of world leaders. Photo courtesy: X/@LawrenceWongST
Referring to the shifting global dynamics, PM Wong said yesterday in Rio that it was necessary “[to] strengthen our own neighbourhood”, meaning the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as quoted in a CNA report.
Singapore PM Lawrence Wong at Rio G20 with US President Joe Biden and World Bank President Ajay Banga. Photo courtesy: X/@LawrenceWongST
He added that even as the ASEAN bloc worked on reinforcing trade ties within the region, it ought to develop stronger ties with other regional groupings on different continents.
Giving the example of free trade agreements between Singapore and regional trade blocs such as the Southern Common Market (aka Mercosur, with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay as current full members) and the Pacific Alliance (Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru), the Singapore leader said that his country was also connecting with the Middle Eastern and the African trade blocs.
“We want to then plug [in]to all the different regional groupings and make sure that however trade flows are being reconfigured, Singapore and ASEAN can still be at the heartbeat of [those] reconfigured trade flows, and we can continue to remain relevant,” said PM Wong.
Singapore is a strong advocate of the open and rules-based multilateral trading system as embodied by the @wto
Happy to meet WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro today. pic.twitter.com/ejZW4i70Jt
In Europe, the two major economies of Germany and France have elevated their bilateral ties with Singapore — Germany and Singapore agreed on a “strategic partnership”, as announced at the Rio G20 Summit; France and Singapore announced earlier this year their goal of a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, to mark the 60th anniversary of their bilateral relations in 2025.
Singapore PM Lawrence Wong at Rio G20 with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Photo courtesy: X/@LawrenceWongST
We want to be friends with all countries, big and small. And how far we can go into cooperation with any particular country, of course, will depend on what each country puts on the table for cooperation and the areas of mutual interest, but we want to cooperate to the extent possible with everyone.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
Singapore PM Lawrence Wong at Rio G20 with French President Emmanuel Macron. Photo courtesy: X/@LawrenceWongST
He said that Germany and France looked at “engaging China in a pragmatic manner” and also wanted to connect more with Southeast Asia, which was aligned with what Singapore wanted — an ASEAN bloc “which can engage all the major parties and powers, where we are not dominated by any single party”.
He said, “That’s in our interest, because we think, by doing so, we have a framework that allows more countries to have stakes in the region, more economic interdependency, and that will help to reduce the chances of conflict and will maximise the likelihood of us being able to maintain stability and prosperity in the region.”
“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu”
Before talking about how the ASEAN bloc needed to strengthen itself, PM Wong said that Singapore wanted to “have a say” at global summits like G20. The country’s participation in such summits was “very important”, he said, as per the CNA report.
Singapore PM Lawrence Wong speaks at the Rio de Janeiro G20 Summit 2024. Photo courtesy: X/@LawrenceWongST
Singapore is a regular participant at G20, despite not being a member country, and it makes use of this opportunity.
PM Wong said, “It’s better for us to have a seat at the table, than not to have a seat at all, right? As the saying goes, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”
Being present and involved in such global meets was essential, said PM Wong, as this helped the country to “shape these emerging processes in ways that we think are useful”. At the very least, through its active engagement, the country knew first-hand what was happening in terms of global dynamics “and we can adapt and adjust to these new realities”, he said.
Singapore PM Lawrence Wong at Rio G20 with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He captioned it: “Egypt was the first Arab country to recognise Singapore’s independence, and we’ve continued to maintain close links since then. We will mark the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties in 2026.” Photo courtesy: X/@LawrenceWongST
Moreover, these are platforms for meeting with international counterparts. PM Wong said, “I get the chance this time around to meet with leaders from so many different countries. Some of them, we’ve met before, some of them for the first time. I think it’s a useful occasion to take stock of our bilateral relationship and help to strengthen our ties further.”
On the second day of his visit to Singapore on Wednesday, November 20, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden visited the Singapore Navy Museum and attended a business forum. He was received by Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Sean Wat. During his visit, the Swedish monarch was also briefed on the close defence cooperation between the two countries. The King was accompanied by were Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenegard, and Ambassador of Sweden to Singapore Anders Sjöberg, the Non-Resident Ambassador of Singapore to Sweden Andrew Kwan, Commander Maritime Training and Doctrine Command Colonel Rinson Chua, and senior officials from Singapore and Sweden.
King Gustaf (third from left) was hosted by RADM Sean Wat (fourth from left) and accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard (first from left) and Ambassador of Sweden to Singapore Anders Sjöberg (fifth from left). Also present were Commander Maritime Training and Doctrine Command Colonel Rinson Chua (second from left) and Head Naval Intelligence Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tung Wanling (sixth from left). Photo courtesy: www.mindef.gov.sg
King Carl XVI Gustaf is in the city-state for a three-day visit which commenced on November 19.
“The visit to the Singapore Navy Museum and interactions with the Ministry of Defence underscore the friendly and long-standing bilateral defence relations between Singapore and Sweden,” an official statement from Singapore’s Ministry of Defence read.
King Gustaf receiving a brief by RADM Sean Wat on the close defence cooperation between the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Royal Swedish Navy, including the training of the RSN’s pioneer submariners in Sweden in the 1990s. Photo courtesy: www.mindef.gov.sg
“The Republic of Singapore Navy and the Royal Swedish Navy have established strong and long-standing cooperation, particularly in the areas of submarine and mine countermeasures operations. Beyond technical cooperation, both the Singapore Armed Forces and the Swedish Armed Forces also interact regularly through a wide range of professional exchanges, visits, exercises, and cross-attendance of courses,” it said.
On Wednesday, King Gustaf also attended the Singapore-Sweden Royal Business Forum at the Fullerton Hotel.
“There is a clear foundation for Singapore and Sweden to build upon. Our trade and business ties are already well-established, with over 300 Swedish companies operating in Singapore and substantial trade flowing in both directions,” he said.
“With a shared commitment to science and technology, Singapore and Sweden rank among the world’s top five most innovative countries. Our connections extend beyond industry, linking our researchers with academic institutions as well.
“Sweden aims to be a trusted, long-term partner to Singapore in areas like energy transition, sustainable transportation, life sciences and defence. Our partnerships can drive solutions to both current and future challenges.
“By strengthening the collaboration between Singapore and Sweden, we can create meaningful progress and shared success. We look forward to deepening our ties and exploring new business opportunities together,” he added.
So far, the Swedish King has had a busy schedule.
On Tuesday, he received a ceremonial welcome and called on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Parliament House. Speaking at the state banquet, King Gustaf thanked the President for the generous invitation and also spoke about the absence of his queen consort.
Idag inleds det svenska statsbesöket! HM Konungen välkomnas av @Tharman_S. 🇸🇪🇸🇬
“Her Majesty the Queen and I were truly delighted by your generous invitation to come to Singapore. Unfortunately, Her Majesty the Queen has come down with a severe cold and is not able to attend this state visit, but she sends her warmest regards,” the Swedish monarch said.
“This is the first state visit between our countries, reflecting our shared commitment to further strengthening our partnership. The importance of this visit is underscored by the presence of ministers, state secretaries, universities, government agencies, and companies who are joining us,” he added.
Sharing his thoughts, President Shanmugaratnam said: “Singapore and Sweden are geographically distant, but we share many similarities: a. We are staunch advocates of multilateralism and a rules-based international order; b. We both seek to constantly innovate and to do well by keeping our economies open; c. Importantly, we are determined to work towards a better tomorrow for our people and the world.”
“We are also partners in many areas, from defence to research and development in various fields, and to education and culture. But our economic ties are especially strong. More than 500 Swedish companies are in Singapore, and many use us as a base for their regional operations. The large business delegation accompanying Your Majesty underlines the point,” he added.
King Gustaf also attended an orchid-naming ceremony on Tuesday, during which a new orchid hybrid King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden was named in his honour.
King Gustaf and Hwang Yu-Ning, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore National Parks Board, pose with the orchid named in his honour. Photo courtesy: Jonas Ekströmer // TT via x.com/ChristinsQueens
He also met former Singapore Prime Minister and current Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Sharing a picture from their meeting, the SM posted on Facebook: “Honoured to host His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden to lunch today during his first State Visit to Singapore.
“Our countries enjoy a strong and multifaceted partnership, especially in defence technology, research and innovation, and education. We exchanged views on international developments and our countries’ approaches to similar challenges, for example in defence and healthcare. I look forward to strengthening our bilateral relationship, and wish His Majesty a productive stay in Singapore!”
Ukraine has fired US-supplied long-range missiles at Russian territory for the first time since Washington permitted Kyiv to conduct such attacks, media reports said.
Ukraine hit a Russian weapons arsenal with US-made ATACMS missiles that it fired across the border for the first time, two US officials told CNN.
As per a CNN report, Russia’s Defence Ministry said Ukraine had fired six ballistic missiles at a facility in Bryansk at 3:25 a.m. local time (7:25 p.m. ET) Tuesday and that ATACMS missiles had been used in the attack.
It is the first time Ukraine used longer-range American weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not confirm striking Russia with the ATACMS missiles.
During a press conference on Tuesday, the Ukrainian President was quoted as saying by CNN: “Ukraine has long-range capabilities. Ukraine has long-range drones of its own production. We now have a long ‘Neptune’ (Ukrainian cruise missiles) and not just one. And now we have ATACMS. And we will use all of this.”
The US has not officially commented on the strikes so far.
US President Joe Biden recently authorised Ukraine long-range American missiles inside Russia.
Marking 1,000 days since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the country, a senior UN official on Tuesday said the international community must continue to show solidarity with Ukraine.
Conflict erupted in Ukraine over a decade ago following Russia’s occupation of Crimea in the east and escalated on 24 February 2022 with the full-scale assault on the country.
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, detailed the death and destruction that has occurred since then.
More than 39,000 civilians have been killed or injured, and over 3,400 schools and hospitals have been damaged or destroyed, while 10 million people have fled their homes.
“These are not just numbers; each one of them represents countless stories of individual unimaginable pain for the people of Ukraine,” he said.
Meanwhile, 1,000 days of war have left more than 14.6 million Ukrainians in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, including 3.5 million displaced within the country, said Amy Pope, Director General of UN migration agency, IOM.
“As winter arrives, the persistent attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – decimating 65 per cent of the country’s generation capacity – have left communities struggling without adequate electricity, heating, or water,” she said
“This is a matter of survival for millions of people and requires the international community to stand together in solidarity.”
