https://www.scmp.com/rss/505447/feed Kimberly Lim is a reporter for the Asia Desk, covering social issues, politics and economy in Singapore and the region. She graduated from Nanyang Technological University, where she majored in Public Policy and Global Affairs, with a second major in English Literature. She previously wrote for TODAY and The New Paper. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Kimberly Lim,Nicole Cheah Kimberly Lim,Nicole Cheah In Singapore, a new kind of party is taking off – fuelled by caffeine instead of alcohol and ending before dark – in a shift observers say reflects a broader trend among Gen Z Asians seeking healthier, cheaper and more mindful ways to socialise. Across the region, from matcha-fuelled morning raves to curated mocktail events and sober bars in cities like Bangkok and Tokyo, a quiet shift is under way. While fully alcohol-free nightlife remains niche, wellness-oriented alternatives are gaining... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3314966/clubbing-without-cost-singapores-gen-z-vibes-cheaper-daytime-raves https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3314966/clubbing-without-cost-singapores-gen-z-vibes-cheaper-daytime-raves Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:35:34 +0000 Kimberly Lim,Nicole Cheah,Biman Mukherji,Hadi Azmi Kimberly Lim,Nicole Cheah,Biman Mukherji,Hadi Azmi As a teenager in military-ruled Myanmar, Muang* viewed a US college degree as the ultimate escape – a passport to freedom, stability and a future unbound by the limits of a junta-run state. At 19, he made it. A full scholarship to one of America’s most prestigious universities marked the culmination of years of perseverance. But today, that hard-won dream feels precarious. “You grow up in a country where it’s a dictatorship and you don’t have any opportunities to build your own life,” Muang... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3313927/american-dream-no-more-asian-students-rethink-us-education-plans-amid-visa-clampdown https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3313927/american-dream-no-more-asian-students-rethink-us-education-plans-amid-visa-clampdown Wed, 11 Jun 2025 04:30:08 +0000 Kimberly Lim,Jean Iau Kimberly Lim,Jean Iau It is “incumbent” on nations to reach out to China to avoid misinterpretation and misunderstanding, Singapore’s defence minister has said, as he urged Beijing to use every opportunity to make its perspective known to the world. Chan Chun Sing on Sunday told delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) in Singapore that it was beneficial for all sides to work with China and vice versa. He also sought to soothe tensions after the Chinese side protested against comments made by US defence chief Pete... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312635/singapore-minister-tells-nations-build-bridges-china-avoid-misconception https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312635/singapore-minister-tells-nations-build-bridges-china-avoid-misconception Sun, 01 Jun 2025 07:04:25 +0000 Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim Singapore’s defence minister has said attendees at a premier security summit hosted by his country would have wanted China’s defence chief to be present to avoid misunderstandings, as the absence of a high-ranking leader from Beijing continues to reverberate on the second day of the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD). Speaking to the media on Saturday following a closed-door ministerial roundtable, a regular feature at the SLD for minister-level attendees, Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312595/chinas-absence-felt-shangri-la-dialogue-singapores-defence-chief-says https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312595/chinas-absence-felt-shangri-la-dialogue-singapores-defence-chief-says Sat, 31 May 2025 10:50:34 +0000 Kimberly Lim Kimberly Lim US President Donald Trump’s instinct to “challenge old ways of doing things” that no longer work and his emphasis on “common sense” bear striking similarities to how Singapore’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew steered the city state from vulnerability to global relevance, American defence secretary Pete Hegseth has said. In a wide-ranging address on Washington’s Indo-Pacific approach at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Hegseth drew parallels between the “historic men”, describing both as having... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3312568/trump-and-lee-kuan-yew-similar-common-sense-approach-hegseth https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3312568/trump-and-lee-kuan-yew-similar-common-sense-approach-hegseth Sat, 31 May 2025 04:31:48 +0000 Kimberly Lim Kimberly Lim Singapore’s newly appointed acting minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs began his first hours in the role by condemning a controversial social-media commentator for attacking former president Halimah Yacob’s support for Palestinians in Gaza – taking a markedly firmer stance than his predecessor. “Many in our Muslim community, as well as Singaporeans from all walks of life, continue to feel deeply about the tragedy unfolding in Palestine. That includes our former president, Mdm Halimah Yacob,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3311651/singapores-new-muslim-affairs-minister-lays-down-firm-stance-gaza-issue https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3311651/singapores-new-muslim-affairs-minister-lays-down-firm-stance-gaza-issue Sat, 24 May 2025 05:39:00 +0000 Kimberly Lim Kimberly Lim Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong pledged to chart a course through a world order he described as turbulent and uncertain, while promising a more consultative style of governance as his new cabinet was sworn in on Friday night. Addressing 600 guests who gathered at the Istana lawn for the ceremony, Wong said that amid a turbulent world, “Singaporeans voted for a strong and stable government while re-electing opposition MPs in the constituencies they held”. He described the result of the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3311614/singapore-cabinet-sworn-pm-lawrence-wong-vows-steer-country-through-new-world-order https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3311614/singapore-cabinet-sworn-pm-lawrence-wong-vows-steer-country-through-new-world-order Fri, 23 May 2025 13:18:04 +0000 Kimberly Lim,Nicole Cheah Kimberly Lim,Nicole Cheah Singapore’s concert boom may be cooling with reports of underwhelming resale prices for Lady Gaga’s shows, as tourism experts point to geopolitical uncertainty and softer demand putting the brakes on the city state’s runaway success as an live entertainment hub after it hosted megastars Taylor Swift and Coldplay last year. Ahead of Swift’s Singapore-only concerts in March last year, fans from around the region and beyond competed feverishly to catch the American singer during her Eras Tour, with... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3311417/do-lady-gagas-singapore-shows-signal-end-ticket-buying-mayhem-slow-demand https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3311417/do-lady-gagas-singapore-shows-signal-end-ticket-buying-mayhem-slow-demand Thu, 22 May 2025 11:56:06 +0000 Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim While Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong spoke at length about seeking experience and stability amid uncertain times as he revealed his new cabinet line-up on Wednesday, the changes he made to his team may signal a receptiveness to the people’s mandate. Two weeks after his party’s decisive win at the general election, Wong was expected to announce shifts to replace retiring ministers such as defence chief Ng Eng Hen, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Senior Minister Teo Chee... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3311345/singapore-cabinet-changes-show-pm-lawrence-wongs-consultative-approach https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3311345/singapore-cabinet-changes-show-pm-lawrence-wongs-consultative-approach Thu, 22 May 2025 06:43:16 +0000 Kimberly Lim Kimberly Lim The disposal of bags of books from the former Yale-National University of Singapore College library has sparked anger from its alumni and the general public, who saw the move as symbolic of deeper institutional neglect after videos of the incident went viral. NUS has issued a public apology for the “operational lapse”, which has also prompted an online petition. The incident has become the latest flashpoint in the saga of Yale-NUS, Singapore’s short-lived liberal arts experiment that is set to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3311203/singapore-universitys-dumping-yale-nus-books-sparks-anger-and-petition https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3311203/singapore-universitys-dumping-yale-nus-books-sparks-anger-and-petition Wed, 21 May 2025 07:51:33 +0000 Kimberly Lim Kimberly Lim The Workers’ Party (WP), Singapore’s main opposition party, has announced that its members Andre Low and Eileen Chong will take up the two Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP) seats given to the “best losers” in an election. In a statement on Monday after the announcement by the city state’s election authorities, the WP said it remained “steadfast in our mission of working for Singapore”. “All WP Members of Parliament will carry forward the Workers’ Party’s long-standing mission to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3310953/singapore-election-workers-partys-andre-low-and-eileen-chong-chosen-ncmps https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3310953/singapore-election-workers-partys-andre-low-and-eileen-chong-chosen-ncmps Mon, 19 May 2025 11:59:23 +0000 Kimberly Lim Kimberly Lim As the May 3 election results trickled in, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan found himself again on the wrong side of the electoral ledger – a familiar outcome in a three-decade political journey defined as much by its longevity as its unending losing streak. His fight in the single-seat constituency of Sembawang West, with 46.81 per cent of the vote against a ruling-party candidate, was his best performance in the polls since 1997 and the third-closest of the night, coming... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3310554/inside-minds-singapores-opposition-members-why-do-they-keep-coming-back https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3310554/inside-minds-singapores-opposition-members-why-do-they-keep-coming-back Fri, 16 May 2025 07:30:07 +0000 Kimberly Lim Kimberly Lim A Singaporean actress has come under fire on Chinese social media platform RedNote after online users alleged she was the speaker in a leaked audio clip describing Chinese nationals as “idiots”. According to government-owned broadsheet The Straits Times, Eleanor Lee, the 25-year-old China-based celebrity and daughter of Singaporean TV host Quan Yifeng, is said to have been removed from the cast list of a coming Chinese period drama, The Journey of Legend, because of the accusations. Tensions... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3309820/singapore-actress-eleanor-lee-accused-calling-chinese-nationals-idiots-voice-clip https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3309820/singapore-actress-eleanor-lee-accused-calling-chinese-nationals-idiots-voice-clip Fri, 09 May 2025 15:32:50 +0000 Kimberly Lim,Jean Iau Kimberly Lim,Jean Iau As the dust of Singapore’s 14th general election settles, attention has shifted to the next big reveal: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s first cabinet, which could be in the coming week if previous timelines are any indication. But over the past week, any post-election talk or discussion on what the cabinet could look like has been overshadowed by the publication of two viral photos of a convicted so-called Fujian gang leader with potential ministers. The denials by the ministers of any... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3309495/attention-singapore-cabinet-reveal-sidetracked-ministers-photos-fujian-gang-member https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3309495/attention-singapore-cabinet-reveal-sidetracked-ministers-photos-fujian-gang-member Thu, 08 May 2025 02:09:56 +0000 Kimberly Lim,Jean Iau Kimberly Lim,Jean Iau Singapore’s opposition parties entered the 14th general election on Saturday buoyed by loud public discontent over rising cost of living and an electorate widely seen as craving political diversity. However, in the quiet of the ballot box, Singaporeans opted not to give the opposition further inroads across several hot wards – with the Workers’ Party (WP) retaining its seats and smaller challengers propping up the ruling party’s landslide vote share. The People’s Action Party (PAP) clinched 87... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3309043/singapore-election-whats-blame-oppositions-failure-make-inroads https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3309043/singapore-election-whats-blame-oppositions-failure-make-inroads Sun, 04 May 2025 14:29:45 +0000 Kimberly Lim,Jean Iau Kimberly Lim,Jean Iau Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) won the general election on Saturday in a massive victory to secure 65.57 per cent of the vote as the opposition failed to make any breakthrough, in an outcome analysts said reflected voters’ worries about an economy hit by global turbulence. The PAP’s vote share marked a reversal of its 2020 figure of 61.24 per cent, with six group representation constituencies (GRC) and four single seats scoring at least 75 per cent for the ruling party. Three of them... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308992/singapore-election-how-ruling-pap-scored-landslide-win-denying-breakthrough-opposition https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308992/singapore-election-how-ruling-pap-scored-landslide-win-denying-breakthrough-opposition Sat, 03 May 2025 20:48:41 +0000 Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim Singapore voters on Saturday headed to the polls after taking in the calm of cooling-off day following a frenetic nine days of election campaigning. While hot-button issues such as cost of living and plurality in parliament versus the security of a PAP-led government form the main themes, the electorate cast their ballots with rally catchphrases ringing in their ears and political memes dancing on their minds. Here’s what voters may have been thinking of as they stamped their political choices... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308968/singapore-election-podcasts-memes-chiobu-look-back-hustings-colour https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308968/singapore-election-podcasts-memes-chiobu-look-back-hustings-colour Sat, 03 May 2025 12:06:52 +0000 Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim,Agencies Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim,Agencies Singaporeans began voting on Saturday in a general election where Prime Minister Lawrence Wong faces his first major test against the opposition, with the rising cost of living among major issues debated by parties in the past week of campaigning. Wong’s People’s Action Party (PAP) has won every election since the city state gained independence in 1965. Wong, who took office last year, hopes to clinch a stronger mandate. Voters trickled in to schools and other designated polling stations to cast... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308920/singaporeans-vote-election-overshadowed-cost-living-pressures https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308920/singaporeans-vote-election-overshadowed-cost-living-pressures Sat, 03 May 2025 00:05:48 +0000 Kimberly Lim,Jean Iau Kimberly Lim,Jean Iau A charged election campaign ended in Singapore late on Thursday after nine days of the ruling party and the opposition trading accusations about negative politics, forging an uneasy truce to denounce race politics and arguing the need for a strong cabinet versus a plural parliament. Then there were memes about how one was not gay, how the sun always rose whatever one felt about it and foul-mouthed rants of a hot-headed candidate, along with the serious topic of an aborted sale of home-grown... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308733/singapore-election-competing-narratives-weakened-cabinet-if-pap-loses-seats-vs-balanced-parliament https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308733/singapore-election-competing-narratives-weakened-cabinet-if-pap-loses-seats-vs-balanced-parliament Thu, 01 May 2025 14:33:50 +0000 Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim With three days until Singapore’s general election and political parties scrambling to seize on the star power of popular candidates as they bet big on multi-seat constituencies, the battle for the city state’s single-member constituencies (SMCs) could yet produce some of the poll’s most surprising results. Electoral boundaries in the country comprise SMCs and group representation constituencies (GRCs). The GRCs are made up of between three and six candidates per contesting party, including a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308498/singapore-election-why-single-ward-battles-are-ones-watch https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308498/singapore-election-why-single-ward-battles-are-ones-watch Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:26:25 +0000 Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim Singapore’s nine-day election campaign reached its halfway mark on Monday, with visceral issues such as cost of living, racial politics and foreign interference dominating the agenda as Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned that his ability to form a strong government to navigate turbulent times was at stake. Wong is seeking a strong mandate in his first election as prime minister after taking office last May. His People’s Action Party (PAP) is looking to block any breakthrough the opposition can... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308250/singapore-election-race-foreign-meddling-hot-topics-hot-seats-too-close-call https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308250/singapore-election-race-foreign-meddling-hot-topics-hot-seats-too-close-call Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:03:04 +0000 Kimberly Lim Kimberly Lim In 1980, a rain-soaked Lee Kuan Yew stood defiant at Singapore’s Fullerton Square in the central business district, rallying a crowd through downpour and thunder – a moment etched into Singapore’s public consciousness as a symbol of grit and persuasion. But the first lunchtime rally that Singapore’s first prime minister spoke at was in 1959, shortly after the republic became a fully self-governing state. It was held in the heart of the business district and aimed at reaching English-educated... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3307987/singapore-election-rallies-are-back-will-they-sway-voters https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3307987/singapore-election-rallies-are-back-will-they-sway-voters Sat, 26 Apr 2025 02:30:08 +0000 Posters and banners bearing candidates’ faces began blanketing the streets of Singapore on Wednesday as the city state embarked on nine days of intense campaigning ahead of a general election on May 3, with attention focused on three key battleground wards. On Nomination Day, last-minute ministerial redeployments added an element of surprise, setting the stage for fierce competition in the group representation constituencies (GRCs) of Punggol, Tampines and West Coast. Deputy Prime Minister Gan... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3307641/singapores-election-campaign-kicks-surprises-and-shifting-stakes https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3307641/singapores-election-campaign-kicks-surprises-and-shifting-stakes Wed, 23 Apr 2025 12:20:18 +0000 This rolling story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Last-minute ministerial switches by the ruling PAP include Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong moving east to Punggol where he will face WP star candidate Harpreet Singh. The PAP will hold onto Marine Parade-Braddell Heights after the first walkover the city state has seen since... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3307529/singapore-election-11th-hour-ministerial-switches-expected-candidates-head-nomination-centre https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3307529/singapore-election-11th-hour-ministerial-switches-expected-candidates-head-nomination-centre Wed, 23 Apr 2025 02:17:27 +0000 Washington’s delay of its so-called reciprocal tariffs is “little comfort” for Singapore, with “great uncertainty for businesses everywhere” already caused by the looming levies, the city state’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has warned. Speaking at the S Rajaratnam Lecture on Wednesday, Wong said companies could no longer plan “comfortably” for long-term investments, with the knowledge that “the tariff rates could be changed at a moment’s notice”. “Today, geopolitical competition has returned... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3306810/singapore-pm-says-us-tariff-delay-little-comfort-warns-against-being-passive-bystander https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3306810/singapore-pm-says-us-tariff-delay-little-comfort-warns-against-being-passive-bystander Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:10:23 +0000 Singapore’s new task force on economic resilience to help businesses and workers convened for the first time on Wednesday amid growing global uncertainty over US tariffs. With a baseline 10 per cent levy slapped on the city state by US President Donald Trump, Singapore could expect challenges from indirect effects of the tariffs as a small and open economy where trade volume was three times its gross domestic product, said Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong, who leads the task force. Gan... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3306801/singapores-task-force-warns-disorderly-tariffs-impact-economy https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3306801/singapores-task-force-warns-disorderly-tariffs-impact-economy Wed, 16 Apr 2025 11:18:44 +0000 The criticism of a former nominated member of parliament by Singapore’s top officials over a controversial Gaza post was prompted by the need to cool tensions and address a “political hot potato”, especially in an election season, according to observers. The city state’s top office holders, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, earlier this week took ex-NMP Calvin Cheng to task nearly a month after he said on social media he would sponsor flying members of an activist group to Gaza “only if... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3306044/singapores-top-officials-pm-criticise-ex-nmp-calvin-cheng-over-gaza-post https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3306044/singapores-top-officials-pm-criticise-ex-nmp-calvin-cheng-over-gaza-post Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:40:42 +0000 Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim Jean Iau,Kimberly Lim Across much of Southeast Asia, political parties rely on charisma or dynastic clout to field candidates. In Singapore, however, it is the resignation of senior civil servants and military brass that often sets the stage for entry into politics – especially amid the beating of electoral drums. The discussion around such high-ranking figures vacating their posts in an election year usually involves when and where they will be fielded by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). With the polls... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3305897/diversity-or-detachment-singapores-civil-service-political-talent-pool https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3305897/diversity-or-detachment-singapores-civil-service-political-talent-pool Thu, 10 Apr 2025 01:30:17 +0000 Singapore’s prime minister in a strongly worded speech on Tuesday criticised the American tariff imposed on the city state by highlighting the unique trade ties binding both sides and arguing that the latest economic salvoes by US President Donald Trump were “not actions one does to a friend”. Delivering his ministerial statement in parliament, Lawrence Wong also said Washington’s sweeping new tariffs were not a “reform” of the global trade order, but a repudiation of the very system the US once... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3305662/singapore-pm-lawrence-wong-slams-trumps-10-tariff-country-not-actions-friend https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3305662/singapore-pm-lawrence-wong-slams-trumps-10-tariff-country-not-actions-friend Tue, 08 Apr 2025 08:42:21 +0000 Singapore may have sidestepped the sharp edge of US President Donald Trump’s tariff sword, but some firms operating in the city state have already been bracing for a potential economic fallout. A March flash survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (AmChamSG), conducted before Trump’s April 2 announcement of a 10 per cent universal tariff, painted a picture of a business community increasingly unnerved by Washington’s hardening trade stance. Among the 36 multinational companies... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3305263/ahead-trumps-tariffs-most-mncs-singapore-worry-about-slowdown-survey https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3305263/ahead-trumps-tariffs-most-mncs-singapore-worry-about-slowdown-survey Fri, 04 Apr 2025 10:44:16 +0000 More people in Southeast Asia expect American engagement in the region under the Donald Trump administration to increase this year, according to a new survey by Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Countries exhibiting the strongest sentiment in this area – accounting for more than 40 per cent of respondents – are Laos, Vietnam, Brunei and Cambodia. On the flipside, a third of respondents think that American engagement will decrease or significantly lessen under Trump’s second... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3305063/southeast-asians-expect-more-us-engagement-amid-trumps-tariff-call-survey https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3305063/southeast-asians-expect-more-us-engagement-amid-trumps-tariff-call-survey Thu, 03 Apr 2025 09:00:07 +0000 Jessica*, 25, wakes up with a pounding headache and a creeping sense of unease. It’s not just the hangover from a night of dancing and drinking – it’s the gnawing anxiety that seizes her in the morning light. Her thoughts spiral: is she falling behind in life? Is she capable of love? As her mind races, she turns to the one confidant who’s always available: ChatGPT. “It became a space where I can ‘trauma dump’ without worrying if it has the emotional capacity to listen or not,” she said. “Other... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3303360/ai-chatbots-throw-singapores-youth-mental-health-lifeline https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3303360/ai-chatbots-throw-singapores-youth-mental-health-lifeline Sun, 23 Mar 2025 09:00:09 +0000 By the time she was 21, Singaporean Regina Yeo had the sharper jaw and higher nasal bridge that she’d craved throughout her teens. Self-avowedly “young, broke and desperate”, she still managed to scrape together the few hundred dollars needed for treatment at an unlicensed clinic staffed by women from Vietnam in Singapore’s Lavender district. Looking back, the beauty blogger – now 25 – has no regrets. In fact, she said the fear and “piercing pain” of that first, high-risk foray into changing her... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3303389/cosmetic-cravings-asias-gen-z-risk-it-all-cut-price-glow-ups https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3303389/cosmetic-cravings-asias-gen-z-risk-it-all-cut-price-glow-ups Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:08 +0000 In Singapore, whenever an election looms, talk is never about whether the ruling party will lose power. Rather, attention centres on how much or little support the opposition can prise from the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) firm grasp to advance its chances. With the new electoral boundaries published this week ahead of what pundits have predicted will be a May election, all sides are deciding whom to field where. But for the opposition parties, it is a more fraught task as constituencies they... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302463/how-singapores-opposition-hopes-loosen-paps-66-year-grip-power https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302463/how-singapores-opposition-hopes-loosen-paps-66-year-grip-power Sat, 15 Mar 2025 00:00:16 +0000 Singapore has redrawn its electoral boundaries, expanding the number of parliamentary seats and realigning wards that were previously hotly contested, as the country inches closer to a critical general election. The changes were announced on Tuesday in a new electoral boundaries report, meant to take into account shifts in voter population, completing yet another step in the lead-up to a general election that must be held by November. The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report said... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3301912/singapore-redraws-electoral-boundaries-expands-parliament-polls-lead https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3301912/singapore-redraws-electoral-boundaries-expands-parliament-polls-lead Tue, 11 Mar 2025 07:04:12 +0000 Singapore is working with Indonesia to extradite Paulus Tannos, a suspected corruption fugitive, in the first such case under a treaty between the countries that took effect last year. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Singapore’s Minister for Law K Shanmugam said Indonesia had lodged a request for Tannos’ extradition two weeks ago on February 24, and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had since been working closely with its Indonesian counterpart on the case. “AGC is currently reviewing the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3301804/singapore-indonesia-working-extradite-corruption-fugitive-first-such-case-under-treaty https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3301804/singapore-indonesia-working-extradite-corruption-fugitive-first-such-case-under-treaty Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:50:55 +0000 Inflation in Singapore was driven by global factors such as wars, supply chain disruptions and rising energy costs, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday as he refuted criticism from the opposition that the rise in the goods and services tax (GST) had “turbocharged” price increases. “Even before the GST increase, prices were already going up globally and in Singapore. And here in Singapore, the central bank … had assessed that the effect of the GST increase on inflation would be... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3300530/singapores-pm-wong-clashes-pritam-singh-over-gst-hike-poor-marksmanship https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3300530/singapores-pm-wong-clashes-pritam-singh-over-gst-hike-poor-marksmanship Fri, 28 Feb 2025 07:39:32 +0000 Kimberly Lim Kimberly Lim https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3300361/asias-young-women-choosing-go-boy-sober https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3300361/asias-young-women-choosing-go-boy-sober Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000 With a general election looming and cost-of-living concerns dominating public discourse, Singapore’s Lawrence Wong will unveil his first budget as prime minister on Tuesday – one that analysts describe as a defining test of his leadership and a balancing act between providing economic relief and maintaining fiscal discipline. The stakes are higher than ever for Wong and his party, the long-ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), with the polls due in November in a year when Singapore celebrates its... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3299006/singapore-budget-be-defining-test-lawrence-wongs-leadership-analysts https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3299006/singapore-budget-be-defining-test-lawrence-wongs-leadership-analysts Mon, 17 Feb 2025 09:40:21 +0000 For years, young Singaporean women have followed a familiar life script: study hard, date sensibly, apply for public housing, marry and have children. But a growing number of women in the city state are choosing to rewrite this narrative. Take Candace*, a 30-year-old globetrotter whose work can take her anywhere from the quaint streets of Berlin to bustling Hong Kong. For her, dating has taken a back seat. “I like the freedom to leave anytime I want and do anything I want,” said the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3298755/why-asias-young-women-are-going-boy-sober-and-swiping-left-romance https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3298755/why-asias-young-women-are-going-boy-sober-and-swiping-left-romance Sat, 15 Feb 2025 09:00:07 +0000 In the battle for Singapore’s pandan cake crown, one name has long reigned supreme. For years, Bengawan Solo has enticed tourists from far and wide to its brightly lit outlets that are a fixture of every terminal of Changi Airport. Drawn by the colourful tins of cookies and trays of bite-size kueh, overseas cake lovers flock to its shops and flagship store in the adjoining Jewel retail complex with one mission in mind: to snag the signature pandan chiffon cake – a soft, fragrant masterpiece in a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3297840/singapores-pandan-cake-showdown-its-tradition-vs-modernity https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3297840/singapores-pandan-cake-showdown-its-tradition-vs-modernity Sun, 09 Feb 2025 08:00:17 +0000 Chinese start-up DeepSeek’s multilingual capabilities and open-source nature serve as an attractive alternative for users in Southeast Asia, but its true potential can only be realised if security and legal concerns are addressed, according to analysts. As the US and China continue their AI rivalry, businesses and governments in Southeast Asia are taking a pragmatic approach – weighing costs, performance and regulatory concerns. While platforms such as ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini are prominent... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3297645/southeast-asia-ready-embrace-deepseek-costs-security-among-concerns https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3297645/southeast-asia-ready-embrace-deepseek-costs-security-among-concerns Fri, 07 Feb 2025 00:00:13 +0000 A widely shared New York Times video on “tyranny” in four countries featuring the grandson of Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew has drawn the ire of the city state’s government, with its envoy to the US saying Li Shengwu is “masquerading as a persecuted dissident”. The opinion video, titled How Tyranny Begins, was circulated on social media platforms and forums soon after its publication last Wednesday. Besides Li, the nephew of Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296482/singapore-slams-li-shengwu-over-new-york-times-how-tyranny-begins-video https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296482/singapore-slams-li-shengwu-over-new-york-times-how-tyranny-begins-video Mon, 27 Jan 2025 11:36:27 +0000 Most Singaporeans have welcomed the return of US President Donald Trump to the White House, according to a quarterly survey, with the findings seen by analysts as a reflection of the respondents’ pragmatism and conservative values. A total of 1,500 respondents from Singapore were asked by Blackbox Research whether Trump’s second term in office would be positive or negative for the city state. While the findings released on Wednesday did not offer an insight into the values of the Singaporeans... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296022/why-do-singaporeans-trump-survey-findings-hint-their-pragmatism https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296022/why-do-singaporeans-trump-survey-findings-hint-their-pragmatism Fri, 24 Jan 2025 02:00:14 +0000 Singapore on Wednesday took its first step towards calling for a general election, with the government announcing that a committee tasked with setting electoral boundaries has been formed. Analysts told This Week In Asia that the move to create the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) paved the way for a midyear election, which would be centred on bread-and-butter issues. The EBRC’s formation is typically the first indication of the election season in Singapore. Over the past four... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3295800/singapore-takes-first-step-towards-general-election-analysts-predict-midyear-polls https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3295800/singapore-takes-first-step-towards-general-election-analysts-predict-midyear-polls Wed, 22 Jan 2025 08:23:24 +0000 Southeast Asians reacted with a mix of laughter, dismay and disbelief at a viral clip of US president-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defence failing to name a single member of the Asean bloc when asked about the alliance in a confirmation hearing at US Congress. Pete Hegseth, a veteran of the Army National Guard and a Fox News host with no diplomatic or administrative experience, was asked how many countries are in Asean – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – and to name a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3294847/trumps-defence-pick-pete-hegseth-fails-asean-test-sparking-mockery-across-southeast-asia https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3294847/trumps-defence-pick-pete-hegseth-fails-asean-test-sparking-mockery-across-southeast-asia Wed, 15 Jan 2025 08:05:14 +0000 A rare row between two political parties in Singapore has emerged as the city state enters an election year, with volunteers from the ruling People’s Action Party and opposition Progress Singapore Party (PSP) allegedly involved in an scuffle. Former members of parliament and political observers told This Week in Asia that such an altercation reflected a more hotly contested political landscape ahead of a general election that must be held by November. The incident, which saw cabinet ministers... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3294580/singapores-pap-and-psp-walkabout-clash-marks-rising-pre-election-temperature https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3294580/singapores-pap-and-psp-walkabout-clash-marks-rising-pre-election-temperature Mon, 13 Jan 2025 11:20:54 +0000 The Indo-Pacific could face a more “volatile” future in the long term with the return of Donald Trump to the White House, as his policies are likely to endure beyond his presidency and accelerate the United States’ retreat from regional alliances and commitments, experts have warned. Panellists at the seminar on Thursday titled “Trump 2.0: US Policy Towards Southeast Asia and the World” – organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore – said Trump’s “America First”... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3294121/why-asia-can-expect-america-first-policy-endure-post-trump-20 https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3294121/why-asia-can-expect-america-first-policy-endure-post-trump-20 Thu, 09 Jan 2025 13:45:26 +0000 Singapore’s new racial harmony law will grant the government “greater legislative teeth” to tackle domestic racial issues, according to observers who also say the move is a response to increasing polarisation among different ethnic groups worldwide. The Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill, which was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, expands authorities’ powers to issue restraining orders, implement community remedial actions, and introduce safeguards against foreign influence in designated... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3293947/singapores-new-law-aims-protect-racial-groups-against-foreign-interference https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3293947/singapores-new-law-aims-protect-racial-groups-against-foreign-interference Wed, 08 Jan 2025 12:29:43 +0000 Singapore has defended its interception of two Indonesian fishing vessels as an “appropriate enforcement action” in response to their incursions into the city state’s territorial waters after a video of the incident on Christmas Eve went viral. In a statement on Thursday, the police said that the Singapore coastguard had observed the Indonesian fishing vessels repeatedly entering and exiting Singapore’s waters near Tuas, a western coastal area close to the city state’s maritime border with... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3293295/singapore-defends-appropriate-interception-indonesian-fishing-boats-due-incursions https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3293295/singapore-defends-appropriate-interception-indonesian-fishing-boats-due-incursions Fri, 03 Jan 2025 08:40:06 +0000