THE income generated from Singapore's reserves are an important source of revenue for the government, and the reserves themselves must not be used unless there is a very good reason. ... THE first reserved presidential election in Singapore's history drew to a close on Wednesday afternoon, with Halimah Yacob vowing to be a President whose top priority will be to serve the nation... IT'S official.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that the Belt and Road Initiative of China is positive to the world since it can help further integrate China into regional and international economic systems while boosting growth in other countries. "We deem the Belt and Road Initiative as positive," Lee said Saturday in an exclusive interview with Xinhuanet, Xinhua's official website, prior to his official visit to China scheduled for Sept.

They say that in 1677 King Narai the Great came up with the idea of excavating a ditch for a canal from Songkhla to Burma. His French engineer de Lamar travelled to the South, looked around and reported back that it was impossible.

Hundreds of Singaporeans, most dressed in black, held a silent protest on Saturday against an uncontested presidential election this week in which applications from four candidates were rejected. Political protests are rare in the wealthy city-state but the election of Halimah Yacob, a former speaker of parliament, as the country's first woman president had led to some dismay over how other prospective candidates were rejected.

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to step up cooperation between China and Singapore on Friday as he congratulated Halimah Yacob on becoming the city state's president. The congratulatory message came a day after Halimah was inaugurated, and at a time when relations between the two nations have been tense over the South China Sea.

Circumstances around the globe have changed for the worse, and the United States now needs to enhance its defense budget, not curtail it. You may remember the grim warnings of draconian budgets cuts issued by liberal pundits, congressional Democrats, and the Obama administration in early 2013.

ME1-2 Dennis Tan onboard the Republic of Singapore Ship Fearless scans the horizon in a search and rescue operation for three missing crew members, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017 in Singapore.

Indonesian-registered tanker Kartika Segara and Dominican-registered dredger JBB De Rong 19 collided about 1.7 nautical miles south-west of Sisters' Islands on Sep 13, 2017. SINGAPORE: The search area for three sailors missing after the collision between a tanker and a dredger on Wednesday has been expanded.

Kota Kinabalu: Five members of opposition Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku have filed a suit seeking to declare that the Malaysian Government committed a breach of the Malaysia Agreement when it failed to restrain Singapore leaving the federation two years later in 1965. The first, second, third, fourth and fifth plaintiff, Lucy Liskin Batak, 59, Jeffrey Kumin @ John, 49, Homer D Lubaton, 63, Alfred Raphael, 25, and Marcel Jude A/L MS Joseph, 56, respectively, are also seeking a declaration that the Malaysia Agreement is valid and lawful notwithstanding that the Republic of Singapore seceded from the Federation of Malaysia without the consent and approval of the State of Sabah and the State of Sarawak.

THE first reserved presidential election in Singapore's history drew to a close on Wednesday afternoon, with Halimah Yacob vowing to be a President whose top priority will be to serve the nation and all Singaporeans. Perhaps recognising some disappointment on the ground surrounding her ascendency to the highest office in the land without an actual election, the 63-year-old former Speaker of Parliament promised to work even harder as she prepares to begin her six-year term.

Halimah Yacob is now the first woman to rise to the office of president in Singapore. However, no election was held as rigid eligibility rules disqualified all other candidates, leaving would-be voters disgruntled with the electoral process.

A police coast guard vessel patrols the shipping lanes near freight ships off the coast of Singapore. SINGAPORE: Search and rescue operations are ongoing after a tanker and a dredger collided in Singapore waters on Wednesday at about 12.40am, the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore said.

The two countries must set aside differences and embrace growing interconnectivity to face challenges ahead, writes ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute's Charlotte Setijadi. RSAF and TNI AU F-16s forming the figure "50" over Marina South on Thursday .

Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan paying his respects to the late Sultan of Kedah Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah. SINGAPORE: Acting President JY Pillay and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have written to the wife of the late Sultan of Kedah to express their condolences on his death.

This photograph taken September 11, 2017 made available by The Straits Times shows former speaker of parliament Halimah Yacob talking to reporters outside the Elections Department in Singapore. -AFP/The Straits Times/Mark Chong SINGAPORE: Madam Halimah Yacob is set to be Singapore's eighth president and its first woman head of state this week, in the country's first presidential election reserved for candidates from the Malay community.

The NETS Pay mobile wallet will allow those too young to own a credit card, or who do not wish to own one, to add their NETS ATM cards to their smartphones for mobile payments. SINGAPORE: NETS on Tuesday announced its plans to roll out its NETS Pay mobile wallet before the end of the year, and that it will be equipped for use outside Singapore.

This July 4, 2001, file photo provided by the U.S. Department of Defense shows U.S. Navy Commander Dave Kapaun, right, with Republic of Singapore Navy Major Danny Tan, left, and Republic of Singapore Major H .C. Lim at a reception on board the U.S. Navy dock landing ship USS Rushmore during the seventh annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Exercise. Retired U.S. Navy Commander Kapaun,who pleaded guilty to lying about his relationship with a Malaysian defense contractor nicknamed "Fat Leonard" is facing sentencing.