Singapore PM outlines development orientations in maiden national day rally speech
Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who delivered his first national day rally speech at the ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio on Aug 18, outlined several new initiatives across the four key areas of economy, family, education, and housing as part of the government's outlook for the nation’s development in decades to come.
Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivering a speech at his inauguration ceremony on May 15, 2024, in Singapore. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Singapore (VNA) – Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who delivered his first national day rally speech at the ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio on Aug 18, outlined several new initiatives across the four key areas of economy, family, education, and housing as part of the government's outlook for the nation’s development in decades to come.
In his remarks, Wong, who took over as Singapore’s fourth head of government in May, announced a financial aid scheme for retrenched workers, increased shared parental leave, housing enhancements for couples, singles and aged, the revamp of the country’s Gifted Education Programme, and the development of the Kallang area as a new sports and lifestyle destination, among others.
Accordingly, as reported by the Singaporean daily English-language newspaper The Straits Times, parents in the nation will get an additional 10 weeks of shared parental leave, to be shared by both spouses. This will replace the current arrangement where husbands can share up to four weeks of their wives’ 16 weeks of maternity leave. Meanwhile, a new SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme will give temporary financial support to those who have lost their job. These workers will get up to 6,000 USD over up to six months while they go for training, career coaching, and job matching.
💛 PM Wong said Singapore needs a renewed social compact where every Singaporean feels there is hope. It is also where all citizens, even the most disadvantaged, know that they can get a fair shot in life and can get ahead if they make effort and work hard./.
Eligible Singaporeans will receive between 200 SGD (151.9 USD) and 400 SGD (303.7 USD) next month, as part of measures to help them cope with rising cost of living, Singapore’s Ministry of Finance (MoF) announced on August 13.
The forum, which involves global experts and creative leaders from across 14 cultural sectors, aims to expand Thailand’s presence on the world stage through innovation and cultural exchange.
In his article, Oscar Sanchez Serra highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s founding of the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on June 21, 1925, which marked the birth of Vietnam's revolutionary press rooted in a bold and far-sighted vision.
Several ASEAN meetings are scheduled to take place in Port Dickson this September, including the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) for ASEAN Plus Three (APT), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the 15th ASEAN Maritime Forum, and the 13th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered the urgent implementation of a national policy to crack down on all forms of call centre scams, online fraud, and illegal gambling, which are now considered threats to national security.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and EAEU Trade Minister Andrey Slepnev jointly declared the conclusion of FTA talks on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), according to the statement.
The article stressed that throughout his revolutionary career, the founder of modern Vietnam consistently regarded the revolutionary press as a vital part of the Vietnamese Party’s and nation’s revolutionary struggle.
Pichai said the trade talks with the US are important and need to move forward professionally, without regard for any political changes in Thailand, believing that Thailand has clear principles, guidelines and procedures in place.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
