Making America great again!
THIS fourth of July will be the 249th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. This majestic Declaration in 1776 emancipated the then 13 British Colonies of North America from the clutches of British colonial domination and constituted them as the United States of America.
The Declaration is believed to be the first formal pronouncement by an organised political community of its right to choose its government. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson (later the third President in 1801), the Declaration consisted of two parts. First, it contained seven stirring principles of the inalienable rights of human beings. Second, it included a specific list of 27 grievances against King George III of England.
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The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
UK aircraft carrier docks at Marina Bay Cruise Centre
SINGAPORE: British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, one of the largest warships in the world, has docked at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre. The carrier, whose flight deck is large enough to fit three football pitches, is making its first formal port call in the region at the head of a group of ships on a multi-nation, UK-led deployment. While docked in Singapore, the warship will play host to some 8,000 members of the public who balloted for free tickets earlier in the year, as well as a series of activities. This includes a defence and security industry day, where some 30 UK businesses will hold an expo in the carrier's hanger, as well as a science and technology symposium where experts from both countries will discuss technological developments. The carrier will also host panel discussions on defence and security, and a friendly e-sports tournament between UK and Singapore soldiers. The arrival of the HMS Prince of Wales is a critical demonstration of the UK's commitment to the Indo-Pacific, said British High Commissioner Nikesh Mehta. The visit comes amid a tumultuous global environment, where there is a 'need to demonstrate the importance of stability around the world, stability in the Indo-Pacific, and stability in the Euro-Atlantic', Mehta said at a media briefing on June 19 ahead of the carrier's arrival. Britain's position is that stability in the Indo-Pacific and in the Euro-Atlantic are indivisible, he added. 'You can't have one without the other, and that's why the carrier strike group coming to this part of the world is so important.' The aircraft carrier is the flagship of the UK carrier strike group, which includes several other UK Royal Navy vessels, as well as ships from Canada, Norway and Spain, amongst others. Its visit to Singapore is part of an eight month deployment called Operation Highmast that departed from the UK in April, with the ships sailing from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Its route has included the Mediterranean, and along the way the group has conducted joint exercises, such as with the Indian Navy. The HMS Prince of Wales is one of two aircraft carriers currently operated by UK Navy – two of the largest ever built for the service, with a displacement of 65,000 tonnes and measuring 284m in length. It can carry up to 1,600 soldiers and 36 advanced F-35B fighter jets and four Merlin Helicopters. Its sister ship, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, visited Singapore in 2021, as part of the deployment of the UK's first carrier strike group. Besides Singapore, the HMS Prince of Wales is set to visit several other ports in the region including Indonesia, Japan and South Korea, and will take part in several joint exercises, including with the Singapore Armed Forces. In July, the carrier is set to join Exercise Talisman Sabre, an Australia-led exercise involving the US and other regional militaries. On its way back to home waters in September, it will participate in the Five Power Defence Arrangements' (FDPA) signature annual exercise, Bersama Lima. The FPDA consists of the Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK, and was established in 1971 when the British left the city state. The last time a UK aircraft carrier joined the FPDA's drills was in 1997, when HMS Invincible participated in Exercise Flying Fish, the first time the grouping conducted a combined maritime and air exercise. Head of the British Defence Staff for South-East Asia Colonel Eddie Maskell-Pedersen said HMS Prince of Wales' visit to Marina Bay is the latest in a series of security exchanges between the UK and Singapore this year. There have been reciprocal visits from senior military leadership on both sides, and in May Singapore frigate RSS Formidable docked in London's Canary Wharf, he noted. '(This) provides a clear statement of the importance of the relationship between the UK and Singapore: the partnership we have had, we are moving towards, and hopefully the momentum we would like to continue as partners for the future,' he said on June 19. In response to a question on the carrier's agenda and the UK's security involvement in the region, Col Maskell-Pederson, who is also the UK's defence advisor to Singapore, said Britain is not new to South-east Asia or to exercising in it. 'That's why our contribution, our commitment to FPDA since 1971 for 54 years now, is so important,' he said. 'And that's why the carrier strike group, and elements thereof, will participate in Exercise Bersama Lima because it's an important relationship. It's an important partnership that we are part of, and we want to continue to be committed to that.' At the same briefing, UK Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific Martin Kent said the visit highlights the UK's commitment to building 'mutual prosperity and security in this region'. The UK is working with partners in the Indo-Pacific to promote and protect the international rules-based order, he added. He said: 'With defence and security exports to the Asia Pacific region worth over 2.1 billion pounds ($3.6 million) in 2023 our commitment to this region is both substantial and enduring.' Mehta, the ambassador, said the carrier's arrival is a 'vital cog' in a 'momentous' year for Singapore-UK relations. The two countries are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations, which the visit also commemorates. - The Straits Times/ANN
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
Making America great again!
THIS fourth of July will be the 249th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. This majestic Declaration in 1776 emancipated the then 13 British Colonies of North America from the clutches of British colonial domination and constituted them as the United States of America. The Declaration is believed to be the first formal pronouncement by an organised political community of its right to choose its government. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson (later the third President in 1801), the Declaration consisted of two parts. First, it contained seven stirring principles of the inalienable rights of human beings. Second, it included a specific list of 27 grievances against King George III of England.
The Star
18 hours ago
- The Star
Hague NATO summit protest shifts focus to Iran
Demonstrators hold 'ROOD Socialistische Jongeren' (RED socialist youth) flags during a march against the upcoming NATO leaders' summit, at The Hague, Netherlands, June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw THE HAGUE (Reuters) -An anti-NATO protest in The Hague on Sunday shifted its focus to Iran after overnight U.S. strikes hit key nuclear sites there. The peaceful demonstration took place days before The Hague hosts a NATO summit. The planned protest against NATO's military policies pivoted to condemnation of the U.S. attacks on Iran, with participants voicing concern about rising tensions in the Middle East. Thousands marched toward the Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice, a Reuters witness said. Organizers estimated the crowd at 5,000, while police said they do not track attendance numbers. Protesters carried banners calling for de-escalation, diplomacy, and for NATO to be disbanded, with some saying "No Iran War" and "Hands off Iran". Iranian protester Nikita Shahbazi told Reuters it was "heartbreaking" to see what is going on in her home country. "I feel devastated. (The U.S. attacks) can trigger a wider war. It has opened the paths for illegal attacks on nuclear installations everywhere in the world." Protesters also opposed a proposed 5% defence spending target pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump and backed by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who hopes to secure consensus at the summit, beginning on Wednesday. "There's no need for this provocation, this 5% of GDP spending on weapons, that will benefit the military-industrial complex. This has nothing to do with the needs of people," said British protester Pippa Bartolotti. (Reporting by Yiming Woo, Writing by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Editing by Giles Elgood)
