Singapore Stresses Need to Maintain Trust with Washington and Beijing Amid Global Tensions

At the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2026, Vivian Balakrishnan stated that Singapore needs to preserve trust with both Washington and Beijing while avoiding the role of a proxy for either superpower.

Assembled News DeskOctober 7, 20261 min read

An abstract illustration symbolizing the need for careful balance and maintained trust between major global powers. — AI-generated illustration

Vivian Balakrishnan stated at the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2026 in Singapore on Wednesday that Singapore is required to uphold trust with both Washington and Beijing without becoming a proxy for either nation. According to the South China Morning Post, the city-state needed to assure both superpowers that it would continue to be beneficial without acting as a proxy for either side. Balakrishnan also cautioned that the worldwide situation would remain unstable if the United States and China did not resolve their internal matters, noting that the relationship between the two powers was in a "difficult phase."

Keep reading

More World

A somber editorial illustration of a quiet protest encampment in a large, historic European square under an overcast sky, emphasizing the gravity of the housing crisis.

World1h ago1 min

87-Year-Old Maricarmen Abascal, Evicted in Spain, Has Died Amid Housing Protests

Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old woman whose eviction triggered significant housing protests in Spain, has passed away, according to Madrid’s tenants’ union. Her removal from her long-term residence on September 23 led to mass demonstrations that reportedly prompted the Prime Minister to call an early election.

Conceptual illustration of a balance scale weighing abstract representations of mental health against medical procedure.

World3h ago1 min

Canada Will Not Allow Medically Assisted Suicide for People with Only Mental Illness, Justice Minister Announces

The justice minister stated that Canada will not permit medically assisted suicide for individuals whose sole condition is a mental illness, an announcement made on Wednesday as the government aims to conclude discussions on a highly contentious healthcare topic.

A sharp kitchen knife rests on a dark, textured surface under focused, dramatic lighting.

World3h ago2 min

Court Hears Details of Attack on Schoolgirl; Defendant Denies Attempted Murder

A court has heard that a masked 15-year-old who stabbed a schoolgirl had written notes expressing hatred for women. The defendant, now 16, admitted to possessing a kitchen knife without authority and wounding with intent, while denying the charge of attempted murder.