Source: Pelita Brunei

Brunei Crown Prince visited Temasek Holdings and Temasek Shophouse during Singapore programme.

Brunei Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, visited the corporate office of Temasek Holdings and Temasek Shophouse in Singapore on 30 September 2026 as part of the official programme for the 12th Singapore-Brunei Young Leaders Programme (YLP). The visit included meetings with Temasek Holdings Chairman Teo Chee Hean and Temasek Trust Chairman Ho Ching, as well as briefings on strategic institutional initiatives and the social impact hub.

Source: Pelita Brunei

At Temasek Holdings’ corporate office, the Crown Prince was received by Teo Chee Hean. He subsequently held a one-to-one meeting with the Temasek Holdings Chairman to exchange views on matters of mutual interest.

Following the meeting, the Crown Prince met members of Temasek Holdings and received a briefing focused on the organisation’s strategic institutional initiatives and programmes. The session provided an overview of initiatives associated with Temasek Holdings as part of the afternoon programme.

Source: Pelita Brunei

The Crown Prince then travelled to Temasek Shophouse, where he was received by Ho Ching, Chairman of Temasek Trust. A guided visit, led by the Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Trust, highlighted the building’s heritage conservation, sustainable design and community-driven social impact features.

Temasek Shophouse is described as a social impact hub owned by Temasek Trust, the philanthropic arm of Temasek Holdings. The building combines local heritage with contemporary spaces for community, social and environmental projects.

Source: Pelita Brunei

Following extensive renovation works, Temasek Shophouse reopened in September 2025. In March 2026, the site added a new open green space incorporating environmentally friendly features, including solar panels and a rainwater collection system.

The visit to Temasek Holdings and Temasek Shophouse formed part of the Crown Prince’s official programme during the 12th Singapore-Brunei Young Leaders Programme. The programme continued with engagements involving Singaporean institutions and organisations, providing opportunities for exchanges on matters of shared interest.

The Crown Prince’s visit to Temasek Holdings included discussions with senior leadership and an institutional briefing, while the visit to Temasek Shophouse focused on heritage, sustainability and community initiatives. Both engagements took place in Singapore on 30 September 2026.

Source: Pelita Brunei

Source: Facebook/Australian High Commission, Singapore

Australia and Singapore discussed shared priorities under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0.

Australian High Commissioner Mudie met Singapore Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Sim Ann to discuss shared priorities and bilateral cooperation under the Australia-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0. The meeting covered economic resilience, the energy transition, defence, digital connectivity and regional engagement, reflecting areas identified by both countries within their enhanced bilateral framework.

The engagement took place as Australia and Singapore continued cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0, which guides bilateral relations from 2025 to 2035. The enhanced partnership was agreed by the two countries’ Prime Ministers in October 2025 and provides a framework for cooperation in areas including peace and stability, economic connectivity, the transition to net-zero, new frontiers in technology and innovation, and people-to-people ties.

During the meeting, High Commissioner Mudie and Minister Sim discussed shared priorities under the partnership and cooperation between Australia and Singapore. The Australian High Commission said the two countries had continued to advance practical cooperation in economic resilience, energy transition, defence, digital connectivity and regional engagement.

Economic resilience is one of the areas covered by the partnership, with Australia and Singapore working on supply chain resilience, cyber and digital technologies, and investment-related cooperation. The two countries are also implementing initiatives linked to energy and the transition to net-zero, including cooperation under the Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement.

Defence and security cooperation also remain areas of bilateral engagement. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0 includes measures relating to defence access and training, defence science and technology, professional exchanges, defence supply chains and logistics, as well as cooperation on security matters and regional stability.

Digital connectivity and regional engagement were also identified by the Australian High Commission as areas of continued cooperation. Australia and Singapore have existing arrangements covering digital trade, innovation, science and technology, while the partnership includes further initiatives in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and research collaboration.

The Australian High Commission said Australia and Singapore shared a commitment to supporting a stable, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The meeting between High Commissioner Mudie and Minister Sim provided an opportunity to discuss these shared priorities and the continued implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0.

Source: Facebook/Australian High Commission, Singapore

Source: Facebook/Embassy of Finland in Singapore

Finnish cinema was screened in Singapore ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations.

The Embassy of Finland in Singapore hosted a screening of the Finnish film Summer Is Crazy last Thursday as part of Nordic Film Festival 2026. The screening took place on the eve of Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations in Singapore and offered audiences an opportunity to experience Finnish cinema on the big screen.

The event featured the Finnish film as part of the festival’s programme of Nordic cinema. The Embassy of Finland in Singapore welcomed audiences to the screening and expressed its appreciation to those who attended the event.

The embassy highlighted the timing of the screening in relation to Singapore’s Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. It drew a connection between the Finnish midsummer sun depicted in the film and the glow of the Mid-Autumn moon in Singapore, with light, stories and shared experiences serving as themes linking the two settings.

Source: Facebook/Embassy of Finland in Singapore

The embassy said it was pleased to share “a little piece of Finnish cinema” with audiences in Singapore through the screening. The event provided an opportunity for Singapore-based audiences to watch a Finnish film together in a cinema setting while experiencing a cultural programme focused on Nordic film.

Nordic Film Festival 2026 subsequently approached its conclusion, with the Embassy of Finland in Singapore thanking audiences for their enthusiastic support of the festival. The embassy described the 2026 edition as having received a positive response as the programme drew to a close.

The festival’s final programme included an encore screening of The Day Iceland Stood Still, an Icelandic film scheduled for the evening of 30 September. The additional screening provided another opportunity for audiences in Singapore to view Nordic cinema before the festival ended.

The Finnish screening was part of the wider cultural programme presented through Nordic Film Festival 2026 in Singapore. Alongside the Finnish and Icelandic films, the festival provided a platform for audiences to engage with Nordic cinema and cultural works from the region.

The Embassy of Finland in Singapore thanked everyone who attended the Summer Is Crazy screening and supported the festival. The embassy also encouraged audiences to attend the final screening of The Day Iceland Stood Still on 30 September, concluding the 2026 festival programme in Singapore.

Source: Facebook/Embassy of Finland in Singapore

Source: Facebook/French Embassy in Singapore

France prepared for SIEW 2026 with institutional and industry representatives visiting Singapore

France prepared to participate in the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2026, with Ambassador Stephen Marchisio attending a Pre-SIEW reception organised by Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) and SMBC ahead of the annual energy event. SIEW 2026 was scheduled to take place from 26 to 30 October in Singapore, with France due to be represented by a high-level delegation of institutional and industry leaders.

The Pre-SIEW reception provided an opportunity for participants to engage ahead of the main programme and discuss developments in the energy sector. Ambassador Marchisio attended the reception as France prepared for its participation in SIEW 2026.

According to the French Embassy in Singapore, the French delegation would include representatives from institutions and industry as part of the country’s participation in the week-long programme. SIEW is an international energy event held in Singapore that provides a setting for discussions involving the energy sector and related stakeholders.

The French participation was expected to highlight expertise from the country’s energy sector while providing opportunities for exchanges with Singaporean counterparts. The delegation was also expected to explore potential areas of cooperation linked to the energy transition.

The French Embassy said SIEW 2026 would provide an opportunity for France to “showcase French expertise, deepen cooperation with Singapore, and explore new avenues for collaboration on the energy transition”.

The participation reflected the interest of French institutional and business representatives in Singapore’s energy sector and the wider regional energy landscape. France’s delegation was expected to engage with stakeholders during SIEW through meetings, discussions and other programme activities.

The Pre-SIEW reception was organised by EMA and SMBC as part of preparations leading up to the event. EMA is Singapore’s energy regulator and is involved in the development of the country’s energy market and energy policy.

SIEW 2026 was set to run from 26 to 30 October, bringing together participants involved in discussions on the future of energy in Singapore and the region. French representatives were scheduled to take part alongside other international participants during the programme.

The French Embassy in Singapore highlighted the upcoming participation as an opportunity to connect institutional and industry representatives from France with Singaporean and regional stakeholders. The delegation’s activities were expected to focus on energy transition and related areas of cooperation.

Source: Facebook/French Embassy in Singapore

Singapore officers visited India for briefings on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.

A delegation of 60 new Foreign Service Officers and civil servants from Singapore visited India as part of the 2026 Foreign Service Basic Programme. The delegation was led by H.E. Ambassador Lim Hong Huai, Dean of the Diplomatic Academy.

During the visit, the officers received a detailed briefing on the India-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Shri Prashant Agrawal, Additional Secretary (South), presented the briefing and discussed different aspects of the bilateral partnership.

The programme introduced Singapore’s young officers to India-Singapore relations and the framework guiding cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India

Venezuelan ambassador joined young fencers in Singapore for World Fencing Day celebrations.

H.E. Jessica Maria Lopez Pina, Ambassador of Venezuela to Singapore, joined Capital Fencers in Singapore for a World Fencing Day celebration featuring a fireside chat and exhibition match.

During the event, H.E. Ambassador Lopez Pina spoke about Venezuela’s fencing achievements, including Olympic champion Mr. Rubén Limardo and the country’s “gold generation” of fencing. She also shared reflections on the relationship between Venezuela and Singapore.

During the event, H.E. Ambassador Lopez Pina shared words of encouragement with young fencers, highlighting the importance of discipline in pursuing their goals.

Source: Capital Fencers

Timor-Leste advanced cybercrime cooperation and civil rights protections through two treaty signatures.

Timor-Leste signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in New York on 24 September 2026. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas signed both instruments on behalf of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste during the Treaties Event at the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime provides an international framework for preventing and combating crimes involving information and communication technologies. It also supports cooperation between states in criminal investigations and the collection and sharing of electronic evidence linked to serious crimes. The signing followed several national measures aimed at developing Timor-Leste’s legal and institutional framework for cybersecurity and cybercrime.

In July 2026, the Council of Ministers approved a draft Law Proposal requesting legislative authorisation from the National Parliament to legislate on cybercrime, criminal procedure in cybersecurity and the legal framework for national cyberspace. In August, the Government established the Interministerial Commission on Cybersecurity and the Digitisation of Government Services and approved the 2026–2031 National Integrated Plan addressing digital financial scam networks, organised cybercrime and human trafficking.

During the same Treaty Event, Minister Freitas signed the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Timor-Leste has been a State Party to the Covenant since 2003. The Optional Protocol provides a mechanism for individuals to submit communications to the United Nations Human Rights Committee under the Protocol.

Source: Government of Timor-Leste

The Singapore forum showcased Venezuelan cocoa and explored agricultural cooperation with ASEAN.

Venezuela presented its cocoa sector and explored agricultural cooperation with ASEAN during the International Farmers Network Forum in Singapore, held as part of the International Cocoa Conference organised by the Cocoa Association of Asia. The event gathered producers and international industry representatives to exchange experiences and discuss opportunities and challenges in the cocoa sector.

H.E. Jessica María López, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Singapore, participated in the forum, which focused on the theme “Young Adults and Women as Catalysts of Change: Building the Next Generation Cocoa Economy”. The discussions highlighted the role of younger generations and women in supporting a more inclusive and sustainable cocoa economy.

Venezuela was also represented by Mr. Alejandro Patiño of the Cacao San Francisco Civil Association, who attended as a guest of the Embassy. Mr. Patiño shared his experience as a cocoa farmer and described his transition from small-scale production towards a model with greater production volume and market reach.

During the event, H.E. Ambassador López met Dr. Minh Pham Quang, Assistant Director of Food, Agriculture and Forestry Division at the ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides expressed interest in exploring agricultural cooperation and exchanges of experience, knowledge and good practices, including opportunities related to the cocoa sector.

Source: Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Singapore

The discussion outlined India’s approach to AI innovation, security and maritime governance.

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar highlighted India’s approach to artificial intelligence, international peace and security, and maritime security during the event on “AI in the Context of International Peace & Security, with an Emphasis on Maritime Security”. He stressed the need to use the opportunities offered by AI while anticipating its consequences and managing related security risks.

Dr S. Jaishankar referred to the New Delhi Declaration, which emphasised democratic access to AI resources, the development of secure and trustworthy systems, investment in human capabilities, and the use of AI for economic growth and social good.

In the maritime sector, Dr S. Jaishankar said AI could improve maritime domain awareness, search and rescue operations, disaster response, the identification of suspicious activities, and the resilience of ports and critical infrastructure. He also pointed to possible risks, including sophisticated reconnaissance, vulnerability mapping and cyber operations targeting vessels, communication networks and undersea infrastructure.

He further highlighted concerns linked to increasing autonomy in maritime systems, including attribution, accountability and escalation. Dr S. Jaishankar said the UN Charter and international law, including the law of the sea, remained essential frameworks governing State conduct, while transparency, confidence building, capacity development, technical cooperation and exchanges of best practices could support the responsible use of AI. He added that AI and maritime security remained important priorities for India at the United Nations.

Source: Facebook/ EAM Dr S. Jaishankar

The Timor-Leste Women in Business Awards recognised women entrepreneurs supporting national economic development.

The third Timor-Leste Women in Business Awards 2026 took place in Dili on 17 September, recognising women entrepreneurs and their contribution to the country’s private sector and economic development. The ceremony welcomed Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, President José Ramos-Horta, members of the Government and National Parliament, representatives of the diplomatic corps and private-sector figures.

In his address, Prime Minister Gusmão highlighted the role of Timorese women throughout the country’s history and their growing participation in economic development. “Our history shows us that the strength of Timorese women has always been part of the strength of Timor-Leste,” he said. He also stressed the need for stronger domestic businesses capable of producing goods and services, creating employment and reducing dependence on imports.

Prime Minister Gusmão said the Government had a responsibility to create suitable conditions for business development through economic stability, infrastructure investment and greater international economic integration. He referred to Timor-Leste’s accession to the World Trade Organisation in 2024 and ASEAN in 2025 as opportunities for trade, investment and private-sector growth. He also addressed difficulties small businesses, particularly women-owned enterprises, faced in accessing finance, pointing to the creation of the National Development Bank as one measure intended to improve access to capital.

The Timor-Leste Women in Business Awards were organised by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, in partnership with the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Timor-Leste (AEMTL). The third edition recognised ten individual and institutional winners in nine categories covering corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, cooperative leadership, career development, financial services and women’s economic empowerment. Addressing the finalists, Prime Minister Gusmão said they “demonstrate the potential that already exists in Timor-Leste” and encouraged women entrepreneurs to continue developing their businesses and ideas.

Source: Government of Timor-Leste