Singapore PM defends exclusive deal to lure Taylor Swift / Photo: DAVID GRAY - AFP/File
-
Messi leads Miami into MLS playoff matchup with Cincinnati
-
Ukraine scrambles for energy with power generation at 'zero'
-
India mega-zoo in spotlight again over animal acquisitions
-
Messi leads Miami into MLS Cup playoff matchup with Cincinnati
-
Tornado kills six, injures 750 as it wrecks southern Brazil town
-
Minnesota outlasts Seattle to advance in MLS Cup playoffs
-
Marseille go top in Ligue 1 as Lens thrash Monaco
-
Fourteen-man South Africa fight back to beat France
-
Atletico, Villarreal win to keep pressure on Liga giants
-
Chelsea down Wolves to ease criticism of Maresca's rotation policy
-
England's Genge eager to face All Blacks after Fiji win
-
Wasteful Milan draw at Parma but level with Serie A leaders Napoli
-
Fire kills six at Turkish perfume warehouse
-
Djokovic pulls out of ATP Finals with shoulder injury
-
Rybakina outguns world No.1 Sabalenka to win WTA Finals
-
Norris survives a slip to seize Sao Paulo pole
-
Sunderland snap Arsenal's winning run in Premier League title twist
-
England see off Fiji to make it nine wins in a row
-
Australia connection gives Italy stunning win over Wallabies
-
Arsenal winning run ends in Sunderland draw, De Ligt rescues Man Utd
-
Griezmann double earns Atletico battling win over Levante
-
Title-leader Norris grabs Sao Paulo Grand Prix pole
-
Djokovic edges Musetti to win 101st career title in Athens
-
Rybakina downs world No.1 Sabalenka to win WTA Finals
-
McKenzie ends Scotland dream of first win over New Zealand
-
McKenzie stars as New Zealand inflict heartbreak upon Scotland
-
De Ligt rescues Man Utd in Spurs draw, Arsenal aim to extend lead
-
Kane saves Bayern but record streak ends at Union
-
Bolivia's new president takes over, inherits economic mess
-
Edwards set for Wolves job after Middlesbrough allow talks
-
COP30: Indigenous peoples vital to humanity's future, Brazilian minister tells AFP
-
Marquez wins Portuguese MotoGP sprint race
-
Saim, Abrar star in Pakistan's ODI series win over South Africa
-
Norris extends title lead in Sao Paulo GP sprint after Piastri spin
-
Man Utd have room to 'grow', says Amorim after Spurs setback
-
Tornado kills six, wrecks town in Brazil
-
Norris wins Sao Paulo GP sprint, Piastri spins out
-
Ireland scramble to scrappy win over Japan
-
De Ligt rescues draw for Man Utd after Tottenham turnaround
-
Israel identifies latest hostage body, as families await five more
-
England's Rai takes one-shot lead into Abu Dhabi final round
-
Tornado kills five, injures more than 400 in Brazil
-
UPS, FedEx ground MD-11 cargo planes after deadly crash
-
Luis Enrique not rushing to recruit despite key PSG trio's absence
-
Flick demands more Barca 'fight' amid injury crisis
-
Israel names latest hostage body, as families await five more
-
Title-chasing Evans cuts gap on Ogier at Rally Japan
-
Russian attack hits Ukraine energy infrastructure: Kyiv
-
Kagiyama tunes up for Olympics with NHK Trophy win
-
Indonesia probes student after nearly 100 hurt in school blasts
NYSE - LSE
Singapore PM defends exclusive deal to lure Taylor Swift
Singapore struck a deal ensuring Taylor Swift played the city-state but nowhere else in Southeast Asia, the country's prime minister said Tuesday while defending the secretive arrangement.
Pop icon Swift is halfway through a run of six sold-out shows in Singapore, the only city in Southeast Asia to feature in her blockbuster Eras world tour.
The star's schedule has sparked controversy in the music-mad region, with Singapore accused of throwing cash at Swift to stop her from appearing in other locations.
The issue unexpectedly reared its head at the ASEAN-Australia summit in Melbourne -- a sober affair typically more preoccupied with matters of security and economic growth.
"Our agencies negotiated an arrangement with her to come to Singapore and perform, and to make Singapore her only stop in Southeast Asia," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart.
"A deal was reached. And so it has turned out to be a very successful arrangement. I don't see that as being unfriendly."
Singapore has repeatedly declined to detail the financial terms of the deal.
After Singapore, Swift's Eras Tour will head to Europe.
M.Qasim--SF-PST
