Singapore-India Flights Expand as Tamil Community Marks 75 Years and Bangladesh Cricket Eyes Test Final
Singapore's South Asian community sees expanded aviation connectivity between the city-state and eight Indian cities, while Prime Minister Lawrence Wong celebrates a major anniversary of Tamil language education in Singapore, and a Bangladesh cricket star reflects on the team's rising ambitions in Test cricket after a landmark series win against Australia.
🏢 SIA and Air India Open Standalone Bookings on 126 Weekly Singapore-India Flights from October 15
Singapore Airlines and Air India are expanding their partnership by allowing travellers to book eligible flights between Singapore and eight Indian cities on either airline's platform from October 15. Under the new arrangement, a customer can book an Air India-operated flight through SIA's website, mobile app or travel agencies without needing to include an SIA-operated segment, and vice versa. Previously, a codeshare booking required the inclusion of a flight operated by the same carrier through which the booking was made. The change covers 126 weekly flights between Singapore and eight Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The initiative is the first set of customer-facing changes under the commercial cooperation framework agreement signed by the two airlines in January. SIA acquired a 25.1 per cent stake in Air India in November 2024. The two carriers currently codeshare on 77 destinations across 27 countries and territories. Both airlines described the new arrangement as giving passengers a wider range of itinerary and flight options through their respective booking channels. From 2027, the airlines plan to offer frequent flyers improved reciprocal loyalty programme benefits, alongside smoother connections and reduced layover times for passengers moving between the two carriers' networks. [1]
🤝 PM Lawrence Wong Celebrates Singapore Tamil Teachers Union's 75 Years Championing Mother Tongue Education
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong attended the 75th anniversary dinner of the Singapore Tamil Teachers' Union on July 17, 2026, honouring seven decades of the organisation's advocacy for Tamil language educators in Singapore. In his speech, Wong congratulated the union, known as STTU, for growing from a small founding group to a current membership of more than 600 educators, including pre-school teachers. He noted that the union is run entirely by volunteers, with full-time teachers contributing their time and talent beyond their regular professional duties. Wong acknowledged the particular difficulty facing Tamil language instruction in contemporary Singapore, where more young Singaporeans are growing up in households where English is the dominant language of daily communication. He described Mother Tongue languages as connecting individuals to their roots, values and cultural heritage, forming a cornerstone of Singapore's identity as a multiracial and multireligious nation. Danapal Kumar, identified as STTU president, presided over the event alongside representatives from the labour movement. The NTUC Secretary-General was present and noted the growth in membership numbers. Wong emphasised that Tamil language teachers do far more than teach vocabulary and grammar, serving as transmitters of stories and values from Tamil cultural tradition to younger generations. The STTU's 75th anniversary marks a milestone for an organisation that began its work before Singapore's independence. [6]
🎬 Bangladesh Pace Star Hasan Mahmud Eyes World Test Championship Final After Shock Australia Win
Bangladesh pace bowler Hasan Mahmud has said his team's recent form in Test cricket has made a World Test Championship final appearance a realistic ambition. Bangladesh currently sit fourth in the World Test Championship standings, a position strengthened by a shock nine-wicket victory over Australia in Darwin in August. Hasan, 26, was central to that result, taking 6 for 55 in Darwin. Speaking to AFP from Dhaka, he said the momentum was coming Bangladesh's way and that the belief within the team was that they could now dominate Test cricket. He noted that Bangladesh have won six of their 13 Tests across the past two years. Six Tests remain in the current World Test Championship cycle, including home series against the West Indies and England and a tour of South Africa. Hasan said winning four home matches would make a final appearance a genuine target. He spent the year on county duty with Kent and has earned the nickname Mini-McGrath after Australian great Glenn McGrath. Australia won the second Test of the series in Mackay by an innings and 51 runs, preventing Bangladesh from clinching the series, but Hasan described the Darwin result as a springboard for the team's broader ambitions in Test cricket. He said perceptions of Bangladeshi pace bowling were changing as the country produces a new generation of fast bowlers capable of competing at world level. [4]
Sources: [1] The Straits Times · [6] Prime Minister's Office Singapore · [4] Yahoo News Singapore