By — Andrew Mach Andrew Mach Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/photos-singapore-turns-50-celebrates-evolution-independence Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Photos: Singapore turns 50, celebrates evolution since independence World Aug 9, 2015 2:19 PM EDT The people of Singapore celebrated 50 years of independence on Sunday, haling its growth from a poor colonial port to a wealthy metropolis. As fighter jets roared through the sky, tens of thousands took advantage of the day’s free train and bus rides to gather at the Padang in Central Singapore for Golden Jubilee festivities, where national songs blared and prominent leaders made speeches extolling the country’s achievements. On Saturday, Secretary of State John Kerry praised the United States’s relationship with Singapore. “We value and look forward to expanding our partnership and strengthening our bonds of friendship with Singapore for the next 50 years and beyond,” Kerry said in a statement. “Having just returned from Singapore, I once again had the privilege to witness your country’s remarkable evolution.” The island city-state of 5.5 million people, which was expelled from Malaysia on August 9, 1965, is now a global business hub, despite grappling with the region’s political instability, and is among the top five most expensive cities in the world, according to the Associated Press. The Republic of Singapore Air Force performs a “50” formation during an aerial display in Singapore’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters. People enjoy free train ride for a day during the Singapore National Day on August 9, 2015 in Singapore. Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images. The Singapore Armed Forces 1st Commando Battalion guard of honour marches past during Singapore’s Golden Jubilee celebration Parade. Photo by Kevin Lam/Reuters. Confettis fill the sky during the National Day Parade at Padang on August 9, 2015 in Singapore. Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images. Entertainers perform on stage during the National Day Parade at Padang on August 9, 2015 in Singapore. Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images. Children wearing LED-lit costumes perform during Singapore’s Golden Jubilee celebration parade. Photo by Kevin Lam/Reuters. Fireworks explode over Marina Bay during Singapore’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, in Singapore August 9, 2015. Photo by Tan Shung Sin/Reuters. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Andrew Mach Andrew Mach Andrew Mach is a former Digital Editor for PBS NewsHour in New York City, where he manages the online editorial direction of the national broadcast's weekend edition. Formerly, Mach was a news editor and staff writer for NBC News. He's also written for the Christian Science Monitor in Boston and had stints at ABC News, the Washington Post and German network ZDF in Berlin, in addition to reporting for an investigative journalism project in Phoenix. Mach was a recipient of the 2016 Kiplinger Fellowship, the 2015 RIAS German/American Exchange fellowship by the Radio Television Digital News Foundation and the 2012 Berlin Capital Program Fulbright. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a native of Aberdeen, South Dakota. @andrewjmach
The people of Singapore celebrated 50 years of independence on Sunday, haling its growth from a poor colonial port to a wealthy metropolis. As fighter jets roared through the sky, tens of thousands took advantage of the day’s free train and bus rides to gather at the Padang in Central Singapore for Golden Jubilee festivities, where national songs blared and prominent leaders made speeches extolling the country’s achievements. On Saturday, Secretary of State John Kerry praised the United States’s relationship with Singapore. “We value and look forward to expanding our partnership and strengthening our bonds of friendship with Singapore for the next 50 years and beyond,” Kerry said in a statement. “Having just returned from Singapore, I once again had the privilege to witness your country’s remarkable evolution.” The island city-state of 5.5 million people, which was expelled from Malaysia on August 9, 1965, is now a global business hub, despite grappling with the region’s political instability, and is among the top five most expensive cities in the world, according to the Associated Press. The Republic of Singapore Air Force performs a “50” formation during an aerial display in Singapore’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters. People enjoy free train ride for a day during the Singapore National Day on August 9, 2015 in Singapore. Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images. The Singapore Armed Forces 1st Commando Battalion guard of honour marches past during Singapore’s Golden Jubilee celebration Parade. Photo by Kevin Lam/Reuters. Confettis fill the sky during the National Day Parade at Padang on August 9, 2015 in Singapore. Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images. Entertainers perform on stage during the National Day Parade at Padang on August 9, 2015 in Singapore. Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images. Children wearing LED-lit costumes perform during Singapore’s Golden Jubilee celebration parade. Photo by Kevin Lam/Reuters. Fireworks explode over Marina Bay during Singapore’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, in Singapore August 9, 2015. Photo by Tan Shung Sin/Reuters. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now