Kamala Harris' Singapore visit: Signs of strong, enduring ties, from sculptures to Shake Shack and Starbucks

American glass artist Dale Chihuly's Glass In Bloom exhibition at Gardens by the Bay. - ST FILE

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Dressed in a sober, dark suit, US Vice-President Kamala Harris took the bull by the horns on Tuesday (Aug 24) when she broached a topic that has cast its shadow over her South-East Asian tour.

"I'm speaking about Afghanistan, because I am aware that as I stand here today, the eyes of many around the world are on Afghanistan," she said at the start of a speech on US policy in the Asia-Pacific. "So before I begin my comments, I will talk about that."