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Politics
No quick exit by PM Lee as succession plan unravels
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: The punishing impact of the Covid-19 crisis in Singapore has produced three political surprises, upsetting the smooth political successionplan of the city-state’s ruling party. One, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, the front runner, dropped out of the race to…
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Politics
Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore cancelled amid uncertain COVID-19 situation
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Another high-level conference in Singapore has fallen victim to Covid-19 pandemic as the city-state sees little sign of the raging virus outbreaks receding soon. The Shangri-la Dialogue, as the annual summit of defence chiefs is called after the Shangri-la hotel…
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Politics
World Economic Forum calls off meeting in Singapore
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Singapore is facing a fall-out at the international level because of the new near-lockdown measures it imposed to cope with a surge in Covid-19 cases. The World Economic Forum has called off its special annual meeting scheduled in the city-state…
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Business
Tough curbs in Singapore as leap In Covid-19 cases raises concern
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Singapore is scrambling to check the proliferation of a more virulent Coronavirus in the community by a slew of tough restrictions that come close to a previous lockdown Kicking in on May 16, and to last till June 13, social…
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Politics
Singapore jolted into action in wake of Covid-19 spurt
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Days after being rated the safest place to be during the COvid-19 pandemic, Singapore has been hit by a sudden jump in new community cases, jolting the authorities to impose new restrictions on citizens’ gatherings and travels of foreigners to…
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People
Singapore: Defamation award raises fears over Facebook postings
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: A punitive damages award totalling S$133,000 granted to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong against a blogger in a High Court defamation verdict is being seen as holding serious implications for Singaporeans sharing posts on social media platforms, prompting a crowdfunding…
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Culture
Apology ends row over purloined Singapore’s National Day song
By Ivan Li Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: A 1986 National Day song of Singapore found an echo in India, showing once again that emulation is a form of flattery, but plagiarising the tune had created discord. The catchy “Count on Me, Singapore” was rejigged as “We Can Achieve”…
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Politics
Singapore adds gumption, funds for post-Covid-19 rebound
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: Singapore, successful in taming the invidious Coronavirus to single-digit outbreaks, is poised for a confident rebound in the post-Covid-19 era. In a December 31 New Year message, a triumphant Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, declared “seeing light at the end…
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Politics
Singapore shows its mettle by bringing Davos to its shores
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: In 2018, Singapore was picked out of a list that included South Korea’s Jeju Island to host the Kim-Trump summit. The venue where US President Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong-un sought to break the ice on their nuclear…
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Culture
Unesco culture heritage honour for Singapore hawkers
By Ivan Lim Former AJA President, Contributor to AsiaN SINGAPORE: For India it is yoga, Thailand it is traditional massage, and South Korea it is kimjang, or the art of kimchi making and sharing. In the city-state’s case, the Unesco honour has to do with its hawker culture finding a place…
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