Singapore
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South East Asia
Euphoria, optimism as Singapore celebrates 200th anniversary
Singapore: From a distance, you spot this eye-catching artistic display at an open ground of the Macpherson housing estate. Close-up and you see red, green and blue heart symbols painted over the white panels cardboards and featuring such words as love, family, strength, peace, and vision. The Garden of Hearts showpiece…
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South East Asia
Singapore editor Balji launches tell-all book
[Singapore] A new book has shed more light on how Singapore’s authoritarian leader Lee Kuan Yew rapped the knuckles of independent-minded journalists whom he deemed to have failed to toe the official line. In his memoir, The Reluctant Editor- The Singapore Media as Seen Through the Eyes of a Veteran Newspaper…
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Politics
Japan, Singapore and South Korea lead world’s passport power
Japan, Singapore and South Korea have confirmed Asia’s leadership in the world’s passport power, topping the latest list compiled by the Swiss consulting company Henley & Partners. According to the Henley Passport Index at the beginning of the third quarter of 2019, Japan and Singapore held the top spot as…
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East Asia
Pre-school education in Singapore
Singapore ranks among the best in global rankings for primary, secondary and tertiary education but lacks behind in early childhood education. In 2012, a study on pre-school education placed Singapore in the 29th spot out of 45 countries, and way behind South Korea (10th) and Hong Kong (19th). Finland, Sweden,…
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East Asia
After Singapore, Can Sizzle Be Replaced With Steak?
WHAT can face-to-face diplomacy between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un achieve? It is wisest not to expect a revolutionary change in Trump’s approach and instead for him to play to his strengths: ceremony and personal relationships. On substance, the South Korean-led process should be…
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South East Asia
Education system in Singapore
This year, Singapore celebrates its bicentennial of its founding in 1819 by Englishman Sir Stamford Raffles who set up the first premier school named after him. Raffles Institution (RI) is the alma mater of many illustrious Singaporeans, including Lee Kuan Yew. Education has moved up the quality ladder since, playing…
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East Asia
Singapore: an upbeat new year’s message
Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong delivered an upbeat new year’s message. On the political front a younger team is in place to take over the leadership after Lee who plans to step down in 2021. Poised to be the next prime minister is current finance minister Heng Swee Keat.…
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Politics
Has Singapore Led to Real Gains on the North Korean Nuclear Question?
The warm feelings of the Singapore summit between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump in June have given way to the chill of December and the reality of a coming winter. In October and November, North Korea’s state-run news agency, KCNA, published a series of commentaries warning that North…
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East Asia
After Singapore, Can Sizzle Be Replaced With Steak?
WHAT can face-to-face diplomacy between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un achieve? It is wisest not to expect a revolutionary change in Trump’s approach and instead for him to play to his strengths: ceremony and personal relationships. On substance, the South Korean-led process should be…
Read More » -
East Asia
Senior Korean diplomat found unconscious with brain bleed in Singapore
One of South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s key staffers has collapsed with an apparent brain bleed while the president and state executives were in Singapore for this year’s annual ASEAN Summit. Moon broke the news on Friday. He said Kim Eun-young, the director-general of the South Asia and Pacific Foreign…
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