Sometimes, one must give a little to get a little, a lesson Singapore is learning the hard way. Specifically, if the city-state gives in and grants the FBI access to evidence collected in the investigation of US engineer Shane Todd’s death, it will continue receiving generous funding from the US…
Category: Singapore
SINGAPORE: Oral Sex Trial Blows Over!
What the region’s overheated news media has termed “the most high profile graft trial in decades” is finally over… maybe. Last week, Ng Boon Gay, former Central Narcotics Bureau Director, was acquitted of all four charges of corruption. He was accused of obtaining oral sex from Cecilia Sue, sales manager…
SINGAPORE: Let’s Make Babies
Singapore’s biological clock is ticking, and she will do whatever it takes to have more babies. The young nation is encouraging couples to marry and have babies to increase the Singaporean population. The government has increased its Marriage and Parenthood budget from $1.6 billion to $2 billion. Some benefits include…
SINGAPORE: Book on UN Secretary General Reviewed
On 5 January The Straits Times of Singapore published as its lead opinion essay a review of ‘Conversations with Ban Ki-moon,” the new book on the United Nations Secretary General that is featured as part of the ‘Giants of Asia’ series. The reviewer Asas Latif, a visiting research fellow at…
SINGAPORE: High Expectations and False Advertising Leave Tourists Unimpressed
As Singapore becomes a hot vacation spot, tourists’ expectations increase as they hear of its booming economy and luxury resorts. But can Singapore keep up with these higher demands? Vacationers weighed in, seeming unimpressed. Recently, the Institute of Service Excellence at Singapore Management University released the results of its tourism…
MALAYSIA: Any Press is Good Press Insist Sexy Malay Swingers
Malaysian sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee have confronted the media since their controversial videos and photos went viral this October. The couple has made headlines in major Malaysian and Singaporean press outlets after posting videos and photos of their sexual activity. They have also admitted to engaging in…
SINGAPORE: Advertising Restrictions Hard to Swallow
How much government really is too much? Singapore plans to follow in the footsteps of the UK, South Korea, Denmark, and Finland to encourage healthy lifestyles for citizens by regulating advertisements for fast food, soda, and other food high in sugar, salt, and fat. At the recent launch of the…
SINGAPORE: Malay Marriage Critique Gets Amy Cheong Fired or Worse
Recently, Amy Cheong, assistant director at the National Trades Union Congress, posted an offensive rant on her Facebook about Malay weddings, using explicit language to claim that cheap weddings on void decks (the first floor of many Singaporean apartment buildings) are responsible for the high divorce rate among Malays. Just…
SINGAPORE: Singapore Says “Told You So”
The US often criticizes Singapore for restricting freedom of the press, especially on visceral topics. But after speculation that the assassination of Christopher Stephens, US Ambassador to Libya, was a result of the “Innocence of Muslims” trailer, based on a longer video made by radical (so-called) Christians to denigrate the…
SINGAPORE: Getting the Scoop from a Malaysian Newspaper
Want to know what is really happening in Singapore’s inner-circle politics? Sometimes you have to read a newspaper in neighboring Malaysia. On September 1st, Malaysia’s big-circulation daily newspaper The Star ran a report on major speech by neighboring Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong’s at the National Rally Day. The…
SINGAPORE: Journalism Fellowships!
Asia Journalism Fellowship 2013 opens for applications: The fifth round of the Asia Journalism Fellowship will run from 25 February to 17 May 2013. The fully-sponsored program is accepting applications until 12 October 2012 from accomplished mid-career journalists. The annual program is an initiative of Temasek Foundation and Nanyang Technological…
SINGAPORE: Shock, Horror! Why Were We Not Exempted from U.S. Sanctions?
Singapore’s media and political circles were set abuzz by the decision of the Obama Administration not to include U.S.-friendly Singapore on the “clean list” of countries exempt from Iran oil sanctions by the White House on Monday, June 11th. Here’s the deal: On June 11th, the Obama Administration exempted seven…
SINGAPORE: Online Advertising Proves Most Effective for High-Tech Singapore
In a recent article, Singapore’s Today Online reported that the tiny city-state is a giant in cyberspace, and touts the title of spending the most time online of all Southeast Asian states, with an average of 25 hours a week! And with 77% of their population on Facebook, Singapore &…
SINGAPORE: The Asia Media Interview with Han Fook Kwang
For nine years, Han Fook Kwang was the top editor of The Straits Times – Singapore’s leading newspaper, regarded as one of the most complete English-language newspapers in Asia. Mr. Han is now an executive with Singapore Press Holdings, the giant parent corporation of The Straits Times. He joined the…
SINGAPORE: Zuckerberg Has Facebook but Saverin’s Got Stock in Singapore
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal deftly described the “Kardashian-like” fame of one of Facebook’s early founders, Eduardo Saverin — now in Singapore. Despite his 33% stake in the social networking site being whittled down to 2%, Saverin seems to be doing just fine. His 2% of a…
SINGAPORE: A Huge Over-Reaction to ‘Child Kidnappings’?
SINGAPORE: Sales for child-locator devices continues to increase after rumors of kidnappings sent through text messages and social media Singapore’s newest child-fashion statement has sent personal tracking device sales through the roof. Personal GPS retailers have seen a substantial increase in sales after rumors of several kidnappings spread through text…