After a slew of US diplomats visited China and the Chinese Foreign Minister promoting healthy and sustainable China-US relations earlier this month in Washington, the two countries continue to tussle for dominance. There has been little to no change in greater dialogue and communications between the US and China. But this hasn’t hindered trade between the two competitors. Chinese products …

Several Singaporeans are already troubled by the rising cost of living amid high inflation. Public transport fare increases, therefore, are bound to cause unhappiness. From December 23, public bus and train rides have started to cost more, by up to 11 cents more per journey. Financial pressures are mounting for both the public and public transport operators – facing lower …

TikTok is a popular social media platform that has given rise to many viral trends, challenges, and influencers.  But it has also had a negative impact on the quality and diversity of comedy, especially in 2023. Here are some of the reasons why TikTok has ruined comedy this year. TikTok rewards quantity over quality. The algorithm of TikTok favors videos …

Malaysia’s popular residency programme for wealthy foreigners, known as Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H), has been facing delays and uncertainty amid policy changes and the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting the applicants and the property market. The MM2H programme, launched in 2002, allows foreigners who meet certain criteria to obtain a 10-year renewable visa and enjoy various benefits, such as buying property, …

Japan’s decision to send Patriot missiles to the US, which may indirectly aid Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, is a bold move that reflects its changing security posture and its willingness to support its allies.  Japan has long been constrained by its pacifist constitution and its self-imposed ban on arms exports, but it has recently amended its laws to …

The recent police raid on a drug-fuelled party at a resort in Ban Lat district, which resulted in the detention of more than 60 teenagers, most of them tested positive for drugs, is a shocking and disturbing incident that should serve as a wake-up call for the authorities and the society. The incident exposes the extent and severity of the …

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has deployed four F-15SG fighter jets to Guam for a two-month training detachment with the US Navy, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Tuesday (Dec 21). The deployment, which began on Dec 6, is part of the RSAF’s regular overseas training to enhance its operational readiness and interoperability with its counterparts, MINDEF …

The president of Japan’s largest oil company, ENEOS Holdings, has been dismissed from his post over allegations of sexual and power harassment, in a rare case of a top executive being held accountable for misconduct in the country’s conservative corporate culture. The company announced on Monday that Masashi Morimoto, who had been president since 2019, had resigned effective immediately, after …

OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence research organization, has recently faced criticism and controversy over its governance, vision, and ethics, as it struggles to balance its original mission of creating and sharing beneficial AI for humanity with its commercial and competitive interests. OpenAI was founded in 2015 by a group of prominent tech entrepreneurs and investors, such as Elon Musk, Peter …

North Korea has been developing and testing its nuclear weapons for decades, claiming that they are necessary to deter a US-led invasion and ensure its survival. However, this argument is flawed and misleading, as North Korea’s nuclear weapons are not a credible deterrent, but a source of instability and insecurity in the region and the world. First, North Korea’s nuclear …