[Post 703] We Went To The Panama Canal To See Why Trump Is Hellbent On Taking It Over

Summary

Around 14,000 ships transit the Panama Canal annually. The U.S. uses it more than any other nation with 40% of all U.S. container traffic, valued at $270 billion, traveling through the 50 mile stretch of water each year. But tensions in Panama are rising. President Trump claims China has “influence and control” over the canal and that threat represents a “violation of the treaty” between the U.S. and Panama. In March, an investment group led by U.S. firm BlackRock announced it was trying to purchase two ports at either end of the canal as well as about 40 others from Hong Kong based-CK Hutchison. The outcome of that deal remains unclear. To better understand the issues facing the Panama Canal, CNBC’s Lori Ann Larocco boarded a tugboat to get a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges it faces.

[Post 702] How China Could Retaliate Against U.S. Tariffs

Summary

President Trump's campaign to increase tariff rates on imports targets China in particular. In response, China's leaders have levied higher duties on imports of U.S.-sourced products. China has also identified U.S. companies to blacklist and limited access to rare earth elements, which enable many modern technologies. As traffic at U.S. ports slows, Chinese officials have demurred on the Trump administration's requests for negotiation.

[Post 701] I Left The U.S. For India And Built A $23M Burrito Business

Summary

Bert Mueller, 35, moved from the U.S. to India in 2012 and ended up building one of the country's biggest Mexican-inspired food chains. He was able to turn a $250K investment into a $23 million business, all while learning how to navigate and thrive with life in India.

[Post 700] Why These Gen Zers Are Ditching College Degrees For Blue-Collar Careers

Summary

With college costs topping $200,000 and white-collar job security slipping, many Gen Zers are skipping four-year degrees for skilled trades. This path offers hands-on work, quicker entry into the workforce, and starting pay around $20–$25 an hour. From welding to landscaping, Gen Z is choosing practical skills over debt—and seemingly transforming the future of work in America.

[Post 699] What it's like being an air traffic controller in Singapore

Summary

What does it take to be an air traffic controller in Singapore? Air traffic controller Ilyana Nabilah tells CNA what it’s like behind the radar – from handling in-flight emergencies to staying calm under pressure and managing the skies safely. And no, she and most of her colleagues aren't based at the iconic Changi Control Tower.

[Post 698] “I Just Eat And Study": Why Indian Students Are So Stressed Out | Insight | Full Episode

Summary

India is quietly joining countries like China and South Korea in having the most stressed-out students. Competition in Indian schools is increasingly intense. Demand for places in top universities far outstrip supply. 

As students aim for the best schools, many with notoriously low acceptance rates, a cottage industry of exam preparatory centres have emerged. Two-third of Indian students now take extra tuition after school for key exams. Meanwhile, mental health awareness and support remains low. The result? 8 in 10 Indian students say exams give them anxiety. More worryingly, student suicides have increased 64% between 2013 and 2022. 

How is academic stress impacting young Indians? And will the proposed changes to the National Education Policy help relieve the strain or turn up the pressure?

[Post 697] Singapore’s Abandoned Forts: Secrets Beneath | Hidden Histories - Part 1/4

Summary

What lies beneath Singapore’s polished exterior? Real estate entrepreneur and history enthusiast Reuben Dhanaraj ventures into the abandoned ruins of once-mighty military strongholds. At Sentosa’s highest peak, he uncovers the secrets of Fort Serapong, from hidden ammunition vaults to crumbling barracks that housed soldiers from the late 1800s through to Singapore’s independence and beyond.

In Dempsey Hill, Reuben traces the wartime past of Tanglin Barracks, where heroism and tragedy unfolded. Along the way, he meets experts and veterans who reveal the forgotten stories of these lost fortresses – silent witnesses to a nation’s defence and survival.