Saturday, 31 May 2025

[Post 729] China Invests Billions In Indonesia, Even As Natuna Islands Tensions Brew | China & The Global South





Summary

China has set its sights on the Global South, and on ASEAN - the Association of Southeast Asia Nations - one of the fastest growing regions in the world. 

For its next stage of economic growth, Indonesia wants to pursue “downstreaming.” China will have a key role to play in this national plan to set up battery and electric vehicle plants. But with issues in the Natuna Islands still unresolved, will it hamper Indonesia-China economic partnership?

Friday, 30 May 2025

[Post 728] The $8B Plan to Make the ‘World's Best Airport’ Even Bigger | WSJ Booked


Summary

Singapore’s Changi Airport has been ranked the best in the world, designed to look like a mega mall rather than a transit hub. Among the many attractions are a butterfly park, a dinosaur park and the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Nearly 50 million travelers pass through Changi’s four terminals every year, and now the world’s best airport is getting even bigger with the addition of a fifth mega-terminal. 

WSJ explores Singapore’s latest plan to build a multi-billion dollar new terminal that can operate even in a pandemic and is expected to increase air traffic 5% annually in Asia Pacific.  

[Post 727] Jeremy Tan on his journey from hardship to hustings and what comes next


Summary

Broke at 17, retired at 34, GE2025's independent candidate Jeremy Tan talks about his journey from hardship to hustings and what comes next.

Thursday, 29 May 2025

[Post 726] GE2025: Are independent candidates a new force to be reckoned with? | Deep Dive podcast


Summary

For the first time in 53 years, an independent candidate received more than 35 per cent of vote share, performing better than some smaller opposition parties.

Jeremy Tan, who ran in Mountbatten SMC, and Darryl Lo who contested in Radin Mas SMC, join Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards to talk about lessons learnt from their campaigning and their future after GE2025.

[Post 725] Home Loans & Refinancing: Is The Lowest Rate Always The Best Option? | Money Mind | Property Loans





Summary

Saving money on home loans and refinancing: is the lowest rate always the best option?  

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

[Post 724] US-China Trade War 90-Day Tariff Pause: What Happens Next? | When Titans Clash






Summary
Temporary truce has been announced in the US-China trade war but experts warn the heated superpower rivalry is far from over, and that the battlefield is actually expanding. The trade war has brought a surge of nationalism within China, further intensifying the country’s efforts to try and overtake the United States in the areas of artificial intelligence, sciences and technology. 

Amid disputes between the Trump administration and top schools like Harvard, China has also stepped up its efforts to recruit scientific talent of Chinese descent. And as tariffs cause uncertainty in Global South markets, China’s leaders tour ASEAN nations, and host leaders from Latin America, to solidify its geopolitical position. 

How has the trade war impacted the long-term prospects of the US in the ongoing superpower rivalry? Experts weigh in. 

[Post 723] He Gave Up His Citizenship For Singapore Football: Tampines Rovers' Kyoga Nakamura | On The Red Dot





Summary

What does it really mean to call Singapore home? For Japan-born footballer Kyoga Nakamura, it meant giving up his Japanese passport — and choosing to represent a country he had never even visited until six years ago. Now a Singapore citizen, Kyoga’s journey raises big questions: What does loyalty look like when you leave everything familiar behind? What does patriotism mean in a place you’re still learning to call your own?

Japan and Singapore are worlds apart in football. So why would Kyoga trade a nation steeped in football tradition for one still finding its footing in the game? With his wife and kids by his side, it was a bold move — maybe even a risky one. Will it pay off? And here's the real kicker: how much of Singapore does Kyoga truly understand? As much as he loves Singapore, will he ever be a true-blue Singaporean at the core?

Comedian and football fan Rishi Budhrani digs into all this and more, as he gets to know Kyoga — and what it really takes to become Singaporean.