https://www.scmp.com/rss/522575/feed Nanyang Technological University (NTU): A prominent Singapore-based public research university, NTU is dedicated to nurturing leaders and creating societal impact through interdisciplinary education and research. Its main areas of focus include engineering, science, technology, business, humanities, arts, social sciences, education, and medicine. Recognised globally for its research intensity and academic excellence, NTU consistently ranks among the world’s top universities, notably for... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Azizul Kamal has spent a decade building his legal career in Singapore, but half of the time, he was hopping from one contract role to another in the industry. “Every company seems to only want to hire contractors, because we’re cheaper for balance books. It’s very hard to find a full-time role,” the 38-year-old Singaporean said. Azizul did not secure a third extension as a lawyer at his previous firm, after it found a permanent replacement based in Kuala Lumpur, he said. With bills to pay, he... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3353305/singaporeans-refute-lack-hunger-stereotype-warn-self-fulfilling-bias-over-jobs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3353305/singaporeans-refute-lack-hunger-stereotype-warn-self-fulfilling-bias-over-jobs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Chinese-language videos suspected to be AI deepfakes with different narrators berating Singapore for its treatment of China and sidling up to the United States have caused a stir online and sparked discussion on their source. The clips, each featuring an individual in a different setting and circulating on Chinese platforms such as Douyin and WeChat, were most likely generated by artificial intelligence, according to digital experts, pointing to clues such as identical scripts. A check by This... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353210/ai-disinformation-singapore-accused-pro-china-videos-being-ungrateful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353210/ai-disinformation-singapore-accused-pro-china-videos-being-ungrateful?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 02:06:40 +0000 Laura Zhou,Cao Jiaxuan Laura Zhou,Cao Jiaxuan As US President Donald Trump prepares to visit Beijing next week after a six-week delay, the cause of the delay – the war on Iran and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz – risks becoming a fresh point of friction in his summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. While both China and the US stand to benefit from the reopening of the strait and a permanent end to the war, Beijing and Washington have viewed the crisis through different lenses and sharply diverged over how to achieve... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352990/xi-trump-summit-why-iran-war-could-become-fresh-point-friction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3352990/xi-trump-summit-why-iran-war-could-become-fresh-point-friction?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 09:04:54 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Shortly after completing a bachelor’s degree in 2023, Warren Neo considered doing what many business graduates in Singapore do: look for a corporate job. Instead, he became a full-time barista. “I considered going into human resources, since that was what I specialised in at university, but I discovered my interest in making coffee during my part-time job,” said Neo, 29, who majored in business at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. “I gave myself a chance to pursue being a barista... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3351756/why-more-singapore-graduates-are-choosing-jobs-below-their-qualifications-its-meaningful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3351756/why-more-singapore-graduates-are-choosing-jobs-below-their-qualifications-its-meaningful?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:30:13 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi,Alcott Wei Seong Hyeon Choi,Alcott Wei Japan’s most extensive participation to date in a counter-landing and missile defence exercise in the Philippines signals its “priorities” in deterring Beijing in a Taiwan contingency, according to analysts. Japan’s Joint Staff announced on Tuesday that its Self-Defence Forces (SDF) would deploy about 1,400 personnel, multiple warships and aircraft, as well as Type 88 anti-ship missile systems for the Balikatan exercise, an annual large-scale joint military drill between the Philippines and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350344/what-does-japans-role-us-philippine-military-drill-mean-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3350344/what-does-japans-role-us-philippine-military-drill-mean-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:14 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau In a quiet street in northern Singapore, a car plies the road like any other – except it is a left-hand drive from China and the person in the driver’s seat has been trained to keep his hands off the wheel and his foot off the pedals unless an emergency arises. Eventually, there will be no need for a safety officer or any human behind the wheel at all – mirroring the autonomous vehicles (AVs) already operating in cities such as Beijing, Shenzhen, San Francisco and Los Angeles. For now, Singapore... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349672/singapores-robotaxi-drive-revs-help-chinese-av-leaders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349672/singapores-robotaxi-drive-revs-help-chinese-av-leaders?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has kicked off his visit to Japan, where he is expected to address strategies with counterpart Sanae Takaichi on enhancing cooperation against a backdrop of economic uncertainty brought on by the Iran war. Both leaders are likely to tread cautiously in discussions to avoid antagonising any superpower, analysts say. The three-day trip, which began on Tuesday, marks Wong’s first official visit to Japan since he became Singapore’s prime minister in May... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346929/singapores-lawrence-wong-seeks-stronger-ties-japan-amid-global-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3346929/singapores-lawrence-wong-seeks-stronger-ties-japan-amid-global-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:15:44 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China is expanding its diplomatic budget by 9.3 per cent, the highest increase in three years, signalling Beijing’s plans to consolidate its geopolitical clout as instability mounts around the globe, according to analysts. The Ministry of Finance on Thursday proposed that 70.975 billion yuan (US$10.28 billion) be allocated for Beijing’s diplomatic spending in 2026, up 9.3 per cent from the previous year. It is the fifth consecutive year that China has increased its foreign affairs... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345590/china-boosts-diplomatic-budget-93-us-leaves-fiscal-void?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345590/china-boosts-diplomatic-budget-93-us-leaves-fiscal-void?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:11:24 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim South Korea last week protested to the US over a rare stand-off between American and Chinese fighter jets in the Yellow Sea, according to media reports. Analysts said the move signalled Seoul was reluctant to see US forces stationed in South Korea more actively confront Beijing. According to a Yonhap News Agency report on Saturday citing unnamed military sources, South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back lodged a complaint with General Xavier Brunson, commander of US Forces Korea (USFK),... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344369/seouls-protest-over-stand-seen-reluctance-let-us-forces-korea-confront-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344369/seouls-protest-over-stand-seen-reluctance-let-us-forces-korea-confront-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 02:00:15 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s new dry dock near the South China Sea could help it avoid having an aircraft carrier “gap” in the disputed waterway and pave the way for military outreach to the Indian Ocean, analysts said. According to a report by American geospatial intelligence company AllSource Analysis, satellite imagery on January 21 showed the first use of a new dry dock at Yulin Naval Base in the southern Chinese province of Hainan, for the likely maintenance of PLA Navy aircraft carriers. The report said... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341270/shandongs-use-plas-newest-dry-dock-near-south-china-sea-suggests-carrier-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341270/shandongs-use-plas-newest-dry-dock-near-south-china-sea-suggests-carrier-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:36:10 +0000 Liu Zhen,Seong Hyeon Choi Liu Zhen,Seong Hyeon Choi Thailand, a US treaty ally, has been adding to its arsenal of Chinese-made weapons with deals for ships, tanks and other high-value hardware. Analysts put the trend down to pragmatic considerations. The Royal Thai Army has finalised a deal to buy an additional batch of Chinese-made VN-1 armoured vehicles for 1 billion baht (US$32 million). This is expected to add around 20 new units to its existing fleet of more than 100 VN-1s, according to local media reports. The contract was signed on January... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341089/why-thailand-us-treaty-ally-stocking-chinese-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341089/why-thailand-us-treaty-ally-stocking-chinese-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Bibek Bhandari Bibek Bhandari A video showing three of Nepal’s most recognisable political figures walking side by side set social media abuzz late last year, stirring widespread speculation that a new political alliance was taking shape ahead of a looming national election. But there was a catch: the meeting depicted never took place. The clip, depicting Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Rabi Lamichhane, Kathmandu’s former mayor Balendra Shah and ex-power sector chief Kulman Ghising, was a fabrication – one of a growing... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3341037/viral-lies-ai-deepfakes-hijack-reality-nepals-election-run?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3341037/viral-lies-ai-deepfakes-hijack-reality-nepals-election-run?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 08:00:16 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim When Singapore’s trade minister Gan Kim Yong revealed that locals owned nearly 90 per cent of registered retail businesses in the city state while Chinese nationals came in second at a distant 3 per cent, the figures drew mixed reactions from the public and analysts. The discourse online centred on what the statistics implied – critics felt that though the proportion of foreign-owned entities, especially from China, might be minuscule, most could actually be big brands with multiple outlets,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3340470/singapores-retail-ownership-data-sparks-debate-about-foreign-chains-influence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3340470/singapores-retail-ownership-data-sparks-debate-about-foreign-chains-influence?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen America’s military action in Venezuela and President Donald Trump’s talk of owning Greenland are stoking concerns that the United States is dismantling the rules-based global order. But this could also be a diplomatic opening for China as it tries to portray itself, in contrast, as a more responsible and stabilising power. Analysts said while this aligned with Beijing’s push to strengthen ties with its neighbours – a strategic move as its rivalry with Washington has intensified – concrete... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340181/how-us-actions-venezuela-and-beyond-could-spell-opportunity-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340181/how-us-actions-venezuela-and-beyond-could-spell-opportunity-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 80th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. You might have heard of “brain drain” in the context of talented and well-educated people leaving their own country to seek advancement in another. You may not have heard about the brain drains in your head. These are glymphatic channels, microscopic pathways that are part of the brain’s cleaning network, through which cerebrospinal fluid flows,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3339532/singaporean-dementia-study-links-alzheimers-clogged-brain-drains-what-are-they?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3339532/singaporean-dementia-study-links-alzheimers-clogged-brain-drains-what-are-they?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 04:54:45 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Extreme weather brought about by the El Nino phenomenon could cost Hong Kong as much as US$300 billion over the 21st century, according to a joint study by local and Singapore universities. The study also painted a bleak picture for public health, finding that Hongkongers born during the two strong El Nino events in 1982-83 and 1997-98 could have their life expectancy reduced by five to seven months. Led by Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University in collaboration with City University... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339396/el-nino-could-cost-hong-kong-us300-billion-and-shorten-life-expectancy-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339396/el-nino-could-cost-hong-kong-us300-billion-and-shorten-life-expectancy-study?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:48:23 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim The American attack on Venezuela on Saturday could further undermine international institutions and accelerate a global arms race, analysts warned, with one likening Washington’s actions to issuing a “death certificate” for the United Nations. On Saturday, in a surprise precision operation, the US military struck Venezuela and captured its leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were later placed in detention in New York. President Donald Trump later said the US would run the South American... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338782/us-attack-venezuela-death-certificate-un-will-trigger-global-arms-race-analyst?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338782/us-attack-venezuela-death-certificate-un-will-trigger-global-arms-race-analyst?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim A decade ago, Samantha Ong would go to the cinemas in Singapore twice a week. She now goes about once a month, opting instead to watch films on Netflix at home. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel worth it to spend three hours on a movie, so it’s better to watch it at home where there is an option to fast-forward,” said Ong, 26. “I have to juggle working out and meeting up with friends in my free time, so I’ll go [to the cinema] only if I really want the full experience.” Such shifts in viewing habits... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338560/why-singapore-betting-international-partnerships-help-its-film-industry-scale?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338560/why-singapore-betting-international-partnerships-help-its-film-industry-scale?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 04:00:11 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Nearly two months after Japan’s new prime minister enraged Beijing with her remarks on Taiwan, the issue is not going away. Sanae Takaichi set off a diplomatic firestorm in November when she suggested that Japan could justify a military response if Beijing attacked Taiwan. Beijing hit back with diplomatic, economic and military pressure in a campaign analysts said reflected concerns about Japan’s assertiveness on regional security and closer ties with the US and other allies. Tensions are... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338020/why-feud-between-tokyo-and-beijing-could-rage-while-yet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338020/why-feud-between-tokyo-and-beijing-could-rage-while-yet?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 22:00:11 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim After finishing his postgraduate studies in May, Tan Kwan Ann expected the job hunt to be difficult, but not so disheartening. The 33-year-old, who specialised in structural biology at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU), sent out more than 600 applications while waiting for the formal conferment of his doctorate, but heard back from almost none of them. “It seemed like I was excluded from society and made me feel very lousy. It made me question if it was my fault that I chose to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3337546/singapores-young-graduates-feel-heat-draining-job-hunt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3337546/singapores-young-graduates-feel-heat-draining-job-hunt?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 05:00:14 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang It has been a turbulent year for the fraught US-China relationship. In the third part of a series looking back at the events of 2025, we examine China’s growing military might and how it’s narrowing the tech gap with the US. US defence chief Pete Hegseth told a conference in Washington this month that America would maintain a “clear-eyed appreciation” of China’s “rapid, formidable and holistic” military build-up. That build-up is being watched globally, with defence experts in recent years... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336735/why-chinas-rapid-military-build-hardly-whole-story?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336735/why-chinas-rapid-military-build-hardly-whole-story?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 22:00:09 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Mary Roettger was just one of millions of Americans seeking a social media life raft when she warily logged onto China’s RedNote platform for the first time in January. As fears loomed over a threatened US ban on TikTok, the Florida writer braced for a clumsy, spam-filled experience full of “negative people”. Instead, she was struck by a starkly different culture. Roettger was “blown away with the amount of tenderness and excitement” of the online community suddenly before her. “That was new,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335401/soft-power-hard-work-can-china-harness-social-media-apps-rewire-its-global-image?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3335401/soft-power-hard-work-can-china-harness-social-media-apps-rewire-its-global-image?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 03:10:47 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Retired regional human resources director Helen Kuan typically spends this time of year picking up Christmas presents from her usual department store haunts around Singapore. But her options are becoming more limited as more of these one-stop stores have been shuttering in recent years. On Monday, shopping centre NEX, located in the northeast of Singapore, announced that Japanese brand Isetan would close in April next year, a month after the chain shut its Tampines outlet. With these closures,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3336081/more-department-stores-singapore-struggle-can-they-adapt-and-survive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3336081/more-department-stores-singapore-struggle-can-they-adapt-and-survive?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:12:50 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin The wife of Chinese AI giant SenseTime’s late co‑founder has established an education and charity foundation in Hong Kong, donating HK$20 million (US$2.57 million) in the name of the couple to set up scholarships at several universities and establish a professorship. Sophie Yang Qiumei, a managing director and adviser to the CEO at the Hong Kong stock exchange and who inherited a stake worth more than US$1 billion in SenseTime from her husband last year, launched the Sophie and Sean Foundation... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3335931/wife-sensetimes-late-founder-donates-hk20-million-new-hong-kong-charity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3335931/wife-sensetimes-late-founder-donates-hk20-million-new-hong-kong-charity?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:41:52 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Vijay Andrews arrived in Singapore determined to compete again. The 32-year-old Indian fitness coach had spent months recovering from an injury that kept him out of New Delhi’s July Hyrox fitness competition. So when he learned there would be another edition in Singapore in November, he seized the opportunity. “Singapore was geographically the closest country where a Hyrox was soon happening,” Andrews said. “I love travelling and I love fitness, so it worked out very well for me.” He was one of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3335405/race-tourists-singapore-pumps-appeal-push-fitness-events?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3335405/race-tourists-singapore-pumps-appeal-push-fitness-events?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 06:30:09 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Alex Lee, a Singaporean parent-blogger who has spent years documenting his children’s lives online, recently posted a video of his 12-year-old son opening the results of his Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) – a high-stakes test that shapes most pupils’ secondary school paths. In the clip, which has now drawn more than 3 million views, it cuts from his son, Daken, looking at his scores to him in his father’s arms as Lee asks, “Not as good as you expected?” Daken agrees as his father... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3334514/children-content-singaporean-sharenting-videos-stir-privacy-mental-health-worries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3334514/children-content-singaporean-sharenting-videos-stir-privacy-mental-health-worries?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 08:57:45 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim When it deemed remarks on Taiwan by Japan’s new prime minister as provocative, China did not just issue a diplomatic rebuke to Tokyo; it deployed an economic arsenal, and what began as a bilateral spat has since spiralled into a full-blown crisis. China last week warned its citizens to avoid travel to Japan, with major Chinese airlines offering full refunds for flights there. On Wednesday, Beijing said it would suspend Japanese seafood imports. It is not the first time China has wielded its... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333562/risks-china-faces-it-deploys-economic-arsenal-against-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333562/risks-china-faces-it-deploys-economic-arsenal-against-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Nov 2025 01:30:16 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi By lifting its arms embargo on Cambodia, Washington has signalled that President Donald Trump aims to lure Phnom Penh away from Beijing – a move experts warn would be difficult to achieve. According to a notice from the US Federal Register, the State Department formally ended its arms embargo on Cambodia as of November 7, and any arms sales to the country will now be decided on a case-by-case basis. “Based on Cambodia’s diligent pursuit of peace and security, including through renewed engagement... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332974/us-ends-arms-embargo-can-it-pry-cambodia-away-china-defence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332974/us-ends-arms-embargo-can-it-pry-cambodia-away-china-defence?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 11:00:11 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Singapore’s ambitions to lead the world in green shipping are picking up steam, with a new agreement with China poised to enhance the city state’s decarbonisation efforts and cement its role as a key hub for alternative fuels. The partnership, signed last month, aims to establish a digital and green shipping corridor between the two countries, and promote maritime decarbonisation, innovation and greater supply chain efficiency. The deal could give Singapore a competitive edge by plugging it... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3332718/how-singapores-bid-green-shipping-leadership-gaining-traction-chinas-help?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3332718/how-singapores-bid-green-shipping-leadership-gaining-traction-chinas-help?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 02:30:12 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Deaths from air pollution in Southeast Asia could rise by nearly 10 per cent and cost the region more than US$1 trillion by 2050 unless more effective action is taken, a new study has warned. The research – published in the journal Environment International earlier this month – modelled the potential rise in premature deaths and associated economic losses across three different climate change scenarios, each defined by levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Findings revealed the region is expected... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3331125/air-pollution-threatens-southeast-asia-more-deaths-us600-billion-losses-2050-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3331125/air-pollution-threatens-southeast-asia-more-deaths-us600-billion-losses-2050-study?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:00:28 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen Premier Li Qiang will arrive in Singapore on Saturday for a two-day visit that the Chinese foreign ministry said aimed to deepen cooperation and reaffirm a shared commitment to multilateralism. The ministry confirmed the trip on Friday, saying it came at a pivotal moment as the two countries marked 35 years of diplomatic ties. “China hopes to work with Singapore through the visit to … deepen cooperation in various fields, have close communication and cooperation on international and regional... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330204/premier-li-qiang-visit-singapore-china-looks-shore-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3330204/premier-li-qiang-visit-singapore-china-looks-shore-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 08:15:39 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Nanyang Biologics, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence drug discovery start-up, plans to list on the Nasdaq stock exchange in the first quarter of 2026 via a merger with a US-listed special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), as US President Donald Trump vowed to impose hefty tariffs on pharmaceutical imports. “The US administration wants intellectual property owners to manufacture in the US, including drugs,” founder Roland Ong said on Monday. Nanyang Biologic’s latest initiative reflects... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3328844/singapores-nanyang-biologics-list-nasdaq-amid-trumps-tariffs-pharma-imports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3328844/singapores-nanyang-biologics-list-nasdaq-amid-trumps-tariffs-pharma-imports?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 12:30:11 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Leaders in Asia have welcomed the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, hailing it as a turning point in the Gaza conflict while cautioning that deeper challenges lie ahead for lasting peace to materialise. The initial agreement, announced by US President Donald Trump on Thursday, includes a pause in fighting and the release of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees. Trump said he planned to travel to Egypt for the agreement’s formal signing, while the White House confirmed... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328552/asian-leaders-hail-us-led-israel-hamas-ceasefire-deal-amid-cautious-optimism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328552/asian-leaders-hail-us-led-israel-hamas-ceasefire-deal-amid-cautious-optimism?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:49:40 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow As Japan prepares to swear in its first female prime minister, old ghosts of the past are threatening to haunt her leadership. Sanae Takaichi’s hard-edged views on history and national identity have stirred anxieties from Seoul to Beijing, even though analysts believe the former security minister’s stance may be tempered by the realities of fragile coalitions in a volatile region. Takaichi’s election last weekend as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party marked a moment of both historic... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328214/will-japans-new-pm-reopen-old-war-wounds-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328214/will-japans-new-pm-reopen-old-war-wounds-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:08 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Wages in Singapore grew by 4.3 per cent this year, the lowest in Southeast Asia, but slightly higher than the 3.9 per cent rate in Hong Kong, a study has found. Professional services firm Aon released its annual Salary Increase and Turnover Survey on Wednesday, based on data collected from more than 700 companies in the region including Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. The study found that the average percentage growth across the region was 5.4, with Vietnam having the highest percentage... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3328266/singapore-2025-wage-growth-lowest-southeast-asia-edges-out-hong-kong-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3328266/singapore-2025-wage-growth-lowest-southeast-asia-edges-out-hong-kong-study?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:21:07 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Super Typhoon Ragasa may have been the biggest storm of its kind in the world this year, but when it made landfall in mainland China last month, it left no fatalities in its wake. Rewind to 2018 when Mangkhut, the last super typhoon to hit Guangdong province, struck and at least four people were killed in southern China. Typhoon Hato also left nine dead in Guangdong in 2017, and Typhoon Fanapi caused 34 deaths in the coastal province in 2010. The contrast is even sharper when compared with the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3327644/how-china-was-ready-super-typhoon-ragasa-and-what-still-needs-be-done?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3327644/how-china-was-ready-super-typhoon-ragasa-and-what-still-needs-be-done?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 09:00:29 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China builds record-smashing mega bridge with technology never seen before The Changtai Yangtze River Bridge boasts a number of world firsts, from its striking asymmetric design to the precision tools developed to build it. 2. Intel chip architect Su Fei returns to China after 20 years in the US After nearly... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3326650/top-ai-expert-moves-china-worlds-longest-cable-stayed-bridge-7-science-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3326650/top-ai-expert-moves-china-worlds-longest-cable-stayed-bridge-7-science-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:15:12 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen The United States has stopped issuing official statements about the passage of its warships through the Taiwan Strait since Donald Trump returned to the White House – a move some analysts believe is designed to dampen down tensions with Beijing. Such transits were announced regularly while Joe Biden was president, but since Trump’s return there have only been three known operations. Beijing has long complained about the “public hype” surrounding such operations, but despite the apparent... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326248/why-has-us-grown-quieter-about-sending-its-warships-through-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326248/why-has-us-grown-quieter-about-sending-its-warships-through-taiwan-strait?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 14:00:11 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Alex Kot, a top AI and computer expert who has been with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore for more than 30 years, has joined a university in China that was jointly built with Russia. Kot will serve as a distinguished professor and chief scientist at Shenzhen MSU-BIT University (SMBU), a Chinese-foreign cooperative university. SMBU was jointly founded by the Shenzhen government, Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), and the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), a top... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325460/singapores-leading-ai-scientist-alex-kot-moves-sino-russian-university-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325460/singapores-leading-ai-scientist-alex-kot-moves-sino-russian-university-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 11:00:10 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Rahdar Hussain Afridi, a Pakistani national studying for a PhD in robotics at Peking University, had been worried about whether he could stay on after graduating in January. He hopes to secure a job in China, but the recruitment process can take a while and his student visa, which might expire soon after graduation, does not come with a work permit. China’s newly introduced “young talent” K visa for STEM professionals has brought him “great relief”. “I am really happy to hear about this visa,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324525/will-chinas-new-visa-targeting-stem-talents-give-it-edge-over-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324525/will-chinas-new-visa-targeting-stem-talents-give-it-edge-over-world?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 02:00:09 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Emma Choo, a four-year-old Singaporean, possesses an ability that is rare among her young peers – she can greet people in Hokkien, a Chinese dialect that has plummeted in usage in Singapore in recent years. Catherine Shih, Emma’s 52-year-old mother, is raising her daughter to learn Hokkien along with Mandarin and English out of concern that the younger generation is forgetting their heritage, especially after the death of Shih’s Hokkien-speaking mother and her father developed... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3324558/singapore-embracing-hokkien-and-other-chinese-dialects-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3324558/singapore-embracing-hokkien-and-other-chinese-dialects-again?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Sep 2025 02:00:21 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong Some 16 years after China first showcased drones in a military parade, there is keen interest in how the People’s Liberation Army has developed its uncrewed systems, and how they will be displayed during Beijing’s military parade on Wednesday. Analysts say the breadth and variety of drone systems expected at China’s coming military parade could underscore the PLA’s rapid advances in integrating autonomous technologies across air, land and sea, signalling a shift towards AI-enabled, multi-domain... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323871/how-will-advanced-drones-and-robobeasts-share-stage-chinas-military-personnel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323871/how-will-advanced-drones-and-robobeasts-share-stage-chinas-military-personnel?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 05:01:07 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Scientists in Singapore have industrialised the production of remote-controlled cyborg cockroaches that one day could form a tiny army suitable for disaster search missions. Last month, researchers led by Hirotaka Sato at Nanyang Technological University published their previously preprinted study describing a system for the mass production of mechanical cockroaches. The July 28 article in Nature Communications said the team had continued with their pioneering concept of an “insect robot... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3322924/singapore-teams-68-second-feat-opens-door-cyborg-cockroaches-disaster-relief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3322924/singapore-teams-68-second-feat-opens-door-cyborg-cockroaches-disaster-relief?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:00:13 +0000 Dewey Sim Dewey Sim China is gearing up for an intense week of diplomacy as it finalises preparations for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin this month, followed by a grand military parade in Beijing to commemorate the end of World War II. All eyes will be on how China asserts its diplomatic clout and positions itself as a world power to be reckoned with at a time when global geopolitical tensions are on the rise. On Friday, China’s foreign ministry announced a list of more than 20 world... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322871/why-sco-summit-chinas-chance-assert-its-diplomatic-clout-amid-global-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322871/why-sco-summit-chinas-chance-assert-its-diplomatic-clout-amid-global-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 12:13:50 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Safi Sharif, 35, is among the few young Singaporeans who have entered the hawker trade out of a genuine passion for cooking. But he is feeling the strain – physically from 14-hour days that begin at 6.30am, and financially from the pressure to keep prices low despite rising costs. Safi cooks at an eatery at Project Penyek at Senja Hawker Centre in the city state’s western region. He told This Week in Asia that stalls there were expected to offer a budget meal option – in his case, a fried... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3322305/singapore-prides-itself-cheap-hawker-meals-who-should-foot-bill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3322305/singapore-prides-itself-cheap-hawker-meals-who-should-foot-bill?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 04:00:13 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong China has released rare footage of its mysterious DF-100 supersonic cruise missile in action, shedding new light on the specifications and mobility of the model believed to be a major deterrent for US warships and military bases in the region. The blurred footage marked one of only a few public appearances the missile has made since its 2019 debut. In previous appearances, the missile has been obscured on its launch vehicle, making it difficult to analyse the technical specifications and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3321469/china-releases-rare-footage-df-100-cruise-missile-deter-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3321469/china-releases-rare-footage-df-100-cruise-missile-deter-us?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:00:08 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Miya Zheng once aimed to earn a master’s degree when she first arrived in the United States for her undergraduate studies. But now, three years later, the Chinese national has shifted her sights halfway across the world – to Singapore. “After staying here for some time, I realised that this isn’t quite the right place for me in the long run,” said Zheng, who is majoring in economics and statistics in the US and aspires to work outside China after graduating. She has faced increasing hurdles as... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317302/us-drops-among-chinese-study-preferences-singapore-beckons-status-and-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317302/us-drops-among-chinese-study-preferences-singapore-beckons-status-and-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 03:00:09 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan A man in China has been dubbed “the food delivery worker with the highest education level” due to earning degrees from several prestigious global universities, including Oxford. The story of 39-year-old Ding Yuanzhao has reignited intense discussions surrounding the devaluation of academic qualifications against the backdrop of a challenging job market, as reported by the news portal 163.com. Ding, a native of southeastern Fujian province, sat for China’s national university entrance exam, known... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3316503/china-delivery-rider-graduated-top-schools-oxford-inspires-others-stay-positive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3316503/china-delivery-rider-graduated-top-schools-oxford-inspires-others-stay-positive?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Jul 2025 01:00:09 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo As a nation, China sees itself as a rational, peaceful and stabilising force in an increasingly dangerous and fragmented global order. While such national characteristics may be relative and are mostly in the eyes of the beholder, they seem to be less debatable when compared with the erratic and unpredictable actions and policy flip-flops coming out of the White House of Donald Trump. In his first official visit last week, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was given the same message Xi... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3316284/southeast-asia-increasingly-finds-china-more-reliable-and-predictable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3316284/southeast-asia-increasingly-finds-china-more-reliable-and-predictable?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jun 2025 13:00:09 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau A case at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) involving three students accused of academic misconduct over the use of generative AI (Gen AI) has prompted observers to question if tertiary institutions need clearer processes to deal with disputes. The students were told by their teacher in a briefing for a module on health, disease outbreaks and politics at the School of Social Sciences that the use of ChatGPT and AI tools was not allowed in the “development or generation” of their... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3316155/do-universities-need-rethink-ai-use-students-singapores-ntu-case-causes-stir?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3316155/do-universities-need-rethink-ai-use-students-singapores-ntu-case-causes-stir?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 12:06:47 +0000