International

China has started to conquer the world in its own way, by dishing out commercial projects across the globe. But some are saying China’s way of doing things is showing undeniable signs of a colonial superpower on the rise! Critics are pointing out to what they see as its questionable practices and laissez-faire attitude adding that […]

When Donald Trump on January 2017, announced that he was withdrawing from the global mega-deal known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), it gave room for others to fill where the US had left.   His pulling out of the Paris climate subsequently also meant that it is time for somebody else to take a lead […]

By: Michael D Barr, Flinders University 2017 was a horrible year for Singapore’s government — and for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in particular. It began with an open and vocal stoush with China. Late in 2016 the Chinese government confiscated millions of dollars’ worth of Singapore’s military hardware passing through the port of Hong Kong. The […]

Malaysian Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong today launched scathing remarks against the European Union (EU), in a tit-for-tat battle against the EU ban of Malaysian palm oil products used in biodiesel. The Malaysian minister said Malaysia should ban butter from the EU, and the EU should also stop exporting the […]

  The yearly Democracy Index was released yesterday by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Singapore’s rating dipped from 6.38 for 2016 to 6.32 for 2017. This reflects a worldwide dip in scores, particularly in Asia. On a scale of 1 to 10, the average score around the globe for 2017 went down from 2016’s score of […]

Steven Pressman, Colorado State University; Greg Wright, University of California, Merced, and Stephanie L. Canizales, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Editor’s note: President Donald Trump, in his first State of the Union address, took credit for a growing economy, urged Congress to invest more in infrastructure and defense […]

On Friday, January 26, which also happens to be Australia Day, a kangaroo suddenly jumped from the bush and knocked a cyclist over, causing the cyclist to fall from her bike. The website news.com.au posted a video of the surprise collision, which happened at a quiet road in Queensland. The cyclist, only identified as “Rebecca,” […]

Galician fast fashion retailer Zara is selling an Indian lungi-style skirt for £69.99 British pounds or approximately S$129. The garment, which is described as a “check mini skirt”, bears a striking resemblance to the sarong typically worn by men in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand and Myanmar among other nations. Unlike […]

A frozen chunk weighing 10 to 12 kilograms fell on the village of Fazlipur Badli in Haraya, one of India’s northern states last week. The chunk, which understandably surprised villagers, is believed to be composed of frozen human excrement that fell from an airplane flying over the area. Some of the people from the village […]

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) has come out in favour of repealing Section 377 and welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court to refer Section 377 to a larger constitutional bench. The Council which represents about 14 million people, has published an open letter arguing homosexuality should be decriminalised. In its statement NCCI […]

The Republic of Singapore is well known locally and internationally for its strict laws on the use and sale of drugs. The possession or consumption of marijuana or cannabis can lead to a maximum 10-year jail term and/or up to $20,000 in fines while those found guilty of trafficking, importing or exporting more than 500 grams […]

Jaruwat Kiatiwongse, Bangkok University and Rosalia Sciortino, Mahidol University As the celebration for last year’s 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) wanes, ASEAN now face the tasks to realise the ambitious vision of an integrated socio-cultural, economic and political community. Education is one of the sectors identified as having a pivotal […]