Museum island

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong - A + A SINGAPORE (Aug 8): With inflation and interest rates set to stay high, Singapore is prepared to increase support measures to help deal with the increased cost of living, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said. “The world is not likely to return anytime soon to the low inflation levels and interest rates that we have enjoyed in recent decades,” Lee said in a televised message Monday on the eve of the country’s National Day. “I know the cost of living is at the top of everyone’s minds.” Rising living costs has always been a hot-button issue for the wealthy city-state that Lee’s political party has dominated since independence in 1965. Households are now feeling the pinch of rising costs, driven largely by the war in Ukraine. Singapore’s consumers are spending more relative to income, with an expenses-to-income ratio rising to 64% in May from 59% a year earlier, according to a DBS Bank analysis. Lee said the … [Read more...] about Singapore PM warns inflation, interest rates could remain high

(CNN) On July 1, a cable emerged from the Atlantic Ocean in Swakopmund, a small coastal city in western Namibia. Mostly known as a seaside resort, Swakopmund is used to visitors. But the giant ship out at sea, the string of buoys, and a fleet of smaller vessels manned by workers in hard hats and fluorescent bibs was an arrival of a different kind. Running for thousands of miles along the bottom of the sea, the cable's landing had been delayed for months by rough conditions and Covid-19 . But now here it was, a couple of inches wide and already covered in sand. A welcome party stood on the beach and posed for photos before the cable continued inland. Equiano had finally arrived. Equiano is the latest subsea internet cable financed by Google. Starting in Portugal and eventually ending in South Africa, with branches to Nigeria , Togo, the islands of St Helena, and Namibia, the 15,000-kilometer (9,320-mile) cable is designed to deliver high-speed broadband along the west coast of … [Read more...] about Google Equiano: Internet giant bets big on Africa with latest megaproject

As the climate, tax, and healthcare package now known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has made its way closer to passage than at any time previously thought possible in its 18-month existence, both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable—a group of almost 200 CEOs from companies such as Apple, Walmart, and GM who back in 2019 pledged to address societal concerns alongside shareholder interests—have voiced opposition to it. advertisement advertisement The bill, though significantly pared back from previous iterations, still includes hundreds of billions in funding for climate and energy programs, making it a historic investment in addressing climate change. In response, Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert asked corporate members of those groups to put up or shut up when it comes to climate action. “Many companies that belong to these organizations talk a big game on climate—just look at their websites,” Gellert wrote in a … [Read more...] about Patagonia CEO was right to call out corporate hypocrisy on climate change

A Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft flies over a 68-nautical-mile scenic spot, one of mainland China’s closest points to the island of Taiwan, in Pingtan island, Fujian province, China Aug. 5, 2022. (Photo by ALY SONG / Reuters) TAIPEI — China announced new military drills around Taiwan on Monday, eliciting concern from US President Joe Biden, a day after the scheduled end of Beijing’s largest exercises to protest last week’s visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. China’s Eastern Theatre Command said it would conduct joint drills focusing on anti-submarine and sea assault operations – confirming the fears of some security analysts and diplomats that Beijing would keep pressure on Taiwan’s defenses. Taiwan’s foreign ministry condemned the move, saying China, which claims the self-ruled island as its own, was deliberately creating crises. It demanded Beijing stop its military actions and “pull back from the edge.” “In the face of military … [Read more...] about Biden ‘concerned’ as China extends military drills around Taiwan

Chinese military helicopters fly past Pingtan island, one of mainland China’s closest point from Taiwan, in Fujian province on August 4, 2022, ahead of massive military drills off Taiwan following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-ruled island. AFP TAIPEI — Taiwan will hold live-fire military drills this week simulating a defense of the island against a Chinese invasion, officials said Monday, as Beijing carries out fresh exercises around its neighbor. The self-ruled, democratic island lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which sees it as part of Chinese territory to be reclaimed one day, by force if necessary. The island’s forces will hold anti-landing exercises in the southernmost county of Pingtung on Tuesday and Thursday, the Taiwanese army said. “We will practice counter moves against simulated enemy attacks on Taiwan,” Lou Woei-jye, spokesman for the Eighth Army Corps, told AFP. They will include the deployment of hundreds of troops … [Read more...] about Taiwan to hold anti-invasion drills after China exercises

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Atmosphere outside the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on January 22, 2012 (Photo by Denver ... [+] Post via Getty Images) Getty The grass is actually greener on the other side. While box office revenues on Broadway have fallen in recent weeks as tourists left New York and the cold winter weather set in, box office revenues of Broadway shows touring across the nation are still quite high. In fact, some musicals made more money last week on the road than on Broadway. For example, while the Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen generated $1,272,935 in ticket sales over eight performances last week in New York, the show generated $1,477,161 in ticket sales over seven performances last week on tour in Seattle. The touring production filled up the Paramount Theatre, which has more than twice as many seats as the Music Box Theatre, where Dear Evan Hansen now performs on Broadway. In addition, … [Read more...] about Musicals Make More Money on the Road than on Broadway

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Actor Mandy Patinkin attends "Homeland: TV in the Post-9/11 World" on October 5, 2016 at the ... [+] National September 11 Memorial & Museum. (Photo by Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for Showtime Networks) The Great Comet controversy might be far from fizzling out. Last month, the producers of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 tried to generate some buzz at the box office by recruiting Mandy Patinkin, a Caucasian actor known from television, to replace Okieriete Onaodowan, an African-American actor known from Hamilton . But, after social media users complained about producers forcing an African-American actor to step aside for a Caucasian actor, Patinkin decided to withdraw from the show. “My understanding of the show’s request that I step into the show is not as it has been portrayed,” Patinkin stated on social media , adding that “I would never accept a role knowing it would harm … [Read more...] about Great Comet Controversy Could Continue After Closing

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin For MedTrans Go CEO and Co-Founder Dana Weeks, equity, inclusion, and belonging have always been driving forces, but she also thought heath equity could mean better business. Frustrated by a healthcare industry hurting patients and businesses alike, she saw an opportunity and got to work. “The reason I love my job so much is because I can have positive impact on people, while contributing to solutions to healthcare industry problems, and simultaneously growing a successful business.” —Dana Weeks, CEO and Co-Founder, MedTrans Go Jessica Pliska: I often start these columns asking executives about their early life influences that persist today. What can you tell me about yours? Dana Weeks: My story starts when I was an orphan in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. I was adopted by an American family when I was one-and-a-half years old. I don’t know the full story because some of the paperwork about me … [Read more...] about Building Healthcare Equity, One Ride At A Time

Hyonhee Shin (Reuters) (The Jakarta Post) PREMIUM Seoul   ● Tue, August 9 2022 South Koren Foreign Minister Park Jin was set for his first visit to China on Monday as President Yoon Suk-yeol's government seeks to reassure Beijing about the two countries’ relationship despite stronger ties with the United States and tensions over Taiwan. Park was scheduled for a three-day stay in the eastern port city of Qingdao, during which he will hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Park is the first high-level official to travel to China since Yoon took office in May. His trip comes after Beijing expressed outrage over United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last week. China claims the self-governed island as its own. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions … [Read more...] about South Korean minister to reassure Beijing over US ties

Poornima Weerasekara and Amber Wang (Agence France-Presse) (The Jakarta Post) PREMIUM Beijing/Taipei   ● Tue, August 9 2022 China carried out fresh military drills around Taiwan on Monday, Beijing said, defying calls for it to end its largest-ever exercises encircling the democratic island following a visit by United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Beijing has raged at the trip by Pelosi – the highest-ranking elected US official to visit Taiwan in decades – ripping up a series of talks and cooperation agreements with Washington, most notably on climate change and defense. It has also deployed fighter jets, warships and ballistic missiles in what analysts have described as practice for a blockade and ultimate invasion of the self-ruled island that China claims as its territory. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No … [Read more...] about China mounts fresh military drills around Taiwan’s coast