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☆ The super-thin battery that could power smart contact lenses
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

For over a decade, companies around the world have attempted to create smart contact lenses, but they never got down to incorporating electronic components to make a safe battery. LEE SEOK WOO: So, when I decided to work on contact lenses and the power supply to the smart contact lens, I was concerned about the safety because the lithium-ion battery has the issue of the explosion or catching fire. Unlike traditional contact lenses, smart contacts have the potential to do more than just correcting the users' eyesight. So, it might be hard to implant all the devices into one smart contact lens. And of course, the technology needs to be patented first before these smart contact lenses become a reality.

Persons: Let's, Lee Seok Woo, NESSA ANWAR, LEE SEOK WOO, Lee's, . LEE, LEE, Li Zongkang, LI Organizations: Nanyang Technological University's, of Electrical, Electronic Engineering, CNBC Locations: Singapore

☆ Scientists develop ultra-thin battery for smart contact lenses that could be charged by tears
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Scientist Lee Seok Woo said a scene from a "Mission Impossible" movie inspired his latest invention: batteries for smart contact lenses. In the fourth film of the series, an agent wears contact lenses capable of facial recognition and eye tracking. "I was thinking, 'How can I work in this field of smart contact lenses?'" He realized smart contact lenses would need safe and compact batteries, which would be crucial for advancing development of these devices. Contact lenses themselves are extremely thin, at 0.5 mm, thus the size and flexibility of these batteries are key to preventing user discomfort.

Persons: Lee Seok Woo, Lee, CNBC's Organizations: Nanyang Technological University's, of Electrical, Electronical Engineering Locations: Nanyang

☆ Global debt has grown to $315 trillion this year — here's how we got here
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The world is mired in $315 trillion of debt, according to a report from the Institute of International Finance. This global debt wave has been the biggest, fastest and most wide-ranging rise in debt since World War II, coinciding with the Covid-19 pandemic. Around two-thirds of the $315 trillion owed originates from mature economies, with Japan and the United States contributing the most to that debt pile. Of the $315 trillion debt stock, household debt, which includes mortgages, credit cards and student debt, among others, amounted to $59.1 trillion. Business debt, which corporations use to finance their operations and growth, stood at $164.5 trillion, with the financial sector alone making up $70.4 trillion of that amount.

Persons: — Organizations: Institute of International Finance, United Locations: Japan, United States, China, India, Mexico

☆ How the world got into $315 trillion of debt
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

In 2024, global gross domestic product — or GDP — amounted to $109.5 trillion dollars — slightly over a third of that global debt number. So, with global debt at a record high, should you be concerned? The first debt wave originated from Latin America in the 1980s, which led 16 countries in that region to restructure their borrowings. Global debt rose to 256 percent of GDP in 2020, a 28-percentage point increase - and the biggest one-year debt rise since the Second World War. The fourth wave has been the biggest, fastest and most wide-ranging rise in debt we've seen since World War II.

Persons: we've Organizations: World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Locations: Prussian, Civil, United States, America, Asia, U.S, Europe, Zambia, Japan, China, India, Mexico

☆ Can China's Comac break up the Airbus-Boeing duopoly?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

China is on a mission to break up the Airbus -Boeing duopoly and it hopes the domestically made Comac C919 will be its first big break into foreign markets. Made by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), the passenger aircraft has been touted as the "dream of a nation" by Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, there are still several hurdles Comac would need to clear before it could take on the French and American aerospace giants' dominance. "As a customer and operator of China's Comac products, we can get financial support from China's import-export bank, and also central banks," Cham told CNBC in an interview. According to Cham, Comac said it would consider creating aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul support for its aircraft in Brunei.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Cham, Comac, Adam Cowburn, Cowburn, Brendan Sobie, It's, Brendan Organizations: Airbus, Boeing, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Cham Chi, CNBC, Alton Aviation Consultancy, " Industry, Sobie Aviation, Airlines Locations: China, American, Brunei, Cham, Shanghai

☆ Can South Korea's untouchable chaebols change?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

There are 82 chaebols in South Korea as of 2023. These are conglomerates that are usually run by one single family, with total assets that exceed 5 trillion Korean won ($3.69 billion). These sprawling business dynasties have helped transform South Korea's economy from one of the poorest in the 1960s to one of the largest exporters in the world. Sang-in Park, an economics professor at Seoul National University, said that South Korea's rapid economic growth contributed to the unchecked power of the Korean chaebols. Watch the video to find out more about the history and future of the big business groups in South Korea.

Persons: Lee, Park Chung, Sang Organizations: Samsung, Hyundai, LG, Ko Global Commerce Institute, CNBC, Seoul National University Locations: South Korea, South Korea's, Park, South

☆ South Korea wants to become one of the world's biggest arms dealers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Victor Loh | Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

From 2018 to 2022, South Korea was the ninth largest weapons supplier globally, ahead of Israel, the Netherlands and Turkey. In recent years, South Korea has edged out stiff competition from Western defense manufacturers and cheaper Chinese developers with government support, attractive pricing and faster delivery times. "The government will nurture the defense industry into a state-of-the-art strategic industry that leads economic growth," South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has stated. Today, the biggest South Korean defense companies include Hanwha, Korea Aerospace Industries, LIG Nex11 and Hyundai Rotem. But are these factors enough for South Korea to become one of the world's biggest arms dealers?

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Dae, Jumong Kim, Oskar Pietrewicz, Pietrewicz Organizations: Korea Aerospace Industries, LIG, Hyundai Rotem, Hanwha Aerospace, CNBC, South Korean Locations: South Korea, Israel, Netherlands, Turkey, Seoul, United States, Russia, France, Korean, Hanwha, Korea, China, Poland

☆ How India's foreign policy decisions will test its superpower ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Karthik Nachiappan, who researches Indian foreign policy at the National University of Singapore, noted that the country has a growing influence in the Global South, which is mainly made up of countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. "Non-alignment has been a primary strategy that has covered Indian foreign policy through the decades," Nachiappan told CNBC. However, India's policy of non-alignment has incrementally transformed into a policy of multi-alignment over the years, Nachiappan added. Don McLain Gill, a geopolitical analyst at De La Salle University, says India has an independent approach to its foreign policy. But as the world becomes more polarized, India's foreign policy decisions will test the country's superpower ambitions.

Persons: it's, Karthik Nachiappan, Nachiappan, Don McLain Gill, Gill Organizations: National University of Singapore, CNBC, De La Salle University Locations: India, Germany, Japan, China, United States, Ukraine, Russia, Africa, Asia, Latin America

☆ Why are political scandals and corruption in Singapore so rare?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A series of political scandals has rocked Singapore in recent weeks, from corruption probes to inappropriate relationships among politicians. These challenges have affected the ruling party as well as the largest opposition party. Shortly after the Ridout saga, Singapore Transport Minister S Iswaran and hotel tycoon Ong Beng Seng — known for bringing Formula One races to the city-state — were arrested as part of a corruption probe. Felix Tan, a political analyst in Singapore, explained the brouhaha over the recent scandals: "[Singapore is] almost a perfect exemplar for all countries to be. Watch the video to find out why corruption and political scandal are rare in Singapore, and what it means for the country.

Persons: Singapore's, S, Ong Beng, —, Felix Tan Organizations: Singapore Transport, Formula, Action Party, Workers ' Party Locations: Singapore

☆ Are Gen Zs the most challenging generation to work with? 3 in 4 managers think so
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Gen Z, loosely defined as those born between the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2010s, is the latest generation to enter the workforce. A survey done by Resume Builder, a resource website for job seekers, revealed that around 3 out of 4 managers find that Gen Z is the most challenging generation to work with. Noting that Gen Z employees had to navigate the Covid-19 pandemic and remote working, she added: "[Gen Zs] didn't even have an opportunity to relate to people at all in a workplace. Ziad Ahmed, the founder of JUV Consulting, a digital marketing agency staffed entirely by Gen Z employees, told CNBC that managing young people is also a challenge for him. Watch the video to see the different perspectives of both Gen Z employees and managers.

Persons: Gen, Stacie Haller, Zs, Ziad Ahmed Organizations: CNBC, JUV Consulting

☆ How many engineers does it take to make a Dyson headphone? We tour its secret labs to find out
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Dyson is one of the world's most recognizable vacuum makers, raking in revenue of about $8 billion in 2022. But the tech giant is also known for other household appliances such as bladeless fans, air purifiers and hair styling products. The company is building a giant battery plant the size of 53 basketball courts in Singapore, due to open in 2025. James Dyson, the company's founder, was a vocal supporter of Brexit, arguing that the U.K. would create more wealth and jobs outside the EU single market. Watch the video to learn more about why the multibillion-dollar tech company is expanding in the region.

Persons: Dyson, John Churchill, – Dyson, Churchill, James Dyson, Brexit Organizations: CNBC, EU Locations: Singapore

☆ Dyson doubles down on Singapore and ramps up hiring globally
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The company is trying to hire another 2,000 engineers globally, according to Dyson's director of upstream robotics, Kashyap Chandrasekar. The Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum is displayed at the company's headquarters at St. James Power Station in Singapore in May 2023. Lauren Choo | CNBCAnother Dyson device that has garnered attention, due to its futuristic look, is the Dyson Zone — headphones that double as a wearable purifier. Dyson's global investment planSince its inception in 1991, founder Sir James Dyson has been set on pioneering new technology. The company currently has a £2.75 billion investment plan divided across Singapore, the U.K. and the Philippines.

Persons: Dyson, John Churchill, Kashyap Chandrasekar, Lauren Choo, Churchill, We'll, Sir James Dyson, they're Organizations: Robotics, James Power, CNBC, Dyson, St Locations: St, Singapore, United Kingdom, Philippines, Malaysia, Shanghai, Batangas

☆ India's population will overtake China's – what does that mean for the world?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIndia's 1.4 billion population will almost certainly bring economic opportunities, but could it set back the country's growth? Both countries have more than 1.4 billion people, but where India's population is relatively young, China's birth rate is in decline and its population is getting older. What does it mean for India? Alok Khirsagar, the report's co-author, said India's digital infrastructure will be central to generating jobs for India's young population. "It's very important that we're able to use technology to distribute manufacturing services into smaller towns and smaller cities, and not as dependent on the large cities to drive growth," he said.

☆ World's largest drone maker is unfazed — even if it's blacklisted by the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

watch nowThe world's biggest drone maker DJI found itself embroiled in the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year. It includes the Mavic 3 drone, and Aeroscope, a drone-detection platform that enables users to identify the location of a drone operator. We've stated unequivocally that we have had nothing to do with treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang," Welsh said. A drone's firmware is what the drone uses to control all the important operations, like flight, battery management and data protection. Paolo Stagno, a cyber security expert, said there is a black market of modified DJI drones' firmware.

☆ Chinese drone maker DJI is dominating the market – despite being blacklisted by the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The global drone market is expected to grow from $30.6 billion in 2022 to $55.8 billion by 2030, according to a report by Drone Industry Insights. DJI's first commercially successful product was the Phantom drone, which DJI founder Frank Wang claims made DJI the first company to bring "military-grade technology" to the public. "The unfortunate thing is that (DJI drones are) very reliable. In December 2021, the Shenzhen-based drone maker was placed on an investment blacklist by the U.S. government, banning American investors from buying or selling shares in the company. Watch the video above to understand why the Chinese drone maker is dominating the market – despite being blacklisted by the U.S.

☆ The Quad is going beyond military exercises — and China is watching
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-04 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Quad, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, comprises four big, democratic economies: the United States, Japan, India and Australia. The Quad countries have cooperated in areas ranging from health and infrastructure development to military exercises —most notably the Exercise Malabar naval war games, which have developed into a permanent feature of the Quad. That includes being an effective counterbalance to China's dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. "What the Quad countries individually and collectively have been concerned about is about China's behavior," Tanvi Madan, director of The India Project at the Brookings Institution, told CNBC. Watch the video above to learn more about the Quad's influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Persons: Ted Kemp, Tanvi Madan Organizations: NATO, CNBC International, The, Brookings Institution, CNBC Locations: United States, Japan, India, Australia, China, Malabar

☆ Why rich countries are so dependent on migrant workers
▼ + stars: | 2021-10-15 | by ( Nessa Anwar | Sri Jegarajah | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Economic globalization has created more migrant workers than ever before. Migrant workers are people who live and work in a country where they don't hold citizenship. Globally, 67.4% of migrant workers — or 114 million people — live in wealthy countries. The vulnerability of migrant workers was highlighted by the pandemic, as borders were closed and mobility was heavily restricted. Despite the challenges, migrant workers provide great economic benefits not only to their host country, but back home as well.

Persons: Jegarajah Organizations: United Nations

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