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☆ Singapore is set to hike its goods and services tax in January. Here's how it will work
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Natalie Tham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Singapore's goods and services tax will be raised to 8% in January 2023. Ore Huiying | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesCome Jan. 1, Singapore will raise its goods and services tax, otherwise known as the GST, from 7% to 8%. The GST is a consumption tax imposed on nearly all goods and services in Singapore. With the change, all goods and services imported into Singapore, including imported goods purchased online, will be subject to the tax. Economists who spoke to CNBC held conflicting views on whether the tax hike will hit the nation's lowest earners harder than others.

☆ A Parasite May Explain Why Some People Are Driven to Start a Company
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

When wolves in Yellowstone National Park get infected with a cat parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, they become more likely to leave their packs and start new ones. The Yellowstone wolf data hints that it's just the side effect of a protozoan inhabiting our brains in a failed attempt to make more protozoa. So why would any of this make an infected wolf want to start its own pack? That was the suggestion of an influential 2006 paper titled "Can the Common Brain Parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, Influence Human Culture?" Just because Toxo might drive an alpha male to start a company, that doesn't mean it'll be a successful company.

☆ China's stunning reversal on lockdowns showed that mass protests can influence policy change in the country — but experts say it still doesn't threaten Xi's regime
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But experts on China say it's unlikely the protests will embolden future political movements. The changes come after protests against COVID measures erupted all across China — rare for a country where dissent is snuffed out quickly. Baogang He, the chair of international relations at Deakin University in Australia, agreed that the protests show how mass anger can influence government policy, but not regime change. "No one is strong enough to exploit or dare to use these protests to mount a challenge to Xi Jinping," Xi, the professor, told Insider. Chong said that although Xi holds extensive power in China, the protests and subsequent rollback both underscore how he can make major mistakes, too.

SINGAPORE, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong received a top post in the ruling party on Saturday, cementing his position to become the city-state's next prime minister. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, secretary-general of the People’s Action Party (PAP), which has ruled the island nation since independence in 1965, announced this year that Wong, 49, would be his successor. Wong becomes deputy secretary-general, the party said in an announcement of new leadership positions. Lee, 70, is the son of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's independence leader and dominant figure for half a century. The younger Lee has said Wong would succeed him before or after the next general election, which is due in 2025.

☆ China's Xi Jinping was filmed lecturing Justin Trudeau in an awkward exchange. It offers a rare glimpse into Xi's personal style of diplomacy.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"That's not appropriate," Xi told Trudeau on Wednesday at the G20 summit in Indonesia. The 40-second video, captured by a Canadian news cameraman, offers a rare glimpse into Xi's personal style of diplomacy. "Everything we discussed has been leaked to the paper, that's not appropriate," Xi told Trudeau, per a translator who was with Xi during the exchange. "Otherwise, it will be hard to say what will happen," the Chinese leader said. Remarking on his exchange with Xi, Trudeau said that "not every conversation is going to be easy," per The Globe and Mail.

☆ Xi shook up the power order in China, but the world should expect little change — because Xi is still the complete puppet master, 2 experts say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Last month, Xi Jinping announced who would join him to be the top seven officials in China. Kevin Frayer/Stringer/Getty ImagesBoosted to the second-in-command spot by Xi, Li is thought to be one of the president's closest protégés. Having been the lowest-ranked member of the previous standing committee, Zhao has jumped four positions to get to his current role. It indicates to me that Xi Jinping is satisfied with the work that Zhao has done," said Loh. "Xi Jinping makes it very clear.

☆ His COVID lockdowns made him one of the most unpopular politicians in China. Xi Jinping just made him the 2nd-most powerful man in the country. Meet Li Qiang.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

They key to his success is his loyalty to President Xi Jinping, experts say. But on October 23, Chinese President Xi Jinping made it clear: It didn't matter. Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, and other members of China's new top leadership walk in order of their rank. But his real value to Xi comes in the form of his loyalty to Xi, Wu said. Xi Jinping doesn't look into other things.

☆ Xi warned about Taiwan interference — but don't expect an imminent invasion, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Su-Lin Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

watch nowChina will continue to work toward becoming more self-reliant, but don't expect President Xi Jinping to move on Taiwan by force, analysts said. In a nearly two-hour speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined his vision for the country for the next five years. Xi Jinping has made very clear what his intentions are: he wants a private sector that is controllable, that is manageable. He said Xi's speech, consistent with Beijing's comments in recent months, suggested the government viewed a more state-dominated economy as the pathway to stability. "Xi Jinping has made very clear what his intentions are: he wants a private sector that is controllable, that is manageable."

The work builds upon previous insect-control experiments at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and could one day result in cyborg insects that can enter hazardous areas much more efficiently than robots. Even when the backpack and film are glued to their backs, the bugs can traverse small obstacles or right themselves when flipped over. Kakei said he constructed the cyborg backpack with 5,000 yen ($35) worth of parts purchased at Tokyo's famed Akihabara electronics district. The backpack and film can be removed, allowing the roaches to go back to life in the lab's terrarium. Beyond disaster rescue bugs, Fukuda sees broad applications for the solar cell film, composed of microscopic layers of plastic, silver, and gold.

☆ Prima zi a Workshopului Naţional în cadrul proiectului ERASMUS+, COMPASS, coordonat de ASEM
▼ + stars: | 2021-03-25 | by ( Onixmedia Srl | ) diez.md time to read: +1 min

Prima zi a Workshopului Naţional în cadrul proiectului ERASMUS+, COMPASS, coordonat de ASEMÎn data de 24 martie a fost deschis Workshopul COMPASS, care este planificat pentru 3 zile – 24, 25, 26 martie. Pe parcursul primei zile a workshopului au fost abordate subiecte legate de procedura de validare de către universitățile din Moldova a cunoștințelor și competențelor acumulate în baza învățării non-formale și informale. Olesea Sârbu, prorector ASEM, coordonator al proiectului COMPASS și Francesca Uras, project manager EUCEN/Belgia. Pentru mai multe detalii, accesați pagina de Facebook a proiectului. Acest material a fost scris și redactat de echipa ASEM.

Persons: Olesea Sârbu, Francesca, LUCA, Jon TALBOT Organizations: ERASMUS, din, COMPASS, University of, Facebook, ASEM Locations: ASEM, din Moldova, Francesca Uras, Belgia, University of Chester, UK, Munster, University

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