US blocks Harvard from enrolling foreign students
This is a significant development in US-China relations and higher education policy. The article describes how the Trump administration has blocked Harvard University from enrolling foreign students, citing coordination with the Chinese Communist Party among other...
Alphabet’s AI boosts advertiser ROI
AI improvements are delivering tangible value to advertisers - a 6:1 return on ad spend for Google Search ads is quite strong and suggests the company's AI investments are translating into better targeting and conversion rates. A few observations about this analysis:...
Money saving food hacks in Singapore
Smart Planning & Apps: Use reservation apps like Eatigo (up to 60% discounts), Chope, and Burpple to find deals Check restaurant Facebook pages for promotions Book strategically - you can cancel reservations up to one minute before Pickup Over Delivery: Choose...
Elderly woman loses savings in government impersonation scam
The Scam Structure The perpetrators used a sophisticated approach by impersonating the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) staff and convincing the 68-year-old victim she was involved in money laundering. This type of authority impersonation exploits people's fear...
Building an emergency savings fund
Emergency Fund Guidelines: Start with $2,000 or half a month's expenses as an initial buffer for common unexpected costs Build toward 3-6 months of living expenses for job loss protection Consider your specific situation: dual-income households might need less, while...
Understanding Credit Scores
The Big Picture: Credit scores are like grades for your financial history - they give lenders a quick way to assess your creditworthiness You actually have multiple credit scores (not just one), and they can vary based on the scoring company, algorithm used, and which...
US Troop Withdrawal from South Korea
Strategic Realignment: The potential troop reduction seems connected to the Pentagon's broader Indo-Pacific strategy focused on countering China. The proposed redeployment to Guam positions forces at a strategic hub that's roughly equidistant from key allies like...
Avoiding banking traps that drain finances
The four traps he identifies are pretty standard: Bait-and-Switch Interest Rates - This is especially prevalent with online banks and credit unions advertising high promotional rates. The key is reading the fine print to understand when rates change and what they...
Proposed 100% Movie Tariff
Impact Analysis: U.S. Movie Tariffs on Singapore, ASEAN, and Asia Executive Summary The proposed 100% tariff on foreign-made movies represents a significant departure from traditional trade policy, targeting services rather than goods. For Singapore, ASEAN, and...
Global financial stability and dollar’s role in markets
The Core Warning The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is warning about potential instability in the massive $113 trillion foreign exchange swap market. The concern centres on non-bank financial firms holding over $80 trillion in FX swaps, which are essentially...