[Big read] When the Arctic opens, what happens to Singapore?

Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi has called a surprise election, betting her personal appeal and high approval ratings can rally voters, check the opposition and secure a mandate to steer Japan through uncertainty. Academic Zhang Yun gives his analysis.

A viral clip of Zhou Yuan, a Chinese “sexual mentor” for women, has shed light on a booming industry that empowers women to use their sexuality to attract men. Lianhe Zaobao’s China Desk takes a look at society’s and authority’s reactions to these grey-zone content.

Trust companies in China have become a major source of financing outside the banking system. AVIC Trust’s failure shows how weak oversight, high-risk lending and a slumping property market can bring even state-owned institutions down. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Li Kang tells us more.

Avoiding a direct clash with Beijing, US President Donald Trump is exploiting China’s unfinished rise — pressuring its energy suppliers, trade partners and allies to constrain its growth before it can defend its global interests, says Italian commentator Emanuele Scimia. 

The strained political relations between China and Japan have a far-reaching impact, not least the entertainment industry. Japanese academic Seio Nakajima takes a look at the recent difficulties in Japan-China cultural exchanges and how Japanese businesses should move forward.

Micro-dramas are often seen as crass, quick-hit entertainment across China and beyond. Now, Shanghai’s International Short Video Center and its production park aim to elevate them, transforming bite-sized hits into premium storytelling. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Li Kang speaks with industry insiders to explore their plans.

As Pyongyang leans ever closer to Moscow, its relations with China and other socialist states remain strained. With sanctions, nuclear tensions and diverging interests, North Korea’s circle of friends is narrowing fast. Japanese academic Atsuhito Isozaki gives his analysis.

US President Donald Trump’s mafia-style intimidation, extortion and coercion are finally forcing countries to act, with traditional allies leading the revolt. Former journalist Goh Choon Kang explains why Trump’s Board of Peace has hit a dead end before it even takes off.

Greenland’s attributes as an elevated platform for early warning, space tracking and North Atlantic control explain the naked truth behind the US’s desire to get Greenland. Out of the possible scenarios that this could happen, academic Hao Nan thinks that expanded access under Danish sovereignty, i.e. the Okinawa Model, is the most realistic option.

Beijing’s espionage operations in Taiwan are expanding beyond the military to journalists and civilians, using intermediaries and digital tools to map networks and prepare for governance after potential reunification. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han tells us more about what these developments mean for Taiwan.

Framed as a national security win, the TikTok deal stops short of decoupling, embedding Chinese participation in US-controlled structures. US academic Sarah Kreps examines the deal and its consequences.

Canada is recalibrating its foreign policy toward economic interests, flexible coalitions and Asian partners. Engagement now trumps alignment — even as dependence on the US sets firm limits, says researcher Diya Jiang.

While AI is a powerful tool, China’s Covid expert Zhang Wenhong warns it cannot replace doctors. Academic Zhang Tiankan explains why hands-on experience, intuition and human judgement remain crucial.

Figures show that Chinese retailers account for 3% of the Singapore market, as compared to just about 90% local businesses. If so, then why is the sense on the ground so different, and why are Singapore retailers feeling squeezed? Lianhe Zaobao journalist Li Yaning explores the question.

Hong Kong has emerged as a powerhouse for global wealth, fuelled by the mainland connection, booming IPOs and a thriving digital asset market. This growth looks set to continue, in light of Asia’s growing wealth and factors in the geopolitical environment.

China’s latest military purge spills outwards and will reshape the structure and tempo of risk in the Taiwan Strait, says commentator Deng Yuwen. The major factor is not about the “removal of doves”, but the downgrading of professional judgment within decision-making.

With the recent personnel upheaval in China’s military, the army’s professional competence and judgment will be affected in the short term. Lianhe Zaobao associate China news editor Sim Tze Wei takes a look at the options ahead to fill the leadership vacuum.

Pudu Robotics founder Zhang Tao predicts humanoid robots will outgrow the auto industry. Lianhe Zaobao senior writer Lee Kuo Ai talks with him about his journey from a university passion to his third start-up and the pandemic-driven shift to delivery and service robots.