But 2018 was also a year of highs, from a dazzling Winter Olympics in South Korea to the rescue of a youth football team trapped in a water-filled Thai cave to new world focus on Southeast Asia. As 2019 gets underway and the Year of the Pig approaches, uncertainty also continues. A pause continues in North Korean missile tests, and for now, in escalating US China tensions as US President Donald Trump seeks to reshape economic ties and call-out unfair Chinese business practices. The phrase “Asia-Pacific” also was most definitely out – perhaps too vaguely reminiscent of the faded Obama Administration “pivot to Asia” – and replaced by “Indo-Pacific,” as President Trump brought his disruptive style of diplomacy to the world’s largest continent, Asia, in 2018. So who was up and who was down in Asia in 2018? Here’s our annual assessment of the winners and losers in Asia, in the year that was: Worst Year: Xi … [Read more...] about Asia Disrupted: from Beijing to Kuala Lumpur – Picking Asia’s Winners and Losers, 2018
S usa life insurance company
Five weird and unexpected ways a no deal Brexit would impact Britain
caption Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab makes a speech outlining the government’s plans for a no-deal Brexit, August 23, 2018 in London, England. source WBA Pool/Getty LONDON – The UK government published its first batch of no deal Brexit planning notices on Thursday. The government is set to release a total of 84 notices over the next few weeks, outlining how all aspects of British life are being prepared for the possibility of Britain leaving the European Union without a deal. On Thursday, Raab unveiled 25 notices, with the rest set to follow soon. The notices, which Raab described as “sensible, measured, and proportionate,” confirmed some things which have been widely reported already. For example, a no deal Brexit would make it more complicated and time-consuming for UK companies to export goods to the EU, consequently creating costly delays at British borders and slowing down cross-border trade. However, the notices published on Thursday … [Read more...] about Five weird and unexpected ways a no deal Brexit would impact Britain
8 lessons I’ve learned from moving 14 times in 12 years
caption Moving brings new opportunities to meet people and explore different cultures. source Katia_L/Shutterstock Moving can be overwhelming, both financially and emotionally. On the other hand,movingto a new place brings the opportunity to meet new people, explore a different area, and have meaningful experiences. Author Yan Mei moved 14 times in 12 years, including international and cross-country relocations – here’s what she learned. I’ve been living contentedly in the same neighborhood for almost four years, yet my friends and family still ask, “Will you move again soon?” I don’t blame them: I have a bit of a nomadic history. I moved 14 times in 12 years, including three international moves (from China to Great Britain, from Great Britain to Switzerland, and then Switzerland to the United States) and one cross-country move from the San Francisco Bay Area to New York City. I consider myself fortunate, because my moves … [Read more...] about 8 lessons I’ve learned from moving 14 times in 12 years
Forget San Francisco and New York: These are the 19 best places to live where the typical home costs less than $260,000 and monthly rent is under $1,000
caption Nashville is a hotbed for millennials. source Shutterstock U.S. News released its 2018 best places to live in America ranking. The list was based on factors like cost of living, salary, and job opportunities. We narrowed down the list to find the best places to live where home prices and rent are lower than the national median. The best places to live are the cities where people are happy, job opportunities are abundant, pay is good, and housing is affordable. So says U.S. News & World Report, which recently released its annual ranking of the best places to live in America. To rank the cities, U.S. News considered the job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration of the 125 most populous cities (you can read the full methodology here). Austin, Texas, came out on top for the second consecutive year, while Colorado Springs, Colorado, jumped from No. 11 to take the … [Read more...] about Forget San Francisco and New York: These are the 19 best places to live where the typical home costs less than $260,000 and monthly rent is under $1,000
Meet the 24 inspiring individuals in Singapore on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list 2018
Forbes is back once again with its 30 Under 30 Asia list, and this year, we see 13 categories – an increase from ten in 2017. We also see a slight increase in the number of individuals in Singapore, some of whom we’ve worked with for features on Vulcan Post before – congrats, you guys! Let’s take a quick look through the list, and celebrate their successes at the same time. THE ARTS Jackson Aw (28) - Mighty Jaxx Mighty Jaxx was established in Jackson Aw’s bedroom in 2012 on a $20,000 loan. When we talked to Aw last year, the 4-year-old startup had sold over thousands of figures to toy enthusiasts in over 50 countries. To date, they have worked with DC Comics, New Balance, and renowned artists to bring unique figures to life, and Aw revealed that they are looking forward to creating even more collaborations and original content in the years to come. Currently, Mighty Jaxx is a multi-million dollar company, but he shared with us this piece of … [Read more...] about Meet the 24 inspiring individuals in Singapore on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list 2018