Woon Wei Jong

How does a boy who carried his schoolbooks in a rice sack grow up to lead a venture capital firm driving innovation across Asia? Lianhe Zaobao senior writer Woon Wei Jong speaks with Insignia Ventures Partners founder Tan Yinglan on trust, growth and global challenges. From Primary One through Secondary Two, Tan Yinglan carried his schoolbooks in a plastic rice sack sturdy enough to hold five kilograms of rice, with two cloth straps sewn on as handles.

Prominent entrepreneur Li Ka-shing’s sale of ports in the Panama Canal has rubbed Beijing and the Chinese people the wrong way, garnering backlash as “ungrateful to the motherland”. Commentator Qinglian He takes a look at the political intricacies behind the deal. After Donald Trump was elected US president, he immediately suggested to “take back control of the Panama Canal” because China is operating it.

US President Donald Trump and his new team are initiating a series of policies that will impact the American people, US trading partners, and global markets. Consequently, the US’s influence in the region could diminish, potentially benefiting China in the long run, notes Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong. Barely two months in office, US President Donald Trump has dismantled several federal government mechanisms and foreign policies, preparing for a global trade war.