Strong winds, heavy rain batter Singapore, uprooting trees and slowing traffic
The Straits Times,

An uprooted tree opposite Parkroyal on Beach Road caused a standstill on a three-lane road as motorists tried to navigate through the rightmost lane.

Another photo from Jalan Membina shows a car struck by both a fallen tree and a lamp post.

Mrs. Rachel Feng, 41, told The Straits Times she walked by the scene with a friend and said, “We were shocked, but it seemed miraculous that the car remained mostly intact.”

On the West Coast Highway, Mr. Muhammad Elfi was on his way home when a large branch fell on his car just before entering the Keppel Viaduct. “Fortunately, I wasn’t injured, so I continued my journey home,” said the 37-year-old sales manager.

Nee Soon GRC MP Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, who is also the Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development, said in a Facebook post that several trees in Nee Soon Central had fallen during the storm. He pledged to work with relevant agencies to clear the fallen branches.

China crypto trading thrives in ‘OTC’ market despite restrictions

Nikkei Asia,

Hong Kong-Cryptocurrency trading activity is surging in China, despite strict regulations. Investors are seeking alternatives to sluggish stocks in a slowing economy, according to a new report.

The trading volume in China’s “over-the-counter” (OTC) crypto market, where buyers and sellers are connected through often concealed networks, more than tripled to $23.7 billion in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2021, according to a report by New York-based blockchain data platform Chainalysis.

China trade targeted from all sides, backing Beijing into an economic bind: Analysts
South China Morning Post,

China’s export growth faces increasing risks as pressure to raise import tariffs spreads beyond advanced countries to developing nations. This is amid tit-for-tat retaliations and concerns about overcapacity, analysts said.

China, long known as the “workshop of the world,” is now facing tariff measures on exports such as solar panels, electric vehicles, steel, aluminum, and even low-value retail goods.

Rising tariffs could hinder growth as trade is critical to China’s economy, said Christopher Beddor, Deputy China Research Director at Gavekal Dragonomics in Hong Kong.

“Strong exports are masking severe weaknesses in the Chinese economy,” Beddor said. “If external demand declines due to tariffs, officials will face tough decisions between controlling debt and sustaining growth.”

Countries raising tariffs include the US, the EU, Canada, and emerging markets like Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and India. Japan has also launched an anti-dumping investigation into a type of rubber product.

Violent threats and attacks escalate tensions in Trump-Harris race
The Washington Post,

The 2024 US election has been marred by threats and violence, prompting heightened security at events.

On a quiet Sunday, a Secret Service agent opened fire on a man who pointed a rifle through a fence while Donald Trump golfed. Two months earlier, a gunman tried to kill Trump at a campaign rally, leaving one dead and two injured.

Bomb threats have led to evacuations in Springfield, Ohio, after Trump and other politicians spread a false claim about Haitian immigrants eating pets.

Both Trump and Kamala Harris have been forced to speak behind bulletproof glass at events. Security is being increased as Congress prepares to certify the election winner in January.

Trump has blamed Democrats, stating that “their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at.” While officials have not identified a motive, there is no evidence linking Kamala Harris or Joe Biden to the attack. Despite blaming Democrats, Trump has frequently used inflammatory language against his opponents, labeling them as “the enemy from within.”

Moo Deng fever hits as viral baby hippo draws huge crowds to zoo
Bankkok post,

“Moo Deng,” a viral baby hippo, has drawn massive crowds to her zoo, two hours south of Bangkok, and has become an internet sensation with millions of followers on social media. Her clumsy antics, like trying to nibble on her handler despite not yet having teeth, have endeared her to fans.

Normally, the zoo receives around 800 visitors a day during the rainy season, but with Moo Deng fever, it is now drawing 3,000 to 4,000 visitors on weekdays and 20,000 on weekends, according to Narungwit Chodchoy, Director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo.

Moo Deng, whose name means “bouncing pig,” has siblings named Pork Stew and Sweet Pork. On Monday, she was happily sitting in a bowl of vegetables and snacks.

Russian city orders partial evacuation due to Ukrainian drone attack
RT News,

A partial evacuation was ordered in Toropetz, a city northwest of Moscow, after fragments from a downed Ukrainian drone caused a fire, according to Tver Region Governor Igor Rudenya.

Air defenses were activated to intercept the drone, and emergency services are working to contain the fire. There are no reports of casualties.

A total of 54 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight in five Russian regions, the Defense Ministry said.

Microsoft, BlackRock form group to raise $100 billion to invest in AI data centers and power
CNBC,

Microsoft and BlackRock have joined forces to raise $100 billion to develop data centers for artificial intelligence and the energy infrastructure needed to power them.

The Global Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Investment Partnership (GAIIP) was announced on Tuesday, with other participants including Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which is being acquired by BlackRock, and MGX, a tech investor from the UAE.