US senator says Trump's pick for Singapore 'unqualified'

12 Sept 04:09 Key points summarised by AI

Anjani Sinha, President Trump's nominee for US Ambassador to Singapore, was deemed "unqualified" by Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth during his Senate confirmation hearing.
Sinha, an orthopedic surgeon, struggled to answer fundamental questions regarding Singapore's bilateral defense ties with the US, its role in ASEAN, and accurate trade figures.
Senator Duckworth emphasized Singapore's critical strategic importance as a US ally in the Indo-Pacific, especially concerning China, and stressed that the ambassadorial role demanded a well-prepared individual.
Sinha's significant inaccuracies, such as being "off by a huge factor" on the US trade surplus with Singapore, led Duckworth to conclude he had not done his homework and was unfit for the posting.

Lamphun in a New Light

Today 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Lamphun illuminates its ancient city with two concurrent light festivals: the high-tech VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN and the traditional Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival.
VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN transforms historic landmarks into an outdoor gallery, using projections and multimedia to animate Lamphun's history, including Queen Chamadevi's story.
The Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival, part of Yi Peng, fills temples and streets with countless traditional lanterns, symbolizing Buddhist devotion and personal wishes.
These festivals offer a unique after-dark experience, blending contemporary light art with centuries-old Lanna traditions, connecting visitors to Lamphun's past and faith.