Latest News from CNA
CNA
31 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio join martial arts forces in Karate Kid: Legends
Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio blend fighting techniques to train a new karate kid in the latest instalment of the martial arts movie franchise. Karate Kid: Legends, which opens Jun 5 in Singapore, stars Ben Wang as Beijing kung fu whizz Li Fong who moves with his mother to New York, where he befriends pizza restaurant owner and retired boxer Victor and his daughter Mia. When that friendship irks a local karate champion, Li enters a karate tournament and begins training with his old kung fu teacher Mr Han, played by Chan, and Macchio's Daniel LaRusso, the protagonist of the original 1984 film The Karate Kid who learned karate from mentor Mr Miyagi. 'They presented the concept to me ... connecting the Miyagi to the Han family and how that made sense ... I was like 'That's kind of clever. Okay, so how do we maintain this connective tissue into Li Fong's story that is organic and truthful'," Macchio told Reuters in a joint interview with Chan and Wang. "That was the challenge at first and figuring that out. Working with Jackie was like, 'Woohoo sign me up – when, where?' And then who's the kid? If we don't love this kid, then you have no movie. So all those, like it happens with The Karate Kid universe, is magic dust that comes down and somehow it continues to resonate. So I'm excited for the next generation version.' The movie is Macchio's fourth Karate Kid film playing LaRusso, a character he also portrayed in the Cobra Kai television series. Chan reprises the role of Mr Han, a character he first played in the 2010 film The Karate Kid opposite Jaden Smith. "Now we've both become a Miyagi," Chan said, referring to both his and Macchio's characters becoming mentors. "I remember when I saw the first one. Why him (Macchio)? Why not me?...I want to be The Karate Kid. (Now) We work together.' Wang, 25, said Chan's 2010 film introduced him to the franchise. 'Stepping into it, it's a terrifying thing in a certain way because it's a beloved franchise and ... the fans love it so much so I want to do right by them," he said. "But it's also a great honour because a lot of people auditioned for this part so I know how special and lucky it is that I get to do this with the two of them."
CNA
an hour ago
- Business
- CNA
US trade court blocks Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs
NEW YORK: A United States trade court on Wednesday (May 28) blocked President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs from going into effect, ruling that the president overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from nations that sell more to the US than they buy. The Manhattan-based Court of International Trade said the US Constitution gives Congress exclusive authority to regulate commerce with other countries that is not overridden by the president's emergency powers to safeguard the US economy. "The court does not pass upon the wisdom or likely effectiveness of the president's use of tariffs as leverage. That use is impermissible not because it is unwise or ineffective, but because [federal law] does not allow it," a three-judge panel said in the decision. The ruling came in a pair of lawsuits, one filed by the nonpartisan Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small US businesses that import goods from countries targeted by the duties and the other by 13 US states. The companies, which range from a New York wine and spirits importer to a Virginia-based maker of educational kits and musical instruments, have said the tariffs will hurt their ability to do business. At least five other legal challenges to the tariffs are pending. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, a Democrat whose office is leading the states' lawsuit, called Trump's tariffs unlawful, reckless and economically devastating. "This ruling reaffirms that our laws matter, and that trade decisions can't be made on the president's whim," Rayfield said in a statement. The White House and lawyers for groups that sued did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump has claimed broad authority to set tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which is meant to address "unusual and extraordinary" threats during a national emergency. The law has historically been used to impose sanctions on enemies of the US or freeze their assets. Trump is the first US president to use it to impose tariffs. The Justice Department has said the lawsuits should be dismissed because the plaintiffs have not been harmed by tariffs that they have not yet paid, and because only Congress, not private businesses, can challenge a national emergency declared by the president under IEEPA. In imposing the tariffs in early April, Trump called the trade deficit a national emergency that justified his 10 per cent across-the-board tariff on all imports, with higher rates for countries with which the US has the largest trade deficits, particularly China. Many of those country-specific tariffs were paused a week later. The Trump administration on May 12 said it was also temporarily reducing the steepest tariffs on China while working on a longer-term trade deal. Both countries agreed to cut tariffs on each other for at least 90 days. Trump's on-and-off-again tariffs, which he has said are intended to restore US manufacturing capability, have shocked US financial markets. The US dollar rose against both the Swiss franc, a traditional currency safe-haven, and the Japanese yen following the court decision.
CNA
2 hours ago
- Health
- CNA
Should you sleep on the plane or stay awake – and 7 other questions about jet lag
You love to travel but jet lag? Not so much. It's a little difficult to get excited about exploring a holiday destination when you're groggy and grumpy. And it's not only from messing up your circadian sleep rhythm in the new time zone; your usual sleep duration may be cut short from having to wake up at 5am to catch an early flight. Or you just can't sleep on the plane – even when armed to the teeth with a travel pillow, noise-cancelling headphones and melatonin pills. It's a phenomenon that researchers are hoping to shed light on via the data captured by wearable sleep trackers – the most comprehensive being the 2025 collaborative study by the Centre for Sleep and Cognition at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Oura. Published in the journal Sleep in March this year, the study analysed 60,000 trips and 1.5 million nights of de-identified data from the Oura Ring to provide the first large-scale, real-world study of jet lag recovery to date. WHAT ARE THE FINDINGS? You might have already experienced some of the findings, such as night flights (there's a reason for calling them 'red eye' flights) tend to be more disruptive than day ones. Or that you often need more recovery sleep the next night after flying from pm to am. And there's nothing like the dreaded eastward travel and the crossing of multiple time zones to really shake things up. In fact, jet lag is more severe for shorter, eastward trips of up to over three time zones. Not that you'll do better with longer journeys, regardless of direction; the study found that sleep occurs 60 to 70 minutes earlier or later than usual. When it comes to sleep recovery, the study found that in some cases, restoring normal sleep timing and structure (for example, the tendency to wake up in the middle of the night) can take more than a week. The good news is, sleep duration typically returns to baseline within approximately two days. However, changes in sleep timing and structure can take more than a week to abate. Gender didn't play a significant role in travel-related sleep disruption, according to the findings. The study's lead researcher, Dr Adrian Willoughby, a senior research fellow at NUS Medicine, has two explanations. "First, the effect of transmeridian travel, especially over longer distances, is likely much stronger than the hormonal influences on sleep in women," he said. "And second, both men and women are subject to the same circadian pressures when travelling, so it is not surprising they are affected in similar ways." If you're thinking older travellers might have it rougher, think again. The analysis found that they actually don't suffer as much from jet lag as younger travellers – albeit slightly. For instance, a 20-year-old may experience a 15-minute greater reduction in sleep compared to a 60-year-old over the initial post-travel days. "Older people generally sleep less than younger people, so while the overall impact of travel-related sleep disruption may be similar, the absolute reduction in sleep duration is smaller for older people because they are already sleeping less," explained Dr Willoughby. One finding that didn't quite apply to Singapore is the impact of pre-travel sleep disruption. "Because Singapore is small and has efficient transportation, getting to the airport is generally quick and easy. As a result, Singaporeans may experience less pre-travel disruption," said Dr Willoughby. HOW CAN YOU MINIMISE JET LAG? Wouldn't it be great to arrive at your destination feeling as energised as a Red Bull-fuelled teen? The science hasn't caught up on that yet but there might be ways to minimise the effects of jet lag by understanding what causes it. Here's a look at some common queries: 1. DOES FLYING MORE MAKE YOU LESS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE JET LAG? No, said Adjunct Assistant Professor Sridhar Venkateswaran, a senior consultant with Ng Teng Fong General Hospital's Respiratory Medicine department. 'Depending on how many time zones the person crosses when flying, it could potentially be worse.' Like what the study found, Adj Asst Prof Sridhar also said that the biggest effect on jet lag is the number of time zones crossed as well as the direction of travel. Other minor factors include age and sleep habits, he added. 2. WHY DOES FLYING EASTWARD PRODUCE MORE SEVERE JET LAG? Let's visit this thing you might have already heard of called the circadian rhythm. Within the brain's hypothalamus is the suprachiasmatic nucleus or SCN. This is your body's 'master clock' that controls your circadian rhythm, meaning it decides functions such as the time you wake up or get hungry, according to Healthline. The SCN is driven by light, so when your eyes see sunshine, for example, the SCN 'activates certain hormones, alters your body temperature, and regulates your metabolism to keep you alert or draw you to sleep', according to Healthline. 'All of us have this internal body clock, which roughly corresponds to the outside 24-hour clock,' explained Adj Asst Prof Sridhar. 'Jet lag is due to a misalignment between our internal clock and the outside clock.' When you travel eastwards, you have to advance your bedtime to align yourself with the destination sleeping time, said Adj Asst Prof Sridhar. The opposite happens when you travel westward, meaning you have to delay your bedtime. 'In general, it is easier to delay your bedtime compared to advancing your bedtime," he said. Another reason is that staying awake is more under voluntary control than falling asleep, said Dr Willoughby. "We can force ourselves to stay awake more easily and effectively than we force ourselves to fall sleep." In addition, travelling westwards or 'back in time' allows you to experience a longer day and more exposure to light, which can further delay your body clock, added Dr Willoughby. 3. CAN JET LAG CREATE LONG-TERM IMPACT ON YOU? For people who often make long-distance flights, such as business travellers, pilots and flight attendants, jet lag can become a chronic problem. And it's not just insomnia. A chronically out-of-sync circadian rhythm may increase the risk of disorders such as diabetes and depression as well as some types of cancer, according to the US-based Sleep Foundation. The long-term impact may even range from memory to cognitive problems, menstrual cycle abnormalities in women, headaches and gastrointestinal symptoms, said Adj Asst Prof Sridhar. 4. WHAT'S A GOOD DEPARTURE TIME RANGE TO PICK AND WHY? 'The ideal departure time would be that of the destination's daytime,' said Adj Asst Prof Sridhar. 'If possible, try and sleep on the flight during the destination's night-time.' Dr Willoughby suggested choosing a departure time that does not require you to wake up much earlier than you normally would. "Being well organised for your trip can also help prevent staying up late the night before. This needs to be balanced with the other practical considerations such as flight schedules, cost and demands at the destination." 5. HOW CAN YOU PREP FOR AN EASTWARD FLIGHT BEFORE BOARDING? A few days before flying, adjust your bedtime and wake up closer to the destination's time zone, advised Adj Asst Prof Sridhar. You can do so by going to bed 30 minutes earlier each night, recommended Mount Elizabeth Hospital. If you're travelling westward, do the opposite and delay your bedtime by half an hour. You can also try moving your mealtimes closer to the time you'll be taking them at your destination, recommended Mount Elizabeth Hospital. 'Limiting caffeine and alcohol, and taking supplemental melatonin may help,' said Adj Asst Prof Sridhar. To help you calculate how much to shift your body clock, try jet lag calculators such as this. 6. SHOULD YOU SLEEP OR WATCH MOVIES ON THE PLANE? Adjust your watch the moment you board, recommended Mount Elizabeth Hospital. This helps your mind adapt to the time change. Next, do what's best for your destination. If it's noon where you're heading, it might be wise to stay up. But if you're flying into the night, you might want to hunker down and try to sleep – even though it's bright as anything outside the plane's window. Limit your light exposure with a sleeping mask and hoodie to sync your circadian rhythm. 7. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO DURING A LAYOVER? It all depends on the duration of the layover, said Adj Asst Prof Sridhar. 'If it is a long layover and it corresponds to the final destination's night-time, it might be a good idea to check into the transit hotel to try and sleep.' 8. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO BETTER SYNC WITH THE DESTINATION'S TIME? If you arrive in the day, it is recommended that you stay up, despite feeling sleepy. And avoid naps, too. 'The best way to avoid sleeping is to expose yourself to sunlight and remain outdoors as much as possible,' said Adj Asst Prof Sridhar. 'Do activities until it is close to the bedtime of the destination. I would not recommend caffeine as it might interfere with the night sleep even if taken early,' he said. But if you must nap, take one that is shorter than 30 minutes and, if possible, eight or more hours before the desired bedtime, suggested Johns Hopkins University. Generally, it takes about a day to recover for each time zone crossed, said Adj Asst Prof Sridhar. On the whole, most people take about three to five days to recover from jet lag. 'To recover, the same rules, such as aligning yourself to the sleep-wake cycle of your current environment, apply.' That also means getting sunlight during the day and avoiding artificial light at night. 'Good hydration, nutrition and melatonin may help,' he added.
CNA
2 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Rubio says US will start revoking visas for Chinese students
WASHINGTON: United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday (May 28) that the US will start revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. US President Donald Trump's administration will "aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields", Rubio said in a statement. He added that the department will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from China and Hong Kong. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China had the second highest number of international students pursuing higher education in the US in the 2023/2024 school year, with 277,398 students, according to the Institute of International Education. On Tuesday, it was reported that the US Department of State had halted new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants. The Trump administration has expanded social media vetting of foreign students and is seeking to ramp up deportations and revoke student visas as part of its wide-ranging efforts to fulfil his hardline immigration agenda.
CNA
2 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
8 Chinese perfume brands scent lovers are obsessed with right now
Those who are into scents might have noticed a new wave emerging in the fragrance industry – a rising interest in China's perfumery scene that's evident on social media and beauty news, including in the west. It's a burgeoning beauty sector filled with niche brands that each have their unique take on fragrances – many with a fascinating oriental twist. But it's not just the locals that these brands are attracting – tourists and foreigners who've had the chance to experience their scents are also being charmed by their distinctiveness and are spreading the word across the world. Freshness and novelty are two key qualities that draw people to this new breed of perfumes. Besides largely being inspired by Eastern culture and concepts, many of them also incorporate unusual Chinese-inspired fragrance notes. While common notes that are widely used in Western perfumes are also in Chinese scents, rare and unexpected materials are thrown in for an interesting mix. Instead of the usual rose, bergamot or generic black or green tea, you are likely to encounter osmanthus, pomelo, fo shou (Sichuan bergamot), oolong or Pu-erh in a Chinese fragrance. Add to that the allure of aesthetically stylish packaging – an all-important factor in the overall appeal of perfumes, and it's not hard to see why Chinese perfumes are fast becoming the next big thing in the industry. Take a look at what these brands have to offer and you'd agree that they can rival any other Western luxury perfume company or the hottest Korean scent brands out there. One downside, though, is that many of them are still difficult to acquire outside China, and can only be found at stores in major Chinese cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing. So, if you should be travelling to these destinations, make sure to check out where they can be bought. 1. TO SUMMER View this post on Instagram A post shared by 观夏 To Summer (@tosummerofficial) Arguably the most well-known among the Chinese fragrance brands, To Summer is the name you are likely to have first come across on social media. The brand is a go-to for Eastern-inspired scents that incorporate oriental notes like jasmine, osmanthus, Chinese cedar, fo shou (Sichuan bergamot), Pu-erh tea and incense. Chinese perfumer David Huang is behind many of the creations, although the brand also works with international experts including French perfumer Jerome Epinette and German perfumer Frank Voelkl. For something truly unusual, try To Summer's Leisure, which fuses angelica root with floral and woody tones, and Ink, an intriguing woody scent that features ink as a note. 2. MELT SEASON View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@meltseasonofficial) The Estee Lauder group has taken a stake in this perfume brand, which is a sign that it's definitely one to pay attention to. Melt Season's minimalist-chic packaging that's mostly devoid of Chinese wording will have you thinking that it's a hip Western or Korean brand – but it's proudly established in Shanghai and just as cool as any other aesthetic niche perfume brand. Its scents combine Eastern and Western philosophies, and that's why you'll find that its perfumes are built on a combination of fragrance notes and inspiration from both. Besides its outlets at Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen in China, you'll be able to find it in DFS stores in Hong Kong. Available in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and DFS stores in Hong Kong. 3. DOCUMENTS View this post on Instagram A post shared by DOCUMENTS (@documentsperfume) Another Chinese perfume brand that has attracted interest from a global conglomerate, Documents had recently received funding from beauty giant, L'Oreal (the beauty giant also has a stake in To Summer). The brand projects an edgy, contemporary vibe with its minimalist packaging, advertising visuals and store design. It takes an imaginative approach to formulating its scents, which are often based on abstract concepts with an oriental slant. With simple names like Feather, Tree, Naive and Snake, the fragrances evoke the mood of each of these subjects via unique narratives. For Snake, which is inspired by the Chinese zodiac animal for this year, the brand has chosen to blend the bitterness of cocoa with the sweetness of vanilla in representation of the duality of the creature. Available in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. 4. THE BEAST @keemluu The next viral chinese perfume imo!! I also got to summer so im excited to compare and do wear tests :)) #viralperfume #perfume #perfumetok #chineseperfume #tosummer #china #xiaohongshu ♬ Cherry - Jordan Susanto The Beast started out as a florist, and has since become a lifestyle retail concept store that stocks just about everything from furnishings and home decor to lounge wear, jewellery and accessories. But what seems to be really catching the attention of foreigners in China is its line of perfumes and home fragrance products that are beautifully designed and packaged. The Eastern inspiration is evident in its perfumes, such as Oriental Beauty and Osmanthus Oolong. The Eastern influence is evident in how it has named its perfumes – Oriental Beauty is a surprising fusion of florals like camellia, honeysuckle and orchid with aquatic and citrus notes, while Osmanthus Oolong blends the oriental tea and floral notes in the perfume's name with incense, almond and leather tones. Available in Shanghai. 5. SECRETS DOOR View this post on Instagram A post shared by SECRETS'DOOR (@secretsdoor_parfums) A modernist fragrance brand with a focus on natural, sustainable ingredients, Secrets Door doesn't overtly express its Chinese identity, choosing instead to create a more globalised image for itself. Save for a number of oriental notes used here and there in its catalogue of scents, there's not much else that provides a clue to the brand's origins. The brand works with master perfumers from around the world to create its fragrances, which are all packaged in the same distinctive flacon – a minimalistic bottle in the shape of an arched door, a stylish nod to the name of the brand. 6. HANDHANDHAND View this post on Instagram A post shared by handhandhand (@handhandhand_official) It comes as no surprise that Handhandhand was founded by three designers in Shanghai, going by its uber-chic, modern aesthetic that's impeccably carried through its website, social media posts, product and retail design. There are just four fragrances in its perfume range online, with tongue-in-cheek names like Black Sheep and White Lie. Still, there's something for every taste among them. Try Black Sheep, which features uncommon notes including lentisk (an evergreen shrub found mainly on the Greek island of Chios), labdanum (also known as rockrose) and incense, if you're up for something a little exotic, or the bergamot- and rose-based First Blush smells like a gorgeous bouquet. What really stands out, though, is its home fragrance line, which comes in to-die-for designs, as well as its collection of scented sachets that's created in collaboration with international artists. Available in Beijing and Shanghai. 7. SOULVENT View this post on Instagram A post shared by baroma - an immersive sensory destination (@ The brand weaves a story for each and every perfume it has created – painting a vivid picture of scenes in China that has inspired the scent. Take, for example, its Crimson Snow – inspired by memories of winter in Beijing and street stalls selling tang hu lu (candied hawthorn fruit), it is a recreation of childhood memories during the Chinese New Year festivities. The fragrance features oriental notes of hawthorn, dried tangerine peel, plum and Pu-erh tea – a combination that instantly evokes the celebratory scene via olfactory imagery. 8. VOICE FROM THE SKY View this post on Instagram A post shared by VOICEFROMTHESKY (@voicefromthesky) Founded by a Chinese perfumer whose family is in the fragrance business, and had studied perfumery in France, this perfume brand was set up to create new, refreshing perspectives of the Chinese perfumery scene. Its creations are inspired by various artistic and cultural contexts, and features uniquely Chinese fragrance materials and notes. You can see it in Gentle King, a leather- and wood-based scent that is given an interesting edge with black pepper and Sichuan pepper. Talking to the Moon is another unusual scent – it has castoreum (a TCM ingredient derived from a beaver's anal glands) for an animalistic core, that's combined with incense and osmanthus.
