The view that China has become increasingly assertive under President Xi Jinping is now a common trope in academic and media discourse. However, until the end of Xi Jinping's first term in March 2018, China had been relatively restrained in its use of coercive economic measures. This is puzzling given the conventional belief among scholars and practitioners that sanctions are a middle ground between diplomatic and military/paramilitary action. Using a wide range of methods and data — inclu...

Axel Carstairs’s world-famous writer mother has always been somewhat of a mystery. Even to him. She doesn’t use her real name in public; she straightens her hair every morning; she avoids cinnamon biscuits and certain animals.Deep down, Axel suspects her enigmatic character is due to an unspoken event in her murky past, when she had a falling-out with her parents and allegedly never went back. But Valerie is too good at concealing her secrets, refusing to confide them in anyone… un...

This is the historical memoir of Dr Poh Soo Kai, a medical doctor and a founder member of the People's Action Party. Here he tells the story of his incarceration as a political prisoner under Singapore's notorious Internal Security Act, and the anti-colonial struggle which defined the years after the Second World War.Poh was born in Singapore in 1930. He is the maternal grandson of prominent businessman Tan Kah Kee. After the Japanese surrender in 1945, he continued his studies at ...

Operation Coldstore remains the most contentious event in the history of postcolonial Singapore. Despite attempts by the state to silence ex-detainees, by warning that they would not be permitted to rewrite the state’s official version of history, the authors in this volume have done just that.They have placed on record their own perspective of events. The autobiographical element in the narratives brings to life what these individuals went through as left-wing political actors who...

This book presents the technological developments that are currently being researched or implemented in the management of palm oil industrial waste.After introducing the plantation and milling processes, the book focuses on the wastes generated solely from plantation and milling activities, as reducing waste from these two sectors will enhance the overall sustainability of the entire palm oil industry eco-system. It then evaluates the sustainability of current practices and elabora...

This book shares the 'hard truths' and experience of what it entails to be a Care Giver.Many thought Care Giving is a simple task just employing a person to look after the elderly or sick which is just the beginning to this vocation.Care Giving is a vocation of giving one self to to elderly or sick the Unconditional Love which this book hope to highlight.Be it an 'eyeopener' to all..

Enter the spellbinding world of a retirement home for witches in this tale of mischief and magic for children.Grab your broom and get ready for an adventure like no other, because things do go bump in the night - and they live at Anderson House!Join Myrtle, the retired witch, in the first book in The Witches of Anderson House series, as she learns how to find her magic again - all with the help of her witchy friends. Children will love this playful...

**Book band: Gold (**Ideal for ages 6+)Quizzed for Accelerated ReaderA hilarious, action-filled adventure, ideal for children practising their reading at home or in school.Captain Cutlass cannot see a thing without his glasses. But pirates don't wear glasses and if his crew finds out they'll make him walk the plank! As the pirates set sail for Treasure Island, the Captain soon finds himself in trouble when he can't e...

The Woodland Friends from Porcurpine's Pie return in this cheerful story about persevering in the face of tough challenges.Bear, Porcupine, Doe, and Squirrel all eagerly prepare for the festival on wheels. But even after studying every book on bikes he can find, Bear still struggles to get the hang of riding. While he is on his way to the library for a new book, his friends teach Bear that everyone learns in different ways, and by practicing together, they...

That looks dangerous, Violet! A velvet rabbit takes on a dare to ski down Snowdrop Slope, but soon she’s dangling over a deep valley. Hurry, Superfairies! She can’t hold on much longer!

Basil, where did you go? The Superfairies have to rescue the little bear cub before the arrival of the Copper Fairy and her masked dance!

Don’t go out into the storm, Martha! The Autumn Queen has ushered in a big storm and a little mouse is caught in the middle of it! Quick Superfairies, to the fairycopter!