TR EMERITUS

I refer to The Straits Times’ Editorial, “Steering with stability in transition times” (May 16). Let us analyze and interpret this specific subject from a broad perspective, how Singapore should respond and adapt to the evolution of the entire international situation and formulate its foreign policy that is extremely beneficial to it, and we will not analyze and study it from the perspective of domestic politics. Scrutinising at today's ever-changing world order, I doubt which country’s political leader is not strategizing for the future of his country, and formulating policies which are most pragmatic, favourable and useful for the country's future development, so that the country is able to adapt to the dynamic changes and unpredictable challenges in the world situation. This is especially true for any advanced countries. In Chinese’s "Yan Zi Chun Qiu", Yan Zi said this: "Those who understand the current affairs are heroes, and those who adapt to changes are heroes." This clearly underlines that those who can adapt to the trend of the times and grasp the pulse of the times are the real talents. Undeniably and unfortunately, Singapore is a tiny cosmopolitan city/country. It has no other better choice but to brainstorm of every possible, pragmatic, rational, sensible and self-beneficial means and strategies to survive in this highly competitive and complex world. In view of this, Singapore must continue to maintain its neutral, non-aligned and friendly diplomatic stance and policies and engage in all-round trade, economic, technical cooperation and cultural exchanges with countries around the world. Only in this way, it will be the best to serve Singapore's own national and security interests as well as development strategies. Regardless who is in power, as long as Singapore adheres to the above national development strategy, Singapore's future should be bright and stable. As for the present domestic political landscape, the entire opposition camp still has a long way to consolidate its foothold. Hence, for at least another decade, they still won’t pose a substantial “threat” or “challenge” to the ruling party.   Teo Kueh Liang (Mr)    Read More →

In our digital world, crisp, top-notch images make your content pop, whether on a website, social media, or even in your digital marketing efforts. Sharp images grab attention and give off a vibe of professionalism and trustworthiness. But here's the catch: if your images are blurry or pixelated, they can turn people off pretty quickly and make your brand look bad. So, let's discuss how you can increase the size of those images without making them look like a pixelated mess, keeping them just as impressive at a larger scale. This rundown will discuss the nitty-gritty of image resolution, share some smart ways to upscale images without losing quality and introduce you to some cool tools that can help you. Getting the Lowdown on Image Resolution and Quality What's the Image Resolution Anyway? Image resolution is key to understanding image clarity and detail. It's usually measured in pixels per inch (PPI) or dots per inch (DPI), indicating how many pixels are packed into one linear inch of your image. More pixels per inch means a sharper, more detailed image. How Resolution Ties Into Image Quality The simple formula here is that higher resolution = better quality. More detail is visible, making images more appealing, especially on media-rich platforms. However, when you enlarge an image without the right techniques, you might not have enough resolution to keep up with the increased size, leading to pixelation (where the image gets grainy) or blurring (where details are lost and sharpness goes out the window). Keeping Quality High When Going Big Start With High-Resolution Images The golden rule is always to start with high-resolution images because they have more pixels to work with, which generally leads to better outcomes when enlarging. Techniques to Maintain Quality There are a couple of key techniques here: Resampling: This changes the number of pixels in an image to fit a specific size. It can compress or expand the pixels. Interpolation: This technique estimates new pixels based on the colors of surrounding ones. There are a few methods like Nearest Neighbor (quick but lower quality), Bilinear Interpolation (smoother but can blur), and Bicubic Interpolation (even smoother but needs more power). Cool Tools to Help You Scale Up Source: Pexels UpscalePics This browser-based tool uses AI to increase your image size while enhancing quality. It's great because it adds details and removes noise, keeping your images looking sharp. On1 Resize It is a go-to software for photographers and designers, especially because of its batch-processing capability. This means you can resize many images at once. It's super for working with RAW images to keep that high-quality feel. ImageEnlarger.com An easy-to-use online tool that's straightforward and supports multiple languages. It's great for quick jobs or when you're not looking for anything too technical. Adobe Express For those looking to increase image size effortlessly, Adobe Express provides a user-friendly interface and powerful tools to ensure your images are resized without losing clarity or detail. Befunky This online editor not only enlarges images but also ensures they retain their original proportions with its 'aspect ratio lock.' It also offers batch processing. Reshade This is a free option for Windows users. It offers advanced features like noise removal and vector resizing, which can really help improve image quality during resizing. GIMP A flexible, open-source image editor that's great for those who like to get into the details. It supports various interpolation methods, allowing for precise control over resizing your image. Step-by-Step Guide to Image Enlarging Source: Pexels Setting Up Your Image Choose the right tool for your needs (clarity, noise reduction), and make sure your image file is in a supported format. Using the Tool Follow the specific steps for each tool. For instance, in GIMP, select 'Scale Image,' choose your interpolation method, and tweak the resolution settings. In Befunky, just upload, hit 'Resize,' and adjust as necessary. Optimizing Your Settings Tweak settings like DPI (especially if you're printing) and use features like noise removal or sharpness adjustments to enhance the image further. Wrapping It Up Increasing image size without losing quality is about choosing the right tools, understanding the process, and applying some savvy post-processing techniques. Experiment with different photo editing tools and settings to see what works best for your images. And don't forget, sharing your experiences and tips online can help others, too! So there you have it! You can upgrade those pictures without making them look blurry and keep your digital content looking sharp and professional.    Read More →

At least 21 Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli air raid that targeted an area of tents housing displaced people in al-Mawasi area in western Rafah, which Israel previously declared a “safe zone" amid its attacks in the Strip. Of the 21 deceased, many of them were women and children. Dozens have also been injured. On Sunday, Israel bombed a tent camp, killing at least 45 displaced Palestinians.    Read More →