DeepSeek’s revelation was only a matter of time – Asia Times
Foreign start-up DeepSeek’s amazing AI software outcomes have shaken public areas, driving down the stocks of leading US tech companies, including Nvidia.
Some then wonder how a smaller team in China had, in such a short time, challenge the cutting-edge Artificial products of American companies with large resources, exceptional talent and organized market positions.
Little executive team that aren’t as well-known have made notable advancements in the past. Such activities are unstable, but we should not be surprised when they occur, as I noted in a new post.  ,
This has been accurate in many areas. One excellent example of Alan Turing’s pioneer work in computer technology innovation in Britain in the 1940s is. So, China’s DeepSeek has become a prestigious and rare group of small, pioneering teams.
Because high-power processing power is widely available for commercial use and well-trained engineers are then employed worldwide, computer science is perfect for these advancements. Universities all over the world now offer top-notch architectural education. Nevertheless, open-source software has enabled broad access to complex programming.
Leading tech companies from the US, including business leaders like Google, are now able to use well-trained local engineers to create significant portions of their application in locations all over the world.
This results in private talent pools where innovative new businesses can emerge to compete globally. New technology companies are likely to be established when highly skilled engineers are available, sponsored by governments and private money.
Innovations may therefore come from unanticipated locations, because excellent people, with the right resources, can accomplish extraordinary things. And there are now numerous places in the world where advanced software development is possible.
The long-term impact of DeepSeek on the market for AI is also up for debate. However, it is safe to assume that as options become more affordable, the cost of education helpful AI systems will increase.
This has historically shaped commercial technology, resulting in the same winners and losers as usual. However, DeepSeek’s victory serves as a powerful endorsement of government policy regarding regulating technology transfer.
Government efforts to regulate AI markets will be impacted by the widespread growth of computer research skills, which will limit the types of goods available. There will be endless methods of avoiding restrictions as companies around the world become successful competitors as a result of innovative international competition.  ,
No trustworthy barriers can long-term protect products in the field of computer science. Nvidia and Intel have demonstrated with oppose business value that the equipment and technical expertise know no long-term restrictions.
When it was a difficult decision, Nvidia took the initiative to insert the emerging Artificial market. Intel did no. Nvidia is a home business in the US, as it may be. Over time, fresh companies will come from different geographies. For success, incumbent must be more agile.
Drunken Japan official loses drug dealer files
A drunken day out in Tokyo caused a Chinese fund government official to lose documents containing personal data about nearly 200 people who were suspected of having engaged in illegal drug dealing, according to local media. Public broadcaster NHK reported on Monday that the national with the agency’s customs andContinue Reading
Key Bangladesh party warns over unrest after buildings smashed
Additionally, there were altercations between her Awami League group members and anti-Hasina activists. On Friday, a opposition group called Students Against Discrimination was attacked in Gazipur’s Dhaka region. The team, whose members are now in the state government, is credited with sparking the rebellion against Hasina. The influential and vocalContinue Reading
Summer coming late this year

Summer may occur after than usual , season, starting at the end of February,  , with temperatures expected to crest at 43°C, according to the Meteorological Department.
The department announced on Tuesday that the summer of this year had start two weeks later and come to an end in the middle of May.
Beginning in March, the highlands of Thailand will experience daytime highs of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, with the North and Northeast also experiencing great mornings.  ,
The wind would typically be hot and humid from end of March to mid-April because southwestern winds would bring dampness from the Gulf of Thailand. The temperature range was set to reach a maximum at 42 to 43 degrees Celsius.
The wind business predicted that some areas will experience summer storms and rain, which will help some people escape the heat.
The beginning of summer, and autumn, is reliant on the change in trade winds.
Thai PM orders review of 2-5pm alcohol sale ban
Impact on tourism acknowledged, income restrictions on sacred time could also be reviewed

Following firm demands from government agencies, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered a review of the restrictions on the sale of alcohol from 2pm to 5pm.
According to Jirayu Houngsub, the excellent secretary ordered a review of the 53-year-old concept to make it more appropriate for the current circumstances.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act does not cover the prohibition. It was made known in a decree issued by the Thanom Kittikachorn revolution program in 1972 to address concerns about officials drinking during work hours, and it has never been reversed.
Numerous businesses have urged the government to revoke the moratorium because it is out of date. Their names correspond with legislation to update the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.  ,
The House of Representatives is scheduled to hold its second and third observations of the document revisions because they have already been approved by a House special commission.
Speaking after the regular case meeting, Ms. Paetongtarn claimed that numerous business organizations had complained that restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages were a hindrance to the growth of the nation’s economy.
The prime minister claimed to have contacted the important organizations to inquire about the day restrictions and the restrictions on revenue on Buddhist holy days in order to assess their impact on tourism.
Alcohol sales are prohibited on election times in Thailand, starting the night before polls open.  ,
Regulators have also been asked to review the prohibition on liquor selling through electronic means, the limits on the sale of alcohol in designated areas, some regulations passed during the Covid-19 crisis, and any other regulations passed since 1972.
Ms. Paetongtarn argued that safety must be taken into account in order to stop young people from having simple access to adult beverages.
While people are more intelligent, she said, more attention is needed on who has access to alcohol and where, with a emphasis on younger people. ” Not everyone will be able to sell it when]sales of adult drink] are allowed. This is what we had emphasise”, she said.
When a writer inquired about whether the sale of alcoholic beverages may be done on Buddhist divine days, Ms. Paetongtarn said she would request a federal panel to investigate it.
She noted, however, that hospitality would be impacted by foreigners usually not being aware of local divine times or other times when the sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited.
” We view that this year’s theme is the year of commerce. So, this problem may be considered again”, she said, referring to the president’s recent news of Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Time 2025.
‘Happy birthday, here’s a free health screening!’: Indonesia rolls out US$183 million initiative

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin claimed that at least 17, 000 Indonesians took part in the nation’s ambitious free health screening program on the first day of its roll-out at community health centers nationwide on Monday ( Feb 10 ), despite the official’s claim that outreach efforts have not been widely used.  ,  ,
President Prabowo Subianto’s key campaign promise to detect various diseases early and prevent preventable deaths includes the Cek Kesehatan Gratis ( CKG ) initiative, which is set to cost over 3 trillion rupiah ( US$ 183.2 million ).
He took company as Indonesia’s seventh leader on Oct 20 next year, and had pledged to improve the lives of its members across the island.  ,
According to the health ministry, the complimentary health monitoring includes blood pressure tests, heart tests, and eye tests to assess the risk of heart problems or strokes.  ,
Every Indonesian may eventually get a voucher for complimentary health check-ups that can be claimed during or up until one month after their birthday, which the state refers to as a “birthday present” to its residents.
The second step of the program targets infants, toddlers, individuals aged between 18 and 59 as well as the old.
After in July, a free health search assistance for students of all ages is expected to be offered in institutions.  ,
Linda, 31, who was present at the Pasar Minggu Health Centre in South Jakarta, was one of the participants in the health testing on the first day of the roll-out.  ,
According to Detik,” I was told to go to the testing room at the next level after I received my router number, the entire procedure took about an hour and I did not have to wait.”
Drug reoffending rate rises for third straight year: Singapore Prison Service

SINGAPORE: The drug reoffending rate has increased for the third straight year, but the , overall recidivism rate , remains “low and stable”, said the Singapore Prison Service ( SPS) on Tuesday ( Feb 11 ).
The two-year recidivism rate for the , Drug Rehabilitation Centre’s ( DRC ) 2022 release cohort was 30.8 per cent, up from 27.7 per cent the year before,  , 26.1 per cent for the 2020 cohort and 24.5 per cent in 2019, according , to , the latest annual statistics released on Tuesday.
A two-year incarceration rate measures the proportion of local criminals who were detained, jailed, or given a moment reporting get within two years of their community release.
The entire two-year recidivism rate was 21.3 per share for the 2022 launch group, down substantially from 22 per cent the preceding year. This is also one of the lowest two-year incarceration costs worldwide, added SPS.
The entire two-year incarceration rates for women have also been constantly falling over the past five years of launch cohorts, from 19.1 per share for the 2018 group to 13 per share for the 2022 group, said SPS.
It attributed this to its gender-specific custodial approach to adult prisoners, which included educating them on the offending processes and arranging rehabilitation programs to help them reintegrate into society.
Singapore’s general five-year incarceration rate continued to fall over the past five decades of transfer groups, from 41.7 per share for the 2015 group to 36.6 per share for the 2019 group. SPS reported that the price also dropped for the third consecutive month below 40 %.
SPS noted that the entire recidivism rate is higher than the 5-year recidivism rate for DRC prisoners, which is also up from the 2015 launch batch to 43 % for the 2019 group.
However, it said that the development is also “testament to the , treatment and community , reconciliation efforts” of SPS and its neighborhood partners, as more ex-offenders are able to withdraw from violence and drugs for the longer term.
According to SPS, those who had at least one prior conviction for drug gang reoffended were three times as likely to do so than those who had not.
Repeat drug abusers also “typically had weak social , support and faced challenges in building a strong support network after their discharge from the DRC , into the community”,  , a 2021 SPS study found.
It was thus” crucial , to increase the social and , community capital of drug abusers within a throughcare ecosystem to support their successful , rehabilitation and reintegration”, said the prison service.
SUPPORT REINTEGRATION, INCREASE EMPLOYABILITY
To assist with offenders ‘ rehabilitation and reintegration, SPS collaborates with Yellow Ribbon Singapore, community partners, and volunteers.
The prison service reported that over the years, it has increased and actively engaged its volunteer force, increasing from 2,400 in 2021 to over 4,200 in 2024.
Volunteers will be trained in SPS ‘ correctional work, including learning how to work with inmates, ex-offenders and their communities.
Through skills training, career placement, and career retention, Yellow Ribbon Singapore also assists in improving the employability of former and current prisoners.
Last year, 3, 973 inmates were trained, with an average of 102 training hours per person- a 28 per cent increase in training hours from 2023, said SPS.
This was primarily due to longer, more in-depth training programs, as well as new courses in the retail and food services sectors, which the prison service added.
The number of employers who support the hiring of ex-offenders increased from 6, 516 in 2023 to 6, 712 last year.
Trump tariffs: Retaliate or negotiate – what will US partners do next?


Company writer
Some of the US’s major trade partners are trying to reach a deal after President Trump decided to impose a 25 % tariff on all imports of steel and aluminum.
According to statistics from the American Iron and Steel Institute, the US is a major supplier of nearly a quarter of the material it uses, adding that its dependence on aluminum is actually greater.
Its primary manufacturers include its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, as well as some supporters in Asia.
Trump has stated that there will be no “exceptions or exclusions” when his most recent taxes go into effect on March 12.
How have some nations responded to the revenue with only over a month left before it starts implementing?
Canada
Canada has a lot to gain as one of the nation’s largest exporters of both supplies.
According to Deborah Elms, a business analyst with the Hinrich Foundation,” Canada has additional reasons for irritation because they are one of the largest aluminium suppliers to the US.”
Canada’s economy minister François-Philippe Champagne has slammed the choice, calling it” completely unwarranted”.
He claimed that American material is being used in “important US industries” like defence, manufacturing, and energy in a post on X, adding that this made” North America more dynamic and safe.”
He added that Canada had “defend our business as we have always done and will always do” and that its “response may be precise and measured”
Australia
Even though Trump had previously stated that he would not take into account any instances, it seems as though it may disregard this principle for Australia.
Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, claimed he had spoken with Trump on the phone and that the US head was thinking about applying for an exemption.
Trump had previously called Albanese a “very good man” and that the US has a trade deficit with Australia.
” The reason is they get a lot of jets. They’re quite far away and they need thousands of helicopters”, Trump said. ” We basically have a glut, it’s one of the only nations which we do”.
But despite being the nation’s largest producer of brass ore- a major steelmaking natural material- Australia’s exports of steel are not as important.
According to Albanese, American metal accounts for about 1 % of US goods, though its material is used by a significant US military builder.
UK and Europe
The American government has yet to respond informally to the most recent US tariffs, but business system UK Steel has stated in a statement that the tariffs will “devastate their industry.”
” The US is our second-largest trade industry after the EU. At a time of shrinking demand and high costs, rising protectionism globally, particularly in the US, will stifle our exports and damage over £400m ($ 494m ) worth of the steel sector’s contribution to the UK’s balance of trade”, Gareth Stace, UK Steel’s Director General said in a statement.
Given our comparatively modest production volumes compared to big steel countries, President Trump’s comments are “deeply disheartening,” he said, adding that there was a chance that other nations might “redirect” steel to the UK market to evade US tariffs.
However, the European Commission has reacted strongly to the possibility of more taxes, saying it does “protect the interests of Western businesses, workers and consumers from unfair measures”.
The US was the second-largest marketplace for EU imports of iron and steel, according to industry party Eurometal.
During his first term, Trump imposed taxes on both the UK and the EU, but the Biden administration after eased those limitations.
India
Sandeep Poundrink, India’s metal secretary, reportedly claimed that Trump’s tariffs won’t have much of an impact, citing the fact that India just exports a small portion of its metal to the US.
How much material do we really export to the US? ” said Poundrik speaking at an business function, according to a PTI record.
” We produced 145 million tonnes of steel last time, of which 95, 000 kilograms was exported to the US. But, how does it matter if out of 145 million kilograms, you are not able to trade 95, 000 kilos.”
But not everyone stock this attitude.
Naveen Jindal, the president of the Indian Steel Association ( ISA ), stated that he is “deeply concerned” that US restrictions could cause steel producers to dump their products in India for less money.
These taxes are “expected to slash steel imports to the US by 85 %, creating a massive surplus that will probably flood India, one of the few major businesses without trade restrictions,” said Naveen Jindal.
South Korea
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, South Korea is a big metal supplier to the US.
Hyundai, Kia, Samsung, and LG, which have companies in the US and Mexico, use its material.
South Korea did deliberately consider “whether there is room for negotiation with the United States,” its Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo said on Tuesday, a day after the Industry Ministry held an urgent meeting with producers.
Seoul was given a waiver in exchange for a yearly import quota in 2018, the same year Trump imposed a 25 % tariff on all steel imports.
What future?
Although it’s not known what offers might actually be cut or exemptions granted over the upcoming month, Eswar Prasad, an expert on international trade policy at Cornell University, predicts that US trading companions may long-term get diversification by selling their goods elsewhere.
He adds that” Trump’s major deeds have put the rest of the world on the rear finger” because of the US market’s strength in relation to the majority of its trading partners.
According to another analyst, the US’s trading partners may get appeasement in the near future, but they might nonetheless choose to intervene.
Our colleagues may come to the conclusion that conversations are never a long-term solution because levies are coming so quickly and angry, said Wendy Cutler, Vice President of the Asia Society Policy Institute.
Father jailed for burning son with heated spoon, fracturing daughter’s collarbone

A man in Singapore admitted to treating his children poorly on three occasions and was given a 16-month sentence on Tuesday ( Feb 11 ).
The father, then 41, never be named according to joke orders to protect the children’s personalities.
He recently admitted guilt to two counts of abusing his children. A second similar fee was considered in punishment.
When his son was 11 years old, the man became angry with the child over institution issues around the year.
He heated a metal knife on the range, placed it on the boy’s buttocks, and then applied it to his body.
The child was burned and left scarred by this.
When the boy’s child was 15 years old, he became angry with her and slammed her head while she was sat on the floor in June 2022.
About a week later, when the child was still in anguish, her mother took her to a Chinese health facility to have her head examined.
The girl’s mom was instructed to visit the hospital. The kid’s parents followed suit, and she was discovered to have a bone at the collarbone from the kick.
She was discharged the same day, but she also received a prescribed for a medicine and 14 weeks of hospitalization left.
In July 2022, a man struck his father’s arm with a buckle, which was a fourth incident that was taken into account.
When the person was interviewed by the police after colliding in a visitors crash in August 2022, the crimes became public.
Child Protection Services even became involved in the investigation after this, and it started.
The attorney requested 16 to 22 months in prison, arguing that the gentleman used a warmed knife on his father’s exposed skin and that his daughter’s fracture revealed how much force he used to push her.
The man allegedly broke” the ultimate relationship of trust” between him and the survivors ‘ father, and the young victims allegedly had no way to defend themselves, according to the attorney.
The offender could have been jailed for up to four years, fined up to S$ 4, 000 ( US$ 3, 000 ), or both for ill-treating a child in 2019.
The greatest punishment for ill-treatment of a baby was doubled with effect from Jan 1, 2020, to eight years in jail, an S$ 8, 000 good, or both.
Father jailed for burning son with heated spoon, fracturing daughter’s clavicle

A man in Singapore admitted to treating his children poorly on three occasions and was given a 16-month sentence on Tuesday ( Feb 11 ).
The father, then 41, never be named according to joke orders to protect the children’s personalities.
He recently admitted guilt on two counts of abusing his two children. A second similar demand was considered in punishment.
His brother, age 11, was upset with the child over institution issues around the year.
He heated a metal knife on the stove, placed it on the boy’s buttocks, and then applied it to his body.
The child was burned and left scarred as a result.
When the boy’s kid was about 15 years old, he became angry with her and kicked her back while she was lying on the floor in June 2022.
About a week later, when the child was still in anguish, her mother took her to a Chinese health facility to have her head examined.
The child was instructed to take the child to a clinic, according to the family. The woman’s parents followed suit, and the following morning a bone was discovered at the girl’s clavicle, which was brought on by the kick.
She was discharged the same day, but she also received a prescription for a medicine and 14 weeks of hospitalization.
The man struck his father’s arm with a buckle in a second event that was taken into account in July 2022.
When the person was interviewed by the police after getting into a prospects crash in August 2022, the crimes became public.
Child Protection Services even became involved in the investigation after this, and it started.
The attorney requested 16 to 22 months in prison, arguing that the gentleman used a warmed knife on his father’s exposed skin and that his daughter’s fracture revealed how much force he used to push her.
The man allegedly broke” the ultimate relationship of trust” between him and the survivors ‘ father, and the young victims allegedly had no way to defend themselves, according to the attorney.
The offender could have been jailed for up to four years, fined up to S$ 4, 000 ( US$ 3, 000 ), or both for ill-treating a child in 2019.
The greatest punishment for ill-treatment of a baby was doubled with effect from Jan 1, 2020, to eight years in jail, an S$ 8, 000 good, or both.