North Korea test-fires rocket launcher with new ‘guiding system’
The North unveiled a” murder drone,” an autonomous aircraft that can be purposefully crashed into enemy goals and essentially acts as guided missiles, just two weeks after the release of the Wednesday statement. The North announced in February that a new control system for a number of rocket launchers mayContinue Reading
Jonathan Asherson appointed as Chairman of Polytron.AI and board member of Vizzio Technologies
- Appointment follows Eddie Chau, a known number in S’pore’s tech ecosystem
- Career spans years in it &, architecture, marked by command at Rolls Royce
Vizzio Technologies has announced the appointment of Jonathan Asherson ( pic ), former chairman of Rolls Royce Singapore for AsiaPac, to its prestigious Board of Directors. Additionally, Asherson may serve as Polytron’s chair. AI, a company of Vizzio Technologies. His contrast brings a wealth of experience and expertise that will significantly improve Vizzio’s leadership, management, and proper way.
According to the agency, Asherson’s career spans years in the technology and architectural industries, marked by his command at Rolls Royce. His visit underscores the bank’s commitment to attracting top-tier ability to generate Vizzio’s eyesight forward. As president of Polytron. AI, Asherson may play a vital role in guiding the subsidiary’s modern efforts and advancements in AI-powered camcorder systems for clever area, safe area, and round city initiatives.
Mohd Nor Abu Bakar, president of Vizzio Technologies, said,” Asherson’s extensive information and proven track record coincide perfectly with our goal to revolutionise the 3D business, supercharged by our quick 3D modeling workflow. This method establishes a new standard for quick digital twin techniques by lowering the cost of creating digital twins significantly and further underlines our superiority over conventional earth scanning techniques that rely on LIDAR technology.
His proper direction will be important as we continue to innovate and expand, he continued.” His belief in the power of our AI-powered 3D Modelling &, Visualization technology is inspiring.”
Mohd Nor added that Asherson’s business and architectural expertise comes at a crucial time as the business begins a new era of growth and innovation. ” With Asherson’s advice, we are assured in achieving substantial progress and reaching greater goals. His confidence in Vizzio’s features and dedication to steering the company towards accomplishment speaks volumes about his faith in Vizzio’s branded AI-powered 3D Mapping/Visualisation and Polytron’s real-time interactive 3D lens technologies”.
According to Asherson,” After speaking with the Vizzio Board and Management Team, it became clear that they are a company with potential within a strong growth industry.” I was moved by their commitment to innovation and delivery, and I’m confident that we can experience remarkable growth and success. I’m confident that the company is on the verge of a transformational journey because of this alignment of goals and drive.
He added that the collaboration between Polytron and Vizzio. AI epitomises the fusion of space technology, advanced generative AI in 3D modeling and visualisation, city-scale 3D digital twins, and its innovative LIVE 3D™. ” Together, we are poised to usher in a transformative era of AI-first products and solutions for real-world 3D projects, setting new standards in the industry”, Asherson said.
As a result of Asherson’s appointment, Vizzio will achieve a significant milestone in terms of both strengthening the company’s strategic direction and reaffirming its commitment to pushing the boundaries of technological innovation. His appointment follows the addition of Eddie Chau, a renowned figure in Singapore’s tech ecosystem, who joined the company’s Board last month.
Amazon Singapore increases Prime membership price, introduces new annual subscription plan
Amazon Singapore has raised the price of its popular membership plan Prime from S$ 2.99 ( US$ 2.30 ) a month to S$ 4.99 a month, with effect from Wednesday ( Aug 28 ) for new members.
This change may become effective on September 28 for current Prime people.
This marks the product’s primary rate climb since its release in 2017.
Through a Prime membership, users are able to take part in special sales such as Prime Day and Black Friday, enjoy completely international delivery and one-day home delivery on selected items, get completely games every month and access , the Prime Video streaming platform , – home to unique shows such as The Boys,  , The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power, Deadloch and Reacher.
Amazon Singapore may even introduce , an annual membership program priced at S$ 49.90. When compared to the regular subscription, this program offers a 16 % discount.
The cost, according to Peter Li, director of Amazon China and Singapore, will allow Amazon to continue to “remain committed to investing in and growing the value of Prime in Singapore,” he said in a speech.
UN calls out China’s ongoing ‘problematic’ policies in Xinjiang
GENEVA: The United Nations Human Rights Office said on Tuesday ( Aug 27 ) “problematic” policies persist in China, two years on from its bombshell report citing possible” crimes against humanity” in Xinjiang. China has been accused of incarcerating more than 1 million Tamils and other minority Muslims in theContinue Reading
Four missing in landslide as rains from Typhoon Shanshan lash Japan
Tokyo: On Wednesday ( Aug 28 ), four members of the same family vanished in Japan after a landslide from a typhoon that was on the way was reported, according to authorities. On Wednesday morning, Typhoon Shanshan experienced gusts of up to 252 kilometers gusting 80 kilometers north of theContinue Reading
Beijing rips Canada’s 100% tariffs on China-made EVs – Asia Times
After Canada announced its intention to impose tariffs on electric vehicles ( EVs ) and other steel and aluminum products produced in China, Beijing has pledged to take all necessary steps to safeguard the interests of Chinese businesses.  ,
Justin Trudeau, the country’s prime minister, announced on Monday that starting October 1, China will start imposing a 100 % tariff on imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles and a 25 % tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum.
” We are transforming Canada’s automotive industry to be a world leader in building the cars of tomorrow”, Trudeau said. However, China and other countries have chosen to give themselves an unfair advantage in the world market, compromising the safety of our vital sectors and displacing skilled American metalworkers and autoworkers.
While protectionism only protects what is protected, subsidies do not produce business competitiveness. Potential growth will be abandoned”, Lin Jian, a director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said in a press presentation on Tuesday.  ,
” The rapid advancement of China’s Vehicle market is the result of prolonged technology innovation, well-established business and supply chains, and total market competition”, he said. ” This is what occurs when our comparative benefits match the market’s needs,” the statement goes.
He claimed that China regrets and opposes the French side’s decision because it disregards facts, violates WTO regulations, and goes against historical trends.  ,
He claimed that this ostentatious action störches China-Canada trade relations, harms American businesses and consumers ‘ interests, and does little to support Canada’s green transition process and global climate change efforts.  ,
Some experts claimed that Canada’s tariffs will only have an impact on the exports of Tesla EVs from China because big Chinese EV manufacturers have not yet entered the American market. They claimed that while large Chinese electric car manufacturers like BYD were originally planning to export products to Canada in 2025, they will now have to think about starting factories there to prevent new tariffs.  ,
Effect on Tesla ,
According to Automotive News Canada, Tesla sold 36, 900 Vehicles in Canada last year, compared with 24, 400 in 2022. Elon Musk, the company’s CEO, is currently supplying Canada with its Vehicles manufactured in Shanghai, but it can evade the new tariffs by moving to US factories.  ,
Liu Chunsheng, an associate professor at the Beijing-based Central University of Finance and Economics, claimed that Tesla’s Automotive taxes could push China to reduce production there.  ,
” The major places of Chinese Vehicles are not the US and Canada, but Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and some Belt and Road places”, Liu said. ” Canada’s taxes will not harm the export of Taiwanese EVs”.
” We must beware, however, that the US is now urging its allies to decrease or stop the goods of Taiwanese electric vehicles. Canada’s taxes will be a display and affect additional countries ‘ decisions”, he said. ” Besides, Tesla may be forced to reduce its creation in China”.
Tesla stated in March of this year that it had decreased its car production in China as a result of weak demand and fierce business competition. Reuters then reported, in May, that Tesla’s Model Y output in Shanghai was 49, 498 units in March and 36, 610 products in April– down 17.7 % and 33 % year-on-year, both.  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,
With a manufacturing capacity of about one million cars annually, Tesla’s Shanghai stock is the largest in the world.  ,
BYD’s plan ,
The Biden administration increased the US’s import tariff from 25 % to 100 % in May. It imposed a 25 % tariff on steel products in July, and a 10 % tariff on aluminum products that came from Mexico.  ,
Mexico has n’t already imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, but it has since stopped funding incentives like tax breaks or low-cost land for EV production there.
Chinese EV companies were subject to 17 to 38 percent tariffs from the European Union in early July, but analysts claimed Chinese EV companies had a value benefits and were able to withstand the EU’s new tariffs.
Now, BYD has been selling electronic trucks and trucks in Canada. The Shenzhen-based business reportedly intends to sell customer electric vehicles to Canada through a rideshare program with Uber, starting with financial in 2025.  ,
A multi-year strategic partnership between Uber and BYD was announced on July 31 as part of its commitment to introduce 100, 000 brand-new BYD Vehicles onto the Uber system in important global markets. According to the news, the relationship may start in Latin America and Europe before moving on to the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.  ,  ,
The United Kingdom government, according to a report from The Financial Times next month, is not immediately planning to investigate China’s auto industry grants or impose new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
Additionally, Australia has never added any tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Over the past 15 times, more than 550, 000 China-made cars have been sold in Australia, media reports said.  ,
Read: China EVs also driving for EU’s secured industry
Observe Jeff Pao on X:  , @jeffpao3
Local offices “main source” of data leaks
PUBLISHED: 28 Aug 2024 at 05: 53
According to the Digital Economy and Society Ministry ( DES ), local administrative organizations ( LAOs ) are responsible for the worst cases of personal data leaks among all state agencies.
The government conducted assessments on 31, 561 state-run models to find out how much personal data had been leaked between last November and July 31.
It found 6, 086 situations where such information had been leaked and managed to warn 6, 081 products and companies to suggest they take activity, said DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong.
The checks were performed by the Personal Data Protection Commission’s ( PDPC )” Eagle Eye” centre, which conducts surveillance of personal data abuse and infringements.
Mr. Prasert noted that the proportion of data leakages at state-run products has already significantly increased, from 31 % of personal data held each month in November to just 1.6 % as of the end of July.
The highest leakage are from the LAO labor, with these budgeting for 2, 850 of 6, 086 situations. Additionally, during the reporting period, 139 cases occurred where officers of state-run organizations allegedly illegally sold citizens ‘ personal information.
11 offenders have been detained by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau on suspicion of theft of information.
The DES secretary claimed that the government has instructed the PDPC to keep an eye on any additional information leakage by state authorities.
He argued that these organizations must gain people’s confidence by putting forth enough legal measures to protect personal information.
Mr Prasert added that, nevertheless, personal information leakage have shown indications of dropping. They are also pervasive at state agencies in charge of providing public services, though.
The government has pledged to take proactive measures to combat data maltreatment in the state and private sectors.
According to the DES secretary, state agencies that permit any such leaking or misuse to take place on their view may face legal penalties and fines under the PDPA rules.
Singapore’s wushu exponents shine on home soil with five golds at World Taijiquan Championships
SINGAPORE: Having competed at six Southeast Asian ( SEA ) Games, three Asian Games and other international meets,  , wushu exponent Vera Tan is no stranger to top-level competition.
However, the 26-year-old had been anticipating the 4th World Taijiquan Championships, and it will be one she may stick around for a while.  ,
Tan clinched two of Singapore’s five medals – children’s additional taijijian and fresh yang type taijiquan – at the meet. She even won copper in the recommended taijiquan earlier in the opposition, which took place from August 24 to August 27 at the OCBC Arena.
” I… did not expect a medal haul like this. It’s something to be happy about”, she told CNA on Tuesday ( Aug 27 ).
It was about ten years ago that Tan even won a silver medal at the , additional taijiquan event.
The final model was supposed to be in 2020, but COVID had already been released, so this was postponed all the way to 2024. I’ve been really looking forward to it, and I’m happy I managed to pull it off”, Tan said.
Rising sun Zeanne Law, 18, won medals in the women’s additional taijiquan function as well as the additional taijishan. In the extra taijijian, she even won gold.
Singapore’s other gold was won by Charlotte Ng in the taijiquan ( 39 movements ) event.  , Besides the gold medal pull, there were also four golds and five statues for Singapore.
In the three jin fields, taijiquan uses bare arms, taijijian opponents use a sword, and taijishan rivals use a Foreign fan.
A “VERY BRIGHT” FUTURE
Speaking to CNA,  , Singapore Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance , Federation CEO Leow Meng Hong said the destination had been four medals and the players exceeded expectations.
” We wanted to have great results, we planned for it, and the players worked very hard for it”, he said. ” We knew they we could reach that, and they have produced the effects”.
Singapore’s jujitsu field has grown in the last four to five years, he added.
This is due to a larger talent pool, with more young people taking up the sport and competing at the National School Games and the National Wushu Championship.
We scouting for talent to join our national team and work with the national squad, he continued. ” We see younger children joining wushu”.
Rules serves as an illustration of this. She won the taijiquan competition at the World Wushu Championships in November of last year.
Sabina Shoal: The new China-Philippines flashpoint in South China Sea
Getty ImagesIn the ongoing coastal conflict between China and the Philippines, where both nations are at odds with one another in the South China Sea, has a new battleground developed.
Both China and the Philippines have asserted their promises to different islands and sea regions; their conflict has grown worse as a result of more vehicle collisions, scuffles, and claims of military threats.
However, next year, things finally came to an end when Beijing and Manila’s ships collided close to the Sabina Shoal, both accusing the other of intentionally ramming them.
The reef is 630 coastal miles from China’s western coast and 75 nautical miles from China’s mainland as Xianbin Jiao and Escoda Shoal by the Philippines.
What’s happened at the Sabina Shoal?
A dispute over the Spratly Islands, an oil and gas-rich region that has been claimed by both countries for years, was brought to a head by many Chinese and Spanish ships close to the shoal on August 19th.
The Spanish vehicle “deliberately collided” with them, according to the Chinese coast guard, while the Philippines claimed the Chinese vessels were carrying out “aggressive maneuvers.”
On Sunday, a second round of incidents occurred, with both parties after more blaming one another. Many other countries including the UK, Japan, Australia and South Korea, as well as the EU, have criticised China’s activities.
The Philippines reported on Monday that 40 Chinese ships had blocked two of their boats from carrying out a “humanitarian mission” to replenish the Teresa Magbuana, a ship belonging to the Spanish coast guard, which had been stationed on the lagoon months before.
The Philippines believes that China is attempting to recapture the property at Sabina Shoal. It has cited a local underground hill of crushed coral as proof of such programs, which its coast guard captured on camera. Chinese state advertising has called this claim “groundless”.
Government sent the Teresa Magbuana to Sabina in April as part of a protracted appearance they intend to keep at the reef. It is crucial to Manila’s attempts to look for oil and gas in the Spratlys.
China in turn interprets the Teresa Magbuana’s presence as proof of the Philippines ‘ motives to occupy the reef.
A recent commentary by Chinese state news outlet Xinhua pointed to a decrepit World War Two era ship grounded by the Philippines in 1999 on the Second Thomas Shoal, known in Chinese as the Ren’ai Jiao.
A few men are also stationed there and need regular food. The dispatch has been a source of constant conflict between China and the other countries for centuries, with China frequently attempting to halt re-supply operations there.
“25 decades on, it is still there. Obviously, the Philippines is attempting to replicate this situation at Xianbin Jiao”, said the remark.
China” did never once again be deceived by the Philippines.”
Is this a further increase of the conflict between China and the Philippines?
The two parties ‘ claims to disputed islands and rocks, including the Next Thomas Shoal and the Scarborough Shoal, have come up in a number of perilous situations in recent months.
The boats typically cause the collisions when they try to fight the other side apart with cat-and-mouse games.
The Filipinos also accuse the Chinese of boardboarding their boats, which causes scuffles, as well as of seizing items from their inflated vessels and puncturing them with strong water cannons and lasers, according to China’s increasingly powerful blasted attacks on Philippine ships.
One of the latest accusations from Manila was that Chinese coast guard personnel armed with knives, spears and swords had boarded one of their military ships and threatened their soldiers.
So far there have been no fatalities, though the Philippines says several of its soldiers have sustained injuries. But President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has warned that any Filipino deaths resulting from China’s actions would be considered an “act of war”.
Spectators are concerned that their conflict might lead to a larger conflict in the South China Sea.
Both countries have made an effort to de-escalate the position.
Next month, they consented to allowing the Philippines to replenish the Second Thomas Shoal with goods, officers, and foods. Since then, there have n’t been any reported clashes.
However, the situations at Sabina Shoal raise the question of whether for détentes are successful when the conflict you just move to a new location.
Ian Tang provided further monitoring.
Scholar calls for booze law overhaul
Hospitality businesses hurt by limits
PUBLISHED: 28 Aug 2024 at 05: 03
A Thammasat University professor has joined a chorus of voices calling for steps to promote drinking use, including extending the hrs of retail sales.
According to one pro-alcohol intellectual, the government may amend the laws to allow more alcohol-selling hours for tourists, lift the entire ban on alcohol advertisements, reduce the import tariffs on adult beverages, adjust the import tax structure and offer wider support to little- and medium-sized enterprises that produce or sell alcohol.
” More flexibility is needed with the changing hospitality needs to suppress the impact]from drinking control legislation ] on business users and visitors”, said Suthikorn Kingkaew, an associate professor at Thammasat University’s Research &, Consultancy Institute.
No more restrictions on alcohol sales on significant religious festivals in hotels. He argued that advertisements featuring a heath warning may be replaced by the total ban on alcohol advertisements.
He cited the results of a subsequent survey that was conducted on both Thais and foreign visitors as evidence that the majority of respondents only drank alcohol once or twice per week.
Most people prefer to consume beer or alcohol at bars or restaurants, according to Mr. Suthikorn, and the flavor of the alcoholic beverage is most important, followed by the atmosphere.
As many as 98 % of those surveyed said they had never experienced any major alcohol-related concern after imbibing, apart from the unusual migraine, said Mr Suthikorn.
The majority of the hospitality industry respondents were upset about the ban on alcohol sales during the holiday season, which they claimed was hurting their companies in an already slow business.
The rules banning drinking posters, however, are relatively vague and therefore prone to abuse by crooked law enforcement officers, the intellectual noted.
The country’s import duty framework should also be revamped, he said. Alcoholic beverages may be subject to a tax that is proportionate to how much real liquor they contain.
Tourism industry profits may increase as a result of lowering the alcohol fees on imported spirits. According to Mr. Suthikorn, the government should also encourage the use of native materials when making cocktail beverages.
Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotels Association ( THA ), welcomed Mr Suthikorn’s suggestion to relax the time limits on alcohol sales, saying the daily prohibition from 2pm until 5pm should now be lifted.
” It’s my hope that hotels are designated as locations where customers can order alcoholic beverages at any time.” Hotels are areas where the foreign eating lifestyle is the norm”, said Mr Thienprasit.
” If we can sell]more ] alcohol, we will earn more. On the other hand, when we ca n’t serve customers alcohol, they will get frustrated. They” often just want to chill out over a beverage after a long journey,” he said.