Bursa Malaysia to develop Centralised Sustainability Intelligence platform
JC3’s Greening Value Chain program will be used to help Entrepreneurs with funding and power development.Businesses will benefit from the platform’s ability to speed up decarbonization processes and optimize their coal reporting requirements.A Centralized Sustainability Intelligence ( CSI ) Platform is being developed by Bursa Malaysia for use by both publicly…Continue Reading
Man behind one of Singapore’s largest rental scams, with S$383,000 cheated from 68 victims, jailed
SINGAPORE: In one of the biggest rental scams in Singapore, 68 victims of almost S$ 383, 000 ( US$ 280,00 000 ) were conned using photos he took of units for his job that the former sales executive at a rental company had taken.
Zeng Xianfu Gibson, 29, received a three-year, seven-month prison term for his offences on Wednesday, October 25.
With the addition of another 39 expenses, he had entered a guilty plea to 23 counts of cheating.
Between 2018 and 2020, the jury learned that Zeng worked as a sales executive for Singapore Housing Company, which focused on Singaporean apartment rentals.
He took pictures of models for hire as part of his job and scheduled showings with clients.
Zeng used the pictures he had taken on the Airbnb system after leaving the company, despite not having the power or ability to rent out the advertised apartments.
In order to verify the veracity of the ads, which he put up to defraud others of money, and to create fictitious lease agreements for the victims, the man would give true images of units.
The subjects of Zeng came from various nations, including the US, France, South Africa, Germany, India, China, Portugal, Israel, Denmark, Switzerland, and Singapore.
Following their responses to Zeng’s Airbnb entries in 2022, these patients were scammed of between Entropy$ 7, 000 and S$ 16, 635 in” payments ,” according to court records.
While some of the victims were foreign pupils, others were visitors looking for temporary housing. & nbsp,
One Israeli prey had made arrangements for Zeng to pick her up at Changi International Airport. But when she arrived, he did not appear, provide her with a place to rent, or issue any payment.
Zeng may provide justifications by claiming that the departing landlord had contracted COVID-19 when it was time for the majority of the patients to relocate to their units.
One target consequently reserved a hotel room.
Zeng was initially detained in February 2022 after numerous authorities reports were made against him.
But he persisted in defrauding others even after being released on train parole that day. He was detained once more five months later and charged in judge, but after being released on bail, he continued to reoffend.
In October 2022, his bond was ultimately revoked, and he has since been placed on remand.
With the remaining S$ 353, 000 unaccounted for, he has made a partial return of about S$ 30,000.
Zeng was given at least 47 months in prison by the attorney, who also noted the victims’ pain and anxiety as well as the sizeable sum he had cheated.
According to the attorney,” it bears highlighting that the offenses were committed during a period of intense business competition for rental units due to limited offer and great need.”
” Many of the accused’s patients were foreigners and locals who were looking for a roof over their heads for several reasons, including international students here for research and natives waiting to move into their permanent homes ,” according to the report.
He claimed that Zeng’s use of COVID-19 to delay the victims was” highly opportunistic ,” preying on their anxieties, and leaving them in a state of flux and uncertainty.
The attorney cited Ms. Sun Xueling, the minister of state for house affairs, who stated in Parliament in May that between 2021 and 2022, there were 192 cases of online-facilitated home rental fraud.
The prosecutor also cited a police release from March 2023 that claimed at least 305 persons had been harmed by leased scams in the first half of that year, costing them an estimated S$ 1.7 million in total.
Zeng may have received a fine and up to ten years in prison for each lying cost.
States, hackers agree: Laws of war must apply in cyberspace
There are laws of war. With the aim of defending citizens and reducing suffering, international humanitarian law governs what soldiers are permitted to do and are not allowed to.
The 19th and 20th centuries saw the development of the majority of these rules. The realm of cyberattacks, modern campaigns, and online information operations, however, has emerged in our era as a new kind of field. All of these have played a bigger part in the current Israel-Has issue as well as Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The idea that cyberspace is a violent wild west persists. This is completely untrue. Existing laws of war are clearly applicable online, according to a distinct global consensus.
Three major advancements in this area have occurred over the past month. The term” civililian hackers” has started to gain popularity. Governments, tech firms, and others are advised to move forward in accordance with a recent global philanthropic report. And for the first day, the International Criminal Court has indicated that it views cyber-warfare as falling under its purview.
Guidelines for hacktivists
A set of guidelines for” civililian hackers” during war were put forth on October 4 by two advisers to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Do not carry out any cyberoperations against health and humanitarian services, and when planning a cyberattack against military targets, take all reasonable precautions to prevent or lessen the effects your activity may have on civilians.
Proof of online attacks disrupting banks, businesses, pharmacies, hospitals, rail networks, and civil government services served as the authors’ inspiration.
Along with” real – earth” military operations, computer, online, and data procedures have become more widely used during Russia’s war in Ukraine. Human organizations that are not formally affiliated with the government conduct a lot of operations.
These actions aren’t particularly impressive. However, it was never our understanding that a catastrophic cyberattack was essential to Russia’s use of offensive cyber in their military doctrine, according to Jeremy Fleming, former head of Government Communications Headquarters ( GCHQ ), the electronic spy agency of the United Kingdom. then misinterprets how cyber affects military campaigns.
Not that we haven’t witnessed computer in this fight, though. We have a ton of it.
Something unusual occurred following the publication of the suggested guidelines for civilian hackers.
The Russian-affiliated Killnet and the Russian IT Army are two of the biggest hacktivist organizations positively fighting in Ukraine on opposing sides. Both groups’ representatives pledged to uphold the rules to the British Broadcasting Corporation.
threats from modern weapons during armed conflict
The laws of war in internet must be followed by more than just actors in Ukraine and hacktivist organizations.
The final statement from the International Committee of the Red Cross’s world advisory board on online threats during military conflicts was released on October 18.
Two years of work have culminated in the document. The board is made up of a diversified group of political professionals, including myself, the United States, Russia, China, South Africa, Mexico, India, and Australia.
We worked on the” global consensus that all aspects of war and all types of arms, whether new or old, electronic or physical ,” must adhere to the established principles and rules of[ international humanitarian law ].
The statement includes 25 action-oriented recommendations for belligerents, states, technology companies, and charitable organizations to protect civilians from online threats.
The United Nations has acknowledged since 2013 that what says do in cyberspace is subject to current global legislation.
The application of the laws of war to digital operations was directly acknowledged by Russia, China, the US, Australia, and every other nation in the UN in 2021.
The ICRC, whose goal is to” reduce suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles ,” has repeatedly stated this, including in the information mentioned above.
The International Criminal Court weighs in
Of course, following the rules doesn’t stop careless players from breaking them. The next important advancement then enters the picture.
The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor, Karim A. Khan, announced that the jury had start” collecting and reviewing” proof of cyber-warfare in September. Additionally, it may look at” using the Internet to spread hate speech and misinformation, which may encourage or even directly contribute to the onset of atrocities.”
The ICC has never explicitly stated that online abuse and cyberwarfare fall under its purview. This serves as a warning to governments, forces, tech firms, and hacktivists that their actions in internet are not without consequence.
All parties would do well to consider that the laws of cyber-war are apparent as the war in Ukraine dragged on and conflict between Israel and Hamas intensified( including rising reports of cybercrime ).
International humanitarian law applies to bombs or pixels, weapons, or malware.
This content has been republished with a Creative Commons license from The Conversation. read the article in its entirety.
Commentary: Politics is a family business in Indonesia – again
ACTIVITIES OF PERFORMING Elections IN INDONESIA
how the world has changed. It definitely helps to get related to Jokowi if you want to succeed in Indonesian politics.
Look at the family trees, please. Mr. Raka, 36, is not only running for evil political office; in 2020, he was also elected mayor of Solo, his hometown. Due in large part to Jokowi’s popularity and social wealth, the young politician won with a landslide & nbsp. & nbsp,
Then there is Kaesang Pangarep, a younger child who is 28 years old and is better known for his YouTuber charm than his political background. Last month, the Indonesia Solidarity Party( PSI) was founded to support younger voters.
Finally, in 2020, son-in-law Bobby Nasution, & nbsp, was elected mayor of Medan. His campaign heavily relied on family ties, giving the impression that the central government would give him special consideration because of his wealthy place. & nbsp,
Any claim that his household benefits because he is the head of state has been dismissed by Jokowi. He told me in an appointment in 2020 that I didn’t stop Indonesians if they want to vote them in. The general public decides. & nbsp,
However, even the charismatic leader The & nbsp, with his consistently high approval ratings, won’t be immune to the public’s displeasure with what seems to be dynastic politics re-emerging in the archipelago. & nbsp,
According to Alexander Arifianto, top fellow at the Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore, a vote for Gibran as vice president may guarantee that Jokowi can continue to exert influence in the background during the Prabowo management. Social kingdoms are not uncommon but not particularly successful in Indonesia. Additionally, they invite open criticism after being publicly declared”& nbsp,
Singapore’s former President Halimah Yacob awarded nation’s highest civilian honour
SINGAPORE: The highest civilian honor in Singapore, the Order of Temasek( With High Distinction ), has been bestowed upon past president Halimah Yacob. The Prime Minister’s Office( PMO) announced on Wednesday( Oct 25 ) that Madam Halimah would be presented with the honor by Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the NationalContinue Reading
China urges Taiwan firms to show ‘responsibility’ as Foxconn probed
BEIJING: After Beijing launched a probe into tech giant Foxconn over tax and land irregularities, China on Wednesday ( Oct 25 ) urged Taiwanese businesses operating in the nation to demonstrate” responsibility.” State advertising reported over the weekend that Foxconn, a Taiwanese company that is one of the largest electronicsContinue Reading
Japan court to make landmark transgender decision
Japan has recently seen typically liberal countries make modest progress toward embracing sexual diversity. Despite growing support for LGBTQ-friendly rules among younger people, according to surveys, the Liberal Democratic Party, which currently holds power, has been hesitant to move forward with measures. Additionally, activists have recently issued a warning aboutContinue Reading
Snap Insight: Two Chinese ministers fired in three months – Xi Jinping must put domestic affairs in order
WELLINGTON: On Tuesday, October 24, Li Shangfu was suddenly fired as China’s defense secretary after being conspicuously absent for more than two weeks. It puts an end to weeks of intense rumors about his whereabouts but brings up new concerns about the management staff of President Xi Jinping.
This is the second high-profile dismissal in three weeks; Qin Gang was abruptly removed from his position as foreign minister in July following a likewise enigmatic presence. In these assets, both people are currently China’s leaders with the shortest tenures.
NO INSURANCE IS Democratic LOYALTY.
There is no proof that General Li was fired as a result of his social loyalty. He was one of Mr. Xi’s most dependable generals and a defense” prince” whose father took part in the Long March. He advanced quickly through the ranks.
He oversaw the purchase and design of arms and led Mr. Xi’s effort to modernize the government. He oversaw many space missions and was a seasoned head of China’s ambitious space program. He took over for Wei Fenghe as position councilor and defense secretary in March.
He showed social allegiance to Mr. Xi as the military’s outward experience. General Li reportedly referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as an” extraordinary” leader who made” important contributions to promoting world peace” during his visit to Moscow in April, reiterating Mr. Xi’s commitment to the” no-limits” partnership with Russia.
A Senkaku Islands escalation is China’s choice
It has been almost 15 years since the Chinese & nbsp began settling in the Senkaku Islands of Japan. Chinese pressure is problematic, but for the time being, it can be controlled, even if the nbsp, Japan Coast Guard, and / or Maritime Self-Defense Force ( MSDF ) are overworked. & nbsp,
The Chinese naval, coast guard, maritime militia, and fishing vessels, as well as regular & nbsp, aerial intrusions into Japanese territory, have patiently dealt with the Japanese on a nearly daily basis. In addition, & nbsp,
Nothing would make the PRC happier than for the Japanese to fire, even just one picture. The Chinese would & nbsp then assert that they were provoked into” defending” themselves. But, Japan has certainly taken the bait. & nbsp,
Items haven’t gone off the rails. However, it’s best to avoid assuming that this situation may remain unchanged for another 15 years. 15 weeks, or even 15 times.
What is the possibility that this largely controllable activity in the Chinese white zone gets worse?
The likelihood is great. And it is up to the Chinese, nbsp. The increase proceed could involve either” flooding the area” strategies or real shooting. Nevertheless, the past had undoubtedly result in the former.
However, for the time being, the” kinetic” option is less likely, unless it is combined with an attack on Taiwan. & nbsp,
With more ships, boats, and aircraft in more locations and more frequently around the Senkakus, it is more likely that & nbsp, China, will continue to increase the pressure. The People’s Republic of China & nbsp is currently working toward a point where it can simply absorb the Senkakus through osmosis. & nbsp,
The Chinese have previously flooded the area with dozens or more fishing vessels, supported by the Chinese Coast Guard. Additionally, the Navy & nbsp of the People’s Liberation Army( PLAN ) is on call. & nbsp,
These served as cautions to Tokyo that it is always capable of doing it again, this time with even more ships. The Chinese soldiers and nbsp may eventually be defeated when China decides the time is right, which is not too far off. & nbsp,
Japan will then have some difficult decisions to make. It will have a pretty difficult period rolling up the Chinese on its own. Japan is depending on British assistance.
Does the Americans intervene on behalf of the Senkakus?
They have promised to do so.
The Senkakus are now widely acknowledged to fall under the & nbsp, Japan-US Security Treaty, according to Washington. Since the Obama administration, United States leaders have repeatedly made this clear.
The language of the Japan-US Security Treaty states that the treaty and America’s duty to defend Japan apply to places under Chinese” operational control ,” which includes the Senkakus, which the US considers to be subject to Chinese operational control, even though Washington takes no place on actual possession.
Keep in mind that in the aforementioned Chinese strategy, flooding the zone aims to position as many ships as possible around the Senkakus so they can move, including landing people there, and assert that they( not the Japanese ) have” administrative control.”
The US must decide firmly right away that the Senkakus are Chinese country. and not just the” administrative control ,” or under & nbsp.
The split-the-difference strategy merely encourages PRC & nbsp to believe it can get its way if it creates” realities on the ground” and pushes the Japanese out of the way.
What would it get for the US( and Japan) to be completely clear about their stance on the Senkakus?
The US’s inconsistent, if not incomprehensible, policy toward the Senkakus has led to Chinese incursions into their territory. That has been expertly captured by Robert Eldridge. & nbsp,
The United States federal didn’t even give the Senkakus many thought until around 2009 or 2010. However, the Americans had to deal with the problem when the Chinese began putting pressure on the Senkakus. Of course, the Japanese insisted that the US issue a definitive statement regarding the archipelago. & nbsp,
The Senkakus are not just a collection of mountains in the middle of the sea to Tokyo.
It could seriously harm Japan’s security and social ties if the US does no assist Japan in defending the Senkakus. Washington is largely aware of this.
Of course, it would be beneficial— indeed, appropriate — if Tokyo took a similar stance regarding its own responsibilities to assist the US in defending Taiwan. Right now, it is not.
US military managers recognize the significance of the Senkakus, which are under Chinese control, to American military operations in the area. & nbsp,
Chinese-controlled Senkakus did make US military activities in the region and in support of Taiwan significantly more difficult and dangerous. China is aware of this, of course.
What should I complete?
Around the Senkakus, the Americans and Japanese should be conducting joint air and naval guards and activities. Additionally, they ought to be expanding the nascent joint training in the larger & nbsp, Nansei Shoto, and( Ryukyu Islands ) area. & nbsp,
In fact, a completely coordinated US-JSDF effort should be made to defend the whole southern islands. From command and control to tactical levels, it is.
Additionally, Japan and the US ought to focus their officers on the Senkakus themselves. In addition, & nbsp,
Additionally, under the terms of the Japan-US protection pact, the Americans are permitted to use two military blasting ranges in the waters close to the Senkakus, which are especially beneficial for honing naval and air gunnery skills. In addition, & nbsp,
However, since the Carter management, US troops have not utilized the varies. The plan was to appease the Chinese and persuade Beijing to behave better. By then, the Americans ought to be aware that this hasn’t worked. They ought to make use of the amounts and ask the JSDF as well.
Inform Beijing that everything is normal, legal, and there is no need for concern. The social and emotional benefits of for actions would be significant, and they would directly relate to how loud Beijing howls.
Beijing may determine whether a conflict erupts near the Senkakus. & nbsp,
But in order to persuade the PRC that it will reduce such a battle, the Americans and the Japanese must act quickly. Additionally, persuade Beijing that its, black territory, and osmosis strategy won’t be successful either. & nbsp,
Grant Newsham is a former US minister and retired US Marine agent. When China Attacks: A Alert To America was written by him.
JAPAN Forward was the first to publish this content. It is kindly permitted to be republished.
The everyday violence of life in occupied Palestine
Driving along the Jordan River Valley in the Occupied Palestine Territory (OPT) of the West Bank is a stunning experience.
The road is officially called Highway 90. The arable and irrigated land along this road is held militarily and illegally by Israeli settlers, many of whom are not actually Israeli citizens, but residents from the Jewish diaspora.
A United Nations Commission report published in 2022 showed that this settlement activity is a crime against international human-rights law (transfer of population into an occupied territory).
Israeli settlers and the Israeli military that defends them call Highway 90 Derekh Gandhi, or Gandhi’s Road. When I first drove along that road more than a decade ago, I was puzzled by Gandhi’s name there. Mahatma Gandhi was a leader of the Indian freedom struggle, and had on many occasions – such as in his 1938 article, “The Jews” – offered his sympathy and solidarity with the Palestinian people.
In fact, the road that slices through the West Bank – a crucial part of a proposed Palestinian state – is named after Rehavam Ze’evi, who was ironically given the nickname “Gandhi” due to a dress-up stunt in his youth.
Ze’evi led the National Union party from 1999 to 2001, which brought together all the most dangerous currents of Israeli far-right politics. As the leader of this party, and, before that, of Moledet, Ze’evi advocated the removal of Palestinians from what he considered to be Israel’s land (East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank).
He supported the creation of Eretz Yisrael, which would stretch from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.
In March 2001, Ze’evi – who would later be accused of sexual harassment and of being involved in organized crime – told The Guardian that “it’s not murder to get rid of potential terrorists, or those who have blood on their hands. Each one eliminated is one less terrorist for us to fight.”
A few months later, Ze’evi showed that he did not distinguish among Palestinians, calling all of them a “cancer” and saying, “I believe there is no place for two peoples in our country. Palestinians are like lice. You have to take them out like lice.”
He was shot to death by fighters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in October 2001. Yet the name of the road that cuts across the West Bank – promised to a Palestinian state in the Oslo Accords of 1993 – still bears Ze’evi’s name.
Ze’evi was assassinated by PFLP fighters because the Israeli army had killed their leader Mustafa Ali Zibri by firing two cruise missiles at his home in al-Bireh, Palestine. The assassination of Zibri was not an isolated incident. It was part of Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s plan to “cause the collapse” of the Palestinian Authority – created to manage the Oslo Accords – and “send them all to hell.”
In 2001 the Israeli government killed four political leaders, Islamic Jihad leader Salah Darwazeh and Hamas leader Jamal Mansour in July, and then Hamas leader Amer Mansour Habiri and Fatah leader Emad Abu Sneineh in August.
After the killing of Zibri, the Israelis assassinated Hamas’ Mahmoud Abu Hanoud in November.
“Whoever gave a green light to this act of liquidation,” wrote military correspondent Alex Fishman in Yediot Ahronot, “knew full well that he is thereby shattering in one blow the gentleman’s agreement between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority; under that agreement, Hamas was to avoid in the near future suicide bombings inside the Green Line [Israel’s pre-1967 borders].”
Hot violence, cold violence
For centuries, Palestinian Christians, Muslims and Jews lived side by side in the lands that would eventually be Israel and the OPT, including along the Jordan River Valley.
Since the expulsion of the Palestinian Christians and Muslims and the arrival of European Jews, the legal apparatus – or the “cold violence,” as the writer Teju Cole calls it – worked alongside paramilitary and military violence against the Palestinians to create a fantasy of an ethno-nationalist state project (the Jewish State, as it was then called).
The erasure of the non-Jewish Palestinians was key to this project, either by massacres (Deir Yassin in 1948) or the wholesale removal of the Palestinian population from their land (the Nakba of 1948).
The massacres and the population transfers came alongside the denial of the reality of Palestine and the Palestinian people.
The heir to Ze’evi, current Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, said this March, “There’s no such thing as Palestinians because there’s no such thing as a Palestinian people.”
This is not an opinion that can be dismissed as a far-right rant. Likud member Ofir Akunis, minister of science and technology, said three years ago, “There’s no place for any formula to establish a Palestinian state in Western Israel.” The phrase “Western Israel” is a chilling statement about the Israeli consensus on full annexation of the West Bank with disregard for international law.
A focus on Gaza is essential. The Israeli “hot violence” is extreme, with the death toll of Palestinians – almost half of them in Gaza of children – more than 5,000 since the Hamas attack of October 7. The Israeli land invasion has been blocked, for now, by the recognition of high morale among the Palestinian resistance. The latter will fight every Israeli soldier who goes into the ruins of Gaza.
Before this Israeli incursion, 450 trucks crossed into Gaza with supplies for the 2.3 million residents; it was taken as a victory when nine United Nations trucks and 11 trucks of the Egyptian Red Crescent crossed into Gaza on October 21.
Amnesty International looked at only five bombings of the Israelis and found evidence of war crimes, which should alert the International Criminal Court to reopen its file on Israeli atrocities. This should include the crime of collective punishment by cutting water and electricity to Gaza, and bombing access roads to the Rafah crossing into Egypt, and by bombing the Rafah crossing itself.
Large demonstrations across the world demand a ceasefire (at a minimum) and an end to the occupation. Israel is not interested. Its defense minister, Yoav Gallant, told parliament that his forces have a three-point plan: to destroy Hamas, to destroy the other Palestinian factions, and to create a new “security regime” in Gaza.
The Palestinian people – not just the armed factions – are resolute in their resistance to Israeli occupation. The only way for Gallant’s new “security regime” to work would be to erase this resistance, which means to remove all Palestinians from Gaza either by massacres or by dispossession.
The United States is following along with this extermination plan: A US State Department memorandum says its diplomats must not use phrases such as “de-escalation,” “ceasefire,” “end to violence,” “end to bloodshed,” and “restoring calm.”
This article was produced by Globetrotter, which provided it to Asia Times.
Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is an editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest books are Struggle Makes Us Human: Learning from Movements for Socialism and (with Noam Chomsky) The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of US Power.