Drone subs turning seabeds into future battlefields
Three kilometers outside of Adelaide’s dock, a 12-ton fish vessel weighs anchor. A small group of people gathers around a tiny underwater, turns on the handles, primes the explosives, and throws it into the water. The second, constrained port channel that is in charge of the state’s primary fuel supply is where the underground drone uses sensors and sonar to fly.
You may infer the remainder. Australia, a nation that imports more than 90 % of its energy and conducts 99 % of trade by sea, could suffer catastrophic effects from any blockage, accident, or explosion.
Australia’s 34, 000 kilometers of beach likely face a serious potential menace as drone ships or” uncrewed underwater vehicles”( UUVs ) become more affordable, more widespread, and more advanced.
What is possible? Our analysis, which was verified through workshops with experts from all over Australia, demonstrates that the same technologies can improve our maritime protection if we incorporate them into our planning moving forward.
Seabed conflict
Australia’s priority for underwater security is growing, but not by itself. France introduced its Seabed Warfare Strategy in 2022 to combat automatic underwater marine challenges. In response to the Nord Stream oil line’s damage in September 2022, NATO established an Undersea Infrastructure Coordination Cell in February 2023.
Smaller, inexpensive underwater drones have played a significant role in the Ukrainian war. Underwater robots have also made it possible for Ukraine to launch asymmetrical strikes on Russian forces.
Among other things, present drones can be used for intelligence, surveillance, surveillance, mine countermeasures, electronic warfare, antisubmarine war, underwater sensor network development, and special operations.
However, it’s possible that their capabilities will grow. The Haidou – 1 project in China dove to a degree of 10, 908 feet.
The Haiyan, a Taiwanese underground aircraft, has traveled 3, 600 km across the South China Sea in 141 days, breaking the drone sub-elimination record. Although some economists question its existence, Russia boasts of having a design underwater trailer that is nuclear-powered and military.
To manage underground ocean domains, nations are also creating more comprehensive programs.
For example, the Advanced Undersea Warfare System proposed by the United States envisions a community of stationary underwater stations capable of deploying both offensive and defensive drones.
China is building an” Underwater Great Wall” of boats, stand, and drones in the South China Sea to keep an eye on the region and make it challenging for foreign warships to work in foreign waters.
a novel era of maritime conflict?
These changes, according to some experts, mark the start of a” new age of naval battle.” Others contend that as automatic coastal systems become more affordable and efficient, they might be preferred to crewed ones for national defense. According to one estimate, by 2052, more than half of the US naval fleet will be made up of uncrewed ships.
The development of ocean drones may also spur cross or” gray area” approaches to conflict, which can cost adversaries a lot of money while avoiding outright combat and reducing casualties. Uncrewed marine vessels does provide state with a legitimate means of waging war to further their objectives in this situation.
Drone submarines, on the other hand, have a tendency to cause obvious incidents and other behaviors that are unrelated to their instigators. On this level, it is worthwhile to quote the European Seabed Warfare Strategy:
A” convenient” injury in a coastal area or deliberate military action could both result in an assault on the underground portion of submarine wires. In this regard, the ocean is the perfect setting for non-attributable steps in” grey zones” due to its inherent characteristics.
The path that leads to Australia
The threat posed by intelligent, uncrewed underwater vehicles to Australia’s industry was the subject of our recent research.
We held sessions with representatives from the government, the Royal Australian Navy, security, business, and universities in collaboration with colleagues at the RMIT Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation, Charles Darwin University and WiseLaw.
Between efforts to safeguard ocean-borne industry and essential underwater infrastructure today and more forward-looking strategies aimed at creating the next generation of coastal defense, we discovered a growing tension.
Australia has committed to purchasing and building nuclear-powered submarines as part of the AUKUS security pact, and it wants to do so in order to” acquire and develop new techniques with more undersea features.” This is a good beginning, but the size of the purchases has raised worries that Australia’s government may use them exclusively.
Australia also tests cutting-edge sea security systems through competitions like Autonomous Warrior. However, the dangers to marine industry that underwater robots are likely to create in the future are not fully explored in these exercises.
Our sessions have led to the observation that mines are now seen as a potential problem. Loitering drones loaded with explosives, which could even be commercially available ships carrying homemade explosive, could impede traffic and business ports, stifle naval resources, or obstruct coastal shipping lanes. Delays, a loss of revenue, and higher insurance payments may result from this.
Mine have an enormous impact because they can cause significant damage for a low cost as” set and miss” weapons. Additionally, it is challenging and expensive to locate and destroy them.
Australia is currently essentially shielded from the danger posed by underwater drones by distance. Uavs would need to be deployed from reasonably close by due to current battery and communication technology, and operating in Australia’s coastal environments may be challenging.
But, technology is developing immediately. The Australian Department of Defense is running out of time to deal with the threat posed by underground uncrewed cars.
Matthew Warren is the chairman of the RMIT University Center for Cyber Security Research and Innovation, and Adam Bartley is a doctoral fellow there.
This post makes use of studies supported by the Department of Defense’s Strategic Policy Grants Program. In order to help separate study, events, and activities, the Defense can use the Strategic Policy Grants Program as an open and competitive tool.
The authors’ opinions are expressed here, not always those of the American government or security.
Under a Creative Commons license, this essay has been republished from The Conversation. read the article in its entirety.
Flash Coffee shuts all 11 Singapore outlets, denies reports that employees are ‘on strike’
The Instagram comments on Flash Coffee Singapore’s site have vanished in the interim. The company next made an appearance on its Facebook section in Singapore in March. The Instagram websites for Flash Coffee in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Indonesia are also effective.
People at Flash Coffee apparently lost their jobs in various areas, including Singapore, in November of last year.
The business announced in May of this year that it had raised US$ 50 million( S$ 68 million ) through a White Star Capital-led financing round. & nbsp,
It stated at the time that the fresh funds would be used to achieve group-level success.
In order to assist customers in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and South Korea with high-quality specialist coffee, the company is” effectively expanding its step throughout the Asia Pacific region.” It also plans to double down on product and technology development and improve existing stores’ sales performance.
DealStreetAsia, however, reported earlier this month that Flash Coffee was ceasing activities.
According to Flash Coffee’s voice, the majority of its markets have” tremendous momentum on top of a healthy base.”
The company stated,” We remain steadfast in our quest to provide up high-quality espresso throughout Asia and likely some more markets in the medium term, and we remain committed to scaling our business effectively over the long term.”
Deaf woman killed by train in Bangkok while crossing tracks
13 October 2023 at 15:45 PUBLISHED
On Friday night in Bangkok’s Huai Kwang city, a vendor who had hearing impairment was struck by train and killed.
According to Pol Lt Col Thanakorn Thongmon, assistant research main at Makkasan police station, the tragedy happened in front of Wat Uthaitharam on Kamphaeng Phet 7 Road in the Bang Kapi neighborhood of Huai Kwang. & nbsp,
Around 8.15 a.m., the fall, according to rescue workers, happened. & nbsp,
When they arrived at the scene, they discovered the body of a noodle vendor named Pawinee Sonnoi, 61, who had suffered serious head injury and was lying dead close to the monitor. Ten meters away from the body, a rider station from Bangkok to Kabin Buri was discovered parked.
The woman, who was silent and mute, resided in a local neighborhood, according to the authorities investigation. She used a bike to purchase the natural materials for her soup shop before the crash. She parked her bicycle on the way up and crossed the tracks and nbsp to get to her community. She might not have heard the sound andnbsp of the vehicle’s whistle before the effect at the time, when it was approaching.
Man sexually assaulted date after she shared bad relationship experiences and cried, gets jail and caning
SINGAPORE: Despite his pain, a man kept suggesting to his date that they have sex before getting into bed.
On their next meeting, when he brought it up once more, she sobbed and shared her negative relationship experiences.
Despite this, the person assaulted the female sexually.
On Friday, October 13, Ng Long Hock, a 30-year-old Indonesian man, was given one count of sexual abuse by insight and was sentenced to five years in prison and three wood strokes.
The prosecutor was informed that Ng was a clerk in Singapore despite dating someone in Malaysia.
Ng used a feature on WeChat that enables users to add local people as friends to send the victim’s friend request around February 13, 2022. & nbsp,
Ng’s request was granted by the person, who was 21 at the time, and they made plans to meet for dinner that night at Golden Mile Complex.
He admitted to the woman during the meals that he had a strong desire for sex and that people may engage in sexual activity first. He added that before starting ties with them, he had sex with his past girlfriends.
On their first encounter, the target felt uneasy hearing Ng discuss sex and advised him not to do so. Ng dismissed her concerns, claiming that it was” nothing much ,” according to the attorney.
Ng brought up having sexual before starting a relationship in their subsequent WeChat talk. The target retorted that she didn’t agree with him.
On February 14, 2022, the two reconnected, and Ng brought up the subject of having sexual before entering into a marriage once more.
The target sobbed as she talked to him about her failed romantic relationships. & nbsp,
Ng immediately suggested returning to his home but later changed his mind, claiming there were other people living there. They were looking for a place to sit in the store.
Ng agreed when the sufferer suggested going to her house because she believed at least one of her roommates would be there.
When they arrived at the victim’s device, no one else was present, so Ng suggested going to her bedroom because the living room didn’t have air conditioning.
Ng asked the sufferer about the harm she had felt in previous relationships in her apartment, and she started sharing and sobbing.
Ng approached her and gave her a hug, but she didn’t return the favor. The girl was therefore sexually assaulted while wearing shorts.
Ng attempted to remove the defendant’s clothes, but she resisted. Before Ng could stop making improvements, she slapped him and yelled half.
Ng apologized to her and left after the girl instructed him to do so. He then did so once more on WeChat.
Ng was blocked on WeChat, and the sufferer informed her companion and associates of what had occurred. After they advised her to do so, she filed a police statement.
For Ng, the prosecutors demanded five to six years in prison and three to four cane blows.
MITIGATION
Cory Wong, an attorney for the defense, of Invictus Law, requested a maximum sentence of five years in prison and three wood strokes.
He claimed that everything happened quite fast.
After those brief moments, when everything became crystal clear to him, Mr. Wong withdrew and apologized in people and in writing, putting aside any false beliefs he may have had.
He claimed that despite the fact that the case is only seven months old and nearly reached the High Court, his client entered a guilty plea first.
Ng has made a serious error, but he is aware of it, according to the attorney, who also noted that his elderly parents in Malaysia are now showing dementia symptoms.
Ng could have been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, fined, or caned for sexual assault by infiltration.
China deported ‘large number’ of N Korean defectors – Seoul
shabby picturesA” big amount” of Korea, Northn sympathizers, according to Korea, South, have been violently repatriated by China.
As many as 600 Korea, Northns may have been returned, according to new studies from human rights organizations.
Seoul stated on Friday that the studies seem to be accurate, but it did not specify how many people were actually repatriated.
The defectors, mostly women, could face imprisonment, sexual assault, or even death once they returned to the North, according to Human Rights Watch( HRW ).
On Monday evening, hundreds were loaded onto trucks and transported from their detention facilities to Korea, North, according to resources in China.
The government believes that Korea, Northns living worldwide should never be violently repatriated against their will. According to Koo Byoung-sam, a spokeswoman for the South’s Unification Ministry, forced relocation against the will is against international norms of non-refoulement.
According to Mr. Koo, Korea, South has reiterated its place and protested to China. He opted not to provide any more information.
Elizabeth Salmon, a UN special rapporteur on individual rights in Korea, North, estimates that about 2,000 Korea, Northns are being detained in China for crossing the border without authorization.
Korea, Northn dissenters are not considered migrants in China. Despite pleas from foreign institutions and human rights organizations to change its position, it insists that they are” financial workers” and has a plan of sending them back.
When questioned about the alleged repatriations, Wang Wenbin, a spokeswoman for China’s foreign ministry, responded on Thursday that there was” no such thing as so-called” Korea, Northn dissenters” in China. According to Reuters, he claimed Beijing upholds a” concerned attitude” toward Korea, Northns who enter China improperly for financial reasons.
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Since Pyongyang announced the opening of its edges in August, worries about Korea, Northn sympathizers being forced to return have increased, according to HRW. It has confirmed the relocation of nearly 170 sympathizers overall since July 2021.
The most recent returnees were” gravely at threat” of being held in forced labor camps, according to HRW. Additionally, they run the risk of being tortured, forced to vanish, and put to death.
Governments all over the world were urged by the right organization to” mark China’s most recent results and call for an end to future forced earnings.”
Additionally, it urged Beijing to either give the Korea, Northn sympathizers immigrant status or provide them with healthy travel to Korea, South or other nations.
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October 11, 2021
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Philippines’ ‘Bongbong’ Marcos drops holiday marking ouster of dictator father
However, the celebration is not mentioned at all in a presidential proclamation declaring breaks for 2024 that was issued on October 11 and released on Friday. According to the right organization Karapatan, the Marcos administration’s removal demonstrated its disdain for” important social activities that pursue fairness, truth, and accountability.” AccordingContinue Reading
Kishida’s ‘economic realism’ de-coupling Japan from China
Years-long political and territorial disputes between Japan and China have coexisted strangely with intense economic cooperation in the areas of production, technologies, and financing. & nbsp, This has prompted Japan to forge economic ties with China through a seikei bunri policy that separates politics from economics.
Japan has grown more worried about its economic reliance on China as a result of intensifying US-China strategic competition, China’s history of economic force, and its long-term goals to secure its unique” main interests.”
Principles for economic engagement with China are giving way to Fumio Kishida’s new” economic realist” diplomacy in The & nbsp, seikei bunri.
Concerns about the effect of politics on Japan’s economic security can be addressed through a variety of policy measures, such as reshoring, & nbsp, friend-sholing, and national technological advancement.
Concerns about Japan’s susceptibility to economic coercion and supply chain weaponization have grown in Tokyo as a result of the seikei bunri & nbsp drift away.
By carefully diversifying supply stores and reducing rely on China, political leaders in Japan have already committed sizable corporate and financial resources to improving economic security. & nbsp,
Initiatives include the deployment of additional budgets for financial protection, such as securing bases for advanced semiconductor production at home. To help supply chains and motivate their diversification, supplemental budgets have concentrated on encouraging private investment.
The jointly dependent economic relationship is still largely intact, deepening, and very complement despite the political and security challenges. China will always be the largest marketplace for goods and services in Japan. & nbsp,
Especially in the technology, electronics, and automobile industries, Chinese businesses have made significant investments in China. For Chinese businesses, China is also a significant source of inexpensive products and parts. Due to this function, Chinese products are now more competitive in international businesses and prices have remained low.
The complex and varied shared dependency that defines the Japan-China economic relationship would need to be untangled in order to detach it.
Based on an analysis of the difficulties brought on by China’s fall, Kishida prioritized financial security after taking business in October 2021. Kishida issued a warning that” East Asia could be the next Ukraine” in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which had an effect on inland strength and food safety.
Tokyo is encouraging reshoring by encouraging Chinese companies to either relocate their output from China back to Japan or look into new production facilities in Southeast Asia, India, and other nations. The government has implemented procedures, such as grants, tax breaks, and regulatory measures, to assist businesses that are thinking about reshoring.
Tokyo has also emphasized the significance of diversifying supply chains, especially for essential elements and aspects like rare earth aluminum. The Chinese government has made investments in other rare earth metal sources, such as recycling and building new mines abroad. Japan is even looking into how to replace rare earth metals with innovative materials.
Under the auspices of the” Free and Open Indo – Pacific,” Tokyo has encouraged cooperation to strengthen economic relations and objectives. This is demonstrated by the G7 Foreign Ministers’ statement from 18 April 2023, which emphasized that” resilient supply chains may be built in a clear, developed, secure, lasting, trustworthy and reliable manner.”
Japan has even emphasized the significance of bolstering home business. This includes the creation of new sectors and systems that are intended to strengthen Japan’s economic stability and lessen its exposure to China.
Semiconductors are a crucial part of Chinese firms. Despite being a big semiconductor maker, Japan still relies on exports of important components from different nations, such as China.
Tokyo has directly courted the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company( TSMC ), among others, to move to Japan in order to reduce this vulnerability. Additionally, it has supported the creation of next-generation electronics and pushed its businesses up the value network to lessen their reliance on imports.
Japan and other nations are at risk of being weaponized by the rare earth supply chain because China still has a monopoly on the origin and export of these metals. This makes distinctive Chinese industries, such as electronics, cars, and clean energy, vulnerable to potential coercion.
Japan & nbsp lacks domestic sources of rare earth metals and is dependent on imports, just like it does with energy and other mineral resources. There aren’t many reliable suppliers besides China, and building new mining is difficult and expensive. New activities with Canada are still unprofitable from a financial standpoint.
In addition to metals extraction and processing, developing inland industries that can use the metals in products is necessary to develop alternative rare earth metal sources. Even though Japan has a thriving high-tech sector, creating new companies that use rare earth metals takes time and money, which may not be up to the market’s requirements.
It will be challenging to improve financial stability and develop resilience to economic coercion and other types of financial instability. To ensure that activities are carried out properly and effectively, Kishida and potential administrations will need to build new mine and running facilities for rare earth metals while adhering to a number of economic standards.
Careful planning, conversation, and cooperation with partners, such as local areas, environmental organizations and government agencies, may be needed when building new mine and processing facilities for rare earth metals. This procedure is being launched by the Kishida presidency in collaboration with Australia and African nations like Namibia.
Japan’s attempts to lessen its reliance on China are motivated by a desire to improve financial stability and lower its susceptibility to geopolitical risks and uncertainties. & nbsp,
The Kishida administration seeks to strike a balance between economic opportunities and Japanese national interests in an increasingly complex and uncertain global environment by moving away from the & nbsp, seikei bunri, principles.
At the International Christian University in Tokyo, Stephen Nagy teaches politics and international experiments. He is also a visiting fellow at the Japan Institute for International Affairs.
This article can be found in Vol. 15 No. 3 of the most recent version of East Asia Forum Quarterly, titled” Re-defining the ASEAN-Japan Relationship.”
This post, which was originally published by the East Asia Forum, has been republished with a Creative Commons license.
e-Commerce Malaysia advocates for constructive engagement with TikTok Shop
Due to foreign-owned e-platforms, Malaysia’s modern market is different from Indonesia ‘.Local companies, 78.4 % of which are microscopic SMEs and nbsp, are constrained in their growth by the ban on TikTok Shop.A thoughtful and creative approach to TikTok Shop is encouraged by e-Commerce Malaysia, a section of the National Tech…Continue Reading
Singapore to set up veterinary council to raise sector standards, support for over 1,000 professionals
SINGAPORE: The National Parks Board ( NParks ) announced on Friday, October 13, that a council will be established to oversee the standards and procedures of veterinary professionals in Singapore while preserving the health and welfare of animals. & nbsp,
Between 1,000 and 1,500 professionals in the field, including & nbsp, veterinarians( vets ), and veterinary nurses and technicians( VPPs ) are anticipated to be supported by the Veterinary Council when it is established. & nbsp,
According to a report from 2021, the & nbsp, Singapore Veterinary Association ( SVA ), and NParks’ Animal and Veterinary Service ( AVS ) were examining the need for an expert body for the vet industry. A review was being carried out to improve standards and close industry gaps. & nbsp,
Tan Kiat How, the senior minister of state for national growth, communications, and data, announced that the council would operate as a professional body under NParks and that legislation would be passed to help its duties. & nbsp,
Similar to other native professional bodies, it will include a mix of members from the public and private sectors, according to NParks.
” The council will be in charge of overseeing the registration of & nbsp, veterinarian professionals, approving veterinary training programs, creating and reviewing sectoral standards, and investigating and enforcing disciplinary cases ,” according to the statement.
NParks added that it investigated the structures of international veterinary boards like the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the United Kingdom, the & nbsp, and the Australian Veterinarians Board of New South Wales. & nbsp,
Former CEO, 7 directors of collapsed Swiber Holdings charged over false US$710m project announcement
SINGAPORE: The former chief executive officer of offshore gas and oil contractor Swiber Holdings and seven ex – directors of the collapsed firm were charged in court on Friday( Oct 13) over the misleading announcement of a US$ 710 million( S$ 972 million ) project it claimed to have secured in the West African market in 2014.
Otherwise, Swiber had signed simply a letter of intent authorising it to invest up to US$ 2 million.
In the two years following the announcement, some managers also failed to inform the Singapore Exchange that Swiber Offshore Construction had lost its Champion Waterflood Project in 2014. & nbsp,
This revelation was necessary to avoid establishing a false industry in the mainboard – listed Swiber’s assets, and was required under the SGX Mainboard Rules.
The chargings come nearly seven years after examinations first began into Swiber’s possible vulnerabilities of the Securities and Futures Act, and after Swiber Holdings was delisted with effect from June this year.
The eight charged on Friday are: & nbsp, Former Swiber CEO and Singaporean Yeo Chee Neng, 55, who received the most charges of the group with nine levelled against him, as well as ex – directors Chia Fook Eng, a 79 – year – old Singaporean, Malaysian Francis Wong Chin Sing, 59, 52 – year – old Singaporean Nitish Gupta, 56 – year – old Malaysian Oon Thian Seng, 73 – year – old French national Pers Jean, 55 – year – old Singaporean Raymond Kim Goh, and 54 – year – old Singaporean Leonard Tay Gim Sin.
Kim was the leader of Swiber and executive president, while Wong was party CEO and Tay was party chief financial officer.
According to command sheets, the directors either were concerned for, consented to or displayed abuse over Swiber’s statement on the SGX Exchange Network in December 2014 stating that it had secured a project for US$ 710 million.
The false assertion was likely to cause others to get securities, the cost sheets stated.
According to an SGX news reprimanding Swiber in October 2016, Swiber had failed to provide a” sensible and honest statement” over this task.
Swiber’s December 2014 news of the job was titled” Swiber breaks into the North American business with US$ 710 million industry growth honor”.
According to SGX, the announcement stated that Swiber had secured the job from a Houston – based oil and gas company to provide service for an offshore industry development project. & nbsp,
In July 2016, Swiber announced that the task had not been able to progress according to its unique routine and that there had been no revenue from the venture.
Most of the eight people’s charges are related and mirror each other, except for the ones faced by Yeo, past Swiber CEO, who received some special fees including insider trading.
Between May and June 2016, he reportedly knew that Swiber was looking for buyers to add funds to pay off its ties that were due for redemption in June and July 2016, failing which Swiber may have to default on the bonds.
Swiber was unable to stable the money to save the 2016 friendship and had to get a bridging loan from DBS Bank to do so.
A potential buyer also failed to submit funds to Swiber, which the organization intended to use to save the July relationship.
Despite knowing that this info, if typically available, may include a material effect on the price of Swiber’s stocks, Yeo reportedly told his wife, Yio Cheng Cheng, about it. He should have known at this point that if she learned of this information, she would probably buy Swiber’s securities.
Additionally, he allegedly persuaded his partner to buy Swiber ties worth$ 500,000 that were held in a joint account between him and Yio.
Yeo is likewise charged with carelessly failing to inform Swiber in reading of the hundreds of securities or long-term assets he held through a joint account with his wife.
According to a Reuters report from 2016, Swiber” is the biggest native name to tumble target to the decline in oil prices” when it filed for liquidation in July 2016 despite having debts of hundreds of millions of dollars.
According to a Reuters report, Swiber had only 10 arteries at the time it first listed, but it later increased to own and operate 51 arteries, with more than 2,700 people spread across South-east Asia and other nations.
Making a false statement that is likely to encourage people to buy stocks carries the consequences of up to seven years in jail, an South$ 250, 000 good, or both.