Bangkok’s Chula Uni relocates launch of book critical of military off-campus

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

Walk follows a release that the military has outlawed.

PUBLISHED: 23 Sep 2024 at 16: 30

A forum to introduce the Thai version of "Infiltrating Society: The Thai Military's Internal Security Affairs" by Puangthong Pawakapan has been ordered off-campus by Chulalongkorn University following pressure from the armed forces. (Photo: Same Sky Books Facebook account)
Chulalongkorn University has ordered an off-campus meeting to discuss” Infiltrating Society: The Thai Military’s Internal Security Affairs” by Puangthong Pawakapan in response to pressure from the armed forces. ( Photo: Same Sky Books Facebook account )

A planned conference and book release for a guide about the role of the military in Thailand at Chulalongkorn University has been abandoned. The plan was to use its campus to host the event.

The conference on safety and the power of the military forces that was scheduled for Friday at the school will now be moved to the Jim Thompson Museum, according to Puangthong Pawakapan, an educational at the Political Science Faculty, in a Facebook post on Monday.

The university professor informed me last week that school officials would not permit any place at Chula to publish the book Infiltrating Society: The Thai Military’s Internal Security Affairs without giving a damned justification,” she wrote.

Despite the change of location, she claimed, and that the International Relations Department also supports the occasion, which she argued is a threat to intellectual freedom.

The Thai translation of her award-winning publication of the same name will have its Friday advantages. The influential Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore published the English edition in 2021. The book is produced in Thailand by Similar Sky Books.

The release comes from a two-year study project that won awards from the school in 2023 and Foreign Affairs publication in 2022.

On May 24 the university’s Twitter page, the university congratulated her on the prize.

The venue’s change of location comes less than two days after the Internal Security Operations Command attacked her on September 14 and accused Ms. Puangthong of “having no certification and skills on safety matters.”

Isoc urged that the text and all associated communities become banned to stop “public misinformation and harm to the armed forces ‘ reputation” It demanded that the school investigate her morals and threatened legal action against the writer. &nbsp,

Two days later, Ms. Puangthong claimed that experts from various international organizations who were studying Thai politics, the defense, and surveillance had scrutinized her studies and publication. Instead of requesting a moratorium and using the law to stifle discussion of the issue, she likewise demanded that Isoc send representatives to the community to exchange opinions in public.

Listeners in the platform on Friday include Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, who co-founded the disbanded Future Forward Party, and Prajk Kongkirati of the Political Science Faculty at Thammasat University. They are well-known when vocal critics of military coups and political intervention by the armed forces.

Continue Reading

A chip-making powerhouse is reborn in Japan – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia, Technology

Japan – In a level of the AI increase days, Japan’s Kokusai Electric is building its first fresh in-country shop in 35 years.

In the markets for Chemical Vapor Deposition ( CVD), Atomic Layer Deposition ( ALD ), and other thermal process and plasma treatment equipment used to create nanoscale thin films for the fabrication of integrated circuits ( ICs ) on silicon wafers, Kokusai squares off against Applied Materials and Tokyo Electron.

Following a successful spin-off from the Hitachi Group led by US private equity firm KKR, the business has since resurrected as a leader in semiconductor manufacturing technology.

Kokusai is significantly smaller than Applied Materials and Tokyo Electron in terms of overall sales, but according to market research firm Gartner, it holds significant market share in its key products, accounting for 34 % of batch CVD in 2023 and 70 % in batch ALD.

Kokusai’s target applications include AI processors and other advanced logic ICs, the high-bandwidth memory ( HBM ) used with AI processors, 3D NAND flash memory and silicon carbide power devices.

” As silicon products have become three-dimensional and more sophisticated in recent years”, Kokusai explains,” the edge of chips has become more difficult. This, in turn, has increased need for very difficult accumulation”.

Examples include the continuously increasing number of layers in 3D NAND, the Gate All Around ( GAA ) transistors developed with 3nm process technology, and the Complementary Field-Effect Transistor ( CFET ) architecture being developed by nanoelectronics R&amp, D organization imec for use at process nodes below 1nm, which were all envisioned at the end of the decade.

Kokusai has also established a significant presence in the market for advanced reasoning Circuit thermal processing products, first in Japan and China, and then in Europe and the US. In the past four rooms, just over 50 % of the company’s income were in China.

Graphic: Asia Times

The semiconductor production equipment business started with a single diamond germanium/silicon ingot grabber in 1956, which Kokusai Electric Company, which was established in 1949 as a maker of telecommunications and other electronic equipment, began.

A propagation furnace was created in 1964, and a CVD system was created in 1970 as a result. In 1961, the business was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

In 2000, Kokusai Electric merged with Hitachi Denshi, a maker of film, communications and analyze tools, and Yagi Antenna to shape Hitachi Kokusai Electric, a unified company of digital conglomerate Hitachi Ltd.

With sales and service centers in Taiwan, China, Europe, and the US, Hitachi Kokusai has grown to become a leader in the production of semiconductor production tools. It has also established companies in Japan and South Korea.

However, it was a difficult mashup of three largely related organizations. US merger business KKR seized 24.9 % of Hitachi Kokusai in a contentious deal with different foreign and Chinese investors in 2017 as part of the reform of the Hitachi Group.

Hitachi Kokusai’s semiconductor production equipment department was spun off, taken over by KKR, and renamed Kokusai Electric Corporation in 2018.

Applied Materials and KKR reached an agreement to buy Kokusai in 2019, but that deal fell apart two years later subject to objections from the Chinese competitive regulator.

The Chinese choice made sense because Kokusai’s product line would match Applied Materials ‘ and boost its market focus. If the parties involved in a package have a significant business reputation in the nation, Chinese authorization is necessary.

Kokusai Electric Corporation was listed on the bottom tier of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in October 2023, earning DealWatch’s” IPO of the Year” accolade. ( The 1995 establishment of the DealWatch Awards helped to grow and expand Japan-related capital markets. ) &nbsp,

DealWatch wrote in its assessment of Kokusai that” we cautiously executed the deal in a tough situation with an uncertain business culture and a worsening silicon cycle. This is the first large-scale world IPO in Japan in approximately five years.” We attracted attention from blue-chip outside investors, leading to incredibly strong property value performance”. Kokusai’s IPO price was ¥1, 840, but it jumped more than 30 % on the first day of trading.

By the end of the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2024, KKR owned 43.4 % of Kokusai. In July, KKR sold about half that stake. The most recent shareholder data available shows Qatar Investment Authority at 4.9 %, Applied Materials at 14.7 %, and KKR at 23.2 %.

Since July, Kokusai’s share price has dropped from an all-time high of 5, 940 to 3, 320 yen. Applied Materials made some profit, KKR made some profit, and other investors bought shares in exchange for what it could not have acquired in a takeover. Kokusai has now gotten its independence from KKR after fleeing the Hitachi bureaucracy.

Toyama Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo on the Japan Sea, will now have Kokusai’s new 24 billion yen factory, which will be able to meet its goal of double production capacity in five years, up to March 2026, with twice the efficiency of older facilities. It will also seek to strengthen the company’s R&amp, D capability.

” To make our operations smarter”, Kokusai’s management said,” we plan to systematically introduce cutting-edge technologies, including IT, IoT]Internet of Things], digitalization, data utilization, automation, and even AI”. The beginning of production is expected in October.

Kokusai is also expanding its service and support operations in the US, Europe, India, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, mainland China and Japan.

Its customers include TSMC, Samsung Electronics, Micron Technology, Chinese DRAM maker CXMT, Intel and other leading semiconductor makers. The key to filling up the new factory will be having the necessary equipment to implement their advanced process technologies.

Follow this writer on&nbsp, X: @ScottFo83517667

Continue Reading

Kylie Minogue announces new album and biggest tour in a decade

By:
On:
In: Asia

Kylie Minogue has announced her biggest planet visit in more than a decade and a follow-up to her return record Tension.

Tension II’s 13 tracks will be available on October 18 with the start of her worldwide tour in her native Australia in February, before moving on to Asia and the UK.

In a statement, the pop image said she is “beyond excited” to become “celebrating the Tension age and more” with enthusiasts.

” There will be a whole lot of Padaming”, she said, a guide to her popular, Grammy-winning 2023 one Padam Padam.

Twenty times have been announced so far, but Minogue claimed more are coming.

The 56-year-old is in the middle of a job enlightenment, off the back of Tension and Padam Padam.

In February she picked up her second Grammy – 20 years after her first – and the following month received the Brits’ Global Icon Award.

Since debuting on Mates in 1986 as the shrewd auto mechanic Charlene, she has racked up tens of hit songs and a prize collection full of awards.

She’s even performed at the Sydney Olympics, been made an OBE, and starred in several movies.

Continue Reading

Cradle board member Faizah Mohamed Amin passes away

By:
On:
In: Technology
  • Creative leadership in nurturing Malaysia’s it landscape commonly recognized
  • Foliage an enduring tradition of innovation, development, and commitment to Malaysia

A seasoned technocrat with over 20 years of cross-industry experience, Faizah's career spanned leadership roles in local and multinational corporations.

The organization sends its sincere condolences to Faizah Mohamed Amin’s relatives and loved ones after she passed away peacefully at the age of 56.

In September 2019, Faizah was made an impartial non-executive director on Cradle’s table. She even held the office of chairman for the Board Audit, Risk, and Governance Committee and was a valued member of the Board Election and Remuneration Committee.

A skilled engineer with over 20 years of cross-industry knowledge, Faizah’s career spanned authority roles in regional and global companies. She was important in various national and international premier initiatives, including Malaysia’s first-generation Internet, the National Public Cloud, and Saudi Arabia’s first wise area, Madinah Knowledge Economic City.

She even contributed to ground-breaking projects like Malaysia’s first electric baby manufacturing facility for Tier 1 Aero Plant, such as the Bahrain Twin Tower.

Faizah spent a significant portion of her job at TM Bhd holding a number of top leadership roles. In 2014, she joined UMW Group as the President of UMW Technology and afterwards, in 2018, was appointed the Managing Director of HP Inc., Malaysia. Under her authority, HP Malaysia won many prestigious awards, including Malaysia’s Excellence Marketing Award and Malaysia’s Excellence HR Award in 2019.

Her creative leadership and commitment to nurturing Malaysia’s systems surroundings were widely recognised and celebrated, said Cradle. ” Faizah’s passing represents a significant loss to Cradle and Malaysia’s startup ecosystem. She leaves behind an enduring tradition of innovation, progress, and dedication to the development of systems in Malaysia and beyond”, said the firm.

Continue Reading

US Air Force thinks about ditching NGAD fighter program – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia

In mild of budget constraints, advancements in technology, and the rapidly expanding threat of armed drones, the US Air Force is reevaluating its plan for the future of its heat dominance.

This month, Air &amp, Space Forces Magazine reported that the US Air Force is reevaluating its approach to achieving air superiority, potentially shifting away from a manned sixth-generation fighter as part of its Next-Generation Air Dominance ( NGAD ) program.

According to Air &amp, Space Forces Magazine, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall announced a “pause” on the NGAD system in July. At this week’s Defense News convention, acquisition chiefs Andrew Hunter and James Slife, the source claims, suggested reevaluating requirements.

According to the report, the review will examine whether air superiority can be achieved by combining new technologies, such as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA ), with existing ones like the F-35, F-15EX, and F-22. It makes note of the fact that the review has been prompted by advancements in autonomy and various technologies since the first NGAD analysis.

According to Air &amp, Space Forces Magazine, the US Air Force intends to combine these new capabilities into a coherent system that guarantees heat superiority in contested surroundings while remaining affordable. It adds that the reassessment’s results may affect the NGAD project’s future, with potential agreement honours as early as 2025.

The US Air Force’s programs for a potential weather dominance were in turmoil in June 2024, according to Asia Times, as a result of budget constraints, aging F-22 Birds, and uncertainty surrounding the NGAD system.

The USAF’s proposed budget proposal for fiscal year 2023 was criticized by the Government Accountability Office ( GAO ) for lacking in in-depth analysis of the effects of retiring older F-22 Block 20 fighters.

Upgrading these aircraft to Block 30/35 standards had cost US$ 3.3 billion and get 15 years. Concerns about the F-22 fleet’s validity are still present after the upgrades are finished, but the US is scheduled to spend$ 22 billion on them over the next ten years.

Meanwhile, a US Department of Defense ( DOD ) report released this August shows that the F-35 program is experiencing a reduction in planned aircraft purchases. Importantly, in 2025, 42 F-35 plane are planned for purchasing, down from 48 in 2024. The cost of purchasing for 42 aircraft continues to decline through 2026, before rising to 47 aircraft in 2027.

This decrease is observed across all variations of the F-35, including the F-35A, B and C designs. Budgetary considerations and programmatic adjustments are in line with the program’s fiscal constraints and proper adjustments.

However, the NGAD system, which aims to develop a sixth-generation warrior, faces prospective cancellation due to high costs, technical challenges and evolving atmosphere dominance concepts.

The US Air Force also struggles with the cost of the B-21 Raider and Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM ) programs, which have been delayed in the F-35 program.

As the US Air Force plans for weather dominance, a revived light warrior strategy offers a flexible, cost-effective solution to the high-cost NGAD system, balancing value with cutting-edge capacity.

Asia Times reported in August 2024 that the US Air Force is considering revising its light warrior strategy to address issues with its next-generation warrior system. This shift aims to create flexible, cost-effective plane in response to China’s airpower progress.

The idea, resembling a scaled-down F-35, emphasizes fast software upgrades over traditional technology improvements, aligning with the NGAD program. The NGAD program’s high costs have drawn criticism because they cost almost US$ 250 million annually for each stealth fight jet of the sixth generation.

A blended fleet could be created thanks to the light fighter concept, which was entice uncrewed CCA drones while balancing high-end capabilities with affordability.

The idea also resonates with past criteria for a “high/low” mixture of fighters, which could change the aging F-16 ships and give a cost-effective answer to maintaining air superiority.

In May 2024, Asia Times reported that extremely complex and expensive sixth-generation fighters properly finally waste money and make the US less competitive in other fields, including space.

The US government perhaps be better off emphasizing unmanned systems and space-based weapons platforms that are more cost-effective, reduced and aligned with upcoming corporate requirements, the statement argued.

Instead of investing in probably useless warplanes, the US could possibly prioritize the development of space-based weapons and concentrate on building less complicated, easier-to-mass-produce systems that can do, outpace and swarming adversary targets.

The US Air Force is under increasing pressure to strike a balance between improved air defense capabilities and evolving aerial threats as drones transform the battlefield.

Clifford Lucas claims in a War on the Rocks article from May 2024 that the US Air Force is at odds with itself with a heated debate over air defense.

Lucas raises the question of whether air superiority is sufficient to shield against changing threats as drone technology develops, blurring the line between conventional aircraft and missiles.

Lucas says Lucas makes an outline of both sides of the debate, arguing that critics claim that the current air superiority doctrine places too much emphasis on manned aircraft and ignores the growing threat of unmanned aerial systems.

On the other hand, he claims that air defense advocates believe it should be given more weight because drones are more similar to missiles than conventional aircraft, necessitating a shift in attention to missile defense systems.

Lucas makes the point that US military leaders believe that air defense and superiority are separate but interdependent missions that need to evolve in tandem.

He claims that the US Air Force should reevaluate resource allocation in light of the development of ever-more sophisticated drones and advocate for better coordination between the military branches to maintain control in disputed airspaces.

He points out that the ongoing debate could influence future strategies, putting the emphasis on more adaptable, integrated defense systems that can deal with a wide range of aerial threats.

As military planners strive to secure the skies in upcoming conflicts, Lucas emphasizes that the growing threat of drones makes it imperative for a robust air defense system and modernized air superiority strategy.

He claims that the emphasis is shifting to figuring out a balance between these two priorities in light of the realities of next-generation conflict.

Continue Reading

Singaporean director Yeo Siew Hua’s Stranger Eyes to open 2024 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

Stranger Eyes, a video from Singaporean director Yeo Siew Hua, has been chosen to open the 2024 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, where it will even make its Eastern debut. The festival runs from November 7 through November 24.

The film, a Singapore-Taiwan-France-UK co-production, stars Golden Horse best actor winner Lee Kang-sheng ( Stray Dogs ), Wu Chien-ho, Vera Chen, Annica Panna and Xenia Tan.

Ellis stated in a press release shared by the celebration,” It is a true honor for us to have our video available for the Golden Horse Film Festival, which as a Foreign director holds such an essential place in my heart.” &nbsp,

Stranger Eyes is also up for the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion award on September 5th, where it had its world debut. It is competing for the show’s highest glory against Todd Phillips ‘&nbsp, Joker: Folie A Deux and Halina Reijn’s Babygirl, among other movies.

The 2024 Golden Horse Film Festival describes the movie as such:” A young couple begins receiving odd videos after the strange departure of their baby girl, realizing someone has been filming their normal life, even their most intimate moments. The family begins to crumble as the identities of the weirdo and the reality behind these films are revealed.

Yeo had earlier directed A Land Imagined&nbsp, – another video that boosted Singapore’s status in the world video picture. The 2018 video clinched the top prize at the 71st Locarno Film Festival, and won best initial report and best classic story at the&nbsp, 56th Golden Horse Awards. &nbsp,

Continue Reading

Temasek Foundation appoints new chairman

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: Temasek Foundation on Thursday ( Sep 5 ) announced the appointment of Ms Jennie Chua as its new chairman. Her visit was effective on September 1. Mr Chua succeeds Mr Benny Lim, who served as the organisation’s president for the past four decades. Temasek Foundation said Mr Lim providedContinue Reading

Seda Innovation Challenges 2024: Pioneering sustainable energy solutions 

By:
On:
In: Technology
  • Challenge winners will reveal a prize pool of US$ 3, 400&nbsp,
  • aims to promote cutting-edge technology that uses solar energy for the transition to a global scale.

The SEDA Innovation Challenge 2024, a collaboration between SEDA Malaysia, IEEE Kuala Lumpur Subsection, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), UCSI University, and Leave a Nest (M) Sdn Bhd, aims to identify and promote innovative renewable energy technologies as part of the global energy transition, held in conjunction with the 6th International Sustainable Energy Summit (ISES) 2024 which took place from 20 to 21 August 2024.

SEDA Innovation Challenge 2024 has reached its final step, with five tasks set to thrive. The winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony held on October 1st, 2024, at the 2024 IEEE R10 Humanitarian Technology Conference ( HTC ) in accordance with the final project documentation due by September 2024.

The challenge is a collaboration between the Sustainable Energy Development Authority ( Seda ) Malaysia, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ( IEEE ) Kuala Lumpur Subsection, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UCSI University, and Leave a Nest ( M ) Sdn Bhd. It aims to find and market cutting-edge technologies that make use of solar energy to support a global energy change.
 
The top five winners are:

  • With their initiative titled” Energy Control Cost Optimization System,” Amsolar Ecos.
  • Unique Edge Technology- UTM is proud of their initiative” MERCAT – Microgrid.”
  • Vem X with their task: Virtual Energy Manager: Real-Time Monitoring and Predictive Insights for Enhanced Energy Reliability
  • UCPVC with their initiative, SolCurve: Seamless Remote PV Monitoring System
  • Sunshine with their job, FarmE

This initiative, held in conjunction with the 6th International Sustainable Energy Summit ( ISES ) 2024, focuses on integrating sustainability into the core of innovation, emphasising reducing environmental impact, improving efficiency, and promoting responsible resource management. It provides a cooperative program for multidisciplinary approaches to address pressing issues facing the green energy sector, enabling innovators to provide flexible, actionable solutions with the potential for widespread adoption.

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Center hosted the 6th International Sustainable Energy Summit ( ISES ) 2024 ) from 20 to 21 August 2024. The news of the Seda Innovation Challenge’s winners comes as a backdrop for this mountain, which also emphasizes the value of green energy options in shaping a cleaner, more resilient future.

Hamzah Hussin, organising head of the 6th ISES 2024 and CEO of Seda Malaysia, stated,” The Seda Innovation Challenge 2024 is a important stride in our work to speed the world energy transition through technology and assistance. Individuals are pushing the boundaries of renewable energy technology by showing extraordinary creativity and commitment to sustainability. We anticipate that the ideas presented here will motivate others and open the door for potential improvements that are robust and cleaner.

Prof. Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, vice-chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, added,” Universiti Teknologi Malaysia is committed to advancing green energy solutions through creativity and collaboration. Our goal is to promote research and development in renewable energy technologies through our involvement in the Seda Innovation Challenge 2024. We think that corporate alliances and inter-disciplinary methods are necessary to address the complex issues posed by sustainable development. We are glad to help activities that contribute to a cleaner and more resilient coming by supporting this competition and provide entrepreneurs with an excellent platform to showcase their innovative ideas.

Technology would be the key to accelerating the energy transition, according to Lee Chean Chung, a part of the Authority Seda Malaysia who presented the document to the winners. He added,” Work to embrace conservation are at the base of your improvements, with a focus on minimising ecological impact, enhancing performance, and promoting responsible source management”.
 
Individuals in this year’s problem are competing in three important categories, each targeting a specific aspect of renewable energy technology: &nbsp,

document. Artificial Intelligence Insights: Aiming to increase energy efficiency through integrated data evaluation for improved decision-making. &nbsp,

iii. Blockchain and the Internet of Things ( IoT ): By monitoring energy systems to improve reliability and efficiency through continuous data flow. &nbsp,

iv. Attempting to optimize renewable energy locations using environmental impact and resource efficiency, the Smart Geographical Information System ( GIS ) and the Digital Twin.

The winners of the Seda Innovation Challenge 2024 will share a prize pool of US$ 3, 400 ( RM15, 000 ), distributed across the following categories: i. Innovation Award: Recognition of the most innovative systems in renewable energy. iii. Impact Award: Awarded for the job that has the most important positive effects on the environment and society. iv. Women’s Choice Award: Acknowledging the most popular task as voted by ISES visitors.

The Seda Innovation Challenge 2024 highlights the crucial role that sustainable energy solutions play in creating a cleaner and more resilient coming and highlights the extraordinary qualities of entrepreneurs.

For information on the Seda Innovation Challenge, please visit https ://www .seda.gov.my/seda-innovation-challenge/

Continue Reading