SingPost sackings: ‘Unprecedented’ for a Singapore firm to fire 3 top executives, shows severity of issue, say experts

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Value OF SACKINGS

Mr. Lai claimed that a board’s decision to fire three senior executives at once indicated that the situation was “irreparably egregious” and that keeping the pair would have been “untenable for the business.” &nbsp,

Due to the seriousness of the consequences, particularly when they become publicly known, such a decision must be carefully thought out and implemented by the committee, according to Mr. Lai, who added that the action may result in customers and investors losing trust in the business. &nbsp,

On the other hand, Prof. Loh of NUS described the activity as “decisive corporate governance action against administration lapses” that may help foster board confidence as it establishes that the board has control over its management.

” This is a case where corporate governance trumps management”, he said. &nbsp,

SingPost’s earlier setbacks may even explain its choice, Prof Loh said. SingPost has recently been fined for company lapses and received a harsh reminder in 2019 after a cabbie with special needs dumped sealed mail. &nbsp,

According to Prof Loh,” SingPost has experienced a number of instances of company lapses, or even accidental foster behavior in recent years, so I think there’s a need to give a message that trust is a very important element for this business.” &nbsp,

In 2019, SingPost was fined S$ 100, 000 ( US$ 74, 000 ) for&nbsp, failing to meet service standards.

The post service company made the mistake in May 2017, when the company failed to meet the minimum standard for the next working day’s supply of simple native words within the central business district.

SingPost also&nbsp failed in its efforts to deliver basic words and registered email over the course of several months in that year.

” The critical issue is ( the organisation’s ) … nature where service culture, trust in delivery is fundamental to the business”, Prof Loh added. &nbsp,

NTU’s Assoc Prof Law said SingPost’s event highlighted the need for businesses to have “formal, strong internal approach” for reporting.

Companies should evaluate their internal control methods and reporting programs. He continued,” If companies don’t have one, they might want to consider implementing a robust and formal system for handling internal concerns and suggestions.” &nbsp,

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Long, hard road to de-weaponizing Syria’s economy – Asia Times

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The Arab government’s fall on December 8, 2024 marked a turning point for the Middle East. It is still unclear how the insurgent alliance, which is a diverse group of political and ideological organizations supported by local powers, quickly overpowered government forces.

However, it is obvious that the government’s downfall has been largely caused by the frequent social and economic decay, which has worsened every aspect of Arab life over the past 13 years.

The humanitarian crises that displaced the majority of Syria’s people and destroyed the government’s system also contributed to this deterioration as well as the weaponization of regional and global supply chains through economic restrictions.

Since 2011, numerous tides of sanctions have been imposed on Syria, aimed at draining state money and causing harm to nearly all of the nation’s economic and social activities. The outcomes of the steps were a general deindustrialization and a serious decline in the economy.

It’s still unclear whether Syria, a country of corporate global importance, is on the verge of lasting peace or will experience another prolonged period of instability.

The origins of turmoil

When the Arab Revolution started in 2011, Syria was on a fairly good financial trajectory. Poverty was at about 8 % and the middle class formed about 60 % of the community.

But, economical developments were mostly concentrated in urban facilities, while remote areas — home to most Syrians — lacked social and economic system.

The most attractive business activities in Syria were dominated by government elites, despite the growth of small and medium-sized businesses. Common institutions were rife with corruption and government.

This disparity led to anger, and the rural community eventually emerged as a driving force behind the start of the Arab Revolution. In the end, a series of events that culminated in a difficult international proxy war were the product of the revolution.

On both sides, some people were imprisoned or disappeared, and many others fled to neighboring states or sought shelter in Europe.

The position gotten worse as the battle wore on. In 2024, the United Nations described the Palestinian issue as “one of the country’s most complex situations”. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians feared losing their lives in locations all over the world.

Syria’s economic decline

Since 2011, Syria’s GDP has fallen by 87 %, its currency has lost more than 99 % of its value, and its inflation rate has soared above 300 % on basic consumer goods.

Arab corporations have fully been disconnected from regional and global supply chains as a result of the deteriorating economic and social problems in Syria, which have been made worse by increasingly strict restrictions. The majority of companies had to close, and just a small number were able to do so in neighboring nations.

Businesses that were able to succeed have turned into zombie companies, meaning they are no longer commercially viable but are being kept alive by using alternative sources, such as government subsidies.

Improper economic activity flourished, there were uncovered supply chains, and corruption was deeply entrenched within common organizations.

Rebel partnership rule

In the midst of the Arab government’s collapse, experts — though positive — remain wary about the country’s future.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS), a former branch of al-Qaida and the principal force in the rebel coalition, is the new ruler in Damascus. Units used to be competent to govern Idlib, a city in northwest Syria, but it now relys on Turkish assistance to provide simple services to its citizens.

Detractors argued the Units authorities in Idlib was “dictatorial” and “authoritarian” enough to flash rally earlier this year. Units requested on December 9 that the Idlib state, which is made up entirely of HTS unionists, continue to rule Syria until March 2025. Beyond that day, the organization has never made any changes.

Idlib, a remote, traditional province in Idlib, is a vastly different thing from managing a complicated nation like Syria. However, despite growing concerns about HTS’s one-party interim state, the party is likely to capitalise on the government’s pleasure at the death of Assad’s regime and the end of 13 years of civil war to create short-term political stability.

Another opposition groups, some with violent histories, appear to support HTS’s short-term program, seeking to discuss their role in the new political arrangement. However, early indications suggest Units, while adopting diverse speech, continues to adhere to an totalitarian and authoritarian style of governance.

Challenges ahead

HTS’s key backers, Turkey and Qatar, will likely provide financial aid and funds to boost public opinion in the short term. However, long-term political stability in Syria hinges on sustained public support, which is deeply tied to the country’s economic situation. The new rulers in Damascus must tackle the difficult task of reviving the economy.

The de-weaponization of regional and global supply chains, which includes more than removing Syria’s economic sanctions, is a necessary prerequisite for the revival of the country’s economy. It requires revitalizing small and medium-sized businesses and rebuilding public organizations that can support regional and global supply chains.

Small and medium-sized businesses and the middle class have been destroyed over the course of 13 years of civil war, which is easier said than done. Public and private organizations in Syria have already gone through the zombification process, relying heavily on aid to survive.

Zombie firms typically exhibit sub-optimal production performance, low innovation and a negative impact on economic activity. In this context, it’s likely that local organizations are unable to participate in and/or strengthen regional and global value chains. Establishing a robust innovation ecosystem and effective domestic supply chain governance will be necessary to restore these capabilities.

Early signs point to HTS’s desire to rule both social and economic activities in favor of its loyalists. Such an approach risks recreating an Islamic version of Assad’s economic governance, long characterized by a state-directed economy, capital controls and cronyism. Important regional players, Arab nations, and international players have already expressed concerns about working with Syria’s economy under the new Islamic regime.

Throughout the past 13 years, the Assad regime emphasized a winner-takes-all approach — a stance that HTS appears now to adopt. HTS has no choice but to abandon such a mindset in order to revive the Syrian economy and de-weaponize supply chains. Otherwise, the new ruler in Damascus will soon face the same challenges that led to the previous regime’s collapse.

Hassan Wafai is associate professor, Faculty of Management, Royal Roads University

This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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All the power in God-Emperor Elon Musk’s hands – Asia Times

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The US social structure was &nbsp, designed by its founders&nbsp, to have a system of checks and balances, so that no individual or organization would have total energy.

But that system was designed with only&nbsp, government&nbsp, leaders and&nbsp, government&nbsp, institutions in brain — although the founders did care about private individuals controlling the authorities, this wasn’t their primary focus, and they eventually ended up declining to throw institutions in place precisely to guard against financial power. &nbsp,

James Madison believed, for instance, that the governmental system of the US state was protection much against little cabals of rich oligarchs. In recent years, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court ‘s&nbsp, Citizens United&nbsp, choice, some have voiced concerns that the US has become an elite, where wealthy people are capable of buying power and influence — either by plan efforts, lobbying, or other means.

These issues came mostly from the liberal left, who&nbsp, generally claimed&nbsp, that the US has become an aristocracy. However, many on the right were also concerned about George Soros and other democratic entrepreneurs ‘ effect.

But the studies backing up the “oligarchy” state was &nbsp, very uneven and weak&nbsp, — in reality, most political researchers found that coverage in the US tends to connect strongly with the objectives of the center class. And common problem was vague and scattered — Americans will tell you that their financial program “unfairly favors the strong interests”, but this could mean something, and most Americans&nbsp, are no concerned&nbsp, about the prosperity of billionaires.

Yet in the past week, we have witnessed a single wealthy man making important decisions in real time regarding US national government policy. In order for the US federal government to spend money, it has to pass “appropriations” bills. There are always big fights over those bills, so sometimes they just pass a” continuing resolution” to keep spending going.

If the CR doesn’t pass, the government shuts down, and its employees— including the people in the US Military — stop getting paychecks. In a number of instances over the past three decades, the party in charge has threatened to refuse to pass a bill and impose austerity on the government, or worse, to exceed the “debt ceiling,” which prevents the government from borrowing money.

Elon Musk, president Trump’s most significant donor and political ally, and the owner of one of the largest social media networks, had a different take on the most recent CR. Musk&nbsp, launched an all-out attack&nbsp, on the resolution:

Musk, who&nbsp, spent more than US$ 250 million &nbsp, getting Trump elected, posted about his opposition to the original spending deal well over 100 times over the past two days, with threats to fund primary challenges to anyone who voted for the plan, which was six weeks in the making.

Any member of the House or Senate who supports this outrageous spending bill should be re-elected in two years! Musk was posted on X on Wednesday afternoon.

Later in the day, Trump himself&nbsp, came out against it, making it clear the bill was done.

What’s interesting about this is that&nbsp, everyone&nbsp, seems to&nbsp, agree&nbsp, that it was Musk, not Trump, who torpedoed the CR. &nbsp, Fox News reports:

After Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy allegedly engaged in congressional discussions regarding government funding, some House Republicans are privately expressing their anger.

If Elon and Vivek are freelancing and shooting off the hip without working with [President-elect Trump], according to a second GOP lawmaker, they are getting dangerously close to undermining the actual 47th President of the United States.

Overheated rhetoric is common, so we shouldn’t take this as gospel. And it’s also worth noting that Musk&nbsp, approved&nbsp, of a modified CR, but that one was torpedoed by conservatives in Congress. Also, &nbsp, Musk’s threat&nbsp, to primary anyone in Congress who voted against the approval of Matt Gaetz wasn’t enough to keep Gaetz from withdrawing. So Musk actually isn’t the all-powerful emperor he’s depicted as in the header image of this post — at least, not yet.

But it’s undeniable that Musk has influence that goes far beyond that of any typical super-rich political influencer. He’s not just the owner of X but its poster-in-chief, who manipulates the platform’s algorithm to&nbsp, show everyone his own tweets&nbsp, first and foremost.

Additionally, he is the owner of SpaceX, which the US government largely depends on for its entire space program. And he’s more or less the leader of&nbsp, a right-wing faction in the tech industry &nbsp, that has become a key Republican constituency over the last election cycle.

Therefore, Musk has a lot of extremely powerful tools for directly influencing American policies. He has the authority to threaten to primary any Republican who deviates from his personal goals ( and frequently does ). He has the power to launch right-wing instant mobs on X to attack any Republican who floutes his rules.

He can ( and does ) dump hundreds of millions into elections. He could probably use SpaceX’s government contracts as leverage as well, if he chose. And with Donald Trump, the oldest President ever elected, clearly in his final years, Elon’s energy and activity level frequently make him the ideal stand-in.

It’s clear to both foreign and domestic leaders where the power is in the incoming U.S. regime, but this isn’t just supposition on my part. House Speaker Mike Johnson&nbsp, called up both Trump and Musk&nbsp, to try to get a CR passed. And Musk now&nbsp, regularly accompanies Trump&nbsp, to his meetings with foreign heads of state. The American public as a whole is now accepting this reality after watching Musk kill the continuing resolution.

What does it mean for the nation to have so much of the government’s power firmly rooted in the hands of a single, unelected private individual? It’s hard to say.

There may be some historical precedents here, as Mark Hanna had a significant influence in the McKinley administration and William Randolph Hearst’s control of the print media terrified politicians over a century ago. Various industrial-age tycoons wielded a lot of influence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fox News was created by Rupert Murdoch. But Musk’s clout may eclipse them all — X is a new kind of media, Trump is a different kind of President, and so on.

Many in the tech sector I know are enthralled by Elon’s authority. But I believe that this is scary for many regular Americans because they won’t be able to trust Elon to do the right thing, as many other tech professionals do. To see this, let’s do a thought exercise: What if Elon were evil?

Imagining” Evil Elon”

In a post back in October, I wrote that America’s future could hinge on whether Elon Musk decides to play the superhero or the supervillain.

Musk’s friends and confidantes expect the former. They probably know him as a reasonable guy — a&nbsp, Reaganite&nbsp, conservative who was &nbsp, driven to the center-right&nbsp, by the excesses of wokeness, who loves&nbsp, free speech&nbsp, and free enterprise and small government and responsible fiscal and monetary policy and&nbsp, peace between nations, who wants to bring human civilization to Mars and accelerate tech progress and so on.

Let’s refer to this variation of Elon as” Real Elon.”

However, one might also think of Elon, who lives in the fervent imaginations of his foes. Let us call this” Evil Elon”. Regular people, observing Elon’s actions in the public sphere, can’t always tell the difference between Real Elon and this fantasy supervillain.

Whereas Real Elon opposed the CR because of concerns over government spending and legislative complexity, Evil Elon opposed it because it contained national security provisions that&nbsp, would have nixed&nbsp, some of Tesla ‘s&nbsp, planned investments in China:

Cynics note&nbsp that Elon supported’s shorter replacement CR would have actually spent more money than the one Elon killed, with the main difference being that the replacement CR didn’t have restrictions on US investment in China:

Real Elon is a consistent and dedicated ally of the Chinese Communist Party, despite his admiration for individual freedoms and capitalism. When Real Elon calls for Taiwan to become a” special administrative zone” of China, he does it because he likes authoritarian rule and because the Chinese Communist Party has paid him off. Evil Elon does it because he wants to avoid World War 3.

On Ukraine, similar, Real Elon&nbsp, just wants to end the conflict&nbsp, and stop more Ukrainians from dying. After all, Russia is strong and determined enough to almost certainly hold onto a piece of Ukraine at the end of the conflict. So why not just trade land for peace and be done with it?

However, Evil Elon, who shares his sympathies with authoritarian rulers in general, wants Putin to succeed. No one is aware of what Elon and Putin discussed in their frequent conversations since 2022. However, Evil Elon’s supporters believe they conspired to smuggle the Russians into the conflict.

Real Elon and Real Elon both accused Vindman of treason and threatened him with” the appropriate penalty” because we all get upset on social media and like to rippling people who criticize us. However, Vindman was right when Evil Elon did it.

When Real Elon&nbsp, declared his support&nbsp, for the German far-right party AfD, it was because he saw Germany spinning into&nbsp, industrial decline&nbsp, and suffering from an immigration policy that failed to exclude&nbsp, violent criminals. But Evil Elon did it because he likes that AfD is&nbsp, vocally pro-Putin&nbsp, and&nbsp, pro-CCP.

In fact, believers in Evil Elon suspect that his support for AfD might also be due to the whiff of&nbsp, Nazi apologia&nbsp, and&nbsp, antisemitism&nbsp, that hang around some of the party’s candidates. Real Elon is a stand-up guy — when he agreed with a tweet about Jewish communities pushing anti-White hatred, he&nbsp, publicly apologized, declaring it the worst tweet he’s ever done, and declaring himself a “philosemite”. And when Real Elon accidentally endorsed a Tucker Carlson interview with a Hitler apologist, he&nbsp, quickly deleted the endorsement&nbsp, once he realized what it actually contained.

However, those who believe in Evil Elon believe that these are just the kind of public relations stunts a supervillain would employ to cover his tracks. They worry that the massive wave of antisemitism that has swept X&nbsp since Elon took control is the result of deliberate boosting rather than just the unavoidable result of more indulgent moderation policies combined with the response to the Gaza war. 1&nbsp, They do not buy&nbsp, Real Elon’s protests&nbsp, that other platforms have even more antisemitism.

And so on. Essentially, Evil Elon is a somewhat cartoonish supervillain, who wants to set himself up as the ruler of one of three great dictatorships, ruling the world with an iron fist alongside his allies Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin — a new&nbsp, Metternich System&nbsp, to enshrine right-wing values and crack down on wokeness and progressivism and obstreperous minorities all over the world.

I had Grok draw this new Metternich System for fun, and the end result was pretty good. I feel like I have to share it:

Art by Grok

But anyway, the point here is that when normal Americans look at Elon and his words and deeds, they can’t be 100 % certain that he ‘s&nbsp, not&nbsp, Evil Elon. A few progressives will be very convinced that he&nbsp, is&nbsp, actually evil, but I think most people will simply wonder and be uneasy. Evil Elon will continue to exist in a sort of quantum superposition with Real Elon in their minds — a Schrödinger’s oligarch who will&nbsp, probably&nbsp, turn out to have been a good guy all along, but&nbsp, might&nbsp, ultimately turn out to have been very bad from day 1.

And that will scare them. In fact, all powerful people have this same property— even some of the people who voted for them didn’t entirely trust Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, and so on. &nbsp, Powerful people are simply inherently untrustworthy, because the consequences of misplacing your trust in them are so grave.

There have been checks and balances on these leaders for the majority of modern American history, which means that if they did prove to be bad, there would be plenty of institutions and opponents in place to limit the damage.

So who or what can check Elon’s power?

One flaw of the US political system, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, is that there are few mechanisms in place to restrict the political influence of private actors. This is why some people worry about the U. S. becoming an oligarchy, especially in the years after&nbsp, Citizens United.

Up until now, I believe those worries have been unfounded because powerful figures like the Kochs, Soros, and Murdoch have, of course, had a hand in politics and some sort of canceled out each other. But in the age of X, SpaceX, and Trump, we may be looking at a very different situation.

Musk is a singular figure because he has already demonstrated himself to be the one who can create large, successful new high-tech manufacturing companies in the United States. He might also prove himself to be the one who can successfully convert a vast fortune and a corporate empire into effective dominance of US politics.

So who or what could balance out Elon’s power? Prior to his primary threats and online assaults, Congress appears prostrate. Trump may have fired and denounced him in 2017 as he did Steve Bannon, but that Trump has long since passed away. This Trump is aging, bedeviled, and abandoned by many of his former allies. Democrats are still dealing with the collapse of 2010s-era progressivism, and in a few days they will control zero branches of the federal government.

It’s possible that a bunch of&nbsp, other super-rich people&nbsp, will unite to balance out Musk. Although the idea of needing oligarchs to stop other oligarchs is not particularly appealing, it might be preferable. So far, though, even super-rich people who have had rivalries with Musk in the past&nbsp, seem inclined to bend the knee&nbsp, and live as best they can under the new regime.

What about the press? Traditional media — newspapers, TV, and radio — has declined steeply, &nbsp, replaced by social media. Musk&nbsp, owns one of America’s main news platforms&nbsp, ( and a second one, TikTok, is&nbsp, effectively controlled by the CCP). Meanwhile, more progressive media outlets still seem to be in a state of paralysis over conflicts with their activist staffers and their subscribers over Gaza, trans issues, and general election-related recriminations.

Ultimately, of course, power resides with the American people. Musk’s power comes from his ownership of capital, but the way he exercises it is fundamentally a&nbsp, democratic&nbsp, one — if he’s able to primary Congressional Republicans, it’s because his primary challengers are able to win votes, and if he’s able to start a rage-mob on X, it’s because people like what he says.

This means that if enough people get tired of Musk’s attempts to influence American politics, he’ll lose his influence. X is somewhat influential, but even with Musk’s algorithmic changes, it’s not a mind-control device, and it’s also&nbsp, <a href="https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-x-declining-user-base-2025″>not actually that widely used. Musk is America’s most successful and successful entrepreneur, but even the most successful of men is powerless if he is turned down by the populace. 2&nbsp,

The fracas over the CR this week have a chance of alienating Musk because the American public has never liked shutdown brinksmanship. If Elon pulls a few more stunts, Trump’s second term could be defined by a protracted backlash against his overreach.

Vox populi, vox dei, as they say.

Notes

1. In reality, I have a third theory that claims that Russian and Chinese bots are the primary culprits of antisemitism in order to wedge American society. Right after the election, I’ve noticed that antisemitism largely vanished. This could have been attributable to an Elon crackdown.

2. I wouldn’t bet on it, though, but a few techlords might one day be able to use AI to rule the world in defiance of the vast majority of humanity.

This&nbsp, article&nbsp, was first published on Noah Smith’s Noahpinion&nbsp, Substack and is republished with kind permission. Become a Noahopinion&nbsp, subscriber&nbsp, here.

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FAQ: Why did SingPost fire three of its senior executives?

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WHO IS INVOLVED? &nbsp,

SingPost fired its party executives Vincent Phang, Vincent Yik, and Vincent Yik, the group’s chief financial officer, and Li Yu, the group’s executive in charge of the company’s global business system. &nbsp,

Mr Phang initially joined SingPost in 2019 as the CEO for post service and Singapore, which comprises article, piece and shipping. In September 2021, he was sworn in as the SingPost party CEO. &nbsp,

According to his account on SingPost’s website, the team expanded into Australia under his command and developed its cross-border e-commerce transportation business worldwide. &nbsp,

He previously served as the organization’s deputy president, working for the Workplace Safety and Health Council, and held top management positions at ST Logistics and Toll. &nbsp,

In accordance with his legal responsibilities, Mr. Phang was also asked to retire as a producer of SingPost and all of its related companies as a result of the disciplinary trials.

Before joining SingPost in December 2021, Mr Yik was CFO at OUE Lippo Healthcare. &nbsp,

He recently held a number of important administrative positions, including those at Far East Orchard and Australia Properties of Far East Organization, Sydney, as well as the Singapore unit of Australia &amp, New Zealand Banking Group. His page on the SingPost website reveals that he also held these positions.

In September 2022, Mr. Li was appointed as the CEO of SingPost’s global business system. He has worked in North America and Shanghai and formerly oversaw international logistics and supply for Asia-Pacific at the United Parcel Service. &nbsp,

HOW DID THEY RESPOND? &nbsp,

Mr Phang and Mr Yik have indicated that they will “vigorously battle” their termination, both on virtues and on the grounds of legal discrimination, said SingPost. &nbsp,

The two stated in a press statement on Monday night that the SingPost board’s decision to terminate them was disappointing and that they disagree with it. &nbsp,

” It is our place that the dismissal is without qualities, and was also randomly unjust”, the statement read. &nbsp,

According to them, the internal audit of the independent group investigates all reporting cases in accordance with company coverage. &nbsp,

They “dutifully presented the case to GIA to check, providing it with the required room and latitude to do its analysis”, said Mr Phang and Mr Yik in their joint declaration. &nbsp,

The table alleged that the case’s “material information” had not been taken into account. The causal relationship and effect were not immediately established, they claimed, because the facts changed over time.

” We had responded to inquiries based on the information that was being sought at the time while keeping the separate research that was being conducted.” We acted quickly after the relationship and effect had been established” .&nbsp,

The two men said they” absolutely accept” any suggestion that they had acted improperly, had been acting badly, or had attempted to portray facts. &nbsp,

” We have consistently acted in the best interests of the company and adhered to the highest specifications of leadership and management during our time at SingPost,” the firm said.” We does pursue legal action against any claims the contrary.”

WHAT’S NEXT FOR SINGPOST? &nbsp,

SingPost stated that it would make an announcement regarding the nomination of a new class CEO in due course. &nbsp,

The latest CFO of its Asian company, Mr Isaac Mah, will be the new team CFO. &nbsp,

Board president Simon Israel may “provide more guidance to and training greater supervision of the top management leadership team in the company” in the interim.

Post services will not be affected, SingPost added. &nbsp,

In the midst of a table review, an acting Director will be chosen to lead the international business unit. A fresh chief professional is not being considered at this time, according to SingPost. &nbsp,

A settlement amount in lieu of penalties has also been agreed upon with the buyer who was the subject of the reporting statement and investigation findings.

Following the settlement, the company said that its relationship with the client “has never suffered a significant loss.” &nbsp,

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How much Chinese cyber sabotage will Trump tolerate? – Asia Times

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US President-elect Donald Trump has named most of the people of his suggested case. But, he’s still to reveal important appointees to America’s effective cyber warfare and cleverness institutions.

These positions include those held by the National Security Council’s computer lead, the director of the CISA, and the national security council’s cyber director. These figures may be crucial to ensuring the safety of the United States ‘ computer protection at a crucial time.

For the coming leadership, we think there are three potential trouble spots:

  • how Trump does compromise his security and economic interests.
  • how his presidency can effectively stop the electric disturbance in China
  • how it will handle the suspicions that some MAGA supporters have of the intellect “deep state” powers.

Intensifying Chinese digital spy

Foreign electronic surveillance and spy actions against the US have reached an all-time large in terms of level of effort and, most importantly, success.

These spy actions have succeeded in capturing:

  • the most important intellectual property that gives the US a competitive advantage in terms of both financial and national security
  • older US government and military personnel’s private communications, as well as
  • the specific information of tens of millions of Americans.

According to recent reports, the Chinese government has targeted key state systems by utilizing flaws in the country’s aging telecommunications infrastructure.

Hackers from the” Salt Typhoon” organization were able to gain access to the personal contacts of senior officials, including Trump, and to reveal the names of US intelligence agencies both domestically and internationally.

Additionally, it appears that Salt Typhoon has allegedly extorted US telecommunication companies ‘ call data files. These provide a detailed record of all network users ‘ calls and related phone numbers.

These powerful breaches come after years of vicious cyberattacks that have harmed US patents and state secrets involving crucial technologies. These include unnatural knowledge, next-generation plane, biology and power systems.

However, according to research, the majority of Chinese spy operations against the US have been centered on the theft of proprietary information and technologies since 2000.

In addition to this, the US government thinks Beijing is trying to improve its ability to track electronic data on Americans.

A number of steps were taken by the Biden administration to protect America’s tech ecosystem from Chinese-made devices and software that might have hidden security features. The reaction included restrictions and bans on products produced by TikTok, the social media platform, and Hikvision, Dahua, and Hytera.

All of this sets the stage for confrontations between Trump and China, as well as Trump and the technology industry in America.

For instance, the Trump presidency will almost certainly have to convince communications giants AT&amp, T, Verizon, T-Mobile and others to tackle longstanding deficits in their system. This includes the frequent use of unshielded parts that date back to the 1970s and 1980s.

Together, the individual targeting of Trump, his Cabinet, and senior government officials and their solutions will require a violent reaction to deter potential businesses.

How much will the Trump presidency become willing to do in response to Chinese aggression, though?

President Joe Biden has responded to China by criticizing its semiconductor sector and restricting its ability to access another important systems. Beijing is likely to try to have these steps removed in any conversations between Trump and Taiwanese leader Xi Jinping regarding business and taxes.

If it does, Trump’s wish for a better financial “deal” with China does come into conflict with national safety issues.

Cyber damage on critical equipment

Chinese organizations have also been sabotage-infiltrating critical infrastructure in the United States and other countries ( including the cyber security facilities in the” Five Eyes” partners ).

The goal is to install powerful ransomware that can be activated to destroy and destroy necessary systems in order to pre-position themselves in the target sites. This includes in a time of conflict.

The most prominent of these initiatives has come from Volt Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored thief party.

These intrusive and destructive measures of destruction of essential equipment are in line with China’s long-standing policy of secret action, which states that “win without fighting”

As we get closer to 2027, these destroy initiatives are commonly anticipated to get worse. This is the most important time when the People’s Liberation Army of China is anticipated to be ready to launch an conquest of Taiwan.

A potential escalation into a military discord between the US and China poses the greatest threat to this electric damage campaign.

If Foreign malware is used to target the events for America’s 250th day in 2026 or the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, for example, how many restraint had Trump had?

Renewing America’s computer spy law

The last point will be one that is congressional.

The US has long been the subject of heated debate about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ). The majority of this is centered on Area 702, which is the foundation for America’s extensive selection of unusual intelligence.

This section enables US intelligence agencies to catch phone calls, letters, and other electronic communications from non-Americans outside the US.

Congress has mandated these firms to “minimize” the money collection of data on Americans. In practice, but, this has been difficult to achieve in the age of modern secrecy and international challenges.

FISA is viewed as necessary to national protection organizations that are battling to keep America and its allies protected by nonpartisan supporters. The MAGA-aligned House Freedom Caucus, nevertheless, has cast the work in a different light. They think it gives rise to an inexplicable heavy state that wants to spy on regular people.

Trump has, at times, aligned himself with this perspective. He claimed in April of this year that Congress should “kill FISA” because it was suspected of allowing spying on his political campaign for 2020.

If Congress doesn’t pass a new part 702, Section 702 will expire in April 2026. Although there will be Democratic majority in both houses of Congress, the divergent viewpoints within the party do not maintain passage.

The growing threats to national security that a second Trump administration may encounter are even more dangerous. According to intelligence officials, the need for FISA-sourced knowledge has never been greater.

However, outsiders like Tulsi Gabbard ( presumptive director of national intelligence ), Kash Patel ( presumptive FBI director ), Pam Bondi ( presumptive attorney-general ) and Kristi Noem ( presumptive secretary of homeland security ) may oppose re-authorizing the legislation.

However, America’s allies rely greatly on knowledge shared by US companies using FISA warrants.

Trump may want to compel NATO and other allies to spend more money on their own protection, just as he may require that Five Eye and other intelligence organizations also conduct more surveillance.

William A Stoltz is teacher and specialist associate, National Security College, Australian National University and Michael Rogers is older brother and alternative doctor, Kellogg Executive Leadership Institute, Northwestern University

This content was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original post.

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Ride-hail platforms must accommodate wheelchair users, young families under new LTA licensing rules

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RIDE-HAIL, STREET-HAIL, CARPOOL Authorizations

LTA granted the following organizations a three-year&nbsp, complete ride-hail company operator&nbsp, permission:

  • Grab 
  • Ryde
  • Tada 
  • Gojek
  • ComfortDelGro

The following businesses received a 10-year street-hail service operator licence in addition to the three-year commute service operator licence, which was also issued to Get and Ryde:

  • CityCab
  • ComfortDelGro
  • Prime Taxi Services&nbsp,
  • Leaps Premier
  • Trans-cab

Geo Lah and Trans-cab were&nbsp, granted a one-year temporary licence to enable them to “fine-tune their operational features to satisfy LTA’s regulatory requirements for safety and service delivery” before they are considered for a complete ride-hail support operator permission.

According to the power, “licensees must adhere to the terms of their licenses, including ensuring that association agreements with drivers are non-exclusive in nature and ensuring that LTA’s safety standards are met.”

The permits does become effective on January 1, 2025.

Improving OF TAXI DRIVERS ‘ VOCATIONAL LICENCE Education

LTA stated that it will also streamline the training program and lower the tuition for the Taxi Driver’s Vocational Licence ( TDVL ) to further entice drivers to take up taxi driving.

The entire training time needed to earn a TDVL may be decreased from 16 hours to 12 hours. Additionally, the time required to convert a PDVL to a TDVL may remain cut from eight hours to five.

The TDVL education has been updated and updated to be more pertinent to the demands of today’s car drivers, according to LTA.

The cost to obtain a TDVL and to convert a PDVL to TDVL will also be reduced from S$ 275 to S$ 250, and S$ 145 to S$ 132.50 ( before Goods and Services Tax ) respectively.

LTA continued with a statement stating that it is completing the second phase of the P2P business structure review with a view to release its status in March 2025.

We will continue to engage industry partners in different ways to enhance the general stability of P2P supply in order to meet changing commuter requirements and to strengthen the P2P market’s contestability so that drivers ‘ and travellers ‘ passions are safeguarded.

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Tibet: How China cracked down on rare protests over Kamtok dam

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Getty Images Treated image: An aerial photo of the Wudongde Hydropower Station, in red, superimposed on a treated image of winding Jinsha river.Getty Images

The BBC has learned from sources and verified images that hundreds of Tibetans were arrested earlier this year for their protests against a Chinese bridge. Some of the victims were beaten and seriously injured.

In Tibet, which China has strongly controlled since it annexed the area in the 1950s, demonstrations of this nature are unique. The fact that they continue to occur shows China’s contentious effort to build dams in a region that has long been sympathetic.

Soon after the activities in February, accusations of the arrests and stabbings started to surface. Authorities tightened restrictions even more in the coming weeks, making it difficult for anyone to check the report, especially for journalists who are unable to travel freely to Tibet.

However, the BBC has spent decades looking for Tibetan solutions whose friends and family members were beaten and detained. Additionally, BBC Verify has checked leaked videos and satellite pictures that show large-scale demonstrations and clergy pleading with the authorities for mercy.

The options are no associated with activist organizations and reside outside of China. However, for health reasons, they did not want to be named.

The Chinese ambassador in the UK did not confirm or refute the demonstrations or the ensuing assault in response to our inquiries.

However, it stated that” China is a nation governed by the rule of law, and completely protects people ‘ right to legitimately express their concerns and ideas or ideas.”

BBC graphic showing location of Gangtuo dam project and affected villages and monasteries

The demonstrations, followed by the assault, took position in a country house to Tibetans in Sichuan territory. For years, Chinese authorities have been planning to build the massive Gangtuo dam and hydropower plant, also known as Kamtok in Tibetan, in the valley straddling the Dege ( Derge ) and Jiangda ( Jomda ) counties.

The dam’s reservoir, which is constructed, do bury a Tibetan region rich in both cultural and religious significance and a location rich in ancient monasteries and villages.

One of them, the 700-year-old Wangdui ( Wontoe ) Monastery, has particular historical value as its walls feature rare Buddhist murals.

Taus of Tibetans would also be displaced by the Gangtuo bridge. The transfer of 4, 287 people to make way for the dam has been seen by what appears to be a common sweet document.

The BBC spoke with a government official listed on the sweet record as well as Huadian, the state-owned company rumored to be building the dam. Neither have responded.

Plans to build the dam were first approved in 2012, according to a United Nations special rapporteurs letter to the Chinese government. The letter, which is from July 2024, raised concerns about the dam’s “irreversible impact” on thousands of people and the environment.

From the start, citizens were no” consulted in a significant way” about the bridge, according to the email. For example, they were given data that was limited and not in the Tibetan vocabulary.

The government also promised to the people that the project would only proceed if 80 % of them gave their consent, the letter continues, adding that people tried to raise issues about the dam several times.

Therefore, in February, officials told them they had been evicted immediately, while giving them much information about relocation options and payment, the BBC understands from two Tibetan sources.

Despite knowing the dangers of a assault, people and Buddhist priests decided to step protests because of this.

They “didn’t know what was going to occur to them,” they said.

In Dege, the largest one saw hundreds of people gathering outside a state tower. Activists can be heard calling on the government to prevent the foreclosures and letting them sit in a video tape that was obtained and verified by the BBC.

A group of inhabitants reportedly pleaded with visiting officials to halt construction of the bridge in a separate incident. The BBC has verified that this tragedy occurred in the town of Xiba and obtained footage that appears to show it.

Red-robed priests and people are seen knelt down on a sandy road and giving a thumbs up, a customary Tibetan pleading for mercy.

In the past, the Taiwanese government has been swift to oust any resistance to authority, particularly in Tibetan country, where it is sensitive to anything that might lead to separatist attitude.

This day, it was no different. According to one of our resources, authorities quickly launched their assault, raiding homes across the river, and arresting hundreds of people at demonstrations.

In what is thought to be an arrest function, one unidentified but widely shared picture appears to show Chinese police shoving a group of priests on a street.

Our Tibetan options, whose families and friends were the targets of the onslaught, claim that many were detained for weeks and some were severely beaten.

One resource shared new details of the investigations. He claimed to the BBC that a close friend from childhood was detained and subjected to numerous interrogations over the course of several weeks.

He was questioned and treated politely at earliest. They asked him’ who asked you to attend, who is behind this’.

” Then, when he couldn’t provide them]the ] comments they wanted, he was beaten by six or seven unique surveillance officers over several times.”

His companion sustained only small wounds, and was freed within a few days. But others were not so fortunate.

A different cause informed the BBC that more than 20 of his relatives and friends were detained for participating in the demonstrations, including an old man who was older than 70.

” Some of them sustained accidents all over their system, including in their bones and liver, from being kicked and beaten… some of them were ill because of their wounds, “he said.

Similar allegations of physical abuse and whippings during the detention have come up in Tibetan media reports from abroad.

The UN notice also notes accounts of suspensions and use of pressure on hundreds of demonstrators, stating they were” seriously beaten by the Chinese authorities, resulting in injury that required hospitalisation”.

Tsering Woeser A photo showing seated red-robed monks praying inside the Wontoe Monastery in Dege county. Tsering Woeser
Tsering Woeser An ancient, fading mural inside the Wontoe Monastery shows Buddha seated, with other images surrounding him - the mural is painted in red, blue, green, yellow and white. Tsering Woeser

After the assault, Tibetans in the area encountered yet tighter restrictions, the BBC understands. There was increased security, and communication with the outside world was more hampered. According to sources, those who are still in contact have been reluctant to talk because they fear a new onslaught.

According to the first source, some released protesters were finally permitted to travel abroad in Tibetan place, but others have received orders restricting their motion.

Nomadic nomads who need to travel across pastures with their herds and those who need to go to a hospital for health care have issues as a result, he said.

When I got through, they told me not to visit any more because they would be arrested, according to the next cause, who claimed he last heard from his friends and relatives at the end of February. They were quite scared, they would stand up on me.

” We used to talk over Twitter, but now that is certainly achievable. I’m absolutely blocked from contacting all of them”, he said.

” A younger girl cousin was the last people I spoke to,” I said. She said,’ It’s very unsafe, a lot of us have been arrested, there’s a lot of problem, they have hit a lot of us’… They didn’t know what was going to happen to them next”.

The Chinese state media has been unable to provide any information about the protests and assault. But soon after the protests, a Chinese Communist Party national visited the area to “explain the need” of building the bridge and called for” security repair methods”, according to one report.

According to documents posted online, a few months later, a tender was awarded for the construction of a Dege “public security post.”

The BBC has been using satellite imagery to monitor the valley for months. For now, there is no sign of the dam’s construction nor demolition of the villages and monasteries.

The Chinese Embassy informed us that the government was still conducting geological surveys and special studies to build the dam. They added the local government is “actively and thoroughly understanding the demands and aspirations” of residents.

Development or exploitation?

China is no stranger to controversy over dams.

The Three Gorges on the Yangtze River, the government’s largest dam, was the subject of protests and criticism when it built the world’s largest dam in the 1990s.

As China has accelerated its transition from coal to clean energy sources in recent years, these moves have become particularly sensitive in Tibetan territories.

Beijing has been eyeing the steep valleys and mighty rivers here, in the rural west, to build mega-dams and hydropower stations that can sustain China’s electricity-hungry eastern metropolises. President Xi Jinping has personally pushed for this, a policy called” xidiandongsong”, or” sending western electricity eastwards”.

Getty Images An aerial photo shows Wudongde Hydropower Station on the Jinsha river, the world's seventh largest hydropower station, on the channel of the Jinsha river in Liangshan prefecture, Sichuan Province, China, December 31, 2022. Getty Images

Like Gangtuo, many of these dams are on the Jinsha ( Dri Chu ) river, which runs through Tibetan territories. It is located in the Yangtze River’s upper reaches, making it China’s largest clean energy corridor.

Gangtuo is in fact the most recent of a string of dams planned for this valley, five of which are either being built or are already operational.

These dams have been described by the Chinese government and state media as a win-win solution that reduces pollution, generates clean energy, and improves rural Tibetans.

Clean energy projects are focused on “promoting high-quality economic development” and “enhancing the sense of gain and happiness among people of all ethnic groups,” according to the Chinese embassy’s statement to the BBC.

However, Tibetans have long been accused of violating their rights by the Chinese government. The dams, according to activists, are the most recent instance of Beijing squattering Tibetans and their land.

” What we are seeing is the accelerated destruction of Tibetan religious, cultural and linguistic heritage”, said Tenzin Choekyi, a researcher with rights group Tibet Watch. The Chinese government is implementing “high-quality development” and “ecological civilisation” in Tibet.

The Tibetans are expelled from their homes in China, which creates a favorable environment for development. The same fate awaits the villagers and monks who live close to the Gangtuo dam. According to Human Rights Watch ( HRW), more than 930, 000 rural Tibetans have been relocated since 2000.

Beijing has always maintained that these relocations happen only with the consent of Tibetans, and that they are given housing, compensation and new job opportunities. State media often portrays it as an improvement in their living conditions.

Getty Images A spectacular bend in the Jinsha river as it winds all the way around mountain, is seen in an aerial photo of Garze city, Sichuan Province.Getty Images

But rights groups paint a different picture, with reports detailing evidence of coercion, complaints of inadequate compensation, cramped living conditions, and lack of jobs. They also point out that relocation severs the deep, centuries-old connection that rural Tibetans share with their land.

According to Maya Wang, interim China director at HRW,” These people will essentially lose everything they own, their livelihoods, and community heritage.”

There are also environmental concerns related to the possible dangers of building dams in a region rife with earthquake fault lines, as well as the flooding of Tibetan valleys renowned for their biodiversity.

Some Chinese academics have found the pressure from accumulated water in dam reservoirs could potentially increase the risk of quakes, including in the Jinsha river. This could cause catastrophic flooding and destruction, as seen in 2018, when rain-induced landslides occurred at a village situated between two dam construction sites on Jinsha.

The Chinese embassy informed us that any clean energy project’s implementation” will go through scientific planning and rigorous demonstration, and will be subject to relevant supervision.”

China has recently passed laws protecting the environment around the Yangtze River and the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. The Yangtze’s upper reaches must be protected, according to President Xi.

About 424 million yuan ( £45.5m,$ 60m ) has been spent on environmental conservation along Jinsha, according to state media. Reports have also highlighted efforts to quake-proof dam projects.

Multiple Tibetan rights groups, however, argue that any large-scale development in Tibetan territory, including dams such as Gangtuo, should be halted.

They have organized demonstrations abroad and called for an international moratorium, arguing that businesses involved in these projects would “allow the Chinese government to profit from the occupation and oppression of Tibetans.”

” I really hope that this]dam-building ] stops”, one of our sources said. ” Our ancestors were here, our temples are here. We have been here for generations. It causes a lot of pain to move. What kind of existence would we have if we left?”

Additional reporting by Richard Irvine-Brown of BBC Verify

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Waymo self-driving taxis coming to Tokyo – Asia Times

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In the largest metropolitan market for autonomous driving outside China, Waymo has announced plans to introduce its self-driving vehicles to Tokyo in earlier 2025, beating Chinese manufacturers to the limit and taking Tesla’s robot ad.

This past week the Alphabet ( Google ) subsidiary revealed a partnership with Nihon Kotsu, the top taxi and limousine service company in Tokyo, and GO, Japan’s most popular taxi app. The maintenance and maintenance of Waymo cars will be handled by Nihon Kotsu. GO provides easy-to-understand guidance in English.

Second, Nihon Kotsu owners will run Waymo’s cars mechanically to chart the key areas of the city – the heavily traveled and often visited districts of Shinjuku-ku, Shibuya-ku, Minato-ku, Chiyoda-ku, Shinagawa-ku and Koto-ku.

The automatic Jaguar I-PACE autonomous cars will then take their first street excursion outside the US.

Waymo boasts. The business goes on to explains:” The Waymo vehicle is our autonomous driving tech that always gets crazy, tired or distracted”, Waymo boasts. ” We prioritize health and are wary of our footprints every time we test the Waymo Driver in locations far from where we usually operate.” The business describes its process as follows:

First, we transport a little fleet of vehicles carrying the Waymo Driver to a new town. Testing warships are limited and are not accessible to the general public. The vehicles can start driving independently after the Waymo Driver has an understanding of the landscape. People specialists give our executive teams feedback on the driving experience during these trips and highlight novelnuances that may arise from operating in new areas.

Together, our engineering team can analyze the Waymo Driver’s efficiency in a virtual replica of the new location to determine how it generalizes. Our teams continue improving the Waymo Driver’s abilities and support experience using the new insights and learnings gained during this time.

Driving in dozens of different locations over the years has helped shape the capabilities and design of our detecting technology, enhance Waymo Driver’s efficiency in the cities where we now operate, and safely transfer our technologies to new locations.

Enjoy a picture of a Waymo vehicle moving through traffic here. &nbsp,

Tokyo’s road map is quite complex and, like the British, the Chinese pull on the left-hand side of the road. This may require some adjusting. However, Waymo would be able to qualify its knowledge from Tokyo to London and other major cities, such as Delhi and Mumbai, where they drive left.

Waymo has a somewhat low injury rate, with about one incident resulting in harm per million miles of travelling, as noted by computer professor Timothy Lee.

In Waymo’s estimation, compared with the average human driver over 25 million miles of driving in Phoenix and San Francisco, the Waymo Driver had 81 % fewer airbag deployment crashes, 72 % fewer injury causing crashes and 57 % fewer police-reported crashes. So far, no fatalities have been reported.

But Waymo Driver does make mistakes. Last June, while on the way to pick up a passenger in Phoenix, a Waymo self-driving taxi crashed into a telephone pole. The company recalled all 672 autonomous vehicles it was using at the time for a software update, but no one was hurt. Additionally, 444 vehicles were earlier this year and 2 vehicles were recalled in December 2023 for software updates.

Waymo vehicles were involved in 17 crashes and five other instances of potential violations of traffic safety in the six months leading up to 2024. There were no injuries reported.

According to an analysis of US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) data made by Craft Law Firm, a total of&nbsp, 3, 979 accidents&nbsp, involving autonomous vehicles were reported between 2019 and June 17, 2024. After more than doubling to 1, 450 in 2022, the number dropped to 1, 353 in 2023 and was down to 473 in the first half of 2024, demonstrating that safety has improved while the number of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles on the road, and the number of miles driven, has greatly increased.

In October 2024, Waymo reported that its self-driving taxis were providing more than 150, 000 paid rides per week– up from about 100, 000 in August and 50, 000 last May – over a total distance of more than one million miles.

Of the 3, 979 accidents reported to the NHTSA, Tesla accounted for 2, 146, Waymo for 415, GM for 219, Cruise for 187, Honda for 155, and Subaru, Toyota, Ford, BMW, Kia, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and some 40 other companies for the remainder. Cruise was sold to GM in 2016 and discontinued in December 2024. This was also a setback for Honda, which had collaborated with GM to create self-driving vehicles and had invested in Cruise.

According to a report from the iSeeCars website, Tesla has the highest fatal accident rate among US automakers, according to a study by the iSeeCars website. There is even a tesladeaths .com website, which says it “is a record of Tesla accidents that involved a driver, occupant, cyclist, motorcyclist, or pedestrian death, whether or not the Tesla or its driver were at fault”, with” as much related crash data as possible”. The website, which was updated on October 20, notes 51 fatalities related to Tesla Autopilot and two related to FSD ( Full Self-Driving ).

This is important because, as The Wall Street Journal reported in August,” Since 2021, Tesla has reported over 1, 200 crashes related to its driver assistance system called Autopilot to federal regulators”, and the NHTSA has “tied at least 14 fatalities to the tech]nology ]. However, because NHTSA’s reports are heavily redacted, it’s been difficult for the public to comprehend the significance of Autopilot in crashes. Important details like the crash narrative and even the precise date are omitted from public reports because Tesla views information about Autopilot as proprietary.

In the US, Waymo’s self-driving taxis are currently operating in Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles, with commercial service in Austin, Atlanta and Miami scheduled to start in 2025. In Austin, a limited test service began in October.

Tesla’s much-hyped robotaxi, which it also calls Cybercab, probably won’t be on the road until late 2026 at the earliest. Elon Musk, CEO, announced the product’s release date in October, saying it would be “before 2027.” Cybercab has been driving Tesla’s stock price higher, but not much else. Furthermore, Tesla has been in Japan since 2014, but there are very few of its vehicles on the road.

A Japanese company called Turing is also developing autonomous driving software that is “equipped with human-like knowledge and decision-making capabilities” and uses neural networks to convert camera images directly into driving commands to enable a self-driving vehicle to travel anywhere and under any circumstances.

Turing is working on generative AI that “directly issues driving instructions from camera images… without using many sensors or high-precision maps.” He believes that “what is necessary for autonomous driving is not good eyes but a good brain. Its current biggest challenge appears to be catching up with and keeping up with Waymo.

Follow this writer on&nbsp, X: @ScottFo83517667

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Gentari and Mastercard Collaborate on EV Adoption Initiative

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  • Companies sign an MoU to examine online payment options for charging electric vehicles
  • Partnership aims to support Malaysia’s conservation targets and lower carbon mobility framework

Gentari and Mastercard Collaborate on EV Adoption Initiative

Through its subsidiary, Gentari Green Mobility Sdn Bhd and Mastercard have made an announcement to collaborate to promote the adoption of electric vehicles ( EV ) in Asia Pacific. The two firms signed a Memorandum of Understanding on December 17, 2024, to discover possibilities in advertising, marketing, and online payment options for EV charging.

Collaboration Facts

To encourage inclusive EV implementation in public transport and support carbon reduction efforts, the partnership aims to implement stable and improved digital payment solutions. Gentari, a fresh strength options service, operates a system of EV charging stations across Malaysia, Thailand, and India.

Shah Yang Razalli, assistant CEO of Gentari and CEO of Gentari Green Mobility, stated:” Mastercard’s skills in modern online payment solutions that generate sustainable and inclusive development aligns with Gentari’s eyesight of leveraging technology to improve efficiency and customer experiences. Through Gentari Go, we provide smooth access to clean energy options – from household thermal to natural freedom, including cross-border EV wandering. We’re excited to look into how we can connect more people and communities as we strive to be the region’s most valuable lover for efficient freedom solutions because of Mastercard’s innovative payment systems and extensive reach.

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Kyiv is left with few good options and allies in a Trump 2.0 world – Asia Times

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At their last meeting of the year, EU leaders were meeting in Brussels with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted his properly managed monthly phone-in and press conference to answers questions from journalists and regular Russians. Unsurprisingly, the war in Ukraine loomed massive at both situations.

But the conflict in Ukraine is only one aspect of a complex, rapidly transforming political environment that neither Russia nor the EU, enable only Ukraine, are able to completely control. Donald Trump, who did re-enter the White House at the end of January 2025, is the main reason for this.

He now has a significant impact on the calculations made by Moscow and Brussels. However, his fervently-focused, if detail-free, plea for the conclusion of the Ukrainian war is viewed with suspicion on the other side of the Atlantic. This is true for both Moscow and Brussels.

On Monday, December 16, the German foreign officials reiterated their unwavering support for Kyiv. Previous German prime minister Kaja Kallas, who is now the EU’s top representative for international affairs and security policy, made the clear claim that there needs to be more military support from Europe. The code would be to make it possible for Ukraine to “hold on” and “turn the balance in their pursuit because Putin won’t stop until he stops,” according to the report.

In a further sign of the EU hardening, rather than softening, its position on Russia, the foreign officials adopted the bloc’s 15th sanctions package. This is one of the most important sanctions to time, which targets 54 people and 30 businesses and places an extra 32 businesses on the blacklist for evading existing sanctions.

On December 18, Zelensky met with NATO secretary standard Mark Rutte, another dialogue skeptical. Like Kallas, he wants to “focus on the business at hand” to ensure that Ukraine has everything Putin needs to keep from winning. Rutte’s words echoe those of António Costa, the new leader of the European Council, who also remarked that the Union must” stand with Ukraine for as long as needed and do whatever it takes” for the Russian invasion to be defeated and international laws to rule.

In the meantime, Putin, during his yearly phone-in, was whole of his usual rhetoric about Russia winning in what he continues to call a” specific military function” in Ukraine. The main goal of this function is to convince regular Russians that things are generally on track to accomplishing Russia’s war goals. Ironically, this is the third time in a row that Putin has praised Russia’s superiority and inevitable victory, which is obviously lost on both the president and his audience.

A committee of the Russian defense ministry meeting on December 16 more reinforced the information that the Kremlin is determined to achieve a military victory. These Putin outlined continued funding into the region’s armed forces, now totalling 6.3 % of GDP.

While he made the point that the Kremlin” may improve this consumption endlessly,” he was also unwavering when he reiterated that” the position, the Soviet people are giving everything they can to the military forces to fulfill the duties we have set.” These things, in Putin’s see, include the battle of” the neo-Nazi government in Kiev, which seized power again in 2014″ and” to push the army out from our territory”.

Officials in Moscow and Brussels seem strangely congruent in their determination to keep fighting, despite whatever kind of agreement Trump does consider, at least in their public statements.

Mounting force

Putin’s justification for doing so is that he firmly believes that the government is in place. His troops only made daily benefits of around 30 square kilometers of Ukrainian place in November. The impact of European authorization to hit targets deep inside Russia has so far been scant. Russia’s latest air battle against Ukraine’s critical national system, however, has caused extraordinary damage.

For the Union, the reasoning is unique. In the event of a peace, let alone a full peace agreement, EU leaders are hesitant to accept Trump as their replacement and are yet to come to terms with reputable safety guarantees for Ukraine. A Trump-brokered package, so, carries too many challenges. The idea of Putin regrouping and rearming after a brief break in the fighting would be the top preoccupation of Western leaders, which would then pose an even greater threat to Western security.

It is hoped that Ukraine’s continued defense of itself against Russian aggression will help the EU and other NATO members avoid the kind of philosophical conflict Ukraine has been having since Russia’s full-scale war in February 2022.

All of this leaves Ukraine vulnerable to both military force from Russia and political force from the incoming Trump administration to reach a package, which includes the loss of roughly 20 % of Russian country that Russia has illegally annexed since 2014. Ukraine’s European allies will also be under political pressure to continue fighting in a conflict that Europe is trying to avoid.

With Trump 2.0 and 2025 in hand, Zelensky has few viable allies and no other viable options. The best thing Ukraine can hope for is passing the time. Trump will need Zelenensky to apologise. Before a ceasefire can be reached, he will need to be open to the idea of negotiations with Russia.

If Europe, in the meantime, gets serious about its own defense, this might finally lead the EU and Kyiv’s European NATO allies to stand on their own feet and provide the continent, including Ukraine, with credible deterrence against Russia.

So far, they have talked the talk. They will need to demonstrate that they can walk the walk in 2025.

The University of Birmingham’s Stefan Wolff is an assistant professor of international security.

The Conversation has republished this article under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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