Two shipping firms charged with discharging 100L of oil each into Singapore waters, polluting sea

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Two shipping companies were charged in court on Tuesday ( Jun 6 ) with dumping about 100L of oil into Singapore’s waters by their oil tankers.

Under the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act, Hellenic Overseas Maritime Enterprises and Leth Incargo Marine Services each faced one command in individual cases.

Leth Incargo Marine Services was Pacific A Dorodchi’s representative, the command sheets claim.

At the Eastern Bunkering Anchorage A on November 29, 2022, the ship reportedly discharged about 100L of high-sulphur energy oil onto its deck and into Singapore lakes while the ship was receiving high-sulphur gas fuel from another fuel ship, the Maria Cosulich, at the same time.

Star Prosperity, a low-sulphur gas ship operated by Hellenic Overseas Maritime Enterprises, was receiving low-sulphur energy oil from another oil tanker, MT Decorum, another oil tanker operating at Eastern Bunkering Anchorage A on January 9, 2023.

A defined place off the beach where ships can buoy is known as an anchor. Singapore’s marinas, each with its designated function, are divided into three areas: Eastern, Western, and Jurong.

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Commentary: Trash balloons another sign of North Korea’s refusal to act within global norms

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STRATEGIC Loneliness

The result of all this thoughtless, controversial behavior is loneliness. Unfortunately, this self-created loneliness conflicts with North Korea’s long-term aim of acceptance into the world on par with South Korea’s.

North Korea has clearly lost the inter- Asian rivals. Its wealthy knows this, since do its Russian and Chinese friends. Major program turbulence could lead to decline and reunification.

Recognizing and accepting this philosophical dilemma is the answer, as is accepting that North Korea should become a legitimate state in the world rather than the bizarre, destructive Korea that no one likes.

Recognition may lessen the North’s threat to US and South Korea’s security and, in some cases, encourage foreign investment and support. In the past, the North has made detente work with former US President Donald Trump and numerous democratic South Asian presidents.

However, all of these attempts have failed, primarily because the restless do not have the confidence to make difficult concessions to North Korea. It has long been a renegade position that has been unsocialized and obedient, and has the potential to bribe foreigners or sell meth to them.

We anticipate North Korea to build a balloon carrying garbage and faeces. It explains in its own little way why North Korea is still a distant and dysfunctional country 35 times after the Cold War.

Robert Kelly ( @Robert_E_Kelly ) is a professor of political science at Pusan National University.

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China to retaliate if Europe raises EV tariffs  – Asia Times

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Beijing has pledged to retaliate if China ignores its warning and imposes additional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles ( EVs ).

According to Reuters, the EU previously scheduled the date for its announcement regarding temporary tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles for June 5, but moved it forward until June 10.

The pause is intended to prevent the June 6 through June 9 elections for the European Parliament from being impacted, according to the report.

On June 1, Wang Wentao, the head of Taiwanese trading, told some Chinese businesses in Barcelona, Spain, that the EU’s recent studies into Chinese Vehicles and other products were carried out under false pretenses like Chinese overcapacity and unfair competition.

He said these probes involved unfair use of industry remedies, global procurement instruments, and international payment regulations. He added that those actions had increased the chance of intensifying China-EU business tensions.

We hope that Chinese and European businesses can overcome obstacles and work together to create initiatives for economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe, he said. These projects may exhibit a strong inclusion of the two business chains in particular.

He called on the Euro to prevent its “protectionism” and cooperate with China. &nbsp,

His remarks followed a five-page letter from the Chinese Commerce Ministry to the EU, which expressed major concerns about the European Commission’s recently launched trade investigations.

Beijing called for a ceasefire to stop further increase, but it warned that China’s agricultural and aerospace sectors had become its target in retaliation.

China announced last month that it might impose taxes as high as 25 % on imported cars with big machines. If that happens, Germany will get hit by China’s measures. &nbsp,

The Chinese authorities may launch an anti-dumping research into EU-sourced meat exports, according to the state-owned Global Times on May 26. &nbsp,

Last year, China imported 2.2 million tons of meat, followed by Japan’s 1.47 million loads and Mexico’s 1.28 million tons, according to Statista.com. The country primarily imported meat from Spain, Brazil, the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands. &nbsp,

Chinese EV satellites

The European Commission launched a 13-month research into whether state subsidies have helped Chinese electric car manufacturers gain market share in recent years on October 4th, 2013. Nine decades after the investigation begins, it has the authority to impose temporary anti-subsidies. &nbsp,

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen demanded that the Union follow in the US’s feet and take steps to protect itself from harm caused by China’s business overcapacity in a visit to Germany on May 21. &nbsp,

However, the EU delayed making an announcement about its selection. &nbsp,

A Henan-based journalist writes in an article on May 31 that” the pause of the EU’s statement showed that China’s caution of retribution has shown its effects.” &nbsp,

Although some EU members want to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, France and Germany continue to oppose the increase in taxes, he claims. &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

He claims that China will apply the same rules to France’s Airbus and the EU’s vineyards and dairy items if the EU insists on imposing tariffs on Chinese Vehicles.

BMW and Volkswagen executives warned against imposing International import taxes on Chinese electric vehicles on May 8. They claimed that rising tariffs will encourage China’s retaliation and promote global commerce protection. &nbsp,

Presently, the EU applies a 10 % tax on all imported vehicles, regardless of their history. The US will start imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles starting on August 1st, going up 25 % to 100 %.

The Kiel Institute, a Germany- based business for economic study, said in a report on May 31 that if the EU imposes 20 % levies on imports of Chinese electric cars, the size of imported Chinese Vehicles will fall by 25 %, or 125, 000 products worth US$ 3.8 billion. &nbsp,

According to the report, a drop in Chinese EV exports may result in higher prices for local electric vehicles in Europe as a result of higher regional production costs. But, it added that BYD, a manufacturer of electric vehicles in China, had then construct new European facilities to meet local demand. &nbsp,

In addition, according to a report from Nikkei Asia on June 1 Great Wall Motor will shut down its Munich office on August 1 and employ all 100 there. It stated that the company was disappointed by German Vehicle sales. &nbsp,

Industrial overcapacity

Apart from the studies of Taiwanese Vehicles, the EU has also in recent months looked into China’s railway trains as well as tools used for solar, wind energy technology, safety inspections and medical devices.

At a Parisian trilateral meeting on May 6th, Chinese President Xi Jinping told French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that there is no such thing as” China’s overcapacity problem.”

” While reaffirming our attention in a healthy and bilateral cooperation, we express concerns about China’s extensive use of non- market policies and practices that undermines our workers, industries, and financial resilience”, G7 finance ministers and key bank governors said in a joint statement on May 25.

Read: Company headquarters raided, China calls EU’ interventionist’

Following Jeff Pao on Twitter: &nbsp, @jeffpao3

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DisruptInvest 2024: Gobind Singh talks digital, true investments and Madani but can he be bold?

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  • Set off the same old and dated justifications for why it is impossible and believe in yourself.
  • work with other officials to improve the nation’s reputation as a modern citizen.

Gobind Singh, Minister of Digital (7th from right) with Ben Lim, founder and CEo of Nexea Ventures, which organised DisruptInvest 2024, with speakers and partipants.
GobidMalaysia’s Minister of Digital, Gobind Singh, spoke at the 5th DisruptInvest Summit on 23 May where he highlighted the administration’s dedication to support and help develop a strong business ecology through various initiatives, with the release of the annual KL20 summit in April designed to help light Malaysia’s business ecosystem to foreign VCs, as the latest signal of this intent. The government emphasized its goal of making Kuala Lumpur the Top 20 World Startup Ecosystem, thus KL20, by 2030.

In six and a half years, leapfroging 50 spots is a significant challenge that will require strong actions and strong government support, especially since KL is already in the 70th spot.

One such bold move, and yet low hanging fruit, will be to get authorities, the largest consumer of software companies in the country, to have its various departments and agencies move a small percentage, say 10 %, of their IT spend to businesses and homegrown software companies that have built their own solutions.

This concept has been repeatedly pushed aside and is not novel. I once asked Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad about the legality of requiring a small portion of government IT spending to be distributed to Malaysian tech companies in a press conference in 2002 in order to demonstrate the viability of their solutions. The question was not taken seriously.

But two decades later, the question must be taken seriously. Because, today, just as back then, the government aspires for Malaysian tech companies and its startups to be regional if not, global players. Stop aspiring for such bold goals if, as some have crossed RM400 million in revenue, we still do n’t show confidence in our own homegrown tech founders and their businesses today, because actions reveal true intent.

Here, Gobind can lead by example, be bold. The Digital Ministry should be the most digital in terms of its processes and engagement with the public and business because it is a new ministry and has no long-established relationships with IT vendors. Gobind must put aside the same old and dated justifications for why it is impossible and give favor to local tech startups.

The knowledge he acquires can then be applied to Minister Rafizi Ramli, a former minister himself, to the Economy Ministry. And so on to another ministry and so on.

Let’s see if Gobind, whose appointment as minister was well greeted by the tech ecosystem, leads the way.

Importance of capital

Gobind who also spoke at KL20, described capital as a catalyst to fuel KL20’s ambition, empowering innovators to push boundaries, challenge the status quo. The investments of today will be what will make the world of tomorrow,” he declared. The CEO of Vertex Holdings, Chua Kee Lock, who emphasized during his keynote that funding is a key factor in startup success, also made reference to the importance of capital.

This is also the reason the government is coordinating the two main public startup funding organizations, Mavcap Bhd and Penjana Kapital Sdn Bhd, into one entity that is governed by Khazanah Nasional Bhd, a sovereign wealth fund. Consolidation will give the government better visibility into the performance of its startup investments because both operate as fund of funds.

Gobind has a broad scope of responsibility as the digital minister, which is the first time such a ministry has been established in Malaysia. The National ICT Association, Pikom, anticipates that the Digital Economy will contribute to Malaysia’s economy by this year, as measured by GDP. As such, when he speaks of investment, Gobind does not just refer to startup funding.

For instance, he noted the 279 % jump in digital economy investments ( mainly in data centres ) the country enjoyed in the first half of 2023, translating to RM28.4 billion. And, without giving the time frame, he shared that almost 70 % of Malaysia’s RM225 billion approved investments are in the digital economy.

]Ed: Approved investments are not the same as realized investments with the latter always falling short of the former due to factors such as changes in company’s leadership/direction, macroeconomy shifts, and where investors and the government are unable to agree on actual details/benefits. ]

He also shared that Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation ( MDEC ), one of the agencies under his portfolio, had facilitated 262 funding deals for local tech companies, worth US$ 402 million between 2020 and 2023.

Gobind’s responsibility, as Digital Minister, is to collaborate with other ministers to make the country shine as a digital nation and a digital economy with a highly digital savvy population. Take care of that, and startups will make investments that are digitally skewed, either for automation of manufacturing, or to increase business efficiency through the use of 5G technology.

One international collaboration Gobind mentioned is with the world’s leading pre-advisor, Draper University, which announced in March that it would establish its first campus outside of Silicon Valley. Such a move is crucial for advancing and leading the VC pipeline and startups looking to expand in Malaysia, according to Gobind.

Does not see need to stamp mark by creating new blue prints/masterplans

With less than 280 bureaucrats ( note that this is separate from the headcount of the various agencies that report to the ministry ), Gobind’s leadership of the Digital Ministry is interesting because he is carrying out the role by working within already established initiatives to support the digital economy rather than launching any big bang blueprints or road maps himself.

His argument was that the execution of the current roadmaps and blueprints is essential for success. Changes needed, based on ecosystem feedback, can be done without tearing up existing plans and starting over. He does n’t feel the need to use big initiatives to stamp his own mark, according to an executive who is aware of his mindset. Gobind believes he is applying the lessons he learned from his first two years as minister, from May 2018 to February 2020.

He also advocates for the welfare of consumers and businesses. When given information on the activities of the organizations and businesses that report to him, including MDEC, MyDigital Corp, CyberSecurity Malaysia ( CSM), and Digital Nasional Bhd ( DNB), Gobind tries to understand how the target market can profit. He has made it abundantly clear that he does not want initiatives to be run or new ones to be developed solely for the sake of reporting, according to the executive.

Seeking inclusive, sustainable growth via Madani framework

Gobind emphasized that” true investment is not only about allocating capital,” with the Madani Economic Framework serving as the government’s guiding principle for the government’s leadership and development agenda. By investing in the advancement of humanity and the advancement of society, it aims to foster a legacy of prosperity and progress.

He claimed that this serves as” the moral compass for initiatives like the KL20 Summit, with action plans geared toward ensuring sustainable economic growth and social justice.”

And Gobind emphasized that his government is committed to creating a conducive digital ecosystem for the nation and the region with Malaysia taking over the ASEAN chair next year. ” This cannot be done without ethical investment”.

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Initiative to support LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion launched

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PUBLISHED: 3 Jun 2024 at 18: 13

Initiative to support LGBTQ workplace inclusion launched
In northern Phuket, a motorist crossing is painted in rainbow hues ahead of this month’s Discover Phuket Pride 2024 event. ( Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran )

A new initiative is being spearheaded by the UN Development Programme ( UNDP ) to assist businesses in creating safe workplaces for Thai LGBTQ people, in collaboration with the Canadian Embassy, Chulalongkorn University’s Sasin School of Management, and Workplace Pride.

The so- called” Inclusion Toolkit for Organisations and Business: LGBTQI Insights to Raise Addition for All” includes data from Thai LGBTQ activists, civil society organisations, and local and international companies to develop guidelines on how to best make an inclusive workplace.

Renaud Meyer, the UNDP native member, said that while Thai culture has been working on the legal rights of LGBTQ individuals, it is also important to argue for their financial freedom.

The LGBTQ group is generally prone to bias in offices, he said, citing a study conducted for the planning of the kit.

He claimed that 46 % of the LGBTQ interviewees had to conceal their gender identity at work, and that 53 % of them were subjected to jokes and comments due to their sexual orientations and gender identity, and that 45 % of LGBTQ people who participated in the initiative said they faced job rejections because of their gender identity.

” So we can observe that behind the glitter of Thailand being the mecca of the world for the LGBTQ area, there is another fact that has never made a headline”, he said.

” Safe workplaces for LGBTQ people is a delicate global issue. The kit can be mobilised and adapted to various social circumstances”, he added.

The embassy of Canada, Ping Kitnikone, stated that Canada has long been committed to promoting diversity and supporting the deployment of an inclusive approach that allows everyone to participate fully and meaningfully.

She said,” Managing diversity at work requires more than just acknowledging our variations.”

It involves more than just putting together plans, putting together a program, or releasing a toolbox.

” To make it function, the framework has assimilate into institutional cultures. I do so urge everyone to use the advice in the kit as a starting point for putting it into practice in an organization. I’d like to ask you to periodically review the progress and work harder to offer your business and your employees by incorporating these principles, she continued.

Jiraporn Sindhuprai, the minister attached to the Thai PM’s office, said that the government is committed to addressing these challenges through the five regional human rights plan that prioritises certain groups, including LGBTQ individuals, but to reduce discrimination and raise awareness.

This toolkit is a significant step toward an inclusive Thailand, starting with guidelines for inclusive workplaces and how to stop unconsciously prejudiced LGBTQ people in Thailand, she continued.

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China outsourcing its cyberattacks to hackers-for-hire – Asia Times

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Every year ahead of the June 4 commemoration of the Tiananmen Square massacre, the Chinese government tightens online censorship to suppress domestic discussion of the event.

Critics, dissidents and international groups anticipate an uptick in cyber activity ranging from emails with malicious links to network attacks in the days and weeks leading up to the anniversary.

Much of this cyber activity by Beijing is done covertly. But a recent restructuring of China’s cyberforce and a document leak exposing the activities of Chinese tech firm i-Soon have shed some light on how Beijing goes about the business of hacking.

As a China expert and open-source researcher, I believe the latest revelations draw the curtain back on a contractor ecosystem in which government officials and commercial operators are increasingly working together.

In short, Beijing is outsourcing its cyber operations to a patchwork army of private-sector hackers who offer their services out of a mix of nationalism and profit.

From censorship to cyberattacks

Chinese authorities restrict the flow of information online by banning search terms, scanning social media for subversive messages and blocking access to foreign media and applications that may host censored content.

Control of online activity is particularly stringent around the anniversary of the protests at Tiananmen Square in 1989 that ended with a bloody crackdown on demonstrators by troops on June 4 of that year.

Since then pro-democracy activists have sought to commemorate the massacre on its anniversary – and Beijing has sought to counter mention of the crackdown. Chinese internet users note more restrictions and censorship in the run-up to the anniversary, with more words being banned and even certain emojis – like candles, denoting vigils – disappearing.

In 2020, Chinese authorities ordered Zoom, an American tech firm with a development team in China, to suspend the accounts of US-based activists commemorating June 4 and to cancel online vigils hosted on the platform. Zoom complied, stating that it was following local laws.

Beyond censorship, cyberattacks on dissident groups and Chinese-language media in the diaspora have also occurred on or around the anniversary.

On June 4, 2022, Media Today, a Chinese-language media group in Australia, experienced an unattributed cyberattack against its user accounts.

And earlier this year, the US Department of Justice charged seven China-based hackers with sending malicious tracking emails to members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group set up in 2020 on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

China’s cyberforce

The increasing sophistication of online attacks on dissident and international groups comes as China has been restructuring the agencies responsible for its cyber operations.

Today, much of China’s malicious cyber activities are carried out by the Ministry of State Security, or MSS, the country’s main intelligence agency and secret police.

But prior to the MSS expanding into this role, the People’s Liberation Army, or PLA, was responsible for the earliest cyberattacks attributed to the Chinese government. In 2015, the PLA dedicated a new service to cyberwarfare and network security, the Strategic Support Force.

But in April 2024, the PLA abruptly announced the Strategic Support Force’s disbandment and the creation of three new forces: the Aerospace Force, the Cyberspace Force and the Information Support Force. They, along with the existing Joint Logistics Support Force, report directly to the Chinese Communist Party.

This restructuring comes at a time of political uncertainty for China’s leadership. In 2023, Defense Minister Li Shangfu was removed just months into his new role, along with Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Li Yuchao, commander of the Rocket Force.

While Beijing has yet to offer details on the military reorganization, its timing appears to send a message. President Xi Jinping personally presided over the inauguration of the Information Support Force, telling members of the force that they must “listen to the party’s orders” and be “absolutely loyal, absolutely pure, absolutely reliable.”

Hackers: Patriots, pirates or profiteers?

The restructuring of China’s cyberforces coincides with a trend that has seen the outsourcing of malicious cyber operations to private sector contractors acting with the state’s explicit or tacit approval.

In February 2024, a document leak exposed an underground network of Chinese cyber contractors hacking for profit.

Cyber experts have long suspected that hackers may collaborate with the Chinese government, but the leak shows how operators working for Chinese firm i-Soon sold services and products to Chinese government entities and state-sponsored threat groups. The company was founded in 2010 by Wu Haibo, a former member of the Green Army, often described as China’s earliest hacker community.

The Green Army was formed in 1997 for hackers to learn and exchange hacking techniques. By 1998, patriotic Chinese hackers began organizing cyberattacks. For example, when riots in Indonesia triggered by the Asian financial crisis gave rise to racial violence against Chinese Indonesians, Chinese hackers targeted Indonesian government websites.

In 1999, Chinese hackers vandalized US government websites following NATO’s accidental bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. The term “honker,” meaning “red hacker” in Chinese, emerged around this time to designate Chinese hackers motivated by ideology and nationalism.

Yet, Chinese hackers have had an uneasy relationship with the authorities. While they offer cyber skills as well as plausible deniability for the Chinese government, they tend to muddle Beijing’s foreign policy when their actions go too far and draw criticism.

They are also prone to commit cybercrimes such as fraud and theft of intellectual property alongside state-sponsored espionage.

The Chinese government and prominent “patriotic” hackers have previously tried to rein in the community and promote legitimate work such as cybersecurity. The i-Soon leak, however, documents how Chinese state-sponsored contractors engage in bribery and other illicit activities.

Exploiting security flaws

China’s cyber capabilities have grown through the control and exploitation of cyber professionals, state-sponsored or otherwise. But it’s a complicated relationship.

To phase out the criminal behavior of hackers, Beijing has developed a pipeline to train its cyber workforce. And in part to keep them from sharing expertise with foreigners, Chinese cyber professionals are generally banned from international hacking competitions.

While cybersecurity is improved when security professionals share newly discovered security flaws, Chinese regulations limit the flow of such information. By law, software vulnerabilities discovered in China must be immediately reported to the Chinese government. Experts believe the Ministry of State Security subsequently exploits this data to develop cyber offensive capabilities.

Still, the i-Soon leak points to corruption in at least one corner of China’s growing network of commercial hacking. Internal correspondence shows contractors bribing government officials with money, alcohol and other favors. Messages also show contractors failing to generate sales, delivering subpar work and complaining about their working-class salary.

With local governments in China struggling to pay for basic services in a weak economy, companies such as i-Soon that support Beijing’s cyber operations face not only political but also financial headwinds.

Despite Beijing’s intention to implement an online crackdown every year on June 4, the cyberforces it employs to do so face their own issues that invite scrutiny and rectification by the Chinese Communist Party.

Christopher K Tong is Associate Professor of Asian Studies, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

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

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NATO flirting with war and extinction in Ukraine – Asia Times

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NATO is flirting with conflict and extinction. France is now “officially” &nbsp, sending troops to Ukraine&nbsp, ( they have been there for some time ) and NATO countries are demanding strikes deep inside Russia.

However, the US&nbsp, has quietly made&nbsp, a “policy change” that fairly falls short of what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wanted but opens the door to strong hits by the US on Russian place.

US Secretary of State&nbsp, Antony Blinken says&nbsp, that the US heavy attack license is “misinformation” but he did not deny the shift in US plan. He claims it is Russian propaganda but&nbsp, the information came from Washington&nbsp, and not from Russia.

What is going on? Ukraine is on the&nbsp, brink of collapse. The Russian military has a small army, which only gets worse as more soldiers are deployed. According to the Russians, Ukraine&nbsp, lost 35, 000 men in May&nbsp, (killed and wounded ). Ukraine may replace the soldiers who have been lost, and the current driven hiring plan cannot replace trained personnel.

Additionally, there are stories that Russia might drastically increase its own army size on-the-front. Some think that could be reinforcing the ongoing&nbsp, Kharkov- focused activity. In the Sumy location, some people are imagining a fresh battlefields. Still others believe that the Russians will soon expand their business along the lease, expanding their footprint, and eventually acquiring Chasiv Yar.

NATO officials fear Ukraine’s decline. They have little choice but to save Ukraine while guessing what the Russians will do next. NATO military being enshrined in a sizable number is not a option. Only that this simply implies that Europe will soon be filled with brain carriers. &nbsp, &nbsp,

NATO is unwilling to engage in negotiations with Russia. That includes President Joe Biden, who is concerned about entering the upcoming votes having lost Afghanistan and Ukraine. Any offer with the Russians now would mean big concessions, not only on place but about Ukraine’s future. &nbsp,

Russia’s position on requesting NATO leave Ukraine has not changed. It’s difficult to understand how such offers have a trading price, despite the fact that the Russians may agree to some security assures for Ukraine. &nbsp, May the US go to war with Russia for Ukraine? &nbsp, &nbsp,

The United States is the only credible and tested military power in NATO. However, a Russian land army cannot compete with a US force that is primarily military and little. If someone wants to see what happens to military forces, &nbsp, glance at Dunkirk.

Dunkirk 26- 29 May 1940&nbsp, – American forces line up on the beach at Dunkirk to receive removal.

The British benefit is in military aviation. However, once more, US pilots would have to work in a densely denialous environment where Russian weather defenses may weaken US military aircraft. Although it is true that the US has cunning, Russians have been developing strategies to combat US stealth fighters like the F-35 and the F-22. &nbsp,

No one can tell for certain how far along Russia is in terms of capturing American secrecy platforms, but Russian tactical threats are using UHF and L group radars to ensure they are neither surprised nor capable of retaliating against stealth threats. &nbsp,

That explains why two Russian&nbsp, proper radar places were targeted&nbsp, by robots in the past year. Was the US’s attack on Russia’s corporate radar assets a step in the direction of US tactical bombers and military aviation?

The “new” US scheme on strikes inside Belarusian territory appears to be “limited” to store power strikes in the Kharkov place, which also applies to those carried out inside Russian country around Belgorod, a Russian town that has already been targeted by Ukrainian artillery and drone strikes. The US will not permit ATACMS missile launches into Russian territory ( excluding Crimea, which the Russians consider to be their own territory ), which is another important limitation.

Russians claim that US policy has no purpose because Russian territory already uses US and NATO weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin, &nbsp, speaking in Tashkent, said that the US and NATO are manning the long- range weapons and providing target intelligence for them, so the “new” policy is not new at all.

Although it seems tempting to use striking force in Russia, it is not entirely clear that such attacks will alter the Ukrainian conflict. The use of drones, the majority of which are Chinese in origin and were modified by Ukraine to carry explosives, most notably RPG- 7 warheads, is the best strategy for provoking Russia.

A tank, armored vehicle, or even sporadic command centers or air defense radar can be killed by these. They have been reportedly fired in the thousands, and they are only moderately effective.

Even though Russia is their friend and ally, the Chinese continue to sell them to the Ukrainians. The lack of wording among the Russians is also intriguing. The only thing that seems to be in order for Russia to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine would be to stop the supply of drones. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Drone with PG- 7VL warhead.

There are a number of Chinese drone companies but the biggest and most important is DJI ( Da Jiang Innovations ), which controls 70- 80 % of the world market. In Europe and the United States, drone suppliers are available, but they do not produce in large numbers.

Many NATO member states support the change in US policy, with a few notable exceptions. Hungary, which is against NATO involvement in Ukraine, opposes deep strikes in Russian territory.

More relevantly, &nbsp, Italy has come out against&nbsp, the idea. &nbsp, The&nbsp, Germans, for their part and for what it is worth, say they support deep strikes but so far at least will not supply Taurus missiles, their only deep strike cruise missile weapon.

Beyond what they are already doing, it’s difficult to say what the Russians will do. The new policy, unfortunately, commits NATO to a war with Russia and approaches a declaration of war against Russia. &nbsp,

This implies that the Russians could retaliate, and some in Russia are known to be pushing for that. &nbsp, Doing so would instantly expand the war to Europe, a policy shift Putin has resisted. &nbsp, &nbsp,

The outcome of all of this is likely to be a continuation of the Ukraine war. NATO will take even more losses, including NATO soldiers. Given the negative effects that will befall Europe, plans to use NATO ground forces or air power are unlikely to be implemented behind the scenes. As serious thinkers in Europe and the United States are aware, NATO’s flirtation with a bigger war is horribly risky. &nbsp,

Spooking the Russians by attacking Russian territory or dispatching French soldiers will not work because the Russians have already figured out how to proceed with the Ukrainian conflict and have already pushed the boundaries of that reality. &nbsp, Furthermore, NATO’s failure to negotiate over Ukraine means the bleeding out of NATO’s already limited capabilities will continue.

Some NATO nations may decide that they need to look elsewhere for security. Is NATO flirting with extinction?

Stephen Bryen served as the Near East Subcommittee of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee&nbsp and as the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy. &nbsp,

This article was first published on his&nbsp, Weapons and Strategy&nbsp, Substack and is republished with permission.

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Work It Podcast: Twists and turns of applying for jobs in the age of AI

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Here’s an extract from the radio: &nbsp,

Tiffany Ang:
So you were saying, Gerald, that HR has been using this ( Application Tracking System ) system for the longest time, right? Is it more difficult to do it now in the age of Artificial because we have the resources we have at hand? Is it more difficult for people to get that door open? &nbsp,

Gerald Tan:
The ATS has, in my opinion, been active in the hiring industry for a while. However, I must admit that not all businesses make use of them. Usually for smaller firms, they do n’t need the ATS because they can still afford to review the resumes that come, maybe they do n’t get that many applications.

But for big corporations or Businesses, on regular, they get a few hundred programs per job. And across the organisation, thousands of jobs (are ) simultaneously open, looking for people. So that’s why the ATS is brought in to realize that work.

I believe that this ATS technology has demonstrated how adept it is at acquiring more skills. For instance, they are able to supply by crawling. Crawling significance like going to Linked In, looking at women’s information, trying to see who is ideal. &nbsp,

Tiffany Ang:
But they act like a recruiter themselves?

Gerald Tan:
Yes. So it could be done that to purchasing. And of course, the picking, after pulling out some of these patterns, they can form to see which one is better. Additionally, they might be included in primary testing. You might find a website from the business asking,” You you record yourself answering some discussion questions, since those are your first names are so much fun.”

Jia Hui Ong:
Yeah, I’ve experienced that. &nbsp,

Tiffany Ang:
You have? &nbsp,

Jia Hui Ong:
Yeah. I think it was a 30 to 45- second film meeting. But you are facing the cameras and speaking to yourself, in a way. &nbsp,

Tiffany Ang:
But basically it’s AI? AI is the one that’s doing it? Okay. How did it feel to have to go through that, then? &nbsp,

Jia Hui Ong:
Okay, it felt uncomfortable, right? Like speaking to yourself in front of a lens without facing a real person I think human-to-human contact is a little different from simply looking at your cam and talking about yourself. Yeah. So it felt a bit odd. &nbsp,

Gerald Tan:
Yeah, it does n’t quite feel natural, I think. However, those who support this technology frequently claim that it lessens the prejudices of verification because it allows you to look at someone and experience a positive vibe. Only accept what the person is saying.

So the algorithms evaluates for you. So it’s supposed to lessen the discrimination. But the truth is, the prospect is feeling extremely uncomfortable. They may never accomplish. &nbsp,

Tiffany Ang: &nbsp,
Simply. Because they’re not used to it. &nbsp,

Gerald Tan: &nbsp,
Yeah, right. So this is sort of a meat and egg position. So I think on this piece about the movie interviews, it’s here to stay.

Therefore, more job seekers will likely need to be more organized or comfortable speaking at these interviews. There are instruments of course, that may enable individuals to practise recording themselves, seeing themselves, before they attend an exam like this. &nbsp,

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Equinix opens two data centers in Malaysia with US0 mil invested to date

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  • Numerous lessons were learned by Malaysian service providers when the two features were being constructed.
  • JH1 in Johor provides obvious cost savings for Singapore companies looking to outsource tasks.

Equinix opens two data centers in Malaysia with US$140 mil invested to date

Equinix, a Nasdaq listed digital infrastructure company, has opened two data centers in Malaysia, one in the southern state of Johor ( JH1 ) and the central region state of Selangor, with the facility called&nbsp, Kuala Lumpur (KL1 ). These carrier-neutral International Business Exchange ( IBX ) facilities form Malaysia’s digital infrastructure backbone, giving local businesses access to Equinix’s global ecosystem of over ten thousand businesses spread across 260 data centers in 71 major cities. &nbsp,

Equinix opens two data centers in Malaysia with US$140 mil invested to date” We strongly believe that the entry of JH1 and KL1 inaugurates a new era in Malaysia,” said Cheam Tat Inn, managing director of Equinix Malaysia. ” By providing businesses with unprecedented access to worldwide network and cutting- top systems, Equinix is poised to improve the digital environment” .&nbsp, Cheam was speaking to reporters during a press journey at JH1 on Mon, 27 May.

The US$ 40 million JH1 service, which was announced in Nov 2022, is located 15km from Singapore in Nusajaya Tech Park and offers up to 500 units and 1, 800 square feet of coworking area. When fully operational, the US$$ 100 million KL1 data centre in Cyberjaya is anticipated to have 900 cabinets and 2,630 square feet of space. Both websites bring strong connection and online companies like Equinix Fabric, Cloud Router, and Internet Exchange to Malaysia, said Equinix.

While Equinix did not share prices for its two multi- client sites, also called retail collocation, a property analyst familiar with sales in the Malaysian business said the business value ranged from US$ 106.3 to US$ 117 ( RM500 to RM550 ) per watt per month. &nbsp,

Due to the proximity of the JH1 facility to Singapore, Cheam claims that the “offloading of workloads” will be made possible because Singapore-based businesses with growing digital needs can quickly move across the border to the new data center. By tapping into Equinix’s global reach across 71 cities, Malaysian businesses can also use the site as an interconnection hub to establish digital presences all over the world.

Though Cheam did not mention it, the JH1 facility is expected to offer Singapore based companies a clear cost advantage should they move workloads to JH1, with a market study by Statista.com ( chart ) in July 2020 showing Singapore data centers charging retail colocation rates of between US$ 230 to US$ 280 ( RM1, 032 to RM1, 318 ) per kilowatt. &nbsp,

Equinix opens two data centers in Malaysia with US$140 mil invested to date

While JH1 is anticipated to draw customers from Singapore, multinationals looking to service ASEAN markets from Malaysia are expected to use KL1. Already, Malaysian telcos like TIME and Maxis are leveraging Equinix’s Malaysian footprint, alongside firms spanning fintech, gaming, AI, and content provision.

Cheam remarked on the unavoidable impact of AI on the business, adding that” the deployment of AI use cases is clearly growing at a rapid rate.” AI’s hunger for high interconnectivity also means that,” They]customers ] are not just coming in and doing generic AI- their AI use cases span financial modeling and different industries”.

In a nod to growing concerns about the impact of the expanding data centers on the environment, both JH1 and KL1 are 100 % renewable energy as part of Equinix’s commitment to achieving its goal of becoming climate neutral by 2030, in keeping with Malaysia’s stated sustainability goals. Additionally, the facilities incorporate energy-efficient design that is compliant with international standards to improve power usage effectiveness.

Cheam also addressed the talent shortage in the construction of the highly developed facilities, not from a technological perspective, as the United States is already experiencing a talent shortage that is causing delays in data center construction. Cheam noted that” a lot of learnings went on, especially for Malaysian companies and construction firms,” pointing out that developing such cutting-edge data center facilities calls for close collaboration to develop local expertise. It’s not just about skills for operating the data centers, but helping architects, construction teams, and others understand data center design and building processes”.

To further nurture the data center talent pipeline, Equinix, with over 30 Malaysian staff at JH1 and KL1, said it plans on partnering with government agencies like MDEC, MIDA, and MITI on developing training programs. There are still no plans.

As for further expansion, Cheam said,” The immediate thing is to continue growing JH1 and KL1. Next, we’ll introduce our full line of digital services. We’re seeing strong demand for our data center services. We will be looking into new opportunities based on customer demand, just as we have done so for the last 25 years to address the growth of digital infrastructure.

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China making youth unemployment a ‘top priority’

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” LOWER EXPECTATIONS” There is now a force to replace roles that “dovetail with important policy priorities” or where skills shortages exist, said Tay, like business improving and technological development. With employment opportunities drying up for those holding anthropology, media and law degrees, she said, some kind of “government- sponsoredContinue Reading