‘Not just a gimmick’: Malaysia graft busters’ TikTok video of fashion office raid spurs calls for transparency

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The anti-graft busters also confirmed that the situation is being looked into in accordance with Section 18 of the MACC Act of 2009, which prohibits the making of false accusations and forecloses on possible penalties of up to 20 years in prison and RM10,000 or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon faith. &nbsp,

“( I ) hope this is not just a gimmick”, said X user @sakura_csgppkls on Nov 5. &nbsp,

The 58-second videos posted on TikTok shows the blurred faces of Ms. Vivy and Mr. Fadzarudin being interrogated as well as MACC’s officials searching through the company.

On Friday, both owners announced their resignation from the business. &nbsp,

” This looks staged though, to show that MACC is actually doing work”, echoed another X user” Marry Ann” on the same day. &nbsp,

” Good job MACC and Madani (unity ) government, we support”, said TikTok user Rousley M Deen.

” Stay updating us citizens, MACC. We want to know every single particulars”, another netizen Hazwani Baharum commented.

” I’m hoping the inspection will be thorough much, even though it involves prominent people. Most companies had to get loans, spoon out money for their businesses. Money does n’t come easy for us ordinary people. Does justice be served, netizen Ms. Ida Rafidah remarked on Saturday on an Instagram post from the local news outlet Astro Awani.

Mr. Azam confirmed on November 2 through a press speech that investigations are ongoing. &nbsp,

The statement read, “SPRM would like to provide the confirmation that a detailed investigation will be conducted, fair and appropriately.” The public is urged to refrain from speculating about those involved. &nbsp,

Mr. Azam even pointed out that the Ministry of Finance, PNB, and Khazanah had four official records from MACC.

Some internet users have even questioned why such a large investment was made despite FashionValet already recording losses. They likewise urged thorough investigations into Khazanah and PNB, who gave approval for the investment. &nbsp,

Local media reported on November 4 that Khazanah and PNB’s investment in the business in 2018 led to the company’s financial account filings with the Companies Commission of Malaysia ( SSM) showing a consistent decline from RM166, 793 in 2012 to RM10.7 million in 2017. &nbsp,

A severe and rigorous assessment is required to examine this. Why invest in a non-profitable company, would n’t it raise a red flag? Why wait until the loss reaches tens of millions ( of ringgit ),” questioned Facebook user Ms Mariam Lim on November 4. &nbsp,

Another Twitter user, Mr. Choon Hock Tay, wrote on November 4 that” Those decision-makers in Khazanah and PNB had been investigated… MACC had research without concern or fervour.” &nbsp,

Netizens also pointed out that Ms Vivy’s luxurious life has since been removed from her social media accounts. &nbsp,

” People are mad at Vivy because she flaunts her success everyday, even when finances from Khazanah and PNB are mismanaged”, said another X person. &nbsp,

” FV ( FashionValet ) needs to prove that funds from Khazanah and PNB are not used to purchase ( Ms) Vivy’s personal items”, said netizen Zaki Talib on Nov 5.

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Singtel detected and ‘eradicated’ malware said to be from Chinese hacking group

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SINGAPORE: &nbsp, Singtel said it had detected and&nbsp, “eradicated” ransomware that was apparently from Chinese state-sponsored thieves.

It was responding to a Bloomberg report on Tuesday ( Nov 5 ) that claimed Singtel had been “breached” by a hacking organization known as Volt Typhoon. &nbsp,

The report stated that the incident was reported in June and that it was a part of a wider campaign against telecom companies and other important facilities around the world by quoting two people with knowledge of the situation. &nbsp,

When questioned about the Bloomberg record, Singtel responded to CNA on Tuesday, saying,” We are constantly probed, like any other big organization and key network support company around the world.

The malware was discovered by our safe and detachable steps, which were then reported to the appropriate authorities.

Singtel is the largest telecommunication operator in Singapore. Its company Optus is the second-largest controller in Australia.

US officials announced in May that they had spoken with the Chinese government about a massive computer spy operation involving Volt Typhoon.

According to officials, the activity targeted&nbsp, crucial American network organizations that range from transport hubs to communications networks, and could be used against the country in a potential political crisis.

China’s attempts were to&nbsp, utilize the exposure it has gained into US companies in the event of a conflict or conflict, according to American leaders. The Chinese have denied these complaints. &nbsp,

The Wall Street Journal reported in October that Chinese thieves had hacked into US broadband providers ‘ systems and hacked into provincial government networks for investigations.

Singtel stated on Tuesday that system resilience is essential to its company, adding that it collaborates with security partners to track and tackle the risks it encounters everyday.

The company added,” We also regularly review and improve our security abilities and position to protect our critical resources from evolving challenges.

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Harris or Trump, Philippines sitting pretty with America – Asia Times

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MANILA – Ahead of one of America’s most contentious-ever votes, one Eastern position is doubling down with confidence in its alliance with Washington.

Regardless of whether Trump or Harris wins the presidency, the Philippines is optimistic in stark contrast to crucial European and Asian capitals, where there is little sway over the path of American foreign policy. &nbsp,

Because Republicans and Democrats agree that China must be contained, including in the South China Sea, the Filipino corporate elite believes that relations with their one mutual defense treaty alliance will continue to be stable, if no significantly, in the coming years.

If anything, Manila is very enthusiastic about the chance for even stronger bilateral relations if former US president Donald Trump wins the election.

Back in the US, however, Filipino-Americans are also among the staunchest of his followers with minority parties. The Filipino-American group has a significant impact on the outcome of the approaching elections thanks to their significant presence in swing states like Nevada.

” With President Trump, an allied partner needs to play an ( active ) role”, Philippine Ambassador to Washington, Jose Romualdez, told this writer earlier this year. &nbsp,” And we will]surely ] do our part. We must collaborate to serve our individual goals. ]And ] our Republican friends have been very appreciative of]us playing a more proactive role ]”, he added.

The long-term prospects for diplomatic ties are promising for the Philippines ‘ best minister to Washington, who also happens to be a second cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ” Whether it’s a Republican or Democratic, we may do our part”, he argued, emphasizing bipartisan support for strong diplomatic relations for the foreseeable future.

The country of Southeast Asia is speaking the language. Despite China’s vehement opposition, the Philippines has made it clear that it will continue to host America’s state-of-the-art weapons systems, most notably the Typhon missile system, under an expanded Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement ( EDCA ) regime.

In addition, the Southeast Asian nation is strengthening its trilateral ties with the US and Japan, as well as other important Western partners from Europe to Australia, who are interested in exploiting the Philippines ‘ enormous potential as a major materials supplier and semiconductor manufacturing site.

The Marcos Jr. management has good reason to feel comfortable about its “personal politics” with either of the two individuals. By all accounts, Vice President Kamala Harris had a successful trip to Manila in soon 2022, just weeks after Marcos Jr’s opening.

Harris was able to establish a rapport with vital political parties in the Philippines during the journey, and she was honored to receive acclaim from the security apparatus for her visit to Palawan, a province on the edge of the South China Sea, as well as for her interaction with journalists and civil society organizations with an emphasis on human rights and democracy.

As president, Harris would have ideal ties with important allies like the Philippines because of her Eastern American history and instinctive experience with the Asian region.

When the two demagogues were at the height of their power, Rodrigo Duterte’s relationship with Donald Trump has been extensively covered.

There is even a fantastical story among Trump followers that the transfer of a nationalist to the White House was fundamentally alter diplomatic relations in their pursuit amid the political unrest between the Dutertes and Marcoses.

However, the Marcos Jr. management has every reason to be confident in its ties to a Trump 2.0 president. After all, the Marcoses have had a half-a-century-long partnership with the original real estate mogul.

While former First Lady Imelda Marcos and the famous Filipino community shared an intimate friendship during their seventies in Manhattan, according to reports, the famous Filipino community also owned a Trump tower in America. Not to mention that both Trump and Marcos Sr. had the same social branding strategies and battle managers.

Beyond attitudes and close relationships, what binds the US and the Philippines is shared political passions, especially their concern for China.

” We have very powerful bipartisan support from both the Republicans and Democrats”, the US ambassador to Washington, Jose Romualdez, told this writer. ” Our mutual interests are at stake, ]and ] we have same interests in stabilizing the region”, he added, underscoring his optimism about continuity in bilateral relations due to shared interests.

With Kamala Harris, the Marcos Jr management expects consistency in the Biden administration’s international policy, which has focused on building a coalition of like-minded colleagues in the Indo-Pacific to preserve China’s interests in check.

With Trump, nevertheless, some Filipino managers expect an even more Asia-focused and Sino-skeptic international policy, which could directly benefit the Philippines.

Top Trump administration planners, some of whom are expected to retake important positions in the coming year if Republicans win the White House, have officially advocated for a foreign policy that appeals to China hawks in Manila.

Past US deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger has argued for a more strategic approach to contain China. Others like Elbridge Colby, one of the chief architects of the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy ( NSS) at the Pentagon, have identified the Philippines as key partner for America’s grand strategy against China.

The Philippines is a “frontline” state that deserved the most American military and proper assistance in the face of a secessionist China, according to Colby, who served from 2017 to 2018 as deputy assistant secretary of defense for plan and power growth.

Robert O’Brien, a previous US national security adviser, has also made related arguments. &nbsp, “]T] he United States may concentrate its Pacific politics on allies such as Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea, standard partners such as Singapore, and emerging ones such as Indonesia and Vietnam”, he argued in an oft-cited Foreign Affairs part.

” Congress may help build up the military forces of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam by extending to them the sorts of grants, loans, and arms payments that the United States has long offered Israel. The Philippines, in particular, needs fast aid in its conflict with Chinese troops in the South China Sea. The army should start a crash course to repair abandoned ships, including battleships and amphibious assault ships that are currently awaiting service in Philadelphia and Hawaii, before donating them to the Philippines, he suggested.

Regardless of whether Republicans or Democrats are in power in the White House, the Philippines is constantly preparing for more defense cooperation with the US. On the one hand, it’s doubling down on security cooperation with various important nations like Japan and not just the US.

The US-Japan-Philippines Trilateral Cyber and Digital Dialogue was held on the heels of Singapore International Cyber Week’s 9th anniversary next month.

The US Ambassador at big for Cyberspace and Digital Policy Nathaniel Fick, Jeffrey Ian Dyer, the Philippine Undersecretary for Infostructure Management, Cybersecurity, and Upskilling, and Yukio Saita, Japan’s Deputy Assistant Minister for Cyber Security and Information Technology Management, were among those present.

” During the speech, officials discussed multilateral assistance in cyberspace, including human cybersecurity capacity building, cybersecurity workforce development, maritime security, and data sharing”, the US State Department said in a statement. &nbsp,” The United States, Japan, and the Philippines will continue to work together to enhance international cyberspace stability, data security and privacy, and cyber and digital capacity building in the region”.

The three allies are also focusing on supply-chain resilience and strategic economic cooperation. Both Japan and the US are quickly upgrading and upgrading their capacity for semiconductor production. The Philippines, however, provides a unique opportunity for enhancing America’s “de-risking” strategy vis-à-vis China.

As the world’s second-largest producer of nickel, the Southeast Asian nation is positioning itself as a chief’ China-free ‘ provider of critical minerals for EV battery production. This is crucial because Chinese companies control almost every EV supply chain in the neighboring countries of Indonesia and Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

Additionally, the Philippines wants to become a major producer of more sophisticated semiconductors and a potential design and packaging hub for Taiwanese neighbors, who are also major chip-making nations.

&nbsp,” We are a trusted partner right now, we provide a major destination for semiconductor production”, Romualdez told this writer, when asked about strategic economic cooperation under a future US president. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Just as crucial is the Philippines ‘ decision to welcome an ever-larger American military presence and, accordingly, host state-of-the-art weapons systems which could target China-based missile systems in the event of any conflict in the region, including over Taiwan.

The Philippines ‘ 25th Infantry Division’s commander, US Major General Marcus Evans, stated in a statement following the Philippines ‘ announcement to permanently host the Typhon missile system, which has a range of up to 1,600 kilometers (994 miles ), which gives it the opportunity to understand how to use that capability.” This is very unique to any other place in the region,” said Evans.

” ]We have been conducting ] incredibly important operations]together ] because you get to work in the environment, but most importantly, you’re working alongside our partners here in the Philippines to understand how those will be integrated into their operations]in the event of a contingency ]”, the US general added after the US and Philippine armies conducted major wargames last month to underscore growing interoperability and joint preparedness for any future regional conflict.

Follow Richard Javad Heydarian on X at @Richeydarian

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Smart Dragon: Taiwan’s new unmanned sub breathes fire at China – Asia Times

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The Smart Dragon, Taiwan’s new unmanned underwater vehicle ( UUV), also known as the Huilong, has been revealed in new imagery that shows the submarine type’s increased combat potential, including twin torpedo tubes, according to The War Zone.

The War Zone mentions that Smart Dragon, developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST ) and Lungteh Shipbuilding, is currently a testbed for sonar and underwater mines, with trials beginning in 2020.

The report says that the 30-meter-long, 100-ton UUV, which lacks its engine technique and is towed during trials, may influence potential Chinese underground war strategies, especially in repelling a possible Chinese invasion.

Although it is noted that the Smart Dragon is generally a test art, its design suggests possible applications for functional roles, including deploying smaller UUVs for surveillance and reach operations.

The Smart Dragon’s possible military programs, according to Chinese Navy Chief of Staff Chiu Chun-jung, were highlighted in an August 2024 Taiwan News article, where it stated that autonomous flying, floor, and underwater vehicles would increase fighting capabilities.

The Japanese Navy is closely monitoring developments in interconnected war, including those involving intelligence and surveillance.

In a June 2024 report for the Center for a New American Security ( CNAS ), Stacie Pettyjohn and other authors mention that Taiwan is strengthening its defenses against potential Chinese amphibious assaults using UUVs and other drones.

Pettyjohn and others claim that these UUVs could attack Chinese surface vessels and Chinese ships while crossing the Taiwan Strait while pursuing high-value regiment transports and crucial vessels.

They add that larger UUVs perhaps launch underwater mines near good landing areas in an effort to thwart and direct Chinese forces while making them more vulnerable to flying and missile strikes.

Taiwan is working on developing unmanned surface vehicles ( USVs ) in addition to UUVs. In April 2024, Asia Times reported that Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST ) had initiated a US$ 25 million, two-year software to create at least 200 USVs by 2026.

These arteries, weighing under four loads and mildly stable from up to 70 meters, are designed for murder attacks against PLA Navy boats. Taiwan’s private business, including Thunder Tiger Corporation, has contributed models like the Seawolf 400 and Shark 400.

In order to combat first Taiwanese attacks and properly fend off an aquatic or aerial invasion, Taiwan has assembled a huge number of small, mobile, inexpensive, and robust anti-air and anti-ship systems.

In a 2022 article in the Journal of Policy and Strategy, it is mentioned that Taiwan’s quill method uses UUVs to strengthen its threats against possible Chinese anger. The plan aims to increase China’s charge of invasion by creating a fierce deterrent.

The use of UUVs alongside other asymmetric capabilities like sea mines, coastal defense missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles ( UAVs ) is central to this approach. The article makes the case that these resources are difficult to find and destination, which makes it more difficult for Taiwan to impede Chinese landing businesses and make an amphibious assault more difficult.

The UUVs are deemed to be especially useful for monitoring and protecting fragile coastal areas and islands, where they can covertly follow enemy movements and aid anti-ship operations.

The article mentions that UUV systems aids Taiwan’s broader aim of transforming its defenses to focus on flexibility, endurance and cost-effectiveness, moving away from traditional, large-scale assets like warrior jets, which are less useful against a full-scale invasion.

It says that by bolstering Taiwan’s asymmetric capabilities, UUVs are critical in making the self-governing island “indigestible” to China, reinforcing a strategy intended to deny China any expectation of a swift, uncontested victory​.

However, Taiwan faces significant hurdles in scaling up its drone industry. Harun Talha Ayanoglu mentions that Taiwan faces a significant challenge in closing the world’s largest drone manufacturer, China, in an article from April 2024 for Domino Theory.

In response to that capability gap, Ayanoglu says that Taiwan has launched the” Drone National Team” program, committing NTD 50 billion ( approximately US$ 1.5 billion ) to acquire drones and subsidize up to 50 % of research and development costs for private companies.

He says the strategic plan aims to deploy 3, 200 UAVs by mid-2024 and acquire 700 military-grade and 7, 000 commercial-grade drones by 2028.

However, Ayanoglu points out that the feasibility of these targets remains uncertain, as drones ‘ effectiveness depends on integration within sophisticated operational frameworks, including electronic warfare.

He makes the case that both combat experience and economic viability are important considerations. The diplomatic isolation of Taiwan makes it less able to export advanced technology, and it also prevents the development of a scale-based drone industry. Despite these challenges, Ayanoglu notes Taiwan collaborates with European, American and Israeli drone producers to accelerate its drone capabilities.

However, Taiwan’s porcupine strategy may not be the right approach for its defense. In a May 2023 article by the Global Taiwan Institute, Wallace Gregson and John Dotson criticized the strategy, claiming that it is insufficient to meet the island’s current security requirements.

According to Gregson and Dotson, this strategy is too passive and does not go against China’s People’s Liberation Army ( PLA ) in a proactive and aggressive way.

They point out that the porcupine metaphor is criticized for its inability to maneuver and use offensive force, which are prerequisites for contemporary warfare. Instead, they advocate for a” Honey Badger Strategy”, emphasizing active defense, agility and the ability to strike preemptively.

Gregson and Dotson advocate that Taiwan’s forces be widely distributed, resilient, and well-equipped to battle the enemy from a distance. They claim that the honey badger, which is renowned for its fierce defense and ferocity, is viewed as a more appropriate symbol for Taiwan’s defense strategy, which shows how necessary it is to take a more assertive and dynamic approach to deter and defeat China.

However, a proposed Honey Badger strategy for Taiwan may escalate Cross-Strait tensions, increasing the risk of unintended consequences.

It may also be resource-intensive to implement. According to David Sacks, Taiwan’s recent decision to increase its defense budget by nearly 6 % to almost US$ 20 billion was criticized for insufficiently addressing the growing threat from China, according to an article from the Council of Foreign Relations in August 2024.

Sacks notes that Taiwan’s defense spending at 2.5 % of GDP is below the 3 % target and lags behind countries like Israel, widening the gap with China’s rapidly growing defense budget.

He contends that Taiwan needs more resources for asymmetric defense, including uncrewed systems and drones, and that it needs to increase defense spending to 5 % of GDP for stronger deterrence and greater US and allied support.

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Green fashion: Why dyeing clothes has a big environmental impact

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Getty Images Workers at a dyeing factory in Bangladesh stand knee-deep in blue dye.Getty Images

The start-up Alchemie Technology is in the final stages of launching a venture it claims will destroy the world clothing business and reduce its carbon footprints in a small corner of rural Taiwan, set amongst other colour houses and small factories.

With the country’s second modern dyeing process, the UK-based start-up has targeted one of the dirtiest areas of the clothing business: dyeing fabric.

” Traditionally, you soak a piece of fabric in waters at 135 degrees Fahrenheit for about four hours, accumulating liters and a lot of water. For instance, to colour one bit of nylon, you’re generating 30 lots of poisonous wastewater”, Alchemie leader Dr Alan Hudd tells me.

He points out that the same method was developed 175 years earlier in the northwest of England, in the Lancashire cotton mill and the Yorkshire cotton mill, and that we exported it, first to the US and then to the companies in Asia.

Crates of white textiles sit in a large dyeing factory

The apparel industry uses an estimated five trillion litres of water each year to simply dye fabric, according to the World Resources Institute, a US-based non-profit research centre.

The industry is, in turn, responsible for 20% of the world’s industrial water pollution, while also using up vital resources like groundwater in some countries. It also releases a massive carbon footprint from start to finish – or around 10% of annual global emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.

Alchemie claims its tech can assist in resolving that issue.

Called Endeavour, its system is compress cloth coloring, drying, and fixing into a considerably shorter and water-saving process.

According to the company, Endeavour uses the same concept as inkjet printers to quickly and precisely fire colour onto and through the material. The computer’s 2, 800 dispensers flames about 1.2 billion droplets per straight meter of fabric.

” What we’re really doing is registering and putting a very small cut, a really small fall, precisely and accurately onto the fabric,” the company said. And we can change these falls on and off, just like a mild switch”, says Dr Hudd.

Alchemie claims that the process produces significant savings, working three to five times as quickly as traditional processes, and reducing water consumption by 95 %, energy consumption, and energy consumption by 85 %.

Developed first in Cambridge, the business is now in Taiwan to see how Endeavour works in a real-world setting.

” The UK, they’re actually strong in R&amp, D tasks, they’re actually strong in inventing new things, but surely if you want to shift to commercialism you need to go to the actual companies”, says Ryan Chen, the new chief of operations at Alchemie, who has a background in cotton production in Taiwan.

A roll of white cloth sits on Alchemie's new dyeing machine

Other businesses are making attempts to produce nearly waterless dye.

There’s the China-based textile company NTX, which has developed a heatless dye process that can cut down water use by 90 % and dye by 40 %, according to their website, and the Swedish start-up Imogo, which also uses a “digital spray application” with similar environmental benefits.

NTX and Imogo did not reply to the BBC’s interview request.

The solutions provided by these companies “look quite promising,” according to Kirsi Niinimäki, a professor in design who studies the future of textiles at Finland’s Aalto University. However, she says she would like to see more detailed information about issues like the fixing process and long-term studies on fabric durability.

But even though it’s early days, Ms Niinimäki says companies like Alchemie could bring real changes to the industry.

” All these kinds of new technologies, I think that they are improvements. If you’re able to use less water, for example, that of course means less energy, and perhaps even less chemicals – so that of course is a huge improvement”.

Black textiles on the Alchemie dyeing machine

There are still some issues to be resolved in Taiwan, such as how to operate the Endeavour machine in a hotter, humid climate than the UK.

Matthew Avis, the service manager for Endeavour, discovered that the machine needed to operate in an air-conditioned environment, which is a significant lesson given how much apparel manufacturing occurs in southern Asia.

The business also has ambitious objectives in 2025. Alchemie is now traveling next to South Asia and Portugal to test its machines and try it out on cotton after its test run with polyester in Taiwan.

Additionally, they will need to determine how to expand Endeavour.

Big fashion companies like Inditex, the owner of Zara, work with thousands of factories. Its suppliers would require hundreds of Endeavours to work together to meet the fabric dyeing industry’s demand.

And that’s just one company- there will be many, many more in need.

More Technology of Business

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Commentary: Restrict able-bodied users from PMAs, but don’t make it harder for those with real need

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PMA Laws

There are generally three types of PMAs: Human chairs, motorised chairs and mobility scooters. Mobility scooter are in the limelight because of the growing concern over their widespread use by able-bodied people, as the Active Mobility Advisory Panel in 2023 noted. &nbsp,

Successful 2025, the fresh Ministry of Transportation regulations require that people who want to use mobility scooters have medical or physical conditions that warrant their use.

Chee Hong Tat, the minister for transportation, responded to political questions on September 10th, 2024, stating that the state had worked with social welfare organizations, government agencies, and healthcare providers to simplify the mobility scooter user certification process. The goal is to make the system more user-friendly for those who actually require mobility aids while reducing the burden on medical facilities as well. &nbsp,

Security is also being increased, with the current maximum allowed rate for PMAs being reduced from 10 kmh to 6 kmh. This figure uses reference to normal walking speeds, allowing PMA customers to cross streets carefully, just like pedestrians do. &nbsp,

Size restrictions for PMAs used on public paths will also be aligned with existing dimensional limits for PMAs on public transport ( 70cm width, 120cm length, 150cm height, 300kg weight limit ), with exceptions granted on a case-by-case basis for users with certified medical needs.

ARE WE DOING ENOUGH?

In addition to the new regulations, it’s worthwhile to look into whether enforcement against those who use PMAs without justification or foolish PMA users may be increased in terms of regularity and visibility. Particularly in areas with big PMA customers, such as village centers, parks, and shopping districts, speed traps and guards could get implemented. &nbsp,

Closed-circuit cameras installed in these spots can use video analytics to quickly identify and report violations. An unambiguous information would be sent through well-known protection blitzes.

To choke off non-compliant source, stringent downstream import controls and inspections of merchants ( both physical and virtual ) are also necessary, as are harsher penalties like license revocations for selling mobility scooters to people with disabilities. Remote monitoring and necessary speed limiters may be greatly facilitated by tracking tools and techniques that can be used to enforce speed limits. During the Land Transport Authority’s first PMA registration process, such trackers might be installed. &nbsp,

Public schooling is also paramount. Some consumers may not realize how improperly PMA is used or how it puts others at risk. Food shipping companies, for example, may actively steer able-bodied shipping riders towards making food deliveries on bicycles otherwise. &nbsp,

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Thailand to send 800 workers to Israel despite conflict

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PUBLISHED: 4 Nov 2024 at 19: 29

A crater and damage to part of a chicken farm in Shtula, a community impacted by barrages of projectiles launched from Lebanon towards Israel, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, in northern Israel, on Sunday. (Reuters photo)
In response to Hezbollah’s ongoing cross-border hostilities in northeastern Israel on Sunday, there were a volcano and injury to a poultry farm in Shtula, a community impacted by the thousands of projectile launches from Lebanon toward Israel. ( Reuters photo )

Despite the region’s ongoing conflict, the Department of Employment did give 800 workers to Israel this month, according to DoE chief Somchai Morakotsriwan on Monday, despite the fact that many Thais continue to show an interest in working there.

Mr. Somchai assured the personnel that they would only be stationed in secure places, noting that employers are prohibited from sending Thai employees to conflict areas in northern Israel. &nbsp,

Mr. Somchai predicted that the government would develop a plan to move the staff to safety in the event that Israel and Hezbollah’s issue worsens. He claimed that staff from the Labour Ministry have spoken with representatives from the Bangkok-based Israel Embassy to discuss the matter. &nbsp,

When asked if the selection would endanger the laborers ‘ existence, Mr. Somchai said suspending the assistance do not protect their health because if they really want to work in Israel, they may find a way to travel alone, which would make it more difficult for the government to follow and defend them.

The number of people who attended a new recruitment drive at Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, where thousands of potential employees took a knowledge test, reflect the high demand for jobs in Israel. &nbsp,

Marius Savescu, a member of an Israeli recruitment company, said Zionist companies are looking to replace about 2, 000 posts, with many looking for builders, ironsmiths, carpenters, and tilers. According to the organization, the majority of companies are looking for male applicants between the ages of 25 and 45.

According to Mr Savescu, at least 3, 000-4, 000 additional workers will be needed in Israel’s construction sector before the end of the year. The demand is expected to rise to 10, 000 next year, he added.

Last year, 2, 174 Chiang Rai locals left for various jobs in Israel. After being held hostage following the Hamas attack in October 2023, three people were killed, one injured, and two were rescued.

Mr. Somchai said the Labour Ministry is in discussions with Israeli authorities regarding repatriation and compensation under Israeli labor laws in light of Hezbollah’s rocket attack in the northern city of Metula, which resulted in four Thai workers ‘ deaths and one injured worker.

The DoE will work with the Overseas Employment Fund unit to offer immediate financial aid to the victims ‘ families.

They are expected to receive 40, 000 baht for funeral expenses and another 40, 000 baht for their descendants, said Mr Somchai.

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China boxed out of high-NA lithography race to 1nm chips – Asia Times

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As the competition to 1-nanometer cards gains momentum, Taiwan’s TSMC is likely to be the next chip-making company after Intel to get the most cutting-edge printing application in the semiconductor industry.

According to a Nikkei Asia report, the world’s leading integrated circuit ( IC ) foundry will install ASML’s new high-NA extreme ultra-violet ( EUV) lithography system at its R&amp, D center in Hsinchu, Taiwan, by the end of this year.

That’s about three months later than industry publications had anticipated, but not significantly more than American Intel, which installed its second high-NA printing system in Oregon in April and its subsequent in August.

Initially, Samsung Electronics plans to purchase its second high-NA program. The Netherlands ‘ ASML is the only company using the EUV printing techniques to create Apis at 7nm and smaller approach nodes.

High-NA lithography systems, also known as EXE systems, likewise use EUV light but employ a new optical system that increases the numerical aperture ( NA ) from 0.33 to 0.55. That reduces the crucial component, or the smallest have the system is print, by 1.7 times and increases the transistor density on a chip by 2.9 times.

According to ASML, the “ability of an visual system to collect and focus light” is measured by the number of n.

According to reports, TSMC aims to start using high-NA lithography at the 1.4nm node ( 14A, A for angstrom ) in 2028 or later, or at 1nm ( 10A ) in 2030 or later. By the end of 2025, it intends to use the EUV printing methods that are already in use for the 2nm process.

That is perhaps true, since it will take a long time to develop and evaluate high-NA EUV effectively in commercial production.

The engineering is also very expensive, with one report claiming that the system costs at least$ 350 million, or about half the cost of conventional EUV equipment. Probably, as product demand rises, that figure will decrease.

While TSMC integrates high-NA EUV into its technology enhance strategy, Intel is using it as part of CEO Pat Gelsinger’s extreme catch-up method, which to date has been dogged by upsetting yields, restructuring charges, lots of red ink and offshoring to TSMC down to 3nm.

Intel’s share price has dropped more than 50 % so far this year, while TSMC’s is up more than 70 %.

High NA EUV tools are anticipated to play a significant role in the development of advanced chips and the production of next-generation processors, according to Intel. Intel Foundry, the first company to move into High NA EUV, will be able to deliver unheard precision and scalability in chip manufacturing, enabling the business to create chips with the most cutting-edge features and capabilities that are necessary for advancing AI and other emerging technologies.

That is, if everything goes according to plan. In particular, Intel anticipates developing and manufacturing advanced chips using both 0.33NA EUV and 0.55NA EUV, starting with Intel 18A’s product proof points in 2025 and continuing to Intel 14A’s production. Intel’s approach will optimize advanced process technology for cost and performance”.

It may, and Intel’s restructuring program is, by most accounts, making progress, but the words “or later” should probably be appended to its timeline.

As for China, at least for now, this is not a contest in which it can compete. Due to US sanctions, it is unable to purchase EUV systems, and the previous generation of ArF ( Argon Flouride ) immersion Deep Ultra-Violet ( DUV) systems it has been able to acquire have a capped 5nm.

Recent reports indicate that Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment Co ( SMEE ) &nbsp’s ( SMEE ) &nbsp ) &nbsp ) &nbsp is commercially viable down to 65nm, but that its effort to create an ArF immersion system capable of producing ICs at the 28nm process node takes longer than originally planned.

In contrast, it took ASML 10 years of R& D and six years to complete the first high-NA EUV lithography system, which took ASML six years to complete before it was able to ship its first high-NA EUV lithography system.

( For a compact history of IC lithography, see” China’s lithography gains a glass half full, not half empty. )

Without the imposition of US sanctions, China might not have developed its own lithography equipment. South Korea, home to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, two of the world’s leading producers of memory ICs, has n’t developed its own lithography equipment. Japan’s Nikon, unable to compete with ASML, does not make EUV systems. Canon never even tried.

China has also been encouraged by the sanctions ‘ efforts to develop silicon photonics, a technology that processes and transmits sizable amounts of data without using EUV lithography.

Designers and manufacturers of ICs, AI systems and telecommunications equipment, including Nvidia, AMD, Intel, TSMC, IBM, Cisco Systems, NTT, Huawei and other Chinese companies and laboratories, have been working on the technology for many years.

The US House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP ) finally caught the attention of silicon photonics this year.

In a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on October 27, committee chairman John Moolenaar ( Republican-Missouri ) and ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi ( Democrat-Illinois ) warned that photonics technology could allow China to overtake the US&nbsp in semiconductors and instructed her to take action to stop it.

Quoting Matthew Reynolds, author of” Controlling Light: Is Silicon Photonics an Emerging Front in US-China Tech Competition? “, the congressmen wrote:

Silicon photonic technology can” create large-scale computing systems with higher bandwidth and improved energy efficiency that go beyond the physical limitations of traditional electronic chips” when combined with electronics in semiconductors.

Some experts think that photonic chips can increase computational speed by 1000 times more than current electronic chip designs.

Silicon photonics has the potential to upend the semiconductor industry and redefine battlelines in the US’ technological conflict with the PRC, making the October 7, 2022, &nbsp, export control regulations irrelevant and creating a crucial chokepoint for upcoming semiconductor supply chains.

To ensure continued American leadership in crucial and emerging technologies like silicon photonics, the US government should examine the tools at its disposal to assess both how to stop US investment and know-how from supporting our adversaries and encourage domestic innovation.

The committee did its homework, noting that photonics was included in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan ( 2021-2025 ) as a technology that national laboratories should be built, and that CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping had described it as” a high-tech industry where our country has the conditions to achieve breakthroughs ahead of others.

Silicon photonics is being funded by Chinese businesses and research institutes in the billions of dollars. Additionally, in defiance of US sanctions, Nanjing Electronic Devices Institute researchers discovered that photonics is a disruptive technology with enormous military potential. Both Huawei and Nanjing Electronic Devices Institute are listed on the Entity List, with a presumption of denial of license for unauthorized military end-use.

Thus, Silicon Photonic developments could enable China to stay competitive in AI without using TSMC’s high-NA EUV lithography services, which Nvidia, AMD, and other Western competitors do not. In any case, it appears that the US government is once more behind the curve in terms of technology.

Follow this writer on&nbsp, X: @ScottFo83517667

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How Chinese media see Trump vs Harris on election eve – Asia Times

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According to Chinese media reports, the outcome of this Tuesday’s US national election will determine whether Washington’s scheme on China continues as it has always done under a Kamala Harris administration or careens in new, unfamiliar directions under a Donald Trump 2.0 management.

Foreign observers and pundits are of the general consensus that Harris would be more predictable because her Democratic Party is more influenced by worldview and policy consistency. Trump is viewed as unexpected, but many people think he might be more willing to negotiate if a deal would deliver real financial benefits for the US in line with his” America First” perspective.

” If Harris is elected, she will usually continue the Biden administration’s China strategy”, Shiu Sin-por, chairman of the New Paradigm Foundation Company Limited, a pro-Beijing think container established in 2007, said in an article published on October 31. ” Even if there is any revision, the scale will remain limited. The upcoming trend of Sino-US ties may be clear”.

Democrats and Republicans, according to him, are more interested in philosophy and think that China’s increase will continue to challenge the values of the US and the West’s current world order, but both Democrats and Republicans view China as the country’s best adversary. &nbsp,

Shiu claims that if Harris wins, the US will continue to work to thwart the expansion of China’s military and high-tech companies and other key economic sectors.

” But if Trump wins, the changes in the United States ‘ China policy may become greater and harder to predict”, he says. Trump will likely employ some effective means of attracting foreign corporations to the US, including taxes and reward programs.

It is less good that China and the Harris leadership will agree on something, according to China’s view. Trump is a very wise merchant who is willing to negotiate with China, according to Shiu. ” Of course, We should not reject Trump’s volatile, weak-principled and extreme heroes”.

According to Shiu, US relations with the EU, Japan, and Taiwan may even change if Trump wins, when Trump wants friends to support his” Make America Great Again” approach to reindustrialize the US. &nbsp,

60 % taxes loom large&nbsp,

Trump started a trade war with China in 2018 by imposing a 25 % tax on a range of Chinese products. Beijing had previously believed that Washington would halt the taxes and de-escalate the tech war in the name of improved diplomatic relations after US President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

However, the Biden administration increased both by enacting new export control laws to stop China from importing expensive chips and chip-making equipment from the US and by imposing new tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles ( EVs ). Additionally, it persuaded the Union to even impose tariffs on Chinese EVs and continued to sell weapons to Taiwan. &nbsp,

Some Chinese experts predict that under Trump, who has pledged to establish a 60 % tax on all imported Chinese goods, a novel, contentious round of trade war may erupt. Some experts did point out that China might not be the main target of the fresh taxes. &nbsp, &nbsp,

China has previously conducted a thorough analysis and is considering the formation of the BRICS payment method to lessen the negative effects of the US involvement price cut, according to a Shanxi-based columnist’s article on November 2 under the heading” If Trump wins, who will be the biggest sufferer”?

” De-financialization” is China’s national policy to reduce embracing activities and asset bubbles in the country. ” If Trump takes office, the US will prevent aiding Ukraine while the Russia-Ukraine war did not maintain”, he says. Russia will get from this and become more recognized internationally.

He anticipates that a Trump 2.0 management” could start a trade war with the EU, deter National investment in India, and compel allies like South Korea and Japan to make more of a contribution to the US’s defense strategy in Asia.”

If Trump re-enters the White House, the country’s pattern may undergo significant changes. But this may not be a negative thing, as long as we are well-prepared”, the Chinese blogger writes. &nbsp,

Fundamental problems

Other experts speculate that Harris and Trump may have completely different strategies for resolving upcoming US-China problems.

On the outside of a conference in Shenzhen on October 13th, Cheng Li, the founding chairman of the Centre on Contemporary China and the World at the University of Hong Kong, told the media that “if Harris is elected, the US’s China procedures will be comparatively more repetitive,” while maintaining that position.

If Trump wins, Sino-US relationships will become more uncertain, Li predicted, because he typically makes decisions based on business benefits and specific interactions with state leaders. &nbsp,

Li, a student of former and now-deceased US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, made an assessment based on his observation that the two countries ‘ national powers are at odds with one another, which he described as unheard of in contemporary geopolitics.

He said the two countries ‘ architectural problems, caused by their differences in social networks, economic concepts and beliefs, will remain for years to come. He urged both nations to know that neither side could defeat humanity without wreaking havoc.

Read: China’s Skydio limits sound the alarm for US power supply ring

Observe Jeff Pao on X: &nbsp, @jeffpao3

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How ornamental fish farms in Singapore are using technology to stay afloat

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He added that although the land now has a large plot of land with an exterior clay water for arowana breeding, it will participate in technology to turn this into a high-tech planting system.

Standard ornamental farmers in the area also employ primitive techniques, such as in the outdoor ponds where they encounter challenges in the weather and even battle fish diseases, Mr. Yeo continued.

But, fields regularly face an uphill battle for area, mainly in land-scarce Singapore.

According to NParks, just 1 per cent of the country’s area is set apart for agricultural purposes.

The organization claimed that it has been making plots of land available for elegant fish fields, with each plot having a different size to accommodate different needs. &nbsp,

With the approval of the important agencies, businesses may even move their operations indoors. NParks said this may include a combination of cultivation, import and export, and financial or e-commerce activities.

Given how Singapore has traditionally been a one-stop buy for consumers who do not want to find elegant fish from various sources, according to the Singapore Aquarium Fish Exporters Association, the business has a pressing need for storage.

” We bring in animals from all around the world, get it South America, Africa and Asia”, said the agency’s president William Chew.

Consumers who buy from Singapore can combine all kinds of fish into one solitary attempt, which significantly lowers the cost of importation for them.

He continued,” The organization is in constant dialogue with NParks about the problems that the business faces.”

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