Lop Buri monkey blitz resumes

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By Tuesday, officials anticipate moving 200 more problematic lemurs.

PUBLISHED: 22 May 2024 at 20: 36

Lop Buri monkey blitz resumes
On May 16 at the Pho Khao Ton Monkey Hospital in the Muang city of Lop Buri, twenty-seven relocated monkeys are adjusting to their new environment. ( Photo: Lop Buri Public Relations Office )

Officials from national parks will start removing difficult monkeys from Lop Buri on Friday to lessen the conflict between locals and the city’s primate population.

Local residents have complained for years about issues with the creatures stealing their meals or destroying their home, especially those who reside close to Phra Prang Sam Yod’s famous monkey temple.

Due to the disruption caused by the animals, so many people have since moved out of the previously bustling town center of Lop Buri, which now resembles a devil area. Some buildings have been abandoned, seriously damaging the nearby market. People have urged the authorities to take action to address the issue, but they claim much has changed.

The second group of 27 primates were relocated to the Pho Khao Ton Monkey Nursery in Muang neighborhood earlier this month as part of the latest effort to address the issue.

” We expect to get about 200 monkeys this day. If things go well, the procedure may be completed next Tuesday”, said Patarapol Maneeon, a spokeswoman for the government carrying out the procedure.

The relocation effort is led by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation ( DNP ), working with Lop Buri municipality, military, police and rescue teams.

Regulators may set up three large cages — each measuring 1.8 by 1.8 by 15 feet — at the Asia Hotel, Seng Heng Shop and Suan Racha. To entice the monkeys in, they will put wheat seeds, beans, and other meals inside each box. The species will then be transported to a field hospital for sterilization and health checkups before being taken back into the care of the hospital.

” We may conduct an evaluation of the scenario every day.” The happiness of the species is what worries us the most because we need to make sure the setting is appropriate for their needs, according to Mr. Patarapol.

He expressed assurance that the procedure may serve as a case study for other regions that are dealing with issues with animals ingraining on nearby areas.

Around 2, 000 primates are now living in Lop Buri area. Participants will clear up the city center to make sure it is safe for residents to live in after the pets are caught and moved.

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Will Raisi’s death spark instability in Iran? – Asia Times

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Ebrahim Raisi’s death, which occurred this week in a helicopter accident, took place during one of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s most difficult times.

Raisi, a popular figure in the social elite, held significant sway over Iran’s home policies. He played a key role in Iran’s current efforts to boost its relationship with regional competitors.

Given his huge influence, what did his presence mean for the country’s private affairs? And how will it affect the government’s connections in the region?

Security at a risky moment

Raisi’s state was quite conservative and had a near relation to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Contrary to previous governments, which most of the time had a range or anxiety with the leader, there were hardly any issues or disagreements between the two parties.

Raisi was likewise regarded as one of the front-runners to achieve Khamenei, who has been in charge of the Supreme Leader for 35 years. His major contribution to shaping the direction of Iran’s leadership has been due to his extensive influence within the country’s traditional circles.

Nevertheless, his death, which occurred a year before the finish of his second word, came amid a backdrop of local, regional and international issues.

Iran’s nuclear program has been subject to severe punishment from the United States, which have severely damaged the country’s economy and had a major impact on people’s lives.

In addition, the state experienced one of the most significant protests in its past when Mahsa Amini, 22, died in September 2022 following her imprisonment by the morality police.

In addition to the financial crisis and some of the government’s local policies, there have been local protests in various parts of the nation.

Also, parliamentary elections in March of this year saw one of the lowest vote participation rates in the country’s history. As a result, the keeping of new votes, which is mandated within 50 days of Raisi’s dying, poses a major concern for the government at a time when its people legitimacy is at its lowest.

In addition, the recent escalation of Israel’s continued shadow war has raised serious security questions and sparked a number of conspiracies. Rumors that the mayor’s helicopter crashed were the result of technological warfare, drone attacks, or even Israeli ground attacks have gained traction among the public. The accident was attributed to a “technical failing,” according to the IRNA condition news agency.

Despite these challenges, but, the transfer of power is unlikely to significantly affect the government’s security due to the nature of power dynamics in Iran. Under the direction of the Supreme Leader, the Persian social system consists of numerous connected loops. When there are several others willing to fill the hole, losing one of the main players would hardly cause a significant disruption.

In the interim, vice chairman Mohammad Mokhber will serve as the new leader. The traditional internal group close to the Supreme Leader’s preferred candidate is expected to choose their preferred candidate, aiming for a smooth transition with no difficulties. As Khamenei previously stated on X:

The nation does n’t need to be worried or anxious, as the administration of the country will not be disrupted.

However, a traditional analysis of the Islamic Republic’s leadership points to a recurring pattern of power shifting between reformists and conservatives, which fosters a sense of balance in Egyptian politics and strengthens the regime’s standing in the eyes of the public.

Therefore, he may have a reasonable approach, despite the fact that Raisi’s successor may be nominated and supported by a liberal inner group. Statistics like the present parliament speech, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, or former speech Ali Larijani, who are both reasonable conservatives, fit this description.

What will it mean for Iran’s companions?

During his career, Raisi shifted the government’s foreign policy more towards the Middle East, making it the top priority. His predecessor, Hassan Rouhani, had prioritized stabilizing relationships with other European countries and strengthening relations with Western countries.

During Raisi’s administration, for example, Iraq hosted five sessions of conversations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, culminating in the historic normalization of relations between the two in early 2023.

As a past advisor of corporate communication to the subsequently- Iraqi prime minister, it became apparent to me that Iran was sincere about forging a strategic, long- term, robust relationship with its neighbors.

The outcome of these negotiations brought an end to a protracted civil war in Yemen, brought about normalization of relations between Arab nations and Syria, and improved stability in Iraq.

Additionally, Iran has recently engaged in substantial negotiations with Jordan and Egypt, facilitated again by Iraq. These initiatives gave people a chance to break the sectarian strife that has long ruled the area and forge ahead with greater cooperation.

Iran also grew closer with both China and Russia during Raisi’s presidency, reflecting a strategic, long- term pivot towards the East endorsed by the Supreme Leader. However, Iran also continued negotiations with Western powers over its nuclear program, employing different tactics compared to Rouhani’s tenure.

Iran’s foreign policy looks likely to remain the same under a new president. This continuity is strengthened by Ali Bagheri Kani‘s appointment as acting foreign minister following the helicopter crash, which also claimed the life of the current foreign minister.

Kani, who played a key role in leading the nuclear negotiations under Raisi, aligns with the country’s established foreign policy direction.

In addition, Iran’s closer relations with its neighbors signal a more permanent shift away from isolation. This is likely to continue to improve in the near future.

Ali Mamouri is Research fellow, Middle East Studies, Deakin University

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

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DisruptInvest 2024:Chua Kee Lock of Vertex Holdings on the 3 key trends emerging, and the exit of momentum investors

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A snapshot of some of the investments made by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India.

DisruptInvest 2024:Chua Kee Lock of Vertex Holdings on the 3 key trends emerging, and the exit of momentum investorsWith only three days until the DisruptInvest Summit on May 23rd in Kuala Lumpur, keynote speaker and one of the most successful venture capital firms in Asia, Chua Kee Lock ( pic ), CEO of Vertex Holdings, who leads a network of seven funds ( with Japan being the most recent ), with around 90 VC professionals, shares his quick thoughts with DNA on the tech trends he sees. We even questioned whether he thought Penang or Singapore had the tastier city food. ( Spoiler alert, his answer is not spicy. )

Can you introduce Vertex Holdings and its seven resources to us first?

&nbsp, Vertex Holdings, &nbsp, is a Singapore- based venture capital investment holding organization. A custom worldwide system of venture capital funds receives anchor funding and functional support.

&nbsp, At provide, we have seven community partnerships, each with different focus sections. Our Vertex community of cash invests in early stage technology prospects through Vertex Ventures, especially –&nbsp, Vertex Ventures China, &nbsp, Vertex Ventures Israel, Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia &amp, India, &nbsp, Vertex Ventures US.

We recently welcomed&nbsp, Vertex Ventures Japan into our Vertex global network which launched its inaugural ¥10 billion ( RM299.7 million ) fund with Vertex Holdings as its anchor investor. The account will concentrate on investing in leading Chinese startups with strong growth potentials in Deeptech, DX, AI, and the creator economy.

For our international funds, we have &nbsp, Vertex Ventures HC, which specialises in first- level medical opportunities and&nbsp, Vertex Growth, which targets development- stage opportunities across technology and healthcare sectors. &nbsp,
 
Each Vertex portfolio is run by its own General Partners, who manage each of its own local and regional partners. Collaboration and information sharing are promoted among the money through the Vertex international community. &nbsp,

Can you provide your opinion on the current funding landscape ( based on the sites and investment elements of the 7 Vertex money ) and the top 3 disruptive changes emerging from the network? &nbsp, &nbsp,

We do see pockets of prospects emerging throughout our community, given the breadth and scope of our global community. The flood of international technological disruption is underway, and the cost of developing new products is decreasing as a result. This results in exponential growth in computer power and a corresponding decrease in technology costs over time. In the last 20 years, many nations have established and maintained their modern facilities, facilitating the adoption of new technologies. &nbsp,

With the fast adoption of technology, we are witnessing some important changes emerging:

  1. Generative AI programs are changing the future of business, from boosting productivity to developing novel business models.
  2. The rise of” As- a- service” ( XaaS ) model – With a subscription basis model, businesses are transforming how they utilize technology.
  3. With the rapid progress in AI, we think these industries will use AI to strengthen their current software and choices. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Beyond AI as the current and future pattern, it is difficult to see beyond internet protection and the latest buzz. What are the changes Vertex sees, however, from your point of view?

&nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, With the general AI industry forecasted to reach around &nbsp, US$ 2.5 trillion by 2032&nbsp, and the relational AI industry poised to become at&nbsp, at&nbsp, US$ 1.3 trillion by 2032 it is no question why AI is changing the prospect. We believe AI have the potential to disrupt industries&nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, much like the internet revolution did as startups develop AI- enabled applications to transform industries.

Beyond AI, we also witnessed significant changes in the cloud computing space where the industry is moving towards specialized and intelligent cloud solutions. We see a rise in adopting hybrid and multi- cloud strategies, to leverage the strengths of&nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, different providers. The integration of AI and machine learning into cloud services will enable automation, optimisation, and deeper data analysis. Coupled with the growing focus on edge computing for real- time processing, the cloud landscape&nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, is&nbsp, becoming increasingly intelligent and distributed. &nbsp,

&nbsp, &nbsp, Secondly, the” as- a- service” model, often referred to as XaaS, is also experiencing remarkable growth. This model includes everything from infrastructure ( IaaS ) and platforms ( PaaaS ) to software ( SaaS ) and platforms ( PaaaS ) available on a subscription basis. Its&nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, appeal&nbsp, lies in the on- demand access companies have to cutting- edge technology at a cost- effective rate.

Cybersecurity is another area where we see significant advancements. The development of AI-powered attacks and specialized language models highlights the evolving nature of cyber threats. Both cyberthreat actors and cybersecurity teams ( including&nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, Information Technology and Operational Technology ) can leverage on AI to enhance cyberattacking tactics or respond against cyberattacks to prevent disruption. Lastly, big data and datafication are moving beyond mere volume to become&nbsp, &nbsp, actionable assets by leveraging on the power of data and AI to drive real- time decision- making. Datafication, the process of turning various information types into data, will continue to expand incorporating sources like the Internet of Things ( IoT ) &nbsp, &nbsp, and sensor networks. &nbsp,

Do you agree with the frequently stated claim that Southeast Asia is a market of 600 million or that it is much more geographically concentrated than that? Why do you say this?

Southeast Asia ( SEA ) is one of the world’s fastest- growing markets, and home to more than 600 million people. However, it is made up of a number of different nations, making it not a monolithic market. Investors should be aware of local preferences and cultural sensibilities, and they should n’t use a one-size-fits-all approach to all markets. &nbsp,

Despite recent decline, we think SEA continues to be a desirable investment destination and that Venture Capital (VC ) activities are still going strong. For instance, during COVID- 19, we witnessed a hyper investment pace between 2021- 2022 especially in Indonesia and Singapore startups. Since then, the investment pace has moderated. As concerns about the performance of existing investments arise, venture capital firms that have overinvested may instead devote capital to existing portfolios. While the overall funding has dipped, competition for high- calibre deals remain. &nbsp,

With “momentum” investors leaving the ecosystem, companies are focusing on fundamentals such as Product Market Fit, Scalability and Path to Profitability. In early-stage companies, we continue to see the development of novel and disruptive business models or technology applications, while growth stage companies are increasingly becoming more realistic about valuations by raising money at normalized valuations. &nbsp,

Which island do you feel has the more delicious street food, Penang or Singapore?

Both islands offer great options, each with its own unique flavours. Penang is renowned for its rich culinary heritage, which includes dishes like Penang char kway teow, assam laksa, and others that reflect the island’s diverse cultural influences.

Singapore, on the other hand, is famous for its hawker centres, where you can enjoy a variety of local favourites such as Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, and chili crab. &nbsp,

Personally, while I have a deep appreciation for Penang’s authentic and traditional street food, my personal preference, although slightly biased, leans towards Singapore. It is a favorite for me because of the variety and consistency of quality. Both locations are culinary have ns, so foodies from all over the world would enjoy what each has to offer.

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Phuket set for infrastructure upgrades

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Transportation plans unveiled

PUBLISHED: 18 May 2024 at 06: 26

Phuket set for infrastructure upgrades
Tourists relax on the shore in Phuket. ( File photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran )

The government has announced a new rail system that connects Phuket Town and the airports, among other things.

The hotel island’s good economic growth is the result of the decision, which was made after more than 300 billion baht were distributed last year.

Government official Chai Wacharonke told media on Friday &nbsp, that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recognised Phuket’s ability, which aligns with the president’s policy that emphasises pushing Thailand to be the state’s commerce, travel, and aircraft gateway as well as enhancing transportation system on the Andaman coast.

Mr. Chai claimed that the premier had given the Transport Ministry instructions to develop instant, medium-, and long-term plans to update Phuket’s transportation infrastructure in order to become a major tourist hub and gateway to the lower South.

The growth encompasses land, water, heat and rail transport systems.

The Department of Highways was to upgrade to intelligent traffic signals, design no-parking regions, and close U-turn details on overcrowded roads for the quick action program.

The medium-term plan will address traffic congestion on Highway 402 and expand Highway 4027 to four roads, with design anticipated to be complete by 2026.

The Expressway Authority of Thailand does construct an road connecting Patong Beach to Phuket Airport and the interstate road system for the long-term program.

By 2030, the novel road will be operational.

Meanwhile, the 41. 7-kilometer light rail system connecting Phuket International Airport and the Ha Yeak Chalong intersection would be subject to a feasibility study from the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand ( MRTA ).

The study does also concentrate on the physical conditions of the area and how to minimize the traffic turbulence brought on by the construction.

The metro system’s structure is anticipated to begin in 2028 and be finished by 2031.

A feasibility research on Phuket’s serious- sea port growth has also been conducted. The growth aims to address the growing growth of the Andaman Sea’s huge cruise industry.

If high-paying tourists can port and stay in Thailand for more, according to Mr. Chai, Thailand will be able to generate more revenue from them. By the end of this year, the investigation is anticipated to get finished.

In addition, Airports of Thailand ( AoT ) has been instructed to boost Phuket Airport’s capacity to accommodate up to 18 million passengers a year. The date is 2031.

According to Mr. Chai, the growth plans also include the addition of airplane services to make island travel more convenient.

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Biden, Xi taking lumps for allies’ bad behavior – Asia Times

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The leaders of the country’s two major forces are divided by several things, but one thing is clear: each of their president has gotten himself into supporting a neighbor whose causes are regularly committing what many consider to be war crimes.

Every leader has used risks to try to persuade the alliance to act more effectively. So much, neither Joe Biden nor Xi Jinping has been effective.

Some readers may assume that America’s help for Israel’s occupation of Gaza is a conflict between China’s and America’s, particularly since China is more pleased with the consequences of Russia’s war than America is with Israel’s.

But both Israel and Russia are regularly killing civilians and making risks that may cause their conflicts to get worse. In each case, the target’s activities are putting the power in an uncomfortable place.

There are distinctions. Prior to May 9, President Biden ordered that those arms shipments been stopped, despite China’s apparent lack of shipment of arms to Russia. America was supplying those weapons to Israel.

Israel, of course, invaded Gaza in retaliation for the dangerous and hostage- taking attack on it on October 7&nbsp, last year by the Hamas defense organization that has governed Gaza since 2007, an attack that formed part of Hamas’s aggressive campaign to end Israel’s occupation of what Hamas sees as Israeli territories since 1967 – and, however, to finish Israel’s very existence.

On the other hand, Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 with a terrible and unwarranted attack, having recently seized the county of Crimea in 2014 – all aimed at reversing Ukraine’s freedom, which had been agreed and negotiated with Russia itself in 1991.

China and Russia had signed a joint declaration only 18 weeks prior to the invasion that said the two countries had a strategic relationship with” no limits” attached to its future potential.

The rights and wrongs of these issues are n’t really what the United States and China have in common. What they do share in common is that each is trying to exert leverage over its alliance in a way that serves its own passions and reputation, idealizing, in the case of America, in order to forbid future civilian deaths in Gaza, in China in order to stop Russia from threatening to employ nuclear weapons and, idealically, to urge it to start discussions over a peace settlement with Ukraine ( though how deeply China desires this is open to question ).

What should President Biden and President Xi do if their threats are ignored by Israel and Russia, respectively? What, in other words, can the world’s two most powerful countries do if their bluff is called?

The good news for Joe Biden is that he has a lot of direct and powerful influence over Israel: US arms deliveries to Israel cost almost US$ 4 billion annually.

Despite that, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some of the extremist parties in his government responded defiantly to Biden’s threat to halt these arms supplies, saying they could stand and fight alone.

Since the Gaza war broke out, US President Joe Biden and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu have n’t always seen eye to eye. Image: Handout / GPO

That is undoubtedly true, in the short term. The Israeli military already has the resources and weapons necessary to invade Rafah, which it claims is the last stronghold of Hamas’s military, in southern Gaza.

Israel also requires American assistance in the longer run, having been a State of Israel since 1948, for both military and diplomatic support in its relations with its Arab neighbors and its conflict with Iran, the state that finances and supplies Israel and Israel’s other terrorist organization, Hezbollah, in Lebanon.

Therefore, both sides must battle nerves and willpower in the face-off between Biden and Netanyahu. Prime Minister Netanyahu cannot afford to lose the support of the United States, but he may choose to wager that it wo n’t be withdrawn for a while.

The bad news for Biden is that almost anything he does in the year of the American presidential election could hurt his chances: if he backs down, Donald Trump will accuse him of being weak, and if he withholds support for Israel, Trump and pro-Israel Democrats will criticize him for doing so.

Meanwhile, pro-Palestine demonstrations on university campuses pose two risks: one, that left-leaning Democratic voters may turn away from him, and that, if disorder develops ( as it did with anti-Vietnam War demonstrations in 1968 ), an image of weakness and loss of control could be disastrous in November’s election.

However, given the range of negative effects, President Biden’s best course of action would be to use his full influence over Israel: any presidential candidate needs to appear strong, and he cannot afford to lose any of his own Democratic Party voters.

No candidate ever looks strong, but making threats and then withdrawing them would be unquestionable evidence of both weakness and indecisistance.

This also fits with a diplomatic imperative: if America is ever to stabilize the situation in the Middle East it needs the support of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and the Gulf States, and if he backs down on Israel’s invasion of Rafah, that support will be lost or greatly diluted. The involvement of those Arab states will be necessary if Gaza is to be rebuilt and policed after the war is over.

President Xi’s challenge is more ambiguous than Biden’s. China does not want to be associated with threats of the use of nuclear weapons, even though it welcomes any disruption to Western leadership that might be brought about by Russia’s actions, which is why it has provided Russia with both diplomatic and commercial support.

Xi’s challenge – an unhinged Vladimir Putin. Photo: The Kremlin

China is trying to portray itself as a peacemaker and stabilizer in some ways, which is why, in part, because this is how the more violent its Russian ally becomes, the less convincing this stance will be in international diplomacy.

However, it is also because China wants to maintain the notion that it can essentially annex Taiwan peacefully or at least without a quick conflict, which is against the grain of superpower theory.

The positive aspect of Xi’s position is that he does n’t have to face election issues and can view Russia’s conflict more indifferenceably than Biden can. The bad news, however, is that his leverage over Russia is quite limited.

Beyond threats, Xi could only actually sway Vladimir Putin by stifling trade between Russia and China, perhaps especially with regards to the need for higher-tech goods for the Russian defense industry. But that would make China look rather like America, using trade as a tool of containment.

It is quite tough being a superpower.

Formerly editor- in- chief of The Economist, Bill Emmott is currently chairman of the&nbsp, Japan Society of the UK, the&nbsp, International Institute for Strategic Studies&nbsp, and the&nbsp, International Trade Institute.

First published on his Substack, Bill Emmott’s Global View, this is the English original of an article previously published in Italian by La Stampa.

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Commentary: Lawrence Wong as Prime Minister and Finance Minister – it could give him an advantage

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CHOICE OF DEPUTIES Things

Given the needs of his functions, Mr Wong’s selection of deputies so mattered.

Mr. Wong prioritizes wisdom and experience to avert conflict and disorientation while keeping Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Mr. Heng Swee Keat as Deputy Prime Ministers.

Additionally, it gives Mr. Wong more time to choose his successors for the fourth-generation ( 4G ) leadership team.

In addition to the economical and professionalized civil service, Mr. Wong also has two able deputies, Second Ministers Ms. Indranee Rajah and Mr. Chee Hong Tat, to help with the demanding duties that come with double-hatting.

When the GE may be called, after which more substantial Cabinet shifts are anticipated, is now in everyone’s minds.

In order to show his robust political leadership and mobilise end ground support, Mr. Wong might even decide to hold his second National Day rally in August of the year.

Mr. Wong may be attempting to kick off his first year as prime minister with a high word and is putting his faith in the entire crew to good effect.

Dr. Mustafa Izzuddin works for Solaris Strategies Singapore as a top international affairs analyst.

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Handing over Singapore in good order: The legacy of Lee Hsien Loong

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According to Prof. Bilveer Singh, deputy head of the National University of Singapore’s Department of Political Sciences, Mr. Lee has increased the government’s accountability to the public by promoting the establishment’s responsibility to support the development of a more powerful political criticism, including by appointing a Leader of the Opposition, engaging the community on pressing problems, and tolerating concerned anti-establishment views.

Following the general election of 2020, Mr. Lee officially designated Staff ‘ Party leader Pritam Singh as the Opposition head, noting that the results showed a strong need for a diverse range of voices in parliament.

Assoc Prof. Singh said,” If asked what his most important legacy may be, it would possibly be his ensuring continued national political and economic growth throughout the COVID pandemic and his careful preparation for the smooth transition of the state supervision to the 4G PAP frontrunners.”

INFRASTRUCTURE BOOM

During his presidency, Mr. Lee also spearheaded an infrastructure boom. Over the last 20 years, the number of HDB flats in Singapore climbed from 878, 000 to 1.1 million.

Dr. S. Vasoo reported that Mr. Lee personally spoke to residents of Ang Mo Kio to explain their concerns when some blocks were chosen for the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme ( SERS ).

Mr. Lee was also aware of the social impact, including disruption to residents ‘ social life and support networks, in addition to the financial aspects, such as repayment and costs, Dr. Vasoo said.

The country’s MRT and LRT network length also doubled in Mr Lee’s tenure, from 128km to 259km.

Singapore’s maritime activity also boomed, with annual port container throughput growing from 21.3 million to 39 million twenty- foot equivalent units ( TEU).

Ms. Ngiow noted that during Mr. Lee’s tenure, Singapore has received numerous strategic infrastructure projects to strengthen its position as a global hub for business, tourism, and commerce.

The development of Jewel Changi Airport is “one of them.” Initially conceived to expand aviation capacity, Jewel’s integration with retail and leisure facilities transformed it into a sought- after destination for travellers”, she said.

Another megaproject is the Tuas Port which, when fully completed in 2040, will double Singapore’s maritime capacity and increase efficiency, further solidifying Singapore’s status as a key transport player, said Ms Ngiow.

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How Ukraine has resisted Russia’s cyber offensive – Asia Times

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The cyber war between Russia and Ukraine is described as” the most sustained set of cyber operations coming up against the best collective defense we have seen,” according to Paul Chichester, Director of Operations at the UK’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC ).

Ukraine’s digital defenses have proven to be extremely strong, successfully preventing what could have been Russia’s” computer Pearl Harbor” – a destructive surprise cyberattack intended to cause popular disruption.

By demonstrating a degree of protective strength and endurance that mirrors its military will, Ukraine has successfully resisted Russia’s digital menace. Between the start of the full-scale war and June 2023, it has been reported that Soviet thieves attempted to hack into Russian systems in at least 260 million times.

Learning from past experience, Ukraine has been able to develop a powerful computer security to resist Russia’s invasion. However, it is important to point out that Western governments ‘ extensive cyber aid has been a key factor in this achievement. This assistance extends beyond mere political support, encompassing technical and strategic support to boost Ukraine’s cyber capabilities.

The role of technology businesses has remained just as crucial. These institutions have provided critical resources and expertise, contributing significantly to the increasing of Ukraine’s digital defenses. The Cyber Defense Assistance Collaborative for Ukraine ( CDAC ) was established in March 2020 to coordinate support from Western tech companies in Ukraine.

The business assisted in developing an “inventory of the possible services, products, and tools Russian companies can offer, as well as arrange with various Ukrainian firms and understand their needs as quickly as possible.”

The US defense Cyber Command sent a staff to Ukraine in December 2021 to check whether Russian hackers had now hacked into Russian techniques before Russia’s full-scale war.

In response to increased Russian aggression, their task was to “hunt ahead” and discover computer network that had already been hacked. In the wake of the original war, Ukraine performed better than some had anticipated on the cyber front. The West provides a lot of computer assist in secret, and its reach is likely to be much greater than what has been reported in the media.

Ukraine’s knowledge 2014–2022

Since 2014, Ukraine has a lot of practice fighting Russia online. According to a Russian official,” Russia has essentially been training us since 2014 with their daily attacks.” But, by February 2022, we were prepared and knew all about their skills”.

Russia’s ongoing cyberattacks against the nation have also raised awareness of security and the crucial role that civil society may play in achieving cyber resilience.

Russia likewise underestimated Ukraine’s cyber capabilities to endure. As Yurii Shchyhol, brain of Ukraine’s State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection, explained:

The recent practice in Ukraine has demonstrated that attacks demand both time and knowledge to be prepared. This helps explain why, since Russia’s first war technique in the spring of 2022 failed, there have been fewer high-complexity digital offensives. Russia just did not have ample preparations for a first-large wave of cyberattacks and did not anticipate that Ukraine would be able to tolerate it.

The position of the West’s personal business

The secret business in the West has a significant part in keeping Ukraine online. The significant contribution that Western private sector organizations have made, generally significant ones in cybersecurity and technology, has been made to keeping Ukraine online.

These companies have provided experience, resources, and sometimes strong support in securing Ukraine’s modern infrastructure. For the protection of a large portion of Ukraine’s equipment from the assault of Russian distributed denial-of-service attacks, companies like Cloudflare and Google provided anti-DDoS assistance.

In order to move Russian government operations and information into the sky, businesses like Amazon and Microsoft aided in minimizing the impact of Russian dynamic and digital wiper attacks. Georgii Dubynski, Ukraine’s deputy secretary for digital change, believes that Ukraine’s collaborations with private companies in the West have played a vital role in its computer security and endurance.

The Carnegie Endowment’s Nick Beecroft made the following point:

A deeper defining characteristic of the protective effort has been the integration of big British technology providers, especially Amazon, Cloudflare, Google, and Microsoft. These businesses have added protective level and resilience far beyond what Ukraine may have achieved on its own, thanks to the ability to travel government data and services to distributed cloud servers, offer automated protection of large networks, coupled with dedicated protection of high-risk users, and continuously update threat intelligence drawn from international telemetry.

In the end, removing Ukrainian government and economic data from Ukraine and transferring it to the cloud saved it at the cost of over 10 million gigabytes.

Mykhailo Fedorov, the deputy prime minister and minister of digital transformation in Ukraine, even claimed that Amazon Web Services “made one of the biggest contributions to Ukraine’s victory by giving the country access to and resources for moving to the cloud and securing crucial information.”

Microsoft will continue to offer cloud services to Ukrainian Government institutions, including the military, schools, universities and hospitals, free of charge through 2024, according to Fedorov.

This extension is part of the US$ 540 million in free services, technical support, equipment and grants provided by Microsoft to Ukraine. This support has been crucial in enhancing Ukraine’s government’s security and preventing Russian attacks from destroying or losing important government information, in addition to financial savings for the state budget.

Microsoft itself has been the target of Russian cyberattacks because of its strong support for Ukraine and extensive support for its cyber defense. Microsoft made it known that the Russian state-sponsored hacker group Nobelium, known for its sophisticated SolarWinds attack, targeted its corporate systems. Late last year, the company reported that Nobelium accessed some of the team’s senior leadership members ‘ email accounts.

Western support for Ukraine’s cyber defenses

Western investment into Ukraine’s cyber defenses since 2014 has helped Ukraine withstand Russian attacks. Ukraine has benefited from advanced technological equipment and infrastructure from Western nations, which will improve its cybersecurity.

Companies like Microsoft are providing Ukraine with threat intelligence data, as well as sophisticated software to identify and mitigate cyber threats, hardware to improve network security, and platforms for enhanced monitoring and analysis of cyber activities.

A significant factor in Russia’s failed cyber offensive was its underestimation of Ukraine’s cyber defense capabilities. Since 2014, Ukraine’s defenses have been significantly strengthened by international investment and support for its cyber infrastructure.

Russian cyberattacks did n’t fail outright. Rather, nearly 10 years of cyber war and significant Western investment, including public- private partnerships, have helped forge a strong defense.

Therefore, Ukraine’s ability to react quickly and stop the effects of Russian cyberattacks has slowed down the impact of these attacks. In his comments on the US National Security Agency’s ( NSA ) defense forward strategy, David Luber cited:

As United States Cyber Command deployed their troops to train]Ukrainians] prior to the invasion, we worked very closely with them as they looked at that defense. And as they discovered malicious software and activity, we collaborated with them to [ensure ] that information is broadly shared with both government and industry, not just to defend NATO, but also to defend other allies and the US.

Protecting Ukraine’s networks also protects Western networks. Since 2014, the United States has significantly contributed to enhancing Ukraine’s energy security, providing over$ 160 million in technical assistance.

In this collaboration, the US Department of Energy worked closely with the Ukrainian government to strengthen Ukraine’s energy infrastructure’s resilience and advance national response strategies, particularly in the wake of cyberattacks that targeted the nation’s electric grid.

These efforts significantly reduced the impact of Russian cyberattacks, which had previously caused significant damage as a result of Russia’s initial 2014 invasion of Ukraine.

By 2022, thanks to these strengthened defenses, Ukraine’s energy infrastructure remained robust against the cyber threats. In an effort to disrupt and devastate Ukraine’s power grid, Russia resorted to using cruise missiles and drones.

Russia’s failure to integrate cyber and conventional attacks

Russian combatants have n’t been successful in integrating cyberattacks with conventional ones. The apparent lack of synergy between Russia’s cyberattacks and its ground forces was one of the main problems.

In order to complement and enhance the viability of physical military operations, cyberattacks must be timed and targeted. But while Moscow aimed to utilize cyberattacks to gather intelligence in Ukraine,” Russian brutality and incompetence” reduced their ability to take advantage of the intelligence, “according to a Carnegie Endowment study.

What should be learned from Russia’s insufficient preparation to launch coordinated strikes on crucial targets in a cyberwar. Cyberattacks, says a CSIS study, are most effective” when combined with other weapons, including conventional delivery systems, precision- guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles, and electronic warfare. This combination can stifle command centers and advanced weapons systems and cause the enemy’s forces to become less popular.

The robust cyber defense ecosystem

Defense has proven to be the victor in the Russian-Ukraine cyber war, thanks to support from the West. Russia’s cyberwar against Ukraine has received a strong international response, with numerous nations and international organizations providing Ukraine with extensive cybersecurity support that has aided the nation in thwarting Russia’s advance.

According to Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, the Russia-Ukraine cyber war demonstrated that” a new form of collective defense has” proven to be more powerful than conventional cyber capabilities.

Ukraine’s cyber defense has relied on a coalition of partners supporting its defense, including governments, private companies and NGOs, versus Russia as a major cyber power.

Private companies make a significant investment in network surveillance to ensure that the world’s computer code, equipment, and network infrastructure are maintained. Simultaneously, academic institutions, governments and nonprofit organizations diligently seek out software bugs, providing regular updates to these companies about any shortcomings or vulnerabilities they discover.

In response, there are strong ecosystems in place to support cyber defense, especially in Ukraine, where Western governments and private companies have bolstered its defense. It can take years to create a sophisticated cyber weapon, but the code that hosts the vulnerability can be deleted in seconds.

David Kirichenko&nbsp, is a Ukrainian- American security engineer and freelance journalist. Since Russia’s full- scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 he has taken a civilian&nbsp, activist role.

This is the seventh and final part of a series”, Lessons from the first cyberwar. ‘” Read part one, &nbsp, part two, &nbsp, part three, &nbsp, part four, &nbsp, part five and part six. These articles are excerpted, with kind permission, from&nbsp, a report the author presented at the UK Parliament&nbsp, on February 20 on behalf of the Henry Jackson Society. The source of the facts and quotations is detailed in the original report.

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New law will require owners of critical services to report wider range of cybersecurity incidents

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Singapore’s parliament approved a bill on Tuesday ( May 7 ) that will allow for the accounting of technological changes while strengthening Singapore’s cybersecurity defenses.

Owners of critical information infrastructure ( CII ) are now required to report more incidents, including those that occur in their supply chains, as per new regulations in the Cybersecurity Act.

This is to target the “inventiveness” of destructive computer stars, said Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Janil Puthucheary.

We may start setting warnings there as malicious actors ‘ methods and tactics change to target systems along supply chains or on the edge, he added.

Authorities will be able to regulate a new system called Systems of Temporary Cybersecurity Concern (STCC ) in accordance with the new law. These are systems that, for a time- minimal time, are at higher risk of cyberattacks, and if compromised, would harm Singapore’s regional interests.

Beyond its current regulatory framework, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore ( CSA ) will now be able to manage businesses. Companies with a Special Cybersecurity Attention ( ESCI) are among them. &nbsp,

Attacks on ESCIs could have a” major harmful effect” on Singapore’s defence, international relations, economy, public health, people safety, or open order, because of the disruption of the work they perform, or the disclosure of sensitive information their computer devices contain, explained Dr Janil.

He warned against making the specific list of entities designated as ESCIs public, in order to avoid accidentally disclosing that they are “worthy targets” for malicious actors.

A CII will now be able to support an important service from abroad, as well as CSA. With the new changes, CSA can designate and regulate these computer systems as long as their owners reside in Singapore, and such computers would have been treated as such CIIs if they had been based there.

Tabling the Bill for a second reading, Dr Janil said that it aims to tackle” shifts in the operating context” in cybersecurity, and strengthen the administration of the Act to address “operational challenges” CSA has faced.

The Cybersecurity Act has been in effect for six years. Today, the main objectives are still relevant. We’ve reviewed the Act, learning from our experiences, and taking into account changes in technology”, he explained.

” In order to continue to ensure Singapore’s cybersecurity, a review and an update to the Act is needed as several aspects of our operating context have changed”.

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