No MRT service between Boon Lay and Queenstown due to power fault on East-West Line

Online chatter between commuters about the difficulties, with one witness who wanted to be known as Mdm Tan reporting that a coach appeared to be bringing smoke into Clementi station around 9.17 am.

Other people on X cited go disruptions of between 10 to 20 minutes.

In response to a Twitter post that claimed a station was diverting from Kallang to Boon Lay, SMRT reported that western railways were being turned around at Queenstown at around 10.10am. &nbsp,

” So, &nbsp, coach rate is being regulated. We have made in-train and stop presentations. We are sad for affecting your commute”.

The tragedy on Wednesday is the next train service disruption in a little over a month. &nbsp,

A power problem on the night of Sep 17 caused a disruption to services on the Circle Line, which affected peak-hour go for scores of commuters, lasting for almost two time. &nbsp,

The next day, a fireplace at a station station suddenly disrupted Circle Line service, causing an interruption of about 15 hours. &nbsp,

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Shopping on Qoo10 effectively halted as MAS orders e-commerce platform to suspend payment services

The Monetary Authority of Singapore ( MAS ) has mandated that the e-commerce platform Qoo10 suspend all Singaporean payment services starting Monday ( Sep 23 ) because of delays in the payment process for its customers.

Customers are currently able to make purchases on the program, despite the company’s being given an exception for operating its e-commerce system.

” Qoo10&nbsp, may need to employ a third party payment service provider for deals on this platform”, said MAS.

Between April and August, MAS and various government agencies received many consumer complaints against Qoo10 for disruptions in processing obligations to users, who are retailers on Qoo10’s system.

” Qoo10 was asked to handle these issues, and while some were resolved, others remained outstanding”, said MAS in a press release. &nbsp,

In early September, Qoo10 informed MAS that a considerable number of merchants would experience repayment difficulties. MAS engaged the product’s management about the difficulties and expressed its” major issues”.

The expert stated that MAS gave Qoo10 opportunities to address these issues and that the business had to cooperate with MAS in order to fulfill its obligations to merchants on an ongoing basis, including working with a third-party payment service provider to provide the covered services.

However, Qoo10 has to date said it lacks the” enough guarantee” it needs to fulfill its payment commitments to retailers in a timely manner.

The program was therefore given the order to end its transaction services, which are subject to the Payment Services Act, on Monday.

According to MAS, “MAS has taken into account the possible disruption the expulsion may have on Qoo10’s e-commerce system or other solutions that are integrated with the included payments services.”

” But, allowing Qoo10 to keep offering protected payment services would increase the risk of larger outstanding debts and potential losses for more stores using Qoo10’s protected payment service.

” Qoo10 may be permitted to make obligations to meet exceptional claims by like merchants, but may not take on new transaction obligations.”

In response to queries from CNA, MAS said that&nbsp, Qoo10 offered merchant consolidation, account release, private money move, cross-border money transfer and e-money issuance services.

” All five companies are suspended,” a spokeswoman for the expert said. &nbsp, &nbsp,

CNA reported earlier this month that some retailers have filed says with a judge and that police are looking into the e-commerce program.

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The weaponization of everything has begun – Asia Times

One of those activities that many have speculated was on the sky is the use of common materials in 21st-century issues is the attack on pagers and walkie-talkies ( and possibly even solar sections ).

However, there were those who, as security researcher Mark Galeotti put it, believed this “weaponization of all” was akin to Hollywood films or cyberpunk crime thrillers.

According to them, turning pagers or phones into incendiary devices was possibly not possible both technologically and logistically. Only the most anxious person may believe that a circumstance like this could actually turn out to be true.

Yet it has today happened. And it has resulted in the deaths of 37 people, the injuries of thousands more, and the potential for severe corporate disorganization.

The ability to communicate with your troops or extremist network has always been a necessity in fighting. And as the geographical scope of conflict grows, the ability to communicate is even more crucial.

An institution needs to be able to rely on its communication devices to be trustworthy. And it is important to have faith in the real people they are speaking to, not the artificial intelligence ( a growing concern in the face of “deep fakes” )

Members of an organization also need to discover ways to prevent being heard, which is a constant worry when communication tools are continually increasing in both strength and difficulty.

Therefore, any business in the twenty-first century must be wary of the dangers of digital disruption and of the various ways that information and communication can be hacked, hacked, and manipulated.

However, the transformation of common means of communication and information into practical arms leads to a new breed of fear and paranoia.

How worried should we be?

There are many individuals who will say that the things we are seeing in Lebanon will undoubtedly be bringing to a nearby area.

In a time of “open modern innovation,” Audrey Kurth Cronin, director of the Institute for Strategy & Technology at Carnegie Mellon University in the US, has asserted that one of the biggest safety issues is the possibility of devastating development by non-state stars.

In other words, we are living in a world where more and more people and businesses can use destructive systems. The wonderful rights no longer possess the most advanced technology.

Following the attacks on September 17 and 18, the Syrian army carried out controlled blasts of mobile communications products. &nbsp, Photo: EPA-EFE via The Conversation / Wael Hamzeh

There might be world leaders who feel they can test the potential of the techniques that their thieves and technologists have been considering and experimenting with in a time of growing political tensions.

In a time when online systems are in use, two colonels in the Chinese government published a book about the resurgence of global politics and war in 1999. I discussed their ideas in my 2023 text Theorising Future Conflict: War Out to 2049.

One of their most disturbing feedback is about the possible use of everything in upcoming global wars:” These ] new idea arms did make regular people and military men very shocked that common things can also become weapons with which to engage in war.”

The situations in Lebanon does give us a sense of what these Chinese martial visionaries saw coming. Naturally, whether states are able to adapt to a constantly evolving protection landscape is still up for debate. We are in a period of rapid shift for a variety of new technology.

State with more pressing issues and limited tools might have more to worry about. Additionally, as this new era of conflict transitions from visionary speculation to terrible reality, organizations like Hezbollah may be entering a new hazard.

Geopolitical affect

We do n’t know whether more attacks will be launched in Lebanon, but the events are still ongoing. Additionally, we are unsure of the region’s potential broader political influence as a result of the attacks.

However, for the time being, it appears that there is a modern and political divide between those who will suffer from these fresh tactics in this weaponization of everything and those who will be able to launch extremely inventive attacks on individuals and organizations from a distance.

It seems doubtful that hostile nations like Russia would use any threats they discovered in the products used in daily life to fuel a global conflict, according to countries like the UK.

The different punishment strategies, such as nuclear arsenals, which involve mutually assured destruction, at least temporarily, keep a large portion of our conflict from going to war.

And we would probably have far more to worry about than exploding smartphones if political tensions did achieve a level where Vladimir Putin’s Russia considered these novel military options.

However, non-state players may not be frightened of using this kind of invasion. So we must hope they do n’t possess the serious organizational skills necessary to turn everyday objects into explosives, and we must also hope security services around the world are monitoring new threats closely.

In times of serious and fast change in AI, drones, drones and attacks, the only certainty is doubt in this complex, and often terrible, world we are living in.

Mark Lacy is senior lecturer of politics, philosophy and religion, Lancaster University

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

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Commentary: Mobile Guardian breach – don’t be too quick to question dependence on technology in education

In the event of a disturbance, businesses and governments have established procedures for operating stability. They have organisation-wide policies to train and maintain good online hygiene practices, such as copy strategies, data administration and security.

In comparison, students often receive such training. They are resilient and uncertain of what to do when networks fail, leaving them vulnerable.

To better prepare students for modern failures when they occur, the scope of electronic literacy could be expanded to include such techniques and skills. However, this is only addressing the symptom.

DIGITAL NATIVES ARE ABLE TO REMAIN DIGITAL LITERACY

There is a deeper, more important issue to remain addressed, &nbsp, and this requires a rethink of electronic literacy education.

Young people today are generally called “digital indians”, simply because they use phones thoroughly. However, in the past six decades, I have had to tell undergraduates electronic literacy skills.

I’ve run into individuals who struggle with simple computer tasks. Some people type only their index fingers, others struggle with Microsoft Word paragraph formatting, and others do n’t realize how to maximize windows on their screens so they can edit documents comfortably. They are not the lot, but they are numerous.

These discrepancies reveal the imperfect notion that frequent smartphone use results in online savviness.

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US-China decoupling disruption as opportunity not threat – Asia Times

The speculative financial decoupling between the United States and China is now occurring, and the effects will have an impact on every aspect of the world market. Driven by business imbalances, modern rivals and national security issues, the split is accelerating and will form the 21st century.

The course of events continues regardless of the outcome of the next US national poll. The relationship is framed as one of rivalry because both main parties have taken a confrontational attitude toward China. Tools like taxes, trade handles, and supply chain swings will continue to be deployed. Decoupling is not just feasible, it is unavoidable.

This growing tear carries tremendous implications, especially for third-party countries. These nations—ranging from big markets like India and Germany to emerging markets such as Vietnam and Mexico—rely heavily on both the US and China for business, investment, systems, and safety partnerships.

The problem for these nations is certainly whether they will be affected by the world’s two largest economy ‘ separation, but how they will bridge the gap.

Collectively, the US and China accounts for over 40 % of global GDP. Increased coupling could lead to scattered supply chains, competing scientific standards, and independent financial spheres of influence.

For third-party nations, this means higher company costs, reduced international development, and changed trade patterns. Firms have already had to reevaluate their supply chains as a result of the pandemic and ongoing business disputes, and US and Chinese economies are likely to experience even greater disruption.

Each phase of this decoupling presents challenges and opportunities for third-party regions, and it is happening in five different and parallel stages.

Five isolating stages to observe

1. Global supply chains

The second phase—already good underway—involves the restructuring of global supply chains. US businesses are seeking to lower over-dependence on China, particularly in important areas like electronics, medicine, and consumer gadgets.

As a result, places like Vietnam, Mexico, and India are emerging as other producing centers, attracting investment shifting away from China. For example, Vietnam saw a 10.5 % increase in foreign direct investment ( FDI) in the first half of 2023, while China’s FDI declined by 5.6 % during the same period.

This development highlights Vietnam’s ability as a key player in the growth methods of multinational corporations.

2. Digital structures

The US and China build specific technical ecosystems that are governed by different governmental frameworks and standards, which contribute to the divergence of modern infrastructures. This is evident in the development of 5G networks, where US allies have banned Chinese businesses like Huawei in favor of non-Chinese alternatives.

In this fragmented environment, countries like South Korea and Japan, with advanced technological capabilities, have the opportunity to become neutral digital hubs. Their neutrality allows them to avoid higher costs faced by non-neutral hubs, such as the US$ 4-$ 5 billion increase in US 5G deployment costs due to Huawei’s exclusion.

South Korea and Japan establish themselves as key players in the changing digital landscape by balancing technologies from both ecosystems.

3. Data sovereignty and AI innovation

As the US and China tighten control over data flows, which are increasingly viewed as crucial to national security and AI development, the third phase, which is data sovereignty and artificial intelligence, furthers the divide.

Singapore is emerging as a neutral player in this regard, establishing itself as a secure data haven through initiatives like AI Verify, Digital Economy Agreements ( DEAs ), and Singapore’s robust Personal Data Protection Act ( PDPA ).

AI Verify offers a forward-thinking approach to AI governance, enabling companies worldwide to assess the transparency, fairness and ethical compliance of their AI systems.

In 2022, over 60 % of the world’s cloud services ran through Singapore’s digital infrastructure, reinforcing its role as a key hub for secure data management. The city’s DEAs facilitate seamless cross-border data transfers, and cross-border data flows contributed$ 540 billion to the region’s GDP in 2021.

As Singapore enhances its AI governance and data sovereignty, my firm, Temus, contributed insights to the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change’s report,” Greening AI: A Policy Agenda for the Artificial Intelligence and Energy Revolutions”.

Our recommendations, alongside those from other industry and research institutes, focused on how Singapore can leverage its computing power and data center footprint sustainably—ensuring competitiveness in the AI era while maintaining environmental responsibility, a paradox many governments and enterprises strive to resolve.

Singapore offers a balanced approach to AI innovation by encouraging collaboration between industries and governments in response to growing concerns over data sovereignty.

4. Financial decoupling

The fourth phase, financial decoupling, is rapidly gaining momentum. Chinese businesses are increasingly denied access to US capital markets, and China is making strides to develop alternatives to the Western financial system, including by encouraging the digital yuan.

For third-party countries, this phase brings risks and opportunities. Financial hubs like Dubai and Zurich might become neutral areas, drawing in both US and Chinese capital. However, these nations will need to diversify their currency reserves—balancing among the US dollar, euro, and yuan—to hedge against financial shocks.

The “weaponization of the US dollar,” a concept that economist Eswar Prasad explored in his book” The Dollar Trap,” is a key driver of this change. Prasad illustrates how the dollar’s dominance, with nearly 90 % of global trade conducted in dollars, allows the US to impose sanctions and exert influence over the global financial system.

Countries like Russia and Iran, cut off from dollar-based networks due to US policy, face severe economic repercussions. Countries are forced to align with US interests or face isolation as a result of this over-reliance. In response, many nations are looking for other ways to combat the growing US-China conflict and the need to take sides.

5. Competing Visions

The final phase is fueled by ideological and political divergence. The US and China are promoting competing visions of the global order: the US emphasizes safeguarding intellectual property, fair competition, and the free flow of information, while China prioritizes technological self-reliance.

For third-party countries, navigating this landscape is increasingly complex. As decoupling gets deeper, nations like India and Turkey have demonstrated that it’s possible to maintain strategic autonomy while engaging with both superpowers. However, this balancing act will get harder as the conflict gets deeper.

In this context, former Singaporean diplomat Bilahari Kausikan advocates for a strategy of dynamic multipolarity. Third-party nations are encouraged to cooperate more flexibly than to acquiesce to one power’s interests, thereby maximizing their own national interests.

Dynamic multipolarity allows countries to adapt to shifting geopolitical landscapes without getting too deeply entangled in either the US or China’s sphere of influence. Third-party states can maintain strategic autonomy while ensuring win-win outcomes by diversifying partnerships and engaging pragmatically with major global powers.

In an increasingly multipolar world, this enables them to capitalize on opportunities from various players and to form stronger, more balanced relationships with one another, fostering resilience and development among other third-party states.

Strategic autonomy, cooperation and capacity building

The US-China decoupling is already changing the world economy, and its effects will continue to grow over the coming decades. Third-party countries are not powerless in this transition.

By strategically navigating the five phases of decoupling—realigning supply chains, adapting to digital fragmentation, asserting data sovereignty, managing financial flows, and positioning themselves geopolitically—they can turn disruption into opportunity.

Agility will be a must for these countries to keep themselves from being permanently bound up to either the US or China. In this fragmented world, those who maintain strategic autonomy, increase cooperation among themselves, and develop their technological prowess will prosper.

Third-party countries have the opportunity to protect their economic interests as decoupling progresses and to strengthen their relevance in a rapidly changing global order.

Marcus Loh is a director at Temus, a provider of digital transformation services, where he leads public affairs and strategic communication as well as serving as Step IT Up Singapore’s business head. He serves on the executive committee of SG Tech, the largest trade organization for Singapore’s technology sector, for the digital transformation chapter.

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