Commentary: ‘Are you dating anyone?’ – what to tell your relatives this Chinese New Year

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On social media, rarely does the commonplace get reflected, much less the annoying and repulsive. If we take what we see there while whole, perfect images of love and seeing, our understanding of relationships can be twisted, airbrushed and impossible.

Instead of what we believe we should want or value, our own beliefs and priorities change to what we actually want or value, such as” This is what my partner should do to make me feel special” or” These are the kinds of places my partner should take me on dates.” &nbsp,

Apparently the answer to this in a modern era where our website presence is extremely staged and performed for a virtual audience is to appear deeper inside and consider what really matters to us. &nbsp,

STOP AIMING FOR Excellence

Just a few years ago, our romantic lovers were confined to a smaller pool of companions from the physical locations we occupy: School, work, our communities, and so on. &nbsp,

Now, online dating websites such as applications have expanded our range of options rapidly. We then have the ability to browse through hundreds of information at once, persons we might not have otherwise met. They don’t actually have to be in the same city or country. &nbsp,

Optionality is alluring, but it also creates the impression that there is always someone much “out there.” As a result, we become less willing to compromise and undertake.

Another friend, who has spent the last few years in various relationships, says that whenever something goes wrong, it always seems like there’s something wrong with the guys they meet.” There’s always something wrong with me, or a small character flaw I can’t get previous,” she says.

Many others in our era agree with this statement: We are no longer as accepting of flaws in our prospective partners, and our resolve to resolve conflicts with our partners is declining.

More than riding out the storm together, it’s much easier to end the relationship and go in seek of the “next best item” on the horizon. &nbsp,

However, connections are meant to be worked through, never arrived at. Couplehood is a dialogue of give and take, of benevolence and sacrifice.

Nothing is perfect, and no one can ever be fully satisfied. Alternatively of seeking beauty with a “get it right the first time” culture, what if we acquired a “work items out as we go along” culture instead? &nbsp,

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Rare for Singapore political parties to use background screening firms to vet candidates: Industry players

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DEGREE OF SEPARATION

Political parties can stay out of trouble with prospects ‘ prior conflicts if they come up against them in the future, according to the companies.

According to RM I’s Mr. Ho,” It protects the group, as the group is showing the people what they have done and the ways they have already taken to ensure due diligence.”

The goal, he said, is to show that while&nbsp, poor judgment or changes in personality may become difficult to foresee, intensive investigations had been conducted at the time the candidates joined the company.

According to Mr. Tan of Kroll, “what’s important is that we are experts in this field of work and a non-biased separate third party.”

” There is an accountability account. If the vetting process become subject to scrutiny, it can be said honestly that a third party came in and discovered no conflicts or contradictions.

Business players said that while the WP good conducted inside checks, interesting a&nbsp, backdrop screen company adds a layer of professionalism, given their more advanced methods of obtaining information.

HOW SCREENING WORKS

The procedure usually begins with the president’s acceptance and takes about two months, &nbsp, depending on the complexity of the screen, the firms said.

Background checks typically include investigating certificates with companies and educational institutions, assessing financial&nbsp, validity through credit or debt checks, and checking for ongoing dispute or prior convictions. For insulting data, traditional media and social media are also subject to scrutiny.

The individual being screened is aware of the investigations being done, and has to provide consent before the procedure may begin, said Avvanz’s Mr Chettiar.

” Some higher-risk individuals require more thorough vetting. For instance, criminality checks in these cases will cover the past decade as opposed to fewer years for typical cases, he said.

” For every 10 profiles we screen, at least three will have some form of discrepancies, in the form of fake credentials, inflated backgrounds, derogatory social media footprint or undeclared offences” .&nbsp,

Any potential red flags that may have been discovered are then gathered into a formal report for the client and put into action.

However, ultimately, the clients who hired their services make the final choice about how to proceed.

” Sometimes they think that just because a conviction is for a smaller, less serious crime, like maybe for drunk and disorderly behaviour, and not something bigger, then it’s scant”.

HOW DO OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES DO IT?

The People’s Action Party, the ruling party, told CNA that it evaluates potential candidates through a variety of methods and sources of feedback.

” No screening process can be 100 per cent effective. However, a PAP representative said that they make an effort to pick candidates who are committed to serving our country, of good character, and who have a desire to improve the lives of their fellow citizens.

Potential PAP candidate Ivan Lim withdrew from the race just two days before Nomination Day because of online criticism of his conduct during the 2020 general election, along with other allegations.

The Singapore Democratic Party claims to have never used background checkers to screen candidates. ” Partly because the majority of them would have been active with the party for a number of years at the point of selection and their backgrounds are known to us,” a spokesperson told CNA.

The Progress Singapore Party made no comment.

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First flex of Trump’s peace through strength strategy – Asia Times

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With its “peace through power” method, which the new Trump administration has a muscular launch, the organization has previously impressed senior allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and India’s S. Jaishankar met briefly days into his new position to highlight the importance of Asia in Trump’s international plan.

In a phone conversation with Rubio’s rival in the Philippines, Rubio reiterated America’s “ironclad” responsibility to protect its South Asian mutual defense treaty alliance in the event of an armed conflict with China in the South China Sea.

In addition, Gilbert Teodoro Jr, the fresh US National Security Advisor, and Mike Waltz, the Philippine Defense Secretary, spoke privately to confirm the “enduring empire between the Philippines and the United States.” &nbsp,

Just days into company, the new Trump administration also convened the latest generation of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, better known as the” Quad”, which brought together top officials from Australia, Japan, India and the US.

In a shared speech, Rubio and his Triple rivals underscored their” shared commitment to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific where the rule of law, political principles, independence, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended”.

The Quad ministers&nbsp made it clear in a lightly veiled criticism of reactionary forces, most importantly China, that they” strongly resist any coercive behavior that seek to change the status quo by force or force.”

In contrast, President Trump’s second term saw a more logical approach by firing and criticizing Iran’s hawks and appointing pragmatists like Michael DiMino as the new top Middle East official for the Pentagon.

New important appointments will reinforce the message of so-called “prioritizers” led by Elbridge Colby, a candidate for under-secretary of security for policy who has emphasized the need for a more China-focused US foreign policy, in conjunction with Trump’s call for ending the “ridiculous war” in Ukraine and growing pressure on Western allies to make their own defense burdens.

The second Trump administration appears to be double down on its defense alliance and deterrence strategy in the Indo-Pacific by shifting America’s strategic focus from its old theaters in Europe and the Middle East.

Trump’s inauguration speech put his commitment to ending world wars to the test by setting the tone for his foreign policy. ” It will be my most cherished legacy to be one who makes peace and unites people.” That’s what I want to be – a peacemaker and a unifier”, he declared, directly taking credit for the newly implemented ceasefire in Gaza, which was largely negotiated by Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

” We will build the strongest military the world has ever seen, just like in 2017,” he added. We will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and, perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into”, he added, echoing his administration’s “peace through strength” mantra.

Trump has signaled a more pragmatic approach to adversaries, most notably Iran. He fired former Iranian envoy Brian Hook, who opposed a “maximum pressure” campaign against the Middle Eastern power that oversaw the Department of State’s most recent transition, just hours into his second term. &nbsp,

Meanwhile, Trump also publicly attacked his former national security adviser, John Bolton, as a “warmonger” who oversaw disastrous interventions in the Middle East. Both Bolton and former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, both of whom had pushed for confrontation with Iran, were removed from their security profiles.

Trump’s Middle East strategy will therefore be influenced by more pragmatic voices. Following his successful negotiation of the Gaza ceasefire, Witkoff has been appointed as Trump’s new Iran envoy.

” He’s certainly&nbsp, someone I would use. He has done a fantastic job. . . Trump praised his new Iran envoy and prospects for a new nuclear deal with Iran, saying that Steve has a wonderful way of him. ” It would really be nice if that could be worked out without having to go that further step]of military confrontation ] …Iran, hopefully, will make a deal”.

The Pentagon’s new Middle East top official Michael DiMino, who is known for his more critical stance on Israel and support for a more “offshore balancing” strategy in the Middle East, will complement Witkoff’s regional diplomacy.

” There are no vital or existential U. S. interests in the]Middle East ] region”, DiMino&nbsp, argued last year in a webinar, underscoring the need for a major reorientation in American foreign policy. He continued,” We’re really there to fight Iran, and that’s really at the behest of the Israelis and the Saudis,” instead of advocating for a more limited American military presence in an increasingly multipolar region.

That viewpoint tracks with the Pentagon’s incoming top policy official, Elbridge Colby, an influential strategic thinker who oversaw the formulation of the first Trump administration’s National Security Strategy.

In a major conference last October, Colby argued that we must give the potential for conflict with China a priori in order to avoid it. ” It is empirically true that China is getting ready for war, and we do have the potential for a multi-front war and a World War III in the upcoming years, and we’re not prepared.”

Similar to DiMino, Colby has also drawn on his own bitter experience in dealing with the Middle East, particularly when he was a member of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq in 2003 and of the President’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission between 2004 and 2005 while serving under the George W. Bush administration. &nbsp,

Trump’s other top cabinet members have also expressed openness to a less confrontational policy in the Middle East in favor of focusing on the broader Indo-Pacific region, particularly China, while adopting more traditionally hawkish views on Iran.

Rubio made it clear during his confirmation hearing that he would support “any arrangement that allows us to have safety and stability in the region but one in which we’re clear-eyed” about threats posed by adversaries like Iran. The more pragmatic tone on Iran, coupled with a concerted push to end the conflict in Ukraine, underscores China’s centrality to the second Trump administration’s grand strategy.

Rubio has characterized China&nbsp, as” the most potent, dangerous and near-peer adversary this nation has ever confronted”, thus the urgency of doubling down the Quad and existing military alliances in the Indo-Pacific. National Security Adviser Waltz, who is also known as an Iran hawk, has also emphasized the need for America to “quickly wind up the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to free up military assets to confront and deter China.”

Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hagseth, who, similar to Waltz, also served in America’s wars in the Middle East, has argued along similar lines and has criticized the outgoing Biden administration for not sufficiently decoupling from conflicts in the Middle East in favor of a China-centered strategy.

By and large, America’s top Asian allies seem optimistic about the second Trump administration’s signaled direction. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong referred to bilateral ties with Washington as “our most important strategic relationship” prior to her meeting with Rubio.

On the eve of the first Quad meeting, just hours into the new administration, she said,” It’s a demonstration of the collective commitment of all countries to the Quad, an ironclad commitment in this time when close cooperation in the Indo-Pacific is so important.”

Japan’s top diplomat was even more effusive about the new administration’s nuanced approach to foreign policy and sound pragmatism.

” I was very impressed that]Rubio’s ] explanation of the Quad didn’t mention China by name and antagonize it. I had thought of him as a hard-liner against China, but as we talked, I found he was a well-balanced individual”, Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya&nbsp, said after the Quad meeting this week.

Follow Richard Javad Heydarian on X at @Rich Heydarian

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China’s air-sea drone could rewrite the rules of naval warfare – Asia Times

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According to researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University ( NWPU) and the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center ( CARDC ), which are cited in a South China Morning Post report, China has created the first drone that can launch from a submarine from the water, loop repeatedly between the sea and the sky, and eventually return to the same&nbsp, sub.

China has already developed this capability and potentially more than the Pentagon envisions for its own forces, according to the SCMP report, while the US military is considering sending submarines close to the Chinese coast to detach drones that swarm in the air and launch attacks on the People’s Liberation Army’s ( PLA ) fleet during a potential conflict over Taiwan.

The new Chinese air-to-sea aircraft, known as Feiyi, features a unique portable aircraft style that apparently enhances its concealment and life abilities. The Feiyi may manage marine quickly and do high-agility maneuvers in the air, making it suitable for sea reconnaissance, surveillance and strike missions, the SCMP report said.

Feiyi’s cutting-edge features, bolstered by China’s unparalleled aircraft production system and its growing skill in cross-media ammunition, signal a possible edge for China in future maritime conflicts involving drones with the US.

Also, the US Navy is testing the Naviator helicopter, an autonomous vehicle capable of flying and underground operations. The Naviator can seamlessly transition between air and water, which increases its deployment flexibility, and is designed for autonomous launch and recovery from unmanned underwater vehicles ( UUV).

The Naviator has more accurate GPS and physical position keep, a power-saving boat sentry mode, the ability to transport numerous sensors and payloads, and a quicker deployment than conventional underwater vehicles. The US Navy’s Orca Extra-Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) could be a member for the Naviator’s probable start system.

Its length and load volume surpass those of the majority of the current marine vehicles, making it suitable for a variety of mission types besides minelaying operations. Its diesel-electric engine system enables automatic operations for up to 30 days and 6, 000 nautical miles, although operational assessment is continuing to develop these capabilities, according to The War Zone.

These cross-media robots can destroy the enemy by launching swarm problems from a variety of domains and directions, probably overcoming the limitations of conventional and fast weapons.

Further, these developments may tie into the more prominent “dronification” of undersea tensions in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea and Indian Ocean.

Exploring the role of UUVs in the Taiwan Strait, the Center for a New American Security ( CNAS ) mentions in a June 2024 report that UUVs play a vital role in enhancing China’s maritime surveillance and anti-access/area denial ( A2/AD ) capabilities.

These UUVs conduct covert intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ( ISR ) operations, monitor naval activities, map the seabed and locate critical undersea infrastructure. Their independent operations also lower the risk of detection, which makes them successful in tense waters.

China is creating a multidomain surveillance network by integrating UUVs into its larger drone fleet, which increases its ability to disrupt communications and halt foreign intrusions. This action is in line with China’s plan to overcome its own shortcomings and strengthen its standing in a potential Taiwan conflict.

In the 2024 book” Navigating East Asian Maritime Conflicts: Technological Change, Environmental Challenges, Global and Regional Responses”, Henrik Hiim mentions that UUVs and Unmanned Surface Vehicles ( USV ) play a nuanced role in US-China undersea competition in the South China Sea.

In line with its efforts to make the South China Sea a protected base for its nuclear ballistic missile submarines ( SSBN), China uses UUVs to counter US nuclear attack submarines ( SSN) by raising maritime domain awareness.

The US uses Unmanned Maritime Systems ( UMS ) to support strategic anti-submarine warfare ( ASW) operations in the South China Sea, but its ability to do so is limited by China’s A2/AD environment’s endurance and vulnerability.

However, Hiim argues that while UMSs may not decisively alter the undersea power balance, they exacerbate maritime disputes, fueling US-China rivalry and intensifying the regional security dilemma.

In the Indian Ocean, the Center for Strategic and International Studies ( CSIS ) think tank mentions in a January 2024 report that China’s operations in the area are characterized by extensive dual-use research activities, blending scientific and military objectives.

The PLA leverages a vast fleet of civilian research vessels to gather critical data on water conditions, currents, and the seafloor, thereby enhancing its naval capabilities. These vessels, often owned by state-affiliated organizations with military ties, conduct surveys that support China’s strategic ambitions.

Notably, Chinese ships have engaged in active operations in the Indian Ocean, using cutting-edge underwater gliders and profiling floats to create a real-time ocean observation network. This information could be used to support the PLA Navy’s ( PLAN ) submarine operations there to counter India’s Bay of Bengal for its SSBNs.

In the wake of India’s ongoing border dispute with China in the Himalayas, analysts have suggested that the country could use its undersea nuclear deterrent as a backstop if its conventional military capabilities are undermined.

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Stage theory, macrohistory and surviving the Kali Yuga – Asia Times

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Our time has all the marks of the Kali Yuga, a dark era of individualism, alienation, injustice and social collapse. But there is trust.

In Hindu cosmology, the Kali Yuga ( Age of Conflict ) is the last of four epochs described in the Vedas. The next epoch will be the Satya Yuga ( Age of Truth ), the equivalent of the Second Coming in Christianity.

Amazingly, contemporary macrohistorical and stage theories provide a comparable framework for understanding the evolution of humanity and closely coincide with old spiritual prophecies, providing guidance on how to navigate this transforming era.

One of the oldest level ideas in the world is the Hindu prophecy that humankind develops in four distinct phases. Ancient Indian scholars predicted a period whereby the philosophies of the four varnas—teacher, warrior, trader, and worker—take turns “ruling the planet”. This Varna period is a reflection of the Vedas ‘ continuous science.

When the cycle is completed, it starts fresh.

In Hindu science, the four Varnas follow a seasonal pattern.

The last judgment, the development of a new heaven and earth, and the return of Christ as a linear growth toward holy fulfillment are all depicted in the Bible. Various religions have similar prophecies. While their idioms differ, they all anticipate a world of harmony, justice, unity and justice.

Over time, there have also been liberal level theories. For starters, Confucius described royal cycles, charting the surge, maximum, decline and fall of dynasties. Also, Greek historian Polybius proposed the theory of anacyclosis, describing recurring political advancement from king to elite to politics and their respective crooked forms—tyranny, elite and ochlocracy.

Modern Tales

In the 19th century, European philosophy developed several stage theories and macrohistories, including Hegel’s dialectical model of historical progress ( thesis, antithesis, synthesis ), Comte’s Law of Three Stages ( theological, metaphysical and positivist ), and Marx’s modes of production ( primitive collectivism, slave society, feudalism, capitalism and communism ).

In the early 20th centuries, German writer Oswald Spengler presented his seasonal theory of societies, likening them to biological organisms with predictable cycles of birth, growth, age, collapse and death. The rise and fall of big civilizations were the subjects of Toynbee’s macrohistory.

Although level theory and macrohistory are related, both deal with human development.

By the mid-20th era, macrohistories and level ideas gained popular interest. Francis Fukuyama, Samuel Huntington, and Alvin Toffler all gained acclaim.

Toffler identified society’s change from hunter-gatherer and agrarian societies to professional and post-industrial eras. Huntington argued that future conflicts would be influenced by social and spiritual identities, while Fukuyama famously declared the “end of history,” implying that Western liberal democracy represented the turning point of intellectual evolution.

Development of perception

The Stage Theory of Cognitive Development, a Swedish psychologist’s theory of mental development, which describes how children’s considering develops over time as they mature, had a significant impact on contemporary period ideas in the 1920s. His theory had a significant impact on the study of individual mental development.

In the second half of the 20th centuries, thinkers Jean Gebser and Ken Wilber extended level principles to human consciousness. Gebser described humanity’s progression through unique” buildings” of consciousness, old, magical, mythical, psychological and integral levels.

Gebser, whose concept relied heavily on art story, pointed at Cubism as a metaphor for expanding awareness. Cubism replaced the one-point view of the Renaissance with “multiple ideas”.

By embracing the difficulty, duality, and interconnection of life, Gebser came up with the term “aperspectival,” a way of experiencing fact that goes beyond the boundaries of distinct and fixed perspectives.

Various techniques to the development of perception have been proposed by Gebser and Wilber.

Ken Wilber’s essential concept identifies three stages of development: pre-personal, private and transcendental.

The transpersonal emphasizes the potential for people to move past their ego-driven, personal problems and accept a deeper feeling of interdependence with the world. Wilber sees this evolution as essential for addressing global issues and fostering a more included, sympathetic, and spiritually awakened world.

Gebser and Wilber were both influenced by Indian cosmology and ideas about spirituality and consciousness, and particularly by contemporary Indian spiritual teacher Sri Aurobindo ( 1872-1950 ), the pioneer of Integral Yoga and one of the first advocates of an integral approach to spirituality.

Gebser and especially Wilber used key concepts from Indian cosmology and consciousness, among them the Sanskrit terms Sat-Chit-Ananda ( being-consciousness-bliss ), Atman ( true self ), Maya ( illusion ) and Turiya, ( pure awareness ). Wilber used the term Turiya to describe a sublime state of consciousness, a breakthrough in metaphysical study and revelation.

Reviving the Varna routine

Based on the original Varna model, Indian spiritual teacher Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar created the socio-spiritual model PROUT ( Progressive Utilization Theory ). Sarkar restored the original interpretation of the Varna idea after the initial idea had degenerated into the harsh, genealogical caste system. &nbsp,

In the Vedic revelation, the four Varnas (teachers, soldiers, retailers and workers ), are emotional characteristics. One of the four Varna forms is the dominant inclination for all people. Although there are characteristics of two or three Varnas, one of the four usually predominates in each person.

For a working world, Sarkar argued that all four Varnas are required. As we have seen in recent past, when one or more of the four Varnas is sidelined, cultures lose their stability and strength. Socialism is failing because it minimizes the employer, and capitalism failed because it minimized the merchants.

Sarkar’s model rejects notions of order, superiority and inferiority. He focuses instead on the idea of cooperation. All Varnas may help because they are dependent on one another.

They must build a mutual relationship. Peter Hayward and Joseph Voros, two researchers from Australia, created a design based on Sarkar’s concept to teach organizations about the value of cooperation and mutual respect.

The healthy and unhealthy emotions of the four varnas are illustrated by Peter Hayward and Joseph Voros.

In the 1980s, the American macrohistorian Lawrence Taub, artist of” The Spiritual Imperative”, made the extraordinary state that the Varna period can be mapped to real people background.

As the diagrams below indicate, Taub made connections between the four castes and particular historical eras. ( Taub used the original sequence of the four Varna ages mentioned in the Vedas: teacher, protector, merchant, worker. )

Taub compared the historical context to the Varna cycle. His prediction for the Kali Yuga’s end was optimistic and more likely to occur after 2050.
Taub’s diagram of the four Varna with their distinct worldviews, ruling elite, social ideal, etc.

In Taub’s model, we have just emerged from the Merchant Age. Because of how closely its worldview aligns with the Merchant type, The West was preeminent in the Merchant Age. The Worker Age is about to reach its height. For the same reason, Confucian Asia will be in the spotlight because its worldview most closely resembles that of the worker.

In the 1970s, China reintegrated the traders into society and created a hybrid system based on communism and capitalism. In barely a generation, it became the world’s largest producer and preeminent trading nation.

China has grown to be the world’s largest trading partner for almost all nations, and it has a significant influence on people’s physical well-being. People who live in slums or are in daily battles for survival are at a disadvantage. ( Spiritual development is challenging. ) &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

Taub argued that India will guide us into the Satya Yuga, a renewed age of enlightenment, and that Confucian Asia will help us leave the Worker Age ( and thus the Kali Yuga ). India will be a leader in the new spiritual era because it has the largest body of spiritual wisdom and understanding of the nature of human consciousness.

incorporating stage theory and macrohistory

Stage theories and macrohistories offer new insights into how humanity developed over time. Macrohistory looks for broad, overarching patterns and trends in history, often over centuries or millennia. It attempts to identify recurring themes, structures, and dynamics across time and cultures in an effort to predict possible future events, which is closely related to futurism. &nbsp,

Stage theory argues that history progresses through a series of distinct, sequential stages, often based on specific criteria like consciousness, economics or social organization. When combined, stage theory and macrohistory can provide insight into seemingly contradictory contemporary developments. For example:

* What explains the rise of religious fundamentalism in recent decades, not only in Islam but also in Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism?

* In a world where everything is becoming more and more connected, why do nationalist politicians like Donald Trump, Marine Le Pen, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prosper?

* Why does a growing number of people in developed countries experience psychological issues as a result of increasing material well-being?

Separately, macrohistories and stage theories can’t explain these seemingly counter-intuitive developments. However, integrated” macrohistorical stage theories” can offer a wider framework for understanding global human development across cultures.

First, macrohistorical stage theories would promote interdisciplinarity and advance our understanding of societal, cultural, and developmental patterns. This would give rise to a more nuanced understanding of how societies move through stages in longer historical cycles.

Second, macrohistories span disciplines like history, sociology and anthropology, while stage theories often incorporate psychology, philosophy and organizational studies. They are integrated, which promotes a holistic view of complex questions.

Third, stage theories frequently emphasize moral, spiritual, or cognitive development, while macrohistories emphasize the larger effects of societal choices made over time. These ideas would be boosted by the incorporation of values-driven approaches to developments that balance short-term goals and short-term actions.

Lastly, macrohistorical stage models should include post-colonial theory, an academic field developed by scholars from previously colonized countries. Post-colonial theory examines the power imbalances and exploitation that occurred both before and after colonialism.

Forgetting the Kali Yuga requires replacing systemic injustices and global inequality with reciprocity and mutuality.

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Ex-OCBC assistant vice president jailed for unauthorised access to data of almost 400 customers

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SINGAPORE: A former OCBC Bank assistant vice president was imprisoned for 10 weeks on Friday ( January 3 ) for accessing 396 bank customers ‘ information without permission.

One consolidated command under the Computer Misuse Act was admitted to Au Jia Hao, 39, through plea.

According to the court’s records, Au worked for OCBC’s international commercial banking sector on October 12, 2022, as an aide vice president. His responsibilities included sales help, resolving consumer problems, and evaluating portfolio quality.

Au was trained in the Silverlake Integrated Banking System’s suitable use legislation and had access to OCBC’s Silverlake Integrated Banking System. Additionally, he understood that he had a duty to protect the security of the company’s information.

Nevertheless, for more than eight months, from Nov 8, 2022, to Jul 31, 2023, he used the Silverlake program to access the information of 396 bank customers.

The information he looked up included regional lawmakers and public characters, celebrities, as well as his associates, friends and family.

He was able to see their National Registration Identity Card ( NRIC ) numbers, dates of birth, addresses, contact numbers, bank account balances, and education and employment histories.

Au alleged that she looked up the data out of excitement and anxiety from work. He made no other people aware of the consumer information.

When OCBC’s danger and protection section alerted Au’s better that his Silverlake consideration had been flagged for accessing a top bank employee’s customer profile on August 16, 2023, the crimes were discovered.

When Au was confronted by the better, he acknowledged doing this.

On September 7, 2023, OCBC abruptly terminated Au’s work and issued a police record against him later that month.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Colin Ng sought 12 to 16 weeks ‘ incarceration. He claimed that Au’s unrestricted access to the data had a significant potential for obstructing relationships and demonstrated prolonged offending.

The attorney claimed that Au had looked up political and public figures, and that the government was more interested in knowing about the customer’s information because he had looked up political and public numbers.

Mr. Ng also made note of Au’s withdrawal from OCBC on July 27, 2023, but his crimes persisted until the month’s end.

The prosecution argued that Au’s departure before examinations started against him in August 2023 was a mark of his regrets, which contradicted the defense.

Defence lawyer&nbsp, Kalidass Murugaiyan asked for four weeks ‘ prison. Countering the lawyer’s discussion on potential damage, he said that there was no proof Au intended to distribute the customer information.

He claimed that Au had mental health issues and despair that appeared to be at the heart of his behavior. Additionally, he claimed Au was a first-time criminal and a six-year charity with the Singapore Red Cross.

District Judge Wong Peck referred to Au as being dishonest in his imprisonment and said it was troubling that he had accessed the knowledge of 396 customers and abused the trust he had been given as an OCBC employee.

” Unfortunately, as a bank employee, and some more, you’re an ( assistant vice president ), &nbsp, this is clearly the wrong thing to do”, she told him.

Unauthorized access to computer files is punishable by a fine of up to S$ 5, 000, or both, as well as a prison term of up to two years in prison.

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Tricksters in China take cue from Squid Game to prey on the indebted

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China: In China’s version of the Squid Game, swindlers are attempting to profit from promises of reward income, debt restructuring, and other schemes that aren’t always what they promise.

Chinese players who take on” self-discipline” challenges don’t risk their lives if they fail, unlike the dystopian South Korean TV series, which returns to the small screen for a second season on Thursday ( Dec 26 ).

However, authorities have discovered that some people who are participating in confinement difficulties who pay hundreds of dollars to stay in a place for days while adhering to the rules in exchange for winning up to 1 million renminbi ( US$ 140, 000 ) are being defrauded. Additionally, law enforcement is is is issuing a reminder about shady debt reduction states.

Isolation difficulties, usually advertised on Flickr, as TikTok is known in China, have risen in popularity this year as the country’s second-biggest market slows. In the three times to September, it increased at the slowest rate in more than a year, prompting policymakers to vow new measures to increase family incomes among other things.

The long list of rules included restrictions on touching the alarm time more than half a day and potty breaks not exceeding 15 hours.

Some players yell bad when they fail to survive their first day for violations reported on surveillance cameras, which they object to.

A judge in the southeast province of Shandong ordered an organizer to deposit a person named Sun who had signed up for a deal that was cruel and “violated people order and good morals” in October.

Sun was attempting to win 250, 000 renminbi by surviving a 30-day confinement challenge that required rules prohibiting alcohol consumption, electric device use, smoking, and other forms of contact with outside the room.

The organizers claimed Sun had used a bed to cover his face on the second day of the challenge, breaking the rule prohibiting players from obscure their faces.

The Cyberspace Administration of China, which regulates the government’s online, and ByteDance, user of Douyin, did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

The National Financial Regulatory Authority ( NFRA ) warned the public on Tuesday to stay away from “debt intermediaries” that promise to help people restructure their borrowings or raise their credit scores.

These intermediaries advertise their services on social media and phone, text, flyers, and other platforms, promising to help customers safe fresh loans or provide temporary funds, but the controller warned that the services come with a higher fee.

According to the state-backed National Business Daily, media companies charge as much as 12 % of the loan’s worth in” support fees.”

According to the NFRA, which warned that consumers ‘ private information might also be leaked or sold, significant costs are being charged to fundamentally assist creditors in repairing their credit files.

China’s household loans totalled 82.47 trillion yuan ( US$ 11.3 trillion ) in November, according to central bank data.

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China tech giant Xiaomi to open two more Singapore stores in 2025 amid Southeast Asia expansion

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By the end of 2025, Chinese handset and house tech firm Xiaomi intends to open at least two additional stores in Singapore, bringing the country’s total business matter to 10.

The announcement was made at the official launch of Xiaomi’s first directly managed store in Singapore on Saturday ( Dec. 21 ) at Funan mall.

Xiaomi’s business development aims to “deepen immediate engagement with South Asian markets,” the company stated in a media release. In addition to these seven retailers, Xiaomi currently operates seven stores in Singapore through reseller partners.

Xiaomi Southeast Asia’s general manager, Mr. Alex Tang, stated to reporters on Friday that the company wants to run some stores independently because there isn’t a strong link between the company and its partners, who might not be familiar with the systems as well.

It aims to “empower” its partners in order to enhance the customer experience at different stores as well, including by promoting more goods, introducing a more effective operations method used in China, and enhancing the store’s reputation.

Because more people are buying products in Singapore, the business is really optimistic, he said.

For cleaners, there has been a 40 per cent increase in interest this time, and for devices, the progress was more than 200 per share.

” We are very confident in this market and are totally committed to investing in this business,” he said. When asked why Xiaomi is now expanding, Mr. Tang said the company already has enough products to offer an “integrated client knowledge” to Singapore.

He stated that Xiaomi will continue to employ people to supply the demands of the new businesses.

Beyond Singapore, the company is aiming to improve the practice for consumers worldwide, including in different parts of Southeast Asia. Additionally, it just opened fresh locations in Malaysia and Thailand.

He acknowledged that the regions have distinct characteristics and rivals, but Xiaomi wants to offer creative goods to each industry.

Xiaomi’s third quarter revenue increased by 30.5 %, helped by the release of its first electric vehicle in March.

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Police profile transgender individuals in Phuket to boost safety

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PUBLISHED: 19 Dec 2024 at 10: 50

Officials collect the profiles of transgender people at an entertainment place on Bangla Road in Phuket at 1am on Thursday. (Photo: Patong police station)
At a party on Bangla Road in Phuket on Thursday at 1 a.m., officials collect the information of trans individuals. ( Photo: Patong police station )

PHUKET — To improve public health, authorities are keeping track of the identities of transgender employees employed in a well-known entertainment district of this well-known tourist destination.

This is being carried out along Bangla Road, close to Patong Beach, by local authorities and operational representatives.

The program aims to reduce tourist-related battles while encouraging visitors to work as informants for crime reduction in the area, according to Pol Col Chalermchai Hernsawat, captain of the Patong authorities station.

The report registration process started a few days ago and continued until early on Thursday morning along Bangla Road, a bustling area of restaurants and hotels.

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New private home sales hit highest level in more than 11 years in November

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PENT-UP DEMAND, IMPROVED BUYER SENTIMENT, FIVE Launch

According to Ms. Christine Sun, senior vice president of study and analytics at the OrangeTee Group, pent-up desire and improved consumer sentiment as mortgages became more affordable&nbsp, following the US Federal Reserve’s significant interest rate cut in September, November’s rise in private house sales may be attributed to pent-up need and improved buyer sentiment.

There were also five&nbsp, exclusive private initiative launch, excluding ECs, last quarter, which is the highest number since November 2019 when six projects were launched, she added.

” Therefore, many consumers were eager to take advantage of interesting deals as many important tasks were launched simultaneously”, said Ms Sun.

The launch were carefully coordinated with growing interest from buyers eager to purchase a house before the year-end vacation season, according to Mr. Mohan Sandrasegeran, the head of research and information insights at Singapore Realtors Inc.

” Favourable borrowing problems, supported by the recent lowering of interest charges, &nbsp, more reignited consumer trust, especially among those who had previously adopted a wait-and-see&nbsp, view earlier in the year”, said Mr&nbsp, Sandrasegeran.

Emerald of Katong, Chuan Park, and Nava Grove are just a few of the projects that were announced in November. &nbsp,

Emerald of Katong, in particular, proved popular with buyers, selling 840&nbsp, –&nbsp, or 99.3 per cent&nbsp, –&nbsp, of its 846 units last month at a median price of S$ 2, 627 ( US$ 1, 948 ) psf.

” Buyers were drawn to the project’s excellent design and offerings, particularly those wishing to live near the East Coast”, said Ms Sun. &nbsp,

Meanwhile, Chuan Park, a project located on Lorong Chuan, sold 721 of its 916 units at a median price of S$ 2, 586 psf, making it the next-best-performing project.

Its appeal lay in its “family-friendly environment, competitive pricing and proximity to established connectivity and amenities”, said&nbsp, Mr Sandrasegeran.

Chuan Park and Emerald of Katong’s outstanding performances “underline the enduring appeal of large-scale projects that provide comprehensive facilities and cater to diverse buyer profiles,” he continued.

These developments “attracted buyers, upgraders and investors looking for long-term value,” according to the report.” With their combination of attractive locations, thoughtfully designed layouts, and competitive pricing, these developments captured the attention of buyers.”

Additionally, according to Mr. Sandrasegeran, the 2, 557 units sold this month exceeded the total units sold for any quarter since the sale of 3, 018 units in the fourth quarter of 2021.

” This highlights the sheer&nbsp, scale of November’s success, underscoring the pent-up demand and market resilience that fuelled the… sales”, he said.

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