#representative office singapore
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
Insider Tips: Maximizing The Benefits Of Dependent Passes For Families Living In Singapore
Possessing a Dependent Pass in Singapore grants expatriates' families a plethora of possibilities. It authorises them to live in Singapore alongside the primary work pass holder. It bestows a range of entitlements that contribute to a more comfortable and rewarding life in a new country.
Read More.
#dependent pass singapore#entrepreneur pass singapore#singapore offshore company#payroll services singapore#representative office singapore#one pass singapore#pep salary requirement
0 notes
Text
OPEDS
Is it time to go?
By Howard Sackstein
Today, the South African Jewish community numbers but one third of what it did at its peak. Though our numbers have shrunk, the vibrancy of our community has remained intact.
In the 1970s and 1980s they used to joke, “When the Jews go; it’s time to leave, when the Portuguese go; it’s too late.”
The clock ticked, and stopped on 7 October 2023.
The behaviour of the South African government was nothing short of betrayal. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s failure to condemn the 7 October massacre; his failure to reach out to the families of the two South Africans massacred in the Hamas genocide; his failure to act on the two South Africans kidnapped by Hamas; and his smirk blame of Israel for deserving the attack two weeks after the massacre, while wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, will forever be a symbol of his Judas moment.
In American politics, they talk of a “tortoise on a lamppost”. Sometimes, the tortoise mistakenly believes that it got onto the lamppost by itself.
Ramaphosa’s spineless leadership has allowed his jihadist foreign minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, and her mujahidin director general, Zane Dangor, to direct foreign policy without intervention. Pandor mislead Parliament by claiming that there were no beheadings of babies and that Israel had attacked the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital. With no South African diplomats in Israel and Al Jazeera as her only source of information, Pandor meanders in the dark. Her ignorance, however, is self-inflicted. Her department was invited to view the 47-minute video of Hamas-captured atrocities, and declined to attend.
Hamas informs us that Pandor telephoned it to congratulate it on the success of its “Al-Aqsa Flood” attack on Israel. Pandor claimed that she was merely offering humanitarian assistance, but refused to release the “call-out” transcript of the conversation. As a convert to Islam, Pandor uses her own zealotry to pursue a pro-Hamas agenda to the detriment of South Africa.
In December, Hamas visited South Africa, was feted in our Parliament, and celebrated in the African National Congress’ (ANC’s) offices in Johannesburg. When Ramaphosa finally met the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, he sprinted to issue a statement and later, while meeting the Muslim community, stated that they had issued a statement as “we’re concerned there are distortions”. Given that the president’s statement was issued first, this both makes no logical sense and effectively paints the official representative body of Jews in South Africa as liars.
It’s a clash of civilizations. Jews have traditionally ascribed to the values of Western liberal democracy. In the ANC’s hard-left, revolutionary world view, Western interests must be opposed everywhere – in Ukraine, in Morocco, and in Israel. South Africa believes that it must be the vanguard liberation movement celebrating the imagined successes of Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and Russia. Pandor is currently attending the 7th Africa-Cuba Solidarity Conference in White River.
But actions have consequences. The West is becoming increasingly disenchanted by South Africa’s antics. Last year, South Africa’s invitation to the G7 Summit didn’t materialise, and the currency has lost 50% of its value under Ramaphosa. The renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act looks increasingly precarious together with the approximately 250 000 jobs it created. South Africa is increasingly isolated from those countries which could help it the most.
Ramaphosa had a choice to turn South Africa into a Singapore or a Sudan. He chose Sudan.
40 notes
·
View notes
Text
British presence in the Straits Settlements […] (Penang, Singapore and Melaka) as a whole opened the way […]. Governor Andrew Clarke [...] clearly intended that economic botany should follow the quest for tin. Hardly three months after the [signing of the treaty legitimising British control in Malaya] [...] the Governor pressed Lord Carnarvon, Secretary of State for the Colonies, himself a keen botanist and collector, for the services of a ‘scientific botanist’. [...] Intimate plant knowledge among local [people] [...] assisted the discovery of many [plants valuable to European empire] [...] and the absorption of a number of vernacular names such as kempas (Koompassia), pandan (Pandanus) and nipah (Nypa) into scientific nomenclature. Equally, indigenous names for timbers, pre-eminently meranti and cengal, attained the status of trade names on the international market. Malay knowledge [...] proved also invaluable for commerce and [...] industries.
The Great Exhibition of 1851 at the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, which displayed representative samples of colonial resources, was a microcosm of empire. Empire [...] co-sponsored the surveying, mapping and inventorying of people, lands and products for the ends of imperial power. Tropical nature, once a source [...] of wonderment, was brought to the domestic market place.
High on the imperial economic agenda were the Malayan territories, the source of gutta percha (from Palaquium gutta). Ingeniously adapted by the Malays [...], the plastic qualities of gutta percha were investigated for medical and industrial use by the [English East India] Company surgeons, T. Mongtomerie (1819-43) and T. Oxley (1846-57). [...] At the same time Oxley successfully pioneered the use of gutta percha for plastering fractures and preserving vaccine, the latter hitherto unable to be kept even for a few days. When a Prussian artillery Officer [...] then perfected its use for insulating telegraph cables, the product immediately gained strategic importance for the empire. Similar adaptations of other indigenous uses of plants paid dividends to industry and agriculture. [...]
---
The emergence of Hevea rubber in the Peninsula, superseding gutta percha as an industrial product was, again, the result of scientific exchange within the close-knit colonial botanical network [...] [following] [t]he illegal exportation by Kew [Royal Botanic Gardens in London] of the seedlings from South America to Ceylon and the Singapore Botanic Gardens [...]. Out of the seedlings sent in 1877 to Singapore, seven were planted by Hugh Low in the Perak Residency Garden. These and those raised in the Botanic Gardens furnished the seeds for the first plantations.
Though an introduced species, indigenous knowledge [...] of a wide variety of gums and exudates [...] benefited the plantation industry.
This [...] scored a major triumph for the colonial plantation industry. [...]
Large areas of Melaka had already been laid to waste by [...] a fast-growing variety of Brazilian cassava introduced in 1886 by Cantley.
The same cultivators soon turned the Imperata grasslands to rubber, but its rapid spread meant that a number of native plant species either became very rare or were entirely exterminated. The wild ancestor of the domestic mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a likely example. [...] During his visit to Singapore in 1854 Wallace identified, within just a square mile, some 700 species of beetles [...].
---
All text above by: Jeyamalar Kathirithamby-Wells. "Peninsular Malaysia in the context of natural history and colonial science." New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies Volume 11 Number 1. 2009. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism purposes.]
#abolition#ecology#plantations#imperial#colonial#tidalectics#extinction#archipelagic thinking#victorian and edwardian popular culture#intimacies of four continents#malaya plantations
64 notes
·
View notes
Text
The US is widely seen as the global leader in artificial intelligence, thanks to companies like OpenAI, Google, and Meta. But the US government says it needs help from other nations to manage the risks posed by AI technology.
At an international summit on AI Safety in Seoul on Tuesday, the US delivered a message from Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announcing that a global network of AI safety institutes spanning the US, UK, Japan, Canada, and other allies will collaborate to contain the technology’s risks. She also urged other countries to join up.
“Recent advances in AI carry exciting, life-changing potential for our society, but only if we do the hard work to mitigate the very real dangers,” Secretary Raimondo said in a statement released ahead of the announcement. “It is paramount that we get this right and that we do so in concert with our partners around the world to ensure the rules of the road on AI are written by societies that uphold human rights, safety, and trust.”
The US government has previously said advances in AI create national security risks, including the potential to automate or accelerate the development of bioweapons or to enable more damaging cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.
One challenge for the US, alluded to in Raimondo’s statement, is that some national governments may not be eager to fall in line with its approach to AI. She said the US, the UK, Japan, Canada, Singapore, and the European AI Office would work together as the founding members of a “global network of AI safety institutes.”
The Commerce Department declined to comment on whether China had been invited to join the new AI safety network. Fears that China will use advanced AI to empower its military or threaten the US led first the Trump administration and now the Biden administration to roll out a series of restrictions on Chinese access to key technology.
The US and China have at least opened a line of communication. A meeting between President Biden and Chinese president Xi Jinping in November saw the two superpowers agree to hold talks on AI risks and safety. Representatives from the nations met in Switzerland last week to hold the first round of discussions.
The Commerce Department said that representatives of the new global AI safety network’s members will meet in San Francisco later this year. A blueprint issued by the agency says that the network will work together to develop and agree upon methodologies and tools for evaluating AI models and ways to mitigate the risks of AI. “We hope to help develop the science and practices that underpin future arrangements for international AI governance,” the document says. A commerce department spokesperson said that the network would help nations tap into talent, experiment more quickly, and agree on AI standards.
The Seoul summit on AI safety this week is cohosted by the UK government, which convened the first major international meeting on the topic last November. That summit culminated in more than 28 countries including the US, members of the EU, and China signing a declaration warning that artificial intelligence is advancing with such speed and uncertainty that it could cause “serious, even catastrophic, harm.”
Amid rapid deployment of generative AI systems like ChatGPT last year, some prominent researchers and tech leaders began to speak more loudly about the potential for AI algorithms to become difficult to control and perhaps even a threat to humanity. Talk of the most far-off threats has since faded, but policymakers around the world are concerned about more immediate problems, such as the potential for generative AI tools like ChatGPT to spread disinformation and interfere with elections. In January, some voters in New Hampshire received robocalls using an AI-generated fake of Joe Biden’s voice.
Last October, President Biden issued a wide-ranging executive order to address the potential and pitfalls of fast-moving leaps in AI most evident with the startling abilities of ChatGPT. The Commerce Department was ordered to work on a number of initiatives to develop AI safety standards and also to develop a plan for global “engagement on promoting and developing AI standards.”
Biden’s executive order also required the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is part of the Commerce Department, to establish a US AI Safety Institute to systematically test AI models to understand how they could be misused and how they might behave.
11 notes
·
View notes
Text
Tik Tok on the Chopping Block - 04/25/2024
Yesterday, Joe Biden signed the Tik Tok Divest-or-Ban bill into law. I covered this bill extensively in my post, "Tik Tok Bill/HR 7521" back on March 16th of this year. This bill forces ByteDance to sell Tik Tok within one year. It's clear to me that this Chinese owned company is controlled by the CCP and is using it to gather information on US citizens and influence children toward committing self-harm and suicide.
Tik Tok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew released the following video statement yesterday. "Make no mistake, this is a ban, a ban on you and your voice. We are confident, and we will keep fighting for your rights in the courts. The facts and the Constitution are on our side, and we expect to prevail again." He was referring to how they circumvented Trump's executive order to ban the app in the U.S. back in 2020. Tik Tok's position is that through China's Counterespionage Law, its customer data is stored in Virginia and backed up in Singapore. They claim that they have never or ever will share U.S. data with the CCP. Yet the owner of ByteDance previously issued a letter of apology to the CCP about failing to follow the CCP's directives. It's obvious to me that they are more of an arm of the CCP than a private company and we should not trust them. At the same time, I'm also conflicted about trusting our own government. Regardless it's now signed into law, like it or not.
Tik Tok and ByteDance together spent over $7 million since the beginning of this year on TV and digital ads in an effort to stop legislation from passing the bill. A Tik Tok spokesperson said this, "This expenditure reflects work we do to educate policy makers about how legislation could affect our community of 170 million American users." Tik Tok officials lobbied Congress and Biden's executive office last quarter. Biden's executive office contains the National Security Council, the Office Management and Budget, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and other divisions.
As I mentioned in my previous post on this bill last March, Donald Trump and Elon Musk both came out against it. Trump is concerned that it could expand government powers on other platforms, and Musk is concerned about censorship. The bill is intended to remove any foreign influence and investment in social media platforms and websites here in the U.S. The government would have to prove that a foreign entity is directly involved and then initially force divestment, and then later if necessary deplatform the app and shut down their operating websites.
I'm all for private companies operating platforms that allow freedom of expression, but not if they're being operated by a foreign adversary like China's CCP. Yet I'm always very skeptical of our government and their tendencies to over-reach in order to go after their political opposition. Especially with this current bunch in charge. All we can do is to stay informed and hopefully for the sake of our freedom and security vote in Republican majorities in both the house and senate, and get Donald Trump back into office, in my opinion.
#donald trump#trump#joe biden#biden#tiktok#tik tok#tik tok bill#us#censorship#social media#platforms#platform#ccp#china#chinas ccp#divestment#foreign adversaries#foreign adversary#office#republican#websites#elon musk#musk#app#government#national security#national security council#office management and budget#us trade council#bytedance
7 notes
·
View notes
Text
The executive director of a police union in California has been placed on leave and is facing federal charges after allegedly importing drugs from overseas and distributing them throughout the country.
Joanne Marian Segovia, 64, ordered thousands of synthetic opioids including valeryl fentanyl that were disguised as chocolates, wedding favors and makeup, according to the criminal complaint filed Monday by the Office of the United States Attorney.
Segovia, who serves as the executive director of the San Jose Police Officers' Association (SJPOA), allegedly used her personal and office computers to order the opioids and made shipments using the union's UPS account, the complaint said.
Segovia has been the executive director of the union, which represents officers with the San Jose Police Department, for nearly 20 years, according to CNN affiliate KGO-TV.
At least 61 shipments containing drugs worth thousands of dollars coming from countries including Hong Kong, Hungary, India and Singapore were shipped to Segovia's home between October 2015 and January this year, according to the complaint.
"The manifests for these shipments declared their contents with labels like 'Wedding Party Favors,' 'Gift Makeup,' or 'Chocolate and Sweets,'" the United States Attorneys Office for Northern California said in a press release.
"But between July 2019 and January 2023, officials intercepted and opened five of these shipments and found that they contained thousands of pills of controlled substances, including the synthetic opioids Tramadol and Tapentadol," the press release said.
In February 2023, Segovia was interviewed by federal investigators but she continued to order drug shipments, including a package in March containing valeryl fentanyl seized by federal agents in Kentucky, according to the complaint.
Segovia has been charged with attempt to unlawfully import valeryl fentanyl and faces up to a maximum sentence of 20 years, according to the complaint.
An attorney for Segovia did not respond to CNN's request for comment.
Segovia has been placed on leave and cut off from all access to the police officers association, San Jose Police Officers Association spokesperson Tom Saggau told CNN in a statement. No other individuals with the association were involved or knew about the scheme, Saggau said.
"Last Friday we were informed by federal authorities that one of our civilian employees was under investigation for distribution of a controlled substance and the POA has been fully and completely cooperating with the federal authorities as they continue their investigation," Saggau said. "The Board of Directors is saddened and disappointed at hearing this news and we have pledged to provide our full support to the investigative authorities."
#us politics#news#cnn#2023#Joanne Marian Segovia#valeryl fentanyl#San Jose Police Officers' Association#police unions#importing drugs#drug trafficking#San Jose Police Department#California#KGO-TV#United States Attorneys Office for Northern California#police the police#war on drugs
64 notes
·
View notes
Text
Look Back (2024) Review
Director: Kiyotaka Oshiyama
Runtime: 58 minutes
Language: Japanese audio; English and Mandarin subtitles
Certification: PG (Singapore), P12 (Malaysia)
Via @lookback_anime on X
Look Back (2024) is an anime film that faithfully adapts Tatsuki Fujimoto’s one-shot manga of the same name. If the adaptation had been even more faithful by treating the manga as the final storyboards, the barely one-hour runtime would probably have been even shorter. However, writer-director Kiyotaka Oshiyama makes tweaks and additions that increase the runtime and the emotions.
Look Back follows two girls, Fujino and Kyomoto, as they grow up pursuing their artistic ambitions. But when a horrific tragedy strikes them, Fujino is forced to reflect on why she even draws in the first place.
The changes Oshiyama has made really work in his favour. After watching the film, I read the manga, and I’m glad he expanded on its contents—especially the scene in which Fujino skips through paddy fields in the pouring rain. Before this, Fujino had decided to give up on drawing because she felt like no matter how much effort she put in, she couldn’t get better than Kyomoto, her truant schoolmate. Discouragement from her older sister and a friend gets to Fujino too. When she finally meets her “rival”, however, Kyomoto exclaims that she’s a fan, asks for an autograph, and declares Fujino a manga genius. During their interaction, Fujino seems like she doesn’t really want to be doing this, but when she leaves, she can’t help but succumb to her excitement. While the manga uses a two-page spread to emphasise the moment of Fujino skipping through those paddy fields, the film gives us a lot more time.
We start with an aerial shot looking at Fujino as a tiny dot moving along a path that cuts through silvery pools of water. The camera smoothly moves down and pushes close to her from behind, revealing that she isn’t lightly skipping but very forcefully driving her arms and knees up. When we get to see her face, she has such an intense expression: her brow is scrunched up and her lips are pouting. I wouldn’t call this a look of joy. Still, she leans to the side and sweeps her arm through a furrow, sending water splashing out. She keeps skipping towards the camera and us all the while. My guess is that more than joy, she feels vindicated. Asked about scenes he’s “particularly happy with” in an interview with Anime News Network (ANN), Oshiyama points out this one. With its energy—and that wonderful juxtaposition between Fujino’s facial expression and body language—this is my favourite scene of the film. I love it.
I’ve mentioned that I’m not keen on melodrama in previous reviews. However, I’ve come to realise that exaggerating emotions can often work really well in animation, including in Look Back, with the film being more sentimental than the manga. And yes, I do like the anime better.
In that same ANN interview, Oshiyama points to the montages of Fujino hunched over her desk while “the scenery outside the window [changes]” as visuals that “accurately represent the emotional difficulties of being a creator”. Although I prefer the anime overall, I have to say that I relate more to how the manga portrays this struggle.
When we first meet Fujino as a professional manga artist in the film, we get a montage of her working at her desk, with the images changing drastically. The scenery outside changes with the seasons, her hair grows from short to long, and the actual office she’s in changes. On the other hand, the manga gives us five panels which all look almost the same. The seasons outside don’t change. The location doesn’t change. What changes are the position of her body and the angle of her drawing tablet. They’re subtle changes. Unlike the film, this portrayal is not romantic. It’s monotonous. Based on my own experiences of creating, this depiction feels more real.
Via @lookback_anime on X
“I guess you could say, on some level, [Look Back is] meant to be an affirmation for creators like us,” Oshiyama says, in response to a question about the film’s messages. “So, my hope is that by showing characters pouring themselves into working hard to create something, people will appreciate that hard work is still meaningful.”
Now that I’ve graduated university, I’ve spent a lot of time writing. So, it seems like I’m often just sitting and staring at my laptop screen. I frequently think, “What am I doing?” Though I do prefer the film as a whole, it’s those monotonous manga panels of Fujino hunkered down over her desk that have comforted me. But it’s the film that led me to reading the manga.
Rating: 4/5
Look Back is currently showing in Singapore.
Last updated: Oct 14, 2024
#look back#ルックバック#kiyotaka oshiyama#押山清高#tatsuki fujimoto#藤本タツキ#japanese cinema#japanese film#anime#anime review#film review#movie review#film criticism#animation#drama
2 notes
·
View notes
Link
Students from Universidad Católica Boliviana prepare to traverse the course at the 2024 Human Exploration Rover Challenge at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.Credits: NASA/Taylor Goodwin NASA announced the winners of the 30th Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) April 22, with Parish Episcopal School, from Dallas, winning first place in the high school division, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, capturing the college/university title. The annual engineering competition – one of NASA’s longest standing challenges – held its concluding event April 19 and April 20, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The complete list of 2024 award winners is provided below: High School Division First Place: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas Second Place: Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology, Reno, Nevada Third Place: Escambia High School, Pensacola, Florida College/University Division First Place: University of Alabama in Huntsville Second Place: Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Third Place: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina Ingenuity Award University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida Phoenix Award High School Division: East Central High School, Moss Point, Mississippi College/University Division: North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota Task Challenge Award High School Division: Erie High School, Erie, Colorado College/University Division: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota Project Review Award High School Division: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas College/University Division: University of Alabama in Huntsville Featherweight Award Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island Safety Award High School Division: NPS International School, Singapore College/University Division: Instituto Especializado de Estudios Superiores Loyola, San Cristobal, Dominican Republic Crash and Burn Award KIET Group of Institutions, Delhi-NCR, India Jeff Norris and Joe Sexton Memorial Pit Crew Award High School Division: Erie High School, Erie, Colorado College/University Division: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina Team Spirit Award Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Most Improved Performance Award High School Division: Jesco von Puttkamer School, Leipzig, Germany College/University Division: Universidad Católica Boliviana – San Pablo, La Paz, Bolivia Social Media Award High School Division: Bledsoe County High School, Pikeville, Tennessee College/University Division: Universidad de Piura, Peru STEM Engagement Award High School Division: Princess Margaret Secondary School, Surrey, British Columbia College/University Division: Trine University, Angola, Indiana Artemis Educator Award Sadif Safarov from Istanbul Technical University, Turkey Rookie of the Year Kanakia International School, Mumbai, India More than 600 students with 72 teams from around the world participated as HERC celebrated its 30th anniversary as a NASA competition. Participating teams represented 42 colleges and universities and 30 high schools from 24 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 13 other nations from around the world. Teams were awarded points based on navigating a half-mile obstacle course, conducting mission-specific task challenges, and completing multiple safety and design reviews with NASA engineers. “This student design challenge encourages the next generation of scientists and engineers to engage in the design process by providing innovative concepts and unique perspectives,” said Vemitra Alexander, HERC activity lead for NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall. “While celebrating the 30th anniversary of the challenge, HERC also continues NASA’s legacy of providing valuable experiences to students who may be responsible for planning future space missions including crewed missions to other worlds.” HERC is one of NASA’s eight Artemis Student Challenges reflecting the goals of the Artemis program, which seeks to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon while establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration. NASA uses such challenges to encourage students to pursue degrees and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. HERC is managed by NASA’s Southeast Regional Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall. Since its inception in 1994, more than 15,000 students have participated in HERC – with many former students now working at NASA, or within the aerospace industry. To learn more about HERC, please visit: https://www.nasa.gov/roverchallenge/home/index.html -end- Gerelle DodsonNASA Headquarters, [email protected] Taylor Goodwin Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. [email protected] Share Details Last Updated Apr 22, 2024 LocationNASA Headquarters Related TermsSTEM Engagement at NASAArtemisGet InvolvedMarshall Space Flight CenterOpportunities For Students to Get InvolvedPrizes, Challenges & Crowdsourcing
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Here is your daily roundup of today's news:
News Roundup 6/5/2023
by Kyle Anzalone
US News
The FBI is looking to gather new information about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age reported on Thursday. AWC
Rodolphe Jaar was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the plot to assassinate Haitian President Jovenel Moise in 2021. AJ
Mexico
Mexican TV has reported that a militant affiliated with Mexico’s Gulf Cartel was spotted carrying an advanced rocket launcher, the same type that the US has shipped thousands of to Ukraine. AWC
Russia
The Russian Defense Ministry said early Monday that Ukraine began a “large-scale offensive” by launching attacks along five sections of the frontlines in the eastern Donbas region. AWC
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Turkey has not changed its position on refusing to allow Sweden in the alliance. Boston Herald
The US will focus its efforts on arming Ukraine and not attempting to bring the war to a negotiated settlement, America’s top diplomat said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid out a plan to massively expand Kiev’s military before talks begin. AWC
The Pentagon Thursday said it’s awarded a contract to Elon Musk’s SpaceX to ship Starlink satellite internet terminals to Ukraine. AWC
Ukrainian soldiers trained by NATO and armed with Western weapons will serve as the “tip of the spear” during the upcoming counteroffensive against Russian forces, according to the Washington Post. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said this support represents the “next level” of security assistance. The Institute
The Kremlin says it will not reenter the New Start treaty until Washington lifts its hostile policy towards Russia. Fox News
Zelensky says Ukraine is ready to launch its counteroffensive. The Hill
China
The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced Thursday that the US and Taiwan signed the first trade agreement under a new economic initiative that was launched last year. AWC
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu delivered a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore and said a conflict between the US and China would be an “unbearable disaster,” a warning that comes amid soaring tensions between the two powers. AWC
US Indo-Pacific Command accused a Chinese warship of acting in an “unsafe manner” when it passed a US Navy guided-missile destroyer that was transiting the Taiwan Strait with a Canadian frigate on Saturday. AWC
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says the One China policy is still in effect. Politico
Germany will send two warships to the Indo-Pacific in 2024. Reuters
Iran
Iran’s navy commander said Friday that Tehran was working to form a naval alliance with several Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iraq. AWC
Somalia
US Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced that it launched an airstrike in Somalia on June 1, marking the second US bombing in the country within a week and the third since May 20. AWC
Read More
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
Revamp Your Workspace with Stunning Office Renovation Singapore
Are you ready to breathe new life into your office space? Look no further! Experience the exemplification of creativity and functionality with our excellent office renovation Singapore. From concept to completion, we spend significant time in changing dull and obsolete work environments into dynamic and moving conditions.
Our team of skilled professionals comprehends the significance of a well-designed office that mirrors your image character and improves worker efficiency. Consolidating our mastery in commercial interior design with imaginative arrangements, we make redid spaces custom fitted to your remarkable business needs. Whether you're holding back nothing, moderate look or a striking, imaginative feel, we take care of you.
With our extensive office renovation services, you can anticipate that fastidious consideration should detail, consistent task the board, and opportune conveyance. We utilize top-quality materials and state of the art methods to guarantee uncommon outcomes that surpass your assumptions.
Elevate your work area higher than ever and establish a long term connection with clients and representatives the same. Get in touch with us today for a meeting and let us transform your office into a masterpiece of commercial interior design.
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Why Singapore Is The Ideal Location For Your Company's Representative Office
Singapore, also known as the "Lion City," has carved out a reputation as a central hub for global trade, finance, and transportation. Celebrated for its dynamic economy, political stability, and first-rate infrastructure, Singapore provides an optimal setting for companies seeking to broaden their Asian market presence.
The city-state's standing as a prime business locale is reinforced by its strong legal framework and government policies that favor business. Its strategic geographical location in the core of Southeast Asia makes it a prime choice for multinational corporations to establish representative offices in Singapore.
#payroll services singapore#trademark registration singapore#tax filing singapore#bookkeeping services singapore#business license singapore#gst refund singapore#representative office singapore
0 notes
Photo
On 20th November 1863 James Bruce, 8th Lord Elgin, the Scottish Liberal statesman and diplomat, died.
James Bruce was born in London, his father, the 7th Earl was a controversial figure due to his involvement in the “procurement/theft” of the Parthenon Marbles, to give them their traditional name, you might know them as The Elgin Marbles, anyway I digress again, back to the 8th Earl.
In 1840, following the death of his elder brother, he became the heir to the earldom and in 1841, on the death of his father, succeeded to the title, becoming the eighth earl of Elgin. That same year he was elected Southampton's representative in the House of Commons, but his new earldom brought an end to his parliamentary career. In 1842, he accepted the nomination for governor of Jamaica. During an administration of four years he succeeded in winning the respect of all[. He improved the condition of the Afro-Caribbean workers, and conciliated the white planters by working through them. He remained in this post until 1847. His successful administration led to him being offered the role of governor general in British North America, which he fulfilled between 1847 and 1854. During his time there, Elgin took the first steps in establishing a “responsible government” in Canada.
This led to him becoming the first Canadian governor to distance himself from legislative affairs, leaving the real power of government to the elected representatives of the people and paving the way for the Canadian general governorship's essentially symbolic role today.
In 1857 as High Commissioner to China. While visiting China and Japan in 1858 and 1859, he oversaw the end of the Second Opium War but in doing so he ordered the destruction of the Old Summer Palace (the ruling Qing dynasty's residence and seat of government), near Peking (today Beijing),destroying thousands of priceless works of art, in order to intimidate the emperor and force him to sign an unratified treaty. Troops hurriedly looted the imperial collections in the palace, before the Old Summer Palace finished burning. The treaty ended up with China being forced to cede what became Hong Kong, to Britain in “perpetuity“
According to historian Olive Checkland, Lord Elgin "was ambivalent about the British imperial policy of forcing trade on the peoples in China and Japan. He deplored what he called the 'commercial ruffianism' which effectively determined British policy responses."
In a letter to his wife, in regard to the bombing of Canton, he wrote, "I never felt so ashamed of myself in my life."
It all leaves a bad taste in my mouth I deplore the British Empire and all it’s sins it inflicted on the world.
He subsequently became postmaster-general in the Palmerston cabinet and in 1862 was made viceroy of India. He died in He subsequently became postmaster-general in the Palmerston cabinet and in 1862 was made viceroy of India.
He died in Dharmsalas, Punjab of a heart attack while crossing a swinging rope on this day 1863, while still in office, he is buried in the churchyard of St. John in the Wilderness in Dharamshala. Bruce's legacy is several areas of Canada and India have the names Elgin or Bruce, he also has a bridge ion Singapore and a street in Victoria, Australia, and Hong Kong named after him.
While China has opened up to French relations, the sale of Chinese art and artifacts in British auctions remains a point of tension between London and Beijing. All zodiac animal heads from the Summer Palace that have been found have returned to Chinese museums, however.
6 notes
·
View notes
Text
Headshots in Singapore: The Professional Edge You Can Get with COCO Creative Studio
The competitive business environment in Singapore has made headshot photography quite indispensable for people as a means of asynchronously communicating; however, the attention headshots as personal branding often take is outrageous to think about. For individuals and enterprises seeking to maintain a strong emphasis on their corporate identity, COCO Creative Studio provides premium photography and headshot images that exemplify professionalism and the personal attributes of the clients. Having moved into specialized development in the field of corporate photography with a talented team, COCO Creative Studio has become the most preferred studio for a significant number of business interests in and out of Singapore who require first class corporate headshots for their business profiles and portfolios.
This article discusses the importance of headshot photography in defining the business or social image of its owner. The article also describes the ideas and principles that COCO Creative Studio uses when shooting portraits for business people, giving advice on the practical questions of “Why should one use professional headshots?”
Why Corporate Headshots are Important?
One of the best advantages of a quality headshot is the lucrative return on investment that they have the capacity to offer their owners. In connection-driven business environments, a professional headshot often features prominently on a LinkedIn page or other online active business accounts. Professional looking corporate headshots are effective in representing competence, trust, and friendly approach which are crucial for building trust and nurturing business relationships.
The companies’ unified brand identity is conveyed by cohesive headshots of all employees. Those professionals who invest time in making quality headshots send an important message of themselves, that they are paying attention to details and are always professional.
COCO Creative Studio: Headshots for Corporate Professionals
With a numerous assignments under its belt, COCO Creative Studio has earned a good name in Singapore for the complimentary use of headshots within the business context. The studio is focused on serving the professional and corporative sectors, each headshot specifically depicting its owner’s desired image in addition to the image of the business. At COCO Creative Studio, clients are also provided with warm ambience at the studio and first-class professional studio shoots, so every client is ready and relaxed to be photographed by the camera.
Photographers at COCO Creative Studio abide by the principles of light and shadow, directly cooperating with clients in order to create interesting and natural looking photographs of the subjects. Advanced retouching of portraiture images is also a touch of class, as the appearance of such clients is as it was intended, focusing on producing quality images that do not look over retouched.
Versatile Packages for Every Business Client
COCO Creative Studio customizes its services to fit the differing needs of clients. Among their preferred services in the domain of headshot photography are the following:
In-Studio Corporate Headshots
In studio sessions are preferred for professionals wishing to get an isolated and reasonable level of interference as there are no distractions in the studio setting. The studio contains high quality lighting equipment allowing different options and style when achieving the desired corporate look.
On-Location Corporate Headshots
COCO Creative Studio has provisions to go onsite for corporate head shots for firms that wish to photograph their employees in an actual business or office environment. This is especially advantageous for big companies allowing them to display their specific organizational culture within the framework of each shot.
Group Headshots and Team Photos
Apart from individual headshots, COCO Creative Studio offers photos for companies in wish to have an integrated image composed of several identical photographs of one person. Group head shots are important more especially for the websites, annual reports and other collaterals that require a depiction of the teamwork concepts.
Case Studies: Using COCO Creative Studio
The collection of works which COCO Creative Studio has done in Singapore is impressive. Headshots provided by Santen Pharmaceutical and PIMCO businesses demonstrate their ability to create a complete set of brand-friendly corporate portraits. They create all photographs using perfect lighting, professional management, and thoughtful prep, positioning the studio headshots to the aim and the image of these organizations.
As it is the case with Radlink project for which COCO Creative Studio prepared the shots of the medical group embassies and their tour shots that stressed professionalism and trust in the medical practice to the audience. At the same time, working with SkillsFuture Singapore showed how the company elaborated variations in teams while control the overall brand identity.
The case studies provide a good illustration of the COCO Creative Studio strengths in bringing effective solutions and approaches to different client expectations and branding concepts.
Customer reviews of COCO Creative Studio
One of the most frequent praises of the COCO Creative Studio’s services is that of working with clients. From the very first phone call, right through the last cut, the internal team makes sure of the constant presence of the customer in nearly every phase of provision of the service. Dress code and poses or even the overall picture which the client seeks to have for the shoot, is also discussed at this initial meeting. All of these factors which show the level of commitment of COCO Creative Studio towards the customers’ needs ensures that this image is not just another headshot, but is not only professionally done but one that the client desires in each and every aspect.
In terms of their portrait studio experience, clients are also treated in such a manner as to be self-assured at all times. They ensure that the best features of the clients are highlighted in every element of the shoot including, but not limited to posture, expressions, and clothes worn indoors. In addition, they also do fast editing and retouching works in such a way that presentable images in every aspect are ready for use on the internet.
What Makes COCO Creative Studio Unique?
In a competitive photography market which is saturated with choices, COCO Creative Studio remains distinct due to a combination of skills, imaginations, and exceptional commitment to high standard corporate headshots. Some of the aspects that differentiate COCO Creative Studio include:
Quality and Consistency that is Above the Industry Norm
To achieve the level of detail that’s possible in every headshot, there’s an emphasis on detail like clarity, lighting and sharpness of images since the studio uses high resolution cameras and cutting edge technology. This level of quality is consistent throughout individual and group photos as well.
Excellent Core Competency in Retouching
Clients seeking post-production creativity will appreciate COCO Creative Studio’s policies as their focus is always on improving the picture without the need to compromise on authenticity. However, all photographers achieve a balance by making subtle tweaks with lighting, shadows and tones so that each headshot captures the essence of the person but still looks professional.
Accommodative for All sizes of Businesses
In the case of addressing the needs of either a small team or a larger corporate body, packages provided by COCO Creative Studio take into consideration the alternated business sizes and budget constraints. This appeal to variation always comes handy since COCO caters for startup’s and companies with international scope alike.
Constructive Direction and Relationship with Clients
The photographers at COCO Creative Studio understand construction as a collaborative process and they are able to relate properly with their clients as they aim at achieving the required outcome. Their creative direction supports an individual or brand identity so that the headshot talent is presenting the best deal out there for the business.
Tips for a Successful Headshot Session with COCO Creative Studio
Here are a number of recommendations that could help be useful for an Executive Headshot with COCO Creative Studio for those who have such an appointment in the near future and would like to be prepared for a few issues:
Conclusion
A properly done headshot can make one stand out instead of blending in. Thanks to COCO Creative Studio’s headshots photography services, professionals in Singapore can be assured that they can showcase themselves at their best. The strength of the studio’s work is high quality combined with the need to comprehend corporate identity characteristics, which allows them to become trusted partners of many respectable companies. In the event that you are a professional looking to enhance your LinkedIn profile or a business wanting neat team images, COCO Creative Studio takes pride in transforming images with professionalism and creativity, every time.
Be the business you want to be and look the part with COCO Creative Studio, as locals will be able to bege with headshots that embody professionalism and personality.
0 notes
Text
Industry trend|The WAIA Thailand event concluded successfully, and former Prime Minister Abhisit delivered a speech
On October 30, 2024, as one of the initiators of the World AIoT Innovation Alliance, the Thailand Security Association (TSA) held a grand celebration of its 12th anniversary. Former Prime Minister Abhisit and President Yang Yanfeng delivered speeches. Subsequently, WAIA and TSA jointly held the Thailand Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit.
On October 31, the Thailand Security Association (TSA), the Thailand International Internet of Things Association and the World Intelligent Internet of Things Innovation Alliance (WAIA) held a grand conference at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre: BITEC in Bangkok to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the establishment of the Thailand Security Association. At the same time, they held the "Thailand Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit" and awarded trophies to companies that have made significant contributions to the field of Thailand's security Internet of Things.
The Thailand Security Association and the Thailand International Internet of Things Association are the co-sponsors of the World Intelligent Internet of Things Innovation Alliance (WAIA), representing the core industrial forces in Thailand's AIoT field. They issued a joint declaration at the 22nd IOTE International Internet of Things Expo in Shenzhen in August this year, and are committed to working with IoT association partners in China, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries and regions to jointly build the Asia-Pacific AIoT ecosystem.
Attending the event were former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Police Cadet Academy Dr. Apichhai, International Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Security Association Dr. Warot, Advisor to the Digital Affairs Subcommittee of the Attorney General's Office Dr. Monsa, President of the Thai Security Association and President of the Thai International Internet of Things Association Yang Yanfeng, co-founder of the World Internet of Things Innovation Alliance (WAIA) Johnny Dou, and more than 100 entrepreneurs, media, journalists and others from major security and Internet of Things fields.
The conference reviewed the outstanding exploration process of the Thai Security Association in its 12th anniversary, and President Yang Yanfeng delivered an opening speech. President Yang said that the association is grateful to former Prime Minister Abhisit for his strong support for the association's work. Looking back, the Thai Security Association and the Thai Internet of Things Association have held five NB-IOT seminars, committed to continuously promoting the development of Thailand's Internet of Things industry and embracing the development opportunities of the global IoT market. With the rapid development and iteration of artificial intelligence technology in recent years, the association has also decided to grandly hold the AI Summit at this time, seize the hot spots of AIoT fusion technology and the new wave of constantly upgrading industries, and invite a series of heavyweight international guests to share keynote speeches and enhance industry exchanges.
Afterwards, the chairman of the conference, former Prime Minister Abhisit, delivered a speech at the opening of the event. He believed that this conference was a major progress in the field of security and IoT in Thailand, and pointed out that the Thai Security Association (TSA) has been deeply involved in the industry in the past 12 years, continuously promoting the development of local security systems in Thailand through the application of cutting-edge technologies, providing more comprehensive security system equipment for Thai families, schools, hospitals and institutions, and making significant contributions to local industry and social development.
Dr. Jingfeng Liu, a Chinese-American scholar at Carnegie Mellon University, delivered a keynote speech on the application of AI big model technology in the security industry. He pointed out that as artificial intelligence has developed to the big model stage, multimodal big models have greatly improved the industry application of artificial intelligence in the security and Internet of Things industries and enriched industry scenarios, such as video understanding close to human intelligence. In addition, big models have also played a great role in promoting security education, training, after-sales and marketing.
Dr. Monsa, consultant of the Digital Affairs Subcommittee of the Attorney General's Office of Thailand, shared his views on the artificial intelligence landscape in the world and Thailand, introduced the current status of AI applications in Thailand and other countries, pointed out that the current Thai government attaches great importance to the development of the artificial intelligence industry, and encouraged Thai entrepreneurs to continuously apply artificial intelligence in the fields of security and the Internet of Things, continuously optimize artificial intelligence technology, and use image recognition technology and big data to build an intelligent police system to better maintain social security.
Subsequently, Dr. Valo, international chairman of the Asia-Pacific Security Association (APSA), also delivered a special speech on the application of artificial intelligence technology in the security field, advocating the use of blockchain, voice recognition and robots to build a new model of smart home to better protect family safety; encouraging all parties in the industry to optimize video intelligent analysis technology, build an intelligent transportation system, alleviate traffic congestion, and handle traffic accidents in a timely manner; it is recommended to use artificial intelligence technology to build a safe campus and smart community, build a safety wall for teachers, students and residents, and make Thai society safer and people's lives happier.
In the subsequent roundtable discussion, Dr. Apichai, former deputy commander of the Royal Thai Police Cadet Academy, expressed his hope to combine artificial intelligence technology with security and IoT systems to further solve the various public security problems currently facing Thai society; Ms. Suri from the Product Engineering and Development Department of Thailand Good Century Group focused on introducing relevant product solutions for AI+security. The experts spoke freely and offered suggestions for the development of Thailand's security and IoT ecosystem.
At the meeting, former Prime Minister Abhisit presented trophies to companies that have made significant contributions to Thailand's security and Internet of Things fields. After the meeting, former Prime Minister Abhisit and Chairman Yang Yanfeng were interviewed by TV5.
The Thai Security Association (TSA) was founded on April 26, 2012. Since its establishment, the association has continued to expand in size and influence, promoting industry exchanges, promoting standardization, introducing new technologies, and focusing on improving the comprehensive influence of Thai security and IoT products in the ASEAN market.
Under the leadership of President Yang Yanfeng, the Thai Security Association has been reforming and innovating, forging ahead with determination, and its team has continued to grow. At present, there are more than 300 corporate members, playing a leading role in various fields such as Thailand's security, IoT product wholesale, engineering, and development, covering fingerprint biometric systems, monitoring systems, hotel systems, security systems, RFID systems, channel systems, gate systems, telescopic doors, access control systems, and thousands of other security products. Adhering to the principle of win-win cooperation and common progress, it has communicated with peers from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore and other places many times, and initiated industry friendship activities.
Twelve years of hard work have not only sown fruitful results for the development of the Thai Security Association in Thailand and the ASEAN region, but also witnessed the continuous integration and development of Thailand's AIoT industry, representing the new vision and new goals of "Thailand's wisdom" to go out of ASEAN and move towards the international arena. The successful holding of this conference not only promoted the exchange of cutting-edge views in the field of AIoT in Thailand, but also marked the successful landing and ecological connection of the World AIoT Innovation Alliance's Thailand Station activities.
In the future, the WAIA member network will continue to expand, and strive to build a communication bridge between Chinese IoT companies and the international IoT industry, enhance the global AIoT integration development process, and continuously assist Chinese IoT companies in their overseas expansion.
0 notes
Text
On July 18, the U.S. Commerce Department added two European commercial spyware firms—Cytrox and Intellexa—to its export controls blacklist due to privacy violations and other rights abuses. Both entities are controlled by former Israeli intelligence officer Tal Dilian and registered in multiple European jurisdictions, including Greece, Hungary, Ireland, and North Macedonia. They have been implicated in a variety of wrongdoings, including a major scandal in Greece, where Cytrox’s Predator software was used to hack journalists’ and opposition politicians’ phones.
The blacklisting is not a one-off. In fact, it represents a continuing effort by the U.S. government to curb the commercial spyware industry. The designation of the two companies is the first major initiative on spyware since U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order in March that limits federal agencies’ use of commercial spyware, and it sends a clear message that selling high-grade surveillance products to abusive governments will have consequences. Cytrox and Intellexa’s designation on the entity list imposes severe licensing requirements on the companies, effectively banning them from transactions with U.S. companies and accessing the U.S. market.
Getting to this point has been a struggle. The global spyware industry is a lucrative business; both governments and private actors have shown an insatiable appetite for targeted surveillance products. According to my research, at least 74 governments around the world have contracted with commercial firms to acquire spyware or data extraction technology.
The web of companies supplying these products is diverse. Although Israeli companies dominate the global export of spyware, European and U.S. companies are active market participants as well. Companies at the top end of the spyware market—such as Cytrox, Intellexa, and NSO Group, the Israeli market leader under U.S. sanctions since 2021—offer cutting-edge tools, including so-called zero-click hacks. These are malware programs that infiltrate devices without the user having to take any action to allow it in, such as opening an email or clicking on a bad link.
Although many of the abuses are linked to authoritarian regimes, such as the Saudi and Emirati governments’ reported use of NSO’s Pegasus malware to track the journalist Jamal Khashoggi before his assassination, democracies do not have clean hands, either. European countries such as Cyprus, Greece, and Spain have deployed spyware against civil society, independent journalists, and opposition politicians, as have illiberal democracies such as Hungary.
That is why U.S. leadership in reining in the spyware industry is such welcome news. Quite simply, few other countries have shown much interest in taking on commercial spyware firms, despite a parade of public scandals revealing major rights violations. The Biden administration started pursuing a measured strategy against spyware violators in 2021, when the Commerce Department put four spyware firms in Israel, Russia, and Singapore on its list of sanctioned entities, including NSO. Then, Biden signed the executive order in March of this year. In parallel, the United States also signed a joint declaration with 10 other countries against the misuse of spyware and establishing procedures to counter malicious cyberactivities. With this month’s blacklisting, the White House is sending another signal that it means business when it comes to reining in spyware abuses.
Yet for Washington’s actions to truly make a dent in the commercial spyware market, it needs other countries to join the fight—starting with Europe. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the two penalized spyware firms are based there. While most European countries have tough rules on the books to regulate spyware, enforcement has been lax. My research shows that a number of European spyware firms sell intrusive surveillance technology in their home markets and overseas, including Italy’s Memento Labs and Tykelab/RCS Lab, as well as Austria’s DSIRF. Moreover, European governments continue to deploy spyware to unlawfully surveil their citizens. This includes a major scandal in Spain targeting Catalan independence leaders and politicians, as well as reported abuses by Hungarian and Polish authorities. In a draft report submitted by Sophie in ‘t Veld, rapporteur for the European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and other spyware (PEGA), she writes that “the abuse of spyware is a severe violation of all the values of the European Union, and it is testing the resilience of the democratic rule of law in Europe.”
So what can be done? First, the European Commission could do far more to address the spyware problem within the EU. Currently, the European Parliament is the only pan-European institution tackling this problem, but it lacks executive power and faces roadblocks at every turn. Very little will change unless the EU undertakes a more serious institutional push to break through obstructionism by EU member states. The commission has so far refrained from pressuring member governments to tighten their policies, highlighting Brussels’s limited ability or interest in fighting the problem. It would make a big difference if the commission sent a clear signal that cracking down on spyware is a priority. There is little reason the EU could not take steps similar to those implemented by the United States.
Second, democracies can be far more stringent when it comes to curbing their own use of spyware. Despite public scandals, democratic governments continue to show interest in acquiring intrusive surveillance tools. A good example is India: Just three days after Biden signed his March executive order on spyware, the Financial Times reported that Modi’s government had released a $120 million bid for new spyware contracts. Notably, Indian officials were concerned about the “PR problem” from NSO’s Pegasus and were looking for alternative companies from which to purchase surveillance capabilities. While preventing autocratic leaders from obtaining spyware is a formidable challenge, there are far fewer excuses for democratic governments to be using these tools, whether that’s in Greece, India, Mexico, or Spain. Citizens in democracies should demand better behavior out of their governments, especially when it comes to unlawfully deploying surveillance tools against journalists and civil society. Also needed is diplomatic pressure against culpable governments. In the case of Intellexa and Cytrox, the United States and its partners may not have significant leverage to wield against Hungary, where one of the Cytrox companies is based, but pressure could be exerted against other countries hosting these firms and their various entities. Already, there are reports that in response to Intellexa’s listing, the company’s Irish auditor has resigned.
Third, it is important not to overlook the Israel angle. Many notorious spyware firms are connected to Israel’s security establishment. Dilian, for example, cut his teeth working as a commander for the Israeli Defense Forces’ Unit 81, a crucible of advanced military technology responsible for developing intelligence products for special operations units and other defense agencies. Israel is a major hub and protector of the spyware industry. When other countries attempt to probe Israeli firms, they are often stonewalled. In July, a Spanish judge investigating the alleged hacking of ministers’ phones with Pegasus spyware was forced to close the court’s inquiry “due to the complete lack of legal cooperation from Israel.” There is no reason the Israeli government cannot follow the United States’ lead and enforce more stringent standards on non-military applications, rein in exports, and crack down on unaccountable companies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to the White House is a good opportunity for U.S. officials to have a candid conversation about regulating abusive surveillance practices and the next steps each country can take.
The White House’s export control designation of Cytrox and Intellexa should be commended. It reinforces the administration’s ongoing commitment to curbing spyware violations. But the United States should not be forced to act alone: Europe, Israel, and other jurisdictions should follow the Biden administration’s lead and take meaningful steps to restrict the behavior of mercenary spyware firms.
5 notes
·
View notes
Text
The Unique Customised Cushion Singapore
In competitive corporate marketing, there is a need to find unique ways to reach both clients and employees. Customized cushions have become quite fashionable as a gifting option that confers many benefits. In this writing piece, people can learn more about the customized cushion Singapore, Corporate Marketing Gifts.
Customized cushions are also good promotional items. Providing an excellent, comfortable atmosphere, cushions continuously remind people of your brand, whether under an office chair, on the couch, or at home. The distinctive design stamped with your company logo not only creates comfort, thus putting your brand in the spotlight and view of and memory of more clients and employees but also stays there for quite a long period. You should definitely go for the customised cushion Singapore,Corporate Marketing Gifts.
Customised Cushion Singapore
Cushions represent comfort. When giving customized cushions to your clients or employees, you are expressing your concern about their welfare. Such thoughtful action can lead to a better setting in which recipients may feel valued and appreciated, thus creating a strengthened bond with your brand.
Personalized pillows are very versatile products that can be used as gifts for various events, like corporate, employee appreciation, and client shows. Their flexibility allows you to use them in integration with other marketing strategies, making it an efficient way to build relationships in any given scenario.
Long-Lasting Gift
Cushions, unlike most corporate gifts, are useful and long-lasting things that will last for years. With this, your brand will stay in the recipient's space even after years, meaning it will keep repeating and refreshing your message.
Customized cushions are relatively a cheap marketing tool because you order them in bulk. This is a unique way of promoting your brand without breaking the bank. Thus, by investing in thoughtfulness and high-quality gifts, the client will achieve maximum marketing impact while being cost-effective.
Such cushions will add multiple benefits to Corporate Marketing Gifts, including increased visibility of the brand, comfort in the gifting environment, and emotional connections. Being versatile and lasting a long time, they are surely going to make your gift unique for any occasion. Consider adding customized cushions to your strategy for deeper reach and let your presence shine through Singapore!
#Customised Cushion Singapore#Sustainable Corporate Gift Singapore#Eco-friendly corporate gift#Corporate Gift Ideas
0 notes