Edward Snowden’s report has revealed more than 35 countries were
subject to American spying, including phone communications of their
leaders, many of them were friends of the USA. Millions of ordinary
citizens’ phones were tapped. In Spain alone, 60.5m phones were tracked
in a single month. Multiply this by the number of months and the number
of countries, the number is mind boggling. Asian and African countries
are up in arms against this rude intrusion into the lives of their
leaders and citizens. And they are welcoming the American pivot.
How much would all this cost? The listening stations and the equipment
and the staff deployed to maintain the equipment and do the listening?
The number of staff to translate and record the conversations, to
analyse them and the equipment they used must have cost a lot of money
to the American taxpayers.
And the money is being spent for years without the American public
knowing. The best part, many of the American ordinary citizens are also
subject to the same surveillance in home soil, including senators and
congressmen.
American people, this is how your govt spent your money. This is the way of the Empire.
10/30/2013
Brokerages restricting trading on stocks
More broking houses are starting to enforce restricted trading on more
and more penny stocks. AmFrasers is reported to have put 11 stocks in
their restricted list while UOB Kay Hian has a list of 56 stocks. Such
stocks can only be traded under conditions set by the broking houses
like cash out front, limited volumes to buy per investor or for the
whole house to limit the risk exposure, etc etc.
What would happen if the number of stocks on the restricted list increases into the hundreds? What are the implications,… that these stocks are dangerous, not fit to be listed in the exchange, not suitable for trading by normal investors? If these stocks are so dangerous, should not they be put into a separate list and investors be made to sign an indemnity form to declare they know the risk when they trade these stocks? We do not want them to complain that they did not know these stocks are so dangerous when they lose big sums of money, right?
Hopefully these stocks are not in the same category as Lehman Bonds or toxic notes, high risk and should not be touched with a ten foot pole. For these stocks to be listed in the main board they must be worth something or at least have some respectability and soundness, or have been vetted to be ok.
Let’s hope the restricted lists do not grow longer and the few stocks there are an anomaly, exceptions than the rule.
What would happen if the number of stocks on the restricted list increases into the hundreds? What are the implications,… that these stocks are dangerous, not fit to be listed in the exchange, not suitable for trading by normal investors? If these stocks are so dangerous, should not they be put into a separate list and investors be made to sign an indemnity form to declare they know the risk when they trade these stocks? We do not want them to complain that they did not know these stocks are so dangerous when they lose big sums of money, right?
Hopefully these stocks are not in the same category as Lehman Bonds or toxic notes, high risk and should not be touched with a ten foot pole. For these stocks to be listed in the main board they must be worth something or at least have some respectability and soundness, or have been vetted to be ok.
Let’s hope the restricted lists do not grow longer and the few stocks there are an anomaly, exceptions than the rule.
The fake qualification problem has stabilized
A few months back about 20 foreigners were caught for submitting fake
qualifications when applying for employment passes. Some were fined and
some were sent home. Since then no more new cases have been reported.
In the case of dengue fever, 500 cases were reported a few days back, saying that the dengue problem is still not resolved or very alive. Can we then take comfort that of the more than a million foreigners working here, all is in order. Their qualifications are genuine and authentic. And this is the reason why no more new cases have been reported since.
We are so blessed that all the foreigners among us are so honest and well qualified, with real qualifications. The hooha recently that there were many foreigners with fake qualifications getting good jobs here must be unfounded, based on unjustified rumours. The fact says all is well.
In the case of dengue fever, 500 cases were reported a few days back, saying that the dengue problem is still not resolved or very alive. Can we then take comfort that of the more than a million foreigners working here, all is in order. Their qualifications are genuine and authentic. And this is the reason why no more new cases have been reported since.
We are so blessed that all the foreigners among us are so honest and well qualified, with real qualifications. The hooha recently that there were many foreigners with fake qualifications getting good jobs here must be unfounded, based on unjustified rumours. The fact says all is well.
Hearing the good stuff or saying the right stuff
I thought I was dreaming and I had to slap myself a couple of times to
confirm that it was 8 am in the morning, bright and clear. I read the
news again, the speeches made by Hsien Loong and Tharman, and wow, what
were they saying? Let me start by looking at the comments by Hsien Loong
first.
In the front page of Today, this is the headline, ‘Immigration policies must be managed in sustainable way: PM’. Have we been doing it in an unsustainable way? This is followed by the first paragraph, ‘Singapore has to manage its immigration policies in a sustainable way, taking into account the political, demographic and economic objectives the country has for the long term, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told a gathering of business leaders yesterday. While new immigrants have to be integrated into Singapore society and not dilute its values, the country must remain open to talents so as to lift the low birth rate and make Singapore a vibrant economic hub.’ He added that in order to improve the lives of Singaporeans, ‘We don’t think we can do this just by expansion, but we do believe we must do this through economic growth, and upgrading and transforming our economy.’ He justified the need to get talented people from all over the world by saying, ‘Because we’ll need that range of skills and experiences and talents which no society can generate on its own.’
The first thing that came to my mind is the 2 million foreigners in our midst that were brought in during the last ten to fifteen years. Is this number sustainable, can they be integrated into our system without social and political consequences? Would they not dilute our Singaporean core and our core values, culture, work ethics and social norms?
We don’t think we can do this just by expansion? What is the 6.9m all about? And we already have more than 2m foreigners here. Do their talents fit the range of skills and experiences that our society cannot generate on our own? I think we know the answers.
Now what did Tharman said that was so earth shattering? ‘Singapore has to ensure it has a thriving and competitive economy by always looking for opportunities to bring high quality new investments that can create better jobs and ways to take advantage of the rising middle class in Asia.’ Now, how many of the businesses in Changi Business Park are high quality investments and create better jobs for Singaporeans. Really, I don’t know. But I believe everyone who knows knew better. And hardly any of the jobs, good or low paying jobs, went to Singaporeans. We have been taken advantage of instead, providing all the superb infrastructures for low wage businesses employing foreigners instead of Singaporeans.
Where are the quality and productivity growth that benefit Singaporeans ‘especially the average workers and the lower income workers’? All we heard of is Singaporeans having to go for retraining to downgrade their job expectations and be underemployed, sacrificing and wasting their qualifications and experience. Tharman added that Singapore must remain an inclusive society through social policies, not only via economic policies, and we are in it together. The realities on the ground is that Singaporeans have been feeling neglected, alienated, not good enough ship out, or it is their fault, go for more training. Why are the voices of anger and unhappiness growing louder? Why are the Singaporeans feeling like they are strangers in their own homes, in their own countries?
What have all the economic and social policies been doing? Oops, sorry, it was all economic policies before. Going forward we will have more social policies to integrate the Singaporeans with foreigners and new citizens, to improve our Singaporean core. We will have more quality investments providing more quality jobs for Singaporeans and improving productivity. These are the good stuff that I read this morning and I could hardly believe my eyes.
In the front page of Today, this is the headline, ‘Immigration policies must be managed in sustainable way: PM’. Have we been doing it in an unsustainable way? This is followed by the first paragraph, ‘Singapore has to manage its immigration policies in a sustainable way, taking into account the political, demographic and economic objectives the country has for the long term, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told a gathering of business leaders yesterday. While new immigrants have to be integrated into Singapore society and not dilute its values, the country must remain open to talents so as to lift the low birth rate and make Singapore a vibrant economic hub.’ He added that in order to improve the lives of Singaporeans, ‘We don’t think we can do this just by expansion, but we do believe we must do this through economic growth, and upgrading and transforming our economy.’ He justified the need to get talented people from all over the world by saying, ‘Because we’ll need that range of skills and experiences and talents which no society can generate on its own.’
The first thing that came to my mind is the 2 million foreigners in our midst that were brought in during the last ten to fifteen years. Is this number sustainable, can they be integrated into our system without social and political consequences? Would they not dilute our Singaporean core and our core values, culture, work ethics and social norms?
We don’t think we can do this just by expansion? What is the 6.9m all about? And we already have more than 2m foreigners here. Do their talents fit the range of skills and experiences that our society cannot generate on our own? I think we know the answers.
Now what did Tharman said that was so earth shattering? ‘Singapore has to ensure it has a thriving and competitive economy by always looking for opportunities to bring high quality new investments that can create better jobs and ways to take advantage of the rising middle class in Asia.’ Now, how many of the businesses in Changi Business Park are high quality investments and create better jobs for Singaporeans. Really, I don’t know. But I believe everyone who knows knew better. And hardly any of the jobs, good or low paying jobs, went to Singaporeans. We have been taken advantage of instead, providing all the superb infrastructures for low wage businesses employing foreigners instead of Singaporeans.
Where are the quality and productivity growth that benefit Singaporeans ‘especially the average workers and the lower income workers’? All we heard of is Singaporeans having to go for retraining to downgrade their job expectations and be underemployed, sacrificing and wasting their qualifications and experience. Tharman added that Singapore must remain an inclusive society through social policies, not only via economic policies, and we are in it together. The realities on the ground is that Singaporeans have been feeling neglected, alienated, not good enough ship out, or it is their fault, go for more training. Why are the voices of anger and unhappiness growing louder? Why are the Singaporeans feeling like they are strangers in their own homes, in their own countries?
What have all the economic and social policies been doing? Oops, sorry, it was all economic policies before. Going forward we will have more social policies to integrate the Singaporeans with foreigners and new citizens, to improve our Singaporean core. We will have more quality investments providing more quality jobs for Singaporeans and improving productivity. These are the good stuff that I read this morning and I could hardly believe my eyes.
10/29/2013
China unveils nuke submarine fleet
China unveils nuke submarine fleet
| Global Times | 2013-10-29 1:33:01 By Yang Jingjie |
Photo: CCTV, news.cn/mil
The world has been given a rare glimpse into China's nuclear-powered submarine fleet, with State-owned media carrying extensive coverage of the previously mysterious strategic deterrence force.
The unprecedented revealing of the underwater fleet is a demonstration of China's confidence in its sea-based nuclear strike capability and serves as a deterrent to any attempted provocation amid the changing geopolitical situation, said military observers.
Starting on Sunday, China Central Television carried serial coverage two days in a row on the submarine force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's Beihai fleet in its flagship news program Xinwen Lianbo.
The People's Daily, the PLA Daily and the China Youth Daily on Monday all carried front-page stories, features and commentaries on the submarine force, applauding its achievements since the launch of China's first nuclear-powered submarine in December 1970.
According to the reports, the idea of building a nuclear submarine was initiated by Chairman Mao Zedong in the late 1950s to break the global military powers' "nuclear blackmailing and monopoly."
In September 1988, China launched a carrier rocket from a nuclear submarine, becoming the fifth country in the world to have the capability of sea-based nuclear strike.
While striving to improve its strike capability, the submarine force has also maintained a good safety record, with no single nuclear accident reported during the past four decades, said the reports.
The People's Daily on Monday hailed the submarine force as "a shield preserving world peace and stability" and "a cornerstone to safeguard state sovereignty, security and development interests."
Du Wenlong, a military expert, told the Global Times on Monday that the latest publicity shows the maturity in the submarine force's sea-based nuclear strike capability, and implies progress in the development of China's new generation of submarines.
According to military observers, the submarines shown in the CCTV report and newspaper photos are the old models, which were put into service in the 1980s. It is reported that the navy is replacing them with Jin-class submarines, and a newer model, the Tang-class, is reportedly in development.
Du said in comparison to foreign submarines, China occupies a seat within the leading group but lags behind the US and Russia in terms of the submarine's noise output and the number of missiles it can carry.
Li Jie, another military expert, shared similar views, noting Chinese submarines still fall behind US and Russian ones, but have better prospects than French and British ones.
The growing capability of the Chinese submarine force is in line with the global emphasis on sea-based nuclear strike capability.
Sea-based nuclear deterrence is more covert, so it gives the countries the capability to launch a counterstrike after their main nuclear bases are destroyed, Li explained, noting its development requires strong comprehensive scientific and technological capabilities.
In addition to the demonstration of more transparency in the military, Li said the revealing of the force is also a deterrent to foreign provocation.
According to reports, during the submarine force's drills, it has repeatedly been tailed and interrupted by foreign ships and aircraft, including one time in international waters in the West Pacific.
"The changing international situation has caused containment to China's growth. The US-Japan alliance and US pivot to the Asia-Pacific both apparently target China. The publicity of the submarine force is a warning to any country that attempts to provoke China, telling them whoever makes the first strike should think about the consequences," Li said.
CCTV commentary said the submarine force has equipped China with a more covert and reliable nuclear counterstrike capability in addition to its intercontinental ballistic missile and strategic bomber, which would make China's rivals abandon their war attempts for fears of the unbearable price they might have to pay.
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