7 d. ago Australia urged to adopt guerrilla, Singapore’s ‘poisonous shrimp’ tactics

Australia must learn from past guerrilla insurgencies and adopt an “unconventional deterrence” policy in facing down threats from China, Russia and elsewhere, one of the country’s leading think tanks said on Wednesday. Australia, under the tripartite Aukus pact with the United States and the United Kingdom, will acquire at least three Virginia-class submarines from the US within 15 years, with an eye to eventually build its own. Until then, Canberra faces a major gap in its defences, warned the...

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2 w. ago Singapore to deepen defence ties with Asia’s ‘resident power’ Australia

Australia and Singapore are in discussions to boost bilateral defence ties, including enhanced reciprocal access to naval and airbases, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Wednesday. Under the deal, Australia will be able to deploy more of its forces in Asia and “will mean stronger facilitation for Australia to participate in Asia”, Wong said during a joint press conference in Canberra, adding that the details are still being worked out. “We see Australia as a resident power in Asia and your...

Politics

3 w. ago Singapore’s defence chief urges against protectionism, ‘nativist instincts’

Corporate leaders should reject rising protectionism and nativist instincts by taking an active role in shaping global integration, Singapore’s Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Wednesday, as top figures at the Milken Institute Asia Summit warned of risks from technological disruption, geopolitical fragmentation and zero-sum thinking. Opening the summit in Singapore, Chan said business leaders should not be bystanders in times of upheaval but instead help steer political discourse and...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong picks 3 departments to trial use of AI to raise government efficiency

The Hong Kong government has picked three key departments to trial the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency without incurring additional cost, the innovation chief has said, urging the public not to equate the use of the technology with job cuts. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong made the announcement on Saturday as he revealed that the Companies Registry, Transport Department and Buildings Department would be the three pilot departments tasked with...

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3 w. ago Hong Kong picks 3 departments to test if AI can boost government efficiency

The Hong Kong government has picked three key departments to trial the use of artificial intelligence to improve efficiency without incurring additional cost, the innovation chief has said, urging the public not to equate the use of the technology with job cuts. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong made the announcement on Saturday as he revealed that the Companies Registry, the Transport Department and the Buildings Department would be the three departments tasked with...

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3 w. ago Balloon festival organiser was urged to cancel rides: Hong Kong tourism minister

The Hong Kong government had “clearly stated” to the organiser of a failed hot-air balloon festival that the chance of approving passengers to ride in the aircraft was “extremely slim” and had recommended that it cancel the attraction and issue refunds ahead of time, the tourism chief has revealed. Making public the details for the first time, Secretary for Sports, Culture and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui on Thursday said authorities told the organiser eight days before the event began in...

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