Good day, all – I hope that you are all well and doing everything possible to stay safe. The saying, “Figures don’t lie but liars figure”, was first told to me by my father-in-law, the late Louis Orenstein, QC z”l, a brilliant lawyer and a real down-to-earth principled man. The statement itself has been attributed both to a brilliant statistician … Read More
The World’s Gone Quackers!
On June 30th, 2020, the Nikkei Asian Review’s headline was succinct, “China retreats from 50-year pledge of Hong Kong’s autonomy”. The next day, July 1st, the National Security Law went into effect, giving the police the right to break into premises and to also monitor phones and computers, all without a warrant. It is now against the law to criticize … Read More
Sad, Very Sad, Yugely Sad
Well, it’s been 3 days since my last rant and, judging by the amount of immediately favourable responses, maybe I should give up on reporting the news and stick to rants and raves LOL All joking aside, though, there is a lot of news out there and it is often difficult for the well-intentioned person to find it amongst the … Read More
China’s TikTok Caught Spying on Millions of iPhone Users
China’s video sharing app TikTok has been caught spying on millions of iPhone users. Earlier this year, Forbes writer Zak Doffman reported on a technical issue with iOS 14. The exploit allowed for people to access the clipboard on a person’s device. Doffman warned that this exploit could be used to abuse the privacy of users. This exploit was fixed … Read More
Most of China’s BRI Projects Abroad Hit By Pandemic
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects abroad have been adversely hit by the pandemic. The BRI is a billions worth plan from China. This project was launched back in 2013 when President Xi Jinping came into office. It has several objectives. First, it is to extend its influence in foreign countries. It will also boost China’s trade and investment. … Read More
“V” Stands For?
Hi – I hope that all are well, wearing their masks, and washing their hands. I had already spent about 10 hours making and arranging notes for this column but then decided to instead write free-style about something that affects all of us. Remember when people used to declaim about “the good old days”? Generally they were ‘old’ ie. 60+. … Read More
Huawei Backed by Chinese Military, Says US
The United States (US) Department of Defense says that Huawei is owned by the Chinese military. Apart from Huawei, they go on to say that the top 20 Chinese companies are also backed or owned by the Chinese military. These include video surveillance company Hikvision, and Chinese telecommunication companies China Mobile and Avic to name a few. All of these … Read More
Singapore Picks Nokia and Ericsson to Build 5G Networks
Singapore’s telecommunication companies have chosen Nokia and Ericsson to help build fifth generation (5G) networks. Singapore’s biggest wireless network companies have chosen Nokia and Ericsson over China’s Huawei. These companies will help build 5G networks all across Singapore. The decision comes at a time when the United States (US) and China continue with their disputes. One consequence of these disputes … Read More
Majority Want to Continue Telecommuting After Pandemic
Majority of respondents from a survey said that they want to continue telecommuting even after the pandemic has ended. The Japanese government recently conducted a survey regarding the current work practices. Of all the respondents, 70% stated that they want to continue telecommuting – or working from home – even after the pandemic is over. Of those 70% in favor … Read More
China Suspends Chicken Imports from Tyson Foods
China has just suspended chicken imports from United States (US) company Tyson Foods. This happened after their facility in Arkansas tested positive for the Coronavirus. China stated that they suspended the import of Chicken from Tyson Foods due to hundreds of Coronavirus cases. These cases were found in a plant in Arkansas. The Chinese government noted in a news release … Read More