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☆ Asia is entering a deepfake era in an election year — can it handle misinformation campaigns?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Chelsea Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The AI-generated deepfake video that cloned his face and voice racked up 4.7 million views on X alone. In Pakistan, a deepfake of former prime minister Imran Khan emerged around the national elections, announcing his party was boycotting them. Deepfakes of politicians are becoming increasingly common, especially with 2024 set up to be the biggest global election year in history. With tech companies adopting different measures across their platforms, a multi-prong approach is needed, she said. watch now"We should not just be relying on the good intentions of these companies," Chesterman added.

Persons: Suharto, Imran Khan, Joe Biden's, deepfakes, Simon Chesterman, Crowdstrike, — that's, Carol, Chesterman, Taylor Swift, Adam Meyers, X, OpenAI, “, I’m, we’re, Sam Altman Organizations: Istock, , New Hampshire voters, Singapore, Institute of Policy Studies, Microsoft, Meta, Google, IBM, Tech, Adobe, Intel Locations: deepfakes, Pakistan, U.S, , New Hampshire, Asia, China, Russia, Iran, Singapore, CrowdStrike, they're

☆ Singapore’s birth rate is at a record low — but ‘throwing money’ at the problem won’t solve it
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Mai Yo | Klaud9 | Getty ImagesSINGAPORE — Almost two decades ago, Loh and her husband made a decision not to have children. Singapore's birth rate hit a record low in 2022, after years of decline. "There is a sense of instability is dragging people further away from having children," Zheng told CNBC. Shrinking labor forceA declining birth rate, coupled with an aging population, will have repercussions on Singapore's labor force. "Having fewer children means you have a smaller workforce that can contribute to the economy.

Persons: Mai Yo, Loh, Jaya Dass, " Dass, Wen Wei Tan, EIU's Tan, Tan, Mu Zheng, Zheng, Tan Poh Lin, Lee, Carlina, Dass Organizations: Institute of Policy Studies, Getty, SINGAPORE, CNBC, Singapore Department of Statistics, Ranstad's, Women, Getty Images Government, Economist Intelligence Unit, EIU, National University of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public Locations: Singapore, Jaya, Jaya Dass Asia, Pacific, Covid, Ranstad's Asia, —, New York City, Singapore's

☆ Putin is desperate for North Korea's stockpile of weapons, but they're outdated and unreliable, say experts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russia's Vladimir Putin will host North Korea's Kim Jong Un in Vladivostok, reports say. But North Korea's shoddy weapons may not be effective, say analysts. Ben Wallace, the former UK defense secretary, meanwhile accused Putin of "begging" for outdated North Korean weapons in his desperation to secure new weapons supplies. But analysts believe that North Korea's weapons are in a shoddy state, and are unlikely to make a decisive impact in Ukraine. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Russia is looking to North Korea for a large quantity of conventional weapons rather than sophisticated ones," said Go.

Persons: Russia's Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Kim, John Everard, Ben Wallace, meanwhile, Michael Kofman Organizations: Service, North, BBC, UN, Financial Times, Asan Institute, Policy Studies, Russia, CNA Locations: Vladivostok, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Moscow, Iran, Korea, Korean, Yeonpyeong, US, Seoul

[1/2] Supporters of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) wait for their candidates at a nomination center ahead of the general elections in Singapore September 1, 2015. Analysts said the events may not bode well for the PAP, which has ruled Singapore uninterrupted since 1959. "These events appear to have created some public speculation about the PAP's approach to privilege, restraint, and authority," said National University of Singapore political scientist Chong Ja Ian. Prime minister-in-waiting Lawrence Wong said the government would be forthcoming about the corruption case - even if the information was damaging or embarrassing. But political scientist Walid Jumblatt Abdullah at Nanyang Technological University said Lee had enough political goodwill to ride this out.

Persons: Edgar Su, bode, Lee Hsien, Singapore's, Lee Kuan Yew, Chong Ja Ian, Lee, Lawrence Wong, Iswaran, Chong, Lee's, Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, Gillian Koh, Walid, Wong, Xinghui Kok, Robert Birsel Organizations: Action Party, REUTERS, National University of Singapore, Transport, Nanyang Technological University, Institute of Policy, Thomson Locations: Singapore, SINGAPORE

Change is afoot in the conservative city state with a softening of attitudes and growing tolerance of gay issues, which some members of the LGBT community and academics attribute to the November lifting of a ban on sex between men. But the historic lifting of the ban was not all welcomed by LGBT people. The repeal of the gay sex ban was not universally welcomed. LGBT issues are appearing in the typically conservative domestic media, known for toeing the government line. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore this month advised teachers to "address socio-religious issues, including LGBT issues, with wisdom, kindness, compassion and mercy".

Persons: Yeo Sam Jo, Yeo, JoJo Sam Clair, Laavanya Kathiravelu, Carol, Dot, Nishanthiy Balasamy, Corinna Lim, Lim, Cally Chia, Ching Chia, Ching, Clement Tan, Pink Dot, We're, Tan, Xinghui Kok, Chen Lin, Robert Birsel, William Mallard Organizations: Nanyang Technological University, Institute of Policy, Islamic, Council of, Pink, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Council of Singapore, Instagram

☆ Singapore repeals gay sex ban but limits prospect of legalizing same-sex marriage
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Singapore’s parliament on Tuesday decriminalized sex between men, but, in a blow to the LGBTQ community, also amended the constitution to prevent court challenges that in other countries have led to the legalization of same-sex marriage. The government has defended amending the constitution saying decisions on such issues should not be led by the courts. The changes do, however, leave room for a future parliament to expand the definition of marriage to include same-sex relationships. In Singapore, attitudes towards LGBTQ issues have shifted toward a more liberal stance in recent years especially among the young, though conservative attitudes remain among religious groups. Of those aged 18-25, about 42% accepted same-sex marriage in 2018, up from 17% just five years prior, according to a survey by the Institute of Policy Studies.

☆ Singapore repeals gay sex ban but limits prospect of legalising same-sex marriage
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Chen Lin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The moves come as other parts of Asia, including Taiwan, Thailand and India are recognising more rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The government has defended amending the constitution saying decisions on such issues should not be led by the courts. The changes do, however, leave room for a future parliament to expand the definition of marriage to include same-sex relationships. In Singapore, attitudes towards LGBT issues have shifted towards a more liberal stance in recent years especially among the young, though conservative attitudes remain among religious groups. Of those aged 18-25, about 42% accepted same-sex marriage in 2018, up from 17% just five years prior, according to a survey by the Institute of Policy Studies.

While the government's decision to repeal the colonial-era sodomy law was cheered as a symbolic victory for the gay community, many worry LGBT families will continue to suffer under public policies that favour heterosexual marriages and families. But influential conservative groups that strongly opposed lifting the gay sex ban make it politically uncomfortable for the ruling party to further change laws. An alliance of more than 80 Singaporean churches has decried repealing the gay sex ban as an "extremely regrettable decision" that "celebrates homosexuality". 'PUNISHING THE CHILD'LGBT families in Singapore now worry that further change will not come in time for them. The government did not respond to Reuters' questions about the rights of LGBT families and their children's residency and access to education.

☆ Singapore's gig workers to get work injury, pension coverage
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Chen Lin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SINGAPORE, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Singapore will extend work injury insurance and pension coverage to food delivery and ride-hailing workers under proposed legislative changes that it aims to implement as early as late 2024, the Manpower Ministry said. The new rules will affect about 73,000 workers who deliver food or drive passengers for companies such as Grab (GRAB.O) , Gojek (GOTO.JK), Deliveroo (ROO.L) and Delivery Hero's (DHER.DE) Foodpanda. Workers would gain coverage under the national pension system, which collects contributions from both workers and companies, and receive work injury insurance covering medical expenses, income loss, and lump sum compensation for permanent disability or death. Gig workers would not, however, be considered full-time employees entitled to paid leave and other benefits. Reporting by Chen Lin in Singapore; Editing by Xinghui Kok and Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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