DTN News - ASIA DEFENSE NEWS: Asia Muscles Up To Protect Its Patch....NSI News Source Info # 2098

DTN News - ASIA DEFENSE NEWS: Asia Muscles Up To Protect Its Patch....NSI News Source Info # 2098

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 18, 2011: The proverbial ''pet-shop galah" can recite facts about how Australia is benefiting from Asia's economic transformation, the Reserve Bank governor, Glenn Stevens, declared this week.

That's how deeply the once-in-a-century bonanza accruing to us from the rise of China, India and other Asian nations is now etched into Australian folklore.

But we hear much less about another important spin-off of Asia's growth miracle: the regional arms build-up. Just as the global economic balance has shifted towards Asia, so has the military balance.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/06/dtn-news-asia-defense-news-asia-muscles.html

DTN News - Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ Is The PAP Finding It Harder To Recruit?....NSI News Source Info # 1815

DTN News -

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ Is The PAP Finding It Harder To Recruit?....

NSI News Source Info # 1815

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Asian Defense News

(NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - April 13, 2011:

In a departure from recent history, the powerful People's Action Party (PAP)has found it hard to recruit talent from the private sector to stand as its election candidates.

This contrasts with the past when it enjoyed widespread popularity with little problem in persuading high achievers from private and public organisations to rally to its banner.

The relative failure comes at a time when opposition parties have made significant gains in attracting quality candidates.

It is posing a setback — at least temporarily — to the PAP's plan to use the election, which is expected next month, to produce the next Prime Minister and Cabinetleaders.

Of the 18 newly-recruited PAP candidates announced, only five hailed from the private sector — an assistant professor, two lawyers and two bankers, one of whom is an executive in the government-controlled DBS Bank.

The remaining 13 — or 72 percent — were top people who had served and resigned from public office to contest under the PAP banner.

They were from the civil service, the army, the statutory boards or PAP-controlled unions. The PAP-controlled National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) contributed five.

Two army generals gave up their stars to take up politics and are tipped to be core members of the fourth generation Cabinet.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/04/dtn-news-asian-defense-news-singapore_13.html

Asian Defense News: BRICS News ~ Politics To Temper "BRICS" Broader Ambitions....NSI News Source Info # 1808

Asian Defense News: BRICS News ~ Politics To Temper "BRICS" Broader Ambitions....NSI News Source Info # 1808

April 11, 2011 - BEIJING: (Reuters) - When Indian media reported recently that Chinese troops were in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the response from China was vehement.

"Such talk is utterly baseless and totally absurd," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters last week.

The episode was a small reminder of the big political differences that confront the leaders of five of the world's big emerging economies as they meet in China this week.

The leaders of the "BRICS" nations of China, Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa have voiced lofty goals, from rebalancing the global economy to giving the developing world more say in the G20 and IMF.

But while they together make up nearly a fifth of the global economy and they indeed share a lot of common gripes, they also have many mutual rifts, China's close relationship with Pakistan among them. Their broader aspirations will likely be frustrated by suspicion and diverging views on key issues.

Thursday's gathering in the southern Chinese beach resort of Sanya, attended by South Africa for the first time, will last just a few hours, according to diplomatic sources.

"They share their relative underdevelopment ... and their willingness to establish a new world economic order, which is where they have greater weight and where they are listened to," said Uri Dadush, head of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's International Economics Programme.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-brics-news-politics.html

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ ‘No Casino? I’ll Kill Myself’....NSI News Source Info # 1807

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ ‘No Casino? I’ll Kill Myself’....NSI News Source Info # 1807

April 11, 2011 - Her children tried to stop her from gambling, but she threatened to kill herself.

After a two-hour stand-off on the third day of last Chinese New Year, the children's 51-year-old mother got her way and went back to the casino.

When she returned 24 hours later, she had lost S$7,000.

It was then the children gave up trying to get their mother to quit gambling. She had already racked up debts of more than S$300,000.

Speaking to The New Paper from their four-room HDB flat in Simei, accountant Jayden Liu, 24, said, "Now, we can only pray that a miracle happens before we lose her or the roof over our heads."

He recounted that his mother cried, pleaded and lashed out at her children during that confrontation. She put a stool to the kitchen window and threatened to jump after Jayden's younger sister, Jessie, 16, angrily said that they were considering applying for a family exclusion order to the casinos.

Jayden said, "We weren't sure if she'd really do it, but we couldn't take the risk. We had lost our father (to cancer) six years ago, we didn't want to lose our mother."

Taking up a job at a convenience store last December, Jessie now works Saturdays in order to pay for her math tuition and ease her brother's burden.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-singapore-news-no.html

Asian Defense News: China News ~ China's Car Sales Rise 6.5% In March As Market Rebounds....NSI News Source Info # 1806

Asian Defense News: China News ~ China's Car Sales Rise 6.5% In March As Market Rebounds....NSI News Source Info # 1806

April 11, 2011 - China's auto market rebounded in March as car sales rose by 6.5%, compared with the same month a year ago.

New passenger car sales stood at 1.35m, according to the latest data by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

That marks a 39% jump from the previous month. The numbers were being closely watched, after sales in February grew at the slowest pace in two years.

China overtook the US in 2009 to become the world's biggest auto market.

Car sales for the first three months of the year grew by 9.1%, compared with the first quarter last year.

The rebound in the sector was led by Toyota. The world's biggest car manufacturer saw sales surge by 37.4% in March, from the same time a year ago.

However, rival Japanese car makers Mazda and Honda reported a slide in their sales.

Chinese car manufacturer BYD, which is backed by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, also reported a fall in its sales numbers, despite announcing a massive price cut earlier in the year.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-china-news-chinas.html

Asian Defense News: Automobile News ~ China Auto Sales Rebound But Growth Weak....NSI News Source Info # 1805

Asian Defense News: Automobile News ~ China Auto Sales Rebound But Growth Weak....NSI News Source Info # 1805

April 11, 2011 - China's auto sales rebounded in March but growth was well below last year's rapid expansion asgasoline pricesrose and government incentives wound down.

An industry group, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, says sales rose 5.4 percent over a year ago to 1.8 million vehicles. That was up from February's 4.6 percent increase but below 2010's 30 percent expansion.

China passed the United States in 2009 to become the biggest auto market by number of vehicles sold.Industry analysts expect total Chinese sales to rise 10 to 15 percent this year though growth should be much slower than in 2010.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-automobile-news.html

DTN News - Asian Defense News: China Not To Import Jeep Wrangler Over Safety Issues....NSI News Source Info # 1794

DTN News - Asian Defense News: China Not To Import Jeep Wrangler Over Safety Issues....NSI News Source Info # 1794

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Asian Defense News

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - April 9, 2011:

China would suspend import of Jeep Wrangler vehicles because of reported safety hazards. Many vehicles have abruptly caught fire, the country's product quality watchdog has said.

Consumers in China have reported several cases of imported Jeep Wranglers catching fire. Investigations found that the fires were the result of a problem in the vehicles' automatic transmission systems, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement.

The Jeep Wrangler is a four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle (SUV) manufactured by American automaker Chrysler and is now in its fourth generation. The Wrangler debuted in 1987, was revised in 1997 and again in 2007.

The administration, however, did not mention whether the reported incidents resulted in casualties, according to Xinhua.

It urged Chrysler to determine the cause of the problem and solve it.

*Source: China National News

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/04/dtn-news-asian-defense-news-china-not.html

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ Relatives Of NSF’s Girlfriend Convicted Of Assault....NSI News Source Info # 1789

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ Relatives Of NSF’s Girlfriend Convicted Of Assault....NSI News Source Info # 1789

April 8, 2011: Men who assaulted a full-time national serviceman (NSF) for seeing his underaged girlfriend were found guilty by a Singapore court on Thursday.19-year-old Lee Poh Kiang dated a 14-year-old girl in 2009 despite objections from the girl's family, reported the Straits Times.

In that year, the girl's father, uncle and four other men took away Lee's cellphone and abducted him to a cemetery at midnight. The group then threw physical punches at Lee who was 17 then, and threatened to kill him with a samurai sword.

Before letting Lee go, the girl's father, 43, and uncle, 38, warned him to stay away from his daughter.

Lee reported the assault incident to the police. When the girl's father and uncle found about the charge, they were said to have had taken him to a karaoke lounge and had tried to persuade him to change his police statements.

After a hearing lasting three weeks, District Judge Sarjit Singhconvicted the men on Thursday of being part of an unlawful assemblyarmed with deadly weapons that hurt and abducted Lee.

Defence counsel Subhas Anandan said the family intends to appeal the convictions.

The men will be sentenced on 21 April. Their accomplices, who are unidentified, are still at large.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-singapore-news_08.html

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ Photos Of Man In ‘Army Skirt’ Create Buzz....NSI News Source Info # 1788

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ Photos Of Man In ‘Army Skirt’ Create Buzz....NSI News Source Info # 1788

April 8, 2011: Move over, army maid. Now photos of a man wearing a camouflage skirt in public in Singapore is generating buzz online.

The photo, originally uploaded on STOMP, surfaced barely a week after pictures of a maid carrying an full-time national serviceman's (NSF's) backpack sparked an online debate about Singapore's youth being too "soft".The eyewitness, who gave his name as Norman, took the photo. He said, "I saw him at Parkway Paradeshopping centre, calmly waiting in line at a money changer, despite the stares he was getting from people around him."

"The skirt was in the style of a Scotsman's kilt, and had three of the original-style pockets on it, one at the side and two in the front. It looked quite professionally-made."

Describing the man as appearing to be in his mid-forties, he added that the skirt looked like it was made from an old Army No. 4 uniform, and even had button-on pockets sewn onto it.

While some netizens have labelled him a 'softie', others think we need to lighten up.

Insurance agent Tan Li Peng, 26, told Yahoo! Singapore, "First we have maids carrying our army backpacks, now men are donning 'army skirts'. I feel embarrassed as a Singaporean guy."

23-year-old undergraduate Royston Lin added, "It's strange to see a man walking around in a skirt in public. But I guess that's in the context of Singapore's social norms. In Scotland it would be perfectly acceptable. Perhaps he should be mindful of the culture he's in."

Others like 21-year-old student Nuraliza H. said, "I think we need to lighten up. He's just experimenting and having fun. After all, I've seen male runway models wearing kilts too."

Fashion-forward, or plain bizarre? You be the judge.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-singapore-news.html

DTN News - ASIAN DEFENSE NEWS: Singapore News ~ Huge Uproar Over Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Comments....NSI News Source Info # 1783

DTN News - ASIAN DEFENSE NEWS: Singapore News ~ Huge Uproar Over Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Comments....NSI News Source Info # 1783

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Asian Defense News

(NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - April 6, 2011:

: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's open admission that PAP wards are favoured for HDB upgrading exercises has touched a raw nerve among netizens.

His admission came as a reply to a university student living in the Hougang Single-Member Constituency (SMC) ward who asked if he could pay less tax since the opposition-held ward does not enjoy upgrading programmes.

Since this story was first posted, reaction has been swift with over 1,500 Facebook shares and 150 comments. The majority were highly critical of PM Lee's stand.

The highest-rated comment came from Yahoo! userChia, who posted, "Upgrading is not delivered solely based on policies. It is driven by money from the reserves. The money comes from the people and not from PAP."

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/04/dtn-news-asian-defense-news-singapore_06.html

DTN News - ASIAN DEFENSE NEWS: Japan News ~ Japan To Restart Sumo Tournament Free Of Charge....NSI News Source Info # 1782

DTN News - ASIAN DEFENSE NEWS: Japan News ~ Japan To Restart Sumo Tournament Free Of Charge....NSI News Source Info # 1782

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Asian Defense News

(NSI News Source Info)

TOKYO, Japan

- April 6, 2011:

Sumo tournaments will restart in Japan next month, with spectators offered free entry in May as the sport looks to recover an image tarnished by a match-fixing scandal.

The 15-day March tournament was cancelled as allegations emerged that results had been decided in advance. A total of 23 former and present sumo wrestlers were named, with those still active in the sport forced to resign.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/04/dtn-news-asian-defense-news-japan-news_06.html

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ Fury Over Driver Who Parks At Handicapped Lot....NSI News Source Info # 1770

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ Fury Over Driver Who Parks At Handicapped Lot....NSI News Source Info # 1770

April 4, 2011: A white BMW that is regularly parked at a lot reserved for the disabled has raised the ire of civic-minded Singaporeans.The car, which is missing a handicapped label, usually hogs the only available parking space reserved for the handicapped at a carpark in Bukit Purmei HDB estate.

The driver's inconsiderate behaviour has enraged a resident so much so he alerted the district's Member of Parliament Sam Tan, reported The Sunday Times (ST).

The latter then informed the Housing & Development Board (HDB).

The driver of the BMW with licence plate number ER 61U has been identified as 34-year-old Yew Chee Heng, owner of Rich Harvest Florist & Trading. His shop is located near the carpark in question.

The HDB told the paper it is aware of the case "where an inconsiderate driver repeatedly parked his car in the reserved space for disabled drivers".

The authority has been taking enforcement action, a spokesman said.

"For recalcitrant motorists such as this case, we will intensify our enforcement action against the offender and mete out stiffer penalties," a spokeswoman said.

A check on the HDB website revealed, between 16 March to 1 April, Yew chalked up seven parking summonses, all unpaid, each with a fine of $50.

Yew declined to be interviewed when contacted by the same paper.

President of the Handicaps Welfare Association Nancy Chia said such illegal parking is "a big problem."

"If the non-disabled cannot support the disabled, then where else can we get support from?"

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-singapore-news-fury.html

Asian Defense News: Singapore Defense News ~ Singapore Takes Over Command Of Multinational Counter-Piracy Task Force....NSI News Source Info # 1769

Asian Defense News: Singapore Defense News ~ Singapore Takes Over Command Of Multinational Counter-Piracy Task Force....NSI News Source Info # 1769

April 4, 2011: Singapore has taken over command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, a multinational counter-piracy task force. The change-of-command ceremony was held on board the Royal Navy frigate HMS Cornwall, in Djibouti this morning. The ceremony was witnessed by Commander Combined Maritime Forces Vice Admiral (VADM) Mark Fox and attended by Singapore's Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral (RADM) Ng Chee Peng. This is the second time Singapore has commanded CTF 151.

RADM Harris Chan from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) will lead the CTF 151 command team to coordinate counter-piracy operations by CTF 151 in deterring and disrupting piracy in the Gulf of Aden (GoA) over the next three months. The command team, comprising 25 SAF personnel, will operate from the US Navy destroyer USS Mason and will work closely with task forces from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union as well as with navies from other countries assigned to protect national vessels operating in GoA. Joining the SAF command team are five officers from Indonesia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Saudi Arabia.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-singapore-defense.html

Asian Defense News: Singapore Defense News ~ Singapore And US Military Cooperate For M-Learning....NSI News Source Info # 1768

Asian Defense News: Singapore Defense News ~ Singapore And US Military Cooperate For M-Learning....NSI News Source Info # 1768

April 4, 2011: Singapore’s Ministry of Defense and the US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) have teamed up to make medical-related training content available on mobile devices under an Office of the Secretary of Defense Coalition Warefare Programme (CWP) on mobile learning.

Under the CWP project, the effectiveness of distributing critical medical training content using cellular infrastructures in more than 20 nations will be evaluated and according to the plan, allow medical responders from multiple nations to access needed information from the site of a natural disaster.

Scott Shephard, Chief of the Joint Training Directorate, USJFCOM, said that this project has the potential to help improve US medical efficiencies as well as benefit medical personnel from other nations. “Singapore’s participation is key as they bring a high level of mobile learning expertise to the table,” he added.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-singapore-defense_04.html

Asian Defense News: Man Dies On SIA Flight Bound For San Francisco....NSI News Source Info # 1765

Asian Defense News: Man Dies On SIA Flight Bound For San Francisco....NSI News Source Info # 1765

April 3, 2011: A man, whose identity is not yet known, died on a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight bound forSan Francisco on Saturday.

The cause of death has not been confirmed.

SQ flight 2 was on the way to San Francisco from Singapore via Hong Kong, reportedChannel NewsAsia.

According to SIA, the man, who was holding aUS passport, was found unconscious 90 minutes before the flight landed.

Three passengers, believed to be in the medical field, tried to provide medical assistance but their attempts at reviving him were unsuccessful.

SIA said it will provide any form of assistance needed by the man's family.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-man-dies-on-sia.html

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ 14-Year-Old Girl Hit By MRT Train....NSI News Source Info # 1764

Asian Defense News: Singapore News ~ 14-Year-Old Girl Hit By MRT Train....NSI News Source Info # 1764

April 3, 2011: A 14-year-old Thai girl is severely injured after being hit by an MRT train at Ang Mo Kio station on Sunday morning.

Local media reported theSingapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received a call about the incident at 11.11 am. A spokesman said, the girl's lower limbs were severely injured.

The teenager, who was conscious throughout the ordeal, has been sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Some eye-witnesses took to micro-blogging platform Twitter to describe the scene. They said there were many police cars at the MRT station and the teenager appeared to have broken both her legs.

Felicia Chen (@caesius_helios) tweeted that she was on the way to Toa Payoh when "people suddenly screamed" and she saw the accident victim under the train before MRT officers "ushered us down from the platform".

She said, "(her) lower limbs broke, can see (her) knee bone jutting out, head bleeding. Serious injury."

Described Zhen Qin (@lithoworqz): "Something happened at AMK station; train services to Marina Bay stopped, policemen everywhere, train only pulled into station halfway."

An SMRT spokesman said train services were not disrupted. Commuters however said there were delays of five to 10 minutes on the North-South Line.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-singapore-news-14.html

Asian Defense News: Afghanistan News ~ Deadly Afghanistan Koran-Burning Protests Continue....NSI News Source Info # 1763

Asian Defense News: Afghanistan News ~ Deadly Afghanistan Koran-Burning Protests Continue....NSI News Source Info # 1763

April 3, 2011: At least one person was killed and 16 others injured on Sunday as new protests erupted in the Afghan province ofKandahar against the burning of a Koran in the United States, local officials said.

A fresh wave of protests took place in Kandahar and the adjoining districts of Dand and Panjwayi -- the third day of violent demonstrations against the burning of a copy of Koran organised by a Florida pastor.

"They have brought 16 wounded suffering from stone injuries and bullet wounds. Two are police officers," Abdul Qayoum Pukhla, the provincial health director told AFP.

At least one person was killed, according to another government official who asked not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-afghanistan-news.html

Asian Defense News: Japan News ~ Japan Nuclear Struggle Focuses On Cracked Reactor Pit....NSI News Source Info # 1762

Asian Defense News: Japan News ~ Japan Nuclear Struggle Focuses On Cracked Reactor Pit....NSI News Source Info # 1762

April 3, 2011: TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese engineers grappling on Sunday to control the world's worst nuclear crisis sinceChernobyl tried to seal a crack leaking radiation into the Pacific sea from a crippled reactor.

The drama at the six-reactor Fukushima Daiichi complex has dragged into a fourth week, unsettling the global nuclear industry and compounding Japan's suffering after an earthquake and tsunami that left about 27,500 people dead or missing.

Radiation has leaked into the sea, food, drinking water and air. It is hindering efforts to cool overheating fuel rods work at the plant and regain control of the damaged reactors.

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/04/asian-defense-news-japan-news-japan.html

Asian Defense News: Navies Of Singapore, Indonesia Co-Host Multilateral Exercises....NSI News Source Info # 1750

Asian Defense News: Navies Of Singapore, Indonesia Co-Host Multilateral Exercises....NSI News Source Info # 1750

SINGAPORE - March 27, 2011: The Singapore and Indonesian navies are co-hosting the 4th Western Pacific Mine Countermeasures Exercise (MCMEX) and Diving Exercise (DIVEX).
More than 1,000 personnel and 15 ships from 16 navies will be participating in the two exercises, which will be conducted in the Singapore Strait and the waters off the Indonesian island of Pulau Bintan.

The Defence Ministry said this year's exercises will, for the first time, feature multilateral information sharing and the deployment of unmanned water vehicles.

More than 40 medical practitioners from 10 countries are also meeting to discuss the topics of military diving and hyperbaric medicine.

Dr Ng Eng Hen, Singapore's Second Defence Minister, said: "Going forward, the WPNS Navies should continue to be proactive in building platforms and capacity in information exchange and operational coordination to develop their readiness to respond collectively should the need arise."

http://asiandefensenews.blogspot.com/2011/03/asian-defense-news-navies-of-singapore.html

DTN News - ASIAN DEFENSE NEWS: China Growing Naval Power In The Region....NSI News Source Info # 1748

DTN News - ASIAN DEFENSE NEWS: China Growing Naval Power In The Region....NSI News Source Info # 1748

** 2011 - China is increasing its military budget 12.7 percent to 601.1 billion RMB (approximately $91.5 billion). Importantly, many experts believe actual spending is significantly higher than the official figure suggests.

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Asian Defense News

(NSI News Source Info) HONG KONG - March 26, 2011:

That was the description given recently by Adm. Gary Roughead, the Navy’s chief of naval operations, when asked for his assessment of America’s former Cold War opponent.

“The Russian Navy still has great ambition, still has great pride,” he said.

The collapse of the Soviet Union significantly reduced the navy, Roughead noted, with most shipbuilding programs coming to a halt or dragging out.

“That has stopped in recent years,” he said. An improving Russian economy will mean “you’re going to see an increase in their capability and capacity, with new shipbuilding programs taking hold.” Roughead noted the recent move by Russia to acquire several French-designed Mistral-class amphibious ships as an indication of rising interest in increased operations.

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/03/dtn-news-asian-defense-news-china.html