China launching cyber attacks against India

China’s cyber warfare army is marching on, and India is suffering silently. Over the past one and a half years, officials said, China has mounted almost daily attacks on Indian computer networks, both government and private, showing its intent and capability.

The sustained assault almost coincides with the history of the present political disquiet between the two countries.

According to senior government officials, these attacks are not isolated incidents of something so generic or basic as “hacking” — they are far more sophisticated and complete — and there is a method behind the madness.

Publicly, senior government officials, when questioned, take refuge under the argument that “hacking” is a routine activity and happens from many areas around the world. But privately, they acknowledge that the cyber warfare threat from China is more real than from other countries. (story)

New visa rules for travellers visiting China

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday confirmed that China has temporarily suspended the visa-free facility for Singaporeans who plan to travel to the country for 15 days or less, from July 1.

This means that Singapore ordinary passport holders will require a visa for entry into China for short stays of under two weeks, which is not necessary since 2003.

An MFA spokesman said the ministry was informed of the new requirement on Monday.

‘We have been given the assurance that the visa requirement is a temporary measure. The visa-free facility for travels of 15 days or less would be reinstated after the Beijing Olympics,’ added the spokesman.

‘The Chinese authorities have not informed us of the exact date when the visa-free facility will be reinstated.’ (story)

3 more charged in illegal sexual enhancement drug trade

3 more men were charged in court on Thursday with peddling illegal sexual enhancement drugs after the authorities cracked down on the trade in February.

All three - Lee Teck Boo, Ong Nguk and Teo See Bong - were accused of selling Power 1 Walnut pills, which have caused at least 20 men to be hospitalised.

One went into a coma and another had a stroke.

The three men are said to have had a total of 64 of the China-made tablets on them. They are among eight men caught so far this year during raids on such peddlers in Desker and Rowell roads.

On Wednesday, four men were jailed between six and eight months for similar offences under the Medicines Act. All except one had with them Power 1 Walnut tablets.

Although labelled to contain only natural herbal ingredients, the pills were found to be adulterated with two western medicinal ingredients - Glibenclamide, a potent anti-diabetic medication that can cause severe and life-threatening symptoms of very low blood sugar, and Sildenafil, an active ingredient in Viagra. Sildenafil is a potent drug that should only be taken under a doctor’s supervision. (story)

IOC to China, open up the Internet for us

Internet censorship is practically synonymous with China these days. The Chinese government is often used as the poster child for restrictive governments that restrict the free flow of information to its residents. That could be why the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is getting antsy, as Beijing is bound by contract as this year’s Olympic host city to allow the press to report as usual during the games. And reporting as usual means unrestricted Internet access.

The IOC “discussed and insisted” with the Chinese government again this morning that the Internet is required to be “open at all times during Games time,” IOC coordination commission vice chairman Kevan Gosper told Reuters. “There was some criticism that the Internet closed down during events relating to Tibet in previous weeks, but this is not Games time.” (story)

Chinese Ambassador calls Dalai Lama a liar

“The Dalai Lama has been telling lies to the world for decades,” Lu Shumin told a group of invited journalists at the Chinese Embassy.

Lu said western media have been hoodwinked by the Dalai Lama. He also claimed that prior to China’s takeover in 1959, Tibet resembled “medieval Europe” and cited a mid-1930s trip to the mountainous enclave by a Nazi official who, Lu said, found much in common with the Tibetan system of governance.

The highly unusual event came as international pressure increases on China to show restraint in dealing with Tibetan demonstrators who are seeking greater freedom from Beijing’s control.

The ambassador showed a lengthy video which he said portrayed violent street demonstrations by Tibetan separatists in the capital of Lhasa that had to be suppressed.

Lu said the violence is a result of the Dalai Lama’s direct influence, adding he didn’t have time to recite all the evidence. (story)

Singapore supports China during Tibet unrest

Singapore on Tuesday voiced support for China’s handling of unrest in Tibet and said there should be no ‘politicisation’ of the Olympic Games hosted by Beijing in August. ‘Singapore supports the declared policy of the Chinese government to protect the lives and property of its citizens from violent demonstrators with minimum use of force,’ a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

‘We are opposed to the politicisation of the Olympics.’

Beijing has repeatedly accused the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, of masterminding the protests, saying the unrest was a deliberate campaign to sabotage the Beijing Games. (story)

Tibetans takeover town, raise flag

More than 1,000 Tibetans, some on horseback, charged into a remote Chinese town, attacking a government building and hoisting their national flag, Canadian TV reported.CTV carried the dramatic footage of the mounted Tibetans, cheering wildly as they galloped into the unnamed town in Gansu province in China’s northwest, demanding, the report said, an independent Tibet.

One of the Tibetan horsemen seen charging through the town in a cloud of dust kicked up by the horses’ hooves was carrying a large Tibetan flag.

Inside the town a crowd of Tibetans attacked a government building but was repelled by about 100 heavily armed soldiers holed up inside using tear gas, CTV said.

The footage featured loud blasts, apparently the noise of tear gas canisters either being fired or exploding. (story)

Singapore opposes Olympic games boycott

Singapore on Tuesday voiced its strong opposition to the calls to boycott the Beijing Olympic Games in August this year.

“The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports opposes the call from some quarters to boycott the Beijing Olympic Games,” said the ministry in a statement on Tuesday night.

Singapore’s Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan said in the statement that a boycott will mean many missed opportunities for better cross-border and inter-cultural understanding.

It will also be a great disappointment for all the athletes who have trained so hard to fulfill their dreams of competing in the Olympics, he added.

The minister stressed that sports should be separated from politics.

“I believe it is vital to keep sporting competitions and politics separate. We must not let politics obstruct the celebration of sports and all that it stands for,” he said. (story)

Organizers play wrong anthem for gold medal winning Chinese athlete

China’s Liu Xiang received the gold medal for the 60 meter hurdles on two occasions Sunday after a mix-up over the national anthem.

A bemused Liu was the model of stoicism in the initial ceremony as organizers inadvertently played Chile’s national anthem instead of the Chinese.

But he then shook his head as he explained to fellow medalists Allen Johnson and Evgeniy Borisov and organizers what had happened.

An altogether happier Liu took to the podium for a second time 10 minutes later to pick up his gold once again, on this occasion accompanied by the correct anthem. (link)

More bus drivers Chinese

Bus operators are turning to China for drivers as more Singaporeans here shun the job, complaining of irregular hours and low pay. This is the first time SBS Transit and SMRT are looking beyond Singapore and Malaysia in their effort to hire more drivers.

SMRT’s first batch of 34 drivers from China - it has hired about 100 to boost its pool of 1,700, 80 per cent of whom are Singaporeans - arrived in January.

Meanwhile, SBS is bringing in 20 drivers to start work soon on two-year contracts.

SBS Transit spokesman Tammy Tan said that if its first batch of bus captains from China performs well, it might hire more of them and also consider drivers from other countries.

It currently has 5,200 drivers, 75 per cent of whom are Singaporeans or permanent residents. Malaysians make up the rest.

Both companies said they are turning to China as they find it increasingly difficult to hire Singaporeans.

It is a problem that has surfaced in the past. (story)