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)

Singapore ranked at the bottom of corruption survey, that’s good.

The Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (Perc) expects corruption to emerge as a hot-button issue in Asia this year as slowing growth, rising food prices and political campaigns feed a groundswell against graft.

But Singapore is unlikely to be tainted as expatriates surveyed by the Hong Kong-based group once again rank it the least corrupt economy in the region.

The annual survey also rated Hong Kong and Japan highly among 13 Asian economies.

The Philippines was deemed the most corrupt for the second consecutive year.

Thailand, China, Indonesia, India and Vietnam fared poorly too.

The 1,400 expatriates surveyed in January and February this year were asked to grade the extent that corruption detracts from the attractiveness of the business environment they work in.

Singapore scored with its ‘no-nonsense approach to corruption’, the report said. (story)

Changi Airport handles a record 36.7 million passengers in 2007

Singapore’s Changi Airport handled record passenger traffic of 36.7 million in 2007, up almost 5 percent from the previous year, the government said Monday. Last year’s passenger traffic broke the previous record of 35.03 million set in 2006 and was driven by strong growth in China and India, the airport operator, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, said.

Emerging markets like Vietnam, Russia and South Africa also contributed to last year’s record showing, it said. (story)

BT Group to buy Frontline Technologies

British telecoms giant BT Group said yesterday it has agreed to buy Singapore IT firm Frontline Technologies for S$202mil, as it seeks to boost its presence in Asia.

BT has sizeable operations in Japan, South Korea and Australia, but buying Frontline will give it greater exposure to China, India, Taiwan and South-East Asia as it looks to transform itself into a global IT services provider.

“Nothing is enough – it’s a good step,” BT Asia Pacific president Allen Ma told Reuters, when asked about future acquisitions in the region.

BT will pay 24.5 Singapore cents for each Frontline share, a 17% premium to Frontline’s price on Monday before its shares were suspended. (story)

India to cut tariffs on Singapore imports

India will eliminate or reduce tariff on 555 products it imports from Singapore to boost bilateral trade, Information and Broadcasting Minister, P R Dasmunsi, said on Friday.

“The Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday evening gave its approval for tariff elimination/reduction on 555 products through a protocol of amendment of India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement,” he told reporters here.

New Delhi would also offer Singapore any subsequent improvement made at the time of ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement in terms of product coverage timeline, Rules of Origin with appropriate amendments to India-Singapore CECA. (story)