The top U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill has met with his North Korean counterpart in Singapore to end an impasse over talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear program. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins in Jakarta has more.U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill says a meeting in Singapore with North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan went well and he hoped to make further announcements soon.
South Korean media reported earlier Kim saying there had been a "considerable narrowing of differences of views."
Hill told journalists shortly before the meeting started at the U.S. embassy in Singapore he did not expect the talks to reach an agreement, but warned time is running out.
"We are not looking for an agreement," Hill said. "I think we are looking to have a consultation on some of the issues that have kept us apart for several months. Certainly I will be discussing the fact that we are kind of running out of time."
The talks have stalled since late last year, after North Korea failed to declare a full inventory of its nuclear activities and facilities as called for under a landmark deal struck in six-party talks with the United States, China, Japan, Russia, and the two Koreas in February 2007.
Pyongyang says it provided the list in November, but the United States says it was incomplete.
The United States also wants North Korea to clear up allegations it has a secret uranium-enrichment program.
North Korea began disabling its main nuclear facilities last year in exchange for aid and diplomatic concessions under the six-party talks framework.
Hill will travel Wednesday to Beijing to meet with the heads of delegations from Japan, China, South Korea and brief the Russian ambassador to China.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Police defend Singapore recruitment plan
Police human resources general manager Wayne Annan confirmed today police had been speaking to their Singapore counterparts about recruiting a group of up to 20 Singaporean officers in order to boost understanding of Asian culture among local police.
"The purpose of it is for New Zealand police to be able to learn about Asian cultures."
It had nothing to do with meeting recruitment targets, he said.
"The New Zealand Police are currently at full strength," he told NZPA.
"We currently have a waiting list of people looking to join. We're going to finish this year just slightly above or one person below the target for this financial year and our plans into next year are that we can satisfy those numbers."
Talks had taken place at a "high level", but it was still at a concept stage and no concrete measures had yet been taken to recruit Singaporean officers, most of whom would be ethnically Chinese.
At present most Singaporean officers retired at 45 and it was possible police would propose a scheme where they could come and do a stint in New Zealand once they hit that age.
However, it was possible that retirement age was about to change. If that was the case, then seconding officers or an exchange between the countries were options to achieve the same goal.
Mr Annan said Singapore was chosen as it had a similar colonial past and legal system to New Zealand, it was multicultural and most people spoke good English.
It was also about the same size as New Zealand.
NZ First deputy leader Peter Brown last week voiced concern about high numbers of Asian immigrants, who he said sometimes failed to integrate into New Zealand society.
But NZ First's law and order spokesman Ron Mark told NZPA the party had no problem with recruiting cops from Singapore.
The plan had nothing to do with filling the 1000 extra cops, which police were well on to the way to getting.
The aim was to get a police force that more accurately reflected the population.
"Back in 2002 I was telling the police they should be recruiting from Hong Kong," he said.
"I welcome it actually. New Zealand First thinks it's a good idea. We have a lot in common with Singapore."
Asked about Mr Brown's concerns, Mr Mark said immigration policy did need to be debated.
The debate for NZ First had always been about "having people that we need, not people who need us".
"We need police officers of Asian background," he said.
"We do need officers in New Zealand who speak Mandarin, who speak Cantonese, who understand the culture."
Police had also been doing well at encouraging more Maori recruits, he said.
"The purpose of it is for New Zealand police to be able to learn about Asian cultures."
It had nothing to do with meeting recruitment targets, he said.
"The New Zealand Police are currently at full strength," he told NZPA.
"We currently have a waiting list of people looking to join. We're going to finish this year just slightly above or one person below the target for this financial year and our plans into next year are that we can satisfy those numbers."
Talks had taken place at a "high level", but it was still at a concept stage and no concrete measures had yet been taken to recruit Singaporean officers, most of whom would be ethnically Chinese.
At present most Singaporean officers retired at 45 and it was possible police would propose a scheme where they could come and do a stint in New Zealand once they hit that age.
However, it was possible that retirement age was about to change. If that was the case, then seconding officers or an exchange between the countries were options to achieve the same goal.
Mr Annan said Singapore was chosen as it had a similar colonial past and legal system to New Zealand, it was multicultural and most people spoke good English.
It was also about the same size as New Zealand.
NZ First deputy leader Peter Brown last week voiced concern about high numbers of Asian immigrants, who he said sometimes failed to integrate into New Zealand society.
But NZ First's law and order spokesman Ron Mark told NZPA the party had no problem with recruiting cops from Singapore.
The plan had nothing to do with filling the 1000 extra cops, which police were well on to the way to getting.
The aim was to get a police force that more accurately reflected the population.
"Back in 2002 I was telling the police they should be recruiting from Hong Kong," he said.
"I welcome it actually. New Zealand First thinks it's a good idea. We have a lot in common with Singapore."
Asked about Mr Brown's concerns, Mr Mark said immigration policy did need to be debated.
The debate for NZ First had always been about "having people that we need, not people who need us".
"We need police officers of Asian background," he said.
"We do need officers in New Zealand who speak Mandarin, who speak Cantonese, who understand the culture."
Police had also been doing well at encouraging more Maori recruits, he said.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Pigs to be exported to Singapore
Sarawak's first ultra-modern pig farm being developed in Pasir Puteh, Balai Ringin along the Pan Borneo highway will export live animals to Singapore.
State Veterinary Authority's senior assistant director Dr Chin Vei Ching said the farm was expected to meet some 30% of Singapore's pork requirements by 2017.
''Seventy-seven pig farmers in Kuching and Samarahan Divisions have agreed to relocate their farms to Pasir Puteh in phases from late this year,'' he said during a briefing on the project Sunday.
The briefing was given to state Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Michael Manyin, state Assistant Minister for Food Industry Datuk David Teng Lung Chi and state Assistant Minister for Public Health Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck.
Dr Chin said the RM70mil+ farm project on some 40 hectares was being carried out in three packages with both federal and state funding.
A company known as Farmers' Union Sdn Bhd has been set up to manage the farm which would have environmental-friendly production methods to reduce pollution
State Veterinary Authority's senior assistant director Dr Chin Vei Ching said the farm was expected to meet some 30% of Singapore's pork requirements by 2017.
''Seventy-seven pig farmers in Kuching and Samarahan Divisions have agreed to relocate their farms to Pasir Puteh in phases from late this year,'' he said during a briefing on the project Sunday.
The briefing was given to state Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Michael Manyin, state Assistant Minister for Food Industry Datuk David Teng Lung Chi and state Assistant Minister for Public Health Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck.
Dr Chin said the RM70mil+ farm project on some 40 hectares was being carried out in three packages with both federal and state funding.
A company known as Farmers' Union Sdn Bhd has been set up to manage the farm which would have environmental-friendly production methods to reduce pollution
Longer queues for free food in wealthy Singapore
Rising food prices are driving more people in Singapore, the wealthiest economy in Southeast Asia, to join the queue for free meals, charities said Monday.
Thirty percent more people are turning up daily to fill their stomachs at the Singapore Buddhist Lodge, which serves free vegetarian meals, the temple's president Lee Bock Guan said.
During weekends the figures are even higher, when about 5,000 people arrive for the free food compared to 3,000 three months ago, he told AFP.
"Food prices have gone up and for them, their wages have not gone up as much," he said, adding the needy are coming from all walks of life.
"Their income is not enough to cope with the higher food prices."
Lee said donations from some of the temple's wealthiest members are still strong, allowing it to handle the rising demand.
The Care Corner Seniors Activity Centre, which serves free breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, said inflation has led 10 percent more elderly citizens to turn up for meals, compared with two months ago.
Some of them have started to take more food at lunch and bring the extra home for their dinner, said a centre worker who declined to be named.
The Young Women's Christian Association, which cooks meals and delivers them to the needy, said it is operating at peak capacity serving 200 people each day -- despite a drop in rice donations.
"One of the possible reasons could be the increasing price of rice," programme executive Han Shin Hui said, adding donations of other food items such as biscuits have increased.
She said the organisation has had to use its own funds to cover the drop in rice donations.
Singapore is an island state that imports virtually all its food needs.
Consumer price index inflation reached 6.6 percent in January-February, up from 0.8 percent in the first half of last year, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said last week.
MAS announced it had tightened monetary policy in a bid to address the price rises.
Thirty percent more people are turning up daily to fill their stomachs at the Singapore Buddhist Lodge, which serves free vegetarian meals, the temple's president Lee Bock Guan said.
During weekends the figures are even higher, when about 5,000 people arrive for the free food compared to 3,000 three months ago, he told AFP.
"Food prices have gone up and for them, their wages have not gone up as much," he said, adding the needy are coming from all walks of life.
"Their income is not enough to cope with the higher food prices."
Lee said donations from some of the temple's wealthiest members are still strong, allowing it to handle the rising demand.
The Care Corner Seniors Activity Centre, which serves free breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, said inflation has led 10 percent more elderly citizens to turn up for meals, compared with two months ago.
Some of them have started to take more food at lunch and bring the extra home for their dinner, said a centre worker who declined to be named.
The Young Women's Christian Association, which cooks meals and delivers them to the needy, said it is operating at peak capacity serving 200 people each day -- despite a drop in rice donations.
"One of the possible reasons could be the increasing price of rice," programme executive Han Shin Hui said, adding donations of other food items such as biscuits have increased.
She said the organisation has had to use its own funds to cover the drop in rice donations.
Singapore is an island state that imports virtually all its food needs.
Consumer price index inflation reached 6.6 percent in January-February, up from 0.8 percent in the first half of last year, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said last week.
MAS announced it had tightened monetary policy in a bid to address the price rises.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Singapore hot investment destination for India Inc
Singapore has emerged as the top destination for overseas investment by Indian companies, with more than USD 10 billion parked there in April-December 2007- 08, up 13 per cent from year-ago levels, says a RBI report.
"Direction of investment indicates that 37 per cent of the approvals for outward FDI (of USD 5 million and above) were towards Singapore, followed by the Netherlands (26 per cent) and British Virgin Islands (8 per cent)," the report said.
According to the RBI report, India's overseas investment, which began initially with the acquisition of foreign companies in the information technology and related services sector, "has of late, spread to wider areas like manufacturing, financial and non-financial services."
The rise in both the numbers and the amount of approved proposals, the RBI said, "Is reflective of large overseas acquisition deals by Indian corporate facilitated by progressive liberalisation of the external sector policies."
The RBI report further said equity investment accounted for almost 90 per cent of the total outward investments, followed by loans and guarantees.
The outward FDI flow, which was USD 1.8 billion in 2004-05, increased to USD 4.9 billion the next year and more than doubled to USD 12.8 billion in 2006-07.
The trend has continued in 2007-08, with outward FDI increasing to more than USD 10 billion during (April-December 2007) compared to about USD 9 billion in the corresponding period in the previous year.
"Direction of investment indicates that 37 per cent of the approvals for outward FDI (of USD 5 million and above) were towards Singapore, followed by the Netherlands (26 per cent) and British Virgin Islands (8 per cent)," the report said.
According to the RBI report, India's overseas investment, which began initially with the acquisition of foreign companies in the information technology and related services sector, "has of late, spread to wider areas like manufacturing, financial and non-financial services."
The rise in both the numbers and the amount of approved proposals, the RBI said, "Is reflective of large overseas acquisition deals by Indian corporate facilitated by progressive liberalisation of the external sector policies."
The RBI report further said equity investment accounted for almost 90 per cent of the total outward investments, followed by loans and guarantees.
The outward FDI flow, which was USD 1.8 billion in 2004-05, increased to USD 4.9 billion the next year and more than doubled to USD 12.8 billion in 2006-07.
The trend has continued in 2007-08, with outward FDI increasing to more than USD 10 billion during (April-December 2007) compared to about USD 9 billion in the corresponding period in the previous year.
Singapore Youth Olympics chief calls for respect for torch relay
Ng Ser Miang, an International Olympic Committee Executive Board member from Singapore, on Monday called for respect for the Olympics torch relay as it is a symbol of peace and friendship.
Ng, also chairman of the Organizing Committee for the inaugural Singapore Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2010, told Xinhua on the sidelines of a seminar on YOG, that he felt sad that the torch relay encountered some disruptions in London, Paris and San Francisco.
"But we are happy that it was going smoothly at the latter stops which saw a lot of protection and excitement in welcoming the torch," he said.
"I believe that it will get respect", because "it is a very important symbol for Olympic movements, and also a symbol of peace and friendship," he added.
He also expressed his confidence in the successful organization of the Beijing Games. "Last week during the IOC executive board meeting in Beijing, we discussed a lot about the preparations of Beijing Olympics. It was excellent and we are looking forward to an excellent organization of the Olympic Games."
An 11-member IOC team is in Singapore to conduct a six-day orientation seminar to assist the organizing committee for the Singapore Youth Olympic Games in its preparations for the games.
Ng, also chairman of the Organizing Committee for the inaugural Singapore Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2010, told Xinhua on the sidelines of a seminar on YOG, that he felt sad that the torch relay encountered some disruptions in London, Paris and San Francisco.
"But we are happy that it was going smoothly at the latter stops which saw a lot of protection and excitement in welcoming the torch," he said.
"I believe that it will get respect", because "it is a very important symbol for Olympic movements, and also a symbol of peace and friendship," he added.
He also expressed his confidence in the successful organization of the Beijing Games. "Last week during the IOC executive board meeting in Beijing, we discussed a lot about the preparations of Beijing Olympics. It was excellent and we are looking forward to an excellent organization of the Olympic Games."
An 11-member IOC team is in Singapore to conduct a six-day orientation seminar to assist the organizing committee for the Singapore Youth Olympic Games in its preparations for the games.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Asia-Pacific military medical forum opens in Singapore
Singapore held a forum on Monday for military medical professionals in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss scientific and military medical cooperation.
The 18th Asia-Pacific Military Medicine Conference was co-hosted by the Singapore Armed Forces and the United States Army Pacific Command. Over 600 military medical professionals from morethan 30 countries and regions were attending the conference.
In his speech, Singapore's Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean highlighted the importance of the conference in helping to build understanding and lay the foundation for countries and armed forces to work together in response to any future crisis.
Recounting Singapore's experience in the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the Singapore armed forces' response to the Tsunami disaster in 2004, Teo emphasized that close cooperation between medical and health agencies domestically as well as externally was critical in carrying out relief operations effectively.
The theme for this year's conference, "Learning from the Past, Transforming Medical Teams for the Future", aims to explore the challenges, as well as current and emerging threats faced by military medicine professionals.
A wide range of topics will be discussed over the five-day meeting, including combat medicine and trauma, environmental and preventive medicine, and aviation medicine.
The 18th Asia-Pacific Military Medicine Conference was co-hosted by the Singapore Armed Forces and the United States Army Pacific Command. Over 600 military medical professionals from morethan 30 countries and regions were attending the conference.
In his speech, Singapore's Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean highlighted the importance of the conference in helping to build understanding and lay the foundation for countries and armed forces to work together in response to any future crisis.
Recounting Singapore's experience in the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the Singapore armed forces' response to the Tsunami disaster in 2004, Teo emphasized that close cooperation between medical and health agencies domestically as well as externally was critical in carrying out relief operations effectively.
The theme for this year's conference, "Learning from the Past, Transforming Medical Teams for the Future", aims to explore the challenges, as well as current and emerging threats faced by military medicine professionals.
A wide range of topics will be discussed over the five-day meeting, including combat medicine and trauma, environmental and preventive medicine, and aviation medicine.
Singapore laptop maker Axioo enters RP market
SEAGATE and Creative are the only two Singaporean IT brands that have name recall in the Philippines. However, an upstart firm wants to join its Singaporean brethren.
Axioo International is the latest OEM (original equipment manufacturer) notebook to enter the somewhat saturated laptop market. Nevertheless, the company is confident that there is a market for their product in Asia, including the Philippines.
Here's a video interview I conducted with Axioo International managing director Stephen Lim, who talks about the Singapore-based company's decision to launch its laptops in the Philippines. In the Philippines, the company recently introduced their Zetta series; the mid-level Zetta TEN and the high-performance Zetta TEC. The former uses Pentium a Dual Core processor, an Intel GMA X3100 graphics card, 1 Gigabyte of memory, 120 Gb of hard disk space, integrated Wifi antenna and an optional Bluetooth receiver.
Meanwhile, the Zetta TEC is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2Gb of memory, GMA X3100 integrated graphics, 160Gb of hard disk space, integrated wifi and Bluetooth.
Although the two models have different specifications, they are also the same size with 13.3-inch LCD screen. They also come in at least four colors (red, black, pink and green) though there were also some models that came in white, blue and yellow.
Apart from the Zetta Ten and Tec models, the company will also be introducing its own version of the Classmate PC, which sports very basic parts, a 7-inch monitor and uses Linux with a graphical user interface.
In the interview, Lim said the company's products are aimed at students, small-office-home office and small business markets that are looking for alternative laptop brands.
"We don't want to claim that we're targeting the same market as the more established brands but since we've only started we're aiming for brand recall," Lim said.
Axioo only started manufacturing notebooks this year and has a plant in Singapore. The company also only recently started showcasing their products in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
Lim has not provided pricing for their products in the Philippines yet but said that these will be competitively priced with current local brands.
Axioo will be distributed in the Philippines by Millennium Computers Technology.
Axioo International is the latest OEM (original equipment manufacturer) notebook to enter the somewhat saturated laptop market. Nevertheless, the company is confident that there is a market for their product in Asia, including the Philippines.
Here's a video interview I conducted with Axioo International managing director Stephen Lim, who talks about the Singapore-based company's decision to launch its laptops in the Philippines. In the Philippines, the company recently introduced their Zetta series; the mid-level Zetta TEN and the high-performance Zetta TEC. The former uses Pentium a Dual Core processor, an Intel GMA X3100 graphics card, 1 Gigabyte of memory, 120 Gb of hard disk space, integrated Wifi antenna and an optional Bluetooth receiver.
Meanwhile, the Zetta TEC is powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2Gb of memory, GMA X3100 integrated graphics, 160Gb of hard disk space, integrated wifi and Bluetooth.
Although the two models have different specifications, they are also the same size with 13.3-inch LCD screen. They also come in at least four colors (red, black, pink and green) though there were also some models that came in white, blue and yellow.
Apart from the Zetta Ten and Tec models, the company will also be introducing its own version of the Classmate PC, which sports very basic parts, a 7-inch monitor and uses Linux with a graphical user interface.
In the interview, Lim said the company's products are aimed at students, small-office-home office and small business markets that are looking for alternative laptop brands.
"We don't want to claim that we're targeting the same market as the more established brands but since we've only started we're aiming for brand recall," Lim said.
Axioo only started manufacturing notebooks this year and has a plant in Singapore. The company also only recently started showcasing their products in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
Lim has not provided pricing for their products in the Philippines yet but said that these will be competitively priced with current local brands.
Axioo will be distributed in the Philippines by Millennium Computers Technology.
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