Friday, March 2, 2018

Trump says 'trade wars are good and easy to win'
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/trump-says-trade-wars-are-good-and-easy-to-win-10008088

Ricky Lim · 

Posted in :- January 27, 2017

ricky l 13 seconds ago
Trump will have to be very careful.

If Trump start a trade war with the World, it will follow a World War 3 - the Big Bang vision maybe coming true.

The Economic Depression 1930s trade war started by US follow a World War 2.

This is what i have been trying to stop for so many years.
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ricky l
ricky l 34 seconds ago
Posted in :-
Reuters – Fri 20 Jan, 2017 3:26 AM IST
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ricky l 0 seconds ago
1930s Deep Depression --- hopefully it will not occur.
It is trigger by US trade war - increase trade tariff against the World - that trigger 1930s Deep Depression.
Hope Donald Trump learned from this - and not repeat the mistake of the 1930s Deep Depression.
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"The decline in the U.S. economy was the factor that pulled down most other countries at first; then, internal weaknesses or strengths in each country made conditions worse or better. Frantic attempts to shore up the economies of individual nations through protectionist policies, such as the 1930 U.S. Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act and retaliatory tariffs in other countries, exacerbated the collapse in global trade.[17] By late 1930, a steady decline in the world economy had set in, which did not reach bottom until 1933."
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ricky l
ricky l 3 seconds ago

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ricky l 1 second ago
And Deep Depression 1930s --- trigger the 2nd World War.
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World War II and recovery

The common view among economic historians is that the Great Depression ended with the advent of World War II. Many economists believe that government spending on the war caused or at least accelerated recovery from the Great Depression, though some consider that it did not play a very large role in the recovery. It did help in reducing unemployment.[11][90][91][92] The rearmament policies leading up to World War II helped stimulate the economies of Europe in 1937–39. By 1937, unemployment in Britain had fallen to 1.5 million. The mobilization of manpower following the outbreak of war in 1939 ended unemployment.[93] When the United States entered into the war in 1941, it finally eliminated the last effects from the Great Depression and brought the U.S. unemployment rate down below 10%.[94] In the U.S., massive war spending doubled economic growth rates, either masking the effects of the Depression or essentially ending the Depression. Businessmen ignored the mounting national debt and heavy new taxes, redoubling their efforts for greater output to take advantage of generous government contracts.[cit
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ricky l
ricky l 3 seconds ago
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ricky l 0 seconds ago
Hour before the announcement of US Election result :-

One Big Bang comes ------ Lightning strike and Thunder roar - when reading the 1st headline of US Election result .....
And a "Vision appear" --------- there will be One Big Bang.......

Let's hope the vision of 1930s Great Depression (Economic Impact) follow by World War 2 (Security Impact) -------- will not be repeated from 2017 to 2021 .....

Because it will end the Mankind .......... if there is WW3........
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Ricky Lim · 

The announcement was greeted with fury within key US trading allies such as Canada, the EU, Australia and Mexico, as well as rival China.

"While Donald Trump considers himself pro-business, the imposition of tariffs across the aluminium and steel sector has led to fears over a collapse in global trade," added IG analyst Joshua Mahony.
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Ricky Lim · 

With Trump declaring Trade War with the whole World, the whole World should attempt to create a "buffer zone" against US - by forging multi-lateral trade deals MINUS US.

This is to ensure the whole World trade among themselves - minus US and cushion any fallout from US trade protectionism.

That is - the whole World build a "Trade Firewall" against Trump led US.
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Ricky Lim · 

Trump has suddenly gone "insane".
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Ricky Lim · 
This news is as shocking and as sudden as declaring a "nuclear war" with the World - but this one a "Global nuclear trade war".

伤及一千,自损八百。

Hurt one thousand others, and hurt 800 of self.

As good as saying "Kill all others, and commit suicide".
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Richard Kam · 

Next this moron may say The USA will not Import anything or Export anything from the rest of the world because they are self sufficient in everything.
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Singapore to sign new TPP deal next week, says Lim Hng Kiang
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/singapore-to-sign-new-tpp-deal-next-week-says-lim-hng-kiang-10006456

 (Updated: )

Ricky Lim · 

The signing of 3 significant multi-lateral mega deals - will spell good for the Economy of Singapore :-
(1) CPTPP
(2) Singapore-EU FTA
(3) Singapore-China FTA upgrade.

This is a good cushion against US growing protectionism.
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China says following US example will harm global trade
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/china-says-following-us-example-will-harm-global-trade-10006872

 (Updated: )

Ricky Lim · 

Trump is doing eveything "the wrong way".

Trump is displaying all the signs that "he has no clue how to govern" - applying his "business tactics" to replace robust and tested "economic principles and policies".

It is akin to :-
外行人带内行人。
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Ricky Lim · 
American voters putting a "clueless politician and economist" to be the President of US.
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Cash transactions also incur significant costs, says Janil Puthucheary

Speaking on 938NOW's Talkback programme, Dr Puthucheary agrees transaction cost is a hurdle in getting people to adopt e-payments but points out that there are costs for cash payments too.
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/cash-transactions-costs-janil-puthucheary-on-cashless-efforts-10005752
 (Updated: )

Ricky Lim · 
“When you go to the ATM, someone had to stock that ATM, manage the cash and maintain the ATM," he said. "And then when you take it from the ATM to the cashier, after the cashier puts it in the machine, later on it also has to be hauled back to the bank and recycled," Dr Puthucheary said during 938NOW's Talkback programme on Friday (Mar 2).
"So there’s a cost associated with processing cash. Someone pays that cost."
Dr Puthucheary stressed that going cashless has to be something that is easier and better for consumers, but he said the private sector is very supportive because cashless payments will help to drive down their business costs.
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Posted in :- Saturday, October 7, 2017

Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Lee Henry - To answer the question :-
(a) Machines can easily break down.
- that is correct, i have seen ATM that dispense cash break down more often than telco network breakdown.
- in fact all the current mode of POS devices are active devices will break down more often compare to QR code which is a passive machine code. The active device is the smartphone associating with the telco base station - in the vicinity and will have overlapped signal from another base station.

The only possible failure is that you forgot to charge your handphone (as good as not bringing your wallet with cash, or ATM fail, or POS fail).

(b) People don't know how to use QR code
- it is only 3 steps - a 6 year old toddler know how to use it.
- ATM machine will be more complicated as compare to QR code.
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Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Teo Seng Huat -

Posted on :-
11 Aug 2017 02:41PM

Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Cashless transactions have been adopted widely by many developing Countries like China using QR code via mobile wallet.

Countries such as India, even some Africa Countries are using cashless transactions plus some ASEAN countries.

Cashless transactions will make Countries economically competitive as cost for printing money, escorting money, distribution of money via ATM etc, bank counters etc will be greatly reduced.

Also large transactions can be done online - and this will facilitate digital economy, ecommerce with click of a few buttons - without the constraint of the amount of cash a person can carry - which will help to fuel economic growth.
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Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Assuming buying a car that cost $100,000, a person will need to carry a briefcase full of cash - probably escorted by 2 armed guards.
Beyond $100,000, a commercial transaction will not be possible.

But if cashless transaction is done, then there is no limit as to the amount of ecommerce transaction can be done - as it can be done online electronically.

This will increase economic growth many fold.
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Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
In other words, cashless transaction, digital economy can help to fuel economic growth, increase consumption and boost business activities and economic activities - to supplement and open up new economic sectors.

This will help to create new jobs for those tech savvy sectors - such as those that create mobile apps for each traditional industrial and economic sector.

This will help business to grow and jobs to grow.
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Ricky Lim · 
Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
It is a simple facts that developing countries and developed countries - can surpass us with digital economy, cashless transactions by being efficient, effective and cost savings.

Imagine in a cash society, assume few hundred billions of cash need to be printed and circulated - which will be a tremendous cost to Singapore.
And worst, the Economy will be constraint and limited by the few hundred billions of cash that are printed.

Cashless transactions and digital economy - will go beyond the cash printed - as the economic transactions are digital with no physical cash.

Noticed that the poor, elderly in China and some developing countries are quite savvy in using cashless means for transactions - like buying drinks, using rented bikes, hailing taxis, buying food from small retail stalls, vending machines etc.

Singapore is behind the curves and need to catch up - if Singapore want to be competitive to create business, create jobs and grow jobs.

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Ricky Lim ·
Singapore
Digital Economy, cashless transactions can go beyond physical boundaries and grow business without being confined by physical boundaries or territories and will surely help Singapore to expand into another wing of economic growth.

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Ricky Lim · Singapore
Imagine retail shops, hawkers etc got to carry bags and bags of coins, cash - everyday queue up in banks to deposit or withdraw cash --- it is alot of overhead and manpower to manage the coins and cash.

Imagine using cashless method or digital transactions - cash are deposited or paid in split second online - as business and consumer received or make payment instantaneously without any fuss and almost negligible overhead.

Imagine productivity increase many fold and economic growth improve significantly - with cashless and digital transactions.
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Shanmugam on drug problem: Singapore must 'be firm resisting those who try to force their ideologies'
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/shanmugam-on-drug-problem-singapore-must-be-firm-resisting-those-10006300
02 Mar 2018 02:14PM (Updated: 02 Mar 2018 03:35PM)
Audrey Chua
This is not a fair statement, Minister. We do empathise with the innocent victims. Having said that, no one has the right to take another person's life.
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Davin Chee · 

We should "be firm resisting those who try to force their ideologies" on us - unless of course, it is the Minister's ideology; then in that case we ought to accept it without resistance.
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Ricky Lim · 
Singapore cannot afford to go soft on drug trafficking - as it will not only cause tremendous adverse impact on drug addicts - but it also destroy the whole family not to mention the burden impose on the Nation.
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Ricky Lim · 
Going soft on drugs is the same as going soft on "gun control" --- both kills and cause sufferings enmass.
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Thursday, March 1, 2018

Defence spending will be kept steady despite new threats, neighbours spending more: Ng Eng Hen

The Singapore Armed Forces saved S$200 million last year through innovation and better work processes, the Defence Minister said.
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/defence-spending-will-be-kept-steady-despite-new-threats-10005140
 (Updated: )

Kerry Lymo
LOL, SAF "saved" $200m last year? Every NSF and NSmen will know this kind of savings are largely imagined, plucked from thin air because there is an annual savings target mandated by HQ.

Also so much money is wasted on overseas training when many of these training can be done locally. There is a weird and perversive compulsion to train overseas just because the foreign countries offer the opportunities, to the extend that many overseas countries see our soldiers as military tourists.

Time to really rein in our out-of-control defence budget!
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Ricky Lim · 

Also so much money is wasted on overseas training when many of these training can be done locally.
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I think you have not fully understood what military training entail.

(1) How do you expect airforce to maneouvre and train in a small restricted airspace - where a few seconds or minutes, the fighter plane will have vroom out of our airspaces?

(2) How do you expect division or brigade size infantry or armor forces to maneouvre and train in a small city?

(3) How do you train in terrain that is not available in Singapore?

(4) How do you train soldiers in live firing like bomb drop from plane, howizter firing, Himars firing, missiles firing from air, land, sea?


As mentioned in the new articles, it says in 2005, defence spending is 1/3 or 30% of the whole Government expenditure, now it is 19%.
How is this spending out of control?
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Ricky Lim · 

An untrained or poorly trained armed forces or poorly equipped armed forces --- is as good as not having an armed forces.
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Mac Lee · 

waste money. better to spend more on healthcare
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Singh Prem · 

Wholesome spending, in all important sectors and more - that's what the Government constantly aims for, but it may not always be seen as the perfect balancing act. I believe the government can do more in respect of care for the elderly and the chonically ill, on the creation of jobs and career paths, for all our graduates [this jointly working with the private sector], and for those who are struggling at subsistence levels. This is why we must continue to give our views direct to the relevant Ministers, for, afterall, we voted them in, and not just complain and do nothing constructive.

Defence spending canot be removed, for obvious reasons, and it is pertinent to note that, even in the sector of defence, there is substantial employment created for our citizens. We must be grateful we have a viable defence machinery/force.
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Ricky Lim · 

Mac Lee - If terrorists manage to breakthrough and shoot the ass out of you --- let see you will say the same thing agains.
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Ricky Lim · 
“These attacks are conducted by freelancers, as well as organised state and non-state actors,” he added.
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Increasingly, threat is no longer confined to traditional hostility type of threat.

Singapore must be prepared for "hybrid warfare - that come in all forms, shapes and sizes - some are physical threat, some are soft threat (such as economic, social, cyber disruption), and some are psychological threats that can tear the society apart.
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Ricky Lim · 
Eg, a news report :-

"Country X used social media to stir divisions on US energy policy: lawmakers
Country X operatives attempting to discourage U.S. energy production posted thousands of messages on social media supporting environmental activists in their campaign to limit oil and gas projects, a report by Republican lawmakers said on Thursday.
The lawmakers' report linked some 9,100 posts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram between 2015 and 2017 to operatives including the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency, a CountryX propaganda arm known for its trolling on social media.
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An example of "hybrid warfare" - through the use of social media waging "psychological warfare" - and tearing the Society apart.
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South Korea's Moon tells Trump of plan to send envoy to North Korea

South Korea plans to send a special envoy to North Korea in response to an invitation from leader Kim Jong Un, South Korean President Moon Jae-in told his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in a phone call on Thursday.
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/south-korea-s-moon-tells-trump-of-plan-to-send-envoy-to-north-korea-10004832
02 Mar 2018 03:05AM
Ricky Lim · 
Diplomacy, communication and contact between S Korea and N Korea must go on --- to build trust and confident --- until one day condition is ripen to talk about denuclearisation.
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