Committees members

NYON, Switzerland: The COVID-19 crisis could hit football's international calendar for "two to three years" and potentially affect the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Lars-Christer Olsson, an executive committee member of European football's governing body UEFA has said. The novel coronavirus, which has infected over 3.13 million people globally causing more than 218,000 deaths, has wreaked havoc on the soccer schedule with Euro 2020 postponed to 2021 and national leagues and continental club competitions on hold. The Qatar World Cup is set to take place from Nov 21-Dec 18, 2022 and Olsson said it was a case of "wait and see" if the quadrennial event would be hit. Asked during a Soccerex webinar how long he thought the international calendar could be affected, Olsson said: "Probably two or three years I think." "If the virus is developing in an even more serious way as it's been for the time being, there will definitely be a problem with the international calendar. "When some of … [Read more...] about COVID-19 can affect football calendar for years: UEFA executive committee member

SINGAPORE: Online falsehoods, if left unchecked, have the potential to chip away at, destablise and ultimately destroy the social harmony Singapore has painstakingly nurtured over the past few decades, particularly between different races and religions. Dr Mathew Mathews, a researcher into issues related to social cohesion, made this point in his written and oral representations to the Select Committee tasked to look into the problem of deliberate online falsehoods on Wednesday (Mar 14). Citing research and surveys, Dr Mathews explained that the existence of harmonious relationships between the different communities in Singapore does not mean that there are no misperceptions or prejudices about different groups in the population. Society, he said, is still not race-blind, and differences still matter in how people perceive and interact with each other at the workplace, and in social settings. “It is in our everyday lives where deliberate online falsehoods could harm our social … [Read more...] about Threat to Singapore’s social harmony from online falsehoods raised at Select Committee hearing

The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) recently announced the formation two new subcommittees: one devoted to “ cyber ” and the other to “ intelligence and special operations .” This divides a previous subcommittee overseeing both issues. The new ones appear logical and sensible for HASC. The move was, no doubt, approved by former House intelligence committee member and current Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy Pelosi Trump shows he holds stranglehold on GOP, media in CPAC barnburner Biden brings back bipartisan meetings at the White House McCarthy: 'I would bet my house' GOP takes back lower chamber in 2022 MORE (D-Calif.). The Speaker is sending a message — she is not happy with intelligence oversight and is looking for a work-around for better control. Shifting oversight ADVERTISEMENT The HASC intelligence subcommittee’s jurisdiction covers military intelligence, national intelligence, counter terrorism, and “sensitive operations.” Most agencies … [Read more...] about What good are the intelligence committees?

SINGAPORE: A 14-member committee has been appointed to oversee and lend guidance to Singapore's nomination of hawker culture for a spot on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It will be co-chaired by National Heritage Board CEO Chang Hwee Nee, National Environment Agency CEO Tan Meng Dui and Federation of Merchants' Associations president Yeo Hiang Meng, the three organisations said in a press release on Monday (Oct 22). The other committee members come from across the public, private and people sectors, with knowledge and expertise in fields such as community engagement, education and food heritage. The committee will provide recommendations, feedback and advice on the nomination documents to be submitted to UNESCO in March 2019, as well as encourage community participation and support for Singapore's nomination, which is an important component of UNESCO's assessments. The results are expected by end 2020. The decision to … [Read more...] about Committee set up to advise on Singapore’s nomination of hawker culture for UNESCO listing

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s deterrence and defence capabilities are “second to none” in the region. But countries with inferior military might could weaken Singapore by exploiting issues that cause tensions among groups, said Assistant Professor Michael Raska from Nanyang Technological University on Wednesday (Mar 14). Speaking at the first public hearing of the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods, Dr Raska, who is from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, added that cyber-enabled information conflicts essentially challenge concepts of deterrence. The changing character of conflict invites “asymmetrical types of strategies” that may offset anyone’s military inferiority and achieve similar political outcomes, he said. Dr Raska was responding to a question from committee member and Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, on the first day of the committee’s public hearings in Parliament. “If you want to weaken Singapore, but you don’t think you can do it … [Read more...] about Disinformation campaign a ‘logical conclusion’ for countries with inferior military strength