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The government is planning to create a National Cyber Security Strategy 2020 for a safe, secured, and resilient cyberspace. The National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, recently announced the project at c0c0n, a two-day virtual international conference on hacking and cybersecurity.
The event was organised by the Kerala Police, the Society for the Policing of Cyberspace, and the Information Security and Research Association. Doval noted that the proposed strategy aims to bring the country’s cybersecurity agencies together to secure, strengthen, and synergise the cybersecurity ecosystem by closely working with businesses and citizens.
According to a news report, he explained that the country witnessed threats to exploit the recent pandemic in the form of misinformation, fake news, and social media campaigns. Data in the cyberspace is a goldmine to extract information, undermine the privacy of citizens, and make India’s critical information infrastructure vulnerable to misuse.
He said that phishing campaigns use the COVID-19 pandemic to target financial, defense, and critical infrastructure. Around 5,000 malicious domains and websites were registered in a short period. There has been a 500% increase in cybercrime, owing to people’s limited awareness and poor cyber hygiene. Financial frauds have also increased tremendously owing to the increased reliance on digital payment platforms.
According to a recent report, e-wallets will continue to play a key role in its growth with the continuous increase in both frequency and user base. By 2025, wallets are expected to have higher penetration and lower-income would eventually drive multiple small-ticket transactions.
Digital payments are expected to grow over three-fold to IN₹ 7,092 trillion (around US$ 96 billion) by 2025, on account of government policies around financial inclusion and the growing digitisation of merchants. Mobile payments will drive around 3.5% of total digital payments by the financial year 2025, up from the current 1%. The total mobile payment users who currently stand at about 162 million would reach around 800 million during this period, the report stated.
The lack of indigenously-developed digital solutions like data-sharing facilities and social media platforms have adversely affected the nation’s self-reliance and cybersecurity, Doval added. He urged start-ups to create solutions in line with the country’s requirements and build capacity to ensure that the critical cyber assets are manned by skillful, native professionals.
IT players in the country should focus on research and development, which could lead to the creation of intellectual properties and development of Indian products, capable of competing globally
In 2019, India released a Digital India Compendium in which it outlined the government’s cybersecurity initiatives. As OpenGov Asia reported, it included the National Cyber Coordination Centre, which generates macroscopic views of cybersecurity breaches and cybersecurity threats in the country. The centre scans the cyberspace in the country at a metadata level and generates near real-time situational awareness.
Furthermore, the country launched the Cyber Swachhta Kendra, which provides free tools and security best practices to citizens. It helps users to safely carry out digital payments and secure their personal computers, broadband routers, and mobile phones.
The centre operates in collaboration with internet service providers (ISPs), antivirus companies, and academia to facilitate productive interactions in terms of guidance and communication between the government and the public. It also provides a free bot removal tool, various security tools, security best practices, and information to users to secure their systems and devices while spreading cybersecurity awareness.


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Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry launched the Jobs Transformation Map (JTM) for Retail as a guiding resource to help retail companies plan and ensure that their workforce is equipped with the necessary skill sets to meet evolving business needs.
Following the release of the Retail Industry Transformation Map (ITM) 2025 in October last year, Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) collaborated with the Ministry of Manpower to create the JTM, which was supported by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).
Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), in collaboration with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), has been designated as a programme partner for the Jobs Skills Integrator for Retail (JSIT-R).
The JSIT-R is a dedicated intermediary that offers retailers end-to-end solutions for workforce transformation, staff training, and job matching services. When engaging with retailers, the JSIT-R will consult the JTM.
Retail trade associations and chambers (TACs) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SNEF and NTUC to demonstrate their support for the JSIT-R and the implementation of the JTM. TACs are committed to reaching out to and collaborating with over 1,100 member companies and other retailers to accelerate employment transformation for their workforce of about 94,000 employees.
To ensure that the Retail sector can continue to attract and retain talent while also creating quality jobs, a study was conducted to identify future industry trends as well as anticipate how future job roles and required skill sets must change to create new opportunities and meet evolving business needs.
Four major trends and opportunities have been identified:
- Shifts in consumer needs as a result of changes in lifestyle, preferences, and awareness;
- Emergence of new retail models (e.g., omnichannel, customer-centric retail experience, and innovative business model) that enable enhanced brand and shopping experiences;
- Using data analytics and improvements in retail technology to increase productivity and efficiency;
- Create a resilient and agile supply chain to improve inventory management and enable more fulfilling alternatives in an increasingly complicated and turbulent supply chain environment.
The JTM analysis highlighted existing work roles that are likely to change somewhat or significantly, such as sales associates and store managers. Changes such as new technology and shifting consumer needs will transform these jobs.
A fundamental recommendation in the JTM report for adapting to these trends and technology improvements is to transform the workforce through human capital development programmes that include training, job redesign, and skills-based career progression pathways.
Such efforts would allow employees to focus on more value-added work and plan their evolution, which would help the growth of businesses.
Some emerging job roles include Sustainability Specialist, Product Innovator, Customer Experience Manager, Customer Intelligence Analyst, Omni-channel Manager, Digital Marketer, Digital Transformation Manager, UI/UX Designer and Full Stack Developer.
Further, retailers can stay competitive in a continuously changing industry by utilising data analytics and developments in retail technology. It helps them to provide personalised experiences, optimise operations, and boost customer satisfaction, resulting in higher profitability and long-term success.
The utilisation of data analytics and improvements in retail technology is critical for merchants looking to increase productivity and efficiency. Retailers can obtain important insights into customer behaviour, preferences, and market trends by leveraging the power of data analytics.
This data enables them to make data-driven decisions, improve inventory management, personalise marketing efforts, and improve overall operational efficiency.
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The Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has announced their plan to introduce the VinaPhone 5G service during the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF 2023), which is scheduled for 2 June to 8 July.
The purpose of this initiative is to enable visitors to spread the festive atmosphere and experience by live-streaming fireworks performances at the highest transmission speed of up to 2.2Gbps, which is ten times faster on average compared to the existing 4G network.
Throughout the festival, festival-goers will have convenient access to the VinaPhone 5G service at various locations, including Dragon Bridge, Bach Dang Street, Tran Hung Dao Street, and the surrounding areas. Individuals can also utilise VinaPhone 5G for an array of online experiences such as streaming movies, listening to music, or participating in online conferences.
According to VNPT, the inclusion of the VinaPhone 5G service at the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) holds significance as it commemorates the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the VinaPhone network (26 June 1996 – 26 June 2023). This marks the first time VinaPhone 5G service is being introduced at DIFF. Apart from providing customers with a high-speed internet experience, the 5G service also serves to showcase advanced telecommunications technology to international visitors and festival attendees.
To avail themselves of the VinaPhone 5G service, individuals possessing 5G-enabled devices will need to activate the 5G feature on their phones. They can do this by texting “DK 5G” to the number 888 to access it.
In April, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) announced an auction for frequencies within the 2300-2400 MHz waveband. This initiative was designed to facilitate the progress of network operators in deploying and enhancing their 4G and 5G technologies. The starting price set for this waveband was VND 12.88 billion (US$ 548,481) per MHz per annum, and each company had the opportunity to bid for up to 30 MHz. The companies are allowed to use the wavebands for 15 years for 4G and 5G purposes.
The auction was open to not only mobile service providers but also other telecommunication companies that met the specified requirements. Consequently, the auction allowed for the entry of new players utilising 4G and 5G technologies into the mobile market. Even companies without existing licenses for telecom services were allowed to apply to MIC for evaluation and consideration of their eligibility to participate in the auction. This inclusiveness enabled a wider range of entities to join the telecommunications sector potentially.
As OpenGov Asia reported, upon successfully winning the auction and paying the fees in full and on time, the businesses were awarded licenses to use frequencies and offer telecommunication services. These companies, which participated in the auction for the usage rights of radio frequencies within the 2300-2400 MHz waveband, gained the ability to establish networks and provide telecommunication services employing either IMT-Advanced (4G) or IMT-2020 (5G) technologies.
Recently, at the 31st meeting of the Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Wireless Group, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Pham Duc Long, discussed the management of potential frequency bands for 6G technology, the effective management of broadband satellite beams, expanding wireless internet coverage through band extensions, and the advancements and implications of 5G technology.
He said that the world is currently confronted with a range of complex issues in the era of wireless devices. APT, in response, is committed to collaborating with member countries to address these problems and effectively overcome the associated challenges.
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Machine-learning models are utilised in the real world to assist radiologists in identifying potential diseases in X-rays; however, these models are intricate and their prediction process remains elusive even to their creators. To address this, researchers employ saliency methods, techniques that seek to offer insights into the model’s behaviour and elucidate its decision-making procedure.
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a multinational technology company have collaboratively developed a tool with a new method to assist users in selecting the most suitable saliency method for their specific requirements. Therefore, they introduced saliency cards, providing standardised documentation summarising how a particular process of saliency operates, including its strengths, weaknesses, and explanations to aid users in correctly interpreting the method’s outputs.
The Co-lead Author, Angie Boggust, a graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science at MIT and a member of the Visualization Group of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), expresses the team’s aspiration that users equipped with this knowledge will be able to consciously select a suitable saliency method based on the specific machine-learning model being employed and the task it aims to accomplish.
Boggust explains that saliency cards are purposefully crafted to provide a concise and easily understandable overview of a saliency method while highlighting the essential attributes most relevant to human users. These cards are intended to be accessible to a wide range of individuals, including machine-learning researchers and even those unfamiliar with the field and seeking guidance in selecting a saliency method for the first time.
Choosing the “wrong” saliency method can have serious consequences. For instance, one saliency method known as integrated gradients compares the importance of features in an image to a meaningless reference point. Features with the highest priority compared to this reference point are considered the most meaningful for the model’s prediction. If an unsuitable saliency method is chosen, it can lead to incorrect or misleading interpretations of the model’s behaviour and predictions. Therefore, selecting a saliency method appropriate for the specific task requirements is crucial to avoid these consequences.
Saliency cards can assist users in avoiding choosing “the wrong method” by reducing the operational details of a saliency method into ten user-centric attributes. The attributes encompass the methodology for calculating saliency, the connection between the saliency method and the model, and how users interpret the outputs generated by the method.
The saliency cards can also serve as a valuable resource for scientists by revealing areas where further research is needed. For instance, the researchers from MIT encountered a challenge in finding a saliency method that was both computationally efficient and applicable to any machine-learning model. This highlights a gap in the research space that warrants further exploration and development.
In the future, the researchers aim to delve into the less-explored attributes of saliency methods and potentially create task-specific saliency techniques. They also seek to enhance their understanding of how individuals perceive saliency method outputs, with the potential for developing improved visualisations. Furthermore, they have made their work accessible through a public repository, inviting feedback from others that will contribute to future advancements.
Boggust is optimistic, envisioning these saliency cards as dynamic documents that will evolve as new saliency methods and evaluations emerge. Ultimately, this marks just the beginning of a broader discussion regarding the attributes of saliency methods and their relevance to different tasks. Boggust believes that in the future, there will be other researchers who will further develop this discovery.
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As part of the “Promote Circularity Campaign,” the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has transferred cost-effective Li-ion battery recycling technology to nine recycling industries and start-ups under the Mission LiFE initiative.
The novelty of the indigenously developed technology could process assorted types of discarded Li-ion batteries, recovering more than 95% lithium, cobalt, manganese, and nickel contents in the form of their corresponding oxides/carbonates of about 98% purity. The recycling procedure involves leaching followed by a hierarchical selective extraction of the metal values using a solvent extraction process. These secondary raw materials hold great potential for reuse in battery manufacturing or other potential applications.
This technology was developed by MeitY through the Centre of Excellence on E-waste Management established at the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) in Hyderabad. The development took place in collaboration with the government of Telangana and an industry partner based in Hyderabad.
The CEO of the National Institute of Transforming India (NITI Aayog) highlighted the significance of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) model in promoting translational research and innovation through partnerships with the industry right from the problem-solving stage. The transfer of Li-ion battery recycling technology to nine local industries by MeitY demonstrates its commendable efforts in this regard, he said.
Out of the 11 chosen verticals of the circular economy by NITI Aayog, MeitY stands out as a frontrunner in showcasing the outcomes of technology development. This is particularly significant as the country is still limited in comparison to a few major economies in this domain. MeitY’s advancements in technology development within the circular economy demonstrate India’s commitment to embracing sustainable practices and contributing to global efforts in this field.
Alkesh Kumar Sharma, the Secretary of MeitY, expressed his appreciation for the Centre of Excellence (CoE) on E-waste Management at C-MET, Hyderabad, for their achievement in developing low-cost technology for local recycling industries and start-ups. He acknowledged the special efforts made by the government of Telangana and the private player in nurturing a unique concept in the country and facilitating translational research for commercialisation.
Furthermore, he commended the C-MET scientists for their venture into niche technology development, such as the production of hafnium metal sponge from effluents, a resource that is only available in a limited number of countries.
The initiative was launched under the Mission LiFE project. Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), envisioned by the Prime Minister at the Climate Change Conference (COP26), emphasises mindful and deliberate utilisation instead of mindless and wasteful consumption. More than 100,000 LiFE-related events have taken place across India mobilising over 1.7 million individuals to take pro-planet actions. These include cleanliness drives, bicycle rallies, plantation drives, LiFE marathons, plastic collection drives, composting workshops, and taking a LiFE pledge. Many schools and colleges are also undertaking cultural competitions such as street plays, essays, paintings, and youth parliaments.
Recently, under the project, the government has introduced the Electronics Repair Services Outsourcing (ERSO) Pilot initiative. It aims to validate certain transformational policy and process changes to make the country the repair capital of the world. By facilitating affordable and dependable repairs for ICT products on a global scale, the ERSO initiative will significantly contribute to extending the lifespan of devices worldwide.
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Digital transformation in the forestry sector has consolidated and streamlined administrative processes, leading to enhanced forest management, protection, and development. Director of Forestry, Tran Quang Bao, affirmed that the adoption of information technology has bolstered the management and safeguarding of forests.
IT application has led to a reduction in both illegal exploitation and transportation of forest products, as well as the illegal hunting of wild animals. Over the years, Xuan Lien Nature Reserve in the central province of Thanh Hoa has implemented SMART in its patrol operations, contributing to the protection of forests and biodiversity in the area. SMART, a collection of data management tools and patrol reports, has gained official recognition worldwide. It facilitates the management of protected areas in Vietnam. By standardising data collection, analysis, and reporting, SMART provides comprehensive information on the status of biodiversity and natural resource management in the protected area system. The data helps develop regulations and make informed decisions.
Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum has been implementing SMART applications since October 2020 with the assistance and training provided by the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Vietnam. After over two years of utilising SMART Mobile on smartphone devices, the results of patrolling and checking have been updated on the field through management software more quickly and accurately.
The Reserve has also been implementing IT to enhance the efficiency of other forest management and protection tasks. The reserve has implemented specialised software and a GPS navigation system, which have significantly improved the reserve’s ability to manage and protect over 37,550 hectares of forests and forestry land.
The unit has transitioned from traditional paper maps to map software. Previously, patrolling forces had to carry a locator and compass, which required significant time and often resulted in lower accuracy due to measurement errors. However, with the advent of smartphones, numerous free map applications have been developed, providing a more convenient and accurate means of determining position coordinates during patrols.
In Vietnam, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has set a goal this year to advance efficient and cost-effective digital transformation through a comprehensive plan. It involves seeking support and collaboration from the government, businesses, and professional information technology associations. It will foster a significant shift in mindset and drive action toward digital transformation across agencies, organisations, and individuals involved in the agricultural value chain at both central and local levels. The Ministry is actively working towards finalising and issuing a comprehensive list of databases that fall under its management.
The Ministry is also promoting the application of digital technologies, including sensors, IoT (Internet of Things), artificial intelligence (AI), and data mining. These technologies are being used to monitor land conditions, forest resources, and weather patterns.
The establishment of a national database through a unified data management and patrol tool (SMART) used across the country on the management, protection, and conservation of biodiversity special-use and protected forests has served the management and inspection of management agencies from central to grassroots levels, contributing to the conservation and sustainable development of national biodiversity resources.
The widespread application of digital technology has significantly enhanced the state management of forests, including special-use and protected forests. This has led to the stabilisation and development of forests in terms of both area and quality, thereby promoting their vital role in conserving unique forest ecosystems, endemic species, endangered and rare species, as well as historical, cultural, and religious relics.
For long-term progress, it is necessary to implement mechanisms and policies to improve economic and technical norms, especially digital technology, for the activities of forest management boards across the country.
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A*STAR, in collaboration with a local F&B-centric robotics and automation SME, has developed a joint research and innovation initiative to foster innovation in robotic platforms for the Food Services industry.
This programme will combine both parties’ Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre’s (ARTC) skills to develop solutions that incorporate Food and Beverage (F&B) domain knowledge, as well as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and automation.
The F&B-centric robotics and automation SME and A*STAR’s ARTC will invest S$3.5 million in developing a modular vision platform that can assist robotised operations in F&B by assisting these robots to self-navigate and self-calibrate in dynamic and space-constrained environments such as restaurant kitchens.
The combined effort will also use a digital twin platform to establish a digital representation of the F&B robotic system, allowing for real-time analytics that enables remote monitoring and optimisation of operations, accelerating the deployment of new robotic systems and decreasing operational downtime.
The combined research and innovation project embodies both A*STAR’s and the firm’s desire to leverage mutual capabilities to perform research combining F&B domain expertise, robotics, automation, AI, vision, and digital twin technologies.
The partnership is sure that the technology they produce will assist support and building the digital and automation capabilities of F&B firms. Besides, they believe that this will help Singapore establish itself as a major F&B robotics and automation hub, increase the efficiency of Food Service personnel, and help address the sector’s manpower problem and rising operational expenses.
The collaborative effort intends to create solutions that will enable the Food Services industry to automate operations and boost efficiency, lowering the amount of repetitious and physically demanding work and allowing F&B personnel to focus on higher-value jobs.
A*STAR’s ARTC engages with local enterprises to co-develop breakthrough technologies and co-innovate industry solutions to seize new growth possibilities locally and worldwide, according to Dr David Low, CEO of A*STAR’s ARTC.
He added that such public-private collaborations are critical in bringing complementary expertise together to address problem statements and increase productivity and efficiency in the Fast-Moving Food Services industry and beyond.
The Food Services business is set to expand and evolve further. Digitalisation and automation are critical to assisting F&B businesses in thriving and overcoming obstacles such as a labour shortage.
This collaboration will develop solutions to assist F&B enterprises in optimising their operations. They anticipate more similar cooperation between innovation and IT ecosystem partners to boost F&B company growth.
Drive innovation is critical for the food services industry because it has the potential to revolutionise operations and address significant concerns. Innovation serves as fuel for growth and sustainability in an era characterised by technical advancements and shifting consumer expectations.
Automation streamlines operations and reduces reliance on manual labour. Tasks such as food preparation, cooking, and serving can be carried out more efficiently by adding robotics, AI, and automation technology, resulting in higher productivity and lower operational expenses.
Improved consumer experiences are made possible by innovation. From self-ordering kiosks and smartphone apps to personalised recommendations and delivery drones, technology advancements improve consumer convenience, speed, and personalisation. This results in increased client happiness and loyalty, which ultimately drives corporate success.
It is also critical in addressing labour shortages. With rising labour costs and a diminishing workforce, automation and robotics provide options to fill the gaps, allowing food service enterprises to remain efficient and successful.
In addition, food service industry innovation can reduce environmental effects. Through innovative technologies, sustainable practices such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, and eco-friendly packaging solutions can be integrated, leading to a greener and more socially responsible industry.
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued Directive No. 18/CT-TTg, which aims to enhance data connectivity and sharing to foster the growth of e-commerce, prevent tax loss, and safeguard monetary security.
The directive acknowledged that the rapid expansion of the e-commerce market has presented significant challenges in effectively managing e-commerce activities and tax administration. It emphasised the need for close collaboration among specialised management agencies to regulate payment transactions and verify the information of businesses, individuals, and taxpayers in response to the evolving digital business landscape.
The Prime Minister has assigned specific tasks to various ministries and agencies in the directive. They will enhance efficiency and facilitate digital transformation in the governance of e-commerce activities, digital platform trading, cross-border business, and data sharing among ministries and agencies for the advancement of e-commerce.
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has been assigned the responsibility to collaborate with other relevant ministries in the process of amending legal documents pertaining to e-commerce. This includes streamlining administrative procedures and implementing strict measures to address tax and customs violations.
It has also been assigned the responsibility of developing a comprehensive plan for data connection and sharing with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC), the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS), the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), and other relevant agencies. This plan aims to strengthen tax administration for e-commerce activities and the provision of cross-border digital products and services. The deadline for completing this plan is set for the third quarter of this year.
MoIC is tasked with coordinating efforts among ministries and agencies to standardise, digitise, connect, and share data pertaining to e-commerce. SBV has been directed to collaborate with MoF and other relevant agencies to establish a mechanism for overseeing payment transactions. This mechanism will specifically support tax administration for cross-border service provision, in accordance with the Law on Tax Administration and other related legislations.
MoPS has been urged to accelerate the integration of the national population database with the databases and information systems of ministries, agencies, and local authorities. This integration is crucial for implementing e-identification and e-authentication systems. The MoPS is also tasked with collaborating with relevant agencies to refine specialised laws and policies that safeguard e-commerce development and monetary security, as well as prevent tax loss.
The Government Office will coordinate with relevant ministries in continuing to promote the integration and provision of online public services, and online payment in the fields of taxation and e-commerce on the National Public Service Portal.
Earlier this week, SBV urged banks, foreign bank branches, and intermediaries in payment services to actively support the advancement of cashless transactions and the implementation of the national digital transformation programme.
The move aims to aid the plan on developing the application of resident data and electronic identification and authentication to support the national digital transformation agenda during the period of 2022-2025, with a vision extending to 2030.
As OpenGov Asia reported, the banks, foreign bank branches, and intermediaries in payment services will persist in their efforts to devise favourable programmes and policies concerning payment and intermediary payment service fees for customers. The SBV has also urged them to waive account maintenance fees and cash withdrawal fees for customers entitled to the social security policy. They have been instructed to proactively engage in practical initiatives to commemorate Cashless Day 2023, which takes place on 16 June, and to continue their efforts throughout the entire month.