Action movie tech in real life
Zooming in on CCTV footage to identify a person is no longer just action movie magic. Combined with other data and crowd-sourced information, it has enabled the quick arrest of criminals, for example, after the 2013 Boston bombings. With gigapixel photography (many high-resolution images stitched into a larger composite photo), it’s possible to create immersive virtual reality scenes and mass event photos to tag yourself in. But combined with facial recognition technology, there may be sinister uses. The Russian service, FindFace, can match a face in a photo or video to personal details on Russian social networking site VK, and has been used to identify demonstrators at a Moscow anti-corruption protest. What’s more, FindFace makes VK users pay to opt out of being found. But others have also used the service to warn women filmed on hidden cameras in changing rooms. As with all technology, there are pros and cons.
GLOBAL OUTLOOK
Cyber developments around the world
Universal basic income is the concept of providing a guaranteed wage to cover a basic standard of living. Governments, economists and other players are studying its pros and cons with several experiments around the world.
Roles of the President
Here’s a cheat sheet on the President’s main roles.
Ceremonial Head of State
The President represents Singapore at ceremonies and international events.
Community champion
Through platforms like the President’s Challenge, the President supports social causes (e.g., volunteerism and social entrepreneurship), and charity fundraising.
Custodian of Singapore’s reserves and the Public Service
The President has discretionary powers mainly over:
1) All fiscal matters related to Singapore’s reserves
2) Key appointments in public service (e.g., the Accountant-General and Auditor-General) and Fifth Schedule* entities (e.g., CPF Board, Monetary Authority of Singapore, GIC and Temasek Holdings).
In these two areas, the President must consult with the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) to exercise these powers. If the President’s decision differs from the CPA’s, Parliament may overrule it with a majority vote of two-thirds. In other areas where the President has discretionary powers, consulting with the CPA is optional. These areas include continuing detentions under the Internal Security Act and authorising investigations by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.
Read more about the Fifth Schedule in the Singapore Constitution here. To learn more about the President's annual salary and it's various components, check out this FAQ.
LEARN THE LINGO
HMU: “Hit me up.” It means to send a message or follow up with more information. Often used together with “DM” (direct message) or “PM” (private message). It can also mean an invitation to hang out. Example: “I have an extra Ed Sheeran concert ticket. If you want it, HMU.”
NM HBU: “Nothing much, how about you?” A cursory response to “WYD”, or “what (are) you doing?” Think of it as the text message version of “Fine, thank you” in reply to “How are you?”
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