Yahoo China to end email service: media
POSTED: 19 Apr 2013 7:48 PM
UPDATED: 19 Apr 2013 10:45 PM
Yahoo's China arm will shut down its email service later this year, state media reported on Friday, in a move illustrating the brand's diminishing profile in the country.
BEIJING: Yahoo's China arm will shut down its email service later this year, state media reported Friday, illustrating the brand's diminishing profile in the country.
China Yahoo! announced it will close its email service by August 19, a move the China Daily said will leave it with just its web portal business.
Users of the service were informed that they must register with AliCloud, a unit of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, to prevent emails and other information from being deleted when Yahoo's mail service stops.
China Yahoo! has been operated by Alibaba since 2005, the paper said.
The US Internet giant Yahoo! has come under criticism in the past over its business in China, with executives apologising in 2007 for providing evidence that Chinese authorities used to convict government critics.
The company said it was legally obliged to divulge information about its users to the Chinese government but that it was unaware it would be used to convict dissidents.
The end of the service will affect millions of users, the paper quoted Alibaba public relations official Zhang Jianhua as saying, though he did not have a total figure.
The China Daily quoted Zhang as saying the move was because "we are not sure how long we can provide the email service under Yahoo's current technological structure".
In September, Alibaba Group Holding Limited announced that it has bought back billions of dollars worth of stock from Yahoo!, by completing an initial repurchase of shares from the US company and other transactions valued at approximately US$7.6 billion.
The move partly fulfilled a previous deal that Yahoo! would sell back its 40 percent stake in Alibaba.
In a statement to AFP, a spokesperson for China Yahoo! confirmed that the email service would be suspended and said: "We will offer several options to our users to make this transition as smooth as possible, and China Yahoo! users will have four months time to migrate their accounts."
The statement said that the migration process had started on Thursday.
Users of China's Twitter-like microblogs expressed anger at the news.
A post under the name "Lisa's paw" said: "How can they do this? All of sudden Yahoo mail can't be logged onto and everything was moved to AliCloud. Did you ask for users' opinions?"
- AFP/fl
- wong chee tat :)
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Tax filing rate hits record 95%
Tax filing rate hits record 95%
POSTED: 19 Apr 2013 7:00 PM
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore said about 900,000 taxpayers e-filed their returns by 18 April.
SINGAPORE: The filing rate for tax season 2013 has hit a record of 95 per cent.
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) said about 900,000 taxpayers e-filed their returns by 18 April.
This includes 27,000 taxpayers who filed paper returns and 1.13 million taxpayers who were on the No-Filing Service this year.
Last year, the tax filing rate was 94 per cent.
IRAS added that more taxpayers will benefit from the Auto-Inclusion Scheme (AIS).
Currently, there are 1.3 million employees on AIS and IRAS expects the number to go up to 1.4 million by 2015.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 19 Apr 2013 7:00 PM
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore said about 900,000 taxpayers e-filed their returns by 18 April.
SINGAPORE: The filing rate for tax season 2013 has hit a record of 95 per cent.
The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) said about 900,000 taxpayers e-filed their returns by 18 April.
This includes 27,000 taxpayers who filed paper returns and 1.13 million taxpayers who were on the No-Filing Service this year.
Last year, the tax filing rate was 94 per cent.
IRAS added that more taxpayers will benefit from the Auto-Inclusion Scheme (AIS).
Currently, there are 1.3 million employees on AIS and IRAS expects the number to go up to 1.4 million by 2015.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Veteran actor Huang Wenyong dies
Veteran actor Huang Wenyong dies
POSTED: 20 Apr 2013 9:09 PM
Veteran MediaCorp artiste Huang Wenyong, best known for his role as “Ah Shui” in Channel 8’s period drama “The Awakening” died on Saturday.
SINGAPORE: Veteran MediaCorp artiste Huang Wenyong, best known for his role as “Ah Shui” in Channel 8’s period drama “The Awakening” died on Saturday.
He was 60.
In a report by xinmsn, his family said Huang died earlier on Saturday in hospital.
The media company is mourning the passing of one of its most beloved and endearing actors.
Fann Wong, Aileen Tan, Pierre Png, Ian Fang, Tay Ping Hui and a host of other MediaCorp stars have expressed their sadness over Huang's death soon after the news broke.
"I am really sad! My eyes are wet! He is the legend!Big Brother Wen Yong! Goodbye!" tweeted Ian Fang Saturday evening.
"I have worked with Huang on numerous occasions. I learned a lot from him every time we worked together. He takes acting seriously, and never hesitates to guide the newcomers. He is a senior I respect," said Singapore actor Tay Ping Hui, who starred alongside Huang in the drama "Rescue 995", in a micro blog post that same evening.
Tay also added: "Huang Wen Yong's departure is a great loss to the Singapore television industry. Rest in peace big brother Wen Yong. You will be forever in our hearts."
Public concern for his health has been growing since he appeared visibly thin and haggard onstage at the "30th Drama Anniversary Show" which aired on Channel 8 last year.
Huang had previously revealed that he lost approximately seven kilograms in an interview with xinmsn, and suffered from stomach flu and digestion problems while filming for the Channel 8 drama “It’s a Wonderful Life” since September last year.
Most recently, the 60-year-old took to MediaCorp's online portal Toggle early last month to reassure and thank his fans and friends for their concern and support.
"I am well. All my friends who are concerned about me; please do not worry," said Huang in the audio clip.
"During this time, I feel sorry for not being able to respond, despite receiving so many well wishes. Sorry, and thank you everyone.
"Please don't forget to take care of your bodies everyone. I will try my best as well. Hopefully, I'll be able to return to work, shoot more great shows and entertain everyone," Huang added.
The veteran star joined the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) in 1980 and was one of the early pioneers of local Chinese drama.
To date, he has acted in over 100 Chinese dramas and sitcoms, including "The Seletar Robbery", "Lobang King" and "Joys of Life".
In his over 30-year career with MediaCorp, he has won numerous awards including "Special Achievement Award" in Star Awards 1997.
Huang is also in the running for the "Top 10 Favourite Male Artistes Award" in this year's Star Awards.
- CNA/fl
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 20 Apr 2013 9:09 PM
Veteran MediaCorp artiste Huang Wenyong, best known for his role as “Ah Shui” in Channel 8’s period drama “The Awakening” died on Saturday.
SINGAPORE: Veteran MediaCorp artiste Huang Wenyong, best known for his role as “Ah Shui” in Channel 8’s period drama “The Awakening” died on Saturday.
He was 60.
In a report by xinmsn, his family said Huang died earlier on Saturday in hospital.
The media company is mourning the passing of one of its most beloved and endearing actors.
Fann Wong, Aileen Tan, Pierre Png, Ian Fang, Tay Ping Hui and a host of other MediaCorp stars have expressed their sadness over Huang's death soon after the news broke.
"I am really sad! My eyes are wet! He is the legend!Big Brother Wen Yong! Goodbye!" tweeted Ian Fang Saturday evening.
"I have worked with Huang on numerous occasions. I learned a lot from him every time we worked together. He takes acting seriously, and never hesitates to guide the newcomers. He is a senior I respect," said Singapore actor Tay Ping Hui, who starred alongside Huang in the drama "Rescue 995", in a micro blog post that same evening.
Tay also added: "Huang Wen Yong's departure is a great loss to the Singapore television industry. Rest in peace big brother Wen Yong. You will be forever in our hearts."
Public concern for his health has been growing since he appeared visibly thin and haggard onstage at the "30th Drama Anniversary Show" which aired on Channel 8 last year.
Huang had previously revealed that he lost approximately seven kilograms in an interview with xinmsn, and suffered from stomach flu and digestion problems while filming for the Channel 8 drama “It’s a Wonderful Life” since September last year.
Most recently, the 60-year-old took to MediaCorp's online portal Toggle early last month to reassure and thank his fans and friends for their concern and support.
"I am well. All my friends who are concerned about me; please do not worry," said Huang in the audio clip.
"During this time, I feel sorry for not being able to respond, despite receiving so many well wishes. Sorry, and thank you everyone.
"Please don't forget to take care of your bodies everyone. I will try my best as well. Hopefully, I'll be able to return to work, shoot more great shows and entertain everyone," Huang added.
The veteran star joined the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) in 1980 and was one of the early pioneers of local Chinese drama.
To date, he has acted in over 100 Chinese dramas and sitcoms, including "The Seletar Robbery", "Lobang King" and "Joys of Life".
In his over 30-year career with MediaCorp, he has won numerous awards including "Special Achievement Award" in Star Awards 1997.
Huang is also in the running for the "Top 10 Favourite Male Artistes Award" in this year's Star Awards.
- CNA/fl
- wong chee tat :)
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