Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
IMF 'carefully' monitoring capital flows to Asia
IMF 'carefully' monitoring capital flows to Asia
POSTED: 29 Apr 2013 8:27 PM
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Monday it is "carefully" monitoring massive capital flows into Asia.
SINGAPORE: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Monday it is "carefully" monitoring massive capital flows into Asia and urged the region's policymakers to guard against risks of overheating.
The level of the inflows -- which have sent Asian stocks and property prices skyrocketing -- are close to or above historical trends in most economies including those in Southeast Asia, the IMF said.
"We are seeing financial pressures -- you may call them imbalances, or the risk of imbalances -- rising," said Anoop Singh, director for the IMF Asia and Pacific Department.
"And because these can worsen quickly, they certainly are being monitored very carefully. Therefore the challenge policymakers face is how to guard against the potential build-up of national imbalances while continuing to deliver appropriate support for growth."
Singh was speaking at a news conference launching the IMF's regional economic outlook, which maintained projections that the region will grow 5.7 per cent this year.
"Our basic point is that national stability concerns in Asia are generally rising and... are close to, or above trend in most economies, including in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region," he said.
"And therefore monetary policymakers need to be ready to spot early and decisively to emerging risks of overheating."
The IMF did not name any economy at risk of overheating, but stock markets in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand have recently seen steep increases.
Property prices in economies like Hong Kong and Singapore have also been red-hot, prompting the governments to introduce cooling measures.
In its report the IMF said the inflows have generally "not been excessive so far" but could reach levels difficult to manage.
Large flows of funds from industrialised economies into the region where they can get higher returns, and easy domestic credit due to low interest rates, have pushed asset prices sharply higher.
The speculative buying, in contrast to long-term investments, has sparked concerns about potential price bubbles which could deflate easily as the funds are withdrawn as quickly as they came in, devastating financial systems.
The IMF said governments in the region face a "delicate balancing act" of supporting economic growth while managing the huge money flows.
It suggested that the funds should be invested in infrastructure, education and health to support more inclusive and sustained economic growth, and also urged regional governments to broaden domestic revenue sources.
- AFP/jc
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 29 Apr 2013 8:27 PM
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Monday it is "carefully" monitoring massive capital flows into Asia.
SINGAPORE: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Monday it is "carefully" monitoring massive capital flows into Asia and urged the region's policymakers to guard against risks of overheating.
The level of the inflows -- which have sent Asian stocks and property prices skyrocketing -- are close to or above historical trends in most economies including those in Southeast Asia, the IMF said.
"We are seeing financial pressures -- you may call them imbalances, or the risk of imbalances -- rising," said Anoop Singh, director for the IMF Asia and Pacific Department.
"And because these can worsen quickly, they certainly are being monitored very carefully. Therefore the challenge policymakers face is how to guard against the potential build-up of national imbalances while continuing to deliver appropriate support for growth."
Singh was speaking at a news conference launching the IMF's regional economic outlook, which maintained projections that the region will grow 5.7 per cent this year.
"Our basic point is that national stability concerns in Asia are generally rising and... are close to, or above trend in most economies, including in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region," he said.
"And therefore monetary policymakers need to be ready to spot early and decisively to emerging risks of overheating."
The IMF did not name any economy at risk of overheating, but stock markets in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand have recently seen steep increases.
Property prices in economies like Hong Kong and Singapore have also been red-hot, prompting the governments to introduce cooling measures.
In its report the IMF said the inflows have generally "not been excessive so far" but could reach levels difficult to manage.
Large flows of funds from industrialised economies into the region where they can get higher returns, and easy domestic credit due to low interest rates, have pushed asset prices sharply higher.
The speculative buying, in contrast to long-term investments, has sparked concerns about potential price bubbles which could deflate easily as the funds are withdrawn as quickly as they came in, devastating financial systems.
The IMF said governments in the region face a "delicate balancing act" of supporting economic growth while managing the huge money flows.
It suggested that the funds should be invested in infrastructure, education and health to support more inclusive and sustained economic growth, and also urged regional governments to broaden domestic revenue sources.
- AFP/jc
- wong chee tat :)
Sunday, April 28, 2013
MAS Bills
MAS Bills
MAS announced on 29 July 2010 that short term MAS bills would be issued as part of money market operations, serving as a complement to three other instruments – FX swaps, clean lending and borrowing, and SGS repos – which are used to inject or withdraw liquidity from the financial system.The implementation of the MAS bills programme began in April 2011, with the issuance of 4-week MAS Bills, followed in August 2011 with the issuance of 8-week MAS bills. In July 2012, MAS plans to extend the tenor of its bills by issuing 12-week MAS bills.
By the end of FY11, about S$18 billion in outstanding MAS Bills were available for financial institutions. These help to broaden the availability and diversity of high-quality assets available in the market, to allow financial institutions to better manage their liquidity.
- wong chee tat :)
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Zuckerberg earned over US$2b at Facebook in 2012
Zuckerberg earned over US$2b at Facebook in 2012
POSTED: 27 Apr 2013 10:16 AM
Facebook co-founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg earned more than US$2 billion worth of stock and US$503,000 in base pay last year.
SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook co-founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg earned more than US$2 billion worth of stock and US$503,000 in base pay last year for running the world's leading social network.
Zuckerberg was also given bonuses that added up to slightly more than US$266,000, according to a Facebook filing on Friday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
He received US$1.22 million in "other compensation," more than half of which was said in the filing to involve the use of chartered aircraft for travel by Zuckerberg and guests as part of a "comprehensive security program."
Facebook provided US regulators a breakdown of executive compensation and other matters that will be topics at an annual meeting of shareholders set to take place on June 11.
"In the first quarter of 2012, the compensation committee decided to increase the base salaries of our executive officers, other than our CEO," Facebook said in the document.
"Accordingly, our compensation committee increased the base salary of each executive officer, other than our CEO, by US$35,000 or US$40,000."
Zuckerberg has served as chairman of the board at Facebook since the beginning of last year.
His base pay will remain the same this year, while chief operations officer Sheryl Sandberg's was raised to US$340,000, according to the filing. Her bonus last year added up to US$276,730, the paperwork indicated.
Sandberg was paid US$321,000 last year, along with a bonus of US$276,730 and about US$25.6 million worth of stock awards, Facebook told the FTC.
Sandberg's bonus "reflected her leadership in growing our revenue year over year and her strategic guidance in various business matters," the filing said.
Zuckerberg exercised options to acquire 60 million shares of Facebook stock, which were valued at just shy of US$2.28 billion, according to the SEC filing.
He holds 607,599,549 shares of Class B stock in Facebook and another 1,939,987 in Class A shares, the company said in the paperwork.
The SEC in March endorsed a Nasdaq exchange plan to create a US$62 million pool of cash to cover trading losses due to computer glitches that disrupted the launch of Facebook shares onto the market.
The huge electronic market's foul-up marred the US$16 billion Facebook share issue in May, the most hotly awaited initial public offering on the US markets in years.
The stock hit a high of US$45 on the first day, but slid below US$18 in the following weeks. Facebook shares were trading at US$26.85 at the Nasdaq close on Friday.
- AFP/jc
-wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 27 Apr 2013 10:16 AM
Facebook co-founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg earned more than US$2 billion worth of stock and US$503,000 in base pay last year.
SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook co-founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg earned more than US$2 billion worth of stock and US$503,000 in base pay last year for running the world's leading social network.
Zuckerberg was also given bonuses that added up to slightly more than US$266,000, according to a Facebook filing on Friday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
He received US$1.22 million in "other compensation," more than half of which was said in the filing to involve the use of chartered aircraft for travel by Zuckerberg and guests as part of a "comprehensive security program."
Facebook provided US regulators a breakdown of executive compensation and other matters that will be topics at an annual meeting of shareholders set to take place on June 11.
"In the first quarter of 2012, the compensation committee decided to increase the base salaries of our executive officers, other than our CEO," Facebook said in the document.
"Accordingly, our compensation committee increased the base salary of each executive officer, other than our CEO, by US$35,000 or US$40,000."
Zuckerberg has served as chairman of the board at Facebook since the beginning of last year.
His base pay will remain the same this year, while chief operations officer Sheryl Sandberg's was raised to US$340,000, according to the filing. Her bonus last year added up to US$276,730, the paperwork indicated.
Sandberg was paid US$321,000 last year, along with a bonus of US$276,730 and about US$25.6 million worth of stock awards, Facebook told the FTC.
Sandberg's bonus "reflected her leadership in growing our revenue year over year and her strategic guidance in various business matters," the filing said.
Zuckerberg exercised options to acquire 60 million shares of Facebook stock, which were valued at just shy of US$2.28 billion, according to the SEC filing.
He holds 607,599,549 shares of Class B stock in Facebook and another 1,939,987 in Class A shares, the company said in the paperwork.
The SEC in March endorsed a Nasdaq exchange plan to create a US$62 million pool of cash to cover trading losses due to computer glitches that disrupted the launch of Facebook shares onto the market.
The huge electronic market's foul-up marred the US$16 billion Facebook share issue in May, the most hotly awaited initial public offering on the US markets in years.
The stock hit a high of US$45 on the first day, but slid below US$18 in the following weeks. Facebook shares were trading at US$26.85 at the Nasdaq close on Friday.
- AFP/jc
-wong chee tat :)
Chinatown Food Street closed from 1 May
Chinatown Food Street closed from 1 May
POSTED: 25 Apr 2013 4:06 PM
Chinatown Food Street will be closed from 1 May to make way for renovations.
SINGAPORE: Chinatown Food Street (CFS) located on Smith Street will be closed from 1 May to make way for renovations.
The revamped CFS will be ready in the last quarter of 2013.
As a result of the closure, shophouse units 9 to 29 and 37 to 41 will be closed during the renovation period.
All other units will remain operational.
- CNA/jc
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 25 Apr 2013 4:06 PM
Chinatown Food Street will be closed from 1 May to make way for renovations.
SINGAPORE: Chinatown Food Street (CFS) located on Smith Street will be closed from 1 May to make way for renovations.
The revamped CFS will be ready in the last quarter of 2013.
As a result of the closure, shophouse units 9 to 29 and 37 to 41 will be closed during the renovation period.
All other units will remain operational.
- CNA/jc
- wong chee tat :)
Majority of Pearls Centre owners, tenants accept government compensation
Majority of Pearls Centre owners, tenants accept government compensation
By Olivia Siong
POSTED: 25 Apr 2013 5:35 PM
UPDATED: 25 Apr 2013 11:30 PM
The majority of owners and tenants at Pearls Centre have accepted the government's compensation for the acquisition of the building. Authorities are taking possession of the centre to make way for the upcoming Thomson MRT line.
SINGAPORE: Nearly all owners and tenants at Pearls Centre have accepted the government's compensation for the acquisition of the building.
The deadlines for acceptance of the offers ended on Wednesday.
Authorities are taking possession of the centre to make way for the upcoming Thomson MRT line.
The government had earlier announced a S$450-million compensation package for the acquisition.
The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said all but two of 243 owners have accepted the offers, which comprises statutory compensation and an ex-gratia payment.
The two owners will be given an extension.
Member of Parliament for Tanjor Pagar GRC Indranee Rajah said one of them will be given till April 30, as the owner was away when the offer was made.
This is to allow her the same period as other owners to accept the offer.
The second owner who has not accepted the offers will be allowed time to get the relevant legal documents.
This is for her to accept the offer on behalf of her husband, who has passed away and was the owner of the unit.
As for the tenants, only one out of 175 eligible tenants has yet to respond. SLA said it will be prepared to grant an extension if the tenant has a valid reason.
Ms Indranee said more assistance will be given if the need arises, to ensure a smooth transition.
Owners and eligible tenants had the legal right to file appeals with 14 days from the date of the Collector's Award on 27 March 2013, if they were dissatisfied with the statutory compensation offered.
SLA said two appeals were filed but were subsequently withdrawn on 24 April 2013.
The units at Pearls Centre will be handed over to the state in August 2014.
Ms Indranee said: “There will be other issues along the way, for example some may need to, or may want to stay at their premises after the handover date on August 2014, until their new residences or new shops are ready. For that, as SLA had indicated before, (there will be) a years’ free stay, after that there will be progressive charging of rental. Some may need it, some may not, but it is things like that where if one can assist, and make sure the transition is smooth, then those things will be done.
“Some have looked for premises on their own and in fact, one of them had already found one and moved out a few months back. Some have come to me for appeals for HDB commercial properties, some are still in the process of deciding where they want to go, but obviously if they need assistance, I would be happy to do so."
Lo Hock Ling, chairman of the Pearls Centre management committee, said: "I haven't come across anyone who said they're not satisfied, so in other words we can conclude, almost everyone feel that they're satisfied. We will continue to run the centre as usual, until we hand the property to the SLA. Maybe the SLA might continue to run it for a while, I think that is left to the SLA."
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
By Olivia Siong
POSTED: 25 Apr 2013 5:35 PM
UPDATED: 25 Apr 2013 11:30 PM
The majority of owners and tenants at Pearls Centre have accepted the government's compensation for the acquisition of the building. Authorities are taking possession of the centre to make way for the upcoming Thomson MRT line.
SINGAPORE: Nearly all owners and tenants at Pearls Centre have accepted the government's compensation for the acquisition of the building.
The deadlines for acceptance of the offers ended on Wednesday.
Authorities are taking possession of the centre to make way for the upcoming Thomson MRT line.
The government had earlier announced a S$450-million compensation package for the acquisition.
The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said all but two of 243 owners have accepted the offers, which comprises statutory compensation and an ex-gratia payment.
The two owners will be given an extension.
Member of Parliament for Tanjor Pagar GRC Indranee Rajah said one of them will be given till April 30, as the owner was away when the offer was made.
This is to allow her the same period as other owners to accept the offer.
The second owner who has not accepted the offers will be allowed time to get the relevant legal documents.
This is for her to accept the offer on behalf of her husband, who has passed away and was the owner of the unit.
As for the tenants, only one out of 175 eligible tenants has yet to respond. SLA said it will be prepared to grant an extension if the tenant has a valid reason.
Ms Indranee said more assistance will be given if the need arises, to ensure a smooth transition.
Owners and eligible tenants had the legal right to file appeals with 14 days from the date of the Collector's Award on 27 March 2013, if they were dissatisfied with the statutory compensation offered.
SLA said two appeals were filed but were subsequently withdrawn on 24 April 2013.
The units at Pearls Centre will be handed over to the state in August 2014.
Ms Indranee said: “There will be other issues along the way, for example some may need to, or may want to stay at their premises after the handover date on August 2014, until their new residences or new shops are ready. For that, as SLA had indicated before, (there will be) a years’ free stay, after that there will be progressive charging of rental. Some may need it, some may not, but it is things like that where if one can assist, and make sure the transition is smooth, then those things will be done.
“Some have looked for premises on their own and in fact, one of them had already found one and moved out a few months back. Some have come to me for appeals for HDB commercial properties, some are still in the process of deciding where they want to go, but obviously if they need assistance, I would be happy to do so."
Lo Hock Ling, chairman of the Pearls Centre management committee, said: "I haven't come across anyone who said they're not satisfied, so in other words we can conclude, almost everyone feel that they're satisfied. We will continue to run the centre as usual, until we hand the property to the SLA. Maybe the SLA might continue to run it for a while, I think that is left to the SLA."
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Callers to MediaCorp's news hotline recognised for tip-offs
Callers to MediaCorp's news hotline recognised for tip-offs
By Dylan Loh
POSTED: 25 Apr 2013 8:05 PM
Ten callers to the MediaCorp’s news hotline, Asia's leading media company, were recognised on Thursday for sniffing out the news before it became news.
SINGAPORE: They're the unsung heroes of journalism - people who tip the media off to what's happening on the ground.
Ten callers to the MediaCorp’s news hotline, Asia's leading media company, were recognised on Thursday for sniffing out the news before it became news.
And it's thanks to people like them that allow updates to be carried over MediaCorp's on-line, on-air and on-the-go platforms in a timely manner.
Ferlander Cheah was being sent by her husband to work on a Wednesday morning in July 2012.
Passing by Bugis Junction, the sharp-eyed citizen saw a commotion and knew something was amiss.
There were patrol cars and Singapore Civil Defence Force officers everywhere.
Cheah said: "I was wondering what happened; is it that they have found underground bombs or things like that? And a bit scary to me; so the first thing that occurred to me is I think I should inform MediaCorp, where they can do a fast news, so that everybody will know through the air - on the radio."
What she witnessed wasn't a bomb threat, but a tragic accident.
A scaffolding collapsed at the Bugis Downtown Line work site where two workers died.
Madam Cheah's call allowed MediaCorp's journalists to do live reports from the ground - giving timely updates to the public.
For her tip-off, she walked away with S$1,000 in cash.
People who witness incidents on the ground or have news to share, can call MediaCorp's news hotline at 68222268.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
By Dylan Loh
POSTED: 25 Apr 2013 8:05 PM
Ten callers to the MediaCorp’s news hotline, Asia's leading media company, were recognised on Thursday for sniffing out the news before it became news.
SINGAPORE: They're the unsung heroes of journalism - people who tip the media off to what's happening on the ground.
Ten callers to the MediaCorp’s news hotline, Asia's leading media company, were recognised on Thursday for sniffing out the news before it became news.
And it's thanks to people like them that allow updates to be carried over MediaCorp's on-line, on-air and on-the-go platforms in a timely manner.
Ferlander Cheah was being sent by her husband to work on a Wednesday morning in July 2012.
Passing by Bugis Junction, the sharp-eyed citizen saw a commotion and knew something was amiss.
There were patrol cars and Singapore Civil Defence Force officers everywhere.
Cheah said: "I was wondering what happened; is it that they have found underground bombs or things like that? And a bit scary to me; so the first thing that occurred to me is I think I should inform MediaCorp, where they can do a fast news, so that everybody will know through the air - on the radio."
What she witnessed wasn't a bomb threat, but a tragic accident.
A scaffolding collapsed at the Bugis Downtown Line work site where two workers died.
Madam Cheah's call allowed MediaCorp's journalists to do live reports from the ground - giving timely updates to the public.
For her tip-off, she walked away with S$1,000 in cash.
People who witness incidents on the ground or have news to share, can call MediaCorp's news hotline at 68222268.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Chunk of 9/11 airplane found in New York
Chunk of 9/11 airplane found in New York
POSTED: 27 Apr 2013 8:50 AM
New York police said Friday that they have found a fragment of one of two airplanes that slammed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Part of a landing gear, apparently from one of the commercial airliners destroyed on September 11, 2001, discovered wedged between two buildings in lower Manhattan. (AFP/HO/NYPD)
NEW YORK: New York police said Friday that they have found a fragment of one of two airplanes that slammed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
The huge chunk of aircraft was found wedged between two office buildings in lower Manhattan.
The buildings, at 51 Park Place and 50 Murray Street, are located just two blocks from the site of the attacks known as Ground Zero.
Only a very narrow space exists between the buildings, which could explain how the part eluded investigators for nearly 12 years.
Police said the plane fragment appeared to be "part of a landing gear, apparently from one of the commercial airliners destroyed on September 11, 2001."
And the part bears a "clearly visible" Boeing identification number, according to police spokesman Paul Browne. Although police would not confirm the size of the piece, NBC television reported it was about 1.5 metres long.
Authorities said it will not be removed until the area has been thoroughly examined, including for possible human remains.
"The NYPD is securing the location as it would a crime scene, documenting it photographically and restricting access until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner completes its health and safety evaluation protocol, after which a decision will be made concerning sifting the soil for possible human remains," Browne said in a statement.
The aircraft was one of two hijacked 12 years ago by Al-Qaeda suicide attackers and flown into the Twin Towers, destroying two of the nation's most iconic buildings.
Authorities were alerted to the chunk of wreckage on Wednesday after surveyors found what they believed was damaged machinery at the rear of 51 Park Place.
The attacks killed 2,753 people at Ground Zero. In coordinated attacks, another plane smashed into the Pentagon while a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania.
No remains of 1,122 of the victims in New York have ever been found, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Since 2006, authorities have selected 6,134 bone fragments and 1,845 other remains for advanced DNA testing, which has led to the identification of 34 victims.
- AFP/jc
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 27 Apr 2013 8:50 AM
New York police said Friday that they have found a fragment of one of two airplanes that slammed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Part of a landing gear, apparently from one of the commercial airliners destroyed on September 11, 2001, discovered wedged between two buildings in lower Manhattan. (AFP/HO/NYPD)
NEW YORK: New York police said Friday that they have found a fragment of one of two airplanes that slammed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
The huge chunk of aircraft was found wedged between two office buildings in lower Manhattan.
The buildings, at 51 Park Place and 50 Murray Street, are located just two blocks from the site of the attacks known as Ground Zero.
Only a very narrow space exists between the buildings, which could explain how the part eluded investigators for nearly 12 years.
Police said the plane fragment appeared to be "part of a landing gear, apparently from one of the commercial airliners destroyed on September 11, 2001."
And the part bears a "clearly visible" Boeing identification number, according to police spokesman Paul Browne. Although police would not confirm the size of the piece, NBC television reported it was about 1.5 metres long.
Authorities said it will not be removed until the area has been thoroughly examined, including for possible human remains.
"The NYPD is securing the location as it would a crime scene, documenting it photographically and restricting access until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner completes its health and safety evaluation protocol, after which a decision will be made concerning sifting the soil for possible human remains," Browne said in a statement.
The aircraft was one of two hijacked 12 years ago by Al-Qaeda suicide attackers and flown into the Twin Towers, destroying two of the nation's most iconic buildings.
Authorities were alerted to the chunk of wreckage on Wednesday after surveyors found what they believed was damaged machinery at the rear of 51 Park Place.
The attacks killed 2,753 people at Ground Zero. In coordinated attacks, another plane smashed into the Pentagon while a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania.
No remains of 1,122 of the victims in New York have ever been found, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Since 2006, authorities have selected 6,134 bone fragments and 1,845 other remains for advanced DNA testing, which has led to the identification of 34 victims.
- AFP/jc
- wong chee tat :)
AGC aware of cartoonist's case, reiterates importance of racial, religious harmony
AGC aware of cartoonist's case, reiterates importance of racial, religious harmony
POSTED: 27 Apr 2013 1:30 PM
The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) says it is aware of the public's interest into cartoonist Leslie Chew’s case and reiterated that racial and religious harmony is vital to Singapore’s society.
SINGAPORE: The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) said Saturday it is aware of the public's interest into cartoonist Leslie Chew’s case and reiterated that racial and religious harmony is vital to Singapore’s society.
It added that it would not be appropriate to comment specifically on the matter as investigations are ongoing.
A spokesperson however said that any action taken will depend on what is uncovered by investigations; where the statements or actions are heinous, a firm line will be taken.
Where comments are made in the heat of the moment, or by relatively immature persons who did not know better, a more nuanced response may follow.
The 37-year-old cartoonist was arrested 19 April for alleged sedition.
Police said that a member of the public had lodged a report about a series of cartoons deemed racially insensitive.
The cartoons had been circulating online.
The statement from the AGC said a response will follow when statements are made or actions are taken which insult a particular religion or race or seek to cause hatred among races or religious groups, or which suggest that the government is using race or religion for its own purposes.
Similarly, the AGC said the rule of law is another fundamental tenet of Singapore society and action will be taken in respect of any statement or action that seeks to impugn or undermine the independence of the judiciary.
Unwarranted allegations of bias or partiality strike at the heart of the judicial process, threatening the very institution that protects the rights of all Singaporeans, it added, saying that unfounded statements cannot be left to stand unchallenged and unpunished.
- CNA/jc
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 27 Apr 2013 1:30 PM
The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) says it is aware of the public's interest into cartoonist Leslie Chew’s case and reiterated that racial and religious harmony is vital to Singapore’s society.
SINGAPORE: The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) said Saturday it is aware of the public's interest into cartoonist Leslie Chew’s case and reiterated that racial and religious harmony is vital to Singapore’s society.
It added that it would not be appropriate to comment specifically on the matter as investigations are ongoing.
A spokesperson however said that any action taken will depend on what is uncovered by investigations; where the statements or actions are heinous, a firm line will be taken.
Where comments are made in the heat of the moment, or by relatively immature persons who did not know better, a more nuanced response may follow.
The 37-year-old cartoonist was arrested 19 April for alleged sedition.
Police said that a member of the public had lodged a report about a series of cartoons deemed racially insensitive.
The cartoons had been circulating online.
The statement from the AGC said a response will follow when statements are made or actions are taken which insult a particular religion or race or seek to cause hatred among races or religious groups, or which suggest that the government is using race or religion for its own purposes.
Similarly, the AGC said the rule of law is another fundamental tenet of Singapore society and action will be taken in respect of any statement or action that seeks to impugn or undermine the independence of the judiciary.
Unwarranted allegations of bias or partiality strike at the heart of the judicial process, threatening the very institution that protects the rights of all Singaporeans, it added, saying that unfounded statements cannot be left to stand unchallenged and unpunished.
- CNA/jc
- wong chee tat :)
Dutchman arrested in Spain for "biggest ever" cyberattack
Dutchman arrested in Spain for "biggest ever" cyberattack
POSTED: 27 Apr 2013 6:48 PM
A Dutchman has been arrested in Spain in connection with last month's unprecedented cyber-attack that reportedly slowed down the Internet, the Dutch prosecution service said.
THE HAGUE: A Dutchman has been arrested in Spain in connection with last month's unprecedented cyber-attack that reportedly slowed down the Internet, the Dutch prosecution service said.
The 35-year-old, identified only as S K, was arrested in Barcelona and the house where he was staying searched by Spanish police, said a statement.
"He is suspected of involvement in the attack and so the prosecution service asked for his arrest," spokesman Wim de Bruin told AFP on Saturday.
Last month's attack targeted Spamhaus, a Geneva-based volunteer group that publishes spam blacklists used by networks to filter out unwanted email, and led to cyberspace congestion.
Spamhaus blamed the attack on Dutch web-hosting service Cyberbunker.
A source close to the investigation said that suspect S K was Sven Olaf Kamphuis, who acted as a spokesman for Cyberbunker at the time of the attack.
Kamphuis describes himself on his Facebook page as Minister of Telecommunications and Foreign Affairs for the Cyberbunker Republic.
De Bruin declined to speculate on whether further arrests would be made.
Computers, storage devices and mobile phones were seized during the Barcelona raid.
"S K is suspected of an unprecedented attack on non-profit organisation Spamhaus," the statement said.
"So-called DDoS attacks were last month also carried out on Spamhaus partners in the US, the Netherlands and the UK," it said.
Distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS) essentially bombard sites with traffic in order to disrupt.
Last month's attack was described as the most powerful ever seen and slowed web traffic.
S K is expected to be handed over to the Dutch authorities soon, the prosecution service said.
The attacks began, according to Spamhaus, after it placed Cyberbunker, a web hosting firm that "offers anonymous hosting of anything except child porn and anything related to terrorism", on its blacklist.
Cyberbunker said it had been unfairly labelled as a haven for cybercrime and spam.
Spamhaus, which also has offices in London, essentially patrols the Internet to root out spammers and provides updated lists of likely perpetrators to network operators around the world.
Experts said the attacks flooded Spamhaus servers with 300 billion bits per second (300 gigabytes) of data.
Prior DDoS attacks have been measured at 50 gigabytes per second.
Because of the way Internet traffic flows, these DDoS attacks created congestion and ripple effects around the web.
- AFP/xq
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 27 Apr 2013 6:48 PM
A Dutchman has been arrested in Spain in connection with last month's unprecedented cyber-attack that reportedly slowed down the Internet, the Dutch prosecution service said.
THE HAGUE: A Dutchman has been arrested in Spain in connection with last month's unprecedented cyber-attack that reportedly slowed down the Internet, the Dutch prosecution service said.
The 35-year-old, identified only as S K, was arrested in Barcelona and the house where he was staying searched by Spanish police, said a statement.
"He is suspected of involvement in the attack and so the prosecution service asked for his arrest," spokesman Wim de Bruin told AFP on Saturday.
Last month's attack targeted Spamhaus, a Geneva-based volunteer group that publishes spam blacklists used by networks to filter out unwanted email, and led to cyberspace congestion.
Spamhaus blamed the attack on Dutch web-hosting service Cyberbunker.
A source close to the investigation said that suspect S K was Sven Olaf Kamphuis, who acted as a spokesman for Cyberbunker at the time of the attack.
Kamphuis describes himself on his Facebook page as Minister of Telecommunications and Foreign Affairs for the Cyberbunker Republic.
De Bruin declined to speculate on whether further arrests would be made.
Computers, storage devices and mobile phones were seized during the Barcelona raid.
"S K is suspected of an unprecedented attack on non-profit organisation Spamhaus," the statement said.
"So-called DDoS attacks were last month also carried out on Spamhaus partners in the US, the Netherlands and the UK," it said.
Distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS) essentially bombard sites with traffic in order to disrupt.
Last month's attack was described as the most powerful ever seen and slowed web traffic.
S K is expected to be handed over to the Dutch authorities soon, the prosecution service said.
The attacks began, according to Spamhaus, after it placed Cyberbunker, a web hosting firm that "offers anonymous hosting of anything except child porn and anything related to terrorism", on its blacklist.
Cyberbunker said it had been unfairly labelled as a haven for cybercrime and spam.
Spamhaus, which also has offices in London, essentially patrols the Internet to root out spammers and provides updated lists of likely perpetrators to network operators around the world.
Experts said the attacks flooded Spamhaus servers with 300 billion bits per second (300 gigabytes) of data.
Prior DDoS attacks have been measured at 50 gigabytes per second.
Because of the way Internet traffic flows, these DDoS attacks created congestion and ripple effects around the web.
- AFP/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Friday, April 26, 2013
Khaw hints at changes in EC scheme
Khaw hints at changes in EC scheme
By Imelda Saad
POSTED: 26 Apr 2013 5:42 PM
UPDATED: 26 Apr 2013 10:35 PM
National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan says there is "something wrong somewhere" with the Executive Condominium (EC) scheme and that it cannot carry on in its current form.
SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has said the government loses "hundreds of millions" of dollars when constructing public flats.
He made the point on Thursday night at a dialogue session on housing issues.
This comes amid calls from some quarters for land costs to be taken out from the pricing of public flats to make them more affordable.
Mr Khaw also hinted at several other changes to come, such as subsidies for executive condominiums.
During the national conversation session on housing issues, many were concerned about the affordability of home prices.
Evalyn Khoo, a mother of two, said: “I'm concerned about the home asset value. I'm also concerned about how the younger generation can actually afford a house for themselves in the future."
Participant Philip Lee said: “I think in the past three years or so, there has been more anxiety in the market because even Singaporeans couldn't get properties through the Build-To-Order (scheme) and they have to resort to the resale market and I think if there is sufficient supply channelled to BTO, we may see more happy Singaporeans and possibly less demand in the resale market and hopefully the prices will be within range."
With regard to calls for price of new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats to be de-linked from land costs, Mr Khaw said it may be politically easy to say land is free because it belongs to everybody, but that is not the case.
He said the price of land is tied to acquisition costs, reclamation and the building of infrastructure around it.
Mr Khaw said: "You need to acquire a piece of land; you need to reclaim a piece of land. All those costs money to taxpayers and we are just trustees of taxpayers and those costs are to be accounted for. And even when you have got that land prepared, land is only valuable when we invest in infrastructure, roads, MRT... And all those costs billions of dollars. So to say that land cost is a pittance and therefore should be excluded from total construction costs… I myself think it is not quite an appropriate argument.”
He also revealed that the Housing and Development Board, which is the developer for public housing, is losing money for every flat it sells.
He said: “Every year, hundreds of millions of dollars of losses were incurred by the HDB and that's why MOF (Ministry of Finance) has to give the HDB an annual grant, otherwise the HDB will be in the red. It cannot be forever in the red, because there's no way it can make money. Because every unit that we sell, we lose money, HDB loses money. The accounting for the HDB is deficit accounting. So if you incur a S$300-million loss, there is a grant of S$300 million that covers it. That is how we operate the HDB.
“Let us not perpetuate this talk about HDB is making money out of building houses because if it was so simple, life would be straightforward, but that's not the case.”
The HDB pays market rate for its land and construction costs. When it prices flats below market rate, it incurs a housing deficit.
A recent report said the deficit is now in the region of about S$1 billion a year, including other costs such as upgrading.
The National Development Ministry told Channel NewsAsia: "The cost of building HDB flats includes the cost of land, design, construction, financing and other project-related costs. It varies from project to project and year to year. Averaging over the past three years, the Home Ownership Programme costs HDB S$874 million per year."
Mr Khaw added that the government has to offer more subsidies with its ramped-up flat supply.
One area where subsidies are being reviewed is that for executive condominiums (ECs), which cater to Singaporeans who can afford more than an HDB flat, but find private property out of their reach.
The current household income ceiling for executive condominiums is S$12,000.
Mr Khaw said: “There is this sense of inequity here that the lower-income group is getting lower subsidies than somebody who is earning S$12,000, so something is wrong somewhere and therefore I think we cannot carry on the EC in this current mode."
Mr Khaw also said he is confident that he can bring down the price of new flats in non-mature estates to four times the annual median salary of a buyer - down 30 per cent from the current 5.5 times. He is wary of some "transitional problems".
He said there needs to be "distinct differentiation" between the cheaper new flats and those built earlier.
Mr Khaw said both the MND and HDB will need to sort out this issue over the next few months.
He said: "I am fairly confident of being able to do it but some groups already anticipate transitional problems, which is what I got to sort out. If yesterday you bought (a flat) at five and half years' salary and tomorrow HDB announces a new pricing package, which is only (priced at) four years’ salary, you are going to cry 'blue murder' right?
“Therefore, I think we should not be prevented from offering a new pricing model but obviously there must be a distinct differentiation between the two products to explain why one is five and a half years and the one is four years."
The national conversation session is the second in a series of about 10 dialogue sessions on housing issues. Participants were first broken up in small groups of six and then came together in a larger group where the conversation continued. The aim is to gather feedback from Singaporeans to shape future housing policies.
The topic of affordability will be further discussed at a future Our Singapore Conversation discussion.
Details can be found on www.mnd.gov.sg/HomeSweetHome
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
By Imelda Saad
POSTED: 26 Apr 2013 5:42 PM
UPDATED: 26 Apr 2013 10:35 PM
National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan says there is "something wrong somewhere" with the Executive Condominium (EC) scheme and that it cannot carry on in its current form.
SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has said the government loses "hundreds of millions" of dollars when constructing public flats.
He made the point on Thursday night at a dialogue session on housing issues.
This comes amid calls from some quarters for land costs to be taken out from the pricing of public flats to make them more affordable.
Mr Khaw also hinted at several other changes to come, such as subsidies for executive condominiums.
During the national conversation session on housing issues, many were concerned about the affordability of home prices.
Evalyn Khoo, a mother of two, said: “I'm concerned about the home asset value. I'm also concerned about how the younger generation can actually afford a house for themselves in the future."
Participant Philip Lee said: “I think in the past three years or so, there has been more anxiety in the market because even Singaporeans couldn't get properties through the Build-To-Order (scheme) and they have to resort to the resale market and I think if there is sufficient supply channelled to BTO, we may see more happy Singaporeans and possibly less demand in the resale market and hopefully the prices will be within range."
With regard to calls for price of new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats to be de-linked from land costs, Mr Khaw said it may be politically easy to say land is free because it belongs to everybody, but that is not the case.
He said the price of land is tied to acquisition costs, reclamation and the building of infrastructure around it.
Mr Khaw said: "You need to acquire a piece of land; you need to reclaim a piece of land. All those costs money to taxpayers and we are just trustees of taxpayers and those costs are to be accounted for. And even when you have got that land prepared, land is only valuable when we invest in infrastructure, roads, MRT... And all those costs billions of dollars. So to say that land cost is a pittance and therefore should be excluded from total construction costs… I myself think it is not quite an appropriate argument.”
He also revealed that the Housing and Development Board, which is the developer for public housing, is losing money for every flat it sells.
He said: “Every year, hundreds of millions of dollars of losses were incurred by the HDB and that's why MOF (Ministry of Finance) has to give the HDB an annual grant, otherwise the HDB will be in the red. It cannot be forever in the red, because there's no way it can make money. Because every unit that we sell, we lose money, HDB loses money. The accounting for the HDB is deficit accounting. So if you incur a S$300-million loss, there is a grant of S$300 million that covers it. That is how we operate the HDB.
“Let us not perpetuate this talk about HDB is making money out of building houses because if it was so simple, life would be straightforward, but that's not the case.”
The HDB pays market rate for its land and construction costs. When it prices flats below market rate, it incurs a housing deficit.
A recent report said the deficit is now in the region of about S$1 billion a year, including other costs such as upgrading.
The National Development Ministry told Channel NewsAsia: "The cost of building HDB flats includes the cost of land, design, construction, financing and other project-related costs. It varies from project to project and year to year. Averaging over the past three years, the Home Ownership Programme costs HDB S$874 million per year."
Mr Khaw added that the government has to offer more subsidies with its ramped-up flat supply.
One area where subsidies are being reviewed is that for executive condominiums (ECs), which cater to Singaporeans who can afford more than an HDB flat, but find private property out of their reach.
The current household income ceiling for executive condominiums is S$12,000.
Mr Khaw said: “There is this sense of inequity here that the lower-income group is getting lower subsidies than somebody who is earning S$12,000, so something is wrong somewhere and therefore I think we cannot carry on the EC in this current mode."
Mr Khaw also said he is confident that he can bring down the price of new flats in non-mature estates to four times the annual median salary of a buyer - down 30 per cent from the current 5.5 times. He is wary of some "transitional problems".
He said there needs to be "distinct differentiation" between the cheaper new flats and those built earlier.
Mr Khaw said both the MND and HDB will need to sort out this issue over the next few months.
He said: "I am fairly confident of being able to do it but some groups already anticipate transitional problems, which is what I got to sort out. If yesterday you bought (a flat) at five and half years' salary and tomorrow HDB announces a new pricing package, which is only (priced at) four years’ salary, you are going to cry 'blue murder' right?
“Therefore, I think we should not be prevented from offering a new pricing model but obviously there must be a distinct differentiation between the two products to explain why one is five and a half years and the one is four years."
The national conversation session is the second in a series of about 10 dialogue sessions on housing issues. Participants were first broken up in small groups of six and then came together in a larger group where the conversation continued. The aim is to gather feedback from Singaporeans to shape future housing policies.
The topic of affordability will be further discussed at a future Our Singapore Conversation discussion.
Details can be found on www.mnd.gov.sg/HomeSweetHome
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Ascott REIT DPU rises 5% in Q1 2013
Ascott REIT DPU rises 5% in Q1 2013
By Brandon Tanoto
POSTED: 26 Apr 2013 9:34 PM
Ascott Residence Trust's (Ascott REIT) distribution per unit rose 5 percent to 2.25 cents in Q1 2013 from a year earlier. Its unitholder's distribution grew 14 percent to S$27.6 million in the same period.
SINGAPORE: Ascott Residence Trust's (Ascott REIT) distribution per unit rose 5 percent to 2.25 cents in Q1 2013 from a year earlier.
Its unitholder's distribution grew 14 percent to S$27.6 million in the same period.
However, the trust's revenue fell 3 percent to S$69.2 million while its gross profit dropped 9 percent to S$33.8 million.
In a media statement, Ascott REIT said its revenue was lower due mainly to the divestment of Somerset Grand Cairnhill Singapore and Somerset Gordon Heights Melbourne in 2012.
It added that contribution from its existing properties in Singapore and Japan was lower too.
Meanwhile, revenue and gross profit for China, Japan and Germany were higher in Q1 2013 compared to a year ago.
This was largely due to contributions from its newly-acquired properties.
Revenue in China jumped 36 percent from the newly-acquired Ascott Guangzhou, while revenue in Japan increased 28 percent due to contribution from serviced apartments Citadines Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto and improved market sentiments.
In Germany, revenue rose 140 percent mainly due to the contribution from the newly-acquired hotel Madison Hamburg.
Ascott Residence Trust Management's Chief Executive Officer, Ronald Tay, said: "In Q1 2013, we opened Citadines Suites Louvre Paris after the property was transformed into a boutique-style luxury serviced residence. We also completed the renovation of Citadines Croisette Cannes and Citadines City Centre Lille and started to refurbish Citadines Toison d'Or Brussels and Somerset Xu Hui Shanghai this quarter. The ongoing renovation of Ascott Jakarta and Citadines Ramblas Barcelona is slated for completion in Q4 2013. We will continue to progressively execute our asset enhancement programmes in order to grow our revenue per available unit."
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
By Brandon Tanoto
POSTED: 26 Apr 2013 9:34 PM
Ascott Residence Trust's (Ascott REIT) distribution per unit rose 5 percent to 2.25 cents in Q1 2013 from a year earlier. Its unitholder's distribution grew 14 percent to S$27.6 million in the same period.
SINGAPORE: Ascott Residence Trust's (Ascott REIT) distribution per unit rose 5 percent to 2.25 cents in Q1 2013 from a year earlier.
Its unitholder's distribution grew 14 percent to S$27.6 million in the same period.
However, the trust's revenue fell 3 percent to S$69.2 million while its gross profit dropped 9 percent to S$33.8 million.
In a media statement, Ascott REIT said its revenue was lower due mainly to the divestment of Somerset Grand Cairnhill Singapore and Somerset Gordon Heights Melbourne in 2012.
It added that contribution from its existing properties in Singapore and Japan was lower too.
Meanwhile, revenue and gross profit for China, Japan and Germany were higher in Q1 2013 compared to a year ago.
This was largely due to contributions from its newly-acquired properties.
Revenue in China jumped 36 percent from the newly-acquired Ascott Guangzhou, while revenue in Japan increased 28 percent due to contribution from serviced apartments Citadines Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto and improved market sentiments.
In Germany, revenue rose 140 percent mainly due to the contribution from the newly-acquired hotel Madison Hamburg.
Ascott Residence Trust Management's Chief Executive Officer, Ronald Tay, said: "In Q1 2013, we opened Citadines Suites Louvre Paris after the property was transformed into a boutique-style luxury serviced residence. We also completed the renovation of Citadines Croisette Cannes and Citadines City Centre Lille and started to refurbish Citadines Toison d'Or Brussels and Somerset Xu Hui Shanghai this quarter. The ongoing renovation of Ascott Jakarta and Citadines Ramblas Barcelona is slated for completion in Q4 2013. We will continue to progressively execute our asset enhancement programmes in order to grow our revenue per available unit."
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Romeo Tan: From Popular Extra to Extra Popular
Romeo Tan: From Popular Extra to Extra Popular
By Han Wei Chou
POSTED: 26 Apr 2013 3:58 PM
Singapore actor Romeo Tan shares his thoughts on starting out as an extra, and reveals why beginning his career as a nobody suits him just fine.
SINGAPORE: He was a nobody.
Before he formally entered showbiz in Star Search 10, and shot to fame after starring in hit shows like “Don’t Stop Believin’” as well as “Joys of Life”, Romeo Tan was a nobody.
He was what industry people call a ‘calefare’, an extra.
But he was a very popular extra.
Tan was well-liked and was often picked when extras were required to play bit parts.
Still, he has had to pay his dues to get to where he is today.
Tan expressed that he had to learn numerous things on the job, and often from scratch - like how to die.
“I started off with no acting experience.
“One of my first roles was this gangster called Ryan in ‘Heartlanders’. In the end he died at the hands of Vincent Ng’s character. He shot me,” recounted Tan with a smile.
“It was a really challenging scene that night, because there was limited stunt ammunition. You can only fire the gun two times. And I had no idea how to die!”
“I was sweating bullets! I had a few NGs (No Good takes) without the gun. Luckily, on the second shot, it turned out to be okay,” said Tan, gently shaking his head.
After his stint on “Heartlanders”, he started to receive more roles, but each was smaller than the last.
“There was ‘Without Warning’ and ‘Incredible Tales’.
“Sometimes, my name wasn’t even featured in the credits. Because the role is so small, and you are only needed for those few scenes, there is no time for you to establish who you are,” said Tan.
“The script says you’re playing Leslie, this so and so’s husband, but in the whole scene, they never mention your name, so nobody even knew who I played.”
Extra Popular
However, things gradually improved after he appeared in his first Mandarin drama “Portrait of Home II”, and started getting bigger roles.
“I was very excited!
“More Chinese drama roles came in, and my roles started getting bigger and bigger … slightly bigger,” said Tan.
“But still you could see the improvement, from having no name to getting credited, from being credited to getting more dialogue.”
It was only when he worked on “The Best Things in Life” that he found out about Star Search from veteran actor Chen Hanwei, and joined the competition.
While he didn’t win, he caught the eye of MediaCorp and was signed as a full-time actor in 2010.
The change was massive for Tan.
In just a few short years, he has garnered legions of fans, and had managed to snag an endorsement deal.
He is also involved in a myriad of projects, from MediaCorp's first-ever cross-media drama “96C Café” which airs on April 29, to the upcoming drama “Sudden” alongside top actress Rui En.
In addition, Tan had snagged the Rocket Award, which honours the artiste who showed the greatest improvement, at the "Star Awards 2013 Show 1", and is in the running for a "Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste" award on Sunday's "Star Awards 2013 Show 2".
But till this day, he still remembers how depressing it sometimes got, when he started out as an extra.
“Once, I turned up for work and the security guard at the gate said ‘Your name is not on the list.’ I tell him I am acting in this show, but they have no idea who I am at all.”
“You feel like such a nobody, waiting for them to clear you,” said Tan.
He experienced the same feeling at the Wardrobe department.
“When I report to Wardrobe, they ask me ‘What role are your playing?’ I tell them a lot about the role, but to them, it’s just ‘that passer-by’ or ‘that guy’s cousin’," said Tan.
Rules of The Game
Still, he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
“I am glad that I actually started out as an extra, a calefare, because I see that I managed to climb my way up from the bottom.
“I gained a lot of self-esteem and confidence from this,” said Tan.
“Although I’m not the best, I managed to prove to myself that I can act.”
Neither does he hold a grudge against those who have treated him shabbily in the past.
He understands the rules of the game.
“It does make a difference who you are in this line. You are judged by your status.
"This is a fact of the world we live in, whether you are in showbiz or not,” said Tan, with a knowing smile.
“That’s just how it is.”
“96C Café” airs every weeknight from April 29, 9pm on Channel 8. “Sudden” will air in September.
- CNA/ha
- wong chee tat :)
By Han Wei Chou
POSTED: 26 Apr 2013 3:58 PM
Singapore actor Romeo Tan shares his thoughts on starting out as an extra, and reveals why beginning his career as a nobody suits him just fine.
SINGAPORE: He was a nobody.
Before he formally entered showbiz in Star Search 10, and shot to fame after starring in hit shows like “Don’t Stop Believin’” as well as “Joys of Life”, Romeo Tan was a nobody.
He was what industry people call a ‘calefare’, an extra.
But he was a very popular extra.
Tan was well-liked and was often picked when extras were required to play bit parts.
Still, he has had to pay his dues to get to where he is today.
Tan expressed that he had to learn numerous things on the job, and often from scratch - like how to die.
“I started off with no acting experience.
“One of my first roles was this gangster called Ryan in ‘Heartlanders’. In the end he died at the hands of Vincent Ng’s character. He shot me,” recounted Tan with a smile.
“It was a really challenging scene that night, because there was limited stunt ammunition. You can only fire the gun two times. And I had no idea how to die!”
“I was sweating bullets! I had a few NGs (No Good takes) without the gun. Luckily, on the second shot, it turned out to be okay,” said Tan, gently shaking his head.
After his stint on “Heartlanders”, he started to receive more roles, but each was smaller than the last.
“There was ‘Without Warning’ and ‘Incredible Tales’.
“Sometimes, my name wasn’t even featured in the credits. Because the role is so small, and you are only needed for those few scenes, there is no time for you to establish who you are,” said Tan.
“The script says you’re playing Leslie, this so and so’s husband, but in the whole scene, they never mention your name, so nobody even knew who I played.”
Extra Popular
However, things gradually improved after he appeared in his first Mandarin drama “Portrait of Home II”, and started getting bigger roles.
“I was very excited!
“More Chinese drama roles came in, and my roles started getting bigger and bigger … slightly bigger,” said Tan.
“But still you could see the improvement, from having no name to getting credited, from being credited to getting more dialogue.”
It was only when he worked on “The Best Things in Life” that he found out about Star Search from veteran actor Chen Hanwei, and joined the competition.
While he didn’t win, he caught the eye of MediaCorp and was signed as a full-time actor in 2010.
The change was massive for Tan.
In just a few short years, he has garnered legions of fans, and had managed to snag an endorsement deal.
He is also involved in a myriad of projects, from MediaCorp's first-ever cross-media drama “96C Café” which airs on April 29, to the upcoming drama “Sudden” alongside top actress Rui En.
In addition, Tan had snagged the Rocket Award, which honours the artiste who showed the greatest improvement, at the "Star Awards 2013 Show 1", and is in the running for a "Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste" award on Sunday's "Star Awards 2013 Show 2".
But till this day, he still remembers how depressing it sometimes got, when he started out as an extra.
“Once, I turned up for work and the security guard at the gate said ‘Your name is not on the list.’ I tell him I am acting in this show, but they have no idea who I am at all.”
“You feel like such a nobody, waiting for them to clear you,” said Tan.
He experienced the same feeling at the Wardrobe department.
“When I report to Wardrobe, they ask me ‘What role are your playing?’ I tell them a lot about the role, but to them, it’s just ‘that passer-by’ or ‘that guy’s cousin’," said Tan.
Rules of The Game
Still, he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
“I am glad that I actually started out as an extra, a calefare, because I see that I managed to climb my way up from the bottom.
“I gained a lot of self-esteem and confidence from this,” said Tan.
“Although I’m not the best, I managed to prove to myself that I can act.”
Neither does he hold a grudge against those who have treated him shabbily in the past.
He understands the rules of the game.
“It does make a difference who you are in this line. You are judged by your status.
"This is a fact of the world we live in, whether you are in showbiz or not,” said Tan, with a knowing smile.
“That’s just how it is.”
“96C Café” airs every weeknight from April 29, 9pm on Channel 8. “Sudden” will air in September.
- CNA/ha
- wong chee tat :)
PUB to conduct study on the potential of tapping into underground water
PUB to conduct study on the potential of tapping into underground water
By Zhao Quan Yin
POSTED: 26 Apr 2013 10:11 PM
The three-year study will explore the rock layer in the western and southern part of the island known as the Jurong Formation.
SINGAPORE: The PUB is to study the potential of tapping into underground sources for water.
It called for a tender on Friday for consultancy services to be awarded in July.
PUB said Singapore currently has no known underground water sources or aquifers.
The three-year study will explore the rock layer in the western and southern part of the island known as the Jurong Formation.
Areas in the study include rural areas like Lim Chu Kang, and more urban areas such as Jurong, Bukit Merah and Choa Chu Kang.
Experts said if found, these water sources in the Jurong Formation will contain few impurities as it is deep in the ground.
This means less work is needed to process and clean the water, and minimal disruptions on ground level.
This is compared to shallower aquifers, which is easier to reach and requires less energy to draw water, but tends to contain more impurities and the ground level will be more affected by water pumping activities.
National University of Singapore’s assistant professor at the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Dr Chew Soon Hoe said: "But if this well is going to be very deep, for it to be economical and quantity-wise to be viable, then one has to start considering the cost of drilling this deep well as well as maintaining this constant pumping.
“Of course, one cannot forget that by designating certain area for deep well pumping for water extraction, the vicinity will probably not be suitable for high class shopping and residential functions."
Dr Chew added that for water extraction, it is important to study the hydrological balance and how to recharge the groundwater in the rock layer for a continuous water supply.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
By Zhao Quan Yin
POSTED: 26 Apr 2013 10:11 PM
The three-year study will explore the rock layer in the western and southern part of the island known as the Jurong Formation.
SINGAPORE: The PUB is to study the potential of tapping into underground sources for water.
It called for a tender on Friday for consultancy services to be awarded in July.
PUB said Singapore currently has no known underground water sources or aquifers.
The three-year study will explore the rock layer in the western and southern part of the island known as the Jurong Formation.
Areas in the study include rural areas like Lim Chu Kang, and more urban areas such as Jurong, Bukit Merah and Choa Chu Kang.
Experts said if found, these water sources in the Jurong Formation will contain few impurities as it is deep in the ground.
This means less work is needed to process and clean the water, and minimal disruptions on ground level.
This is compared to shallower aquifers, which is easier to reach and requires less energy to draw water, but tends to contain more impurities and the ground level will be more affected by water pumping activities.
National University of Singapore’s assistant professor at the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Dr Chew Soon Hoe said: "But if this well is going to be very deep, for it to be economical and quantity-wise to be viable, then one has to start considering the cost of drilling this deep well as well as maintaining this constant pumping.
“Of course, one cannot forget that by designating certain area for deep well pumping for water extraction, the vicinity will probably not be suitable for high class shopping and residential functions."
Dr Chew added that for water extraction, it is important to study the hydrological balance and how to recharge the groundwater in the rock layer for a continuous water supply.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
How to create a email archive for MS Outlook 2010?
How to create a email archive for MS Outlook 2010?
Actually, it is very simple:
1) From MS Outlook 2010, go to File --> Info --> Account Settings --> Account Settings
2) Under Account Settings, look for the 2nd tab and select Data Files.
3) To create a new email archive, select Add and enter the new name for the email archive (.pst)
4) Once created, you will see the archive created in MS Outlook 2010.
- wong chee tat :)
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
A sad goodbye to Huang Wenyong
A sad goodbye to Huang Wenyong
From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo! NewsroomBy Ng Suzhen | From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo! Newsroom – Mon, Apr 22, 2013 5:45 PM SGT
22 April – Veteran Mediacorp actor, Huang Wenyong passed away on Saturday at age 60 with his wife, son and daughter by his bedside at the Singapore General Hospital.
The actor, who was working as a teacher in his hometown of Kuala Lumpur before becoming an actor in 1980, died of a rare form of lymphoma after six-months of chemotherapy.
Best remembered as Ah Shui from "The Awakening" whom he starred alongside Xiang Yun, the actor's death came as a heartbreaking one for friends and fans who have grown up watching his acting.
Tributes for the well-respected veteran flooded the internet. This year's Star Awards too, paid special tribute to Huang, with Mediacorp CEO, Shawn Seow saying: "We will forever remember him. The role of Ah Shui he played in "The Awakening". He's contributed a lot to local TV. He was always hard working, always improving his craft."
The local icon will have a five-day wake at the Teochew funeral parlour, which began on Sunday.
- wong chee tat :)
From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo! NewsroomBy Ng Suzhen | From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo! Newsroom – Mon, Apr 22, 2013 5:45 PM SGT
22 April – Veteran Mediacorp actor, Huang Wenyong passed away on Saturday at age 60 with his wife, son and daughter by his bedside at the Singapore General Hospital.
The actor, who was working as a teacher in his hometown of Kuala Lumpur before becoming an actor in 1980, died of a rare form of lymphoma after six-months of chemotherapy.
Best remembered as Ah Shui from "The Awakening" whom he starred alongside Xiang Yun, the actor's death came as a heartbreaking one for friends and fans who have grown up watching his acting.
Tributes for the well-respected veteran flooded the internet. This year's Star Awards too, paid special tribute to Huang, with Mediacorp CEO, Shawn Seow saying: "We will forever remember him. The role of Ah Shui he played in "The Awakening". He's contributed a lot to local TV. He was always hard working, always improving his craft."
The local icon will have a five-day wake at the Teochew funeral parlour, which began on Sunday.
- wong chee tat :)
Even men fake orgasms
Even men fake orgasms
By ANI | ANI – Tue, Apr 23, 2013
London, Apr 23 (ANI): When it comes to faking orgasms, women are very good at it, but a new study and a new book have both revealed that an increasing number of men fake it too.
The study, by online pharmacy ukmedix.com, found 74 percent of women in the UK are faking and 22 percent of men, the Sun reported.
But it appears the reasons why men and women fake are vastly different.
Most women do so to get the lovemaking over and done with.
They used to lie back and think of England, while men think of Kelly Brook.
But it appears men fake climax because they are embarrassed their technique comes up short, and want to make women feel better.
For new book 'Why Men Fake It: The Totally Unexpected Truth', Dr Abraham Morgentaler spent 25 years researching the male orgasm.
He said, "The big surprise to me when I started doing this work was that, once a man is in a relationship, he seems to care more about his partner than himself."
Most men know women fake it. Like childbirth for women, it is the pain we have to bear.
But it will no doubt come as a big shock to women to learn their fellas are at it too. (ANI)
- wong chee tat :)
By ANI | ANI – Tue, Apr 23, 2013
London, Apr 23 (ANI): When it comes to faking orgasms, women are very good at it, but a new study and a new book have both revealed that an increasing number of men fake it too.
The study, by online pharmacy ukmedix.com, found 74 percent of women in the UK are faking and 22 percent of men, the Sun reported.
But it appears the reasons why men and women fake are vastly different.
Most women do so to get the lovemaking over and done with.
They used to lie back and think of England, while men think of Kelly Brook.
But it appears men fake climax because they are embarrassed their technique comes up short, and want to make women feel better.
For new book 'Why Men Fake It: The Totally Unexpected Truth', Dr Abraham Morgentaler spent 25 years researching the male orgasm.
He said, "The big surprise to me when I started doing this work was that, once a man is in a relationship, he seems to care more about his partner than himself."
Most men know women fake it. Like childbirth for women, it is the pain we have to bear.
But it will no doubt come as a big shock to women to learn their fellas are at it too. (ANI)
- wong chee tat :)
S’pore cartoonist arrested for alleged sedition
S’pore cartoonist arrested for alleged sedition
By Andrew Loh
By Andrew Loh | SingaporeScene
Cartoonist Leslie Chew has been arrested for two cartoon posts under his "Demon-cratic Singapore" series. (Facebook screengrab) .Cartoonist Leslie Chew has been arrested for two cartoon posts under his "Demon-cratic Singapore" series. (Facebook …
Singapore police arrested Mr Leslie Chew, 37, the person behind the cartoon strip, Demon-cratic Singapore, on Friday morning, for alleged sedition.
He was held in custody and questioned over the weekend, and was released at 8.45pm on Sunday after posting bail of S$10,000.
The police confiscated his handphone, computer and hard disk. He was also asked to surrender his passport to the police at the Cantonment Police complex.
The charges relate to two of the comic strips on his Demon-cratic Facebook page. Mr Chew has produced more than 600 cartoons thus far, including those on the page.
The first cartoon, published on his Facebook page on 14 December last year, and titled “Demon-cratic Singapore Episode #438, Eliminating the thorn first...”, had also been the subject of a letter of demand from the Attorney General Chambers (AGC) last year.
The AGC, in a letter to Mr Chew on 17 December, said the cartoon “scandalises our Courts through allegations and imputations that are scurrilous and false."
However, it said it would not commence further legal proceedings against Chew if he posted an apology on the page, removed the cartoon and “all accompanying comments” related to the post, which has gathered over 600 likes, shares and comments since December.
Chew, however, decided not to comply because he said his work is fictional, and not related to any real events or persons, as stated on his Facebook page. On its page, which has 19,000 likes, Demon-cratic Singapore describes itself as a "100% fictional comic series about a country that does not exist".
In the second cartoon, Chew said the police questioned him about the population statistics in the cartoon, and its words – “Malay population… Deliberately suppressed by a racist government.”
Under Singapore's Sedition Act, among other things, it is an offence to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the Government; and to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Singapore.
Anyone found guilty of the offence can be fined up to S$5,000 or jailed up to three years, or both.
Chew, however, denies any such intentions, again pointing to the disclaimer in each of his cartoons which says that the portrayals in them “are purely fictional”.
“I also explicitly stated that Demon-cratic Singapore is an entirely imaginary country and is not the Republic of Singapore,” Mr Chew says, referring to this page.
The latest arrest follows a spate of legal action by members of the Government against online commentators and sites.
In January, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong demanded writer and activist, Alex Au removed his blog posts about Action Information Management, the PAP-owned company embroiled in the controversy over the PAP-run town councils’ computer system.
And on 18 April, the AGC demanded an apology and the removal of posts from several websites which it alleged cast doubt on the judiciary's integrity.
Chew, who says that the police was “very professional” in the way they treated him, has been asked to report to the police on 30 April.
“Most fans know that Demon-cratic Singapore is fictional and are just for laughs,” said Chew.
“Even when there are new readers who thought otherwise, they are usually quickly reminded by other readers that everything on my Facebook page is fictional."
Andrew helms publichouse.sg as Editor-in-Chief. His writings have been reproduced in other publications, including the Australian Housing Journal in 2010. He was nominated by Yahoo! Singapore as one of Singapore's most influential media persons in 2011.
- wong chee tat :)
By Andrew Loh
By Andrew Loh | SingaporeScene
Cartoonist Leslie Chew has been arrested for two cartoon posts under his "Demon-cratic Singapore" series. (Facebook screengrab) .Cartoonist Leslie Chew has been arrested for two cartoon posts under his "Demon-cratic Singapore" series. (Facebook …
Singapore police arrested Mr Leslie Chew, 37, the person behind the cartoon strip, Demon-cratic Singapore, on Friday morning, for alleged sedition.
He was held in custody and questioned over the weekend, and was released at 8.45pm on Sunday after posting bail of S$10,000.
The police confiscated his handphone, computer and hard disk. He was also asked to surrender his passport to the police at the Cantonment Police complex.
The charges relate to two of the comic strips on his Demon-cratic Facebook page. Mr Chew has produced more than 600 cartoons thus far, including those on the page.
The first cartoon, published on his Facebook page on 14 December last year, and titled “Demon-cratic Singapore Episode #438, Eliminating the thorn first...”, had also been the subject of a letter of demand from the Attorney General Chambers (AGC) last year.
The AGC, in a letter to Mr Chew on 17 December, said the cartoon “scandalises our Courts through allegations and imputations that are scurrilous and false."
However, it said it would not commence further legal proceedings against Chew if he posted an apology on the page, removed the cartoon and “all accompanying comments” related to the post, which has gathered over 600 likes, shares and comments since December.
Chew, however, decided not to comply because he said his work is fictional, and not related to any real events or persons, as stated on his Facebook page. On its page, which has 19,000 likes, Demon-cratic Singapore describes itself as a "100% fictional comic series about a country that does not exist".
In the second cartoon, Chew said the police questioned him about the population statistics in the cartoon, and its words – “Malay population… Deliberately suppressed by a racist government.”
Under Singapore's Sedition Act, among other things, it is an offence to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the Government; and to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Singapore.
Anyone found guilty of the offence can be fined up to S$5,000 or jailed up to three years, or both.
Chew, however, denies any such intentions, again pointing to the disclaimer in each of his cartoons which says that the portrayals in them “are purely fictional”.
“I also explicitly stated that Demon-cratic Singapore is an entirely imaginary country and is not the Republic of Singapore,” Mr Chew says, referring to this page.
The latest arrest follows a spate of legal action by members of the Government against online commentators and sites.
In January, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong demanded writer and activist, Alex Au removed his blog posts about Action Information Management, the PAP-owned company embroiled in the controversy over the PAP-run town councils’ computer system.
And on 18 April, the AGC demanded an apology and the removal of posts from several websites which it alleged cast doubt on the judiciary's integrity.
Chew, who says that the police was “very professional” in the way they treated him, has been asked to report to the police on 30 April.
“Most fans know that Demon-cratic Singapore is fictional and are just for laughs,” said Chew.
“Even when there are new readers who thought otherwise, they are usually quickly reminded by other readers that everything on my Facebook page is fictional."
Andrew helms publichouse.sg as Editor-in-Chief. His writings have been reproduced in other publications, including the Australian Housing Journal in 2010. He was nominated by Yahoo! Singapore as one of Singapore's most influential media persons in 2011.
- wong chee tat :)
NUS scholar found dead in UTown campus
NUS scholar found dead in UTown campus
Yahoo! NewsroomYahoo!
UPDATED [11:25am 24 April 2013. Adds information from police and acquaintances of the deceased.]
A Year One student from the National University of Singapore (NUS) University Scholars' Programme (USP) was found dead in the varsity's UTown campus.
21-year-old Peter Huen Kam Fai was found dead in his room late Tuesday afternoon at the Cinnamon College. The cause of death has yet to be confirmed but Yahoo! Singapore understands he was found hanging.
Police said they received a call on Tuesday at 5:06pm requesting for assistance at College Ave East.
Upon arrival, they found a male Chinese motionless at the location. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said they are investigating the "unnatural death".
An NUS spokesperson revealed, in an official statement, that "the student was found in his room by a university staff" and that "police investigations are ongoing."
Huen, who was majoring in Political Science, is also understood to have been an active sportsman, and was part of the USP Foosball Club.
An NUS graduate who used to play floorball in school with the deceased but did not want to be named told Yahoo! Singapore Huen's death was "really unexpected because you could never tell he was suicidal". Huen had also stopped turning up for games "for a while", the person added.
The source further pointed out that Huen's "last Facebook post was in mid-March", despite being someone who "used to post pretty often".
News of Huen's death quickly spread on social media.
A post on popular local forum Eat Drink Man Woman by his former teacher at Hwa Chong Institution, Charles Low, said the "world has lost a good man today".
He added that Huen would be missed for his quiet confidence, his wit and self-deprecating humour and willingness to help others. It's also understood he had a passion for writing and the humanities.
A fellow resident of Cinnamon College, who also did not wish to be named, described Huen as "always well-liked... always with a smile."
This was the second piece of tragic news to hit NUS this week.
On Tuesday, the wife of NUS professor, Gong Jiangbin, was killed in an accident with an SBS double-decker bus.
Zhang Hui Rui, 43, died after being hit and dragged by bus service 78, which was turning into Clementi Avenue 3.
- wong chee tat :)
Yahoo! NewsroomYahoo!
UPDATED [11:25am 24 April 2013. Adds information from police and acquaintances of the deceased.]
A Year One student from the National University of Singapore (NUS) University Scholars' Programme (USP) was found dead in the varsity's UTown campus.
21-year-old Peter Huen Kam Fai was found dead in his room late Tuesday afternoon at the Cinnamon College. The cause of death has yet to be confirmed but Yahoo! Singapore understands he was found hanging.
Police said they received a call on Tuesday at 5:06pm requesting for assistance at College Ave East.
Upon arrival, they found a male Chinese motionless at the location. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said they are investigating the "unnatural death".
An NUS spokesperson revealed, in an official statement, that "the student was found in his room by a university staff" and that "police investigations are ongoing."
Huen, who was majoring in Political Science, is also understood to have been an active sportsman, and was part of the USP Foosball Club.
An NUS graduate who used to play floorball in school with the deceased but did not want to be named told Yahoo! Singapore Huen's death was "really unexpected because you could never tell he was suicidal". Huen had also stopped turning up for games "for a while", the person added.
The source further pointed out that Huen's "last Facebook post was in mid-March", despite being someone who "used to post pretty often".
News of Huen's death quickly spread on social media.
A post on popular local forum Eat Drink Man Woman by his former teacher at Hwa Chong Institution, Charles Low, said the "world has lost a good man today".
He added that Huen would be missed for his quiet confidence, his wit and self-deprecating humour and willingness to help others. It's also understood he had a passion for writing and the humanities.
A fellow resident of Cinnamon College, who also did not wish to be named, described Huen as "always well-liked... always with a smile."
This was the second piece of tragic news to hit NUS this week.
On Tuesday, the wife of NUS professor, Gong Jiangbin, was killed in an accident with an SBS double-decker bus.
Zhang Hui Rui, 43, died after being hit and dragged by bus service 78, which was turning into Clementi Avenue 3.
- wong chee tat :)
StarHub elbows out iCELL as provider of Singapore's free wi-fi program
StarHub elbows out iCELL as provider of Singapore's free wi-fi program
- Singapore Business Review
It also joins M1 and SingTel on board.
Current Wireless@SG users and potential users can look forward to having more choices as new Wireless@SG operators came on board for the Next Phase of the Wireless@SG programme with effect from 1 April 2013.
StarHub joins M1 and SingTel as Wireless@SG operators after the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore dropped iCELL--a local systems integrator--out of the list of providers. The IDA said that iCELL did not meet the standards of the next phase of Wireless@SG.
All three mobile operators – M1, SingTel and StarHub – will be on board as Wireless@SG operators. Y5Zone Singapore Pte Ltd, a Wi-Fi service provider will also be on board as a Wireless@SG operator.
Y5Zone Singapore is part of the Y5Zone International Group which has a regional headquarters in Hong Kong and its core business is in operating public Wi-Fi networks.
Existing Wireless@SG users could choose to retain their existing accounts with M1 or SingTel. They could also sign up with the new operators, StarHub and Y5Zone, when these operators start Wireless@SG account registration at a later date.
Users who have existing accounts with iCELL, which would cease to be a Wireless@SG operator with effect from 1 July 2013, could also choose to register a new account with M1 and SingTel now or with StarHub and Y5Zone at a later date. For iCELL users who already have Wireless@SG accounts with other operators, they could use the alternative accounts to access Wireless@SG as these accounts will remain valid.
The three mobile operators – M1, SingTel and StarHub – are also preparing for the implementation of interoperable SIM-based authentication which allows a one-time configuration of mobile phones for automatic detection and log-in to the Wireless@SG network with effect from 1 April 2014. The operators will advise the procedures of configuration details in due course.
Web-based login and Seamless Secure Access (SSA) will continue to be offered as login methods alongside SIM-based authentication.
- wong chee tat :)
- Singapore Business Review
It also joins M1 and SingTel on board.
Current Wireless@SG users and potential users can look forward to having more choices as new Wireless@SG operators came on board for the Next Phase of the Wireless@SG programme with effect from 1 April 2013.
StarHub joins M1 and SingTel as Wireless@SG operators after the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore dropped iCELL--a local systems integrator--out of the list of providers. The IDA said that iCELL did not meet the standards of the next phase of Wireless@SG.
All three mobile operators – M1, SingTel and StarHub – will be on board as Wireless@SG operators. Y5Zone Singapore Pte Ltd, a Wi-Fi service provider will also be on board as a Wireless@SG operator.
Y5Zone Singapore is part of the Y5Zone International Group which has a regional headquarters in Hong Kong and its core business is in operating public Wi-Fi networks.
Existing Wireless@SG users could choose to retain their existing accounts with M1 or SingTel. They could also sign up with the new operators, StarHub and Y5Zone, when these operators start Wireless@SG account registration at a later date.
Users who have existing accounts with iCELL, which would cease to be a Wireless@SG operator with effect from 1 July 2013, could also choose to register a new account with M1 and SingTel now or with StarHub and Y5Zone at a later date. For iCELL users who already have Wireless@SG accounts with other operators, they could use the alternative accounts to access Wireless@SG as these accounts will remain valid.
The three mobile operators – M1, SingTel and StarHub – are also preparing for the implementation of interoperable SIM-based authentication which allows a one-time configuration of mobile phones for automatic detection and log-in to the Wireless@SG network with effect from 1 April 2014. The operators will advise the procedures of configuration details in due course.
Web-based login and Seamless Secure Access (SSA) will continue to be offered as login methods alongside SIM-based authentication.
- wong chee tat :)
Starhub to implement a ‘one-minute minimum charge’
Starhub to implement a ‘one-minute minimum charge’
Yahoo! Newsroom
By Nurul Azliah Aripin | Yahoo! Newsroom –
Starhub’s mobile customers have to pay 16.05 cents for the first minute of each local outgoing call starting 1 May, even for talk times shorter than one minute.
This means that customers will have to pay more than they do now for calls lasting less than 60 seconds, according to information found on the telco’s website.
Starhub customers are currently being billed at about 0.27 cents per second from the start of each local outgoing call.
By next month, a one-minute charge will be fixed to each call before customers are billed on a per second basis starting from the 61st second of talk time, according to Starhub’s corporate communications and investor relations person, Cassie Fong.
The new billing method will apply to all mobile post-paid customers when they make local outgoing calls through voice or 3G video.
Fong, who noted that Starhub has been billing their customers on a per second basis for the past 13 years, added that the company has decided to implement the new method instead of increasing call rates amid rising costs of “network maintenance, upgrade and expansion”.
Since April, the telco has been notifying their customers on the new billing method through their website as well as notices sent to customers together with their bills, she said. Customers who want to sign up or renew their mobile plans, will also be informed by the staff available at Starhub stores.
Furthermore, Fong said that customers would not see a “significant difference” in their charges as most customers use their outgoing calls within their monthly talk-time bundle.
- wong chee tat :)
Yahoo! Newsroom
By Nurul Azliah Aripin | Yahoo! Newsroom –
Starhub’s mobile customers have to pay 16.05 cents for the first minute of each local outgoing call starting 1 May, even for talk times shorter than one minute.
This means that customers will have to pay more than they do now for calls lasting less than 60 seconds, according to information found on the telco’s website.
Starhub customers are currently being billed at about 0.27 cents per second from the start of each local outgoing call.
By next month, a one-minute charge will be fixed to each call before customers are billed on a per second basis starting from the 61st second of talk time, according to Starhub’s corporate communications and investor relations person, Cassie Fong.
The new billing method will apply to all mobile post-paid customers when they make local outgoing calls through voice or 3G video.
Fong, who noted that Starhub has been billing their customers on a per second basis for the past 13 years, added that the company has decided to implement the new method instead of increasing call rates amid rising costs of “network maintenance, upgrade and expansion”.
Since April, the telco has been notifying their customers on the new billing method through their website as well as notices sent to customers together with their bills, she said. Customers who want to sign up or renew their mobile plans, will also be informed by the staff available at Starhub stores.
Furthermore, Fong said that customers would not see a “significant difference” in their charges as most customers use their outgoing calls within their monthly talk-time bundle.
- wong chee tat :)
HSBC to cut headcount by over 1,000
HSBC to cut headcount by over 1,000
POSTED: 23 Apr 2013 10:47 PM
HSBC on Tuesday said it planned a net reduction of 1,149 British jobs under a shake-up of the global bank's division that deals with high-depositing investors.
LONDON - HSBC on Tuesday said it planned a net reduction of 1,149 British jobs under a shake-up of the global bank's division that deals with high-depositing investors.
"HSBC is today proposing changes within its UK business which will lead to a potential reduction of 1,149 roles," the British bank said in a statement.
"The changes reflect the changing nature of customer behaviour and regulation. A total of 3,166 employees will be impacted. However, the bank is creating 2,017 new roles and it is expected that the majority of these roles will be filled by displaced employees," it said.
The lender, which is Europe's biggest bank by market value, added: "Wealth remains a strategic business for HSBC.
"The proposed changes will ensure for the first time that all UK Premier customers who already hold over £50,000 ($76,000, 59,000 euros) of savings and investments with the bank, will have a relationship manager qualified to give financial advice as a single contact point for both their banking and wealth management needs."
Britain is tightening regulation surrounding financial advisors in the wake of the global economic crisis.
"Better serving our customers, particularly for their wealth management needs, is essential if we are to fulfil our aspiration of becoming the world's leading international bank," HSBC deputy chief executive Antonio Simoes said in Tuesday's statement.
"These proposals, together with the recent removal of all sales targets for our employees and the complete decoupling of incentives from those sales, mean our customers can expect us to fully focus on serving their needs and do the right thing.
"Evolving and improving our culture will take time but the changes announced today are another step in the right direction," he added.
HSBC employs 52,000 across Britain and a total of 261,000 worldwide. In March, HSBC announced that it had exceeded its target of saving up to $3.5 billion over two years -- after axing 30,000 jobs globally.
At the same time, it said that group net profit sank 16.5 percent to $14.03 billion in 2012, hit by US money-laundering fines, mis-selling scandals, rising tax costs and a huge accounting charge.
Founded in Hong Kong, HSBC currently sees Asia as its main market.
- AFP/al
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 23 Apr 2013 10:47 PM
HSBC on Tuesday said it planned a net reduction of 1,149 British jobs under a shake-up of the global bank's division that deals with high-depositing investors.
LONDON - HSBC on Tuesday said it planned a net reduction of 1,149 British jobs under a shake-up of the global bank's division that deals with high-depositing investors.
"HSBC is today proposing changes within its UK business which will lead to a potential reduction of 1,149 roles," the British bank said in a statement.
"The changes reflect the changing nature of customer behaviour and regulation. A total of 3,166 employees will be impacted. However, the bank is creating 2,017 new roles and it is expected that the majority of these roles will be filled by displaced employees," it said.
The lender, which is Europe's biggest bank by market value, added: "Wealth remains a strategic business for HSBC.
"The proposed changes will ensure for the first time that all UK Premier customers who already hold over £50,000 ($76,000, 59,000 euros) of savings and investments with the bank, will have a relationship manager qualified to give financial advice as a single contact point for both their banking and wealth management needs."
Britain is tightening regulation surrounding financial advisors in the wake of the global economic crisis.
"Better serving our customers, particularly for their wealth management needs, is essential if we are to fulfil our aspiration of becoming the world's leading international bank," HSBC deputy chief executive Antonio Simoes said in Tuesday's statement.
"These proposals, together with the recent removal of all sales targets for our employees and the complete decoupling of incentives from those sales, mean our customers can expect us to fully focus on serving their needs and do the right thing.
"Evolving and improving our culture will take time but the changes announced today are another step in the right direction," he added.
HSBC employs 52,000 across Britain and a total of 261,000 worldwide. In March, HSBC announced that it had exceeded its target of saving up to $3.5 billion over two years -- after axing 30,000 jobs globally.
At the same time, it said that group net profit sank 16.5 percent to $14.03 billion in 2012, hit by US money-laundering fines, mis-selling scandals, rising tax costs and a huge accounting charge.
Founded in Hong Kong, HSBC currently sees Asia as its main market.
- AFP/al
- wong chee tat :)
1 year T bill
1 year T bill
- wong chee tat :)
|
Announcement Date
|
Auction Date
|
Issuance Date
|
Issue Code
|
ISIN Code
| Maturity Date |
19/04/2013
|
26/04/2013
|
02/05/2013
|
BY13100H
|
SG6X05986163
|
02/05/14
|
- wong chee tat :)
New Zealand keeps interest rates at record low
New Zealand keeps interest rates at record low
POSTED: 24 Apr 2013 6:50 AM
New Zealand's central bank left interest rates at a record low of 2.5 per cent on Wednesday, predicting they would remain there for the rest of 2013 with low inflation and a surging local currency.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's central bank left interest rates at a record low of 2.5 percent on Wednesday, predicting they would remain there for the rest of 2013 with low inflation and a surging local currency.
The official cash rate (OCR) has remained on hold since March 2011 and financial markets had not expected any movement from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ).
Governor Graeme Wheeler said that while growth in New Zealand was firm, a drought had affected agricultural production and government cutbacks were impacting on overall demand in the economy.
He said the New Zealand dollar was rising, partly due to Japan's policy of monetary easing, which was restricting export earnings and stimulating demand for imports.
With inflation sitting at 0.9 percent and expected to remain at the bottom of the bank's 1.0-3.0 target band, Wheeler said interest rates were not likely to change in the short term.
"At this point, we expect to keep the OCR unchanged through the end of the year," he said in a statement.
- AFP/fa
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 24 Apr 2013 6:50 AM
New Zealand's central bank left interest rates at a record low of 2.5 per cent on Wednesday, predicting they would remain there for the rest of 2013 with low inflation and a surging local currency.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's central bank left interest rates at a record low of 2.5 percent on Wednesday, predicting they would remain there for the rest of 2013 with low inflation and a surging local currency.
The official cash rate (OCR) has remained on hold since March 2011 and financial markets had not expected any movement from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ).
Governor Graeme Wheeler said that while growth in New Zealand was firm, a drought had affected agricultural production and government cutbacks were impacting on overall demand in the economy.
He said the New Zealand dollar was rising, partly due to Japan's policy of monetary easing, which was restricting export earnings and stimulating demand for imports.
With inflation sitting at 0.9 percent and expected to remain at the bottom of the bank's 1.0-3.0 target band, Wheeler said interest rates were not likely to change in the short term.
"At this point, we expect to keep the OCR unchanged through the end of the year," he said in a statement.
- AFP/fa
- wong chee tat :)
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
System Updates: Laptop Maintenance
Opened up the laptop for the first time in years (don't know how many years ago that I brought from that last IT show....) and cleaned the laptop fan. I expected the fan to be full of dust. But no. In fact it is quite clean and reassembled it.
- wong chee tat :)
- wong chee tat :)
Bundesbank sees German economy returning to growth
Bundesbank sees German economy returning to growth
POSTED: 22 Apr 2013 10:16 PM
The German economy, which contracted at the end of last year, likely returned to growth in the first quarter of this year and the upward trend looks set to continue, the Bundesbank said on Monday.
FRANKFURT - The German economy, which contracted at the end of last year, likely returned to growth in the first quarter of this year and the upward trend looks set to continue, the Bundesbank said on Monday.
"Even if no growth impulses were seen coming from manufacturing industry in the first quarter of 2013, services should have expanded again. Against this background, a rise in overall economic output is possible," the German central bank wrote in its April monthly report.
A pre-condition for this, however, was that the effects of the unseasonably cold winter weather, in sectors such as construction, remained contained, the report noted.
Nevertheless, looking ahead, "generally positive sentiment, the ongoing rise in employment and a recovery in demand for capital goods suggest that the upward trend in the German economy will continue in the second quarter," the Bundesbank said.
While Germany has largely been spared the recession that has hit many of its eurozone partners, Europe's biggest economy has not managed to remain completely unscathed and growth slowed throughout the course of last year and activity actually contracted in the last three months of 2012.
Thus, growth which stood at 0.5 percent in the first three months of 2012, slowed to 0.3 percent in the second quarter and 0.2 percent in the third quarter.
In the final quarter, GDP contracted by 0.6 percent, bringing overall full-year growth to just 0.7 percent across the whole of the year, compared with 3.0 percent in 2011.
The federal statistics office Destatis is scheduled to publish its first official estimate of first-quarter GDP on May 15.
Last week, Germany's leading economic think tanks said that the economic skies above Europe's top economy appear to be clearing and the recovery looks set gather momentum during the course of this year.
Four top institutes -- Ifo in Munich, IfW in Kiel, IW in Halle and RWI in Essen -- predicted in their annual spring report that gross domestic product (GDP) would expand by 0.8 percent in 2013 and then by 1.9 percent in 2014.
- AFP/al
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 22 Apr 2013 10:16 PM
The German economy, which contracted at the end of last year, likely returned to growth in the first quarter of this year and the upward trend looks set to continue, the Bundesbank said on Monday.
FRANKFURT - The German economy, which contracted at the end of last year, likely returned to growth in the first quarter of this year and the upward trend looks set to continue, the Bundesbank said on Monday.
"Even if no growth impulses were seen coming from manufacturing industry in the first quarter of 2013, services should have expanded again. Against this background, a rise in overall economic output is possible," the German central bank wrote in its April monthly report.
A pre-condition for this, however, was that the effects of the unseasonably cold winter weather, in sectors such as construction, remained contained, the report noted.
Nevertheless, looking ahead, "generally positive sentiment, the ongoing rise in employment and a recovery in demand for capital goods suggest that the upward trend in the German economy will continue in the second quarter," the Bundesbank said.
While Germany has largely been spared the recession that has hit many of its eurozone partners, Europe's biggest economy has not managed to remain completely unscathed and growth slowed throughout the course of last year and activity actually contracted in the last three months of 2012.
Thus, growth which stood at 0.5 percent in the first three months of 2012, slowed to 0.3 percent in the second quarter and 0.2 percent in the third quarter.
In the final quarter, GDP contracted by 0.6 percent, bringing overall full-year growth to just 0.7 percent across the whole of the year, compared with 3.0 percent in 2011.
The federal statistics office Destatis is scheduled to publish its first official estimate of first-quarter GDP on May 15.
Last week, Germany's leading economic think tanks said that the economic skies above Europe's top economy appear to be clearing and the recovery looks set gather momentum during the course of this year.
Four top institutes -- Ifo in Munich, IfW in Kiel, IW in Halle and RWI in Essen -- predicted in their annual spring report that gross domestic product (GDP) would expand by 0.8 percent in 2013 and then by 1.9 percent in 2014.
- AFP/al
- wong chee tat :)
SMEs' confidence dips despite improved outlook for global economy
SMEs' confidence dips despite improved outlook for global economy
By Wong Siew Ying
POSTED: 22 Apr 2013 9:47 PM
Small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have wound back their expectations for sales and profits in the second and third quarters of 2013, according to the Singapore Business Federation and DP Information Group's SME Index.
SINGAPORE: Confidence among Singapore's business owners has dimmed, despite an improved outlook for the global economy.
Small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have wound back their expectations for sales and profits in the second and third quarters of 2013, according to the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and DP Information Group's SME Index.
The score for turnover expectations fell from 5.44 to 5.36, while profit expectations fell from 5.33 to 5.12 compared to the previous six months.
SMEs also expect it to be more difficult to borrow money during the next two quarters, with the access to funding index score dropping to 5.02 from 5.06 previously.
This, in spite of a three-point increase in the overall outlook for SMEs to 55 points, amid signs of recovery in the US, growth in China and the Eurozone averting a financial crisis.
In a joint statement, SBF and DP Information said improvements in the global economy are not expected to translate into improved sales and profits.
"Inflation, high business costs and tightened foreign workers policy continue to be a drag on businesses and the economy," said Ho Meng Kit, CEO of Singapore Business Federation.
"Businesses are mindful that they need to urgently raise productivity through capital investment, as well as look to alternative markets to make up for the shortfall from traditional trading partners," he said.
However, despite the downbeat expectations for growth, SMEs are still investing in technology and equipment to raise efficiency.
"This increased capital expenditure comes at a time when SMEs are less positive about their profit outlook," said Chen Yew Nah, managing director of DP Information Group.
"It means Singapore SMEs understand they need to make productivity improvements now. It is investment they can no longer put off," Mr Chen said.
The SME Index is based on 3,000 interviews with SME owners and managers, as well as companies' actual financial performance.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
By Wong Siew Ying
POSTED: 22 Apr 2013 9:47 PM
Small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have wound back their expectations for sales and profits in the second and third quarters of 2013, according to the Singapore Business Federation and DP Information Group's SME Index.
SINGAPORE: Confidence among Singapore's business owners has dimmed, despite an improved outlook for the global economy.
Small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have wound back their expectations for sales and profits in the second and third quarters of 2013, according to the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and DP Information Group's SME Index.
The score for turnover expectations fell from 5.44 to 5.36, while profit expectations fell from 5.33 to 5.12 compared to the previous six months.
SMEs also expect it to be more difficult to borrow money during the next two quarters, with the access to funding index score dropping to 5.02 from 5.06 previously.
This, in spite of a three-point increase in the overall outlook for SMEs to 55 points, amid signs of recovery in the US, growth in China and the Eurozone averting a financial crisis.
In a joint statement, SBF and DP Information said improvements in the global economy are not expected to translate into improved sales and profits.
"Inflation, high business costs and tightened foreign workers policy continue to be a drag on businesses and the economy," said Ho Meng Kit, CEO of Singapore Business Federation.
"Businesses are mindful that they need to urgently raise productivity through capital investment, as well as look to alternative markets to make up for the shortfall from traditional trading partners," he said.
However, despite the downbeat expectations for growth, SMEs are still investing in technology and equipment to raise efficiency.
"This increased capital expenditure comes at a time when SMEs are less positive about their profit outlook," said Chen Yew Nah, managing director of DP Information Group.
"It means Singapore SMEs understand they need to make productivity improvements now. It is investment they can no longer put off," Mr Chen said.
The SME Index is based on 3,000 interviews with SME owners and managers, as well as companies' actual financial performance.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Bank of Thailand "stands ready" to take action if need to cool housing prices
Bank of Thailand "stands ready" to take action if need to cool housing prices
POSTED: 22 Apr 2013 7:40 PM
Bank of Thailand Governor, Prasarn Trairatvorakul, told Channel NewsAsia he had recently held talks with major developers and mortgage lenders to express concern about the strength of the market.
SINGAPORE: The Bank of Thailand (BOT) said it "stands ready" to take action to cool housing prices, should the need arise.
BOT Governor, Prasarn Trairatvorakul, told Channel NewsAsia he had recently held talks with major developers and mortgage lenders to express concern about the strength of the market.
The central bank refrained from taking any action, but the Governor said it is keeping its options open.
Mr Prasarn said: "These things are dynamic, let me tell you we are monitoring and I cannot guarantee that this is it, it will stay forever. You notice that in the past we used to introduce certain measures. Now if the situation changed, if the situation calls for it, we stand ready.”
He said he did express concern at the very low rates given on starter loans, and told bank executives to keep a close eye on their mortgage lending practices.
Although he regards these as "marketing gimmicks", he said he had issued a verbal warning to banks to avoid "over-competition" in this area.
The Governor also expressed concern about the speed of appreciation of the Thai baht.
He said the change was largely due to inflows of money from Japan, a result of the Bank of Japan's super-easing monetary policy.
"When you are overstretching the (monetary policy) instrument you are bound to face something unexpected. At the moment, you see how this spill over around the world has caused lots of problems, distortions around the financial markets,” he said.
The Governor added that weaker in the Japanese yen was benefiting the Thai manufacturing sector, because of its close ties with Japanese industry.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 22 Apr 2013 7:40 PM
Bank of Thailand Governor, Prasarn Trairatvorakul, told Channel NewsAsia he had recently held talks with major developers and mortgage lenders to express concern about the strength of the market.
SINGAPORE: The Bank of Thailand (BOT) said it "stands ready" to take action to cool housing prices, should the need arise.
BOT Governor, Prasarn Trairatvorakul, told Channel NewsAsia he had recently held talks with major developers and mortgage lenders to express concern about the strength of the market.
The central bank refrained from taking any action, but the Governor said it is keeping its options open.
Mr Prasarn said: "These things are dynamic, let me tell you we are monitoring and I cannot guarantee that this is it, it will stay forever. You notice that in the past we used to introduce certain measures. Now if the situation changed, if the situation calls for it, we stand ready.”
He said he did express concern at the very low rates given on starter loans, and told bank executives to keep a close eye on their mortgage lending practices.
Although he regards these as "marketing gimmicks", he said he had issued a verbal warning to banks to avoid "over-competition" in this area.
The Governor also expressed concern about the speed of appreciation of the Thai baht.
He said the change was largely due to inflows of money from Japan, a result of the Bank of Japan's super-easing monetary policy.
"When you are overstretching the (monetary policy) instrument you are bound to face something unexpected. At the moment, you see how this spill over around the world has caused lots of problems, distortions around the financial markets,” he said.
The Governor added that weaker in the Japanese yen was benefiting the Thai manufacturing sector, because of its close ties with Japanese industry.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
Huang Wenyong to be honoured with special award at “Star Awards 2013 Show 2”
Huang Wenyong to be honoured with special award at “Star Awards 2013 Show 2”
POSTED: 22 Apr 2013 4:22 PM
SINGAPORE: Late television icon Huang Wenyong will receive the Honorary TV Award, to honour his contributions to Singapore’s television industry, at the “Star Awards 2013 Show 2”.
SINGAPORE: Late television icon Huang Wenyong will receive the Honorary TV Award, to honour his contributions to Singapore’s television industry, during the “Star Awards 2013 Show 2”, which will be held at the Marina Bay Sands MasterCard Theatres on April 28.
A one-hour television special will also be produced to mark his death.
It is titled "Remembering Huang Wenyong" and will air on April 29, 8pm on Channel 8.
There will also be a "Frontline" Huang Wenyong special which airs on April 26, at 10.30pm on the same channel.
In addition, there will be a special broadcast of the best scenes from the sitcoms "Don't Worry Be Happy" and "Lobang King" which Huang starred in, along with an episode of the talk show "CelebriTea Break" where he appears as a guest, on April 27, from 2.30pm on Channel 8.
This will be followed by a re-run of the film "Homerun", in which he played the head of an impoverished household, at 2.30pm on April 28.
Fans can log on to MediaCorp's online portal Toggle as well, to catch complete episodes of Huang's classic shows.
The 60-year-old actor, who is best known for his role as Ah Shui in the classic 1984 drama "The Awakening", died of lymphoma in hospital on Saturday.
A special segment was added to the "Star Awards 2013 Show 1" on Sunday in light of his death.
The audience observed a moment of silence to pay tribute to the late star, before a short memorial video was played.
- CNA/ha
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 22 Apr 2013 4:22 PM
SINGAPORE: Late television icon Huang Wenyong will receive the Honorary TV Award, to honour his contributions to Singapore’s television industry, at the “Star Awards 2013 Show 2”.
SINGAPORE: Late television icon Huang Wenyong will receive the Honorary TV Award, to honour his contributions to Singapore’s television industry, during the “Star Awards 2013 Show 2”, which will be held at the Marina Bay Sands MasterCard Theatres on April 28.
A one-hour television special will also be produced to mark his death.
It is titled "Remembering Huang Wenyong" and will air on April 29, 8pm on Channel 8.
There will also be a "Frontline" Huang Wenyong special which airs on April 26, at 10.30pm on the same channel.
In addition, there will be a special broadcast of the best scenes from the sitcoms "Don't Worry Be Happy" and "Lobang King" which Huang starred in, along with an episode of the talk show "CelebriTea Break" where he appears as a guest, on April 27, from 2.30pm on Channel 8.
This will be followed by a re-run of the film "Homerun", in which he played the head of an impoverished household, at 2.30pm on April 28.
Fans can log on to MediaCorp's online portal Toggle as well, to catch complete episodes of Huang's classic shows.
The 60-year-old actor, who is best known for his role as Ah Shui in the classic 1984 drama "The Awakening", died of lymphoma in hospital on Saturday.
A special segment was added to the "Star Awards 2013 Show 1" on Sunday in light of his death.
The audience observed a moment of silence to pay tribute to the late star, before a short memorial video was played.
- CNA/ha
- wong chee tat :)
Sunday, April 21, 2013
联储局可能年底结束QE3
Updated: Thursday, 11 April 2013 17:17
联储局可能年底结束QE3
联储局可能年底结束QE3
美国联邦储备局决策人员普遍认为，应该在年底前，结束吸购债券的经济刺激措施。
不过，联储局公布的会议记录显示，决策人员对于何时开始减慢吸购债券的速度，意见分歧。其中多数人认为，如果就业情况持续好转，就可以开始减慢吸购债券的速度；两人则认为，应该维持现状；1人认为，应该立即减慢速度。
由于不慎在预定时间前，向100多人发出会议记录，联储局这次被迫提前5个小时，公布纪录内容。联储局发言人说，种种迹象显示，这起事件纯属意外，当局已经对此展开调查。
- wong chee tat :)
联储局可能年底结束QE3
联储局可能年底结束QE3
美国联邦储备局决策人员普遍认为，应该在年底前，结束吸购债券的经济刺激措施。
不过，联储局公布的会议记录显示，决策人员对于何时开始减慢吸购债券的速度，意见分歧。其中多数人认为，如果就业情况持续好转，就可以开始减慢吸购债券的速度；两人则认为，应该维持现状；1人认为，应该立即减慢速度。
由于不慎在预定时间前，向100多人发出会议记录，联储局这次被迫提前5个小时，公布纪录内容。联储局发言人说，种种迹象显示，这起事件纯属意外，当局已经对此展开调查。
- wong chee tat :)
黄文永今病逝 终年60岁
Saturday, 20 April 2013 20:00
独家快讯: 黄文永今病逝 终年60岁
黄文永的家人今天致电新传媒艺人管理组，表示黄文永今天在医院病逝。
新传媒艺人黄文永今天在医院病逝，终年60岁。
黄文永的家人致电新传媒艺人管理组，表示黄文永今天在医院病逝。
新传媒发布声明，对黄文永这位广受观众爱戴与喜爱的演员的逝世，表示深切哀悼。
声明指，黄文永在1980年开始加入电视台，是本地华语电视剧的先锋之一。至今，他曾演过超过100部华语电视剧和情境喜剧。他在新传媒30多年的演艺生涯中，他曾获得无数奖项，包括1997年《红星大奖》的“特别成就奖”，以及2011年《红星大奖》的“十大最受欢迎男艺人”奖。
新传媒每位成员将永远怀念黄文永这一位演技精湛的演员、亲切的同事，以及真挚的朋友。
黄文永去年尾健康亮起红灯，在去年11月出席《戏剧情牵30》节目时，爆瘦的身材引起观众震惊哗然。隔日他接受xinmsn专访时表示，体重的确跌了约7公斤，并表示去年9月多时染上肠胃型流感，消化也不好。虽然前后看了西医与中医，药也吃了，但或许因为工作时间长，饮食时间不稳定，外加摄影棚冷，他并没有立刻康复。
黄文永的最后一部电视作品是今年1月播出的《好运到》，当时举行新剧记者会，但他本人并没有现身。
直至3月18日，黄文永终于通过新传媒互动电视平台Toggle，以视频方式向关心他的观众“献声”报平安。短短1分多钟的视频录音里，黄文永并没有说明自己生了什么病，只透露身体正在康复中，并谢谢大家对他这段时间以来的关心。
- wong chee tat :)
独家快讯: 黄文永今病逝 终年60岁
黄文永的家人今天致电新传媒艺人管理组，表示黄文永今天在医院病逝。
新传媒艺人黄文永今天在医院病逝，终年60岁。
黄文永的家人致电新传媒艺人管理组，表示黄文永今天在医院病逝。
新传媒发布声明，对黄文永这位广受观众爱戴与喜爱的演员的逝世，表示深切哀悼。
声明指，黄文永在1980年开始加入电视台，是本地华语电视剧的先锋之一。至今，他曾演过超过100部华语电视剧和情境喜剧。他在新传媒30多年的演艺生涯中，他曾获得无数奖项，包括1997年《红星大奖》的“特别成就奖”，以及2011年《红星大奖》的“十大最受欢迎男艺人”奖。
新传媒每位成员将永远怀念黄文永这一位演技精湛的演员、亲切的同事，以及真挚的朋友。
黄文永去年尾健康亮起红灯，在去年11月出席《戏剧情牵30》节目时，爆瘦的身材引起观众震惊哗然。隔日他接受xinmsn专访时表示，体重的确跌了约7公斤，并表示去年9月多时染上肠胃型流感，消化也不好。虽然前后看了西医与中医，药也吃了，但或许因为工作时间长，饮食时间不稳定，外加摄影棚冷，他并没有立刻康复。
黄文永的最后一部电视作品是今年1月播出的《好运到》，当时举行新剧记者会，但他本人并没有现身。
直至3月18日，黄文永终于通过新传媒互动电视平台Toggle，以视频方式向关心他的观众“献声”报平安。短短1分多钟的视频录音里，黄文永并没有说明自己生了什么病，只透露身体正在康复中，并谢谢大家对他这段时间以来的关心。
- wong chee tat :)
Xiang Yun has "only happy memories" of Huang Wenyong
Xiang Yun has "only happy memories" of Huang Wenyong
By Han Wei Chou
POSTED: 21 Apr 2013 7:12 PM
To actress Xiang Yun, veteran actor Huang Wenyong who died on Saturday surrounded by his family, is a man who was pillar of support throughout their 30-year friendship.
SINGAPORE: A food trolley trundled past us backstage area, adding to the cacophony as the production team prepared for the night's big show, “Star Awards Show 1”, which will feature a special segment to pay tribute to late veteran actor Huang Wenyong.
But it didn’t bother Xiang Yun at all.
She was too busy sharing tales of her friend for 30-years between moments of laughter and tears.
“I’ve thought of keeping silent about the matter when the media come to me for comment, but I’ve known Huang Wenyong for over 30 years. How can I have nothing to say about him?” said Xiang Yun of the teacher from Kuala Lumpur became one of Singapore’s most recognisable actors and her closest confidante.
“We’ve been working together in our youth, in our prime and in our golden years."
“We went through every stage of our lives together. We watched each other go through the ups and downs in our family lives and careers.”
She shared that Huang had been a pillar of support for her through the past three decades.
“I am really thankful. He has given me only happy memories.
“I remember when I first became a mother, and when I returned to the set after a long hiatus, there was a lot of pressure on me. But when I came back, he told a joke and made me laugh out loud."
“And then I realised it has been so long since I laughed,” said Xiang Yun, as she choked back her tears.
30-year friendship
Their friendship first blossomed when she worked with Huang in the iconic drama “The Awakening”, which traced the lives of early immigrants to Singapore.
“At first I was scared of him, because he was a teacher in Kuala Lumpur, before being hired as a voice actor in Singapore, and then becoming an actor.
“Later on, we got to know one another better but I still treated him with respect. Our relationship was really deep. We just got along really well,” said Xiang Yun.
“The director always has a headache when we appear on the same show, because we have endless things to talk about!”
“When we were shooting ‘Living the Golden Again’, the director shouted at us and said ‘Hey, are you all done talking!’ because we kept talking to one another,” said Xiang Yun with a laugh, even as tears welled up in her eyes once more.
“To me, he is always a friend and mentor. I’d still call him to ask about how to do certain shows when I run into problems later in our careers.”
A heavy blow
“I couldn’t sleep at all” was what Xiang Yun said of news of Huang's death.
Even when we spoke, she found it hard to accept that fact that Huang had died of cancer.
“When I got the call, I was trembling. I couldn’t sleep at all last night. I have so many feelings right now. I have so much that I wanted to say to him.
“I had wanted to go see him previously but he had refused to let me visit. Still, I understand him. He doesn’t want people to see him when he is ill,” she confided as her eyes turned red again.
“Although I’ve heard about his condition in recent months, I never expected him to leave so suddenly.”
“Now, there is just me and (Chen) Shucheng left from that era. Looking back at the 80s, there are only a few of us left still in the business who have gone through the age of black and white television,” said Xiang Yun thoughtfully.
She misses him dearly.
“Just now I was trying to call for Shucheng but I called out ‘Wenyong, Wenyong’ instead.”
“Everyone’s mood isn’t very good today" said Xiang Yun as the Channel 8 crew prepared for the Star Awards where Huang is up for a nomination.
"He has such a good rapport with everyone. He was always warm and cheerful," said Xiang Yun sombrely.
“I really don’t know if I can remain composed during the awards show tonight."
Somehow, it's unlikely that Xiang Yun will be the only one teary-eyed during the show.
- CNA/ha/sf
- wong chee tat :)
By Han Wei Chou
POSTED: 21 Apr 2013 7:12 PM
To actress Xiang Yun, veteran actor Huang Wenyong who died on Saturday surrounded by his family, is a man who was pillar of support throughout their 30-year friendship.
SINGAPORE: A food trolley trundled past us backstage area, adding to the cacophony as the production team prepared for the night's big show, “Star Awards Show 1”, which will feature a special segment to pay tribute to late veteran actor Huang Wenyong.
But it didn’t bother Xiang Yun at all.
She was too busy sharing tales of her friend for 30-years between moments of laughter and tears.
“I’ve thought of keeping silent about the matter when the media come to me for comment, but I’ve known Huang Wenyong for over 30 years. How can I have nothing to say about him?” said Xiang Yun of the teacher from Kuala Lumpur became one of Singapore’s most recognisable actors and her closest confidante.
“We’ve been working together in our youth, in our prime and in our golden years."
“We went through every stage of our lives together. We watched each other go through the ups and downs in our family lives and careers.”
She shared that Huang had been a pillar of support for her through the past three decades.
“I am really thankful. He has given me only happy memories.
“I remember when I first became a mother, and when I returned to the set after a long hiatus, there was a lot of pressure on me. But when I came back, he told a joke and made me laugh out loud."
“And then I realised it has been so long since I laughed,” said Xiang Yun, as she choked back her tears.
30-year friendship
Their friendship first blossomed when she worked with Huang in the iconic drama “The Awakening”, which traced the lives of early immigrants to Singapore.
“At first I was scared of him, because he was a teacher in Kuala Lumpur, before being hired as a voice actor in Singapore, and then becoming an actor.
“Later on, we got to know one another better but I still treated him with respect. Our relationship was really deep. We just got along really well,” said Xiang Yun.
“The director always has a headache when we appear on the same show, because we have endless things to talk about!”
“When we were shooting ‘Living the Golden Again’, the director shouted at us and said ‘Hey, are you all done talking!’ because we kept talking to one another,” said Xiang Yun with a laugh, even as tears welled up in her eyes once more.
“To me, he is always a friend and mentor. I’d still call him to ask about how to do certain shows when I run into problems later in our careers.”
A heavy blow
“I couldn’t sleep at all” was what Xiang Yun said of news of Huang's death.
Even when we spoke, she found it hard to accept that fact that Huang had died of cancer.
“When I got the call, I was trembling. I couldn’t sleep at all last night. I have so many feelings right now. I have so much that I wanted to say to him.
“I had wanted to go see him previously but he had refused to let me visit. Still, I understand him. He doesn’t want people to see him when he is ill,” she confided as her eyes turned red again.
“Although I’ve heard about his condition in recent months, I never expected him to leave so suddenly.”
“Now, there is just me and (Chen) Shucheng left from that era. Looking back at the 80s, there are only a few of us left still in the business who have gone through the age of black and white television,” said Xiang Yun thoughtfully.
She misses him dearly.
“Just now I was trying to call for Shucheng but I called out ‘Wenyong, Wenyong’ instead.”
“Everyone’s mood isn’t very good today" said Xiang Yun as the Channel 8 crew prepared for the Star Awards where Huang is up for a nomination.
"He has such a good rapport with everyone. He was always warm and cheerful," said Xiang Yun sombrely.
“I really don’t know if I can remain composed during the awards show tonight."
Somehow, it's unlikely that Xiang Yun will be the only one teary-eyed during the show.
- CNA/ha/sf
- wong chee tat :)
Huang Wenyong: The Man behind the Star
Huang Wenyong: The Man behind the Star
By Han Wei Chou
POSTED: 21 Apr 2013 2:48 PM
"Big Brother" is what many have used to describe late veteran actor Huang Wenyong, but he proved to be a mentor not just to actors, but also others who had the privilege to know him
I remember.
The first time I met late veteran actor Huang Wenyong was at a hotel ballroom in 2010, for a media event weeks before the Star Awards.
It was one of my first assignments as a writer for channelnewsasia.com’s entertainment section, and my task for the day was to find out what celebrities had to say of their chances at an award, along with any interesting news or gossip that might turn up.
The sight of so many celebrities in one place was overwhelming, and it must have shown on my face.
“I haven’t seen you around before. Are you new?” Huang said to me, after making his way across the room.
I nodded and told him I’ve just started writing for the website.
“A writer... So why aren’t you out talking to people?” he asked, gesturing to the sea of celebrities in the ballroom.
“I… er … They all look very busy,” I managed.
While many of them were busy answering questions from reporters and getting their photos taken, some were not.
Huang looked back at me again.
“Don’t be shy! Who do you want to talk to?” he said. “Let me introduce them to you.”
He then brought me around the room, introducing me to Michelle Chia, a then-frizzy-haired Qi Yuwu, Jessica Liu as well as a few of the other stars in attendance, guiding me along like an affable uncle.
Mentor
He also told me that he had a knack for picking winning lottery numbers, which on hindsight could have made me a wealthy men.
But that was not what burnt that encounter into my memory.
The encounter was so memorable because because he taught me the most important lesson an entertainment writer could learn - “Don’t be shy!”
Since then, I have always treated him as a bit of a mentor, who never failed to give me new insights into the local television industry.
Thus when I heard that he passed away on Saturday evening after battling cancer, I felt a wave of sadness wash over me.
I however took comfort in the tributes made by his fellow television stars like Tay Ping Hui and Eelyn Kok, who like me, were fortunate enough to have known him.
Many said that he was always ready to guide newbies, though I wonder if they knew he had a big influence on people outside the acting fraternity too.
Friend
Apart from being a mentor, Huang was a friend as well.
We would talk about a variety of topics when we had the chance to meet, be it on location during shoots or at media conferences.
He would listen to me lament about the stressful nature of a writing job, and would in turn share stories about how somebody had once impersonated him online, as well as how he would shoot for days on end when he started acting during Singapore television’s formative years.
But what stood out was his thoughts on what it meant to be popular.
“Don’t interview me lah! Interview the younger ones,” Huang would often tell me.
He said that he was comfortable with the fact that he has been superseded by younger stars.
“I don’t expect to win. I’ve been nominated every year since the awards’ inception but have never won,” said Huang with a warm smile, when we spoke in the weeks leading up to the 2011 Star Awards.
Then, something unexpected happened that year.
Actor
Huang won a “Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste Award” for the first time in 2011, after over a decade of constant nominations.
Television cameras showed an exuberant Huang with his trophy.
What they didn’t show was the way he walked with a spring in his step at the after party, virtually running from group to group, being congratulated by friends.
He was all smiles that night, and full of vigour.
He was a far cry from the Huang that appeared at the "30th Drama Anniversary Show" in November last year.
Huang was skinny and appeared a little frail during the three-hour television special to commemorate 30 years of local Mandarin dramas.
He also left quickly after the show, citing medical reasons, and never appeared at any official function after that.
Right up to the end, he never let the media in on his battle with lymphoma.
He even posted an audio clip to reassure his fans he was fine last month.
“I am well … Please do not worry,” said Huang in his audio message, though his voice betrayed signs of fatigue.
What could have made him keep his pain from the public?
Perhaps he wanted people to remember him as the resilient Ah Shui in the iconic television drama “The Awakening”, as the hilarious Ong Kim Lai in the sitcom “Don’t Worry Be Happy”, and as a consummate actor to the end.
I will remember him as a man who was so much more, as someone who always had a kind word and a warm smile, as a mentor, and as a friend.
He will be missed.
- CNA/ha
- wong chee tat :)
By Han Wei Chou
POSTED: 21 Apr 2013 2:48 PM
"Big Brother" is what many have used to describe late veteran actor Huang Wenyong, but he proved to be a mentor not just to actors, but also others who had the privilege to know him
I remember.
The first time I met late veteran actor Huang Wenyong was at a hotel ballroom in 2010, for a media event weeks before the Star Awards.
It was one of my first assignments as a writer for channelnewsasia.com’s entertainment section, and my task for the day was to find out what celebrities had to say of their chances at an award, along with any interesting news or gossip that might turn up.
The sight of so many celebrities in one place was overwhelming, and it must have shown on my face.
“I haven’t seen you around before. Are you new?” Huang said to me, after making his way across the room.
I nodded and told him I’ve just started writing for the website.
“A writer... So why aren’t you out talking to people?” he asked, gesturing to the sea of celebrities in the ballroom.
“I… er … They all look very busy,” I managed.
While many of them were busy answering questions from reporters and getting their photos taken, some were not.
Huang looked back at me again.
“Don’t be shy! Who do you want to talk to?” he said. “Let me introduce them to you.”
He then brought me around the room, introducing me to Michelle Chia, a then-frizzy-haired Qi Yuwu, Jessica Liu as well as a few of the other stars in attendance, guiding me along like an affable uncle.
Mentor
He also told me that he had a knack for picking winning lottery numbers, which on hindsight could have made me a wealthy men.
But that was not what burnt that encounter into my memory.
The encounter was so memorable because because he taught me the most important lesson an entertainment writer could learn - “Don’t be shy!”
Since then, I have always treated him as a bit of a mentor, who never failed to give me new insights into the local television industry.
Thus when I heard that he passed away on Saturday evening after battling cancer, I felt a wave of sadness wash over me.
I however took comfort in the tributes made by his fellow television stars like Tay Ping Hui and Eelyn Kok, who like me, were fortunate enough to have known him.
Many said that he was always ready to guide newbies, though I wonder if they knew he had a big influence on people outside the acting fraternity too.
Friend
Apart from being a mentor, Huang was a friend as well.
We would talk about a variety of topics when we had the chance to meet, be it on location during shoots or at media conferences.
He would listen to me lament about the stressful nature of a writing job, and would in turn share stories about how somebody had once impersonated him online, as well as how he would shoot for days on end when he started acting during Singapore television’s formative years.
But what stood out was his thoughts on what it meant to be popular.
“Don’t interview me lah! Interview the younger ones,” Huang would often tell me.
He said that he was comfortable with the fact that he has been superseded by younger stars.
“I don’t expect to win. I’ve been nominated every year since the awards’ inception but have never won,” said Huang with a warm smile, when we spoke in the weeks leading up to the 2011 Star Awards.
Then, something unexpected happened that year.
Actor
Huang won a “Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste Award” for the first time in 2011, after over a decade of constant nominations.
Television cameras showed an exuberant Huang with his trophy.
What they didn’t show was the way he walked with a spring in his step at the after party, virtually running from group to group, being congratulated by friends.
He was all smiles that night, and full of vigour.
He was a far cry from the Huang that appeared at the "30th Drama Anniversary Show" in November last year.
Huang was skinny and appeared a little frail during the three-hour television special to commemorate 30 years of local Mandarin dramas.
He also left quickly after the show, citing medical reasons, and never appeared at any official function after that.
Right up to the end, he never let the media in on his battle with lymphoma.
He even posted an audio clip to reassure his fans he was fine last month.
“I am well … Please do not worry,” said Huang in his audio message, though his voice betrayed signs of fatigue.
What could have made him keep his pain from the public?
Perhaps he wanted people to remember him as the resilient Ah Shui in the iconic television drama “The Awakening”, as the hilarious Ong Kim Lai in the sitcom “Don’t Worry Be Happy”, and as a consummate actor to the end.
I will remember him as a man who was so much more, as someone who always had a kind word and a warm smile, as a mentor, and as a friend.
He will be missed.
- CNA/ha
- wong chee tat :)
Star Awards pays tribute to Huang Wenyong amid outpouring of grief
Star Awards pays tribute to Huang Wenyong amid outpouring of grief
By Han Wei Chou and Evelyn Lam
POSTED: 21 Apr 2013 6:56 PM
Channel 8's Star Awards schedules a special tribute to long-time actor Huang Wenyong as his death from cancer triggers an the outpouring of grief
The Channel 8 actor who hailed from Malaysia joined the fore-runner to MediaCorp (Singapore Broadcasting Corporation) in 1977 at the age of 17.
SINGAPORE: The glitzy “Star Awards Show 1” on Channel 8 slotted in a special segment to pay tribute to veteran MediaCorp actor Huang Wenyong.
Producers of the show revealed plans for the show turnaround in response to the death of Huang less than 24 hours earlier.
The tribute special is expected to leave few dry eyes as there has been an outpouring of grief as news spread of the death of the veteran MediaCorp actor.
The 60-year-old died of lymphoma in hospital on Saturday.
At the wake in Ubi Road, many of those who paid their last respects were Huang's colleagues at MediaCorp.
The actor was diagnosed with cancer in November last year and was undergoing treatment but he kept his condition from many.
MediaCorp artiste Lin Mei Jiao said: "I knew about his condition. But Wenyong is low-profile and didn't want to alarm others, so we gave him privacy. I couldn't bear to lose him, but that's life. We've been friends for so many years."
"My deepest impression of him is, every time he takes me out, he'll make sure he sends me home. He's that responsible as a big brother," said MediaCorp artiste Dennis Chew.
"Wenyong may seem like an introvert, but he'll joke with us occasionally. When I saw him during the 30th Drama Anniversary Show, I asked him why he had lost so much weight. He jokingly told me that's because he's taken on a weight-loss advertisement deal. Wherever he is, he brings joy to those around him," said MediaCorp artiste Chen Shucheng.
Many also went online to leave messages of condolence on platforms, such as Channel NewsAsia's Facebook page.
They said they had grown up watching Huang on various TV shows on MediaCorp's Chanel 8.
- CNA/ir/sf
- wong chee tat :)
By Han Wei Chou and Evelyn Lam
POSTED: 21 Apr 2013 6:56 PM
Channel 8's Star Awards schedules a special tribute to long-time actor Huang Wenyong as his death from cancer triggers an the outpouring of grief
The Channel 8 actor who hailed from Malaysia joined the fore-runner to MediaCorp (Singapore Broadcasting Corporation) in 1977 at the age of 17.
SINGAPORE: The glitzy “Star Awards Show 1” on Channel 8 slotted in a special segment to pay tribute to veteran MediaCorp actor Huang Wenyong.
Producers of the show revealed plans for the show turnaround in response to the death of Huang less than 24 hours earlier.
The tribute special is expected to leave few dry eyes as there has been an outpouring of grief as news spread of the death of the veteran MediaCorp actor.
The 60-year-old died of lymphoma in hospital on Saturday.
At the wake in Ubi Road, many of those who paid their last respects were Huang's colleagues at MediaCorp.
The actor was diagnosed with cancer in November last year and was undergoing treatment but he kept his condition from many.
MediaCorp artiste Lin Mei Jiao said: "I knew about his condition. But Wenyong is low-profile and didn't want to alarm others, so we gave him privacy. I couldn't bear to lose him, but that's life. We've been friends for so many years."
"My deepest impression of him is, every time he takes me out, he'll make sure he sends me home. He's that responsible as a big brother," said MediaCorp artiste Dennis Chew.
"Wenyong may seem like an introvert, but he'll joke with us occasionally. When I saw him during the 30th Drama Anniversary Show, I asked him why he had lost so much weight. He jokingly told me that's because he's taken on a weight-loss advertisement deal. Wherever he is, he brings joy to those around him," said MediaCorp artiste Chen Shucheng.
Many also went online to leave messages of condolence on platforms, such as Channel NewsAsia's Facebook page.
They said they had grown up watching Huang on various TV shows on MediaCorp's Chanel 8.
- CNA/ir/sf
- wong chee tat :)
Value every cabbie to meet taxi availability targets: NTA
Value every cabbie to meet taxi availability targets: NTA
POSTED: 21 Apr 2013 12:16 AM
The National Taxi Association regrets the premature action taken by some taxi operators who have recently informed their drivers that their hiring agreement could cease if they are unable to meet the Taxi Availability standards.
SINGAPORE: The National Taxi Association regrets the premature action taken by some taxi operators who have recently informed their drivers that their hiring agreement could cease if they are unable to meet the Taxi Availability standards.
Advisor to the Association Ang Hin Kee said drivers have been working hard to meet the mileage requirements since the standards were introduced over the last four months.
He said operators should value every driver and not simply pass the blame on drivers who are unable to meet the standards.
The Association has asked the operators and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to develop reasonable incentive schemes to motivate drivers as well as assistance programmes such as helping drivers find relief drivers.
It called on the LTA to play a more proactive role to ensure that taxi drivers are fairly treated as they work to meet the standards.
It also urged operators to instead work alongside drivers so that together, the target can be met.
Since January, cab companies have had to meet new standards for taxi availability.
These include requiring 70 per cent of all taxis - per cab company - to reach a minimum daily mileage of 250 kilometres.
They must also ensure that 70 per cent of the fleet is on the road during the morning and evening peak periods.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 21 Apr 2013 12:16 AM
The National Taxi Association regrets the premature action taken by some taxi operators who have recently informed their drivers that their hiring agreement could cease if they are unable to meet the Taxi Availability standards.
SINGAPORE: The National Taxi Association regrets the premature action taken by some taxi operators who have recently informed their drivers that their hiring agreement could cease if they are unable to meet the Taxi Availability standards.
Advisor to the Association Ang Hin Kee said drivers have been working hard to meet the mileage requirements since the standards were introduced over the last four months.
He said operators should value every driver and not simply pass the blame on drivers who are unable to meet the standards.
The Association has asked the operators and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to develop reasonable incentive schemes to motivate drivers as well as assistance programmes such as helping drivers find relief drivers.
It called on the LTA to play a more proactive role to ensure that taxi drivers are fairly treated as they work to meet the standards.
It also urged operators to instead work alongside drivers so that together, the target can be met.
Since January, cab companies have had to meet new standards for taxi availability.
These include requiring 70 per cent of all taxis - per cab company - to reach a minimum daily mileage of 250 kilometres.
They must also ensure that 70 per cent of the fleet is on the road during the morning and evening peak periods.
- CNA/ck
- wong chee tat :)
IMF steps up calls for Britain to ease austerity drive
IMF steps up calls for Britain to ease austerity drive
POSTED: 21 Apr 2013 8:59 AM
A senior member of the International Monetary Fund added to calls Saturday for Britain to slow the pace of its austerity programme, a day after the country was stripped of its triple-A rating.
LONDON: A senior member of the International Monetary Fund added to calls Saturday for Britain to slow the pace of its austerity programme, a day after the country was stripped of its triple-A rating.
David Lipton, the IMF's first deputy managing director, said the "pace of consolidation" should be reconsidered in light of the weaker than expected British economy.
Earlier this week the IMF cut Britain's growth forecast growth for this year from 1 per cent to 0.7 per cent and lowered its 2014 projection from 1.9 per cent to 1.5 per cent.
"The Fund's view is clear," Lipton told Sky News. "The UK economy has turned out to be somewhat weaker than had been foreseen, so our view is that the pace of consolidation ought to be reconsidered, and we'll want to come and have some discussions over that."
His comments come after ratings agency Fitch lowered Britain's status from AAA to AA+ on Friday, citing a "weaker economic and fiscal outlook".
In response, Britain's coalition government indicated that the downgrade would not alter the path of deep spending cuts set out by finance minister George Osborne.
Fitch's downgrade comes after rival agency Moody's stripped Britain of a triple-A debt rating on February 22, dropping it by one notch. Moody's argued that government debt was still mounting and that growth was too weak to reverse the trend before 2016.
Lipton's remarks add to the pressure from the IMF's chief economist, Olivier Blanchard, who has also urged Britain to lessen the pace of its austerity programme because of the threat of a triple-dip recession.
Official economic data out next week will show whether Britain fell into recession during the first quarter of 2013.
Lipton said it remained "very important" for the British government to continue reducing its debt.
But he added: "The question now is whether the pace is right or too ambitious given the weakness of the economy.
"The key to us, the bottom line to us, is that they may want to consider adjusting the pace of consolidation."
A spokeswoman for Britain's Treasury stressed that Britain is forecast to have stronger growth than France or Germany in 2013. Difficulties in the eurozone were "creating economic headwinds", she added.
"However, as the Chancellor said at the Budget, we are slowly but surely fixing this country's economic problems," she added.
"The deficit is down by a third, a million and a quarter new private sector jobs have been created and, because of the credibility the government has earned, families and businesses are benefiting from near-record low interest rates."
Recent official data revealed that British gross domestic product (GDP) shrank 0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with the previous three months.
Another contraction in the first quarter of 2013 would place Britain in its third recession in under four years.
- AFP/jc
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 21 Apr 2013 8:59 AM
A senior member of the International Monetary Fund added to calls Saturday for Britain to slow the pace of its austerity programme, a day after the country was stripped of its triple-A rating.
LONDON: A senior member of the International Monetary Fund added to calls Saturday for Britain to slow the pace of its austerity programme, a day after the country was stripped of its triple-A rating.
David Lipton, the IMF's first deputy managing director, said the "pace of consolidation" should be reconsidered in light of the weaker than expected British economy.
Earlier this week the IMF cut Britain's growth forecast growth for this year from 1 per cent to 0.7 per cent and lowered its 2014 projection from 1.9 per cent to 1.5 per cent.
"The Fund's view is clear," Lipton told Sky News. "The UK economy has turned out to be somewhat weaker than had been foreseen, so our view is that the pace of consolidation ought to be reconsidered, and we'll want to come and have some discussions over that."
His comments come after ratings agency Fitch lowered Britain's status from AAA to AA+ on Friday, citing a "weaker economic and fiscal outlook".
In response, Britain's coalition government indicated that the downgrade would not alter the path of deep spending cuts set out by finance minister George Osborne.
Fitch's downgrade comes after rival agency Moody's stripped Britain of a triple-A debt rating on February 22, dropping it by one notch. Moody's argued that government debt was still mounting and that growth was too weak to reverse the trend before 2016.
Lipton's remarks add to the pressure from the IMF's chief economist, Olivier Blanchard, who has also urged Britain to lessen the pace of its austerity programme because of the threat of a triple-dip recession.
Official economic data out next week will show whether Britain fell into recession during the first quarter of 2013.
Lipton said it remained "very important" for the British government to continue reducing its debt.
But he added: "The question now is whether the pace is right or too ambitious given the weakness of the economy.
"The key to us, the bottom line to us, is that they may want to consider adjusting the pace of consolidation."
A spokeswoman for Britain's Treasury stressed that Britain is forecast to have stronger growth than France or Germany in 2013. Difficulties in the eurozone were "creating economic headwinds", she added.
"However, as the Chancellor said at the Budget, we are slowly but surely fixing this country's economic problems," she added.
"The deficit is down by a third, a million and a quarter new private sector jobs have been created and, because of the credibility the government has earned, families and businesses are benefiting from near-record low interest rates."
Recent official data revealed that British gross domestic product (GDP) shrank 0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with the previous three months.
Another contraction in the first quarter of 2013 would place Britain in its third recession in under four years.
- AFP/jc
- wong chee tat :)
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Yahoo China to end email service: media
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 :)
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 :)
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 :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)