FAB-FLAVOURS.COM BLOG

Word of mouse: Tips to market your firm online

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:08:00 +0800

TO SAVVY marketers, the Internet is an open frontier, a notice board with potentially unlimited branding opportunities to promote their wares.

But many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) here have yet to fully utilise these Web tools to differentiate themselves, said Mr Philip Lee (picture), small and medium business solutions manager at HP AsiaPacific & Japan’s personal systems group.

Simply having a website is not enough. Given the sheer volume on the Internet, a business needs to cut through “noise”. That means forgetting anything your target customers don’t want to hear.

“The trouble with all this advertising and marketing is that people blank out,” said Mr Lee. “It’s like the first few days of Olympics, and then after a while, I almost felt it wasn’t there until we had some really exciting bits. People start to make things invisible on a rapid and regular basis.”
One suggestion Mr Lee has is for SMEs to engage their customers.

Get happy ones to record amateur videos and spread their messages online. There is no need for big budgets. “Even if it is not professionally done, people may relate better to such imperfection,” said Mr Lee.

BLESSED ARE THE CORRUPT?

In October 2006, the former head of the National Bureau of Statistic was sacked amid speculation that he was linked to the massive pension fund scandal that toppled Shanghai party secretary Chen Liangyu.

Many ordinary Chinese ridiculed Mr Qiu’s comeback, arguing that it had cast serious doubts on their government’s determination in tackling corruption.

As an editorial writer said: “The purpose of China’s anti-corruption efforts is not to drive former convicted officials into direct confrontation with the Party, government and society. Moreover, we will never abandon or bury the talents of an outstanding individual.”

Another added that fallen officials, like everyone else, need a means of livelihood.Others pointed out that given the government’s policy of giving criminals a second chance, Mr Qiu should not be discriminated against simply because he was once a top official.

The Economic Observer, too, threw its weight behind Mr Qiu. It noted that his ability in picking himself up in a short time, and CNOOC’s “anti-traditionalist approach in hiring talent”, all point to “the progress of Chinese society and fully exemplified a China that is getting increasingly more humane”.

While it is true that convicted officials should be encouraged to turn over a new leaf,Mr Qiu’s case is unusual, given his seniority in government. As Mr Zhang Guorong, disciplinary and inspection committee leader at the National Bureau of Statistics, revealed: Mr Qiu’s “problems” began as early as 1993.

But more importantly, allowing Mr Qiu to return to a state company has sent the wrong signal to Chinese citizens anxious to see their government clamp down more effectively on corruption.

Bigger umbrella for more

CHANGES are being proposed to the Employment Act that will, among other things, bring more Singaporeans under its protective umbrella.

The Act now covers about 1.4 million workers and was last reviewed in 1995. But since then, the proportion of those in the ranks of professionals, managers, executives and technicians, as well as the number of contract and services industry workers have grown.
.The National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation have been consulted; from now until Sept 22, the public can give its feedback.

Economy slows, exports to drop

Singapore’s economy expanded at the slowest pace in five years and exports will decline for the first time since 2001.

Last week, the ministry cut its 2008 growth forecast for a second time this year as exports fell and tourist arrivals eased. Singapore’s currency, which climbed to its strongest in more than a decade earlier this year, has since slid and is Asia’s worst performer this quarter amid concern growth will slow further.

Singapore’s economy has so far been partly buffered, because we have been carried along by the vibrancy of the Asian region,” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said last Friday. “But Asian economies are starting to feel the impact of America’s problems, and so are we. We must therefore prepare ourselves for a bumpy year ahead.”

Singapore’s economy contracted for the second time in three quarters, slipping an annualised 6 per cent in the three months to June, compared with a July 10 estimate of a 6.6 per cent drop. It grew a revised 15.7 per cent in the first quarter.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore has maintained an appreciation policy on its exchange rate since April 2004, and this year allowed the currency to rise at a faster pace against the US dollar to combat the highest inflation rate since 1982.

Trick of a treat – those fireworks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:00:00 +0800

BEIJING — As the Olympics opening ceremony last Friday got underway with a dramatic, drummed countdown, viewers watching at home and on giant screens inside the Bird’s Nest National Stadium watched as a series of giant footprints, outlined in fireworks, processed gloriously above Beijing from Tiananmen Square.

What they did not realise was that what they were watching was in fact computer graphics, meticulously created over a period of months and inserted into the coverage electronically at exactly the right moment.

The fireworks were there for real, outside the stadium. But those responsible for filming the extravaganza decided in advance it would be impossible to capture all 29 footprints from the air.

As a result, only the last, visible from the camera stands inside the Bird’s Nest was captured on film.

The trick was revealed in a local Chinese newspaper, the Beijing Times, at the weekend.

Mr Gao Xiaolong, head of the visual effects team for the ceremony, said it had taken almost a year to create the 55-second sequence. Meticulous efforts were made to ensure the sequence was as unnoticeable as possible — they sought advice from the Beijing meteorological office as to how to recreate the hazy effects of Beijing’s smog at night, and inserted a slight camera shake effect to simulate the idea that it was filmed from a helicopter.

“Seeing how it worked out, it was still a bit too bright compared to the actual fireworks,” he said. “But most of the audience thought it was filmed live — so that was mission accomplished.”

One adviser to the Beijing Olympic Committee defended the decision to use make-believe to impress the viewer. “It would have been prohibitive to have tried to film it live,” he said. “We could not put the helicopter pilot at risk by making him try to follow the firework route.”
the right moment.

M’sia warns Christian newspaper of stern action

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:58:00 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR — Muslim-majority Malaysia’s government has accused a Christian newspaper of breaking publication rules by running articles deemed political and insulting to Islam, and warned it of stern action, officials said yesterday.

The reprimand underscores the tenuous position of minorityreligions in multi-ethnic Malaysia. Christians, Buddhists and Hindus complain that their rights are being undermined by government efforts to bolster the status of Islam, the country’sofficial religion.

The Home Ministry sent a letter to the Herald’s publishers warning that its editions in June “committed offences” by highlighting Malaysian politics and currentaffairs.

The letter accused the Herald of carrying an article that “could threaten public peace and national security” because it allegedly “denigrated Islamic teachings”.

The publication is also currently embroiled in a court dispute with the government over a ban on the use of the word “Allah” as a Malay-language translation for “God”.

A ‘Silicon Valley’ buzz in Changi

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:56:00 +0800

WHEN Singapore’s fourth publicly-funded university goes fully operational in Changi in five years’ time, it should feature a Silicon Valley-type buzz.
.Plans are underway to use its permanent location next to Changi Business Park — home to high-tech enterprises and knowledge intensive facilities, as well as industry giants such as IBM and Honeywell — to its advantage.

“In the United States, for example, the industries work very well with universities and they sometimes even share facilities. We think this is one area that we can develop because Changi Business Park is a growing area, and if we build a university there, there are opportunities for industry to have linkages,” said Dr Ng.

Stanford University is one that has benefited from collaborations with nearby techno hub Silicon Valley.

Meanwhile, the new university is set to open its doors to an initial intake of500 students in 2011, at an interim campus yet to be confirmed. This will grow to an annual intake of 2,500.

Its permanent site at Changi — which incorporates the land once earmarked for the University of New South Wales’ Asian campus — is about 22.6 hectares, big enough for hostels and 600 metres from the Expo MRT station.

Drawing up the masterplan for this campus will be a steering committee chaired by Mr Philip Ng Chee Tat, chief executive officer of Far East Organisation. Mr Ng has been involved in the Board of Trustees of the National University of Singapore and the Board of Governors of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School and Republic Polytechnic.

A key task of the committee — which will comprise leaders from academia, industry and the public sector — will be finding the right people to make up the management and Board of Trustees, said Mr Ng.

The committee will also mount a hunt for an interim campus and, importantly, an international search for a university president. “We hope we have somebody named maybe by early next year, certainly by the end of the first half,” said Mr Ng.

Come 2011, the school will focus first on a selection of courses, with more to come later — similiar to how the Singapore Management University started out in 2000. It will offer programmes in Engineering and Applied Science, Business and Information Technology, and Architecture and Design.

Robbery at Trans-Cab headquarters

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:09:00 +0800

AT ABOUT 4.20pm yesterday, a man walked into Trans-Cab’s headquarters with nothing in his hands, but left less than two minutes later with almost $4,500 in cash.

He was last seen driving away in a silver-coloured Toyota taxi, parked outside the Defu Lane compound.

The robbery took place at Trans-Cab’s petrol kiosk, which is situated in front of the company’s premises. The sole pump attendant on duty then, who only wanted to be known asMr Karthik, said a man walked up to him and whipped out a 30-cm-long knife from underneath his shirt.

The man held the knife to Mr Karthik’s neck, before taking the cash in his waist pouch and walking out.

The licence plate of the taxi was reportedly concealed with black tape. Police described the suspect as slim built, fair complexioned, 1.7m tall and in his 30s. He was last seen wearing a grey polo T-shirt and blue jeans.

The compound had no security guards and was tucked away in a corner of Defu industrial estate. Ms Tan said the company would review security measures after yesterday’s incident.

A closed circuit television at the kiosk had apparently captured the suspect during the robbery. Mr Karthik, an Indian national who suffered cuts to his hand, accompanied the police to assist in their investigations.

Police investigations are in progress.

Home-buyers today cautious, but genuine

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:05:00 +0800

SINCE its launch last week, :more than1,000 applications have been received for 578 units at Park Central@AMK, Singapore’s third condominium-style public housing development.

Earlier this year, the pricing of such projects built by private developers had caused a stir.
City View@Boon Keng’s price tag of $520 psf was a record for new public housing flats. More than 3,500 people applied for the 714 units :—: but only 66 per cent actually bought them.

Six months after its launch, 20 per cent of the units remain unsold, said the project’s marketing agent.

But this slower pace of sales “does not mean the market cannot sustain the price”, said Mr :Donald Yeo, executive director of HSR International Realtors. “It’s still very competitive and I believe the prices are still realistic.”

Buyer response had hit fever pitch for the first DBSS development in 2006, when nearly 6,000 people applied for 616 units, :going for around $300 psf, at Premiere@Tampines.

At Park Central, all units come with the look and feel of a private residential home but they cost about 40 per cent less, at$500 per square foot.

The developer did not think the resale flats in the area would pose a threat to sales of Park Central, as many of the resale units are about 10 to 20 years old :— and most home hunters prefer to buy new flats, even at a 10 per cent premium.

Industry players expect prices at the next condo-style public housing project in Bishan to be even higher, partly due to the spike in construction cost.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:47:00 +0800

' SNAP'- SINGAPORE FLYER -'SNAP'

For those who haven't been to the Singapore Flyer, or

have never heard about it....

here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:29:00 +0800

VERY UN-APPETIZING PEPPER CRAB

(photoshot from a banner display sighted at a so-called POSH chinese restaurant)

Is that MUD on the CRAB? No..think it's TAR! EEEKs...

CREAMY (too much butter) BUTTER FLAVOURED CRAB?

WAY TOOOO CREAMY.

TAKE NOTE: NOT SUITED FOR DIABETICS OR THE OVERWEIGHT

SHE PAYS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FAKE LANDLORD

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 8 Jul 2008 22:15:00 +0800

The tenant, who wanted to be known only as Miss Cui, is a 25-year-old Chinese national who is working here as a sales executive. She signed a one-year lease for the master bedroom of a flat in Clementi for a monthly rent of $600. When she complained to the 'landlord', she was shocked to discover the woman was not only a bankrupt, she did not even own the flat.
To top it off, she had to leave when the actual owner evicted her 'landlord' for failing to pay rent and subletting the room.

Now she says she is losing more than $1,500 which she had paid to the 'landlord'.

DIRTY
Miss Cui was soon bothered by the bed bugs.
And there were cockroaches in the kitchen.
The power supply was cut off.
Miss Cui finally learnt the truth when on 13 Apr, the real owner of the flat came with policemen to evict her 'landlord'. She said she left the flat to avoid trouble.

AVOIDED CALLS
A check with the Insolvency & Public Trustee's Office revealed that the 'landlord' is an undischarged bankrupt. 'She has avoided my calls, and I doubt I will get my money back,' she said.

In the event of a dispute between the tenant and landlord, a claim may be lodged at the Small Claims Tribunal.

What's next for property?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 8 Jul 2008 22:12:00 +0800

ARE property prices still on the way up, or are they heading to a slippery slope already?

One property consultant in a news report may say property prices will go up, but another consultant in the same report will probably say that the high prices cannot be sustained in the current climate.

So, who do you believe?

But if you do notice more of the following, you'll know that something is brewing.

* Rentals start dropping
* More homes in the market
* Agents get aggressive
* More units put up for sale
* No one's home?
* Asking prices have dropped. Again.
* Property not moving
* More units put up for rent
* Economic weakness and uncertainty
* Falling wages & rising unemployment

Sanitary pads, egg shells, half-eaten food

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 8 Jul 2008 22:11:00 +0800

SERIAL high-rise litter-bugs have reared their ugly heads again, this time at Block 307D, Anchorville Road in Sengkang.

It started with half-eaten food and other rubbish, but it was a soiled sanitary pad that finally made one resident blow her top.

A housewife, who wanted to be known only as Madam Soh, said her entire day was ruined when she spotted the pad splattered on the ledge of her master bedroom window.

'I saw the pad near the aircon condenser after I woke up that morning. I was very upset and insisted that the town council do something about it,' she said.

PM Lee urges more Singaporeans to donate

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 8 Jul 2008 22:00:00 +0800

Last year, charitable donations to non—profit organisations (Institutions of Public Character) increased by more than 50 per cent to S$820 million.
Every society has to take care of its people, especially the vulnerable groups, said Mr Lee.

"The more they have gained from society, the greater their obligation to give back something to their fellow citizens. They must not allow society to be split between the haves and have—nots, and undermine the whole basis for able people to succeed and create wealth in Singapore," said Mr Lee.

He noted that Singapore has yet to build a strong philanthropic tradition.

For this purpose, the Community Foundation of Singapore has been set up to offer advice to high net worth individuals wishing to support worthy causes.

To date, nearly S$13 million has been raised. The centre has been helping to foster the spirit of giving in Singapore.

This spirit is evident in the many contractor—related and legal services provided free of charge by companies for the completion of the centre’s new premises at Clarke Quay

S’poreans spending up 33% in first month of GSS over last year

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 8 Jul 2008 21:58:00 +0800

Rising costs haven’t dampened the shopping spirit this Great Singapore Sale (GSS), if figures from MasterCard are anything to go by.

Total MasterCard spending for the GSS so far, which includes that from tourists, saw a 27 per cent rise from last year to US$364.6 million.
Consumers spent the most money dining out. Sales were up 38 per cent from the same month compared to last year to US$27.8 million.

The Great Singapore Sale ends on July 20.

Brunch in your pyjamas at novelty Singapore cafe

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 8 Jul 2008 21:56:00 +0800

A Singaporean restaurant is trying to break into the competitive brunch scene by tapping into the wild side of this conservative city-state, hosting pyjama parties and cross-dressing events for Sunday breakfast.

Last month, it was the pyjama brunch, where patrons were invited to turn up in their sleeping finery. As if to lead by example, the staff wore loungewear while owner Jay Hequet took orders in a pyjama top, a sleep mask pulled back into her hair.

Hequet says holding themed parties is aimed at giving Oomphatico's an edge in a crowded market -- and having fun.

"As competitive as brunch may be, people still move towards concepts that they are familiar with," she told Reuters. "They will come because of what they like at Oomphatico's. The entertainment is a part of what they get to experience."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 8 Jun 2008 09:54:00 +0800

Where's Oil Headed?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 8 Jun 2008 09:29:00 +0800

Don't Trust The Data

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 7 Jun 2008 22:30:00 +0800

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 7 Jun 2008 15:37:00 +0800

M’sian taxis among worst in world

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 6 Jun 2008 23:37:00 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR — The service offered by Malaysian taxis (picture) is among the worst in the world, according to a survey by a local magazine.

The survey covered five main aspects, namely the quality of the taxi, drivers’ manners, taxis’ availability on the street, their availability by phone and the drivers’ knowledge of the job. Malaysian taxis scored the lowest in almost every category polled.

Keeping it fresh Water will flow from Marina Barrage to Upper Peirce Reservoir – and vice versa

TO MAKE the Marina Reservoir (picture) created by the Marina Barrage more than just a stagnant body of water, underground drains are going to be built so that water can circulate throughout Singapore’s water channels, keeping the lake fresh.

This project — called the Marina Reservoir Recirculation Scheme :— was one of several tender announcements made by PUB yesterday, at the Singapore International Water Week Water Expo.

When completed in 2010, water from Upper Peirce Reservoir will be released into the new drainage channels leading to various tributaries, which then lead to Marina Reservoir. This will complement the pipe that will pump water from Marina Reservoir, already under construction, into Upper Peirce Reservoir, allowing water to circulate between the two reservoirs.

S’porean consumers most confident: Survey

SHOP till you drop: It’s a mantra the Singaporean shopper takes seriously even in times of economic uncertainty.
.
The latest results of a twice-yearly survey released yesterday show that consumers in Singapore are the most optimistic in the Asia-Pacific region about the economic outlook for the second half of this year.
.
According to the MasterCard Worldwide Index of Consumer Confidence, Singaporean consumers have never been as optimistic as they have been since the first half of 2000.

That confidence has been reflected in the strong 7.5-per-cent jump in retail SHOP till you drop: It’s a mantra the Singaporean shopper takes seriously even in times of economic uncertainty.

China economy could be starting slowdown

China's economic growth will slow to 10.4 percent this year, likely marking the start of a slowdown which could take several years, according to a new report released on Monday.

The report from People's University in Beijing, in tandem with Shanghai firm Donghai Securities, said China will face challenges ahead from the weakening global economy.

"The slowdown in the global economy and rising inflation are essentially signs of an adjustment in the global economic cycle," said the report, which was published in the official China Securities Journal.

China's gross domestic product expanded by 10.6 percent in the first three months of 2008 from a year earlier, easing from 11.9 percent for the full year of 2007.

"The slowdown in economic growth in 2008 is not short-term temporary adjustment, it's the beginning of a downward section in the cycle," Liu Yuanchun, an economist with the university, told the paper.

The report expected China's consumer inflation rate to stand at 7.1 percent in 2008, sharply up from 4.8 percent in 2007.

The trade surplus this year is seen at 258.8 billion dollars, shrinking from 262.2 billion in 2007, the report said, citing a decrease in external demand and a stronger domestic currency as the main reasons. — AFP

Oil price hits record $139.89

The price of crude oil struck a record high point of 139.89 dollars a barrel on Monday even as Saudi Arabia is said to be preparing to increase output.

New York main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for July delivery, beat its all-time high of 139.12 dollars recorded on June 6. — AFP

Avoid Asian emerging markets

INVESTORS should trim their exposure to stocks, especially in Asian emerging markets, as accelerating inflation increases the risk of higher interest rates and lower earnings, according HSBC Holdings’ market strategists.

HSBC cut its rating on equities in global developed markets to “neutral” from “overweight” and lowered its recommended holdings in Asian emerging markets to zero, according to asset-allocation strategists led by Richard Cookson. They advised investors to raise their cash holdings to11 per cent from 6 per cent previously.

“The message that the developed world’s central bankers are delivering is becoming clearer: growth might be suffering, but they are more concerned about inflation,” the strategists wrote. “If rates are put up to wring inflation out of the system, growth is likely to suffer further and profits with it.”

The Reserve Bank of India this week unexpectedly raised interest rates for the first time in 15 months, joining central banks in Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia in increasing borrowing costs this month. The MSCI Emerging Markets Asia Index has slumped 17 per cent this year, compared with a 9.9 per cent loss in the MSCI Asia Pacific Index and an 8.9 per cent drop in the MSCI World Index.

Emerging Asian markets may extend their losses because accelerating inflation makes the shares expensive, said the strategists, who had previously recommended that investors place 2.5 per cent of their assets in the region’s emerging markets. They also cut their recommended asset allocation in global equities to 54.5 per cent from 59.5 per cent, in part because of a slowdown in earnings growth, according to the report.

Crude oil prices surged 3.9 per cent to US$136.38 a barrel in New York on Wednesday.

“Surging consumer prices will curb consumption and spending, which has underpinned domestic growth in this region,” said Mr Leslie Phang of Schroders. “Rising producer prices will also hurt corporate profits.”
Goldman Sachs on June 2 cut its rating on Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, citing the outlook for earnings as economic growth slows and consumer prices soar.

In Vietnam, consumer prices surged 25.2 per cent from a year earlier in May, the fastest inflation since at least 1992. That prompted the State Bank of Vietnam to raise its base rate on Tuesday to 14 per cent from 12 per cent to rein in inflation. Central banks in the Philippines and Indonesia increased their key borrowing rates on June 5.

The VN Index, which tracks 151 companies on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, has plunged 60 per cent this year. The Philippines Stock Exchange Index has lost 29 per cent this year, while the Jakarta Composite Index has declined 14 per cent.

“Emerging Asia looks in a frightful pickle,” the HSBC strategists wrote in the report. “Inflation looks a very real problem in Asia and the risk, as we’ve said before, is that investors lose faith in the region’s currencies.” — BLOOMBERG Bank warns against investing in such markets inthe face of rising inflation

Bringing the hospital into the homeThe private provider, founded in 2002, is the first Ministry of Health-licenced clinic specialising in home care. For a fee, patients can enjoy a “hospital at home” one-stop service.

MW Medical’s network of medical services includes 24-hour island-wide home visits by doctors, nurses or therapists. It currently has a team of over 15 personnel.

The clinic also provides, for sale or rent, home aids and medical apparatus such as wheelchairs, hospital beds and oxygen concentrators.

A service, called mobilehealth, even allows patients to undergo health screening at home. Using a range of mobile medical devices, patients can go through physical examinations, such as blood tests, X-rays and mammograms.

The home care services the company is offering certainly caters to an expanding elderly population, said Dr Chew. For instance, it addresses mobility problems and provides customised treatments based on the home environment.

MW Medical sees over 60 consultations per week, with 65 per cent of them elderly. Common treatments are for multiple chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension as well as oncology cases.

The clinic, however, has also noticed that more tourists and younger workers are seeking its services. A doctor’s visit would set you back between $200 and $350, while a nurse’s visit costs from $75.

When cost is a constraint, voluntary welfare organisations (VWO) offering home care is another alternative. Most offer a graded charging scheme, ranging from free to $200, based on household income.

One example of a VWO home care service would be Tsao Foundation’s Hua Mei Mobile Clinic. It provides routine medical, nursing and social service for homebound elderly. Prices are based on a case-by-case basis.

Private homecare services are usually provided on an ad-hoc basis for anyone. For example, private general practitioner Dr Choo Wei Chieh runs a 24-hour, island-wide service called TheHouseCallGP.

While he is a solo act, Dr Choo will link up with other private nurses or therapists if needed. When hospital visits are difficult,home care can help – at a cost.

Bogus landlord who made off with deposits nabbed

OVER a span of two months, he duped people into believing he was renting out his flat and then made off with the rental deposits.

Although he never returned to his three-room flat in Commonwealth Drive, the law finally caught up with the 46-year-old unemployed man. Police nabbed him during an ambush at Causeway Point on Tuesday night.

At least 11 potential tenants and housing agents had fallen for his scam since March, parting with between $150 and $3,000 each. All of them were Singaporeans or Permanent Residents.

The bogus “landlord” would advertise in the newspapers and approach housing agents to rent out his unit, police said.

When victims contacted him, he handed over his house keys and photocopies of his identity card and flat conservancy booklet, as a ruse to gain their trust. As a result, most handed over the rental deposit without asking to view the flat.

But after pocketing the money, the man disappeared. Yesterday, Commander of Clementi Police Division Superintendent Ng Yeow Boon commended his officers for successfully solving the case and preventing others from falling prey to the scam.

The man will be charged in court today for cheating, which carries a maximum seven-year jail term and a fine upon conviction.

Now in the NDP spotlight

FOR YEARS, they have sat on the sidelines of the National Day Parade, supporting the event with their music.

Finally, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Band will take centre stage by leading this year’s march-in of the 28 contingents — a feature not seen since the 1980s.

Now, the pressure is on them to their best, said SAF Central Band music director Captain Muhd Yusri Md Ali: “It’s a national event, and we want to make sure we do our best. But it’s more pride than pressure.”

The band, a mix of full-time national servicemen and regulars, will be performing “full-force”, he added. Other than increasing their trumpeters from 12 to 18, some 60 members will be involved in the pre-parade and 40 in the march-in.

Besides having the SAF band up front and centre, the organisers are planning to bring various elements of the Parade much closer to the audience at the Marina Bay floating platform. For example, the National Flag will be flown just 250 metres from the centre of the gallery.

All this, so “audiences can hear and see better, and feel the pulse of the parade,” said NDP 2008 parade and ceremony committee chairman Colonel Loh Kean Wah: “You can even smell the gunpowder!”

He hopes to bring in a “very multi-sensory feel” to this year’s Parade, which begins at 6.15pm on Aug 9 with the hour-long ceremony segment.

Ending the Parade and marking the start of the show segment will be a six-minute aerobatic display, against the backdrop of the city skyline, by the RSAF Black Knights.

There were challenges because of the Marina Bay skyline, said chairman of air participation Colonel Ho Foo Sing, but “it’s not about the difficulty, it’s about adjusting to (a different location)”.

Also making a return is a 380-strong combined school choir, who were missing last year and who have been brought back to sing four songs — three of which will be theme songs from previous years — in Singapore’s official languages.

Ticket collection is from tonorrow to June 22, at Marina Bay’s multi-purpose Function Room 2, from 9am to 9pm.

Helipad : For Clubbers

The latest incarnation is the Helipad, a two-storey bar with a rooftop big enough to land a chopper, set to have its soft launch today.

It’s like a cross between the Liquid Room and Sound Bar, a nice pre-party place for people to hang out before heading to clubs.”

Located on the fifth floor of The Central mall and office building on Eu Tong Sen Street, the 3,000-sq-ft rooftop helipad is emblazoned with a huge lit-up letter H on the floor. We suspect it can be spotted even from the moon.

It has a breath-taking view of the bustling nightlife across the river at Clarke Quay, but if it gets a little nippy while sipping your favourite tipple, head downstairs to the main lounge bar to warm up.

As you step in from the main entrance you are greeted by nifty lighting that follows your every step like in Michael Jackson’s :Billie Jean: video. There’s also a giant metallic octopus-like structure on the ceiling with tentacles spreading across the bar.

In the centre is a conic elevated DJ console with a plush :faux: leather sofa wrapped around it. Making irritating song requests to DJs has never been easier.

Over at the jade green marble bar, the modest cocktail menu is excellent. The Helipad Ice Tea, a Blue Curacao-take on the Long Island Iced Tea, should get you flying. The Elixir of Life is also another hard-hitting winner with its refreshingly sweet-and-sour concoction of vodka, chardonnay, lime juice, and gingerbread syrup. Standard housepour drinks are reasonably-priced and a decent list of champagnes.

Global Roundup : Al Qaeda claims attack on Danish embassy in Islamabad

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 6 Jun 2008 23:33:00 +0800

Al Qaeda claimed to have carried out Monday’s suicide attack on the Danish embassy in Islamabad, which left at least six dead, said SITE – :a group monitoring Islamic militant Internet websites.

The attack was said to be in revenge for Danish newspaper :cartoons insulting the Prophet Mohammed, according to statements posted on Islamic militant forums:.

“One of the heroes of ‘Qaedatal-Jihad’ carried out a suicide operation on the morning of Monday,” said the statement signed by one of Al Qaeda’s leaders, Mustafa Abu Al Yazid. — AFP

Fuel hike sparks fury in M’sia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 6 Jun 2008 23:24:00 +0800

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KUALA LUMPUR — Less than 24 hours after the Malaysian government announced a hefty hike in petrol prices, the public backlash has started — piling further pressure to beleaguered Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Apart from street demonstrations held yesterday, opposition groups are also planning a more sustained, five-week campaign against the 40-per-cent petrol hike. And Mr Abdullah’s political rivals, including former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, lost no time in criticising the price hikes.

Protes, an anti-inflation coalition of opposing parties and non-governmental groups, announced that demonstrations against the increase will take place in each Malaysian state, starting with Negri Sembilan on June 14, which will peak in a mass demonstration in Kuala Lumpur, the capital, on July 12.

"We are hoping for 100,000 people to turn up. We want the government to revert to yesterday’s price,” said Mr Hatta Ramli, the protest co-ordinator and a Parti Islam SeMalaysia lawmaker.

In many parts of the country, long lines of vehicles formed at petrol stations overnight to fill up before midnight when the new pricing came into effect and brawls broke out as some motorists tried to jump the queue.
Prime Minister Abdullah :—: who said the revised prices could save the government RM13.7 billion :—: has urged the people to remain calm and not take to the streets.

Dr Mahathir said Malaysia can still afford subsidies as Petronas, the state oil company, is making good profits from strong global oil prices, while high commodity prices for such exports as palm oil and rubber have boosted government revenues.

“I believe the people expect the increase of petrol price. But what they are angry about is the quantum and the suddenness. ... If the increase had been more gradual, the people would not feel it so much,” Dr Mahathir said.

Malaysia’s stocks, bonds and currency fell yesterday amid concerns that the price hikes would push inflation, slow consumer spending and hurt economic growth.

A number of Malaysians appeared resigned to the cut in fuel subsidies.

AVA monitoring Tyson chicken products

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 6 Jun 2008 23:20:00 +0800

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News broke on Tuesday that the US meat company would cull the chickens in north-west Arkansas that had been exposed to a mild strain of bird flu, the H7N3. The company also said it will test other flocks in the area for bird flu. Affected chickens will not enter the food supply.

THE Singapore Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) is keeping an eye on the situation following reports, out of the United States, that Tyson Foods has begun culling 15,000 chickens that had been exposed to a mild strain of avian flu in Arkansas.

An AVA spokesperson said Singapore imported 289 tonnes of Tyson chicken products this year.

“We are monitoring the situation and are in close contact with our counterparts,” he said. “Only chicken that are safe to eat and free from bird flu are allowed to be imported into Singapore.”

News broke on Tuesday that the US meat company would cull the chickens in north-west Arkansas that had been exposed to a mild strain of bird flu, the H7N3. The company also said it will test other flocks in the area for bird flu. Affected chickens will not enter the food supply.

Director of the state’s Livestock and Poultry Commission, Mr Jon Fitch, told the Associated Press the birds tested positive for exposure to the H7N3 strain — not the H5N1 strain that ravaged Asian poultry stocks in late 2003 and has killed 241 people worldwide.

“There is absolutely no human health threat,” he said. “The speculation at this point in time was that a large group of Canadian geese made home on a pond very near this facility.”

Meanwhile, in central England, an outbreak of the H7 strain of bird flu at a farm has been described by officials as “highly pathogenic” :— meaning the virus has a relatively high ability to produce disease.

All the chickens on the farm have been slaughtered following detection of the virus, which does not pose a high risk to humans.

Nevertheless, Japan announced it was suspending imports of poultry from Britain. Singapore has already suspended import of poultry from the UK.
15,000 chickens culled after being exposed to mild strain of H7N3 virus in Arkansas.

Alcohol cuts risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 6 Jun 2008 23:18:00 +0800

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People who drink alcohol are less prone to the sometimes crippling disease called rheumatoid arthritis compared with non-drinkers, according to a Scandinavian study published on Wednesday.

People who had a moderate alcohol consumption were 40 and 45 percent less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis compared with people who did not drink or drank only occasionally, it found.

Among those who had a high consumption, the risk was reduced by 50 and 55 percent respectively.

Most surprising was that the biggest benefits were seen among smokers with a genetic profile known to make them vulnerable to the disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects between 0.5 and one percent of people, according to figures for the industrialised world.

It happens when the immune system attacks the joints, causing inflammation and damage to the cartilage and bone. A mixture of environmental factors, especially smoking, and genetic heritage are the deemed causes of the disease.

Doctors advising patients about the disease say they should urge smokers to kick tobacco, but not necessarily to stop consumption of alcohol in moderate quantities.

High consumption of alcohol, while apparently protective for rheumatoid arthritis, is itself linked with many other health problems.

Malaysia defends fuel hike but worried over job losses

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 6 Jun 2008 23:12:00 +0800

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A Malaysian minister on Friday defended the country's 41-percent fuel price hike, in the face of public anger and street protests, but said no further increases were likely in the near future.

"I think it is wise, this is the first time we have come to grips with the subsidy system," Domestic Trade Minister Shahrir Samad said of this week's unpopular decision to cut extensive fuel subsidies.

"It is only natural that groups will take advantage of this," he said. "Situations like this are always available as opportunities for our political enemies."

"For now it will remain at the 2.70 level because if we keep changing the price, it would be difficult to administrate the returning of subsidies." — AFP

Oil prices rocket close to record heights near 135 dollars

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 6 Jun 2008 23:11:00 +0800

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A derrick is seen in front of the Chevron Oronite oil additives manufacturing facitlity in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. Oil prices were catapulted close to record levels near 135 dollars per barrel as traders reacted to fresh weakness in the US currency after negative data on the American economy.