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This is our D Prime Minister talking leh. His argument very spot-on and direct. I feel safe and see much future in Singapore. My future so bright....I got to wear shades! I hope those non-average singaporeans are feeling ok too. Just have to buy smaller house(or stay with parents) and take MRT it will be ok! http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/...429-342813.html DPM Tharman: Average S'porean won't feel the sharp effects of inflation The average Singapore will not feel the effects of a sharp inflation, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said today in a speech at this year's May Day dinner. He acknowledged that the 5.2 per cent increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March 2012 compared to a year ago, was a "high figure". But more than half of this inflation rate of 5.2 per cent comes from higher COE premiums on cars and the effect of higher market rents on homes, the Manpower Minister said. So those who already own their homes and are not buying a new car will be unaffected. In fact for most Singaporeans, inflation in actual household expenses is lower than 5 per cent. Mr Tharman explained that the increase in prices of daily necessities and essential services, such as food, clothing and footwear, and education, has actually been much more moderate, at 3.0 per cent or lower. Nevertheless the Government is closely monitoring the situation, including prices of everyday goods and services, Mr Tharman said. Inflation remains an important challenge and it is also one that union leaders are most concerned about, he said. The Monetary Authority of Singapore has been gradually strengthening the value of the Singapore dollar to reduce the impact of imported inflation. Actions have also been taken to cool the property market as an overheated property market with inflated property prices, while by themselves not part of the CPI, can drive up other prices.

Man Sues BMW After Motorcycle Gives Him An Erection That Won

Very very powerful squeeze on the balls! RIP. http://chinanews24.net/2012/04/woman-kills...arking-dispute/ A female scooter rider killed a man by squeezing his testicles over a parking dispute, in Haikou City, Hainan Province, China. The 41 years old woman rode her scooter to an elementary school in Meilan District, to pick up her child. When she tried to park her scooter in front of a shop, she was rejected by the 42-year-old male shop owner. The two parties soon fell into a quarrel, and then the physical confrontation began. The furious woman called up her husband and brother to come help her, which resulted in a fight. During the fight, the middle aged woman managed to grab the man

Looks like Car camera is the new Voyeur gadget! Wednesday, Apr 11, 2012 The New Paper Meet the new traffic 'witness' By Rennie Whang Watch it - because you're being watched. Not only on cameras set up by police at traffic junctions and on the streets but, increasingly, in cars. One motorist, sales executive Goh Keng Guan, 40, has installed cameras in his and four of his family's cars. One in 50 car insurance claims is now accompanied by video evidence, double that of a year ago, said Mr Pan Jing Long, head of general insurance at Aviva Singapore. Distributors reported that demand for vehicle cameras has been increasing by between 15 and 50 per cent yearly. In the past week alone, in-car camera videos from two accidents were posted on YouTube, citizen journalism website Stomp and other forums (see below for pictures). Last Tuesday morning, a cabby's camera captured a 66-year-old woman, Madam Chan Ah Ying, being knocked down and killed by a bus in Sengkang while she was crossing a traffic light junction. The following night, footage from the aftermath of an accident - a cyclist trapped under a car at Jalan Bukit Merah - was posted on YouTube. The motorist who posted the second video said that he is always on the lookout for newer technologies that would allow him to capture his surroundings, especially while on the road. It all started when he posted photos on Stomp of a Nissan Skyline which had knocked down a woman at Beach Road in September 2010. The 37-year-old motorist, who wanted to be known only as JT, said: "The accident was fatal and I felt for that poor woman. "If I had video footage, it would perhaps have helped the police to prove that the driver involved was indeed racing with another Audi car that disappeared from the scene." He then bought an in-car video recorder for S$299 to be his "witness" on the road. He said: "I hope that I never have to use it but these days, you can never be sure. As safe as you are as a driver, there are a lot more inconsiderate and reckless drivers out there. "The guilty party should never get away with it while the innocent ones should not be framed." Another motorist, Mr Alvin Ng, 34, has become a firm "film buff" after an incident on an expressway last April. The other driver cut in front of Mr Ng's Honda Stream and jammed his brakes. After the accident, the other motorist tried to claim S$18,000 from MrNg's insurance company for medical bills and S$12,000 for repairs to his car. The case has yet to be settled. Said Mr Ng: "That was a very bad experience for me. It left a sour taste in my mouth." When the civil servant bought a new Peugeot 407 two weeks later, he immediately installed a camera. "If I had a camera, it would have been very obvious that he was trying to provoke me," he said. Three insurance companies contacted by The New Paper said that while video evidence is not required in submitting claims, it is useful in assessing liability. Mr Pui Phusangmook, general manager of the general insurance division of NTUC Income, said the company would ask policyholders if they have such evidence to support their claims. "The rule of thumb is that the more evidence there is, the more accurate the reports will be," he said. In-car video cameras A spokesman for insurance firm Etiqa said it encourages policyholders to install in-car video cameras. He said: "With the recorded footage, we are not only able to view how accidents occur but also information like the exact location, road and weather condition." The cameras cost between S$100 and S$400. Mr Marcus Tan, director of Eureka Plus - which sells the MARC car camera - said technology has vastly improved in the five years since it started selling in-car cameras. Previous cameras would even be in black and white, or just 320 pixels, as compared to the present high definition models, he said. Increasing awareness and affordability have also led to the increase in demand for in-car cameras, said MsAmy Hoi, business development executive at Bio-Cognitive Solutions, which offers the Recodia dual-channel camera. She said: "When we first started out more than two years ago, it was s$380 for a single camera car recorder. Now, the prices for our single and dual camera car recorders are from $290 to $399." Distributors said the cameras are also helpful in vandalism cases. Mr Gary Chia, product manager of Wow! Gadgets, said customers would install one to four camera units per car - with victims of vandalism installing three or four units to ensure all angles were covered. In the first three months this year, at least five customers have caught vandals with the company's BlackVue cameras, he claimed. A motorist, who wanted to be known as Mr Goh, installed a camera last December after his car was scratched. 'It's about being protected' "It's about being protected. This camera can do a lot of things - if people break in, if people hit and run, if they knock your car while parking, I'm able to get the offender," he said. Just last month, a car hit Mr Goh's Volkswagen GTI and drove off. Even if Mr Goh had failed to catch up with the driver, he needn't have worried as his in-car camera captured the other car's licence plate number. Lawyer Gloria James of Gloria James-Civetta & Co said footage from these cameras has been increasingly showing up in court, compared to two years ago. She said: "During prosecution, if the 'victim' feels that the investigation officer (IO) is not proceeding to charge the 'accused', this footage evidence has to be mentioned and produced to the IO. "It can be produced at the Magistrate's Complaint Stage too." On the other hand, if an IO does not take footage evidence into consideration and an accused is charged, he can opt to claim trial and produce this evidence, she said. Footage evidence can also be used to prosecute aperson. Ms James cited one client who had a tailgater flashing his high beams and pursuing him for almost 10 minutes. Her client called the traffic police, produced the video and the tailgater was issued with a warning. But lawyer Patrick Yeo of KhattarWong cautioned that evidence could cut both ways. He said: "If a person has a camera and chooses not to present footage to the court, the court will ask him about it, as he's not giving full disclosure." But even if the camera doesn't capture accidents or vandals, users like Mr Terence Kang are happy. Said the 41-year-old sales executive who installed a camera in his Toyota Vios three weeks ago: "It reminds me to be a safer driver. Before installation, I didn't care about cutting in front of other cars. "Knowing the camera is there capturing my car's every move, I'm more careful. Really, it's for the protection of myself and other drivers out there."

I am very happy to read this news....HUAT AH. Cab drivers earning more after fare hike Cab drivers took home up to 30 per cent more in earnings since the recent fare hike last December, reported The Straits Times. ComfortDelGro, one of the largest taxi operators in Singapore with about 15,600 taxis, said that the average net income per cab per day rose by up to 12 per cent to $210.93. This is up from $188.69 in November - before the fare increase - and excludes expenses such as rental and diesel which the drivers have to bear. The increase amounts to a monthly income of $5,906, based on 28 days, or about $2,953 per driver per shift, reported the newspaper. ComfortDelGro spokesman Tammy Tan said that the company saw a steady rise in net income from November 2011 to March 2012. Trans-Cab, which is the second largest operator with about 4,400 taxis, told The Straits Times that its drivers also saw a 20 to 30 per cent increase in earnings. Cabbies who are on a single shift - meaning those without relief drivers - earn about $3,200 a month now, while those who are a cab with a relief driver earn an average of $2,500 to $2,800 a month, said Trans-Cab general manager Jasmine Tan. Third biggest operator with about 3,200 cabs, SMRT Corp, declined to comment, citing privacy of drivers. Changes in taxi fares were introduced last December. This includes an increase by 20 cents in flagdown fare, advance booking charges were raised from $5.20 to $8, and peak periods were extended. Due to the changes, a typical cab ride during the peak period rose by about 30 per cent, causing an initial decrease in passenger numbers. Cabbies had lamented that business had dropped by as much as 30 per cent within the first couple of week. However, Trans-Cab cabby Joseph Ho, 52, said that 'people have accepted the fare increase' and demand has stabilised since. Although he did not reveal how much he is making now, he said that it is easier to get customers now, even during peak hours. "Not everybody will see the same increase in earnings. "It depends on the individual driver. In this job, you must love driving, and you must be hard-working," said Mr Ho. Comfort cab driver Tony Pang, 62, told The Straits Times that the fare adjustment had helped him a lot. "Life is better now. Our takings have generally gone up...but just by 5 to 10 per cent." However, industry observers noted that if operating costs continue to rise, the gains from the improved earnings might eventually be eroded. Diesel pump price has climbed by close to 10 per cent from a year ago to $1.74 a litre before discount today. Taxi companies are also replacing ageing cabs with bigger and more luxurious models which command higher rentals. Such costs will have an impact on a cabby's earnings, noted industry observers. [email protected]

[extract] When a country

Business Times - 11 Apr 2012 You may have to splash out more for that M'sian property KL could raise floor price for foreigners purchasing homes By PAULINE NG IN KUALA LUMPUR SINGAPOREANS looking to buy properties in Malaysia may see the bar raised. Malaysia is mulling a two-fold increase to the floor price of residential properties purchased by foreigners in a bid to prevent prices from spiralling too rapidly. The possibility of a revision to existing guidelines to raise the minimum price to RM1 million (S$417,000) from RM500,000 was flagged by The Star. In a report yesterday, the local daily cited unnamed sources as saying that the measure was 'in the pipeline', with a forthcoming announcement to be made by Nor Mohamed Yakcop, minister in the Prime Minister's department heading the Economic Planning Unit. It did not say when it would be implemented. One of the sources told The Star that selected growth corridors such as Iskandar Malaysia might be less affected by the proposal, in that a lesser minimum threshold might be applied - RM800,000 for example - to assist with their development success. The government has continued to come under pressure over affordability issues despite recent measures to cool the property market. Pushing the floor price up for foreign buyers - especially in landed properties - could be a welcome move in the eyes of young middle-class Malaysians frustrated with soaring real estate prices when starting salaries have advanced little in two decades. Many believe that foreigners have little difficulty stumping out RM500,000 for homes because their currencies tend to be much stronger. Property consultants say they were aware of the possibility of the new rules, but believe that the move is still at the proposal stage. 'It's a flyer to check public response. Not all states will agree,' Malaysia Property Inc chief executive Kumar Tharmalingam told BT. Foreign buyers of Malaysian property come mainly from China, Singapore, Japan and South Korea, the newspaper said. Even so, foreigners only account for an estimated 2 per cent of the residential market which saw robust growth last year. The volume and value of properties sold last year was the highest in the past five years, according to the Property Market Report 2011 by the Finance Ministry's Valuation and Property Services Department, rising by 19 and 22 per cent respectively from a year ago. Landed property remain popular. They recorded the biggest jump in prices last year, with link houses in Kuala Lumpur registering gains of 8-13 per cent, according to the 2011 property report. Following a revision in lending guidelines this year that benchmark an applicant's criteria to meet his loan obligations against his net rather than gross income, bankers and property players have reported slower loan applications and a softer market, with the rejection rate estimated at 20 per cent. Some reckon that the central bank ought to have tightened lending criteria a year or two ago as ample liquidity and easy credit terms encouraged speculators to buy with a view to flipping the properties before the payments were due. Owing to high take-up rates, developers continued to build and to raise prices. But going by the assortment of auction notices found around the suburbs, many borrowers appear to have defaulted on their loans, especially those taken for apartments.

they recommend expensive "holiday spot"...expensive "eating spot"....etc etc....computer got virus...bring to computer shop...those behind the ariticles all seem to be having alot of "$$$$"....even what they call cheap isn't really that "cheap" !!! anyone notice or feel the same ????

HIgh end, completed, leased out 28 March 2012 Straits Times A SIGNIFICANT number of recently built new homes, many of them luxury units, are languishing unsold, as wealthy potential buyers watch nervously as global economic confidence ebbs and flows. Ever pragmatic, developers have turned to a logical solution to keep the cash coming in: They are leasing out unsold apartments at projects that have been completed. This way, the developers earn some income until buying confidence returns to this elite part of the market. About 25 projects have at least 10 units unsold, and a large number are upscale projects in the prime districts of 9, 10 and 11, which include the Orchard, River Valley, Bukit Timah and Tanglin areas. The figures were released by property consultancy Savills Singapore, and were based on an analysis of the Urban Redevelopment Authority's fourth-quarter data. Projects with units remaining unsold include Reflections at Keppel Bay, with 290 units unsold; Hilltops in Cairnhill Circle, with 208 units; Scotts Square in Scotts Road, with 74 units; and The Clift in McCallum Street, with 63 units available as at the end of last month. While upmarket homes were very popular with buyers with the means to buy them during the boom of 2007, the segment has been quiet in recent years, with prices languishing below their peaks and sales slowing to a trickle. City Developments Limited (CDL) is one developer that has chosen the leasing option. It said that last year it stopped active marketing for its 228-unit The Residences at W Singapore Sentosa Cove and diverted its efforts towards leasing instead. The project has 207 unsold units. A spokesman said CDL is awaiting the completion of the 240-room W Singapore Sentosa Cove Hotel and the retail component of the Quayside Isle Promenade in August before ramping up its publicity campaigns for The Residences at W. 'When completed, the Quayside Isle will be home to trendy cafes, fine dining restaurants, speciality shops and entertainment spots and bars,' he added. Keppel Land also said last week that 154 unsold units at Reflections will be set aside as corporate residences while the remaining 136 will be open to buyers. The average rent for these fully furnished units is about $9,500 a month. But Keppel said that the decision to set aside units for corporate leasing at Reflections followed a similar move at its previous project, the 969-unit Caribbean at Keppel Bay completed in 2004, where about 170 units were earmarked for lease. More than 200 units were still unsold when the project was completed. These units were sold many years after completion at a higher price, as the market moved up, benefiting the company. However, not all developers are jumping on the leasing bandwagon. KOP Properties chief executive Leny Suparman said the company has no plans to lease out the remaining units at its 58-unit The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Cairnhill Road, with 39 units unsold. 'The project has been completed for less than six months, and we are continuing to receive much interest from buyers. Therefore, we are not considering leasing at this point,' she added. Experts add that some developers prefer to keep their unsold apartments empty, as some wealthy buyers prefer purchasing brand-new units. But Mr Ong Kah Seng, director at consultancy R'ST Research, said the leasing out of unsold units is 'feasible', especially in a weakened market where the rental income can partially defray holding costs or delays in developer sales proceeds. This is typically an option if the developer expects market sentiment for the segment to remain cool for more than six to nine months. A lease of less than one year can then be considered, he added. Mr Alan Cheong, director of research and consultancy at Savills, said that if a developer had already recovered its costs but saw further sales to be challenging, it may consider leasing instead to maintain a good cash flow. 'Developers can't cut prices,

Michael Schumacher was optimistic that Mercedes could carry its qualifying form into the Malaysian Grand Prix after securing his best starting spot since returning to Formula 1 as he went third quickest at Sepang. The seven-time world champion was beaten only by the two McLarens, and held a provisional front row spot until deposed by an improvement from Jenson Button. Mercedes ran third and fourth early in the Australian GP but struggled with high tyre degradation. Schumacher was halted by an early gearbox failure, while his team-mate Nico Rosberg dropped down the order before a last-lap collision with Sergio Perez's Sauber consigned him to 12th. Asked if he was worried about another slump in race pace on Sunday, Schumacher replied: "I guess all of us have certain concerns because these temperatures are pretty new to us. "We had some preparation yesterday. We have done a decent job. We have learned a lesson in Australia, reacted and the boys in factory have done a great job so I am looking forward to tomorrow." He added: "I feel good about it and we have chosen a car that should work better in the race - that is the situation that I hope will play out tomorrow." Schumacher said that no matter what happened in the race, Mercedes' pace so far in both Australia and Malaysia proved it was in substantially better shape than a year ago. "It is quite an achievement to see who is behind us," he said. "We still have to catch up a bit forward. "We are reasonably close, not miles away like we were last year so it is up to us to have a good development programme, work methodically and stay focused and let's see what the season will bring us." http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98322

Can blame NS? http://www.edvantage.com.sg/edvantage/news...el_results.html

Breaking News PM Lee to call for Hougang by-elections; timing of polls not decided yet

not sure what makes this woman police report so important that the police is able to track down this man down so necessary and promptly. AsiaOne Saturday, Mar 10, 2012 SINGAPORE - Police arrested a 57-year-old man on Friday for molesting a woman in an MRT train. He is alleged to have molested the 25-year-old victim at Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station on March 5. She made a police report the next day. Police established the identity of the suspect and arrested him three days later at Whampoa West. Investigations are ongoing. If found guilty, he faces a jail term of up to two years or with fine or with caning or with any combination of the three punishments.

http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/...217-328588.html Special tax lowered for Euro V-compliant diesel cars The revised tax structure will result in savings of nearly 70 per cent for owners. -AsiaOne Fri, Feb 17, 2012 AsiaOne The Government will lower the annual special tax on diesel passenger cars, Minister of Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam said in his FY2012 Budget Statement. RELATED STORIES

From Yahoo! News: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporesc...-104456912.html NTU student accused of sexual harassment By debchoo | SingaporeScene

Billionaire commit suicide...worth it or not? AsiaOne Thursday, Mar 01, 2012 Chinese actress Bai Jing was killed by her husband in an alleged domestic dispute on Tuesday at their home in Beijing's Chaoyang district. Her husband, Zhou Chenghai, 44, stabbed her before committing suicide, reported the Chinese media. The 29-year-old actress has starred in "Kung Fu Wing Chun", "Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon", and a dozen other movies, TV series such as "Legend of Xiangxi," as well as children's drama and musicals. She was praised as a possible successor to Michelle Yeoh and is till now, China's best-known female kung-fu star. The news of her death first broke around 3pm on Sina Weibo - a Chinese version of Twitter - by her entertainment agency's general manager Ju Chunlei. Ju said the alleged murder-suicide was due to a long time dispute between the couple, and the death of Zhou's mother on Jan 31 was apparently the last straw for the severely strained relationship. Ju refused to give further details but according to a Chinese newspaper, Legal Evening News, Zhou confronted Bai after receiving a divorce summons on Tuesday morning. The divorce petition allegedly stated that she was unaware of his previous marriage and a son, and accused him of infidelity. Zhou is said to be a billionaire who made his fortunes from the stock market and property. He also has a son from a previous marriage to his first wife, whom he divorced to be with Bai. News reports state that he had invested huge amounts of money in Bai's acting career and they eventually married in October 2010. Earlier this year, insiders claimed Bai conspired with her boyfriend in the triad to steal 20 million yuan (S$4 million) from Zhou and hire a prostitute to seduce him in order to get a divorce, from which she would get more money. The rumours alleged that Zhou's mother "died of anger" earlier this year upon discovering this. Director Zhang Tongzhu, who once worked with Bai, said the rumours could not be true. "In my mind, Bai is an innocent girl and worked hard," said Zhang. Bai was born in Diaobingshan, Liaoning Province on June 4, 1983. The case is still under investigation. [email protected] Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: Internet)

http://twitter.com/channelnewsasia WP has expelled Yaw Shin Leong Hougang residents will have a by-election

Singapore household incomes increased last year

Interesting social phenomenon. 62 years old prostitute..seriously? What is the rate to get one in Singapore....got such street walkers lau koi bu in Singapore or not? Thursday, Feb 02, 2012 A 74-YEAR-OLD man died after he accidentally swallowed his dentures during sex with a 62-year-old prostitute in Taiwan, reported Nanyang Siang Pau. The man, known as Chen, had been living with a close female friend in New Taipei City after separating from his wife many years ago. The prostitute said she had sex with Chen for 30 minutes. She said Chen had got up from the bed, paid her and was about to put on his clothes when he suddenly collapsed. "He fell back onto the bed. His eyes were open but he was not moving although I shook his body and tried to wake him up," said the woman, who called the rescue team. Chen was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Doctors later found his dentures stuck in his throat.

You can sue and get 10k US$! LOS ANGELES (AP)

I don't understand why the TP don't summon these flouting cars who jamm up the roads and yellow Box? Surely if TP summon them every day, these cars will come to their senses. So even if appeal....surely there come a time when the appeal must void for those frequent flouting parents. I don't get it...is it TP gave up summoning...and working with the school to get a win win solution? The New Paper Monday, Jan 30, 2012 On every

LATEST: Singaporean who made a minimum of 4 trip a month to JB (Msian) may now apply for Msian Automated Clearance System (MACS). Those who register for the service at a cost of RM30 a year can clear Immigration in a matter of seconds. Users will receive a sticker in their passports which is scanned upon entry and departure. No need white card, no need chop into passport (save pages)

couple la. it was agreement between couple who were close frens to Yaw and his family. hi ya , pui pui pui TRE

Why the delay in reporting news of such magnitude? Thursday, 26 January 2012 Singapore Democrats Ms Saw Phaik Hwa made her decision to resign as SMRT CEO on 7 December 2011 but the public only came to know about it one month later on 6 January 2012. Central Narcotics Bureau Director Ng Boon Gay was arrested in December last year and Singapore Civil Defence Force chief Peter Lim on 4 January this year for unspecified wrongdoing. But the news was kept from the public for until now. The news were not run-of-the-mill stories; they involved incompetence and wrongdoing that ran at the highest reaches of the PAP establishment. In Ms Saw's case, she had, under intense pressure from the public to resign, signaled her willingness to step down immediately after the disastrous breakdown of train services in November last year. How is it then that when she finally decided to do so, the news managed to evade the media for an entire month? Similarly, Messrs Ng's and Lim's arrests managed to avoid media detection for more than a month. One was the chief of a police outfit that deals with the underworld of drugs and the other charged with responsibility of saving lives during emergencies and disasters. Yet, the Prime Minister's Office managed to shield the news from the public for such a long time. Or was it a case where the Singapore Press Holdings and MediaCorps were briefed about the developments but were instructed not to publish the stories until a later and more convenient time. Either way, Singaporeans were done a terrible disservice. In this day and age, it is important that society is kept informed of goings-on as soon as they happen. Transparency is the key word. Hoarding information by the state is a dangerous game to play and could lead to serious consequences for the country. But why was the news withheld? One big, highly charged issue that took front and centre of the political stage during this period was the ministerial pay. The PAP was already having a difficult persuading Singaporeans of its reasons for paying ministers the high salaries. The botched handling of the train breakdowns made it impossible for the Government to portray itself as competent and efficient. Ms Saw's resignation, if announced before the release of Gerard Ee's Committee to Review Ministerial Salaries, would have reinforced the public's view that the ministers do not deserve their huge salaries. Hence, the announcement of her resignation news on 6 January