Today - 20111124

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thursday november 24, 2011 www.todayonline.com we set you thinking
Medvedev warns US over missile shield plan

MOSCOW Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned that a failure by the United States to take into account Russian objections to a planned Nato anti-missile shield would spark a new arms race and derail efforts to improve frosty relations between Washington and Moscow. Accusing the US and its allies of ignoring the Kremlins concerns, he repeated a threat made in 2007 to deploy cruise missiles in Russias westernmost enclave of Kaliningrad, aimed at Nato missile interceptor batteries. If the US goes ahead with the missile shield, Mr Medvedev said Russia will deploy in the west and the south of the country modern weapons systems capable of destroying the European component of the US missile shield. One of these steps is to deploy Iskander cruise missiles in Kaliningrad. Mr Medvedevs sabre-rattling takes place against the backdrop of impending elections to Russias parliament, where the ruling United Russia partys popularity is sagging badly. A US-Russia arms race might provide a distraction for voters. Russia historically has distrusted the aims of US anti-missile defence, which the US insists is aimed at missiles that Iran is developing. Moscow argues missile interceptors based in Europe could render its own nuclear deterrence ineffective and make it vulnerable to a Nato first strike. In Brussels, a senior Nato diplomat insisted that the alliances missile defence system is designed to ward off threats coming from outside Europe, not to change the balance of deterrence inside Europe. Any suggestion that Russia plans to target missiles on the neighbourhood of the alliance is disappointing, the Nato diplomat said of Mr Medvedevs statement. These are comments reminiscent of the past. It is not the sort of announcement consistent with the statement at last years Nato-Russia summit in Lisbon in which we said we are seeking a strategic partnership. The White House immediately rebuffed Mr Medvedev, making it clear Washington would not be altering its plans in any way. We will not in any way limit or change our deployment plans in Europe, said National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor. In multiple channels, we have explained to Russian officials that the missile defence systems planned for deployment in Europe do not and cannot threaten Russias strategic deterrent.
aGenCies
Inflation continues to rise

teo Xuanwei
xuanwei@mediacorp.com.sg
Holiday travel, food, housing costs push october CPi to 5.4 per cent
Last month, Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums surged across the board, days after the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced a cut in the vehicle population growth rate. In particular, COEs for cars above 1,600cc as well as for smaller cars and taxis hit a 14-year high. The significant increase in COE premiums and higher petrol prices also drove transport costs by up 10.5 per cent. Dearer prepared meals and fresh produce also saw food prices rise by 3.5 per cent. According to the MAS, inflation will be about 5 per cent this year and between 2.5 and 3.5 per cent next year. It has said headline CPI will be close to 4 per cent in the first six months before easing to around 2 per cent in the second half. Economists who spoke to Today concurred that inflation will likely ease only gradually, unless another supplyside shock strikes and causes the fear factor about the severity of the global slowdown to become more pronounced. Demand for cars, despite the climbing COE prices, remains strong and wage pressures are not coming off as quickly because of the tight labour market, they noted. Although Thailands flood situation has improved, leading to some respite in food prices, CIMB Research economist Song Seng Wun said that the impending festive season could cause prices to remain firm, Still, the weak external conditions will have knock-on effects and exert downward pressure on prices. With slowing demand, commodity prices are expected to ease, economists said. UOB senior economist Alvin Liew added that the domestic employment situation will also soften, given the Ministry of Trade and Industrys forecast of 1 to 3 per cent growth next year, thereby alleviating wage pressures. High base effects from private transport and housing rents will also help, said Bank of America Merrill Lynchs Chua Hak Bin. Mr Chua expects inflation to dip below the 5 per cent mark in the first quarter next year. Unless car prices continue going up at the same rate, inflation should ease. Even if COE prices stay flat, the year-on-year effects will still wind down, he said. In the latest COE bidding exercise yesterday, the premiums in most categories fell.
SINGAPORE Inflation here has proven stickier than what some experts thought, after the Consumer Price Index (CPI) last month rose at a pace faster than expected. According to figures from the Department of Statistics yesterday, the CPI last month was 5.4 per cent the fifth straight month that inflation has exceeded 5 per cent compared to the same period last year, largely due to more expensive accommodation, food, as well as holiday travel. The gain was higher than a median 5.2 per cent rise forecast in a Dow Jones Newswires poll of 10 economists. Inflation in September was 5.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. On a month-on-month basis, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) core inflation measure (which excludes the costs of accommodation and private road transport) was 0.3 per cent last month. On a year-on-year basis, the MAS core inflation measure was 2.3 per cent. Compared to the same period last year, housing cost last month rose by 9.9 per cent because of costlier electricity tariffs and accommodation.
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Anti-heroin drug a solution to gambling addiction?

SINGAPORE As the Singapore Government looks at ways to deter frequent gamblers from patronising casinos, doctors Down Under have been advised to treat gambling addiction as a medical problem and to consider prescribing an anti-heroin drug to help problem gamblers. The Daily Telegraph reported yesterday that a new guideline for doctors published on The Medical Journal of Australias website has recommended practitioners to treat gambling addiction with the drug naltrexone. The website, however, added that the doctors should recommend the drug with caution to the patients. The drug, usually used to treat problems such as heroin and alcohol addictions, can help to block the overproduction in the brain of endogenous opioids and to assist people to control their impulses. Australia has one of the worlds highest rates of problem gamblers, with about 2.1 per cent of Australians experiencing some form of gambling problem. Health experts here, however, noted that research into gambling addiction is still new. As such, the use of naltrexone to treat gambling addition is not common. Dr Thomas Lee, who had recently helped to develop the Ministry of Healths Clinical Practice Guidelines on Management of Gambling Disorders, said that naltrexone has shown the best results in comparison to other medication when it comes to helping gambling addicts. The drug helps to reduce gambling urges and the pleasure derived from the habit, he added. Dr Lee, who is the medical director at The Resilienz Mind clinic, noted that gambling addicts often have other mental conditions such as depression and anxiety. Hence, other drugs would be used to manage these problems simultaneously, he said. Adding that some patients also tend to resist medication, Dr Lee said he would prescribe medication for patients with moderate to extreme addiction as they undergo counselling at the same time. medicatioN caNNot be the oNly meaNs Professor Shane Thomas, the director of Australias Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre, told ABC Radio that psychological programmes were preferable to naltrexone, but a small number of case studies had shown the drug could be a useful treatment tool. The current evidence is in favour of psychological therapies, he added. Prof Thomas said naltrexone had side effects such as abdominal pains and further research was still needed to determine its effectiveness as an anti-gambling treatment. The Medical Journal of Australias guidelines recommend a range of psychological interventions but advise that antidepressant medication should not be used to reduce gambling severity in people with gambling problems alone. Social workers here reiterated that it is important for gambling addicts to undergo counselling. Reverend Tan Lye Keng, executive director of One Hope Centre, said: It is still important to get them to recognise the problem that they are facing, the consequences that their behaviour bring about, get them to talk about it with others ... medication cannot be the only means. General practitioner Clarence Yeo said that he would first assess the patients mental conditions and will use a combination of medication and counselling to address conditions such as stress and anxiety. But for cases involving more difficult conditions such as schizophrenia and gambling addiction, Dr Yeo said that he will refer them to psychiatrists who have more time and expertise to deal with such cases. In a GP setting where we spend about 10 to 15 minutes with each patient, we wont be able to do as much as what psychiatrists can do in one-and-a half hours. They are also able to provide support services to patients such as linking them up with family service centres due to the network that they already have, he added. On Tuesday, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing had said that the ministry is studying ways, including looking at the experiences of other countries, to deter frequent gamblers from visiting the casinos. the daily telegraph, with
additioNal reportiNg by Ng JiNg yNg
China factory sector shrinks most in 32 months

BEIJING Chinas factory sector shrank the most in 32 months in November on signs of domestic economic weakness, a preliminary purchasing managers index (PMI) survey showed, reviving worries China may be slipping towards a hard landing and fuelling fears of a global recession. The steep fall in the HSBC flash PMI to 48 this month from 51 last month largely reflected domestic weakness as both output and new orders shrank even as export orders continued to grow. The flash PMI, the earliest readout of Chinas industrial activity, was the lowest since March 2009 and suggests the factory sector contracted during the month. A PMI reading of 50 demarcates expansion from contraction. The PMI unnerved financial markets already roiled by the euro zone debt crisis and a downward revision in Unites States economic growth and underscored expectations that Beijing will lean more on policies to support growth. They are not going to want this to go too far, said Mr Tim Condon, head of Asia research at ING Singapore. Im not sure if it (PMI) is a tipping point but I think it adds to the evidence. Beijing has already announced some selective steps, geared to small business, to support the economy. HSBC said evidence in the PMI of a sharp drop in inflationary pressures meant Beijing had room for more selective measures if need be. There remains no need to panic, HSBC economist Qu Hongbin said. Easing inflation provides room for more easing measures, which will keep China on track for a soft landing. HSBC said the output sub-index tumbled to a 32-month low of 46.7, a steep drop from last months final reading of 51.4 and new orders suffered the biggest drop in one-anda-half years to sink well below 50. Mr Qu said the PMI data suggested Chinas industrial output growth will moderate in coming months to an annual rate of 11 to 12 per cent, a pace not seen since 2009. Output has averaged close to 14 per cent this year. reuters
IMF beefs up lending tools as debt crisis spreads

WASHINGTON The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has beefed up its lending instruments and launched a sixmonth liquidity line to help countries with solid policies that may be at risk from the euro zone debt crisis. By updating its lending tools, the IMF hopes to ensure liquidity for countries that may be struck by contagion from the crisis, as opposed to nations already deep in the mire. The announcement comes as concern grows over a crisis that has moved from Greece to larger economies such as Italy and Spain where bond yields have risen sharply, raising questions about the euros survival. The IMF said it was establishing a precautionary liquidity line as insurance against future shocks and as a short-term liquidity window to address the needs of crisis bystanders. The new liquidity line would be available for six months to nations with relatively good policies that are facing short-term balance of payment needs due to events not of their own making. Access could be as much as 500 per cent of an IMF member nations loan quota, and the funds would come with few conditions. The new instrument, called the Precautionary and Liquidity Line, could also be used for 12- to 24-month arrangements, with access up to 1,000 per cent of a members quota, the IMF said. This arrangement would come with more conditions and would be subject to regular reviews by the IMF board. The IMF did not elaborate on which countries could qualify for the arrangements. The fund also adopted a new rapid financing instrument for nations facing urgent balance-of-payment needs caused by so-called exogenous shocks, such as countries hit by political upheaval or natural disasters. Funding under the instrument would be available immediately, with access of up to 100 per cent of members quotas.
reuters
>> italiaNs waNt to cut debt but ... 47
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A push in education for Indian students, especially in maths

Ng JiNg yNg
jingyng@mediacorp.com.sg
Photo cou rte sy Jam vet eri Nar y ceN tre
es taN
Man dumps cat in bin, caught on CCtV camera

SINGAPORE An elderly man got out of his Mercedes and took out a pet carrier. But instead of heading into the clinic, he opened a rubbish bin and shoved the carrier into it (picture) all this time with his young companion looking on curiously. After a few shakes, the carrier was free of its occupant, and the man closes the lid of the bin. He and the girl then drove off unaware that he had been captured on CCTV cameras at James Tan Veterinary Centre (JTVC). The incident happened on Tuesday and it was only four hours later at around 2pm that a staff member discovered that there was a cat in the bin when the bin kept moving, said JTVCs administration assistant Chee Siew Luan. According to Ms Chee, the cat (inset) is between one and three years old. The cat is in good condition and sterilised, she added. Said Ms Chee: We found a collar on him ... We dont know whether the cat belongs to the man or whether he was just dumping a
random cat. A police report has since been lodged. JTVC hopes its video camera technician can identify the licence number of the car before going to the police with more evidence. The CCTV clips have also been posted on YouTube to publicise the mans act of cruelty, JTVC staff said. The clips have since gone viral online. What kind of values is he teaching that young child? a netizen said on YouTubes comments section. When contacted, Cat Welfare Societys vice-president Veron Lau told Today that people abandon their animals for various reasons such as financial difficulties, emigration, or a new addition in the family. Said Ms Lau: Its still no excuse. They should try to re-home it first or, as a last resort, surrender it to the SPCA. With a cat, youre looking at a commitment of 15 to 20 years. Abandonment is an act of animal cruelty. If charged and convicted, the offender can be fined up to S$10,000 or jailed up to 12 months, or both. Responding to Todays queries, the AgriFood and Veterinary Authority said it will not hesitate to prosecute if there is evidence of animal cruelty. esther Ng
SINGAPORE Indian students are still underachieving in mathematics, resulting in setbacks along their academic path and later in life, the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) concluded from its review. Substantiating its findings are national statistics which showed that a quarter of Indian students failed their Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) mathematics exam in 2009 an eight-point difference in relative to the national average. And although close to 90 per cent of Indian students enter postsecondary education in 2009, many either drop out of school or found it difficult to cope with mathematicalbased courses, according to SINDA, as it unveiled yesterday measures to boost educational aspirations of the Indian community within the next decade. The Indian students difficulty with mathematics could be due to the lack of participation in pre-school education, said SINDA, which found in a survey that 17 per cent out of 400 Indian parents still do not send their kids to pre-school. Dr N Varaprasad, who led the review, said: We feel that not all Indian parents are aware of the importance of pre-school education, of sending their children to nursery school, to socialise and to learn basic literacy and numeracy. He added that pre-school education would also give kids a more level playing field in primary school. Still, the Indian community has seen an improvement in academics over the years, given that only 54 per
We feel that not all Indian parents are aware of the importance of pre-school education, of sending their children to nursery school, to socialise and to learn basic literacy and numeracy.
dr N varaprasad, who led siNdas review
cent of Indian students passed PSLE mathematics and 40 per cent entered post-secondary education in 1990. SINDA chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam noted that gaps have indeed been reduced over the years. But he pointed out that there is still some way to go to achieve parity between Indian students and the national average, especially in the area of mathematics. The task is now more challenging, he said, as national achievement levels have also risen. And while some individuals have achieved higher aspirations, Mr Tharman added: There remains within the community some segments where there is a real shortfall in aspirations that needs to be tackled. Besides having to boost academic standards of Indian pupils, the review also saw a need to further engage youth to enhance their motivation and to strengthen family resilience at home. Besides increasing awareness on pre-school education, SINDA will spend S$1.8 million more on programmes and services like a new parents division to engage parents and an expansion in its tuition programme.
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Model agencies fined for anti-competitive practices

esther Ng
estherng@mediacorp.com.sg
SINGAPORE Eleven modelling agencies have been found to have engaged in anti-competitive practices by the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) and 10 face fines ranging from S$3,000 to S$132,315, the competition watchdog said yesterday. Acting on a complaint in 2009, the CCS found that the 11 agencies had, under the guise of a trade association the Association of Modelling Industry Professionals (AMIP) fixed prices on modelling services as far back as 2004 and continued even after the anti-competition Act came into force in 2006. The agencies, which collectively form about 40 per cent of the market share, realised this common intention by having regular meetings to discuss rates and setting up the AMIP in early 2005 documented in emails, minutes of discussions and rate sheets, the CCS found. This forced clients including publishers, fashion show organisers and choreographers to pay higher fees, and their ability to choose and switch between modelling agencies was impaired. For instance, fashion show rates rose to S$400 per show in 2009 from S$250 in 2005.
While businesses are free to raise their rates, they must do so independently and trade associations should not become a vehicle to facilitate price collusion, said the CCS. An industry source told Today that the rest have plans to appeal the judgment. The financial penalties were calculated based on the turnover of each modelling agency, the seriousness of the infringement and other aggravating or mitigating factors. The statutory maximum to the financial penalties is 10 per cent of the agencys total turnover per year of infringement, capped at three years. The CCS reduced the penalties by 50 per cent after taking into consideration that some of the turnover was non-modelling turnover and that some of the custom was from overseas the latter having no impact on the Singapore market, said CCS assistant chief executive Toh Han Li. Of the 11, Mannequin Studio was not fined as it ceased to be an AMIP member on June 2, 2006, and stopped participating in the meetings and discussions, within the transitional period before penalties are imposed. The firms have until Jan 25 to appeal.
Govt looking at using Medisave for home care

SINGAPORE The Government is looking at allowing the use of Medisave for home care services and reviewing current subsidies to make home care options more affordable. This was announced by Minister of State for Health Amy Khor at the opening of the TOUCH Home Cares (THC) centre in Jurong yesterday. Dr Khor said: Home care will play a substantive role in future as one of the care options for the elderly. The issue of accessibility and affordability of elder care services is critical and we need to address that, so we are looking at ways to grow the home care sector. Some of the areas we are looking at include reviewing our subsidies as well as the use of Medisave. The Government is also looking at leave options to alleviate the stress faced by caregivers. In the meantime, frail elderly people and their caregivers living in the west can now look forward to affordable home care and home medical services with the new THC (Jurong). THC (Jurong) is expected to serve about 300 residents in Jurong East, Jurong West and Boon Lay over two years. It offers services such as housekeeping, personal hygiene services, and transport and escort services to hospitals for medical appointments. Medical, nursing and therapy services include health monitoring and medication management. The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and the Centre for Enabled Living (CEL) will provide funding support of up to S$700,000 for two years for the setting up of THC (Jurong).
moNica KotwaNi
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graNdpareNts give humaNs evolutioNary edge
the guiding hand of a loving grandparent has given humans an evolutionary advantage in survival, scientists have discovered. Research from University of Basel in Switzerland and Edith Cowan University in Australia has highlighted how crucial the role of the grandparent can be in early life. Dr David Coall, from Edith Cowan
University, said: Evolutionary perspectives on the post-reproductive years have highlighted grandparenthood as an unusual feature of the human lifespan that is only shared with one or two other species. After examining evidence from traditional human societies the evidence suggested that the presence of some grandparents can substan-
tially increase the chances of a child surviving during the high-risk period of infancy and childhood. Dr Coall wondered whether the same applied in more westernised societies. he said: Although important effects have been found in traditional societies, there was a paucity of research in Western nations.
the daily telegraph
Yahoo! Southeast Asia to vigorously defend itself against SPh suit

SINGAPORE Yahoo! Southeast Asia will vigorously defend itself against a lawsuit filed by the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) alleging that the Internet company had infringed its copyright by reproducing articles from its newspapers without permission. In comments carried on the Yahoo! Southeast Asia website, its managing editor Alan Soon said yesterday: We intend to vigorously defend ourselves against this suit. Our editorial business model of acquired, commissioned and original content is proven. Yahoo! Southeast Asia said it filed a memorandum of appearance with the courts on Tuesday. According to a report in The Straits Times yesterday, SPH in its claim cited 23 articles from its newspapers which Yahoo! was alleged to have reproduced substantially over a 12-month period without permission. They were allegedly used on Yahoo! Southeast Asias websites, including a section called Latest Singapore News. SPH, which is represented by Wong Partnership, is alleging that Yahoo! Southeast Asia relied on the 23 articles to provide content on its own website. Yahoo! Southeast Asia denied any copyright infringements in an earlier letter. According to the report in The Straits Times, it has until Dec 13 to file its defence.
hackers love it if your password is password

LOS GATOS (California) A United States-based Internet password management company has compiled its list of the 25 worst passwords of the year, after analysing millions of passwords that were stolen by hackers. The fact that Passw0rd and 111111 are among the most common passwords out there proves that although we are becoming increasingly tech savvy, most of us still do not take online security very seriously. Many websites now require a combination of numbers and letters in passwords, but that has not stopped lazy users from logging in with easy-tocrack codes like abc123 and trustno1, SplashData said in a release on Tuesday. Names such as michael and keyboard patterns such as qwerty and qazwsx were also rather common, as were gems like letmein. Also popular were sports terms like baseball and football, although SplashData had no explanation for how words like monkey and dragon made it into the top 25. SplashData, based in California near the Silicon Valley, said that while hackers have become increasingly sophisticated in breaching Internet security, they still rely on the basic trick of repeatedly typing in common passwords. 25 worst passwords
1. password 2. 123456 3. 12345678 4. qwerty 5. abc123 6. monkey 7. 1234567 8. letmein 9. trustno1 10. dragon 11. baseball 12. 111111 13. iloveyou 14. master 15. sunshine 16. ashley 17. bailey 18. passw0rd 19. shadow 20. 123123 21. 654321 22. superman 23. qazwsx 24. michael 25. football
source: splashdata.com
If you have a password that is short or common or a word in the dictionary, its like leaving your door open for identity thieves, said SplashData CEO Morgan Slain. The password management company recommends using a unique password for different websites, and that they be at least eight characters long and include punctuation or spaces. ageNcies
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Climate change must be dealt with long-term view

sumita sreedharaN
sumitas@mediacorp.com.sg
SINGAPORE Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan does not expect a breakthrough during the conference on climate change in Durban, South Africa, next week. Instead, expect a reaffirmation and a small tentative step forward on finance and perhaps a roadmap to a long-term multilateral regime, Dr Balakrishnan told students at the Singapore Polytechnic yesterday. He also hopes that the majority of the countries attending the Durban conference will renew their commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, the current main treaty on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and that there would be progress in the establishment of the main climate fund. This will be used to help developing countries combat the effects of climate change. Dr Balakrishnan said climate change is a long-term problem, one that has to be dealt with from that perspective. However, the political situation in the world today is
one where leaders are just looking to the next election and not the greater good. There is the temptation to think short term, to only think of the next election and that is very powerful, said Dr Balakrishnan during a panel discussion on the challenges facing local and global environmental protection at the polytechnic. The most hotly debated topic during the session was how Singapore could help bridge the gulf between the developing and developed countries, which have differing views on climate problems, and how to bring about a solution that would be agreeable to both sides. Solutions offered by some of the students included imposing a carbon tax and issuing of green bonds that could be used to fund green initiatives. Other issues raised during the panel discussion included Singapores self-sufficiency in water and whether the price of water would increase as the population increases. Dr Balakrishnan said it was theoretically possible for Singapore
to be self-sufficient in water due to technological advances in water recycling and desalination in the last 10 years. The key determinant of water in the future will be the price of technology and price of energy, he said. When asked if Singapore had plans for sustainable energy, such as wind farms, he replied that cost would be a factor in land-scarce Singapore. Instead, it would be more feasible to concentrate on energy efficiency, the minister added. Dr Balakrishnan revealed that the Energy Conservation Act that will be introduced in 2013 is aimed at making companies more competitive in the global market by improving their energy performance and providing support for companies investing in energy efficiency. Singapore will do its fair share but we must take into account our small size and the fact that we are at an alternative energy disadvantage, he said. Dr Balakrishnan added that the Government would continue with the strategies and initiatives listed out in the Sustainable Blueprint 2009, which has set a target to improve energy efficiency by 35 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030.
China outlines cuts in carbon emissions

BEIJING With global climate talks set to begin next week, China on Tuesday issued the most comprehensive document yet on its plans and negotiating positions on emissions. Although much of the information has been released before, it is the first time the data has been presented comprehensively part of Chinas strategy to make its accomplishments better known ahead of the talks, which begin on Monday in Durban, South Africa. China, the worlds largest contributor to carbon emissions, highlighted its success in reducing emissions per unit of gross domestic product, an indicator that its industries are becoming more energy efficient. The countrys overall carbon emissions have been rising, however, with the growth of its industries. The report also gives a rare nod to non-government organisations, which usually are frowned upon by Chinas authorities. It mentions favourably Earth Hour, a project by the World Wildlife Fund, and praises the work of another private organisation, the Energy Foundation. The report also indicates that China will follow its previous position of pressuring developing countries to do more. Speaking on Tuesday as the white paper was released, officials asserted that China and other developing countries had taken serious steps to curb emissions while developed countries lagged. We hope nations of the world translate their political willingness into concrete actions, Mr Xie Zhenhua, the head of the Chinese delegation to the Durban meeting, said at the news conference. The report said China achieved a 20 per cent reduction in carbon emissions between 2005 and last year per unit of gross domestic product and planned to cut another 17 per cent by 2015.
the New york times
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Cure for insomnia might be close

BOSTON Scientists are a step closer to developing a cure for insomnia after discovering the enzyme responsible for waking people up. Researchers in the United States have found the chemical trigger that suppresses sleep and wakes people up, which can also be blocked to produce restful sleep. Dr Subimal Dutta of Boston University, the author of the study which was published in the Journal of Neuroscience, said: Sleep, one of the most mysterious regular shifts in consciousness, is regulated by a delicate balance between biological processes, the environment and behaviour, but the mechanisms involved in the regulation are not well understood. The ultimate goal of my research is to deepen the understanding of how sleep is regulated at the cellular level, which could lead to finding the causes and cures for a variety of sleep disorders. He said blocking the enzyme caused REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM stages of sleep, which were needed to stay healthy. Current treatments for sleep disorders do not achieve the ideal behavioural outcome, and are usually accompanied by many undesirable side effects, Dr Dutta said. A more specific, fine-tuned approach to treating these disorders by promoting alertness and treating insomnia would greatly benefit public health. the daily telegraph
sleep-textiNg a growiNg pheNomeNoN amoNg the youNg
geNder beNdiNg chemical fouNd iN tiN caNs
Increasing numbers of mobile phone users are sleep-texting or sending text messages to friends while asleep. Sleep experts said the phenomenon was a natural extension of the younger generations reliance on modern technology. however, scientists disagree on whether it is possible to send a text while technically asleep. Dr Ron Kramer, of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, said: texting for some of the younger generation is probably as ingrained as driving is for some people. Ms Jessica Castillo, 24, of texas, had recently sent two multimedia text messages, apparently after falling asleep during an exchange with her boyfriend. the first began Baby u there? need to tell somethin ... before it turned into nonsense. to do so, she had to navigate 11 different stages, excluding the typing.
the daily telegraph
Canned products like soup, baked beans and fizzy drinks could contain 1,000 times more of a controversial gender bending chemical than fresh goods, a study suggests. the chemical, Bisphenol-A (BPA), is used in the lining of tin cans as well as hard plastic containers such as water bottles. BPA is linked to impaired sexual development, male infertility, behavioural and emotional problems in girls, as well as an increased risk of cancer and heart disease, among others. Just drinking one can of soup per day for a five-day period raises the amount of BPA in the urine by 1,221 per cent, a study by harvard scientists published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed. Dr Jenny Carwile, who led the study, says that the results suggest that canned foods may be an even greater concern than drinking beverages stored in certain hard plastics.
the daily telegraph
A few more paracetamol pills a day cant hurt? think again

LONDON Taking just a few extra paracetamol tablets a day over time could lead to a dangerous overdose and even death, a new study suggests. Overdoses of paracetamol, an overthe-counter pain reliever, are the leading cause of acute liver failure in Britain, usually occurring when patients take too many tablets at once. But doctors are now concerned that patients who innocently exceed the recommended daily dose of eight 500mg tablets on a regular basis could be at even greater risk because their problem is harder to spot. Dr Kenneth Simpson of Edinburgh University and his team studied out of 663 patients admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for severe, paracetamol-induced liver injury. They found 161 cases of patients who took staggered overdoses and were a third more likely to die. Those patients were found to have a greater chance of liver and brain problems, and were more likely to need kidney dialysis or assistance with breathing, especially if they had waited at least a day before going to hospital. They were also more likely to die of their complications. They havent taken the sort of singlemoment, one-off massive overdoses taken by people who try to commit suicide, but over time the damage builds up, and the effect can be fatal, said Dr Simpson, who led the study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Doctors stress that patients should think twice before taking a top up dose of paracetamol if the regular dosage doesnt help relieve their pain. ageNcies
too little salt can be unhealthy

TORONTO Just as too much salt is bad for you, not eating enough may increase the risk of heart-related deaths, says a new study. The findings by researchers at McMaster University in Canada, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, emphasise the urgent need to determine a safe range for salt consumption. The study found people with heart disease whose salt intake matches the low levels recommended in health guidelines less than 3 grams of sodium a day appear to be at higher risk of death from heart disease than people who consume a moderate amount of salt. The study also found a link between high salt intake 7 to 8g of sodium a day and a higher risk of stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular events. The lowest risk was found with moderate salt intake of between 4 and 6g a day. A teaspoon of salt holds around 2.3g of sodium. For the study, the team studied sodium and potassium levels found in a morning sample of urine taken from nearly 30,000 people in two clinical trials. After about four years, some 16 per cent of study participants had some kind of heart event. The team then looked for a correlation between salt intake and the risk of heart trouble. ageNcies
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tim staNley
12
President wins, taxpayers lose

Collapse of talks to cut americas huge deficit reveals the chasm between the republicans and democrats
n Monday night, a congressional super committee announced that it had failed to agree on a way to reduce the US deficit by US$1.2 trillion (S$1.56 trillion). Composed of six Republicans and six Democrats, it collapsed under the weight of ideological differences between the parties. Politically, the winner of this debacle is President Barack Obama, who will blame the Republicans for refusing to agree to significant tax increases. But the real loser is the American taxpayer. Not only have the Republicans and Democrats let them down, but their childish spat has exposed the true scope of the political and fiscal crisis facing America. The committee was a fraud: Government spending is running wild and US$1.2 trillion in savings would have done little to control it. The committee was set up in August, after negotiations over how to tackle the debt crisis broke down. Republicans favoured spending cuts and reform of entitlements (unemployment and healthcare).
years of his administration: Calm, balanced, bipartisan in tone. In will come Obama as Robin Hood: Defender of the middle class, nemesis of the rich. It may begin to feel like Occupy Wall Street has decamped to the White House. Mr Obamas game plan has precedent. In 1948, Democratic President Harry Truman won an against-the-odds re-election campaign by painting a thrifty Republican Congress as mean and nasty. Mr Bill Clinton did the same in 1996. This time, the strategy might get a hand from the Republican presidential candidates. The radical politics of the Republican contest favours extreme fiscal conservatives who want to abolish the federal government. The Republicans increasingly look like economic Neanderthals, while the President is sounding like the voice of reason.
yeN yok
Democrats preferred to repeal President George W Bushs generous tax cuts. Part of the problem was that both sides were playing to their constituencies. It
was hoped that a select panel of 12 could rise above the partisan fray and deliver a Solomonic solution. But the issue of debt became too toxic for the committee to work. All of Americas divisions have boiled down to a debate over the size of government: Republicans think it is too big and Democrats think it is too small. Within the committee, the Democrats demanded that the Bush tax cuts go, while the Republicans insisted that repealing them would stall any recovery. The Republicans did offer their own suggestions for tax increases (roughly US$640 billion of them), but demanded that these be met with cuts to popular welfare programmes. Republican Senator Rob Portman, of Oregon, summed up the impasse best: We failed to reach agreement because ... we simply couldnt bridge fundamental policy differences that reflect a broader disagreement in the Congress and country as a whole over the size and scope of government. obama as robiN hood Americas fiscal crisis is no longer driven by reality. It is motivated by near-religious hysteria, fatalism and blood feud. If anyone comes out of this looking good, its Mr Obama. The President has long since given up being for anything; his healthcare reforms and jobs programme were big disappointments. But the collapse of the debt negotiations hands him the chance to be against something: Serious cuts to welfare spending. Congress now has a year to debate where the axe should fall before US$1 trillion of automatic cuts start in 2013. This timetable dovetails with the election calendar, and we can expect Mr Obama to lead the battle against Republican attacks on popular programmes. Out will go the Obama of the first three
averaGe voter as loser But if Mr Obama is the big winner, the average voter is the real loser. Investor confidence and the value of US shares have declined. The US$1 trillion in automatic cuts will probably fall more unfairly on the poor than if an agreement had been reached that included tax increases. Congress looks broken; apathy will rise. Moreover, theres a dawning realisation among the voters that US debt (which has just passed US$15 trillion) is so out of control that politicians simply dont know what to do about it. The super-committee was discussing ways of reducing the deficit, not shrinking the size of the government in real terms. The difference is important. If a man pays down some of what he owes to a loan shark but then buys a new convertible, he is still spending too much. Likewise, the cuts that the committee were trying to find would not have dealt with the real problem: That the government is growing much faster than its citizens can afford. Even if the committee had succeeded in finding the US$1.2 trillion it was looking for, the size of the federal debt would still have risen by nearly US$2 trillion from 2011-2012. What America needs is not a technocratic compromise but a bold reconsideration of spending priorities. Alas, trapped between a broken party system and a President prepared to do anything to get elected, the American people are unlikely to get it. the daily teleGraPh Dr Tim Stanley is a historian of the United States.
>> rePubliCaN debate hiGhliGhts laCk of a uNified seCurity visioN 45
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comment&analysis
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myanmars good deeds: a reality check

do the regimes actions merit the huge change in how it is being treated on the global stage?
bLoomberG edItorIaL
t is understandable that so many people are optimistic these days about Myanmar. Last year, the military-dominated nation held its first election in two decades, placing a civilian, Mr Thein Sein, in the presidency. Democratic opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who boycotted the vote, will re-enter electoral politics, her party announced. The junta recently pardoned more than 6,300 prisoners, many of them political detainees. The state has begun liberalising the economy and lifted some Internet and press censorship. And on Sept 30, the government suspended construction of a Chinesefinanced dam on the Irrawaddy River after protests by citizens over its likely social and environmental effects. The regime has been swiftly rewarded for this apparent loosening of control. The Association of South-east Asian Nations agreed to let Myanmar take over the groups rotating chairmanship in 2014; Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak insists that the military rulers are on the road to greater democratisation and are also being more inclusive; and, citing flickers of progress, United States President Barack Obama is sending Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Myanmar early next month. Time for a reality check. The shiny new capital city of Naypyidaw is an Orwellian Oz, and the man behind the curtain is Senior General Than Shwe, who has been the top man in the junta since 1992 and remains so despite his official resignation as head of state in March. The election last year was hardly democracy in action, with independent observers citing widespread intimidation and bribery by the government and its supporters, who
activists praying at botataung Pagoda in yangon on sunday for the release of political prisoners. although 6,300 of them were recently pardoned, some estimate at least 2,000 are still being held. aP
emerged with more than 80 per cent of the seats in Parliament. The US and European Union condemned it as neither free nor fair. And in any case, the military appoints all top ministers and judges and controls the state budget. Mr Thein Sein is a former general himself, and giving up his military status for appearances sake should be seen as a prime example of civilian obeisance to the military regime. According to the human rights group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), there are at least 2,000 political prisoners still being held in the nations 42 prisons and 109 labour camps. The dam controversy, which is being seen by many as the Myanmarese bucking their long-time financial supporters in Beijing, was really a pragmatic move of domestic politics. (The government has for years been battling ethnic militias in the northern
region where the dam was located and was probably spooked by civilian protests there.) The regimes supposed moves towards liberalisation occurred just as the Obama administration was beginning to see its strategy of engagement with Myanmar in a complete reversal of the George W Bush approach as a failure. According to a Congressional Research Service report, US diplomats found their Myanmarese counterparts relatively unresponsive in the high-level meetings, preferring to confine discussion to the exchange of formal statements that avoid or evade the issues raised by US officials. One State Department officer, Mr Joseph Y Yun, told Congress this year that we are disappointed by the lack of any results from our repeated efforts at dialogue. If the Obama administration and its Western and Asian allies has new hopes
for dialogue, they are welcome to give it a try. But there should be no concrete policy concessions. While the International Monetary Fund finds that the near-blanket sanctions imposed by the US (as well as Canada and Australia) have not been a significant factor in Myanmars economic troubles, they are an important moral statement. (The same can be said about infusions of humanitarian aid during crises such as Cyclone Nargis in 2008.) Some argue that increased economic engagement could blunt Chinese influence in Myanmar and the region. That seems unlikely. The economy is a disaster commercial banks can lend for a period of no more than a year; mortgages are unheard of; farmers, who make up the majority of the population, are kept out of private credit markets and the country will long be dependent on the regions dominant power. And if economic competition is needed, India is poised to provide it. Looking ahead, the West should consider what to do should the regimes talk of change prove a cover for the status quo. Perhaps the European Union might be moved to emulate the stricter US sanctions approach. Officials in Washington could also consider some new steps: Banning imports of products manufactured elsewhere using Burmese teak, say, or barring federal contracts to companies doing business in Myanmar. We all hope that one of the worlds most repressive states is on the path to freedom. And Ms Suu Kyis decision to reenter the electoral fray gives a hint that she, at least, thinks the junta might be beginning to get serious. But nothing the Myanmar regime has done so far merits any major change to how it is treated on the global stage. bLoomberG
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comment&analysis
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Warren Buffetts no match for the yakuza

WIllIam PeseK
ews that Mr Warren Buffett is looking for opportunities in Japan is as good as it gets for a nation that has had an awful year. All Japan needs to do is convince the most famous value investor that its deserving of his money. Yet a curious juxtaposition involved in Mr Buffetts first-ever Japan visit showed why thats easier said than done. Mr Buffett was touring a tool plant in Fukushima prefecture, where a nuclearpower plant damaged by the tsunami in March has contaminated the surrounding area. There, he was asked about another calamity putting Japan in a harsh and negative spotlight: The Olympus scandal. The Berkshire Hathaway chairman said: The fact that Olympus happens here or Enron happens in the US doesnt affect our attitudes at all. Think about it, though. The mostwatched market guru is standing near one crisis caused by political corruption and being queried about another involving corporate malfeasance. At the heart of both storylines are growth-killing dynamics that have long given Mr Buffett and his ilk pause. While different in their details and magnitude they show how Japan may be too wedded to the past to thrive in a world of intensifying competition. Olympus, as venerable a name as there is in Japan, demonstrates the point. Investigators want to know what happened to at least US$4.9 billion (S$6.4 billion) they say is unaccounted for at the camera maker. Of all the bizarre questions surrounding this sordid tale, the role of organised crime groups, or yakuza, is the most tantalising. Police are looking into how much of the missing cash went into the pockets of these gangs.
berkshire hathaway chairman Warren buffett lifting a banner in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture. mr buffett arrived on his first visit to Japan on monday seeking investment opportunities. reuters
No one can be sure what will be found until the digging is done, says Jake Adelstein, author of the 2009 book Tokyo Vice and a well-known crime reporter in Japan. With their full-body tattoos and amputated fingers, the yakuza have long held a unique place in the public imagination. Unfortunately, that goes for Japans economy, too. Mr Adelstein calls the yakuza Goldman Sachs with guns because of the prowess with which their groups roughly 80,000 members infiltrate companies through extortion and intimidation. Olympus is the latest reminder of the extent to which the yakuza is intertwined with the corporate culture, and its hardly the only household name to get ensnared. In 2009, Fujitsu ousted its president for alleged ties to antisocial forces, a euphemism in Japan for organised crime. The question is this: If Olympus was mixed up with such sinister forces, which other Nikkei 225 Stock Average companies are?
mysterIous PayoFFs Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is worried that Olympus will sully Japans reputation as a well-regulated market economy. Michael Woodfords travel schedule shows why it may be too late. The former Olympus chief executiveturned-whistleblower forwarded to the whole Olympus board some letters detailing his concerns about mysterious payoffs before he was fired last month. Then Mr Woodford left Japan, fearing for his safety. This week, he will be under police protection as he returns for the first time to meet with investigators. Seriously? In a Group of Seven nation? Yes, these things can still happen in Japan thanks to a corporate and political aversion to digging to weed out nefarious interests. A compliant media can only make that worse. A similar conclusion can be drawn from events in Fukushima more than eight months after a record earthquake. It was
incestuous ties between government bureaucrats and the power industry that left high-tech Japan so vulnerable to the lowtech ways of Tokyo Electric Power Co, the owner of the damaged Fukushima reactor. When we think of the mob, we dont tend to think of publicly traded utilities like TEPCO. But how can anyone look at the ways politicians enabled TEPCO and its shocking safety lapses over the years and not call it organised corruption? How can the government, knowing what it does now, rally around the nuclear industry? Mr Woodfords soul mate in politics, former Prime Minister Naoto Kan, was shown the door in August for asking hard questions. Mr Kan wanted to hold TEPCO accountable for the radiation leaking into Tokyos food supply. Noda quietly let matters return to the status quo ante for the nuclear-industrial complex that TEPCO represents. The losers are the Japanese people who worry about another Chernobyl when the next giant earthquake hits. All this shows how Japan is shunning the change needed to compete in an age when China sets the pace. Just as illustrative is the ability of rice farmers to imperil passage of international-trade deals. And then theres corporate Japan with its poison pills, takeover defenses and protection of inefficiencies. Mr Buffett isnt the only investor searching for bargains in Japan, but hes by far the most important. Japans markets have been beaten down since the earthquake that forced Mr Buffett to delay his Japan trip. And there are great companies in Japan. The problem is that too little is taking place in the halls of power to clean up an economic system that has lost its way. The shenanigans at Olympus and TEPCO show how much the opacity of the past is constraining what should be a bright future. That will not be lost on savvy investors like Mr Buffett. bloomberg Tokyo-based William Pesek is a Bloomberg View columnist.
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Voices
T oday
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TODAY THuRSDAY NOVEMBER 24, 2011
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An eventual correction in HDB resale prices?

Letter from Chua Soo Kiat
AS RESALE prices of Housing and Development Board flats rise, the authorities are tackling the immediate problem of a shortage in public housing. We must also not lose sight of longerterm dangers should prices continue to rise, especially ahead of income growth. The main concern is if resale prices instead fall for a sustained period. This is highly possible because of a rarely discussed trait of our uniquely Singapore public housing market: The 99-year lease. As an investor, I am keenly aware of the intrinsic value of any instrument, relative to its market price. For any instrument with a finite usage period, such as a COEregistered car or machinery in a factory, its value (and thus market value) should fall with every passing year. The same cannot be said, though, of
When a flat crosses the halfway mark of its lease, wouldnt its price fall at some point?
our HDB flats, especially in mature estates, which have enjoyed huge price appreciation in recent years despite a dwindling lease period. There are many explanations for this, which I can relate to, such as a supply shortage, increased demand in recent years and an ultra-low interest rate environment. Still, when a flat crosses the halfway mark of its lease, wouldnt its price fall at some point? Critics may argue that HDB could carry out en-bloc programmes to restart the lease. I can subscribe to this argument, to an extent, but we must appreciate that the scope of such projects covers a small
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percentage of existing towns. For a mature town such as Bedok, which is 30 to 40 years old, I doubt it is technically or economically feasible to enbloc the entire estate. Together with an ongoing slowdown in our immigration intake, an aggressive housing supply and interest rates that will not remain low permanently, it is reasonable to assume that our HDB property prices will eventually start to fall. Those with the shortest remaining lease period, especially in mature towns, could be the hardest hit. The Prime Minister cautioned last month that we should be prepared for a period of several years of difficulty in the global economy. The next question is, whether we are prepared for an eventual correction in property prices, especially if it ends up as bad as that in the West.
single stumped by studio flat price

Letter from Jane Chua
I AM a Singaporean who has bought two resale flats, as singles do not qualify to buy subsidised new flats directly from the Housing and Development Board. Both my purchases were made before the rule change to allow singles a housing grant to help pay for the higher resale price. I have since applied for and been alloted a studio apartment (30-year lease), the only new HDB flat that singles, aged 55 and above, can buy on their own. But, the selling price is similar to that of a two-room flat comparatively more, considering the latters 99-year lease. Can the HDB clarify the reason for this? It is a double whammy, given that I did not enjoy a grant when I bought my resale flats. How much should singles be penalised?
it should have been sQooT

Letter from N Varaprasad
I CAN appreciate that the Singapore Airlines Groups new long-haul budget carrier wants to create a distinct identity from SIA. However, in the face of well-established competitors such as Air Asia X and Jetstar, the connection to a successful antecedent is priceless in marketing terms, especially when starting with no track record. This could have been achieved by calling the new airline SQOOT (instead of Scoot). It is quirky enough that you can have the cake and eat it, too. A real missed opportunity, in my opinion.
options available at serangoon MRT

Letter from Helen Lim
Acting Director, Media Relations, Land Transport Authority
WE THANK Mr Kang Choon Tian for his letter Elderly-unfriendly access at Serangoon MRT station (Nov 23). However, due to site constraints, we are unable to install an escalator at
Entrance D. Commuters can use the alternative footpath next to Block 416 for direct access to the escalators inside Entrance D without having to use the flight of stairs. Those who wish to use the lift can use the pedestrian crossing along Serangoon Central to access the lift at Entrance A.
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Voices
I say
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Why conservation is pragmatic

Philip holden
aving taught Singapore literature for years, I often find myself inadvertently drawn into discussing it. Last Sunday, my doctor told me he had been reading Robert Yeos classic, The Adventures of Holden Heng, written 25 years ago but just republished. What did he like about the book? The central character, perhaps, or the plot? Not really. Rather, the novel brought back to life places he had known so well that are now gone. Recently, we heard of two more spaces in danger of disappearing. The Rochor Centre flats and Bukit Brown Cemetery, at first sight, have little in common: A modern space for the living and an older space for the dead. Yet, both are important parts of the life-worlds of many Singaporeans and both are making way for more roads to cater to Singapores ever-growing car population. In both cases, planning decisions seem to have been made before a full process of consultation had started.
Consultation has become an exercise in minimising the negative effects of a predetermined course of action, rather than exploring alternatives through genuine dialogue. The reasons advanced in favour of the Bukit Brown road and the demolition of Rochor Centre might seem compelling. Singapore faces land-use constraints, and heritage sites with less intensive land use will yield inevitably to contemporary, more space-efficient structures. On reflection, though, this argument expresses an outdated paradigm. A key issue in this years elections was Singaporeans desire for greater participation in governance. And Singapore, in the last decade, has made physical constraints a virtue. Faced with the prospect of water a shortage, Singapore did not simply negotiate new agreements with Malaysia but encouraged the development of recycling and desalination technologies, providing the basis for growth of companies such as Hyflux which are now major international players. We could show similar vision in conservation issues. Singapores restricted
rochor Centre will be demolished to make way for an expressway. today fIle Photo
size and pace of development mean that we are now confronting choices concerning heritage preservation that will arise later in the rest of developing Asia. If we develop best practices in consultation mechanisms that bring in all members of the community, in sustainable development and engineering solutions that preserve heritage, such expertise would be invaluable in the future.
Arguments for heritage frequently stress the intangible: Disorientation at the loss of familiar landscapes and the erosion of community that accompanies this. A sense of connection to the past is certainly important. Yet, for present-day Singapore, developing expertise in the conservation of heritage also makes sound, pragmatic and economic sense. Imagine a Republic in 2040 that is a thriving heritage management hub, where my doctor and I, now both retired, would not have to rely on literature alone to jog our failing memories because places such as Bukit Brown and Rochor Centre would not have vanished. Rather, they would become further enriched as community spaces, through the lived experiences of a new generation of Singaporeans. Philip Holden, a permanent resident, has long been involved in heritagerelated issues. He teaches at the National University of Singapores University Scholars Programme.
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Voices
Letter from teo Kok seah
The popular evening talk show Lets Talk on Channel U is a very useful platform for adolescents to voice opinions and relate their experiences on social issues. The content is usually captivating. But there is room for improvement. The student participants, except for a handful, are often unable to articulate well in Mandarin, invariably punctuating their sentences with english and slang. Some of them converse in fractured Mandarin seemingly with no qualms or remorse. The impression is that these teenagers have difficulty in expressing ideas completely in the language. What does it say about our education system that most of the participants do not know the Mandarin equivalents of common nouns, verbs and adjectives? except for technical/scientific terminology, for which we can condone the use of english equivalents, speaking in a mixture of languages should not be encouraged. The participants may mistakenly think this is cool. One solution is to conduct a rehearsal with them. The talk show hosts, being adept
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students weak command of Mandarin on talk show is a concern

in Mandarin, could identify fractured sentences and correct them before the studio airing. The participants can then benefit by enriching their vocabulary. We should be aware that the show is watched by both Singaporeans and foreigners. It would not be a healthy situation if foreigners (whose mother tongue is Mandarin) get the impression that our bilingual school system is flawed. The standard of Mandarin being taught has already declined over the years. We do not need another example to reinforce such an impression to outsiders.
rehearsaLs may ComPromise sPoNtaNeity
We refer to Mr Teo Kok seahs feedback on the channel U programme Lets Talk, a forum for young people to voice their views on issues close to their hearts, for example, teenage relationships, growing up in a single-parent family and doing volunteer work. To this end, student panellists are selected based more on their personal experiences and ability to contribute to the topics than on language proficiency, which we acknowledge is less than ideal for some. To the suggestion for rehearsals, the production
team felt that the spontaneity of responses and the lively discussion at the forum would be compromised. As such, show hosts Li Teng and Lin Peifen are tasked to assist participants in using appropriate Mandarin expressions on occasions when they are unable to express themselves adequately in the language. We thank Mr Teo for his feedback and the opportunity to clarify.
Letter from JesLyN Low, head, braNdiNg & PromotioNs, ChaNNeL u, mediaCorP
High production standards at APB brewery in china

Letter from alina boey
Head, Corporate Communications, Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore
I refer to the letter Wait, my Tiger Beer is a Product of China? (Nov 23) and would first thank Mr Joel Weiden for supporting Tiger Crystal. The Tiger Crystal that consumers have come to enjoy in Singapore is indeed currently brewed at our brewery
in China. At present, Tiger Crystal is distributed to Singapore, China, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. On behalf of Asia Pacific Breweries, I assure Mr Weiden that APB maintains the highest production standards for its products in all its breweries. These production processes have been developed in accordance with the
technical specifications that all APB breweries around the world employ. Tiger Crystal offers consumers a refreshing taste and an easy-drinking alternative to the Tiger Beer they know and love. As a testament to the taste and quality of Tiger Crystal brewed at our China plant, it was awarded Gold at the prestigious World Beer Cup 2010 in the
Australasian, Latin American or Tropical Style Light Lager Category. APB was also honoured to receive the Brewers Association World Beer Cup 2010 Champion Brewery and Brewmaster award based on our entry to the competition. I thank Mr Weiden for his feedback and hope for his continued support of Tiger Crystal as a beer of choice.
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recipe for an upset stomach
dirty kitchen sponges are hotbeds for bacteria.

Photo by erNest Chua
study finds households lacking in kitchen hygiene

SINGAPORE Households here fare poorly when it comes to kitchen hygiene, according to a survey of 25 households. Eighty-eight per cent of the homes surveyed in the week-long study commissioned by BOSCH and Reckitt Benckiser have a significant presence of harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Most of the households surveyed said they do not wash utensils and dishes with hot water, while only 44 per cent said they wash their hands after handling raw meat. Such practices constitute poor kitchen hygiene, as harmful bacteria such as salmonella and E coli can thrive. Despite this, about 80 per cent believe they are not likely to get food poisoning. Commenting on the findings, Dr Wong Sin Yew, an infectious disease physician, said: We do get exposed to bacteria but we do have an intact immune system and most of the time, our immune system does handle it. But we really shouldnt push our
luck. I think we should practise good habits and make sure we reduce our risks. According to the survey, one of the main culprits in the kitchen which could cause cross-contamination is the kitchen sponge. What is worrying is that 88 per cent of sponges tested were found to contain E coli and salmonella. The common excuses for being sloppy about kitchen hygiene are laziness and a lack of time. Mr Gary Teng, a participant, said: Firstly, in the preparation of food, I think we are not so conscious of washing our hands when we handle the food. Washing the dishes after dinner, we do not use hot water, and the kitchen towel that is used to wipe the dishes and (kitchen counter) is the same. Another respondent, Ms Katherine Kang, said: I am guilty of over-using my sponge. That means I only throw my sponge away when ... they are flaking off, rather than having a systematic way of throwing them (away) every two to three weeks.
ChaNNel Newsasia
60% of units snapped up at Bedok residences launch

SINGAPORE Bedok Residences, which was in the news recently after students and retirees were reportedly paid by agents to queue overnight for its launch, has sold about 60 per cent of its units on the first day of its launch yesterday. In a statement, developer CapitaLand said it released 450 units out of the total 583 for sale yesterday. As of 5pm, 350 units had been snapped up. The average price per square foot is S$1,350. The integrated development comprises eight 15-storey blocks of residential units, a shopping mall and a transportation hub. Bedok Residences is developed by Brilliance Residential, a joint venture between CapitaLand Residential Singapore and CapitaMalls Asia. Temporary Occupation Permit for Bedok Residences is expected to be obtained in 2015. CapitaLand Residential Singapore CEO Wong Heang Fine said: The strong sales numbers demonstrate that the queue formed outside our show suite over the past few days consists of genuine prospective buyers. Those who queued managed to buy their choice units on the same day. CapitaLand Residential and CapitaMalls Asia jointly acquired the site at Bedok Central for S$788.9 million through a government land sales tender in July last year.
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nestle, research institutes to study maternal, infant nutrition

SINGAPORE An alliance of leading epigenetics researchers from three countries including Singapore has announced a research collaboration with the Nestle Research Center in Switzerland to improve nutritional strategies for mother and baby. The collaboration will rely on epigenetics, the biology of how gene function is regulated by environmental factors such as maternal nutrition during very early stage of development. Called the EpiGen Consortium, the alliance comprises researchers from the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Other researchers of EpiGen are from the United Kingdom and New Zealand AgResearch Limited and Auckland UniServices Limited from New Zealand and the Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit from the University of Southampton in the UK. EpiGen will collaborate with the Nestle Research Center and Nestle Nutrition to understand what is optimal nutrition for mothers during pregnancy and for infants to promote metabolic health throughout life. The ultimate goal is to make recommendations supported by science for the best
EpiGen will collaborate with the Nestle Research Center and Nestle Nutrition to understand what is optimal nutrition for mothers during pregnancy and for infants to promote metabolic health throughout life.
nutritional strategies for mother and baby. Professor Peter Gluckman, from A*STARs Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences and managing scientist for the EpiGen Consortium, said: If we are to improve the health of women and children, we need effective partnerships between academia and the private sector, as it is clear that good nutrition at the beginning of life is a key factor in determining metabolic health. Associate Professor Chong Yap Seng from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS also said: The combination of clinical, academic and commercial expertise and resources will help us push the boundaries of developmental epigenetics. ChaNNel Newsasia
Transport boost for needy elderly in south east District

SINGAPORE More needy elderly living in the South East District will benefit with the extension of the Gift of Mobility @ South East Programme, with the South East Community Development Council (CDC) and SMRT Corporation pledging a combined S$168,000 for another three years. Launched in September last year to provide elderly residents in the district with point-to-point transport services for medical treatment and appointments, the programme has seen an overwhelming response, with 1,156 trips made to benefit 111 needy elderly residents. The SMRT will be pledging a total of S$84,000 to the initiative and South East CDC will be providing a dollar-for-dollar matching grant to benefit more needy residents. Said South East CDC general manager Stanley Fong: With the growing ageing population in the South East District, we will see a greater need for transport cost assistance for needy elderly who require frequent travel for their medical appointments. We are thankful for corporations like SMRT, who have responded to the needs in the community. Mr Goh Chee Kong, senior vice-president of communications & services for SMRT, said: As a public transport service provider we believe we can do our part by partnering organisations such as the South East CDC to provide transport assistance for the needy elderly. The South East CDC will be working closely with its Comcare Local Network (CLN) partners such as the Family Service Centres in the district and social service managers to ensure that this programme is accessible and available to suitable beneficiaries.
today File Photo
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SINGAPORE The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is no longer advising Singaporeans to consider deferring non-essential travel to the Thai capital of Bangkok. The flood situation in Bangkok continues to improve and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has announced that inner Bangkok will be safe from floods, as the measures to stem the flooding have been successful, an MFA spokesman said yesterday. Still, Singaporeans in Bangkok or who are planning to visit Bangkok are advised to avoid the flood-affected areas and take the necessary precautions, including heeding the instructions of the local authorities and closely monitoring the local news. Concerns about the possibility of outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as
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MFa lifts travel advisory for non-essential travel to Bangkok

leptospirosis remain, the spokesman said. Singaporeans who are travelling to or in Thailand and have yet to eRegister with MFA are advised to do so at http://eregister. mfa.gov.sg. Meanwhile, in Bangkok, polluted water more than a metre deep is still inundating thousands of homes in northern and western districts of the city. Officials are maintaining a network of canals, levees and sandbag barriers to keep water out of inner Bangkok, sparking clashes with residents living outside the flood defences, reported Bloomberg.
>> sea surge slowiNg baNgkok flood draiNage: exPert 32
What singapore learnt from the Cambodian war: Wong Kan seng
SINGAPORE The Cambodian conflict which started in the late 1970s was an early test for Singapore and its foreign service, said former Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng yesterday. Mr Wong was the Foreign Minister from 1988 to early 1994 when the Vietnam-Cambodia war came to an end. Speaking at the S Rajaratnam Lecture, Mr Wong highlighted five key lessons from the conflict. One, it showed the importance of being independent and self-reliant. Singapore demonstrated to the world that in spite of its size, it was prepared to defend its interests even when it was up against major powers like the United States and China, Mr Wong said. The decades-long conflict also made Singapore realise the necessity of being nimble and pragmatic. Mr Wong said Singapore had little choice but to pick up on the changing positions of various players and react accordingly. He added that another important aspect of being pragmatic was to know when to step back and play a supporting role. From the conflict, Singapore gained a better understanding of the respective foreign policies and modus operandi of the Association of South-east Asian Nations members. Singapore also learnt how multilateral organisations functioned, Mr Wong noted. Lastly, the Cambodian conflict taught Singapore the significance of developing and honing an excellent foreign service. To ensure that Singapore is well protected, it has to constantly cultivate its foreign service team with abilities such as staying focused on Singapores interests and objectives, Mr Wong said.
chaNNel Newsasia
meNdaki hotliNe oPeN for Psle advice
Malay/Muslim parents and students can call a Mendaki hotline for guidance on options available after the release of the primary school Leaving examination results today. Mendaki said its eduadvisor hotline at 6245 5795
or 6245 5772 will be open during office hours from 8.30am to 6pm for this purpose from today till Dec 8. They can also post their questions online via Mendakis website at www.mendaki.org.sg.
chaNNel Newsasia
temasek Poly to offer busiNess aNalytics diPloma
Temasek polytechnic (Tp) will offer a new business analytics diploma programme next year. The Diploma in Business intelligence & analytics will take in its first batch of 50 students in april. students will learn how to use analytics to predict business outcomes by gathering and crunching raw data to study trends. it is aimed at meeting the
growing demand from the industry for analytics capabilities. Tp said it will run the programme in partnership with sas, the leader in business analytics. a Tp-sas Business intelligence & analytics Centre will also be set up to allow the industry to engage students to work on solutions using sas technologies.
chaNNel Newsasia
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singapore
GET THE laTEsT nEws
TwiTTEr.com/ TodayonlinE
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malaysiaN immigratioN forms ruN out, Not Needed to cross the causeway
chew tai soo aPPoiNted ambassador to iraN
Due to a shortage of cards, travellers crossing the Causeway into Malaysia will not need to fill up the white immigration cards for now. a sign at the Tourism Malaysia office here showed the white cards had not been distributed since June. a spokesperson said new stock should
arrive in about two weeks. in the meantime, travellers have been assured that they need not fill up the immigration forms. The Malaysian authorities said that should speed up clearance at customs, with the surge in visitor numbers expected during the year-end school holiday and festive period.
Mr Zalizam Zakaria, director at Tourism Malaysias singapore office, said: Whenever you go through the second Link or the Causeway, you can pass through without filling up the white card. The immigration officer will do the necessary procedures.
chaNNel Newsasia
Mr Chew Tai soo has been appointed singapores ambassador to iran but he will be resident in singapore, the Ministry of Foreign affairs (MFa) said. Mr Chew is currently ambassador-at-Large and, concurrently, senior adviser in the MFa. During his career,
he has served as singapores ambassador to Japan and France, as well as singapores permanent representative to the United nations in geneva and in new York. He graduated from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom in 1964.
chaNNel Newsasia
Lecturers micromouse runs off with world record

SINGAPORE Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) lecturer Ng Beng Kiat chipped past the four-second barrier and broke the world record in the 32nd All Japan Micromouse Contest held in Tsukuba, Japan, over the weekend. His micromouse an intelligent robot completed the race in only 3.921 seconds, slashing the previous record of 4.766 seconds achieved by Kato-san from Japan last year. In a micromouse race, the challenge is for the mouse to map out the fastest route from the starting point to the central point of the maze. A lecturer in NPs Electronic & Computer Engineering course, Mr Ngs super-fast micromouse beat more than 80 entries from countries such as the United States, Japan, United Kingdom and Taiwan in the Micromouse Expert Class category. Mr Ng also clinched the second prize in the Micromouse Half-Size category. Elsewhere, students from NPs Electronic & Computer
mr Ng with his micromouse. Photo

courtesy Ngee aNN PolytechNic
Engineering course also did well in the competition. In the MicroClipper event where the robot is tasked to seek and flip cans in the maze they swept the first, second and third prizes. The All Japan Micromouse Contest is the longest-running robotic contest in the world.
race to raise s$1.25m, one pixel at a time

SINGAPORE More than 44 companies and individuals have responded to the Singapore Childrens Societys first online fund-raising initiative, The Pixel Heart Project (www.pixelheart.org.sg). Launched two weeks ago, The Pixel Heart Project provides an opportunity for companies to make online donations for a worthy cause and aims to raise S$1.25 million through the adoption of 2,500 blocks of pixels on the website. These blocks of pixels are available for adoption at S$500 per block and will bear the livery of adoptive corporate and individual donors. When fully adopted, the 2,500 blocks on the websites landing page will fill a big heart to signify the commitment of companies and individuals to support the children in need in Singapore. Despite the uncertain economic outlook, more than S$32,000 has been raised through the adoption of pixels and from donations a testament to the spirit of philanthropy in Singapore, said the society in a media release yesterday. Proceeds from The Pixel Heart Project will go towards funding the 59 programmes and services run by the Singapore Childrens Society.
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BANGKOK The Thai Cabinet has postponed the increase in the minimum wage to 300 baht (S$12.50) a day a key campaign promise by the ruling party from Jan 1 to April 1 to help flood-affected employers. Government deputy spokesperson Anuttanama Amornwiwat said the decision would affect seven provinces Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Phuket and Pathum Thani. She said private sector businesses were expected to take between three and six months to recover. The minimum wage policy in the rest of the 70 provinces would begin Jan 1, 2013, she added. The daily minimum wage in Thailand ranges from 159 baht in northern Phayao province to 221 baht on the resort island of Phuket, according to the Labour Protection and Welfare Departments website. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatras Pheu Thai Party won a parliamentary majority in July elections after pledging to raise the minimum wage to 300 baht a day, cut corporate taxes and guarantee rice prices. But some industrial enterprises hit by floods, mainly in electronics and garments, have threatened to move their businesses elsewhere if they have to face higher labour costs next year. They agreed that the governments financial assistance and soft loans would not be enough for their companies rehabilitation if they have to pay for higher wages. Meanwhile, the government confirmed that ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will not be among convicts proposed for a royal pardon this year. Thaksin fled the country in 2008 to
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Thai minimum wage rise postponed

escape a corruption conviction. His sister, Ms Yingluck, told reporters after Tuesdays Cabinet meeting that her government follows the law and will not work in favour of any particular individuals. Thai media reported last week that the Cabinet had a pardon draft that would allow Thaksin to return home without being jailed. The news sparked threats of protest by his critics. Royal pardons are often issued to mark the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Dec 5. ageNcies
sea surge slowiNg baNgkok flood draiNage: expert
maN seNteNced to 20 years for iNsultiNg thai QueeN
The drainage of flood water from Bangkok and other provinces north of the capital has been complicated by a mild ocean surge in recent days, according to a water management expert. Mr royol Jitdon said data collected showed that the waters in the Gulf of Thailand were about 40cm above normal, reported The Nation newspaper, affecting the main Chao Phraya river which flows through
the heart of Bangkok. He spoke about his findings at seminar on Tuesday, saying he had chosen not to reveal the figures earlier for fear of causing public panic. According to Mr royol, the surge can be attributed to the Northeast Monsoon, combined with winter winds from China in the north.
ageNcies
a boat in floodwaters in bangkok yesterday. ap
A Thai court sentenced a retired truck driver to 20 years in prison for sending text messages that threatened and defamed Queen Sirikit, one of the longest jail terms given under laws protecting the royal family. Ampon Tangnoppakul, 61, who pleaded not guilty, sent four messages in May last year to the mobile phone of an aide to former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva,
the court said. It rejected a defence argument that his phone was being repaired at the time. The messages indicated intent to harm and defamation against Her Majesty that would trigger hatred, the court said. Ampon was also sentenced under the Computer Crimes Act, which has recently been used in conjunction with the lesemajeste law. ageNcies
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KUALA LUMPUR Floods in Malaysia precipitated by the North-east Monsoon claimed their first two victims yesterday, the local media reported. A six-year-old boy and a 14-year-old student both drowned in Bachok, in the northern state of Kelantan. But according to the New Straits Times, the two were playing in an irrigation canal. Floods began in Kelantan on Tuesday, forcing 21 residents to evacuate. Yesterday, the number of displaced residents rose to 227, as almost all rivers in the state had risen by yesterday evening. The water level in Kelantans Golok river was at 9.03m, just over its danger level. In neighbouring Terengganu state, floods have forced 370 residents to move into relief
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Floods worsen and claim first victims in Malaysia

centres on Tuesday. The district of Besut was worst hit, with 175 people evacuated after the water level of Sungai Besut rose to nearly 1.5m above the danger mark. Hundreds of Malaysians were forced to evacuate their homes over the weekend, including more than 490 in Johor. Flood waters of about 1.2m forced residents from two villages near Skudai, on the outskirts of Johor Baru, to move into a flood relief centre on Sunday. Malaysia has been preparing for weeks for its worst flood in decades, with the Northeast Monsoon expected to bring 20 to 40 per cent more rainfall than in normal seasons. The authorities had already designated more than 5,000 evacuation centres across the country to house up to 1.4 million victims. ageNcies
MysTEry oF INdIAN TrAIN FIrE
indian investigators were yesterday trying to determine what caused a fire that engulfed two train carriages and killed seven passengers, including an australian researcher. the fire broke out before dawn on tuesday as the express train was travelling in Jharkhand state on its way from Kolkata to the northern city of dehradun. the trains engineers managed to detach the two blazing cars from the rest of the train but were unable to save seven people who died from suffocation or burns. aP
Ex-Khmer rouge leader denies role in atrocities

PHNOM PENH A senior Khmer Rouge leader accused a war crimes tribunal yesterday of wanting his head on the block and insisted he had no real authority during the regimes brutal rule of Cambodia in the 1970s. Former head of state Khieu Samphan said he was a figurehead who took no part in key policy meetings in the government, which is accused of orchestrating the countrys Killing Fields and the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians. In his rebuttal of prosecutors opening remarks, Khieu Samphan accused the United Nations-backed tribunal of exaggerating the Khmer Rouges wrongdoing with fairy tales. However, he also sought to justify the regimes rule in a historical context, saying the movement sought to protect the country from French colonialists, the United States and neighbour Vietnam. He said: Today you may see it as a joke. However, I shall remind you that, at that time, communism was the one movement that gave hope to millions of youths around the world. What I really wanted at that time, was the best possible experience for my country, for Cambodia. The tribunal is seeking justice on behalf of Cambodians who died from executions, starvation, disease and overwork under the Khmer Rouge. The regimes supreme leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998 in Cambodias jungles, while a prisoner of his own comrades. aP
bombs defused Near PhiliPPiNe massacre site
The authorities in the restive southern Philippines defused five roadside bombs yesterday near the site of a 2009 massacre, on the day the relatives of the 57 victims marked the second anniversary of the killings. No casualties were reported but tensions were running high. About 200 police officers were deployed to secure the massacre site and the immediate vicinity
with dozens of people attending the commemoration ceremonies. Provincial Governor Esmael Mangudadatu cancelled a visit to the massacre site in Ampatuan, Maguindanao province. It was not clear who was responsible for planting the explosives but about 100 of the 197 people charged in the politically motivated killings are still at large. aP
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todAy thursdAy november 24, 2011
WOrLD
CAIRO Street clashes flared in Cairo again yesterday as protesters derided an agreement forged by Egypts ruling generals and mostly Islamist parties for a swifter transfer to civilian rule. Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of the military council that has run Egypt since former President Hosni Mubarak fell from power, promised on Tuesday that a civilian President would be elected in June, about six months sooner than the army had planned. He also vowed to hold parliamentary elections as scheduled, starting Monday. But he did not set a date for handing authority to a civilian government, instead offering a referendum on the immediate return of the armed forces to their barracks.
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Militarys pledges fail to placate protesters
Protesters clashed with riot police near tahrir square in cairo yesterday. reuters
The Tahrir crowd, along with protesters in a string of other cities across the nation, demanded he step down immediately in favour of an interim civilian council to run the nations affairs until elections for a new Parliament and President are held. Leave, leave! the crowds
said. The people want to topple the marshal. Some also viewed the referendum offer as a ploy by the military council to appeal to the many Egyptians who would prefer army rule to the uncertainties of a radical upheaval. Agencies
Yemen leader to sign power transfer deal

SANAA Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh reportedly plans to sign a deal in the Saudi capital that could mean the end of his 33-year rule, the United Nations envoy to Yemen said. Mr Salehs signature on the Gulf-brokered accord if he goes through with it would start a new chapter in the nine-month popular uprising that has shaken the Arab worlds poorest country. Since January, tens of thousands of Yemenis have protested in cities and towns across the nation, calling for democracy and the fall of Mr Salehs regime. For months, the US and other world powers have tried to get Mr Saleh to agree to a proposal sponsored by Yemens powerful Gulf Arab allies to end the crisis. Speaking to reporters in the Yemeni capital yesterday, the UN country and move their country toward a better future, he said. The plan calls for a power transfer to Mr Salehs Vice-President, Mr Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, within 30 days and early presidential elections within 90 days of the signing. It also calls for a two-year transition period in which a national unity government will amend the constitution, work to restore security and hold a national dialogue on the countrys future. The deal gives Mr Saleh immunity from prosecution contradicting one key demand of Yemens opposition protesters. Mr Saleh has repeatedly agreed to sign the deal, only to back away at the last minute. This time, though, a signing appeared more likely since he flew to Saudi Arabia early yesterday before the announcement was made. AP
yemeni President Ali Abdullah saleh reportedly arrived in riyadh yesterday. AP
Secretary-Generals special envoy to Yemen, Mr Jamal bin Omar, said opposition and ruling parties agreed on a mechanism to carry out the plan and that Mr Saleh would sign the deal at a ceremony in the Saudi capital Riyadh later in the day. The agreement is an important step for the people of Yemen to solve the political crisis in the
excessive force used in bAhrAin crAckdown
The head of a special commission that investigated Bahrains unrest said yesterday that the authorities used torture and excessive force against detainees arrested in crackdowns on the largest Arab Spring uprising in the Gulf. Mr Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni, making the first official comments
on the findings, also said there was no evidence of Iranian links to Bahrains Shia-led protests, in a clear rebuke of Gulf leaders who accuse Tehran of playing a role in the turmoil. The study, authorised by Bahrains Sunni rulers in a bid to ease tensions, marks the most
comprehensive document on security force actions during any of the revolts that have flared across the Arab world this year. The government promised no immunity for anyone suspected of abuses and said it would propose creating a permanent human rights watchdog commission. AP
LibyAn tribes Protest AgAinst new government Line-uP
Some of Libyas clans said yesterday they would not recognise the government, after the unveiling of a new Cabinet revived regional rivalries which threaten the countrys stability. Prime Minister designate Abdurrahim El Keib named a Cabinet line-up which aimed to placate Libyas patchwork of tribes, regional inter-
ests and ideological camps which are competing to fill the vacuum left by Muammar Gaddafis fall from power. The line-up appeared to be a setback for the Islamists who in the past few months have emerged as a powerful force and had been eyeing the post of Defence Minister. That job went instead to
Mr Osama Al Juwali, the commander of the military council in the western Libyan town of Zintan. He staked a late claim to the post after forces under his command captured Gaddafis son Saif Al Islam. There was no immediate sign of dissent from the Islamists but smaller groups complained they had been neglected. Agencies
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ts no secret that new homes in Singapore are relatively small, putting a premium on space. This has led to increasing demand for compact, multi-purpose appliances that help to maximise space. Singapores tropical climate and frequent rainfall also make it difficult to air-dry clothes at times. This is where a washer-dryer comes in handy, as you save on space and your laundry doesnt pile up. The latest crop of washer-dryers feature some advanced features that not only keep your clothes clean and smelling fresh, but use less energy as well. KeepIng fabrIcs good as new Gone are the days when machine-washed clothes became worn out or torn. The latest washer-dryers have diamond-shaped depressions that prevent fabrics from becoming snagged and torn. This helps to clean fabrics thoroughly but gently. Front-loading washer-dryers also lift your fabrics in and out of the water hundreds of times during each wash cycle, cleaning clothes thoroughly and being gentler on the fabric. The newest models even feature an air-wash mode, so you can handle dryclean only clothes in your own home. Even hard-to-wash items such as pillows and stuffed toys can be cleaned without any detergents or harsh dry-cleaning chemicals. Some washer-dryers feature a condensation drying system that eliminates the need for your washer dryer to be vented externally. While these have a longer washing/drying cycle than conventional vented dryer, these use less energy as they dont need to generate hot air. Some models of washer-dryers feature a steam-clean mode that disinfects and softens fabrics. Because steam is so effective at killing germs and dust mites, these models have been found to help people who suffer from asthma and allergies. These models also help save energy and water. Technological advances also mean that its no longer absolutely necessary to use bleach and hot water to make your fabrics ultra clean. Some washer-dryers even boast special modes that use ions to help clean clothes and reduce bacteria. And because this technology works in cold water, your energy bills are further reduced.
Goes Washer-dryer shoppinG

effIcIent cleanIng Some washer-dryers use ceramic heating elements which are more energy efficient than conventional heating elements. Conventional ones can be prone to the build-up of calcium compounds which waste electricity and can only be cleaned with special detergents. But ceramic heating elements are highly resistant to this and require less energy to become hot. Built in sensors can also help set your units water level and wash time automatically, based on the weight and size of each load for optimal washing care. Also, if you prefer to air-dry your clothes to save more energy, most washerdryers feature a wash-only mode. lIttle detaIls, bIg dIfference Its also helpful if your washer-dryer has a larger door. While this may seem like a minor detail, youll be thankful the next time youre trying to wash and dry that king-sized comforter in the confines of your laundry area. If you lead a busy lifestyle, and can only wash your clothes late at night or early in the morning, it helps that many modern washer-dryers feature specially-designed drums and motors that produce less noise and vibration. So, this means your irregular laundry times wont wake the neighbours or your family members. Taps leak over time, but a washer equipped with an aqua stop feature, reduces the risk of leaks flooding your floor and damaging floors or cabinets. Some washer-dryers are equipped with an internal sponge which expands to block water from seeping out if a leak is detected by internal sensors. These sensors can even switch the machine off to prevent further leaks. If you or your loved ones have sensitive skin, a washer-dryer designed to completely dissolve powdered detergents is something that shouldnt be overlooked either, as detergent residue can cause skin irritation. the style dIfference Washer-dryers are still relatively bulky household appliances, so the units design may also be high on your list of priorities. These days, there are a myriad of washer-dryers that are relatively compact yet have high load capacity and use modern materials such as stainless steel. Many also feature streamlined, simple controls that are easy to use.
A wide range of washer-dryers is available from S$699 at Harvey Norman.
Tell us what to look out for when shopping for washer-dryers!

Email your tip, in no more than 50 words, to smartshopper@mediacorp.com.sg by 12pm on Nov 30 with your full name as in NRIC, NRIC number and contact number, and you could be the lucky one to win a $50 shopping voucher from Harvey Norman! The winning tip will be published in the next Smart Shopper feature on Dec 8.
TERMS & CONDITIONS This contest is open to all except employees and immediate family members of Pertama Merchandising Pte Ltd and its companies, and MediaCorp Pte Ltd. Please submit entry with your full name as in NRIC, NRIC No and contact number. By participating in this contest, the participant agrees to be bound by the official rules, regulations and decisions. Judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entertained. All participants must be above the age of 18. All entries must be submitted via email. Any discrepancies shall disqualify the participant. All winners will be notified by phone. Each participant is only allowed to submit 1 entry (not more than 50 words) for each contest. The management reserves the right to amend any terms and conditions of this contest without prior notice.
Shopper tip of the week

How to choose a digital camera
If image quality is the most important, buy a DSLR. For lightness and convenience, choose a compact with image stabilisation, full-HD video recording and image noise control. For creativity and better control, consider one with creative filters, flip-out LCDs and interchangeable lenses.
>> Contributed by Neo Chin Ming, SXXXX240D
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Australian police probe News Corp allegations

CANBERRA Australian police said yesterday that they are investigating a former senators allegations that a News Corp executive offered him favourable newspaper coverage and a special relationship in return for voting against government legislation. News Ltd, the Australian arm of Rupert Murdochs News Corp empire, immediately denied the allegations. Former Senator Bill OChee recently made the allegations in a nine-page statement to police and they were published yesterday by Fairfax Media newspapers, rivals of News Ltd in Australia. The newspapers reported that an unnamed executive of News Ltd offered Mr OChee inducements during a lunch on June 13, 1998, to vote against his conservative governments legislation on the creation of digital TV in Australia. News Corp stood to profit from the legislation failing. Mr OChee, a former senator for Queensland state, lost his Senate seat at elections four months after the lunch with the News Ltd executive. Australian Federal Police said in a statement yesterday that Mr OChees allegations had been under investigation since Nov 4. As this matter is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment any further, the statement said. Offering a senator a bribe or inducement to influence a vote is an offense punishable by up to six months in prison. News Ltd chairman and chief executive John Hartigan said he categorically denied allegations of improper conduct. The executive referred to in todays report, Malcolm Colless, has confirmed that no improper conversation took place during the 1998 lunch, Mr Hartigan said in a statement, adding that two other guests at the lunch did not hear any improper conversations as well. Mr Hartigan said neither News Ltd nor Mr Colless had been contacted by police. Mr OChee did not respond to press inquiries yesterday. The allegations are embarrassing for News Corp, whose ownership of 70 per cent of Australias newspapers has raised criticisms from within the government that Mr Murdochs empire has too much control over Australian media. The government has opened an inquiry into potentially increasing newspaper regulation in Australia after News Corp closed its top-selling British tabloid News of the World in July over illegal phone hacking allegations. aP
ChriStMAS tree job goNe WroNg
a helicopter installing a Christmas tree on aucklands waterfront crashed yesterday, but the pilot escaped serious injury. this photo from footage captured by Television New Zealand shows the choppers blades getting caught in cables attached to scaffolding. the rear of the helicopter then snapped and the pilot was tossed about as it smashed into the ground. although the incident took place in a heavily populated area, there were no serious injuries on the ground. Pilot Greg Gribble (inset), who has 20 years experience, said he was doing fine after his ordeal. reuters
Man arrested after leaving S$1.3m in cafe

SYDNEY Police may be close to unravelling the mystery of a man who left nearly A$1 million (S$1.27 million) a lot of dough at an upscale pizzeria and cafe here. Police said a man wearing a yellow singlet, shorts and slippers left a suitcase at Cafe Marco on Tuesday morning. Staff thought it might contain a bomb but it turned out to be stuffed with notes of various denominations. Some media reports identified the man as a 49-year-old Chinese national from Hong Kong, who is in Australia on a student visa. He was found hours later sitting in the rain and was arrested. New South Wales police said the man, who suffers from an unknown medical problem, is undergoing psychiatric assessment at a hospital. Police said detectives will have to wait until the man recovers before asking him more questions about the cash. Police wouldnt say whether they think the arrested man is the one who left the case in the cafe. A worker at the cafe said the man who left the case was a bit nervous. He was really nervous. Now we can laugh about it, but yesterday I was scared. I called the police, she said. Police said that if the money legitimately belongs to the man it would be returned to him. If the cash is proceeds from a crime it will likely be forfeited to the government. If the owner of the cash is not found, whoever discovered it could claim it after three months. aP
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from left: republican presidential candidates herman cain, Newt gingrich and michele bachmann had differing views during the debate which was aired live on CNN. reuters
republican debate highlights lack of a unified security vision

WASHINGTON The Republican presidential candidates placed in sharp relief on Tuesday night their partys lack of a single national security vision a decade after the 9/11 attacks, differing over defence spending cuts, aid to Pakistan and what to do with illegal immigrants already in the United States. Eight Republicans participated in the debate, which was aired live on CNN and was the 11th for Republicans seeking the right to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama next year. In a debate that went deep into foreign policy issues but did little to alter the basic contours of the battle for the Republican nomination, the candidates by and large struck a hawkish tone in dealing with Iran and protecting the US from terrorist attacks. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, newly resurgent in polls, said he would support an Israeli strike against Iran, if only as a last recourse and only as a step toward replacing the regime. Businessman Herman Cain said he would help the Israelis in an attack on Iran, if it was clear what the mission was and it was clear what the definition of victory was, while former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said he would stand up to Iran with crippling sanctions. But Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann called Texas Governor Rick Perry naive for suggesting cutting off US aid to Pakistan, calling it too nuclear to fail. The candidates largely agreed on the need to strengthen domestic surveillance and anti-terrorism laws but several warned of the potential threat to civil liberties. The candidates also showed their differences on the potential cuts to the military that inched closer to a reality this week after a Congressional committee failed to find US$1.2 trillion (S$1.56 trillion) in deficit reductions, and an intense and lengthy discussion also broke out over immigration as Mr Gingrich said he supported finding a way to allow people living in the country illegally to stay in the US. Immigration remains one of the most controversial subjects among Republican primary voters, and the exchange will likely fuel more questions that will be directed towards the candidates in the coming days.
ageNcies
how serious is presideNtial hopeful bachmaNN?
United States presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann appears to have no intention of going the distance in her bid to win the republican nomination to challenge President Barack obama in next years election, news aggregator Gawker reported in an exclusive on Tuesday. According to internal documents obtained and published online, US Congresswoman Bachmann has no plans to field employees or volunteers in the key states of California, Florida, Texas and Michigan, as well as in the capital, Washington. The document, an application by the Bachmann campaign for a liability insurance policy, was forwarded to Gawker by a source.
In it, campaign treasurer Nancy Watkins declares none planned in the fields asking how many full-time, part-time and volunteer staff or independent contracts the campaign will have in those states. The document also revealed that the Bachmann campaign plans to raise only US$30 million (S$39.1 million). By comparison, in the run-up to the 2008 election, republican nominee John McCain set a fundraising target of US$71 million just for 2007. Ms Bachmanns critics argue that she is hanging in the republican nominating race for the publicity, and to promote her hastily-written memoir, which has just been released. ageNcies
bloomberg blasts obama, could mouNt presideNtial bid
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has launched an attack on United States President Barack obama that has renewed suggestions he could mount an independent bid for the White House. Mr Bloomberg rebuked Mr obama for remaining on the sidelines as Washington railed to hammer out a deficit deal this week. In a rare intervention into federal politics, Mr Bloomberg said: Its the chief executives
job to bring people together and to provide leadership. I dont see that happening. Mr Bloombergs words could fuel speculation about whether he could mount a third-party bid for the White House. He has played down such a move but some centrists disillusioned with Mr obama, and dismayed by what they see as a paucity of talent in the republican field, still hold out hope. the daily telegraph
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clooNey oN witNess list for berluscoNi trial
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American actor George Clooney and his ex-girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis (picture) are among some 200 witnesses accepted by a Milan court in the trial of former Premier Silvio Berlusconi on charges of underage prostitution. Italian reports said the court accepted defence and prosecution witness lists yesterday. Clooney has said he was approached by Berlusconis team to testify about parties at the politicians villas, but says he only visited the Premiers residence once to seek aid for darfur and declined an invitation to stay for a party. His inclusion on the list does not necessarily mean he will testify. The witness list also includes Karima El Mahroug, the Moroccan teen who is
alleged to have had sex with Berlusconi in exchange for money. Both she and 75-yearold Berlusconi have denied a sexual relationship. aP
Italians want to cut debt but ...

ROME Few Italians are willing to make personal sacrifices like retiring at age 67 instead of 65, or even earlier though they believe cutting the countrys public debt is a top priority, according to an AP-GfK poll released on Tuesday. And most Italians think the country should stay in the 17-nation euro zone even though the European Union is demanding such tough economic reforms. A full 93 per cent of Italians said reducing the public debt was either an extremely or very important goal for the government to tackle. Only 2 per cent said it was not too important or not at all important. Yet, only about a quarter of Italians favour reforming labour laws to make it easier to fire workers, or raising the retirement age considered critical to curb Italys public spending and boost economic growth. Italy has been engulfed in financial turmoil for weeks as markets woke up to the enormous size of its debt 1.9 trillion (S$3.3 trillion), a euro zone high at 120 per cent of gross domestic product. The AP-GfK poll was conducted last week during the first days of economist Mario Montis new government. Mr Monti got high marks from the Italians surveyed, with 67 per cent saying they viewed him favourably. Only 10 per cent had a negative view and 16 per cent were neutral. But critically, only 32 per cent of Italians surveyed are strongly confident that his technocratic government can fix the countrys economic ills. Forty-two per cent say they are moderately confident and 22 per cent say they have little or no confidence he can turn Italys finances around. The survey also found that Italians are especially concerned about corruption: 87 per cent called it an extremely or very serious problem. Unemployment, the debt and organised crime followed. aP
Greek Premier hoPeful of writteN commitmeNt
Greeces new technocrat Prime Minister said on Tuesday he was confident fractious politicians would soon provide a written commitment to painful austerity measures as demanded by the European Union (EU) that will unlock funds needed to stave off bankruptcy. our partners demand written commitments ... over the policies which will be implemented in the coming years, Mr lucas Papademos said. I believe party leaders will fulfil their duty. Im optimistic that a solution will be found soon.
While two parties, the Socialist PASoK and the far-right lAoS, have signalled readiness to sign, the conservative New democracy party has reiterated its refusal to sign any pledge and Greeces main private and public sector trade unions have called a 24-hour strike for dec 1. It will be the first major strike since Mr Papademos formed his three-party coalition to secure payment of an 8 billion (S$14 billion) aid tranche to avert default in december. reuters
eu Pay reductioN ProPosals uNcoNviNciNG: britaiN
Britain has protested that European Commission (EU) proposals to reduce the pay and perks of EU officials in line with national austerity cuts are unconvincing and unlikely to be implemented. An official protest signed by the British, Germans, French and 12 other governments comes amid growing anger that European civil servants are resisting all attempts to reform their generous salaries, pensions and allowances. The commission is strongly criticised
for failing to plug a pension black hole that will present an annual bill of 1.3 billion (S$2.6 billion) to taxpayers in 2013. Governments want the pensions to be based on earnings throughout a civil servants career rather than on his final salary, a system that gives the average EU pensioner almost 60,000 a year. The EU will today begin talks on reforming European staffing regulations with trade unions representing the EUs 50,000 officials. the daily teleGraPh
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World
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Vulnerable elderly in England abused by their carers, says inquiry

LONDON Hundreds of thousands of elderly people in England are suffering abuse and neglect in their own homes from care workers who treat them like pieces of meat, a watchdog warned yesterday. A year-long inquiry into standards of care for the elderly at home has uncovered appalling evidence of pensioners being deprived of food and water, handled roughly, humiliated and even robbed. The Equality and Human Rights Commission warned that care workers often spend just 15 minutes with an elderly person, ticking off pre-arranged tasks in an approach that displayed chronic disregard for their dignity. In one case, an elderly blind man said two council carers were talking to each other over his head, leaving him feeling like a lump of meat. In another, a 76-year-old woman with advanced cancer was told that her care worker could not prepare her a microwave meal because of health and safety rules. Baroness Greengross, the commissioner responsible for the report, told The Daily Telegraph that 250,000 vulnerable pensioners in England were receiving poor or very poor standards of care at home. The 115-page report, which gathered evidence from 1,254 individuals, local authorities, care providers and other groups in England, estimated that half of the 500,000
In one case, an elderly blind man said two council carers were talking to each other over his head, leaving him feeling like a lump of meat.
people receiving home help with tasks such as washing, dressing and cooking were satisfied with the quality of their support. But significant shortcomings in the way councils commissioned services from private care firms and nursing agencies led to breaches of basic human rights for hundreds of thousands of frail pensioners, it said. The findings represent the latest scandal to hit care for elderly people in England. A series of damning inquiries by inspectors highlighted the failure of National Health Service hospitals to treat older patients with dignity, leaving them dehydrated and malnourished. The Local Government Association blames the failures on a lack of funding for elderly care, exacerbated by Coalition cuts, and said the system needed urgent reform. The watchdog has now called for a loophole in the Human Rights Act to be closed to require councils to agree human rights clauses in contracts with groups providing care workers. the daily telegraph
occupy protests cost US taxpayers at least S$17 million

NEW YORK During the first two months of the nationwide Occupy protests, the movement cost American taxpayers at least US$13 million (S$17 million) in police overtime and other municipal services, according to a survey by The Associated Press. The heaviest financial burden fell upon law enforcement agencies tasked with monitoring marches and evicting protesters from outdoor camps, and the steepest costs by far piled up in New York City and Oakland, California, where police clashed with protesters on several occasions. Broken down city by city, the numbers are more or less in line with the cost of policing major public events and emergencies. The spending comes as cash-strapped police departments have cut overtime budgets, travel and training to respond to the recession. Aside from policing, cities have had to pay for cleaning and repairing property at dozens of 24-hour encampments. The AP gathered figures from government agencies in 18 cities with active protests and focused on costs through Nov 15, the day protesters were evicted from New York Citys Zuccotti Park, where the protests began Sept 17 before spreading nationwide. The survey did not attempt to tally the price of all protests but provides a glimpse into costs to cities large and small. ap
Water does Not preveNt dehydratioN: europeaN CommissioN
The European Commission (EC) is expected to rule that bottled water does not prevent dehydration but does help keep you cool and maintain your body at its physical and mental peak, in a move that some EC politicians have called stupidity writ large. last week, the EC controversially ruled that manufacturers could not advertise bottled water as helping to prevent dehydration because the claim was not backed up by clinical evidence. The European Food Standards Authority experts had decided there was
insufficient evidence to prove that drinking water prevents dehydration, but they judged that science had proven water could help regulate the bodys temperature and help it carry out its normal physical and cognitive functions. Although some scientists have argued the ruling is technically correct for example, drinking water would not help prevent the dehydration that comes with diarrhoea others accused the EC of yet another piece of petty legislation that runs counter to common sense. the daily telegraph
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World
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the curiosity rover during inspections at the Jet Propulsion laboratory in Pasadena, california. the msl spacecraft is scheduled to launch this saturday. reuters
Curiosity to explore Mars

CAPE CANAVERAL (Florida) As big as a car and as well-equipped as a laboratory, NASAs newest Mars rover blows away its predecessors in both size and skill. Nicknamed Curiosity and scheduled for launch on Saturday, the rover has a 2-metre arm tipped with a jackhammer and a laser to break through the Martian red rock. What really makes it stand out: It can analyse rocks and soil with unprecedented accuracy. This is a Mars scientists dream machine, said NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratorys Ashwin Vasavada, the deputy project scientist. Once on the red planet, Curiosity will be on the lookout for organic, carbon-containing compounds. While the rover cannot actually detect the presence of living organisms, scientists hope to learn from the US$2.5 billion (S$3.2 billion), nuclear-powered mission whether Mars has or ever had what it takes to nurture microbial life. Curiosity will be the largest and most complex piece of equipment ever placed on the surface of another planet, said Mr Doug McCuistion, director of NASAs Mars exploration programme. Curiosity is about twice the size of previous rovers Spirit and Opportunity, weighs a tonne and is loaded with 10 science instruments. In a spacecraft first, it will be lowered to Mars surface via a jet pack and a tether system similar to the sky cranes used by helicopters to insert heavy equipment
coNtact made with
russias lost mars Probe
russias troubled Mars probe PhobosGrunt, lost in space for the last two weeks, has finally responded to Earths signals. The European Space Agency (ESA) said yesterday that its tracking station in Perth, Australia, had received a signal from the craft. ESA is now working with russian engineers to see how best to maintain communications with the craft. Phobos-Grunt has been stuck in Earth orbit since its launch on Nov 9, unable to fire the engine that would take it on to the red Planet. It was built to land on the larger of Mars two moons, Phobos, and scoop up rocks to bring back to Earth.
ageNcies
in inaccessible spots on Earth. It is the kind of precision landing that officials said will benefit future human explorers on Mars. The rover is scheduled to arrive at the mineral-rich Gale Crater next August, more than eight months after embarking on the 570-million-km voyage aboard an Atlas V rocket. Curiosity is the capstone of what NASA calls the year of the solar system. A spacecraft is en route to Jupiter after lifting off last August from Cape Canaveral, and twin lunar probes launched in September will arrive at the moon on New Years weekend. aP
New fiNd sheds light oN aNcieNt site iN Jerusalem
Newly found coins underneath Jerusalems Western Wall could change the accepted belief about the construction of one of the worlds most sacred sites two millennia ago, Israeli archaeologists said yesterday. It was long thought that the compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary was built in its entirety by Herod, a Jewish ruler who died in 4 BC.
But archaeologist Eli Shukron of the Israel Antiquities Authority said the coins that were found underneath the foundations of the compounds Western Wall date to 20 years after Herods death, which indicates Herod could not have built that wall. Instead, Mr Shukron believes construction must have taken longer than was thought and was likely completed by one of Herods descendants. aP
BUSINESS
Far East launches new brand to focus on SOHO
avelyN Ng
avelynngsy@mediacorp.com.sg
52
SINGAPORE Property developer Far East Organization plans to roll out a number of small home offices, or SOHO developments, in the months ahead. These projects will be launched under its new brand, Far East SOHO, starting with a 231-unit development at Scotts Road. Despite the uncertainties in the global economy, property analysts expect demand for such projects to be resilient. The Scotts Towers, which will be completed in 2016, is part of Far East Organizations plans to establish itself in the small home office market. Analysts say SOHO units are popular with younger buyers who prefer trendier and multi-functional living spaces.
We are looking at people in the creative industries. Professionals, managers, executives People who appreciate this kind of unique lifestyle, people who travel a lot, the cosmopolitan People who understand what this lifestyle is all about, said Far East Organization executive director Chng Kiong Huat. Far East Organization was the first to introduce SOHO developments in Singapore with Central at Clarke Quay in 2004. It has two other SOHO properties comprising The Tennery at Woodlands and The Cape on Amber Road. Currently, about 80 per cent of SOHO unit buyers are from Singapore, with the rest coming largely from China and Indonesia, Far East Organization said, adding that it is seeking to attract more foreign buyers.
A blue Christmas ahead for investors?

millet eNriquez
emelita@mediacorp.com.sg
JI YANG
JI YANG PROFESSIONAL GEOMANCY SERVICES
21 Old Airport Road #01-101, Singapore 390021 823 Tampines St 81 #01-164, Singapore 520823 www.jiyangfengshui.com
SINGAPORE Investors hoping for a Christmas stock market rebound are going to be disappointed. Asian shares have fallen for six out of the last seven days, and analysts say sentiment will continue to be eroded this year by uncertainty in the euro zone and the United States. A long, drawn-out soap opera. That is how some analysts view the markets ups and downs where Asian indexes have shed as much as 7 per cent in the past five days. And with no clarity in sight for the euro zone debt crisis and a slowdown forecast in the US and China, market observers see another 5- to 10-per-cent downside on the cards. What I suspect is that this market still has a bit way to go to downside before it burns itself out, which is a point of capitulation whereby everybody is just really gloomy
Its always possible to have short-term rallies, but in the near term we would expect those to be kept out and the bias would be towards slight weakness rather than slight strength.
mr steve brice, chief investment strategist at standard Chartered
and bearish. And when the situation reaches that point, I think thats when markets will bottom, said Mr Sani Hamid, director of wealth management at Financial Alliance. Predictions of the market picking up before 2012 are few and far between. Weve got a lot of challenges out there, said Mr Steve Brice, chief investment strategist at Standard
Chartered. Its always possible to have short-term rallies, but in the near term we would expect those to be kept out and the bias would be towards slight weakness rather than slight strength. All this bearish talk has kept investors on the sidelines and IG Markets said it is seeing investors take a more cautious stance with short-term trades. Some analysts are also steering clear of equities and opting for bonds and gold instead. Still, some contrarians say there is still value in equities. Ultimately, we believe that we will get that rebound and that quantitative easing in the US will happen in the first quarter of next year, Mr Brice said. We believe Europe will eventually get its head around the problem and gradually move towards some sort of resolution. In that environment we could see quite a significant risk rally.
doW
WedNesday
asia stoCks Fall oN germaN Fears

tuesday monday Friday thursday 11,493.70 q 11,547.30 q 11,796.20 p 11,770.70 q 0.46% 2.11% 0.22% 1.13%
aFterNooN latest
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Nyse toP 5 by volume

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us markets Wall st continues slide
United States stock markets continued its slide yesterday as frustration over the euro zones debt crisis, coupled with weak Chinese factory data, further dented investor sentiment. A weak German bond sale sparked fears the debt crisis was even beginning to threaten Berlin, with the leaders of France and Germany still at odds over a longer-term structural solution. Adding to market worries, data showed Chinese manufacturing shrank the most in 32 months in November, intensifying concerns about a global economic slowdown. US crude oil fell 1.8 per cent on fears of reduced demand from China, the worlds No 2 economy.
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Commodities
oil us$96.17 (-us$1.84)
Asian shares fell today and the euro struggled close to a seven-week low to the dollar after a botched German bond sale raised alarm that Europes ever-worsening sovereign debt crisis is starting to affect even the continents economic powerhouse. Oil slipped further, a day after weak data from Europe, China and the United States stoked fears that the global economy may be heading for a recession that would dull demand for industrial commodities. Germanys bond sale yesterday was the least successful since the launch of the euro, raising concern about the price Berlin may pay for its role as paymaster to a region racked by a crisis that has toppled governments in Greece and Italy. Tokyos Nikkei share average fell 1.5 per cent, partly catching up with losses elsewhere yesterday, when Japanese markets were closed for a holiday. MSCIs broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.1 per cent. Commodity currencies, unsettled by the weak factory data from major importer China, extended their decline. The Australian dollar slid below US$0.97 for the first time since early October. It last stood at US$0.9697, having plumbed a trough at US$0.9664 overnight. Singapores benchmark ST Index opened down 0.5 per cent, or 13.45 points, to 2,663.12 at 9am this morning. reuters
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Business
KUALA LUMPUR Malaysias Alliance Financial Group and Hwang-DBS (Malaysia) are considering combining some of their units, The Star newspaper reported yesterday. Singapores DBS Group, which owns 28 per cent of Hwang-DBS, was a key player in the talks, the paper said, without citing its source. Media reports had previously said that
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Malaysias Alliance,Hwang-DBs eye combining units

DBS was keen to acquire the 30-per-cent stake in Alliance owned by Singapore investment firm Temasek and privately held Malaysian firm Langkah Bahagia. In Singapore, a DBS spokeswoman declined to comment on the report, but added that strengthening existing operations and growing business organically remained the top priority. Temasek, Hwang-DBS and Alliance declined to comment. Alliance, which has a market capitalisation of US$1.67 billion (S$2.2 billion), had said in July that it was not seeking a merger partner, and that it could find a niche to operate in despite the increasingly competitive market. Hwang-DBS has a market capitalisation of US$192 million. reuters
singapore office property losing appeal: DTZ

WoNg sieW yiNg
siewying@mediacorp.com.sg
SINGAPORE Singapores office property market is losing its appeal, according to real estate firm DTZ. DTZ says demand for office space has declined, and the sector is now considered cold, which it defines as property that is more than 5 per cent overpriced, with potential yield below expectations. Singapore has traditionally been a volatile market, and our rental outlook has been impacted by the global slowdown, resulting in lower expected returns over the next five years, DTZ said in a statement. It also lowered its forecast for rental growth in industrial property to 3.1 per cent over the next five years. With key export markets in turmoil, the downside risks facing Asia-Pacific industrial remain significant. Trading hubs such as Singapore and Taipei are at particular risk from the likelihood of another recession, DTZ said. For all grades of property, DTZs Fair Value Index, which offers insight into the relative
Singapore has traditionally been a volatile market, and our rental outlook has been impacted by the global slowdown, resulting in lower expected returns over the next five years.
real estate firm dtZ
attractiveness of current pricing in commercial property markets, slumped by 17 per cent to 58 points in the third quarter from the previous three months. The score remains above 50, indicating that Asia Pacific markets are holding up, but the outlook has become more challenging, with fewer attractive opportunities in Asia Pacific, it said. While the index score has fallen, DTZ says that the majority of markets in Asia Pacific still offer excellent prospects and that investors taking a mediumto long-term view can access several high yielding and high growth markets at a discount, relative to pricing elsewhere.
Business travel costs set to rise next year

SINGAPORE Travelling for business is expected to become more expensive next year, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, as companies expand travels to seek growth, according to a report by American Express. Airfares for short-haul journeys, defined as flights of fewer than three hours, are expected to climb by between 1 and 6 per cent, while fares for long-haul flights could rise by 5 to 10 per cent, data from the American Express Global Business Travel forecast shows. Hotel room rates are also expected to increase amid limited room capacity. The report said that room rates in the AsiaPacific could rise by an average of 6 to 10 per cent, with the highest increases projected for Hong Kong and Singapore. Despite the price hike, American Express said that companies are still investing in business travel, but they are more open to more cost-effective alternatives such as virtual meetings. WoNg sieW yiNg
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Business
chiNa is top smartphoNe market
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China overtook the united states to become the worlds largest smartphone market by volume in the third quarter as the devices became cheaper and more widely available, research firm strategy Analytics said. shipments in China reached a record 23.9 million units, up 58 per cent from the second quarter, the Boston-based research firm said. That compares with a 7-per-cent drop to 23.3 million units in the us. bloomberg
China to allow more foreign investors in local bonds

BEIJING China is set to allow more foreign companies to invest in the domestic bond market, a central bank official said yesterday, in line with the countrys pledges to liberalise its financial markets over time. With wider use of yuan abroad, we will actively and gradually push forward the opening up of Chinas bond market and allow more foreign investors to invest in the domestic bond market, Mr Xie Duo, head of financial markets at the Peoples Bank of China, told a financial forum in Beijing. We will allow more domestic institutions to issue bonds abroad if they are willing. As China seeks to increase the use of the yuan in trade settlements to reduce reliance on the United States dollar, overseas yuan holders are keen to plough money back into Chinas bond market to get steady, if not higher returns. The government has given permission for more than 100 foreign institutions to invest in its stock and bond markets through a quota system dubbed the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor scheme.
reuters
Beijing may cut bank reserve ratio soon

SHANGHAI Chinas central bank may cut the bank reserverequirement ratio soon to bolster the slowing economy as inflation has eased, said Ms Qin Juan, a bond-fund manager at China Nature Asset Management. Lowering the cash-reserve requirement would be an ideal response to the recent increase in the outflow of foreign currency, which has hindered the Peoples Bank of Chinas efforts to maintain sufficient liquidity in the money market, Ms Qin said. Chinas financial institutions sold a net 24.89 billion yuan (S$5.1 billion) of foreign exchange last month, after a net purchase of 247.3 billion yuan in September. It was the first net sale since 2007. The data serve as a proxy for the strictly controlled capital flows into and out of China. Ms Qins comment comes a day after Chinas central bank reportedly cut reserve requirements by 50 basis points to 16 per cent for five rural banks in the eastern province of Zhejiang. The state-run Xinhua News Agency said in a commentary yesterday that the cut should not be seen as a signal of overall monetary policy change and cuts for some rural banks is just a reflection of more flexible and targeted monetary policies. Consumer inflation remains at a relatively high level. In light of this, an overall cut in the reserve requirement ratio would probably lead to a full rebound in bank lending, which could in turn increase inflation pressure, it said. Chinas consumer price index, a key gauge of inflation, rose 5.5 per cent last month from a year earlier, down from 6.1 per cent in September. ageNcies
world baNks iFc iN swap accord with chiNese baNks
international Finance Corp has entered into agreements with two Chinese policy banks that will allow it to offer loans denominated in the Chinese currency, the World Banks investment arm said yesterday. The agreement with China Development Bank and China export-import Bank makes the iFC the first multilateral institution able to conduct transactions in the renminbi swap market.
The deals also allow the iFC, which promotes development by mobilising financing for the private sector in developing member countries, to extend its reach within China, many regions of which are still extremely poor. The two Chinese policy banks have already participated in an iFC syndicated parallel loan for an African project.
reuters
loaNs at chiNas big Four baNks slow markedly
Chinas four largest banks issued about 100 billion yuan (s$20.5 billion) in new loans in the first three weeks of this month, a marked slowdown in credit growth compared with late last month, the 21st Century Business Herald reported yesterday, citing industry insiders. new yuan loans within the banking system are likely to total about 500 billion yuan this month, the report said, down
from 587 billion yuan last month. Although the central bank has gradually eased restrictions on credit, loan growth remained lacklustre because of a shortage of deposits and a lack of profitable projects amid a slowing economy, the report said. The big four banks are industrial & Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China. dow JoNes
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Business
HONG KONG Banks here should be able to withstand major contagion risks from Europes economic situation as well as the threat of European banks withdrawing funding from Asia, but are vulnerable to general risk aversion, Fitch Ratings said yesterday. About 17 per cent of the Hong Kong banking sectors assets comprise of funding from banks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, China and Singapore. However, at end-June, western European banks (including those in the UK) provided only 8 per cent of Hong Kong banks total liabilities compared with liquid assets of 55 per cent, it said. Hong Kong banks remain vulnerable to general aversion to bank risk and waning investor confidence in global growth in general
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HK banks should be able to withstand risks from europe: Fitch

and China in particular, Fitch analyst Sabine Bauer said in a report. Core revenues and capitalisation should, however, continue to hold up well and Fitch anticipates that Hong Kong banks would eventually slow down their expansion to China if liquidity were to tighten drastically. The banks exposures to Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain are modest, amounting to a gross 4.2 per cent of consolidated equity at end-June, it said. Exposure to western European banks amounted to a more material but not overly pronounced 9 per cent of system-wide assets or 88 per cent of system-wide equity. Hong Kong banks have reduced their total western European exposure by 43 per cent since the end of 2007, it said. dow JoNes
us, eu business leaders call for trade pact

WASHINGTON After President Barack Obamas commitment this month to a transPacific free trade agreement, business leaders in Europe and the United States are asking for a similar initiative across the North Atlantic to spur economic growth and create jobs. The private sector TransAtlantic Business Dialogue wants Mr Obama and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to agree when the two leaders meet on Monday to explore the idea of negotiating a TransAtlantic Economic and Trade Pact. The advisory group includes US corporate giants General Electric, Coca-Cola and Microsoft as well as European heavyweights Airbus, Siemens and ThyssenKrupp. The business leaders also called on Mr Obama and Mr Barroso to tackle the transAtlantic debt crisis with a plan to bring debts and deficits back to sustainable levels and to take a number of steps to promote innovation and green growth. Mr Obama and leaders of eight other Asia-Pacific economies announced this month in Honolulu they had agreed on the broad outlines of a deal to cut tariffs and other trade barriers and were committed to reaching a comprehensive final agreement. Japan, Mexico and Canada also expressed interest in joining the talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership pact, which now include the US, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Peru and Chile. The 27-nation European Union, however, remains the largest trade and investment partner of the US. Together, they account for about half of the worlds economic output and nearly onethird of world trade. Two-way trade is about US$3.6 billion (S$4.7 billion) a day and transAtlantic investment supports an estimated 7.1 million jobs, according to the US Trade Representatives Office website.
reuters
PCCw raises s$1.5 billioN iN hK busiNess trust iPo
PCCW, Hong Kongs largest phone carrier, raised HK$9.3 billion (s$1.5 billion) in an initial public offering of its telecommunication business trust after selling units at the bottom end of a marketed range. The company sold 2.05 billion units in HKT Trust at HK$4.53 apiece, according to a stock exchange statement yesterday. The price implies a dividend yield of about 9 per cent, sources said earlier. PCCWs billionaire chairman Richard Li struggled to draw investors to Hong Kongs first business trust even after offering a yield that beats most real-estate trusts listed in the city. PCCW fell 3.3 per cent to close at HK$2.91 in Hong Kong trading, lagging the main Hang
seng indexs 2.1 per cent fall. HKT Trust units were originally offered at HK$4.53 to HK$5.38 each, according to an iPO prospectus. Mr Alex Arena, PCCWs managing director, said HKT had attracted a broad list of globally renowned institutional investors despite the very challenging macro-economic environment and financial markets. Mr Li subscribed for about 12.6 per cent of the units on offer, according to an exchange filing. The retail portion, accounting for about 10 per cent of the offering, was only about half covered when the applications closed on Monday, media reports said. HKT Trust is scheduled to begin trading next Tuesday.
ageNCies
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SME
SINGAPORE Every start-up has its twists and turns on the road to success, and this is certainly the case for GreenPost, a Singapore start-up that aims to get people to aggregate their bills online. With some critical lessons learned, Mr Harveen Narulla, GreenPosts director for strategy, believes that the companys way forward is now much clearer. GreeN billiNG The need for an electronic bill aggregator is quite clear, says Mr Narulla. While paperbased billing works, it is far from optimal and represents a significant cost for billers, he explains. And e-bills currently offered by individual billers also leave much to be desired, he adds. Customers have to access individual vendor websites, each with their own password, navigation and payment method, which is far from ideal. GreenPost aims to offer an integrated solution to these issues by being a one-stop place for people to view, manage and pay their bills. This goal is unchanged from when the company was founded in July 2005 by CEO Mr Anand Singh and a group of students at the National University of Singapore. However, a number of key changes to GreenPosts strategy have allowed the business to flourish. An initial pilot project with StarHub from 2005 to 2007 delivered a system that was technically successful but a commercial failure. The system proved much too costly and time-consuming for widespread adoption, and could not bring in the volume of billers needed for aggregation. Faced with this reality, the company realised that the model had to be rethought, so it was back to the drawing board.
mr harveen Narulla (left) and mr Nigel hembrow. Photo courtesy sPriNG siNGaPore
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The journey to green success

despite an early false start, GreenPost is now charging ahead with its plans to get asias billers and their customers to go electronic
new member of the team, Mr Nigel Hembrow, helped GreenPost understand that a change of tactics was required. a New messaGe Throughout our beta testing, we learned from a very sceptical business community that we had to make the product relevant to them, recounts Mr Narulla. With Mr Hembrow leading the change, GreenPost shifted the focus of its messaging from how its product would help save the environment, to how it would help save costs and allow them to better leverage the customer relationship. This approach has proven to be much more effective, says Mr Hembrow. Understanding billers needs is what Mr Narulla now counts as GreenPosts greatest assets. We have filed some patents, but our core IP is really our understanding of the market. Its taken some very detailed discussions with major billers and payment collectors to understand their needs and how to meet them. lessoNs learNed A few key lessons stand out for GreenPost as they consider their journey over the past few years. Make sure youre speaking your customers language, says Mr Hembrow, alluding to GreenPosts shift in messaging focus. Another important takeaway is to learn to fail fast. Figure out quickly what doesnt work so that you can redirect your efforts to strategies that show greater promise, explains Mr Narulla. Reprinted from SPRINGnews November 2011 Issue. Published by SPRING Singapore.
reworkiNG the model It was at this time that Mr Narulla joined the team and came up with a new strategy to turn online bill aggregation into a feasible business proposition. He also went in search of additional funding, as GreenPost had depleted its initial capital. Mr Narulla was able to secure the backing of SPRING, which provided funding through the SPRING Startup Enterprise Development Scheme (SPRING SEEDS). To come up with a new approach to bill aggregation, GreenPost looked closely at what each of its stakeholders wanted and drew up a clear plan of how to meet these needs. With a new set of insights, GreenPost set about redesigning its product. The revamped system, launched in March last year, proved to be a winner. On the technical side, we had built a very robust and scalable system, explains Mr Narulla. It could add new billers at a rate of one every two days, irrespective of which country they are in. We also pushed ahead with our plans for mobile service delivery, developing apps for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices. However, getting greater buy-in from billers was still a challenge. The arrival of a
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Digital
Phishing attacks hit Xbox liVE users
LONDON Gamers have been hit by a fresh wave of hacking attacks, this time targeting their accounts on Xbox LIVE: Microsofts closed, proprietary and, therefore, supposedly unhackable online gaming service. Reports are proliferating of Xbox LIVE users checking the statements of the credit card and bank account which they use to pay their Xbox LIVE subscriptions and discovering payments which they did not make, generally over a period of months, which were used to buy Microsoft Points (the services currency which enables users to purchase extra downloadable content, games and ingame objects) which were then cashed in to buy downloadable content from EA SPORTS specifically Ultimate Team Packs for its games FIFA 12, Madden and NBA. This outbreak of Xbox LIVE users being scammed has been widely reported, most notably on the front page of The Sun newspaper, as an instance of phishing where hackers con people into giving away their account details. But anecdotal evidence from game forums makes it clear that these are not simple cases of phishing. Unlike traditional phishing where gamers actively input banking details for free points and thus can tell when they have been phished gamers said they only found out about the breach after they checked their banking statements, suggesting a more sophisticated form of phishing, closer to hacking, where details have been obtained from a third party. Microsoft has issued an official statement, insisting that Xbox LIVEs security had not been breached (even though there was no credible suggestion that it had). It added: In this case, a number of Xbox LIVE members appear to have recently been victim of malicious phishing scams (i.e. online attempts to acquire personal data such as passwords, usernames and credit card details by purporting to be a legitimate company or person). The online safety of Xbox LIVE members remains of the utmost importance, which is why we consistently take measures to protect Xbox LIVE against ever-changing threats. Perhaps ironically, the EA SPORTS website has a detailed page highlighting how devotees of FIFA Ultimate Team can detect and sidestep phishing attempts. There were also reports last month that gamers were having trouble accessing EA SPORTS FIFA 12 servers, although this was thought to be due to technical glitches and bugs in the then newly released game. But it is not beyond the realms of possibility that those problems coincided with a hacking attack. the GuardiaN SINGAPORE Here is a fun business idea: Offer in-demand products for a fraction of their cost and get people to pay to bid on them. And, according to Ms Tian Qiuyan, one of the co-founders of Sold.sg, it is a booming business. Sold.sg, according to Ms Tian, is one of the first of its kind in Singapore. It essentially functions like an auction site but has been tailored to cater to the inner gamer in all of us. By adding a paid element with tokens, it creates an air of excitement during the bidding process, said Ms Tian. Items available for auction include handbags, games, iPhones and Tiffany & Co products. To bid on these items, registered users have to first buy tokens. Tokens can be purchased in batches of 10, 20 and up to 300. A batch of 20 tokens costs S$15 and has a lifespan of 180 days from the date of purchase. The tokens have a value of 75 Singapore cents. There are seven types of auctions on sold.sg: Normal Auctions, where each bid is in increments of 15 cents; Manual-only, where bids have to be made manually as opposed to using an auto-bidder; Five-cent Auctions, where the bid price increases by 5 cents instead of the normal 15-cent increment; One-cent Auctions, where the bid price is in incremental value of 1 cent as opposed to 15 cents; Free Auctions, where users can participate without the need for tokens; Beginner Auctions, for users who have won fewer than three auctions; and Blind Auctions, a special type of auction where the nicknames of users are hidden. Upon placing a bid on the desired item, 20 seconds will be added to the clock. This adds to the excitement for the bidder as well as creates the need for a strategy to win auctions, said Ms Tian. At the end of the auction, the user will have to pay for the bid amount on top of the tokens used to bid. The item will then be delivered to them free of charge. Sold.sg is more of a fun gaming
60
Paid auction sites may sound daunting but they are lots of fun, says the founder of sold.sg
a bid for success

opportunity that actually reaps rewards as compared to other auction sites, said Ms Tian. Founded by Ms Tian, her brother Mr Chan Chiou Hao and Ms Angeline Tham, Sold.sg began as a franchise of a similar Japanese site before going independent from January this year. Sold.sg took over the source code from the collaboration and the rest, as they say, is history. According to Ms Tian, the founders had to dig into their own pockets only twice before breaking even three months after they started. Well aware of the scepticism of the local crowd, Sold.sg was determined to win them over by adding that personal touch to their service in every way. At first I thought it was quite confusing. A lot of Singaporeans would think that its a scam but I had the chance to meet the people behind Sold.sg and to take a look at the items with my very own eyes, said Ms Rina Ramli, one of the local bloggers who attended a bloggers event organised by Sold.sg in August this year. The event was warmly received and proved to be a huge success. The local success of the business has even encouraged the trio to do the same in Malaysia. Despite taking the same approach as they did when they promoted the website in Singapore, they noticed a positive difference. A week into their launch, the website had grown to a size it took them two months to build in Singapore. Not that surprising considering the Malaysian crowd is much easier to please, Ms Tian opined. There are plans to expand into other countries within South-east Asia, but Ms Tian declined to disclose which. The trio recognises that online auctions may not be everyones cup of tea and they are looking into expanding their range. You may or may not get the teddy bear, all that matters is you have fun in the process, said Ms Tian.
ryhaN yazid
From left: Founders of sold.sg, ms tian Qiuyan, mr Chan Chiou hao and ms angeline tham.
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SportS
Great easterN-yeos s-leaGue 2011
@tdysports oN tWIttEr
sports sCorEs | ANALysIs | NEWs
64
Stags one win away from S-League title

sodden pitch fails to weigh tampines down; all they need is a win at home to balestier on sunday
tampines rovers 1 home united 0
PhiliP Goh
philipgoh@mediacorp.com.sg
SINGAPORE He came, he scored, and he left in a hurry. On a night when the top two sides in the 2011 Great Eastern-Yeos S-League tried their best to play football on a quagmire of a pitch, it was left to former Singapore striker Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin to deal the decisive blow and swing the destiny of the title firmly back to the east. Nearly 3,000 fans turned up at Tampines Stadium for the clash between league leaders Home United and second-placed Tampines Rovers last night, and at the end of the 90 minutes, the Stags went one point clear at the top of the table after a hardfought 1-0 win. The result means the Stags can clinch the 2011 S-League title with a win in their final match of the season on Sunday, when they host Balestier Khalsa. The key moment came in the 62nd minute following a Tampines corner. With the ball half-cleared, Ahmad Latiff teed up at the edge of the penalty area and blasted a grounder through a crowd of players. On a night when the two teams struggled to entertain because of the conditions,
My players showed tremendous hunger tonight knowing this was a mustwin match. The season is not over but now we have the destiny in our own hands.
tampines coach steven tan
play our normal game. Still, theres plenty to play for in the final round on Sunday when we host Geylang at Bishan, while Tampines will have to come back here to play Balestier. It was one of the best-attended S-League matches of the season and Home coach Lee Lim Saeng was among those in the stands as he served a suspension for his red card in their last game against Hougang United. The Korean was clearly upset. I have a big pain inside me tonight, and I just want to ask God why of all games, this was the one I had to spend sitting in the stands, he said, after the game. Said a proud Tampines coach, Steven Tan: My players showed tremendous hunger tonight knowing this was a must-win match. The season is not over but now we have the destiny in our own hands.
tampines chairman teo hock seng celebrating with mustafic Fahrudin and aleksandar duric (left). Photo
by Wee teCK hiaN
when the ball was often slowed down by the sodden pitch, Latiffs shot flew strong and true past Home goalkeeper Lionel Lewis. Latiff cared little for the yellow card shown to him as he pulled off his mudsplattered jersey and flung it to the Tampines fans in the stands. When the final whistle went, the 32-year-old was forced to leave in a hurry
and without saying a word, as he had to be back in camp for reservist training. Tampines just shaded the game, and their defenders shackled Homes main threat, Frederic Mendy, well. I expected this match to be decided by just one goal, said Home United general manager S Mahalingam. The pitch certainly did us no favours and we were not able to
oCBC Cycle chases big names for 2012

SINGAPORE A host of stars is set to compete in Singapores only professional cycling race in March next year, but the criterium race will be moved a day earlier from its usual Saturday slot in the evening. The 90-minute sprint along a 1.7km circuit around the F1 Pit Building is the showpiece of the OCBC Cycle Singapore event and race organisers are out to attract the top sprint cyclists from around the world, including two-time Australian timetrial champion Cameron Meyer. This years race in March was held at night for the first time since it started in 2009, but the Saturday time slot proved to be inconvenient for cycling fans who had their own races to contend with the next day. Our local cycling fans have asked for this event to be moved from its Saturday slot so that they can have enough time themselves to prepare for their races on Sunday, said Chris Robb, managing director of Spectrum Worldwide, organisers of the race. Many of them came to watch the criterium this year when it was
(back row, from left) mr Gilbert Kohnke of oCbC bank, Chris robb of spectrum Worldwide, lim teck yin of the singapore sports Council and victor yew of the singapore Cycling Federation with members of the oCbC singapore Cycling team. Photo
Courtesy sPeCtrum WorldWide
Shahril boost for Lions

SINGAPORE National team captain Shahril Ishak is the latest big-name footballer to commit his future to the Singapore Lions team that will participate in Malaysian domestic competitions starting in January. In a boost to the team, who have struggled so far to attract the nations best as it prepares for its first foray into Malaysia since 1994, the attacking midfielder turned down offers from Indonesian and Malaysian clubs to sign for the Singapore Lions. Said Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Zainudin Nordin last night: To have Shahril, captain of the national team, sign up for this project is a huge boost to the preparations of the team. His experience and creativity will be crucial to the team and we will announce more details in due time. The FAS had told S-League clubs that decisions on the Singapore Lions team matters would be announced by last Tuesday, but that deadline has come and gone. Several players, including internationals Hassan Sunny, Fazrul Nawaz and Ismail Yunos, and youngsters Delwinder Singh and Patrick Paranjody, had rejected offers to join the team that will battle for honours in Malaysia. But recently, current internationals Khairul Amri, Isa Halim, Jumaat Jantan and Shaiful Esah, and Taufiq Rahmat, have all put pen to paper. Safuwan Baharudin, Agu Casmir, Izwan Mahbud, Sevki Shaban, Irwan Shah, Firdaus Kasman and Madhu Mohana are also understood to have decided to join the team. Today understands that the team will come together for the first time on Dec 5 under the watch of Lions legend V Sundramoorthy, and the team will open their Malaysian Super League campaign at the Jalan Besar Stadium in January. shamir osmaN
held at night for the first time, and found themselves getting home late, with their races starting early on a Sunday morning, he added. Jack Bobridge, the 2011 Australian Road Race champion, is among other big names expected at next years race, along with Kristen House and Dean Downing from top United Kingdom team Rapha Condor. Said Robb: The professional criterium is growing every year with higher profile riders indicating their interest to come to Singapore. Team Sky, who have the likes of Bradley
Wiggins and Geraint Thomas, are also seriously considering sending a team as well. Among other changes made for next years event is the introduction of a new race, The Young Sprinters, which will be a 30-minute ride for those aged 10 to 13. The distance of the popular Super Challenge ride will be increased to 61km from 50km, with the number of entries capped at 1,500. For more information, visit www.ocbc.cyclesingapore.com.sg
PhiliP Goh
65
The besT of The seAinGAmes pictures

even mascots need a break.
Photos: doN WoNg, ooI booN KeoNg
Indonesia beat singapore by a whisker to clinch gold in the mens 4x100m relay final.
Fu mingtian sports a smiley.
singapore paddler yang Zi has his eye on the ball.
Indonesian goalkeeper Kurnia meigas superb reflexes saved a certain goal.
breathtaking acrobatics from singapores synchronised swimming team.
singapore wakeboarder matthew Christian goes airborne.
sports
66
Van persie fires Arsenal into last 16

dutch striker bags a brace as the Gunners advance to the knockout stages for the 12th consecutive season
aFterNooN latest
LONDON Arsenal reached the knockout rounds of the Champions League for the 12th successive season when a Robin van Persie double gave them a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in a tense Group F match at the Emirates Stadium yesterday (this morning, Singapore time). Van Persie scored for the 16th and 17th time in 18 appearances for Arsenal this season when he headed home after a superb run and cross from Alex Song after 49 minutes. The Dutchman made it 2-0 when he swept in from close range in the closing stages. Shinji Kagawa got a consolation for Dortmund with the last kick of the game. Van Persie now has four Champions League goals this season on top of 13 in the Premier League and four for his country. Hes in a period where of course he doesnt have to look for goals, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. They just come naturally for him. Hes always in the right place at the right moment. It looks easy but its not easy because he understands the game so well. He is completely focused on football. He thinks day and night about the game. Dortmund had to win to stand any chance of advancing themselves, but apart
arsenal are the first english side to book their place in this seasons knockout stages. Getty ImaGes
from a couple of early attempts and one halfchance in the second half, they never looked like ending Arsenals long unbeaten home run in the group stage of the competition. Dortmunds game plan was disrupted midway through the first half when they lost midfielders Sven Bender and Mario Goetze within minutes of each other, and
Arsenal gradually took control of the match and rarely looked in danger. With three points their sole objective, it was not surprising that the German champions took the game to Arsenal almost from the kickoff with Arsenals Wojciech Szczesny the busier of the two keepers in the early stages.
Robert Lewandwoski and Shinji Kagawa had the first attempts while Arsenal were content to soak up Dortmunds early forays, looking to hit the Germans on the break. However, as the opening half progressed, the game became bogged down in midfield. But Dortmunds game plan was hit midway through the half when, in quick succession, Bender and the highly promising teenager Goetze were both injured and replaced by Moritz Leitner and Ivan Perisic respectively. Arsenal took control at the start of the second half with Van Persies first goal and, although Weidenfeller got a hand to his powerful downward header, he could not stop the Dutchmans effort. His second came minutes from the end when he swept the ball in after Thomas Vermaelen headed on. They gained confidence after we lost our two best midfielders, said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp. We lacked focus after that. Therefore we deserved the loss.
aGeNCIes
other results Group F marseille 0 olympiakos 1 Group G Zenit st Petersburg 0 aPoel Nicosia 0, shaktar donetsk 0 Porto 2 tomorrow bate borisov 0 viktoria Plzen 1
Barcelona edge five-goal thriller in the san siro

MILAN Barcelona clinched top spot in Group H by beating AC Milan 3-2 yesterday(this morning, Singapore time) despite twice losing the lead in a pulsating Champions League match and allowing Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score against his former club. Xavi Hernandez ran on to Lionel Messis perfect pass into the area to slot in the winning goal in the 63rd minute, sealing top spot in the group with one game remaining. Both teams had already qualified for the knockout stages, which may have contributed to their willingness to attack throughout in a game that easily could have had an even bigger scoreline. We showed today how strong we are, said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. Obviously if you come to San Siro, youre going to have problems. But were happy with the win, with the game that we gave the fans because theyre the most important. Its not easy to defeat AC Milan at their home stadium, Guardiola added. For me its a real honor. Its one of those nights that youll never forget. Were really happy with how we played. Milan is a great team with a great history. It really means something to win here. Milan midfielder Mark van Bommel gave Barcelona the lead in the 14th minute
barcelona extended their unbeaten run to 27 games in all competitions since losing to real madrid in the last seasons Copa del rey final.
reuters
Valencia in seventh heaven

VALENCIA Roberto Soldados first-half hat-trick led Valencia to a 7-0 thrashing of Genk yesterday (this morning, Singapore time) to set up a final group game at Chelsea with a place in the last 16 of the Champions League at stake. Soldado scored in the 13th, 36th and 40th minutes after Jonas had hit a 10thminute opener. Goals from Pablo Hernandez, Aritz Aduriz and Tino Costa turned the result into a rout in the second half. Valencia will head to Stamford Bridge on Dec 6 with the same number of points as Chelsea, one behind Group E leader Bayer Leverkusen. We played a complete game, but now we have to forget about this good win and focus on the last game and our chances to advance, Valencia coach Unai Emery said. We achieved our objective today. Now there is just one last step, although it will be one of our toughest test. I am taking advantage of the chances I get, said Jonas, who joined Valencia midway through last season. I think this was my best game with Valencia, with a goal and assist. The loss condemned Genk to last place in the group and they now have no chance of reaching the Europa League. aP
with an own goal and despite Ibrahimovics leveler, Lionel Messis twice-taken penalty ensured the defending champions went into the break in front. Kevin-Prince Boateng pounced in the 54th minute to get Milan back into the game, but Messi slotted the ball through a throng of defenders for Xavi to seal the win. Much of the pre-game talk had focused on Ibrahimovic, who faced his former club for the first time since his acrimonious departure in 2010 after falling out with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola following his only season in Spain. While the Sweden striker did get a goal, it was still Barcelona who stole most
of the spotlight with their usual relentless attacking play. The Spanish club extended its unbeaten streak to 27 competitive matches since losing to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, one short of the team record set from September to January last season. Barcelona were better but we had a good game, said Milan coach Massimo Allegri. We created several chances and we come out of this game with our heads held high, we know from this game that we can compete well with great teams. I think we are on the right road. Its a good sign for the knockout stages. aP
sports
67
NBA and players resume negotiations

NEW YORK Negotiations to end the NBA lockout have quietly resumed, with a goal of reaching a deal in time to stage a 66game season that would start on Christmas. The talks began in earnest on Tuesday and are expected to continue tomorrow, after a break for Thanksgiving, according to two people informed of the talks. If a resolution is reached this weekend, it would give the league the approximate four-week window needed to prepare for the season. The Dec 25 target is enticing to everyone involved, allowing the league to take advantage of the holiday setting and a captive television audience that, they hope, might be in a forgiving mood. Christmas is also the traditional kickoff for the NBAs national television schedule. A tip-off before New Years would also provide enough time for a compressed, 66-game schedule, 16 fewer than normal, despite starting eight weeks late. It would require pushing the regular season into late April and moving back the finals by a week. Before owners and players can contemplate any of that, they must resolve the same prickly issues that killed talks two weeks ago how to restrict the topspending teams while ensuring a robust free-agent market. The parties essentially picked up where they left off on Nov. 10, discussing a proposal that includes a 50-50 split of revenues, shorter contracts and tougher spending restrictions. The players rejected that deal, but on the basis of a half-dozen mechanical issues which, in the grander scheme, are fairly minor. They have already conditionally agreed to the 50-50 split and most of the new payroll restrictions. Neither side has attempted to put any new issues on the table or backed away from previously negotiated points, according to those informed on the talks.
the NeW yorK tImes
sweeping changes are expected at Chelsea if the blues fail to beat valencia and qualify for the Champions League knockout stages. reuters
Chelsea stunned by late winner

aFterNooN Latest
andre villas-boas men must win next clash against valencia to reach last 16
BERLIN Manuel Friedrich sent Bayer Leverkusen into the knockout round of the Champions League with an injury-time header yesterday (this morning, Singapore time) that secured a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Chelsea and left the London club in real danger of missing out on the next stage. Friedrich a defender managed to beat Alex to the ball and score with a header from a corner that went in off the underside of the crossbar in the 91st minute. It was a game of character, Leverkusen coach Robin Dutt said. We had to take a chance. Of course its lucky when it works out. The result piles even more pressure on Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, whose team has lost three of the last four games in the Premier League and must now beat Valencia at home in its final group match to guarantee a spot in the knockout round. Its the details that have been deciding our fate at the moment, Villas-Boas said. We left our defence exposed. Chelsea would have clinched a spot in the knockout round with a win and Didier Drogba had given the London club the lead in the 48th minute, when he turned his marker before dispatching a low shot to the far corner. But Eren Derdiyok equalised in the 73rd minute, two minutes after coming on as a substitute. To turn the game around like that says a lot about the team, Derdiyok said. Of course Im delighted. Leverkusen tops Group E on nine points, with Chelsea and Valencia both on eight points meeting in their last group game. The German side would finish as group winner with a win against Genk, which lost 7-0 in Valencia. Its not a fair result in the end, VillasBoas said. It was heading for a 1-1, there were big chances for both teams but I think we had the good share of the chances, in the first half and in the second half. Indeed, Drogba might have scored a hattrick, the Ivory Coast striker drawing a shot wide in the fifth minute, and then shooting over an open goal in the 38th minute, when he took the ball past Leverkusens 19-yearold goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The Ivorian should have scored another in the 54th minute, when he fired wide with only Leno to beat. Drogbas appeals for a penalty were waved away in the 77th minute, when he went down under Oemer Topraks challenge, and the Chelsea striker blasted a volley wide from close range with only Leno to beat in the 84th minute. But Villas-Boas didnt want to blame his misfiring forwards for the loss. The responsibility is mine, VillasBoas said. aP
sports
LONDON The full extent of Englands Rugby World Cup shambles has been laid bare following a leak of the confidential reports into events in New Zealand. Players and Rugby Football Union (RFU) officials have both accused some squad members of being more interested in getting cash and caps than about getting better on the pitch, while Martin Johnsons managerial failings have also been heavily criticised. The three reviews were conducted by the RFUs director of elite rugby, Rob Andrew, the players union and the professional clubs. They paint a damning picture of a divided squad whose priorities, in some cases, did not appear to be winning
68
Englands rugby World Cup shambles revealed from confidential reports

the tournament. Among the evidence gathered by the Rugby Players Association was a complaint by one player about a colleagues reaction in the dressing room Theres 35,000 (S$71,000) that just gone down the toilet following the quarter-final defeat to France in Auckland last month. It has also been confirmed that the RFU were held to ransom by the players before the tournament began, with the squad threatening to boycott the eve-ofdeparture dinner. There were also accusations that senior colleagues indulged in drinking games and poked fun at those who committed wholeheartedly to training.
the GuardIaN
World No 1 Novak djokovic can still reach the semifinals if he beats fellow serb Janko tipsarevic tomorrow.
reuters
rare defeat for Djokovic

aFterNooN Latest
LONDON His body already aching after a season of almost unceasing success, Novak Djokovic ran into a brick wall in David Ferrer. Ferrers relentless hitting proved too much for Djokovic yesterday (this morning, Singapore time), giving the fifthseeded Spaniard a 6-3, 6-1 win and a spot in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals. I think today maybe was my best match of the season, Ferrer said. The exact opposite was true for Djokovic. The winner of three Grand Slams and 10 titles overall this season looked far from the player who dominated most of 2011, and lost for only the fifth time this year. It was the worst match Ive played this season so far,
definitely, said Djokovic The Serb started well, leading the first set 3-2 , but then the lost seven straight games to hand the advantage to Ferrer. Djokovic can still advance to the semi-finals if he beats fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic tomorrow, but he isnt hopeful. If I dont play at least 50 per cent better than I did tonight, I dont think Ill have any chance, he said. You always hope that tomorrow will bring something better. Thats the way Im thinking now. Tipsarevic, who stepped in for injured Scotsman Andy Murray, has no chance of reaching the last four after he was beaten in three sets by Tomas Berdych in yesterdays earlier match. Berdych saved a match point en route to a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) win to maintain his hopes of progressing from Group A. aP
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Women take centre stage in theatre >>T6 Travel: Getting on the road across Europe >>T12
November 24, 2011
a publicatioN of
fabulous
Kimora Lee Simmons shares how to be fab >>T2
absolutely
Today Thursday November 24, 2011
T2
T3
FABUlositY 101
Kimora Lee simmons tips on how to work it like she does on Life In The Fab Lane
MAY seAH In KuALA LuMpuR
may@mediacorp.com.sg
television
television
2 Fabulosity is not a walk in the park You do have to sacrifice a lot for what you want.You have to sacrifice sleep I never sleep. Im a businesswoman; I have three children; I always say I have two husbands, an ex and a next. So its a lot to juggle. You have to sacrifice some things and really put your head down and do the work and follow your dreams.You can definitely have it all but you can sacrifice a little bit of the junk to follow your dreams. Keep your eye on the prize; keep your eye on the goal. Keep your head down, but keep your thoughts on a higher level. 3 Its not about the money I dont think that fashion and great style has anything to do with how much money you spend. Even though there was a time ... I have been told by Louis Vuitton that I am their number one customer in the world. Someone said to me, You have the second largest Louis Vuitton collection in the world. and I said, Really? Who has the first? and they said, Louis Vuitton. But I did that many, many years ago when I was younger, and I even think I was
Kimora taking charge of her press conference.
a little depressed and sad and finding my way, and I thought buying every pretty thing would make me feel pretty. But it didnt. Im a recovering shopaholic. I dont spend that much money. Great style and great fashion has nothing to do with how much money you spend. If youre really wealthy and you can do that great. Im not knocking it. But if you dont have so much money and youre working hard every day and youre supporting lots of kids or whatever youre doing, you dont have to sacrifice great style. 4 You cant be fabulous wearing flats If you could only have one (item of) footwear and you want to be fabulous, for me, it would have to be a stiletto. Because I feel tall, I feel thin, I feel like I can conquer the world. and no matter what weight youre carrying, it looks better when you lift it up. If you want to be comfortable, then you have to pick like a little ballerina flat or a flip flop. But thats not going to be me. I would pick probably some kind of a stiletto a stiletto boot; a high heel. I wear flats occasionally. I try not to. Im a model, so I can walk really well in stilettos. If I put on flats, I will trip and fall. and that little teeny-teeny heel I really will break my neck. 5 You must suffer to be fabulous unless youre a boy Beauty is not comfortable. Fashion is not comfortable.You pluck your eyebrows; that hurts. We wear these shoes it hurts. We squeeze into these jeans they hurt.You have to lay down on the bed to button them up that hurts. Guys dont have to deal with that. We do. But its a part of our essence, and I think its also what makes us fabulous, feminine and beautiful from the outside in. I put on this belt, I was like, Maybe I could do one more hole! thats just how we are. Its a girl problem. Boys dont have that problem. 6 Its cliche, but its fabulous Loving yourself is totally a cliche, but its a hard cliche to live up to. Its the best cliche that you could ever hear. Its something you have to tell yourself every day, because someone else will be there every step of the way a hater, an abusive friend, an abusive partner to tell you, Youre ugly, youre not important, you cant do it. thats what they told me. So, yeah, I teach every day the cliche:You deserve your happiness.You are fabulous. 7 And the golden rule ... I always tell the kids, Dont take off your clothes. and if you do, dont take a picture of it. Catch Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane Season 4 on Tuesdays, 7.40pm, on E! Entertainment (StarHub TV Ch 441). A Season 4 marathon will air on Dec 29, from 9am to 8.40pm.
JR Martinez (left) and dance partner Karina Smirnoff are all pumped up over their win.
Photo: AP
What do you call a person like Kimora Lee Simmons? She is not just nice. She is not just pretty. She is not just successful. But she might call herself FaBULOSItY personified yes, in all its bling-encrusted capital-lettered glory. and she would know, because she invented that word (its even got an imaginary tM in a little circle at the end of it). the 36-year-old is not only a fashion mogul, former model and mother of three; shes also the star and subject of reality show Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane, a docu-drama of her life as she would prefer it to be known. Oh, and shes also married to actor Djimon hounsou (Blood Diamond, Amistad). the fab Ms Simmons was in Kuala Lumpur a couple of weeks ago to meet the media and to promote her new Eastmeets-West skin care line called Shinto Clinical. Formerly the creative director behind the Baby Phat brand, Simmons is now concentrating on her couture line, KLS, and her personalised shopping site, JustFabulous. and just as you would expect from someone with a closet full of designer shoes, the daughter of an asian mother and an african-american father took being fashionably late to her own press conference to new levels. (apparently, looking top-to-toe fabulous requires more time than it takes to skin a mink. No offence to minks intended.) But once she showed up, looking dramatically slimmer than in the last season of her show, she immediately dominated the room and
not because she was 1.83m tall and towered over everyone else, either. Its my press conference! she rebuked the emcee, who was trying in vain to keep the event running on schedule, as she magnanimously insisted on answering every question. Yes, girlfriend displayed all the hallmarks of someone who always gets their own way. But she wasnt going to selfishly hoard her expertise. In fact, the walking instruction manual on how to be fabulous just couldnt keep all that fabulosity in. Read, watch and learn. 1 In the Fab Lane, its not where youve come from its where youre heading If youre born into a royal family, I think youre probably pretty fabulous! What about the people who were born like me? When the doctor pulled me out, the doctor said, that baby is so ugly it cannot be mine. I was a poor kid from St Louis, Missouri. I was not rich; I was not fabulous. I looked at Diana Ross, I had my Barbie dolls, and I was like, how can I be that size? how can I get my hair like that? I didnt have a lot of role models. I was raised by a single asian mum. that was very tough. I had to kind of work my way through the system. and for me, that was through fashion. and I went to Paris, and as everyone at home said I was so ugly, everyone in Paris said I was so beautiful. You have (fabulosity) inside of you, and you cultivate it as you grow up and it comes sometimes from a touch of adversity. and I think thats what makes us stronger and more beautiful.
Martinez wins Dancing With The Stars

JR MaRtINEz claimed victory on the 13th season of the hit television show Dancing With The Stars on tuesday, winning with a jive and a samba that thrilled audiences. Martinez, dancing with partner Karina Smirnoff, wowed the judges throughout the 10-week competition and overcame an injured ankle in the final weeks of the popular dance contest to claim its coveted mirror ball trophy. his grit and determination proved an inspiration to viewers. Rob Kardashian, brother of Kim Kardashian, was runner-up. he outscored Martinez by a razor thin margin of 113 to 112 total judges points over the twonight finale, but audience voting counts for half the final result and viewers pushed Martinez into the winners circle. Both finalists performed a final samba to Ricky Martins Shake Your Bon Bon, Martinez in an open-neck white shirt set off by sparkling orange suspenders and Kardashian sporting a bright blue shirt enlivened by a bold yellow stripe. talk show host and actress Ricki
Lake came in third, despite executing a tango to the theme from Psycho that scored a perfect single dance score of 30 from the judges. Martinez, 28, an All My Children tV actor, army veteran and motivational speaker, was ebullient upon his victory, thrusting his arm in the air, thanking voters and telling Smirnoff, You are amazing and Im so grateful that I was able to be a part of your first mirror ball trophy. Kardashian, who was repeatedly cited for improvement and growth over the course of the season, said performing before millions of viewers weekly was so out of my comfort zone. I definitely am not sad, he said. I won in my book. highlights of tuesdays finale included performances by Lady antebellum and appearances by this seasons eliminated contestants. the season received much attention for the casting and the participation of Chaz Bono, the transgender son of superstar Cher, who had a sex change operation last year. after negative reactions from some fans initially, Bono gained support and was not eliminated until the midway point. he even returned each week to cheer on the remaining dancers, saying on tuesday that its turned into a family. ReuteRs
Kimora with daughters aoki Lee (left) and Ming Lee (right).
Catch Crimewatch
In this all-new season of the perennially popular Crimewatch, catch never-before-released police footage, actual crime scene photos and interviews with investigation officers, forensic pathologists, convicts and ex-offenders.this weeks episode includes the real-life stories about how a misunderstanding escalates into a lethal gang fight, and how two young men exploited by loan sharks end up spending their youth behind bars. tomorrow, 8.30pm, MediaCorp tV Channel 8 (in Mandarin) sunday, 9pm, MediaCorp tV Channel 5 (in english) nov 29, 9pm, MediaCorp tV Vasantham (in tamil) Dec 3, 8.30pm, MediaCorp tV suria (in Malay)
Photo: Getty images
Photos courtesy e! entertainment
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One for the girls
Its theatre for, by and about women for three upcoming plays
Mayo Martin
mayo@mediacorp.com.sg Cant Stand For Falling Down The Jade Bangle
IS THERE a lack of female presence in the theatre scene? Not during the next few days, at least. In a sweet coincidence, there will be three plays about the fairer sex. Skinned Knee Productions is staging Richard Camerons Cant Stand Up For Falling Down, a series of monologues revolving around three women a young girl with a traumatic childhood, another whos currently in an abusive relationship and a struggling young mother and the brutality imposed on them by one man. Starring Kluane Saunders, Karina Sindicich and Sophie Wee, its the third production from the new theatre company and it came about partly because of co-founder and play director Rayann Condys obsession with the lack of good roles for women. One of my personal bugbears is there are really few good scripts about women, said Condy. Theres not a lot to choose from and they can be stereotypical and clich. But a friend
Photos courtesy Skinned Knee Productions, Drama Box
passed me this one many years ago and I loved it. Its a very powerful piece and quite topical. Condy added: And while it does have typical womens issues, theyre such beautifully crafted characters. Theyre not two dimensional and theyre really great juicy roles for women. Cant Stand Up will be staged on the upper floor of the bar Speakeasy. Meanwhile, Drama Box will be staging two new Mandarin theatre productions as part of their New Play Season 2011:
Newbie playwright Holly Hos Old Maid and returning playwright Ng Sin Yues The Jade Bangle. Both works came from the companys Blanc Space Playwright Series incubation programme, which included a six-day writing workshop session at Pulau Ubin with mentors. The fact that both plays were written by women and tackled female issues was purely coincidental, shared artistic director Kok Heng Leun. These two female playwrights have similar sensitivities but they also have
different experiences, he said. Before Ho, 38, penned Old Maid (which was initially inspired by a Chinese novel that looks at the issues faced by women in post-Communist China, and tackles the different definitions of the term old maid); she wrote TV adverts. I realised I liked to write more about characters much longer than 45-second commercials, quipped Ho, who joined Blanc Space in 2009. Ng, meanwhile, is making a comeback of sorts. The 63-year-old retirees last work was the monologue My Mothers Chest back in 1992, and her work as a full-time educational TV producer for the Ministry of Education hindered attempts for an immediate follow-up. The Jade Bangle, an inter-generational tale of a mother and her two daughters revolving around an heirloom trinket, was inspired by Ngs attempts to fill in the gaps of her mothers life story, after she migrated from Guangdong at the age of 17, to marrying at 27. She said: These immigrants had no education, some of them stayed and most got married. They played all sorts of roles, mother, wife, but who are they? Kok said of the two writers: Both are very hardworking and passionate. One may be slightly inexperienced but makes up with her passion. And it was touching for the other to want to continue to writing after taking a rest for so long. Shell become a very important role model for playwrights who might have taken a hiatus. And maybe there will be more such stories for women on stage. Cant Stand Up For Falling Down runs from Nov 30 to Dec 3, 8pm (extra 10.30pm show on Saturday), Speakeasy, 54 Blair Road. Tickets at S$25 and S$20 from www.skinnedkneeproductions.com. The Jade Bangle runs from Dec 1 to 4 and Old Maid from Dec 8 to 11, 8pm (3pm matinee on weekends), LASALLE Creative Cube C101, 1 McNally St.Tickets at S$28 from Sistic. In Mandarin with English surtitles.
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Celebs dance for charity
ALL the hottest young artistes will be leading the action at this years ComChest TrueHearts 2011, a fundraising event for children with special needs, youths at risk, the disabled and the elderly. This Sunday, catch red-hot On The Fringe stars Kimberly Chia, Ian Fang and Elizabeth Lee doing a hip Korean-style dance together with Jeffrey Xu, Romeo Tan, Adeline Lim and dancers from Studio Wu. In addition, Kate Pang, Jerry Yeo, Desmond Tan and Ya Hui will be showing off their martial arts prowess in a wushuthemed modern dance. Other performances include a skit by Michelle Chong, Alaric Tay, Patricia Mok and Michelle Tay; a street dance number featuring Andie Chen and the beneficiaries from Students Care Service; and a song
by Teresa Tseng, accompanied by the harmonicas of Chaoyang School and Yuhua Secondary School. Hosted by Chew Chor Meng, Cavin Soh, Ben Yeo and Iriana Halim, this will be the first charity show to be held at the glitzy Marina Bay Sands. All donations will go towards funding 70 charities that run 158 critical social service programmes serving some 300,000 people in need. Telepoll lines are open from now until midnight on Dec 7. Call 1900-112 8805 for a S$5 donation, 1900-112 8820 for a S$20 donation, 1900-112 8850 for a S$50 donation and 1900-112 8800 for an S$88 donation. Catch ComChest TrueHearts 2011 on Nov 27 at 7pm on MediaCorp TV Channel 8.
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Jimi Hendrix named greatest guitarist ever
Legendary musician Jimi Hendrix was named the greatest guitar player in history on Wednesday by Rolling Stone magazine in a list compiled by a panel of music experts and top guitar players. Jimi Hendrix exploded our idea of what rock music could be: He manipulated the guitar, the whammy bar, the studio and the stage, said Grammy-winning guitarist Tom Morello in the magazine, citing Hendrixs seminal Purple Haze and his scorching rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner as key tracks. Hendrix is joined by the likes of Eric Clapton, BB King, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend among the top 10, in a list laden with rock and roll icons spanning decades. The panel of experts recruited to vote for their favourite guitar players included musicians such as Lenny Kravitz, Eddie Van Halen (who was voted No 8), Brian May and Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys, along with a selection of Rolling Stones senior writers and editors. The experts also weighed in on their favourites, with Pearl Jams Mike McCready Rolling Stones Top 10 greatest guitarists are:
1. Jimi Hendrix 2. Eric Clapton 3. Jimmy Page 4. Keith Richards 5. Jeff Beck 6. BB King 7. Chuck Berry 8. Eddie Van Halen 9. Duane Allman 10. Pete Townshend
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VIVOCITY PLAZA SINGAPURA
HAPPY FEET 2* (G) 10.50am 12.55 3.00 5.05 7.10 9.15pm HAPPY FEET 2 - 3D* (G) 3.00pm
GRAND, GREAT WORLD

HAPPY FEET 2* (G) 11.00am 1.05 3.10 5.10 5.15 9.20pm
MARINA SQUARE
HAPPY FEET 2* (G) 10.40am 12.45 3.15 5.05 7.10 9.15pm
YISHUN
HAPPY FEET 2* (G) 12.00 2.05 4.10 6.45 8.50pm PUSS IN BOOTS* 11.50am 1.30 2.15 3.45 4.45 5.50 6.50 7.45 8.55pm PUSS IN BOOTS - 3D* 12.50 2.55 5.00 7.05pm THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1* 11.45am 2.15 3.50 4.45 6.30 7.15 9.10 9.45pm IMMORTALS* 12.05 2.20 4.35 6.50 9.05 9.50pm ALREADY FAMOUS*+ MAND 4.20pm
PUSS IN BOOTS* 11.50am 5.10 7.15pm THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1* 2.40 9.20pm HAPPY FEET 2* (G) 10.35am 12.40 2.45 4.50 7.45 9.00pm HAPPY FEET 2 - 3D* (G) 12.30 4.50pm PUSS IN BOOTS*10.30am 12.25 2.20 2.35 4.15 6.10 8.05 9.10 10.00pm PUSS IN BOOTS - 3D* 11.15am 1.35 3.30 5.25 7.30 9.25pm
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1* 11.40am 12.00 2.00 4.25 4.30 5.25 6.50 6.55 9.45pm
IMMORTALS* 10.45am 1.00 3.15 4.40 5.30 7.45 HAPPY FEET 2* (G) 12.55 BISHAN JUNCTION 8 9.20 10.00pm 3.00 5.05 7.10 9.15pm HAPPY FEET 2* (G) IMMORTALS - 3D* 2.35 HAPPY FEET 2 - 3D* (G) 10.55am 1.00 3.05 5.10 9.15pm 5.20pm 7.20 9.25pm KAIJI 2: THE ULTIMATE PUSS IN BOOTS* GAMBLER*+ JPN 11.50am 10.40am 12.45 3.00 5.15 PUSS IN BOOTS* 11.50am 2.45 4.50 7.15 9.20pm 7.20 9.25pm PUSS IN BOOTS - 3D* PUSS IN BOOTS - 3D* 11.25am 1.20 3.15 7.35pm 10.40am 12.55 3.00 5.05pm HAPPY FEET 2 12.15 THE TWILIGHT SAGA: THE TWILIGHT SAGA: 3.00pm BREAKING DAWN PART 1* BREAKING DAWN PART 1* PUSS IN BOOTS 10.30am 11.45am 2.15 4.45 6.30 11.00am 1.30 4.00 6.30 12.45 6.30 8.50pm 7.15 8.50 9.45pm 7.10 9.00 9.40pm THE TWILIGHT SAGA: IMMORTALS* 3.05 5.20 IMMORTALS* 12.30 2.45 BREAKING DAWN PART 1 7.35 9.50pm 5.00 7.15 9.30pm 11.00am 1.45 4.30 7.15 10.00pm IMMORTALS 3.30 6.50 9.30pm
PUSS IN BOOTS* 10.30am PUSS IN BOOTS* 12.20 2.50 5.15 7.20 9.30pm 2.50 4.55 7.00 9.05pm PUSS IN BOOTS* PUSS IN BOOTS - 3D* PUSS IN BOOTS - 3D* 10.30am 11.35 12.25 1.30 11.25am 12.35 1.20 3.15pm 11.00am 1.10 5.30 7.35pm 2.20 3.25 4.15 5.20 6.10 THE TWILIGHT SAGA: 7.15 8.05 9.10 10.00pm THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1* BREAKING DAWN PART 1* 11.20am 1.50 4.20 6.50 PUSS IN BOOTS - 3D* 11.15am 1.45 4.15 6.45 9.20pm 11.00am 1.00 5.05 7.00pm 9.15pm IMMORTALS* 12.30 2.45 THE TWILIGHT SAGA: IMMORTALS* 2.20 4.35 5.05 7.20 9.35pm BREAKING DAWN PART 1* 6.50 9.10pm 11.30am 12.00 1.50 2.20 TAMPINES MALL 3.40 4.10 4.40 6.00 6.30 HAPPY FEET 2* (G) 7.00 8.50 9.20 9.45pm 11.30am 1.35 3.40 5.45 IMMORTALS* 10.30am 7.50 9.55pm 12.45 3.00 5.15 7.30 HAPPY FEET 2 11.00am HAPPY FEET 2 - 3D* (G) 9.45pm THE TWILIGHT SAGA: 12.15 2.20 4.25pm IMMORTALS - 3D* BREAKING DAWN 9.00pm PART 1 1.20 4.10 7.00 PUSS IN BOOTS* 10.45am 12.50 2.55 5.00 9.45pm 6.45 7.05 9.10pm JURONG POINT
Clockwise: Jimi Hendrix, eric Clapton, Jeff Beck.
TIONG BAHRU PLAZA

HAPPY FEET 2* (G) 11.40am 1.45 3.50 6.40 8.45pm HAPPY FEET 2 - 3D* (G) 4.50pm PUSS IN BOOTS* 12.10 2.40 4.45 6.50 8.55pm PUSS IN BOOTS - 3D* 1.00 2.55 7.05 9.10pm
calling Eddie Van Halen a master of riffs and Aerosmiths Joe Perry praising Led Zeppelins Jimmy Pages vision of how to transcend the stereotypes of what the guitar can do. The full list will be featured in a special issue with four special covers of Van Halen, Clapton, Hendrix and Page.
REUTERS
Photos: Bloomberg
PUSS IN BOOTS - 3D* 11.00am 1.05 3.10 7.30 9.25pm THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1* 11.40am 2.10 4.40 6.30 7.10 9.40pm
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1* IMMORTALS* 12.15 2.30 11.30am 2.00 4.30 7.00 9.30pm 4.45 7.00 9.15pm IMMORTALS - 3D* 9.30pm IMMORTALS* 12.30 2.50 5.05 7.20 9.35pm
Cops are cool, says Woody Harrelson

ACTOR Woody Harrelson (picture) thinks cops are cool. Well, at least, some of them. Following TheWraps Rampart screening at the Landmark Theater on Monday night, the actor told the crowd how he buddied up with two police officers in preparation for his explosive portrayal of a dirty Los Angeles cop. My biggest hurdle was believing that I could be a cop, because it seemed so unlikely to me, said Harrelson said during TheWrap Awards Screening Photo: Bloomberg Series discussion moderated by editorin-chief Sharon Waxman. Harrelson rode along with two LAPD officers these really cool guys named Jerry and Bob and joined them at the shooting range while studying for his role as Date Rape Dave Brown. To his gratification, they mostly bought his performance. They seemed to believe me as a cop, the guys I rode along with, said Harrelson, who hasnt always gotten along with men in blue in the past. Director Oren Moverman said hes heard similar feedback. I spoke with some ex-cops, and their immediate reaction was, I know that guy, the director said. The film takes place amid the citys Rampart corruption scandal in the late 1990s. At the centre of the narrative is Harrelsons hard-core cop, who brutally beats (and even kills) criminal suspects, and tosses out offensive remarks with abandon. However, Moverman was quick to point out that the film, which he wrote with crime novelist James Ellroy, is not the story of the Rampart scandal or even the LAPD. Rather, its a movie that goes into a mans soul, he said, calling the character a dirty cop who refused to change. During the 35-day shoot, Moverman did fewer than five takes for most of the scenes and the actors regularly improvised, including Harrelsons striking performance during his final moments with his daughters. REUTERS
IMMORTALS | M18 | Violence & Sexual Scene, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 | PG13 | Disturbing Scenes
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Cinema opens 30 mins before 1st show. All movie rated PG unless otherwise stated, Session times are subject to change, + , No refunds for uncollected tickets. * No Free Passes, English Subtitles,
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in chic hotels and Rob the Range Rover was going to make that happen. La Dolce Vita, anyone? for him, how it was customary for the men to never serve the woman at all, and to help themselves to the food first. Suffice it to say, we meekly obeyed, and were rewarded with a hearty delicious lunch and an actual smile from the cantankerous old man. Scoring a meal in a local Osteria (a traditional Italian homespun restaurant) which uses the finest ingredients from the region is one thing, but incorporating balsamic vinegar in every dish, even on our dessert of gelato is quite another. Now, thats what I call a complete Italian job.
GranTurismo
Whats a girl to do when presented with a road trip across Europe, but drive?
Genevieve Loh
Genevieveloh@mediacorp.com.sg
Achtung Baby
On the three-and-a-half-hour drive from Zurichs Kloten Airport to Elmau, Germany, I received a lesson in Europes majestic mountain-lake scenery combos, the gorgeous flora and fauna and its astounding architecture and historical monuments. The road into the gorgeous Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa and Cultural Hideaway was built for horse-drawn carriages, not speeding four-wheel drives, but we punched the accelerator and our luggage laden shuttle geared up and went smack into the pages of my favourite childhood fairytale storybook. Located 100km south of Munich, 1,000m above sea level and ensconced in a magical sanctuary, the converted castle is nestled right in the middle of a National Forest. I couldnt help but feel the spirit of the Bavarian alps with the astounding view of the Wetterstein mountains. So utterly breathtaking were the mountains that it actually spurred lazy bones me to engage in some mountain biking. After all, Lake Ferchensee and King Ludwig IIs favourite castle was just a hop, skip and hike away. As it turned out, I was not tall enough to get on one of the hotels electric bikes much to the amusement of the staff and taunts from my travelling companions. But having to climb on a regular mountain bike was well worth the major workout of my glutes and the ultra soothing 90-minute Badehaus Spa treatment that was awaiting me when I got back. The luxurious massage was
I DONT know about you, but driving around the winding roads of Europe, footloose and fancy free with wind in hair, sure beats being cooped up in a plane with burly European stewardesses with moustaches. Yep, this lucky lady had embarked on a road trip across Germany, Italy and Switzerland to re-discover Europe, bookended daily with an impressive line-up of specially chosen chic hotels and an intake of a bazillion calories with no regrets. And thanks to a plush and dependable four-wheel drive Range Rover, the quaint towns, hidden gem of a local restaurant and the sprawling mountains of Europe were to become my luxury playground. I was on a mission to eat awesome food, get drunk on great wine, party with the locals and sleep
Tuscan tans
If not for the Range Rover, I wouldnt have found the coastal town Forte dei Marmi. Its the glamorous playground of the wellheeled European jet-set, so being exclusively invisible to the plebian masses was key. We eventually found the Principe Forte Dei Marmi on a tree-lined street filled with opulent villas and flashy branded sportscars. The only modern building in a sea of lavish tradition, it was obvious this stop was going to be my own personal episode of Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous. This was St Tropez on the Tuscan coast after all, what with its fashionable Riviera resorts and numerous clubs frequented by local celebrities. Surrounded by stylish Italians sporting a pantone colour chart of tans, I knew I was brushing shoulders with the VIPs of Versillia, while soaking in the hotels minimalist dcor and enjoying the luxurious cocooning spa and accompanying beach club. I couldnt be more impressed. That is, until I was presented with a grand eight-course meal at the in-house fine dining restaurant, which focused on Tuscan local delicacies and the excellent wine pairing skills of their award-winning Sommelier Robin Gavaert. It was a meal fit for the rich and famous, and absolutely indulgent for someone who is neither. Somehow, I waddled back to my room, rested my head on a cloud-like pillow and drifted to sleep with a smile reserved only from over-indulgence. >> Continued on T14
1960s Triumph Spitfire
Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa and Cultural Hideaway

Photos: Quotient travelPlanner
perfect to completely recharged me for the piano performance at the hotels very own concert hall and a cosy dinner at Michelin-starred restaurant Luce DOro.
M-M-M-My Verona!
Waking up to the summer sun peeking through the clouds, birds chirping and cute cuddly creatures roaming the resort ground. I stepped out of my suite onto my private veranda to take deep breaths of the ridiculously crisp mountain air and take in the dramatic view. Leaving Elmau was going to be tough but knowing that the next stop was going to be Verona, Italy, made it much easier. Driving from Germany to Italy was like falling in love. As we navigated the twisting roads and drunk in the greenery, it was clear my time in Italy was going to be all about pasta and prosecco. And, oh, some parmigianno reggiano thrown in for good measure. Verona is like every other Italian city, comprising of church, castle, piazza, tobacconist and smiling leather-skinned men drinking at the bar. It is also home to The Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amista a
Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amista
Principe Forte Dei Marmi Beach Club
fairground attraction that spits you out through a different door into a crazy colour-washed artsy world. Pulling up into the rose-lined driveway, this 60-room art museumeque hotel is an opulent showcase for modern and design art (we saw works by Sol LeWitt, Cindy Sherman and Takashi Murakami) inserted into a 16th-century villa with oh-so-pretty gardens. Silly, loud and in-your-face, the design of the entire hotel is a conversation starter. As I settled into my bed complete with a baroque headboard designed by Alessandro Mendini (his stuff is housed in New Yorks MOMA), I tried to read the descriptions sprawled next to the art telling me exactly what Im sitting on or starring at. Too bad I dont understand Italian. But I was immediately cheered up by a honk to inform me that my vintage car ride had arrived. Everyone knows that no trip to Italy would be complete without a vintage car drive to the much revered Valpolicella-Amaron vineyards along the way to Lake Garda. My biggest task of the day? To choose between a green 1960s Triumph Spitfire
and the red 1969 Alfa Romeo Duetto Osso di Seppia. Decisions, decisions.
The Modena life

Modena is famous for their balsamic vinegar, and like all good Singaporeans with a penchant for a must-see item on the itinerary, driving to a local traditional balsamico vinegar factory-cum-restaurant in this case, it was Pedronis was a no-brainer. (What I learned:The minimum age for a bottle storing the highly regulated Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale is 12 years.) We partook of lunch at the adjoining Osteria di Rubbiara, where the sixthgeneration owner, Italo Pedroni, who spoke not a single word of English gave me and my dining partners an authentic Italian eating experience bar none. After confiscating our mobile phones with the very internationally understood grunt-and-grumble, the cantankerous old man then proceeded to inform us, via another guest he commanded to translate
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GranTurismo
>> Continued from T13
Swiss kiss
The only way to approach Mt Rigi to get the full extent of the jaw dropping itstoo-beautiful-its-almost-unreal view is to drive. Zigzagging round Lakes Lucerne, Zug and Laurez was a Kodak moment itself as I approached the queen of the mountains. Rising to a height of 1,800m, Mt Rigi is popular with the locals because of its well-constructed network of paths, perfect for walks in the summer and skiing in the winter. Of course, the city girl in me had to take the cog-wheel train ride up to the top for the spectacular panoramic view of Italy, Germany and France, which incidentally, if your heart can take it, is well worth the hike as well. Naturally, lunch had to be indulged on the mountain itself, because dining on Swiss cheese and Swiss chocolate while staring out at the dramatic Swiss Alpine scenery makes it just that little bit more charming. Driving away from the mountains after lunch wasnt easy, but knowing that my final stop was the The Dolder Grand in the city of Zurich made it a whole lot better. A drool-worthy finale to a sumptuous road trip, there is no better way to end than to kick back in
British architect Norman Fosters new creation, redesigned from the original 1899 Curhaus in 2009, by putting a bold contemporary addition around the original turreted hilltop chateau. The perfect way to cap off roadtripping is to splurge and indulge yourself. And where else to do it than in one of the best hotels in the world? The European and Japanese influenced spa with its outdoor jacuzzi, complete with view of the city and host of inspired treatments and baths, is one way to unwind and relax. But swanning around my swish room seemed so much better, especially when I could soak in the free-standing bathtub positioned such that I could enjoy the show-stopping view of the city of Zurich, the lake and the Alps all at the same time. With a snazzy central remote control that allowed me to operate just about everything in my room without having to ever leave my bed, it was taking indulgence to the max. And why not? It was la dolce vita, after all. This trip was made possible by Quotient TravelPlanner.There are three itineraries on offer now, including The Connoisseurs Journey, Adrenaline Rush and Ignite The Passion. For more details on the itineraries, you can visit http://grandtouring. travelplanner.com.sg or call 6435 0922.
The insider
Travel deals and steals
Bali
Get a free holiday from Nikon Always fancied taking cool holiday snaps? Now you can, when you buy a camera from Nikon and get a free vacation stay. Nikon is giving a 4D/3N stay for two in either Phuket or Bali as well as 3D/2N stay in Malaysia (choose from Langkawi, Penang, Port Dickson or Genting Highlands) as part of its I Am On Vacation campaign when you purchase a Nikon Coolpix camera priced from S$349. Youll also receive an additional S$70 worth of Amore boutique spa vouchers and a complimentary one-week Amore Fitness Pass. This giveaway is only valid for purchase made by Dec 31. For more info, click on I Am On Vacation when you visit www.nikon.com.sg
Barcelona
Lao Airlines commences flight Lao Airlines begins its direct service from Vietiane to Singapore. The thriceweekly service on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday will make it easier for travellers to visit Laos and its attractions such as Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng. Flights to Singapore depart Vientiane at 3.05pm and arrive in Singapore at 6.30pm; while outgoing flights to Vientiane depart Singapore at 7.40pm and arrive in Vientiane at 9.05pm. For bookings, visit www.laoairlines.com.
St Regis Shenzhen
The tallest St Regis opens In December, Shenzhen will see the opening of the tallest St Regis hotel, and to mark the occasion, it is launching its Bespoke Debut package. Guests can not only choose the view of their hotel room, they will also enjoy buffet breakfast for two, a dining credit of RMB1,000 (S$205) and the signature St Regis Butler Service. Rates start from RMB2,888 per night. Log onto www.stregis.com/shenzhen for bookings and more details. Free room upgrade from Courtyard by Marriott Looking for a place to stay in Shanghai? Courtyard by Marriott in Shanghai Pudong has completed a series of renovations and has 142 new rooms. From now to Feb 29, 2012, the hotel is offering a free upgrade to the new premier room when you book its deluxe rooms. Rates start from RMB1,088.Visit www.marriott.com for more information.
Fly to Europe from S$1,199 Whether its London, Amsterdam or Barcelona, you can fly to Europe for just S$1,199 including taxes if you book your tickets with Lufthansa before November 30. Travel validity is until June 30 next year, and a minimum of six days stay is required. For details, visit www.lufthansa.com/sg.
Experience a snow season like never before in Winter Wonder Japan
6D TOKYO Free & Easy

Includes return air ticket on Delta Airlines and 05 nights stay at Tokyo Sunshine City Prince Hotel.
$819*
PER PAX
5D TOKYO Mount Fuji Tour

$
Includes return air ticket on Delta Airways, 04 nights stay at Shinjuku Vintage Hotel with breakfast, Half Day Tokyo City Tour, Full Day Mt Fuji & Hakone Tour with lunch and transfers PER as per itinerary. PAX
7D EAST HOKKAIDO 7D HOKKAIDO

Night Departure Dates: Dec 20 / Seasonal Bonus: FREE Jan 21, 24 / Feb 02, 09, 16, 23 / Ice-Breaking Cruise#! Mar 01, 08, 15, 22, 29 #Selected departure dates only Tour Highlights: Tokachigawa Hot Spring Resort, Lake Kussharo, Ainu Village, Sounkyo Gorge, Ramen Village, Otaru PER Canal, Nijo Fish Market, Rere PAX Chitose Outlet Mall and more..
1044*
Stay 01 ki tS night a rt! Reso
Fantasy Tour
Tour Highlights: Ishiya Chocolate Factory, Odori Park, Paseo Shopping Mall, Sapporo Beer Musuem, Otaru Canal, Lake Toya, Kiroro Ski Resort, Ainu Village, Snowmobile Land and more..
Night Departure Dates: Jan 18, 20, 22, 23, 25 / Feb 03, 17, 24 / Mar 02, 09, 16, 23, 30
2188*
65363235
2188*
PER PAX
PEOPLES PARK CENTRE #B1-65

328 TO $526 PER PERSON
*ABOVE PRICES ARE SUBJECTED TO ASSOCIATED TAXES AND SURCHARGES CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE. TAXES FROM $
T 15
travel
Portland
How to spend S$101 (you big spender, you) in a day
NO, THIS is not hipster central Portland in Oregon. Were talking about the scenic capital of the state of Maine in the northeast coast of the United States. Surrounded by water, the historical coastal city still has a small town feel with quaint neighbourhoods of Victorian architecture and cobblestone lanes. If thats not pretty enough for you, Portlands the perfect base to explore some of states most famed lighthouses before tucking into sweet fleshy Maine lobsters. Sounds like weve got the perfect itinerary already.
Serene Lim
Portland Head Lighthouse
this museum. Pay the entry fee of US$10 to see its impressive collection of more than 17,000 works of art ranging from European masters such as Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso, to American artists like John Singer Sargent. Lighthouse Lovers Cruise: S$27.29 If you have a thing for these beacons of safety or simply want beautiful photos to bring home, this is the perfect activity. This 90-minute cruise from Portland Discovery (www. portlanddiscovery.com) costs just S$21 and brings you up close to seven of Maines most significant lighthouses including the oldest, Portland Head Light, as immortalised in a painting by American painter Edward Hopper.
Breakfast at Hot Suppa!: S$9.42 Named Americas Foodiest Small Town by Bon Appetit, Portland has a big brekkie scene. Head to Hot Suppa! (www.hotsuppa. com) to tuck into its legendary corned beef hash. Visit to Portland museum of Art: S$12.99 Its easy to spend an entire morning at
Dinner at Dimillos On The Water: S$50.35 Sure its touristy and the food standards arent always consistent, but as an outof-towner, youd be hard-pressed to find a more charming and atmospheric place. A disused ferry, DiMillos On The Water (www.dimillos.com), as its name suggests, is a floating restaurant in the heart of the historical Old Port area. There are plenty of seafood and lobster selections such as its famous Twin Lobster (US$34) the shellfish is done two ways as well as the requisite New England Clam Chowder (US$4.75) to stuff yourself with.
Total: S$100.05
Prices and rates are correct as at press time.
T16
Brought to you by
Food For Sharing
Gather your friends and family and indulge in a heritage feast of chicken curry and roti jala
annette tan
food@mediacorp.com.sg
When it comes to Singapore heritage food, one of my favourites is chicken curry served with roti jala, a dish that is easy enough to whip up over a weekend. For this reason, I always have FairPrice Natural Coconut Cream and FairPrice Plain Flour in my kitchen. FairPrice Natural Coconut Cream is aromatic and has a lovely fresh taste, without an overbearing note of coconut oil that some pasteurised coconut milk products tend to have. It is certified Halal, low in cholesterol and free of artificial flavourings and preservatives. And because it is stabilised, it doesnt separate when the dish it is used in is brought to a boil. I also use FairPrice Plain Flour for its premium quality. It is certified Halal, too. Get your friends and family to take turns making a few roti jala each its a great chance to bond over a yummy snack.
FairPrice Plain Flour 1kg, priced at S$2.25, and FairPrice natural Coconut Cream 200ml, priced at S$0.75, are available at all FairPrice outlets.
KoH MUi FoNg
ChiCken Curry with roti jala (serves 4 to 6) 2 cups coconut milk 2 eggs, beaten 1/2 tsp FairPrice Salt 1/2 tsp turmeric powder 2 cups FairPrice Plain Flour For chicken curry: 1 tsp salt a dash of white pepper 1 chicken, cut into pieces 1 large onion 4 cloves garlic
1 thumb-sized piece of ginger 1 stick cinnamon 1 cardamom pod 5 star anise 6 to 8 curry leaves 3 tbsp curry powder 1/2 cup FairPrice natural Coconut Cream 1. Lightly whisk coconut milk, eggs, salt and turmeric powder with one cup of water.
2. Sift FairPrice Plain Flour into a bowl and gradually add wet mixture. Stir until you get a smooth batter. Strain batter through a fine sieve. 3. Brush a thin layer of oil over a non-stick frying pan. Ladle batter into a roti jala cup and pour in a circular motion into pan over medium heat, forming a thin lacy pattern. 4. Cook until set and slightly brown on some edges, then flip. Cook for a further 30 seconds, then fold into quarters and
set aside on a plate. 5. For the curry, rub salt and pepper into chicken pieces and set aside. 6. Pound the onion, garlic and skinned ginger to a paste. 7. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan and fry the paste with cinnamon, cardamom pod, star anise and curry leaves until fragrant. 8. Mix curry powder with three tablespoons of water to form a paste. 9. Cook paste in a pan for 5 to 7 minutes,
stirring constantly. Remove from pan and set aside. In the same pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil and fry chicken pieces for about 8 minutes, until they are half-cooked. 10. Stir in curry mixture. Ensure that the chicken is evenly coated. 11. Add in FairPrice natural Coconut Cream and half a cup of water. Stir. 12. Cook for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken is tender. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve with roti jala.
Enjoy 8% off* when you charge to Plus! Visa or NTUC Plus! Visa cards for purchase of FairPrice Housebrand items!
*Valid for FairPrice & FairPrice Gold Brands only. Full payment must be charged to Plus! Visa or NTUC Plus! Visa Credit/ Debit Card (Visa transactions only). Not valid for cash/ NETS payment. Plus! Visa/ NTUC Plus! Visa Card 8% is calculated based on nett price after all promotional discounts and senior citizen discount. Please refer to www.plus.com.sg for full terms and conditions. Plus! U is an initiative provided by Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited for Plus! U.
Prices are correct at time of printing.
T17
things to do
Inventing Paper Speech This months Inventing Paper Speech session sees playwright Lim Qiu Ping performing Come Roost My Dreams, as she talks about the tussle between buried beliefs and what one is told to think, as well as the inadvertent sacrifice of choice. Inventing Paper Speech is a series of cold readings, or sight-readings, of fresh and original plays by budding playwrights on the last Thursday of every month. It helps the playwrights develop their works, and lets the performers to gauge their ability to perform and connect with the work.
Today, 7pm, Earshot Cafe, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane. Free admission. www.theartshouse.com.sg
bring along a paintbrush, tape and liquid glue, scissors and distress inks. Fees include all required paper, embellishments, a Kaisercraft wooden tree and ornate metal vase.
Today, 2pm to 5pm, Creative Studio@Paper Market, #B1-27 Raffles City. S$88 per person. Call 6333 9007 to register.
Aladdin: A Magical Musical Adventure This humorous musical of a fairy tale with a local twist is back again with its mix of comedy, songs and dance routines. Join Aladdin on a madcap adventure as he sings his way to the Blue Mansion in Malacca to steal a magic ring from a fearsome Bibik, Amelia of Amethyst Rise, with his feisty sidekick, Jasmine, the not-solittle nonya, in tow. Aladdin also marks the theatrical debut of Singapore Idol alumni Hady Mirza and Sylvia Ratonel.
Until Dec 17, 7.30pm with additional 2.30pm slots during weekends, Drama Centre Theatre. Tickets from S$39 to S$69 from Sistic.
Narnia, The Musical: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe This festive season, dont miss Kids Performing Repertory Theatres staging of this musical adaptation of C S Lewis tale. Join the Pevensie children, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy in their adventure through the magical land of Narnia and meet Tumnus the faun, the Beavers and the magnificent Aslan while learning valuable lessons of repentance, loyalty, forgiveness and bravery.
Until Dec 1, Monday to Saturday, 11am to 4pm, additional 8pm show on Saturdays, Suntec Convention Centre Theatre, Level 2. Tickets from S$35 to S$70 from Sistic. www.kidsperforming.com/kprt/
include local band The Great Spy Experiment, The Trees & The Wild from Indonesia, They Will Kill Us All from Malaysia. You can also watch independent music videos from budding filmmakers, including the works of Vincent Moon, the man behind The Take Away Shows and La Blogotheque. There will also be a bazaar offering a variety of tasty treats, gifts and vintage threads.
Dec 3, 11.30pm to 12am, Old School, 11 Mount Sophia. Tickets at S$89 and S$50 for students from www.gatecrash.com.sg
oktos WHOA! Event Get ready to have a blast at oktos WHOA! Event, with its fun-filled lineup of activities, including liveaction shows, exhibitions, obstacle courses and meet-and-greet
sessions with your favourite okto stars. Be the first to catch members of the all-new Mat Yoyo cast this Friday at 1.30pm and 4pm. Present your copy of Today and get 15 per cent off tickets at all Sistic outlets.
Nov 25 to 27, 11.30am to 8.30pm, The Max Pavilion at Singapore Expo. Tickets at S$10 each or S$30 for four tickets from Sistic. www.xinmsn.com/oktowhoa
Sitex 2011 Dont miss the infocomm and consumer electronics event of the year. Come face to face with the latest technologies in computer hardware and software, digital products, wireless applications and solutions from worldrenowned brands.
Until Sunday, 11am to 9pm, Singapore Expo Halls 4B, 5 and 6. Free admission. www.sitex.com.sg
O Christmas Tree: Christmas Tree Making Session Create your very own Christmas tree in Paper Markets creative class. Your embellished tree will also hold photo frames to display your favourite family photos. Makes a great gift for your loved ones as well! Simply
UPCOMING Up to the Sky Music and Video Festival Come immerse yourself in a full day of indie music and catch 12 of the hottest bands in SouthEast Asia in action. Performers
sudoku plus
difficulTy raTiNg:
+++++
how To play
The rules are easy. Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
CopyrighT uCliCk
yesTerdays soluTioN
t 18 on mediacorp
10.00 The X Factor (Encore) 11.00 SuperModel Me II (Premiere) MN Saving Grace III (Season Premiere; PG13-Mature Themes) 1.00AM CSI IX 2.00 The Noose 2.30 Project Runway V (Finale Part 2) 3.30 Chase 4.00 The Dr Oz Show 5.00 The Martha Stewart Show VI
on mediacorp mega sHark vs giant octopUs part 1 (pg-action violence)

Channel 5, 8pm
6.00AM Seriously Funny Kids 6.30 AM Live! 9.00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show IX 10.00 The Dr Oz Show 11.00 Americas Funniest Home Videos XX 11.30 Great Ideas From JML 1 2.30PM Parental Guidance 1.00 First Touch 2.00 The Two Of Us 3.00 The Dr Oz Show
CHANNEL
4.00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show IX 5.00 Survivor XXIII: South Pacific (Same Day Telecast) 6.00 Films & Stars 6.30 Dont Forget The Lyrics III 7.30 I See You: A Caregivers Story (Premiere) 8.00 Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus Part 1 (PG-Action Violence) 9.00 RenovAid III 9.30 News 5 Tonight
FlavoUrs For liFe (debut)

Channel U, 9pm
CHANNEL
When two enormous prehistoric creatures contend for supremacy of the sea, the California coast becomes the setting for a showdown thats been centuries in the making.
6.00AM 7.00 10.00 NOON 1.00PM 1.30 Golden Age Talentime 2011 Good Morning Singapore The Unforgettable Memory Mission Possible News 8 At One Tuesday Report: The Rail Story (Last Episode) 2.00 Ugly Swan 2.30 My Teacher, My Friend 3.30 Just In Singapore 4.30 Pay It Forward 5.30 Mrs P.I. 6.30 Singapore Today 7.00 Kampong Ties (PG) 8.00 Volkswagen Treasure Trails 8.30 Under 1 Roof @ Courts 2 9.00 A Song To Remember 10.00 News Tonight 10.30 Focus 11.00 Golden Ferris Wheel (PG) MN On The Fringe 11 (PG-Some Violence) 1.00AM Incredible Tales (PG-Supernatural) 1.30 On The Road II 2.00 Act 235 3.00 Invincible Warriors 4.00 Golden Ferris Wheel
This programme investigates superfoods consumed by different cultures in Asia.
a song to rememBer
Channel 8, 9pm
tHirU vallUvan
Vasantham, 10pm
CHANNEL
1 1.00AM 3.00PM 5.00 6.00 7.00 Home Shopping Daughters In Law 100% Entertainment When A Dog Loves A Cat The Great Queen Seon Deok 8.00 The Adventures Of Chris 9.00 Flavours For Life (Debut) 10.00 The Threshold Of A Persona 11.00 11.30 1 2.30AM 1.30 2.30 News Tonight The Adventures Of Chris Flavours For Life 100% Entertainment Close
Li Guang hears of Yu Hongs story and composes a song for her. Yu Hong has the idea of using the song to create a story on stage. Qiaoer steals her idea and presents it to the troupe leader.
9.00AM Sunshine Station 9.30 Little Princess

(prescHool) (prescHool)
10.00 LazyTown (prescHool) 10.30 Little Robots (prescHool) 11.00 Sunshine Station 11.30 City Of Friends NOON The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That! 1 2.30PM Hi-5 (prescHool) 1.00 Sunshine Station 1.30 Thomas & Friends 2.00 2.30
(prescHool) Mr Moon (prescHool) Chuggington (prescHool) (prescHool) (prescHool) (prescHool) (prescHool)
ON SINGTEL MIO TV
3.00 Art Factory 3.30 Kids Rock 4.00 Record Breakers Singapore Edition 4.30 Sketch 5.00 The Jungle Book 5.30 Monster Allergy 6.00 LEGO Ninjago 6.30 Dragon Snooker 7.00 Phineas And Ferb 7.30 Zero Hero 8.00 Kid Detectives 8.30 Artzooka 9.00 I Shouldnt Be Alive: A Dads Worst Nightmare 10.00 Tribal Wives (Debut) 11.00 Cities Of The Underworld: Londons Lost Cities MN Close
4.00PM 5.00 6.00 6.30 7.00 8.00 8.30 9.00 9.30 10.30 11.00 11.30 MN
Ku Milikmu Semanis Janji Gemilang Filem Melayu Periuk Malaysia, Belanga Brunei Bola Cinta Berita Makan Boomz Kembara! Rudy & Rilla Si Capik III Bedah Rumah Anugerah Alam Berita Close
Dr Jeevan is bent on getting Valluvan to leave the hospital, but Dr Sivarajini now claims that he cant leave. Dr Sivarajini finally talks to Valluvan and gets him to open his heart.
ON STARHUB CABLE TV
Bad teacHer (Hd)

mio TV Video On Demand (Latest Blockbusters), Anytime On Demand
Some teachers just dont give an F. For example, theres Elizabeth, who is foul-mouthed, ruthless and inappropriate. She drinks, gets high and cant wait to marry her meal ticket and get out of her bogus day job. When she is dumped by her fiance, she sets her plan in motion to win over a rich, handsome substitute competing for his affections with an overly energetic colleague, Amy. When Elizabeth also finds herself fighting off the advances of a sarcastic, irreverent gym teacher, the consequences of her wild and outrageous schemes give her students, coworkers and herself an education like no other.
3.00PM 3.30 4.00 4.30 5.00 5.30
Anjaraipetti II Sathy Leelavathi Silanthi Jeeva Chinna Papa Periya Papa Neenga Readyya
6.00 7.00 7.30 8.00 8.30 9.00
Yaar Antha Star IV Villakku Vecha Nerathilla Pathivugal Anandha Bhavan Tamil Seithi Kathai Alla Nejum
10.00 10.30 11.00 11.30 MN 1 2.30AM
Thiru Valluvan Nijangal II Ethiroli Indian Beat Tamil Seithi Close
Bad dog!
Animal Planet (StarHub TV Ch 424), 9pm
Dont miss a hilarious hour of just how far pets can push their owners and still get unconditional love. The series highlights dogs that double as destroyers, hissing cats, cussing parrots and the most fascinating four-legged escape artists ever caught on tape. They are some of the worst pets on the planet, but their owners love them just the way they are.
Headlines
12.30pm, 1pm, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm, 6pm, 6.30pm, 8pm, 8.30pm, 9.30pm, 10.30pm, 11.30pm, 12.30am, 1am, 1.30am
Headlines/spore Updates
9.30am, 11.30am, 2.30pm, 4.30pm

Headlines/spore market report
cHris HUmFreys Wild liFe

Documentary On Demand, (mio TV Ch 319) Anytime On Demand
Chris Humfrey is a zoologist with an absolute passion for nature. He lives in his own private zoo with his wife, Nicole, and two young children, sharing their life with more than 2,000 animals. This chaotic, animalcrazy series captures the drama, danger, animal antics and sheer exhilaration of Humfreys wild life. Every day, a new saga unfolds at the zoo.
10.30am Programmes may be pre-empted due to breaking news
6.00AM 6.30 7.00 9.00 9.38 10.00 10.33 11.00 11.33 NOON 1 2.32PM 1.02 1.32 2.00 2.33 3.00 3.32 4.00 4.33
Asian Home News AM Live! Early Edition AM Live! Asia Today Asian/ASEAN Panorama World Today Scene.City-Singapore World Today Asian Home News World Today Asian/ASEAN Panorama BlogTV.sg VI Super Science II Asia Today AM Live! Bite-size Asia Today Mind Your Money Asia Today Asian/ASEAN Panorama
5.00 5.32 6.02 6.32 7.00 8.02 8.32 9.00 9.31 10.00 10.31 11.00 11.31 MN 1 2.31AM 1.01 1.31 2.00
Asia Market Report Clickability Get Rea! X Its Organic Primetime Asia Insight Taxi To Asia Primetime News Expat Asia Singapore Tonight Asia Business Tonight Asia Tonight Insight World Tonight Taxi To Asia Singapore Tonight Asia Business Tonight Full Page Headlines
vanisHing on 7tH street

HBO Hits (StarHub TV Ch 605), 11pm
A handful of survivors band together to fight the darkness when the population of Detroit mysteriously vanishes after an unexplained blackout.
t 19
t 20
Today is published by MediaCorp Press Ltd, Caldecott Broadcast Centre, Annex Building, Level 1, Andrew Road, Singapore 299939 Tel: 6333 3888. Printed by KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd, 57, Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968. Tel: 65432222
SINGAPORE EXPO
Halls 4B, 5 and 6 11am 9pm
INTRODUCTION | 02
The festive season is just around the corner, and if you want to buy a gadget or three for the geek in your life, Sitex 2011 will be one of your last chances to grab some gizmos at great prices this year. And therell be plenty to choose from, with several hundred brands spread across a massive 25,000 sq m Halls 4B, 5 and 6 at the Singapore Expo from Nov 24 to Nov 27. If you are on the lookout for bargains, then Sitex wont disappoint. Whats more, if you accumulate S$100 in a single receipt, you could win some fantastic prizes. Women havent been left out either, and they can try their hand at the Ladies Go Tech Lucky Dip, where they could win mystery prizes throughout this four-day IT extravaganza. Just present a single receipt with a minimum of S$200 at the Lucky Draw Redemption area at the entrance of Hall 5. Even if youre not hunting for the latest tech bargains just yet, Sitex is still a great opportunity to get a hands-on look at some of the latest gadgets, from 3D home entertainment systems to tablets and slim yet powerful notebooks. Sitex is also doing its part to help the green cause. Visitors can discard unwanted electronic items at the recycling
Great tech, great prices
Whats inside
Cameras Video Cameras Home entertainment Tablets Notebooks & PCs Games Accessories 4 8 10 12 14 17 18
bins located outside Hall 6. All proceeds from your recycling efforts will be donated to the Society for the Physically Disabled. The green-ness doesnt just stop there. Toss any unwanted product brochures and flyers into designated recycling bins for a good cause. All proceeds from your recycling efforts will also be donated to the Society for the Physically Disabled. Prices in this supplement are correct at the time of printing.
Yen Yok
CAMERAS
| 05
Olympus Pen E-PL1

Booth 5D10 Size 114.6x72.2x41.5mm Weight 334g Sensor resolution 12.3 megapixels Video resolution 720P Optical zoom 3X Screen size 2.7 inches Storage SD/SDHC Sitex price S$448 (U.P. S$998) The Olympus Pen E-PL1 takes user-friendliness to the next level with its live guide interface for easy adjustment of brightness, background defocusing and other image parameters. It has easy-to-operate controls and a dedicated movie mode button for a smooth transition to 720P movie recording at any time. Light, compact and portable, the Olympus Pen E-PL1 is available in white, champagne gold and black.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7

Booth 5B10 Size 51.9x92.2x19.1mm Weight 120g Sensor resolution 16.2 megapixels Optical zoom 5X Screen size 2.8 inches Storage Memory Stick PRO Duo, SD/SDHC Sitex price TBA
Olympus TG-610
Booth 5D10 Size 96x65x26 mm Weight 190g Sensor resolution 14 megapixels
Optical zoom 5X Digital zoom 4X Screen size 3 inches Storage SD/SDHC/SDXD Sitex price S$298 (U.P. S$498)
Sleek and elegant, the compact Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7 boasts features that will make camera fans happy. The camera has a 2.8-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus display and is surprisingly easy to use, delighting with features such as AVCHD Full HD movie recording, background defocus and multi-shot layering. The 16.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor and 25mm wide angle Carl Zeiss Vario-Tesser lens deliver superior performance regardless of lighting conditions, selecting appropriate shooting settings with ease. Shooting modes such as 3D Still Image and 3D Sweep Panorama allow you to experiment and inject creativity into your photography.
The Olympus TG-610 lives up to its name, and is built to weather conditions that ordinary cameras would be unable to endure. Waterproof to a depth of 5m and able to withstand temperatures as low as -10C, the TG610 lets camera aficionados enjoy reliable, high-quality shooting no matter the location and weather. It has a 14-megapixel sensor and a 5X optical zoom lens, while dual image stabilisation helps prevent photos from becoming blurred. The 3-inch high-definition LCD monitor offers superior visibility and comes with a triple coating that makes it highly scratch- and water-resistant. HDTV movie recording (1280x720 pixels) is available for added versatility.
Sony NEX-C3
Booth 5B10 Size 109.6x60x33mm Weight 225g Sensor resolution 16.2 megapixels Optical zoom 3X Screen size 2.95 inches Storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/ Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo Sitex price TBA
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510

Booth 5B10 Size 96x54x20mm Weight 119g Sensor resolution 12.1 megapixels Optical zoom 4X
Digital zoom 4.9X Screen size 2.7 inches Storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/ Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo Sitex price TBA
Sonys NEX-C3 interchangeable lens camera combines DSLR-like picture quality with the convenience of interchangeable lens, but without the size and weight of a conventional DSLR. The ultra-compact and stylish camera is easy to use, with an array of intuitive features guaranteed to inspire your photographic creativity. The NEX-C3 has a 16.2-megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and a 2.95-inch LCD screen, along with the Photo Creativity Interface that allows you quick access to creative settings. You can also record high-quality video clips with HD Video Recording and capture extrawide photos with 3D Sweep Panorama. The versatile SEL16F28 lens and multi-purpose SEL1855 zoom lens ensure you will always have the perfect lens to suit the shooting conditions.
Nikon 1 V1
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 is an entry-level model designed to let users take great photos the fun and affordable way. The DSC-W510 comes with a 2.7-inch LCD screen and has features such as SteadyShot image stabilisation, 26mm wide-angle lens and sweep panorama to ensure you get the best out of your photo-taking experience. Intelligent Auto and Easy Shooting modes help keep shooting simple without sacrificing quality, so you can take both sweeping panoramic shots and fantastic portraits. Light, compact and easy to carry, the camera comes in a variety of trendy colours and is an ideal option for those who want to buy a point-and-shoot camera.
Booth 5E10 Size 113x76x43.5mm Weight 294g Sensor resolution 10.1 megapixels Optical zoom 3X Screen size 3 inches Storage SD/SDHC/ SDXC Sitex price TBA The Nikon 1 V1 is a small but high-performance camera featuring a 10-megapixel CX format sensor and the new Nikon 1 lens mount. Despite being a little on the heavy side, paying attention to how you hold the camera helps to significantly reduce shake-induced blur in your photos. The 1 V1 features a mechanical and an electronic shutter, and a sharp 3-inch LCD display. A pleasant surprise is the Full-HD Movie shooting capability. Other features such as the Motion Snap Shot and Smart Photo Selector allow you to experiment with various photo possibilities and stretch your creative freedom.
Continued on Page 6
CAMERAS
Continued from Page 5
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Nikon COOLPIX P500
Booth 5E10 Size 115.583.7102.5mm Weight 494g Sensor resolution 12.1 megapixels Optical/ Digital zoom 36X / Up to 4X Screen size 3 inches Storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Sitex price TBA
Nikon goes one up on its rivals with the COOLPIX P500, which boasts an impressive 36X optical zoom lens. The lens covers a broad range of focal lengths from wide-angle 22.5mm to super-telephoto 810mm, offering the highest optical zoom power in the history of the COOLPIX brand. The stylish P500 also has a clear 3-inch, LCD monitor and a 12.1-megapixel sensor, along
with user-friendly operational controls for easy handling. Get in on the action with the variety of shooting modes on offer, with features such as easy panorama and the array of filter effects that let you express your creativity to the max. Full HD movies recorded on the camera can also be played back on a TV with a HDMI connector.
Nikon COOLPIX S6150

Booth 5E10 Size 97.9x58x26.6mm Weight 172g Sensor resolution 16 megapixels Optical zoom 7X Screen size 3 inches Storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Sitex price TBA
The Nikon COOLPIX S6150 is a sturdy camera packed with a host of great features. The slim and stylish camera comes with a 16-megapixel resolution and 7x optical zoom lens, along with a 3-inch touch panel LCD monitor which can be used with features such as the Touch Shutter and Subject Tracking. Equipped with various functions such as motion detection, flash control and advanced noise reduction processing technology, you can now capture beautiful night-time shots even in dimly-lit surroundings. Indulge in your creative tendencies with the new Pet Portrait mode and a variety of filter effects, or create a slide show with animated characters and record HD movies using the dedicated movie button.
Nikon 1 J1
Booth 5E10 Size 106x61x29.8mm Weight 277g Sensor resolution 10.1 megapixels Optical zoom 3X Screen size 3 inches Storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Sitex price TBA Let the Nikon 1 J1 add a splash of colour to your daily life. The 1 J1 has an electronic shutter and is able to shoot 60fps continuously at its full 10.1-megapixel resolution, at an impressive autofocus speed. The smart photo selector is a great feature that helps you get the right shot, while motion snapshot lets you take short clips in slow motion. Additional features include the excellent built-in pop-up flash and full HD movie recording capability. The slim and compact 1 J1 comes in black, white and pink the last of which is a limited edition, so dont miss out on it.
VIDEO CAMERAS
| 08
Sony HDR-PJ50 Handycam

Booth 5B10 Sitex price TBA In addition to capturing videos in full HD and low-light conditions, the HDR-PJ50 features a 220GB hard-disc drive. This is good news if youre a Quentin Tarantino in the making, as you dont really need to worry about missing out on magical moments during your vacation. It can also capture 7.1 megapixel images and project these images and movies onto flat surfaces such as walls or ceilings, making it easy to share your memories with anyone.
Sony HDR-PJ10 Handycam

Booth 5B10 Sitex price TBA
Share your memorable moments in full HD virtually anywhere with the HDR-PJ10s builtin, high-contrast projector which can project an images onto any flat surface. Its wide-angle lens is perfect for capturing panoramic scenes and an image stabilisation system keeps your treasured movie moments judder free. Capturing video in low light is not a problem as well, thanks to the backilluminated CMOS sensor. Record up to six hours of HD footage directly to the 16GB embedded flash memory.
Canon Legria FS46
Booths 4D30, 4D31, 5B01, 5D30, 5E41, 6D41 Sitex price S$599 Making movies has never been easier thanks to the Canon Legria FS46. This video camera features a 41X advanced zoom, 8GB of internal memory and a memory card slot. Features such as a video snapshot mode make this video camera easy for beginners to use. A pre-recording function starts recording 3 seconds before the record button is pressed, making it easier to capture key moments during your vacation or special events.
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HOME ENTERTAINMENT
| 10
Samsung C9000 3D Smart LED TV

Booth 5B20 Screen 55-inch, Full HD (1920 x 1080) Sitex price S$3,866 (S$3,266 after DBS WOWME deal) Other features Internet@TV, 3D HyperReal engine If its sleek design and advanced features youre after, then this TV, with its brushed titanium case and super-slim profile is definitely worth a look. It displays breathtaking 3D images that bring movies to life in full HD. Four HDMI slots let you connect a myriad of devices and you can share videos, music and photos from your PC or mobile devices wirelessly. Connect to the Internet and enjoy all the brilliant content the Web has to offer.
Philips 46PFL6606H Smart LED TV
Booth 5B30,5H12 Screen 46-inch, Full HD (1920x1080) Sitex price TBA Other features 400 Hz Perfect Motion Rate, Integrated MPEG-4 tuner Movie nights will never be the same, thanks to this smart TVs 400hz perfect motion rate engine for superb motion sharpness. Together with its Pixel Plus HD technology, it ensures superb motion sharpness so you can see the finest details and textures in your movies. You can easily surf the Internet and catch the latest online content, as well as stream music, photos and videos from your tablet, smartphone or laptop. Three HDMI inputs and a USB connector open up your multimedia horizons, while an integrated MPEG-4 tuner allows for HD reception.
Philips HTS9140 SoundBar
Booth 5H12 Sound formats Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS 96/24, DTS Digital Surround, DTS ES, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, DTS-HD Master Resolution Sitex price TBA Other features Full HD 3D blu-ray, Philips Net TV with Wi-Fi, DLNA Network Immerse yourself in your movies with this 3D blu-ray soundbar, which gives you the ultimate surround-sound experience with fewer speakers. Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD offer high fidelity surround sound, ensuring you hear movies the way they were meant to be heard. Its sleek design and brushed aluminium finish enhances any living space and DLNA Network Link lets you enjoy music and videos from your PC.
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TABLETS
| 12
Acer Iconia Tab A500

Booth 6C20 Screen 10.1 inches OS Google Android 3.1 Honeycomb Processor Dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GPU with Flash 10.1 support Connectivity Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 Other features Built-in HDMI port and 1080p output, 5MP rear-facing camera, HD front-facing camera, Available in both WIFI and 3G configurations. Sitex price S$599 onwards (U.P. S$999) The new Acer Iconia Tab A500 is designed provide the same rich multimedia, gaming and Web experience you enjoy at home in a mobile and innovative tablet form. The A500 is packed with innovative features, and comes with Acers clear.fi media sharing system installed, allowing you to easily play, share and access multimedia content across your home network. The sleek tablet is just 13.3mm thin, and can run and play premium HD arcade games and complex online 3D games putting it on par with the top game consoles.
Lenovo IdeaPad A1
Featuring both portability and performance, the A100/A101 takes your mobile experience to the next level. Weighing in at only 410g, this compact tablet fits handily into your pocket, so it goes wherever you go. Whether youre into browsing the Web, multimedia, social networks or if you need to work on documents after office hours, this tablet does it all. Whats more, the Android 3.2 OS means you can access thousands more apps from the Android Market, and enjoy them in perfect resolution on the 7-inch screen.
Booth 6C01 Screen 7-inch LED (1024x500) capacitive multitouch display OS Android 2.3 Processor TI ARM Cortex-A8 1.0 GHz single-core processor Storage Up to 16 GB Connectivity WiFi and Bluetooth Other features Integrated front and rear webcams, Micro SD card reader and a mini USB port for easy connections to other devices Sitex price TBA The IdeaPad A1 might be less than 12mm thin and less than 500g in weight, but its magnesium alloy internal frame means its solid as a rock. Unique offline GPS navigation technology gives you a direct satellite link, making it a good choice if youre always on the go. And with access to both the Lenovo App Shop and the Android Market, thousands of apps are just a click away.
The Xoom is redefining what a tablet experience can be. Thin, light and powerful, its easy to hold, easy on the eyes and is a breeze to use. With Googles Android 3.0 Honeycomb and dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, you can work, play, surf and share just about anywhere. The Xoom comes with a rearward-facing, 5 megapixel camera with flash that captures video in 720p HD, and a front-facing 2 megapixel camera designed for video calling, to give you plenty to share. And with support for Adobe Flash Player (as an optional download), it allows you to browse the Web with full access to Flash sites, videos and games for full enjoyment of the Web wherever you are. The Xoom is also available with WiFi-only.
With the Sony Tablet S, you can access more than 10 million songs from a global catalogue or download the latest movie from the Sony Entertainment Network, leaving you spoilt for choice. Android 3.2 and the latest dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor also mean you get high performance and quality entertainment with the Tablet S. Its also PlayStation certified, giving you an unbeatable gaming experience. A unique asymmetrical design allows for hours of comfortable use, while the backlit LED screen is equipped with TruBlack display, which controls and reduces glare.
Asus Eee Pad Transformer (3G)
Sony Tablet S
Acer Iconia Tab A100/A101
Booth 6C20 Screen 7 inches Weight 410g OS Android 3.2 Processor Dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 Storage 16GB Other features Micro SD card, supports Flash 10.3, to 1080p video playback, HDMI output, 5 megapixel autofocus rear camera, 2 megapixel front-facing camera Sitex price S$449
Booth NA (Available from M1, StarHub booths) Screen 10.1-inch screen with 1280x800 resolution Weight 730g OS Android 3.0 Honeycomb Processor Dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 Storage 32GB on board user memory, plus SD card support after software update Memory 1GB DDR2 RAM Connectivity Corporate Sync, Wi-Fi 2.4GHz & 5GHz 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR + HID Other features 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with dual LED flash, 2megapixel front-facing webcam Sitex price TBA
Motorola Xoom tablet 3G
Booth 4B10, 6E01 Screen 9.4-inch LED-backlit IPS Weight 598g OS Android 3.2 Processor Tegra 2 Storage 16GB and 32GB Connectivity WiFi compatible Other features Functions as a universal remote control Sitex price TBA
Booth 5G20, 6C10, 6A30 CPU NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual Core ARM Cortex A9 OS Android Honeycomb 3.2 (FOTA upgradable to Android Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.0) WLAN Integrated 802.11 b/g/n +3G + Bluetooth LCD 10.1-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) IPS with capacitive touch RAM & HDD 1GB LPDDR2 + 32GB eMMC Flash + ASUS Web Storage Sitex price TBA This tablet transitions between pad and notebook mode thanks to a docking station with a full QWERTY kepboard. It has up to 16 hours of battery life and comes with Android 3.2 (upgradable to Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0). Featuring 3G connectivity, this versatile tablet lets you work and play anytime, anywhere.
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NOTEBOOKS AND PCs
| 15
Acer Aspire Z5771
Toshiba Portege Z830-2000U
Booth 5D20, 6D10 Screen 23-inch 1920x1080 pixel resolution, high-brightness LED-backlit TFT LCD Processor Quad core i5 processor Graphics Dedicated graphic card Memory 4GB Sitex price S$1,399 The futuristic Acer Aspire Z5771 All-in-one features a subtle colour scheme and an elegant frame that houses a webcam, microphone and high-definition speakers. The ergonomic tilt touchscreen is a 23-inch high-brightness LED-backlit TFT LCD monitor with a response time of 5ms, making it as good as any high-end monitor on the market. The latest Dolby-optimised surround sound system, a dedicated graphics card and Acers clear.fi technology all combine to make this one of the top all-in-one PCs in the market.
Booth 6A01 Screen 13.3-inch HD display with LED backlighting, 1,366x768 pixels Weight 1.12kg Processor Intel Core i5-2467M with Turbo Boost technology Storage 128 GB SSD Memory 6 GB DDR3
Connectivity WLAN, Bluetooth 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet LAN Other features 1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, SD Card Reader, RGB, HDMI, matte A4 tile keyboard large multi-touch touch pad, 1.3 megapixel webcam, stereo speakers enhanced with Toshiba Audio Enhancement Technology, fingerprint reader Sitex price S$1,999 Lighter and thinner than Toshibas earlier award-winning R830 series, the Z830 offers impressive portability, durabil-
ity and style. While it provides excellent performance for work and entertainment, the Z830 features improved power management for great battery life. Toshiba Hi-Speed Start Technology also means you can power up and get going in just seconds, thanks to the 128GB SSD. A bright, nonreflective screen and powerful stereo speaker featuring Toshiba Audio Enhancement technology make this ultraportable ideal for playing music and watching movies, too.
Continued on Page 16
Toshiba Qosmio DX730
Acer Aspire Predator G5910
Booth 6A01 Screen Full-HD 23-inch LCD panel with LED backlight, 1,920 x 1080 pixels (169) Processor Intel Core i5-2430M Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M, 1GB Storage 1TB Sata Memory 4GB DDR3 Connectivity WLAN (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 3.0+ HS, Gigabit Ethernet Sitex price S$1,549 This is Toshibas first all-in-one desktop PC and it blends the best of Toshiba PC and TV knowhow into one seamless multimedia package. Featuring a 23-inch display and Onkyo speakers, the Qosmio DX730 boasts top-of-theline features, enabling it to serve as a home entertainment hub. If youre away from your desk, Toshibas Sleep & Music mode lets you use the speakers even if the PC is switched off. Features and specifications vary according to model, so visit pc.toshiba-asia.com for more details.
Booth 5D20, 6D10 Processor Intel Core i7 quad processor with a maximum turbo frequency of 3.8GHz with Intel TurboBoost 2.0 Graphics 3GB dedicated graphic card from NVIDIA Storage 1.5TB Memory 16GB Sitex price S$1,899 (U.P. S$2,399) The Predator is Acers top gaming desktop. Its impressive looks an attractive matte-finish case accented with bright orange strips are more than matched by its performance. The G5910 has a 3GB NVIDIA graphics card that supports 3D vision. With the addition of a 3D package that includes a 3D monitor, high-tech wireless glasses and advanced software, the Predator will take gaming to the next level. The top-of-the-line second-generation Intel Core i7 quad processor with maximum turbo frequency of 3.8GHz, Intel TurboBoost 2.0 and 16GB of memory ensure a seamless gaming experience.
away from the touchpad area, a vent-free bottom and a new airflow design, the S3 is as comfortable to use as it is fast. With a thickness of just 1.3cm and a sleek, lightweight metal chassis, the S3 is the ultimate portable ultrabook.
HP Touchsmart 520-1040D
Booth 6B01, 6E10 OS Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium Processor 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2600S Processor (2.8GHz) Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6550A 2GB DDR3 Storage 1TB Memory 4GB Other features blu-ray Combo Drive, TV Tuner & Remote Control, 6-in-1 USB Media Card Reader, HP Wireless Keyboard and Mouse, Touchsmart Suite 5.0, Beats Audio Sitex price TBA (U.P. S$1,999) The HP TouchSmart 520-1040D provides a premium multimedia and touch experience, packed into a floating form with a freestanding full HD display that can be tilted. With a world of apps at your fingertips, this all-in-one PC provides the most intuitive and immersive experience to date.
HP Pavilion HPE Phoenix H9-1090D
Booth 6C01 Screen 14-inch slim LED HD display (1366x768), 169 widescreen OS Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium Processor Up to 2nd generation Intel Core i7 processor with Intel Turbo Graphics Intel GMA HD 3000 graphics or AMD Radeon HD6470M 1GB graphics Storage Up to 1TB HDD, up to 64GB SSD Memory Up to 8GB DDR3 Connectivity Integrated Bluetooth and high-speed 802.11n Wi-Fi Price TBA From the cool-touch palm rest to its Breathable Keyboard technology, the Lenovo Ideapad U400 is an ultraportable notebook that doesnt sacrifice quality or style. Boasting second-generation Intel Core processor and RapidDrive SSD technology, the U400 can boot Windows in as little as 17 seconds. Whats more, the long-life battery provides up to 7 hours of productive use, making this ultraportable a great choice for those on the move.
Lenovo IdeaPad U400
Acer Aspire S3
Booth 5D20, 6D10 Weight 1.33kg Processor 2nd generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7 Storage 320GB HDD Sitex price From S$999 to S$1,598
Booth 6B01 and 6E10 Screen HP X2301 Micro Thin LED Display OS Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium Edition Processor 64-bit Intel Core i7-2600 (3.4 GHz,8 MB cache, DMI 5GT/s) Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti (1 GB GDDR5 dedicated) Storage 1.5TB SATA 3G (7200 rpm) Memory 6GB 1333 MHz DDR3 (1 x 2 GB, 1 x 4 GB) Other features BluRay Disc Combo Player, Beats Audio Sitex price TBA The HP Pavilion HPE Phoenix H9-1090D is packed with a lightning-fast processor and powerful graphics card that lets you game away to your hearts content. Its armour-like casing boasts sleek aesthetics, and doubles as a landing pad for all your digital devices, making it a sleek addition to your living room. Whats more, HP LinkUp software connects you to your notebook PC, allowing you to wirelessly access, view and interact with your notebook on a home network.
Lenovo IdeaPad Y470
The new Acer Aspire S3 redefines mobile computing. With two new innovative features, Acer green instant on and Acer instant connect, you can go from sleep to fully-connected in less than 3 seconds. A 320GB HDD with embedded SSD provides ultra-fast access along with ample media and data storage. With warm components placed
Booth 6C01 Screen 14-inch HD display (1366x768), 169 widescreen OS Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium Processor Intel Core i7 processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 550M 2GB graphics supporting switchable graphics and DDR3 memory
Other features JBL speakers and SRS surround sound audio Sitex price TBA Lenovo works multimedia magic with the Ideapad Y470 combining a powerful graphics card with a 16:9 screen. OneKey Theater II gives you intelligent one-touch audio-visual optimisation as well, making images clear and bright. The Y470 also features Lenovos OneKey Rescue System, which makes data backup and recovery a cinch to set up, freeing you to spend time on more enjoyable things, such as watching a movie on the 14inch LED display and enjoying the spectacular sound of the JBL speakers.
NOTEBOOKS AND PCs

Continued from Page 15
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GAMES
| 17
Dell XPS 14z
Booth 5A28, 6D01 Screen Standard HD (720p) WLED (1366x768) OS Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium Processor Intel Core i5-2450M Graphics 1 GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M Storage 500GB HD, 256GB SSD (optional) Memory 4GB dual channel DDR3
Connectivity Wireless 802.11 A/G/N and Bluetooth 3.0 Other features USB 3.0 (1), USB 2.0 (1), HDMI 1.4 (1), RJ-45 (1), Mini display-port and microphone/audio connectors, built-in 1.3megapixel HD Webcam Sitex price S$1,449 (U.P. S$1,649) The XPS 14z is among the slimmest 14-inch laptops on the market. Thin doesnt mean weak however, and this feature-packed machine wont leave techies
disappointed. The laptop can be equipped with second-generation Intel multi-core processors and up to a 1GB NVIDIA graphics card designed to help extend battery life. The XPS 14z is equipped with USB 3.0, which allows for fast file transfers and features an elegant anodised aluminium finish. It even has a backlit keyboard so you can stay productive in the dark.
Kinect Sensor
Booth 5F01 Sitex price S$199 (U.P. $229) Forget a gamepad or joystick, because the Kinect makes you the controller, bringing your games and entertainment to life in extraordinary new ways. The Kinect Sensor responds to your movements, so if you need to kick, then kick. If you need to throw a punch, well just throw a punch. Its the perfect opportunity to play your favourite video games and get a good workout in the process. All thats left is for you to get off the couch.
Kinect Disneyland Adventures Sony VPCCA15FG VAIO C Series Notebook
Booth 5F01 Sitex price 2 Kinect games for S$99 (from selected range) Surround yourself with magic as you fly, dance and dive into classic Disneyland attractions. Interact with more than 40 of your favourite characters collect their autographs, accept their quests and experience the magic of Disney. You can even participate in parades and spectacular fireworks displays, even soar over Neverland and fight with Captain Hook!
Booth 4B10 Screen 14-inch OS Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Processor Intel Core i5-2410M Processor 2.30GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.90GHz Graphics Dynamic Hybrid Graphics System Storage 500GB (Serial ATA, 7200 rpm) Sitex price TBA
Kinect Sports Season Two
Booth 5F01 Sitex price 2 Kinect games for S$99 (from selected range) Kinect Sports: Season Two puts you in the game with six new sports (football, golf, baseball, tennis, darts and skiing) and groundbreakingfeatures that use the Kinects full-body play technology. Now you can fire aces on court, score the winning homerun or sink that championship-winning putt. And the Challenge Play feature on Xbox live lets you take on your friends and family.
The VAIO C series by Sony comes in a bright range of zesty colours, with a premium design constructed with a new light-emitting material. With a 500GB HDD and a speedy Intel core i5-2410 chip, its perfect for everyday computing. The C series also features a HD Web camera powered by Exmor, and Quick Web Access allows instant online browsing.
Sony VPCSB26GG VAIO S Series Notebook
Booth 4B10 Screen 13.3 inch wide (WXGA 1366x768) TFT colour display (VAIO Display Plus, LED backlight) OS Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Processor Intel Core i5-2410M Processor 2.30 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.90 GHz Graphics Dynamic Hybrid Graphics System for STAMINA mode and SPEED mode Sitex price TBA You dont have to sacrifice stamina for speed with the VAIO S Series. Its Dynamic Hybrid Graphics System lets you toggle between two modes, helping to extend battery life. Its thin, light and very mobile, and features long battery life, making it a great choice for executives on the go. Featuring a magnesium top cover and body, aluminum palm rest and a backlit keyboard, its a stylish companion for road warriors as well.
Dance Central 2
Booth 5F01 Sitex price 2 Kinect games for S$99 (from selected range) Dance Central 2 gets your party started with its killer soundtrack, great routines and all-new simultaneous multiplayer features. The game features more than 40 dance hits and the in-game music store lets players import their Dance Central song list, adding up to lots of dance time. Choose from the new characters with custom outfits and backup dancers.
ACCESSORIES
| 19
Prolink PIC1005WN wireless IP camera

Booth 6E40 Sitex price S$209 (U.P. S$259) Simplicity meets functionality in Prolinks PIC1005WN wireless IP camera, which is a useful addition to the true plug and play IP camera series. The webcam, designed as a more basic version of the earlier PIC1003W model, lets you get right down to business as it dispenses with complicated set-up procedures and does not require you to configure a router or DDNS settings, unlike other standard IP cameras. Its automatic day/ night mode ensures that clear footage can be taken even in dimly-lit environments. Features such as remote live monitoring via 3G smartphones and multi-location viewing add a touch of versatility to the webcam.
Prolink WNR1011 4G Wireless-N Mobile Router
Booth 6E40 Connectivity WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, USB 2.0; data speed up to 150Mbps Sitex price S$89 (U.P. S$109)
Microsoft Wireless Desktop 2000 keyboard and mouse

Booth 5F01 Sitex price S$52 (U.P. S$56)
Booth 6B01 Type All-in-one inkjet with fax (web-connected) Output Up to A4 Print speed 13.5 ppm (black), 9 ppm (colour)
HP Photosmart 7510 e-All-in-One Printer
Print resolution 600 dpi (black), 9600 x 2400-optimised dpi (colour) Scan resolution Up to 1200 dpi (optical) Connectivity Hi-Speed USB 2.0; WiFi 802.11b/g/n Sitex price TBA
Looking to stay connected wherever you are? Prolinks new WNR1011 4G Wireless-N Mobile Router lets you do just that. The router, enhanced with 802.11 b/g/n technology, lets you create a wireless hotspot just about anywhere with the insertion of a 3G or 4G dongle, so you can easily access your favourite Internet sites. Sleek, portable and compact, the routers casing even has a compartment to store your USB 2.0 cable so youll never forget the essentials. The powerful WNR1011 has a data speed of up to 150Mbps and can support up to a maximum of 20 WiFi users, with its built-in 2400mAh lithium ion battery lasting up to six hours on a full charge.
Microsoft Touch Mouse
Looking for the perfect desktop solution to make your life easier? The Microsoft Wireless Desktop 2000 could just be the answer. The classicallydesigned keyboard features Advanced Encryption Standard 128-Bit Encryption, which helps to protect your personal and business information by encrypting your keystrokes. Comfort is maximised with the pillow-textured palm rest offering support as you type, while the mouses ambidextrous design has enhanced side grips allowing for use in either hand. Taskbar favourites for Windows 7 lets you effortlessly access your favourite programmes by mapping to the location of applications on the taskbar, all to ensure that your time on the computer will be more relaxing and trouble-free.
The HP Photosmart 7510 e-All-in-One Printer is a well-rounded unit that redefines multi-tasking and offers an efficient solution to both home and homeoffice needs. Printing and sharing photos and documents while on the go is now a breeze with HP ePrint, and even have the luxury of printing wirelessly from your iPad or iPhone when you activate AirPrint. Quality print resolution means you can produce beautiful, lab-quality photos and everyday projects with minimal effort and maximum affordability. The Photosmart 7510 is Energy Star-qualified, so you can do your bit for the environment by reducing paper usage by up to 50 per cent with two-sided printing, and use less than 1 watt of energy while the printer is in standby mode.
Brother MFC-J625DW
Bose SoundDock Portable

Booth 5J42 Sitex Price S$579 (U.P. $749)
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Booth 5F01 Sitex price Arc Touch Mouse S$79; Touch Mouse S$99; Explorer Touch Mouse S$59 For a more intuitive way to navigate your PC, look no further than the new Microsoft Touch Mouse. The multi-touch mouse is a smooth operator, featuring BlueTrack technology that exceeds laser and optical capabilities. Designed for hassle-free navigation, it allows for tracking on virtually any surface, including granite, marble, carpet and wood. Its ambidextrous design provides comfort and durability, so you can scroll and pan through windows and documents with consummate ease. The mouses 2.4GHz wireless technology assures you a smooth wireless connection. You also have the option to either leave the snap-in nano transceiver plugged into the computer or stored in the bottom of the mouse. Now you can have your music and take it with you too. The Bose SoundDock Portable, delivering the same impressive audio performance of the original SoundDock digital music system, now comes with the added convenience of portability. Its slim, stylish design includes proprietary waveguide speaker technology and powerful neodymium speakers, which show off the SoundDock Portables high-volume capability and superb tone. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack provides more power and longer playtime than other types of rechargeable batteries, ensuring hours of uninterrupted music enjoyment. The rotating dock disappears for storage and protection during transit, making it easy to carry the system around.
Booth 4B20 Type All-in-one inkjet with fax (web-connected) Output Up to A4 Print speed up to 35ppm monochrome and 27ppm colour Print resolution Up to 6,000 x 1,200dpi (Vertical x Horizontal) Scan resolution Optical: From Flatbed Up to 1,200 x 2,400 dpi Connectivity High Speed USB 2.0 / USB Direct / Pictbridge / Media cards, WiFi 802.11b/g/n Sitex price S$258 The MFC-J625DW offers print, scan, copy and fax capabilities in a stylish, compact machine and lets you produce double-sided A4 documents as well as high-quality borderless images. Avoid waiting for your documents with impressive print speeds of up to 35ppm monochrome and 27ppm colour. Share resources by connecting to existing wireless networks. To make things even easier, you can print directly from your digital camera with the PictBridge port, or from your media cards without switching on your computer. The 1.9-inch touchscreen colour LCD display makes viewing, selecting and editing images a snap. The ink system uses four individual cartridges so you only replace the colour that runs out, reducing waste and helping the environment.
ViewPad 7
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Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000

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Make a statement on your desktop with the new Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000. The slim and stylish keyboard features an ergonomist-approved contour layout that encourages natural wrist posture and feels just right from the moment you use it. The keys are the same size and in a familiar place even on the Comfort Curve, with easy one-touch access to popular media functions such as play, pause and volume. Wired technology ensures reliable connectivity, allowing you to surf the Internet to your hearts content. Affordable and easy to use, the Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 comes with a three-year limited hardware warranty.
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afternoon edition

arsenal advanCe in CHaMPions leaGue sPorts PaGe 66

thursday november 24, 2011 www.todayonline.com we set you thinking

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today thursday November 24, 2011

today File photo

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IMF beefs up lending tools as debt crisis spreads

>> italiaNs waNt to cut debt but ... 47

today thursday November 24, 2011

A push in education for Indian students, especially in maths

Photo cou rte sy Jam vet eri Nar y ceN tre

Man dumps cat in bin, caught on CCtV camera

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today thursday November 24, 2011

s$54,887 s$77,340 s$40,189 s$1,889 s$75,889

q s$1,110 p s$340 q s$614 q s$123 q s$2,112

Model agencies fined for anti-competitive practices

Govt looking at using Medisave for home care

today thursday November 24, 2011

Yahoo! Southeast Asia to vigorously defend itself against SPh suit

hackers love it if your password is password

today thursday November 24, 2011

today thursday November 24, 2011

today thursday November 24, 2011

Climate change must be dealt with long-term view

China outlines cuts in carbon emissions

today thursday November 24, 2011

today thursday November 24, 2011

Cure for insomnia might be close

sleep-textiNg a growiNg pheNomeNoN amoNg the youNg

geNder beNdiNg chemical fouNd iN tiN caNs

A few more paracetamol pills a day cant hurt? think again

too little salt can be unhealthy

today thursday November 24, 2011

President wins, taxpayers lose

>> rePubliCaN debate hiGhliGhts laCk of a uNified seCurity visioN 45

today thursday November 24, 2011

today thursday November 24, 2011

today thursday November 24, 2011

myanmars good deeds: a reality check

today thursday November 24, 2011

today thursday November 24, 2011

Warren Buffetts no match for the yakuza

today thursday November 24, 2011

TODAY THuRSDAY NOVEMBER 24, 2011

An eventual correction in HDB resale prices?

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single stumped by studio flat price

it should have been sQooT

options available at serangoon MRT

today thursday November 24, 2011

today thursday November 24, 2011

Why conservation is pragmatic

today thursday November 24, 2011

today thursday November 24, 2011

students weak command of Mandarin on talk show is a concern

High production standards at APB brewery in china

this Christmas with

SITEX 2011 Singapore EXPO Booths 4B50 / 5B45 / 5G60 / 6M50