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New initiatives launched to promote Singapore green building movement
2008-05-23 00:06:00
New initiatives launched to promote Singapore green building movement By Wong Siew Ying, SINGAPORE: The green building movement in Singapore has gained momentum and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) hopes to spur it further by enhancing its Green Mark Incentive Scheme. At the BCA awards ceremony on Thursday, City Developments was named Singapore’s first Green Mark Champion. This new award is given to developers and building owners who have at least ten projects that have attained the BCA Green Mark Gold and Platinum standards. However, BCA was unable to find a winner for the ultimate prize – the Green Mark Champion Platinum Award, which requires developers to have at least 50 eco-friendly projects to qualify. Among the 97 winners at this year’s BCA award ceremony, three CityDev projects secured the Green Mark Platinum prize. They are 9 Tampines Grande, Cliveden at Grange and The Solitaire. They were evaluated based on several criteria, with more weightage p...
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Singapore HDB revises flat application rules
2008-05-23 00:04:00
Singapore HDB revises flat application rules By Hoe Yeen Nie, SINGAPORE: The Housing & Development Board (HDB) has revised the application process for its Build-to-Order (BTO) and Balloting Exercise (BE) modes of sale to address recent increases in non-selection of new HDB flats. The changes will take effect from the May 2008 BTO exercise. Under the revision, first-timer applicants who reject two chances to select a flat will have their first-timer priorities removed for a one-year period in HDB’s sales exercises. This means that they will be treated like second-timer applicants, and will no longer be able to ballot for the 90% of publicly available flats which HDB safeguards for first-timers. They will also not be eligible for the Married Child Priority Scheme which gives them two additional tries. Additional chances for repeatedly unsuccessful first-timers - that is those not invited to select a flat - will be limited to only BTO exercises in non-mature estates. No addit...
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CapitaMall Trust buys Singapore The Atrium@Orchard for S$840m
2008-05-22 23:46:00
CapitaMall Trust buys Singapore The Atrium @Orchard for S$840m SINGAPORE: CapitaMall Trust (CMT) has bought The Atrium@Orchard office development for about S$840 million. The Atrium@Orchard is a commercial development comprising two Grade A office towers and some ground floor retail space. CMT said the purchase from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) will be funded by a mix of debt and convertible bonds. Predicting a 2.1 percent initial property yield, the Trust plans to issue at least S$650 million worth of bonds. While some analysts have expressed concern, CMT said current office rent at The Atrium is low by market standards and it has room to more than double. It expects a 4.5 percent yield to be achievable by 2010 when almost all the leases are due to expire. CMT plans to integrate the development with the Plaza Singapura shopping mall next door, which it also owns. Deputy Chairman of CapitaMall Trust Management, Liew Mun Leong, said the proposed merger of the two properties will...

Leisure Plan drawn up to enhance recreational options in S’pore
2008-05-22 01:23:00
Leisure Plan drawn up to enhance recreational options in S’pore By Wong Siew Ying, SINGAPORE: In the near future, one will be able to stroll, jog or cycle around the whole of Singapore just by following an extensive route. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is developing a 150-kilometre round-island path as part of its Leisure Plan. National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan revealed details of new recreational options at the Architectural Design Awards 2008 ceremony on Wednesday. The round-island route will be developed over the next 10 to 15 years, but up to two-thirds of the path – which includes the Punggol Coastal Promenade – could be ready in just five years. At three and a half times the length of the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE), the route will comprise existing and new park connectors, waterfront promenades and other trails. It will also cover leisure destinations at the Marina Bay, Changi Point and the upcoming Jurong Lake District. Mr Mah said: “We may ...
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Singapore PUB plans to spend S$2b in water treatment and infrastructure pro
2008-05-22 01:21:00
Singapore PUB plans to spend S$2b in water treatment and infrastructure projects SINGAPORE: Singapore’s national water agency, PUB, is planning to spend S$2 billion in water treatment and infrastructure projects in the next five years. Responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia, PUB said the investment will be in water infrastructural projects such as NEWater network expansion and upgrading of NEWater plants. Singapore already has five NEWater plants and the latest will be built at Changi by Sembcorp Utilities. With the addition of this new plant, NEWater will meet a third of Singapore’s current water needs by 2010. The Changi NEWater Plant is the second NEWater project by the private sector. - CNA/vm   Source : Channel NewsAsia  - 22 May 2008 Singapore Property - Buy, Sell, Rent, Invest Mindy Yong (+65)91002985 mindy@mindyyong.com
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MOM launches new labour Singapore market information on website
2008-05-22 01:19:00
MOM launches new labour Singapore market information on website By Margaret Perry, SINGAPORE: Job seekers can now get more information about recruitment prospects and wages from the Labour Market Highlights on the Manpower Ministry’s (MOM) website. Jointly produced by MOM and the Workforce Development Agency (WDA), the labour market guide aims to give job seekers a better understanding of the opportunities in the job market by providing a broad overview of 11 industry groups in the construction, manufacturing and services sectors. It includes information on industry trend outlook, pipeline of investments and projected job creation. Occupations are colour-coded according to demand - for example, red indicates that the job is very high in demand. According to the guide, engineering professions continue to be in strong demand in the manufacturing sector. A software engineer’s wage falls between S$2,885 and S$4,314, while a semiconductor engineer’s salary is in the ran...
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Bicycles to be allowed on trains, Singapore buses as part of 6-month trial
2008-05-22 01:17:00
Bicycles to be allowed on trains, Singapore buses as part of 6-month trial By Hiroshi Limmell, SINGAPORE : Cyclists will be allowed to bring foldable bicycles on board all trains and public buses, in a six-month trial. This is an initiative by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a study to meet the transport needs of diverse groups of people. The trial period is from May 24 to November 24 this year. Foldable bicycles will be allowed on MRT trains every weekday during off-peak hours and on SBS and SMRT buses on weekends and public holidays. The trial is one of several initiatives announced during the Land Transport Review. The Review recognises an increasing trend of people cycling for sports, recreation or as a means of transport. Although the move gives cyclists more convenience, LTA spokesman Jeremy Yap said public safety must still come first. He said, “Cyclists and other commuters are encouraged to be considerate and make way for one another, so that more people can use ...
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New foreign brands to set up shop at 313 @ Singapore Somerset in 2009
2008-05-22 01:16:00
New foreign brands to set up shop at 313 @ Singapore Somerset in 2009 By Ng Baoying, SINGAPORE: Some popular international brands will come to Singapore by the end of 2009 when 313@Somerset opens its doors to shoppers for the first time. The new mall opposite Centrepoint is being developed by Australia’s Lend Lease, which had put in a record bid for the site. Now, six months into its leasing campaign, Lend Lease said that interest from both local and foreign retailers has been overwhelming. Work is still in progress, but about 200 local and foreign brands are waiting to call the place home. Lend Lease is not revealing just yet about who are coming to town, but it said the names will be big. Mike Kenderes, Development Director, Lend Lease Retail, said: “We are in very close discussions with major fashion retailers in the mid-range offer. We’re also looking to secure some international brands that are new to this market - which are taking a little longer.” Lend...
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Banyan Tree signs contract for Angsana Resort & Spa in the Caribbean -
2008-05-22 01:13:00
Banyan Tree signs contract for Angsana Resort & Spa in the Caribbean - Singapore SINGAPORE: Mainboard-listed Banyan Tree Holdings has signed a management contract for a resort in the island of Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. Banyan Tree said the Angsana Resort & Spa Saint Lucia is the group’s fourth foray into the Caribbean. Angsana Saint Lucia is an integrated resort project that will comprise a full scale resort with related facilities and amenities, including a marina and a commercial centre. The development, which will also include residences for sale, is slated for completion in 2011. - CNA/vm   Source : Channel NewsAsia  - 22 May 2008 Singapore Property - Buy, Sell, Rent, Invest Mindy Yong (+65)91002985 mindy@mindyyong.com
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Companies say corruption laws strongly enforced in S’pore
2008-05-22 01:11:00
Companies say corruption laws strongly enforced in S’pore By Pamela Almeda, SINGAPORE: Companies in Singapore said laws and regulations against bribery are strongly enforced. This is according to findings of the 10th Global Fraud Survey by professional services provider Ernst & Young. 27 respondents (85 per cent) from Singapore said corruption laws and regulations are very strongly enforced. This is compared to 40 per cent for global respondents. The poll surveyed 1,186 interviewees including risk managers, heads of legal divisions and compliance teams across 33 countries. More than half of the respondents from Singapore said they believed internal audit was effective in detecting corrupt practices, compared with 26 per cent from the global respondents. In addition, some 67 per cent of companies polled from Singapore said there are specific procedures to mitigate risk of corruption when dealing with government officials, versus only 43 per cent from the global respondents....
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Search for Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 appears intense- Singapore
2008-05-22 01:10:00
Search for Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 appears intense- Singapore By Timothy Ouyang, SINGAPORE: According to the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) and the Rotary Club of Singapore, this year’s search for the Entrepreneur of the Year looks set to be intense. Singapore’s oldest entrepreneurial award – given to those who have shown outstanding leadership in business – has grown to include leaders who have taken the lead to make corporate social responsibility (CSR) an integral part of their businesses. ASME said CSR does not have to be limited to charitable causes. Kurt Wee, vice-president of ASME, said: “It can be a participation in non-profit (activities), a contribution to various facets of society… that adds value to the society’s well being.” To qualify, the candidate must be an entrepreneur who is either a Singapore citizen or a permanent resident, and who has been in business for at least three years. Moreover, the cand...
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Jump in number of Green Mark buildings - Singapore
2008-05-22 01:05:00
Jump in number of Green Mark buildings - Singapore Of the 100 certified last year, over 60 are residential By LIM WEN JUIN THE Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has reported an ‘exponential increase’ in the number of buildings certified under its Green Mark scheme. Almost 100 buildings were certified last year, compared to 17 each in 2006 and 2005, the year in which the scheme was introduced. More than 60 of these buildings are residential developments, which translates to over 19,000 green homes. BCA chief executive John Keung noted that of the five key Green Mark assessment criteria, energy efficiency is the main emphasis. It takes into account ‘passive design’ features such as natural ventilation and natural lighting. BCA Green Mark department deputy director Jeffery Neng added that the most common green features found within residential units include energy-efficient air-conditioners, sun-shading devices and water-efficient fittings such as tap fl...
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Landscape design contest for Singapore Punggol waterway
2008-05-22 01:04:00
Landscape design contest for Singapore Punggol waterway Competition includes design of Punggol Town Park By CHARMIAN KOK   FOLLOWING its announcement to develop Punggol into a modern waterfront town, HDB is also engaging with the private sector to design the landscaping of the Punggol waterway through a Landscape Masterplan Design Competition for the Waterway.   Tapping talent: The winner of the competition will receive $300,000, which will form part of the professional fee to be paid to the appointed firm or team The competition aims to draw on fresh and innovative ideas for the landscaping of the 4.2 km waterway, and also includes the designing of the Punggol Town Park - a 10.6 ha land that will provide a range of water-based activities and facilities. Besides proposing the landscape design development direction of the waterway, entrants to the competition can also actively participate in creating the communal and commercial spatial typologies along the waterway. Proposals for t...
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Zero bids for Singapore hotel site is first in seven years
2008-05-22 01:02:00
Zero bids for Singapore hotel site is first in seven years Consultants cite weak economic sentiment, large site for 500 rooms By ARTHUR SIM   A HOTEL site at Race Course Road has failed to receive a single bid. According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority, not since February 2001 has there been a launch of a development site through the Government Land Sales Programme (GLS) that did not take off. The 0.9 ha site at the junction of Race Course Road and Bukit Timah Road has a maximum permissible gross floor area (GFA) of 338,417 sq ft, and is next to Little India MRT station. It was launched for sale by public tender through the confirmed list under the GLS programme for the first half of 2008. While sites on the confirmed list are generally thought to have the potential to be developed faster than those on the reserve list, developers obviously did not think so. Knight Frank director (research and consultancy) Nicholas Mak said that the poor showing could be ‘a signal to rel...
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New GM for Singapore Marina Bay Financial Centre
2008-05-22 01:00:00
New GM for Singapore Marina Bay Financial Centre Colliers’ Singapore MD to be promoted to MD for North Asia   THE joint venture developers of Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC) - Cheung Kong Holdings, Hutchison Whampoa, Hongkong Land and Keppel Land - said yesterday they have appointed a new general manager for the prime project. Wilson Kwong replaces outgoing general manager David Martin, who is moving to Hong Kong after running MBFC for four years. Mr Kwong was previously senior asset manager, commercial property, for Hongkong Land - a role that included managing the company’s interests in key developments in Hong Kong. From 1998 to 2006 he held various management positions in the Jardine Matheson Group. ‘MBFC is shaping up to redefine the Central Business District in Singapore by adding 3 million sq ft of office space, 649 new residential apartments and more than 120,000 sq ft of new shopping and dining pleasures,’ he said. ‘A project of this magnit...

Singapore SIA launches series of green building initiatives
2008-05-22 00:58:00
Singapore SIA launches series of green building initiatives By EMILYN YAP   SUPPORTING the local green movement, the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) will be taking on a series of initiatives to promote green architecture in Singapore. SIA will also bid to host the 2014 International Union of Architects World Congress.   SIA’s latest efforts came to light at its annual dinner yesterday, as president of the institute, Tai Lee Siang, introduced three green awards to recognise excellence in sustainable architectural design. The first is the SIA-NParks Skyrise Green ery Awards, jointly launched by SIA and the National Parks Board to encourage creative greenery design in high-rise developments. Partnering Philips and Hunter Douglas separately, SIA will also launch the SIA-Philips Green Innovation Awards and the Eco Friend Awards. The former recognises innovative sustainable design, while the latter promotes the creative use of sustainable products. Awards aside, the SIA wil...
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Singapore luxury homes ninth most expensive globally
2008-05-22 00:56:00
Singapore luxury homes ninth most expensive globally Market supported by jet-setting high net-worth individuals: report By ARTHUR SIM   LUXURY homes in Singapore are the second most expensive in Asia and the ninth most expensive in the world.   High living: At US$2,423 per sq ft, S’pore luxury home prices are topped only by HK, where they cost US$4,507 psf. Even Tokyo is cheaper at US$2,334 psf  According to a report by Citi and Knight Frank, luxury home prices here are now US$2,423 per sq ft. The only place in Asia where they are more expensive is Hong Kong, where they cost US$4,507 psf. Even Tokyo is cheaper than Singapore, coming in third most expensive at US$2,334. Worldwide, London is the most expensive, followed by Monaco and St Jean Cap Ferrat (France) at US$6,191, US$5,888 and US$5,853 psf respectively. The global luxury home market is supported by jet-setting high net-worth individuals who think nothing of owning homes on every continent. As an example, the report ...
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Microsoft cashback plan for Live.com - NEW YORK
2008-05-22 00:54:00
Microsoft cashback plan for Live .com - NEW YORK (NEW YORK) Microsoft Corp will give cash back to people who shop online with its Live.com search engine, building up the business after abandoning a US$47.5 billion bid for Internet rival Yahoo! Inc this month. Users who buy products through Windows Live accounts can get rebates of 10 per cent or more, according to a Microsoft website. The ‘cashback’ service directs subscribers to websites that sell products from companies such as Adidas AG and Canon Inc. The move may attract more customers and online advertisers to Microsoft’s sites, helping the software maker compete with Google Inc, the most popular US search engine. Microsoft had sought to unite its third-ranked engine with No 2 Yahoo, and walked away after the company demanded a higher price. Microsoft is working to consolidate brands, attract advertisers and expand partnerships, online business president Kevin Johnson said in a letter to employees this week. The...
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Lucida at Novena – Singapore – District 11
2008-05-21 05:19:00
Lucida at Novena – Singapore – District 11 A factual escapist therapy, you demand less communicating to despair to the scrumptious fashion residing in it. With 62 units articulately mature in a 25-storey plumb region, every layer spells 3 magnetized apartments where nix routine is spared. The preponderant notion of immunity and joy ordinary, you’re promised the interest. With 62 units articulately formed in a 25-storey plumb part, every plane spells 3 attractable apartments where zero everyday is spared. The paramount belief of freedom and joy everyday, you’re promised the game. Tenure : Freehold Location : 2 Suffolk Road (District 11) Architect : JGP Architecture Pte Ltd Development : 25 Storey Development with 62 Luxurious Units Expected TOP : 31 December 2011 Floor Size : Type A  - 1 bedrm  - 624  sqft Type C  - 3 bedrms - 1324 sqft Type B  - 2 bedrms - 1066 sqft Type BP - 4 bedrms - 3854 sqft Type B1 - 2 bedrms - 1098 sqft Type CP - 4 bedrms - 4176 sqft   ...

Tierra Vue at St Patrick – Singapore – District 15
2008-05-21 04:53:00
Tierra Vue – Singapore – District 15 Settled along relaxed tree-lined St Patrick ’s Moving within amenity-rich Marine Parade, Tierra Vue promises to be a developing with a number. Carefully and sensitively fashioned to harmonise with its environment, this 129-unit home will dimension a seeable orchestra of pools, gardens, airy balconies, growing trees and teemingness of physical loose. From the erectile 113,000 sf curtilage,to the deliberative option of leafage that present air in the hot climate, to the symphonic prime of materials and flag that give pay the use its uncomparable individuality, Tierra Vue give be a revel to the senses with its sagittate lines, modern compeer detailing and enticing flag. Project : Tierra Vue Developer : MCL Land (Properties) Pte Ltd Address : 36, 38, 40, 42 St Patrick ’s Road District : 15 Tenure : Estate in Fee Simple (Freehold) Expected TOP : 31 December 2010 Total Number Of Units : 129 Types : 2 Bedroom Type A - 88 - 98 sq m (27 Uni...
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Singapore SMRT adds 700 extra train trips a week, costing it S$5m annually
2008-05-21 04:26:00
Singapore SMRT adds 700 extra train trips a week, costing it S$5m annually By Asha Popatlal, SINGAPORE: SMRT is increasing the number of train trips by at least 700 a week to cut commuters’ waiting time and provide them with a more comfortable ride. A common complaint by MRT passengers is that it gets very crowded at peak periods and on many occasions, commuters are not able to get on the train. In February, 83 more train trips per week had been added. Now, SMRT is introducing even more trips. More than 50 per cent of these will be during weekday lunch times (noon-2pm), when waiting time will be halved to just three-and-a-half minutes, SMRT said. Improvements are also expected for those who go home later after work and those who go out on Friday evenings. Vincent Tan, Vice President, Rail Operations, SMRT Train s, said: “We have added train trips where possible so that the average trainload is not more than 1,200 passengers. “The added services will also mean ...
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Singapore-listed company provides temporary housing for quake victims
2008-05-21 04:24:00
Singapore-listed company provides temporary housing for quake victims By Chio Su-Mei, SINGAPORE: In the “many-helping-hands” approach to help the quake victims in China, a Singapore-listed multinational company is using its student dormitories as temporary shelters. More than 440 quake victims of Shuang Liu county have settled into 110 student dormitories, provided by WBL Corporation Limited (Wearnes), and they will be there for the next five months. Tan Choon Seng, Group CEO, WBL Corporation, said: “We are very close to the people in Chengdu because our association goes back a very long way. Other than the 250 employees that we currently have in Chengdu, we also know the government quite well. Therefore, we feel a need to do a little bit for the people who are affected.” “These are our colleagues and our friends, so we were actually frantically trying to contact them. When we saw how bad the situation was, we were very saddened,” said Irene L...
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Doctors should be alerted when combining western, TCM treatments - Singapor
2008-05-21 04:21:00
Doctors should be alerted when combining western, TCM treatments - Singapore By Liang Kaixin & Heather Tan, SINGAPORE: With one in ten married couples facing fertility problems, more are turning to western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for help. Doctors said it is all right to combine both types of treatment, but couples need to inform their doctors accordingly so that accurate prescriptions can be given. Treatments under TCM such as acupuncture and foot reflexology are commonly used, and TCM fertility treatment encompasses many segments. Colin Chan, a registered physician at Ideal Clinic and lecturer at College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said: “There are mainly four categories. The first one would be the blood category. The second would be dampness-heat category and the third type would be deficiency in kidney category. “The two main points (in the third category) are the deficiency of the ‘yang’ energy and the deficiency of ...
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Economists say oil highs will not hit GDP growth as hard as expected - Sing
2008-05-21 04:19:00
Economists say oil highs will not hit GDP growth as hard as expected - Sing apore By Rachel Kelly, SINGAPORE: With oil prices continuing to push into uncharted territory, economists have been re-looking their growth forecasts for the year. Some said that GDP growth may be squeezed by as much as half a percentage point, with the transportation sector among the hardest hit by high fuel costs. US crude futures have new records at above US$128 a barrel supported by fears of supply disruptions in Nigeria and Iran as well as robust demand from China. Oil prices are now double compared to a year ago, but economists are largely staying positive. Robert Prior-Wandesforde, Senior Asian Economist, HSBC, said: “Well it’s very easy to get very gloomy at the moment. You’ve got this combination of the US and European problems to a certain extent, and you’ve got the high food and oil prices as well. “However, we think that the Singapore economy and Asia region in...
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Banks see plunge in Singapore home prices in next two years
2008-05-21 04:17:00
Banks see plunge in Singapore home prices in next two years New homes, rising vacancy rates, unsold condos and fewer rental deals cited as reasons By Fiona Chan, Property Reporter THE slowdown in the Singapore housing market has prompted two banks to predict a dramatic plunge in home values in the next two years. In two starkly bearish reports, Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse have forecast drops of up to 40 per cent in home rents and prices, as demand and supply dynamics move in favour of buyers. The reports, issued in the last two weeks, pointed to the malign cocktail of a flood of new homes coming on the market, climbing vacancy rates, a rising number of unsold condominiums and fewer rental transactions. They also raised concerns about the possible dumping of units by speculators. Barclays said that should this happen, private home prices could slide 28 per cent to 30 per cent by 2010. Credit Suisse predicted a possible 40 per cent drop in rents and prices. Its analysis...
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Microsoft seeks to buy Yahoo search - BOSTON
2008-05-21 04:10:00
Microsoft seeks to buy Yahoo search - BOSTON BOSTON - MICROSOFT has proposed to buy Yahoo’s search business and take a minority stake in the Web pioneer, stopping short of a full-out merger, a person familiar with the discussions said. As part of the deal, Yahoo would sell its Asian assets, including significant minority stakes in Yahoo Japan and China’s Alibaba Group, while Microsoft would buy a chunk of what remains of the company, the source said. The talks were revealed by the two companies on Sunday, but they declined to reveal the terms of the discussions. Earlier this month, Microsoft walked away from a proposal to acquire Yahoo for US$47.5 billion (S$65.4 billion), or US$33 per share, after Yahoo rebuffed the offer, saying it would settle only for US$37 a share. The new deal, if completed, would forge an alliance between the two companies that would represent an alternative means of competing with rival Google. The proposal represents an outline of Microsoft...
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Ma calls on China to resume cross-strait dialogue - TAIPEI
2008-05-21 04:06:00
Ma calls on China to resume cross-strait dialogue - TAIPEI He endorses ‘1992 consensus’ as basis to restart talks as soon as possible By Ong Hwee Hwee, Taiwan Correspondent ROUSING START: Mr Ma greeting supporters after delivering his inauguration address in Taipei yesterday. While he boosted hopes of cross-strait detente in his first remarks as Taiwan’s new leader, he also ruled out reunification during his term. — REUTERS TAIPEI - SETTING the tone for a new era of improved cross-strait ties, Taiwan’s new President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday called on China to resume dialogue ‘at the earliest time possible’. In his first comments after he was sworn in as the island’s new leader, Mr Ma offered to restart talks under a framework acceptable to Beijing. His inauguration address - closely watched in Beijing - could boost hopes of a cross-strait detente amid a flurry of contacts between the two sides. ‘I want to reiterate that, based...
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Trade body to boost Singapore-Dutch business
2008-05-21 04:02:00
Trade body to boost Singapore -Dutch business Dutch Chamber of Commerce will facilitate trade, create opportunities By CHUANG PECK MING TRADE and investment flows between Singapore and the Netherlands are set to rise following the official opening of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce here on Monday. Mr Heemskerk: ‘There are many similarities between Singapore and the Netherlands’ ‘It will provide a new platform for partnerships between Dutch and Singapore businesses,’ visiting Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Frank Heemskerk told BT in an interview on the same day. ‘It will facilitate trade, create new opportunities and connect businesses with complementary ambitions,’ he told potential Singapore investors here yesterday at an investment seminar hosted by the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency. There are many similarities between Singapore and the Netherlands, noted Mr Heemskerk who also met Singapore Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang yesterday...
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Singapore SingTel tunes in mio TV on the go
2008-05-21 04:02:00
Singapore SingTel tunes in mio TV on the go By WINSTON CHAI SOCCER fans thinking about subscribing to SingTel’s fledgling pay-TV service for the 2009 UEFA Champions League now have another reason to sign up: besides catching the matches on their home TV, they can watch them on a 3G Nokia mobile phone. From Saturday, SingTel pay-TV customers will be able to view 10 ‘live’ channels plus three with video- on-demand (VOD) on a compatible handset through the ‘mio TV on mobile’ service. The channels include MediaCorp 8 and ChannelNewsAsia, China’s CCTV4, Dragon TV and Mei Ah, a Cantonese movie channel from Hong Kong. The VOD content is Mom-on-Demand and two channels dedicated to Korean drama series. ‘mio TV on mobile’ is billed as more user-friendly than existing 3G video streaming services offered by all three telcos. Instead of having to log on to a mobile Web portal, consumers simply download an application to their mobile phones. By lau...
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Thakral to give up electronics to focus on real estate
2008-05-21 03:58:00
Thakral to give up electronics to focus on real estate Repositioning of its principal business will be subject to shareholders’ nod By LEE U-WEN AFTER years of suffering heavy losses, dealing with growing competition and fighting an uphill battle against rampant piracy, Thakral Corp appears to have finally thrown in the towel. The board believes that the current volatile market conditions can throw up opportunities which might deliver attractive returns. In a surprise announcement posted on the Singapore Exchange last night, the company said that it plans to move away from its principal business of consumer electronics distribution, and move into the real estate industry instead. Its board of directors, which met yesterday, will look to tap the ’significant expertise and deal flow of its key shareholders, who have extensive expertise in real estate and infrastructure not only regionally, but also globally’. The repositioning of Thakral’s principal business ...
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