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ORCHARD rental will fAll ? ? ? ?
Heartleand rental wIll sOar ? ? ? ?
niuyear ( Date: 07-Jun-2011 11:10) Posted:
This makes me want to go Heartlanders' shopping Malls rather than going orchard road that " Samantha from holland village" wouldnt want to go.............hahaha!
Samantha is trapped in high-class shopping malls in orchard area. |
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P E T E R S PRINCIPLE
AUTHORITIES
had reached their Level Of IncOmpetence ? ? ? ?
They dOn't knOw theIr jObs ? ? ? ?
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By Agence France-Presse, Updated: 06/06/2011
Killer bacteria source remains elusive
The source of a killer bacteria remained elusive Monday after Germany announced that initial tests on suspected organic sprouts had proved negative, while the outbreak's death toll grew to 23.
Killer bacteria source remains elusive
The source of a killer bacteria remained elusive Monday after Germany announced that initial tests on suspected organic sprouts had proved negative, while the outbreak's death toll grew to 23.
The probes were carried out on a farm in the northern state of Lower Saxony after regional agriculture minister Gerd Lindermann said a link had been found to the main areas hit by the E. coli outbreak.
Results available from 23 of the 40 samples of seeds, water, ventilation and work surfaces tested indicated they were free of the bacteria responsible for 23 deaths and more than 2,000 people falling ill, the state's agriculture ministry said.
" Investigations are continuing," the ministry said, adding that it did not expect " any short-term conclusions."
Federal Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner said Germany would maintain warnings against eating sprouts as well as tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers, particularly in the north of the country, until the origin had been pinpointed.
But Andreas Hensel, head of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, said that " it is possible we shall never be able to identify the source" of the contamination.
Aigner said investigations were continuing with checks on vegetable supply chains and producers up and down the country.
Related article: EU to hold emergency E. coli meeting
She was to travel to Luxembourg on Tuesday to attend an emergency meeting of European Union agriculture ministers which is to discuss aid for farmers who are unable to sell their vegetables because of growing consumer fears.
At the meeting, EU health ministers will review the bloc's food safety alert system to ensure that warnings have " scientific basis and proof" before becoming public, according to EU health commissioner John Dalli.
Dalli said the alert system review was requested by Spain, where farmers were hit hard by inaccurate warnings that the outbreak might be linked to Spanish organic cucumbers.
Klaus Verbeck, who runs the farm in Bienenbuettel, some 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Hamburg, told the Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung he uses no fertilisers for growing a variety of sprouts and had no idea how they might have been contaminated.
His farm, which produces sprouts for lettuce, azuki beans, mung beans, fenugreek, alfalfa and lentils and receives seed deliveries from several countries, has been ordered closed and all products recalled, authorities said.
" Salad sprouts are grown from seeds and water. They aren't fertilised. And there aren't any fertilisers used elsewhere on the farm," Verbeck said, alluding to the fact the E. coli bacteria may originally have come from animal droppings.
Similar outbreaks in Japan between 1996 and 2003 infected more than 10,000 people and left 22 dead, according to the Japanese health ministry.
The present outbreak, which has hit at least 14 countries, including the United States, has left at least 23 people dead, according to figures compiled by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and German regional authorities.
Focus: Women 'more at risk from E. coli outbreak'
Twenty-two died in Germany and one in Sweden -- a woman who had visited Germany.
In Germany, 1,601 patients have been diagnosed with EHEC and a further 630 with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition involving kidney malfunction, the Robert Koch Institute said.
The EHEC rate of infection grew from no more than nine a day during the first 10 days in May, to finally reach a peak of 122 on May 23 and has since slowed, the institute said.
The opposition Green party strongly criticised Chancellor Angela Merkel's government for its handling of the crisis.
" There is no crisis management. I really ask myself what the health minister and the consumer affairs minister are doing," said senior party official Renate Kuenast.
She went on to call for " national control measures" in a country where responsibility for public health matters is split between the federal government and authorities in each of the 16 states.
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By Channel NewsAsia, Updated: 06/06/2011
Flood solutions could be " costly"
Flood solutions could be " costly"
Flooding on Coronation Road, in front of Nanyang Primary School (yournews contribution)
SINGAPORE: Experts said the government may have to consider expensive solutions in its review of the drainage system to tackle floods in Singapore.
They said the review must be holistic and go beyond short—term measures.
Bukit Timah road was flooded on Sunday, following heavy and intense rainfall.
But Wilby Road, where Tessarina Condominium is located, was spared of the floods.
Authorities had raised the road level of Wilby Road by almost a metre in some areas.
The project began in October last year and was completed in January this year.
The floods on Sunday were said to be the first real test of the flood preventive measure there.
Residents who had petitioned for the improvement works said they were relieved when the measures worked during Sunday’s downpour.
They said the authorities had been responsive to pleas to tackle the situation.
Tessarina Condominium floods sub—committee chairperson Audrey Tan said: " Previously, when Wilby Road was still a low—lying road, whenever Bukit Timah canal burst its banks and flood water hit Bukit Timah Road, there is always the risk that the flood waters will come to Wilby Road and enter Tessarina via the ramps that lead into our basement car park.
" However, now that Wilby Road has been raised, we are free from that risk, because water remains outside, along Bukit Timah Road and Dunearn Road.
" Therefore, our basement car park was free of flood water" .
Still, experts said measures such as raising road levels are just " treating the symptoms of floods" .
Nanyang Technological University School of Civil & Environmental Engineering associate professor Tan Soon Keat said: " Where does the water go? The water goes to the next lower area, so it is more of shifting the locations of flooding from one place to another place" .
That could be the reason other areas such as Sixth Avenue off Bukit Timah Road were said to be flooded.
Solutions may thus require heavy investments that can delay run—off and regulate peak flow, especially in built—up areas.
" For Orchard and Bukit Timah area, those built—up areas, we may have to think of more expensive solutions that means physically diverting the flow towards a storage pond somewhere else," assoc prof Tan said.
" In Orchard Road, if we need to divert flow, we have no choice we may need to use electric power (using) pumps.
" Water will go into the canal for example, and if the canal is going to be full, then you can have a pumping system to pump the water out to another reservoir or to another storage pond.
" But where to locate those ponds is a very difficult question to (answer)."
Experts said better landscaping can help manage water flow.
Having more green features on roof—tops of buildings in Orchard Road can also help retain rainwater.
The design criteria of drains to cater for certain storm—intensity may also need to be reviewed.
This means raising design parameters to cater to a lower risk of floods — such as from a drain that can cater for a flood once in 25 years to that of once in 50 or 100 years.
In an email response, Mr Martin P Li, a past president of the Singapore Chapter of the Institution of Engineers of Australia, observed that almost anything is possible with regard to an engineering solution.
But it boils down to the issue of value.
Mr Li said the government needs to consider whether it is prudent to construct a drainage system to mitigate the effects of a once—in—25—years occurrence by raising the design parameters to accommodate a 50 or 100 years flood, or accept the consequences of the event once every 25 years.
In general, the less likelihood of the event occurring, the higher the costs of the system, he said.
—CNA/wk
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When software was FAULTY ? ? ? ?
What were the ALTERNATIVE PLAN B and PLAN C ? ? ? ?
Use mobile SMS to ALERT ? ? ? ?
Send human messager to ALERT ? ? ? ?
WHY there were nO plan B and / Or plan C ? ? ? ?
Were there human beings On ALERT DUTY Or nOne ? ? ? ?
Were thOse On ALERT DUTY cOmplacent Or Absent Or slEEpIng ? ? ? ?
T H I N K ? ? ? ?
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By Channel NewsAsia, Updated: 06/06/2011
Why Tanglin Mall didn’t get flood alerts
Screen grab of a video, courtesy of YOGA, shows a flooded Tanglin Mall
SINGAPORE: National water agency PUB has responded to concerns raised by the Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA) that building owners did not receive flood alerts on Sunday and were caught off guard.
PUB said building owners along Orchard Road such as Tong Building, Delfi, Lucky Plaza and Supreme Hotel had received the alerts.
The only exceptions were Tanglin Mall and St Regis.
It said this was due to a problem with the system software which will be immediately rectified.
PUB also responded to the association’s concerns about the effect that its road—raising works had on the flood situation in Orchard Road.
PUB said the Orchard Road road—raising project did not contribute to the floods on Sunday.
It said without the raising, the situation would have been worse, given the higher intensity of rainfall.
It explained the junction of Cuscaden Road and Tomlinson Road is currently being raised and the works are expected to be completed by the end of this month.
Water along Cuscaden Road is designed to flow towards Orchard Road.
PUB added the flooding in the affected buildings were due to a combination of an excessive amounts of rain which fell directly into the basements and the inability of the buildings’ internal drainage pumps to cope.
It said Sunday’s rainfall was more intense than that of June last year, with about 65mm recorded within 30mins, compared to the 100mm within two hours on June 16, 2010.
—CNA/wk
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By Agence France-Presse, Updated: 06/06/2011
Tearful US congressman admits to crotch photos
A US congressman long ridiculed for sharing the same name as a slang word for penis tearfully admitted Monday to sending pictures of his privates to young female fans online.
Tearful US congressman admits to crotch photos
A US congressman long ridiculed for sharing the same name as a slang word for penis tearfully admitted Monday to sending pictures of his privates to young female fans online.
Anthony Weiner -- whose surname is pronounced the same as sausages used in hotdogs that are synonymous with the male sexual organ -- called a nationally televised press conference to admit he had been in a string of lewd online relationships.
Pressure had been building on the Democrat from New York after a close-up picture of an aroused male member in underpants reached a woman in Seattle via his Twitter account. For a week he hotly denied sending the picture and claimed to have been hacked.
Wiping away tears Monday, Weiner admitted: " The picture was of me and I sent it. I am deeply sorry for the pain this has caused."
He said he had been sending naughty pictures online and sexting with about six women over the years and " we had become friends." But he said he had not met any of them and had not had a physical relationship outside of his year-old marriage.
Weiner, a seven-term congressman who until now was seen as a leading candidate to take over as New York mayor in 2013, said he does not intend to resign his seat in the US House of Representatives.
" I don't know what I was thinking. This was a destructive thing to do," he said. But " I am not resigning. I have made it clear that I accept responsibility for this."
He becomes the third New York politician in recent times to get in trouble over kinky sex habits.
The state's governor, Eliot Spitzer, resigned in 2008 after being caught visiting expensive prostitutes, while earlier this year another married congressman, Chris Lee, stepped down over his attempt to arrange sex online.
The clean-cut, fast-talking Weiner has long been tabloid fodder thanks to his name. But the underpants crisis put him in a career-threatening twist.
In his groveling mea culpa, he said he'd encountered the women mostly via the social networking site Facebook and had not broken any laws. But once the underpants shot was exposed he " panicked" and lied, pretending to have been hacked.
" I was trying to protect my wife. I was trying to protect myself from shame. It was a mistake and I really regret it."
One reason why Weiner finally decided to bare all to the press could be the growing body of evidence that he -- not some prankster impersonating him -- was the man in the underpants.
BigGovernment.com, a conservative website, posted new pictures that clearly show Weiner's face and naked torso.
Also, ABC News ran an interview Monday with Meagan Broussard, a 26-year-old single mother from Texas who says she has been in a sexting relationship with Weiner since April.
Without ever meeting, they exchanged graphic photos and flirtatious conversations, she said. The congressman also sent pictures of himself clothed, with his face visible.
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06/06/2011
Gong Li hinted that Fan Bingbing is brainless
When responding to the report Fan Bingbing smiled and said that Gong Li was not referring to her
Fan Bingbing attended an opening ceremony for a renowned brand just days ago and was asked to comment on the recent report of Gong Li hinting that she is brainless for walking the red carpet at Cannes even though she has no acting roles recently.
It was also reported that Zhang Ziyi, Fan Bingbing's supposed arch enemy added salt to the wound by commenting that she will only walk the red carpet if she participated in any of the recent movies.
The media from mainland China also pointed out that Fan repeatedly asked them whether Gong Li named her as the person she is referring to in her statement.
" If she didn't mention my name, then there is no reason for me to think that she is hinting about me. Gong Li could be talking about someone else. I'll just continue to concentrate on my work and do it well," she replied.
Fan also calmly pointed out that her work at Cannes took place a few weeks ago and she hopes that the media will not keep harping on this matter anymore.
In addition, Fan also openly praised Gong Li, " She is one of my favourite actresses, ever since I saw her performance in Red Sorghum. I can't believe she actually said that about me."
Fan mentioned that her work schedule in Cannes was pre-arranged much earlier hence she has no choice but to turn down many invitations later on as her schedule is already full.
The Chinese actress said, " I placed a lot of concentration on my work and I work hard to perfect it. This has always been my attitude to my work and I believe this should be the way for all dedicated actors and actresses."
As to the heated discussion about her " crane" red outfit (a traditional robe with white cranes embroidered on the dress) during the film festival, Fan is apparently used to such controversy.
" I feel that it is just a dress after all and we shouldn't crack our heads too much over it. I wore that dress because I personally think that the design is beautiful," the svelte beauty rationalised.
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Gold: The New Gold
By Christian A. DeHaemer | Monday, June 6th, 2011
Take a fat red pen and circle June 30, 2011, on your calendar.
That's the day QE2 ends.
It's the day the Fed stops creating debt/liquidity by purchasing U.S. Treasuries.
Don't get me wrong there will be a QE3...
but not yet.
First, America needs to feel the pain.
Without pain, there is no political will.
The current republican Congress likes to talk about cutting spending.
They are even going to the brink with default rather than raise the debt ceiling. This Congress is more fiscally responsible than the 2008 Congress which voted down the bank bailout and caused the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 900 points in a day.
There is no way they will go along with more bailouts unless their constituents have a change of heart.
And the only way voters will change is if they feel very real pain.
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Minister Balakrishnan outlines five key areas to deal with flooding
SAIFULBAHRI ISMAIL
saifulbahri@mediacorp.com.sg
SINGAPORE
Railings will be installed where needed and drains covered in the short term so that no one gets hurt, said Dr Balakrishnan, stressing that there is no compromising safety. — Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday outlined five key areas that he will focus on in dealing with floods in Singapore.
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Take PAINKILLER whenever
there are PAINS ? ? ? ?
They RAISED ROAD LEVEL in the FRONT after two floods at LUCKY PLAZA area.
NOW the flOOd waters flew tO the BACK at TANGLIN MALL ? ? ?
3rd wOrld gOvernance ? ? ? ?
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By Channel NewsAsia, Updated: 05/06/2011
The day it rained indoors
Screen grab of a video, courtesy of YOGA, shows a flooded Tanglin Mall
SINGAPORE: Tanglin Mall, located at the junction of Tanglin Road and Grange Road, was the worst hit by floods caused by heavy rainfall on Sunday morning.
National water agency PUB said the extent of the flood at Tanglin Mall was something it had not seen in the last 25 years.
It added this was the first time the basement of Tanglin Mall had experienced this.
Many stores had to close temporarily for clean—up.
Zhai manager Karen Foo said: " We have to rescue all our stocks first, that’s the first thing. All the shops were flooded as well, and they were closing down their gates" .
Family—Com salesperson Dominic Ngiam said: " The shop was flooded to about ankle—level and everyone was running around. The car park was flooded (and) cars were stuck. So everyone was frustrated (and) confused" .
Shoppers who had problems getting to their cars had to wait until they were given the green light to get to the car park.
One shopper said: " We went down to (the) basement and queued to try to get out, but some other cars had turned around and come back down to the B3 level, so it was clear that it was stuck above.
" We made sure we parked the car and got the children out before the (water) level got any higher" .
Floods also hit a nearby car park.
A car service company employee sent Channel NewsAsia a video of the car park at St. Regis.
He said a resident whose car was stalled had called him for assistance.
Elsewhere, other retail malls at Orchard Road had to deal with the aftermath of the flood.
The clean up at Forum Shopping Mall lasted for about two hours.
This isn’t the first time the area had been affected by heavy rain, but employees who were interviewed said the flood is worse this time.
The Little Gym instructor PJ Lucero said: " The last time it happened, it was actually more mild.
" We were still able to open the facility for the day. Today (Sunday), of course, everything got submerged, that’s why we had to close down.
" In fact, after the first time it happened, we had sandbags ready. We did use those sandbags today (but) it didn’t work. The water just went through it" .
Spinelli Coffee Company retail store manager, Forum Shopping Mall Chen Jiahui said: " This is the second time (it flooded). It’s really bad, so I hope that the management are doing something about it" .
PUB said the rainfall Sunday morning was more intense than that of June last year, when various parts of Orchard Road were flooded.
About 65mm of rainfall was recorded within 30 mins on Sunday morning, compared to 100mm within two hours on June 16, 2010.
—CNA/wk
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Healthway opens Japanese medical centre in Orchard
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By Channel NewsAsia, Updated: 05/06/2011
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Updated: 03/06/2011
President SR Nathan to make state visit to Mauritius
President S R Nathan will be in Mauritius for a 4-day State Visit (4-7 June 2011) starting tomorrow (4 June).
A Foreign Affairs Ministry statement said the visit is at the invitation of Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, the Prime Minister of Mauritius.
This marks the first official visit by a Singapore President to Mauritius.
Mr Nathan will meet with Mauritian President, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, as well as Dr Ramgoolam and other political leaders.
He will also address a special session of the National Assembly, and receive an honorary degree from the University of Mauritius for his contributions to education and culture.
Mr Nathan will be accompanied by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, Masagos Zulkifli, High Commissioner to Mauritius R Jayachandran, and several Members of Parliament.
The Singapore Business Federation will also be sending a delegation representing over 20 companies.
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Updated: 03/06/2011
Former NTUC Income Chief believes PM Lee sincere about making changes to political climate
Former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian says he believes Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is open-minded and sincere about making changes to the political climate and expects the climate for the Presidential Election to be different this time.
He shared his views on his blog today (3 June), after his friend Mr Png Eng Huat collected the Certificate of Eligibility forms on his behalf this morning (3 June).
Mr Tan said he still has not decided to stand for the election, as his wife has reservation about his participation.
He said one of her concerns is a possible smear campaign in the media and the Internet, which he said had happened to another candidate five years ago.
He thinks that this is not likely.
Mr Tan said his wife's other concern, which he shares, is the ceremonial and diplomatic role of the presidency.
He said he comes from a humble background and has adopted a humble lifestyle all his life.
Mr Tan said he may find this to be a challenge, but his friends assured him that he would be able to learn on the job.
Another concern - eligibility.
" There's a criteria that you have run a listed company with $100million (revenue). The company that I ran for 30 years is not a listed company. But another criteria says if you hold the position in a company of a comparable size, so I hope that I can qualify under that criteria."
Mr Tan said his main reason to consider contesting is to respond to the call from many readers of his blog and friends.
Mr Tan said more than 100 people have e-mailed him over the past months to urge him to stand for election.
Some are still urging him, after they know that former Member of Parliament Dr Tan Cheng Bock is standing.
Mr Tan said they felt that he may have a better chance of being approved and being elected, as they felt that Dr Tan is closely associated with the ruling People's Action Party.
He said they felt that Singaporeans should be given the chance to vote and they think that he may represent that chance.
Mr Tan said if he finally decides to go into the campaign, he has some ideas about the messages that he will be conveying to the people.
He said the people expect the Elected President to safeguard the reserves.
It means asking questions and he knows what questions to ask and how to deal with the answers.
Mr Tan believes that the Government is acting honestly in managing the reserves, but it would be good to improve the transparency.
He said the Elected President is also required to approve key appointments.
Mr Tan said the President should use this opportunity to talk to the candidates and share with them the values that should hold the nation together.
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Updated: 05/06/2011
Flooding in central and western parts of Singapore
Two lanes along Bukit Timah Road and the slip road of the Kranji Expressway towards Woodlands were impassable to traffic on Sunday morning due to flash floods caused by heavy and intense rain.
National water agency PUB said various areas in the central and western parts of Singapore were hit by flooding.
Callers to the MediaCorp hotline also reported flooding, in areas such as Cuscaden Road, Hillcrest Road, Eng Neo Avenue, Sennett Estate near Potong Pasir, MacPherson, Toa Payoh, and Balestier.
They also reported fallen trees caused by the downpour and gusty wind.
Parts of Orchard Road are also reported to be affected by flooding, especially along the stretch of Tanglin Mall.
PUB has advised the public to be careful on these roads, and drivers are advised to avoid these stretches.
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, the PUB said the flash floods reported earlier along Bukit Timah Road (the stretch from Blackmore road to Maplewood Road) and Dunearn Road (from Rifle Range Road to Yarwood Road) as well as at Orchard Road (Cuscaden Road - at the Tanglin/Tomlinson Road junction Tanglin/Napir Road junction) have subsided.
These roads are now passable to traffic.
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By Channel NewsAsia, Updated: 04/06/2011
S’poreans conquer Mt Everest
Kenneth Koh climbing at about 8,700m on the North Ridge of Mt Everest, on the way to the summit (photo: Kenneth Koh).
SINGAPORE: Two Singaporeans conquered Mount Everest in separate expeditions held last month via the North Ridge from Tibet, a route which has never been taken by any Singaporean.
All Singaporeans who previously reached the summit of Mount Everest had done so from the South, via Nepal.
Seasoned adventurer Khoo Swee Chiow reached summit on May 21.
The 47 year old is now the first Southeast Asian to have made it to the summit of Mt Everest three times.
His first was in 1998 and second, 2006.
Meanwhile, the other climber is 46—year—old freelance travel and adventure writer and photographer Kenneth Koh.
Mr Koh made it to the top on May 27.
—CNA/wk
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By Channel NewsAsia, Updated: 04/06/2011
Man found murdered in Ang Mo Kio park
Man found murdered in Ang Mo Kio park
SINGAPORE: A 64—year—old man was found murdered on Saturday morning, in Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West.
Hours later, an 18—year—old man was arrested in the vicinity of the park, in connection with the case.
Police said they received a call of an assault at about 6.40am in the park, which is near the Ang Mo Kio Library.
The man, who had facial injuries, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at about 7.10am.
It is believed the deceased was exercising in the park before he was attacked.
He wore a T—shirt and shorts, and his valuables were untouched.
Channel NewsAsia understands the police found a bent umbrella near the man.
The police said they are not ruling out the possibility of it being used as a weapon.
The case has been classified as murder.
— CNA/fa/wk
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