Latest Posts By pharoah88
- Supreme
About pharoah88
|
|
| 03-Aug-2010 20:31 |
Ying Li Intl
/
Ying Li
 Go to Message
|
||||
 x 0
 x 0
|
|
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 20:25 |
Informatics
/
Road to recovery in next 1-2 years
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
WHAT dOes iNFORMATiCS have ? ? ? ? That RAFFLES dOes nOt ? ? ? ? |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 20:22 |
RafflesEdu
/
Raffles Edu
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
BOGUS STUDENTS iNFiLTRATiNG RAFFLES ? |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 20:20 |
RafflesEdu
/
Raffles Edu
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
SAGE ENLiGHTENMENT
|
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 20:17 |
RafflesEdu
/
Raffles Edu
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
Fresh warnings of UK LONDON Figures showed the number of students entering Britain from countries outside the European Union increased by more than 75,000 in 12 months, despite unprecedented demand for college and university places at home. The influx was exacerbated by a further 31,000 dependants accompanying foreign students. It followed the introduction of Labour’s points-based immigration system which was supposed to make it harder for unskilled immigrants to come to Britain. But the system made it no harder for immigrants to enter the country on student visas, according to campaign groups. The British government said on Sunday that the student visa system had been open to “significant abuse”. Immigration Minister Damian Green said there would be a thorough review of the rules and new measures to “tighten the system further”. Many students enter Britain to take legitimate degrees but tens of thousands of other foreigners have been admitted to 600 “lower tier” colleges, at which it is easier to gain a place but which are still accredited to hand out degrees. Last year, it emerged that some of these colleges offered qualifications in subjects such as circus skills, acupuncture and ancient medicine. Many of their students are given the RiGHT to wOrk in Britain after graduating. About 4,000 illegal immigrants are also thought to have used bogus colleges to slip into the country. Mr Andrew Green, chairman of the group Migrationwatch, said: “There is growing evidence the points-based system has provided a back door for bogus students.”— The number of foreigners entering the United Kingdom on student visas rose by a third to more than 300,000 last year, prompting renewed warnings of a loophole in immigration law. The Daily Telegraph |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 20:13 |
Others
/
TRADE FREELY & LiVE LONGER
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
Fresh warnings of UK LONDON Figures showed the number of students entering Britain from countries outside the European Union increased by more than 75,000 in 12 months, despite unprecedented demand for college and university places at home. The influx was exacerbated by a further 31,000 dependants accompanying foreign students. It followed the introduction of Labour’s points-based immigration system which was supposed to make it harder for unskilled immigrants to come to Britain. But the system made it no harder for immigrants to enter the country on student visas, according to campaign groups. The British government said on Sunday that the student visa system had been open to “significant abuse”. Immigration Minister Damian Green said there would be a thorough review of the rules and new measures to “tighten the system further”. Many students enter Britain to take legitimate degrees but tens of thousands of other foreigners have been admitted to 600 “lower tier” colleges, at which it is easier to gain a place but which are still accredited to hand out degrees. Last year, it emerged that some of these colleges offered qualifications in subjects such as circus skills, acupuncture and ancient medicine. Many of their students are given the RiGHT to wOrk in Britain after graduating. About 4,000 illegal immigrants are also thought to have used bogus colleges to slip into the country. Mr Andrew Green, chairman of the group Migrationwatch, said: “There is growing evidence the points-based system has provided a back door for bogus students.”— The number of foreigners entering the United Kingdom on student visas rose by a third to more than 300,000 last year, prompting renewed warnings of a loophole in immigration law. The Daily Telegraph |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 20:06 |
Others
/
DOW & STI
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
Fresh warnings of UK
LONDON Figures showed the number of students entering Britain from countries outside the European Union increased by more than 75,000 in 12 months, despite unprecedented demand for college and university places at home. The influx was exacerbated by a further 31,000 dependants accompanying foreign students. It followed the introduction of Labour’s points-based immigration system which was supposed to make it harder for unskilled immigrants to come to Britain. But the system made it no harder for immigrants to enter the country on student visas, according to campaign groups. The British government said on Sunday that the student visa system had been open to “significant abuse”. Immigration Minister Damian Green said there would be a thorough review of the rules and new measures to “tighten the system further”. Many students enter Britain to take legitimate degrees but tens of thousands of other foreigners have been admitted to 600 “lower tier” colleges, at which it is easier to gain a place but which are still accredited to hand out degrees. Last year, it emerged that some of these colleges offered qualifications in subjects such as circus skills, acupuncture and ancient medicine. Many of their students are given the RiGHT to wOrk in Britain after graduating. About 4,000 illegal immigrants are also thought to have used bogus colleges to slip into the country. Mr Andrew Green, chairman of the group Migrationwatch, said: “There is growing evidence the points-based system has provided a back door for bogus students.” — The number of foreigners entering the United Kingdom on student visas rose by a third to more than 300,000 last year, prompting renewed warnings of a loophole in immigration law.The Daily Telegraph |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 19:50 |
All-S Equities Fin
/
SINGAPORE BANKS - UOB + OCBC + DBS
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
Sony’s issues are Japan’s , tootoday Tuesday August 3, 2010 16
And not a moment too soon, considering how Apple and Samsung now dominate an industry Sony owned before it flirted with zombie status. Sony’s return to profit in the first quarter would seem to have broader significance. Many in Tokyo say that as Sony goes, so goes Japan Inc. That’s where things get dicey. There are three reasons not to get too excited here: 1) A weakening global economy, 2) a strong yen, and 3) Sony’s reluctance to change. The global slump is a big challenge for a company that generates more than 70 per cent of revenue outside Japan. It’s a concern, too, for a highly-developed economy that still puts manufacturing ahead of everything else. Some economists, such as Paul Krugman, are even predicting a depression. Something is afoot in Japan that explains why the central bank is getting so little traction with near-zero interest rates. This so-called Liquidity Trap that plagues Japan, Krugman wrote in a blog posting last Thursday, is becoming a global phenomenon. The latest sign that Japan’s monetary wheels are stuck in the mud comes from the Tokyo interbank offered rate, or Tibor. The rate that helps determine costs for about ¥137 trillion ($2.14 trillion) in domestic lending suggests banks are setting benchmark rates at about double what they charge each other for short-term loans. This is really a low-grade scandal. No clear villains, exactly, but some banks are rigging interbank rates to generate better spreads. What’s good for their quarterly earnings statement is bad for the economy. Officials at the United States Federal Reserve would be wise to track the Bank of Japan’s chronic inability to turn liquidity into fresh lending. # Are SiNGAPORE BANKS in sImIlIar predIcament ? # Sony’s slew of new products, be it 3D television or motion-sensing controllers for its game platforms, don’t trump a worsening economy. Factory output dropped 1.5 per cent in June, while the jobless rate climbed for a fourth straight month to 5.3 per cent, figures showed last week. That gets us to the yen. Given Sony’s global exposure, it loses about ¥7 billion of annual operating profit for every ¥1 decline in the value of the euro and ¥2 billion for every ¥1 the US dollar weakens. Late last week, the yen strengthened against all of the 16 most-active currencies and reached its highest level this year versus the US dollar. # SAME as SINGAPORE's STRONG EXCHANGE RATE and near ZERO iNTEREST RATE pOlIcy ? # Not a good scenario for Sony, or Japan in general. Japan has avoided large-scale government intervention to weaken the yen since 2004. Given Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s slumping approval ratings, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Finance Ministry spring into action. Sony’s funk may be ending. Five years of shaking up the Japanese bellwether are beginning to pay off for chief executive officer Howard Stringer.WHITHER INNOVATION? Stringer’s biggest weakness is innovation. Sony makes lots of decent stuff that everyone else makes. Unless you are a video-game enthusiast, Sony hasn’t come out with a must-have product in many years. Every time Apple introduces a new game-changer, Japanese investors are left wondering what has become of the creator of the Walkman. Sony has gone from being the one and only to just one of many. Since taking the helm in June 2005, Stringer has failed to marry Sony’s vast entertainment content with its hardware. In February 2008, I even argued that Apple CEO Steve Jobs should just buy Sony. Apple needs music and movies to sell to iPod, iPad and iPhone users; Sony has it in spades. Such a deal would happen over the dead bodies of many Japanese shareholders. And yet a surge of fresh innovation is needed for Sony to thrive. Firing thousands of workers and shutting factories will only get Sony so far. It appears reluctant to make the huge changes that stand between it and steady profits. At times, Stringer has displayed an impressive understanding of what ails Sony. Take company culture. He put the staff of Sony’s game units in the same building with everyone else in central Tokyo to increase cooperation. The move raised eyebrows. More such moves are needed to make the company relevant. The urgency to do that is increasing as major economies slow anew. Krugman’s depression concerns are the talk of markets in Japan, and many policy makers are mentioning them in private. Krugman’s narrative about developed nations following Japan into a liquidity crisis is, perhaps, influencing decisions more than the views of his peers. That phenomenon will boomerang back on executives in Tokyo. Corporate Japan remains maddeningly stubborn about sticking with its post-war business model, the anchor of which is exports. As US growth slows and Europe’s troubles deepen, Japanese companies can expect less demand for their wares. All the high-fiving going on in Tokyo over Sony’s profit outlook ignores the dreadful state of the global economy. It glazes over how much more needs to be done to resurrect Sony’s greatness. Japan’s, too. BLOOMBERG
William Pesek is a Bloomberg News columnist. The opinions expressed are his own. |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 19:22 |
Others
/
TRADE FREELY & LiVE LONGER
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
gOlfer versus fOOtballer gOlfer MUST hIt One small ball intO ALL 18 small hOles by hImself wIth Own stIcks. fOOtballer is FREE to hIt One BiG bAll intO One BiG hOle wIth anyOne's lEg. |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 19:01 |
Others
/
Photographying Floods can be risky too
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
NO PLACE FOR RESIGNATION Singapore has made that shift in less than two generations due to the sheer hard work, determination and “can-do” spirit of its government and people. However, as the society becomes more complex and diverse in all aspects, and as we begin to experience seemingly more setbacks, glitches and mistakes — we should not just be resigned to them and accept these as the price to be paid for so-called progress. Instead, we as a society need to continuously think of new ways to manage the problems and minimise the mistakes. Singapore has come this far not because of a stroke of luck (though perhaps luck was also on our side). It came this far because its leaders had left nothing to chance and fate. Going back to the Third World mentality of being resigned and resilient may make us a little happier and less complaining. But is this the best we can do? Just as the Government has constantly warned the people against becoming too complacent and uncompetitive, it is also the right and responsibility of the people to keep raising questions to hold the Government accountable so that they do not become complacent. We have the best brains in the Government and, therefore, we must expect nothing but the best in our efforts to keep Singapore afloat. Why were we caught off-guard by the floods? Why were there such a string of freak accidents — a crane crashing down on a bus, crane accidents at worksites, uprooted trees causing havoc, and a bus hitting a pillar in a car park? The Government, of course, cannot be blamed for such freak accidents. But could these be symptoms of an overstretched society facing a labour crunch and struggling to cope with a relentless pace of development, and businesses cutting corners for jobs to be done faster and cheaper? What are the reasons behind the technical glitches that seem to be plaguing the various tourist attractions of late — the Sky Tower, the Battlestar Galactica ride at Resorts World Sentosa, the Singapore Flyer and the Marina Bay Sands? A lightning strike on our Merlion is an act of God, but these technical glitches are certainly not simply divine interventions. These are but a few examples. If one looks at what is happening around us, one might wonder what the future will be like for our children. So as we celebrate our 45th birthday, we can also do ourselves a favour by pondering on what we can do together, as a society, to make Singapore a truly First World nation – not only in its infrastructure but in its culture and mentality. The writer is a Senior Research Fellow with the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 18:34 |
Others
/
Photographying Floods can be risky too
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
Leave nothing to fate Glitches should not just be accepted as the price of progress, but problems to be creatively solved Yeo Lay hwee A Racial harmony, equal opportunity, stability, prosperity and so on. But a whole string of events — from security lapses to the flash-floods, freak accidents, backyard beauty clinics, technical glitches and casino crimes — lead me to feel a little concerned about where Singapore is heading. The unease I feel with all these seemingly isolated, unrelated events lies in the fear that they are actually somehow interconnected and are broader symptoms of a society and people under stress and showing signs of distress. One could be sanguine about all these lapses, accidents and glitches, and dismiss them by using the type of logic that says the more cars there are on the road, the more accidents there will be. But does this kind of logic undermine good old common sense, and is this kind of mentality befitting a society in the First World? Let me elaborate on my concerns. First, is the current relentless pace of growth sustainable and the optimal way for Singapore to develop? Just recently, the president of Singapore Green Building Council, speaking at the National Sustainability Conference, admitted that the “demands posed by rapid urbanisation mean it is a challenge to grow the economy in a more sustainable way”. The floods we experienced in the last two months were not just due to the unusual amount and intensity of rainfall, but has much to do with the effects of rapid urbanisation that somehow was not anticipated by our planners. With more asphalt roads and more builtup areas to accommodate the surge in demand for housing, cars, business, et cetera, the rain coming down just could not dissipate fast enough. Hence, a certain “resignation” that no amount of engineering can prevent flooding. Indeed, as we become even more crowded, dense and built-up, some degree of flooding might not be unavoidable. What is important is that the authorities are gearing up efforts to look into more flood-prevention measures and to minimise the impact of floods. Such efforts are more in line with the “pioneering spirit” and the amount of engineering, social and otherwise, that has propelled Singapore from Third World to First. s we prepare to celebrate 45 years of independence, I can’t help but reflect on the achievements that Singapore has made. We have many things to be proud of and celebrate: |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 18:25 |
Others
/
Photographying Floods can be risky too
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
Small cuts to save costs could hurt a brand F And it’s not just the chili sauce, nor is it just Singapore Airlines. More companies here seem to be cutting back on products or services that were part of what differentiated their brand. These aren’t just the small firms trying to compete on cost. Instead, they are the iconic airlines, hotels and other wellknown names that make Singapore stand out. Another icon, the Raffles Hotel, diluted its image and its product by serving highpriced, lower-quality Singapore Slings. It received flak for pouring pre-made Slings, said to taste more like sweet fruit cocktails than a classic Sling, from large metal containers. Large firms offering everyday services are making those shifts too. At Singapore Post, customers used to know that they would receive mail six days a week and get a discount when sending greeting cards during the year-end festive season. Now, those services have disappeared. SingPost quietly eliminated the special rate for sending cards last year and simply replied to an enquiry by saying “we regret there is no special posting rate this year”. In May, mail delivery on Saturdays disappeared. This is the same company where postal clerks now sell everything from mobile phones to dust busters, with displays and signs that could compete at any pasar malam. SingTel has cut back too, for example on payphones in public places. While most people do use mobile phones, good luck finding an alternative if your phone dies or you are a tourist without a mobile. While the cutbacks probably saved money, part of what made SingPost and SingTel important to the community simply slipped away. It’s easy to say that little things like Singapore Slings and Kris Chili Sauce don’t matter much as long as sarong kebaya-clad hostesses and the hotel doorman are still there. It’s easy, too, to say that services like mail delivery on Saturday and payphones in malls are no longer needed in an era of digital communications. Yet the impact of a cumulative series of small cutbacks may be greater than the amount saved. Customers do remember what’s gone: As they see the little things taken away, buzz can grow about whether the differentiators that make the company great still exist. At some point, the cutbacks could lead them to move to competitors. Snipping away bits of the fabric of society could weaken social cohesion as well. Amid debate over changes wrought by the casinos, immigration and redevelopment, there have been questions about what really makes Singapore Singaporean. With the constant tearing down of old buildings and familiar sites, there’s little enough that remains of what generations here grew up with. Keeping even the little touches — familiar things like payphones or the original Singapore Sling that many here grew up with — helps emphasise that differentiation between this and any other city in the world. It’s the cumulative effect of tiny changes so small we hardly notice them that add up to fundamentally larger shifts that could be detrimental. And it’s an argument for why companies should spend just a little more for the broader benefit of themselves and the community. lying on Singapore Airlines used to mean the secret flavour of Kris Chili Sauce. No more. Now it’s Tropicana chilli sauce, surely a good brand yet, perhaps, just a little cheaper and easier.The writer is a consultant who has lived in Singapore since 1992 |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 18:17 |
SMRT
/
SMRT
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
What is the Yield nowadays ? mOre lOsses expected fOr CiRCLE LiNE ? |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 18:08 |
COSCO SHP SG
/
CoscoCorp
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
Tuesday: 3rd AUGUST 2010 CLOSING 28,662,000 S$1.640 (-S$0.040) Hi S$1.700 Lo S$1.620 16:59:50 S$1.640 1,000,000 SOLD to BUYER |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 17:57 |
Kim Eng
/
Kim Eng
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
UNusual ? 
|
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 17:54 |
Genting Sing
/
GenSp starts to move up again
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
SOUTH is for SHORT [same FAMiLY]
|
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 17:51 |
Genting HK USD
/
Genting HK US$
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
Tuesday: 3rd AUGUST 2010 CLOSING 22,392,000 USD0.260 (-USD0.005) Hi USD0.265 Lo USD0.250 10:04:04 USD0.255 1,000,000 BOUGHT frOm SELLER |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 17:43 |
Genting Sing
/
GenSp starts to move up again
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
Tuesday: 3rd AUGUST 2010 CLOSING 286,274,00 S$1.250 (-S$0.040) Hi S$1.310 Lo S$1.230 17:05:03 S$1.25 4,123,000 BfS 17:05:03 S$1.25 2,342,000 BfS |
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 17:36 |
Genting Sing
/
GenSp starts to move up again
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 0
|
I spent the whOle day staring at it TODAY. TODAY is very CRITICAL for GENTING SP whether to BREAK S$1.32 or nOt SCRiPT DiRECTOR decIded nOt I have nOt read TODAY ONLiNE yet sO reading nOw
|
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| 03-Aug-2010 17:28 |
Genting Sing
/
Genting SP Next Move
Go to Message
|
||||
|
x 0
x 1
|
Hermaphrodite Is this THiNG a LEGEND ? Is this THiNG REAL ? Is this THiNG iN SiNGAPORE ? WHERE tO sEE this THiNG iN SiNGAPORE ?
|
||||
| Good Post Bad Post | |||||
| First < Newer 8901-8920 of 13894 Older> Last |