More transparency please

Did i hear someone say Temasek and GIC?

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/61019194-6d2c-11dc-ab19-0000779fd2ac.html

Call for clarity on wealth funds

Sovereign wealth funds’ investments will be restricted in Europe unless they are more transparent, says the European Union’s top economic official in what will be seen as a warning to the Asian and Middle East state-run bodies amassing assets worth hundreds of billions of dollars round the world.

…

Economists say sovereign wealth funds in China, other Asian countries, the Gulf and elsewhere have amassed total assets of about $2,500bn, an amount so huge that they could in principle buy some of Europe’s largest private-sector companies.

…

Come 2011

From owning and managing The Rock Auditorium in Suntec City, to also owning and managing Marine Cove in East Coast Park, to now partially owning and managing a lifestyle hub. Going a step up from being in a shopping mall is being the shopping mall.

Mark 11:15-17 (New King James Version)

15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/298796/1/.html
One-North to have S$660m shopping, entertainment mall by 2011

SINGAPORE: Buona Vista is set to have a S$660 million shopping and entertainment mall by 2011.

It will also have four levels of retail and entertainment avenues such as boutiques, restaurants, wine bars and clubs.

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/
CapitaLand, Rock to build $660m integrated hub
(SINGAPORE) CapitaLand and Rock Productions will spend a whopping $660 million to develop an integrated civic, cultural, retail and entertainment hub at Vista Xchange, one-north, which is expected to be completed by 2011.

JTC Corp awarded the tender to build, lease and operate the entire hub to Rock on Friday, on a 60-year lease term at a land bid price of nearly $189 million.

Power of the cocoa bean

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/298767/1/.html
Internet scams get more creative to bypass security features

SINGAPORE: Despite new security features, hackers and spammers are still finding creative, sophisticated ways to cause massive problems to computer systems.

More alarmingly, 71 per cent said they would give up their password for a bar of chocolate.

Seriously. Who did they survey to find such a figure.

Local media blackout

But Reuters picked up on it.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKSIN474220070907
Anime figurine protesters meet real police

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – A protest action by a group of Singaporeans with Japanese anime figurines such as the 5-inch tall Ultramen, robots and monsters with placards met some real-life police in the city-state.

He added that police — who had four anti-riot vans at the scene — also took down the anime fans’ particulars and that they were filmed by plainclothes policemen. A police spokeswoman said she could not immediately comment.

Ah yes. People taking photos of toys in a park warrants the use of four anti-riot vans. Must have been a slow day at work. Does this mean toys are more of a threat than people jogging together?

Protesting for itself

With the current spate of specialized gatherings going on, it seems appropriate to have THE gathering for all gatherings. Championing the right to wear white together, to cycle together, to wear pink together, and most recently black together. Protesting to have the right of being able to get together with a reason. Due to the inherent nature of the event, i suggest that the attire for everyone is any color, and the location to be all shopping malls. Unlike other such gatherings, i expect the turnout to be huge.

ref:
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20070906/tap-singapore-protest-c3bb44c.html
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/297344/1/.html

New iPod Nano is not so nano anymore

New
Size and weight

* Height: 2.75 inches (69.8 mm)
* Width: 2.06 inches (52.3 mm)
* Depth: 0.26 inch (6.5 mm)
* Weight: 1.74 ounces (49.2 grams)

VS

Old
Size and weight

* Height: 9 cm (3.5 inches)
* Width: 4 cm (1.6 inches)
* Depth: 0.65 cm (0.26 inch)
* Weight: 40 g (1.41 ounces)

When the iPod Nano was first launched, it boasted that it was so small and compact, and was targeted at the flash based player market where competitors were larger and bulky. Stevie himself used the mini pocket inside the right front pocket that most jeans have to demonstrate the size and mobility of the Nano. Well, now it won’t be able to fit in there anymore, which means i won’t be buying the new Nano as thats where i like carry my old one around in, and it looks more like all the other generic square large screen variations already in the market.

Does apple plan to fill the size void left by the departure of the old Nano with a new iPod? (Don’t bother mentioning Shuffle. No self-respecting control freak would use something where he can’t see what is playing.) I hope not actually. Part of the charm of the iPod i feel is its exclusiveness. It began with just one, and with four now if you count the iPhone. But introduce too many models, and offer so many color variations instead of the original white and sexy black, and little differentiates it from the market other than the brand.

The new Creative Zen actually looks more attractive.

TED

http://www.ted.com/

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader.

The annual conference now brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives

One by Richard Dawkins
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/113

Such a fine city

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/297344/1/.html
Police issue warning against illegal assemblies

Police have issued a stern warning against those who organise and participate in illegal assemblies.

This follows an assembly of a group of Myanmar nationals dressed in white at the Orchard MRT Station last Saturday (25 August).

Police say the the intent of the assembly, which did not have a police permit, was to show support for fellow Myanmese who had been protesting back in Myanmar.

In Singapore, it is illegal to go for a jog in a big group without a permit. So is having a walk in town with your fellow countrymen. Wearing t-shirts with white elephant logos is also not allowed.

“We cannot apply the law to some and turn a blind eye to others. If we do, then the law becomes the real white elephant,”
- DPM Wong Kan Seng (source)

3rd most powerful?

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/11/biz-07women_The-100-Most-Powerful-Women_Rank.html

Does no one find it odd that a chief executive of a local GLC can be ranked more powerful than the U.S. Secretary of State, India’s President of the Congress Party, the Queen of England, many heads of state, and other CEOs of MNCs? What does it say when the private sector is more powerful than the public sector? Will the Govt be able to govern given such circumstances?