Search the Community

Ozil has retired from the Germany national team over the furore surrounding his pic taken with Turkey president Erdogan and his subsequent poor performances for Germany at WC2018... Ozil retires from Germany over racism, disrespect http://www.espnfc.com/germany/story/3571587/mesut-ozil-retires-from-germany-after-political-tensions-over-turkish-roots via @ESPN App http://es.pn/app

SINGAPORE : "Project SuperStar" alum Kelly Poon is reportedly set to give up her music career to return to being an air stewardess. Poon was flying with national carrier Singapore Airlines when she joined the first season of singing competition "Project SuperStar" in 2005. She finished second place behind Kelvin Tan. According to Taiwanese media reports, life has been difficult for the Singaporean singer who is currently based in Taiwan. Throughout her three years there, she has been living a life of frugality and despite this, the 26-year-old hardly has any savings to call her own. As a result, she has decided to pack her bags and return to being a Singapore girl. Poon who reportedly earned a monthly allowance of 80,000 Taiwan dollars (around S$4,000) at the start of her singing career, has had to bite the bullet and survive on a monthly expenditure of just 10,000 Taiwan dollars (around S$500). Hence, the singer has decided to work out an agreement with her agent to allow her to return to Singapore early next year. However, Poon has expressed that she would still love to sing if given the opportunity. - CNA/il Quite shock to hear this. I think only few local singers like Chen Jie Yi, Ah du, stefanie sun can make it oversea.

The Motor Traders Association could soon be the Minor Traders Association if the number of members keeps falling. The Motor Traders Association of Singapore (MTA) is a grouping of new car distributors and some commercial vehicle dealers. Its membership has been sliding over the years and the latest to leave its fold is Borneo Motors Singapore (BMS) - the distributor of Toyota, Lexus and Hino - leaving it with 26 members. With BMS's exit at the end of this month, Singapore's top three brands - Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Toyota, in that order - will not be part of the MTA. Critics now question how MTA can continue to be relevant. "MTA is supposed to be the voice of new car sellers. What is the point if it does not represent the majority of the industry," asked the director of a brand who left MTA a few years ago. Based on last year's total vehicle sales of 34,090 units, MTA members accounted for 46 per cent of total market share (this number is made up of 22,472 new cars, 8,128 commercial vehicles and 3,490 taxis). If BMS sales are excluded, this proportion drops to 32 per cent, or barely a third of the market. Volkswagen will then be the biggest brand left in MTA. Last year, VW was Singapore's No 4 make. BMS declined to comment when contacted. But there is speculation that its departure is largely symbolic, one that signals its displeasure with the association. "The annual membership fee is only $1,500, so it's definitely not about the money," said the head of a luxury dealership. "It is probably to make it clear that they do not see the value of MTA membership." In recent months, some complaints about the MTA included how it appears to champion the causes of only its committee members, and the inability to present members' views and appeals to the government, especially after the recent radical changes to the motor trade, such as the loan curbs and certificate of entitlement tweaks. The luxury dealership head recalled that when the vehicle financing restrictions were introduced last year in February, the Singapore Vehicles Traders Association, or SVTA, whose members are mainly used car dealers, immediately met to craft an appeal to the government. The result was the lifting of loan curbs for 60 days to allow members to clear their stocks of second-hand vehicles. But, according to the luxury dealership head, the MTA was reluctant to intercede when approached by some members for help to lobby the government to soften the impact of the loan curbs. Senior MTA committee members could not be contacted for their views. But one industry veteran defended the MTA. "To be fair, it does not have an easy time," he said, explaining that this is because MTA members have conflicting interests. "It is difficult to function as a cohesive organisation because not every brand is impacted by the same issues, such as engine output or emissions," he added. "So there is no unified voice, unlike used car dealers who do not have brand loyalty and can talk about common problems such as policy and financing as a group." Source: http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/premium/top-stories/toyota-distributor-borneo-quits-motor-traders-body-20140319

Hi guys, Read this, http://sg.news.yahoo.com/xin/20090716/ten-...rp-3c1b9bc.html >>Sexy Princess of Caldecott, Fiona Xie, surprised co-actors and media yesterday morning at the lensing ceremony of MediaCorp's blockbuster Together, when it was announced that she has pulled out of the drama at the last minute. Her artiste manager quoted "personal reasons" for Xie's withdrawal, but cast and production crew later divulged that Xie has actually previously expressed her worries about the negativity of the character, and also wondered if she was competent for it. While the real reason of Xie's withdrawal has not been divulged, several speculations have arisen. There are rumours that say she may have terminated her contract prematurely with MediaCorp and even leave the local entertainment scene altogether. According to sources, her contract will only end next year. It is also said that she has offended a producer and was thus put in cold storage by the company, resulting in less TV exposure and thus not being among the Top Ten Most Popular Female Artistes in the recent Star Awards. Others say that Xie, who has always prioritized romances, is pregnant and has to leave showbiz temporarily. However, there are also some who think that Xie is hoping to develop her career overseas in the movie industry. She made her debut silver screen performance with Rule #1, and has recently wrapped up shooting in the movie Fist of the Dragon last month. According to a reliable source, Xie has no plans to terminate her contract with MediaCorp, but is currently working out a new format for cooperation. On constant pursuit of Xin.sg reporters, MediaCorp artiste management cannot emphasize enough that Xie has withdrawn for "personal reasons" but is unable to comment on the rumour of the early termination of her contract.

FORMER People's Action Party Hougang candidate Desmond Choo is leaving the labour movement for the private sector. Mr Choo, 35, is the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) deputy director of industrial relations and the National Transport Workers' Union's (NTWU) deputy executive secretary. He will leave NTUC at the end of this month. Yesterday, he told The Straits Times that resigning from the labour movement was not an easy decision and that he remains committed to workers' causes. "But I thought that after spending most of my working life in the civil service and some of it in NTUC, I should get more exposure in the private sector," said the former police scholarship holder who joined NTUC in 2010. He has found a job in the private sector but declined to give more details. Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/...sector-20130509

SAF Chief Guards Officer quits over 'personal reasons'

What did this fella post actually? From CNA: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1166078/1/.html Young PAP member quits over offensive remarks on Facebook By Esther Ng, TODAY | Posted: 17 November 2011 2111 hrs SINGAPORE: A Young People's Action Party (YP) member who posted "insensitive" remarks - in his own words - on his Facebook page has resigned, following an online furore. Mr Jason Neo has also issued an apology on his Facebook page. He had posted a religiously and racially offensive caption to a photograph which he uploaded onto the social networking website. The posting went viral recently. In Mr Neo's apology, he said the post was out of a "moment's folly" and did not, in any way, represent the view of the PAP or the YP. He said: "I hereby offer those within our Muslim community and anyone else offended my most sincere and unreserved apology." Mr Neo, a volunteer at Meet-the-People sessions in Sembawang who joined YP in June, had posted the offensive caption and photo sometime in February. Mr Neo's action was condemned by YP leaders, including YP chairman Teo Ser Luck who wrote on his Facebook page: "We will have to take action. Such acts must be condemned." In a statement on YP's Facebook page on Thursday, its vice-chairman Zaqy Mohamad reiterated: "YP's and PAP's position is clear. Racism has no place in Singapore, and certainly not in the ranks of the PAP. The party has always upheld the core values of meritocracy and multiracialism. As a minority and from a race and belief targeted in the post, I found it very offensive, and I am certainly disappointed that it came from one of our activists." Mr Zaqy stressed that the YP executive committee regularly updates members on its informal guidelines - online or otherwise. "One of the fundamental prohibitions is that the party does not condone malicious racist remarks," Mr Zaqy said. In light of this episode, "more regular reminders" will be made to YP members, he added. Nevertheless, the incident raises question marks on the screening process carried out by political parties on potential members. Veteran PAP Member of Parliament Charles Chong told TODAY that it would be "difficult" to vet those joining YP or PAP. "They may profess to have the same ideology as the party and have a clean record, but even with psychometric tests, there is a small possibility of mistakes or missteps," said Mr Chong. On his Facebook posting, Mr Zaqy acknowledged that questions were raised about membership in the YP as a result of the incident. He said: "They would have demonstrated a certain level of interest and commitment towards the Party before they would be referred by a trusted comrade for membership." Speaking to Today, Mr Zaqy added that typically, potential members are "judged by how they perform or act as volunteers first before they are brought into the party". -CNA/ac

No wonder apple was sueing left right center recently. His last burst of fire. Perhaps to help to forstall the downward spiral of Apple when he is no longer there. None has his vision. iPad and iPhone will get stuck as it is forever? What innovation can we expect from other CEO of apple?

From Yahoo! News SINGAPORE: With an eye on the next General Election (GE), the Workers' Party's (WP) top leadership made a strategic decision late Thursday night to select a younger member for its second Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seat. Unfortunately, the move prompted veteran central executive committee member and party treasurer Eric Tan to quit. In an exclusive interview with Today late Thursday night, as he drafted a statement for the media, he said: "I feel betrayed." The WP is expected to officially announce on Friday which of its candidates will be accepting the NCMP seats. The WP is entitled to two NCMP seats - one for 46-year-old Yee Jenn Jong, who lost narrowly in the single-seat of Joo Chiat and the other for one of the five members of its East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team. The Thursday night meeting at Hougang Town Council saw the WP's central executive committee vote to hand the second NCMP seat to the party's assistant webmaster, 34-year-old Gerald Giam. This was the first election the IT consultant, who joined WP in 2009, has contested. He was part of the team in East Coast GRC which was led by 55-year-old Mr Tan. Mr Tan, a former banker who is now a private equity fund manager, said: "I am disappointed that Low (Thia Khiang) and part of the CEC have decided to go against the people's wishes, citing party renewal as their reason. "I too, also believe in the renewal of the party but in an orderly manner, with succession plans. "But not like this, dropped like a bomb." Mr Tan added: "I have helped build the East Coast team since 2005 and was the only one remaining after the 2006 election. I fought on and rebuilt the team, helping to gain a solid result for the party," he said. "I wanted the NCMP post so that I would be able to be the voice of the people." said Mr Tan, who is also the chairman of the party's Eastern Area Committee. The 45.17 per cent polled by the WP in East Coast GRC has led many to speculate that the WP has set its sight on making the constituency its next major battleground in five years' time. Mr Tan is also understood to have played a role in attracting corporate lawyer Chen Show Mao and Mr Yee to join the party. It is not known if the opposition party might reconsider its decision on Friday. Regards,

Is this the end of the famed Seven Princesses of Caldecott Hill? After the departure of local starlets Fiona Xie and Dawn Yeoh, Malaysian-born actress Jesseca Liu is the latest amongst the ranks to bid adios to TV. Her contract, which actually expired last November, was extended until May this year as the filming for her upcoming drama New Beginnings got delayed. As there was insufficient time to embark on another project, the series, which airs on April 14, will be her swansong. In an interview with a magazine, the actress revealed that she started having thoughts about leaving two years ago. Ending her six-year relationship with MediaCorp will allow her to "try other things like travel, learn something new, and concentrate on her business." The 31-year-old added, "I don't like to be tied down, and I hope to do the things I like. Moreover, I can't look after my business in Malaysia from here." Jesseca, who has a three-year-old spa business in Langkawi, said that she is not ruling out returning to the gogglebox someday. She previously dated Taiwanese actor Wing Fan, 30, after starring together in the Taiwanese movie Untold Beauty, but the one-year romance fizzled in late 2008. The spilt led many to believe it was the cause of her fading from the limelight, which she confirmed. "A lot of things happened at the same time that affected my popularity. The romance did have some impact on my career." On her blog, Jesseca had poured her heart out in an entry dated March 18. She wrote, "You realize inside you there is a hint of sadness. Today you tell yourself you've done it, and can not care anymore Watch out for your every step. You're graduating here, and you ask yourself, 'Are you afraid?'" When contacted, her manager said that Jesseca is currently on holiday in Thailand, but will be back next week for the press conference of New Beginnings. The former model added in her blog that she would also visit Laos or Vietnam before travelling to India for a photoshoot.

Local actress Zoe Tay has quit new Channel 8 drama Lost & Found, setting off rumours that she is pregnant again. The crime drama's production team confirmed this morning that the Queen of Caldecott Hill dropped out from the lead role of an undercover cop two weeks ago. She will be replaced by another veteran, Chen Liping. If the rumour proves true, the 42-year-old is expecting her third child. She has two sons, aged 5 and 3, from her nine-year marriage with Air Force pilot Philip Chionh. When contacted, her manager, Ms Ivy Loh, would only say that the decision is due to "personal reasons". She also said that the actress has not been feeling well recently, and has promised to explain her decision to quit in due time. According to Chinese tradition, a woman should not announce her pregnancy during the first trimester. Ms Loh added that Zoe is currently busy wrapping up filming for local breast cancer movie Love Cuts. The gossip mill is speculating that the actress is locked in contract talks, though the pregnancy claim is believed to be the reason for her departure from the drama. Zoe has previously mentioned on more than one occasion that she's looking forward to the "different" role of an informant and its action scenes. In the series, which also stars Rui En, she plays a well-connected hawker who's in fact an undercover cop. Executive producer of the serial, Mr Paul Yuen, commented that Liping is not a last-minute replacement. "We did consider her at the beginning, but couldn't confirm her as she was still filming Your Hand In Mine. "Both Zoe and Liping are well liked by the masses, so they're suitable for the role. I believe Liping will be right for the role," he added. Filming for Lost & Found is scheduled to begin mid-April.

FRANKFURT/TOKYO, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Global sales at BMW, the world's top premium carmaker, plunged by a quarter in November, and Honda backed out of Formula One racing on Friday as the economic downturn exacted a mounting toll on automakers. With even well-heeled consumers keeping a tight grip on their wallets, group vehicle sales at BMW fell 25.4 percent to 96,570 units, led down by a 26.2 percent drop at the flagship BMW brand, it said. [iD:nL5452941] Car sales across the globe have plummeted as consumers curb spending in the face of mass lay-offs and a credit crunch, pushing big U.S. carmakers to the brink and heaping pressure on their foreign rivals, too. In Germany, Europe's biggest auto market, new car sales are expected to hit post-reunification lows this year and next before recovering somewhat in 2010, the VDA auto industry association forecast this week. In Japan, Honda Motor Co <7267.T> delivered a major blow to Formula One by withdrawing from the sport with immediate effect. Japan's number two carmaker is seeking to cut costs to combat the global economic crisis and concluded it would no longer bankroll the Formula One team and its estimated annual budget of $500 million. [iD:nT343829] Honda Chief Executive Takeo Fukui told a news conference a return to the sport could take time, and that there were no plans to continue as an engine supplier. "This difficult decision was taken recently and was made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry," Fukui told reporters. "Honda must protect its core business activities and secure the long term as widespread uncertainties in the economics around the globe continue to mount." BMW shares were down 2.7 percent in Frankfurt, and Honda's shed 1.9 percent in Tokyo, while the DJ Stoxx autos index <.SXAP> was down 1.8 percent. Detroit remains the epicentre of the consumer earthquake shaking the automotive world. The chief executives of General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC told the U.S. Congress on Thursday they would consider restarting merger talks if that was what it took to win their slice of up to $34 billion in emergency U.S. government aid. "I would be very willing to look at it seriously," GM CEO Rick Wagoner told the Senate Banking Committee, adding that merger talks earlier this year were dropped on concerns GM did not have the financing to merge with Chrysler. Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli said his job would likely be the first to go in a merger with GM, but if that would save Chrysler and its workers, "I would do it". The chiefs of the Big Three automakers, including Ford Motor Co CEO Alan Mulally, pledged to refocus on higher fuel efficiency vehicles and lower production costs. But they encountered deep skepticism among lawmakers who are suspicious of such promises, given the companies' past failures to wean themselves off gasoline guzzlers and to make innovative cars that consumers want to buy. "I don't trust the car companies' leadership," said New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer at the hearing. But in a comment reflecting many lawmakers' sentiments, he added, "We can't let the industry fail."