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Resorts World at Sentosa to fill over 8,000 job vacancies by year—end Channel NewsAsia - Tuesday, August 4 SINGAPORE: Resorts World at Sentosa is ramping up its job hiring efforts, and hopes to fill more than 8,000 job vacancies — including that of croupiers and hotel staff — by the end of this year. The resort said Tuesday it is on track to open on schedule next year. It already has 760 employees in its fold — of which 82 per cent are Singaporeans. It will be carrying out a mass hiring exercise in October, and is looking at employing over 8,000 people. Some job vacancies that need to be filled include theme park operators, and casino and F&B staff. By December, the resort hopes to have some 10,000 employees. It is working with the five Community Development Councils (CDCs) in its recruitment drive. Said Tan Hee Teck, chief executive officer of Resorts World at Sentosa: "The CDCs have been extremely helpful in affording us to reach out to the people of Singapore and... the CDCs had been working to review all the applications for our job prospects." Resorts World at Sentosa has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with People’s Association (PA). Under the agreement, Resorts World at Sentosa will commit over S$1 million in event and venue sponsorship to the PA and its Grassroots Organisations. Said Tan Boon Huat, chief executive director at PA: "The grassroots organisations will be able to make use of the various interesting venues that are being offered by Resorts World and this is really wonderful because one of the best ways for community bonding is for people to come together and enjoy things together, enjoy fun things together and have fond memories." Resorts World at Sentosa is also participating in Chingay for the first time next year where it will have its own float. With the partnership, Passion card members can also look forward to exciting perks at Resorts World at Sentosa such as priority bookings for tours at the Resorts. Other perks include special promotions and packages, and attractive merchandise of Resorts World and Universal Studios Singapore. 600,000 Passion card members can take advantage of the partnership. Said Henry Ho, chairman of Jurong Central CCC: "I believe that a lot of residents will be interested and very excited to join our Passion cards whereby they have incentives and discounts to enter Resort World facilities." The People’s Association and Resorts World at Sentosa will also jointly organise the "Mr and Mrs Singapore Senior Pageant" in June next year. CNA/yb

Seagate to cut 2,000 Singapore jobs, sees charges Reuters - 1 hour 55 minutes ago * To relocate hard disk drive plant from Singapore * To lay off 2,000 workers out of 8,000 staff in Singapore * Sees $80 mln costs, $40 mln annual savings SINGAPORE, Aug 4 - Computer hard disk maker Seagate Technology <STX.O> said it will lay off 2,000 workers in Singapore, or more than 4 percent of its global workforce, as it closes manufacturing facilities in the city-state in a bid to cut costs by $40 million a year. The move, which Seagate said would result in restructuring charges of $80 million, follows a slide in electronics exports from Singapore this year due to weaker consumer demand in the economic downturn. "We are moving our hard disk operation at Ang Mo Kio (in Singapore) to other Seagate sites in other countries," company spokeswoman Lotus Tan told Reuters but did not provide further details. She said Seagate employed a total of 8,000 workers in Singapore and would keep Seagate's Asia headquarters, media operation as well as a product development and design center there. According to Seagate's website it has about 45,000 employees around the world. Seagate said the Ang Mo Kio hard drive factory would be closed by the end of 2010 but would not meaningfully change its production capacity as it will move manufacturing to other locations, which include Thailand, China and Malaysia. Seagate said in a filing with U.S. regulators that total restructuring charges of approximately $80 million would include about $60 million for severance payments and about $10 million for the relocation of manufacturing equipment. It plans to record the severance charges of up to $60 million in the current quarter, with the remainder of the charges to be incurred throughout the calendar year of 2010. Seagate's fiscal year 2009 ended on July 3. The company expects the move to generate annual savings of $40 million when the closure is completed. Singapore's overall unemployment rate stood at 3.3 percent in the second quarter but the number of people employed in Singapore fell by 12,400 in April-June, twice as much as in the first quarter. Tuesday's announcement came after Seagate already said in May it had initiated a restructuring plan that included a reduction of about 1,100 employees or 2.5 percent of the company's global workforce. In July, Seagate raised its forecast for margins and overall industry sales in the current quarter, citing a larger-than-expected increase in corporate demand for computers. Reporting by Nopporn Wong-Anan and Harry Suhartono and Sinead Carew in New York; Editing by Anshuman Daga

Chasing Fairies — New Cirrhilabrus In The Aquarium Trade By Hiroyuki Tanaka, M.D. New Cirrhilabrus in the Aquarium Trade THe fairy wrasses (Genus Cirrhilabrus, Family Labridae) are now some of the most sought-after smaller reef fishes for the home aquarium. They are found in the Indo-West Pacific, fromthe Red Sea to the Pitcairn Islands. Several species are widely distributed, while some are restricted to small island groups. At present, the genus is comprised of 46 species, being second in number to the genus Halichoeres, also in the family Labridae. (Halichoeres is now undergoing DNA studies, and many species may be reclassified into several genera, so Cirrhilabrus may soon become the largest genus in the family.) In addition, there are several species of Cirrhilabrus yet to be given a scientific binomial. Most Cirrhilabrus species are quite colorful, sexually dimorphic and sexually dichromatic. Males often change colors, exhibiting vivid hues, and may take on “iridescent†qualities when they display to females. This chromatic phenomenon is especially pronounced in larger, mature males. All males in the genus are similarly shaped, but in some species, the members of the masculine gender possess a long filament on the dorsal fin. There are other species that have longer pelvic fins or have a long, lanceolate tail. In a few species, the females are almost identical in color to theirmates. Inmany species, the females have a red body, with a black ocellus on the upper portion of the caudal peduncle—these species are often distinguished from one another by subtle differences in color. The fairy wrasses are very closely related to the Paracheilinus species (e.g., the flasher wrasses) from the Indo-West Pacific. Members of this genus are typically red or orangish overall. Fairy wrasses are quite easy to keep in a captive environment and accept almost any foods. Various species can be successfully housed together, including females and juveniles, and also do well with many other genera of fishes. They tend to be relatively peaceful toward tankmates, ignoring most smaller fishes. That said, there are a few species like Cirrhilabrus filamentosus and C. tonozukai that may be more aggressive. Nowadays, the genus is quite popular among reefkeepers as well, because in most cases, they will not harm invertebrates housed in the same tank with them. If you keep them in a reef tank, do not forget to feed themat least once a day and, if possible, offer foods twice a day. You will also want to cover the top of the tank, because they tend to jump out of open aquariums. I would highly recommend you purchase a large male Cirrhilabrus, along with one, or more, female — in this way, you can enjoy their flashing behavior. In my experience, males tend to flash in the evening, rather than during the day. I surround the tank with black boards (with, of course, the exception of the front glass) to encourage more flashing. Turn off all the roomlights and thenmales will often see their reflection in the glass, and extend all their fins and start to change their colors. In nature, all members of the genus Cirrhilabrus form harems comprised of a dominant male, numerous females and juveniles, as well as non-functional males. That said, they also occur singly, in small aggregations of females and/or juveniles, and sometimes in different species mixes, in their natural habitat. Some species form large aggregations consisting of hundreds of individuals. Several complexes that consist of similarly colored and shaped close relatives, are known within the genus; for example, one of the most famous groups is the Cirrhilabrus temminckii complex, which contains C. balteatus, C. beauperryi, C. katherinae, C. punctatus and C. temminckii. Generally speaking, different species in the same complex are not sympatric, but some do overlap in range and even form mixed groups in nature. Some of these species will cross-breed, and some of their offspring may even be capable of reproducing. The term “super male†is commonly used by aquarists, but rarely by ichthyologists. This term refers to fully grown, functional males that are more vivid in color and often display. Recently Available Cirrhilabrus Cirrhilabrus adornatus The decorated fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus adornatus), from Sumatra, Indonesia, is a lovely species. Males are snow white, with two red spots on the back — the second spot is often more diffuse or, in some cases, is not present at all. The fins of the male are white, with the exception of the dorsal fin, which has a red band on the outer edge. The body may become bright yellow when the fish becomes excited. Females are red on the dorsum and flanks, and white ventrally, with a black spot at the upper base of the tail. The species is rather rare in the aquarium trade, although they Tend to appear in pulses (that is, suddenly a number will be imported for a short period of time). Cirrhilabrus adornatus is restricted to a small area of western Sumatra, where many corals are said to have been destroyed by dynamite fishing. It was discovered by German diverHelmutDebelius, while diving in the Mentawai Islands, off the Padang coast of Sumatra, and was described in 1998. A diving friend of mine, from Thailand, informed me that he has seen several males nearly 4 inches (10 centimeters) long, but typically, they are less than 2. 75 inches (7 centimeters). Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus This species is popularly called the deep-sea, or rosy-fin, fairy wrasse. The first specimens came from eastern Australia, around Holmes Reef (Queensland), and has since been collected from Vanuatu. There are several geographic color morphs. Male C. bathyphilus, from Holmes Reef, are red on the upper half of the body, with a yellow area on the lower portion. Those from Vanuatu have two populations — one, primarily from northern Efate Island, has a red area on the anterior, upper portion of the body, while the rest is yellow, and those from southern Tanna Island have a red area that is tapering and continues onto the caudal peduncle. Colors of fins from these locales are similar. Male individuals from Vanuatu, especially from Efate, are occasionally available, while those from Holmes Reef are scarce in the trade. I recently received fivemales fromEfate, and I suspect that the form is distinct from Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus, which was described by Randall & Nagareda in 2002. I sent four specimens to Dr. John Randall, in Hawaii, for examination, but he replied that they were just a color form of C. bathyphilus. I also obtained a male from Tanna Island that is similar to the five Efate males, and this form has now been recorded from Holmes Reef. When excited, the fins of male Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus become an intense red, with brilliant blue edges. The species was first collected from waters as deep as 712 feet (217 meters), in Chesterfield Bank off New Caledonia. It has also been recorded from shallow water (e.g., at depths of 20 feet; 6 meters, on Holmes Reef). Cirrhilabrus beauperryi and Cirrhilabrus punctatus (variant) Beau’s fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus beauperryi) is one of the newest members of the genus, having been named in 2008. It had long been regarded as C. punctatus, the dotted fairy wrasse, from the South Pacific, which is almost identical. It has also occasionally been thought of as one of the color variants of the dotted fairy wrasse, and is even thought to be the nuptial color variant of C. punctatus. The most outstanding difference between these fishes is their coloration. Cirrhilabrus beauperryi has a blue abdomen, while it is white in C. punctatus. Cirrhilabrus beauperryi ranges from eastern Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, but I have also found evidence of their occurrence on Holmes Reef, off northeastern Australia, and the Banda Sea, Indonesia (photographic records). This means that C. beauperryi overlaps the range of C. punctatus on Holmes Reef. Cirrhilabrus punctatus Is recorded from the South Pacific, including the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, New Caledonia, Lord Howe Island, western Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu, and is also known to have many color morphs. Coloration of some varieties depends on locale—for example, males from Tonga have a vertical bluish line on the caudal fin (Randall & Kuiter 1989) . Allen et al. Described C. beauperryi with the help of DNA analysis. Cirrhilabrus punctatus is typically available at aquarium shops, but C. beauperryi is rather rare. However, aquariumheld C. beauperryi are pictured in many popular books and magazines as C. punctatus. In C. beauperryi, small dots are present on the sides, but rare male individuals of the species lack these. Females of these species are also quite similar, but those of C. beauperryi possess a blue abdomen (very young individuals or small juveniles have a white abdomen). Individuals of C. punctatus, from Vanuatu, are uniquely colored; males have a blue-black body with a greenish yellow streak on the upper side, a reddish back and a white abdomen. Small dots are scattered on the blue-black background, and there are also some spots on the fins and back. The variety was first collected in New Caledonia, and may represent a subspecies of C. punctatus — DNA analysis will be needed to give us a definitive answer. It is highly expected to also occur in the Loyalty Islands, where no C. punctatus have been documented. Cirrhilabrus condei Live fishes from Vanuatu began entering the aquarium trade with regularity several years ago, and they include some very unusual and beautiful fairy wrasses. One of them is Conde’s fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus condei). The male is bright red on the upper half of the body, with a pure white abdomen. The pelvic fins are longer and the dorsal fin is shaped like a dome. When excited, the body turns bright pink overall, with a yellow area along the sides. The caudal fin becomes red and deep pink. The fish may suddenly change colors when threatened, or when a conspecific or another male Cirrhilabrus species approaches. In my experience, male fairy and flasher wrasses rarely exhibit their flashing coloration, even after being in their new Aquarium home for three or four days, until new inhabitants are introduced into the tank. As I mentioned earlier, they also tend to exhibit their stunning display colors more in the evening when they see themselves in reflections in the aquarium glass. Males from the Solomon Islands are slightly different from Vanuatu Cirrhilabrus condei, in having a reddish area on the dorsal fin. The yellow area of the fin in those from Vanuatu is outstanding. Females of the species are reddish dorsally and white ventrally. Vanuatu C. condei are not commonly encountered, and those from the Solomon Islands are even more scarce. Cirrhilabrus lunatus This species has a lunate tail and is widely known as the lunate-, or crescent-, tail fairy wrasse. It was described by Randall & Masuda from specimens from southern Japan (Okinawa and Ogasawara Islands), in 1991. The species has been recorded from Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines. Dr. John Randall once informed me that a tiny juvenile was collected in New Caledonia. In Japan, it has been observed by divers in deeper waters, and scarcely enters the aquarium trade. Recently, however, a rare individual has been shipped from Indonesia. Male Cirrhilabrus lunatus, from Japan, are typically purplish to yellowish brown, with an outstanding bright-yellow band on the middle of the flank, while the unpaired fins are primarily purple. The “southern form†male is different in coloration from the Japanese specimens, and is also variable. They have an orange or brown to blackish body, a yellowish abdomen, and sometimes have a red area behind the eyes. One male from Sulawesi, Indonesia, became black overall, except around the eyes, and it looked very similar to Cirrhilabrus brunneus (Allen 2006), which is restricted to a small area of northeastern Kalimantan, Indonesia. Dr. Gerald Allen has examined my specimens and they proved be C. lunatus, but those from Indonesia and the Philippines would need DNA studies to verify their identity. Females from the South Seas are almost identical in coloration to those recorded from southern Japan. I have kept several individuals from Indonesia and they were all quite peaceful. Cirrhilabrus marjorie One very beautiful species I recently obtained, which is scarce in the trade, is Cirrhilabrus marjorie. It is known only fromthe Fiji Islands in the southwestern Pacific and has quite distinctive coloration. The body of the male is red to deep orange on the upper third of the sides, and abruptly white on the lower sides, with several faint blackish lines on the lower portion. The pectoral fin base is yellow-orange, while the caudal fin is yellow, with a black edge and a bluish submarginal line. The dorsal fin is primarily white, with the outer portion being black with an irregular red line and a bluish edge. ###### and ventral fins are mostly white, while the ###### fin has a bluish edge and a blackish submarginal line. The female is entirely orange-red and the abdominal portion is slightly whitish. All fins are yellowish, with the exception of the ventral fins, which are white, and the ###### fin, which has a bluish edge and a reddish submarginal line. The female has a slightly dusky coloration above the eyes, while a conspicuous black spot exists at the upper caudal peduncle. The male is similar to Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus, from the Coral Sea and Vanuatu, but has a double emarginate caudal fin, with acutely pointed lobes. Females greatly resemble those of C. adornatus, C. flavidorsalis and C. lubbocki in appearance, in that they have a reddish body with a black spot at the caudal peduncle. Although it shares some features with other Cirrhilabrus species, at present, no apparent close relative is known. I never expected that Cirrhilabrus marjorie would appear in the aquarium hobby so soon, but it did show up in 2007. A dealer in Tokyo, who imports a variety of fishes from all over the world, informedme that this species would be available in Japan in April of that year. I was asked to buy a pair and did not hesitate to do so. The pair was very expensive—the same price as 50 to 60 individuals of the cheaper, more popular, Cirrhilabrus. The dealer knew I was very interested in the genus and kindly dropped the price so I could afford them. I prepared my tank and anxiously awaited their arrival. They reached my home in the afternoon and I opened the box and found three individuals in separate vinyl bags — one adult Attenuate flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus attenuatus) from Kenya, and a pair of C. marjorie. I carefully made several small holes in each bag with a pin, and placed them in the prepared tank. I waited an hour and gently released the fish, but they stayedmotionless on the bottomfor another 20 minutes or so. While they were motionless, the two wrasses displayed many white dots on their bodies, which is their flight coloration. The next morning, I found that they were very actively swimming about with no apparent problems. The tank they were placed in held many species of Cirrhilabrus and Paracheilinus, a pyramid butterflyfish, a small pygmy angelfish, small peaceful Chromis damsels, a young bristletooth surgeonfish and a cleaner wrasse; all were quite peaceful. The two C. marjorie, along with my new flasher wrasse, readily accepted foods, including flakes, the first morning in the aquarium. This species was described by Allen, Randall and Carlson in 2003, and named after Marjorie Awai, wife of Dr. Bruce Carlson (of the Georgia Aquarium). Dr. Gerald Allen photographed and collected some specimens in Wakaya Island, Lomaiviti Group, in the Fiji Islands, in May 2003. In the wild, they can be seen in aggregations at a depth of 66 to 164 feet (20 to 50 meters). The species is not uncommon in this area, but males are few, being greatly outnumbered by females. In some groups, the females are actually larger than the male harem master. Allen collected three specimens, and themale holotype was 2.3 inches (57.9 millimeters) standard length (SL), while one of the females was 2.4 inches (60 millimeters) SL. A dive team from the U.S. collaborated with other divers from the other islands, and was successful in collecting a dozen pairs of the species in Fiji. As far as I know, three pairs were successfully shipped to Japan, and one of these pairs was now swimming before my eyes! I really hope that collectors in Fiji will capture more individuals to ship, so the cost will go down in the near future. It is popularly called the Marjorie’s fairy wrasse. My male measured 3 inches (80 millimeters) total length (TL), the largest example I know of. The female was some 2.8 inches (70 millimeters) TL. Both fish behaved quite gracefully and peacefully. Cirrhilabrus roseafascia Cirrhilabrus roseafascia, the rose-band fairy wrasse, led a mysterious existence in science, because it had escaped divers’ eyes since its original description in 1982. It was described by Randall and Lubbock, from a single specimen collected in a crab pot, set at a depth of 328 feet (100 meters), in New Caledonia. It was a very small individual and its “live coloration†was not observed by the ichthyologists. In the late 1980s, a Japanese diver photographed a male “C. Lanceolatus†in Palau, and later, an ichthyologist found several individuals in very deep waters off Samoa and Fiji, which he regarded as new. I saw their photographs and soon noticed that those from these localities in the Pacific were all C. roseafascia. Around 2005, several similar individuals were shipped to Japan from Cebu, Philippines. They are almost identical to C. lanceolatus from Japan, but exhibit different coloration, especially on the pelvic fins. In C. roseafascia, the bluish black on the pelvic fins is restricted to the posterior portion of the fins, while in C. lanceolatus it is located on the anterior portion of the pelvic fins. Cirrhilabrus roseafascia is the largest species in the genus, growing to around 8 inches (20 centimeters)—the largest I have obtained was a 6-inch (16 centimeter) male from Cebu. It is believed to occur in New Caledonia, Palau, Fiji, Samoa, Cebu and Vanuatu. Its “sister species,†C. lanceolatus, has been photographed in various localities in southern Japan, from the Okinawa region to the Izu Islands, but no similar species from Taiwan has been found. Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis Several specimens from the coast of Kenya are superficially similar to Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis, the social fairy wrasse, both in shape and coloration. I received some individuals from the area about three years ago and long wondered if they were true C. rubriventralis. In the males, the pelvic fins are broad and longer, with a long, narrow and red filamentous extension from the base of each fin. They also have a blackish to golden caudal fin and a yellowish area on the sides. The female is similar to that of C. rubriventralis in appearance, with several series of fine. Bluish dots on the sides. I preserved specimens to send Dr. Gerald Allen, and he replied that they are identical to C. rubriventralis from the Red Sea area, but indicated that further DNA studies would Be necessary. This species is not commonly sold in shops. The Kenyan C. rubriventralis showed some aggressiveness toward other smaller inhabitants of the tank, but otherwise was an excellent aquarium fish like those from the Red Sea and Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan specimens are commonly available in the trade, but those from the Red Sea are quite rare. There is a slight difference in coloration of the pelvic fins; in males from Sri Lanka these fins are red and black, while in Red Sea specimens the fins are entirely red. Undescribed Species Several, possibly undescribed, species have been imported to Japan, and one of the newcomers to the genus is popularly called the “Tongan fairy wrasse.†This Cirrhilabrus comes from Fiji and Tonga, and was first collected by the famous collector, Anthony Nahacky, in Fiji. The male has an orangeyellow body, with a deeper orange head, and orange bars around the eyes. Its dorsal fin is the most conspicuous, in having a black and longer extension from the first dorsal spine. The dorsal fin is yellow anteriorly, and the posterior half is red basally and black distally, with a blue margin. Other unpaired fins are orangish yellow. Females are similar, but lack the extension, and the dorsal fin is mostly yellow. In females, there is a black dot on the first dorsal fin. While it was once rare in the trade, its shows up more regularly now and the price has dropped slightly. When displaying, themale exhibits a bright-yellow coloration on the body. It grows to around 4 inches (10 centimeters). Another relatively newly introduced fairy wrasse is the “pintail fairy wrasse,†a Cirrhilabrus species from southern Japan to Cebu, Philippines. It was already known in the U.K. as an aquarium pet in the 1980s, but is still a rarity in the trade. From the 1990s to recent years, many individuals were photographed by divers in the deeper waters of southern Japan— the Izu Islands, Kashiwajima (Honshu) and the Ryukyu Islands. It is pinkish to orangish overall, with two distinct long purplish lines on the sides — one on the back and another in the center of the body. There is also a yellowish area anteriorly on the sides. The caudal fin is lanceolate, a trait shared by similar species like C. blatteus (Red Sea), C. lanceolatus (southern Japan), C. roseafascia (shown on page 32) and C. Sanguineus (Mauritius). The pintail fairy wrasse and C. lanceolatus overlap in the deep waters of southern Japan. It is also known fromTaiwan, where several individuals were collected in 2005. I hope the species will be named soon. A Japanese ichthyologist is preparing a paper based on these Taiwanese and the Ryukyu specimens. In addition, he will name another, undescribed, species recently found near Taiwan. There are several species from various locales yet to be named formally, at least one of which will soon be published. Also, Cirrhilabrus temminckii may prove to be divided intomore than two species in the future—for example, the population from Southeast Asia may be distinct from that of southern Japan. Cirrhilabrus lyukyuensis is now regarded by many ichthyologists as a valid species that ranges from southern Japan to Southeast Asia and western Micronesia, while the very similar C. cyanopleura is restricted to Indonesian waters. Some of the already named species may include undescribed types, and DNA analyses need to be conducted to identify species, as in the case of C. beauperryi. This ends my look at some of the interesting and unusual fairy wrasses that have recently been entering the aquarium trade. I hope this article will inspire you to take a closer look at these colorful and interesting fishes. You may even add one of these new fairies to our fish or reef aquarium!

Dun forget to attend AQUAMARIN Grand Opening this SUN Aug 9th at 12 PM.

WAH !...wat happen mate ???

Carragher wary of Owen threat Sun 02 Aug, 11:11 PM Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is pleased to see former Red Michael Owen back at a top-four club, but hopes his friend finds life at Manchester United tough going. Carragher predicted United's latest signing could prove a masterstroke for Sir Alex Ferguson, but is crossing his fingers the England striker struggles for goals in the Premier League title race. "For me, Michael Owen is still a great player and great role model and I have this feeling he'll be good for United." Carragher told the Sunday Mirror. "But he plays for our biggest rivals now so he'll know I won't want him to carry on scoring once the season starts." He added: "In a way I'm pleased he's got a big move to a big club because he came in for a lot of criticism at Newcastle. "Why? What did he do wrong up there? "He's scored a lot of goals in the first few games for United and I hope he scores a few more pre-season because I want him to do well. "But as soon as the season starts I hope he has a drought." Despite his respect for Owen's talents, Carragher believes Liverpool's forward pairing of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard could not be bettered. "No other team in England has a partnership like Gerrard and Torres. There is no better partnership in the world at the moment. "It's strange to be talking about Stevie as a striker, but that's what he has become and, for me, in that position behind the main forward there is no one better. When he's playing alongside Torres they have the ability to tear defences wide open in a split second."

Owen out to reward Ferguson's faith Sun 02 Aug, 09:10 AM Manchester United striker Michael Owen insists he has nothing to prove - but believes recent critics Sam Allardyce and Dave Whelan may end up "embarrassed" about snubbing him publicly. The former Liverpool forward was left kicking his heels for a while this summer after leaving Newcastle and appeared likely to end up at Hull or Stoke until Sir Alex Ferguson took him to Old Trafford. Blackburn boss Allardyce and Wigan owner Whelan distanced themselves from a move for the England striker - and Owen, 29, believes they will realise they were wrong. "If that was how they were perceiving me, fine, because the greatest accolade I could have is that Sir Alex Ferguson didn't think about that," Owen told FourFourTwo magazine. "I can quietly sit here and and look around where I am now - and if anyone else wants to look at what they've said, then they might feel embarrassed. I don't feel I have to impress these people. "I only need to prove things to people who believe in me. I want to show Sir Alex was right to believe in me." Owen is unfazed about the challenge of filling the gap left by the departures of Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo. "The team has lost two players - Tevez, who scored a few, and Ronaldo who got lots over the last two seasons," he said. "There's a big hole to fill, and I hope I can help plug it in terms of goals. I can't do it on my own - but I will help out. "When you sign for United you get excited about a lot of things. One of them, I hope, is scoring a lot of goals - because I am going to get a lot more chances here than at other teams."

'There's a Jewel on the Ocean , a GEM upon the Sea ...What do you see ? What do you see ? ...' Ahem !...in our LFSes of course !

Dun fret dude...REEFING never ends !

And dun forget about MOI folks !

to an enriching 'resplendent' session by the bubbly Peter Schmeidel. BTW, the latest issue of Coral Magazine JUL/AUG 2009 featured the excellent aquarium of his good 'ol buddy Jens Kallmeyer.

Sigh...still in search of the 'Holy Grail' of ZOAs mate. Yeah, how's these 'YELLOW SUBMARINES' bro ???

Your WISH is moi COMMAND !

Jumbo squid invade San Diego shores, spook divers By GILLIAN FLACCUS,Associated Press Writer AP - Friday, July 17 SAN DIEGO - Jumbo flying squid _ aggressive 5-foot-long sea monsters with razor-sharp beaks and toothy tentacles _ have invaded the shallow waters off San Diego, spooking scuba divers and washing up dead on tourist-packed beaches. The carnivorous calamari, which can grow up to 100 pounds, came up from the depths last week and swarms of them roughed up unsuspecting divers. Some divers report tentacles enveloping their masks and yanking at their cameras and gear. Stories of too-close encounters with the alien-like cephalopods have chased many veteran divers out of the water and created a whirlwind of excitement among the rest, who are torn between their personal safety and the once-in-a-lifetime chance to swim with the deep-sea giants. The so-called Humboldt squid are native to the deep waters off Mexico, where they have been known to attack humans and are nicknamed "red devils" for their rust-red coloring and mean streak. Those who dive with them there chum the water with bait and sometimes get in a metal cage or wear chain mail to avoid being lashed by tentacles. The squid hunt in schools of up to 1,200, can swim up to 15 mph and can skim over the water to escape predators. "I wouldn't go into the water with them for the same reason I wouldn't walk into a pride of lions on the Serengeti," said Mike Bear, a local diver. "For all I know, I'm missing the experience of a lifetime." The squid are too deep to bother swimmers and surfers, but many longtime divers say they are staying out of the surf until the sea creatures clear out. Yet other divers, including Shanda Magill, couldn't resist the chance to see the squid up close. On a recent night, Magill watched in awe as a dozen squid with doleful, expressive eyes circled her group, tapping and patting the divers and gently bumping them before dashing away. One especially large squid suspended itself motionless in the water about three feet away and peered at her closely, its eyes rolling, before it vanished into the black. A shimmering incandescence rippled along its body, almost as if it were communicating through its skin. But the next night, things were different: A large squid surprised Magill by hitting her from behind and grabbing at her with its arms, pulling her sideways in the water. The powerful creature ripped her buoyancy hose away from her chest and knocked away her light. When Magill recovered, she didn't know which direction was up and at first couldn't find the hose to help her stay afloat as she surfaced. The squid was gone. "I just kicked like crazy. The first thing you think of is, 'Oh my gosh, I don't know if I'm going to survive this. If that squid wanted to hurt me, it would have," she said. Other divers have reported squid pulling at their masks and gear and roughing them up. Roger Uzun, a veteran scuba diver and amateur underwater videographer, swam with a swarm of the creatures for about 20 minutes and said they appeared more curious than aggressive. The animals taste with their tentacles, he said, and seemed to be touching him and his wet suit to determine if he was edible. "As soon as we went underwater and turned on the video lights, there they were. They would ram into you, they kept hitting the back of my head," he said. "One got ahold of the video light head and yanked on it for two or three seconds and he was actually trying to take the video light with him," said Uzun, who later posted a 3-minute video with his underwater footage on YouTube. "It almost knocked the video camera out of my hands." Scientists aren't sure why the squid, which generally live in deep, tropical waters off Mexico and Central America, are showing up off the Southern California coast _ but they are concerned. In recent years, small numbers have been spotted from California to Sitka, Alaska and are increasingly being spotted off the San Diego coastline _ an alarming trend that scientists believe could be caused by anything from global warming to a shortage of food or a decline in the squid's natural predators. In 2005, a similar invasion off San Diego delighted fishermen and, in 2002, thousands of jumbo flying squid washed up on the beaches here. That year, workers removed 12 tons of dead and dying squid. This summer, the wayward squid have also been hauled up by fisherman in waters off Orange County, just north of San Diego. Research suggests the squid may have established a year-round population off California at depths of 300 to 650 feet, said Nigella Hillgarth, executive director of the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Divers this summer have been encountering them at about 60 to 80 feet down, they said. No one knows how many squid are in the shallow waters, but one biologist estimated they could number in the hundreds, or possibly thousands. "Usually where there's one squid, there's a lot of squid, so I would assume that there's a good number," said John Hyde, a biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service in San Diego. Their presence off the coast _ and the subsequent die-offs _ may occur when their prey moves to shallow waters and the squid follow, and then get trapped and confused in the surf, said Hillgarth, who saw a dying squid on the beach last weekend. "It was an amazing privilege to touch a creature like that and see how amazingly beautiful it was," she said. "They have these wonderful eyes. ... They look all-seeing, all-knowing." That's the kind of description that pulls veteran divers such as Raleigh Moody back to the pitch-black water, despite the danger. "My usual dive buddy, he didn't want to come out," said Moody, as he prepared for a night dive with another friend. "There are some divers (who) just don't want to deal with it and there are some like me that, until they hear of something bad happening, I'm going to be an idiot and go back in the water." On the Net: Roger Uzun's full video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?vlcKQt5hHDXg&fmt22

'Retrenchments will continue' Labour movement encourages skills upgrading to reduce job losses Channel NewsAsia - Saturday, August 1 SINGAPORE: Labour chief Lim Swee Say said some companies plan to retrench 1,500 workers in the second half of this year, with most of these job losses expected to be in the manufacturing sector. Weak global demand and companies relocating to other countries that offer lower operating costs are two factors responsible for the current job losses in Singapore, said the labour movement. And it added that lifelong learning is a way to overcome these problems. Mr Lim said: "We must compete for higher value—added operation, higher skilled operation, higher technology contents operation, with other more advanced economies. So that on the whole, the net outflow of relocation must be in terms of less (companies) going out (of Singapore) and more coming in." Mr Lim expects retrenchments to continue as companies restructure during this economic downturn. Thus, workers are encouraged to upgrade their skills so that businesses will be attracted to Singapore’s skilled labour. At a ceremony on Friday, the labour movement commended union leaders for promoting lifelong learning. One of the 44 recipients of the Industrial Workers Education and Training Fund Learning Awards is Catherine Chia. She said that her diploma from the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute has helped her answer difficult questions from union members when the electronics company she worked for conducted a retrenchment exercise in February. Ms Chia, an industrial union leader for NEC Semiconductors, said: “I find that with this diploma and courses (I attended), I have more confidence to express myself, and I could really talk to the retrenched workers and advise them to go for the employment camp, and to go to the e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) courses and also for SPUR (Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience). And I find that most of them have found jobs already.†The labour movement’s leadership development hub, the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute, took on a new look to reflect its new role and identity. It involves a sharper focus on enhancing leadership and tripartism in the labour movement and among its tripartite partners. CNA/yt

WOW !...ya SPSes 'power-packed' mate ! And ya GEMs certainly make moi humble.

Mmmm...seems like the Mother Colony is having 'extra-marital affair' mate !

Singapore Air posts first quarterly loss since 2003 Reuters - Friday, July 31 SINGAPORE, July 30 - Singapore Airlines <SIAL.SI>, the world's second largest airline by market value, posted on Thursday its first quarterly loss in six years as a global recession hit passenger and cargo demand. Singapore Airlines also warned it could post a full year loss if adverse conditions continued, but said that its cash position remains strong and it does not need to raise capital. The combination of the global economic downturn, the outbreak of H1N1 influenza and fuel hedging resulted in a loss of S$307.1 million for its first quarter ended June 2009, compared to a profit of S$358.6 million a year ago. "This is the first quarterly loss since the SARS crisis in 2003," the company said in a statement. Singapore Air has seen falling passenger and cargo demand this year as a global recession hurt business and leisure travel, forcing it to reduce capacity by 11 percent in the 12 months from April, and cut salaries as well as working hours of their staff. Analysts polled by Reuters Estimates had expected a net loss of S$30 million for the period. Singapore Airlines saw its overall load factor falling to 67.6 percent in June from 68.5 percent the same time last year, although the number has recovered slightly from 62.1 percent in February. Singapore’s tourism receipts down 13.5% in first half of 2009 Channel NewsAsia - Friday, July 31 SINGAPORE: Business on Singapore’s resort island of Sentosa is thriving despite the tourism slump. Tourism receipts fell by almost 13.5 per cent in the first half of 2009 to S$6.4 billion, compared to last year. Visitor arrivals dropped 11.5 per cent in the six months to June from a year ago as the global economic downturn and H1N1 flu outbreak hit travel, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on Thursday. It said the city—state received 4.5 million visitors from January to June, with those from Indonesia, China, Australia, India and Malaysia accounting for more than 50 per cent of arrivals. STB said it expects 9.0 to 9.5 million travellers for the whole of this year, generating an expected S$12.0 to S$12.5 billion in revenues. Singaporeans are looking for a nearby weekend getaway to help boost the numbers. Sentosa island is confident of hitting its target of six million visitors by the end of this year. The 14—metre leap of faith is part of Sentosa’s latest attraction, the MegaZip Adventure Park. The S$2 million facility also has Asia’s longest and steepest flying fox ride and it has already attracted much attention even before it officially opens its doors in 2 weeks. Alexander Blyth, managing director, MegaZip Adventure Park, said: "There’s been an avalanche of interest. There are bookings from the corporate sector at the moment, private bookings and birthday parties." Tickets start from S$10 for a Para—Jump and S$29 for the MegaZip. Sentosa said such activities will hopefully compliment offerings from the upcoming Resorts World and Universal Studios Theme Park attractions and this could help drive up Singapore’s tourism numbers in the second half of 2009. For now, Sentosa is enjoying a steady stream of visitors from mainland Singapore. Mike Barclay, CEO, Sentosa Leisure Group, said: "The foreign visitor numbers have dropped a bit, but we’re getting more of our local guests on weekends particularly. And actually overall, our numbers are holding up quite well." Sentosa is aiming to hit 15 million visitors annually by 2015 and it is investing some S$300 million on infrastructure and on new offerings, including water sport activities. All in, the four new leisure attractions on Sentosa cost S$42 million and will be up and running by 2010. CNA/vm/al

12,000 SIA staff to take 10% pay cut after carrier posts loss in Q1 Channel NewsAsia - Friday, July 31 SINGAPORE: An estimated 12,000 non—management staff at Singapore Airlines (SIA) will take a pay cut of 10 per cent for three months starting from August 1. This comes after the carrier posted a S$271 million loss at the company level in the first quarter. As a group, SIA posted a net loss of S$307.1 million for the three months ended June 30 compared to a net profit of S$358.6 million a year earlier. But at company level, the loss for the carrier alone was S$271 million. Under current union agreements, a pay cut is automatically triggered if the airline posts a net loss at a company level in any given quarter. It applies across the board, but Channel NewsAsia understands, the bulk of those affected comprise cabin crew, pilots and ground staff employed in Singapore. The quantum is determined by the amount of losses. The pay cuts start at 2.5 per cent for losses at the company level of S$50 million, and go up to as much as 10 per cent for losses of S$200 million or more. The pay cut is part of union—represented staff’s monthly variable component of 10 per cent. An SIA spokesman told Channel NewsAsia that the pay cut may continue beyond November even if the carrier posts a profit in the second quarter. This is because the losses are calculated accumulatively throughout the financial year. CNA/vm Retrenchments down sharply, unemployment stabilises in Q2 Channel NewsAsia - Friday, July 31 SINGAPORE: The number of jobs lost in Singapore doubled to 12,400 in the second quarter of this year, according to the Manpower Ministry’s (MOM) preliminary estimates on Friday. This is the first time that employment has contracted for two consecutive quarters since the 2003 economic downturn. Manufacturing, again, bore the brunt of job losses. Construction and services sectors increased their workforce, but the gains were lower than in previous quarters. On the other hand, retrenchments appeared to have eased. MOM said 4,800 workers were laid off and 700 contracts were terminated prematurely in the second quarter. This means 5,500 workers were made redundant during that period — half the number compared to the previous quarter. Overall unemployment rate also stabilised at 3.3 per cent in June, unchanged from a quarter ago. Among the resident labour force, the unemployment rate declined from 4.8 per cent in March to 4.6 per cent in June. MOM said in the difficult job market, more people are deferring job searches to pursue training courses, including those supported under the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR). An estimated 91,800 residents were unemployed in June. 938LIVE/so

Custody deal agreed for Jackson's children AFP - Friday, July 31 LOS ANGELES (AFP) - - Michael Jackson's mother is to get permanent custody of the late pop star's children after agreeing a deal with the singer's ex-wife, attorneys for the two sides said in a statement Thursday. The agreement -- which averts the possibility of an ugly court case -- will see Jackson's former wife Debbie Rowe receive visitation rights to the two children she bore Jackson, Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11. The surrogate mother of Jackson's third child, seven-year-old Prince Michael II, known as "Blanket," has never been identified. Rowe will obtain visitation rights for Prince Michael and Paris but would receive no money beyond the spousal agreement already in place -- reportedly worth some 8.5 million dollars -- a statement said. "Mrs Jackson and the family are pleased this matter is resolved and was handled in a caring, thoughtful and courteous manner by the parties and their representatives," Jackson's lawyers Londell McMillan and Diane Goodman said. "We were all united in our goals to do what is best for Michael's wonderful children, and both Mrs Jackson and Debbie Rowe were on the exact same page." The statement said the "timing, frequency and manner" of Rowe's visits would be determined after consultation with a child psychologist. The custody agreement would be presented at Los Angeles Superior Court for likely approval by a judge on Monday, the statement added. Katherine Jackson, 79, was named temporary guardian of her grandchildren at a court hearing in Los Angeles four days after her son's death on June 25. A will drawn up by Michael Jackson in 2002 named his mother as the guardian of the youngsters, with Motown legend Diana Ross named as an alternate. The three children have been staying with Katherine Jackson at the musical clan's compound since their father's death last month. Rowe signed away her parental rights to her two children in 2001, describing Jackson as a "wonderful man... a brilliant father." However, a Los Angeles judge reversed the order in 2004 after Rowe cited concerns over publicity related to Jackson's prosecution for child molestation. Rowe later settled the case, reportedly securing visitation rights. Despite Jackson naming his mother as the children's guardian in his will, legal experts said Rowe would have a strong custody claim on the grounds that she was the sole surviving biological parent. Lawyers for Rowe had reacted furiously on July 14 after reports that her custody challenge was an attempt to secure a multi-million-dollar payout. Rowe's attorney Eric George said Thursday the custody agreement was a "dignified outcome to a dignified discussion." "The sole consideration between the parties was the best interests of the children," George said. "I'm proud to have worked with such professionals who represented Ms Jackson, and I am particularly proud of Deborah for her integrity and selflessness." The fate of Jackson's children was one of the myriad legal tangles thrown up by the iconic singer's death last month. As well as custody issues, next Monday's hearing will also address the question of who controls Jackson's estate. Meanwhile, the release of Jackson's autopsy results has been delayed until next week, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office confirmed Wednesday. On Tuesday, federal agents and police raided the Las Vegas home and office of Jackson's personal doctor, Conrad Murray, who has become the central figure in the superstar's sudden death. Search warrants filed in the investigation have indicated police are studying possible manslaughter charges against Murray, who is reported to have administered Jackson with a potent anesthetic before his death. Jackson, 50, died suddenly at his rented mansion in Holmby Hills as he prepared to relaunch his career with a series of comeback concerts in London.

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Waiting to see ya super-duper new ZOAs.

1st Photo - FAVITES 2nd Photo - (Left-most) Nice CHALICE - hurry hurry B.I.G.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service published a notice which describes proposed resolutions, decisions and agenda items that the United States may submit for consideration at the conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). There are several types of species that the US may include on the CITES species list. Click the read more link for the whole list. 1. Species the United States is likely to submit for consideration: Red and Pink coral (Corallium spp.) for inclusion in Appendix II Bobcat (Lynx rufus) for removal from Appendix II. 2. Species for which the U.S. is “undecided†for including in Appendix I or II, pending receipt of additional information: Nautilids (Allonautilus Spp.) for inclusion in II Freshwater sawfish (Pristis microdon) for transfer from II to I Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) for inclusion in II Devil and Manta rays (Mobulidae) for inclusion in II Freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygonidae) for inclusion in II American eel (Anguilla rostrata) for inclusion in II Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentine) for inclusion in III (This involves a unilateral decision by the US since it involves inclusion in III) Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) for inclusion in II Diamond Back Terrapin (Malaclemnys terrapin) for inclusion in II Florida soft-shell turtle (Apalone ferox) for inclusion in II Smooth soft-shell turtle (Apalone mutica) for inclusion in II Spiny soft-shell turtle (Apalone spinifera) for inclusion in II Giant leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus giganteus) transfer II to I 3. Species the U.S. is unlikely to submit unless there is significant additional information: Blue-sided frog (Agalychnis annae) for inclusion in II Morelet’s tree frog (Agalychnis moreletii) for inclusion in II Rancho Grande harlequin frog (Atelopus cruciger) for inclusion in II Helmeted water toad (Caudiverbera caudiverbera) for inclusion in II Santa Fe frog (Leptodactylus laticeps) for inclusion in II Giant Asian river frog (Limnonectes blythii) for inclusion in II Fanged river frog (Limnonectes macrodon) for inclusion in II Giant Philippine frog (Limnonectes magnus) for inclusion in II Albanian water frog (Rana shqiperica) for inclusion in II Rain frog (Scaphiophryne boribory) for inclusion in II Alto Verapaz salamander (Bolitoglossa dofleini) for inclusion in II Kaiser’s spotted newt (Neurergus kaiseri) for inclusion in I or II Kurdistan newt (Neurergus microspilotus) for inclusion in II Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) for inclusion II Map turtles (Graptemys spp.) for inclusion in II Read More...

Fauna play key role in circulating seas, says study AFP - Thursday, July 30 PARIS (AFP) - - Creatures large and small may play an unsuspectedly important role in the stirring of ocean waters, according to a study released Wednesday. So-called ocean mixing entails the transfer of cold and warm waters between the equator and poles, as well as between the icy, nutrient-rich depths and the sun-soaked top layer. It plays a crucial part in marine biodiversity and, scientists now suspect, in maintaining Earth's climate. The notion that fish and other sea swimmers might somehow contribute significantly to currents as they moved forward was first proposed in the mid-1950s by Charles Darwin, grandson of the the legendary evolutionary biologist of the same name. But this was dismissed by modern scientists as a fishy story. In 1960s, experiments compared the wake turbulence created by sea creatures with overall ocean turbulence. They showed that the whirls kicked up by microscopic plankton or even fish quickly dissipated in dense, viscous water. On this evidence, sea creatures seemed to contribute nothing to ocean mixing. The clear conclusion was that the only drivers of note were shifting winds and tides, tied to the gravitational tug-of-war within our Solar System. But the new study, published in the British science journal Nature, goes a long way toward rehabilitating the 20th century Darwin, and uses the quiet pulse of the jellyfish to prove the case. Authors Kakani Katija and Joan Dabiri of the California Institute of Technology devised a laser-based system for measuring the movement of liquid. They donned scuba gear and then released dye in the path of swarm of jellyfish in a saltwater lake on the Pacific island of Palau. The video images they captured showed a remarkable amount of cold water followed the jellyfish as they moved vertically, from deeper chillier waters toward the warmer layers of the surface. Katija and Dabiri say the 1960s investigators had simply been looking in the wrong place. They had been on the alert for waves or eddies -- signs that the sea was being stirred up in the creatures' wake -- rather than vertical displacement of water. What determines the amount of water that is mixed is the size and shape of the animal, its population and migratory patterns. Churning of the seas is a factor in the carbon cycle. At the surface, plankton gobble up carbon dioxide (CO2) through photosynthesis. When they die, their carbon-rich remains may fall gently to the ocean floor, effectively storing the CO2 for millennia -- or, alternatively, may be brought back to upper layers by sea currents. William Dewar of Florida State University in a commentary, also published in Nature, said the new paper challenged conventional thinking. "Should the overall idea of significant biogenic mixing survive detailed scrutiny, climate science will have experienced a paradigm shift," he said.