April 2016 | US NEWS

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Japan hit by second powerful earthquake with fears of worse ahead

At least 34 believed dead and about 1,500 injured with thousands more evacuated as rescuers search through rubble

A second major earthquake in less than two days has shaken Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, with at least 34 people thought to have been killed, about 1,500 injured and more feared buried after building collapses and landslides.


The 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck at about 1.30am on Saturday, waking people across the island – including the thousands already in crisis centres. It caused widespread damage, with several landslides and a village evacuated over fears a dam might burst.

On Thursday a weaker magnitude 6.5 earthquake in the same region of Kumamoto brought down buildings, killed nine people and injured about 800. More than 100 aftershocks followed until the ultimately bigger quake on Saturday morning that led to the earlier, smaller event being reclassified as a foreshock.


Japan’s prime minister, Shinzō Abe, expressed concerns about secondary disasters from mudslides as the weather forecast for the area predicted wet weather and strong winds.
Rain began falling at about 3pm local time, with torrential downpours anticipated through the night. The Fukuoka Meteorological Agency estimated that 100mm-150mm of rain would fall on Kumamoto over the next 24 hours, increasing the risk of landslides.


“Daytime today is the big test” for rescue efforts, Abe said. He called off a visit to Kumamoto on Saturday given the worsened situation after the new earthquakes struck. “He was scheduled to visit Mashiki but now he does not think that would be the best use of his time,” his office told the Guardian.


Before the torrential rain began, 4,200 households in the mountainous town of Misato were told to evacuate, along with 40 in the village of Nishihara and 5,200 in Oita prefecture’s city of Yufu, which also suffered damage in the earthquake. More than 15,000 people have been affected by the orders.
The Japanese government’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said on Saturday that 1,500 people had been injured, 80 of them seriously, and casualty figures were likely to increase. Nearly 70,000 people had left their homes, he said.
He said the military presence would be boosted to 20,000 for rescue efforts. Police and firefighters are also being ordered to the region.
In a nationally televised news conference, Suga asked people not to panic. “Please let’s help each other and stay calm,” he said.


Tsunami warnings were triggered by Saturday’s quake, though none took place, and there was confusion and anxiety for the thousands of evacuees whose homes had already been destroyed or damaged.
One massive landslide tore open a mountainside in Minamiaso village in Kumamoto prefecture from the top to a road below, destroying a key bridge that could cut off food and other relief transport to the worst hit area.
Another landslide hit a road, collapsing a house that fell down a ravine. In another part of the village, houses were left hanging precariously at the edge of a huge hole cut open in the earth.



Car Quote

With the rising consistency of automobile related incidents, car insurance is required greater than ever before. Car insurance is compulsory for a lot of the world's drivers, who can't go out on the open road with no policy in the first place. In the US, penalties are placed on drivers without car insurance. Like a sensible driver, you may need insurance for the automobile and an insurance quote so as to choose which policy you must buy. Before you get insurance for the automobile and an insurance quote for yourself, you need to comprehend what automobile insurance covers. Car insurance can cover more than one of 3 different insurance levels.

Car insurance will also cover harm done to the car, perhaps due to a collision or vehicle breakdown. Lastly, 3rd parties may also be covered to some degree by insurance, depending on if they caused harm to the car, or if the car and its drivers had done harm to them. As you analyze prospects for insurance of your automobile and the insurance quote comprising details on the potential policy, study the extent to which coverage may apply so as to preserve yourself legal entanglements and problems later. In order to buy automobile insurance, you'll have to pay a premium for a particular period of time.

You'll find the value of this premium whenever you study documents for the insurance of your automobile and the insurance quote given to you. Additionally you need to understand how an insurance provider arrived at this type of price. Dependant upon where you reside, the insurance premium can be determined in just one of two ways! it may be determined by the local government, or set by the insurance provider according to local government regulations. Premium costs are determined by insurance actuaries and are based on local road and lifestyle data. Premium costs also depend on the design and age of the vehicle, the coverage you'll select, your profile and lifestyle, and how you intend to use the car.

Generally, the more coverage you need, the higher the premium cost, though some insurance agencies can give you discount rates on coverage. Study insurance prospects for the automobile and the insurance quote that the business will offer you so as to determine which package you must select. In certain states, and for many insurance agencies, insurance plans extend to the policy holder only if the holder is driving her or his car. If you drive an automobile owned by someone else, then that individual automobile insurance contract applies to you.

Cheapest Car Insurance

In Connecticut, the cheapest automobile insurance you purchase may have to be enough to at least cover the minimum responsibility needs required by state law. Although Ct only requires responsibility the state clearly suggests buying higher limits and extra coverage. They've a few insurance agencies that earned an excessive amount of $5,000,000 in premiums and maintained a fairly low complaint record. Before you purchase the cheapest automobile insurance in CT, consider all the aspects of the insurance provider first, including client support. The company which will offer you the cheapest rates is different for everybody. For you, it'll be the one which meets your minimum requires, has discount rates that apply to you, and has the pliability you need.

Progressive and Nationwide both write guidelines in the state. The only way to determine what they'll charge you is to get a rate quote either with each company, or via a 3rd party rate quote tool. The less coverage you buy, the cheaper your policy will be. Minimum responsibility in Ct is $20,000 per individual and $40,000 per accident for bodily injury and $10,000 for damage to property. Optional coverage might be obtained for complete, collision, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist, and different other guidelines as well. From Hartford to Salem, most providers do recommend that you purchase more if you can really afford to.

Insurance agencies which are able to offer you with all your insurance needs are often the big insurance agencies. Large doesn't always mean expensive, as often their costs might be much lower than the small business. These insurance groups can be composed of multiple insurance agencies under other names. You'll have to compare policies between each to see that offers you the best combination of advantages and rates.

Cheapest Auto Insurance Quote

Every state in the U.S. Requires drivers to have car insurance on their cars. The Internet makes it simple to get on-line quotes from even the major corporations. Here is how to get the best rates from main car insurance agencies. Whenever you go on-line to get your car insurance quote, your smartest choice is to get to an insurance comparison site. Here, you will be capable to get quotes from many insurance agencies at the same time. Yes, you might also go to each insurance company's personal web site, but you will end up typing in the same info over and over on each web site - and you'll get the same quotes in the end.

Location, including your zip code and whether your vehicle is garaged during the night. Safety features in your car, like anti lock brakes and airbags. Driving behaviour, like how many miles you drive every year and any tickets you've received. You'll also need to fill out the coverage limitations you need and the deductibles for extensive and accident coverage. Make sure that you fill out all this info accurately so your quote will be correct. On the best insurance comparison web sites, you can talk with insurance professionals if you've any questions as you complete the application. You may also get suggestions about the way to get the best rate. When you key in all of your info and submit your form, you'll soon start to receive quotes from multiple A rated car insurance agencies.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

DBS rises to 6th spot in Asia-Pacific private bank rankings: Survey

DBS had US$75 billion in assets under management at the end of December last year, up 2.5 per cent from end-2014, says industry publication Asian Private Banker. 


SINGAPORE: DBS' private banking arm has grown to become the sixth largest in the Asia-Pacific region, rising one notch from seventh in 2014, according to a ranking released on Wednesday (Apr 6).
According to Asian Private Banker, an industry publication, DBS had US$75 billion (S$101 billion) in assets under management (AUM) at the end of December last year, up 2.5 per cent from end-2014. The figure includes client assets from DBS' Treasures Private Client, which caters to people with at least S$1.5 million in investable assets.
Bank of Singapore, the private bank owned by Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC), was 11th on the list with US$55 billion in AUM - an increase of 7.8 per cent from 2014. Its Asia-Pacific ranking was unchanged.
"It is heartening to know that our latest ranking brings us within a whisker of our aim of being among the top five wealth managers in the region," Ms Tan Su Shan, DBS' Group Head of Consumer Banking and Wealth Management, said in a statement.
"Our focus will be on improving the digital capabilities of our platform," she added.
Swiss giant UBS topped the Asia-Pacific ranking once again, with US$274 billion in AUM last year. It was followed by Citi and Credit Suisse, which stayed in second and third position respectively.
Asian Private Banker said AUM at Asia's largest private banks stalled last year, with total AUM among the 20 largest banks falling to US$1.47 trillion from US$1.54 billion in 2014. There was a marginal decline in the number of relationship managers who service the region's wealthy residents, it added.

Better technology, enhanced Home Team needed to fight terror threat: MHA

From enhancing airport immigration lanes to stepping up police recruitment - the Ministry of Home Affairs will roll out new measures for Home Team to deal with increasing security challenges.

SINGAPORE: With the threat of a terror attack on Singapore at its highest in recent times, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) outlined three key areas in which Singapore's counter-terrorism strategy will be enhanced:
  1. Improving protective security measures for buildings and premises, including expanding the video camera network
  2. Enhancing security response capabilities in event of an armed attack
  3. Strengthening community response through a new national movement called SG Secure
Speaking at the Committee of Supply debate on Wednesday (April 6), Mr Shanmugam highlighted that demands on Singapore’s Home Team - comprising the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and others - have grown significantly over recent years, due to factors like an aging population; rising traveller and cargo volumes at checkpoints; new manifestations of crime such as in cyberspace and increased public expectations.
"So we are certainly not in an ideal situation... But we will do our best to ensure safety and security outcomes remain good. We need a new operating model, to enhance our operational effectiveness and manage our workload," said Mr Shanmugam.


BETTER USE OF TECHNOLOGY


To this end, Home Team will transform its operating model to adopt a data-driven, tiered and differentiated frontline approach, the Home Affairs Minister said. This entails using data analytics to anticipate where safety and security emergencies might take place, and “intelligently” deploying resources to these hotspots.
Technology will play an essential role here, with police implementing a new PolCam 2.0 programme to install video cameras at public areas in HDB estates, such as town centres, neighbourhood centres, and pedestrian walkways.
Additionally, all motorcycle counters at land checkpoints will be equipped with automated clearance facilities by year-end, and the upcoming Changi Airport Terminal 4 will have enhanced automated immigration lanes with biometric checks and centralised arrival and departure immigration halls.

The Home Team will also use all intelligence and investigation tools available, said Mr Shanmugam.
“We will have to make better use of available data, for example public transport video cameras and Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) systems, these contain important data that can be vital to our safety and security,” he said.
“We had initially taken the position that some of these data would not be used. But in this changed security environment, the Home Team must be able to collect and analyse suspicious travel patterns and respond swiftly and decisively for our collective security. If we don't rely on existing data, then we have to spend taxpayers' money to redo the entire infrastucture."


IMPORTANCE OF MANPOWER
Noting that such technology and systems must be paired with competent personnel, Mr Shanmugam announced that SPF will step up recruitment this year to build the new ERTs and bolster the existing Special Operations Command (SOC). This is crucial even as the nation faces a manpower crunch with fewer youths entering the workforce each year, he said, adding that "if we don't, we take unacceptable risks".
The police will also revamp its scheme of service to both attract the young as well as retain its best. This will see SPF replacing its current system of separate structures for junior and senior officers - where only graduates can hold ranks starting from Inspector - with a unified scheme to provide seamless advancement opportunities up the ranks for good diploma holders, said Mr Shanmugam.
SPF will also introduce new career developmental pathways for officers with specialised skills in investigation, intelligence and special operations. These changes will be progressively extended to the rest of the Home Team departments, with more details to be announced at the Police Workplan Seminar later this month.
Home Team will also increasingly draw on its ranks of National Servicemen (NSmen), deploying more of them along with Full-Time National Servicemen (NSFs) to frontline positions, leadership roles, and specialist positions, according to Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin.
SPF will call on both NSFs and NSmen to set up a new Protective Security Command (ProCom), which will protect critical infrastructure in national emergency situations, and oversee protective security functions during peacetime. SCDF, meanwhile, has already established new positions at its Marine Command to enable deployment of NSmen in daily operations as part of In-Camp Training.
“Our fight is against extremism and violence, not against any particular religion,” said Mr Shanmugam. “We must take a collective stand against those who threaten our harmony and way of life, and do all we can to protect the multi-racial and multi-religious soul of Singapore.”

 

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