Google buys security firm Postini for $950m

Google buys security firm Postini for $950m

SAN FRANCISCO - INTERNET search giant Google said Monday it agreed to buy Web security firm Postini for US$625 million (S$950 million) in cash, expanding its business software applications. Google plans to operate the company as a subsidiary in its Google Apps (applications) unit, which includes its email, calendar and documents applications. Postini provides email security, message archiving and instant-messaging services. It has 35,000 businesses as customers and 10 million users, according to Google. ‘With this transaction, we’re reinforcing our commitment to delivering compelling hosted applications to businesses of all sizes,’ said Eric Schmidt, chairman and chief executive of Google. Dave Girouard, a Google vice president, said Google Apps was launched ’so that it would be easier for employees to communicate and share information while reducing the hassles and costs associated with enterprise software’. He said every day, more than 1,000 small businesses sign up for these services. Google is now working to lure larger companies to Google Apps and needs to consider certain business and security needs. ‘That’s why we’re excited to share the news that we’ve agreed to acquire Postini, a company that offers security and corporate compliance solutions for email, IM (instant messaging), and other web-based communications.’ — AFP

 Source : The Straits Times, 09 July 2007

Smoking ban goes smoothly in first week

Smoking ban goes smoothly in first week 
By Alfred Siew & Jermyn Chow 
ISOLATION ROOM: The party goes on in the main halls of nightspot Ministry of Sound, while smokers who want to light up step away from the music into a separate room. Weekend figures are not available, but no summons were issued to rule-breakers last week. — ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
 
A WEEK after the smoking ban kicked in at nightspots, revellers have continued to turn up to party, while the smokers among them have avoided the temptation to light up.
While weekend figures were not yet available, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Friday it has yet to issue a summons to any nightspot or smoker, though it has conducted nightly checks at entertainment outlets.

By last Thursday, it had inspected 536 outlets, more than half the nearly 900 here.

Said NEA spokesman Meng Yew Choong: ‘In general, the feeling we get is that there is a high level of compliance on the ground.’

On July 1, nightspots joined hawker centres, restaurants and community clubs on a list of places where smoking is not allowed.

When the ban kicked in, only 118 nightspots had applied for permission to build indoor smoking rooms or have designated outdoor smoking areas.

Despite this, party-goers still turned up in droves - without a cigarette in hand.

A check by The Straits Times on Friday and Saturday found it was business as usual for many outlets.

Nightspots such as Zouk and Ministry of Sound (MOS) reported brisk sales for the week since the July 1 stub-out.

More than 10,000 revellers partied at Zouk over the past week, about the same number as the week before.

MOS assistant vice-president of marketing, Mr Calvin Sio, said the club not only saw more people through its doors but clubbers bought more drinks, with club sales up 20 per cent from the previous week.

However, some small outlets face a tougher time. Mr Kenny Skeoch, who owns Beers, a small pub in Circular Road, said he lost half his business over the weekend because his place does not have a smoking room.

Some non-smokers gave their new smoke-free club environs the thumbs-up. Said full-time national serviceman Douglas Yew, 22: ‘I not only breathe but see better as my eyes don’t hurt.’

But while smokers generally have no objection to stubbing out indoors, some are unhappy over poorly ventilated retreats where they are allowed to light up.

Chilean student Vincenzo Dona, 18, who studied in London for two years before the smoking ban kicked in there, said: ‘Unlike the smoking rooms in London, those here are so stuffy and don’t have vents to suck out the fumes.’

To counter this, outlets such as MOS said they will install more filtration systems in the smoking rooms to keep the air fresh.

At Zouk, night operations manager Benny Heng said it will install air fresheners in its air-conditioners to keep the smell of sweaty bodies at bay.

The club is also getting its cleaners to check if clubbers are smoking inside the toilets and make them stub out.

Any smoker who infringes the ban can be fined a maximum of $1,000, jailed for up to six months or both.

Smoker Wijaya Tommy, 28, a logistics executive, supports the ban: ‘I smoke less, can spend more money on drinks and smell better.’
Source : The Straits Times, 09 July 2007

Ang Mo Kio blocks plundered for metal

Ang Mo Kio blocks plundered for metal 
FOUR stainless steel signboards and several public taps were dismantled and stolen from two HDB blocks in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1.
The stolen signboards, valued at $640, were located at the ground floor lift landings of Blocks 315 and 316, while the metal taps nearby were worth about $240.

Police, which received a report from a resident at about 10.30am on Saturday, are investigating.

Anyone with information should contact police at 1800-255-0000.

Cashing in on soaring scrap metal prices, metal thieves have been making off with just about anything they can get their hands on. Their bounty includes cables, signs, drain covers, metal handrails, prayer urns and even toilet fixtures.

Police say there were 294 such cases in the first three months of this year. Last year, there were 184 cases in the same period.
K.C. VIJAYAN

Source : The Straits Times, 09 July 2007

30,000 households in Sembawang enjoy barrier-free access

30,000 households in Sembawang enjoy barrier-free access THE elderly and disabled living in some 30,000 households from 319 blocks under Sembawang Town Council can now enjoy improved accessibility in and around their estates. Speaking to reporters yesterday morning at a ceremony marking the completion of phase one of Sembawang GRC’s barrier-free programme, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said the project is part of a larger push towards making Singapore’s living environment more convenient for the ageing and disabled population. Across the island, efforts are being made to make buses step-free and with low-set floors, and have lifts and ramps in MRT stations. Phase one of Sembawang Town Council’s project was completed at a cost of $1 million. The GRC is now starting on phase two, which covers another 298 blocks, at an estimated cost of $2.9 million. The whole project will cover 1,019 Housing Board blocks under Sembawang GRC by 2010. Among the facilities built to help the elderly and disabled are ramps, railings and tactile tile slabs. Such features were installed at neighbourhood centres, bus stops and traffic crossings. Covered walkways, additional drop-off points, footpaths and lifts stopping on every floor have also been introduced. ‘Other groups benefiting are young parents with prams and also housewives who have gone marketing… At first we thought it was something largely targeted at the elderly, but it turned out to satisfy different cohorts of people,’ said Mr Khaw, an MP for Sembawang GRC. At yesterday’s event, residents were updated on other aspects of the town council’s five-year improvement plan for the GRC via an exhibition. Source : The Straits Times, 09 July 2007