#numerous singapore-based

[mariacallous]

The United States Department of Justice on Wednesday announced charges against a 35-year-old Chinese national, Yunhe Wang, accused of operating a massive botnet allegedly linked to billions of dollars in fraud, child exploitation, and bomb threats, among other crimes.

Wang, identified by numerous pseudonyms—Tom Long and Jack Wan, among others—was arrested on May 24 and is accused of distributing malware through various pop-up VPN services, such as “ProxyGate” and “MaskVPN,” and by embedding viruses in internet files distributed via peer-to-peer networks known as torrents.

The malware is said to have compromised computers located in nearly every country in the world, turning them into proxies through which criminals were able to hide their identities while committing countless crimes. According to prosecutors in the US, this included the theft of billions of dollars slated for Covid-19 pandemic relief—funds allegedly stolen by foreign actors posing as unemployed US citizens.

According to an indictment, the infected computers allegedly provided Wang’s customers with a persistent backdoor, allowing them to disguise themselves as any one of the victims of Wang’s malware. This illicit proxy service, known as “911 S5,” launched as early as 2014, the US government says.

“The 911 S5 Botnet infected computers in nearly 200 countries and facilitated a whole host of computer-enabled crimes, including financial frauds, identity theft, and child exploitation,” says FBI director Christopher Wray, who described the illicit service as “likely the world’s largest botnet ever.”

The US Treasury Department has also sanctioned Wang and two other individuals allegedly tied to 911 S5.

Wang is said to have amassed access to nearly 614,000 IP addresses in the US and more than 18 million others worldwide—collectively forming the botnet. 911 S5’s customers were able to filter the IPs geographically to choose where they’d like to appear to be located, down to a specific US zip code, the DOJ claims.

The indictment states that of the 150 dedicated servers used to manage the botnet, as many as 76 were leased by US-based service providers, including the one hosting 911 S5’s client interface, which allowed criminals overseas to purchase goods using stolen credit cards, in many cases for the alleged purpose of circumventing US export laws.

More than half a million fraudulent claims lodged with pandemic relief programs in the United States are allegedly tied to 911 S5. According to the indictment, nearly $6 billion in losses have been linked to IP addresses captured by 911 S5. Many of the IP addresses have been reportedly tied to more insidious crimes, including bomb threats and the trafficking of child sexual abuse material, or CSAM.

“Proxy services like 911 S5 are pervasive threats that shield criminals behind the compromised IP addresses of residential computers worldwide,” says Damien Diggs, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, where the charges against Wang were brought by a grand jury earlier this month.

Adds Nicole Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division: “These criminals used the hijacked computers to conceal their identities and commit a host of crimes, from fraud to cyberstalking.”

At the time of writing, it is unclear whether these virtual impersonations resulted in any criminal investigations or charges against US-based victims whose IP addresses were hijacked as part of the 911 S5 botnet. WIRED is awaiting a response from the Department of Justice regarding this concern.

According to the Justice Department, law enforcement agencies in Singapore, Thailand, and Germany collaborated with US authorities to effect Wang’s arrest.

Wang faces charges of conspiracy, computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to money laundering, with a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison. The US is also seeking to seize a mountain of luxury cars and goods allegedly owned by Wang, including a 2022 Ferrari Spider valued at roughly half a million dollars as well as a Patek Philippe watch worth potentially several times that amount.

[southeastasianists]

A set of tunnels puzzling Singapore, sparking numerous conspiracy theories about its origins since the late 20th century, has its mystery finally cracked. Located on Admiralty Road West and Marsiling Crescent, the World War II-era tunnels have remained hidden from sight since the British left Singapore. 

Since the tunnels' discovery in the 2000s, multiple theories have been proposed about their origins. Some thought the tunnels led to Johor, or housed an underground facility for a nearby mental hospital. The most compelling theory was that the tunnel had been an underground oil storage facility built by the Asiatic Petroleum Company (APC) for a British Royal Navy base. A 1945 map showed the location of Woodlands North Depot, once operated by APC, on the exact location of the tunnels. 

At an impressive 54 square kilometers, Her Majesty’s Naval Base occupied almost 10 percent of Singapore’s land size in the 1940s and was formerly the largest British military base in Asia. The former base is now home to Sembawang Park and Woodlands Waterfront Park. 

While the evidence was compelling, the theory was slightly off. By obtaining information from disclosed documents, British Wartime Intelligence Reports, and the U.K.’s National Archives, Singapore’s National Heritage Board solved the mystery of the Marsiling Tunnels' true origin and purpose. They have been verified as a pre-WWII fuel reserve depot utilized by the Royal Air Force, not the British Royal Navy. 

During their occupation of Singapore, the Imperial Japanese Army utilized the tunnels as an oil storage facility. According to a 1944 British intelligence report, the tunnels were renovated to have five large tanks, increasing their capacity by over 5,250 tons. 

In 2014, on the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Singapore, the tunnels opened to the public for the first time. The National Heritage Board offered guided tours to show how the British surrendered to Singapore to the Japanese. These tours also included important historical locations like Opium Hill and Tiong Bahru Air Raid Shelter. Today, most entrances have been sealed and are closed to the public, but a small entrance found by local explorers remains open. 

[ayeeedomino]

Aespa 5th member

Name: Lyra Dracos Lim (라이라 드라스 림)

Stage name: Julia

Age: 20 (10/08/2003)

Positions: Main Dancer, Lead Rapper, Center and Sub Vocal

Height: 1,73 cm (5,7ish)

Face Claim: Lana (soloist)

Vocal claim: Maya from XG

Julia’s backstory:

Lyra Dracos Lim, professionally known as Julia, was born on August 10, 2003, in Singapore, Singapore. However by the age of 6 her parents moved to Tokyo, Japan due to a work opportunity. During this years, Julia displayed exceptional talent and passion for music and performance. Growing up in a supportive family environment, she received early encouragement to pursue her artistic interests.

By the age 11 she moved back to Singapore.

At the age of 13, Julia auditioned for SM, in an online audition, impressing judges with her powerful dance, rap and stage presence. She was signed as a trainee and began rigorous training in singing, dancing, and languages, preparing for a career in the entertainment industry.

In 2018, at the age of 15, Julia was selected to participate in IZ*ONE and debuted as 13th. Known for her versatility, charisma, and captivating rap, she quickly gained recognition among fans both in South Korea, Singapore and internationally. During her time with IZ*ONE, Lyra contributed to several hit songs and participated in numerous concerts and variety shows, solidifying her reputation as a rising star in K-pop. She was placed as a rapper and dancer.

After the conclusion of IZ*ONE's activities, SM decided to debut her in aespa’s first comeback, “Next Level”. She adopted the stage name Julia based on her favorite character from her favorite book, Julia from 1984. Julia means a lot to her, since she is a fierce, strong, independent woman, something Lyra wish to be. She holds the Lead Rapper, Main Dancer and Sub Vocal.

Throughout her career, Lyra, now known as Julia, has continued to evolve as an artist, blending her experiences from her time in IZ*ONE with her own unique style and musical direction. Her journey is marked by determination, talent, and a relentless pursuit of excellence in the competitive world of K-pop.

[estebanbicon]

*Note: this is very Anti-Gasly. I just needed to let this out hahaha

I hate it when people say that yes Ocon has been unlucky this season but so has Gasly. But in all honesty it is not the same.

Ocon has been unlucky so much more and without much good luck to offset it while Gasly on the otherhand has been lucky numerous times and has been benefiting much more on the retirements and penalties of other drivers.

I'm going to die on this hill but in Australia Gasly was EXTREMELY lucky to have crashed into his teammate (because of his unsafe rejoin) rather than another driver considering how bunched up the field was at that time because that was a sure penalty and race ban. Also, if anyone says that he was unlucky here, absolutely not, that restart shouldn't have happened but he still made a mistake end of.

He and Alpine totally got away with the clear unsafe release during the Spa Sprint, he gained like 3 places because of that. I'm not saying his Zandvoort podium is undeserved but he did get quite lucky that Perez had a penalty (in quite unusual circumstances, he aquaplaned in the pitlane).

He has benefitted from dnfs from drivers ahead of him such as Ocon in Singapore, Ocon and Piastri in COTA (racing incident, no one at fault), dsq of Leclerc and Hamilton in COTA. The guy gets a lot of free points without doing much.

As for the mechanical issues, all the mechanical dnfs of Alpine happened to Ocon. If were going to talk about engine/car issues during the race/qualifying but did not result in retirements, they both had their fair share of it. Ocon just doesn't announce it to the world, as usual.

And on another note, if anyone says but Gasly is faster, absolute BS. I'm going to admit that Gasly is a bit better than Ocon during qualifying; the differences between them is usually like half a tenth or even less, which isn't much. But when it comes to races, I don't think Gasly has the same racecraft as Ocon. Ocon has exceedingly shown that he is one of the best overtakers and definitely one of the most difficult drivers to pass (just ask Alonso, Hamilton, Leclerc). If we are going to talk about race pace, there are way too many factors to consider when looking at average race pace so that saying one is faster than the other based on this is near pointless, are they in different strategies, is one managing their tires more, is there a problem with the ers, were they behind slower cars, etc. so basically only the team will know since they have all the data.

[culinaryplating]

Soup Saturday - Katong laksa

Characterized by its rich and spicy broth, this comforting noodle soup is one of the classic dishes found in many Southeast Asian countries. It was developed under the influence of different culinary traditions, which has led to the creation of numerous regional varieties that differ in flavors and ingredients.

Two of the most famous versions are the sour, tamarind-based asam laksa and the creamy curry laksa. Especially favored in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, laksa is usually prepared and enjoyed at hawker centers as a hearty main course.

[leqclerc]

omg the is carlos sainz this generation’s nico rosberg questions are so ridiculous! like put some fucking respect to that monaco based youtuber who beat two 7x wdcs in equal machinery. the only similarity they have is having a world champion influential father. thats it.

and no he is not underrated when in the span of 3 races he has gone from a good driver to the next wdc who is going to beat max verstappen 👍

Frrrrrr 😤

Thankfully some people still see sense and called the whole thing out (saw this in a Reddit thread post-Melbourne), chalking the hype up to recency bias (rightfully so.) Admittedly he's been in the right place at the right time both times (in Singapore and Australia) but I mean... passing Max (who was already having issues with his car basically from the get go) and then just. Keeping the lead (while your teammate gets instructed point blank not to even attempt to overtake you) is hardly comparable to keeping a title challenge alive against your generational talent teammate arguably at or nearing the peak of his abilities. Also the things Nico did in 2016 were insane and I honestly haven't seen this level of commitment since. This man didn't renounce cycling, wear ankle stocks, remove stitching on his gloves and refuse to sleep in the same bed as his wife for like eight months for people to be comparing him to Carlos 😭😭😭

I could maybe see where they're coming from if Carlos went to Red Bull (since now suddenly he's their number one candidate apparently) and managed to keep up with Max over the course of a season as teammates, enough to actually realistically challenge for the WDC. But like this? Benefiting from the annual Red Bull Singapore stinker and then Max having race-ending car issues? People have clearly forgotten what actual racing for the lead looks like and it shows😑

I think he's definitely been benefiting from recency bias and also people being jaded after... let's say a season and a half of Red Bull dominance. I still think Australia was a pretty meh race in itself and it's only getting hyped because the result was a non-Max win 🤷🏻‍♀️

How he can be considered "criminally underrated" when some influential pundits/journalists have been rating him more highly than Charles for the past three years and saying he deserves to be Ferrari's lead driver is beyond me. Imo he's one of the few drivers that has consistently been getting their flowers and been vocally backed by numerous influential media figures. Even when he had very anonymous flop periods they were usually glossed over and/or quickly forgotten (early 2022 was magnanimously chalked up to "he's still getting used to the car/he can't perform at this best when his future is uncertain and more recently the back half of 2023, pretty much Japan to Abu Dhabi where he was making a lot of mistakes and generally trailing behind Charles, has been conveniently erased from collective memory now that he's the man of the moment.)

[naturesglorysingapore-blog]

Top 5 Plant-Based Sources of Omega-3 for Optimal Health and Well-Being

When we hear about fats, Omega-3 is valued by many because of its numerous health benefits, which include helping manage depression and anxiety. It is also believed to lower the risks of cardiovascular disease and helps maintain memory and eye health. Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory effects, making it beneficial for inflammatory diseases.

The good news is there are numerous sources of Omega-3, such as fish oils. It is also abundant in certain seeds like flaxseed oil. You can also take Omega-3 supplements to boost your intake: https://www.natures-glory.com/collections/health-supplements-omega-3-6-9

If you are a fan of herb-based supplements, you can check out this collection from Nature's Glory in Singapore: https://www.natures-glory.com/collections/health-supplements-herbs

[khepiari]

Been reading a lot about Manga Companies, including Shōnen Jump, which has decided to use AI to translate. Here are my thoughts, as someone who actively works in the web content space and publishing industry.

This is a quick reminder, multiple Chinese, Korean, and many Singapore-based companies have been using MLT for years, especially for webcomics/web novels/light novels. It is bad news, especially for the manga industry, if AI enters their production. Traditional translation which already suffers in quality due to numerous factors will easily be replaced.

You know, what you can do as a consumer?

Stop consuming “officially translated” content if AI/MLT is used. Again, MLT and AI are not interchangeable terms, but they function on similar training modules.

As a former academic editor who worked with various translations and still works as a translator; people should know this, translating is a tedious time-consuming job. If you are tired of poorly translated subs in your Kdrama? Know this; the time allotted and payment provided for this labour is the reason Netflix subs suck!

Time is what makes the final version of a translation job better from a good one. Sadly, in a weekly publication like Shōnen Jump or Web Novels; MLT/AI looks lucrative when you have multiple stories on board and an international consumer base.

But this issue can be solved by hiring more people!

Instead, people are using AI/MLT and other such tech to cross-cut by not paying fair wages to human labour.

Using MLT/AI to translate is not a big deal; the issue is with the unchecked greed of the publishing/content industry and the people sitting on top of these institutions/industries. Thanks to the “as long as it's functional” attitude that sustains the churning of content/production in a late-stage capitalistic society; craftsmanship, skill-based jobs and attention to detail that they provided are dying.

AI is not bad, it’s the people creating them who are using unethical tactics to train their systems. Many people don’t realize, AI is being fed unchecked collection of data. Technology has its own order of things, just like the process of biological evolution. We cannot speed run to the next stage by force and shady tactics.

Time is the key.

Time is money, so at this moment in technology evolution; AI is the new gold rush, and people are going to use every opportunity to exploit it. So replacing human translators with AI seems profitable, but it will collapse when nuance is replaced with uniformity!

Language is dynamic.

Art is dynamic.

Imagination is revolutionary.

Is there a solution to AI invading publishing practices?

The most radical way— stop purchasing books/manga/gated content/OTT created without human intervention or supervision. Or you just have to wait a few years if you can't stop consuming; because human greed will exploit AI tech until nothing can be distinguished from one another. And when Authenticity becomes the new selling point, for content in a few years, we will see a surge in demand for difference and details.

Sadly, by the time the AI boom dies like the crypto boom; many living, breathing people will be hurt. That’s why be worried, don’t give your hard-earned money to people/institutions who wish to extract maximum profits at the cost of human skills.

Your money supports the system, so control it.

Cut the supply of money, be a better consumer, and ask for better products. If you ask for ethically sourced art, stories, music, comics, and books, you end up supporting the right to liveable wages for people in the creative industry.

[thepixelpenguin]

Mario Kart Tour: Oxford Foray

Told you this page would be random.

I think an underappreciated aspect of Tour's city track design is their atmosphere. They don't just tour recognisable landmarks in a believable layout, they really capture the city's character! From New York's dazzling nightlife to LA's casual appeal, Singapore's extreme extravagance to Sydney's energetic simplicity, Vancouver's splashes of colour and natural beauty, Amsterdam's effortless harmony with canals and nature alike, Rome's ancient architecture with comfortable life on top, Madrid's modern bustle with impressive history underneath, Athens' proud (and hilly) past and Bangkok's humble yet hopeful future, and Berlin's seamless integration of all eras: they're all accurate as far as I can surmise. There's only a few that I think don't quite hit the mark. Paris’ modernity is smothered in quaint romanticism, though what else could one expect, Tokyo has little of its maximalist flair, but perhaps the graphics limited that, and then… London.

I'm certainly biased, it being my home country and the only city on the list I've seen for more than a day, but it seems to only hit the beats of its most recognisable icons: laudably no doubt, but the city isn't just its imposing imperial riches! What strikes me about London is its fast-paced mishmash of cultures that fill in all the gaps between the great British statements like water running over cobbled streets: history and novelty around every corner! The course gives me the impression of the former but not the latter. 

I'm not sure I'm qualified to rectify this, but I can make up for it with another English icon! My hometown has its history, but not enough to base a tour around. My current homestead, however, is undeniably culturally significant, and it's not just that. I hope I did well to convey the place as storied and not just interesting, but inviting, a genuinely fun place to stay for a day or a year. That's how I feel about it at least.

HERE WE GO

1: Our foray begins on the left side of the picturesque High Street, between Queen’s College and the Examination Schools. It’s a noticeably wide street (and a noticeably wide gothic limestone starting gate with a waving chequered flag to boot), with a cobbled dividing strip, and plenty of buses to crowd the way! As the road narrows and items are collected, there’s a right turn into the Covered Market, which has three narrow lanes to choose from, and a few opportunities to weave between.

Out of the market is a sharp right turn down a walled alley, with the lovely Exeter and Lincoln colleges adjoining. This is before a huge 180 turn with another item set around the Radcliffe Camera, an impressive dome in the middle of a big communal square. Having lost its fence, at that, so if you’ve got a mushroom and are prepared to miss out on items, the shortcut is worth it! Racers continue north past All Souls College and the Bodleian Library to reach the roundabout connecting Broad Street and Holywell Street. Remember the Bridge of Sighs to your right.

The route continues up Parks Road, a leafy avenue with plenty of boost panels, before splitting around Keble College! If you continue straight forwards, you get an easy wide road, and a view of both the Natural History Museum and University Parks. However, if you take that subtle sharp left, you can find a potentially faster cut-through that’s a bit tougher to navigate. I didn’t even have to design this one!

Both options reconvene at the apex of St Giles, where a patch of off-road leads to an optional ramp, and the road broadens to quite a degree, leaving room for a ridiculous row of coins. The abbreviated straight ends at the Martyr’s Memorial, which now has just a humble patch of grass behind it instead of an entire church, just to improve the flow.

A quick left turn introduces Broad Street, which, you guessed it, also widens out, somewhat narrowed by some of the city’s numerous bike racks. However, this one has its right half covered in short wooden ramps, for the first half! These can be useful for some trick boosts, but more coins lay the other way. Items are given at the halfway point. Before reaching the roundabout at the end, there is a conspicuous diversion past the Sheldonian Theatre (which has no fence, to make way for the race) and through the library complex towards the Bridge of Sighs. Racers may either run straight through the gate (tricking as they go) or take the grated glider ramps to make it over the bridge!

The return to the start line via New College Lane and Queen’s Lane is a winding, narrow path, walled in by the historic namesake colleges. You’ll have to forgive them for not having karts running through their grounds. Nonetheless, navigate those chicanes and a final left turn (with a sneaky cut over the pavement) brings you back to the line. It’s a long one alright!

2: As in track 1, we begin on the High Street, though this time we forge ahead past the Covered Market, the traffic turning off before the Carfax Tower, until the course swerves into the Westgate Centre. In a strikingly similar manner to Coconut Mall, the route has two walkways either side of an optional drop with escalators, before a right turn into a more open area where the drop and escalators are forced. I swear it’s coincidental! The decor is distinct at least. 

After grabbing items wherever you may encounter them, exit the mall via another sharp right turn onto open road. Make use of its breadth before you have to navigate the Castle & Prison, which is exactly what it sounds like! A couple of narrow turns later, there is a brief anti-grav uphill to wind up the Castle Mound to a big glider ramp, from which one must avoid the dreaming spires of Nuffield College and St Peter’s College some random church, or grab some of the revolving coins if you’re daring…

Though you could just drop onto the street, the Ashmolean’s grand ionic forum is a perfect landing place, where one can drift around to jump down the stairs and find themselves heading onto Broad Street once again! This time, the route heads past the theatre and turns at the roundabout, so the other lot of ramps, this time occupying the left half, can be made useful. The lap ends the way you’d expect after turning at the roundabout.

3: Unlike both 2 and 1, we start our race on Cornmarket Street (under a long hanging sign of oil paints on wood, the closest I can get to putting a pub in a kids’ game), a place I would be remiss not to include, along with its clutter of bicycle parking. If there’s one thing you notice about transit in Oxford, it’s how many bicycles are in the way. However, if you can dodge around the racks, you may find some coins or even dash panels…

Anyway, Cornmarket is a simple, if not uninterrupted, straight, which racers take south, spying once again the Carfax Tower and then the Town Hall and impressive Christ Church. You know, the big one. The road continues down St Aldates with all its traffic, but soon turns left through the open gates of Christ Church Meadow! The next half of the lap takes place in greener pastures, first down a puddle-ridden southward straightaway with sparse items and Moo Moos spectating, then when the course meets the Thames and Folly Bridge, a more wide open snaking route with grass shortcuts abound! The riverside path remains intact, but still off-road.

After doing this eastward a while, the course drastically narrows as it winds its way northward strictly following the meanders of the Cherwell. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from driving through the river itself, but the bumpy terrain and drag force balances any advantage of breadth. A wiser path is found by jumping onto a series of punts, which can be quite hard to aim for, but offer a trick each time. They’re not hard to come by in Oxford. This continues all the way to the Botanic Gardens, which can themselves be snuck through via a gap in the fence. Those wishing for a complete row of item boxes and, of course, the exquisite surroundings, can find themselves jumping over the pond in the south section before reaching the north, where a quick right around the fountain directs you between the greenhouses to reenter the river. The river, of course, does continue past the gardens, but who would want to miss out? Especially when that part of the bed gets so muddy…

When you’ve finally made it to Magdalen Bridge, you need only drive under it to find a wide slope up to the roundabout, which is drifted around before crossing the bridge to witness the lovely Magdalen Tower! We then cross the line - the line from the other versions, that is - before sneaking past the University Church to reach the road past the Radcliffe Camera. The Bodleian Library can now be dashed through for a guaranteed double box, if you can find the narrow entry! The rest is obvious: take Broad Street one last time, westward now, to reach the top of Cornmarket Street.

So how might these all fit together if they were given the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe treatment? Honestly, probably better than the individual courses! Lap 1 takes version 1, of course, but stops short of Broad Street, instead cutting through via Cornmarket to start lap 2, with version 2 taking over by way of a right turn at Carfax Tower. Lap 3 simply commences from the High Street and doesn’t bother with the whole Broad Street diversion: we’ve already seen it!

Oh right, I also made the music for it! You'll have to forgive Musescore's playback engine, they try, bless 'em.

It too had to be truly emblematic of Oxford, and besides the obvious historical, academic, fancy vibes, no sound reminds me more of this place than the echoing of church bells! And there are choirs in every college. So I ended up with a rather baroque piece, arpeggiated bass, change ringing, suspensions and all, which certainly suits the locale, but does NOT typically suit Mario Kart's encouraging energy. Heck, they almost always rely on synths, too, let alone their melody-first composition style that is entirely unfamiliar. How did I fit the mould? By focusing on intensity of Biblical proportions! If there's one thing choirs and organs can do, it's a ramp-up of DRAMA. With enough build and release, it's got the natural energy. Slap on a drum-beat and it ends up shockingly fitting. With all the zero inspiration I had to go on, I seriously surprised myself with this one. Judge for yourself!

Oxford is quite a convenient place to work with: most cities are so massive that you have to smush all the landmarks together and the layout doesn’t quite come naturally. But this place is already so compact, and packed with unmistakable buildings! Also, I know they’re trying to be flattering, but can you believe London saw not a drop of rain?! I think Oxford should be partially cloudy by contrast, providing a gentle rainfall, but with enough streams of sunlight to pierce the depressing grey… it could make the meadow look positively angelic!

Perhaps one day I’ll try my hand at Hong Kong Hustle to address Tokyo’s plight… or Shanghai Streets, I can’t decide! And then there’s one that is so easy to make that it’d be kind of funny just to do for the sake of it. We’ll see.

If anyone wants to take the names Rio de Janeiro Jaunt, New Delhi Journey, Moscow Scoot, Stockholm Swing, Cairo Cruise, Geneva Chase, or best of all, Brussels Bout, be my guest. And if any modders feel like 3d-modelling most of Oxford for me, I would love to give it a look :D

[singapore-travel]

A Comprehensive Guide to Singapore Zoo  

Singapore is a beautiful country to explore. It is one of the three remaining city-states offering the most attractive destinations from lush lands to thriving rain-forests and famous sights to gorgeous islands. No matter whether you are a history buff or nature seeker, beach lover or adventurer, with a Singapore visa you can enjoy everything to make your vacation a perfect one.

While there are numerous attractions to explore in Singapore such as the world-famous Merlion, Garden by the Bay, Marina Sands, and much more, this one attraction stands out as being the closest to mother nature. Singapore Zoo is one of the popular attractions of Singapore and a must-visit on your Singapore travel itinerary. So, we have curated a complete Singapore zoo guide that will navigate you through the highlights, what to know, and what to bring.

Singapore Zoo

Singapore Zoo is a one-of-a-kind attraction in the country. Locally known as Mandai Zoo, this massive yet beautiful nature stretches over 28 hectares in area. It is located within the Dense Forest Reserve catchment of Singapore and was opened for visitors on 27th of June in 1973.

The focus of the Singapore Zoo was to create spaces and environment that provide a naturalistic home for the animals. There are over 300 different species of animals featuring a wide variety from across the globe. There are even multiple themed areas and literally takes hours to explore fully.

Singapore Zoo Tickets

Singapore Zoo is beloved not just among global tourists but also by locals. So, the long waiting lines are quite natural and it is best recommended to book your ticket beforehand. You can do it online which also includes specified packages and services. You may also grab some deal-breaking records and save a lot of time.

Few tips for visiting Singapore Zoo

Singapore Zoo is a massive attraction and covers a large terrain. You can board a tram to explore which makes everything much easier especially if you are travelling with kids.

We highly recommend you consult the Singapore Zoo map before your visit to the attraction. It will help you to navigate throughout the zoo and plan your trip accordingly.

In case you are visiting the zoo with some extra bags or luggage, you can choose to rent a locker or leave your oversized luggage

If you are visiting the zoo with your little ones who are little too young to handle, you can rent a stroller or wagon.

Please note that flash photography is prohibited for the protection of animals. So, do keep this in mind when clicking pictures of your favourite animals.

The zoo hosts various shows which are included in your park admission. If you like to watch one of these special shows, you can check for the show schedules.

If you intend to enjoy the animal show, you are advised to arrive 15 minutes prior to the show to get the best seats.

And if you love to feed animals during pre-designated schedules, you can check of the feeding sessions.

The best time to visit Singapore Zoo

As Singapore Zoo takes hours to explore completely plan a full day here. it is also advised to arrive early to avoid unnecessary crowds and this may also increase your chance to see animals at their most active time. The special feeding sessions and keep

talks are conducted at scheduled intervals throughout day. So, the more you stay at the zoo, the more you get to engage in feeding sessions and keeper talks.

What to do at Singapore Zoo?

Singapore Zoo boasts numerous things to do with various theme parks and animal shows. These not only offer an incredible entertainment option but also increase your knowledge on animals across the world.

Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia

The Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia displays the emergence when the tectonic plates of earth which was under Ethiopia split diagonally. This created a continental rack and here at the zoo you can witness waga wooden statues based from the Konso community from the Ethiopian highlands. There are unique with exhibits of mud-walled and stone-walled Konso huts. Here, you can see animals such as Baboons, Nubian Ibexes, Banded Mangoose, Jackals, Hamadryas, and Rock Hyraxes.

The Fragile Forest

A 20000 cubic biodome, the Fragile Forest is a beautiful replica of a tropical rainforest. It is home to various spinless and feathery animals that sit unhinged in the trees. You can also spot some amphibians and invertebrates such as rhinoceros beetles, four-line tree frog, whistling ducks, chatty parrots, and crowned pigeons. Some of the exotic animals living inside the biodome are lemurs, white-faced saki monkeys, Malayan flying foxes, toco tucan, two toed sloth, golden lion tamarins, and Prevost’s squirrel.

Red Topia

Red Topia inhabits the mysterious world of reptiles housing more than 60 species of reptiles and amphibians. One-third of these are extremely rare. Red Topia is again

divided into four zones offering a unique experience such keeper domes, interactive sessions, species display, and more. Most of these reptiles are from the Indo-Pacific, Neotropical rainforests, African Jungle, and desserts. These include bearded dragons, king cobra, panther chameleon, plumed basilisk, and more.

Tree Top Tails

Tree Top Tails is where you can find the micro ecosystems that hosts living creature that are closer to grounds, on the tree tops and everything in between them. This zone is a wonder that tries to replicate these layers of ecosystems and house tiny animals such as squirrels, brown lemur, false gavial, and great mouse deer.

 Australasia

Australia zone is home to the animals from Australia and Papua New Guinea. It houses grey kangaroos and tree kangaroo families including Mummy Blue, Daddy Ziggy, and baby girl Nais. While in the indoor region of Australasia, you can find the miracle kangaroo Makaia and Nupela. If you are lucky enough you can also spot the Cassowary which looks like a cross between ostrich or turkey and velociraptor.

The Splash Safari

The major highlight of Splash Safari is the playful sea lion from California. You will be amazed to see how this adorable creature performs cute stunts with a ball. See how it balances the ball on its nose and slides it over its body. You can enjoy this fun sea lion splashing and sliding and gliding on water.

The Frozen Tundra

The Frozen Thundra is a smaller version of the Arctic region but is as big as two and half football fields. You can see how the inuka here loves to play peek-a-boo with

guests and swimming in the cave or playing under a beautiful waterfall. The raccoon dogs on the other hand are from the breed known as tanukis in Japan. The other cold-world animals you can find in the Frozen Thundra are wolverines.

Elephants Show

The Elephants you see here are from the Burmese rainforests and you get to witness a unique show that will stun you with how these giant animals are gentle. You can watch them work as they carry out their tasks. And once they start playing, you can see them play dead, play around with water sprays, steal food, and more.

Rainforests fight back show

The Rainforests Fight Back show gives you a rare glance into the lives of animals who find their home in rainforests. This show gives you complete insight and shows how human activities are adversely affecting the lives of nature. You can witness the animals jumping and diving in front of you and you may also get to touch and click photos with them.

Singapore Zoo Rules and Regulations

You cannot bring anything flammable inside the zoo as it is dangerous for the animals.

You should dispose of all the garbage in designated bins for trash.

You cannot remove or carry anything from the Singapore Zoo.

You cannot take videos or photos for commercial purposes.

Do not try to contact with the animals unless you are guided to do so.

Singapore Zoo is well worth a visit. You get to explore and witness there are over 4000 across the world and learn about them. Apart from viewing, you also get to participate in family-friendly activities such as keeper talks, behind the scene tours, and feeding sessions. Overall, it is one of the best places to spend an entire day with your family and loved ones. And if you are here for the first time you can also go through a complete travel guide for your first time in Singapore.

[seblockedinthetardis]

14 years…

14 years… Well, nearly 15 years of excitement, happiness, stress, disappointments, hope and joy. I remember the first grand prix appearance, first pole position and win. I remember the day when he got his first world title like it was yesterday (even though this actually happened 12 years ago now). I remember the second title, the third and the fourth. I remember team changes. I remember all special races and moments - Malaysia, Monaco, Germany, Azerbaijan, Japan, Singapore, Brazil or Abu Dhabi - all for different reasons.

I remember the controversies. I remember the hatred and mockery that followed on public forums if you said that you supported him in F1.

I remember how much has changed and how much he changed.

Because of Sebastian Vettel, I decided one day that I want to become a journalist. I decided that this will be my career path just so I could perhaps interview him one day. I went through secondary school and high school with this thought in mind. I decided to learn French just because FIA is French. Then I got to uni to study journalism. During my time at uni , I volunteered at motorsport events just to get this one step closer to my dream. I downloaded Duolingo to learn Finnish. Cause his personal trainer was Finnish 😂

I decided to move to the UK cause most F1 teams are based here, so perhaps this would help somehow. Maybe by living in England, through some magical intervention, stars will align and I get a chance… I sent CVs to most of the F1 teams based in the UK. I submitted numerous job applications advertised by F1 teams for junior PR roles… I got one response. It was a “NO”.

This fantastic dream of mine never materialised. I’m not a journalist and I don’t work for any media outlet. And I definitely don’t work for an F1 team. Or FIA. Not mad about the last one 😉

And I never even met Seb…

I’m glad I was bored one Sunday and decided to watch an F1 race on tv. I’m glad I spotted that funny blonde head in the crowd. I’m extremely happy I got hold of that Red Bulletin magazine. I learned that day that witty German guy supported by Red Bull’s Young Driver Programme loves the Beatles. That sold me.

Would my life be different if it wasn’t for Sebastian Vettel? Definitely. I would probably be a nuclear physicist… or a teacher, I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. I live in a cool country, I have an amazing job, a fabulous boyfriend and gorgeous two cats. I have a journalist degree of some sort. And I can fluently swear in Finnish. All thanks to the guy I never met, all thanks to Seb!

And I wouldn’t change it for the “welt” (like in weltmesiter 😉) 🖤❤️💛 #dankeseb

[dzthenerd490]

GoI: Eight Wings of Mekhane

Description: Like any religion the Church of the Broken God has had several revisions, resurgence, divisions, and unifications between the various churches under the religion. Each one views their god in their own way whether it be based on traditionalism, extremism, or a more modern/ liberal approach. But the Eight Wings of Mekhane is a more unusual approach to the religion. The Eight Wings of Mekhane is an international church started in 19[data expunged]. Years of war with the Sarkites and desperately protecting their beliefs and anomalous items has been hard on the Mekhanites. It was only natural that the Church of the Broken God became divided, and the fragments formed their own churches. However, by unknown means, very few devoted Mekhanites found one another and despite being from different churches united into their own church. Thus, the Eight Wings of Mekhane was born.

The Eight Wings of Mekhane is an international church that exist in secluded areas of the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom, Singapore, China, Russia, Japan, and possibly other areas. The Eight Wings of Mekhane are an extremely particular church in that it doesn't recruit publicly but instead tries to recruit members of other Churches of the Broken God. pertaining to their goals the Eight Wings of Mekhane try to increase their numbers by uniting other churches of the same faith. The only reason or way the Eight Wings of Mekhane recruits outsiders is when a member marries an outsider.

Organization: The Eight Wings of Mekhane is seemingly divided being made up of secluded areas around the world and divided into 8 different sects with different teachings, values, and methods; However, the Eight Wings of Mekhane maintain their unity through various methods of communication. Similar to the Chruch of Maxwellism, the Eight Wings of Mekhane don't have a traditional hierarchy with a single Pope, Archbishop, or High Priest being at the top. Instead, it's a council of representatives of the people within the church or in other words the one of the eight "Wings". each representative stand side by side within a council to represent the entirety of the group. Despite the technological differences, no one member or "wing" is considered higher than the other. A member belonging to a wing simple refers to what kind of augmentations and machinery they use as well as what form of "prayer" they perform. Regardless of what "Wing" they come from; most, if not all members have mechanical wings augmented to their bodies, fully capable of flight.

1st Wing of Clockwork - Mekhanites who have willing Infected themselves with a strain of SCP-217. As such they have been turned into robots with a clockpunk aesthetic. They are the oldest and typically most secluded sect within the Eight Wings of Mekhane. They are also the most numerous and warrior-based of the Wings. They design their clothing and housing structure is based on British colonialist era aesthetic.

2nd Wing of Steam - Mekhanites who rely on steam and wind power for their machines and augmentations. These members infect themselves with a different strain of SCP-217 created by an unknown ritual. As such like the 1st Wing of Clockwork they lack any and all human characteristics and instead become robots with a steampunk aesthetic. Like the 1st Wing of Clockwork, they are an older and more numerous Wing of Eight Wings of Mekhane. Despite their capabilities to create steam powered weapons and machines they are quite reserved and prefer to avoid conflict. They tend to design their housing and fashion, with a Victorian era aesthetic.

3rd Wing of Diesel - Mekhanites who have replaced their blood with Diesel by an unknown ritual. This Wing is the most militaristic with everyone in a 3rd Wing community possessing a gun or is augmented with one. Despite their seemingly fascist lifestyles the members of the 3rd Wing are actually quite friendly even to outsiders. Though of course they rarely interact with outsiders for obvious reasons. They tend to decorate their housing and attire based on an imperial German aesthetic. 

4th Wing of Atomic - Mekhanites who have replaced their hearts with a geothermic reactor and bones are made of a stable form of irradiated metals by an unknown ritual. Through their prayers they are able to emit massive amounts of energy form their bodies and use said energy to power their machinery. They are considered the most spiritual of all the Wings but also the most dangerous. They represent the reason why humanity as a whole is not yet ready for Mekhane's glory. They have no ill will towards outsiders, but they rarely leave their communities for obvious reasons. They do have armor that contain the radiation they emit but they only wear them in war times and to wear it for the sake of outsiders is considered an insult to Mekhane. They style their housing and attire based on a style similar to a 1950′s American suburban style.

5th Wing of Metal - Mekanites who's brains and other internal organs are made up of Zinc, Lithium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Graphite by an unknown ritual. Unlike the other Wings, members of the 5th Wing go more for internal augmentations rather than external augmentations. As such their communities are more connected to the outside world and is often quite close to outsiders. Thanks to the close connection and communication between the Wings they act as a sort of spies for the Eight Wings of Mekhane as a whole. They're also the ones to trust when finding other sects of the Church of the Broken God and recruiting them into the Eight Wings of Mekhane. Uncommonly but not rarely, 5th Wings tend to work alongside members of the Church of Maxwellism in technology-based corporations to slowly implement more advanced technology into humanity. They are the only wing with more modern attire and housing, unlike other Wings they do not stick to the aesthetic of a single culture. 

6th Wing of Bio - Mekhanites who's are often confused for other Wings despite the clothing and housing difference. 6th Wing communities consist of farmers who have augmented themselves with modern tools to help them cultivate and harvest fruits, vegetables, and meats. Because of their relationship with organic life, they are sometimes mistaken for not being Mekhanites at all. In reality, these Mekhanites use a ritual to turn organic material they consume into fuel for their augmented bodies. They are by far the most mysterious of all the Wings. Because members of the 6th Wing can convert organic material into fuel, they like to hunt down and terrorize Sarkites. They are not well known for their weapons, but they are the best when it comes to taking down clans of the Sarkic Cult. Though they do it more as a source of entertainment rather than a duty, often leading to them being called the most sadistic of the Wings despite their seemingly peaceful lifestyle. They’re attire and housing could be considered modern as it is typical farming attire and housing, depending on the region they live in.

7th Wing of Solar - Mekanites who have artificial skin that act as solar panels. Considered the most aesthetically pleasing to look at given the way their skin and wings shine like crystals in the sunlight. They are considered the most peaceful of all the Wings but also the second rarest. They typically don’t wear clothing and don’t have designated housing. Not much else is known about the 7th Wing, however it has been theorized that they act as living satellites to establish communication between distant communities.

8th Wing of Cyber - Mekhanites that don't even look human but instead resemble cybernetic androids from the future. Possessing the most advanced technology Mekhanites have to offer, the 8th Wing is the most advanced and powerful of all the Wings. However, because of their technology they are also the most hidden. The 8th Wing is very secretive, rarely showing themselves even to the other Wings unless they absolutely have to. They also have no clothing but do have advanced cybernetic housing that exist either in space or underground. Though the Eight Wings of Mekhane as a whole consider themselves the defenders of humanity and technology, the 8th wing considers themselves the defenders of all other Wings.

Feathers - Very rarely do any of the wing's form specialized groups like the SCP Foundation's Mobile Task Force, and the Global Occult Coalition's Strike Team, but when they do their referred to as "Feathers". They are labeled by a serial number with the Wing number being first and the Feather number being second, for example #W/#F. The Feathers were only created to assist the Eight Wings of Mekhane in tasks that is too much to ask of the common member of the church. As such members of a Feather are the bravest but also the most likely to perish for the Eight Wings of Mekhane. On the rare occasion that a Feather is made up of two Wings then the serial number will be #-#W/#F or even #-#-#W/#F. The Feathers are the greatest example of the Eight Wings of Mekhane’s devotion and power.

Priest - Each community of each wing has a priest which stand as a representative and leader. Sometimes referred to as Elders, Village Chief, or Mayor; the Priest's hold the village together and are in charge of the prayers as well as the yearly celebrations where different Wings of a single community join together and meet with other Wings in a sort of Mekhanite festival. It is unknown how, but they are also responsible for giving reports on their respective communities to their respective Saints.

Saints - Not much is actually known about the saints, their existence was only known thanks to the Anomalous Correction and Protection Alliance meetings. They are the one true representatives of their respective Wing, meaning there are only Eight in total. How they could possibly represent every community in the world of their respective Wing is unknown. Theoretically they have been alive for centuries, are the founders of the Eight Wings of Mekhane, possesses unknown but powerful abilities, and [data expunged] but nothing is confirmed.

Communities - despite certain members belonging to different wings, they all stay close and connected as a united people. They do so by establishing areas to live and work they simply call Communities. When a community is established, their size typically spans to the average size of a village or a small town. Though that's just the surface, underground they make even more space available for their members if needed. They prefer to go underground rather than expanding outwards as to minimize exposure to outsiders due to overwhelming size.

The Eight Wings of Mekhane like to section off said communities into 2 to 6 different sections depending on how many wings are present in a community. Due to 7th and 8th Wings being rarities among all other Wings, they are normally not given their own sections and instead freely live and travel in-between sections whenever they please. The purpose of being in a single community but being divided in different sections depending on Wings is to remind them that although they are different, they are still the same children of Mekhane and no differences between one another can change that.

Purpose and Goals: The Goal of the Eight Wings of Mekhane is to unite all the divide Churches of the Broken God. They represent the end goal that humanity must achieve for when the day comes when Mekhane and her children will be whole again. They believe that only when her children are united, Mekhane will be restored and become stronger than ever. In the eyes of the Eight Wings of Mekhane both humans and machines are Mekhane's children and must be preserved by any means necessary. The Eight Wings of Mekhane consider themselves the secret protectors of Mekhane's children.

Unlike most sects of the Church of the Broken God, Eight Wings of Mekhane are actually in favor of secrecy. They believe that humanity is not yet ready for "Mekhane's glory" and thus, work closely to the shadows until the day they believe it's time to break the veil. It was because of this that the Eight Wings of Mekhane became a member organization of the Anomalous Correction and Protection Alliance.

Affiliation with the Foundation: Because of the Anomalous Correction and Protection Alliance; The SCP Foundation, Global Occult Coalition, Horizon Initiative, and the Church of Maxwellism consider them allies. However, the SCP Foundation, Global Occult Coalition, and the Horizon Initiative are weary of the Eight Wings of Mekhane, the same with the Church of Maxwellism. While their goal is to preserve secrecy for as long as possible, the Eight Wings of Mekhane are in favor for the preparation of the veil to break one day. Surprisingly members of the Horizon Initiative and the Eight Wings of Mekhane get along quite well despite the Initiative's rough history with Mekhanites as a whole.

The Eight Wings of Mekhane work surprisingly well with the Chruch of Maxwellism and despite their goals, have respected the wishes of the members of the Chruch of Maxwellism to remain independent. Though of course the Chruch of Maxwellism and Eight Wings of Mekhane see Mekhane in a different light and therefore can occasionally conflict in faith and goals. Thankfully it has never gotten to the point of absolute and violent conflict.

The Eight Wings of Mekhane absolutely despise the Sarkites as all Mekhanites do; However, they consider Children of the Scarlet King, The Church of Fifthism, the Scriptures of Rotten Flesh and Cybernetic Bones, and SAPPHIRE to be greater threats. Unlike most Mekhanites the Eight wings of Mekhane consider the Sarkites more of an annoyance than a proper enemy.

Unlike the Church of Maxwellism the Eight Wings of Mekhane hate Abstergo Industries, Prometheus Labs, and Anderson Robotics as they view them as butchers and enslavers of machines. They are also aware of The Factory and despise their heinous crimes against both biological and synthetic life. Like all other organizations the Eight Wings of Mekhane hunt down and kill any and all surviving or resurrected Daevites.

The Serpents Hand and the Eight Wings of Mekhane see one another as potential allies but with the Eight Wings of Mekhane wanting to preserve the veil of secrecy for now while the Serpents hand wanting to destroy it immediately; their relationship is left complicated.

.

Involved with:

SCP-AFD

SCP-AHT

SCP-AXA

[data expunged]

.

SCP: HMF - Groups of Interest Hub

[continuumss]

Bound states in the continuum

Bound The Continuum states in the continuum (BICs) are waves that stay restricted despite the fact that they exist together with a consistent range of emanating waves that can divert energy. Their very presence opposes the customary way of thinking. In spite of the fact that BICs were first proposed in quantum mechanics, they are a general wave peculiarity and have since been recognized in electromagnetic waves, acoustic waves in air, water waves and versatile waves in solids. These states have been concentrated on in a great many material frameworks, for example, piezoelectric materials, dielectric photonic gems, optical waveguides and filaments, quantum specks, graphene and topological separators. In this Survey, we portray late improvements in this field with an accentuation on the actual systems that lead to BICs across apparently altogether different materials and sorts of waves. We additionally examine test acknowledge, existing applications and bearings for future work.

Photons with turn rakish energy have natural chirality, which supports numerous peculiarities including nonlinear optics1, quantum optics2, topological photonics3 and chiroptics4. Characteristic chirality is feeble in regular materials, and ongoing hypothetical proposals5,6,7 planned to expand round dichroism by full metasurfaces supporting bound states in the continuum that improve considerably chiral light-matter cooperations. Those adroit works resort to three-layered refined calculations, which are too difficult to be in any way acknowledged for optical frequencies8. In this way, the majority of the trial attempts9,10,11 showing solid round dichroism depend on bogus/extraneous chirality by utilizing either slanted incidence9,10 or primary anisotropy11. Here we report on the trial acknowledgment of valid/characteristic chiral reaction with thunderous metasurfaces in which the designed inclination math breaks both in-plane and out-of-plane balances. Our outcome marks, as far as anyone is concerned, the main perception of natural chiral bound states in the continuum with close solidarity round dichroism of 0.93 and a top notch factor surpassing 2,663 for noticeable frequencies. Our chiral metasurfaces may prompt a plenty of utilizations in chiral light sources and finders, chiral detecting, valleytronics and deviated photocatalysis.

The joint endeavor between Hoi Hup Realty and Sunway Improvements has gained the Thiam Siew site, a package of land between Tanjong Katong Street and Haig Street at Thiam Siew Road, Tanjong Katong D15, in Singapore.

The $815 million arrangement, which got through a serious offering process, will see the joint endeavor get responsibility for two plots, which are reserved for private turn of events. The land has an area of 263,794 square meters and a plot proportion of 2.8, per the 2019 Ground breaking strategy URA.

Taking into account the price tag and assessed advancement expenses of roughly $284 million, the land cost is around $ 1,488 for each square meter. Counting the assessed 7% overhang region, or around $39.3 million, the land cost is $1,440 psf ppr.

As per the undertaking designers, two extravagance skyscraper edifices with in excess of 800 private units will be based on the site. Because of its essential area in prime Locale 15, the undertaking is supposed to be generally welcomed on the lookout.

[pivottreesingapore]

5 Digital Marketing Strategies for E-commerce business in Singapore

It should come as no surprise that social media and digital marketing are integral parts of daily life in Singapore, where there are expected to be 5.5 million internet users this year. One of the world's greatest internet penetration rates (84%) is reportedly found in Singapore. Both brands and people are embracing digital marketing. Maintaining a competitive edge in digital marketing methods can help a business succeed. However, several constants are still important in this continuously changing area. Here are 5 digital marketing techniques employed by a digital marketing company that dominated Singapore's online market:

Search Engine Optimization

Some might think SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is obsolete and has no place in the digital world. But throughout the years, Singaporean digital marketing organizations have employed it as one of their most effective digital marketing techniques. Amazing organic ranking results were achieved nationwide by agencies concentrating on technical specifications, social signals, backlinks, content, and optimized website architecture. E-commerce websites use search engine optimization to their fullest potential to direct customers looking for their items to the website. Today's SEO requires more than website optimization; you must comply with Google's revised algorithms, give the necessary data, and stay up to date. This improves the ranking of your website and your user with a better experience.

Content marketing

Content marketing is one of the most varied and intricate forms of digital marketing. The majority of items in the digital industry contain content, including blogs, articles, websites, press releases, whitepapers, and social media posts. Because content marketing demands actual competence to provide excellent returns on investments for the clients, not many agencies can master it. The most effective digital marketing tactic Singaporean businesses are interested in is content marketing. Companies in Singapore that view content marketing as a funnel where consumers go from awareness of a brand to purchase are doing well. Well-written copy alone may effectively convey your message and sell your goods and services to a large audience.

Social Media

A digital marketing strategy is only possible with the client's social media presence. In actuality, it is the most suitable and affordable method of branding. Singapore agencies encouraged numerous social media campaigns on sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest last year to generate buzz and increase brand awareness. The strategy was most effective when organizations included relevant links, videos, infographics, images, and more. As long as it is done correctly, social media offers a chance for all organizations, including B2C and B2B ones, to increase their consumer base. If you are aware of your target audience and produce content that will interest them, you must succeed on social media.

Video Promotion

Video marketing has completely dominated the internet landscape during the past few years. The average conversion rate for a Singapore business website with videos is 4.8%, compared to 2.9% for those without videos, demonstrating the growing relevance of video channels. According to a survey, digital marketers who used videos to promote their goods and services saw a 54% increase in brand recognition nationwide and received 66% more qualified leads. Many people acknowledged that including video marketing in their digital marketing plan enabled them to increase customer retention rates to 55%. Businesses that used video marketing to target their customers expanded significantly in Singapore in 2019. Video interviews, testimonials, Vlogs, live streaming, product evaluations, and video advertisements are a few of the video formats that have become very popular in Singapore.

Data

If you don't incorporate data into your digital marketing approach, you're flying blind. Before developing a digital marketing strategy, many digital agencies in Singapore today rely on intelligent and segmented data. The only way to create an effective digital marketing plan, from content marketing to PPC and SEO, is by gathering data about your present and potential customers. Many agencies cleverly used CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems to gain access to customer information. Integrating CRM into your digital strategy lets you combine your customers' data into one database that can be viewed and controlled from anywhere. Digital marketing services from Pivot tree can be beneficial for you.

[reportstore]

Supply and Demand: Asia’s Mining Market at a Glance

The times of clear outline between the creating and created universes are a distant memory. Prospering, self-assured youthful economies from all continents have entered the world stage as shippers of labor and products for infrastructure projects, as well as conspicuous exporters and global financial backers.

South and East Asia, drove by new economic forces to be reckoned with India and China, is a locale that is rich with an open door for the mining and metals sector. Be that as it may, more than essentially being a hotbed of mining activity and new projects, Asian companies are quickly catching up with North America and Europe in worldwide mining venture, and consolidations and acquisitions.

This quick ascent, particularly prominent in China, is even more clear in the mining scene as Asian countries try to secure present and future material resources. Notwithstanding China, projects and arrangements in Asia and all around the world are being driven by India, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea.

In this preview of Asia's mining market, we investigate the Asian mining companies venturing into the spotlight, as well as recent speculations made to take advantage of the continent's own crude resources. We likewise inquire as to whether unfortunate security systems mean this noteworthy extension comes at too high an exorbitant cost in certain countries.

Vale puts resources into China

Numerous Asian countries are areas of strength for attracting from the world's significant mining companies. Vale, the world's biggest iron metal mining company, which last year outperformed Petrobras as Brazil's greatest exporter with outside deals worth $24bn, has been proactively increasing its presence in China. In December 2010, the company started exchanging on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE), the biggest non-financial company ever to exchange publicly in Hong Kong. This clear sign of the company's aim to expand activities in China and Asia is being borne out, as Asia is presently Vale's greatest commodity market.

For more mining market commodity insights, download a free report sample

The Brazilian company is likewise starting to put resources into iron metal projects in China. One of the most conspicuous of these is a joint endeavor organization with Henan-based steelmaker Anyang Iron and Steel on a 1.2-million-ton iron mineral pellet plant. Vale and Anyang are expecting the plant to begin production toward the finish of March 2011.

Vale has additionally collaborated with two Chinese companies to give hardware to its $2.5bn CLN iron metal project in the Brazilian province of Maranhão, with contracts endorsed in Shanghai among Vale and Chinese manufacturers Keda Machinery Manufacturing and Zoomlion in November 2010. Keda will produce five conveyor belts for the project, while Zoomlion will give a reclaimer and two iron metal stackers. The companies will create probably the most elevated capacity hardware in their respective fields at any point worked in China.

Endless supply of the contracts, Vale CEO Roger Agnelli talked confidently about the company's future endeavors in China and with Chinese companies. "Vale will put a great deal in China before very long and we are completely confident that China brings a ton to the table," he said. "We will become together."

However, not just Vale is cooperating with Asian companies, and not just China is welcoming significant interests into mining projects, Merukh Ventures auxiliary PT Merukh Iron and Steel announced in February 2011 that it would contribute $48bn to fabricate two new iron metal plants in the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara to assist with fulfilling the country's skyrocketing demand for steel.

[singing-stars]

The oldest man-made structure in South East Asia, and why you've never heard of it

The Bujang Valley (called Lembah Bujang in Malay), is an area of 224 square kilometres, and is littered with ancient Bhuddist temples. The oldest of these ruins is estimated to be more than 2,500 years old, making it the oldest in SE Asia. It is located in Kedah, a Malaysian state.

For reference, Angkor Wat in Cambodia (the supposed largest religious complex in the world), is 1.6 square kilometres. Angkor Wat's construction took place from 1122-1150.

So why isn't it more well known?

To be clear: I am not a historian with extensive knowledge on the subject, I was just curious when I heard about it, and decided to make this post mostly for my own reference. As a Malaysian myself, I was surprised when I heard about for the first time over dinner a few days ago with my Gramma, who is Kedahan. So, I've made this (non-comprehensive) list based on research and my own opinions.

Time. As with all historical buildings, these temples (called candi- pronounced "chandi") have faced the onslaught of time. Thanks to Malaysia's humid climate, the wooden roofs have rotted through, exposing the rest of the building to weather and insects. Because of this, many written records and scriptures from the period these temples were in use have also been lost.

Development. In 2013, a 1,200 year old temple was destroyed by propertu developers. This candi was the 11th of 17 registered, and was one of the oldest in Kedah, and led to public outrage. The government of Kedah responded by stating they were not in the wrong because the land was privately owned and it had not been gazetted as a site of historical significance. Since then, the Tourism and Heritage Ministry has agreed to 'consider' gazetting it, and has been nominated by Malaysia (and backed by numerous Asian countries) into the UNESCO World Heritage List. This happened in the same year (2013), but still has not made it.

Disorganisation. The museum in Bujang Valley itself is unkempt and disorganised. Relics and artifacts from the numerous candi are also scattered across the Malayan Peninsular, from Muzium Negara (the Nation Museum) to Singaporean museums (as Singapore was once a part of Malaya). Because of this, it must be difficult for scholars to write extensive research; the resources are not readily avaliable.

Funding & Skills. The original archeological dig was lead in part by Western archeologists that have since left the country. Now, Malaysia is not a wealthy country, and to be honest, the government's focus just simply isn't on history. Despite the revenue tourism and outside eyes would bring, the time and cost it would take to restore the candis is not yet seen as "worth it". Thankfully, the government announced in 2017 that they would do more research and preserve Bunjang Valley's incredible historical significance. However, with the recent political climate (3 elections in as many years, as well as the imprisonment of a former Prime Minister) as well as storms and flooding throughout Peninsular Malaysia, it is not surprising that not much progress has been made. Currently, local graduate archeology students are the ones spending the most time at the different sites across Lembah Bujang, uncovering and organising new relics such as stone caskets, ceramics, ornaments and Hindu icons.

Location. There is evidence from "resting" ships buried under the earth, and records from elsewhere in Kedah, that the region was once a bustling port. The reason for this is simple: an abundance of iron. Gunung Jerai (Mount Jerai) is rich in haematite and magnetite. The ore was then smelted and traded at these ports for weapons, chariots, and armour, which explains the wealth uncovered within the temples. However, this is no longer the case. With the aforementioned "resting" ships, alongside the fact that this area is no longer as rich as it once was, it won't have escaped your notice that something happened to change the economic and geographical landscape of Lembah Bujang. This factor was falling sea levels. The ports dried up, and such trading was no longer convinient for sea-farers.

And that's all I have the time to write right now. I'm not sure how many people will see this, so if you did, I hope it was an interesting read! With that being said, this was just the culmination of a couple days research, and is not an academic paper. If you have any more knowledge on Bujang Valley and its temples, please share! I'd love to hear more insight on the topic :)