STB hopes to attract more high net worth individuals to Singapore SINGAPORE: The tourism stakes are high and Singapore is trying to woo more visitors. It is betting on the two integrated resorts due to open next year, and also spinning for a more diverse crowd. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said that it is on track to meeting its target of attracting 9 to 9.5 million visitors to the city this year. Despite the economic downturn, 6.2 million tourists visited Singapore in the first 8 months of this year. STB’s strategy ahead is to woo more high net worth individuals, or those with at least a million US dollars to invest. “Singapore is limited by its size and capacity and therefore, in that case, we need to make sure that we attract the right kind of audience,” said Chew Tiong Heng, director, Destination Marketing, Singapore Tourism Board. “While we will not neglect people with ...

TODAY: Russia willing to revive European Arms Control treaty; IOC praises Sochi but says task must not be underestimated; Russia pledges help to Abkhazia and South Ossetia; policemen on trial Russia has proposed a new version of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and believes that 'chances to revive the treaty', which it suspended over a year ago, 'still exist'.  The original 1990 treaty imposed limitations on troop and weaponry movement to the West of the Ural mountains, a restriction Putin likened to the U.S. having 'to seek Russian approval before it sent troops from California to Texas'.  The OSCE has ceased talks on keeping peace monitors in Georgia after Russia vetoed its proposals, but is apparently hoping that the Kremlin will ...

TODAY: Troops begin controversial Georgia border control; EU fears Russia not a 'reliable partner'; Medvedev's first year analyzed; Russians unimpressed by income anti-corruption drive; democracy dwindling but economy bolstered in Sochi?; balletSurveillance on the borders between Abkhazia and South Ossetia and Geogia has begun with hundreds of troops deployed; Russia apparently plans to construct a naval base in Abkhazia.  Russian Ambassador to Abkhazia Semyon Grigoryev has set up the country's new Russian embassy.  Reuters has a list of 'tipping points' in relations between Georgia and Russia here.  The Chairman of the Duma's International Affairs Committee has apparently reiterated that Russia was forced to intervene in Georgia due to actions undertaken by President Mikheil Saakashvili.  'Any hope for trust, which is ...

A reader has directed my attention to this interesting article by Clifford Levy published in The New York Times about a seemingly unnecessary $1 billion bridge - which would be the longest suspension bridge in the world - connecting Vladivostok to the sparsely populated small island of Russki (there is also an interesting video).  Levy focuses the example of the bridge, but the issue really at stake is the Kremlin's drive to create an Eastern economic identity, preparing to show off some muscle before the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit meeting in 2012 ... part of a budget package of some $6 billion being funneled toward this region despite lacking need, population, or significant economic activity.  Kind of a "if you build it, they will come" attitude to the ...

There is an interesting op/ed in today's Moscow Times by Michael Bohm, which disputes some that the goals of Strategy 2020 require no readjustment given the damage caused by the economic crisis.  Naturally, our eyes our drawn to Bohm's comments about administrative barriers and the weakened environment for rule of law which holds back entrepreneurs and small companies from revitalizing the country - two trends which are especially highlighted by the second trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky. As long as Russian bureaucrats (and competitors) are free to terrorize businesses by creating "administrative barriers," extorting bribes and raiding, economic growth in the real sector will always be insignificant. To his credit, President Dmitry Medvedev is backing a new law to assist small businesses, which will, among other things, limit the number of government inspections of businesses. Most likely, however, these limitations will be easily sidestepped when ...

With the onset of 2009, Beijing is cracking down on web portals and search engines that publish material deemed to be too vulgar or subversive for the nation’s 300 million-plus Internet users. Chinese authorities have reportedly implemented new software that lets them more easily track and counter threats, and have issued stern warnings to industry leaders such as Baidu.com Inc. (ADR: BIDU) and Google Inc. (GOOG).

The government earlier this week cited 19 Web sites - including Baidu, Google, Sohu, Sina, and Tianya - as purveyors of vulgar content that is morally or politically destructive.

Some results produced by search engines had “large amounts of pornographic links [and] after notification from the complaint center, the site did not take effective countermeasures,” the State Council Information Office said in a statement.

“Some Web sites have exploited loopholes in laws and regulations,” said Cai Minzhao, deputy chief of the Information

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The pure capitalist tends to drool a bit at the mere mention of a captive market. The opportunity to sell into a marketplace that has only a few favored suppliers is a dream come true. In most instances, captive markets are few and far in-between, but when they do show up, it’s an opportunity to take advantage.

To suggest China as a captive market, hinged on knowing the right people with the right permits, may or may not be a stretch. It is, however, a process/tradition that is an important part of doing business in China. Finding a Chinese company that has a solid position within the Chinese business infrastructure is one such opportunity where an investor may be able to do a little drooling, even when the rest of the world is looking for a solid footing.

Gulf Resources Inc., a bromine/specialty chemicals manufacturing company, works to develop and market

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Mixed martial arts (MMA) is sport that most Americans are just learning about. The Fight Zone, Inc. (TFZI.PK) is taking the reins when it comes to getting the word out about the sport by aggressively managing, developing, and marketing events. MMA is a full contact sport that artfully blends skills from wrestling, boxing, and martial arts. MMA is quickly becoming the fastest growing sport in North America and has grabbed the attention of 18 to 34-year-old males, which is a key spending demographic group.

Interestingly, the ancient Greeks had a form of MMA in the early Olympic Games. Pankration, which means “all powers”, actually combined wrestling and boxing skills. Matches would traditionally last for hours and end when one of the participants was “tapped out” by either being pinned down or placed in a hold that could result in a significant injury, knock out,

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Gulf Resources, Inc. (OTCBB: GFRE) reported it was revising its expected 2008 income to between $20 million and $23 million. This positive change came after the company, a manufacturer of bromine, crude salt and specialty chemical products in China, announced about $23 million in new customer orders for the fourth quarter, up significantly over the third quarter of 2008.

GFRE pointed out that third quarter bromine orders from some of its customers were delayed as a result of the Olympic Games and related government restrictions on many chemical factories in Beijing and Qingdao.

“We are extremely pleased to see the surge in placed orders as a result of the revival of the chemical industry after the Olympic Games,” said Ming Yang, Gulf Resources CEO. “Robust demand for bromine and chemical products in China together with our rapidly expanding production capacity and increased production efficiency will allow us to continue capturing a larger

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Sohu.com Inc. (SOHU) is one of China's largest web networks, running 7 Chinese language web properties and proprietary search engines. The company has been on fire as Internet access expands across China and its growing middle class. Analysts expect 2008 year over year earnings growth of 293.89%.

Sohu.com's Revenue Explodes

On Jul 28, the company reported second quarter earnings and beat its own prior guidance and Wall Street estimates by 45.71%, or 32 cents per share. Net income surged 60.1% to $40.2 million, or $1.02 per share, from $25.1 million, or 64 cents in the year-ago period.

Revenues continued to soar, rising 162%, and 20% quarter-on-quarter, to $102 million from $39 million in the second quarter of 2007. Total revenues exceeded $100 million for the first time in the company's history. Advertising revenues were hot, growing 53% year-over-year to $43.4 million.

Sohu.com was the Internet Content Sponsor for

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