The Orange Thimble Tiong Bahru

The Orange Thimble is where art meets cafe

A corner for creativity fuelled by passion and espressos. It’s a slot between the walls for thinkers, believers, individuals, travellers and neighbours. It's simple earnest food created by those people who grew up running and ducking through these very streets and alleys of Tiong Bahru. A place dedicated to ideals of honest neighbourhood living supporting the creative community.

BLK 56, 01-68, ENG HOON STREET, TIONG BAHRU

Kim Kardashian Engagement Ring: What Do You Think?

Congratulations are in order for Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries, as they walked down the aisle this weekend and... wait, WHAT?!?

OK! Weekly has taken its misleading headlines to a new level, as the latest edition of this desperate tabloid screams that Kim "Weds," appears to depict in her a wedding dress and advertises "Complete Coverage" of an event that hasn't taken place yet.

What makes this a "Special Collector's Issue?" The gall editors possess to actually have printed it...

Kim Kardashian actually gets married this Saturday - unless Reggie Bush steps in!!! - and THG truly will have complete coverage of the ceremony/reception. At no charge.

Read more celebrity gossip at: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/stars/kim-kardashian.html#ixzz1VLos8ojj

Japan exports fall less than forecast; surplus down

TOKYO: Japan's exports fell for a fifth straight month in July, but not as sharply as expected, raising hopes for a gradual recovery from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, official data showed Thursday.

Exports fell 3.3 percent from a year ago to 5.78 trillion yen ($75.4 billion), beating market expectations of a 4.4-percent fall, the Finance Ministry said.

Japan still managed to record a trade surplus of 72.5 billion yen -- 90.8 percent lower than the same month last year, and nearly matching the market forecast of a 70.1 billion yen surplus.

Meanwhile, imports grew 9.9 percent to 5.71 trillion yen on rising energy prices, the ministry said.

Export-oriented manufacturers have continued to rebound after the March disaster hit Japan's northeast, destroying factories and infrastructure and disrupting industrial supply chains.

Economists have generally expected Asia's second largest economy to continue to strengthen in the months to come, fuelled by reconstruction demand, although Japan faces the risks of a strong yen and a global slowdown.

Data on Monday showed that Japan's economy shrank less than expected in the April-June quarter, fuelling hopes that Asia's second-biggest economy will grow again in the July-September quarter.

The Cabinet Office said Japan's economy shrank an annualised 1.3 percent in the first full quarter since the nation's worst post-war disaster -- beating bleak market expectations of a 2.7-percent contraction.

But the fall in exports worried some analysts, who said the persistent strength of the yen and the uncertainty involving the US and the eurozone economies posed risks for Japan.

The latest data "could be signalling that the nation's exports have started to slow due to weaker growth in overseas economies," said Norio Miyagawa, senior economists at Mizuho Research and Consulting.

"Though we need to check more data in the coming months, the decline in exports volume is a bit worrisome," he told Dow Jones Newswires.

- AFP/cc

Oil down in Asian trade

SINGAPORE: Crude prices were lower in Asian trade Thursday as investors awaited more data indicating the health of the US economy, the world's biggest oil consuming nation.

The US government is expected to release figures on jobless claims and inflation in the world's biggest economy, which is struggling to avoid dipping back into recession.

A stronger US dollar also helped push prices lower as it makes the dollar-priced commodity more expensive for buyers using other currencies, dampening demand, analysts said.

New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude for September delivery, was down 33 cents to $87.25 a barrel in Asian morning trade.

Brent North Sea crude for October fell 30 cents to $110.30.

"Jobs are where the angst resides, the inflation call is more benign, though not completely," DBS Bank said in a market commentary on the US economy.

"Poor sentiment of the past two weeks is bound to feed into some of the hard data and the fact is that labour/jobs data are the most prone of all to sentiment," it said.

"Another fact is that jobs data make for the biggest headlines and nobody wants to see more sand thrown into the wind just now. So if we can get through this week and next week without a surge in jobless claims, then the outlook for Q3 has just gone up by an order of magnitude."

Investors are closely watching the health of US economy amid fears it could sink into another recession because it consumes more oil than any other country in the world.

Victor Shum, an analyst with Purvin and Gertz energy consultancy in Singapore, said oil prices were also edging down "in parallel with the strengthening of the US dollar against the euro".

- AFP/cc

10 at Claymore @ Pan Pacific Orchard

Wide selection of buffet, cozy environment.

Address:

• Pan Pacific Hotel, Orchard
• 10 @ Claymore
  10 Claymore road
  2F Pan Pacfic Orchard
  Tel: 6831 6686
• 
  

Price:

Dinner Buffet: S$ 38++ Per Pax

Verdict: 3 stars out of 5 stars

L'espresso @ Goodwood Park Hotel

If you have a craving for English high tea, L'Espresso is the only place to go. Located inside Goodwood Park Hotel, L'Espresso serves lavish spread of delicious sandwiches, pastries and the most delightful dessert. Reservation recommended.

Address:

• Goodwood Park Hotel
• 22, Scotts Road, Singapore 228221, Singapore
• 67301743
• English Afternoon Tea:
• (Mon – Thurs) 2pm – 5.30pm
• (Fri – Sun & PH) 12noon – 2.30pm (1st seating),
• 3pm – 5.30pm (2nd seating)

Price:

S$ 32 to 38++ Per Pax

Verdict: 4 stars out of 5 stars