9 dead in China fireworks accident [By: Rong Hua]

9 people were killed and 9 others injured when a truck loaded with fireworks material hit an electricity pole and blew up in central China. The news agency reported that the deaths increased the number of fireworks related deaths nationwide at least 19 in the past week.

The explosion took place when the truck loaded with 600 boxes of fireworks fuses hit the pole and the sparks from the fallen power cables ignited the fuses and caused the blast. The force of the explosion was so big that it shattered windows and cracked walls in houses hundreds of metres away from the scene.

Police were investigating the cause of the accident while search and rescue teams were using sniffer dogs to look for more possible victims.

The article appeal to me as I was wondering why didn’t precaution taken against delivery of fireworks. I’m so glad that Singapore has banned the usage of fireworks except for important events where precautions were taken to ensure the safety of people. I think other countries should consider banning of fireworks to prevent any accidents relating to firework from happening.

I would like to ask the writing why aren’t the fireworks materials covered so as to prevent the firework from having any contact outside the container of the truck. If the firework materials are covered by the container of the truck, such accidents would not happened.

If I was in charge of this, I would take precaution to prevent such accident from happening as fireworks can be dangerous when it blow up which can cause injuries and even death.

Suicide verdict for widow (Edmund)

Summary
This is one of the most saddest story happened in Singapore. The couple married on the same day but died on the different day.
Computer shop owner, Vernon Leong Jun Wei, 31 fell to his death at the Hilton hotel after his wedding banquet in November last year. Eight months later, Kerin Peh Li Ling, 28, had committed suicide at her flat.
At the coroner inquiry on Monday, the court heard that Peh could not come to terms with widowhood and had written practically daily in the two diaries found in her room of her 'undying love' for him.
She had slit her wrists and drank bleach last December but was rushed to hospital in time.
In the entry dated July 4, she wrote that she did not wish to be left alone for too long without her late husband.
'I do not want to move on like others do,' she had confided in her diary.
The next day, she took her life.

Why I Choose This Article
i choose this article because i had read the previous news saying that the bridegroom had fall to his death and now it is sad to hear that the bride had also commit sucide. I always thought such saddening incident will not happen in real life.

If i were to control the situation
I would send the bride to counselling after hearing that her husband had died. I would also spend time acompany the bride if i were to know the bride.

HDB flats more affordable but still too expensive (By: Faezah)

Buyers feel that properties are now more affordable, thanks to the cooling measures introduced by the Government in August, according to the latest survey by real estate listing portal propertyguru.com.sg.


But most respondents to the survey also felt that more could be done to control prices of Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats. One of the things that came out in terms of the most recent research findings was that people still think that HDB is expensive.


The Ministry of National Development said this week that the effects of the cooling measures would continue to sink in through the next one to two months.

Cash over-valuation premiums for HDB resale units had already slipped to $22,000 last month from $35,000 in October.
The Government appeared to be monitoring the situation closely and more cooling measures could be effected if necessary.According to Urban Redevelopment Authority data, growth in property prices slowed to 2.9 per cent in the third quarter, compared with 5.3 per cent in the previous one.


Analysts believe home prices could rise by 10 per cent next year, led by the luxury segment. But HDB prices would rise at a marginal 5 per cent due to the cooling measures.


The article appeals to me because HDB flats are now expensive due to high standard of living in Singapore.


I have a question to ask, how can we improve our standard of living by not increasing the prices for HDB flats as Singaporeans are struggling with the economy.


If i am in charge, I would ensure that the prices for HDB flats are affordable so that Singaporeans are managed to pay the HDB flats by cash or CPF.