Orchard Road, medical haven
ORCHARD Road is renowned as a shoppers' paradise, but few know that it is fast turning into a magnet for medical services too.
By next year, the glitzy shopping belt and its surrounding areas, such as those along Tanglin and Napier roads, will become home to at least seven private medical centres.
Since the middle of last year, two private health-care providers have started or are making plans to open medical centres in the vicinity.
In May last year, Healthway Medical opened two clinics specialising in orthodontics and plastic surgery respectively at TripleOne Somerset shopping mall in Somerset Road. It has since taken the total to six clinics, spanning 25,000 sq m of the mall.
In addition, it also has clinics at Mount Elizabeth in Orchard Road and Gleneagles in Napier Road. Earlier in February, Raffles Medical Group announced plans to set up a specialist centre in Thong Sia Building in Bideford Road when existing tenancies expire next year and in 2013.
Aside from Healthway and Raffles, the other five medical providers operating in the Orchard area are: Paragon Medical, a stand-alone centre that is housed in Paragon; Orchard Medical Specialists Centre at Lucky Plaza; Mount Elizabeth located behind Paragon; Gleneagles in Napier Road; and Camden Medical Centre in Orchard Boulevard.
Healthway and Raffles provide medical services, while Paragon, Camden and Orchard Medical Specialists are landlords leasing space to medical specialists and clinics.
The remaining two Gleneagles and Mount Elizabeth comprise clinics owned and operated by independent specialists. Competition is stiff, but industry players think there is enough business to go around.
~News courtesy of Omy~
Thursday 30 June 2011
Thursday 23 June 2011
Bintan Budget Resort
http://www.bintanbudgetresort.com/Pondok Wisata Susy & Activity
Trikora 2 - Kilometer 42
Pulau Bintan - Tanjung Pinang , Riau Archipelago
E-Mail: bintanbudgetresort@gmail.com
Mr Sularto +62-81372876196
Mr Herry (English speaking) +62-8127006956
Wednesday 22 June 2011
Terracotta warriors exhibition opens Friday
Terracotta warriors exhibition in Singapore opens Friday
The Asian Civilisations Museum will be throwing open its doors this Friday to its latest exhibition - "Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor and His Legacy".
It is the first time the statues are being showcased in Singapore and in Southeast Asia.
Made of low-fired clay, the statues brought over from Xian, China include a general, two archers, infantrymen, a cavalry officer, a charioteer, a strongman and a horse.
These and other artefacts are all part of the re-creation of Qin Shi Huang's court for his use in the afterlife.
The terracotta army was found in the tomb complex of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor who unified China in 221 BCE.
The special exhibition is on from 24 June to 16 October.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
The Asian Civilisations Museum will be throwing open its doors this Friday to its latest exhibition - "Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor and His Legacy".
It is the first time the statues are being showcased in Singapore and in Southeast Asia.
Made of low-fired clay, the statues brought over from Xian, China include a general, two archers, infantrymen, a cavalry officer, a charioteer, a strongman and a horse.
These and other artefacts are all part of the re-creation of Qin Shi Huang's court for his use in the afterlife.
The terracotta army was found in the tomb complex of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor who unified China in 221 BCE.
The special exhibition is on from 24 June to 16 October.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
KTM station braces for goodbye
KTM station braces for goodbye
The food stalls at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station will be moving out by Sunday, as the station prepares for its final week of operations.
The last KTM train will depart on June 30.
For the past few weeks, tickets for the Malaysia-bound trains have been selling out, as Singaporeans savour one final trip on the historic railway.
The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station is as famous for its food, as its art-deco facade.
Many say its teh tarik, or milk tea, is one of the best in Singapore.
But there aren't many days left to get a bite there, as stall operators have to vacate by June 26.
The cafeteria bears the name of chief tenant Mahmoodul Hasan, who has been there since 1976.
Like many of the other operators, he is undecided on his plans.
"I feel very, very sad. Because it's like my home," Mr Mahmoodul said.
"I'm finding a good place. If I get it, I'll continue. If not, then I'll relax!"
He added that his tenants have indicated their interest in following him if a good location is found.
Meanwhile, some Singaporeans are hoping to buy train tickets.
All seats for Wednesday's 8am and 1pm trains have been sold, and tickets for the next day were reportedly gone within half an hour.
Mr Teo Juay Tee, who managed to buy tickets, said: "I came four times to try to get the ticket, and on the fourth try I got lucky.
"I'm already 27 years old and I've never taken the train before, so that's why I'm here to try out the train".
Others who were spotted at the KTM station included a wedding photographer, who joined other shutterbugs in documenting the station's last days.
There was also a souvenir stall in a corner, selling T-shirts, plastic files and mobile phone accessories with the KTM logo.
A resident who lives in an estate near the station, 53-year-old R Kalaichevan, said: "When I was five years old, my father brought me here to practise walking.
"This was the only shopping centre we know, and every evening, we come here, we watch the trains come in and go off".
From July 1, trains between Singapore and Malaysia will depart from the Woodlands checkpoint.
All immigration procedures will take place there.
The last passenger train will pull out of Tanjong Pagar station for the last time at 10pm on June 30, and tickets are selling fast online.
Malaysian authorities will also hold a send-off party that night, which will end with the Sultan of Johor driving a special train to Johor as a grand finale.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
The food stalls at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station will be moving out by Sunday, as the station prepares for its final week of operations.
The last KTM train will depart on June 30.
For the past few weeks, tickets for the Malaysia-bound trains have been selling out, as Singaporeans savour one final trip on the historic railway.
The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station is as famous for its food, as its art-deco facade.
Many say its teh tarik, or milk tea, is one of the best in Singapore.
But there aren't many days left to get a bite there, as stall operators have to vacate by June 26.
The cafeteria bears the name of chief tenant Mahmoodul Hasan, who has been there since 1976.
Like many of the other operators, he is undecided on his plans.
"I feel very, very sad. Because it's like my home," Mr Mahmoodul said.
"I'm finding a good place. If I get it, I'll continue. If not, then I'll relax!"
He added that his tenants have indicated their interest in following him if a good location is found.
Meanwhile, some Singaporeans are hoping to buy train tickets.
All seats for Wednesday's 8am and 1pm trains have been sold, and tickets for the next day were reportedly gone within half an hour.
Mr Teo Juay Tee, who managed to buy tickets, said: "I came four times to try to get the ticket, and on the fourth try I got lucky.
"I'm already 27 years old and I've never taken the train before, so that's why I'm here to try out the train".
Others who were spotted at the KTM station included a wedding photographer, who joined other shutterbugs in documenting the station's last days.
There was also a souvenir stall in a corner, selling T-shirts, plastic files and mobile phone accessories with the KTM logo.
A resident who lives in an estate near the station, 53-year-old R Kalaichevan, said: "When I was five years old, my father brought me here to practise walking.
"This was the only shopping centre we know, and every evening, we come here, we watch the trains come in and go off".
From July 1, trains between Singapore and Malaysia will depart from the Woodlands checkpoint.
All immigration procedures will take place there.
The last passenger train will pull out of Tanjong Pagar station for the last time at 10pm on June 30, and tickets are selling fast online.
Malaysian authorities will also hold a send-off party that night, which will end with the Sultan of Johor driving a special train to Johor as a grand finale.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Wednesday 15 June 2011
MBS to put sparkle into local nightlife
Marina Bay Sands to put sparkle into local nightlife
After a delay in opening and two lawsuits filed over alleged contract breaches, international nightclub brands Avalon and Pangaea look set to open their doors in Marina Bay Sands (MBS) after all.
While the two clubs did not give a specific date when contacted by MediaCorp, the Avalon website stated that it will hold the Avalon At Large, an F1-related party, at MBS on September 23 and 24.
Meanwhile, according to the Pangaea website, its club here will have capacity for 500 patrons and is now available for private bookings.
The efforts to make MBS' south Crystal Pavilion a much-touted nightclub destination look set to happen with American Gregory Gumo of Crystal Pavilion Marina Productions, the man behind the two projects, MediaCorp understands.
Avalon is famous in Los Angeles for being home to Hollywood celebrities and a venue for annual parties such as the Oscars and Emmys, while Pangaea is a party hot spot in New York, Miami and London.
Mr Gumo, the co-founder and director of the Fuel Festival music event held in Singapore during the 2009 Formula One weekend, had told an online interview with former Zouk marketing manager Tracy Phillips on inSing last year he had suggested bringing in the two names after a few nightclub brands were discussed but none fit the bill initially.
Mr Gumo, who is also one of the founders of Soundpedia, a Singapore-based Internet radio and music community website that was started in 2006, then flew the owners of the clubs to Singapore.
The news that the clubs will open soon, as MBS also stated on its website, comes as a twist in an ongoing legal action.
Last week, Singapore entertainment management company Kraze Entertainment filed a lawsuit against MBS for breaching a leasing agreement in April. The former had worked on bringing the two nightclubs into MBS and is alleging that MBS has wrongfully terminated a 10-year lease at south Crystal Pavilion.
Last month, Kraze Entertainment, which has ties with Korean company Krazetech, also filed a writ of summons against Pan Av Asia Partners, the clubs' purported operators, for "various material breaches" in agreement.
The collaboration fell through after Pan Av Asia Partners allegedly scrapped its licensing deal on March 25, resulting in Kraze Entertainment's own termination of its management agreement on April 9.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
After a delay in opening and two lawsuits filed over alleged contract breaches, international nightclub brands Avalon and Pangaea look set to open their doors in Marina Bay Sands (MBS) after all.
While the two clubs did not give a specific date when contacted by MediaCorp, the Avalon website stated that it will hold the Avalon At Large, an F1-related party, at MBS on September 23 and 24.
Meanwhile, according to the Pangaea website, its club here will have capacity for 500 patrons and is now available for private bookings.
The efforts to make MBS' south Crystal Pavilion a much-touted nightclub destination look set to happen with American Gregory Gumo of Crystal Pavilion Marina Productions, the man behind the two projects, MediaCorp understands.
Avalon is famous in Los Angeles for being home to Hollywood celebrities and a venue for annual parties such as the Oscars and Emmys, while Pangaea is a party hot spot in New York, Miami and London.
Mr Gumo, the co-founder and director of the Fuel Festival music event held in Singapore during the 2009 Formula One weekend, had told an online interview with former Zouk marketing manager Tracy Phillips on inSing last year he had suggested bringing in the two names after a few nightclub brands were discussed but none fit the bill initially.
Mr Gumo, who is also one of the founders of Soundpedia, a Singapore-based Internet radio and music community website that was started in 2006, then flew the owners of the clubs to Singapore.
The news that the clubs will open soon, as MBS also stated on its website, comes as a twist in an ongoing legal action.
Last week, Singapore entertainment management company Kraze Entertainment filed a lawsuit against MBS for breaching a leasing agreement in April. The former had worked on bringing the two nightclubs into MBS and is alleging that MBS has wrongfully terminated a 10-year lease at south Crystal Pavilion.
Last month, Kraze Entertainment, which has ties with Korean company Krazetech, also filed a writ of summons against Pan Av Asia Partners, the clubs' purported operators, for "various material breaches" in agreement.
The collaboration fell through after Pan Av Asia Partners allegedly scrapped its licensing deal on March 25, resulting in Kraze Entertainment's own termination of its management agreement on April 9.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
The terracotta warriors have landed
The terracotta warriors have landed
Here is your chance to get up close with China's famous terracotta warriors.
Ten terracotta statues have been shipped to Singapore for their first exhibition in Southeast Asia, at the Asian Civilisation Museum.
Together with about 100 artefacts from China's Qin and Han dynasties, the statues were shipped, over land and by air, from the Chinese city of Xi'an.
The warriors, along with their trusty horses, had to be shipped over carefully from the Museum of the First Emperor's Terracotta Army.
It took eight days just to get the artefacts from Xi'an to Shanghai since the shockproof vehicles transporting the items could not go faster than 80 kilometres per hour.
The "Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor and His Legacy" exhibition will run from June 24 to October 16.
The terracotta warriors, which are more than 2,000 years old, were originally constructed to protect the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Here is your chance to get up close with China's famous terracotta warriors.
Ten terracotta statues have been shipped to Singapore for their first exhibition in Southeast Asia, at the Asian Civilisation Museum.
Together with about 100 artefacts from China's Qin and Han dynasties, the statues were shipped, over land and by air, from the Chinese city of Xi'an.
The warriors, along with their trusty horses, had to be shipped over carefully from the Museum of the First Emperor's Terracotta Army.
It took eight days just to get the artefacts from Xi'an to Shanghai since the shockproof vehicles transporting the items could not go faster than 80 kilometres per hour.
The "Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor and His Legacy" exhibition will run from June 24 to October 16.
The terracotta warriors, which are more than 2,000 years old, were originally constructed to protect the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Monday 13 June 2011
Travellers thinking twice about Johor trips
Travellers thinking twice about Johor trips
The traffic snarl plaguing the Causeway and the Second Link on weekends is causing some frequent travellers to hold back on trips up north.
Motorists have been locked in jams the last two weekends, with some reportedly taking up to seven hours to clear immigration.
This comes after Malaysia rolled out its biometric fingerprint system at the start of the month, which requires travellers to scan both index fingers in addition to getting their passports stamped.
46-year-old engineer, Rene Gorada, organises bi-monthly golf tournaments for people living in Singapore.
The group, which typically consists of 50 to 70 golfers, would travel to neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand for their Sunday tournaments.
Mr Gorada said half their games are held in Johor Bahru.
He said: "You need to get to the golf course on time. Some of them are suggesting going somewhere else, maybe Batam. But (there are) some other concerns.....going to Batam, it's a whole-day affair because you have to take a ferry. So most of the golfers still prefer Malaysia, because it's nearer. The only thing is that you really have to plan and beat the traffic jam."
Mr Gorada said the group has to leave at 6am to make the 8am tee-off. This is an hour earlier than previously.
Another golfer living in Singapore, 51-year-old Ren Carino, said he drives to Johor three times a month to play golf.
But with the current congestion, he may move his game to another country. He said: "We would rather go to Batam now, or Bintan, Indonesia. It's a lot better now in terms of traffic jams.. there are no traffic jams (there)."
With Singaporeans avoiding the hassle of crossing the Causeway, businesses in Johor Bahru are reporting a drop in sales.
P. Sivakumar, president of the Malaysian Indian Business Association (MIBA), said the city heavily depends on business from Singaporeans.
"Most of them (Singaporeans) patronise all the eateries that have cropped up everywhere in Johor Bahru. And it's of great concern at the moment, because what we're receiving is that initially the jam was 7 hours, now it's around 5 hours, and it's not good for business," he said.
Mr Sivakumar said no formal survey has been conducted yet on how badly business has been affected, and his assessment is based on feedback received from merchants.
Malaysia's Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam has said it's "unfair to blame the biometric system for causing the congestion".
He said the congestion only happened at the Causeway and the Second Link, but not at any of the other 67 checkpoints across Malaysia.
He pinned the blame on the high volume of human traffic and daily movement between Johor Bahru and Singapore.
But MIBA's Mr Sivakumar disagrees.
He said there has always been high traffic flow at the Causeway, and the jams only started after the biometric system was implemented.
Mr Sivakumar said he plans to make another appeal to the Malaysian government to remove the system and revert back to just stamping of passports.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
The traffic snarl plaguing the Causeway and the Second Link on weekends is causing some frequent travellers to hold back on trips up north.
Motorists have been locked in jams the last two weekends, with some reportedly taking up to seven hours to clear immigration.
This comes after Malaysia rolled out its biometric fingerprint system at the start of the month, which requires travellers to scan both index fingers in addition to getting their passports stamped.
46-year-old engineer, Rene Gorada, organises bi-monthly golf tournaments for people living in Singapore.
The group, which typically consists of 50 to 70 golfers, would travel to neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand for their Sunday tournaments.
Mr Gorada said half their games are held in Johor Bahru.
He said: "You need to get to the golf course on time. Some of them are suggesting going somewhere else, maybe Batam. But (there are) some other concerns.....going to Batam, it's a whole-day affair because you have to take a ferry. So most of the golfers still prefer Malaysia, because it's nearer. The only thing is that you really have to plan and beat the traffic jam."
Mr Gorada said the group has to leave at 6am to make the 8am tee-off. This is an hour earlier than previously.
Another golfer living in Singapore, 51-year-old Ren Carino, said he drives to Johor three times a month to play golf.
But with the current congestion, he may move his game to another country. He said: "We would rather go to Batam now, or Bintan, Indonesia. It's a lot better now in terms of traffic jams.. there are no traffic jams (there)."
With Singaporeans avoiding the hassle of crossing the Causeway, businesses in Johor Bahru are reporting a drop in sales.
P. Sivakumar, president of the Malaysian Indian Business Association (MIBA), said the city heavily depends on business from Singaporeans.
"Most of them (Singaporeans) patronise all the eateries that have cropped up everywhere in Johor Bahru. And it's of great concern at the moment, because what we're receiving is that initially the jam was 7 hours, now it's around 5 hours, and it's not good for business," he said.
Mr Sivakumar said no formal survey has been conducted yet on how badly business has been affected, and his assessment is based on feedback received from merchants.
Malaysia's Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam has said it's "unfair to blame the biometric system for causing the congestion".
He said the congestion only happened at the Causeway and the Second Link, but not at any of the other 67 checkpoints across Malaysia.
He pinned the blame on the high volume of human traffic and daily movement between Johor Bahru and Singapore.
But MIBA's Mr Sivakumar disagrees.
He said there has always been high traffic flow at the Causeway, and the jams only started after the biometric system was implemented.
Mr Sivakumar said he plans to make another appeal to the Malaysian government to remove the system and revert back to just stamping of passports.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Qantas flights affected by ash
Singapore-Melbourne Qantas flights affected by ash
Qantas flights between Singapore and Melbourne have been affected as a result of volcanic ash from the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano in Chile.
QF9 from Melbourne will now only arrive in Singapore three hours later, at 12.05am on Tuesday, instead of its original scheduled arrival time of 9.20pm. This will in turn affect the connecting flight to Heathrow London, which has also been re-timed to 1.25am on Tuesday from 11.05pm earlier.
Qantas said one service, QF10 from Singapore to Melbourne was also diverted to Sydney on Monday morning. Qantas is trying to accommodate those passengers on services onward to Melbourne on Monday.
The airline also said passengers from Singapore flying from Australia to New Zealand will not be able to travel on Monday.
Qantas said it will either accommodate these passengers in hotels until the situation improves, or allow them to change their bookings. It said New Zealand and Tasmania services remain cancelled for the full day.
A decision on Tuesday's services will be made on Monday evening (Sydney/Melbourne time).
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Qantas flights between Singapore and Melbourne have been affected as a result of volcanic ash from the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano in Chile.
QF9 from Melbourne will now only arrive in Singapore three hours later, at 12.05am on Tuesday, instead of its original scheduled arrival time of 9.20pm. This will in turn affect the connecting flight to Heathrow London, which has also been re-timed to 1.25am on Tuesday from 11.05pm earlier.
Qantas said one service, QF10 from Singapore to Melbourne was also diverted to Sydney on Monday morning. Qantas is trying to accommodate those passengers on services onward to Melbourne on Monday.
The airline also said passengers from Singapore flying from Australia to New Zealand will not be able to travel on Monday.
Qantas said it will either accommodate these passengers in hotels until the situation improves, or allow them to change their bookings. It said New Zealand and Tasmania services remain cancelled for the full day.
A decision on Tuesday's services will be made on Monday evening (Sydney/Melbourne time).
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Saturday 11 June 2011
Atan pulls the final brake
Atan pulls the final brake
STATIONMASTER Atan Ahmad had to sacrifice his ambition as a fighter pilot with the Royal Malaysian Airforce for a job with the Railway.
The Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad employee also has a reason to be proud as Bukit Timah’s last stationmaster as the rail facility would be relocated to Woodlands in Singapore.
Atan was persuaded by his mother to take up bank teller job in his early days. His his forays included a job as a schoolteacher before he was employed by KTMB 20 years ago.
The stationmaster said he began his career in the Railway as a ticket inspector in Gemas and had travelled the country far and wide.
Atan had a penchant for wearing uniform and to substitute a fighter pilot’s G-suit, he donned the KTMB stationmaster’s garb in 1999 when he was posted to take charge of the Bukit Timah Station in Singapore.
“I joined the Railway and kept it a secret from my mum as I knew she would be very angry with me for leaving the teaching profession as teaching was considered honourable in those days.
“I joined KTMB because I always wanted to wear a uniform,” he said.
In relating his experience as Bukit Timah stationmaster, Atan said he was very reluctant to take up the offer because the job came with a huge responsibility.
“I get goose pimples thinking of the task which is to ensure that the incoming train from Malayisia would not derail at any time,” he said.
Atan said he changed his mind after his wife persuaded and encouraged him to take up the offer.
Come July 1, Atan will report to his new workplace in JB Sentral, Johor Baru.
KTMB’s rail services from Peninsular Malaysia would end at the Woodlands Customs and Immigration Checkpoint.
“When the news about the closure of Bukit Timah Station and Tanjong Pagar stations were announced, many people living near the railway tracks came up to me and said they would miss the trains passing through their vicinity,” he said.
KTMB southern region manager Tariq Umar Mohamed said June 30 will be the last day for the operations for both stations (anjong Pagar and Bukit Timah) where the last train will depart at 11pm with 90 KTMB employees.
“It will be a historic moment after 93 years operating in Singapore,” he said.
Tariq added that the redeployment of KTMB’s employees from the Tanjong Pagar station would conduct in stages.
~News courtesy of The Star~
STATIONMASTER Atan Ahmad had to sacrifice his ambition as a fighter pilot with the Royal Malaysian Airforce for a job with the Railway.
The Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad employee also has a reason to be proud as Bukit Timah’s last stationmaster as the rail facility would be relocated to Woodlands in Singapore.
Atan was persuaded by his mother to take up bank teller job in his early days. His his forays included a job as a schoolteacher before he was employed by KTMB 20 years ago.
The stationmaster said he began his career in the Railway as a ticket inspector in Gemas and had travelled the country far and wide.
Atan had a penchant for wearing uniform and to substitute a fighter pilot’s G-suit, he donned the KTMB stationmaster’s garb in 1999 when he was posted to take charge of the Bukit Timah Station in Singapore.
“I joined the Railway and kept it a secret from my mum as I knew she would be very angry with me for leaving the teaching profession as teaching was considered honourable in those days.
“I joined KTMB because I always wanted to wear a uniform,” he said.
In relating his experience as Bukit Timah stationmaster, Atan said he was very reluctant to take up the offer because the job came with a huge responsibility.
“I get goose pimples thinking of the task which is to ensure that the incoming train from Malayisia would not derail at any time,” he said.
Atan said he changed his mind after his wife persuaded and encouraged him to take up the offer.
Come July 1, Atan will report to his new workplace in JB Sentral, Johor Baru.
KTMB’s rail services from Peninsular Malaysia would end at the Woodlands Customs and Immigration Checkpoint.
“When the news about the closure of Bukit Timah Station and Tanjong Pagar stations were announced, many people living near the railway tracks came up to me and said they would miss the trains passing through their vicinity,” he said.
KTMB southern region manager Tariq Umar Mohamed said June 30 will be the last day for the operations for both stations (anjong Pagar and Bukit Timah) where the last train will depart at 11pm with 90 KTMB employees.
“It will be a historic moment after 93 years operating in Singapore,” he said.
Tariq added that the redeployment of KTMB’s employees from the Tanjong Pagar station would conduct in stages.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Thursday 9 June 2011
Wednesday 8 June 2011
Sg gambling industry set to overtake Las Vegas
S'pore gambling industry set to overtake Las Vegas
Gambling-industry executives say Singapore is set to overtake Las Vegas to become the world's second-biggest casino market as early as this year.
Mr Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, said Singapore raked in US$5.1 billion (S$6.3 billion) in gaming revenue last year and could bring in up to US$6.4 billion this year.
The country's first two casinos Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa opened last year.
Las Vegas pulled in US$5.8 billion in casino revenue last year, but is a mature market with little potential for big growth.
Mr Fahrenkopf made the prediction yesterday at the start of a gambling-industry conference in Macau.
He said "it's going to be an extremely good year" in Singapore and in Macau, where annual revenue will grow 25 to 50 per cent this year.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Gambling-industry executives say Singapore is set to overtake Las Vegas to become the world's second-biggest casino market as early as this year.
Mr Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, said Singapore raked in US$5.1 billion (S$6.3 billion) in gaming revenue last year and could bring in up to US$6.4 billion this year.
The country's first two casinos Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa opened last year.
Las Vegas pulled in US$5.8 billion in casino revenue last year, but is a mature market with little potential for big growth.
Mr Fahrenkopf made the prediction yesterday at the start of a gambling-industry conference in Macau.
He said "it's going to be an extremely good year" in Singapore and in Macau, where annual revenue will grow 25 to 50 per cent this year.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Free entry for toddlers
Free entry for toddlers, says Wildlife Reserves S'pore
Setting the record straight on an admission policy blooper last week, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) said on Monday that all children below the age of three may enter the Zoo, Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park for free.
It will also provide full refunds to visitors wrongly charged between June 1 and 3.
WRS, which operates the three iconic attractions, had said last Friday that infants aged one to three who are part of school or tour groups would require children's tickets to enter.
For independent travellers, in a case where two children below age three were accompanied by only one adult, the second child would also have to buy a children's ticket. On its websites last Friday, WRS had also indicated that children's tickets would apply to those aged one to 12.
All this is now history, with WRS group chief executive Fanny Lai clarifying on Monday that all children below age three, as well as infants in arms, may enter the attractions for free.
Explaining the confusion, Ms Lai said: "Due to an internal miscommunication, the wrong information was uploaded onto the website and wrongly communicated to our staff for a brief period."
WRS had meant to update its education site to inform school groups with toddlers below age three that they would need to register the groups before taking them to the attractions.
"This change was implemented as WRS noticed an increasing number of groups with very young children have been taking advantage of the free entry for school groups and we want to ensure safety measures are in place," said Ms Lai.
"The recommended adult supervision ratio to toddlers is 1:5."
As a result of the miscommunication, some visitors were wrongly charged for admission on the first three days of this month.
MediaCorp understands that the number affected is small, and that some have written in to the attractions.
WRS will try to trace other affected visitors and verify the tickets of the rest who come forward for refunds.
Said Ms Lai: "All the guests who have been wrongly charged will be fully refunded and we sincerely apologise for the gaps in our service."
Commending the move was Consumers Association of Singapore executive director Seah Seng Choon, who said: "We've called on them to refund affected consumers, and they have agreed."
WRS attractions' websites have also been revised. Footnotes below information on opening hours and rates read: "Admission for child below 3 years old is free. School groups are to pre-register with the education department."
~News courtesy of Today~
Setting the record straight on an admission policy blooper last week, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) said on Monday that all children below the age of three may enter the Zoo, Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park for free.
It will also provide full refunds to visitors wrongly charged between June 1 and 3.
WRS, which operates the three iconic attractions, had said last Friday that infants aged one to three who are part of school or tour groups would require children's tickets to enter.
For independent travellers, in a case where two children below age three were accompanied by only one adult, the second child would also have to buy a children's ticket. On its websites last Friday, WRS had also indicated that children's tickets would apply to those aged one to 12.
All this is now history, with WRS group chief executive Fanny Lai clarifying on Monday that all children below age three, as well as infants in arms, may enter the attractions for free.
Explaining the confusion, Ms Lai said: "Due to an internal miscommunication, the wrong information was uploaded onto the website and wrongly communicated to our staff for a brief period."
WRS had meant to update its education site to inform school groups with toddlers below age three that they would need to register the groups before taking them to the attractions.
"This change was implemented as WRS noticed an increasing number of groups with very young children have been taking advantage of the free entry for school groups and we want to ensure safety measures are in place," said Ms Lai.
"The recommended adult supervision ratio to toddlers is 1:5."
As a result of the miscommunication, some visitors were wrongly charged for admission on the first three days of this month.
MediaCorp understands that the number affected is small, and that some have written in to the attractions.
WRS will try to trace other affected visitors and verify the tickets of the rest who come forward for refunds.
Said Ms Lai: "All the guests who have been wrongly charged will be fully refunded and we sincerely apologise for the gaps in our service."
Commending the move was Consumers Association of Singapore executive director Seah Seng Choon, who said: "We've called on them to refund affected consumers, and they have agreed."
WRS attractions' websites have also been revised. Footnotes below information on opening hours and rates read: "Admission for child below 3 years old is free. School groups are to pre-register with the education department."
~News courtesy of Today~
Friday 3 June 2011
MOH on high alert for any signs of E. coli here
MOH on high alert for any signs of E. coli here
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is closely monitoring the E. coli bacterial outbreak in Europe, which appears to be limited mainly to Germany at the moment, according to a statement released yesterday.
All medical practitioners and hospitals have been alerted to be vigilant and to notify MOH immediately of any suspected cases of E. coli infection linked to the outbreak in Germany.
As a precautionary measure, MOH advises Singaporeans travelling to Germany to observe good hygiene, avoid eating raw tomatoes, cucumbers and leafy vegetables, and to ensure that food is cooked thoroughly before consumption.
Those returning from Germany should seek medical help immediately if they develop diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.
The bacteria has affected more than 1,500 people in Europe, mostly in Germany.
Vegetables from the European Union (EU) constitute about 2 per cent of Singapore's total vegetable imports.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority said it will place any imported leafy vegetables, cucumbers and tomatoes from the EU under "hold and test". The items will be released for sale only if they are found to be clear of contaminants.
The World Health Organization said yesterday that the E. coli bacteria responsible for the outbreak is a new strain that has not been seen before.
～News courtesy of Omy～
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is closely monitoring the E. coli bacterial outbreak in Europe, which appears to be limited mainly to Germany at the moment, according to a statement released yesterday.
All medical practitioners and hospitals have been alerted to be vigilant and to notify MOH immediately of any suspected cases of E. coli infection linked to the outbreak in Germany.
As a precautionary measure, MOH advises Singaporeans travelling to Germany to observe good hygiene, avoid eating raw tomatoes, cucumbers and leafy vegetables, and to ensure that food is cooked thoroughly before consumption.
Those returning from Germany should seek medical help immediately if they develop diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.
The bacteria has affected more than 1,500 people in Europe, mostly in Germany.
Vegetables from the European Union (EU) constitute about 2 per cent of Singapore's total vegetable imports.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority said it will place any imported leafy vegetables, cucumbers and tomatoes from the EU under "hold and test". The items will be released for sale only if they are found to be clear of contaminants.
The World Health Organization said yesterday that the E. coli bacteria responsible for the outbreak is a new strain that has not been seen before.
～News courtesy of Omy～
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