More buses to ferry visitors to IT show

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s first major consumer electronics fair of the year, the IT Show, kicked off on Thursday, and it is set to attract tens of thousands more visitors and $15 million more in spending than last year.The chance to see the latest mobile gadgets, plus more shuttle bus services and traffic wardens being laid on, could result in the number of visitors to the annual four-day event at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) soaring by 50,000 to hit 600,000, said organiser Exhibits Inc, a wholly owned...

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Haze over Riau could hit Singapore soon, says Indonesia official

IN JAKARTA – The haze over Riau could hit Singapore soon as wind speeds change, the head of the local weather station said on Friday.“Wind movement that was previously from the north and east to the south has begun to reverse, so there’s a chance the haze could reach Singapore,” said Mr Sugarin, head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) station in Pekanbaru.But its impact on Singapore was not likely to be severe, he told a coordinating meeting of the task force tackling...

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Singapore needs to enhance tourist attractions: PM Lee

SINGAPORE: The global tourism landscape is becoming more competitive, and as tourists change their tastes, attractions age and rival destinations step up their game, Singapore has to be more imaginative about drawing visitors to its shores, refreshing its attractions and giving tourists an unforgettable experience.This was the advice offered by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday at the official opening of River Safari, Singapore’s river-themed wildlife park. The S$160-million River Safari is home to 6,000 animals, including Singapore’s own pair of giant pandas.For Singaporeans, it is...

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How do Singapore"s poor families get by?

27 February 2014Last updated at 16:52 ET By Sharanjit LeylBBC News, Singapore Nurhaida, 29, who is unemployed with six children in Singapore, says it is difficult to make ends meet Nurhaida Binte Jantan is making dinner. She is roasting otah-otah, a Malay dish of fish paste wrapped in banana leaves, over a portable stove. She is a 29-year-old unemployed single mother with six children from five to 13 years old. She lives in a tiny flat, just 30 square metres, with little furnishing....

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Marriott"s Courtyard brand to debut in Singapore

An artist’s impression of the Courtyard by Marriott NovenaMarriott International has unveiled plans to open its first Courtyard hotel in Singapore.The US hotel company has penned a management agreement for the Courtyard by Marriott Novena – a new 250-room property that scheduled to open in 2017.The new midscale hotel will form part of a 33-storey mixed-use development, Royal Square at Novena, which will also feature restaurants, retail outlets and medical facilities.“We are very excited about the...

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Paris and London behind rival destinations in hotel satisfaction

Taxi drivers on strike stand near the Eiffel tower as they protest in Paris February 10, 2014. — Reuters picLONDON, Feb 26 — During 2013, two of Europe’s most popular vacation destinations—Paris and London—ended up near the bottom of Trivago’s Reputation Ranking, which lists the world’s top destination cities according to average hotel ratings. Paris ranked slightly above London this year, but neither city is exactly in a position to boast. In this list of the top 100 international destinations according to hotel ratings, the French and British capitals were in 92nd and 96th place respectively....

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Your guide to IT Show 2014

SINGAPORE – The IT Show 2014 is now on at Marina Bay Sands (MBS), from 12pm to 9pm daily until Sunday. Admission is free, with some 800,000 visitors expected over the four-day fair.More than 650 exhibitors are showcasing their products which range from smartphones, laptops and digital cameras to home electronics.Helming the IT Show 2014 are leading international brands such as Asus Global, Audio Technica, Casio, EpiCentre, Epson, Fujifilm, Hewlett Packard, Lenovo, Samsung and Toshiba.HighlightsRedmi: The cheap but high-performance smartphone by Chinese company Xiaomi sold out in Singapore within...

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13 arrested for issuing illegal loans in Marina Bay Sands casino

Thirteen people – nine men and four women – have been arrested for their suspected involvement in issuing illegal loans to players in the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino.The crackdown on the syndicate took place on Wednesday by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department. They were supported by the Police Intelligence Department, Casino Regulatory Authority and MBS.Preliminary investigations have shown that the 13 people, aged between 30 and 65, were giving out illegal loans to players...

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Malaysia, Singapore grapple with prolonged dry spell

By Laura Philomin and Stuart GrudgingsSINGAPORE/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Singapore and Malaysia are grappling with some of the driest weather they have ever seen, forcing the tiny city-state to ramp up supplies of recycled water while its neighbor rations reserves amid disruptions to farming and fisheries. Singapore, which experiences tropical downpours on most days, suffered its longest dry spell on record between January 13 and February 8 and has had little rain since.Shares in Hyflux Ltd, which...

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Bitcoin ATM Opens in Singapore Amid Probe Into Tokyo"s Mt. Gox

Tembusu Terminals Pte set up whatmay be Singapore’s first automated tele-exchange machine forbuying Bitcoins days after a Tokyo exchange for the virtualcurrency was shut amid concerns about possible theft. The ATM was installed at The Spiffy Dapper, a bar in theBoat Quay district, according to a statement from Tembusu, whichis based in the city-state. The company is talking with otherretailers that accept the virtual currency to set up its ATMs ontheir premises, it said, without naming them. The announcement comes six days after Singapore’s financeminister said the central bank didn’t recognize...

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Dry spell in Singapore: 5 ways life has changed

Singaporeans may be used to hot weather, but they are still feeling the heat from the record dry spell that is likely to persist into the first half of March. We look at how some people have changed their daily routine to cope with the weather.1. “To go” is the way to goSome are choosing to pack their favourite chicken rice or char kway teow home, instead of eating at hawker centres.Hawker Kristen Choong, who runs Ji Ji Wanton Noodle Specialist at Hong Lim Food Centre, said there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people ordering takeaway meals during lunch hour. But she added: “The...

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13 arrested for issuing illegal loans in MBS casino

Police have arrested 13 persons, aged between 30 and 65, for their suspected involvement in issuing illegal loans to players in the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino.PHOTOS SINGAPORE: Police have arrested 13 persons, aged between 30 and 65, for their suspected involvement in issuing illegal loans to players in the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino.On February 26, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), supported by the Police Intelligence Department, the Casino Regulatory Authority and MBS conducted an operation at the MBS casino as well as other locations in Singapore to crackdown...

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Breaking Travel News interview: Marc Dardenne, chief executive, Patina Hotels ...

Phil Blizzard here speaks with Patina Hotels Resorts chief executive Marc Dardenne ahead of the launch of the new luxury brand in Singapore later this year. Dardenne is a hospitality leader with over 30 years of international experience spanning three continents with a list of accolades includes ‘CEO of the Year’ and ‘Excellence in Hospitality Leadership’ in the Middle East. Breaking Travel News: Let’s start and look at what Patina Hotels Resorts are going to bring to the luxury segment in Singapore?Marc Dardenne: Singapore is a very competitive market so really, when we looked at the offering,...

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Internet service providers slash prices for 500Mbps fibre broadband plans at IT Show

Competition is heating up in the fibre broadband space as Internet service providers dangle heavily discounted prices for their 500Mbps two-year plans at this year’s IT Show at Marina Bay Sands.SingTel is offering its 500Mbps plan for $59.95 per month at the annual electronics fair, which opened on Thursday and will end on Sunday. This is down from its usual price of $79.90. StarHub is offering the same plan at $61.16 per month, down from $69.90.ViewQwest has slashed the price of its 500Mbps...

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Where to Park for IT Show 2014 (Cheapest & Most Damaging Carparks Revealed)

For those who are driving to the IT Show, parking is always a nightmare at tech shows but it’s doubly so at Marina Bay Sands because of the high parking rates. So here are some other alternative parking areas (be warned though that you will either have to walk, take a shuttle bus or the MRT).And while certain places may have lower parking rates, do take note that parking lots may be limited in those areas (especially at MBS itself).EsplanadeIf the weather is kind, you could always park at the Esplanade and enjoy the walk over the Helix Bridge to MBS.Gardens by the BayIf you don’t mind the...

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Singapore Bids for Role as LNG Hub With Second Terminal

Singapore plans to build a secondreceiving terminal for liquefied natural gas as it pursues along-term strategy to become Asia’s LNG trading hub. The city-state, which generates more than 90 percent of itselectricity using natural gas, is studying locations in theeastern part of the country for a new facility to supportindustries and power plants, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong saidyesterday at the official opening of Singapore’s first terminal. Singapore is trying to take advantage of its geography andstature as Asia’s oil-trading center to also become a leader inLNG. Asia has overtaken Europe...

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Singapore and Malaysia hit by extreme dry spell

Singapore and Malaysia are grappling with some of the driest weather they have ever seen, forcing the tiny city-state to ramp up supplies of recycled water while its neighbour rations reserves amid disruptions to farming and fisheries. Singapore, which experiences tropical downpours on most days, suffered its longest dry spell on record between Jan 13 and Feb 8 and has had little rain since. Shares in Hyflux Ltd, which operates desalination and water recycling operations there, have risen 3.5% over the past month. In peninsular Malaysia, 15 areas have not had rainfall in more than 20 days, with...

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Singapore Aims to Become Southeast Asia"s Silicon Valley

SINGAPORE—Singapore is pulling out all the stops to build its own version of Silicon Valley as it attempts to create a startup hub for Southeast Asia.Excited by deals such as Facebook Inc.’s $19 billion agreement last week to buy messaging company WhatsApp Inc., Singapore’s policy makers and technology entrepreneurs are betting that one day a tech giant could swoop down to grab one of its own homegrown startups. Venture-capital tech… Singapore Aims to Become Southeast Asia"s Silicon Val...

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Art comes to life on the walls of the new Hotel Clover The Arts

SINGAPORE- Hotel Clover The Arts is a new art-themed boutique hotel situated in Chinatown, Singapore. This 6-storey and 44-room hotel, slated to open in March 2014, builds on its conviction to create a unique arts experience through its individually-themed rooms. The result is a visual feast of creativity and a wide range of design aesthetics sure to excite even the most casual of art lovers. Designed in styles as diverse as retro kitsch, urban street art, Pop Art vibrance and line art minimalism, each room in the hotel creates its own distinctively unique experience.“With Hotel Clover The...

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Travel Daily AsiaSingapore serves world"s most expensive hotel breakfast…

Hotel guests in Singapore are forking out more than anyone else for their breakfast, a new report has revealed.According to a new report by online hotel booking company HRS, two thirds of hotels do not include breakfast in their standard room rates, and guests wanting their morning eggs have to shell out an average of EUR10.32 (approximately US$14.20) per day.The average hotel breakfast costs EUR10.32But in Singapore, hotel guests are charged an average of EUR16.86 for the first meal of the day,...

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Konser Gratis The Rolling Stones

Mereka akan tampil di Singapura.Setelah 11 tahun cuti dari gemerlap panggung, The Rolling Stones memutuskan untuk ‘mengamen’ kembali dari satu panggung ke panggung lainnya. Dari satu negara, ke negara lainnya, di daratan Asia serta Oceania. Tur yang dinamai “14 On Fire” ini akan memboyong Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Woods, dan Charlie Watts menginvasi 12 kota berbeda.Tur yang berlangsung selama Februari hingga Maret ini, berawal di kota Abu Dhabi, UAE dan akan berakhir di Auckland, New Zealand....

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Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson bets himself to win Japan's casino race

The Morning Call, 101 North Sixth Street, Allentown, PA 18101 Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson bets himself to win Japan"s casino r...

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Singapore Top Executive Pay Beats Hong Kong as Living Costs Jump

Singapore’s top executives aremaking more money than those in Hong Kong, with the gap expectedto widen as living costs in the island republic rise, accordingto human resources consultant Towers Watson Co. (TW) Senior executives in Singapore earned 19 percent more thantheir Hong Kong counterparts in 2013, a gap that has widened tothe most in at least three years, according to Sambhav Rakyan,global data services practice leader for Asia Pacific at TowersWatson. In the top positions, that exceeded 30 percent, he said. “Singapore is going to be more expensive to live in,”Rakyan said in an interview...

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Trans-Pacific Partnership: No deal at Singapore meeting

25 February 2014Last updated at 04:01 ET TPP members have more negotiating to do after talks fail in SingaporeAn ambitious 12-nation free trade plan, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), has hit a new roadblock after four days of negotiations in Singapore.Sticking points over market access and differences over tariffs on imported goods were the main reasons cited.TPP members were also aiming to set a common trading standard on a range of issues, including labour regulation and environmental...

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What"s that smell in the air, Singapore?

When Thomas Davenport, a blacksmith from Vermont, first submitted his patent around 1835 for a motor that turned electricity into mechanical force, the U.S. Patent Office simply found it unbelievable. Davenport had been experimenting for years by that point, disassembling the first electromagnets and tinkering, often with the help of his wife Emily, who supplied [...] What"s that smell in the air, Singapo...

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Singapore serves world"s most expensive hotel breakfast

Hotel guests in Singapore are forking out more than anyone else for their breakfast, a new report has revealed.According to a new report by online hotel booking company HRS, two thirds of hotels do not include breakfast in their standard room rates, and guests wanting their morning eggs have to shell out an average of EUR10.32 (approximately US$14.20) per day.The average hotel breakfast costs EUR10.32But in Singapore, hotel guests are charged an average of EUR16.86 for the first meal of the day,...

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Singapore: Razer shows off new player Gackt and hosts fighting game cosplay competition at IT Show

Razer isn’t wasting time on Gackt’s return-on-investment. The gaming gear bigwig has dispatched the Feilong player to anchor a Street Fighter 4 public challenge at the Razer booth in Singapore’s upcoming IT Show in the Marina Bay Sands expo hall.Visitors who take part in the challenge will be rewarded with a 25 percent discount on Razer apparel. Accompanying Gackt at the public challenge will be independent player Leslie, who mains Sagat. Leslie has never been sponsored in spite of his talent, and one wonders if Razer has its eye set on him, too.In more gaming-themed IT Show shenanigans,...

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Singapore SMBs get more funds to adopt tech

The Singapore government is dangling more carrots to encourage local small and midsize businesses (SMBs) to adopt technology to increase productivity, including bigger subsidies and tax rebates. Announcing the country’s Budget 2014 in parliament Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the government will hand out S$500 million (US$394.71 million) over three years to support five key initiatives aimed to helping smaller enterprises increase their...

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Two Indians arrested in Singapore for moonlighting as barbers

Two Indian nationals and a Bangladeshi have been arrested in Singapore for moonlighting as barbers while on permit to work in the construction sector, according to a media report on Monday. The three accused had set up make-shift stalls on a pavement in the industrial estate of Tuas, earning 4 Singaporean dollars per haircut compared to average hair cut cost of 10 Singaporean dollars in a local barber shop.Officers from both the Manpower Ministry and the National Environment Agency raided the area and arrested the three on Sunday, while others at the scene fled. The Ministry was questioning them...

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