SINGAPORE : Singapore welcomed 3.12 million visitors in the first quarter of this year, up 15.7 per cent compared to the same period last year, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said.
All three months saw record arrivals, with January registering the largest increase. But March remained the top visitor—generating month.
Visitors from Indonesia (577,000), China (412,000), Malaysia (256,000), Australia (222,000), and India (171,000) accounted for about half the total arrivals.
The highest visitor growth, out of the top 15 markets, was from Hong Kong (+42%), followed by the Philippines (+39%) and Thailand (+38%).
The increase in visitor arrivals has benefitted the hotel industry.
Room revenue in the first quarter was estimated at S$478 million, representing an increase of 9.8 per cent compared to the same quarter a year ago.
An average room went for S$226 a night, an almost 14 per cent increase.
Tourism receipts came to about S$4.98 billion, up 35.7 per cent on—year.
The sightseeing and entertainment components provided the biggest windfall. The sector, which includes gaming, saw receipts grow by over three times.
The figures were contained in the STB’s first quarterly tourism sector performance report.
It marks the start of a new format which aggregates the tourism sector’s performance statistics for each quarter and provides a more comprehensive accounting of the industry’s performance.
The second quarter’s report will be released in August.
Mystery man collects presidential paperwork at Elections Department
Singapore Elections Department
SINGAPORE: Another set of forms was collected on Thursday by a Singaporean for the upcoming Presidential Election.
Just after 4pm, a man turned up at the Elections Department at Prinsep Link, to collect the papers needed for individuals to contest the Presidential Election.
When asked by the media, he would only say he was collecting them for his " boss" — declining to reveal his name, his boss’ name, or the organisation his boss represented.
The National Solidarity Party’s Hazel Poa also filed election expenses returns for her team, which contested in Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency in the recent General Election.
She said her team spent S$65,000, with 80 per cent of the amount spent on posters and flyers.
Ms Poa said Elections Department staff were helpful with the paperwork.
" They were just trying to make sure that the forms were in order and some deletions have to be, you know, some words have to be deleted and that’s about it...everything was quite smooth."
In addition, over 40 people were at the Elections Department to have their names restored on the Registers of Electors after failing to vote in the recent General Election.
'Revolutionary Road' actress Kate Winslet couldn't refuse posing naked for ''magician'' photographer Mario Testino.
'Revolutionary Road' actress Kate Winslet couldn't refuse posing naked for ''magician'' photographer Mario Testino.
Kate Winslet couldn't refuse posing naked for 'magician' Mario Testino. The 'Revolutionary Road' actress paid tribute to the legendary fashion photographer's ability to present women in the nude for shoots, and his ability to make them feel at ease with their bodies. Presenting the photographer with a Lifetime Achievement award at the El Museo del Barrio gala in New York last week, Kate said: 'You know that his biggest strength without fail is making women look beautiful.
When Mario turns to you and says, 'It's beautiful, but I think it would work better naked, no?'
How can one refuse?
'No matter what insecurities about oneself a subject may have, Mario makes them go away like a magician. 'One moment you are in the hair and makeup chair fully clothed and wishing you had smoother skin, longer legs and smaller feet and then Mario comes in and in that charming way he takes you by the? hand and says, 'Don't worry it's going to be amazing.''
The photographer - who, in addition to his celebrity work, was behind the lens to take the official engagement photos of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton - said he has built up a certain level of trust in his industry which he believes makes it easier for him to convince people to pose au naturel.
According to People.com, he said: 'I said to [Kate], I want you to pose nude for this exhibition. And she was like, 'Oh, OK, Mario. 'She said yes right away. Most of them, I think, trust me. I would never let them down.'
Thursday, 2 Jun 2011, 11:02am (11 hours, 55 minutes ago)
Windows 8 Previewed
Microsoft previewed its next generation operating system, codenamed 'Windows 8.' The OS work-in-progress has been redesigned from the ground up for touch, and is slated to work across a variety of devices, from touch tablets to mouse and keyboard desktops.
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and/or other safety regulatory authorities, HP announced voluntary recalls and replacement programs for some of the battery packs used in certain HP notebooks.
Recall programs were announced on the following dates:
May 26, 2011* (Expansion of 5/14 and 10/15/2009, and 5/19/2010 Announcements)
*HP urges customers with notebooks listed in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 announcements to validate the battery even if they have validated it previously
HP and the battery manufacturers believe that certain battery packs shipped in some notebook PC products may pose a potential safety hazard to customers. The batteries can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard.
We are taking this action as part of our commitment to provide the highest quality of service to our notebook customers. We are proactively notifying you of this issue and are prepared to replace all verified, affected battery packs.
The affected battery packs were distributed in certain notebook PCs within the following model series:
Note: Not all HP notebook PCs listed below have an affected battery pack. HP encourages you to validate all battery packs shipped with the notebook PC or purchased as options or spares.
The product number is located on the service tag on the bottom of the notebook.
Note: Additional products were added to the following table on the 26th of May, 2011.
Why is HP expanding the May 14, 2009 battery recall previously expanded on May 19, 2010 again?
HP continuously monitors the recall program. Our monitoring showed that additional battery packs should be included in the recall program. These additional battery packs were sold with HP notebook PCs from July 2007 through July 2008. One additional commercial product model series was also included in the recall program as part of this expansion. HP customers affected by this program will be eligible to receive a free replacement battery pack for each verified, recalled battery pack.
Why didn’t HP identify all of the affected battery packs before the May 19th 2010 announcement?
HP conducted further investigations with our suppliers that identified additional battery packs, including certain battery packs used in one additional commercial product model series.
Thursday, 2 Jun 2011, 10:21am (12 hours, 28 minutes ago)
HP Expands Voluntary Battery Recall and Free Replacement Program
HP is expanding a previously announced voluntary battery recall and free replacement program. The expansion includes additional battery packs and one notebook model series.
The affected battery packs contain cells that have the potential to overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. The initial program was announced on May 14, 2009.
HP urges customers to visit the program Web site (http://www.hp.com/support/BatteryReplacement) to validate whether their model number is part of the program and their specific battery pack is actually affected. Customers who had validated their model number and battery pack due to previous recall announcements should re-validate their battery pack.
For more information pertaining to this program, customers in Singapore may also contact HP Singapore Customer Service at +65 6272 5300, or visit the HP website to conduct a live chat with a HP support specialist (http://bit.ly/j9v3QC).
According to the MasterCard Index of Global Destination Cities, Singapore is expected to be placed amongst the top 10 destination cities worldwide this year in terms of both international arrivals and visitor expenditure.
Visitor numbers is expected to grow by 14.5% yoy to 11.4m, placing it fourth worldwide, while visitor expenditure is expected to grow by nearly 24% to US$10.8m.
According to the MasterCard Index of Global Destination Cities, Singapore is expected to be placed amongst the top 10 destination cities worldwide this year in terms of both international arrivals and visitor expenditure.
Visitor numbers is expected to grow by 14.5% yoy to 11.4m, placing it fourth worldwide, while visitor expenditure is expected to grow by nearly 24% to US$10.8m.
Make sure you take some wet-wipes or something to wipe the machines down with, as gyms are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria thanks to people's sweat.
It's impossible not to come in contact with other people's germs and infections when using the machines.
While it is polite to stay hygienic, clean and wash and shower regularly, using too much antibacterial soaps, body wash and hand sanitizers can leave you being susceptible to certain bacterial and viruses, as the agents in these soaps can lower the effectiveness of your immune system. Make sure you buy regular soap rather than the antibacterial kind as it is doing more harm then good in the long run.
It is something that is done the whole time and considered harmless.
You may think there is nothing wrong when offering a person a sip of your drink or sharing a straw, but again, many things can be passed from the lips or saliva to the straw or glass.
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