Pasir Ris beach reopens after water quality improves

Pasir Ris beach reopens after water quality improves:

Pasir Ris beach reopened to the public on Friday, after the quality of its water was upgraded by the National Environment Agency. The water, which previously received a 'Fair' grading, has improved to meet 'Good' standard.

Lao Airlines connects S'pore to all ASEAN cities - TIME TO TRY

SINGAPORE: Singapore is now connected to all nine ASEAN city states with the arrival of Lao Airlines from Vientiane, the 11th new city link for Changi this year.

Lao Airlines will have thrice-weekly services between Singapore and Vientiane.

And its direct service comes on the back of strong bilateral ties between the two countries.

Singapore is among Laos' top 10 foreign investors, with investments in sectors ranging from manufacturing to hospitality.

In the first nine months of this year, bilateral trade saw a substantial growth of 40 per cent year-on-year to reach about US$29 million.

Singapore and Laos have also been regular cooperation and exchange partners since Laos joined ASEAN in 1997, across areas such as education, healthcare and tourism.

In a statement, Changi Airport said the number of passengers travelling between the two countries has grown steadily over the last five years.

During this period, Singapore visitor arrivals into Laos grew about 8 per cent annually to about 6,100 in 2010, while the number of visitors from Laos increased by some 25 per cent every year to about 5,200 last year.

- CNA/ck

New colours in Google Calendar

Google Calendar updated the color palette and you can now choose from 24 colors that match the new interface. "The color of each of your calendars has been updated to use the closest possible color from the new palette. The new colors will only be available in the web interface (for example, you won't see these colors if you're accessing Calendar via your mobile phone)," informs Google.

It's worth mentioning that the new colors are only available if you use Google Calendar's new UI. To switch to the new interface, click the Options menu in the navigation bar and select "Try the new look". You can always go back to the old UI from the same menu.

{ Thanks, Cougar, Ralph and Herin. }

Singapore lacking in innovation

Depending on who you ask, Singapore is either one of the most innovative countries in the world or underperforming in that aspect.

The 2011 Global Competitiveness Reportby the World Economic Forum clearly thinks Singapore falls in the latter category. While it scores highly for lack of corruption, government efficiency (1st for both), and infrastructure (3rd), it lags behind for adoption of latest technologies (10th), measures that support sophistication of companies (15th), and capacity for innovation (22nd).

But overall, it is still the second most competitive economy in the world, behind Switzerland.

This means that while Singapore is a great place to do business, firms here have not quite caught up with the world’s best when it comes to improving their own processes and developing more innovative products. Government operations, on the other hand, have been on the cutting edge of technology, scoring second globally in government procurement of advanced technology products.

The survey gathers over 13,000 valid responses from 142 economies, for an average of 98 respondents per country, and captures the respondents’ perceptions of their countries.

These findings are somewhat in agreement with INSEAD’s own Global Innovation Index, which ranks Singapore highly for investing resources into developing innovation but penalizes it for the creation of knowledge and the production of creative goods and services.

In fact, when comparing the dividends reaped with the investment made, Singapore ranks an inefficient 94th.

Despite this blemish, there’s a lot of good news for Singapore. The Global Competitiveness Report compares the country quite favorably against other innovation-driven economies. It’s just that Singapore falls short of its own lofty standards.

But the government has only just begun to recognize the important of innovation, and they are now earnestly encouraging firms to innovate by pumping in money to support entrepreneurs and increase productivity in the workplace. Time will tell if these measures have been effective.

Earthscraper takes Architecture Underground

From a architect's perspective, several problems impede the development of Mexico City, one of the world's largest cities with a population teeming around 21.2 million. A scarcity of new construction plots, height restrictions that limit new edifices to eight stories and laws that prohibit demolishing historic structures leaves little room for building up.

The solution: build down.

NEWS: Builing Green Houses From Garbage

Up to the task is BNKR Aquitectura and their ambitious 'Earthscraper' project. The Mexico City urban architecture and research firm has proposed building an inverted pyramid underneath the Plaza de la Constitución, the heart of the Mexico City's historic district, commonly known as The Zócalo.

DNEWS VIDEO: GREEN ENERGY

"The historic center of Mexico City is in desperate need for a pragmatic make-over," says BNKR's website.

Capped with a glass roof to filter natural light down to its lowest levels, the 2,542,650 square foot sub-structure would descend 65 stories below The Zócalo. Proposed for the first 10 stories is a museum filled with Aztec and Mayan artifacts, with the the next 10 stories offering retail and residential spaces. The remaining 35 stories are outlined for office space.

NEWS: Green Building Too Quiet For Comfort

"The Earthscraper is the skyscraper's antagonist in an historic urban landscape where the latter is condemned and the preservation of the built environment is the paramount ambition. It preserves the iconic presence of the city square and the existing hierarchy of the buildings that surround it," says BNKR.

BNKR Arquitectura's "Earthscaper" design was a 2010 finalist in the eVolo Magazine's Skyscraper Competition.

[Via GizMag]

Photo: BNKR Aquitectura

Saudi tycoon to build world's tallest tower

RIYADH: Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal launched on Tuesday a project to build the world's tallest tower at more than 1,000 metres in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

The project to built a tower topping Dubai's world's highest building, Burj Khalifa, "will soon see the light after the signing of a $1.2 billion agreement" between Alwaleed's Kingdom Holding Co and construction giant Bin Laden Group, the Saudi tycoon told reporters.

It will take 36 months to build the tower, said the Saudi businessman, a nephew of King Abdullah and one of the kingdom's wealthiest men. He did not say when construction will begin.

Alwaleed said the tower was intended to "send a message of strength" reflecting the OPEC kingpin's economic and political stability.

"Our message is political," he said.

Saudi Arabia has been spared a wave of protests that has rocked the region, leading to the downfall of autocratic rulers in Tunisia and Egypt despite sporadic small protests staged by Shiites in the Eastern Province.

The tower, which will be part of a $20 billion project north of Jeddah, would top Dubai's 828-metre Burj Khalifa, which was opened last year.

It will include a hotel, apartments and offices occupying an area of

500,000 square metres.

- AFP/de

Kolkata - The 'second London' wannabe

KOLKATA, India - Kolkata, once capital of British India, on Tuesday began work to transform the congested and fading city into a "second London" complete with a London Eye ferris wheel.

Mamata Banerjee, the feisty new chief minister of the state of West Bengal, made an election pledge to turn the dysfunctional and poverty-stricken Indian metropolis into a world-class city.

The planned facelift marks the first major urban renewal effort in the state by Banerjee, who became known as "the giant killer" after she ended 34 years of uninterrupted Communist rule in West Bengal in May.

"My dream is to beautify the 10-kilometre riverfront of the city of Kolkata on the lines of London," Banerjee said as she laid the foundation stone of her project at the city's Millennium Park, on the banks of the river Hooghly.

"Never say no. Let us try for a better tomorrow for our city. The project will be green and environmentally-friendly," she said to hundreds of onlookers.

Kolkata, a bustling metropolis of 15 million people, whose name was officially changed from Calcutta in 2001, began as a cluster of villages on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River and grew into the capital of the British Raj.

Towards the end of the 19th century, it was one of the world's wealthiest cities, leading to a building spree that left a rich legacy of grand colonial buildings.

The architecture in many parts of the city, particularly around the central Maidan, which was inspired by Hyde Park, resembles the British capital.

A huge memorial to Queen Victoria remains a city centrepiece and tourist attraction to this day.

But after decades of under-investment and neglect, Kolkata's infrastructure is crumbling and the city's grandeur faded long ago in the fierce climate of heat, humidity and monsoon rains.

The British moved their capital in India from Kolkata to New Delhi in 1911.

Banerjee's transformation will initially focus on the scruffy waterfront along the Hooghly, which separates Kolkata from its twin city Howrah, once known as the "Sheffield of the East," a reference to the one-time British manufacturing hub.

A "Kolkata Eye" inspired by the London Eye will later be built to give visitors a bird's eye view of the city and river, Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee told AFP.

"We have plans to transform the riverfront into a heritage cultural zone as part of the project to beautify Kolkata along the lines of London," Chatterjee said.

"There will be landscaped paths, places for meditation, food outlets, parks and an art gallery and museum."

He said city officials were aiming to complete the work by January 2013.

The pavements will be made of herring-bone bricks and lamp posts will be replaced with ones resembling those used during the colonial era.

The government has also banned billboards around heritage structures to restore a colonial look to the city centre.

"It's a challenge to dream of such a project. But we are determined to make it a reality," Banerjee added on Tuesday.

The mercurial local leader, known for her feisty rhetoric and spartan lifestyle, has other ambitious plans for parts of West Bengal and critics accuse her of making exaggerated promises that can never be fulfilled.

Touring the tea-growing northern area of Darjeeling in the run-up to the local election in May, she promised to turn the impoverished region into the Switzerland of India.

- AFP/ir

South Sudan - The world's newest country

S'pore to get Rugby Village

SINGAPORE: Singapore will soon get a taste of the culture and spirit of the 2011 Rugby World Cup hosted by New Zealand. The Rugby Village 2011 concept will see ex-Kiwi stars such as Jonah Lomu possibly as part of the attraction. Earlier in June, former England international Gareth Chilcott and Australia's Simon Poidevin, who played for the Wallabies in the 80s, visited Turf City in Singapore to drum up support for the upcoming Rugby World Cup Village 2011. When completed, the village will feature live screenings of matches, where fans can gather to cheer their favourite teams, with food and beverage and entertainment thrown in. Chilcott, who gave the Village concept the thumbs-up, thinks England can repeat their title-winning run of 2003 in Australia despite the event being staged in the Southern Hemisphere. "England is a very good side at the moment. They have got a right mixture of older ones, some youngsters coming through (including) Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, and Ben Youngs. These young players have made Martin Jonhson (the coach) think again," he said. However, Poidevin, said he feels New Zealand -- winners of the first edition in 1987 -- are still favourites to lift the title at home. "New Zealand's got so much to play for, 1987 is a long time ago," Poidevin said. "Historically, they have been the strongest rugby nation in the world, and they are playing in a country which has had a huge (earthquake) in Christchurch, so that's lots of motivation for the players." Like Poidevin and Chilcott, more big name ex-players are being lined up for the Rugby Village. Organisers of the Rugby Village 2011 are currently looking at securing a site for the village, which is likely to be around the Marina Bay area. It will be able to accommodate up to 2,000 people and activities at the village will start even before the World Cup kicks off in September. -CNA/wk

Growing urban population strains Chinese cities

CHONGQING, China : A forest of buildings and cranes rises through thick fog above roads jammed with cars in a Chinese city the size of Austria and home to more than 32 million people. The southwestern megacity of Chongqing is bursting at the seams as authorities struggle to keep pace with its rapidly growing urban population -- a situation seen repeatedly across the vast country of 1.3 billion people. Lifelong resident Zhou Dechong, 80, says he is stunned by the speed of development in the teeming metropolis which, like many Chinese cities, is plagued by chronic traffic jams, dirty air and the deafening sound of jack-hammers. "In every aspect, the pace of development has been very fast," Zhou told AFP. More than 350 million people are expected to move to Chinese towns and cities in the coming years, boosting the country's urban population to one billion by 2030, according to a report by consultancy firm McKinsey & Company. The unprecedented urbanisation will more than double the number of cities with one million residents to 221 and require the construction of five million buildings, including 50,000 skyscrapers -- equivalent to 10 New Yorks, it said. The staggering expansion is putting enormous strain on China's already depleted natural resources and could trigger more social unrest as millions of people leave the countryside to live in densely populated urban areas. "There's going to be more volatility and uncertainty," Jonathan Woetzel, a Shanghai-based director for McKinsey, told AFP. "Urbanisation essentially picks you up and moves you to a place where you don't know anybody nor do you have as many formal rights as you would have had in your previous residence." It means living "cheek by jowl with other people who they have never met and literally don't share a common language with nor do they have the same sense of rights and responsibilities," Woetzel said. University of Sydney professor Lu Duanfang said the massive human migration would also have "huge ecological implications" as valuable farmland near urban areas is used for high-rise buildings, and demand for energy and water soars. "As more peasants convert to the modern urban living style, it will cost more energy" as more people use microwaves and washing machines, said Lu -- a specialist in architecture, design and planning. Land sales -- a key source of revenue for cash-strapped local governments -- also threaten China's food security by reducing the area available for growing crops and grazing animals needed to feed the world's most populous country. Demand for resources is likely to double while air pollution -- already severe in many cities -- could reach "critical levels" without further investment in green technology, the McKinsey report said. The burgeoning urban population has sparked a nationwide building boom as China spends billions of dollars developing new cities, power plants, roads, high-speed rail networks and airports to accommodate the masses. Authorities -- anxious about the widening wealth gap -- have pledged to reform the controversial household registration system so migrants can access public services such as health insurance and free education when they relocate. After 30 years of rapid growth, Chinese cities such as Beijing and Shanghai are starting to groan under the strain of populations the size of Australia's at more than 20 million. Officials are trying to relieve the pressure by restricting the number of cars allowed on the roads and urging people and companies to move inland. But analysts say the key to successful urbanisation will be maintaining the country's rapid economic growth -- a blistering 9.7 percent in the first quarter -- so enough jobs can be created for the new urban dwellers. "China is very much an expectations-driven environment -- as long as people feel like it is getting better, then the base for fundamental social stability is there," said Woetzel. "If you are out of work for a long period, one loses the expectation of things getting better." Lu agreed, saying, "As long as the growth rate is high, it doesn't matter how many are moving into the cities. Density itself is not a problem; what matters is whether the economy can sustain itself." So far, the government has done "pretty well" moving more than 300 million people into urban areas in the past three decades, said Paul Kriss, a World Bank urban specialist based in Beijing. "You don't see the major slums like you see in India, Cairo or Lagos or in South America," Kriss told AFP. "Having said that, they do have mega-challenges." - AFP/ir

Trillian 1.1 for Android: Now free of charge

We're pleased to announce that Trillian for Android is our first mobile application to go free, so head on over to the Android Market on your phone to get your copy! We've fixed a handful of bugs in this build, added a basic chat history viewer, and made major improvements to our networking engine. You should notice fewer disconnects and should be able to interface with existing chat windows more easily even when you've lost your network connection.

If you've already purchased Trillian for Android in the past, your account has been automatically upgraded to ad-free status. You purchased an ad-free client with free upgrades and you will continue to receive an ad-free client with free upgrades. As an additional perk, your ad-free status will go with you across all mobile platforms, so if you switch to an iPhone or BlackBerry one day your original purchase will be honored as Android if you bought Trillian there as well! Of course, if you're a Trillian Pro customer you can therefore take advantage of an ad-free experience everywhere, with the additional perk of cloud history. If you notice any bugs here please send us an email and we'll investigate right away.

We're already hard at work on an amazing new version of Trillian for Android, featuring many popular feature requests and some awesome new UI enhancements. Stay tuned, and thanks for supporting Trillian!

Singapore's 40 Wealthiest

Singapore's economic turnaround is gathering speed. The island-state, whose GDP shrank by 1.3% in 2009, is looking to surpass China to become Asia's fastest-growing economy. Its GDP, up 16% in the first quarter, is forecast to rise an impressive 13% to 15% this year. Though a slower revival elsewhere (notably in the U.S. and in China's lower than expected growth in the second quarter) have tempered the gains, the Straits Times Index has risen 12% since last year. The fortunes of the country's 40 richest reflect this resurgence: Their total net worth is $45.7 billion, up from last year's $39 billion.

The family of Ng Teng Fong, who was Singapore's richest individual last year and died in February, is at No. 1 with a combined net worth of $7.8 billion. While right now it isn't clear how the fortune is split among the family, it is one of the few that declined. Although Singapore's property sector overall has been performing well, their stake in Hong Kong developer Tsim Sha Tsui dropped on fears of a slowdown in China. Banker Wee Cho Yaw moved up two ranks to No. 3, as shares in his United Overseas Bank outperformed the market, gaining 17%.

Overall 26 on the list saw their wealth increase, including Malaysian citizen Ong Beng Seng and his wife, Christina Ong, who together are worth a billion for the first time thanks to the better performance of their hotel and retailing empire. Banker Lee Seng Wee also entered the billionaire ranks, in part because we've included the assets of all his siblings and children in his net worth. Another big gainer was chocolate king John Chuang, who is worth $295 million, up from last year's $190 million. Shares in his Petra Foods, which he founded with his brothers, surged nearly 50% since last year.

New to the list but probably not to Forbes Asia readers: New Zealand-born social entrepreneur Richard Chandler, who debuts at No. 5 with a $3.4 billion fortune. He established his Orient Global investment funds in Singapore in 2006, which he recently renamed R.F. Chandler. John Lim, who cofounded ARA Asset Management with Li Ka-Shing’s Cheung Kong Holdings, also makes his debut with a net worth of $202 million. Making a comeback after a two-year absence is retailer Ron Sim, whose company, OSIM, which sells massage chairs and health care products, climbed out of the red after writing off its loss-making investment in U.S. retailer Brookstone.

Only seven on the list are poorer than they were in 2009. Concerns about Beijing's interventions in the property market took a toll on real estate tycoon Zhong Sheng Jian, who made his fortune off China's property boom. His net worth of $1.8 billion was off 10% from last year. Vivian Chandran, who cashed out of her late husband's marine fuel company Chemoil earlier this year, took a hit by selling her 51% stake at a 21% discount to the market price.

A minimum net worth of $190 million was needed to make the cut, up from $135 million in 2009. Four of last year's top 40 failed to make the grade, including shipbuilder Brian Chang, who dropped off the list after four years. Wong Ngit Liong, who runs electronics maker Venture Corp., and Goh Lik Tuan also fell just short.

Public fortunes were calculated using share prices and exchange rates as of July 14. For privately held assets, we estimated what they would be worth if public. This ranking, unlike Forbes' list of the world's billionaires, includes numerous family fortunes shared by individuals with their children and grandchildren, or with their siblings. Where family fortunes are held by extended families, such as the Kwek cousins, we split them into separate entries.

Malaysia may close more dive sites hit by coral bleaching

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia may close three more popular dive sites in the South China Sea which have been hit by coral bleaching blamed on global warming, an official said Wednesday.

Last week authorities announced the closure of nine dive sites on the tropical islands of Tioman and Redang until the end of October in an attempt to relieve stress on the fragile marine ecosystems.

The two islands are located off the east coast of Malaysia in the South China Sea.

Marine authorities said they were studying a proposal to shut down three more sites on Redang island after resort operators said they detected coral bleaching and wanted the diving spots closed.

"We have received the proposal, we will study it and verify the matter," a marine park official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The dive sites will only be closed if more than 60 percent of the coral has been damaged, she added.

The closure would give the coral a chance to regenerate and would remove stress caused by tourism-related activities such as diving.

Coral bleaching, which can eventually kill corals, occurs when stresses such as rising sea temperatures disrupt the delicate, symbiotic relationship between the corals and their host organisms.

The marine department has said 60 to 90 percent of the coral in some areas of the closed sites has been damaged.

The reefs in Redang and Tioman island attract some 500,000 tourists annually.

- AFP/ir

Little big dreams

Little Big Dreams


Documentary about the young children at the infamous Li Xiaoshuang Gymnastic School in China, who go through the most rigorous training for at least five years in search of their Olympic dream. We hear from the parents, who are asked what has motivated them to sacrifice their children's childhood and to take them away from the heart of the family at such a tender age.

Sure, I could live without a car for a year or more

I've been living in Singapore for the past 30 months and I don't have nor I don't feel like I need a car :)

Obama Weekly Approval Average Dips to New Low of 46%

Obama Weekly Approval Average Dips to New Low of 46%

Watch the chart: worse than my blog trend !

Stench from oil spill affects East Coast Park

East Coast Park smelled like a petrol station yesterday.

The stench of oil had park users speculating if it had come from an oil spill which resulted after a tanker and bulk carrier collided yesterday morning.

They were right.

In a joint statement by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the National Environment Agency (NEA), the authorities confirmed that the smell was a result of the oil spill from the tanker.

Lighter portions of the oil could have evaporated which may have caused the smell.

The statement also said that the smell had subsided by late afternoon, and that there was no cause for alarm as NEA's monitoring has detected no toxic chemicals in the air.

When The New Paper team checked to see how bad the oil spill was yesterday, we noticed a faint whiff at Changi Village. The smell worsened when we got to East Coast Park.

The slick has not reached the beaches.

Marina Bay bridges open

The poser buzzing in many Singaporeans' minds was answered by Mr Mah Bow Tan yesterday when he opened the two landmark bridges across Marina Bay and revealed their names.

The Helix, at 280m long, was chosen for the spiral-shaped pedestrian bridge while the Bayfront Bridge, spanning 303m, was picked for the parallel bridge for vehicles.

About 2,000 people turned up at Marina Bay last night to witness the event. They were treated to a two-minute display of fireworks from the two bridges while taking in the panoramic view of the new downtown.

The crowd was also entertained by drummers and stilt walkers positioned on The Helix.

Mr Mah, the National Development Minister, declared the bridges open at about 8pm.

Vehicles can start using the Bayfront Bridge from 3pm today. The Youth Olympic Park, Singapore's first art park at the entrance of the bridges, was also opened yesterday.

Casinos exempted from smoking ban in public spaces

SINGAPORE: Smoking is banned in most enclosed places in Singapore, but it is a different story for the two casinos at Resorts World Singapore (RWS) and the soon to be opened Marina Bay Sands.

A casino patron recently wrote to MediaCorp's English daily TODAY, saying she was surprised to see a designated smoking area at the RWS casino.

She asked if there are any "double standards".

The decision to exclude casinos from the smoking ban came in 2008 after a year-long discussion between the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the two Integrated Resorts (IRs).

NEA said "it is a common practice for casinos in many countries to put in place house rules to designate smoking and non-smoking areas".

However, NEA also added that smoking is allowed within casino premises only if smokers "comply with the house rules set out by premise owners".

Following feedback from patrons, RWS said it is looking at better ways to keep out the smoke drift.

In the United States, imposing a non-smoking ban in casinos has generated public debate due to the high spending of patrons, many of whom are smokers.

When Alantic City imposed a ban on smoking in all its 11 casinos, several gaming halls reportedly saw a fall in their revenues.

Singapore, Hong Kong jump to top 5 on luxury home price-rise list

SINGAPORE: Hong Kong and Singapore jumped from the bottom five to the top five of an annual list measuring the rise in luxury home prices.

This was according to the latest figures from property consultants Knight Frank International for 2009.

The firm said that this reflects the attraction of prime residential property, where demand tends to improve as prices dip.

Overall, luxury home prices in the Asia Pacific region rose about 17 per cent on average last year.

In contrast, luxury home prices globally fell 5.5 per cent.

For 2009, the global list was led by Shanghai, where luxury home prices rose 52 per cent.

This was followed by Beijing at 47 per cent and Hong Kong at 40.5 per cent.

Singapore was tied for fourth place with Johannesburg, where luxury prices increased 17 per cent.

Non-Asian cities that made it to the top ten were Rio De Janerio (10 per cent), London (6.1 per cent) and Washington (5.7 per cent).

At the bottom of the global list - at number 56 - was Dubai, which saw luxury home prices plummet by 45 per cent.

- CNA/yb