Final bidder submits SGD5.5 billion plan for Singapore casino

Wednesday, November 1, 2006

The third and last bidder for Singapore’s Sentosa Integrated Resort (IR) project, Eighth Wonder, submitted its development plan yesterday: a SGD 5.5 billion(USD 3.52 billion) eco-friendly casino known as “Harry’s Island”.

Harry’s Island will boast 10 luxury, family-oriented hotels, a tree house with family suites, and a 7,500-seat Caldera theater which will feature nightly spectacular shows.

Eighth Wonder says it wants to make Harry’s Island a world-class, must-see tourist destination and has roped-in several big names in its tender. If selected, the resort will have spas and health centers run by health guru Deepak Chopra, Vera Wang hotels with access to her entire wedding collection, and a soccer academy with Brazilian soccer icon Pele giving his input.

Harry’s Island will create around 15,000 jobs, including 5000 in the food and beverage industry.

The company believes it can recover its investments by 2015 by generating over $5.6 billion in five years; it hopes to bring nearly 15 million visitors annually by 2014.

The Sentosa IR project is the second of two IR tenders offered by the Singapore Government: the first was located in Marina Bay.

The Singapore government is expected to announce the winner in December.

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Brush fire threatens Molokai, Hawaii

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Two CH-47 Chinook helicopters were called in on Wednesday, September 2nd, to help contain the wildfires on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai.

Smaller helicopters that were fighting the fire since it started around noon on August 29th were redeployed as well.

According to Gen Iinuma, Maui County Civil Defense administrator, the CH-47s carry 2000-gallon buckets of water, whereas the smaller helicopters only have 100-gallon buckets. The Chinooks can dump more water in fewer trips than the smaller helicopters. On the other hand, the tremendous downdraft from the bigger aircraft may make the fire worse.

“If they don’t do it right, they’ll fan the fire,” Iinuma said.

According to Iinuma, ground crews are continuing to maintain the fire’s perimeter, which remained unchanged from Tuesday. The helicopters are being used to fight the fires where ground crews can’t reach, such as steep mountain passes and valleys.

Iinuma also expressed concern about a red flag advisory the National Weather service put out for all leeward areas of the Hawaiian Islands, meaning conditions are ripe for fires.

Lieutenant Governor James “Duke” Aiona, who took an aerial survey of Molokai’s brush fire area, said it was “no immediate threat”. He also noted that the fire seemed to come right up to the perimeter of some properties, but almost always stopped there.

Aiona’s observations are mirrored by a local business owners’ story. The wildfires destroyed the beehives of Molokai Meli, a family-owned honey business in Kapaakea, but residents admit that the beehives were not their main concern.

“We were just beating the edges with wet towels and sheets to try and keep it from getting to the houses that are just right over that ridge,” said co-owner Brenda Kaneshiro. Luckily, the property was spared, though the beehives weren’t.

“All that metal right there, that’s where they all were, there were 33 of them,” said Elijah Kaneshiro, the owner’s son.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Brush_fire_threatens_Molokai,_Hawaii&oldid=880349”

CanadaVOTES: Christian Heritage Party leader Ron Gray running in Langley

Friday, September 19, 2008

On October 14, 2008, Canadians will be heading to the polls for the federal election. Christian Heritage Party candidate Ron Gray is standing for election in the riding of Langley.

Wikinews contacted Ron Gray, to talk about the issues facing Canadians, and what they and their party would do to address them. Wikinews is in the process of contacting every candidate, in every riding across the country, no matter their political stripe. All interviews are conducted over e-mail, and interviews are published unedited, allowing candidates to impart their full message to our readers, uninterrupted.

Mr. Gray has been leader of the Christian Heritage Party since 1995. He first ran for office in 1988.

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Review Of Sanyo Hec Dr7700 K Shiatsu Massage Chair Recliner}

Review of Sanyo HEC-DR7700K Shiatsu Massage Chair Recliner

by

Steve Esquire..

A relative newcomer to the massage chair industry is Sanyo. The first challenge for a relative newcomer is where to find them. This is extremely difficult, since Sanyo lacks distribution in brick and mortar stores. Most customers have a hard time trying to find a place to try them. They are starting to find their way to internet dealers, but most customers have a hard time trying to find a place to try them. Shiatsu massage chairs have been on the market for 30 years. Sanyo entered the 30 year old massage chiar market only a few years ago. The flagship model of the Sanyo line is the HEC-DR7700K Zero Gravity Massage Chair. The HEC-DR7700K Zero Gravity Massage Chair is retails for about $5,000. Sanyo is begining to find internet dealers, but do not have any significant retail accounts.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wI3t1wk2g0[/youtube]

First off, you are buying a chair for your needs. Second, the company that makes it is like your mother-in-law, it is just part of the package. You pick the chair like your spouse, but then the manufacturer becomes your mother-in-law. Now, of course, manufacturers vary (just because you are big does not make you better, kind of like mother-in-laws). So, Sanyo, your potential mother-in-law, how will she treat you, or how is their customer service? Sanyo has a 24/7 call center for warranty issues located in the US (sometimes a big plus if you speak English). Their service in our experience has been fine, with most issues resolved in a relatively short time.Warranties that are longer and more comprehensive protects the customer and provides additional value. Whereas, shorter and less coverage gives the customer less confidence in the manufacturer. One would think Sanyo would have one a superior warranty. However, compared to the competition, Sanyo’s warranty is just plain weak. What is Sanyo’s warranty? 3 years on the roller mechanism, 1 year labor, 1 year parts. Sanyo did step up for in-home service for the first year. When your paying a $5,000 price tage, the warranty should be much stronger.The HEC-DR7700K Zero Gravity shiatsu massage chair reclines back so your knees are above your heart. In the zero gravity position the pressure from your body is removed from your spine and evenly distributed across your entire back. The HEC-DR7700K Zero Gravity shiatsu massage chair meets this requirement. This is a relaxing position which can be used before and after your massage.Sanyo is famous for their stereo equipment. However, there is no music in any of the Sanyo massage chairs. Interestingly, neither does Panasonic incorporate any music in their massage chairs. There is only one item brought over from another electronics division which is the Stiffness Detection Sensor. So, technology transfer does exist. The stiffness detection sensor is based on lie detection technology. This sensor detects stress points throughout your back. The stiffness detection sensor gauges fatigue by monitoring changes in your perspiration and pulse rate.The Physical Shape Sensor adjusts the massage rollers to your body shape. The rollers adjust to your body shifts during the course of the massage. It is an interesting feature for the more squeamish among us. Personally, I find I adjust my position to the fixed rollers when I want to hit a particular part of my back.What if a massage chair could literally “reach out” and touch you? The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K can massage you in 3 dimensions. The exclusive GK rollers come over the top of your neck and shoulders. This innovative shiatsu massage recliner offers the first 3 dimensional massage functions. Your neck and shoulders will feel very relieved. Congratulations in breaking new ground into the 3 dimension robotic massage chair!The Sanyo DR7700K has tremendous variety of massage therapies with 5 automatic massage courses, 4 full body automatic courses and a total combination of 83 combination manual massage courses. Do you enjoy massages such as Grip, Shiatsu, Kneading, Tapping, Kneading & Tapping and various stretches? The GK rollers bring in the third dimension with Sanyo’s jointed massage head unit. Get a relieving shoulder and neck massage with Sanyo’s top shiatsu massage chair recliner.

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World Health Organisation: China engaging in bird flu cover up

Sunday, July 24, 2005

The World Health Organization’s Beijing spokesman has said that the People’s Republic of China has withheld vital information regarding H5N1 outbreaks, a type of bird flu that is infecting animals throughout Asia. The animals most affected by the disease are those among waterfowl and poultry, however in recents months it has infected humans and has also been discovered in tigers as well as swine. The Nation magazine quotes WHO officials as saying that the strain has the potential of causing a human pandemic (global epidemic) resulting in tens of millions of deaths.

The first appearance of this type of flu was in Hong Kong during 1997. As of July 21, 2005, one hundred and nine cases of human infection have been confirmed resulting in fifty five deaths outside of China reports the Centers for Disease Control. China has reported no deaths in the recent outbreaks, leading to speculation of a cover up. The Economist says eleven countries across Asia have been affected, and more than one hundred and twenty million birds have died from infection or been culled. Although this week a case was found in Russia making it the first European country with an infection and twelfth in the world.

Usually these flu viruses are carried worldwide by wild bird populations in their intestines and are non-lethal. However this variant has mutated into the most lethal strain of influenza ever recorded says Mike Davis, author of The Monster at Our Door: The Global Threat of Avian Flu. Such occurrences are natural and have happened in the past as in the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic.

The current virus is morphing into a type that is spread among humans with the first human-to-human cases found in Vietnam during 2005. When avian influenza subtypes adapt for this mode of transmission the effect is deadly for humans as the immune system has no natural immunities for it and the production of appropriate antibodies to fight the infection takes some time.

Further complicating the effort to combat H5N1, it was reported in the Washington Post that the People’s Republic of China has been administering the medication Amantadine to poultry in violation of international livestock regulations that state it is for human use only since the late-1990s (all the time officially denying any cases of bird flu among its poultry); the result has been that the virus is now largely immune to the medication and is significantly deadlier. World Health Organization officials had been preparing to use the drug to fight a future pandemic and now it has been rendered useless.

Chinese government officials have said more than 1,000 migratory birds have been found dead during 2005 and there have been unofficial Internet reports of one hundred and twenty related human fatalities that are strongly denied by Beijing.

China has previously irked international agencies for its handling of public and agricultural health crises, notably the SARS epidemic that began in 2002. China’s health minister was fired after the government acknowledged it had covered up the extent of the SARS outbreak by preventing reports about the illness for months and by minimizing its seriousness says the Washgington Post.

Margaret Chan, WHO director of pandemic influenza preparedness is pressing China to allow laboratories to examine specimens from birds in Qinghai, where the H5N1 virus has killed more than 5,000 birds from five species. Recombinomics has found Chinese message boards indicating part of Qinghai province may be under martial law and quarantine.

Three outbreaks of H5N1 have affected China in recent months but the World Health Organization has not received the information or the virus samples from infected birds that they requested. “It is a matter of urgency,” said Roy Wadia, the WHO’s speaker in China. “We stress that this virus is highly unpredictable and versatile and can change any time. It is highly dangerous.”

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How To Choose A Great Soul Food Restaurant

By Toni Scott

There is no cooking like home cooking. From time to time, people crave for the comfort and goodness that is duly delivered by soul food recipes. And the good news is that anyone from anywhere can now enjoy the same heavenly and satisfied feeling that only soul food can serve. Many restaurants are now expanding to satisfy their customers’ craving for soul food. But then again, not all soul food restaurants are created equal. While there are those that truly stand out for the right reasons, there are also those that do not deliver. When you’re looking for the best soul food, you have to be very careful with the restaurant you choose because you wouldn’t want to disappoint your cravings. And so be careful with your choice of restaurants–the wrong choice could certainly prove to be frustrating.

Since there are plenty of soul food restaurants around these days, you have to use some specific criteria to make your choice. The last thing you want is to build up anticipation for a traditional soul food meal and end up not getting what you want. Keep the following tips in mind when researching the soul food restaurants in your area.

Trust word of mouth. Good word travels fast. When people taste good food, they cannot wait to tell others about it. Most people will not bother to share their knowledge unless it is worth the fuss. When you hear about great food somewhere or about excellent customer service offered at your local restaurant, never hesitate to give it a try.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlLJyTV80uU[/youtube]

Besides customer service, there are other things to consider such as pricing, reputation, atmosphere, and the like. Make sure to consider the overall quality of the soul food restaurant and what it brings to the table. This will help you decide ultimately on the best place to go to.

An excellent soul food restaurant always makes sure to maintain the quality of their food. If the food is supposed to be hot, it is served that way. On the other hand, if the food is supposed to be cold, it should arrive at the table chilled to the proper temperature. My most recent disappointment in this area was at a Cajun restaurant. I was looking forward to a steaming plate of dirty rice along with my fried shrimp. Trust me, room temp dirty rice is not nice!

The flavor and seasoning of the food needs to be spot on. That’s truly what soul food is all about. Some restaurants may have delicious food and great customer service, but they lack variety in their menu offerings. You will need to decide what is most important to you.

When it comes to the restaurant’s atmosphere, everything should be neat and clean. Some of the best soul food restaurants are “holes in the wall” so to speak–they can be small and weathered, but not dirty. A clean restaurant will enhance your dining experience so much more. Another important aspect of the restaurant is its customer service. If friendly and well-trained staff serves the food promptly and with a smile, that goes a long way.

Pricing is another matter. While it may become costly to have an excellent dining experience, but it should not be so with a soul food restaurant. We’ve all heard about the $10 cup of gumbo! At most, their pricing should be reasonable and reflective of the quality of the food they serve.

About the Author: Find dozens of Chef Toni’s soul food recipes at at

Real Soul Food Recipes

.

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KKE: Interview with the Greek Communist Party

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Wikinews reporter Iain Macdonald has performed an interview with Dr Isabella Margara, a London-based member of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). In the interview Margara sets out the communist response to current events in Greece as well as discussing the viability of a communist economy for the nation. She also hit back at Petros Tzomakas, a member of another Greek far-left party which criticised KKE in a previous interview.

The interview comes amid tensions in cash-strapped Greece, where the government is introducing controversial austerity measures to try to ease the nation’s debt-problem. An international rescue package has been prepared by European Union member states and the International Monetary Fund – should Greece require a bailout; protests have been held against government attempts to manage the economic situation.

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Dead children found in car in Sussex, UK

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The bodies of two children were found this morning in a car in Heathfield, East Sussex, in the United Kingdom. A 43-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of the murders.

The boy and girl were both less than five years old, and were discovered at 11:46 this morning (GMT) when Sussex police officers forced their way into the vehicle, which was parked on Mill Close in Heathfield. The woman, who has yet to be identified, had visited Heathfield police station earlier this morning to report “an incident”, and was later arrested on suspicion of murder. The police say that they have identified the bodies. The identities will be revealed when the post mortem examinations take place, which is scheduled for next Thursday.

I would like to reassure people that it is fully contained and there is no threat to anyone in the area

The woman was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital, and has not yet been interviewed by the police. She is believed to be from Surrey but have connections with the Heathfield area. Mill Close, the road on which the incident occurred, has been closed, according to a police spokeswoman, who said, “An investigation is now under way and the area around the scene is cordoned off.” Chief Inspector Julia Pope, Wealden district policing commander, said, “This is a very tragic incident, but I would like to reassure people that it is fully contained and there is no threat to anyone in the area. We will move to restore normality and access to Mill Close as quickly as possible.” A spokesman for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said, “We sent an ambulance and two response cars but sadly two young children were pronounced dead at the scene.”

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US unemployment rate surpasses 10%

Friday, November 6, 2009

The unemployment rate in the United States has surpassed ten percent, according to figures released by the US Department of Labor on Friday.

The jobless rate, now at 10.2%, is the highest it has been since April 1983, and was an increase over September’s level of 9.8%. 190,000 jobs in total were lost last month, and 8.2 million total people have become unemployed since the recession officially began in December 2007.

“It’s pretty disappointing overall. Job losses are not moderating as quickly as I had hoped despite those earlier indicators on jobs,” economic analyst Richard Franulovich at the Westpac financial services company said.

Some economists say the jobless rate could reach 10.5% next year because employers are still reluctant to hire. Economist James Shugg predicted the weakness in the US job market is expected to continue.

“It is a lot easier for firms to make the decision not to lay someone off than it is actually to decide to take someone on,” Shugg said. “I think we are still at that point, the firms are getting less aggressive in terms of job cutting. But putting people on is still a little way to come yet.”

Despite the news, most analysts have said that this is an improvement in a way, as the rate of job losses has slowed in the past year. This January, for instance, saw 741,000 job cuts. The US gross domestic product also grew by 3.5% from July through September. President Barack Obama, however, suggested that the jobless rate may still continue to rise in the immediate future. “We are just not where we need to be yet. We’ve got a long way to go,” he said.

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The Importance Of Pat Testing

Submitted by: Steve. A Shaw

PAT testing is an abbreviation of portable appliance testing. It simply refers to the process employed in checking the safety and performance of electrical appliances. This is an exercise which is normally aimed at establishing the efficiency and safety of electrical equipments within the house or the office. Electric gadgets are used all over and are vulnerable to mechanical technicalities most of which may cause serious damage to people and property.

Professionally, employers are legally required to ensure that all their electrical devices are maintained regularly. When and how electronic devices are assessed depends on the guidelines provided by health and safety executives. Therefore, if you have electrical devices around you, it is important to take note of this basic knowledge that will help you keep safe at all times and avoid fatal accidents in future.

You can engage in visual checks of your appliance since you are regularly using the device. This way, you will be able to identify frayed or loose cables after which the necessary remedy measures can be put in place. By doing this, you will not have to worry, instead you will simply have to wait for the next assessment being that possible potential dangers will have been prevented. Remember, visual checks are a must and even trained testers must do this before doing any form of maintenance.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm2T3NMeRFU[/youtube]

This kind of testing should not be done by anyone. This is because it calls for professional training and certification meaning that official approval is required for such kind of work. People with city and guides qualification can do this kind of work best owing to their professional skills and levels of specialisation. Therefore, if you are not qualified, it is highly recommended that you refrain from such an exercise. You may damage your machine or equipment.

As a matter of fact, there are specialized testing equipments which are needed if you are going to perform a good test. Moreover, the result of each test also relies heavily on the judgment of the tester hence most people are advised to seek professional services. They are also preferred when you want to have comprehensive service that a layman can not provide such that when your appliance fails, the technician can repair it on the spot or advice if you need to replace it.

PAT testing is not a process that can be just done haphazardly. This is because there are features you have to factor in before doing your test. For instance, the level of testing that each appliance needs will depend on a number of factors such as which class the appliance falls under. And the classes referred to here are those which are defined by IEC-International Electro-technical Commission.

When it comes to choosing the tools which are used during the process, there are a number of issues that should be put into consideration. For instance, one must have a clear understanding of the specific requirements for the job as well as the capabilities of the tester. Equipped with these details, you can proceed with the testing process.

Pass/fail devices which many people use will simply provide you with details of either a pass or fail and nothing else. But there are more advanced testers which will fundamentally provide a more advanced and in-depth metrics while testing your appliances. Such high end PAT testing devices are mostly found with reliable and credible companies whose focus is keeping you safe and maintaining your equipment in the best possible performance state.

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