Singapore welcomes US' continued commitment in Afghanistan

SINGAPORE : Singapore has welcomed the United States' continued commitment in Afghanistan, as outlined by President Barack Obama.

Singapore's Foreign Ministry said this is a positive and pragmatic way forward.

It said Singapore continues to support the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.

An SAF Weapon Locating Radar and a medical team are now in Oruzgan province, with an engineering team in Bamiyan province in support of these efforts.

The ministry said Singapore has also offered to deploy a KC-135 aerial refuelling tanker and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle detachment if these are useful to the multinational efforts.

Singapore has also been offering a variety of training programmes for Afghan officials, including healthcare, anti-narcotics control, and water and waste management. - CNA/ms

Source: channelnewsasia.com/

Disney Channels to Sell Ad Time in Singapore, Philippines

SINGAPORE/MANILA: Disney Channels Southeast Asia will begin selling ad time on its feeds in Singapore and the Philippines, working with StarHub and SkyCable, respectively.

The cable platforms will serve as the local advertising sales representatives for Disney Channels in each of their markets. Announcing the move, Laura E. Wendt, the VP and managing director of Disney Channels Southeast Asia, stated: "After expanding our distribution and creating Disney Channel franchises that kids love and enjoy, our move to advertising gives brands in both Singapore and the Philippines a local touch point and an association with our popular properties such as Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place.”

Source: worldscreen.com/

City breakers booking flights to New York and Singapore can uncover a "myriad of culinary delights".

This is according to Garry Taylor, director and strategist at the International Culinary Tourism Association, who was commenting after a recent Lonely Planet poll which revealed that the cities were the best in the world in which to "gorge on food".

"Both New York and Singapore offer a myriad of culinary delights and I feel the difference between these and other major cities is basically the way the destination marketing organisations market their culinary experiences," he explained.

Mr Taylor went on to say that some cities are better than others at realising that culinary tourism is at the centre of the tourism business, not the periphery.

This is because, he explained, "every visitor will eat", whereas not everyone will visit a museum or art gallery.

New York and Singapore came top of the Lonely Planet poll thanks to the range of food both cities offer, from cheap street food to expensive fine dining.

Source: usttheflight.co.uk/

IADC Seminar a success in Singapore

More than 30 participants from around the world, including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Namibia, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Tanzania, Turkey and the United Kingdom, came to Singapore for the recent 33rd IADC International Seminar on Dredging and Reclamation.

Seminar participants and some of the lecturers gather for festivities. The seminar was organised by the International Association of Dredging Companies in cooperation with the National University of Singapore in Singapore. Since 1993 the IADC has regularly run week long seminars especially developed for professionals in dredging related industries to familiarize them better with the many aspects and challenges of dredging.

Dredging experts from IADC member companies presented lectures and complemented theory with their practical knowledge and experience. Amongst the subjects covered were the development of new ports and maintenance of existing ports, project phasing, descriptions of types of dredging equipment, costing of projects and types of dredging projects.

Events outside of the classroom were equally important and stimulating. Singapore has been the site of many extensive dredging projects and a highlight of the week was a site visit to one of these, the Jurong Island Project.

Enthusiastic employees of an IADC member dredging company were happy to show participants dredging equipment in action and provided them with a deeper insight into the intricacies of the dredging operation. In addition, a midweek dinner was organised, where the participants, lecturers and other dredging employees mingled, networked and discussed the real world of dredging.

The next IADC seminar will be organised in co-operation with UNESCO – IHE in Delft, The Netherlands from 21 to 25 June 2010. The Seminar is aimed at decision makers and their advisors in governments, port and harbour authorities, off shore companies and other organisations that have to execute dredging projects. The cost of the seminar will be €1,950 (VAT inclusive). The fee includes all tuition, seminar proceedings, workshops and a special participants’ dinner, but is exclusive of all travel costs and accommodation.

For more information contact the IADC Secretariat, Mr. Frans-Herman Cammel. Email: Cammel@iadc-dredging.com
Source:maritimejournal.com/