Monday, February 25, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
New-look coins by mid-2013
New-look coins by mid-2013
Singapore will have a whole new set of coins in circulation by the middle of this year.
The current Second Series coins were first introduced in 1985 and featured local plants and flowers, depicting Singapore as a garden city.
But they'll soon make way for the Third Series featuring five of Singapore's national icons and landmarks - the Merlion, Port of Singapore, Changi Airport, Public Housing and the Esplanade.
For example, HDB flats - home to more than 80 per cent of Singaporeans - will be featured on the 10-cent coin... and the Esplanade on the 5-cent coin.
"Coins reflect the events, persons or symbols significant to a nation. The new series coins depict local icons and landmarks that are familiar to Singaporeans and reflect various aspects of Singapore's progress as a nation," said Ravi Menon, Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Each coin denomination has an electro-magnetic signature, which allows vending machines to detect counterfeit and foreign coins.
The one-dollar coin contains additional security features such as its bi-metallic composition and laser mark micro-engraving in the shape of Singapore's national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim.
The new coins will have larger denomination numerals for easy identification and features to facilitate identification by the visually-impaired.
The coins are progressively sized by denomination, with the 5-cent coin being the smallest and one-dollar coin being the largest.
Mrs Foo-Yap Siew Hong, Assistant Managing Director of MAS, said, "The Second Series coins have been in use for more than 25 years. There will be a period of adjustment as we all get comfortable with the new coins. MAS will continue to work closely with our stakeholders to smoothen the transition."
MAS says it has been working with public transport operators to ensure that coin-operated machines at MRT/LRT stations are calibrated to accept both the current and new series coins before the launch.
It has also been working with businesses with coin-operated facilities such as vending machine operators and supermarkets to prepare them for the launch.
And to ensure a smooth transition, the current series will continue to be legal tender, as they are phased out over the next four years.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Singapore will have a whole new set of coins in circulation by the middle of this year.
The current Second Series coins were first introduced in 1985 and featured local plants and flowers, depicting Singapore as a garden city.
But they'll soon make way for the Third Series featuring five of Singapore's national icons and landmarks - the Merlion, Port of Singapore, Changi Airport, Public Housing and the Esplanade.
For example, HDB flats - home to more than 80 per cent of Singaporeans - will be featured on the 10-cent coin... and the Esplanade on the 5-cent coin.
"Coins reflect the events, persons or symbols significant to a nation. The new series coins depict local icons and landmarks that are familiar to Singaporeans and reflect various aspects of Singapore's progress as a nation," said Ravi Menon, Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Each coin denomination has an electro-magnetic signature, which allows vending machines to detect counterfeit and foreign coins.
The one-dollar coin contains additional security features such as its bi-metallic composition and laser mark micro-engraving in the shape of Singapore's national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim.
The new coins will have larger denomination numerals for easy identification and features to facilitate identification by the visually-impaired.
The coins are progressively sized by denomination, with the 5-cent coin being the smallest and one-dollar coin being the largest.
Mrs Foo-Yap Siew Hong, Assistant Managing Director of MAS, said, "The Second Series coins have been in use for more than 25 years. There will be a period of adjustment as we all get comfortable with the new coins. MAS will continue to work closely with our stakeholders to smoothen the transition."
MAS says it has been working with public transport operators to ensure that coin-operated machines at MRT/LRT stations are calibrated to accept both the current and new series coins before the launch.
It has also been working with businesses with coin-operated facilities such as vending machine operators and supermarkets to prepare them for the launch.
And to ensure a smooth transition, the current series will continue to be legal tender, as they are phased out over the next four years.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
S'pore, Malaysia high-speed rail link
S'pore, Malaysia agree on high-speed rail link
Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to build a high-speed rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, with a target to complete it by 2020.
This was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Tuesday during their annual Leaders' Retreat.
With the new link, it will take about 90 minutes to get from Singapore to KL and vice versa.
The two leaders described the high-speed rail system as a strategic development in the bilateral relations, saying it will dramatically improve the connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore.
The link will also facilitate seamless travel between KL and Singapore, enhance business links, and bring peoples of Singapore and Malaysia closer together.
Mr Lee said: "It is a strategic project for the two countries. It will change the way we see each other. It is the way people in London and Paris are able to think of it -- as twin cities, where you can commute, go up there, do business, meet friends, have a meal and come back, all within two thirds of the day.
"And I think it is going to be a game changer. It will transform the way people interact, the intensity of our cooperation and the degree to which we become interdependent on each other and therefore have stakes on each other's success."
The leaders added that it will usher in a new era of strong growth, prosperity and opportunities for both countries.
They said ultimately the project will give both countries greater stakes in each other's prosperity and success.
Mr Najib said a joint ministerial committee will look into the details of the project.
He said: "Our two cities will complement each other. Our two countries will look at each other differently and the opportunities are boundless between our two countries.
"So I am excited about the project. We will certainly do our level best to meet the 2020 deadline. It may go slightly beyond that, but those are details in implementation.
"The modalities will be offered to Singapore. Basically, we want Singapore to participate in this based on the different kinds of options that we will offer to the Singapore government."
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to build a high-speed rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, with a target to complete it by 2020.
This was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Tuesday during their annual Leaders' Retreat.
With the new link, it will take about 90 minutes to get from Singapore to KL and vice versa.
The two leaders described the high-speed rail system as a strategic development in the bilateral relations, saying it will dramatically improve the connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore.
The link will also facilitate seamless travel between KL and Singapore, enhance business links, and bring peoples of Singapore and Malaysia closer together.
Mr Lee said: "It is a strategic project for the two countries. It will change the way we see each other. It is the way people in London and Paris are able to think of it -- as twin cities, where you can commute, go up there, do business, meet friends, have a meal and come back, all within two thirds of the day.
"And I think it is going to be a game changer. It will transform the way people interact, the intensity of our cooperation and the degree to which we become interdependent on each other and therefore have stakes on each other's success."
The leaders added that it will usher in a new era of strong growth, prosperity and opportunities for both countries.
They said ultimately the project will give both countries greater stakes in each other's prosperity and success.
Mr Najib said a joint ministerial committee will look into the details of the project.
He said: "Our two cities will complement each other. Our two countries will look at each other differently and the opportunities are boundless between our two countries.
"So I am excited about the project. We will certainly do our level best to meet the 2020 deadline. It may go slightly beyond that, but those are details in implementation.
"The modalities will be offered to Singapore. Basically, we want Singapore to participate in this based on the different kinds of options that we will offer to the Singapore government."
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Friday, February 1, 2013
中国签证中心明天起迁新址
中国签证中心明天起迁新址
随着新加坡和中国之间的商务和文化交流越来越频繁和密切，在新加坡申请中国签证的数量也逐年增长，公众对签证申请服务的要求也越来越高。为了更好地为签证申请人服务，中国签证申请服务中心将于2月1日迁址到80号，罗敏申路，#16-01/02/02A新加坡邮区068898。
迁址后的中国签证申请服务中心营业面积将增加一倍。本着以人为本，服务至上的理念，中心将致力于为广大民众提供更优质的服务。新中心增加多一倍的接待窗口和呼叫中心坐席，同时更新和升级各类设备和电脑操作系统。这些现代化的服务设施将为公众提供更加舒适、便捷的签证申请环境，同时更方便客人的线上申请，大大减少客人办理签证申请的等候时间。
除了硬件的提升，中心也将进一步提升我们的接待服务水平。中心为残障人士及其他需要特殊服务的人士提供专门的柜台；中心将增加多一倍的工作人员，并进行更深层次的服务技能、业务水平的培训，他们将以更专业、更贴心、更周到的服务来迎接签证申请人。
～以上新闻转载自OMY～
随着新加坡和中国之间的商务和文化交流越来越频繁和密切，在新加坡申请中国签证的数量也逐年增长，公众对签证申请服务的要求也越来越高。为了更好地为签证申请人服务，中国签证申请服务中心将于2月1日迁址到80号，罗敏申路，#16-01/02/02A新加坡邮区068898。
迁址后的中国签证申请服务中心营业面积将增加一倍。本着以人为本，服务至上的理念，中心将致力于为广大民众提供更优质的服务。新中心增加多一倍的接待窗口和呼叫中心坐席，同时更新和升级各类设备和电脑操作系统。这些现代化的服务设施将为公众提供更加舒适、便捷的签证申请环境，同时更方便客人的线上申请，大大减少客人办理签证申请的等候时间。
除了硬件的提升，中心也将进一步提升我们的接待服务水平。中心为残障人士及其他需要特殊服务的人士提供专门的柜台；中心将增加多一倍的工作人员，并进行更深层次的服务技能、业务水平的培训，他们将以更专业、更贴心、更周到的服务来迎接签证申请人。
～以上新闻转载自OMY～
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