Super Giant Passenger Ship

MS Explorer of the Seas is one of five Voyager-class cruise ships from Royal Caribbean International. It can handle over 3100 guests, including scientists making use of a built-in atmospheric and oceanographic laboratory operated by the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Voyager-class ships are the third largest passenger ships in the world, after Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Royal Caribbean's own Freedom of the Seas.

Activities include:

* Rock climbing wall
* Roller skating
* Nine-hole miniature golf course
* Ping-Pong Tables
* Shuffleboard Court
* Golf simulators
* Full-sized basketball court
* Adventure Ocean youth facilities

Other amenities

* Casino
* Three-story main dining room
* Windjammer Café
* Restaurants such as Johnny Rockets (1950s-style) and Portofino (Italian)
* Themed bars and lounges
* Swimming pools and hot tubs
* Day spa and Fitness Center
* Library and Royal Caribbean Online Internet access
* Wedding chapel

Records
Preceded by Voyager of the Seas	World's largest passenger ship 2000 – 2004	Succeeded by Queen Mary 2

1,000 Times Faster Than Our 1 Mb per second Streamyx

1 Gb per second,that's 1 thousand times faster than our 1 Mb per second Streamyx



Ultra-high speed connectivity to cover more than half of S'pore by 2012
By Yvonne Cheong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 11 December 2007



SINGAPORE: More than half of Singapore homes and offices are expected to have ultra-high speed broadband access by 2012.

That's a requirement of the bid for what is called Singapore's Next Generation National Broadband Network, which was thrown open on Tuesday.

Ultra-high speed of up to 1 gigabit per second - or 10 times faster than the maximum speed currently available on broadband.

That's the connectivity speed the Next Generation National Broadband Network will have and which the next generation will certainly appreciate.

Three out of four homes in Singapore already have broadband access, with an increasing number opting for wider bandwidth.

And, the benefits of this ultra-high speed network will pervade all areas of life - from online trading to e-learning.

"These may include close to real-life high-definition video conferencing, high-speed online transactions and graphics-based data visualisation. For example, the healthcare sector will be able to process and share high volume and complex medical data, including tele-radiology and MRI, to provide more timely and better medical care to patients," said Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications & The Arts.

The government will provide grants of up to $750 million to the company or consortium which wins the bid to build the island-wide infrastructure.

The successful bidder will have to ensure that the ultra-high speed network will be available to more than 50% of homes and offices in Singapore by 2012.

It will also be held to the wholesale prices it sets out in its bid.

That's one of the parameters to ensure an open market for what would be a natural monopoly.

Potential bidders include SingTel, StarHub and M1.

M1 has partnered Hong Kong Broadband Network to bid as a consortium.

The Next Generation network will be available nationwide by 2015. - CNA/ir

Malaysian Renouncing Citizenship

Renouncing citizenship: Chinese top the list

Chinese Malaysians record the highest number of those who have renounced their citizenship, followed by the Malays and Indians, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

The Home Ministry's parliamentary secretary, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, said 14,316 Chinese (87%) have surrendered their citizenship, compared to 1,098 Malays (6.6%), 822 Indians (5%) and 238 (1.4%) others from 2000 to 2006.

He also explained that 106,000 people have renounced citizenship since Independence in 1957.

Abdul Rahman said these Malaysians had applied for citizenship to India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Japan, Canada and Indonesia.

"(Others) have applied to the UK and US, Taiwan, Thailand, Germany, New Zealand, France, Austria, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Brunei, Finland and Jordan," he said.

Living condition

As to why so many Malaysians have opted to leave for other countries, he replied: "The main reason is the (quality of life) in those countries."

"They also consider the working environment, such as better opportunities and better pay. And some consider education for their children as a reason to apply for a citizenship in a particular country," he said.

Abdul Rahman was replying Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) who asked for a breakdown of the figures according to race and the country of destination.

On a related matter, Abdul Rahman said the government takes into consideration three things before stripping a person of citizenship.

"Firstly, we see if the person holds citizenship in another country. Secondly, we see if the person has voted in that country's elections. And lastly, we (check) if the person holds a foreign passport," he said.

He explained that revoking citizenship can be implemented under Article 24(2) and 3(a) of the Federal Constitution.

The world's most expensive city for rental accommodation

Hong Kong, the world's most expensive city for rental accommodation according to new ECA International survey - 22 May 2007

• Five of the top 10 most costly cities to rent globally are in Asia

Hong Kong is the world's most expensive city to rent accommodation and Asia accounts for five of the world's top ten most costly cities, according to a survey conducted by ECA International, the world's leading knowledge and solutions provider for international HR professionals.

Undertaken annually, ECA’s Accommodation Survey compares rental prices in 92 locations worldwide. The survey data is used in ECA’s Accommodation Reports, which are used by ECA Member companies to calculate housing policy and allowances for their internationally mobile staff.

"Comparing the cost of renting an unfurnished three bedroom apartment, ECA’s data shows that Hong Kong is by far the most expensive city, with an apartment in a popular expatriate area costing approximately US$8,592 per month on average," said Lee Quane, General Manager of ECA in Hong Kong. "That's 17 per cent more expensive than the average rental price in Tokyo, which ranked second in the survey, and 150 per cent more expensive than 15th placed Singapore."

High rental prices in the SAR can be attributed to a number of factors, including the lack of space putting a high premium on land and government intervention, as well as an increasing demand for high-end developments as many financial firms strengthen their presence within the city.

“What’s more, the survey shows that rental prices are rising – up 10% from 2005,“ comments Quane. “And with prices in Tokyo increasing by just 1% year on year, the gap between Asia’s two most expensive cities to rent is actually widening.”

Five of the top 10 most expensive locations in the world are in Asia, with Seoul (5th), Mumbai (7th) and Shanghai (8th) joining Hong Kong and Tokyo . New York, Moscow, London, Caracas and Paris make up the 10 most expensive cities globally to rent a three bedroom apartment.

High rental prices in Tokyo, New York, Seoul, Moscow, London and Paris largely reflect high living costs in these locations, while Mumbai, Shanghai and Beijing suffer from a shortage of modern, well equipped properties that meet expatriate standards, pushing prices up for those properties that do. Caracas makes the top ten as expatriates need to live in high security compounds because it is a very dangerous place to live.

According to the survey, Nairobi is the cheapest city in the world to rent a three bedroom apartment, with the average monthly rent nearly eight times cheaper than the equivalent in Hong Kong. Charlotte, Atlanta and Dallas in the US and Ankara make up the bottom five cheapest cities to rent.

Ten year trends

Comparing 57 locations worldwide for the past 10 years, rental prices have increased by 22% on average. However, Hong Kong, along with a number of other locations in Asia and worldwide, has actually seen a decrease in rental prices over this period, with the average price of renting a three bedroom apartment falling 10 per cent between 1996 and 2006.

“In 1996 Hong Kong’s residential rental market was booming," comments Quane. “However, government attempts to cool the market by boosting supply, coupled with the Asian Financial Crisis and dot-com crash, resulted in a steady fall in rental prices. In recent years, however, a recovering economy and higher demand for high-end accommodation are driving rental prices up back toward the peak of ten years ago, ” Quane adds.

Although rental prices in Beijing and Shanghai are amongst the highest in the world, they are also cheaper than ten years ago. The average cost of renting a three bedroom apartment is 50% cheaper in Beijing than 10 years ago, while in Shanghai they are now 40% less costly.

“Ten years ago prices in Beijing and Shanghai were artificially inflated due to a severe lack of supply, which meant that foreigners had to live in foreign approved residences,” explains Quane. “Today, however, foreigners are allowed to live wherever they like and more and more expatriate-standard properties are being built,” adds Quane.

Some of the most significant increases in recent years have been in the Middle East, with rental prices in Doha and Dubai rising by approximately 130% and 100%, respectively, since 1996. These locations are positioning themselves as premium business centres and luxury cities, and as such have seen many new very high standard properties erected, driving up the average rental price.

World’s most expensive locations to rent a three bedroom apartment

Rank	Location	Country
1	Hong Kong	HONG KONG
2	Tokyo	JAPAN
3	New York	USA
4	Moscow	RUSSIA
5	Seoul	KOREA REPUBLIC
6	London	UNITED KINGDOM
7	Mumbai	INDIA
8	Shanghai	CHINA
9	Caracas	VENEZUELA
10	Paris	FRANCE
11	Beijing	CHINA
12	Ho Chi Minh City	VIETNAM
13	Istanbul	TURKEY
14	Dubai	UAE
15	Singapore	SINGAPORE

World’s cheapest locations to rent a three bedroom apartment

Rank	Location	Country
1	Nairobi	KENYA
2	Charlotte NC	USA
3	Atlanta GA	USA
4	Ankara	TURKEY
5	Dallas TX	USA
6	Muscat	OMAN
7	Accra	GHANA
8	Minneapolis MN	USA
9	Wellington	NEW ZEALAND
10	Quito	ECUADOR

Issued on behalf of ECA International by Euan Barty Associates.

BMW NIGHT VISION

BMW NIGHT VISION CAMERA; SAFE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT!

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2008/2009 BMW X6 Breaks Cover

BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe Concept Revealed

• Concept innovation of the world’s first Sports Activity Coupé.

• As the founder of the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) segment, BMW is now once again presenting a new, consistently developed concept.

• The most sporting and dynamic interpretation of a BMW X model, with the emphasis above all on the car’s active driving potential. Superior driving dynamics taken up by typical BMW design language and authentically visualised in the car’s design.

• Extravagant body design combining the sporting elegance of a
  BMW Coupé with the striking DNA of BMW X.

• Clear orientation to the wheels, generous ground clearance and
  extra-large wheel arches give BMW Concept X6 the powerful presence
  so characteristic of a BMW X model.

• BMW Concept X6 is the first car in the world to feature Dynamic Performance Control for unique directional stability and precision under all driving conditions as well as BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive technology.

BMW has finally unveiled its much-anticipated X6 coupe-crossover, which it calls a "Sport Activity Coupe." BMW will be the first automaker to bring such an SUV to market, although other automakers are said to be planning similar coupe-like utility vehicles.

The X6 was presented at the IAA in Frankfurt. Like the M3, it is being billed as concept, but a nearly identical production vehicle is expected to arrive in dealerships in early 2008.

BMW design chief Chris Bangle said "a good concept realizes itself in a short amount of time." The X6, no doubt, falls under this category in BMW's mind.

Of course, we don't need Bangle's statement as proof of production ambitions for the X6. For months, spies have photographed the X6 undergoing extensive real-world testing.

Exterior designer Pierre Leclercq says the X6 is "a real sports car," true to BMW's tradition. "There's nothing like this on the market right now."

Daring design

As recent photos show, the X6 is anything but a conservative design.

The X6's roofline begins arching downward after the B-pillar and continues plunging right to the X6's rising waistline. As a result, second-row headroom and rear cargo volume are both compromised.

The new X6 will be longer and lower than the new X5, seating only four. But what the sporty X6 loses in seating and storage, it is expected gain in performance.

The X6 is, by far, the most extreme example of a "crossover-coupe" to date. Mercedes and Land Rover are both rumored to be planning a similar vehicles, but no plans have been announced.

X6 to be BMW's first hybrid

BMW also debuted a hybrid version of its X6 Concept. Visually the hybrid is identical to the regular X6 but BMW claims that the hybrid is 20% more fuel-efficient. Various reports indicate the X6 will be BMW's first production car offered with the option of a hybrid powertrain.

Exterior design:

• The powerful presence of the car’s body merges smoothly and harmoni­ously with the low-slung roof of the greenhouse. This flowing roofline is indeed a characteristic element of the coupé silhouette, just like the short front overhang, the long wheelbase and long rear overhang.

• In its design, BMW Concept X6 expresses all the DNA so characteristic
  of BMW X. The optical balance of the front and rear wheels clearly visible from the side bears convincing testimony to BMW’s intelligent xDrive
  all-wheel-drive technology.

• The second dominating element in the design of the body is the
  clear orientation to the car’s wheels, muscular wheel arches and large wheels providing a particularly impressive look and sign of stability.

• The exterior is characterised by exciting interaction of convex and concave surfaces.

• The side contour line rising up dynamically to the rear and the growing distance between the shoulder and the sill-line as the car moves to the back generate a dynamic wedge shape.

• The striking front view with clear focus on the car’s width bears out the expression so typical of a BMW X model. This powerful look is further enhanced by the extra-large BMW kidney grille serving as the air intake with robust slats, the headlights cut in a sharp profile, and clear accentuation of the side panels highlighting the flared contours of the wheel arches. The large air intakes, in turn, characterise the significant demand for cooling air in the engine, make the car look longer and underline its sporting character also from the front.

• The engine compartment lid comes with clear contours subdivided by sharp lines tapering out towards the BMW kidney grille. The elegant look created in this way is also characterised by bumper elements finished in body colour with discreet plastic appliqués in the typical style of a BMW X model.

• The unique design of the D-pillars expresses sheer power and stability, the innovative design of the rear lights emphasising the width of the
  car. Positioned far to the outside, the exhaust tailpipes and horizontal lines of BMW Concept X6 accentuate the wide track of the car.

• The dark paintwork standing out clearly form the chrome elements symbolises the sporting and technical character of BMW Concept X6, with sophisticated highlights being added by the sill trim at the side, the chrome-coloured slats, the foglamps with their special surrounds in the outer air intakes, as well as the chrome-plated tailpipes.

• The underfloor protection front and rear is made of milled aluminium.

• White direction indicator lines are integrated in the rear lights and the special night design of BMW Concept X6 is characterised by light bodies with a homogeneous light effect.