Jackson Wang & TEAM WANG Arrive in Singapore

K-Pop sensation Jackson Wang has arrived in Singapore to an enthusiastic crowd of screaming fans. The star arrived in Changi Airport last August 2. He waved, gave out high-fives, and accepted a letter from a fan as he walked out of the Changi Airport Terminal 3 arrival gate.

Wang is a Hong Kong-born singer/songwriter, rapper, and record producer who gained global recognition after debuting with the South Korean boy band Got7 by JYP Entertainment. He is here in the Lion City until August 10 to help promote the SingapoReimagine campaign by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

To top off the celebration, he will host a party in Marquee nightclub at Marina Bay Sands with his record label Team Wang on August 6. This sold-out event is entitled Team Wang Records (Human Remix), which will feature pop and hip hop music.

Other acts that will delight its guests include Marquee’s DJ Fvder, beatboxer Dharni as well as other artists such as Laurie, Xenzu, and Boytoy. This will be the first event hosted by an international artist at Marquee since its opening in 2019.

Image Credits: instagram.com/marqueesingapore/

If you miss out on this event, do not fret! You can catch him in a series of lifestyle vlogs featuring wellness, food, music, as well as arts and culture spots in Singapore. Furthermore, he will open a concept space for his streetwear label – Team Wang Design.

The concept store is open in voco Orchard hotel. The voco Orchard Singapore is under the IHG Hotel umbrella and is located at 581 Orchard Road.

TEAM WANG DESIGN

Whether you admire Jackson Wang or not, you can still get a piece of his art through his TEAM WANG Design “MUDANCE” Concept Space. Located at the new upscale hotel voco Orchard Singapore, this free-entry concept space is a treat to the eyes. The theme here is tropical paradise where decorations are decked in floral prints, pink decor, and luscious plants.

This concept space is filled with Team Wang’s newest summer collection. Expect a selection of beachwear in floral prints and clothing pieces in the hues of pink and white.

Running until August 31, this concept space has items for both men and women. You will see some floral shirts, pink tops, jackets, and more. Couples who love to wear matching outfits can surely achieve a flawless #OOTD!

If you are curious to know which pieces are Wang’s favorites, you better take this down. Jackson has revealed that the floral print bikini and pink gradient tank top are his favorites.

Sources: 1 & 2

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4 Types of Wearable Technology & Where to Buy Them

From the widespread trend of smartwatches to the innovative smart rings, we are amid a wearable technology revolution. Watches, rings, fitness bands, and head-mounted displays can track your distance, send messages, control your camera, answer calls, and immerse you in the virtual world.

In this article, you will get a bird’s-eye view of the top wearable technology trends in 2022.

#1: SMARTWATCHES

It is hard to miss an advertisement tailored to highlight the capabilities of smartwatches. These are one of the most used wearable devices today. Connecting your smartphone to a mobile app enables you to read messages from the watch, to monitor your sleeping patterns, to control your camera switch, and so on. Smartwatch designers are finding new ways to innovate such as adding an electrocardiogram heart reading in Apple’s Apple Watch and a blood oxygen monitor in Realme’s Realme Watch 2.

Online prices start at S$599 for Apple Watch Series 7 and S$85 for Realme Watch 2.

#2: FITNESS TRACKERS

Fitness trackers are the modern successors to pedometers. These trackers enable you to monitor steps taken, heart rate, calories burned, and other fitness metrics. The difference between fitness trackers and smartwatches has become small as fitness-oriented devices have included features such as phone notification alerts and weather forecasts. Nonetheless, fitness trackers tend to be cheaper than smartwatches.

Online prices for FitBit devices start at S$138.

#3: HEAD-MOUNTED DISPLAYS

As the name suggests, head-mounted displays (HMDs) go on the head and provide a display in the user’s field of view. It is bulkier than all the devices listed here. HMDs provide a one-of-a-kind experience for its users as they provide information superimposed over reality via augmented reality (AR), or completely immerse its user in a virtual reality (VR) setting. VR examples include Oculus Quest 2.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Online prices for Oculus Quest 2 start at S$551.

#4: SMART JEWELRY

Smart jewelry includes an array of unique accessories such as smart bracelets and smart rings. Smart rings are worn on the finger like a normal ring. However, smart rings obtain health-tracking data that you can review on your smartphone.

For instance, the NFC OPN rings control apps, unlocks doors, and transfers data to your smartphone. It seems like a prop from a science fiction movie! It is available for S$24 or £12.99 with shipping options from United Kingdom.

Sources: 1 & 2

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COVID-19 updates for those planning a trip to Taiwan, Japan, Canada, and South Korea

streets of South Korea

For those who have been keeping up with the news, it’s impossible not to know that COVID-19 is firing up again.

An even more recent mutant, BA.2.75, may be on the radar as Singapore battles its most recent round of COVID-19 infections brought on by the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants.

According to a virologist at Imperial College London, the subvariant BA.2.75 is worth monitoring because of its abundance in spike mutations, apparent quick development, and extensive geographic distribution.

But for those who are still hopeful that travel plans won’t be disrupted, keep reading for COVID-19 updates in Taiwan, Japan, Canada, and South Korea.

Taiwan
night market

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Taiwan wants to end its two-year tourist ban, maybe by initially permitting both inbound and outbound group excursions at the same time. The director general of the tourism bureau stated that both incoming and outgoing tour preparations are in progress, involving the retraining of local guides and itinerary creators.

Japan
diners at a Japanese restaurant

Image Credits: unsplash.com

On 21 July, Japan’s daily COVID-19 infections hit 180,000, breaking the previous day’s record. 31,878 coronavirus cases, a peak, were reported in Tokyo, surpassing 30,000 for the first time.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated during a news conference that movement restrictions should not be considered but that it is important to monitor the effects on the healthcare system carefully.

Some members of the COVID-19 advisory group for the health ministry have urged the government to take into consideration actions like declaring prefectures where an infection is spreading quickly as an emergency.

Canada
The Toronto Lights

Image Credits: unsplash.com

For vaccinated visitors arriving in Canada by air, the four busiest Canadian airports—Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto—resumed obligatory random COVID-19 testing on 19 July.

Travelers will undergo COVID-19 tests outside of the airports, either through an in-person visit at a drugstore, testing vendor facility, or through an online appointment for a remote self-swab test.

Within 15 minutes of finishing their customs declaration, travelers will get an email notification if they have been chosen for required random testing. All necessary information needed to go through testing will be in that email too.

In addition, within 72 hours of their arrival in Canada, all visitors must utilize ArriveCAN to provide the necessary travel information, including their vaccination history.

South Korea
DDP Korea

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Due to the emergence of a highly infectious Omicron subvariant, Korea’s new coronavirus cases remained above 70,000 for the third day in a row on 21 July. 71,170 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the nation, 320 of which were international.

All visitors entering South Korea as of 25 July must undergo a PCR test within 24 hours due to the government being obliged to strengthen its testing requirements due to rising caseloads around the country. Travelers currently have up to three days after arrival to complete the test.

On the Q-code website, travelers can record the results of their on-arrival PCR tests. A seven-day quarantine at a designated quarantine facility is necessary if the on-arrival test results are positive.

South Korea is increasing the number of test facilities at airports around the nation to simplify on-arrival testing. Incheon International Airport presently has three test facilities, while Gimhae International Airport has one. This month, a testing facility will open at Jeju International Airport.

Editor’s note: All information published at the time of writing is accurate.

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COVID-19 updates for those planning a trip to Japan, Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand

departure hall of Gimpo International Airport

May witnessed a rise in trips abroad as a result of additional relaxing of immigration restrictions in several countries, with aviation traffic on certain international routes reaching pre-pandemic levels.

The amount of traffic on a global level in May was 68.7 percent of 2019’s, which is the best comparison to traffic before COVID-19 thus far this year.

Amidst inflation, hefty jet fuel costs, and lacking consumer confidence, there is still a travel recovery, demonstrating that individuals continue to be quite keen to travel overseas. However, with many countries seeing an uptick in recent COVID-19 cases, including our sunny island, will we all be able to hop on board our next flight soon?

Stay on this page for COVID-19 updates for those planning a trip to Japan, Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand.

Japan
streets of Japan

Image Credits: channelnewsasia.com

On 14 July, Japan issued a public health alert, advising people to take extra precautions in light of the upcoming summer holidays as a fresh wave of coronavirus infections looked to be spreading quickly.

The number of reported cases in Tokyo rose to 16,878 on 13 July, reaching levels not seen since early this year. This is the greatest number of cases since February. On 14 July, the capital reported 16,662 new cases and increased its alertness to the maximum level. More than 50% of the cases recently are caused by the BA.5 mutation.

Australia
Asians in Australia

Image Credits: bbc.com

The health system in Australia is also on high alert as a result of a recent uptick in cases caused by the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, which has brought COVID-19 numbers to levels that are not far off from records set earlier in 2022.

After achieving world-beating immunization rates, Australia ended stringent social distancing regulations and emergency lockdowns at the beginning of this year. Authorities have warned that there might be millions of new infections in the nation over the next few weeks while ruling out any stringent limitations to stop the spread despite the fast-moving subvariants.

South Korea
People drink and eat outdoors in downtown Seoul

Image Credits: koreatimes.co.kr

As infections decreased after reaching a peak of more than 600,000 per day in mid-March, South Korea abandoned the majority of its pandemic-related restrictions in May, including a requirement that people wear outside masks. But for the first time in two months, the number of COVID-19 infections in South Korea has risen beyond 40,000, and the government has issued a warning about a probable five-fold increase in the following months.

The government does not currently have any intentions to reinstate limitations, but it does not completely rule them out if the COVID-19 scenario undergoes a major shift. They are likely to increase quarantine checks at major airports as the volume of travelers is anticipated to increase significantly over the summer vacation period amid a new wave of viral recurrence, according to the most recent news on 15 July.

To strengthen quarantine inspection, an extra 200 quarantine employees will eventually be sent to Incheon International Airport, the main entry point into the nation, and seven other regional airports. Separately, the government will deploy roughly 2,500 employees to the nation’s busiest tourist destinations to monitor adherence to antivirus regulations and hygienic measures.

New Zealand
streets of New Zealand

Image Credits: reuters.com

As we come to a close, the most recent updates for New Zealand have it that the number of new COVID-19 cases has significantly increased over the last few weeks, and experts are predicting that this wave of Omicron seems worse than the first.

To stop the spread of COVID-19 and ease pressure on the nation’s healthcare system, which is grappling with an inflow of flu and COVID-19 patients, the New Zealand government introduced free masks and fast antigen tests on 14 July.

People are currently compelled to wear masks in public indoor areas, such as in stores, libraries, and public transportation under New Zealand’s current “orange light” rules. A switch to “red” constraints would impose a 200-person indoor gathering cap, but there is currently no political support for such an interruption, and the majority of infectious disease specialists do not believe it would have a substantial effect.

Updates from the World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

On 12 July, the head of WHO issued a warning that recent COVID-19 infection waves indicate the epidemic is far from finished. Early in July, the COVID-19 emergency committee of the WHO convened by video conference and declared that the pandemic continues to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the most serious alert the WHO can issue.

The committee concluded that the course of viral evolution and the attributes of newly emerging variants continues to remain largely unpredictable and that the probability of new, more adaptable variants springing up with varying degrees of infectivity and immune escape ability increased in the apparent lack of actions to minimize transmission.

And true enough, as we’ve learned over the years, the changes brought about by COVID-19 are not to be taken lightly. For those who are traveling, it would be wise to keep checking back on the news on the latest restrictions or refer to the specific embassy’s news on any possible update on travel restrictions. We hope everyone will get to vacation with minimal disruptions but stay safe even while treading within the boundaries of Singapore.

Editor’s note: All information published at the time of writing is accurate.

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World Happiness Report 2022: Top 10 happiest places

Santa Claus Village

The World Happiness Report has been running for ten years now.

To create the Happiness World Report, 1,000 people from each nation are usually surveyed. On a range of zero to 10, with zero being the worst imaginable existence, participants are asked to assess and score their current lives. Six variables—corruption, generosity, independence, GDP per capita, social assistance, and healthy life expectancy—are used to justify the rankings.

And if you’re curious about our little red dot’s position on the list, we’ve come in at number 27, just behind Taiwan. Given that Singapore was listed as the 32nd happiest nation in the world in the same survey from 2021, that’s quite a shift. But going beyond our borders, don’t you want to know where the top 10 happiest locations are so you can plan a trip soon?

Let’s roll with the rankings!

#10: New Zealand
Wellington-Cable-Car-at-sunrise

Image Credits: wellingtonnz.com

You may find anything in New Zealand, from a diverse culture to an untamable wilderness. Head to the sandy shores coiled around secluded bays, which are surrounded by fjords shrouded in mist, or make some new acquaintances in the little charming towns.

#9: Israel

Israel has an astounding variety of landscapes, from the wave-lashed beaches of Tel Aviv to the mirror-like vastness of the saline Dead Sea. Spend a few days enjoying all that the city has to offer before venturing out into the sun-baked wilderness to fill your social media feed.

#8: Norway

More than a thousand fjords may be found in Norway. Take out your wool sweater, and get set for a once-in-a-lifetime journey. If you decide to visit Norway, you will discover that it’s very different from everywhere else you’ve gone. Your memories of its stunning beauty will last for years.

#7: Sweden

The attractions in Sweden are countless. Visitors will find untouched nature, top-notch museums, and stunning cities and villages here. Whether you’re looking for urban sights, outdoor recreation, or a blend of the two, you will find it in Scandinavia’s biggest country.

#6: Luxembourg

One of the smaller nations in all of Europe is Luxembourg. Despite its advantageous location between France, Belgium, and Germany, it occasionally receives less attention than its larger neighbors. It’s a remarkable city, though, and since it’s very accessible, it’s easy to tick off your bucket list of places to visit.

#5: Netherlands
Rijksmuseum

Image Credits: musement.com

The Netherlands is well-known for being a country of canals, tulips, and windmills, and today’s tourists will probably discover these among its many tourist sites. But the nation also has a wealth of beautiful parks and towns, as well as bustling cities like Amsterdam that are home to several museums showing the longstanding works of artists.

#4: Switzerland

Have you been daydreaming of the Swiss Alps, green meadows, and delicious cheese? There are many amazing things to do in Switzerland, which provides the ideal blend of heritage, natural splendor, and entertainment, from skiing and river rafting to picturesque train journeys and distinctive festivities that will keep you occupied all day long!

#3: Iceland

Iceland is a nation that appears to always be covered in snow and ice, but it is also one of the most volcanically active places in the world, with a large number of volcanoes that are waiting to explode. You may spot sparkling glaciers, subterranean caverns, and attractive national parks with roaming reindeer in addition to volcanoes and geothermal lakes.

#2: Denmark

Denmark is a little Scandinavian nation with breathtaking landscapes where visitors may take in the surrounding grandeur. It is endowed with an exquisite combination of innovative architecture, magnificent landscapes, medieval structures, and large and distinctive castles that rapidly enchant visitors.

#1: Finland
Finland northern lights

Image Credits: visitfinland.com

Three things make Finland famous across the world: the Northern Lights, snow-covered igloos, and its reputation as the world’s happiest nation. Not only that, but as per data from the World Health Organization, Finland has the finest quality of air worldwide. Take a stroll near a lake, through a forest, or just relax on a flat rock by the ocean, and have a wonderful quiet time all to yourself.

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