Latest news with #SAAS
The Herald Scotland
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
I tried a new Glasgow restaurant where food is priced by weight
A young couple toddles down the cobbles of Ashton Lane for what is likely a first or second date, nervously exchanging small talk while digging through their pockets in search of student discount cards to flash at the till. Before reaching the counter, they're distracted by the multi-coloured world of the pick and mix station and soon find themselves bonding over a shared love for gummy snakes as they shovel scoop after scoop of processed sugar in different shapes and sizes into their bag. That's all fine and well. Heartwarming, even, to think of them sharing a mix of all of their favourite sweets while the crashes and bangs of the latest Marvel blockbuster push our ageing speakers to their limits. The problem is, in my time here, I've weighed up hundreds of these sneaky, priced-by-KG parcels and know long before this one settles onto the scales that it's going to be costly. Cue a cold sweat as whoever's paying realises they now have to part with a tenner's worth of SAAS loan to save face in front of a new potential love interest. Pictured: Zhangliang Malatang on Sauchiehall Street (Image: Newsquest) I'm having intense flashbacks to these awkward exchanges after picking up a pair of tong and what looks like a large plastic mixing bowl at Sauchiehall Street's latest chain restaurant. Opened this summer, Zhangliang Malatang is a build-your-own soup spot where diners take charge, choosing from an impressive selection of noodles, veggies and proteins before handing the whole lot over at the till to be cooked in a broth of your choice. Whether you play it safe with chicken breast, mushrooms and leafy greens or get adventurous with bull frog, ducks' blood and fungus is up to you, and there can be as much or as little of each component as you desire. Like a savoury, grown-up version of a pic and mix. Just the same as with those jelly babies and liquorice wheels at the cinema, however, the trick here is to avoid getting carried away or face a nasty shock when your ingredients are priced up by weight at £2.95 per 100g before being whisked into the kitchen. Read more: Although this place has just arrived on Sauchiehall Street, it is not a new concept. If you're a keen TikTok user, you might be aware of a trend in which diners make a game out of guessing at the final cost of their dishes before receiving their bill at similar hotpot restaurants. This usually ends with each of the shocked participants paying at least a couple of quid over what they anticipated. Last week, a Herald colleague faced the same fate, underestimating the weight of his ingredients at Zhangliang Malatang and swiftly texting me a photo of his soup to debate whether the £17 price tag was fair. I bear that in mind while picking out a mix of tofu, enoki mushrooms and rice noodles that will form the base of my lunch, wondering if this concoction will match his total. Putting concerns over the end cost aside, the freedom of choice here is a lot of fun. I pinch at a generous bunch of coriander that would turn any herb-hater's stomach without a second thought, knowing that this meal has to please no one other than myself. The staff are also extremely helpful, walking customers through how to navigate each step of the process from first picking up a bowl to hitting up a sauce station where they can create a dip with sesame oils, peanut pastes or chopped spring onions at no extra cost. At the till, I hand over my final choices and request a spicy Tom Yam soup to top it all off before waiting for the grand total. All in? It's a total of £12.75 with £10.25 for the weighted ingredients and £2.50 for the broth. Pictured: My finished creation of fried tofu, mushrooms and vermicelli noodles (Image: Newsquest) A competitive streak means I'm thrilled to have beaten my co-worker's bill, but I would be lying if I said I had held back all that much to achieve this. When a deep orange bowl arrives at the table, there's a decent portion there, and though the broth is scalding hot, it contains a brilliant hodgepodge of some of my favourite foods like springy fried bean curd and thin vermicelli noodles. Summer might be the wrong time to indulge in piping hot soup, but I can see myself returning here when the Autumn chill begins to bite in Glasgow. Read more: A wee bit of digging back at the office later reveals that Zhangliang Malatang originated in London and now operates somewhere close to 6000 stores across the globe. A mega-chain though it may be, something in the self-service set-up and range of fresh ingredients helps to inject a sense of novelty into the experience and sets it apart from other big names in the area. And truthfully, in the current climate, any fresh sign of life on Sauchiehall Street is encouraging. Be mindful of your measurements, and this new addition to the city centre will surely rival the fun factor of any sugary pick and mix you might have had before. Zhangliang Malatang is located at 258 Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow.
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
HK Express to launch daily Hong Kong-Subang flights from Aug 1
KUALA LUMPUR: Cathay Pacific Group's low-cost airline subsidiary HK Express Airways will begin daily flight services from Hong Kong to Subang's Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SAAS) from Aug 1. The airline said Subang is its second Malaysian destination after Penang, where it already operates direct flights. "SAAS allows passengers to reach the Kuala Lumpur city centre in just 30 minutes after clearing customs, making it incredibly convenient for visiting iconic attractions like the Petronas Twin Towers and Bukit Bintang, while also discovering other local Malaysian gems," HK Express said in a statement. HK Express operates all-Airbus fleet comprising of A320-200, A320neo (new engine option), A321 and A321neo in an all-economy class layout. Besides Malaysia, the airline also flies to the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, China and Japan. SAAS, widely known as Subang Airport, was Kuala Lumpur's main airport before Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) opened in 1998. Jet operations resumed at the airport in August 2024 after more than two decades following the announcement of the Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP) upgrades. Transport Minister Anthony Loke had previously said that the jet operations at Subang are part of an interim phase of the SARP, ahead of a new terminal development slated to begin within the next three years. He said the interim period, expected to last two to three years, will help assess operational efficiency before construction begins on a new terminal to expand Subang Airport's capacity as a city airport. "The interim preparations and operations are important to see how well our operations can run smoothly," Loke said at a press conference after a walkabout at the upgraded Subang Airport in July 2024. Other airlines operating narrow-body airplanes out of Subang Airport include Firefly, Batik Air Malaysia, Scoot and TransNusa.
News.com.au
28-06-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Emergency help, healthcare and fitness in infrastructure spotlight
A flagship new SA Ambulance Service headquarters at Mile End South is a gamechanger for the organisation, says chief executive officer Rob Elliott. The new $120 million hub – which includes an Emergency Operations Centre, State Health Co-ordination Centre and Adelaide Ambulance Station – provides the space and technology needed to manage a modernised ambulance service. It is a key part of what Elliott describes as 'the biggest episode of growth' he has witnessed in his more than three decades at SAAS – and a 'significant investment' in the future of emergency ambulance services in the state. 'Construction of the new ambulance headquarters and the Adelaide station at Mile End South is progressing as planned – both on time and within budget,' he says. 'The Emergency Operations Centre is taking shape, with ceilings and glass partitions now installed on the ground floor. Critical communications and electrical areas are being fitted out, while the facade of the new ambulance station is nearly complete and internal works continue.' The new headquarters will house more than 338 personnel, including Triple Zero (000) call takers and dispatchers and clinical staff. 'It will also serve as the new home for the State Health Co-ordination Centre, enhancing our ability to coordinate patient care across the state,' Elliott says. 'We anticipate practical completion of the new HQ and Adelaide ambulance station in the coming months, with plans to commence operations at the new site in December this year.' The operational move to the new building will take a staged approach to ensure critical Triple Zero (000) call services remain uninterrupted, safeguarding the ambulance service's capacity to respond to emergencies without compromise during the relocation process. 'Ensuring no impact on patient safety, uninterrupted Triple Zero (000) services, and robust support for relocating teams are our top priorities during this operational transition,' Elliott says. 'These commitments are vital to maintaining emergency care to the people of South Australia.' The soon-to-be completed headquarters complements the construction, upgrade and rebuild of 24 ambulance stations throughout Adelaide and regional SA. Stations have been completed and are now open at Norwood, Woodville, Edwardstown, Port Augusta, Mount Barker, Victor Harbor, Birdwood and Strathalbyn, with construction nearly complete on a new Gawler station. Rebuilding work on the Campbelltown centre is also under way. Construction of Whyalla, Marion and Two Wells stations is also scheduled to commence this year. Aside from the new and revamped stations, the investment in the SAAS will see 350 more paramedics, ambulance officers, clinical leaders and emergency medical dispatchers across the state, along with 36 more ambulances on the road by 2026. 'It is the biggest episode of growth I have seen in my 35 years at SAAS,' Elliott says. 'The fact we have been able to achieve it is extraordinary. It's a whole-of-organisation effort – this has affected our fleet department in terms of new ambulances and equipment, our corporate services in terms of the new builds and recruitment, and operational staff for increased training. It's been a fantastic couple of years.' The investment has resulted in significant improvements in emergency response times. 'Our lights and sirens responses are priority one and priority two,' Elliott says. 'Priority twos are the majority of our responses and we have managed to effectively double our performance in the past two years, which is just extraordinary. And we're not stopping yet – we're striving to improve even more.' A new team of 20 ambulance officers has been recruited to better transfer patients out of hospitals – getting them home sooner and freeing up beds for others – while SAAS is also introducing an electronic patient care record (ePCR) system to improve patient safety in the field, while expanding the clinical telephone assessment telehealth service and establishing a mental health focused role 24/7. 'That's an absolute innovation here in South Australia,' Elliott says. 'We partnered with the Hospital Research Foundation to trial having a dedicated mental health focused service. 'The trial was really successful, offering patient safety and some really good outcomes, so with the recent investment we are turning that into a 24/7 service, another first for paramedicine.' New health era for SA families South Australian families will be the key beneficiaries of the new Women's and Children's Hospital, on the edges of Adelaide's north-west parklands. Being built to replace the ageing North Adelaide hospital, the contemporary facilities at the former SA Police Barracks site at Thebarton will have more beds, theatres and greater emergency capacity – and increased scope for future expansion. Slated for completion in 2031, it is planned to provide capacity for 414 overnight beds – 56 more than the existing hospital – with plans for an onsite helipad. An integrated four-bed Intensive Care Unit will enable women requiring critical care to remain on site rather than be transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Department for Health and Wellbeing deputy chief executive Judith Formston, above, says a key benefit of the 'new vibrant hospital' – aside from its parkland setting within Adelaide's burgeoning bio-med precinct – will be the greater scope for families of young patients to stay with them. 'The family accommodation will be a huge step up,' she says. 'At the moment if you're staying with your child in hospital there's not as many opportunities to stay and be comfortable so this will be a huge benefit. 'If you go to the hospital and you end up staying with your child, quite often you'll have a chair, or a fold-out bed to lay on, but the new hospital will actually have it set up so family members can stay there more comfortably, with in-patient rooms planned to have a day bed which doubles as a sleeping space for parents or support people. 'In addition to this, the new hospital is proposed to include a Centralised Family Accommodation Unit, which will cater for a short-term stay of an additional parent or carer of a baby.' Formston says the family-first focus is just one of the benefits of building a brand-new hospital, with the opportunity to design a facility to deliver a more innovative 'patient experience' right from the start. Construction on the 5.7-ha site began in April 2024, when the first sod was turned on what had been the long-standing police base. The first stage included the construction of a car park and precinct works. A second team – including a consortium of architecture firms Billard Leece Partnership, Bates-Smart, Grieve Gillett and Taylor Cullity Lethlean – was appointed this month to lead the design of the main clinical building and remaining precinct works. Formston says during its construction peak there is likely to be a 2100-strong workforce at the site, which will be dominated by up to seven tower cranes. 'We've done a lot of work with the clinicians and the hospital staff around what they need for a new hospital,' she says. 'We've fed that through to the design team, who will now look at how to best deliver it.' Easy patient flow throughout the hospital is key. 'We want to make sure that the flows are set up so the minute you're entering the hospital, the wayfinding's right,' Formston says. 'Do people actually need to wait in the waiting room or can you now do a digital set-up so you can actually go and wait down in the park or the playgrounds? We need to work out how we can actually enable that patient experience when they come into the hospital.' Formston says with the buildings at the current North Adelaide hospital on average almost 70 years of age, upgrading – and building out – to meet modern standards is virtually impossible. 'The clinical adjacencies aren't right there because you keep bolting on bits and pieces as services expand – so building a new hospital actually helps you get it right from the start around how the patients will flow through the system,' she says. Building healthcare in Adelaide's south Foundations are now being poured for the centrepiece of a half-billion-dollar investment in the health infrastructure of Adelaide's southern suburbs. The 7-storey building at the front of the Flinders Medical Centre, due for delivery in 2028, will reshape the services offered by the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network. 'The first of two tower cranes is on site, with the second arriving in July,' SALHN chief executive officer Kerrie Mahon says of the Acute Services Building. 'This project will deliver an additional 98 beds, including 18 medical day unit beds, 64 inpatient beds, and 16 intensive care unit beds. 'They are core to the types of patients who present to an emergency department. 'They will help us move patients through to the right sort of beds they need sooner.' The 98 beds add to extra capacity already opened recently in SALHN at the Repat Health Precinct and within Flinders Medical Centre. The existing Intensive Care Unit in the FMC will remain in operation, integrated with the new unit under the same leadership. More patient capacity is also being created by expanding the mental health focused Margaret Tobin Centre – adjacent to FMC – and the Noarlunga Hospital. Construction work on those two projects is well advanced. The investment of $498 million at the FMC and the Repat is being funded by the state and federal governments, with the $74 million at Noarlunga funded by the SA Government. 'As a collective, all of these upgrades and new buildings will work really well together to respond to the community's needs from the emergency department right through to surgery, and inpatient stays,' Mahon says. A floor at the new Acute Services Building will be dedicated to ophthalmology, and include two operating theatres and, for the first time at FMC, a separate paediatric ophthalmology area. The top two floors of the new building will each house 32 beds for adult inpatients. Most will be single rooms to improve progression-of-care and reduce cross-infection risks. 'We're also provisioning for fold-out beds for a support person,' Mahon says. 'We do have regional and remote people come in, so that will be available when needed. 'There will be quiet rooms and lounge areas where families can visit if they don't need to stay. It will be a beautiful facility, with lovely western views out toward the sea.' The Acute Services Building will have four new operating theatres and related recovery spaces. On completion, FMC will then have 16 operating theatres. 'This will certainly give us more capacity to move through our elective surgery waiting lists,' Mahon says. The new building will become the main entrance with improved access, including a drop-off zone covered against the weather. Ready to make a splash The new Adelaide Aquatic Centre is taking shape, with expectations that water-lovers will be able to make a splash this summer. The concrete structures for the pools at the North Adelaide complex – which replaces the former centre in Pardipardinyilla/Denise Norton Park – have progressively been completed, with testing to ensure their integrity ongoing as the main structure is being built. The new $135 million centre will boast a host of family-friendly features, from a 50m pool, a 25m outdoor pool and dedicated learn-to-swim and warm water rehabilitation pools through to an outdoor lagoon and 'splash pad' and water slides, as well as extensive gym and fitness facilities. Department for Infrastructure and Transport executive director, Infrastructure Delivery, Simon Morony says progress is continuing 'really well'. 'We've planned the construction phase from a long time out, including the demolition of the former centre,' he says. 'Construction's been under way for around 18 months – and it's really taking shape on site. 'The timber frames and pool structures are all complete and we've been busy testing those to make sure the pools are all watertight. 'And then in the coming months, there'll be a lot more progress on the internal fit-out. And there'll be external elements such as the water slides being installed as well. 'We're on track for opening this summer and looking forward to achieving that – as we get a bit closer to completion we'll be able to confirm an opening date.' The design intent – which is being constructed by contractor Sarah Constructions – is centred around the creation of high-quality spaces that use warm and natural tones to reflect the local landscape. There is also a strong focus on ensuring the spaces are welcoming for people of all ages, cultures and abilities. 'The previous centre had come to the end of its lifespan, but we know it was an important facility for the community and the new centre will serve many generations to come,' Morony says. The 'carefully considered' design takes in a number of environmentally sustainable features, while the centre's smaller footprint ensures more than 1000sqm is returned to Park Lands. 'It's an all-electric centre, powered by 100 per cent renewable energy,' he says. 'The building itself has been designed to be airtight, which gives you an improved indoor air quality and importantly enhances the operational energy efficiency. 'The ultra-fine pool filtration systems also provide operational benefits – and then there's other components to the facility, such as solar panels, EV charging stations, sun shading on the facade – and a water-sensitive urban design car park as well.' Site enabling works started in late 2023, with the main construction starting in 2024. The building phase has offered plenty of employment opportunities, which will flow through to the centre once it's open to the public under the management of experienced operators YMCA Aquatic. 'More than 1500 jobs are being supported over the life of the construction phase and that's from builders and engineers to plumbers and painters,' Morony says. 'We obviously needed a whole raft of different skill sets to build what is a state-of-the-art centre. 'Sarah Constructions has inducted more than 1300 people to the construction site. And those 1300 people so far have completed more than 230,000 hours worth of work. 'In terms of the operations, up to 300 jobs will be created to staff the new aquatic centre – that's lifeguards, instructors, administration staff and so on.' Staff who worked at the former Aquatic Centre will be given the first opportunity to express their interest at filling the roles with YMCA Aquatic, a non-profit community organisation that also operates the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre at Oaklands Park. Morony is confident the new swimming centre will more than meet community expectations. 'I think it's going to give people a fantastic new place to come and swim for fitness or for fun,' he says. 'So if you're a serious swimmer you can get out there and really utilise the place but others might just come to it to improve or maintain their fitness. 'It really will offer a range of uses for everyone who wants to visit.' Elbie set for the life aquatic Little Elbie won't be able to stop himself from taking the plunge when the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre opens, his mum Rachael Neumann reckons. 'He will be jumping in from the side with enthusiasm, that's for sure,' she says of her water-baby son, who has been a regular participant of learn-to-swim classes since he was only six months of age. 'And even before we started taking him to swimming lessons, he's always enjoyed the water and swimming pools whenever we've been on holidays – and he just loves the beach.' When the North Adelaide centre closed for the construction of the new facility, Rachael and husband Brandon, of Bowden, elected to continue Elbie's learn-to-swim lessons in Unley. 'The whole (replacement swim centre) process has been really smooth and helpful, but we're looking forward to coming back to North Adelaide because it's much closer to home,' she says. The completed centre will include a host of features including a dedicated learn-to-swim pool, a lagoon outdoor pool, an outdoor 'splash pad' and extensive gym and fitness facilities. 'We're just really excited to see the new centre,' Rachael says. 'It will be great to have something to do while we tag team and watch Elbie swim. I'll be able to go and swim laps myself and if there's a good gym in the same centre, then that might be useful as well.'
Gulf Insider
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Offshoot Of Syria's Ruling HTS Claims Credit For Damascus Church Bombing
On Sunday, a massive suicide bomb attack tore through the important Greek Orthodox church Mar Elias in Damascus, killing 27 and wounding dozens more. The huge attack just added to the spate of sectarian violence across Syria, which undercuts the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) government's claim to be protecting religious minorities. The HTS was quick to blame ISIS for the Mar Elias bombing, and on Monday announced the arrest of a number of ISIS associates who they claimed were involved, vowing to bring them to justice. Now that whole narrative seems in doubt. ISIS never took credit for the Mar Elias bombing, which, since it was the biggest attack in Damascus in a very long time, would be an unusual oversight. Now, another group, Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah (SAAS), issued its own statement claiming credit for the attack. SAAS, which was said to be formed in February, went on to say that the government's claims of arresting people involved with the attack were 'untrue, fabricated.' The group is being presented as an ISIS splinter group by some reports, but the reality is substantially different. SAAS does indeed have some ISIS defectors within, according to reports, but it also has a substantial number of HTS defectors. SAAS founder Abu Aisha al-Shami was an HTS member, and said he broke away and formed his own group because he perceived HTS as being too soft on Shi'ites and other 'rejectionists.' While HTS has undergone a massive reformation in its presentation in the media, the group was a renamed al-Qaeda affiliate that retains its deeply Salafist ideologies. After a brutal, religiously motivated terrorist attack on Christians in Syria, the EU remains silent. Brussels usually reacts within minutes when it comes to other parts of the world, like Ukraine. This double standard is outrageous, and the lack of condemnation is unacceptable. — Péter Szijjártó (@FM_Szijjarto) June 23, 2025 While playing nice with religious minorities in Syria on paper, they've tended to turn a blind eye to attacks on them, notably the massacre of the Alawites, where well over 1,300 Alawites were killed in March, many by security forces. Those killings continue to this day, and the promised investigation never seemed to go anywhere. Speaking of Alawites, SAAS played a part in these massacres as well. The group regularly brags of carrying out attacks on Alawites and Druze Syrians, including what they called the 'Harvest of Ramadan,' where they listed attacks and vandalism done during the holiday on the Alawite town of Qardaha. That they would be behind the Mar Elias attack is not out of keeping with the way the group has operated in its brief existence. It provides a messaging problem for the HTS though, since the government has not done much about the SAAS at all since it came into existence. The Orthodox Christian leader in Syria has called out the Jolani regime: My respect for His Beatitude Patriarch John X Yazigi has grown tenfold after his historic speech from Damascus openly criticizing the Julani no mistake: the regime will try to harm you see the incitement—calling him an 'Assad regime remnant' or accusing… — Kevork Almassian (@KevorkAlmassian) June 26, 2025 Syrian Christian leader Patriarch John X. Yazigi issued a statement after the attack criticizing the government for its inability to protect religious minorities, saying 'condolences are not enough for us' and that the government has a fundamental duty to protect all its citizens. For now, though, that has begun and ended with blaming ISIS to justify ongoing operations against ISIS in the east.
Daily Record
24-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
West Lothian student urges others with disabilities to 'go for it' at college or university
Aaron has cerebral palsy, autism, oral motor ataxia, cerebral visual impairment and other issues An inspiring West Lothian College student with disabilities is sharing his education journey story to encourage others to 'go for it' and achieve whatever they want to. Going onto further or higher education, such as college, university, or an apprenticeship, comes with unique challenges for students with a disability, but a growing network of support is available Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) offers tailored funding and inclusive college or university resources designed to help disabled students thrive during their studies. Aaron, a multi-disabled HNC Social Services student at West Lothian College, has shared his route to further education. 'I have cerebral palsy, autism, oral motor ataxia, cerebral visual impairment, and a host of other small, little, niggly disabilities that make up the legend that is me,' said Aaron. 'I am a glass half full kind of guy, and like to say that everything kind of works, just not very well. 'I actually started college on an Assisted Programme, which, in a nutshell, teaches people with disabilities vital life skills and is a key stepping stone in considering what we want to do with our future. 'I've guest lectured for Napier University's learning disability nursing course on my lived experience with nurses, and social care in general. This motivated me to learn more about Health and Social Care, as I wanted to understand more about the policies and practices that affect my everyday life.' West Lothian College's Student Support Team work with students across the college in all centres, providing help with all learning needs. Kate Fleming, Health and Social Care Lecturer at the college, said: 'Aaron has grown so much during his time at college. He is a driven student who overcomes any barriers he faces with his learning. 'It has been a pleasure to teach Aaron. He approaches every task with a positive attitude and a real desire to learn and improve. We're proud of everything he's achieved, and we're excited to see where his journey takes him as he progresses at the college.' Aaron added: 'My disabilities make daily college life a bit of a challenge when it comes to class lectures, work placements and accessing areas on campus, but I have had support since day one, and the level of attention and consideration that the college has put in to help me achieve my goals of studying has been amazing. 'I get help several times a week from Student Support who assist me with everything from scribe support, open and closed book assessments, guidance and time management planning. I honestly have had the best experience and feel valued as a student.' Aaron receives the SAAS Disabled Students' Allowance, a specialised support package that eligible students receive throughout their college and university studies at HNC, HND and degree level. The allowance supports students who have extra costs because of their disability. 'It's quite simply the case that without the extra support, I could not achieve my goals,' Aaron admits. 'The extra funding from SAAS means I can pay for a scribe to help with my coursework assessments, have the technology needed to help me with note taking in lectures, and additional student support to be there for me when it comes to my assessments and exams.' Aaron has a message of encouragement for any young person with a disability considering their options when they finish school. He said: 'Go for it! The sky is the limit, and the only thing holding you back is you.' To hear more about how the team at West Lothian College can help, email supportlearning@
