Free wireless inflight entertainment for SilkAir passengers

Free wireless inflight entertainment for SilkAir passengers

The growing competition in the skies has prompted airlines to raise their service offerings to attract passengers.

In a latest move, SilkAir has started a wireless inflight entertainment system trial on one of its Airbus A-320 aircraft.

The system allows passengers to stream movies, TV programmes and music directly onto their personal devices while on a flight.

They can then access the content through their laptops, tablets and smartphones.

And this service will be free to customers.

SilkAir, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, has partnered Panasonic Avionics Corporation for the trial.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Marina Bay Singapore Countdown

Marina Bay Singapore Countdown to feature fireworks, film, performances

The Marina Bay Singapore Countdown, which is back for the ninth year, will usher in the new year with an eight-minute fireworks display.

A first for the countdown will be a 40-second LED display on the facade of the Ocean Financial Centre.

The music accompanying the fireworks this year will be familiar to many. It is the work of local music director Iskandar Ismail. The piece was first heard during the 2011 countdown.

Joint organisers of the event Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay and the Urban Redevelopment Authority announced this at a media briefing on Friday.

The countdown party will also feature free performances and a specially-commissioned short film by a local director.

The countdown theme this year is “Beautiful Life”, and organisers said the music, fireworks, the film and performances will reflect this.

There will also be a new fringe activity - the Marina Waterfront Bazaar - where revellers can shop for fashion accessories, toys and souvenirs while waiting for the countdown to start.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Changi's Terminal 4 opening in 2017

Changi's Terminal 4 opening in 2017



A centralised double-volume Arrival Hall gives passengers a sense of space in natural light, providing a warm welcome. (PHOTO: CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP)

Changi Airport's Terminal 4 (T4) will come with two new roads, two carparks, a bigger taxi-holding area and a new control tower. The total cost: $985 million.

The job will be undertaken by Japanese firm Takenaka Corporation, which has worked on previous Changi projects as well as other airports in Asia and Africa.

When T4 opens in 2017, its gross floor area of 195,000 sq m will cater for up to 16 million passengers a year, Changi Airport Group said yesterday.

The two carparks - a multi-storey and an open-air space in front of the terminal - will provide 1,500 spaces.

Taxis will wait for arriving passengers at a multi-storey holding area big enough for 250 cabs.

To improve access to T4, a new slip road will be built to provide a direct link to the East Coast Parkway. It will be located after the existing slip road that leads to the Pan-Island Expressway.

The new terminal will provide aircraft stands with aerobridges for 17 small planes and four wide-bodied aircraft.

If greater capacity is required, passengers will be ferried by bus along a new bridge to where more planes are parked.

When T4 opens, it will provide a different travel experience, offering greater automation and more do-it-yourself options for check-in and boarding, as well as other processes.

The construction of the new terminal is among several expansion and improvement works being undertaken by Changi as part of its efforts to raise its ability to compete effectively with other airports for airlines and travellers.

The other key project is Jewel, a $1.47-billion mixed-use building that will open in 2018.

T4 will cater mainly for full-service regional carriers as well as budget airlines.

~News courtesy of Omy~

Merry Christmas

Lau Pa Sat renovations delayed

Lau Pa Sat renovations delayed due to underground repair works

Renovations at popular downtown hawker centre Lau Pa Sat, which were scheduled to be completed in November, have been delayed.

MediaCorp understands the renovations are still in their initial stages, and no completion date has been given.

It is understood that the delay is due to the need for repair works on underground water pipes and drainage systems at Lau Pa Sat, and the actual renovation of the building has yet to commence.

Shop owners MediaCorp spoke to said they have stopped their operations for almost four months already.

They said the latest delay was not clearly communicated to them, and has disrupted business plans.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Airport to introduce self-boarding gates from April 2014

Changi Airport to introduce self-boarding gates from April 2014

Passengers at Changi Airport will soon be able to board their flights faster, with the introduction of self-boarding gates.

The Changi Airport Group (CAG) has been conducting trials of the self-boarding gates at a common gatehold room in Terminal 2 since May.

The trials are being done with German airlines Lufthansa.

With the new gates, passengers only need to scan their boarding passes using barcode readers before they proceed to board their flights.

However, ground staff will still be available to provide assistance to those who may need it.

CAG said the time taken for passengers to board their planes can be reduced by up to 50 per cent.

For example, boarding for a fully-loaded A380 aircraft with a passenger load of 500 can be completed in 15 minutes, from about 30 minutes previously.

The faster boarding time has also reduced gatehold room operations from 80 minutes to about 70 minutes.

These operations also include the required security checks at the gates.

Lufthansa said the time saved in boarding operations has ensured on-time departure of its aircraft.

The self-boarding gates are just one component of a fast and seamless travel (FAST) initiative which CAG will be rolling out across terminals at the airport.

From April 2014, the gates will be progressively introduced in common gatehold rooms in all three terminals.

CAG is also in discussions with various airlines, including Singapore Airlines, to participate in the initiative.

More self-service facilities like self check-ins and self bag drops will also be implemented soon.

These facilities will be a feature in the new T4 when it opens in 2017.

Albert Lim, vice president for Terminal & Ground Operations at CAG, said: "CAG will be working very closely with our airline partners to progressively roll out these FAST self-service initiatives across terminals in Changi Airport. This will also lay the building blocks for us when T4 opens in 2017."

Passengers welcome the improvements.

Margaret Neill said: "Everybody wants just to get settled onto the plane and strapped and off you go. So, if it speeds it up, well and good."

Another passenger, Ghislain Derdeyn, said: "Each time we travel from Singapore to home again, it has changed here (the airport) and this will be an improvement I think."

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Traffic arrangements for Celebrate Christmas in S'pore

Traffic arrangements for Celebrate Christmas in S'pore

Some roads in the Orchard area will be closed to vehicular traffic from 1pm on 25 December to 1am on the following day.

This is to facilitate the Celebrate Christmas in Singapore event.

The roads that will be affected are Orchard Road between Scotts Road and Bideford Road, and the carriageway of Mount Elizabeth in the direction of Orchard Road between Nutmeg Road and Orchard Road.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Monsoon surge expected over next few days

Monsoon surge expected to affect region over next few days

According to the Met Service, a steady strengthening of winds over the South China Sea known as a monsoon surge is expected to affect the region over the next few days.

The surge is likely to bring intermittent rain, heavy at times, between December 19 and 22, 2013.

High tides of 3.1m are expected during this period.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Little India alcohol ban to continue for up to 6 months

Little India alcohol ban to continue for up to 6 months

The ban on alcohol consumption in public areas of Little India will continue for up to six months, until the Committee of Inquiry makes its recommendations.

The police announced this at a media conference on Wednesday, adding the ban will be in force every weekend, public holiday and eve of public holiday.

The police said it has good reason to believe that alcohol consumption and intoxication in public areas had contributed to the riot at Little India on December 8.

But shops in the zone holding retail and wholesale licences will be able to sell alcohol, though for shorter hours.

The retail hours are from 6am to 8pm on weekends, eve of public holidays and on public holidays.

The move will affect 134 outlets such as liquor shops and convenience stores.

The police said this will stop customers from having "easy access" to alcohol during peak crowd periods.

Police said one of the considerations was finding an appropriate balance between the various competing interests of businesses and residents at Little India.

As such, feedback from various stakeholders was taken into consideration.

For establishments like restaurants, hotels, pubs and coffee shops holding public house and beer house licences, the ban on sale and consumption of alcohol will be lifted.

But consumption must be within their premises. This will affect about 240 outlets.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Raja Kumar said: "We would encourage as a best practice for the hawkers who are selling alcohol to basically not sell unopened bottles of beer. So you will know it's going to be then consumed there and then."

25 Little India bus services run by private bus operators will resume this Sunday, but at half the number of scheduled buses for a start.

This will reduce the number of people ferried to Little India from 20,000 to 10,000-12,000.

DC Kumar said: "These measures are likely to remain in place for the time being, with adjustments at the margins as we take stock of the situation after this weekend and over the rest of the month.

“Specifically for the alcohol-related measures, we will also refer to findings from the ongoing public consultation on liquor sale and consumption at public places and the COI findings and recommendations.”

The police will continue to maintain a strong presence in Little India.

The Manpower Ministry said it is encouraging the major dormitory operators to provide more recreational activities for its residents.

Some dormitories will be organising movie screenings this weekend.

It is hoped this will provide workers alternative ways to relax and enjoy themselves on their rest days.

The police also said they take a serious view of assault complaints and will investigate thoroughly.

A group of civil society volunteers had earlier called for investigations, after it said workers who were remanded had complained of police assault.

DC Kumar said: "If criminal charges are disclosed, the police will not hesitate to take criminal action against the errant officer concerned. However if the allegations are found to be false, appropriate action, in accordance with our laws, will be taken against any persons who have furnished false information to the police.”

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Madame Tussauds to open in 2014

Madame Tussauds Singapore to open in 2014



Come 2014, you can expect to see some familiar faces in Singapore at Madame Tussauds Singapore.

The wax exhibition will open at Imbiah Lookout on Sentosa.

The company behind the exhibition says the attraction will be tailored to fit the local culture with the combination of historical and contemporary figures from the region, and global celebrities will be revealed soon.

Visitors will also see wax figurines of celebrities like Jay Chou, Katy Perry and Kate Winslet.

Madame Tussauds Singapore is the newest branch of the wax exhibition.

There are currently 15 other Madame Tussauds exhibitions around the world, but Madame Tussauds Singapore will be the first outside of the London flagship to incorporate a ride.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

27 arrested over riot in Little India

27 arrested over riot in Little India



Police have arrested 27 suspects from South Asia in connection with the Little India riot on Sunday.

More arrests are expected in the coming days.

Police say the riot was sparked off by a fatal accident involving a 33-year-old Indian national who was knocked down by a private bus.

The riot involved some 400 people.

Police have classified the case as one of "rioting with dangerous weapons".

This information was released at a news conference which was called in the early hours of Monday morning.

It has been more than 40 years since Singapore witnessed a riot of this extent.

The government has emphasised that this incident, which was not pre-meditated, will be dealt with very seriously.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said: "I want to make very clear that the government will not tolerate such lawless behaviour. I have asked the police to investigate the matter thoroughly and deal with all aspects of this incident and all persons involved strictly, firmly and fairly according to our law."

Mr Teo has urged the public to stay calm and not react to various speculations, and also to let the facts be established.

Some 300 police officers were deployed to the site after the trouble broke out. The riot was quelled in under two hours after the first call reporting the incident was received at 9.23pm.

Police Commissioner Ng Joo Hee said rioters threw glass bottles, railings and other projectiles at officers.

Yet police officers exercised restraint and did not fire a single shot throughout the incident.

He said: "Wanton violence, rioting, destruction of property, fighting the police is not the Singapore way and the police will spare no effort. First to identify, and then we will find and then we will arrest and then we will prosecute everyone who was involved in yesterday's violence.

"You can take that as a guarantee from the police and as assurance to all Singaporeans and also residents who live in Little India."

In light of this incident, authorities said extra attention will be paid to Little India, dormitories as well as areas of congregation. This means more patrolling in that vicinity.

Police also said the bus driver, who is in hospital, has not been arrested and will assist in investigations of the traffic accident.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Riot in Singapore's Little India

Riot in Singapore's Little India



Police say the riot in Little India which broke out on Sunday night took place after a fatal accident between a bus and a person at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road.

The accident took place at 9.23pm on Sunday.

In a statement, police said a riot broke out shortly after the accident, involving a crowd of about 400 people.

Five police vehicles and one ambulance were damaged as a result.

Several other private vehicles were also damaged.

Ten officers were also injured in the riot.

Police say the Special Operations Command and Gurkha Contingent were called to the scene.

Police added that the situation is under control.

Residents in Little India are advised to remain indoors while police operations are ongoing.

The public is advised to stay away from the affected area.

Members of the public are also advised to stay calm and not to speculate on this incident.

In a statement, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister, Teo Chee Hean said: "This is a serious incident which has resulted in injuries and damage to public property. The situation is now under control. Police will spare no efforts to apprehend the subjects involved in the riot."

Police say further updates will be given when available.

Members of the public with any information of the riot are advised to call the police at 1800-2550000.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Cab Confusion

~Click on image to enlarge~

River Safari launches boat ride

River Safari launches boat ride, marking completion of wildlife park



The Amazon River Quest boat ride - the last feature of the River Safari - opened to public on Saturday morning.

The launch of the attraction also marks the completion of the river-themed wildlife park.

The ride simulates a voyage down the Amazon River and allows visitors a glimpse of the animals that live on the edges of one of the world's longest rivers.

The slow boat ride with its gentle twists and drops lasts about 12 minutes. The boat meanders through a 483-metre long man-made river.

During the ride, visitors can expect to see monkeys leaping between trees and colourful birds.

Some visitors may also be able to spot Brazilian tapirs or jaguars, South America's biggest wild cats.

There are also some new faces unique to the River Safari, such as the collared peccary and the red howler monkey.

It is hoped that the ride will not just entertain, but educate visitors about freshwater ecosystems.

Claire Chiang, chairman of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, said: "Freshwater is a very, very fragile and vulnerable environment, and to be able to introduce that to our visitors, that in their edutaining experience, they also - with all our interpretives - understand and appreciate the vulnerability of the ecosystem, and they will be responsible about protection and conservation."

Visitors can expect to keep their eyes peeled for more than 30 animal species during the ride.

Tickets to the River Safari will continue to be priced at the discounted rate of S$25 for adults, S$16 for children aged between three and 12, and S$12.50 for senior citizens.

Park admission will eventually be priced at S$35 for adults, S$23 for children aged between three and 12, and S$17.50 for senior citizens.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Orchard Road no longer a dengue hot spot

Orchard Road no longer a dengue hot spot

Orchard Road is no longer a dengue hot spot, after having been classified as a high-risk red zone for more than a month.

The cluster was deemed closed yesterday, as no new cases had been reported in the past two weeks.

To date, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has checked more than 200 residences and 20 buildings in the area in an attempt to stem the spread of dengue.

The source of the epidemic was the Orchard Gateway construction site, where 54 dengue cases were reported.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~