Baggage delay at Changi Airport due to lightning alerts

Baggage delay at Changi Airport due to lightning alerts: CAG

The delays in baggage collection at Changi Airport on Thursday night (Dec 25) and early Friday morning were due to safety reasons, said the Changi Airport Group (CAG).

Two members of the public had called MediaCorp's hotline (68 22 22 68) saying that the collection of their luggage was delayed after they landed. One caller said he waited for more than an hour for his luggage while the other said he waited more than half an hour.

"Passengers experienced delays in baggage presentation for certain arrival flights at Changi Airport last night and early in the morning due to lightning alerts received from the National Environment Agency," said a CAG spokesman. "In the interest of safety of the staff working outdoors, the ground handling companies temporarily suspended baggage loading and unloading."

"Announcements were made via the public address systems and display screens to alert passengers of the delay," the spokesman added. "Airport ground staff were also present at the baggage belts to update and assist passengers."

"With the improvement in weather conditions, baggage operations at Changi Airport have resumed normalcy."

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

See the Singapore Story on the Fullerton

See the Singapore Story on the Fullerton

To commemorate Singapore's 50th year of independence next year, a 3D montage of sketches and graphics will light up the facade of the iconic Fullerton Hotel Singapore starting from Friday (Dec 26).

The public can enjoy the two-minute projection every half hour from 8.15pm to 11.15pm till Dec 30. The montage will depict the country's transformation from its early kampung days to present day Singapore with its modern housing and city skyscrapers. The projection will be accompanied by an excerpt of Symphonic Suites - with familiar local tunes like Home and Bunga Sayang.

The final run of the lights show will be at 11.55pm on New Year's Eve. It will culminate in a two-minute show of five key historical milestones of Singapore. These include then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew declaring Singapore's independence, the start of National Service and the introduction of public housing.

Mr Clarence Yap, Head of Music at The Esplanade, said: "We would like people to reflect on the journey that Singapore has taken. We hope it will help people to think about the Singapore story. For this year especially, the narrative is important, so it is not just about putting pretty pictures and lights but very much about telling something that can evoke emotions and feelings for the subject matter,” Mr Yap added.

TIGHT SECURITY FOR MARINA BAY SINGAPORE COUNTDOWN


With about 300,000 revellers expected on New Year's Eve, police say that security measures are in place.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Tan Yong Liang, Commanding Officer, Marina Bay Neighbourhood Police Centre, Central Police Division said: “The Marina Bay area is expected to be crowded and the traffic is expected to be congested. We have done our best to reduce the amount of disruption to the public. The police and auxiliary police all also be conducting bag checks and they will be regulating the number of people in certain areas of concern."

Three smaller roads - Straits View, Marina View and Marina View Link will not be closed this year - to minimise inconvenience to stakeholders around the area.

“In the event of overcrowding, trains may even bypass certain stations," said DSP Tan. "During the crowd dispersal, we would like to urge the public to exercise tolerance and to follow instructions given by police and auxiliary police. We would also like to take this opportunity to remind members of the public to be vigilant against crime, like molestation and theft,” he added.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

Ku De Ta may not get to keep name

Ku De Ta may not get to keep name



It remains to be seen if the Ku De Ta club at Marina Bay Sands SkyPark will get to keep its name. The Court of Appeal has ordered Nine Squares, the licensor of the Ku De Ta marks in Singapore, to transfer registration of the marks to the partners of the beachfront club in Bali.

The posh Ku De Ta club at Marina Bay Sands SkyPark may have to change its name after a dramatic Court of Appeal judgment.

The ruling - the latest in what has become a bitter legal battle between business associates - is a major victory for the partners of a beachfront club in Bali that began using the Ku De Ta name in 2000.

The club's partners objected to the name being used by the club in Singapore and attempted to enforce their trademark rights through the courts here. A lower court dismissed their case against Nine Squares, the licensor of the Ku De Ta marks in Singapore, in November last year.

But that decision was overturned in a 71-page judgment delivered by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon on Monday.

He found that Nine Squares did not own the trademarks and only held them on trust for the Bali partners, who have exclusive rights to use and license the name. He also ordered Nine Squares to transfer registration of the marks to the Bali partners and provide them with an account of all profits it has made from use of the marks.

The appellate court ruling raises two key questions. One is whether the swish Ku De Ta club at Marina Bay Sands gets to keep its name. That would depend on how the Court of Appeal rules on a suit brought in 2010 by the Bali club partners against Ku De Ta SG over unlawful use of the trademark. In 2009, Nine Squares licensed the trademark to Hong Kong businessman Chris Au, who assigned his rights under the licence to Ku De Ta SG.

The other concerns L Capital Asia, an investment arm of French luxury group LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. L Capital now controls Ku De Ta Singapore after buying a 51 per cent stake in its holding company in January this year reportedly for $100 million. L Capital did not respond to requests for comment yesterday.

The ruling may finally draw a line under what has become a costly and complex legal battle.

It centres on Nine Squares, which is owned by Australian businessman Arthur Chondros. He conceived the Ku De Ta name and is also one of several partners of Ku De Ta Bali club.

Nine Squares had registered the Ku De Ta trademarks in Singapore in 2004 and 2009, allegedly without the knowledge of the Bali club partners.

The Bali club partners sued Nine Squares in 2011 after Mr Chondros claimed that it owned the Ku De Ta trademark. They wanted to invalidate its trademark registration of Ku De Ta in Singapore, claiming it was done without their knowledge.

They also alleged that Mr Chondros was in breach of his fiduciary duties to the partners and that he had no right to license the Ku De Ta trademark to the firm that operates the club here.

The partners also demanded an account of all profits that the Singapore club has made since it opened in September 2010.

Those claims were rejected by Justice Judith Prakash in the lower court in November last year.

She had found that the Bali club did not have any goodwill in Singapore in 2004, when the Ku De Ta trademark was registered here, as it was not well-known. That meant that the owners of the Bali club could not prevent others from registering Ku De Ta as a trademark here.

But CJ Menon in the Court of Appeal disagreed in a judgment released on Monday. He ruled that neither Nine Squares nor Mr Chondros owned the trademarks. He pointed to Mr Chondros' "inexplicable" silence to a July 6, 2007, e-mail memorandum from the Bali partners following a meeting clarifying that "any use of the Ku De Ta name by any partner for whatsoever reason must be approved by all partners".

He ordered Nine Squares to transfer ownership of the trademarks to the Bali partners and to provide an accounting of profits derived from the exploitation of the marks, including licensing income it has received.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Extended hours for SMRT train & selected buses on New Year's Eve

Extended operating hours for SMRT train services and selected buses on New Year's Eve


SMRT train services on the North-South, East-West and Circle Lines, as well as the Bukit Panjang LRT, will be extended on Dec 31.

The operator said in a statement on Tuesday that the last trains towards Joo Koon, Pasir Ris and Jurong East MRT stations will depart City Hall MRT station at 2.15am.

The last train towards Marina South Pier will depart City hall at 2.00am, while the last train towards Marina Bay will leave City Hall at 2.03am.

On the Circle Line, last trains towards HarbourFront to Dhoby Ghaut will depart the respective terminals at 1.38am.

Passengers can catch the last Bukit Panjang LRT train at 3.19am.

Last bus timings for bus services 173A, 189A, 300, 302, 307, 941, 945, 947, 804, 812, 859A, 901, 911, 912 and 913 departing from five interchanges - Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Sembawang, Woodlands and Yishun - will also be extended to between 3.10am to 3.25am.

SMRT also announced that it will bring forward operating hours for certain Premium and Express Bus services.

There will also be road diversions due to the New Year Countdown at Marina Bay, with bus services 75, 77, 106, 167, 171, 700A, 857 and 960 skipping some stops in the area from 11pm on Dec 31 to 1am the next day.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

BS Transit train and selected bus services extended for New Year's Eve

SBS Transit train and selected bus services extended for New Year's Eve


Train and selected bus services will be extended by about two-and-a-half hours on New Year's Eve.

SBS Transit train and selected bus services will be extended for New Year's Eve on Dec 31.

In the evening, 21 bus services will also be diverted due to countdown events held in Boon Lay and Marina Bay.

Train services on the North East and Downtown Lines will be extended by about two-and-a-half hours on New Year's Eve.

On the North East Line, the last train travelling in the direction of HarbourFront will depart from Punggol Station at 1.45am. Services on the Punggol and Sengkang LRT systems will also be extended to coincide with the last train arrivals on the North East Line.

On the Downtown Line, the last train going in the direction of Bugis will depart from Chinatown Station at 2.04am.

To complement the extension of the train operating hours, the last bus timings of 32 bus services will also be extended.

The six Nite Owl services will also operate longer until 4.00am.

However, 11 bus services - 128, 10e, 14e, 30e, 74e, 89e, 97e, 151e, 174e, 196e and 513 - will not be in operation during the evening peak hours as many offices in the city area will be closed earlier on New Year's Eve.

For more information, visit http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

No more elephant rides at zoo from Jan 5

No more elephant rides at zoo from Jan 5


END OF THE RIDE: To improve the animals' welfare and offer elephant keepers greater safety, Wildlife Reserves Singapore is phasing in a new elephant-management system over the next few years. (PHOTO: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE)

Elephant rides will no longer be offered at the Singapore Zoo from Jan 5.

Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) is phasing in a new elephant-management system at the Night Safari and zoo over the next few years.

This is to improve the animals' welfare by allowing them to spend more time in the exhibit socialising among themselves.

It will also offer elephant keepers greater safety. A bull elephant gored its keeper in 2001, but no other serious injuries have been reported since.

Under the new management system, all contact with the elephants can take place only while they are in their enclosure. Visitors must stand outside the exhibit's safety barrier.

At present, visitors to the zoo can ride elephants and catch them during special appearances.

Cheng Wen-Haur, chief life sciences officer at WRS, said: "The decision to adopt the protected contact management system was made after an internal review by our elephant managers and health-care experts, who found that this system...offers a safer work environment for the elephant keepers."

Visitors will still be able to see the elephants at the Elephants of Asia exhibit.

"I remember taking the elephant ride when I was five or six. It was an experience which I enjoyed and treasure," said Simon Tang, a 25-year-old sales executive.

"It's sad to think that children will no longer be able to enjoy the rides, although if animal welfare and staff safety will be greatly improved after this, then I think the zoo is doing the right thing."

The new system will take three to five years to implement, and involves major redesign of the exhibits.

~News courtesy of My Paper~

Paragon's Xmas get-up wins best-dressed nod

Paragon's Xmas get-up wins best-dressed nod


Paragon's Christmas magic-inspired decor, consisting of swirling gold and red ribbons and glimmering reindeer, won the mall the coveted Judges' Choice Award. (PHOTO: PARAGON)

PARAGON and Orchard Central have been named the best-dressed buildings in Orchard Road for their Christmas decorations this year.

Orchard Central, the overall winner for the past three years, topped a new voters' choice category. Featuring fairies, unicorns and elves, the shopping centre's fairytale-landscape decor received more than one-fifth (4,663) of the 20,323 votes made by shoppers, who voted via the @Orchard mobile app.

Paragon's Christmas magic-inspired decor, consisting of swirling gold and red ribbons and glimmering reindeer, won the mall the coveted Judges' Choice Award.

The highlight of the mall's festive display is the over 12m-tall Christmas tree at its main entrance, which "undoubtedly left an indelible impression on the judges", said the Orchard Road Business Association, which organised the annual contest.

Eleven participating malls were judged based on their day and night visual effects, and their use of interactive features.

~News courtesy of My Paper~

Malindo Air officially launch of KL-Singapore flights

Malindo Air officially welcomed at Changi to mark recent launch of KL-Singapore flights


Malindo Air's plane parked in Changi Airport. The Malaysia-based airline was officially welcomed at Changi Airport on Monday morning to mark their recent launch of daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Malaysia-based airline Malindo Air was officially welcomed at Changi Airport on Monday morning to mark their recent launch of daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Since Nov 3, the carrier has operated three daily flights in each direction on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route, on new Boeing 737s. This has added 6,800 return seats weekly to the route.

The three hour-long flights from Singapore leave at 10am, 1.40pm and 7.55pm daily, while those from Kuala Lumpur leave at 8am, 11.45am and 5.55pm.

On Monday afternoon, passengers arriving at 12.45pm from Kuala Lumpur were greeted by Malindo Air chief executive officer Chandran Rama Muthy and Changi Airport Group's senior vice president of market development Lim Ching Kiat, who presented them with garlands.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

More wet weather ahead after weekend deluge

More wet weather ahead after weekend deluge


A pedestrian and a cyclist braving the rain in Toa Payoh. Heavy rains and strong winds felled trees and flooded a shopping mall over the weekend, with the wet weather expected to continue into this week.

Heavy rains and strong winds felled trees and flooded a shopping mall over the weekend, with the wet weather expected to continue into this week.

On Sunday afternoon, the National Environment Agency warned of "heavy thundery showers with gusty wind" over the north and east of the island, as Singapore faces the annual north-east monsoon.

The PUB also noted that water levels had risen above 90 per cent in canals at Leng Kee Road and Prince Philip Avenue, with a "high flood risk". Though the water levels fell back below the 90 per cent mark shortly afterwards, the high flood risk remained.

There was indeed a flood of sorts, in the east - though not due to canals bursting their banks. Water pooled on the second and third levels of Tampines Mall, after its rooftop drainage system could not handle an afternoon downpour.

The rainwater inlet, which helps channel rainwater from the mall's roof to external drainage, could not cope with the "unusually heavy amount of rainfall" and overflowed, said the mall's marketing communications manager Sarah Lua in a statement.

The flood was cleaned up by 4.25pm, and Tampines Mall is putting steps in place to prevent a recurrence," she added.

The wet weather looks set to continue this week, with the National Environment Agency forecasting thundery showers over many areas in the afternoon on Monday.

Tuesday's forecast is for passing showers in the afternoon. While Wednesday is set to be "occasionally windy", Thursday will see a return to thundery showers in the afternoon.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

More links to bridge Orchard Road malls

More links to bridge Orchard Road malls

At least three more overhead, underground passages will start operating by next year


Orchard Gateway's glass skybridge is one of two overhead links among 13 malls in Orchard Road. There are nine underground walkways in the area.

Although progress has been slower than hoped for, an ambitious plan to transform Orchard Road into a megamall connected entirely by a network of linkways is inching ahead.

By next year, at least three more overhead and underground linkways will go operational, providing direct routes for those on foot to stroll seamlessly from mall to mall.

A link bridge between The Centrepoint and Orchard Point, for instance, was completed recently and will open once it is certified by the authorities, said The Centrepoint.

Basement and overhead walkways that connect The Heeren and the new 268 Orchard Road (the former Yen San Building) have already been built and can be used when the new mall is expected to open in the second half of next year.

Paragon is also likely to be linked up with a soon-to-be built residential and commercial development that replaces the old Cairnhill Place carpark. The Cairnhill property's owner, CapitaLand, told The Sunday Times that it is in talks with Paragon to build an overhead linkway.

These new links are part of efforts by mall operators to revitalise Orchard Road by making the shopping district more inter-connected.

There are currently nine underground walkways and two overhead links among 13 shopping centres in Orchard Road. These include the first-ever Orchard Gateway glass skybridge over the main thoroughfare.

An Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) spokesman said that the priority is to ensure that pedestrians enjoy a seamless and connected pedestrian experience, where covered walkways and elevated linkways complement underground pedestrian links.

"These links create a multi-level network to enhance pedestrian connectivity and convenience,"she added.

But convincing building owners to build underground in recent years has been more of a headache.

The Government in 2012 tried to persuade them to construct another 12 underground linkways, like the passages connecting Paragon, Lucky Plaza and Ngee Ann City.

Then, URA said it would offer higher grants to building owners to do so, and would even give bonus retail floor space in the linkways. Building owners are also not allowed to redevelop or conduct major structural works for any building where the URA wants an underground linkway, unless the owners' redevelopment plans include the link.

But since they cost four times more than overhead link bridges to build, none of the underground passages materialised, although more overhead ones have popped up.

Swee Cheng Holdings, which owns The Heeren, however, is bucking the trend. It said it has built knockout panels that can make way for future expansion of underground tunnels that can link to Faber House or even Somerset MRT station.

Whether overhead or below ground though, shoppers welcome being able to walk with ease from building to building.

Said advertising executive Karen Lee, 38, who heads to Orchard Road at least once a week: "It will be less of a hassle to move around and I don't have to worry about the weather or jostling with people at traffic junctions or when crossing the road."

~News courtesy of Straits Times~