Slight haze due to smoke from fires in Sumatra

Slight haze due to smoke from fires in Sumatra: NEA

The slightly hazy situation in Singapore on Wednesday afternoon (Aug 19) is due to "smoke haze from fires in Sumatra being blown in by the prevailing south-southwesterly winds," said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in an advisory.

Members of the public reported hazy skies in areas such as Jurong, Buona Vista and Beach Road.

At 7pm, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index or PSI, was 62-68 - within the Moderate Range, NEA added.

Similar hazy situation in Beach Road. (Photo: Hedirman Supian)

According to NEA, smoke plumes from hotspots in central and southern Sumatra have been observed in the past few days, with 116 and 42 hotspots detected in Sumatra on Monday and Tuesday respectively.

Just 12 hotspots were observed on Wednesday, but NEA said this is due to the "partial satellite pass".

"Occasional hazy conditions may persist overnight and tomorrow," NEA stated, adding that "everyone can continue with normal activities".

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

National Museum to re-open permanent galleries

National Museum of Singapore to re-open permanent galleries on Sep 19

After almost one year, the 128-year-old National Museum of Singapore will re-open its permanent galleries to the public.

Set to reopen on Sep 19, the revamped galleries will present Singapore’s history in more “immersive and innovative ways” and showcase artefacts that have never been displayed before, said the museum in a news release on Monday (Aug 17).

The Singapore History Gallery updates the “Singapore Story”, charting the development of the island through four sections: Singapura (1299–1818), Crown Colony (1819–1941), Syonan-To (1942–1945), and Singapore (1945 to the present).

The gallery will have a broader representation of Singapore's post-independence history. including defining moments, challenges and achievements over the past 50 years, the museum said. It will also feature audio-visual multimedia displays.

The Life in Singapore: The Past 100 Years galleries will feature the everyday lives of people in Singapore during four main periods: Modern Colony (1925–1935); Surviving Syonan (1942–1945); Growing Up (1955–1965) and Voices in Singapore (1975–1985).

The Life in Singapore galleries will showcase artefacts including donated personal items such as a wash basin and sewing machine used during the war, as well as children's toys from yesteryear.

“These galleries uncover the special Singaporean experiences and stories that epitomise the spirit of multi-racial diversity, social resilience and shared values that make up the Singaporean identity and character,” the museum said.

Members of the public can also visit the Goh Seng Choo Gallery at the museum, which features works from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings.

Director of National Museum of Singapore Angelita Teo said: “The revamp of the museum’s permanent galleries is timely as we celebrate Singapore’s 50th anniversary, and it also marks another phase in the museum’s transformation since our major redevelopment in 2006."

There will be free entry to the museum for all from 10am to 7pm on Sep 19 and 20, as part of the museum’s re-opening celebrations.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

34°C days, thundery showers, slight haze expected

34°C days, thundery showers, slight haze expected in second half of August

Expect warm afternoons with day-time highs of 34°C as well as slightly hazy conditions on a few days in the second half of this month.

Short-duration thundery showers are also expected on three to five days, mainly in the late morning and early afternoon, while thundery showers with gusty winds are also expected on one to two days in the pre-dawn and morning, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) on Monday (Aug 17) in its fortnightly weather advisory.

The rainfall for this month is expected to be slightly below normal, said the MSS. Average rainfall for August is 175.4mm. The average daily maximum temperature for August is 30.9°C, while the average daily minimum temperature is 24.5°C.

From Aug 1 to 16, there were a few warm days with the daily maximum temperature at around 34°C and some wet days with daily minimum temperatures between 22°C and 23°C. Moderate to heavy thundery showers with gusty winds occurred on several days, particularly on Aug 12, when thundery showers brought heavy rainfall over the north-eastern part of Singapore.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

Travel agents offer deals for Chinese tourists as yuan falls

Travel agents offer deals for Chinese tourists as yuan falls

Travel agents in Singapore are coming up with special deals for inbound Chinese visitors, as the devaluation of the yuan threatens to hit the tourism market.

The Chinese currency has depreciated almost 3 per cent against the US dollar since Monday (Aug 10). If the lower yuan exchange rate continues in the next two to three months, travel agents may have to adjust their prices to remain attractive to the Chinese market, explained Ms Alicia Seah, director of marketing communications at Dynasty Travel.

"The peak season in July and August for the summer holidays will come to an end soon. The next peak season will be in October, for China’s National Day holiday break,” Ms Seah added.

Travel Star’s marketing manager, Zheng Lingna, shared how agents could attract customers: "We will come up with bundle deals for customers. For example, if they come to Singapore to travel for five days and four nights, we will give them a two-day-one-night Malaysia trip free of charge.”

The Singapore Tourism Board said that the yuan's drop against the Singapore dollar has been small and the number of Chinese tourists will remain stable. It will continue to reach out to them on key Chinese digital platforms to attract more visitors to the Republic.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

Self-service kiosks for SIA, SilkAir fliers

Self-service kiosks for SIA, SilkAir fliers



SIA and SilkAir passengers can now print out their boarding passes and baggage tags at the machines across the SIA and SilkAir check-in rows at Terminal 2.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and SilkAir travellers at Changi Airport's Terminal 2 can now print their own boarding passes and luggage tags.

In Changi's biggest rollout yet of self-service check-in kiosks, close to 25 new machines have been installed across SIA and SilkAir's check-in rows.

After a passenger has his passport verified, the machine prints the boarding pass and luggage tags.

All the passenger has to do is tag the bags and drop them off at designated counters, before heading to immigration. Those with no check-in bags can head straight to immigration without having to stop at the manned counters.

When The Straits Times visited T2 yesterday, a steady stream of travellers were using the kiosks, assisted by staff.

Marketing executive Jeffrey Lim, 36, said: "It's the first time I'm using a self-service check-in kiosk and it's really easy and convenient. It took me just a couple of minutes to get everything done. I'll definitely use it again. Great initiative by the airline and airport."

Indonesian housewife, Rina Wati, 44, said: "It's a simple machine to use which is good, especially for older travellers." 

The machines, introduced about two weeks ago, are located mainly in front of the check-in counters.

Low-cost carrier Jetstar Asia was the first airline at Changi to introduce do-it-yourself check-in and bag tagging kiosks last year.

SIA spokesman Nicholas Ionides said the kiosks are part of a suite of "Fast and Seamless Travel" initiatives being provided by Changi to cater to passenger traffic growth.

Said a spokesman for Changi Airport Group, Ivan Tan: "The entire check-in sequence - including printing of boarding pass and bag tags, together with tagging and baggage drop-off - can be done in a matter of minutes.

"The time taken is expected to reduce as travellers gain familiarity with this mode of processing, given the growing use of automated check-in options in airports around the world."

Automation will also help raise efficiency and productivity of check-in operations, thereby providing cost savings for airlines, according to Mr Tan.

With manpower costs rising amid a tight labour situation, Changi Airport, its airlines, ground-handling firms and other partners are pushing for automation.

For travellers, this will mean getting used to fewer manned counters and more machines at the existing terminals as well as T4, which opens in 2017.

Mr Tan said the airport is in talks with other carriers to expand the use of the check-in kiosks.

~News courtesy of My Paper~