Second Raffles Hotel set to open in Singapore on Sentosa in 2022
A second Raffles Hotel is set to open in Singapore in 2022, more than a century after the original national monument in Beach Road opened its doors in 1887.
Hotel operator Accor Group, in partnership with property developer Royal Group, announced on Tuesday (June 25) that the new Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa Singapore will be built on Sentosa.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
Bad weather, unauthorised drones cause more flight delays and diversions at Changi Airport
Bad weather and unauthorised drone activities caused several flight delays and diversions on Monday (Jun 24) night, days after Changi Airport was forced to close one runway due to drone sightings.
Replying to CNA's queries, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said that approximately 15 departures and three arrivals were delayed, while seven flights were diverted.
Last Wednesday, 38 flights were affected when drones were sighted around the airport.
"As a precautionary measure, arrival and departure flights were carefully regulated for short periods of time between 8.07pm and 9.07pm," said CAAS in an email.
One of those affected was Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ963, which was flying from Jakarta to Singapore on Monday night.
The flight "experienced an extended holding period at Singapore Changi Airport and subsequently diverted to Batam", said an SIA spokesperson.
SQ963 landed in Batam at around 8.30pm and eventually departed for Singapore at around 11pm after refuelling.
CAAS said that investigations were ongoing.
It also said that it takes a serious view of errant operations of unmanned aircraft which may pose threats to aviation or endanger the personal safety of others, and will not hesitate to take enforcement action.
Offenders could face a fine of up to S$20,000 or a jail term of up to 12 months.
In Singapore, drones are prohibited from flying within 5km of an airport without a permit.
Law enforcement officers conduct regular surveillance patrols around Changi Airport and respond to sightings of unauthorised drones, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min in Parliament earlier this year.
Source: CNA/ad(rw)
Singapore’s longest running annual sale (formerly known as The Great Singapore Sale for the past 25 years) is back as GSS: Experience Singapore! It’s more than just a sale - it’s a retail experience that entices locals and tourists alike to take home a slice of Singapore - to Shop, Dine, Play, Explore & Live It Up!
The spotlight is on the Singapore Experience which celebrates our local talents. This includes up & comers in retail, F&B, art, design, as well as our world famous resorts and attractions. Not to mention the unique experiences of our cultural enclaves. Embark on a retail adventure which kicks off at the heart of the country’s retail oasis at Orchard Road, including a flurry of enriching activities at prominent cultural and historical hotspot Kampong Gelam.
Singapore welcomes Malaysia’s proposal for sheltered walkways across the Causeway
Singapore welcomed Malaysia’s plans to build sheltered walkways across the Causeway, although it has yet to receive any official proposal or communication on the plans.
In response to TODAY’s queries on Malaysia’s plans for sheltered walkways linking Johor to Woodlands, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Wednesday (June 19) that there is already a pedestrian walkway on Singapore’s half of the Causeway beside the vehicular lanes.
That section of walkway is largely not sheltered, and is available only along the outbound side of the Causeway heading towards Malaysia.
“We welcome the construction of a sheltered walkway on Malaysia’s side linking the Johor Baru CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex) to the pedestrian walkway on Singapore’s side,” the spokesperson added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Malaysian news agency Bernama reported that the proposed 1.2km sheltered walkway would be built on the existing motorcycle lanes on both sides of the Causeway.
It is expected to cost about RM15 million (S$4.9 million).
The plan by the Malaysian authorities is to make it safer for the thousands of pedestrians who cross the Causeway daily.
Mr Mohd Solihan Badri, chairman of Johor’s Public Works, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee, said that the project will solve the safety issue of people walking on the same road as vehicles. He added that 60 per cent of those who use the Causeway are pedestrians, Bernama reported.
TODAY previously reported that an estimated 300,000 people cross the border daily.
The MOT spokesperson also said that Singapore is committed to working with Malaysia to find practical and effective solutions to resolve the issue of congestion along the bridge.
~News courtesy of Today Online~
Dedicated facility for private jet passengers aims to make Seletar Airport a 'hub' for luxury market
A dedicated facility for travellers on private jets entering and leaving Singapore aims to grow Seletar Airport into a "hub" for the luxury market.
The business aviation centre (BAC), unveiled to the media on Tuesday (Jun 11), has a private drop-off area, a lounge, dedicated immigration security screening as well as other personalised services.
With faster clearance processes, passengers can expect to take no more than 10 minutes to breeze through the BAC from entry to exit, before boarding their jet.
This is the latest facility to open at Seletar Airport after its new S$80 million passenger terminal welcomed its first business passengers in November 2018. Spanning 10,000 sq m, the two-storey terminal is designed to handle up to 700,000 passengers a year.
Business travellers are a key part of the Seletar development, which was built to cater to the growing private and business jet market, as well as to free up space at Changi Airport. Since November 2018, SATS Seletar Aviation Services (SSAS) has handled more than 4,000 flight movements at the airport, of which close to 70 per cent are attributed to business aviation.
"Private jet travellers are usually on a tight schedule and travel frequently," said chairman of SSAS Bob Chi. "Saving time while travelling is naturally important to this segment of customers.
"They will find the seamless, fuss-free and personalised experience that cuts end-to-end travel time a great attraction. SATS hopes to support Changi Airport in their plan to grow Seletar Airport into a hub for business travellers and tourists travelling on private jets."
Seletar Business Aviation Centre 2nd Level Lounge
The lounge on the second level of the Seletar Business Aviation Centre (Photo: Jeremy Long)
While Changi Airport has a terminal - JetQuay - which can also serve private jets, Mr Chi said that the competition for landing slots at Changi due to its growth has led to the need for a dedicated facility at Seletar.
"It's not that we are not handling any private jets in Changi," he told reporters on the sidelines of a visit to the facility. "We do but the numbers are declining and the reason why they are declining is that they have shifted business here."
Opened in 2006, JetQuay not only handles private jets, but also provides VIP services to any passengers travelling on full-service carriers.
"The moment customers arrive at the kerbside, they want to be out on the aircraft within minutes. You can't really do that in Changi because the airport is very big. So from the kerbside up until the point you depart, it's going to take some time," added Mr Chi.
"There is a lot more flexibility that we provide because of the scale and size of the airport."
The business aviation centre is managed by SSAS, a joint venture company SATS formed with Jet Aviation and Universal Aviation. It has been in operation since November last year, and handles an average of 30 private jets daily.
Seletar Airport also handles commercial flights operated by Malaysian budget carrier Firefly.
Said Mr Chi: "We are looking about five per cent growth every year, so there is a potential, hopefully with this brand new facility we will be able to encourage more private jet operators to locate their jets here and therefore do more flights out of Seletar."
Source: CNA/mt(gs)
Faster immigration clearance for eligible UK travellers to Singapore
Eligible UK passport holders will be able to clear immigration faster when arriving in Singapore starting Thursday (Jun 13).
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will extend the Frequent Traveller Programme (FTP) to eligible holders of UK passports and all holders of the APEC Business Travel Card, ICA said.
British citizens who wish to apply for Singapore's FTP must be aged six and above, and hold a passport with more than six months' validity.
They must also have visited Singapore at least twice in the past two years.
Holders of the APEC Business Travel Card that facilitates the movement of business travellers within Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies can also apply for the FTP.
This comes after the UK government announced in December 2018 that Singaporeans travelling to the United Kingdom will be able to use ePassport gates - the British equivalent of Singapore's enhanced immigration automated clearance system, or eIACS - from 2019.
The mutual extension will accord travellers "greater convenience," ICA said in a statement.
Those interested can apply for the FTP at the enrolment centres located at Terminal 3 Changi Airport, the visitor services centre at the ICA Building, as well as at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints, said ICA.
Source: CNA/nh(hm)
Beware of fake S$100, S$50 notes: Police
File photo of Singapore currency notes. (Photo: TODAY)
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) advised people on Tuesday (Jun 11) to be alert for counterfeit Singapore currency notes after three men were arrested and charged for offences related to fake notes.
There have been several reports of counterfeit S$100 notes and S$50 portrait series currency notes being used at convenience stores, restaurants and retail outlets, authorities said.
“These counterfeit notes, which are believed to be photocopied reproductions, lack security features such as (a) watermark (an image that can be seen when held up to the light) and security thread (thread that is interwoven in the paper running vertically down) found on genuine notes,” police said.
Some of the fake notes featured a kinegram, or octagonal reflective foil, that is distinctively different from the ones on genuine notes, police added.
“For instance, the image on the kinegram of a genuine note should shift when the note is tilted but the simulated kinegram on the counterfeit note does not have this characteristic,” the advisory read. “The surface of the counterfeit note also lacks the embossed feel present on genuine notes.”
To date, the counterfeit S$100 notes in reported cases bear the serial number 3AX412083, while the fake S$50 notes bear eight different serial numbers, including 0FF875629, 3DL273922, 4DZ985604, 5HS436415, 5LV797440, 5LP297324, 5CK878136 and 5JH230011.
Three men, aged between 25 and 29, have been arrested and charged with offences related to counterfeit currency notes, authorities said. The offences were allegedly committed between May 25 and Jun 4.
Police urged members of the public to make a police report if they have received any suspected counterfeit notes. Anyone convicted of using counterfeit currency may be fined and jailed for up to 20 years, while those convicted of possessing such notes may be given a jail term of up to 15 years.
Source: CNA/ga(mi)
First look at Jewel Changi Airport’s Canopy Park, Sky Nets, slides and mazes
Jewel Changi Airport’s much-awaited play attractions on its top-floor Canopy Park, as well as its partially glass-bottomed bridge open to the public on Jun 10.
They include the Manulife Sky Nets, Discovery Slides, the Mirror Maze and Hedge Maze and the glass-bottomed Canopy Bridge which offers a stunning view of the HSBC Rain Vortex and Shiseido Forest Valley.
EXPLORE OUR INTERACTIVE: INSIDE JEWEL CHANGI AIRPORT
The attractions in the 14,000 sqm Canopy Park had not yet been opened to the public when Jewel officially threw its doors open last month.
On Thursday (May 30), Jewel announced pricing details for each of the attractions and gave the media a sneak preview. Entrance fees for Singapore residents to Canopy Park is S$4.50 and access to the various attractions ranges from S$7.20 to S$19.80.
THE MANULIFE SKY NETS
The Manulife Sky Nets at Jewel Changi Airport (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
The scale of the Sky Nets in an indoor setting is a world first, organisers said in a news release. The yellow, blue and green bouncing nets span 250 metres and offer an additional thrill factor from a 8-metre-high lookout point.
Those who prefer taking in the sights of Jewel at a tamer pace can stroll across the 50-metre-long walking Sky Nets. The undulating brown walking nets, directly below the bouncing nets, form a taut web that straddles a five-storey-high void. The experience is designed to make you feel like you are walking on air, 25 metres above ground.
The nets are made of sturdy material and strong enough to hold 1,000 people at once, said Thomas Ferwagner, one of the two designers who conceptualised the sky nets.
Walking through the Manulife Sky Nets at Jewel Changi Airport. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
The price of admission for the Bouncing Nets is S$19.80 for adult Singapore residents and S$14.40 for children and seniors. For all other visitors, it is S$22 for adults and S$16 for children and seniors.
Tickets for the Walking Nets will set you back S$13.50 for adults and S$9 for children and seniors if you are a Singapore resident. For others, they are priced at S$15 for adults and S$10 for children and seniors.
THE HEDGE MAZE
Exploring the Hedge Maze at Jewel Changi Airport. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Beneath Jewel’s glass canopy runs Singapore’s largest maze: The Hedge Maze. Wind your way through it and you will end up at the watch tower for a bird’s eye view of the attraction.
The maze also has gates that can be pushed so you can change your path.
For Singapore residents, entry into the Hedge Maze is priced at S$10.80 for adults and S$7.20 for children and senior citizens. The standard ticket price for all other visitors is S$12 for adults and S$8 for children and seniors.
THE MIRROR MAZE
Exploring the Mirror Maze at Jewel Changi Airport. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
The other labyrinth attraction, the Mirror Maze has kaleidoscopic walls and the cover of foliage overhead. Those entering the maze are equipped with a foam noodle to help them feel their way around, in case they find the multitude of mirrors disorientating.
To immerse yourself in an environment of infinite reflections and endless hallways, the ticket price is S$13.50 for an adult Singapore resident and S$9 for children or seniors. The rate for all other visitors is S$15 for adults and S$10 for children and seniors.
THE DISCOVERY SLIDES
Having a go at the Discovery Slides at Jewel Changi Airport. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Nearby sits an art sculpture that doubles up as a playground. The Discovery Slides attraction is made up of four slides and the work of art sits at an incline – 3m high on one end, and about 7m high on the other.
At the edge of its 6.5m-high platform is a viewing deck that offers a picturesque view of the HSBC Rain Vortex and the lush indoor forest that lines Jewel.
A woman goes down one of the Discovery Slides at Jewel Changi Airport (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
The underside of the mega slide is also covered in a mirror finish, helping the playground blend naturally into the Jewel’s greenery.
THE CANOPY BRIDGE
Taking in the HSBC Rain Vortex from the Canopy Bridge at Jewel Changi Airport. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Another highlight of Jewel opening on Jun 10 is the Canopy Bridge.
The 50m-long suspended bridge offers a dizzying vantage point for you to take in Jewel’s centrepiece, the Rain Vortex, at 23m above the ground.
Thrill-seekers might appreciate the glass-panel flooring at the centre of the bridge for guests to look through to level 1.
The price to walk on the bridge is S$7.20 for all Singapore residents (adults, children and seniors). For non-Singapore residents, tickets are S$8.
The Canopy Bridge at Jewel Changi Airport. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Basic entry into the Canopy Park is priced at S$4.50 for Singaporean residents and S$5 for all others. This lets you wander around Topiary Walk, Discovery Slides, Foggy Bowls and Petal Gardens.
Source: CNA/gc
More rain, humid nights for next two weeks: Met service
The wet and humid weather over the last two weeks of May will continue in the first two weeks of June, the Singapore Meteorological Service said in its latest advisory on Friday (May 31).
“The overall rainfall for the first half of June 2019 is likely to be above-normal over most parts of Singapore,” the Met service said.
Thundery showers are expected mostly in the late morning and early afternoon on six to eight days, it said. Passing Sumatra squalls could also bring thundery showers and occasional gusty winds in the morning over two to three days.
The warm and humid weather experienced in May is also predicted to persist into the first two weeks of June, including at night. This is due to the onset of the southwest monsoon.
“The daily temperature on most days is forecast to range between 25 and 33 deg Celsius,” the Met service said. “Night-time minimum temperatures of up to 28 deg Celsius can be expected on some days.”
The southwest monsoon season typically lasts until September and is a generally drier season compared to other times of the year.
Source: CNA/ga(hm)
