SINGAPORE: People across Singapore turned out on Wednesday night (Jan 31) to catch a glimpse of a much-anticipated lunar eclipse.
At the Science Centre, more than 1,000 people turned up in the hope of catching the phenomenon, dubbed a a “super blue blood moon” by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Combining a blue moon, a super moon and a total eclipse, the rare spectacle last took place 152 years ago in 1866.
More than a thousand people turned up at the Science Centre to catch a glimpse of the “super blue blood moon”. (Photo: Dawn Ang)
With the partial eclipse set to start slightly before 8pm in Singapore, crowds gathered at the Science Centre, where 11 telescopes were set up for the public.
The Science Centre previously stated that special equipment was not needed to see the eclipse, but that using binoculars or a telescope would “enhance the experience”.
Crowds out and about in areas including Holland Village, Bedok, Ang Mo Kio and Jurong also stopped to look at the moon.
SINGAPORE: Strong winds in the east of Singapore sent at least three boats flying at East Coast Park on Wednesday (Jan 31) afternoon, and felled a large tree that all but blocked Marine Parade Road.
The gusts tossed three Laser sailboats – each weighing about 70 kg – into the air at the National Sailing Centre, video of the incident showed.
The video, shot by a Channel NewsAsia reader who did not want to be named, also showed trees being battered by the intense wind.
He said it was already raining when he arrived at the centre for training at around 3.50pm.
“The wind suddenly picked up so my sailing team gathered to see what was going on,” he told Channel NewsAsia. “Stuff just started flying everywhere – boats, equipment, etc – it was just chaos.”
Calling it a “mini cyclone”, he added that they were evacuated to a multi-purpose hall at about 4.10pm. Their teachers instructed them to call their parents to pick them up.
Another reader, Daniel Nganasekaran, sent video of a large wheelie rubbish bin being tossed around in the wind at East Coast Park.
A Singapore Sailing Federation spokesman said that the “strong gust of wind, together with a water spout” that came through the National Sailing Centre, left a trail of damage.
“It was fortunate that sailors were recalled as per standard operating procedure and waited under shelter when the Cat 1 siren was sounded earlier,” he said, adding that everyone was safe and accounted for.
It was a “good reminder” to respect mother nature, the spokesman added.
TREE FALLS AT MARINE PARADE
Nearby, a large tree fell on Marine Parade Road, almost completely sealing it off.
The fallen tree caused a slight congestion of “about 50m” as cars had to stop, said one Channel NewsAsia reader. (Photo: William Higgins)
Channel NewsAsia reader Kelly Zhong Higgins said that the tree toppled outside Neptune Court condominium, leaving the road towards Parkway Parade shopping centre completely blocked and only one lane open in the opposite direction.
The tree toppled at Marine Parade Road, completely blocking one of the roads. (Photo: Kok Mei Hui)
Another reader, who wanted to be identified only as Aiden, told Channel NewsAsia he saw passers-by trying to clear the road at about 5.45pm.
The fallen tree blocking Marine Parade Road. (Photo: Aiden)
At around 6.45pm, the Land Transport Authority confirmed that the road was closed.
Obstacle on Marine Parade Road (towards Siglap Road) after Marine Vista. Marine Parade Road closed after Marine Vista
This story came from several tip-offs by readers. If you would like to send in photos or videos of something newsworthy, WhatsApp our Mediacorp news hotline at +65 8218 8281 or message us on Facebook.
SINGAPORE: Towering thunderstorm clouds coupled with powerful vertical air currents were the reason for the hailstones seen in the northern areas of Singapore on Tuesday, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS).
Replying to Channel NewsAsia’s queries in an email, MSS on Wednesday (Jan 31) said that yesterday’s thunderstorm clouds which formed over northern Singapore reached a height of 14km. Typically, thunderstorm clouds only reach a height of 10-12km.
“Towering thunderstorm clouds form when there is very strong daytime heating of the land surface, coupled with wind convergence,” it added.
“These clouds have powerful downdrafts that cause some hailstones to reach the ground quickly before melting.”
The weather radar image shows the areas affected by intense thundery showers at 4.50pm. (Photo: MSS)
Hailstones are formed within most thunderstorm clouds when raindrops freeze at high levels. They then grow in size as they are tossed by the strong updrafts and downdrafts – or strong vertical air currents – within the clouds.
In warmer and tropical countries like Singapore, hailstones formed in the upper atmosphere usually melt before reaching the grounds, said MSS.
However, at times when there are very strong downdrafts, the hailstones would reach the ground before they completely melt.
MSS said that yesterday’s rain was heaviest in the north, with the highest recorded 30-minute rainfall at 46.6mm from 4.55pm to 5.25pm.
The strongest recorded wind gust was at 70.9km per hour at Sembawang at around 5pm, it added.
“Sightings of hailstones in Singapore have been reported every few years on average,” said MSS, with the last reported sightings of hailstones in October 2014 and June 2013.
“The impact of climate change on the frequency of hailstone events in the tropics is a subject that requires further study,” MSS added.
Videos of garbage bins and dinghies sent flying in the air by the strong winds at the National Sailing Centre in East Coast Park have been circulating on WhatsApp.
Stomp contributor Paul, Apid, Ah Boy, Serf and Shila forwarded the videos to Stomp.
Paul, who got the video from a relative, told Stomp that the videos were forwarded by a student of his relative while she was at East Coast Park on Wednesday afternoon (Jan 31).
The videos were taken between 4pm to 5pm.
In one of the videos, several dinghies could be seen flying in the strong winds amidst people shouting.
The video was taken inside the National Sailing Centre.
In the second video, a garbage bin was seen tumbling and rolling as it was swept away by the gale.
SINGAPORE: A walkway at Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 was flooded on Wednesday (Jan 31) amid heavy rain in parts of Singapore.
Water flowed to the bus stop as well, and a woman was pictured with her feet and footwear wrapped in plastic.
A Channel NewsAsia reader who wanted to remain anonymous said she was on her way home from work when she saw the flooded walkway at about 5.35pm.
“It is also partly because the water is overflowing from the nearby drain,” she told Channel NewsAsia.
“This always happens at this area when there is rain. We have to walk along the road instead and it is dangerous for us.”
The drain overflowing with water at Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2. (Photo: Channel NewsAsia reader)
The National Environment Agency warned at around 4pm that there would be “heavy thundery showers with gusty winds” in many areas of Singapore.
Strong winds sent boats flying at the National Sailing Centre in the afternoon and a large tree fell on Marine Parade Road, blocking several lanes.
This is the second straight day that heavy rain fell across Singapore. On Tuesday, flash floods, fallen trees and even hailstones were reported amid the wet weather.
This story came from tip-offs by readers. If you would like to send in photos or videos of something newsworthy, WhatsApp our Mediacorp news hotline at +65 8218 8281 or message us on Facebook.
Two men were sent to the hospital after an accident involving a car and a RedMart lorry at the junction of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 and Ang Mo Kio Street 11 at around 10pm yesterday (Jan 31).
The 18-year-old lorry driver was trapped in his vehicle and had to be extricated by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) using hydraulic tools, an SCDF spokesman told Stomp.
He and the 77-year-old car driver were both sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said the police in response to Stomp queries.
Stomp contributor Win Win, who was at the accident scene last night, contributed a video showing the lorry overturned on its side.
SCDF personnel were also seen taking the teenager away on a stretcher.
“There was a crowd of around 50 people,” added Win Win.
on Facebook
Accident at ang mo kio ave 4
Posted by Desmond Hee Teck Chong on Tuesday, 30 January 2018
“SCDF removed the top of the lorry to rescue the driver, who was trapped inside.”
Like Super Bowl in the United States, Spring Festival Gala, known as Chun Wan in Chinese, held by China Central Television (CCTV), is one of the most watched TV shows in the country, with more than 700 million viewers.
With the annual gala just around the corner – it will be aired on Feb 15 – audiences expect some of the biggest stars of the country to perform in the show. Among them, the reunion of pop singers Faye Wong and Na Ying will be one of the highlights.
According to a report by QQ Entertainment, a channel run by China’s internet company Tencent, photos of the two singers in a recording studio, along with producer Qian Lei, and a paper with lyrics of the song titled Chong Feng, or reunion, have been revealed.
Though their performance has not been confirmed yet, we take a trip down memory lane.
Back in 1998, the two singers performed a song titled Let’s Meet in 1998 during the Spring Festival Gala of that year, which became an instant hit and arguably the most played song in the country that year.
It was the first time that Wong, who was 28 then, performed at the gala. In 2010, she performed the song Legend at the Spring Festival Gala. In 2011, she returned to the stage and performed a song titled Because of Love with Hong Kong singer-actor Eason Chan.
Na made her debut performance at Spring Festival Gala in 1995 and since then, she has been a frequent performer on the show.
Both singers are among the biggest-selling artists. Wong withdrew from the limelight after releasing her last Mandarin album, To Love, 2003. After a long hiatus, she held a concert in Shanghai, Faye’s Moments Live. In 2018, she released her latest single, Forever Young, for the same titled movie.
SINGAPORE: Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the metal, machinery and timber industries can expect to lower their operating costs by at least 20 per cent through the use of shared services and facilities at a new six-storey development, TimMac@Kranji, when it is completed in 2020.
These services and facilities will be provided by the Singapore Cranes Association (SCA) and Singapore Timber Association (STA) under a collaboration agreement both trade associations inked with JTC Corporation on Wednesday (Jan 31).
For example, STA will offer services such as chemical treatment, sawmilling and warehousing that are required by most timber companies. These are expected to help timber companies reduce their operating costs by at least 30 per cent and achieve land savings of about 6 ha.
SCA will set up a rooftop heavy vehicle workshop to provide tenants with services such as engine maintenance, towing and recovery services. (Photo: Brandon Tanoto)
Meanwhile, SCA will operate an open yard to support the operations of metal fabricators and machinery owners. These include the assembly of large and bulky metal components.
The open yard will also house a load-testing facility for cranes. Traditionally, metal and machinery companies transport their cranes to another facility to undergo mandatory testing. By sharing the open yard, companies can dedicate the manpower resources and space used for that to other more productive activities. They can also enjoy cost savings of about 20 per cent.
In addition, SCA will set up a rooftop heavy vehicle workshop to provide tenants with services such as maintenance of engines, towing and recovery services. Companies can tap on this to reduce downtime by not having to send their heavy vehicles to another facility for repair works.
The new development is aimed to help companies reduce operating costs and optimise space. (Photo: Brandon Tanoto)
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Dr Koh Poh Koon said trade associations and chambers play an important role as key partners in the country’s industry transformation efforts.
“With their deep knowledge of the industries’ needs and strong networks across the industries, (they) can take the lead to develop common solutions to challenges faced by the industry and drive positive change within the community.”
KEEPING RENTALS “COMPETITIVE” AND TENANCY PERIODS FLEXIBLE
So far, 22 companies have already signed up for units within the new development, a take-up rate of 70 per cent. Mr Leong Hong Yew, director of the food and lifestyle cluster at JTC, said he expects all the remaining units to be snapped up by 2020.
“We are pricing the development at a very competitive level, we want to help our industrialists, on average, it is about S$15 to S$16 per sq m per month on a gross basis. We will offer a standard three-plus-three-years tenancy but if due to whatever reason, if the industrialist needs a tenancy that is different to suit their business needs, we are always open to discussions, like five-plus-five-years tenancy perhaps.”
Based on the estimated prices cited by Mr Leong, one modular unit will cost about S$19,200 a month to rent.
The modular units start from 1,200 sq m and allow SMEs to take up adjacent units to ramp up their space by nearly four times to up to 4,000 sq m, providing them with the flexibility to configure their operational spaces according to their needs.
TimMac@Kranji will achieve land savings by clustering these companies in a high-rise development while at the same time, meeting their operational needs. (Photo: Brandon Tanoto)
These units will also have high ceilings of up to 12m to facilitate the adoption of overhead cranes, as well as heavy floor loading of up to 50 kilonewtons per sq m to accommodate heavy automation machinery.
SCA will operate an open yard to support the operations of metal fabricators and machine owners – the yard will support repair works, assembly of large metal structures, and serve as a load-testing facility for cranes. (Photo: Brandon Tanoto)
All in, the new development is aimed at helping companies reduce operating costs and optimise space. It stands on a land area of 5.97ha with an estimated land savings of 20ha. It has a gross floor area of 134,620 sq m.
In tropical Malaysia and Singapore, Winter Olympics medals are rarer than snowflakes — but a dedicated group of athletes are hoping to change that as they make their countries’ debut Games appearances.
A Singaporean speed skater, as well as a figure skater and skier from Malaysia will compete in the Games, a huge achievement for countries better known for palm-fringed beaches and year-round heat than winter sports.
It is the latest sign of an unlikely, yet growing, interest in ice and snow sports in a winterless, steamy region, where temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees Celsius in most places.
A major milestone for winter sports in the region came last year when they featured for the first time at the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia, with ice hockey, figure skating and speed skating making their debuts.
But it was not without problems — puddles formed on the hockey rink during matches, slowing down the puck and forcing marshalls with squeegees to dash onto the ice to mop up the water.
Figure skater Julian Yee, who will represent Malaysia at next month’s Games, is typical of athletes from the region who have had to overcome a lack of facilities, limited official support and public scepticism to pursue their dreams.
When growing up, the only places he could find to practise were a handful of small, crowded rinks in the shopping malls scattered around the capital Kuala Lumpur.
Photo: AFP
Figure skating on the tiny rinks was “like trying to get an A380 (world’s biggest airliner) to land on a very small runway”, the 20-year-old told AFP.
But he persevered and began training in the morning and evening when the rinks were less crowded.
“I skated two times a day, six days — sometimes six-and-a-half days — a week,” he said.
Are you mad?
There were no official programmes or funding for figure skating so Yee’s parents had to spend huge amounts of their own money on his training.
They also sent him to train abroad during school holidays, in China and South Korea.
“People said: ‘Are you mad? You’re sacrificing all this money,'” his mother Irene Cheow told AFP. “We’re looked at differently now.”
Yee’s efforts paid off and he won gold at last year’s Southeast Asian Games, and came eighth in the 2017 Asian Winter Games. His crowning glory was qualification for Pyeongchang, alongside Malaysian skier Jeffrey Webb.
Speed skater Cheyenne Goh has faced similar challenges in neighbouring Singapore, where even a modest cold snap can set the population shivering.
This month a freak monsoon surge sent the mercury plummeting to almost 21 degrees Celsius — chilly by Singapore standards — sending people rushing to the shops to buy scarves and winter jackets.
But unlike her compatriots, Goh got a taste for a cold climate after moving to Canada aged four, where she developed a love of winter sports.
The 18-year-old initially took up ice hockey, a staple of Canadian life, before discovering short-track speed skating while watching the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
As well as qualifying for the Olympics, she has represented Singapore at the Asian Winter Games and won two silver medals and a bronze at last year’s SEA Games.
No winter to speak of
Goh, who is taking a year off after high school and splits her time between Singapore and Canada, insisted her success was not unusual.
“It’s not all that strange that I’m representing a country with no winter to speak of at a winter sport,” she told AFP after a recent training session in the city-state.
She is modest about her chances of matching the success of swimmer Joseph Schooling, who won Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal in Rio in 2016.
But supporters hope her participation in the women’s 1,500 metres category will encourage more Singaporeans to take up winter sports.
“After Joseph Schooling’s gold medal, many more became keen on swimming — and we are hoping that the same happens to us,” said Singapore Ice Skating Association president Sonja Chong.
The Malaysian and Singaporean athletes join a small group of Southeast Asians heading to Pyeongchang, including several from Thailand and the Philippines.
No matter how well he does, Malaysian skater Yee said his qualification had already shown that athletes from the tropics can prove the doubters wrong.
“It really does show that many things are possible,” he said. “Even without winter in Malaysia, we can still be there.”
Sightings of hailstones were reported in various parts of Singapore on Tuesday evening (Jan 30) amidst the torrential rainfall.
Stomp contributor Naqib was riding his motorbike along the Seletar Expressway (SLE) at around 5pm when he was struck by hails.
He told Stomp in a phone interview that he had stopped under a bridge near Exit 1A after being struck.
Said Naqib: “Usually because you are riding, just the rain hitting you can be quite painful. Yesterday, it just felt ‘abnormal’. Lucky I was wearing a full suit and raincoat.
Naqib stopped his bike under the bridge and realised that there were many spherical bodies resembling pebbles on the ground.
