The Land Transport Authority’s (LTA)
next-generation e-payment system for public transit, Symphony for
e-Payment (SeP), is ready for implementation...
With SeP, commuters will be able to use
cards issued by any card issuer for transit purposes as long as the
card complies with the CEPAS standard and includes the transit
application. Commuters can eventually use CEPAS-compliant cards for
Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) payments in vehicles fitted with the
new generation In-vehicle Unit (IU), Electronic Parking System (EPS)
carparks and other electronic payment systems that support the CEPAS
standard...
To give more priority to buses on our
roads the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will introduce a pilot
scheme to make it mandatory to give way to all buses exiting at 23
selected bus stops located along three roads...
In the first 10 months of 2008
(January-October), there were a total of 382 reported new HIV cases
among Singapore residents. In comparison, there were 423 HIV cases
notified for the whole of 2007. It can be expected that the total
number of notified HIV cases in 2008 will exceed that of last year.
There has been an increase in the number
of HIV tests done in Singapore in 2008, compared to 2007. The total
number of HIV tests carried out for Singapore residents by local
laboratories from January through September 2008 was 124,559,
compared to 102,490 over the same time period in 2007. This
represents a 22% increase this year...
The Ministry of Health (MOH) will place
tuberculosis (TB) under the Sixth Schedule of the Infectious
Diseases Act (IDA) with effect from 1 December 2008, This will
further strengthen public health measures against the spread of the
disease, especially amongst air travellers...
There were 700[2]new cases of TB
notified among Singapore residents in the first 6 months of 2008, as
compared to 1,256 cases last year. The projected incidence of TB in
2008 is 38.4 per 100,000, which is higher than the 35.1 per 100,000
in 2007...
The Ministry of Health will increase the
number of anonymous HIV test sites in Singapore from the current three -
Anteh Dispensary, Cambridge Clinic, and the Action for AIDS Anonymous
HIV Testing and Counseling Clinic - to seven, with
effect from 1 November 2008...
The outbreak of Salmonellosis linked to the
Prima Deli factory has ceased. There have been no new cases with
reported onset of illness following the factory closure on 4 Dec 07...
AVA will allow the company to resume its
factory operations in two stages under supervision.
With immediate effect, Prima Deli will
be allowed to produce food products that undergo high heat treatment
such as baked products and frozen dough to be baked in the outlets.
If there is no operational hygiene deficiency, full factory
operation may be resumed to produce the other products containing
ingredients not subjected to heat treatment such as cakes with
toppings...
Police would also like to advise revellers
and shoppers to be vigilant against opportunists who might commit molest
in crowds. Most of these molest cases happen in crowded areas where the
suspect would touch the victim and move away. In some, the suspect would
spray foam onto the victim and commit molest in the process...
In enforcement operations conducted over a
13 day period, 14 errant taxi drivers were nabbed at several spots such
as Boat Quay, CHIJMES, Clarke Quay, Mustafa Centre, Orchard Towers and
Shenton Way.
Of these, 6 taxi drivers were found
overcharging and 8 were caught for refusing to convey passengers. None
was found touting...
MOH and theAgri-Food & Veterinary Authority
(AVA) conducted joint inspections of Prima Food Pte Ltd which produces
the chocolate cakes for all Prima Deli retail outlets.
Food and environmental samples were taken
for laboratory analysis. Preliminary results on 03 December 2007 for the
food samples are suggestive of Salmonella as the likely causative agent...
As at 03 December 2007, there were a total
of 106 cases including six hospitalised cases, all of whom have been
discharged. Six cases tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis. The
last case had onset of illness on 26 November 2007.
Out of the164
Singaporeans detected to be HIV infected in the first six months, about
93% of the new cases detected this year were males and 7% were females.
Sexual transmission remains the main mode of HIV
transmission among Singaporeans. Of the 164 cases reported in the first
6 months of 2007, 155 cases acquired the infection through the sexual
route, with heterosexual transmission accounting for 67% of infections,
homosexual transmission 24% and bisexual transmission 3%. Intravenous
drug use (4 cases) accounted for 2%...
Apart from the meetings held in
Shangri-La Hotel, there will be several other key events, which
the Leaders and delegates will attend as part of the official
programme. They include the following:
a Gala Dinner at Raffles City
Convention Centre on Tuesday, 20 Nov 2007 .
b Reception at the Asian Civilisations Museum on Wednesday, 21 Nov
2007.
c Dinner at Istana on Wednesday, 21 Nov 2007...
As part of the security and traffic
arrangements, Police will deploy resources to conduct roadblocks and
security checks at and around all the event venues.
Over a five day period from 30 October - 3
November 2007, 26 taxi drivers were found overcharging, seven were found
touting while the rest were caught for refusing to convey passengers, in
enforcement operations conducted at several spots such as Sentosa,
Clarke Quay, Orchard Towers and Boat Quay...
With the planned landscape and
infrastructural enhancements, Singapore’s premier shopping street will
have state of the art lighting highlighting its lush tree-lined
boulevard, new creative spaces for staging events and a more integrated
and engaging pedestrian mall...
Orchard Road's infrastructure works will be
carried out in phases to minimise disruption to businesses and the public, while
access points to buildings will be maintained at all times...
From 1 November 2007 onwards, persons who
move into or out of Singapore physical currency1 or bearer
negotiable instruments2 (CBNI) the total value of which
exceeds SGD 30,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) will be
required to give a report by filling up a form and submitting it to the
authorities.
The form is available at all checkpoints,
police establishments, Singapore Visitors Centres and branches of
Singapore Post...
The new section 376C (Commercial sex
with minor under 18 outside Singapore) will have extra-territorial
effect so that it would be an offence for Singapore citizens and
Permanent Residents to solicit or engage in commercial sex with
minors under 18 in other countries...
Feedback received highlighted concerns over
female sexual abuse of male minors. On further consideration, we accept
that these younger male children could be exploited by older women.
Consequently, we have decided to make it an offence for a woman to
engage in penile penetrative sexual acts with a male minor under 16 and
to have commercial sex with a male minor under 18...
Whilst prostitution per se is not an
offence, new section 376B (Commercial sex with minor under 18)
will make it an offence for a person to solicit, communicate or
obtain sexual services from a minor under 18 years of age...
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)
has launched a dedicated microsite1 for Changi Airport's Terminal 3 or
T3 to provide visitors the opportunity to explore Changi's newest and
largest terminal from anywhere in the world.
Themed "Explore Paradise", the microsite is
an interactive one-stop link for visitors to intimately discover T3
through virtual tours, fun downloads, visuals and contests. Visitors can
also obtain informative details of the new terminal from the microsite...
MOH is building a regional hospital in
Yishun to better serve residents from the Northern region of Singapore.
Spanning over 3.4 hectares, the 550-bed hospital will offer a
comprehensive range of medical and healthcare services.
The new public sector hospital will be named
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, following the promise of a donation of $125
million from the family of the late banker and philanthropist Tan Sri
Khoo Teck Puat...
A series of road works will be undertaken in
the city centre, which includes road widening works along Raffles
Boulevard from Nicoll Highway to Temasek Avenue.
Other works in the city centre will include
modifications to existing roads, such as the removal of road kerbs and
traffic islands along the confirmed F1 track alignment...
Singapore Changi Airport marks a page in the
Business Traveller United Kingdom (UK) magazine for being the longest
"Best Airport in the World" title holder for the past 20 consecutive
years...
Singapore and the United Kingdom (UK) have
concluded a landmark Open Skies Agreement (OSA) on 2 October 2007,
removing all restrictions on air services operated by carriers of both
countries.
With this agreement, Singapore Airlines (SIA)
will now be able to operate as many services as the Singapore-UK market
could support...
Similarly, UK carriers will be able to
operate any number of services beyond Singapore to any other city
in the world. These rights, which will be effective from end-March
2008, come nearly two decades after Singapore first made its
request to the UK...
By early 2008, all ships in Singapore can
have access to mobile wireless broadband, allowing real-time and
data-intensive communications between the ships and their customers and
business partners...
WISEPORT is one of the initial projects
under the Infocomm@SeaPort programme, which aims to provide a mobile
wireless broadband network within 15km from Singapore's southern
coastline...
It will
be made an offence to engage in penetrative acts
such as oral and anal sex with a minor under the age
of 16, with or without the consent of the minor;
It will
be made an offence to obtain commercial sex from a
minor under the age of 18, or communicate with any
person for such a purpose; and
A new
offence of sexual grooming of minors under the age
of 16 will be introduced...
Our laws are an expression and
reflection of the values of our society and any public discourse
in Singapore on such matters should be reserved for Singaporeans.
Foreigners will not be allowed to
interfere in our domestic political scene, whether in support of
the gay cause or against it.
Clause 11
of the Bill makes it mandatory for anyone physically
carrying currency and bearer negotiable instruments or
CBNI, above S$30,000, into or out of Singapore, to
declare this to the authorities at the checkpoints...
The threshold amount of
S$30,000 is based on the recommendation by the FATF,
and includes not only currency in circulation, but
also bearer negotiable instruments such as travellers
cheques, money orders, cheques, bonds and promissory
notes...
Hence, for clarity, a crossed cheque
made payable to a specific person with the word “bearer” deleted
is not considered a bearer negotiable instrument because only the
person named on the cheque can receive the amount stated on it.
The new measure would be
non-discriminatory and will be imposed on all travellers,
including citizens, residents and foreigners, entering and exiting
the country.
The penalties for non-declaration and false
declaration are a maximum fine of S$50,000 or a term of imprisonment of
up to 3 years or both...
The PTC approved a 1 to 2 cent increase in
adult EZ-Link fares for buses. Senior citizen concessionary EZ-Link bus
fares, which are flat fares pegged to the lowest adult EZ-Link fare band
will also increase by 2 cents...
There will be no increase to all rail
fares, some EZLink adult bus fares, as well as cash fares for
buses, child/student fares and the prices of monthly student/NS
men concession passes...
"For the safety of spectators,
safety barricades will be lined up around the perimeter of the race
circuit. This is similar to the arrangement adopted by most of the
countries hosting F1 races...
"To ensure security for the event,
Police will conduct checks on bags and personal belongings at designated
access points to prevent smuggling of any weapons or prohibited
items. Spectators who refuse to have their bags check can be denied
entry. Spectators who appear to be highly intoxicated could also be
denied entry..."
"As of 1 Aug 2007, the Ministry of Health (MOH)
is allowing HIV testing with rapid HIV test kits to be offered in
medical clinics. Rapid HIV tests are screening tests that produce very
quick results, in approximately 20 minutes...
"Rapid HIV testing can only be conducted in a medical clinic by trained
clinic personnel, and only clinics which have participated in an MOH
training workshop on Rapid HIV Testing are allowed to offer rapid HIV
testing..."
"After careful consideration, the government
believes that it is necessary to corporatise Changi Airport and to
re-structure CAAS’ existing regulatory and strategic functions under a
new regulatory body...
"Corporatisation will enhance Changi
Airport’s ability to compete in this changed landscape. In being more
nimble the new entity will further strengthen Changi’s position as a
premier air hub...
"Corporatisation is a complex process. We
will plan carefully and explore all possible options. The entire process
is expected to take 18 to 24 months..."
"The drug addiction situation in Singapore
is under control, even though 999 drug abusers were arrested in the
first half of this year, compared to 446 over the same period last year.
"Of the total number of abusers arrested,
Buprenorphine abusers formed the majority, at 41%, with heroin abusers
at 30% and synthetic drug abusers at 25%.
"One reason for the increase of 553 abusers
is that the Central Narcotics Bureau gazetted Buprenorphine as a
controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act in August last year..."
"The Singapore Airlines A380 flies its First
Flight from Singapore to Sydney on Thursday 25 October and the return
leg on Friday 26 October.
"A majority of seats on both legs of the
First Flight will be auctioned on eBay, the global online marketplace,
progressively over two weeks from Monday evening (Singapore time), 27
August 2007..."
On 19 August 2007 at about 3.15pm, an
Iranian man was arrested for an offence of theft by sleight of hand. The
man had earlier managed to steal money from foreigners by asking to see
their foreign currency.
"The Singapore Fireworks Celebrations has
lined up two fireworks displays, on 17 and 18 Aug, at the Marina Bay
area to tie in with this year's National Day celebrations..."
"Following consultation with the
Singapore Hotel Association (SHA), the Ministry of Trade and
Industry (MTI) has decided on the following rates for the Formula
One (F1) levy on hotel room revenues:
a. 30% of the total revenues from
rooms and room packages for trackside hotels; and
b. 20% of the total revenues from
rooms and room packages for all other tourist hotels[1]..."
"A fortnight ago, on 27 July 2007, the
Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA, or the World Motor
Sports Council) set the date of the first Singapore Grand Prix as 28
September 2008.
"The 5.05km long street circuit offers a
number of overtaking opportunities, fast turns and technically
challenging sections for F1 race drivers, which, in turn, will present
viewers with compelling race action to keep them on the edge of their
seats.
"More than 70 per cent of the street circuit
is made up of Singapore’s existing road network. The Paddock building
will house the control tower, garages for the teams, hospitality
lounges, Press Room and other facilities..."
"More than 17.7 million passengers
went through Changi Airport in the first six months of the year,
representing a 5.4% increase over the same period last year..."
"All licensed dogs must be
microchipped with an ISO compliant microchip.
"Dogs that were licensed before 1 Sep
07 will be exempted from the requirement. However, owners of such
dogs are strongly encouraged to have their dogs microchipped for
better traceability...
"Under the new Rules1, the
annual licence fee for all unsterilised dogs (both male and
female) is $70 while the licence fee for sterilised dogs is
$14..."
"In line
with the major construction that is happening on our
neighbouring sites, the owners of Hotel Phoenix
Singapore will be discontinuing operations at the
Hotel on 1 August 2007 for a refurbishment.
"While we
are sad to do so after 35 years of operations, we
believe the refurbishment of Hotel Phoenix will add
value to the rejuvenation of Orchard Road and
contribute to the Government's vision of strengthening
Orchard Road's appeal as a major retail, commercial
and entertainment belt..."
"The aim
of the treatment and rehabilitation regime is to give
first and second time abusers a chance at
rehabilitation without the stigmatisation of a
criminal record...
"Recalcitrant abusers with two previous records for
consumption of cannabis or cocaine or that of opiates,
synthetic drugs or buprenorphine who are arrested
again for the consumption of any of these drugs would
be liable for long term imprisonment under the Long
Term (LT) Imprisonment Regime, if convicted..."
"In 2006, about 57,000 persons were granted
permanent residency status in Singapore. These new permanent residents (PRs)
came predominantly from Asian and South-East Asian countries...
"In 2006, about 13,000 persons were
granted Singapore Citizenship (SC). These new SCs came
predominantly from Asian and South-East Asian
countries..."
"Thus, this Bill repeals the existing Act, and
re-enacts a new Passports Act which introduces measures against
the abuse and misuse of Singapore passports and travel documents,
as well as foreign travel documents...
"Clause 45 of the Bill makes it compulsory for
Singaporeans, or a person who has parental responsibility for a
Singaporean aged 16 and below, to report the loss or theft of a
passport within 14 days when he first knows of the fact...
"Clause 23 of the Bill allows the Controller to refuse passports to
persons for law enforcement reasons, such as to persons who have
been placed under supervision under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This
will ensure that they do not indulge in drug-related activities
overseas. Others who may be refused passports include those who
are the subject of warrants of arrest issued for seizeable
offences...
"A person who is found guilty of giving away his Singapore
passport or travel document and is reckless as to whether it will
be misused by another person for travel or for identification
purposes will face a fine of up to $5,000, a jail term of up to
three years, or both..."
"Police arrested two men and three women,
aged 22 - 37 at the airport yesterday after they were found with nine
pieces of luggage containing more than 350 pieces of new garments...
"Preliminary investigations revealed that
about 30 of the items in their possession were found
to be stolen from shops in the Orchard area..."
Singapore Changi Airport has launched a new
magazine for passengers, entitled Changi Class. Changi Class replaces
the fortnightly tabloid, Changi Express. The complimentary monthly
publication will be available at Changi Airport's Departure Transit
Malls from 5 July 2007..."
"ICA will be
tightening the security of non-biometric passports by adopting the same
security measures as those implemented on the Singapore biometric
passport (BioPass).
"Hence, with effect from 1 September 2007
(Saturday), photo update services for non-biometric passports will no
longer be available. Non-biometric passport holders who no longer
resemble their passport photo are advised to update their photos before
1 September 2007...
"Airlines, airport agencies, ground
handlers, shop tenants and other airport business partners operating at
Changi Airport's new Terminal 3 can start to move in and set up their
offices and systems to prepare for operations...
"Terminal 3 and its associated works cost
S$1.75 billion. It will have a handling capacity of 22 million
passengers per year, bringing the total annual passenger handling
capacity of Changi Airport to about 70 million..."
"Land Transport Authority (LTA), Traffic
Police (TP) and the Tampines Grassroots Organisations (GROs) will be
conducting a study in the Tampines Town to assess the feasibility of
allowing cycling on footways with effect from 27 May 2007.
"The study will last for one year and end on
30 May 2008...
"Currently, under Rule 28 of the Road Traffic
Rules, enacted in 1981, cycling on footways is prohibited. Like any
other vehicles, bicycles are to be ridden on the roads and cyclists are
required to abide by all relevant traffic rules and regulations..."
"During a committee meeting on January 27,
2007, Wildlife Reserves Singapore’s Animal Welfare & Ethics Committee (AWEC)
has made a recommendation that Inuka the polar bear should remain in
Singapore and not be relocated to a temperate country following his
mother’s demise...
"AWEC and Singapore Zoo, nevertheless, will
continue to keep an open view. With new discoveries every so often in
veterinary science, captive animal breeding and management around the
world, there will be a need to again assess the situation at that point
in time when Sheba passes on...
"The inaugural Awards
ceremony will be held some time in early August 2007
and thereafter, it will be held annually...
"The Awards will
recognise industry players that are innovative in organising
business events and whose expertise and service levels meet global
standards..."
Kingfisher
Marine announces the launch of Azurea, an new
membership scheme that provides easy and affordable
access to the exclusive world of lifestyle yachting...
Azurea is specifically designed for
the busy professional who wants to simply climb on board with his
family or friends and go boating!
The scheme removes all of
the uncertainties associated with chartering and
relieves members of all the responsibilities and
expense normally associated with ownership.
"Singapore will be implementing new aviation
security measures for hand-carry luggage on flights departing Singapore
from 8 May 2007 (Tuesday), 1200hrs..."
"Together with the two IRs, these will help
us achieve our target to attract 17 million visitors and generate S$30
billion in tourism receipts by the year 2015...
"In terms of manpower, the two IRs
combined are expected to create some 50,000 to 60,000 additional
jobs throughout the economy when both are fully operational..."
"When asked, the man did not declare any
items. Subsequent screening revealed images that appeared to be guns
within his baggage. A physical check of his check-in carton revealed 20
sets of pellet guns and 5 bottles of pellets. He was subsequently
detained for investigation.
"Police investigated a total of 38 cases
involving airsoft guns in 2006. Since the beginning of this year (2007),
Police have investigated 21 such cases. Most of these airsoft guns were
detected at the airport and other checkpoints, as well as the Singapore
Post Centre..."
"Fly high for the best view of Singapore for
the affordable price of just $29.50! Singaporeans can now snap up the
experience of a life-time on the Asia's latest world-class iconic
attraction - the Singapore Flyer - at a fraction of the price of tickets
on other observation wheels around the world...
"The iconic landmark attraction is set
to usher in 2008 with a big bang when operations take flight early
1st quarter..."
"The attraction will run two shows
every night, 365 days a year. The open-air styled viewing gallery
can comfortably seat 2,500 visitors. Each show lasts 25 minutes..."
"Resorts
World at Sentosa will welcome some 10 million
tourists, excluding local visitors, by 2015,
generating S$15 billion in tourism receipts, half of
Singapore’s target.
"Spending
per diem on entertainment and sightseeing is expected
to be more than six times higher than current spending
levels...
"In
anticipation of the increase in tourist traffic to
Sentosa Island, Resorts World at Sentosa is also
committed to significantly enhance the existing
infrastructure of the island by building a new
three-lane bridge, adjacent to the existing Sentosa
Gateway Bridge...
"Since the beginning of the year, there have
been 124 cases of snatch theft reported. Of these cases, 67 cases
involved the stealing of handphones...
"More recently on 6 Mar at about
6.45am, a teenaged male victim lost his handphone to a snatch
thief when he was hit on the back of the head whilst walking near
Tampines St 41. The culprit picked up the $100 mobile phone that
the victim dropped and fled with it..."
MR RAYMOND LIM,
MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND SECOND MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
"Beyond this, the LTA is completing its
feasibility studies for a new 33-station Downtown Line that will
link the eastern and north western corridors to the Marina Bay.
"When the Downtown Line is up,
residents in Bukit Panjang, Bukit Timah, Bedok Reservoir and
Macpherson can take the train to see the bright lights of the
Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort...
"As part of our long-term planning for
a future Singapore of 6.5 million population, we expect that we
will need to at least double our current rail network of 138 km
for a 50% increase in population. That means putting in the
equivalent of at least 7 North-east Lines..."
"The Naturalisation Eligibility Tool
is a free online self-assessment system, to assist foreigners
working and staying in Singapore to assess if they are eligible
for either Singapore Permanent Residence (SPR) or Singapore
Citizenship (SC)...
"Overseas foreigners are also able to
use the system although theirs will only be a hypothetical
assessment. These overseas foreigners are given the option to
provide their contact particulars to enable ICA to contact them if
necessary..."
In 2005, as part of Police’s overall
enforcement strategy, more resources were diverted to ensure greater
police presence on our roads to deter motorists from flouting traffic
rules.
"The public had by then become more aware of the PSLC
deployment through Traffic Police’s website and radio.
"This contributed to the number of
summonses issued for speeding falling 37% to 51,800 in 2005 as
compared to 2004. In 2006, the number of summonses issued for
speeding decreased 13% to 45,130 compared to the 51,800 summonses
issued in 2005..."
"To ensure that our security concerns of
mail integrity and accountability are met, SingPost will continue to
hold the full set of letterbox masterdoor keys...
"As national stamps carry the
country's name and to prevent consumer confusion over which PPL
the national stamp belongs to, SingPost will continue to be the
only one to issue these stamps...
"For greater operational efficiency,
Singapore will keep a centralised postal code management system.
SingPost will continue to manage this centralised system, while
providing access to the postal codes database to all interested
PSOs..."
"With
effect from 1 January 2007, the public bus and taxi
companies, namely, SBS Transit Ltd, SMRT Buses Ltd,
Comfort Transportation Pte Ltd, Yellow-Top Cab Pte
Ltd, CityCab Pte Ltd, SMRT Taxis Pte Ltd, Trans-Cab
Services Pte Ltd, Smart Automobile Pte Ltd and Premier
Taxis Pte Ltd, will handle all properties found in
their vehicles and handle all reports on lost and
found properties made by their customers and
drivers..."
"Come 2007, Singaporeans will be ushering the
new year with at least 24 months, or two years, of free (basic tier)
wireless connectivity at up to 512 kbps speeds almost everywhere -
thanks to IDA's 'Wireless@SG' programme...
"The three operators are extending this
two-year free offering with unlimited usage to all residents and
visitors in Singapore, including tourists and business travellers.
The sign-up details will be made known from December 2006 by the
operators..."
"MOH has investigated into the Ang Mo Kio
Secondary School outbreak which occurred on 25-28 Sep and established
the cause as norovirus gastroenteritis. Investigations into the cause of
outbreak at Stamford Primary School are still in progress although
norovirus has also been identified.
"As at Friday, 6 Oct, two other schools [ACS(I)
and Maris Stella (Primary)] have reported 20-30 cases of students and
staff falling ill with similar symptoms. These cases are also being
investigated to determine their cause..."
"The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has
awarded to IBM the contract to build the core backend technology
infrastructure for LTA’s next-generation smart card e-payment system –
Symphony for e-payment (e-Symphony)...
"The high-performance and high-speed backend
infrastructure is expected to double the present capacity and will be
capable of handling about 10 million financial transactions per day..."
"There has been an increase in the number of
persons attending the polyclinics for acute diarrhoea over the past
three weeks...
"However, in view of the recent outbreaks of
norovirus gastroenteritis in two schools affecting a large number of
school children, the Ministry would like to advise the public to be
vigilant about diarrhoeal illnesses..."
"The focal point of the proposed Spaceport
Singapore will be suborbital spaceflights. As each suborbital vehicle
reaches its maximum altitude of 100 kilometers, passengers will
experience up to five minutes of continuous weightlessness, all the
while gazing at the blackness of space set against the horizon of Earth..."
The Ministry of Manpower will introduce a
Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) from 1 January 2007 to help us better
attract and retain global talent...
The PEP allows the holder to remain in
Singapore for up to six months in between jobs to evaluate new
employment opportunities. This helps us to retain selected global talent
who would otherwise have to leave Singapore...
The PEP will be issued only once with a
validity of 5 years. It will be nonrenewable. A PEP holder will retain
the dependant privileges of his original EP type and the minimum annual
basic salary requirement of S$30,000 will continue to apply throughout
the 5-year duration...
"From 14 August 2006, doctors will not be permitted to
prescribe and dispense any take-home dosages for existing
patients.
"All
patients who require Subutex will have to consume their
medication under direct visual observation of the pharmacist, doctor
and/or his treatment team on a daily basis1 ..."
"While some heroin addicts appeared to have
benefited from Subutex, many others seem to have merely shifted their
addiction from heroin to Subutex.
"In addition, many more who have never tried
drugs before have become new addicts. Within 4 years of introduction, we
now have at least 3800 Subutex users, 45% of them Malay, 43% Chinese and
10% Indian..."
"Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) will
henceforth be exempted from applying for exit permits for short overseas
trips of less than 3 months...
"NSmen who have completed their
Operationally-Ready National Service Training Cycle and have been
phased into the MINDEF Reserve (MR) will no longer be required to
notify the MNC of their overseas trips of more than 24 hours and
less than 6 months..."
"To facilitate a smooth transition to the BioPass system, ICA will
have to close some of its passport application services counters
from 9 Aug 2006.
"This will allow ICA to install and test the BioPass
systems before its actual launch. As such, only limited
passport application avenues will be available from 10 to 14
August 2006..."
"Crimes involving handphones being
stolen, which was one of the key concerns in 2005, decreased
significantly, from 2,423 to 1,962 cases, in the first half of
2006...
"The drop in handphone crimes, despite
the continued high mobile phone penetration rate in Singapore3
, may be in part due to enhanced public education on such crimes
as well as tighter enforcement against errant second-hand
handphone dealers..."
"This large scale exercise will involve over
1,000 personnel from MOH, the Ministry of Education (MOE), home-front
and related agencies such as the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS),
Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA), Maritime Port Authority (MPA)
and the People's Association..."
Food outlets such as hawker centres,
coffeeshops, cafes and fast food restaurants will be smoke-free from 1st
July. To protect patrons from second-hand smoke, smokers are reminded to
light up only at designated smoking corners.
Under this new regulation, smoking is banned
within the indoor refreshment areas (IRA) of all foodshops (Eg.
Coffeeshops, Cafes, Restaurants). They can designate up to 20% of the
floor area in their outdoor refreshment areas (ORA) as a smoking corner
upon NEA’s approval...
"Rising wealth in Asia, and the focus
on Asian growth prospects have seen total assets under management
in Singapore's fund management industry grow from about S$280
billion in 2000 to much more than S$600 billion now.
"Growth in private banking assets under
management has also been strong, with anecdotal feedback suggesting
Singapore private banking AUM averaging 20% per annum over the past
few years to about US$200 billion currently...
"Our reputation for high standards of
regulation and supervision and a robust legal and judicial
framework, is trusted by financial intermediaries and clients alike
to conduct wealth management activities..."
Under the new requirements,
establishments administering foot-reflexology, physiotherapy,
traditional massage or curative massage must ensure that the
massage services are conducted in full view of the public and
satisfy the following new requirements before they are
exempted from the provisions of the Act...
Those who are currently already
operating in the industry are required to register their details by
26 Aug 2006.
To safeguard public health and safety,
masseuses, therapists and reflexologists who are working or will be
working in licensed massage establishments may be required to
undergo and pass a medical health screening before they can be
allowed to work for any licensed establishment for massage...
Smoking ban will be extended to hawker
centres, coffeeshops and cafes come 1st July.
To protect patrons from second-hand smoke, foodshop operators can set up smoking corners for
those who want to light up. To date, close to half of the affected
outlets have decided to set up smoking corners in their outdoor
refreshment areas...
"...the victim was told that the buyers'
funds were in blackened United States currency 'notes' held at
the South African Embassy in Singapore. The victim was told to
pay the suspect a sum of USD2,100 purportedly as 'late
charges' to secure the release of the funds..."
Terminal 3 will also employ
state-of-the-art technologies to create a seamless environment for
passengers transferring between the three terminals at Changi
Airport.
These include a new People Mover System
with a total of seven train stations located at various points
within the three terminals, and a high-speed baggage system to
facilitate quick transfers of bags between terminals...
In Singapore, the number of HIV-positive
people has climbed steadily from the first case detected here in 1985 to
2,641 by December 2005. Three out of four (74.77%) who are infected are
actively employed...
In 2005, out of the 255 new cases reported,
a great majority (87%) comprised the age group of 20 - 59 years old,
with those aged 20 - 49 years accounting for as much as 70% of all new
cases...
MINDEF will require
pre-enlistees aged 13 to 16½ to apply for Exit Permits if they
intend to be away from Singapore for 3 months or more.
Those who require Exit Permits of 2
years or more will be required to furnish a bond...
The penalty regime for Exit Permit
offences for those aged 13 to 16˝ will be only a fine of
up to $2,000, with no custodial sentences...
We will thus be introducing a new
offence in the Enlistment Act under which parents and guardians can
be made liable for the Exit Permit offences of their children or
wards of ages 13 to 16½ so that the penalty can be imposed on their
parents or guardians when the circumstances warrant it. The penalty
regime for the offence will also be a fine of up to $2,000...
To discourage locals from developing into problem gamblers,
Section 116 of the Bill shall require the casino operators to
collect an entry levy from Singapore Citizens and Permanent
Residents for every consecutive 24 hours in the casinos or
$2,000 for an annual membership.
This levy will also underscore the message that gambling is an
expense and not a means to get rich...
Section 108 of the Bill shall prohibit casino and junket
operators from extending credit to Singapore Citizens and Permanent
Residents, unless they maintain a credit balance of at least
$100,000 with the casino operator at the start of their gaming which
would qualify them as premium players.
Automated Teller Machines or ATMs shall be prohibited within the
casinos under Section 109 of the Bill so that patrons will not have
easy access to their savings accounts to gamble continuously.
Minors are also another potentially vulnerable group who may fall
prey to the glamour of the casino, without realising the possible
dangers of gambling. Sections 130 to 137 of the Bill will prohibit
persons below the age of 21 years from entering the casinos...
10th February 2006 at 6 pm
(Friday) to 12th February 2006 at 2 am (Sunday)
There will be a religious foot procession
comprising about 20,000 devotees carrying kavadis and their supporters
between 12 midnight on Friday, 10th February 2006 and 12 midnight, on
Saturday, 11th February 2006.
"Ever since September 11 and the arrest of
the Jemaah Islamiyah members in Singapore, we have stepped up our
security measures...
"Exercise Northstar V is the largest scale
exercise we have conducted so far. We simulated a scenario with multiple
bomb explosions and a chemical agent release in 4 MRT stations and 1 bus
interchange, to stretch ourselves and test our capabilities..."
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