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...
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