|
Budget
Hotels
Budget Terminal (Opening on 26 March 2006)
-
$45-million Budget Terminal for low-cost
carriers completed
Luggage Repair
Lost & Found
Internet
Cafes
Events & Happenings
Expatriates
Buy & Sell Used Things
Say Something
Clearance of Travellers through Customs
-
Red and Green Channels for customs clearance
Others
-
Summary of key amendments to the Penal Code
-
Food items individual travellers may bring into Singapore
Backpacker Groups:
|
Singapore |
|
|
Backpackers Society
(Singapore)
|
|
101, Dunlop Street
Singapore 209420
|
|
Registered 25 Mar 2004 |
|
Web sites:
|
|
knapsack.net
backpacking and adventure travelogues by Singapore writer. |
|
Pow.com.sg
is the Web site of The Prince of Wales - Backpacker Pub, the only
backpacker pub in Singapore. |
2008
|
More clinics to offer anonymous HIV testing |
|
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... |
|
More..... |
|
2007
-
Singapore welcomes 10 millionth visitor
|
PrimaDeli allowed to resume factory operations |
|
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... |
|
More..... |
|
|
Police advise festive revellers to remain vigilant
against crime |
|
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... |
|
More..... |
|
|
Comfort and CityCab taxi fares to go up on 17 Dec 2007 |
|
Basic Fare |
|
Current |
Revised |
|
Flag Down: $2.50 for 1st km
1km to 10km: $0.10 for every 210m
Above 10km: $0.10 for every 175m
Waiting time: $0.10 for every 25sec |
Flag Down: $2.80 for 1st km
1km to 10km: $0.20 for every 385m
Above 10km: $0.20 for every 330m
Waiting time: $0.20 for every 45sec |
|
|
More..... |
|
|
Taxi
enforcement update |
|
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... |
|
More..... |
|
|
MOH advise public to discard chocolate cakes from
Prima Deli |
|
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. |
|
More..... |
|
|
HIV cases
on the rise in 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%... |
|
More..... |
|
|
Road closures for ASEAN Summit meetings |
|
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. |
|
More..... |
|
|
Stiffer measures to deter errant taxi drivers |
- Stiffer penalties for errant
taxi drivers
- Taxi advisories for the public
- More taxi stands within the
Central Business District (CBD) / Street hail of taxis on CBD
roads disallowed from 1 March 2008
- Enhanced taxi QoS requirements
fully phased in from 1 January 2008
- Taxi Mystery Customer Audit
kicked off
|
|
More..... |
|
|
Crackdown on errant taxi drivers |
|
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... |
|
More..... |
|
|
S$40 million infrastructure upgrade for Orchard Road |
|
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... |
|
Works are expected to be completed by April
2009. |
|
More..... |
|
|
Travellers to declare currency or bearer negotiable
instruments over S$30,000 |
|
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... |
|
More..... |
|
|
The Penal Code (Amendment) Bill passed |
|
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... |
|
More..... |
|
|
Experience Changi Airport's new Terminal 3 on
microsite |
|
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... |
|
More..... |
|
|
Singapore and UK conclude landmark Open Skies
Agreement |
|
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... |
|
More..... |
|
|
Summary of key amendments to the Penal Code |
|
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... |
|
More..... |
|
|
Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes
(Confiscation of Benefits) Act passed |
|
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... |
|
More..... |
|
|
1 to
2 cents increase in bus fares and no increase in rail
fares |
|
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... |
|
More..... |
|
|
Rapid HIV testing now available in medical clinics |
|
"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..." |
|
More..... |
|
|
Drug addiction situation in Singapore |
|
"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..." |
|
More..... |
|
|
Sleight Of hand culprit nabbed |
|
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. |
|
More..... |
|
|
Formula
One (F1) levy on hotel room revenues |
|
"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]..." |
|
More..... |
|
|
Inaugural F1 Singapore Grand Prix to be held on 28 Sep
2008 |
|
"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..... |
|
|
Rehabilitation regime for first and second-time
abusers of cannabis and cocaine |
|
"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..." |
|
More..... |
|
|
Five Vietnamese nationals arrested for stealing spree |
|
"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..." |
|
More..... |
|
|
Changi Airport launches new lifestyle magazine Changi
Class |
|
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..." |
|
More..... |
|
|
Changi Airport's Terminal 3 to start operations on 9 Jan 2008 |
|
"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..." |
|
More..... |
|
|
Impact of the two Integrated Resorts in 2010 |
|
"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..." |
|
More..... |
|
|
Man to be charged for importing pellet guns |
|
"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..." |
|
More..... |
|
|
Pre-bookings for flights on Singapore Flyer |
|
"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..." |
|
More..... |
|
Beware of snatch thieves in streets and common areas |
|
"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..." |
|
More..... |
|
-
Crazy
Horse Paris in Singapore to close
-
Chinatown light-up and bazaar for Chinese New Year
|
Public transport operators to handle lost & found
properties |
|
"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..." |
|
More..... |
|
2006
-
Marina Bay and Orchard Road Countdown 2006/2007
events
-
Web surfing in Singapore largely back to normal
-
Damaged undersea cables cause slow Internet access in
Singapore
-
Singapore hit by heavy rain and flash floods
-
Central and northeast Singapore experience tremors
-
Genting International and Star Cruises wins Sentosa
IR bid
-
Three years of free Wi-Fi for Singapore from 1 Dec
2006
-
US President’s Visit to Singapore
-
Scenic Changi Point coastline opens to the public
-
Police bust foreign housebreaking syndicate
-
Singapore Zoo adds braille interpretives for visually
handicapped
-
15 sleight-of-hand cases reported since January 2006
Two Years of Free Wi-Fi for Singapore |
|
"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 -
| | |
