30-day visa-free travel between Singapore, China to begin in early 2024
Singapore and China will implement a 30-day mutual visa-free arrangement, as part of efforts to strengthen links between the people from both countries, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the top bilateral forum between the two countries on Dec 7.
The two countries will work out the details and implement the new visa regime early next year.
This means that citizens from both countries can visit the other for up to 30 days without a visa.
Currently, China passport holders have to apply for a visa to enter Singapore, while Singaporeans can go to China for up to 15 days visa-free.
SingPost to raise international postage rates by 5 cents from Jan 1
The cost of sending most international airmail letters, printed papers, aerogrammes and postcards will go up by five cents from Jan 1, Singapore Post announced on Dec 7.
Exceptions include rates for aerogrammes to Malaysia and Brunei, which will remain at 80 cents each, as well as mail charges for additional weightage.
For aerogrammes to all countries except Malaysia and Brunei, the new rate will be 85 cents, up from 80 cents currently.
HDB resale prices rise 0.4% in November, fewer units sold amid year-end lull
Prices of Housing Board resale flats climbed 0.4 per cent in November, and fewer units were sold amid the year-end school holiday lull.
HDB resale flat prices continued to rise for the second consecutive month, following a decline in September. Prices were up 5.4 per cent year on year.
The number of resale flats sold in November fell by 2.8 per cent to an estimated 2,138 units, in contrast with the 10.8 per cent increase in October.
Man charged with outrage of modesty for alleged sexual assault of 2-year-old girl
A 59-year-old man has been accused of sexually assaulting a two-year-old girl.
The Malaysian, who is a Singapore permanent resident, was charged in court on Dec 6 with one count of using criminal force to a person below 14 years old with intent to outrage modesty.
The man had allegedly used criminal force on the toddler by placing his right hand inside her diaper and using his fingers to molest her.
BTO flats at Tanglin Halt, two Bedok projects to go on sale in February
Flats at an integrated development in Tanglin Halt and two projects in Bedok are among nearly 4,100 units across seven Build-To-Order (BTO) developments that will go on sale in February 2024.
Flats beside the Punggol Reservoir in Sumang and a 1,120-unit project in Woodlands will also be on offer.
The Housing Board on Dec 5 released details on its website of seven projects that will be launched in the first BTO sale exercise of 2024. It will offer flats in Bedok, Queenstown, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Punggol and Woodlands.
Police, ICA crack down on illegal immigrants using factories, drains as hideouts
The authorities are clamping down on criminal activities taking place in vacant buildings in industrial areas, including premises that have been used by illegal immigrants as hideouts.
The Singapore Police Force and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Dec 5 conducted an operation to flush out unauthorised individuals, including illegal immigrants, in the Sungei Kadut industrial estate area.
Officers found a range of items that suggested one vacant building in the area was used as a drug den, and a concealed drain measuring about 90cm wide and 2m high was used as a hideout.
