Teenager slashed by hoodlums

A 19 year old youth was left with a deep gash on his left forearm after a gang of young boys set upon him with choppers and parangs last Saturday night.

He is currently recuperating in Changi General Hospital (CGH).

The victim who only wanted to be known as Bob said he and two friends, also 19, were walking back from a friend’s house at Block 263 in Tampines Street 21 at about 11.45pm when they passed a group of about seven to nine other boys.

The group then followed Bob and his friends for the next two to three minutes. (story)

Malaysian family charged with human smuggling

A Malaysian woman and her two grown children were charged on Friday with trying to sneak three Sri Lankan kids to London. The trio were arrested Thursday evening at Changi Airport after a security officer suspected the children’s identities did not match the Malaysian passports they held.

The kids, all about 11 years old, were about to board a plane for London with the suspects, according to the charges filed.

Police are probing whether the incident is connected to a larger child-smuggling operation. Police spokesman Ng Siew Hua said the kids be cared for while investigations continue.

Looking grim, Madam Vigiletchumi Suparayan, 61, was produced at a special court session yesterday with her son Sangar Shanmugam, 39, and daughter Pathmavathy Shanmugam, 31.

They were charged with conspiring with others to bring the three children to London. (story)

Changi Airport handles a record 36.7 million passengers in 2007

Singapore’s Changi Airport handled record passenger traffic of 36.7 million in 2007, up almost 5 percent from the previous year, the government said Monday. Last year’s passenger traffic broke the previous record of 35.03 million set in 2006 and was driven by strong growth in China and India, the airport operator, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, said.

Emerging markets like Vietnam, Russia and South Africa also contributed to last year’s record showing, it said. (story)

Woman dies in car crash

She was the family’s sole breadwinner but on Thursday morning, 29-year-old Rachel Quek lost her life in a tragic car accident which left two others injured.

The human resource professional died about nine hours after a car driven by her boyfriend, Mr Chiang Kwok Wai, rammed into a tree in a suspected drunk driving case.

Ms Quek was in the backseat of the blue Suzuki Swift. The couple’s friend, Mr Tay Huay Kia, was also in the car.

It was travelling along Bedok North Avenue 4 on Wednesday at around 11pm when it skidded.

It mounted the road kerb and went through a wire fence before ramming into the tree. The impact wrecked the car so badly that the Singapore Civil Defence Force took 15 minutes to extricate all three, who were taken to Changi General hospital.

Mr Chiang, 30, suffered light injuries and was discharged on Friday.

However, both passengers suffered serious facial and head injuries. While 30-year-old Mr Tay is still in intensive care, Miss Quek succumbed to her injuries at about 8.30am on Thursday. (story)

US security measures prevent some from travelling

United States-bound travellers recently had their holiday plans disrupted when they were told at Changi Airport that they either had to get a new passport or a visa to enter the country. The Straits Times understands that in the last few weeks, an average of at least one traveller a day has been turned away by check-in staff because of passport problems.

Under US immigration laws, Singapore passport holders do not need a visa if their passports fall in one of three categories:

Passports issued, renewed or extended on or after Oct 26, 2006 must be biometric - containing a computer chip embedded with the passport holder’s thumbprint and unique facial features. (story)

Singapore Airport contemplates acquisitions

Singapore’s Changi Airports International is keen on a stake in Abu Dhabi’s international airport and is also eyeing two smaller terminals in China for takeover, its chief told Reuters today.

Changi Airports clinched an 18-month contract to operate the Abu Dhabi government-owned airport in December, and is angling to turn this into equity as authorities have said the airport was likely to be privatized by next year. (story)

Singapore opens doors to Formula One race

Singapore plans to cash in on holding a Formula One race starting next year by developing a motor sports industry in the city-state.Singapore got the green light this week from Formula One’s governing body to hold the sport’s first-ever night race.

The government will seek proposals from the private sector in May next year to build a permanent race track in Changi, eastern Singapore, according the Singapore Sports Council.

“The government has identified the motor sports industry as a growth industry that will contribute to sports development and the economy in Singapore,” said Vivian Balakrishnan, minister for community development, youth and sports, in a statement Friday.

The racetrack is expected to be completed by early 2011.

(source)