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)

Chinese pork taken off the shelves

Made in China canned pork products have practically vanished from shop shelves here. Supermarkets are down to their last few cans of China-made luncheon meat, stewed pig trotters and minced pork.

‘What you see is what’s left,’ said an NTUC FairPrice spokesman, adding that its warehouse was ‘completely dry’.

Other supermarket chains like Giant and Cold Storage reported the same shortage. All said that they were having trouble replenishing the stocks.

Distributors The Straits Times spoke to said the problem started in August, when the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) rejected and destroyed a consignment of canned pork products from two food processing plants in China.

It had found traces of Nitrofurans, a banned antibiotic, which are fed to pigs to treat illnesses. (story)