Singapore Local News, 2011-01-31

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Which way will the pin fall? This commentary has its genesis in a cryptic text message I received a week ago. Why not do a comment that looks at the top three issues for voters to consider at the coming General Election, the sender asked......     Wet weather affects businesses, shoppers and tourists SINGAPORE : The wet weather the past two days has affected businesses, travellers and shoppers......

Wetter days ahead, says NEA The weather will continue to be wet for the rest of the week......     MUIS helping students in Egypt SINGAPORE : The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, MUIS, is helping all Singaporean students studying in Egypt, which is being hit by a political crisis...... Bedok midges mostly wiped out The population of green flies known as midges which has plagued residents of Bedok Reservoir for two weeks, has now been reduced by 95 per cent...... Up to 300 scholarships to nurture sporting talent this year SINGAPORE : The Singapore Olympic Foundation (SOF) is looking at giving out about 100 to 300 scholarships this year...... Bread-and-butter issues remain top concerns: REACH survey SINGAPORE : A survey commissioned by government feedback portal, REACH, has found that Singaporeans were generally more satisfied with the quality of life...... ERP rates remain unchanged The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said there would be no change in the ERP rates, following its latest quarterly review of traffic conditions...... Public transport fare review exercise deferred till Q4 SINGAPORE : The Public Transport Council (PTC) has decided to defer this year's fare review exercise to the fourth quarter of 2011...... Immigration offences at 10-year low in 2010: ICA SINGAPORE : Immigration offences are at a 10-year low, with fewer foreigners arrested for immigration offences in 2010 as compared to a decade ago...... Man jailed 3 years for having consensual sex with daughter SINGAPORE : A 47-year-old plumber was jailed for three years for having sex with his own daughter in what's believed to be the country's first consensual incest case...... Situation in Egypt remains unpredictable: MFA SINGAPORE : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has advised Singaporeans to defer all non-essential travel to Egypt, saying that the situation there remains unpredictable...... Super-fast broadband reaches 60% of buildings SIX in 10 buildings have so far been connected to Singapore's super-fast fibre optic broadband network.The fibre optic cables allow users to surf the Internet 10 to 100 times faster than they could with conventional broadband plans - making services ..... Court spares mentally retarded man jail time EDWIN Lim Hoe Meng, 28, who is mentally retarded and threw down a neighbour's flower pot down from the seventh storey last year was granted a conditional discharge by a community court on Monday. This works much like a suspended sentence, for which t..... PTC defers annual public transport fare review THE Public Transport Council (PTC) said on Monday that it will defer the annual public transport fare adjustment this year. The PTC said this was because the Circle Line Stages 4 and 5 (from Marymount to HarbourFront) will open later this year, and t..... Man fined over fatal accident A DELIVERYMAN was fined $5,000 and banned from driving for three years on Monday for causing the death of a woman pedestrian last May.Chua Swee Hock, 56, admitted to failing to give way to Madam Gan Chui, 61, at the pedestrian crossing while making a..... Man jailed three years for incest A MAN who had consensual sex with his 20-year-old daughter was jailed for three years on Monday.The 47-year-old freelance plumber admitted to the incest at the master bedroom of his flat in April 2008. The parties cannot be named as there is a gag or..... 10 year-low in immigration offences: ICA THE number of foreigners arrested for immigration offences has hit a ten-year low, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said on Monday. In 2010, the total number of foreigners arrested for immigration offences fell by 23 per cent to 4,260 co..... Services lead Singapore's overall employment gains LED by the services sector which added 109,500 workers, Singapore's overall employment for the whole of 2010 increased by 112,500.Construction employment, which rose by 25,100 in 2009, saw modest gains of 2,300 in 2010, due to completion of several l..... Industrial site for sale in Ang Mo Kio: URA THE Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has launched the industrial site at Ang Mo Kio Street 62 for sale by public tender on Monday. The land parcel has a site area of about 2.8ha with a maximum permissible gross plot ratio of 2.5 and a lease period.....

Singapore Local News, 2011-01-30

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Don't eat shark's fin, urges group A local marine conservation group, Project: FIN, has launched a campaign on social networking site Facebook, asking to people to change their profile picture to one which says: Celebrate Chinese New Year with no shark fin soup......     2 opposition parties may form alliance An alliance between two opposition parties is in the works after representatives from each party jointly visited Sengkang residents on Sunday, for the first time...... One-carat diamond, one lucky lady It may be raining in Singapore all Sunday, but the weather certainly did not dampen the mood of one particular person -- the 39-year-old winner of MediaCorp Radio's 'Bling It On!' lucky draw...... Flash floods in several areas The PUB said flash floods had occurred in several areas on Sunday, amid continued widespread moderate to heavy rain...... Lakeside-Taman Jurong cycling path unveiled Cycling between Lakeside MRT station and Taman Jurong Town hub is now easier and safer, with a new dedicated cycling path...... Muslims have done much to strengthen integration, says PM Lee Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Muslims here have done a great deal to strengthen harmony and social integration in the country...... Sungei Whampoa gets makeover Residents living near Sungei Whampoa can now enjoy new riverside facilities such as lookout decks and a landscaped garden...... Passengers affected by 'smoky' SIA plane SNGAPORE: More than 200 passengers on board Singapore Airlines flight SQ328 were affected Saturday morning after smoke was spotted in the cabin...... S'poreans will receive news of Budget in good time: PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singaporeans would receive news of next month's Budget in good time, but added that he preferred to leave the details to Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam......

S'porean students return from Cairo It was a tearful reunion for many at Changi Airport on Sunday morning shortly after flight SQ493 touched down from Cairo......     Moderate to heavy rain expected in S'pore Singapore's Meteorological Services Division said widespread moderate to heavy rain is expected to continue till midnight...... Residents to be part-time fire-fighters RESIDENTS of Block 72 at Redhill Road will now also be part-time firefighters with the installation of a new refuse chute water spray system that allows them to put out rubbish chute fires with the press of a button. The new system taps on an existin..... Muslims have helped strengthen integration: PM THE Muslim community in Singapore has made great efforts to integrate with other communities, and help make Singapore one of the most harmonious and successful multi-religious societies in the world, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday.'Mus..... Sungei Whampoa made over with shrubs and flowers A $2.2-MILLION makeover for Sungei Whampoa means that residents are now able to enjoy new riverside facilities such as lookout decks and a landscaped garden. Part of the PUB's Active, Beautiful and Clean, or ABC Waters Programme, the project also inc..... Floods returning to Singapore FLOODS have returned to Singapore amid heavy, incessant rain since Saturday. Readers of The Straits Times Online have been sending in reports of flooding, which seem mostly concentrated in the eastern part of Singapore......

Singapore Local News, 2011-01-29

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Property price growth slows Reaffirming earlier flash estimates, official housing figures unveiled on Friday showed that the growth of property prices slowed in the fourth quarter of last year......     A lesson from ex-offenders A group of ex-offenders told their stories of imprisonment and gang involvement to an audience on Saturday......

Fewer people sought help from CDAC last year Fewer people sought help from the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) last year - 63,500, compared to 65,500 in 2009......     MM Lee was describing "worst-case scenario": Dr Yaacob The Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was describing a "worst-case scenario" when he recently spoke about the Malay Muslim community...... Muslim community holds first marriage renewal event True love and everlasting union or "Kasih Sejati, Ikatan Abadi" has brought together some 250 married couples from the Muslim community to renew their marriage commitments...... MM Lee should clarify comments on Islam: Jamiyah Jamiyah, a member of the Inter-Religious Organisation, has asked for Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew to shed more light on the comments he had made in his latest book that Islam is a difficult religion to integrate...... MFA issues Egypt travel advisory Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry has advised all Singaporeans to postpone all non-essential travel to Egypt...... Mercy Relief, Indonesian university signs MOU on disaster reconstruction Singapore humanitarian organisation, Mercy Relief has signed a memorandum of understanding on disaster reconstruction cooperation with Indonesia's University of Muhammadiyah Magelang...... Six arrested in anti-loansharking operation Police have arrested 3 men and 3 women, aged between 16 and 44 years old, in an anti-loansharking operation...... First reported H1N1-related death of 2011 An elderly Malay man has died from H1N1 and he is believed to be the first such reported case this year...... Singapore General Hospital confirms H1N1-related death SINGAPORE General Hospital (SGH) confirmed on Saturday with The Straits Times, the first case of a H1N1-related death this year. Mohd Lazim Kalang, 77, died on Wednesday due to a lung infection, after being warded Jan 15 for fever...... Sim Lim salesman sacked for cursing A VIDEO of a salesman at Sim Lim Square swearing at a customer has gone viral on the Internet and raised the ire of many Netizens here.The salesman was caught on tape using vulgarities when the customer asked for a price breakdown of his friend's pur..... Man versus SBS Transit ON THE morning of Jan 18, 47-year-old Michael Hiew was alighting from SBS Transit bus service 25, on his way to work at Serangoon North Avenue 3, when he fell and injured himself.He alleges that the bus drove off before he had completely alighted, ca..... Latest ST iPhone app allows for customisation AN UPDATE of Singapore's most popular news iPhone application (or app), The Straits Times, is now available. Version 3.2, now includes features such as landscape viewing, a most-read section, and push notifications in the MyST section, which delivers.....

Singapore Local News, 2011-01-28

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MOM seeks public feedback on enhanced Work Injury Compensation Act ZUL OTHMAN.....     Vertical farming boosts production of vegetables SINGAPORE : Singapore has successfully developed a vertical farming system prototype, which could help the land-scarce Republic maximise its production of leafy vegetables...... 53,057 S'poreans checked names in Registers of Electors SINGAPORE : Some 53,057 Singaporeans have checked their names in the Registers of Electors...... "Stockbrokers with a Heart" raises S$230,000 for charity SINGAPORE : Nine securities firms donated a total of S$230,000 to the Community Chest as part of its "Stockbrokers with a Heart" campaign...... Record job vacancies last year SINGAPORE : The number of job vacancies rose 36% over the year to 50,200 in September 2010...... S'pore MFA says "obliged to respect" ruling on Ionescu SINGAPORE : Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said it is "obliged to respect" the Romanian court's decision to allow former diplomat Silviu Ionescu to travel outside the capital Bucharest......

Ang Mo Kio serial housebreaker caught Police have arrested a 44-year-old man believed to be involved in a series of break-ins in Ang Mo Kio......     Number of fires reported among lowest in 10 years: SCDF SINGAPORE : The number of fires reported last year is the second lowest in 10 years...... 19 arrested in anti-drink driving operation 19 people were arrested for drink-driving in an operation conducted by Traffic Police which ended early Friday morning...... 19-year-old becomes first driver suspended under new Traffic Act A 19-year-old youth has made history by becoming the first driver here to have his licence immediately suspended under the new Road Traffic Act, which was recently amended in November 2010...... Non-emergency calls fall to all-time low Non-emergency calls of SCDF's Emergency Ambulance Service (EAS) dropped to an all-time low last year...... CNB makes largest Ecstasy bust in nine years The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has made its largest Ecstasy bust in nine years at the Woodlands Checkpoint...... NSF dies in in-camp accident A full-time National Serviceman (NSF) has died from an in-camp accident...... Changi Airport makes ex-deejay a millionaire WHEN he picked up a $4,900 camera at Changi Airport in October, Mr Ivan Rantung never imagined that it would one day make him a millionaire.The purchase he made just before getting on a plane to Kota Kinabalu, gave him a shot at the biggest ever cash..... Merlion to be transformed into a 'hotel' THE Merlion at Merlion Park will undergo a transformation from Feb 7 to March 9 to turn it into a temporary hotel suite to welcome guests for overnight stays.Called 'The Merlion Hotel', it is one of the many artwork installation projects presented as..... Through The Lens: Chinese New Year, 1955 - 1983 THE clothes may be different, and firecrackers are now banned, but the festivities and rituals remain the same. Through the Lens shows you Chinese New Year in Singapore from the 1950s to the 1980s...... Death of the Army Market SHOP owners amidst the green wares of the army market are singing the blues.Ever since the launch of the e-mart credit policy in 1999, our men in green have been opting to use the credits given by the SAF to buy their army essentials from e-marts in ..... Record 15,360 job vacancies unfilled: MOM THE Ministry of Manpower released its annual Job Vacancies Report on Friday which showed that employers last year (2010) struggled to fill a record level of jobs for extended periods.The number of job vacancies left unfilled for at least six months s..... Exhibition of Registers of Electors has closed THE exhibition of the revised Registers of Electors for the 23 Constituencies (14 Group Representation Constituencies and 9 Single Member Constituencies) has closed on Jan 27 (Thursday).The Registers of Electors will be certified when all the claims ..... Kallang slashings: Another accused jailed ANOTHER Malaysian was convicted of gang robbery in the Kallang slashing case and given six years and 12 strokes of the cane on Friday.Peter Usit Musa, 22, a former deliveryman, changed his plea to guilty in the midst of his defence. He had been tried..... Camera pen voyeur jailed A FORMER cabby who used a camera pen to take upskirt videos of his female passengers was jailed for six months on Friday.Albert Lim Meng Hie, 54, now unemployed, had admitted to three counts of insulting the modesty of a 21-year-old student and two u..... Taxi-drivers cheated of cab fare IN THE span of three days, two taxi drivers were cheated of more than $20 in cab fares. The modus operandi of the perpetrator, believed to be a female tertiary student, is similar. ..... CNB makes largest ecstasy haul in 9 years TWO men and a woman were arrested by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Thursday at the Woodlands Checkpoint for drug trafficking. CNB officers seized about 3,097 tablets believed to be 'Ecstasy', with an estimated street value of $93,510. This i..... NSF dies after truck reverses into him A FULL-TIME National Serviceman (NSF) was hit and killed by a truck driven by another serviceman in Jurong camp 1 early on Friday morning.Lance Corporal (LCP) Wee Yong Choon Eugin, a Signal Operator, was about to unload stores from the back of the tr..... HDB prices in Singapore see total rise of 14.1% in 2010 PUBLIC housing HDB resale flat prices rose by 2.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2010 over the previous quarter bringing the total price rise for 2010 to 14.1 per cent.This 2.5 per cent figure is a marginal increase of 0.1 per cent from the prelim..... Private residential prices in Singapore up 17.6% in 2010 OVERALL prices of private residential properties increased by 2.7 per cent in the fourth quarter, compared with the 2.9 per cent increase in the previous quarter, unchanged from the flash estimates released earlier this January. Prices have gained 17..... Fires in Singapore caused by discarded items up 24% THE number of fires caused by discarded items went up by 24 per cent - from 644 to 801, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) revealed in latest figures on Friday.Otherwise, fire cases in Singapore have gone down 12 per cent in 2010 compared to 20..... Teen first to have licence suspended under new rules A 19-YEAR-OLD male driver who caused the death of a pedestrian will have the dubious honour of being the first to have his licence immediately suspended under the new Road Traffic Act.Previously, a motorist's driving licence could only be suspended a..... MFA on Romanian court, Ionescu allowed to travel THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) will respect a Romanian court's decision to allow Silviu Ionescu to travel out of the Romanian capital, Bucharest, after the former diplomat appealed, a spokesman said on Friday.'We are obliged to respect the dec.....

Singapore Local News, 2011-01-27

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You can help turn lemons into lemonade The new Lemon Laws proposed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) are some of the best news consumers have had for a long time. Finally, there's a way to get your money back when something you buy doesn't work. And now is the time to tell MTI h.....     Poly students break new ground in medical therapy SINGAPORE : Hospitals and nursing homes in Singapore can soon look forward to innovative therapy systems designed by engineering students from the Ngee Ann Polytechnic...... SIA flights to Bali cancelled or delayed due to volcanic ash SINGAPORE : Several Singapore Airlines (SIA) flights to and from Bali have been cancelled and delayed because of volcanic ash from Mount Bromo in East Java...... 2 teenagers arrested for stealing from vehicles SINGAPORE : Police have arrested two teenagers who are believed to have stolen from vehicles in the Highgate Crescent estate, following a tip-off from a public-spirited resident...... Health minister on length of stay in nursing homes SINGAPORE : Singapore's Health Minister, Khaw Boon Wan, said the length of stay in nursing homes here should be reduced from years to months...... More deaths on roads last year SINGAPORE : The Traffic Police said there were more deaths on the roads last year, with fatal accidents totalling 190 in 2010, up 10 per cent from 2009......

Courts sponsors S.League team Young Lions SINGAPORE : As part of a S$1 million sponsorship deal over two years, retailer Courts will get naming rights to the Young Lions team......     Heavy traffic expected at land checkpoints during Lunar New Year Heavy traffic is expected to flow through the land checkpoints at Woodlands and Tuas next week given the approaching Lunar New Year holidays, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA)...... Duke-NUS collaborating on vaccine R&D programme The Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School is collaborating with US-based vaccine maker, Inviragen, on vaccine research...... Transforming school toilets into quality restrooms Poetry, murals, paintings and photographs are common exhibits in art galleries...... Former USAF official awarded Defence Technology Distinguished Fellowship The former US Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, Bruce Lemkin, was conferred the Singapore Defence Technology Distinguished Fellowship by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Teo Chee Hean on Thursday morning...... Suspected members of online vice syndicate arrested Police have arrested two men and three women who are believed to be members of a syndicate offering sex services online...... More job opportunities at NUS Career Fair 2011 More job options and possibly higher starting salaries - that's the upbeat mood among those who attended the annual National University of Singapore (NUS) Career Fair on Thursday...... Parliament to sit on Feb 14 Parliament will sit on February 14...... SIA cancels Bali flights to avoid volcano ash SINGAPORE Airlines has cancelled Thursday's flights to the resort island of Bali to avoid dangerous ash spewing from an Indonesian volcano.Flights to Bali scheduled for Friday will also be delayed, confirmed an SIA spokesperson in response to a query..... Diamond rings for under $500 A DIGITAL camera for $30. Laptops for $400. Rolex and Omega watches for $500.These are among the thousands of great bargains you can find at the Singapore Police Force public auction...... Through the Lens, Today in Pictures - January 27 THROUGH The Lens takes a look at the pictures that make the headlines, showcase a lifestyle and even explore the quirky side of life.From the opening of a new aquarium in Hong Kong to the collapse of a motorised elevator in Manila, view pictures from..... HPB stops all forms of physical programmes THE Health Promotion Board (HPB) has stopped all forms of physical activities under its programmes islandwide for the time being to review the safety measures and safety precautions. This comes close on the heels of the sudden death of a contestant i..... The Online Citizen changes fundraiser to private party AFTER being told to apply for licences for its fundraising event on Saturday, The Online Citizen (TOC) announced on Thursday that the event is no longer open to the public.It is now a private event for invited guests only. TOC said guests who wish to..... The 'new' New World Amusement Park gate MR JOHN Leong remembers going as a child to New World Amusement Park at Jalan Besar with his family on special occasions. It was known for its amusement rides, cabaret acts, pasar malam stalls and festive atmosphere...... Man jailed for beating up girlfriend in hotel HE THREW a stool at his girlfriend in a hotel room, kicked and punched her repeatedly.Saifullizan Ali, 25, also grabbed hold of Ms Nur Faizah Mohamed's hair and used a lighter to burn her hair. Two days later, when the 19-year-old girl went to see a ..... NUS Career Fair: Record number of employers GRADUATING students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) will have their pick of jobs at the university's annual career fair, with a record number of participating employers offering significantly more opportunities than in 2010.The NUS Ca..... Kallang slashings: 2 jailed for gang robbery TWO of the seven men arrested for the Kallang slashings were sentenced to six years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane on Thursday for gang robbery.Cleaner Sylvester Beragok, 26, and labourer Landa Sulai, 28, both from Sarawak, had originally claimed t..... Courts' naming rights to S-League Young Lions IT IS a first in S-League history. As part of a $1 million deal over the next two years, Courts gets naming rights to the Young Lions team.Effective from Thursday, the team will be known as the Courts Young Lions. The furniture, IT and electronics re..... Expect 'CNY traffic build-up' at checkpoints from Feb 1 TRAFFIC at the two land checkpoints at Woodlands and Tuas is expected to be heavy throughout the Chinese New Year holidays next week.A travel advisory from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Thursday, said the traffic build-up is expe..... URA to sell 1st land parcel in Paya Lebar Central The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launched the first land parcel in Paya Lebar Central for sale by public tender on Thursday. Located at the fringe of the city centre, Paya Lebar Central is envisaged to be a bustling commercial centre, with a m..... Police smash online sex syndicate, 5 suspects held THE police have arrested five people believed to be members of an online sex syndicate.Acting on a tip-off, police officers raided a hotel at Lavender Street on Jan 24, arresting two men and three women aged between 19 and 29...... Man fined for saying he was a terrorist at MRT A MAN who caused alarm to an SMRT customer service officer by saying that he was a terrorist, was fined $1,000 on Thursday.Kevin Teo Kok Leong alias Muhammad Riduan Teo, 33, a mechanic, admitted to using threatening words at Mr Suasni Samuri, 43, at .....

Singapore Local News, 2011-01-26

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Former property agent pleads guilty to charges of cheating and forgery A former property agent pleaded guilty yesterday to offences, including cheating and forgery, involving more than $183,000......     Youth arrested for arson Police have arrested an 18 year-old youth believed to be responsible for at least five cases of arson in Ang Mo Kio. In these cases, the serial arsonist would set fire to discarded items such as cardboards, old newspapers and recycling plastic bags p..... A new experience, an ongoing reminder about terrorism, at RWS IMELDA SAAD..... Photoscape captures YOG moments in permanent show SINGAPORE : A new photo installation capturing the moments of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) was launched at the Youth Olympic Park near Marina Bay on Wednesday by the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrish.....

"It's a Great Great World" premieres on Jan 27 SINGAPORE : Singapore's famous old night spot, The Great World Amusement Park, is coming back to life on the big screen on Thursday......     S'pore leaders send condolences to victims of Moscow blast SINGAPORE : Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has expressed his condolences over the loss of lives and injuries caused by the blast at the Domodedovo Airport in Moscow...... Flu cases continue to climb SINGAPORE : The number of influenza and acute respiratory infections continue to climb, remaining above the epidemic threshold...... Radiologist fined for failing to diagnose facial fracture SINGAPORE : A radiologist who had failed to diagnose a serious facial fracture on a patient some five years ago has been fined S$3,000 by the Singapore Medical Council...... Former DBS executive jailed for accepting bribes SINGAPORE : A former DBS executive was sentenced on Wednesday to 12 weeks' jail and fined S$27,000 for accepting bribes and accessing the bank's Customer Information System without authorisation...... Police arrest youth arsonist Police have arrested an 18 year-old youth believed to be responsible for at least five cases of arson in Ang Mo Kio...... Former property agent pleads guilty to cheating, forgery A former property agent pleaded guilty on Wednesday to offences including cheating and forgery...... FM Yeo gives indication on GE date CHIANGRAI, Thailand: Foreign Minister George Yeo has given an indication of when he thinks the General Election will be called...... Singapore's crime rate drops 0.6% in 2010 Singapore's crime rate fell by a marginal 0.6 per cent, or some 200 cases, last year...... MOF launches the Budget Challenge Eleven schools will be taking part in the Budget Challenge 2011 to debate on their proposed policy initiatives for Singapore...... NTUC Eldercare, Rotary to provide quality care for seniors in Woodlands SINGAPORE : Singapore's Minister-in-Charge of Ageing Issues, Lim Boon Heng has outlined some of his plans for this year...... Blood collection centre opens in Woodlands It has become more convenient to donate blood with the opening of a blood collection centre in Woodlands...... Police to focus on 3 areas of crime CRIME rates in Singapore for 2010 have fallen, according to the police, but three specific areas of concern have been identified. They are: 1. Cheating cases involving rental and phone scams..... Clementi housebreaker jailed for 9 years A MAN who broke into flats mostly in Clementi area between August and December last year was jailed for nine years and ordered to be given 12 strokes of the cane on Wednesday.This is the second time that Sim Tiam Tay, 47, had committed housebreaking ..... Lifelike teleconferencing technologies to be developed CAN'T fly to a conference or business meeting? Researchers are working on a way for you to be virtually there, and even to eat in the lunch-room with your virtual colleagues.The newest interactive-digital-media centre here, called the BeingThere Cent..... December manufacturing output disappoints MANUFACTURING output in Singapore grew only 9 per cent last month compared with the same month last year, coming in well below the 20 per cent jump that economists had expected.The underperformance was largely due to a large pull-back in biomedical m..... Man jailed for hawking customers' information A FORMER bank executive who accepted bribes in return for divulging confidential customers' particulars on more than 30 occasions was sentenced to 12 weeks' jail and fined a total of $27,000 on Wednesday.Sazaly Selamat, 40, was also ordered to pay a ..... New pass makes touring Singapore easier TOURING Singapore just got easier, thanks to a new travel pass. The Go Singapore Pass, launched on Wednesday, makes navigating the tiny island a breeze by combining different attraction entry tickets with the functions of an ez-link card...... Think before you buy that rabbit ONE-YEAR-OLD Shalom is 2011's first victim of love lost. He was found abandoned by his owners in a church and was rescued by House Rabbit Society Singapore (HRSS).Being left outside has caused the white bunny to develop fur mites and he had to be iso..... Through The Lens, Today in Pictures - January 26 THROUGH The Lens takes a look at the pictures that make the headlines, showcase a lifestyle and even explore the quirky side of life. From students protests in Puerto Rico to Obama's State of the Union speech, view pictures from around the world toda..... Jailed 30 months for stabbing cabby AN UNEMPLOYED man who stabbed a cabby in the neck was jailed for 30 months on Wednesday.Community Court judge Ng Peng Hong told K. Mohan that he had not ordered caning because of the latter's mental condition. The 49-year-old, who is suffering from s..... Illegal moneylending dips 10% in 2010 THE overall crime situation for 2010 decreased by 0.6 per cent from 33,186 cases to 32,986. One notable improvement was in unlicensed moneylending, the Singapore Police Force revealed in a press conference about the Annual Crime Situation for 2010 on..... Could your phone get you killed? Take our survey FROM June to November in 2010, between two and five pedestrians were killed and up to 104 hurt. Many other smaller injuries - bumps and knocks - are still likely to go unreported though......

Singapore Local News, 2011-01-25

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Unemployed man fined $3000 for molesting two women A 41-year-old unemployed man was fined $3,000 yesterday for molesting two women inside an NTUC Fairprice supermarket at Block 166 Bukit Merah Central......     Earth Hour returns on 26 March Earth Hour, the annual "lights out" event, will be back for the third time...... Minister Shanmugam to attend WEF meetings in Davos SINGAPORE : Singapore's Law and Home Affairs Minister, K Shanmugam, will attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meetings in Davos, Switzerland from January 26 to 30...... No reports of injured S'poreans from Moscow terror attack: MFA SINGAPORE : Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry has said that so far, there have been no reports of injured Singaporeans from the explosion at the Domodedovo airport in Moscow...... Alleged accomplice of loanshark lecturer sentenced SINGAPORE : A 38-year-old unemployed man, believed to be one of the accomplices of a part-time lecturer accused of loan-sharking activities, has been sentenced to five years' jail and slapped with a S$480,000 fine...... President Nathan launches book on his role in the labour movement SINGAPORE : Singapore's President, SR Nathan, has said the nation should never take for granted the peace and harmony of good labour relations...... New interactive service for multiple devices from MediaCorp Singapore: MediaCorp, Singapore's leading media company, will introduce a new interactive service in the second half of 2011 that will revolutionise the way you watch television and use Internet-enabled devices - from PCs to tablet devices and mobile..... Loanshark accomplice sentenced to 5 years jail A 38-year-old unemployed man, believed to be one of the accomplices of a part-time lecturer accused of loansharking activities, has been sentenced to five years jail...... Rapist father jailed, caned A father who raped his seven-year-old daughter was jailed 11 years jail and given 16 strokes of the cane on Tuesday morning in court...... Police seize S$90,000, arrest 6 in loanshark raids About S$90,000 worth of cash was seized by the police in an island-wide operation against a loansharking syndicate which ended early Tuesday morning...... Education Minister to attend SEAMEO Council Conference Education Minister Ng Eng Hen will attend the 46th SEAMEO Council Conference in Brunei, from January 26 to 28......

New initiatives for Tampines West residents A new Community Scholarship programme to encourage community work for students living in Tampines West. This was one of the initiatives announced by Minister of State for Home Affairs and MP for Tampines GRC, Mr Masagos Zulkifli at a media briefing o.....     "Vertical Kampong" to promote volunteerism A new initiative to promote informal volunteerism called vertical kampong has been launched...... HDB launches BTO projects in Bukit Batok, Yishun HDB is launching three BTO projects on Tuesday - Golden Daisy in Bukit Batok, Orchid Spring @ Yishun and Vista Spring @ Yishun...... Rapist father sentenced to 11 years jail A MAN who raped his seven-year-old daughter has been sentenced to 11 years jail and given 16 strokes of the cane. The 42-year-old pleaded on Tuesday morning that he had been under the influence of alcohol at the time, but Deputy Public Prosecutor Sab..... Nasa instructors to train 40 local students IN JUNE this year, 40 cadets from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Singapore will get to take part in a new space programme. They will be trained by instructors from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Called the Space Wing Progra..... President Nathan's book on early labour movement PRESIDENT S.R. Nathan has authored the book, Winning Against The Odds - The Labour Research Unit in NTUC's Founding.This is to remember the early years of the Labour Movement, in which he was personally involved. To commemorate the National Trades Un..... Personal goals are achievable in Singapore MORE young Singaporeans feel that there are enough opportunities here to help them achieve their goals.The younger generation is more liberal when it comes to issues such as divorce, and those who have authoritative parents have significantly higher ..... Spreading joy on bicycles WHEN cycling around Singapore started getting routine, four members of the Concern and Care Society (CCS) took to cycling 1, 400km around Taiwan, at the same time bringing cheer to victims of last year's hurricanes and floods.Together, they cycled th..... Engineering firm fined $100K for fatal fire MUN Siong Engineering was fined $100,000 on Tuesday for failing to ensure the safety of three workers who died from injuries sustained in a fire at the ExxonMobil oil refinery on Jurong Island in 2007. The maximum fine for this offence is $500,000.A ..... Man accused of instigating grievous hurt A RETIREE was charged in court on Tuesday with instigating a man to cause grievous hurt to his brother-in-law.Koh Poh Yim, 68, is said to have abetted the offence by providing a chopper to one Lee Eng Peng, 52, unemployed, at a coffee shop near Tiong..... Five reasons for a revolution THE world has been having a green 'party' and not a green revolution. So says world-renowned author and columnist Thomas L Friedman, who was in Singapore on Monday to talk about why the world needs an environmental revolution. He believes that the wo..... Man fined $3,000 for molesting AN UNEMPLOYED man who was found to be suffering from a psychiatric condition got away with a total fine of $3,000 for molesting two women.Senthilnathan, 41, an accountant by training, pleaded guilty to two charges of outrage of modesty at NTUC FairPr..... DBSS land for sale at Clementi Avenue 4 THE Housing and Development Board (HDB) is launching the tender for sale of land at Clementi Avenue 4 under the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) on Wednesday.The 21,906.5-sq-m site is located at Clementi New Town, an area complete with convenient..... Through The Lens, Today in Pictures - January 25 THROUGH The Lens takes a look at the pictures that make the headlines, showcase a lifestyle and even explore the quirky side of life.From the suicide bombing in Moscow airport to riots in Beirut, view pictures from around the world today...... 60 months' jail for man who helped in loansharking A MAN who helped two others to operate an illegal moneylending business was packed off to jail for 60 months on Tuesday.Garreth Ho Sheng Yu, 38, was also fined $480,000 or 24 months' jail and ordered to be given six strokes of the cane by District Ju..... EZ-Link adds SingPost outlets as new sales points EZ-LINK announced on Tuesday the addition of SingPost outlets to their current network of ez-link card sales channels and top-up points.Effective from Friday onwards, consumers will be able to buy and top-up ez-link cards at all 62 SingPost outlets i..... 6 arrested over suspected loansharking activities POLICE arrested five men and one woman for suspected involvement in loansharking activities in an islandwide operation conducted early on Tuesday morning.The suspects, aged between 28 and 62, were detained following raids in various locations includi..... Design competition for new Indian Heritage Centre THE Singapore Institute of Architects together with the National Heritage Board (NHB) will be launching an architectural competition on Friday (Jan 28) to gather proposed designs for the new Indian Heritage Centre.The competition will be organised in..... New BTO flats in Bt Batok, Yishun to meet demand THE Housing and Development Board (HDB) is launching three Build-To-Order (BTO) projects today in Bukit Batok and Yishun, saying on Tuesday it had ramped up flat supply to meet demand from first-timer households. The three projects - Golden Daisy in .....

Singapore Local News, 2011-01-24

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Man charged with criminal intimidation A 45-year-old man has been charged with three counts of criminal intimidation against a police officer from the Jurong Police Division......     New SingHealth scholarship SingHealth has launched a new scholarship that will offer grants totalling up to $576,000 per year, to four outstanding first-year medical students who want to serve in public healthcare...... 17 agencies up pay of new Indonesian maids About 17 maid agencies in Singapore have increased the salary of new Indonesian maids. But others are undecided...... MM Lee says students' background plays a role SINGAPORE : Students from families with at least one or both parents being university graduates are likely to have a better learning environment...... Faster 4G rollout in Singapore The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) has announced its plans to bring forward the rollout of 4G in Singapore...... Road-raising works at Orchard Road 8% completed SINGAPORE : National water agency PUB said road-raising works, a flood-preventive measure, for Orchard Road are eight per cent completed...... CNB seizes S$10.4m worth of drugs in 2010 SINGAPORE : The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) seized an estimated S$10.4 million worth of drugs last year, about S$3.7 million more than in 2009......

S'pore slips to 3rd spot in global city rankings SINGAPORE : Singapore has slipped to third spot in the rankings for the most globalised city in the world last year......     Budget Statement to be delivered on Feb 18 The Budget Statement will be delivered by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam in Parliament on February 18, Friday...... New SingHealth scholarship for medical students SingHealth has launched a new scholarship that will offer grants totalling up to S$576,000 per year, to four outstanding first-year medical students who want to serve in public healthcare...... Man charged with committing criminal intimidation A 45-year-old man has been charged with three counts of criminal intimidation against a police officer from Jurong Police Division...... ACRES wins appeal Animal welfare group, ACRES, (Animal Concerns, Research & Education Society) has won its appeal against the Clerk-of-Works who oversaw the construction of its Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC)...... First Chingay carnival to be held THIS year's Chingay Parade will take festivities to a new high. The People's Association (PA) announced on Monday that the first ever arts and cultural carnival will be held in conjunction with the annual Chingay Parade. The PA's Got Talents! Celebra..... Driverless lorry charges down slope at Raffles Place A DRIVERLESS LORRY charged down a slope in the Raffles Place area, swerving left and right, on Monday. It came to a stop after mounting the kerb outside UOB Plaza...... PM Lee congratulates Vietnam PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong has offered his congratulations to newly elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, as well as to outgoing General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.In a letter to Mr Nguyen, Mr Lee wrote: 'Plea..... 4G wireless spectrum auction to take place in 2012 THE Government will hold an auction for 4G wireless spectrum rights next year. Six lots of spectrum - the invisible airwaves in which data traffic travels wirelessly - will go under the hammer, sufficient for as many players to roll out 4G or fourth ..... Man admits raping daughter when she was in Pri One FOR five years, a girl did not tell anyone that she had been raped by her father - until her teacher discussed fairytales during an English lesson.The teacher, who used the story of Little Red Riding Hood to illustrate the dangers of talking to stran..... S'pore-Sydney proposed bourse merger gets funding SINGAPORE - SINGAPORE'S stock exchange (SGX) said on Monday it has secured around US$3.7 billion (S$4.8 billion) in funding from six banks for a proposed merger with Sydney's bourse. SGX said in a statement the funding consisted of term loans of $3.8..... Dog owner fined $3,000 A WOMAN whose dog bit a man on the right foot was fined $3,000 on Monday and ordered to pay a compensation of $2,000 to the victim.Seet Su Ya, 25, who does administration work, admitted being the owner of a Japanese Spitz Cross named Niu Niu which ca..... Drugs worth $10.4m seized in 2010 AN ESTIMATED $10.4 million worth of drugs were seized in 2010, reported the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Monday.This is about $3.7 million more than in 2009...... Man jailed for punching another A MAN who repeatedly punched a pest control officer on the face was jailed for 10 weeks on Monday.Lim Yee Siong, 36, who runs a security systems firm, had compensated $1,000 to the victim, Mr Liu Fuwei, 28, whom he assaulted at a carpark at Block 123..... Trio beat up 'loanshark runner' by mistake FAMILY members, who called in the police after catching a 'loanshark runner', were themselves arrested for assault as he turned out to be a bank manager. Their victim, Mr Lee Jing Chong, had to be warded for five days at Tan Tock Seng Hospital for tr..... Record investments by foreign companies COMPANIES from around the world flocked to invest in Singapore in 2010, and the strong investment momentum is expected to continue this year.The Economic Development Board (EDB) said on Monday that firms committed to invest $12.9 billion here in fixe..... Why foreign students outperform Singaporeans 19 out of 40 students who came out tops at the recent 'O' levels were foreign students.This put the issue of foreign students excelling beyond local students in the limelight. ..... Today in Pictures - January 24 From protests in Venezuela to Volkswagen Beetle in Brazil , view pictures from around the world today...... Budget 2011 will be out on Feb 18: MOF THE Budget 2011 Statement will be delivered by Minister for Finance, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, in Parliament on Friday, February 18.A 'live' webcast of the delivery of the Budget Statement will be available at the Singapore Budget website, www.singapor..... Cost of living in Singapore increases by 2.8% in 2010 THE overall cost of living in Singapore rose by 2.8 per cent for the whole of 2010, the Department of Statistics Singapore revealed on Monday.Excluding acommodation costs, the consumer price index (CPI) for 2010 would have grown by 3.3 per cent...... 'MM Lee, does your food go through a food taster?' THE following is an excerpt from the 32 hours of interviews Straits Times journalists held with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew for the book Hard Truths, available in bookstores now.Q: Does your food go through a tester before you eat it?.....

Singapore Local News, 2011-01-23

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I've not decided on GE date yet: PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has not decided when Singapore's General Election (GE) should be......     Prices of food items should stabilise: PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong expects food prices to stabilise in the next few months...... SIT to offer 6 new degree courses The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) will be launching six new degree programmes from this year, bringing the total number of programmes offered to 16...... MOE invests S$154.8m in Edusave grants The Education Ministry has announced a one-off grant in the Edusave Scheme, totalling S$154.8 million...... Scenic Woodlands Waterfront unveiled Residents in northern Singapore can now enjoy a spanking new recreational destination with the completion of the Woodlands Waterfront...... Green scheme making its Mark abroad SINGAPORE'S Green Mark scheme for environmentally friendly buildings is going places - all the way to the Middle East, India and Africa, to be exact.The scheme - which rates buildings' environmental performance - is gaining popularity, with building .....

MOE tops up Edusave by $154.8 million THE Edusave funds for students and schools will be increased by $154.8 million.The announcement was made by Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence, during his ministerial community visit to Bukit Timah on Sunday......

Singapore Local News, 2011-01-22

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NUS Law sets up professorship to honour founding dean The National University of Singapore's (NUS) Law Faculty celebrated its 50th anniversary by establishing the Lionel A. Sheridan Professorship in honour of its founding dean......     New programme in Yuhua to improve help for frail elderly A new programme has been set up at Yuhua constituency in Jurong GRC to improve the help available for elderly residents...... ASEAN ministers to make road trip from Chiang Rai to Kunming Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo will be taking part in a road trip with his ASEAN counterparts...... Jurong Lake area set for major facelift The Jurong Lake area is set for a major transformation to make it attractive to residents and international visitors...... SAF personnel in NZ exercise Some 350 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel are in New Zealand, as part of their annual artillery exercise codenamed Thunder Warrior...... Over 3,500 old folks receive hongbaos IT HAS been a tradition since 1948, when movie moguls Sir Run Run Shaw and Tan Sri Runme Shaw would personally hand out red packets and other goodies to the elderly during Chinese New Year.On Saturday, their family members continued this annual pract..... Fees at Tampines lifestyle hub 'to be affordable' FEES at the upcoming lifestyle hub in Tampines will be kept affordable, said the People's Association (PA).Its chief executive director Yam Ah Mee said on Saturday that while it is still too early to determine the exact rates to be charged for its va..... Making Jurong Lakeside world-class MINISTER Lim Boon Heng announced on Saturday the details of HDB's Remaking Our Heartlands (ROH) plans for the Jurong Lake area. There are four key aspects to HDB's ROH plans for the Jurong Lake area: Rejuvenation of the Town Centre, Outdoor Recreatio.....

Bakeries raise prices as cost of wheat soars MORE than just dough is rising as a global shortage of wheat whips up the prices of bread, cakes and other flour-based products sold here.Prima, the only flour miller and the largest flour supplier here, has raised prices for the second time in three.....

Singapore Local News, 2011-01-21

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Employment agencies and welfare groups welcomed amendment to Employment Agencies (Amendment) Bill. A key change recently passed in the Employment Agencies (Amendment) Bill is being seen as a step forward by employment agencies and welfare groups that cater to foreign workers......     Man who cheated 12 people jailed for a month Shaffiq Alkhatib..... NRF Fellowship for 11 young scientists Eleven young scientists have received the National Research Foundation's (NRF) fellowship...... New bursary scheme for children of ex-offenders Children of ex-offenders will receive free tuition through a new bursary scheme launched on Friday...... Briton fell to his death while working on oil rig A British senior tool pusher working onboard an oil rig at 50 Gul Road fell to his death in January 2009 just four days after he started working on the structure...... Some 630 alight from MRT train when smoke detected SINGAPORE : Some 630 passengers had to alight from an MRT train at Bugis station on Friday at about 3.30pm when smoke started coming out from one of the cabins...... MM Lee on hard truths that keep S'pore going SINGAPORE : Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew wants Singaporeans to understand that the country is still a nation in the making...... Restaurant adds luxe factor to "yu sheng" SINGAPORE : "Yu sheng" (raw fish salad) is a traditional Lunar New Year dish, eaten for good luck and prosperity...... Two suspects arrested for theft from vehicles SINGAPORE : Police have arrested two men aged 35 and 42 who are believed to be responsible for a series of theft from vehicles in the Sengkang estate......

Serial milk powder thief arrested Police have arrested a 53-year-old man who is believed to be involved in several cases of milk powder theft at supermarkets in Yishun......     Groups welcome agency fee refund for foreign workers A key amendment recently passed in the Employment Agencies (Amendment) Bill is being seen as a step forward by employment agencies and groups that look after the welfare of foreign workers...... New bursary scheme for children of ex-offenders Children of ex-offenders will receive free tuition through a new bursary scheme launched on Friday...... 11 scientists awarded S'pore NRF Fellowship Eleven young scientists have received the National Research Foundation's (NRF) fellowship...... ComChest says online donations have tripled The Community Chest (ComChest) said donations made through its website have tripled over the last four years to about S$500,000...... SingTel raised S$2.48m for charities last year Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) said it raised S$2.48 million last year through its philanthropy programme, the SingTel Touching Lives Fund...... Are you a qualified voter? Some 22,129 Singaporeans have checked their names in the Register of Electors as of January 20...... Serial cheat jailed for 4 weeks A serial cheat who deceived twelve people into giving him cash totalling S$800 was on Friday sentenced to four weeks' jail...... Posting results for Joint Admission Exercise out on Wednesday The posting results for the 2011 Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) and the Joint Polytechnic Special Admissions Exercise (JPSAE) will be released on Wednesday, January 26 at 8.00am...... Vehicle inspector facing graft charges An employee of a vehicle inspection centre has been charged with 30 counts of corruption and other related offences involving more than S$1,675...... Tampines to have Town Hub by 2015 Residents in Tampines can look forward to a Town Hub by 2015 - touted as Singapore's first integrated lifestyle hub in the heartlands...... Higher business confidence for S'pore SMEs SMALL and medium-enterprises (SMEs) here are increasingly bullish about their prospects thanks to Singapore's booming economy.Business confidence among Singapore firms rose the most among eight Asian economies studied in the HSBC Small Business Confi..... MM Lee: Fengshui is 'utter rubbish' PRAGMATISM is not just a tenet Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew holds dear in his public life. He also runs his private affairs in a practical, fact-based manner.Asked if he believes in fengshui, MM Lee laughed and said it was 'utter rubbish' that people..... MM Lee: Singaporeans should grow up IF SINGAPORE does not grow as fast as it can sustain growth, then the government - and its people - are being stupid, according to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.This statement was among the hard truths MM Lee dished out throughout the 16 interviews wi..... Hard truths for Singapore IT IS well-known that Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is a gifted orator. What happens then when you pit seven journalists and editors against one of the most esteemed minds in Singapore?As MM Lee put it: 'You're gonna cross swords with me, then you mus..... MM Lee: A mythological figure? IN 1965, MM Lee Kuan Yew, then Singapore's first prime minister, vowed that Singapore would survive as a country. More than 45 years later, he has fulfilled his promise. Singapore is a thriving metropolitan city.As Singapore's success grows, so too d..... Pay more for SIA and SilkAir tickets AS OF next week, Singapore Airlines (SIA) passengers will be paying more for their flight tickets due to an increase in fuel surcharge.SIA announced on Friday that it will increase its fuel surcharge for tickets issued on or after Jan 27, as a result..... Reminder to register for National Service NATIONAL Service registration for male Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents born between Aug 19, 1993 and Dec 8, 1993 will be conducted between Jan 26, 2011 and Feb 16, 2011.Registration may be made online at http://ns.sg, or in pers..... S'pore awards 11 scientists $3m each in research grants THE Government has awarded 11 scientists research grants worth millions. On Friday, the National Research Foundation (NRF) announced its fourth batch of research fellows, who will each get $3 million in funding support over five years...... Electors registration Jan 27 reminder for S'poreans THE revised Registers of Electors for the 23 Constituencies are currently open for public inspection at the Elections Department and 105 Community Centres/Clubs in Singapore as well as the nine designated Singapore diplomatic missions.Citizens have u..... Ex-vehicle inspector charged with corruption A FORMER principal vehicle inspector was charged in court on Friday with 30 counts of corruption involving $1,675. Md Daud Nadzim, 45, then employed by STA Inspection, is said to have corruptly obtained bribes of between $20 and $200 from 10 motor ve..... Online donors rising: Community Chest findings DONATIONS to Community Chest via its website have increased almost three times, from about $180,000 in Financial Year (FY) 2007 to about $500,000 in the first three quarters of FY2010.But with the public becoming more Internet-savvy and well-informed..... Cat found with head crushed at Sengkang carpark According to a post on citizen journalism site Stomp, a cat was found dead in a multi-storey carpark lot in Sengkang. STOMPER Christopher believes the cat was bashed to death, as only its head appeared wounded.Christopher tells us over the phone: "Th..... Posting results for 2011 JAE and JPSAE THE Ministry of Education (MOE) will release the posting results for the 2011 Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) and the Joint Polytechnic Special Admissions Exercise (JPSAE) on Wednesday, Jan 26, at 8am.Students can obtain their posting results through..... Through The Lens, Today in Pictures - January 21 THROUGH The Lens takes a look at the pictures that make the headlines, showcase a lifestyle and even explore the quirky side of life.From the blast in Afghanistan to the 'Great Stuffed Rabbit' in France, view pictures from around the world today...... Tampines Town Hub 2015: Something for everyone THE 261,700 Tampines residents who want to visit the library, play futsal, watch a concert or just eat and drink can find all that in one place by 2015.This scenario for a buzzing heart of the heartlands was unveiled by Minister for National Developm..... Oil and Gas industry: S'pore aims for big productive leap COMPETITION in the oil and gas industry is heating up and the best way to stay ahead is to build deeper capabilities, train workers and raise productivity, said Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.Speaking at a oil and gas industry event, Mr Shan.....