Singapore Local News, 2011-01-11

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Want to really transform Singapore? Measure happiness The 14.7 per cent rise in Singapore's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010 is good news for companies and economic recovery. What the average person on the street may wonder, though, is whether that jump made a real difference in their life......     Civil Service College signs MOU with Macau counterpart SINGAPORE : A new Central Training Centre for public officers will be set up by Macau's Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP), with Singapore's input...... Low contamination risk from Germany-imported meat The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) says it is closely monitoring the dioxin contamination of animal feed and farm products from Germany...... The Online Citizen portal to be gazetted as political association SINGAPORE : The Registry of Political Donations under the Prime Minister's Office has confirmed it sent a letter to The Online Citizen portal of its intention to gazette it as a political association...... Ice queen Michelle Kwan tests her balance at Republic Poly SINGAPORE : Republic Polytechnic students from the School of Sports Health and Leisure, have developed a high-tech test of balance and stability...... MND explains delay in approving Pasir Ris wet market SINGAPORE : The National Development Ministry has said there was a delay in approving a wet market in Pasir Ris because proposals submitted by the operator, Sheng Siong, were unacceptable...... Bill on re-hiring of older workers passed SINGAPORE : The Parliament has passed new laws to make it mandatory for companies to offer re-employment to workers beyond the statutory retirement age of 62...... Four new MRT stations for Tuas West extension Four new MRT stations will be built in Tuas in the next five years, offering greater convenience to commuters...... Court drops charges against family accused of insulting ex-wife's modesty SINGAPORE : A district court has dropped all charges against six people who were accused of insulting a woman's modesty on 20 May 2007...... 78% rise in complaints on high-rise littering SINGAPORE : The number of complaints on high-rise littering has gone up by 78 per cent in the last two years......

Concerns over youths caught for loansharking offences SINGAPORE : The Home Affairs Ministry is concerned over the number of young people involved in loansharking and related harassment crimes......     Govt taking steps to stop casinos' "unfair" publicity SINGAPORE : The Singapore Government is taking steps to stop the two integrated resorts (IRs) - Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa - from targeting Singaporeans in their casino publicity materials...... Pay TV retailers warned against flouting cross-carriage law SINGAPORE : Authorities have concluded there is not enough evidence for formal action against pay TV retailers who may have signed last minute exclusive deals before new rules requiring telcos to share exclusive content kicked in last year...... Exciting line-up for Total Defence Day Singaporeans will be encouraged to take ownership of their country's defence under this year's Total Defence campaign, themed "Home - Keeping it Together"...... Govt nets casino windfall The Government saw a net increase in betting tax and GST revenue of S$420 million with the entry of the Integrated Resorts (IRs) between April and November last year...... Breakdancer jailed for breaking man's nose A 29-year-old man, said to be one of Singapore's top breakdancers, was on Tuesday sentenced to six weeks' jail after breaking another man's nose at Zirca Mega Club, a local nightspot...... Integrated healthcare programmes launched SINGAPORE : Two new programmes focused on the integrated management of chronic and long-term diseases were launched on Tuesday for patients in the eastern region of Singapore...... Negligent driver fined S$1,000 A mini bus driver was given the maximum fine of S$1,000 for failing to keep a proper lookout while driving, resulting in the death of a 69-year-old pedestrian...... Man jailed for operating unlicensed clinic An Indian national was on Tuesday jailed three months for operating an unlicensed medical clinic and administering medicine to patients...... Winning millions on Jan 28? Singapore Pools will be holding the S$5 million Toto Reunion Draw on Friday, January 28...... Higher pay for poly grads The starting pay for fresh polytechnic graduates rose 5.3 per cent last year, to an average gross monthly salary of S$1,871...... 24 arrested in islandwide anti-loansharking operation THE police arrested 22 men and 2 women in an island-wide operation from Sunday to Monday for suspected involvement in loansharking activities.Preliminary investigations revealed that the 24 people, aged between 19 and 60 years, had opened bank accoun..... Call a nurse anytime 52-YEAR-OLD cleaning supervisor Burhan bin Satri used to have trouble remembering to take his daily medications.He suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure, and his condition needs to be closely monitored...... Is FB a breeding ground for extramarital affairs? SOCIAL network sites like Facebook are known to bring people together. It can renew old friendships, form new ones and sometimes - if you are not careful - it can actually ruin existing friendships and relationships...... A Total Defence first for charity THE 2011 Total Defence campaign will not just remind Singaporeans of their role to play in defending the country but, for the first time, do its bit for charity. The annual drive, started in 1984 to remind Singaporeans of the country's limited resour..... S'pore's biggest chip-maker continues hiring DESPITE the global slowdown in demand for computer chips, Singapore's biggest chip-maker plans to continue hiring this year as it gears up to start production of new cutting-edge products.This is a huge turnaround for GlobalFoundries, formerly Charte..... 4 new MRT stations for East-West line reaching Tuas FOUR new MRT stations will be built on the East-West line, extending the rail system's reach into the Tuas industrial estate. This new rail project is estimated to cost $3.5 billion and will include the cost of the new stations, a new depot, 13 new t..... Singapore kids want to be soccer players THE Lions may have been disbanded, but World Cup fever appears to linger on as children in Singapore say they want to be soccer players when they grow up. This was revealed during the fifth annual Adecco Children's Career Survey by human resources co..... No action, but warning given to SingTel & StarHub THERE is not enough evidence for formal action against pay-TV providers who may have signed late exclusive deals, before new rules requiring telcos to share exclusive content kicked in last year.Communications and the Arts Minister Lui Tuck Yew said ..... Impossible for S'pore to block all undesirable sites GIVEN the borderless nature of the Internet, it is not possible for the Government to block every undesirable website, said Information, Communications and Arts Minister Lui Tuck Yew on Tuesday in Parliament.But he added that where necessary, the Gov..... 2 human smugglers and 5 illegal immigrants arrested TWO human smugglers who attempted to sneak five illegal immigrants into Singapore on Monday morning were arrested by the Police Coast Guard (PCG). A PCG officer spotted an unlit vessel moving towards the shorelines of Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve at 5..... Bus fare refunds: extension not needed for now ABOUT $46,000 of refunds on overcharged bus fares has been collected, out of an estimated $300,000 owed to commuters. Transport Minister Raymond Lim revealed this in Parliament on Tuesday in response to questions from Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang GRC) ..... New money from IRs, other gambling revenues down REVENUE from the integrated resorts (IRs) between April and November last year may have hit about $420 million but collections from other gambling activities have fallen. Second Minister for Finance Lim Hwee Hua said this in Parliament on Tuesday...... Man jailed 12 months for cheating offences A FORMER property agent was jailed a total of 12 months on Tuesday for pocketing the rental deposits of clients, cheating and forgery. Choo Kok Onn, 42, had admitted to three charges of criminal breach of trust as an agent, and one each of cheating a..... Drunk kicks paramedic in the face A PARAMEDIC was tending to Katharavello Robert, 54, at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital when the patient raised his left leg and kicked the Civil Defence officer in the face at 4.40am on May 4, 2009. The year before, Katharavello had slashed the cheek of M..... Should abused dog be put down? ANIMAL lovers are in two minds about the fate of badly disfigured dog Wander. The 6-year-old mongrel was rescued by a dog feeder after being hit repeatedly on her face, apparently by a foreigner using a metal chain...... Through The Lens, Today in Pictures - January 11 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 mourning in the US to this year's Fifa Ballon d'Or winner, view pictures from around the world today......