Singapore Local News, 2011-03-31

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990,000 tourists in Singapore in February The number of foreign visitors to Singapore increased to 990,000 in February, the highest ever recorded for the month of February, according to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). STB said the number represents a 15.4 per cent........

Six childcare chain staff dismissed by SMS When mega childcare chain Cherie Hearts sold its local operations last year, the company that won an award last year for progressive and fair employment practices wanted all staff to be retained. But similar to how it was hit by........     Singapore's first liberal arts college to start in 2013 SINGAPORE : Singapore's first liberal arts college is all set to take in its pioneer batch of students in two years' time...... MM Lee meets Taiwan President Ma Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has met Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou in Taoyuan on Tuesday...... Assoc Prof Ho a "very steady and reliable colleague": Jayakumar Senior Minister S Jayakumar said Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee was a "very steady and reliable colleague" whom he could turn to to tackle difficult issues...... 11th man in court for having sex with same underage girl A 22-year-old man has become the eleventh person to be dealt with in court for having sex with the same underaged girl...... Teenager charged with molest A teenager has been charged with molesting a 15-year-old girl, last Thursday...... GE: SM Goh hints to identity of SAF general joining Marine Parade GRC Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong gave the clearest hint yet, on which of the two SAF Generals will join the Marine Parade GRC team for the coming election...... GE: Ho Peng Kee announces retirement from politics Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, has announced he will be retiring from politics at the end of this term...... Free entry to Malay Heritage Centre from April The Malay Heritage Centre is offering free entry for the public in the month of April, ahead of its closure in May for redevelopment...... Youth performers to raise funds for Japan's quake survivors Youths are banding together to perform at a concert to raise at least S$100,000 for the survivors of the Japan tsunami and earthquake...... Probation for national serviceman who robbed student A 20-year-old full-time national serviceman will be put on 30 months' probation and perform 190 hours of community service after robbing a Temasek Polytechnic student...... Woman charged with cheating 13 people of S$138,000 A 41-year-old woman has been charged with cheating 13 people of S$138,000...... Bright Vision Hospital to become subsidiary of Singapore Health Services Bright Vision Hospital (BVH) will become a subsidiary of Singapore Health Services from April 1...... Police arrest two young robbers Police have arrested two male youths, aged 18 and 19, who are believed to be involved in a robbery at Wellington Circle in Sembawang......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-30

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Electricity tariffs up 6.5% from April The surge in oil prices in recent months will push electricity prices here to their highest in two-and-a-half years: From Friday, power tariffs between April and June will increase by 6.5 per cent from the first quarter to hit 25.58 cents per........

Worker dies following Jurong refinery incident A worker died and another was seriously injured in an incident at the Singapore Refinery in Jurong on Monday night. ExxonMobil in a statement said the workers were found unconscious at about 7.30pm and were sent to hospital........     SIA and CNA tie-up to introduce "news ticker" on SIA flights Within the next few months, 40 per cent of all SIA flights, including all long haul flights, will have a 'live' news ticker service provided by regional news channel, Channel NewsAsia...... Man jailed over Ponzi scheme A former insurance agent was sentenced on Wednesday to 80 months' jail after running a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme, between 2004 and 2008...... GE: PAP introduces fourth batch of new GE candidates Singapore's ruling People's Action Party introduced its fourth batch of new candidates on Wednesday for the upcoming General Election...... Couple charged with stealing S$15,000 bracelet Two foreigners were charged in court on Wednesday with stealing a diamond bracelet worth S$15,000 from a jewellery store...... Home Affairs Ministry introduces new study award The Home Affairs Ministry has introduced a new study award to reel in more talent...... Two former auxiliary police officers jailed Two former auxiliary police officers, who were based at Changi Airport, turned human traffickers by allowing travellers with false passports and boarding passes to board flights...... KK Hospital launches one-stop service for patients with Endometriosis KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) has started a one-stop service for patients with Endometriosis...... Expansion of CBD into Marina Bay gives S'pore competitive edge: SM Goh Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said having prime space at downtown Marina Bay to expand the Central Business District gives Singapore a "significant competitive edge" to grow the financial sector at a time when opportunities in Asia abound...... MediaCorp wins LTA bus shelter contract Bus commuters will soon be able to read breaking news headlines, traffic and weather alerts on electronic panels at selected bus stops while waiting for their buses......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-29

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Worker dies after accident at ExxonMobil refinery ExxonMobil suspended maintenance work at its Singapore refinery after the death of a contract worker, the company said this morning. Two contract workers were discovered unconscious in an enclosed space filled with nitrogen at........

Youngest new PAP candidate in 3 decades wants to prove her mettle After she was first identified by the media as possibly the People's Action Party's youngest new election candidate, Ms Tin Pei Ling found herself on the sharp end of comments online. Yesterday, after being formally introduced, Ms........     Serial cashcard thief arrested Police have arrested a 47-year-old man who is believed to be responsible for a series of cashcard thefts from vehicles...... New non-invasive treatment for prostate cancer A new non-invasive treatment option for prostate cancer has been developed that minimises the side effects and down time for patients...... GE: S'pore's main political parties take part in TV forum Five of Singapore's main political parties have taken part in a pre-election television forum, organised by Channel NewsAsia, in the run up to the General Election due by February 2012...... MHA looking to engage more youths and academics The Home Affairs Ministry (MHA) is looking to engage more youths and academics to contribute their scientific and technical expertise to national security...... GE: SAF general to be SM Goh's understudy Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has confirmed that one of the two generals who stepped down from the Singapore Armed Forces last week, will understudy him at Marine Parade GRC...... Electricity tariff to increase 6.1% starting April SP Services said households will pay more for their electricity from April, with their electricity tariff increasing by 6.1 per cent to 25.58 cents per kilowatt-hour...... SMU receives S$5m donation from Lippo Group The Singapore Management University received a S$5 million donation from Dr Mochtar Riady, founder and chairman of Indonesia's Lippo Group...... Recalcitrant burglar sentenced to 26 months jail A recalcitrant offender who brought her then-10-year-old daughter along to commit burglary was sentenced on Tuesday to 26 months' jail...... MDA launches tender for 2 FM frequencies The Media Development Authority (MDA) is conducting a public tender to allocate two FM frequencies - FM 89.3 and FM 92.0...... 1 dead, 1 injured after incident at ExxonMobil refinery One worker died and another seriously injured in an incident at Singapore Refinery in Jurong on Monday night......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-28

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PCF celebrates 25 years by S Ramesh and Sharon See The PAP Community Foundation (PCF), which runs kindergartens islandwide, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Speaking at the celebrations in Ang Mo Kio GRC yesterday, Prime Minister Lee........

NSP confirms four candidates to be fielded at Tampines GRC The National Solidarity Party (NSP) yesterday confirmed four candidates to be fielded at five-member Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC). During their walkabout in Tampines yesterday, NSP's secretary-general Goh Meng........     EMA appoints new chief executive The Principal Private Secretary to the Minister Mentor, Mr Chee Hong Tat will be the new Chief Executive of Energy Market Authority (EMA) with effect from May 9, 2011...... WDA, MCYS see leadership change Deputy Commissioner of Police Wong Hong Kuan will be appointed chief executive of the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) with effect from June 1, 2011...... GE: PAP unveils third batch of new GE candidates The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) on Monday made known its third batch of new candidates for the coming General Election (GE)...... 500 wafer fab workers upskilled after programme Some 500 workers from Singapore's wafer fabrication industry have attained higher skills from a certification programme...... Singapore's architectural works noticed in Europe Some of Singapore's outstanding architectural works are getting noticed in Europe...... Football: Show you care, say Nakata and FAS As Japan struggle with their rescue and rebuilding efforts following the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami on March 11, one of the country's biggest sports stars, Hidetoshi Nakata, and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) are teaming up to .....

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-27

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Be Prince William and Kate's royal wedding guest As part of celebrations to mark the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, the British Club in Singapore is holding a series of festivities from April 21......     Traditional Chinese wedding exhibition at National Library The National Library at Victoria Street is holding a Traditional Chinese wedding exhibition from now to April 6, to help the public understand the meaning behind traditional rituals, from marriage proposals and dowry preparation to tea ceremonies...... GE: Dr Faishal to move to Nee Soon GRC Senior Minister and MP for Marine Parade GRC Goh Chok Tong has revealed on the Marine Parade division's Facebook Page that Dr Muhammad Faishal, from Marine Parade GRC, will be moving to the newly created Nee Soon GRC...... PAP kindergartens mark 25th year The People's Action Party's Community Foundation (PCF), which runs kindergartens island wide, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year......

GE: SDA welcomes possibility of three-cornered fights The Singapore Democratic Alliance has welcomed the possibility of a three-cornered fight in the upcoming General Election......     Coffeeshops join anti-inflation drive Four coffeeshops in Serangoon North (Avenue 1) have pledged to keep prices down for the next six months, as part of efforts to help residents cope with rising prices...... GE: New East Coast MPs meet residents The two People's Action Party (PAP) veterans who will be new faces in the team for East Coast GRC got down to business on Sunday morning...... GE: Charles Chong to stand in Joo Chiat SMC The People's Action Party's candidate for the Joo Chiat single member seat will be veteran MP Charles Chong, who is currently an MP in the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC...... GE: PAP's Moulmein-Kallang team ready for election fight Every election fight will be tough, and the People's Action Party team in Moulmein-Kallang GRC is prepared for the challenge, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim...... GE: Think carefully, calmly before voting, says PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singaporeans should think carefully and calmly about the long-term future for Singapore during the upcoming General Election...... Slight haze expected in S'pore over next few days Singapore may experience slight haze over the next few days......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-26

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Man jailed for molesting maid A 44-year-old plumber was given the maximum two years' jail for molesting his former Indonesian maid. The stocky, fair-complexioned man will also receive five strokes of the cane. He, who pleaded guilty to one count of molest on Tuesday,........

S$16m drive to raise productivity Almost 9,000 workers employed by small and medium enterprises are expected to benefit from a productivity drive, which will help them work more efficiently and earn more. This boon is expected to come about from the S$16 million........     Upgrading key to tackling inflation Upgrading one's skills and increasing one's pay is the only way to tackle rising cost of living, National Development Minister and MP for Tampines GRC Mah Bow Tan said...... GE: Expect the unexpected, says Charles Chong Speculation over who will be fielded and in which constituencies in the General Election has gone up a notch further, with Thursday's announcement of the PAP lineup in East Coast GRC...... Milk launched to fight obesity The Health Promotion Board (HPB) launched on Saturday a healthier form of milk to help address rising obesity among children in Singapore...... SINDA launches family service centre A new service centre was launched on Saturday by the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA)...... Ukraine President to visit Singapore President Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine will be in Singapore for a State Visit from Sunday to Tuesday...... More bloggers going full-time Singapore has an estimated 100,000 bloggers, with about half of them registered with blog advertising community, Nuffnang Singapore...... Singapore's favourite TV ads unveiled The Community Development, Youth and Sports Ministry (MCYS) and PepsiCo came out tops at the Viewers' Choice awards, to win the title of Singapore's favourite TV commercials this year...... More WDA initiatives to encourage low-wage workers to upgrade The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) has introduced new initiatives to encourage more low-wage workers to improve their skills and employability through the Workfare Training Support (WTS) scheme...... SINDA increases help for low-income families The Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) is providing more help for the lower-income in the Indian community who use its services...... S'pore, Thailand, US conclude military exercise Singapore, Thailand and the United States concluded the trilateral "Exercise Cope Tiger 2011" at Korat Air Base in Thailand on Friday......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-25

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Maid abuser jailed for one year A maid abuser was jailed yesterday, after his wife had turned him in to the authorities. In the Subordinate Courts, Chua Tian Hoe, 64, was jailed 12 months for commiting criminal intimidation. The court heard that in........

Fines of coach operators reduced after appeal Six coach operators, who were fined by the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) for price-fixing, have succeeded in their appeal to have the fines reduced. This is the first appeal case to come before the Competition Appeal........     Gang Renunciation Programme could be introduced for delinquent youths SINGAPORE : The Prison's Gang Renunciation Programme could be introduced in institutions for delinquent youths for the first time...... All charges dropped against Bollywood Veggies SINGAPORE : A district court has acquitted local organic farm, Bollywood Veggies, of all the charges it had faced involving the Building Control Act...... Navies of S'pore, Indonesia co-host multilateral exercises SINGAPORE : The Singapore and Indonesian navies are co-hosting the 4th Western Pacific Mine Countermeasures Exercise (MCMEX) and Diving Exercise (DIVEX)...... First casino vs gambler lawsuit to go to open court The first lawsuit by a casino here to get back money from a gambler is now likely to go to trial in open court, as the High Court, on Friday, granted him a chance to argue his case...... 44-year-old man jailed, caned for molesting maid A 44-year-old plumber was given the maximum two years' jail for molesting his former Indonesian maid. The stocky, fair-complexioned man will also receive five strokes of the cane...... New electronic dental record system at NDCS SINGAPORE : Patients who visit the National Dental Centre of Singapore at the Singapore General Hospital can expect faster and better assessment from their dentists soon...... Calling all aspiring matchmakers! A new pilot programme for "Modern Matchmakers" was announced on Friday by the Social Development Network (SDN)......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-24

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Food imports from four prefectures suspended As a precautionary measure, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has suspended - with immediate effect - the import of milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables, seafood and meat from four Japanese prefectures: Fukushima, Ibaraki,........

Man faces second murder charge He is among three men charged with the murder of a construction worker in the Kallang slashing case. Now, Tony Imba, 32, faces a second murder charge after another alleged victim, who had been in a coma, died recently......     MediaCorp bags 3 awards at Asia Rainbow TV Awards MediaCorp, Singapore's leading media company, scooped up three awards at the inaugural Asia Rainbow TV Awards held in Hong Kong on Tuesday...... Mustafa Centre shoplifter escapes jail term A 40-year-old taxi driver who shoplifted with his family at Mustafa Centre escaped a jail term and was fined S$3,500 instead...... Price-fixing fines reduced for coach operators after appeal Six coach operators who were fined by the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) for price-fixing have succeeded in their appeal to have their financial penalties reduced...... Man jailed, caned for robbing prostitute A prostitute who thought she had managed to secure a customer, was robbed, tied up and left in a vehicle for six hours before being released...... HDB launches 1,527 BTO flats in Jurong West and Sengkang HDB has launched two new Build-To-Order projects, Boon Lay Fields in Jurong West and Compassvale Ancilla in Sengkang. A total of 1,527 new flats are being offered...... Toa Payoh murder case remains unsolved A murder case involving a 72-year-old man who was found dead in his flat in 2008 remains unsolved with no tangible leads despite extensive police investigations...... Good governance important to S'pore's development: Head of Civil Service Head of the Singapore Civil Service Mr Peter Ong said good governance is an important ingredient in Singapore's development...... HSA warns against taking unlabelled black pills The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has warned the public against taking black pills peddled in unlabelled bottles...... Is your air-con too cold? It is touted as one of the best inventions, especially for hot and humid Singapore. But the air-conditioner also consumes a lot of electricity...... PCPS extended to cover more chronic diseases The Primary Care Partnership Scheme (PCPS) will be extended to cover five more chronic diseases from April......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-23

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S'pore clinches chair of key IMF committee PARIS - The International Monetary Fund has announced that Singapore Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam will chair the fund's steering committee. He will be the first Asian to head the advisory board. Mr Shanmugaratnam, 54, has accepted........     Food from Japan safe so far As global attention turned to the possible health risks associated with Japanese food imports, the Singapore authorities took further steps yesterday to allay concerns, reiterating that since the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan - crippling........

Iswaran's recipe to boost tourism At Fairmont Singapore, the hotel's maintenance staff not only take care of the usual maintenance issues, they also check the mini-bars in the guest rooms. This frees the mini-bar staff from having to check every room in the hotel -........     Employers urged to provide more options for women Over 850 women turned up at the 'Inclusive Back2Work With U' fair which involved about 18 companies that provided more options for women, like part-time positions and flexible hours, to attract them to join the workforce...... 4 men from Chile charged with theft SINGAPORE : Four men from Chile have been charged in court with theft...... Woman jailed, fined for offences including maid abuse A 31-year-old woman has been sentenced to a jail term of six weeks and one day and fined S$1,500 for different offences including maid abuse...... COEs fall in all except small cars category Premiums for Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) fell in all but the small cars category, or category A - which went up by S$1,213 to S$43,813...... PAP introduces its first new woman candidate for coming GE The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) on Wednesday introduced its first new woman candidate for the coming General Election...... Singapore Day 2011 to be held in Shanghai on April 16 It is a festival for overseas Singaporeans to come together and celebrate what it means to be Singaporean...... Chinese national "not terribly frightened" after cabby's death A Chinese national on trial for the murder of a taxi driver, told the High Court on Wednesday he was "not terribly frightened" when he tried to remove evidence after allegedly killing the man...... Singapore's inflation up 5% on-year in February Singapore's February consumer price index (CPI) rose by five per cent, versus market expectations for a rise of 5.4 per cent...... Parliament to sit on April 11 Singapore's Parliament will sit on April 11...... More TB cases in Singapore last year The number of new tuberculosis (TB) cases rose slightly last year......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-22

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PAP introduces first batch of new faces After months of anticipation and speculation, voters and the media were yesterday formally introduced to the first three of some 20 or so new faces that the ruling party is planning to field at the upcoming General Election (GE) - candidates........

Man escapes gallows for boy's death Originally facing the death penalty, Mohammad Johan Rashid, 32, was spared the gallows yesterday after he had his murder charge amended to one of culpable homicide. On the first day of the trial yesterday, Mohammad Johan pleaded........     "Heritage bridges" to showcase Singapore's rich cultural history Two overhead bridges in Singapore have been spruced up and decorated with photographs and information, so that people who use the bridges can know more about the historical significance of the area they are in...... No food imports from affected areas in Japan: AVA Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has confirmed there are no food imports from the affected regions in Japan since the start of the Fukushima nuclear plant incident...... NZ defence force chief thanks S'pore for Christchurch quake aid New Zealand's Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General (LG) Rhys Jones, has thanked Singapore for the SAF's assistance following the recent earthquake at Christchurch...... Environment Minister Yaacob to attend Cancun climate talks SINGAPORE : Singapore's Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, will be attending a ministerial consultation on "Implementing the Cancun Agreements"...... Indian defence secretary in S'pore for annual policy dialogue India's Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday afternoon...... Mah's thoughts on housing a nation A book featuring nine articles on Singapore's public housing programme was launched on Tuesday...... New smartphone app for rheumatoid arthritis SingHealth and Singapore General Hospital (SGH) have launched a new mobile phone application to help patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis better monitor their condition...... 4th Filipino jailed for cheating bank A fourth Filipino was sentenced to jail on Tuesday for being part of a scam to cheat Standard Chartered bank...... Police arrest four Chileans for suspected theft Police have arrested four Chilean men, aged between 29 and 39, who are believed to have committed a series of theft cases involving more than S$10,000 worth of items...... SingTel to bring F1 to the heartlands Singapore telco SingTel, which recently renewed its sponsorship for the Singapore GP for another two years till 2012, announced on Tuesday several new initiatives in the build up to this year's race...... More passengers passed through Changi Airport in Feb Some 3.4 million passengers passed through Changi Airport in February...... S'poreans to receive RTV licence refunds from Mar 22 Singaporeans will start receiving refunds for their 2011 radio and television (RTV) licence fees from March 22...... S'pore tourism sector needs to move towards quality Singapore's tourism industry should move away from quantity to quality if it is to overcome the long-term challenges posed by regional competition and land and labour constraints...... Over 5 in 10 S'pore workers willing to relocate for right job Singapore's workers are stretching their horizons as the search for jobs goes global......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-21

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General Elections: PAP introduces first batch of new election candidates The People's Action Party has introduced its first batch of new candidates for the coming General Election due by February 2012. At the session, PAP's Second Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said that in........     Singapore Red Cross awaiting clearance at Narita airport due to logistics jam The Singapore Red Cross Society says it is now waiting for clearance from the Japanese government before sending a second 10-tonne shipment of emergency supplies to aid quake victims in Japan. This is due to a logistics jam at Narita airport as...... Why you shouldn't buy 'Moon Mountain' cigarettes SINGAPORE - They resemble other brands and come complete with the pictorial health warning. But Singapore Customs has warned that "Moon Mountain" cigarettes are illegal in Singapore and members of the public should not buy or have them in........

SMC to explain decisions on complaints In the wake of a High Court ruling last month - in which the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) was ordered to explain to a businessman why it did not launch an inquiry against his wife's gynaecologist - the SMC has moved to address how it handles........     Psoriasis sufferers urged to seek early medical treatment Experts urge sufferers of psoriasis - a non-contagious inflammatory skin condition that leads to the thickening of the skin and scaling - to come forward and seek medical treatment...... PA's Wellness Programme to target 500,000 seniors SINGAPORE : The People's Association (PA) wants to engage half a million senior citizens through its Wellness Programme by 2014...... Assistant manager posed as CPIB officer to cheat man of S$9,000 An assistant manager at McDonald's has been sentenced to jail for posing as a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CIPB) officer and a monk to cheat a man of S$9,000...... Caltex raises pump prices Caltex has increased the prices of petrol and diesel. Petrol prices went up by 3 cents a litre for all grades and diesel rose five cents a litre...... NUH houses new fertility training centre The Centre for Reproductive Education and Specialist Training (CREST) has been set up at the National University Hospital (NUH) to train fertility experts from the region...... S'pore Red Cross awaiting clearance at Narita airport due to logistics jam The Singapore Red Cross Society says it is now waiting for clearance from the Japanese government before sending a second 10-tonne shipment of emergency supplies to aid quake victims in Japan...... GE: PAP introduces first batch of new election candidates The People's Action Party has introduced its first batch of new candidates for the coming General Election due by February 2012...... Man jailed for threatening to tarnish reputation of Borneo Motors A man was sentenced on Monday to three months and two weeks' jail for threatening to tarnish the reputation of Toyota distributor, Borneo Motors, if he was not given S$100,000...... Dutch seaman jailed for making bomb threat on plane A Dutch seaman was sentenced on Monday to 16 months' jail after making a bomb threat on a Singapore Airlines plane on September 29 last year...... Man who killed 6-year-old boy escapes death sentence A man originally charged with the murder of a six-year-old boy, whose body was found in a trolley bag by the Kallang River, escaped the gallows in the High Court on Monday...... "Moon Mountain" cigarettes illegal in S'pore They resemble other brands and come complete with the pictorial health warning......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-20

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Singaporean in Fukushima helps fellow Singaporeans One Singaporean in Fukushima has not only decided to stay on but he has also helped fellow Singaporeans. MediaCorp earlier reported that 20 Singaporeans were in Sendai, located some 90 kilometres from the troubled Fukushima nuclear power.....     GE: PAP has drawn up "good slate" of candidates, says DPM Teo SINGAPORE : Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean has said the People's Action Party has drawn up a "good slate" of candidates for the upcoming General Election, many of whom are younger in age...... GE: Leadership renewal a key focus for political parties SINGAPORE : Leadership renewal is shaping up to be one of the key focus for political parties in Singapore as the country heads to the polls...... GE: PAP team for Tampines GRC not confirmed yet SINGAPORE : National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan on Sunday said the People's Action Party's line-up of candidates for Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the coming General Election is not confirmed yet......

S'pore will have enough water even without new agreement: SM Goh Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said Singapore will have enough water for itself even if there is no new water agreement when its second Water agreement with Malaysia expires in 2061......     S'pore can learn and draw inspiration from crises responses, says DPM Teo Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said Singapore can learn from the way people in Australia and Japan responded in crises...... NSP to field lawyer in Mountbatten SMC The National Solidarity Party (NSP) has announced that it will field lawyer Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss as its candidate for the single-member constituency of Mountbatten in the upcoming General Election...... Hawkers in Bedok and Kampong Chai Chee pledge to maintain prices More than 120 hawkers in Bedok and Kampong Chai Chee have pledged to maintain prices for six months or try not to raise prices......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-19

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We stand in solidarity with Japan: PM Lee Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today visited the Japanese Embassy in Singapore and penned his condolence message for the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the death toll for which has eclipsed.....

Singaporean teacher chose to stay in Sendai Despite arrangements to help Singaporeans living in Sendai - located only 90km from Fukushima - leave for safer locations, 20 Singaporeans have decided to remain in the area, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday......     Peer-pressurising S'poreans to keep fit Getting Singaporeans aged above 40 to maintain physical and mental well-being through peer pressure -- that is what the Senior Health Ambassador Programme aims to do...... PM Lee conveys condolences to Japan Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore stands in solidarity with the government and people of Japan...... Heavy rain and possible flash floods in low-lying areas Parts of Singapore will experience heavy rain with gusty winds between 1.40pm and 3.15pm on Saturday; flash floods may occur in low-lying areas...... S'poreans cohesive, have common identity Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said he is "convinced" that Singapore has strengthened its cohesion and common identity over the past decade......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-18

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Charity event for quake victims At the Blue Jazz Cafe in Arab Street last night, a concert featuring 150 performers - about a fifth of whom are Japanese living here - was held to raise money for the Japan quake victims. One of the performers was Miss Kyoto Abe, a Sendai........

ICA foils contraband smuggling attempt The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has foiled an attempt to smuggle in 600,000 sticks of cigarettes and more than 120 kg of duty-unpaid chewing tobacco......     Rugby test featuring All Blacks and Wallabies in new national stadium, hopes SportsHub CEO SportsHub's new CEO, Mr Philippe Collin Delavaud, hopes for a glamour rugby test featuring New Zealand's All Blacks and Australia's Wallabies, when the national stadium reopens in March 2014...... NWC invites views on wage guidelines The National Wages Council (NWC) is inviting members of the public and organisations to offer their views on this year's wage guidelines as it prepares to start deliberations on them next month...... George Yeo offers condolences to Japan quake victims SINGAPORE : Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo was at the Japanese Embassy on Friday morning to offer his condolence to the victims and families affected by the quake...... SIA ups capacity of flights from Tokyo's Haneda Airport Starting on Saturday till March 21, Singapore Airlines will be operating larger capacity 777-300 aircraft for flight SQ633 from Tokyo Haneda to Singapore, to cater to increased demand...... S'pore radiation levels normal, says NEA The National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Friday that there are no abnormal changes in radiation levels in Singapore and the public should not be unduly alarmed...... NTUC FairPrice, Dairy Farm to help raise funds for Japan quake victims SINGAPORE : NTUC FairPrice and the Dairy Farm Group are working with the Singapore Red Cross to raise funds for victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami...... Indonesian defence minister in S'pore for official visit The Indonesian Minister for Defence, Dr Purnomo Yusgiantoro, called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Ministry of Defence on Friday morning...... Upskirt video man pleads guilty A production engineer has pleaded guilty to five charges of insulting the modesty of women by taking underskirt videos of them without their knowledge...... Car upholstery shop catches fire A car upholstery shop along Sin Ming Drive (no. 32) caught fire early Friday morning...... S'pore delegation at international teaching summit in New York NEW YORK: The first International Summit on the teaching profession took place in New York City with representatives from more than two dozen countries. Among them, a delegation from Singapore, accompanied by Senior Minister of State for Education, M.....

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-17

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Bringing about change for S'pore women At a "Women's Choices, Women's Lives" conference on March 5, participants drew up a "wish-list" of 100 recommendations for gender equity in Singapore. At the top of the list of 10 key proposals was that at least 30 per cent of seats in........

They'll be known as Kai Kai and Jia Jia Meet Kai Kai and Jia Jia. The names for the two eagerly-awaited giant pandas from China were selected from nearly 1,000 entries submitted by the public during a six-month-long contest. "Kai Kai" means "victorious" in........     MFA advises S'poreans in Fukushima & Miyagi to evacuate immediately SINGAPORE : Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has strongly recommended that Singaporeans currently in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures evacuate immediately...... S$3.5m plans for low-income, better integration The South West Community Development Council (CDC) has announced a S$3.5 million plan for lower-income families and to foster deeper ties within the community...... Sleeping disorder affects 15% of S'poreans An estimated 15 per cent of the population in Singapore is affected by obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), one of the most common sleeping disorders...... Japan-bound aid supplies delayed Plans by the Singapore Red Cross to deliver the first batch of aid supplies to victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan have been delayed, due to an influx of aid in Japan...... Dr James Barnard wins Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize SINGAPORE : The inventor of an eco-friendly method of treating used water has been named this year's Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize winner...... New crime prevention poster made by LASALLE A new series of crime prevention posters has been put up at bus stops islandwide......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-16

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MPs want to know impact of rising costs on senior citizens ESTHER NG SINGAPORE - It is a question gaining in relevance, given the ageing population: How does the rising cost of living affect senior citizens compared to the rest of the population? And a group of Members of........

CASE and STB to jointly handle tourist complaints The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will partner each other to handle consumer-related complaints from tourists starting from July 1 this year. Tourist complaints currently go to STB, while CASE.......     Pandas coming to S'pore named Kai Kai and Jia Jia SINGAPORE : A judging panel has decided that the two pandas coming to Singapore from China will be called "Kai Kai" and "Jia Jia"...... SIA maintaining flights to & from Japan SINGAPORE : Singapore Airlines has said it is maintaining its operations to and from Japan despite fears of radiation leaks from nuclear plants in the country...... Singapore Street Festival goes to the heartlands The Singapore Street Festival will be going to the heartlands for the first time in its 10th year running, showcasing a host of performances at Heartland Mall in Kovan, and White Sands in Pasir-Ris...... Traditional arts group to get funding boost Traditional arts groups are getting a boost in funding starting next month, thanks to three new initiatives from the National Arts Council (NAC)...... Woman donates S$1m to Japan quake victims Twenty-four-year-old Singaporean Elaine Low has donated S$1 million to the victims of the earthquake in Japan...... AVA to help fish farms raise productivity The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) is stepping up efforts to help local fish farms increase productivity...... Man caned for running loansharking business A man who ran an illegal moneylending business was sentenced on Wednesday to four years and four months' jail, fined S$151,000 and ordered to receive 21 strokes of the cane...... Construction sector deaths rise in 2010 Construction sector deaths inched upwards by one in 2010 compared to the year before...... Woman pleads guilty to sex act on girl A 22-year-old woman pleaded guilty on Wednesday to two counts of performing a sexual act on an underage girl, in what's believed to be the first case of its kind in Singapore...... CPF maintains Special & Medisave interest rates The Central Providend Fund (CPF) will be maintaining the interest rates for the Special and Medisave Account at four per cent from April 1 until June 30 this year......

Singapore Local News, 2011-03-15

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Father, son jailed for hurting ambulance driver Shaffiq Alkhatib SINGAPORE - A father and son pair were sentenced to jail on Tuesday for assaulting a private ambulance driver on Feb 20 last year. The father, Ching Thiam Foo, 49, a driver, received six months, while........

After ADVANTAGE! Time to ACCELERATE Even as there are indications that idea of re-employment is fast gaining traction among companies here, the tripartite partners - Ministry of Manpower, the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation - are........     Singapore goverment gives Red Cross S$0.5m for Japan relief efforts The government has given the Singapore Red Cross S$500,000 as seed money to kick-start relief efforts to the tsunami and earthquake stricken areas in Japan...... 3 women jailed for shoplifting SINGAPORE : Three women have been sentenced to jail for shoplifting at Mustafa Centre in Little India...... NTU revamps its curriculum structure for 2011's incoming freshmen The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has unveiled a major revamp of its curriculum structure that will involve more choice, greater flexibility and fewer hours in the classroom for this year's incoming freshmen...... Oliver Stone to head jury for Asian Short Film Award SINGAPORE : Singapore is hosting the inaugural Screen Singapore in June, with one of the highlights - the Asian Short Film Award - being judged by three-time Oscar winner Oliver Stone...... S'pore must reduce dependency on foreign labour: SM Goh SINGAPORE : Singapore has to make changes to the way it grows its economy as the model of relying on cheap and plentiful foreign workers to boost output is not sustainable, said Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong...... Japan ambassador appreciative of Singapore's relief support Japanese Ambassador to Singapore Yoichi Suzuki has met Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo to express his appreciation for Singapore's support in the relief operations following the earthquake that struck Japan on Friday...... Speakers' Corner restrictions to be gazetted once elections called The Singapore Elections Department has issued further details on the use of the Speakers' Corner - Singapore's version of London's Hyde Park - during the General Election...... FairPrice expanding hypermarket chain NTUC FairPrice said it is expanding its chain of hypermarkets to make it more accessible for customers, with the launch of its fourth outlet at Nex mall in Serangoon on Tuesday...... ICA officer charged with forgery An officer from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority was charged on Tuesday with three counts of forgery...... Father and son jailed for assaulting ambulance driver A father and son were sentenced to a total of 10 months' jail on Tuesday for assaulting a private ambulance driver...... More than 115,000 jobs created last year There were a total of 115,900 jobs created in Singapore for the whole of last year. This was a slight adjustment to an earlier estimate of 112,500......