Singapore Local News, 2011-11-30

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URA calls for ideas to develop Railway Corridor The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is drawing on strong public interest for bold and fresh ideas on ways to develop the Malayan railway land that was returned to Singapore in July 2011. It has launched an Ideas Competition........     New therapy for heart failure patients to reduce re-admissions A new therapy to help heart failure patients with fluid overload has been introduced for the first time in Asia by the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS). Called Aquapheresis, it is a form of ultra-filtration that removes excess........ WSH makes key recommendations on workplace safety Developers should insist that main contractors specify safety measures and costs in their tender price. Trade-specific tests should be expanded overseas to ensure workers meet minimum skills requirements before they come to work in........ Singapore job rate hits new high in 2011 Singapore's job market appeared rosy in 2011, with the employment rate hitting a new high of 78 per cent for the resident population aged 25 to 64. This surpassed the previous high of 77.1 per cent in 2010. The Ministry........

War on drugs goes online Aside from roadshows, dance contests and school talks, an online element will be roped in to help youths learn the dangers of drug abuse. From Monday, the National Council against Drug Abuse (NCADA) and the Central Narcotics Bureau........     SDP releases paper on Cabinet Ministers' remuneration The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has released a paper on Cabinet Ministers' remuneration, in what it says is after four months of intensive research by the party's Policy Unit...... Backlog of first-time BTO applicants mostly cleared The backlog of first-time applicants for the HDB's Build-To-Order flats appears to have largely cleared, following a ramp up in supply...... 10th International Varsity Debates returns in December The 10th International Varsity Debates will return on Channel NewsAsia and MediaCorp Channel U in December...... Nine suspects nabbed for loansharking Police have arrested nine suspects believed to be part of a loansharking syndicate...... Researchers recognised for superbug "weapon" A team of researchers and scientists from Singapore and the US that made a breakthrough in a microscopic particle that has the potential to be a new weapon against the superbug has been recognised for its "world-changing idea"...... Police seeking help over ATM theft Police are looking for a woman seen in the picture to help with investigations into a case of theft from an ATM machine at Alexandra Road...... Court of Appeal dismisses Dr Susan Lim's appeal Singapore's Court of Appeal has dismissed an attempt by prominent surgeon Dr Susan Lim to stop the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) from setting up a second Disciplinary Committee (DC) to investigate claims against her for over-charging a patient...... Dolphins in RWS to play integral role in conservation awareness The dolphins at the heart of the controversy surrounding Resorts World Sentosa's Marine Life Park (MLP) will play an important role in educating the public on conservation, said the park's vice-president Peter Doyle...... New measures to protect building from flash floods With more wet weather expected in the coming weeks, buildings will be better protected from flash floods with new drainage measures that take effect from December 1...... Chingay to celebrate Year of the Dragon The annual Chingay Parade, held as part of Chinese New Year celebrations, promises to be a colourful celebration of love along a 360-metre waterway...... S'pore tour agencies not affected by London strike Singapore tour agencies said travel to and from London have not been affected by the expected 24-hour strike by immigration officers at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday...... Upgraded market & food centres to open Thursday Residents can expect a more pleasant dining and marketing experience at two upgraded markets and food centre...... NTUC considering 3 women for NMP post There is still another week before submissions for the Nominated MP scheme close on the December 8 at 4.30pm...... Business reality series to premiere in Feb Asia's latest business reality TV series "Angel's Gate", which is co-produced by regional broadcaster Channel NewsAsia, will premiere in February 2012...... Marine Life Park to roll out educational programme Singapore students will be able to gain a unique insight into marine life through an internationally- acclaimed curriculum at Marine Life Park (MLP), which opens next year..... How should S'pore develop Rail Corridor? The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is drawing on strong public interest for bold and fresh ideas on ways to develop the Malayan railway land that was returned to Singapore in July 2011...... Therapy introduced to treat heart fluid overload A new therapy to help heart failure patients with water retention has been introduced for the first time in Asia, by National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS)...... WSH makes key recommendations on workplace safety Developers should insist that main contractors specify safety measures and costs in their tender price...... SPH sees leadership changes Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) has announced key changes in its group succession plan...... S'pore job rate hits new high Singapore's job market appeared rosy in 2011, with the employment rate hitting a new high of 78 per cent for the resident population aged 25 to 64......

Singapore Local News, 2011-11-29

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Cosmetics and sunscreen chemical raises cancer risk: Study A Singapore research team has said a chemical commonly found in cosmetics and sunscreen may potentially cause cancer. The preliminary study on nanotoxicology was led by the research team from Nanyang Technological University........     President returns to NUS as Chancellor President Tony Tan (left, with Mr Wong Ngit Liong, chairman of the National University of Singapore's board of trustees) was welcomed as NUS' ninth Chancellor with a lunch yesterday. Dr Tan, who was a student and, later, a lecturer at NUS, was appoin..... Children to get vaccination earlier From Dec 1, children will receive both doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination at a younger age, after the Ministry of Health (MOH) accepted a recommendation from the Expert Committee on Immunisation. MOH said........ Private-housing sites launched for sale Three new residential sites for private housing have been released under the Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme. The sites are at Mount Vernon Road, Jalan Lempeng and the Kovan Road/Simon Road area. The Urban........ 4 challenges facing MAS The world is undergoing "a fundamental reshaping of the economic and financial landscape" which Singapore must adjust to, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.Calling this "a critical period for the global........ Bayfront, Marina Bay stations to open in Jan Two new train stations on the Circle Line extension will open on Jan 14, boosting connectivity to the downtown Marina Bay area, said Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Downtown Line 3 (DTL 3)........

Probation report called on TV host A probation report has been called on television host Quan Yifeng (picture), after she pleaded guilty yesterday to damaging a taxi meter and the receipt printer, to assess her suitability for probation. District Judge Low Wee Ping........     Singapore Coins and Notes Museum gets new home Singapore's only museum dedicated to showcasing currency has a new home...... Mr Shanmugam in Bangkok for introductory visit BANGKOK: Singapore's Foreign Minister and Law Minister K Shanmugam was in Bangkok for an introductory visit...... Macedonia PM meets PM Lee The prime minister of Macedonia paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana on Tuesday afternoon...... SAF, CGH signs MOU on Sports Medicine collaboration The Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps (SAFMC) and Changi General Hospital (CGH) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will see them working together to enhance professional knowledge, clinical services and research in the field of M..... Anti-Drug Online Gaming Challenge opens Dec 5 Youths will get to try out the first Anti-Drug Online Gaming Challenge from December 5...... S'pore needs to increase national R&D expenditure Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the country needs to increase the national research and development (R&D) expenditure to 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2015 - a target which is comparable to other research-intensive countries...... S'pore Consulate-General in Chengdu moves to new address From 1 December, the Singapore Consulate-General in Chengdu, China, will operate from a new address...... Toddlers to get MMR jab earlier From next month, children will receive both doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination at a younger age...... Cosmetic, sunscreen chemical raises cancer risk Preliminary research by a Nanyang Technological University (NTU) team has shown that zinc oxide, a chemical commonly found in consumer products, may potentially cause cancer...... CPE files charges against ALG manager Industry watchdog, the Council for Private Education (CPE), has filed charges against the manager of ALG Education Centre, Ken Yong, for contravening the Private Education Act......

Singapore Local News, 2011-11-28

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SMRT makes 5 more bus routes more wheelchair-friendly SMRT will introduce Wheelchair Accessible Bus (WAB) services on five new bus routes. This is in conjunction with the International Day of Persons with disabilities on Dec 3. The services are 61, 855, 920, 922 and 950,........     Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre to perform at 2011 MAMA American rap music producers Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre will be attending the 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) tomorrow at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. They will be adding their names to an already star-studded guest list which........ CTE widening between Yio Chu Kang and Bukit Timah completed The widening of the Central Expressway (CTE) between Bukit Timah Road and Yio Chu Kang Road to four continuous lanes has been completed. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said with this, overall traffic capacity along the........ Singapore research institute to commercialise silicon chips The Institute of Microelectronics (IME), a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), has announced plans to commercialise key innovations in silicon chips designed to support high speed, high bandwidth........ Marina Bay, Bayfront circle line stations to open in January The Circle Line extension, comprising Bayfront and Marina Bay stations, will open on Jan 14. Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew announced this at the ground breaking ceremony for Downtown Line 3 today morning. The third and........ Employers to focus on promoting and hiring from within: Report Employers are increasing their focus on internal mobility to overcome the skills shortage being felt in the Singapore market. In its latest report, recruitment consultant Hays said it predicts that "internal mobility" will be the........ Singapore scientists headline embryonic stem cell study Researchers from A*STAR Singapore took lead roles in a study that identified a portion of the genome mutated during long-term culture of human embryonic stem cells. The study was a worldwide collaboration led by Drs Peter Andrews........ Change, from the bottom up: PM First elected to Parliament in 2006, Ms Denise Phua has, on some occasions, spoken out against Government policies, including criticising the "many helping hands" approach in social services.Ms Phua, 52, yesterday became the........

More dust, noise with DTL3 construction More inconvenience can be expected when construction of the Downtown Line 3 (DTL3) begins today compared to when Stages 1 and 2 were built, because the new line will run along densely populated areas. However, the Land Transport........     Mosquito breeding sites in homes up in Oct, Nov The number of mosquito breeding sites in Singapore homes has risen by 14 per cent over the past two months compared to the three months between July and September...... Gan Kim Yong to suss out potential PAP candidates Singapore's Health Minister Gan Kim Yong will head the team overseeing the process of identifying potential People's Action Party candidates for the next general election...... Heavy rains flood NTUC supermarket The heavy rains on Monday afternoon claimed a supermarket in Ang Mo Kio...... Online photo album to help public learn about Singapore An online collection of images to help Singaporeans discover, learn and share about the country's social history and development has been launched...... Lee Kuan Yew proposes S$100m bilingualism fund Singapore's former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has proposed a S$100 million bilingualism fund to enhance the teaching of mother tongue languages to pre-schoolers...... Man arrested for suspected involvement in loanshark activities Police have arrested a 54-year-old man for suspected involvement in loanshark harassment...... Top grossing M'sian film Nasi Lemak 2.0 comes to S'pore A fusion of multi racial cultures, coupled with song, dance and comedy - Nasi Lemak 2.0 is a pastiche of the Chinese, Malay and Indian community and it aims to educate viewers on the importance of cohesive living...... 57 CaseTrust-accredited spas take up protection schemes About a third of CaseTrust-accredited spas in Singapore have taken up spa protection schemes...... NUS hosts welcome lunch for new chancellor The National University of Singapore (NUS) hosted a welcome lunch on Monday afternoon in honour of its ninth chancellor, President Tony Tan Keng Yam...... Raymond Lim joins Swire group Former transport minister Raymond Lim has been appointed senior adviser at John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte. Ltd...... Kishore Mahbubani makes it to "Top 100 Global Thinkers" The dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY School), Professor Kishore Mahbubani, has made it to the "Top 100 Global Thinkers" list by Foreign Policy magazine...... Bus diversions due to StanChart Marathon SMRT will be temporarily diverting 12 bus services because of road closures for the Standard Chartered Marathon on Sunday...... NTUC FairPrice extends donation period for used textbooks NTUC FairPrice has extended the date for people to make donations of used textbooks from November 30 to December 5...... 5 more wheelchair-friendly bus routes SMRT will introduce Wheelchair Accessible Bus (WAB) services on five new bus routes...... Probation report called for Quan Yi Feng A probation report has been called for television host Quan Yi Feng after she pleaded guilty on Monday to damaging a taxi meter and the receipt printer of a cabbie...... New flyovers along CTE, PIE to open in phases A newly-constructed flyover along the Central Expressway (CTE) towards the city will open from 3am this Saturday...... Commercialising innovations for optical communication The Institute of Microelectronics (IME), a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), has announced plans to commercialise key innovations in silicon chips designed to support high speed, high bandwidth optical co..... Bayfront, Marina Bay stations on CCL to begin soon Two new train stations on the Circle Line extension will open on 14 January, boosting connectivity to the downtown Marina Bay area...... S'pore scientists lead human embryonic stem cell study Researchers from A*STAR Singapore took lead roles in a study that identified a portion of the genome mutated during long-term culture of human embryonic stem cells......

Singapore Local News, 2011-11-27

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It's a new phase in S'pore politics: Khaw The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has entered a new phase in Singapore's political landscape, where the key political challenge will be one of more intense competition in a more challenging domestic environment. This is the consensus among........     Mr Masagos to visit S.Korea Minister of State for Foreign and Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli will visit Seoul and Busan from Monday to Thursday...... Mr Shanmugam to visit Thailand Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K Shanmugam will make an introductory visit to Thailand on Monday and Tuesday...... ESM Goh to visit Seoul Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Goh Chok Tong will be in the South Korean capital, Seoul, as a member of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) for the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit (NSS)...... PM Lee urges PAP to transform for new era Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called for a transformation of his People's Action Party (PAP) for a new era......

More dust, noise with DTL3 construction More inconvenience can be expected when construction of the Downtown Line 3 (DTL 3) begins Monday compared to when stages 1 and 2 were built......     Avoid top-down policy making, urges MP Veteran Member of Parliament Inderjit Singh has urged the People's Action Party (PAP) to create opportunities to inject greater political judgement into the policy-making process in Parliament...... Heterosexuals urged to go for voluntary HIV test Action for AIDS, a community-based organisation, is focusing on getting heterosexuals to understand the importance to screen for HIV infection, as part of efforts to educate the public...... Religion to boost AIDS support Some religious and non-government organisations have come together to form the Singapore Interfaith Network on AIDS...... More S'poreans now aware of HIV/AIDS preventive measures According to a survey by the Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singaporeans now have greater knowledge of HIV/AIDS preventive measures compared to just few years ago...... No compromise on multi-racialism: PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore cannot compromise on the spirit of give-and-take and mutual trust among its races...... PAP must expect tougher fights in future elections: PM Lee The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) can expect future general elections to be tougher contests and should not expect any more clean sweeps and safe wards...... PAP must connect with people: Khaw The People's Action Party (PAP) was less effective in its campaign coordination and strategy during the general election (GE) in May 2011......

Singapore Local News, 2011-11-26

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More government support to electronics industry The government will continue to support the electronics industry in its efforts to adapt to the changing global landscape. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said this on the sidelines of the United Workers of Electronic and........

Two loan shark suspects arrested, following appeal on Facebook The police have arrested two loan shark suspects based on a lead that came from a photo that was posted on the police's Facebook page in July 2009. A netizen called the police two weeks ago after seeing the photo on the social........     More intense competition as PAP enters new phase The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has entered a new phase in Singapore's political landscape, where the key political challenge will be one of more intense competition in a more challenging domestic environment...... PUB helps flood-hit Thailand on water safety Singapore's national water agency PUB is helping Thailand to ensure its water supply is safe in the aftermath of widespread flooding recently...... Charity walk raises some S$200,000 for Home Nursing Foundation More than 1,000 participants helped to raise about S$200,000 for the Home Nursing Foundation in a charity walk at East Coast Park on Saturday morning...... More government support to electronics industry The government will continue to support the electronics industry in its efforts to adapt to the changing global landscape...... S'pore re-elected to International Maritime Organisation Council Singapore has been re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for a 10th consecutive term......

Singapore Local News, 2011-11-25

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Tighter advertising & promotion guidelines for casinos Singapore authorities have tightened advertising and promotions guidelines for the country's two casinos to ensure that they do not target the domestic market. With immediate effect, the scope of the Casino Control (Advertising)........     12 projects to receive R&D funds Twelve projects have received up to S$250,000 each under the National Research Foundation (NRF) today. One of the 12 projects aims to develop a microchip that can detect and collect cancer cells from blood for analysis, thus........ Eye surgeon charged for cheating healthcare provider An eye surgeon was charged today with cheating a healthcare provider of more than S$474,000. Fifty-one-year-old Marc Tay Tze-Hsin allegedly cheated integrated healthcare provider, Pacific Healthcare Specialist Services (PBSS), on........ Man jailed for indecent act A pervert was sentenced to four weeks jail today for masturbating publicly in ladies underwear and flashing at his neighbours in the Ang Mo Kio vicinity. Forty-five-year-old Hui Sai Mun pleaded guilty today to one count of causing........ Singapore manufacturing outperforms expectations Singapore's manufacturing picked up in October 2011 after slowing in the previous month. Industrial production climbed 24.4 per cent from a year earlier, and rose 14.2 per cent from September, the Economic Development Board said in........ Section of law that can discredit sex assault victim to be repealed: Shanmugam The Ministry of Law plans to repeal Section 157(d) of the Evidence Act, says Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law, Mr K Shanmugam. Mr Shanmugam announced this during his speech at the official launch of AWARE's Sexual Assault........ 149 MND officers recognised for their contributions 149 officers from the Ministry of National Development were recognised for their contributions at the Ministry's National Day Awards ceremony today. Thirteen of them were presented the Commendation Medal for their exemplary........ Public feedback on smoking ban wanted: NEA The National Environment Agency (NEA) is asking for public feedback on extending the smoking ban via an e poll.Some common places that have resulted in calls for a smoking ban include housing estates corridors, void decks and........ Tip off on identity of cat dumper received: Report Good news for pet lovers enraged over video footage of a man dumping a cat into a rubbish bin. The veterinary centre where the cat was dumped had received a tip-off on the identity of the Mercedes driving man, said a report in The........

Murder accused's tale of love and infidelity ... Learning that she was a married woman whom he also suspected of seeing other men while they were dating did not snuff out his feelings for her. And even after Madam Zhang Meng's family beat him up and threatened to kill him after........     Cleaner charged with Jurong East MRT murder SINGAPORE : A 55-year-old cleaner was charged on Friday with the murder of his 62-year-old colleague at Jurong East MRT interchange on Thursday...... Tighter advertising & promotions guidelines for casinos SINGAPORE : Singapore authorities have tightened advertising and promotions guidelines for the country's two casinos to ensure that they do not target the domestic market...... Road closures this weekend for PAP Convention at NUS SINGAPORE : Several roads and lanes leading to the University Cultural Centre at the National University of Singapore will be closed this weekend for nearly 24 hours, from 4.30pm on Saturday to 3pm on Sunday...... Facebook post helps police track down loanshark suspects Police have arrested two loanshark suspects based on a lead that came from a photo that was posted on the police Facebook page in July 2009...... 12 projects awarded NRF funding Twelve projects have received up to S$250,000 each under the National Research Foundation (NRF) on Friday...... Lasik eye surgeon charged with cheating healthcare provider An eye surgeon was charged on Friday with cheating a healthcare provider of more than S$474,000...... S'pore agencies' counter-terrorism readiness tested in Exercise Northstar Co-ordination among 18 agencies in Singapore was put to the test on Friday at the finale of an ongoing counter-terrorism exercise - Northstar VIII...... Cross-dressing pervert jailed for flashing A pervert was sentenced to four weeks jail on Friday for masturbating publicly in ladies underwear and flashing at his neighbours in the Ang Mo Kio vicinity...... NEA, HPB launch e-poll on smoking prohibition SINGAPORE : Smoking may be banned in more public places if there is strong support for this...... Section of Evidence Act that can discredit sexual assault victim to be repealed The sexual history of a victim of sexual assault soon may no longer be used against her in court...... 166 MND officers recognised for contributions One hundred and sixty-six officers from the Ministry of National Development (MND) were recognised for their outstanding performance and contributions......

Singapore Local News, 2011-11-24

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1.75 months' year-end bonus for civil servants Singapore's 65,000 civil servants will get a 0.75-month of year-end Annual Variable Component (AVC) in December. Together with the one-month Non-Pensionable Annual Allowance (NPAA), also commonly referred to as the 13th-month........     97 per cent of students passed the PSLE, with top student scoring 283 The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results were released today, and 97 per cent of students who sat the exam passed and qualify to move on to secondary schools. The cohort's top student was Yazmin Ziqin Mohamed Yousoof........ Marina Bay Sands, SOTA awarded for design excellence Marina Bay Sands and School of the Arts (SOTA) have both been awarded Singapore President's Design Award 2011 for raising the bar of design excellence in Singapore. Designed by world-renowned architect Mr Moshe Safdie, Marina Bay........ NSP's Goh Meng Seng leaves party In a blog post entitled Journey Forward, NSP's former Secretary General Goh Meng Seng told his supporters he will be leaving the party. In the blog post, Mr Goh said he will let his party membership lapse by the end of the year. Mr........ HDB launch 4,200 new flats over 7 BTO projects Another 4,200 new flats in seven Build-to-Order (BTO) projects have been launched today by the Housing and Development Board (HDB). This follows its bumper 8,200 new flats offered just two months ago. The latest launch........

Recipe for an upset stomach Households here fare poorly when it comes to kitchen hygiene, according to a survey of 25 households. Eighty-eight per cent of the homes surveyed in the week-long study - commissioned by BOSCH and Reckitt Benckiser - have a........     SITEX opens at S'pore Expo The annual IT and consumer electronics fair, SITEX, opened its doors on Thursday to gadget enthusiasts...... Exercise Northstar VIII to test new National Maritime Security System A new security system will be put to test during the Exercise Northstar VIII anti-terror drill, to test the readiness, effectiveness and coordination of agencies in responding to civil emergencies...... Man sentenced for violent robbery of elderly A 52-year-old man who violently robbed 11 elderly citizens of nearly S$12,000 was sentenced Thursday to seven years' preventive detention...... New patron for Girl Guides Singapore The wife of President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Mrs Mary Tan, has been installed as the new Patron of Girl Guides Singapore (GGS)...... Year-end bonus for civil servants Singapore's 76,000 civil servants will get a 0.75-month of year-end Annual Variable Component (AVC) in December...... NUS, JTC set up joint research centre The National University of Singapore (NUS) and JTC Corporation have set up a new joint research centre to promote innovative and sustainable industrial infrastructure solutions in Singapore...... Early detection of eye disease at optometry Cataract is the most common eye disease in Singapore, especially among the elderly affecting 90 per cent of the population aged 70 and above, followed by glaucoma...... Goh Meng Seng to leave NSP Veteran opposition politician Goh Meng Seng from the National Solidarity Party (NSP) has decided to let his party membership lapse by the end of the year...... 2 years' probation for teen serial molester A 15-year-old student who was involved in several cases of outraging and insulting the modesty of girls in Bukit Batok has been sentenced on Thursday to 24 months' probation...... Stamping out dirty coffeeshop toilets The Public Hygiene Council on Thursday launched a set of new educational materials targeting coffeeshop toilet users with the theme - "I Care, How About You?"...... 4 of 6 madrasahs meet PSLE benchmark Of the six full-time madrasahs, four have met the PSLE benchmark this year set by the Ministry of Education...... Top PSLE pupil from Rulang Primary; 97.4% passes Some 97 per cent of students who sat for their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) this year have done well to move on to secondary schools...... Nominations open for category-free Singapore Youth Awards 2012 Nominations open from Thursday for the Singapore Youth Award (SYA) 2012 which for the first time will be category free...... 4,200 new BTO flats launched Another 4,200 new flats in seven Build-to-Order (BTO) projects were launched on Thursday by the Housing and Development Board (HDB)......

Singapore Local News, 2011-11-23

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Singapore's inflation rate holds above 5 per cent Singapore's inflation rate held above 5 per cent for the fifth straight month in October. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 5.4 per cent from a year ago, easing from the previous month's gain of 5.5 per cent. The........     Local scientists work with Nestle to learn more about maternal nutrition An alliance of leading epigenetics researchers from three countries including Singapore has announced a research collaboration with Nestlé Research Center in Switzerland. The collaboration is aimed at using epigenetics, the biology........ SINDA unveils education roadmap for 2020 The Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) announced several measures today to boost education achievements of the Indian community by 2020. After a one-and-a-half-year review, SINDA has found that Indian students are........ Singapore flying high in business aviation Second Minister for Trade and Industry Mr S Iswaran said Singapore is well-positioned to tap and support the growth of business aviation, which is air travel by corporations or individuals in corporate jets or private planes...... Singapore foreign service drew lessons from 70s Cambodian conflict Former deputy prime minister Wong Kan Seng said the Cambodian conflict which started in the late 1970s was an early test for Singapore and its foreign service. Mr Wong was the Foreign Minister from 1988 to early 1994 when the........ SPH sues Yahoo! for copyright infringement In a report released today on straitstimes.com, Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) said it has filed a copyright infringement suit against Yahoo!. SPH alleges the search giant reproduced content from its stable of newspapers without its........ Hotline and online help for Malay, Muslim parents Malay/Muslim parents and students can call a Mendaki hotline for guidance on options available after the release of the Primary School Leaving Examination results on Thursday. Mendaki said its Edu-Advisor hotline at 6245 5795 or........

Hawker stall rentals are 'still lower than those of food courts' SINGAPORE - They may be pegged to market rates but hawker stall rentals are "significantly lower" than those of food courts. Also, rentals are but one component that determines the price a hawker charges, Minister for the Environment and Water Resou.....     No need to fill up "White Card" to enter M'sia, for now Travellers crossing the causeway into Malaysia will not need to fill up the white immigration cards, for now...... Registration for OCBC Cycle Singapore kicks off SINGAPORE : Organisers of the OCBC Cycle Singapore are targeting 12,000 participants for the event next year, up from the 10,000 who took part this year...... Warm welcome home for Team Singapore athletes Team Singapore athletes returned from the Indonesian SEA Games to a boisterous welcome at Changi Airport on Wednesday afternoon...... MFA withdraws Bangkok travel warning Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said it no longer advises Singaporeans to consider deferring non-essential travel to Bangkok...... Medifund for home, community-based services SINGAPORE : From early next year, needy Singaporeans will be able to tap on Medifund for home- and community-based services such as home medical and nursing, and day rehabilitation...... South-Southeast Asia ties will deepen despite challenges SINGAPORE : Singapore is confident that despite the difficulties and challenges, strategic and economic engagements between South and Southeast Asia will deepen...... News of civil service bonus expected soon It's that time of the year when civil servants await the bonus payout announcement, and Channel NewsAsia understands the news could come as early as Thursday...... S'pore households fare poorly in kitchen hygiene: survey SINGAPORE : Singapore households fare poorly when it comes to kitchen hygiene, according to a survey...... COE prices mostly down Certificate of Entitlement prices in the second bidding exercise in November were mostly down...... S'pore appoints Ambassador to Iran Mr Chew Tai Soo has been appointed Singapore's Ambassador to Iran...... TP to offer new diploma in business analytics Temasek Polytechnic (TP) will offer a new business analytics diploma programme next year...... New initiatives to focus on educational progress of Indian students The Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) said the Indian Singaporean community has made considerable progress in education in the last 20 years, but stubborn gaps remain...... ISAS plans for conference on Afghanistan Singapore's Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) is planning a conference in January next year on Afghanistan with more than 10 speakers from that country...... 1970s Cambodian conflict was early test for Singapore Former deputy prime minister Wong Kan Seng said the Cambodian conflict which started in the late 1970s was an early test for Singapore and its foreign service...... S'pore scientists announce collaboration with Nestle An alliance of leading epigenetics researchers from three countries including Singapore has announced a research collaboration with Nestlé Research Center in Switzerland...... Hotline and online help for Malay/Muslim parents Malay/Muslim parents and students can call a Mendaki hotline for guidance on options available after the release of the Primary School Leaving Examination results on Thursday......

Singapore Local News, 2011-11-22

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Bukit Batok doctor suspended for prescribing drugs irresponsibly A 54-year-old doctor from Bukit Batok has been suspended for three months for inappropriately prescribing the benzodiazepine and codeine-containing cough mixtures which may result in addiction in the long term. The Singapore Medical........

Supporting the elderly and their caregivers Public housing estates already allow for "naturally occurring retirement communities", said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong yesterday, as he stopped short of saying "no" to having retirement villages here. And to provide more support........     Charity Council to conduct monthly visits to promote professionalism The Charity Council hopes to promote good governance practices and professionalism in the charity sector by making monthly visits to non-profit organisations...... 42 nabbed in Sembawang forest Police have nabbed 42 people in a forested area along Admiralty Road West and Sembawang Drive...... President Tony Tan visits MUIS President Tony Tan Keng Yam on Tuesday visited the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore...... New pill for advanced lung cancer patients Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer in Singaporean men, and the third most common in women...... 130,000 persons granted S'pore citizenship over last 10 years On average, 13,000 persons were granted Singapore citizenship (SC) annually from the period of 2001 to 2010...... Blogger under investigation for racially offensive posting A blogger is currently under investigation for allegedly publishing racially offensive posting on the Internet...... Most students get first choice CCA: Hawazi Daipi Sports as a Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) at school was an area of discussion in Parliament on Tuesday...... Ex-offenders find jobs through SCORE The government has been helping ex-offenders find jobs through the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE)...... Mat Yoyo returns to local TV screens Singapore's leading media company, MediaCorp, will be producing a new TV programme for pre-schoolers in four languages...... Parliament approves changes to Income Tax Bill Parliament has approved changes to the Income Tax Bill to give legislative effect to tax changes announced in the 2011 Budget statement...... Hearing impaired students given structured learning assistance: Hawazi There was debate in the house on whether there is sufficient help given to hearing impaired students studying in institutions of higher learning (IHLs)...... NEA reviewing hawker stall rental policy Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, said the practice of Cash-over-Valuation (COV) transactions among hawkers when transferring over stalls is why the government should not go into pegging stall rental rates &quo..... Govt subsidies for patients in public hospital amounted to S$2.2b in 2010 Government subsidies for patients in public hospitals amounted to some S$2.2 billion last year...... Access ECP via Nicoll Highway without paying ERP from 2012 From next year, motorists can access the East Coast Parkway via Nicoll Highway without having to pay Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)...... S'poreans should decide for themselves if they need CDCs help: MCYS Singaporeans who fall in the category of the bottom 20 per cent of households should be allowed to take ownership of their lives, said Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Halimah Yacob...... Action plan against human trafficking ready by mid-2012: S Iswaran A National Plan of Action to deal with incidences of human trafficking in Singapore is expected to be ready by the middle of next year, said Second Minister for Home Affairs, S Iswaran...... MPs argue for removal of weekend ERP charges The topic of Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges on weekends sparked a lively exchange in Parliament on Tuesday, with several MPs arguing for its abolishment...... Flat buyers believe govt will cool housing market Nearly 57 percent of home buyers in Singapore believe the government is either on track or will likely exceed expectations to cool the public housing market in five years...... MediaCorp to launch new interactive service Singapore's leading media company MediaCorp will launch a trial involving a new interactive service delivered over broadband, in the first quarter of 2012...... 8,800 PRs served NS over last 5 years Over the last five years, about 8,800 males who had become permanent residents under the sponsorship of their parents were enlisted for and served National Service (NS)...... Agents pay students to queue outside Bedok Residences The appointed marketing agent for Bedok Residences, ERA, said as many as 500 people have formed a queue outside Bedok Residences since Sunday...... Tunnel crawl welcoming activity removed since May 2009 The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has reviewed all the components of its welcoming activities following the death of an RSAF serviceman in April 2009...... M'sia Chief of Army in S'pore Malaysian Chief of Army General Zulkifli Zainal Abidin is in Singapore for a two-day introductory visit...... MOE to review kindergarten curriculum The Ministry of Education is reviewing its Kindergarten Curriculum Framework to refresh key teaching and learning principles...... Bukit Batok doctor suspended for prescribing drugs irresponsibly A 54-year-old doctor from Bukit Batok has been suspended for three months for inappropriately prescribing the benzodiazepine and codeine-containing cough mixtures which may result in addiction in the long term...... Executive Chairman of Shangri-La Hotel chairs Yale-NUS College Singapore's first liberal arts college has announced the members of its founding governing board......

Singapore Local News, 2011-11-21

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Bodies found in Bedok reservoir didn't affect water quality Minister for Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, said the standard operating procedure to treat water did not need to be changed after bodies were found in Bedok Reservoir in the last few months. He was........     Singapore economy to slow in 2012 The Singapore economy posted a 6.1 per cent expansion on-year in the third quarter, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) announced this morning. This is a 1.9 per cent gain compared to the 6.4 per cent contraction in the........

SEA Games: Synchronised swimming team wins silver Singapore's synchronised swimming team has won silver in the women's team free combination event at the SEA Games......     MOM to up compensation limits for death, permanent incapacity The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will raise the compensation limits for death and permanent incapacity by about 21 per cent under the Work Injury Compensation (Amendment) Bill...... Special Needs Savings Scheme to be implemented by early 2012 The Special Needs Savings Scheme will finally be implemented six years after a parents workgroup, led by MP Denise Phua, proposed the idea. The scheme allows parents to arrange for a stream of income for their special needs children using CPF savings..... SEA Games: S'pore bridge players secure silver, bronze PALEMBANG, Indonesia: Singapore's bridge players have won a silver and bronze in the mixed pairs event at the SEA Games...... Niece of UOB founder sues step-daughter In the High Court on Monday, a case has come up where a Malaysian businesswoman, Madam Anne Wee, is suing her step-daughter for a portion of a S$28.8 million trust, claiming that it is part of matrimonial assets...... Police nab suspected teen loanshark runner Police have arrested a 17-year-old girl for allegedly distributing flyers and namecards for an unregistered moneylending company...... Canada's Governor General in S'pore for state visit Canada's Governor General, Mr David Johnson, is in Singapore for a four-day state visit from November 19 to 22 at the invitation of President Tony Tan Keng Yam...... Inter-Agency Taskforce raids repatriation firms; finds no wrongdoing The Inter-Agency Taskforce on Trafficking-in-Persons said it has conducted raids on four repatriation companies but did not find them in breach of any laws...... NHB organises heritage "hopping" tour Members of the public can visit 27 national monuments on walking tours organised by the National Heritage Board (NHB)...... LTA studying commuters' travel patterns to ease jam The Land Transport Authority is studying how to manage train travel patterns and will make their ideas known soon...... Expressway-related advance compensation payment raised Residents whose properties will be acquired to make way for the North-South Expressway, will get an increased advance payment, before they hand over the property...... No "fat tax" for now: Dr Amy Khor Minister of State for Health, Dr Amy Khor, said Singapore is cautious about imposing taxes on foods high in sugar and saturated fat as a means to reduce the rate of obesity...... Parliament passes amendments to Telecommunications Act Parliament has passed several amendments to the Telecommunications Act, which will give the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) further powers to regulate the sector...... Flexibility exercised in awarding rental subsidies: Khaw Boon Wan In the last two years, about 1,000 tenants of public rental flats have seen their rents reduced, while over 5,000 households have had to pay higher rents...... Bodies found in Bedok reservoir didn't affect water quality Minister for Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, said the standard operating procedure to treat water did not need to be changed after bodies were found in Bedok Reservoir in the last few months...... 32 licensed moneylenders breach new advertising guidelines Thirty-two licensed moneylenders have been found to have breached new and stricter advertising rules under the Moneylenders Act...... Name the new civic centre at Geylang Serai A competition to name the upcoming civic centre at Geylang Serai has been launched today...... SEA Games: Gold in wushu for Singapore women's trio Wushu made it 42 gold medals for Singapore at the SEA Games...... President Tony Tan new patron of SIF President Tony Tan Keng Yam is the new patron of the Singapore International Foundation (SIF)...... CNB Heritage Gallery showcases 40 years of history Singapore's fight against drugs for the last 40 years has been documented in a new heritage gallery by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB)...... PSLE results out Thursday The results of the 2011 Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be released on Thursday...... Remember to declare taxable goods Taxable goods bought overseas and brought into Singapore must be declared at the Red Channel at immigration checkpoints......

Singapore Local News, 2011-11-20

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Review on CPF contributions for elder workers will continue: Lim Swee Say The review on CPF contributions for elder workers will continue as it is a long-term measure, said Labour chief Lim Swee Say. He added that the review will have to take into account the pace and quantum of the global economic uncertainty......

UAE team tops powerboat race The Marina Bay area came alive with the roar of engines on Sunday......     NTUC tracking potential layoffs Labour chief Lim Swee Say has said the NTUC is keeping track on a weekly basis the number of workers who may be affected by potential retrenchments ahead of any slowdown in the economy...... Exercise Wallaby boosts SAF capabilities The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has further enhanced its operational capabilities through an integrated training exercise in Australia...... Punggol Point Walk waterfront destination launched Visitors to fishing spots along the coast of Punggol will now have better access to the area with the opening of the 1.2-kilometre Punggol Point Walk...... S'poreans can still enjoy quality housing despite population increase Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said Singapore can still have good quality housing in "a wonderful setting", despite the increase in its population...... Transport minister leads delegation to global meeting in London Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Lui Tuck Yew will lead a delegation to a global meeting of transport and maritime leaders and officials in London...... Singapore, India to enhance linkages & exchanges Singapore and India will collaborate in vocational skills cooperation and inter-parliamentary exchanges...... Singapore-Holy See ties have grown: Shanmugam Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam said relations between Singapore and the Holy See have grown from strength to strength over the last 30 years...... SEA Games: Gold for Singapore women's bridge pair Singapore's pair of Seet Choon Cheng and Tan Yoke Lan won the gold medal in the women's bridge competition at the SEA Games in Indonesia on Sunday...... Mindef takes serious view of NSF conduct in public Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said it takes a serious view of the conduct of its servicemen in public...... 2 suspects caught in FairPrice vouchers scam Police have arrested two suspects for buying S$500,000 worth of NTUC FairPrice vouchers with a dishonoured cheque and advised the public not to fall prey......