Singapore Local News, 2012-01-31

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SPP clarifies CEC issues, set out 3 goals The Singapore People's Party has issued an official statement clarifying matters surrounding the appointment of its new Central Executive Committee. It also set forward three goals: to build a "sustainable pipeline of talents", continue its........     Higher gas tariffs for households from February onwards Households will see an increase of 1.3 per cent in gas tariffs from February onwards, owing to higher fuel costs. The increase in the average town gas bill for households will range from 13 cents a month for one-room Housing and........ Manufacturing sector pessimistic about 1H12 With continued global economic uncertainty, the manufacturing sector remains pessimistic about business prospects in the first half of the year, with just 7 per cent of firms expecting business to improve, while 18 per cent expect conditions to........ Myanmar looking to tap on Singapore's experience in education Myanmar is keen to tap on Singapore's experience to enhance the quality of its teachers. On the cards - are more exchanges and collaborations between both nations where education is concerned. The country's officials,........ Woman jailed for theft and credit card fraud A Peruvian was Tuesday jailed 15 months for theft and credit card fraud during her multiple one-week visits to Singapore. 45-year-old Maria Elena Tello Espinoza made away with more than S$8,800 in cash and valuables between March........ Services sector gloomier about business for first half of the year: survey More firms in the services sector are expecting business conditions to worsen in the first half of the year, according survey findings released today by the Department of Statistics (DOS). Overall, a net 25 per cent of firms........ Gerard Ee re-appointed chairman of Public Transport Council Accountant Gerard Ee has been re-appointed as chairman of the Public Transport Council for a further two years. Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew has appointed 16 members to the Council for the period of Feb 1 this year to Jan 31........ Teen gets probation for forcing friend to perform oral sex An 18-year-old has been sentenced to 21-months' probation for forcing his female friend to perform oral sex on him. Both the boy and victim were in Secondary 3 when he committed the offence at a staircase landing of a HDB block in........ Independent unit to monitor ASEAN economic situation opens office in Singapore An independent surveillance unit has set up an office in Singapore to monitor the macroeconomic and financial situation of ASEAN member states and China, Japan and Korea (ASEAN+3 countries) and identify emerging vulnerabilities...... Singapore bank lending in Dec up 1.1% from Nov Total bank lending in Singapore rose 1.1 per cent in December from November, central bank data showed on Tuesday. Bank lending in the city-state totalled S$420.4 billion last month, up from S$415.8 billion in November. Bank lending........ Number of property agents falls 11 per cent The number of property agents registered with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) has fallen by nearly 11 per cent since new rules kicked in a year ago. As of Jan 1, there were about 30,600 real estate agents licensed to practice,........ Singapore's unemployment rate hit 14-year low in 2011 Supported by strong employment creation, Singapore's unemployment rate declined to a 14-year low last year. The Manpower Ministry said the median income of Singaporeans also increased over the last five years amid the tight labour........ Fewer traffic fatalities and injuries last year Latest annual road traffic statistics showed a decrease in fatal and injury cases by 8.1 per cent, from 8,625 cases in 2010 to 7,925 last year. According to numbers released this morning, other areas of improvement include a 50 per........ Singapore's unemployment rate hit 14-year low in 2011 Supported by strong employment creation, Singapore's unemployment rate declined to a 14-year low last year. The Manpower Ministry said the median income of Singaporeans also increased over the last five years amid the tight labour........

PUB to pump S$750m into drainage projects Over the next five years, national water agency PUB will spend at least S$750 million on expanding canal capacity and other drainage projects. Under the initiatives, the capacity of six major canals across the island - Bukit Timah........     S'pore PR fined for operating unlicensed employment agency A 30-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident has been fined S$50,000 for operating as an unlicensed employment agency...... S'pore Embassy official to attend Ionescu trial The Deputy Chief of Mission at the Singapore Embassy in Brussels, Ms Jasmine Tan, will attend Wednesday's hearing in the trial of Dr Silviu Ionescu, the former Romanian Charge d'Affaires in Singapore...... Man jailed for molesting woman on bus A former security officer has been sentenced to four months' jail for molesting a woman on a public bus...... Shanmugam visits US for introductory visit Foreign Affairs and Law Minister, Mr K Shanmugam, will be in Washington DC for an introductory visit to the United States from 1-8 February...... 15 arrested for suspected involvement in loansharking activities Ten men and five women, aged between 24 and 68 years, were arrested on Monday for suspected involvement in loansharking activities...... Job vacancies decline, say recruitment agencies Recruitment agencies have said they are seeing fewer employers actively hiring through job advertisements...... Nominations now open for President's Award for Teachers The public can now nominate outstanding teachers for this year's President's Award for Teachers...... Myanmar taps on Singapore's experience in education Myanmar is keen to tap Singapore's experience to enhance the quality of its teachers...... Woman jailed for theft and credit card fraud A Peruvian was Tuesday jailed 15 months for theft and credit card fraud during her multiple one-week visits to Singapore...... Gerard Ee re-appointed chairman of Public Transport Council Accountant Gerard Ee has been re-appointed as chairman of the Public Transport Council for a further two years...... Teen gets probation for forcing friend to perform oral sex An 18-year-old has been sentenced to 21-months' probation for forcing his female friend to perform oral sex on him...... ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office opens in S'pore The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) was opened in Singapore on Monday...... Fewer fatal and injury accidents last year: Traffic Police The total number of fatal and injury accidents decreased by 8.1 per cent last year compared to 2010...... Singapore's unemployment rate hits 14-year low in 2011 Supported by strong employment creation, Singapore's unemployment rate fell to a 14-year low last year......

Singapore Local News, 2012-01-30

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15,000 new jobs expected over next three years Over the next three years, 15,000 new jobs are expected to be created as Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) fully implement their upgrading projects with support from SPRING Singapore. Last year, SPRING Singapore committed S$98 million to........     Residential property prices down 0.8% in December: NUS index Prices of residential property in Singapore fell 0.8 per cent on-month in December last year, according to flash estimates of the Singapore Residential Property Index (SRPI) by the National University of Singapore (NUS). This........ CEA to refine Estate Agency Work Regulations: Khaw Boon Wan National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has tasked the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) to see how the Estate Agency Work Regulations can be further refined. Writing on his blog, Mr Khaw said the CEA has had a good year and has........ Tiger Airways buys stake in Indonesian carrier Singapore budget airline Tiger Airways said on Monday it had bought a 33 per cent stake in beleaguered Indonesian carrier PT Mandala Airlines as part of its regional expansion plans. The investment will see Tiger Airways become the........ Stricter service standards, tougher penalties for telcos In view of more people coming onboard the 3G mobile network, as well as an increasing number of complaints from customers, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) will be tightening the minimum service quality standards for telcos...... Singapore and Myanmar sign MOU Singapore and Myanmar have paved the way for greater cooperation, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement was signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K Shanmugam, and Myanmar's Union Minister for........ NUS, NTU MBA programmes place in global rankings The National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School's Master of Business Administration (MBA) has retained its 23rd place in the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2012 for the second year running - the highest ranking attained by a........ Clariden sued in Singapore over minor's trades A lawsuit has been filed against Credit Suisse Group AG's private banking unit Clariden Leu at the Singapore High Court, with the plaintiffs claiming that Clariden had induced a 19-year-old minor to make risky trades in futures contracts and........ Woman placed on probation for having sex with father A 25-year-old woman has been placed on probation for one year for having sex with her own father, in what is believed to be Singapore's first consensual incest case. The woman, who is now living with her maternal aunt, has also been........ Stricter service standards, tougher penalties for telcos In view of more people coming onboard the 3G mobile network, as well as an increasing number of complaints from customers, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) will be tightening the minimum service quality standards for telcos...... PUB accepts flood panel recommendations National water agency PUB has accepted the recommendations of the expert panel for drainage design and flood protection measures, and will carry out a slew of improvement works over the next five years. It will spend about S$750 million to........ NUS, NTU MBA programmes place in global rankings The National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School's Master of Business Administration (MBA) has retained its 23rd place in the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2012 for the second year running - the highest ranking attained by a........ ERP rates at three gantries revised Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates at three gantries will be revised and will take effect from next Monday. At the CTE gantry north of Braddell Road, the revised ERP rate for the period of 7am to 7.30am will be S$1, down by........

Temporary diversion for certain SMRT bus services this Sunday SMRT bus services 61, 190, 851, 961 and 970 will be temporarily diverted from 3pm to 11pm due to road closures for Chinese New Year celebrations this Sunday. Passengers may contact SMRT Customer Relations at 1800-336-8900 on weekdays during........     Lorry crane catches fire, no one injured SINGAPORE : A lorry crane caught fire near the junction of Jalan Buroh and Jurong Port Road on Monday afternoon...... CEA to refine Estate Agency Work Regulations: Khaw Boon Wan National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has tasked the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) to see how the Estate Agency Work Regulations can be further refined...... Singapore and Myanmar sign MOU SINGAPORE : Singapore is set to play a bigger role in assisting Myanmar's progress, now that a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Singapore-Myanmar Technical Cooperation Programme has been signed...... Former cabby jailed for molesting neighbour's maid A former taxi driver was jailed two weeks on Monday after he molested his neighbour's maid in July last year...... PUB commits S$750m to fight flooding National water agency PUB has committed at least S$750 million over the next five years to increase the capacity of Singapore's drains by up to 45 percent...... Man accused of groping stewardess during flight acquitted A Ukrainian man accused of groping the buttocks and breasts of a Singapore Airlines stewardess in an aircraft has been acquitted...... TriCom encourages responsible outsourcing The Tripartite Committee for Low-Wage Workers and Inclusive Growth (TriCom) has updated the Tripartite Advisory on Best Sourcing Practices to encourage service buyers to outsource responsibly and adopt best practices when doing so...... IDA tightens QoS standards for 3G mobile services The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) has set new Quality of Service (QoS) standards to improve 3G mobile services for mobile users...... Woman placed on probation for having sex with father A 25-year-old woman has been placed on probation of one year for having sex with her own father, in what is believed to be Singapore's first consensual incest case...... SMRT to divert some bus services on Feb 5 SMRT will temporarily divert some bus services on Sunday, February 5 from 3.00 pm to 11.00 pm...... NBS MBA ranks 34th in FT global rankings Nanyang Business School (NBS) has been placed in the 34th position in the Financial Times annual ranking of the top 100 MBA programmes around the world in 2012...... NUS MBA retains place in global rankings The National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School's Master of Business Administraion (MBA) has retained its place at 23rd for the second year running...... LTA revises ERP rates at three gantries Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates at three gantries will be revised and will take effect from February 6......

Singapore Local News, 2012-01-29

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SPP elects new CEC at party conference The opposition Singapore People's Party (SPP) held its Ordinary Party Conference (OPC) on Sunday, and has elected a new Central Executive Committee (CEC). It comprises of the eight remaining members of the previous CEC, after six........

Accident along Andrew Road leaves luxury car in a ditch An accident occurred on Sunday morning, at 9.25am along Andrew Road, leaving a luxury car in a ditch......     More S'porean brides going online for wedding gowns More brides-to-be in Singapore are going online for their wedding gowns, and online bridal businesses are growing with the demand...... FighterZone Kickboxing World Series MAX to kick off in February The martial art scene in Singapore is heating up, with kickboxing being the latest to jump into the ring. The inaugural FighterZone Kickboxing World Series MAX 2012 will kick off next month...... SYFC to give Temasek Poly students a chance to fly high Temasek Polytechnic has tied up with the Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC), to allow some of its students in their Aviation Management & Services course a chance to obtain a basic flying licence...... S'pore "serious" games sector goes global Games are hardly considered "serious", but there are in actual fact many that don't just serve to entertain. Some are created to educate, train or even simulate...... Managing bed crunch in hospitals Despite having the highest bed occupancy rate (BOR) in Singapore, both the Changi General Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital say measures are in place to ease patient load...... Don't be afraid to tell litter bugs off, says Public Hygiene Council Establishing a new social norm where people are not afraid to tell litter bugs off. That is what the Public Hygiene Council hopes to do in its upcoming outreach efforts to inculcate good hygiene practices...... SPP elects new CEC at party conference The opposition Singapore People's Party (SPP) held its Ordinary Party Conference (OPC) on Sunday, and has elected a new Central Executive Committee (CEC)...... Mendaki to mark 30th year with Learning Festival The Malay-Muslim community's self-help group Mendaki will be celebrating its 30th anniversary...... Myanmar's President Thein Sein visits Singapore Myanmar's President Thein Sein will make a state visit to Singapore from Sunday till 1 February......

Singapore Local News, 2012-01-28

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Body of man found in Bedok Reservoir The body of a man has been found in Bedok Reservoir - the seventh death in the reservoir since June 2011. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the body was found at about 5.20pm on Saturday. It was found about 20 metres........     Six members quit SPP Six members of the Singapore People's Party (SPP), including key members of its central executive committee (CEC) who ran in the General Election last May with Opposition veteran Chiam See Tong, have resigned from the party, citing differences in opi.....

Pasir Ris beach declared safe for swimming again Beachgoers can once again swim safely at Pasir Ris beach (picture) after the National Environment Agency (NEA) yesterday declared the water quality there as "good", more than three years after it advised the public not to swim, wakeboard or........     New Woodsville tunnel now open Motorists travelling to north-eastern parts of Singapore can now use the Woodsville tunnel, which opened on Saturday...... More people at Pasir Ris beach after water declared safe There were more people at Pasir Ris beach on Saturday, after the National Environment Agency (NEA) declared the water quality there as "good"...... MOE needs help of community partners to succeed: Lawrence Wong Minister of State Lawrence Wong said that for the Education Ministry to succeed in its mission, it needs the help of community partners...... Yan Kit Swimming pool to be fully demolished by March The old Yan Kit swimming pool in Tanjong Pagar Constituency is expected to be fully demolished by March 2012...... Increasing productivity in social services sector has hidden benefits: experts The government recently announced that it will help companies in the social services sector boost their productivity level. Some social service organisations have already embarked on their productivity journeys, with projects driven by staff in a bot..... Body of man found in Bedok Reservoir The body of a man has been found in Bedok Reservoir - the seventh death in the reservoir since June 2011...... Six members of SPP resign from party Six members of the opposition Singapore People's Party resigned from their party...... Govt likely to have tighter control over public transport operators after review The government will have a tighter control over public transport operators, once the ongoing comprehensive review on buses is completed......

Singapore Local News, 2012-01-27

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No delay in releasing news of CPIB probe: MHA The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a statement regarding the timing of its anouncement on CPIB's probe involving former Singapore Civil Defence Force Commissioner Peter Lim and former Central Narcotics Bureau director Ng Boon Gay. Here is the........     Man charged with murder of his mother A 30-year-old man has been charged with murdering his mother. Mohamed Redha Abdul Mutalib wore a stoic look as he stood in the dock today as the charge was read out. His 55-year-old mother was found dead yesterday........ S'poreans and govt must work together, says PM Lee DAVOS - Society and the population will not remain static and Singaporeans and the leaders have to work together to find a new way to govern Singapore, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today. He made the point at a session at the World........ Intermediate, long-term care sector to be key focus: Health Minister Caring for senior citizens include looking after their social and emotional needs, rather than just tackling functional or health-related issues, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong. That is why a key focus of the Ministerial........ Fewer job vacancies for first quarter since 2009 There were fewer job openings in Singapore in the third quarter of last year, according to the Manpower Ministry. In fact, job vacancies saw its first quarterly decline of 13 per cent since March 2009. After seasonal........ HDB resale flat prices up 1.7% in Q4 The Housing and Development Board's (HDB) Resale Price Index (RPI) rose from 187.2 in the third quarter of last year to 190.4 in the fourth quarter. This was an increase of 1.7 per cent over the previous quarter. Latest data today........ Contraband cigarettes seized hit record low in 2011 The quantity of contraband cigarettes seized last year reached a record low of 1.9 million packets - a drop of more than 17 per cent compared to that of 2010 - Singapore Customs said at the release of its annual enforcement results this........ Asia can buffer world economy's woes: PM Lee DAVOS - Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Asia is projected to grow by 6.7 per cent this year and growth in the region will contribute to global rebalancing. Speaking at the G20 meet at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland...... HDB resale flat prices up 1.7% The Housing and Development Board's (HDB) Resale Price Index (RPI) rose from 187.2 in the third quarter of last year to 190.4 in the fourth quarter, an increase of 1.7 per cent. Latest data released today also showed fewer HDB........ Pasir Ris beach declared safe to swim in, reopens today More than three years after it first advised the public not to swim at Pasir Ris beach, the National Environment Agency (NEA) today announced it is now safe to swim at the beach, which reopens today. The water quality at Pasir Ris........

NUS 'Young Guns Forum' sees lively debate How do you get youths interested in politics? That question was on the minds of four politicians - Ms Nicole Seah, Mr Vikram Nair, Dr Vincent Wijeysingha and Mr Gerald Giam - who were guest speakers at the National University of........     PM Lee on CPIB probe Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said he does not think there is anything wrong, in principle, with the country's system of checks and balances...... Muslim community raises S$63,000 for Philippine flood victims SINGAPORE : The Muslim community in Singapore has raised S$63,000 for flood victims in the Philippines...... Reducing the HIV/AIDS stigma in the workplace The Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) have revised the guidelines to help companies manage HIV/AIDS in the workplace...... MHA says no delay in release of info on CPIB probe The Home Affairs Ministry has clarified that there was no delay in the release of information on the probe into former Singapore Civil Defence Force commissioner Peter Lim and former Central Narcotics Bureau director Ng Boon Gay...... Man charged with murder of his mother A 30-year-old man has been charged with murdering his mother...... Check bus, train arrival times with new SMRT mobile app Transport operator SMRT has introduced a mobile application that provides commuters with real-time train and bus arrival information...... Intermediate, long-term care sector to be key focus: Health Minister Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said the intermediate and long-term care sector will be a key focus for his ministry for the next few years...... S'poreans and govt must work together, says PM Lee DAVOS: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said society and the population will not remain static and Singaporeans and the leaders have to work together to find a new way to govern Singapore...... Name change for Singapore Manufacturers' Federation SINGAPORE : The Singapore Manufacturers' Federation has said it will change its name to Singapore Manufacturing Federation from September 20...... Man jailed, fined for operating illegal gambling den A man who operated an illegal gambling den has been sentenced to four months' jail and fined S$20,000...... Amount of contraband cigarettes seized falls to record low The amount of contraband cigarettes seized in Singapore last year hit a new low of 1.9 million packets, marking a decline for the third consecutive year...... Job vacancies register first quarterly decline since 2009 There were fewer job openings in Singapore in the third quarter of 2011, according to the Manpower Ministry...... Pasir Ris beach now safe to swim, says NEA It is now safe to swim at Pasir Ris beach...... Growth in Asia will contribute to global rebalancing: PM Lee DAVOS: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Asia is projected to grow by 6.7 per cent this year and growth in the region will contribute to global rebalancing...... Home prices in Singapore continue to soften SINGAPORE : Property watchers have said the bull run experienced by Singapore's housing market may have reached its peak...... On board the USS John C Stennis The USS John C Stennis, one of US Navy's nuclear powered super carriers is now docked at Changi Naval Base......

Singapore Local News, 2012-01-26

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14 bus services diverted for CNY celebrations Fourteen SBS Transit bus service will be temporarily diverted on Feb 5 due to the Chinese New Year celebrations. From 3pm to 11pm, Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road will be closed to vehicular traffic for the Yuan Xiao Jie 2012........     Frenchman who bit ex-girlfriend fined S$4,000 A French national who bit his former girlfriend during a heated argument has been fined S$4,000. Thirty-eight-year-old Sylvain Christian Emile Pilhion was charged with two counts of using criminal force and voluntarily causing hurt........ 23 SBS Transit bus services affected by road, lane closures Twenty-three SBS Transit bus services will be affected by road and lane closures for the Thaipusam procession held from 9pm,Feb 6 to 3am, Feb 8. The bus services 7, 14, 14e, 16, 21, 23, 36, 64, 65, 66, 111,123, 124, 125, 128, 130,........ No ST Electronics staff called up to assist in CPIB probe, says firm ST Electronics said today that none of its executives have been called up by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) to help with investigations. The company was clarifying a report by The New Paper, published today, which........ New discovery could lead to new treatments, better screening for heart disease A discovery by scientists from the University of Cambridge could lead to new treatments and better screening for cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death globally. The team, which includes Singapore's A*STAR scholar........ Catch a glimpse of history at this pre-war air raid shelter The only known existing pre-war civilian air raid shelter will be open for free public tours through the entire month of February. Located at Block 78 Guan Chuan Street at Tiong Bahru estate, this tour of the underground premise is........ Victoria Street Wholesale Centre to relocate in April The Victoria Street Wholesale Centre will be relocating to Kallang Road on April 1 this year. Its Merchants' Association has received about 100 queries about renting space in the new premises. The new building, which........ OCBC's disrupted securities trading system back up OCBC Securities customers can now access the full suite of trading transactions on the bank's online platform, iOCBC, updated the bank this afternoon. Power had been restored to the hosting facility by 11am and connection from the........

Chinese clan associations play important role in integration: PM One important mission that Chinese clan associations have today is to help new immigrants integrate with Singapore society, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday. These clan associations, set up years ago to help ease........     Redevelopment works for Iluma to be completed mid-year Redevelopment works for entertainment complex Iluma is set to be completed by the middle of the year...... Youths celebrate Lunar New Year with less-fortunate Tanglin Secondary School came alive on Thursday afternoon with a high-octane Lunar New Year concert with a cause...... North East District CDC centre may be set up this year A Community Development Council centre in the North East District may be set up this year...... Man jailed for providing false information to authorities An illegal fruit seller was sentenced to 10 weeks' jail for giving false information to the authorities...... Former police officer jailed for disciplinary offences A former police staff sergeant has been sentenced to 10 weeks' jail on Thursday...... NHB to organise exhibitions, guided tour of air raid shelter The National Heritage Board will organise a series of exhibitions and tours next month to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the 'Battle for Singapore'...... Man gets 6 months' jail for fracturing ex-girlfriend's ribs A married man has been sentenced to six months' jail Thursday for fracturing the ribs of his 33-year-old ex-girlfriend...... Khaw Boon Wan on raising construction productivity National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said the local construction industry needs to raise productivity through standardisation and prefabrication...... Frenchman fined S$4,000 for hurting ex-girlfriend A French national who bit his former girlfriend during a heated argument has been fined S$4,000...... No staffer called up to assist with CPIB probe: ST Electronics ST Electronics says none of its executives has been called up by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) to help with investigations...... New discovery could lead to better screening for heart disease A team of scientists from the University of Cambridge has discovered a method of growing different types of vascular smooth muscle cells - the cells which make up the walls of blood vessels - using cells from patients' skin...... OCBC securities' trading system restored OCBC said its securities' trading system was up and running by 12.00 pm on Thursday...... Parliament to sit on Feb 14 Parliament will sit on February 14 at 1.30 pm, ahead of Budget Day which falls on February 17...... OCBC stock trading site down OCBC customers were unable to carry out stock trading services at the bank's online platform, iOCBC on Thursday morning...... Premature to assume ex-chiefs of SCDF, CNB liable for criminal proceedings:CPIB Singapore's anti-corruption agency has stressed that as investigations are still on-going, it is premature to assume that former commissioner of the Singapore Civil Defence Force Peter Lim Sin Pang and former director of the Central Narcotics Bureau ..... PM Lee in Davos to attend World Economic Forum meeting Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be visiting Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting from January 26-27......

Singapore Local News, 2012-01-25

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Former SCDF commissioner and CNB director were arrested: CPIB Former Central Narcotics Bureau director Ng Boon Gay and former Singapore Civil Defence Force commissioner Peter Lim Sin Pang were arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act on Dec 19 and Jan 4 respectively, the Corrupt Practices........     Men on probation for trespassing and defacing KTM train Two men were placed on probation today for breaking into the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and defacing a Malayan Railway (KTM) train carriage with spray paint on Mar 12 last year. Full-time national serviceman Gan Kwang Chuen, who........ Kallang MRT peeping tom charged A 53-year-old man was charged today for allegedly peeping at a woman in the female toilet of Kallang MRT station. Choo Ah Lui, a part-time delivery man, faced various charges, including criminal trespassing and insulting the modesty........ S'pore Dec inflation up 5.5 per cent Singapore's consumer prices rose at a slower than expected pace in December as the rate of increase in private road-transport costs eased, government data showed Wednesday. The consumer price index rose 5.5 per cent year-on-year in........ Chinese clans can help integrate new immigrants: PM Lee One important mission Chinese clan associations have today is to help new immigrants integrate with Singapore society, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. These clans play a useful role in society by helping to mitigate integration issues,........ Lukewarm taxi takings during CNY Taxi drivers said takings are generally about the same this year - the first Chinese New Year since the recent taxi fare hikes - compared to last year. But drivers MediaCorp spoke to declined to reveal any figures. For a minority,........ BTO balloting rules change should cool demand: Analysts Balloting rules for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats are expected to be changed soon to better cater to second-time buyers. Analysts said this move will help to cool the demand in the resale market. The changes will also not........ NTU introduces University Scholars Programme The Nanyang Technological University of Singapore (NTU) is launching its own scholars programme this year to equip selected students with inter-disciplinary knowledge, research opportunities and to allow them interaction with renowned scientists...... JAE, JPSAE posting results on Monday Posting results for the 2012 Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) and the Joint Polytechnic Special Admissions Exercise (JPSAE) will released on Monday (Jan 30) at 8am. Students can check their results through the JAE website........ Local firm signs agreement with A*STAR to market new technology If you wanted to view a movie on multiple platforms such as the iPhone, computer and High Definition TV, you would normally have to create multiple files of the movie for the range of bandwidths and device resolations. Now with a........ Why Singapore has the cleanest govt money can buy: Bloomberg Singapore's Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, isn't often taken publicly to task. But when you make S$3.1 million annually to run a country, people tend to expect results. When they don't get them, the aggrieved masses turn to that........

Lion, dragon dance at Istana open house The long queue could not dampen the excitement of the visitors to the Istana open house yesterday, many of whom told Today they were there with the hope of meeting President Tony Tan, who made his rounds in the afternoon. A total of........     Police seeking help in loanshark harassment case Police are looking for a man to assist with investigations into a case of loanshark harassment reported in the vicinity of Rivervale Crescent on 27 December last year...... CPIB confirms arrest of ex-chiefs of CNB & SCDF Singapore's anti-corruption agency confirms that the former director of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and the former commissioner of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were arrested separately for their alleged offences...... Doctors see more patients post LNY holiday After the long Lunar New Year weekend, one of the first places that some Singaporeans headed for was not work but medical clinics...... Man pockets Mosque funds A businessman who was entrusted with four properties by a late tycoon, pocketed S$176,472 of funds that were meant for the upkeep of a mosque in Yemen...... MFA names China Ambassador, Bangladesh High Commissioner The Singapore Government has appointed Mr Stanley Loh Ka Leung as Singapore's next Ambassador to China and Mr Chan Heng Wing as Singapore's next High Commissioner to Bangladesh...... Victoria Street Wholesale Centre to relocate in April The Victoria Street Wholesale Centre will be relocating to Kallang Road on April 1 this year...... Chinese clans' role still vital, says PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the Chinese clan associations continue to play an important role in Singapore, especially in integrating new immigrants into society...... Man charged with peeping in toilet A 53-year-old man was charged Wednesday with allegedly peeping at a woman in the female toilet of Kallang MRT station...... Eco-friendly diet for giant pandas Jia Jia and Kai Kai Giant pandas Jia Jia and Kai Kai can look forward to an eco-friendly diet of home-grown bamboo in Singapore...... 10 young scientists receive NRF Fellowship Ten young scientists are the latest to receive the prestigious Singapore National Research Foundation Fellowship...... Men on probation for trespassing and defacing KTM train Two men were placed on probation Wednesday for breaking into the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and defacing a Malayan Railway (KTM) train carriage with spray paint...... S'pore President, PM congratulate India on Republic Day Singapore's President and Prime Minister have sent their congratulatory messages to India's leaders on the occasion of the country's 63rd Republic Day celebrations, which fall on Thursday...... Lim Hng Kiang attends World Economic Forum meeting Singapore's Trade and Industry Minister, Lim Hng Kiang will attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland from Wednesday till January 28...... NTU launches University Scholars Programme The Nanyang Technological University has launched a scholars programme aimed at preparing top students with diverse skills for their future careers...... JAE, JPSAE posting results out on Jan 30 The Education Ministry will release the posting results for the 2012 Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) and the Joint Polytechnic Special Admissions Exercise (JPSAE) on Monday, January 30 at 8.00 am...... A*STAR technologies helping companies stay competitive Companies in Singapore are benefitting from technologies created by research institutes under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)......

Singapore Local News, 2012-01-24

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MHA statement on investigations into officers Former Commissioner Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Mr Peter Lim Sin Pang, and former Director of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) Mr Ng Boon Gay are currently assisting the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in its.....     More subletting HDB flats The number of Housing & Development Board (HDB) flats being sublet has more than tripled in the past five years. The reasons include the relaxation of subletting rules, and an increase in foreigners. With more HDB........ SCDF chief suspended, CNB director questioned over alleged graft: Report SINGAPORE- Singapore Civil Defence Force Commissioner Peter Lim is reportedly under investigation and is suspended for corruption, according to a LianHe Wanbao report today. The front-page report, which was published on a day when most dailies...... New welfare programme for elderly A new welfare programme, providing housekeeping services for the elderly living in the central district, will begin in April. Called "Hands For Homes", it will replace mattresses to prevent bedbug infestations - a common problem........

Singapore well placed to cope with global slowdown Singaporeans can face the future with confidence, even as the country braces itself for leaner growth over the next couple of years, said President Tony Tan Keng Yam. Dr Tan said that Singapore is well positioned to cope with the........     10-20% prices increase at some stallholders during CNY Some food outlets in Singapore have increased their prices by at least 10 to 20 per cent during the Lunar New Year period...... iPhone app helps police nab snatch thief SINGAPORE : Police have arrested a 35-year-old man for snatch theft following a crucial lead provided by an iPhone application...... People's Park tenants hope for better business after upgrading SINGAPORE : The People's Park at Block 32 New Market Road will be renamed People's Park Plaza once retrofitting works are completed...... SCDF & CNB chiefs removed from posts Commissioner of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Peter Lim Sin Pang and Director of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) Ng Boon Gay have both been removed from their posts, pending disciplinary proceedings...... Creative ways to tackle manpower shortage during LNY SINGAPORE : The food and beverage (F&B) industry in Singapore is coming up with creative ways to cope with manpower shortage over the Lunar New Year period...... More subletting HDB flats The number of Housing & Development Board (HDB) flats being sublet has more than tripled in the past five years......

Singapore Local News, 2012-01-23

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Demand for car sharing up during CNY Rental car companies are not the only ones enjoying good business during the Lunar New Year. As many cars in the rental market have been fully booked, some Singaporeans are turning to car sharing during the festive season......     Economy likely to be slower in 2012: PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says the economy is likely to be slower this year, but it is not going to be as bad as the recession during 2008 and 2009. Speaking to reporters after meeting public transport workers during his........ S'porean completes ultra-marathon in Brazil Singaporean runner Lim Nghee Huat has completed the Brazil 135 ultra-marathon race in a time of 46 hours and 15 minutes. The race website has ranked Mr Lim as first to finish the gruelling 217-kilometre event but added that official........ CNY superstitions have limited impact on consumers' decisions It is the eve of Lunar New Year and many consumers were busy with last-minute shopping and grooming. It is brisk business for some shoe retailers a day before the Lunar New Year. Loh Siew Lin, a salesperson at Andrea........ Some supermarkets will remain open during CNY If you've not stocked up on groceries to tide you through the Lunar New Year holidays, don't fret just yet. Some supermarkets said they will stay open, at least till the first day of the Lunar New Year. NTUC FairPrice........ Authorities investigate ceiling leaks at Kovan Market The National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council are conducting a thorough assessment of the cause to the ceiling leaks at Kovan Market. NEA said six lock-up stalls at the Kovan Market were affected by........

Thousands usher in Year of the Dragon at Chinatown Thousands in Singapore ushered in the Lunar New Year at Singapore's Chinatown last night. They were treated to three hours of non-stop entertainment at a countdown party, centred on the theme "A Bountiful Year of the Dragon"......     Thousands spend CNY at River Hongbao Thousands in Singapore are spending the first day of the Lunar New Year holidays at River Hongbao - an annual carnival held at the Marina Bay...... Collecting used oil to exchange for new cooking oil for needy Some 15,000 students from various schools and residents in the North West district, are exchanging used cooking oil for new bottles of cooking oil to help the needy...... New welfare programme for elderly A new welfare programme, providing housekeeping services for the elderly living in the central district, will begin in April...... Some adopt healthier eating habits during CNY celebrations Lunar New Year celebrations are not complete without the festive goodies...... Welcoming the Dragon babies The Year of the water dragon flowed in with the birth of three babies in Singapore at the stroke of midnight...... ACM showcases Tang Dynasty artefacts from 8th century shipwreck A tale of two kingdoms lost to the world for more than 1,200 years was uncovered from a shipwreck only some 14 years ago and these treasures from the Tang Dynasty are now being showcased at the Asian Civilisations Museum, including a few pieces never..... Singapore Philatelic Museum ushers in LNY with dragon stamps exhibition Three hundred dragon stamps will be showcased at the Singapore Philatelic Museum to welcome the Year of the Dragon...... Demand for car sharing up during Lunar New Year Rental car companies are not the only ones enjoying good business during the Lunar New Year...... Singapore well placed to cope with global slowdown Singaporeans can face the future with confidence, even as the country braces itself for leaner growth over the next couple of years, said President Tony Tan Keng Yam...... Chinese Chamber hopes for more assistance schemes in Budget The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry is hopeful the government would consider the current economic uncertainties when pushing through more timely assistance schemes based on each industry's specific needs in the upcoming Budget whic..... Economy likely to slow down in 2012: PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the economy is likely to be slower this year, but it is not going to be as bad as the recession during 2008 and 2009......

Singapore Local News, 2012-01-22

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Flash floods hit parts of s'pore Flash floods which hit several parts of Singapore yesterday afternoon due to heavy rainfall have put a damper on the festive Chinese New Year spirit. At Kovan wet market, some stall holders said rain water poured into their shops, which........

Rediscovering Singapore through Camp@Home Some 35 overseas Singaporean students spent their short break back home, rediscovering their country of birth......     Chinatown ready to usher in Year of the Dragon Celebrations in Singapore's Chinatown to ring in the Lunar New Year will be in full swing in a matter of hours...... Sneak peek at Chingay Parade The annual Chingay Parade, held as part of Lunar New Year celebrations, promises a spectacular celebration of love...... Wet market stallholders look forward to long CNY break Many workers in Singapore can look forward to a restful start to the Dragon year, thanks to the long Lunar New Year weekend...... Authorities investigate ceiling leaks at Kovan Market The National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council are conducting a thorough assessment of the cause to the ceiling leaks at Kovan Market......

Singapore Local News, 2012-01-21

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Flash floods hit parts of Singapore Flash floods have hit parts of Singapore due to heavy rain this afternoon. National water agency PUB said flash floods hit Jalan Turi off Sims Avenue, adding lanes there were not passable. However, some areas affected by........     En-bloc fever appears to be receding: Khaw Some 1,400 private housing units were sold through en-bloc activities last year. National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said this number is low compared to the peak in 2007. 5,862 units were sold for redevelopment........

Flash floods at certain areas yesterday afternoon Heavy rain caused flash floods at Veerasamy Road and Thomson Road yesterday. National water agency PUB issued a flood alert at about 2.30pm and urged motorists to avoid the affected roads. The flooding subsided at about 2.45pm. The........     Hindu temple hosts LNY lunch More than 100 senior citizens were treated on Saturday to an eight-course Chinese vegetarian lunch at the Sri Mariamman Temple...... S'porean's 217km charity race under way Singaporean ultra-marathon runner Lim Nghee Huat is more than halfway through his gruelling 217-kilometre race in Brazil...... Flash floods subside after heavy rain Flash floods -- which hit parts of Singapore due to heavy rain on Saturday afternoon -- have subsided...... Lawrence Wong "surprised" by WP's pay clarification Minister of State for Defence and Education Lawrence Wong said he is surprised to read the Workers' Party's (WP) clarification on the remarks by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Gerald Giam in Parliament...... Flash floods hit parts of S'pore Flash floods have hit parts of Singapore due to heavy rain on Saturday afternoon...... Relatives, friends attend Alice Goh wake Relatives and friends paid their respects on Saturday afternoon to Alice Goh, the late former deputy prime minister Goh Keng Swee's first wife...... New clinic concepts reduce patients' wait time at public hospitals Hospitals in Singapore are testing out new concepts to reduce patient turnaround time...... En-bloc fever "appears to be receding" The en-bloc fever seen in the housing market a few years ago appears to be receding and Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said it could be a sign of a more stable property market......