Singapore Local News, 2012-04-30

---

Istana opens to public tomorrow In conjuction with Labour Day, the Istana grounds will be open to the public from 8.30am to 6pm tomorrow, May 1. Planned activities for the open house include performances by The River Valley High School Concert Band and Fu Chun........     Raising productivity only way to sustain better wages, says PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has made another urgent call to raise productivity as the country faces domestic constraints. He said that's the only way to sustain better wages. In his May Day message, Mr Lee said........ Raffles Medical posts S$11.7m net profit in Q1 Raffles Medical Group booked a net profit of S$11.7 million in the first quarter of this year, up 10.5 per cent on-year. In a filing on the Singapore Exchange, Raffles Medical said the increase was due to better operating........ MAS sticks to 1%-3% growth forecast for 2012 The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is sticking to its projection that Singapore's economic growth for the rest of the year will moderate, after the surprise rebound in the first three months of the year. Singapore's........ Residential site at Boon Lay Way up for sale The Urban Redevelopment Authority launched the residential site at Boon Lay Way (Jurong Gateway) for sale by public tender today. URA said the land parcel was made available for sale through the Reserve List system on December 22........ LTA revises ERP rates at 6 gantries Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges at certain gantries along the Central Expressway (CTE) and Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) will be adjusted from May 7. Motorists using the southbound CTE before Braddell Road between 9am and 11am........ SUTD welcomes first batch of students The Singapore University of Technology and Design will welcome its first batch of students come May 8, when classes begin. The SUTD received close to 4,150 applicants from junior colleges, polytechnics, and schools offering the........ Singapore's jobless rate rises to 2.1% in March Fewer jobs were created in the first quarter of this year, with about 27,400 new jobs added. The increase was lower than the 28,300 new jobs in the first quarter of last year and the seasonal high of 37,600 in the fourth quarter of........

More than '10,000 residents have joined Community Games so far' The ongoing Community Games, which aims to bring sports into the heartlands, has drawn more than 10,000 participants so far. Seven of the 10 sports are under way and organisers expect the number of residents taking part to reach 13,000 to........     Latvia's Foreign Minister in S'pore for official visit Latvia's Foreign Affairs Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs will make an official visit to Singapore from April 30 to May 2 at the invitation of Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam...... Help will be given to those unemployed: Tan Chuan-Jin Minister of State for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin said employment growth will not be uniform across all sectors and industries...... St Luke's Hospital to get more beds Bed capacity will increase by about 25 per cent, following the construction of a seven-storey wing and redevelopment of its existing wards at St Luke's Hospital...... Istana open house on Labour Day The Istana grounds will be open to the public on Labour Day...... Enclosure built in Ang Mo Kio to manage stray dogs A dog enclosure is being built at Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West to manage the nuisance of strays...... Raising productivity only way to sustain better wages, says PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has made another urgent call to raise productivity as the country faces domestic constraints...... Worker falls to death in Yishun A worker fell to his death at a block undergoing lift upgrading in Yishun Ring Road on Monday afternoon...... More clinics to offer free Pap smear screening in May The Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) has widened its network to provide free Pap smear screening islandwide in May...... Gardens by the Bay to unveil two new attractions Two new permanent attractions will be added to Gardens by the Bay, which will open on 29 June...... LTA revises ERP rates at 6 gantries Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges at certain gantries along the Central Expressway (CTE) and Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) will be adjusted from 7 May...... SUTD takes in pioneer batch of 340 students Three-hundred-and-forty applicants have been enrolled as the pioneer batch in the new Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)...... Scientists find new developments to treat heart diseases Scientists at Singapore's Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) have made a discovery that could lead to the development of new treatments for heart diseases...... Singapore's jobless rate rises to 2.1% in March Fewer jobs were created in the first quarter of the year, but the Ministry of Manpower said the domestic job market remains "fairly strong"......

Singapore Local News, 2012-04-29

---

Regular brisk walking brings many health benefits: HPB survey A new study shows that members of Singapore's National Brisk Walking Programme are about eight per cent fitter compared to the general population. Conducted by the Health promotion Board, the survey covered 1,236 participants during........

NPCEC to provide S$70m more to help low-wage workers The National Productivity and Continuing Education Council has announced that it will provide S$70 million over the next three years for the Inclusive Growth Programme (IGP) which is administered by the NTUC......     Govt closely monitoring inflation: DPM Tharman Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Manpower Tharman Shanmugaratnam has assured Singaporeans that the government is closely monitoring inflation including prices of everyday goods and services...... S'pore's tripartism will rise to tackle economic challenges: NTUC President President of Singapore's Labour Movement, Diana Chia has said that tripartite partners, consisting of the unions, employers and workers, will seek not only to ride the waves of change, but also strengthen productivity and competitiveness...... 3 summits in S'pore this July on making cities more liveable, sustainable Some 15,000 international delegates will converge in Singapore this July to look into integrated solutions for sustainable development...... Ex-president S R Nathan receives prestigious overseas Indian award Former Singapore President S R Nathan has received the most prestigious award conferred by the Indian government to overseas people of Indian origin...... Eldershield review needs to be calibrated very carefully: Gan Kim Yong Health Minister Gan Kim Yong has stressed that the government needs to "calibrate very carefully" any review to the ElderShield scheme - a severe disability insurance scheme...... Community Games draw over 10,000 participants The ongoing Community Games movement to bring sports into the heartlands has drawn more than 10,000 participants so far......

Singapore Local News, 2012-04-28

---

People's Association Integration Council to start work from July The newly-formed People's Association Integration Council will have 15 members, with one representative from each Group Representation Constituency. The council aims to provide greater focus and strategic direction in Singapore's........     Singapore needs to remain open: DPM Teo Chee Hean Singapore needs to remain open and to welcome diversity, even as it grapples with the challenges brought about by globalisation, technology and extremism, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said. Speaking at the Community........ Jurong Lake Park will be part of island-wide green corridor Jurong Lake Park will be one of the key nodes of a 150-kilometre island-wide green corridor, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced on Saturday at a community event. The Round Island Route will go all around........

'Quick fix' not the answer to labour woes: Lim The Republic's labour movement is taking on a new challenge to reduce the social downside of economic growth, even as it pursues the upside of growth, said National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Secretary-General Lim Swee Say yesterday......     Shortage of Indonesian maids in Singapore There has been a shortage of Indonesian maids in Singapore in recent weeks...... Netball: Nike Marlins win 2012 Netball Super League The Nike Marlins are the 2012 Netball Super League champions...... Over 84,000 books exchanged at this year's NLB book exchange More than 84,000 books were given a new lease of life at this year's National Library Board book exchange...... People's Association Integration Council to start work from July The newly-formed People's Association Integration Council will have 15 members, with one representative from each Group Representation Constituency...... Singapore needs to remain open: DPM Teo Singapore needs to remain open and to welcome diversity, even as it grapples with the challenges brought about by globalisation, technology and extremism, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said...... Jurong Lake Park will be part of island-wide green corridor Jurong Lake Park will be one of the key nodes of the Round Island Route...... Jurong Health Services launches healthcare programme for COPD Jurong Health Services has launched an integrated healthcare programme to deal with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)......

Singapore Local News, 2012-04-27

---

Tampines town to be used in study for energy-efficient S'pore The Energy Efficiency Programme Office (E2PO) and Siemens will be undertaking a first-of-its-kind study in Singapore, as part of efforts to promote a more energy-efficient Singapore. It will offer useful insights into the energy use........     Qi Yuwu to attend the Star Awards despite road accident MediaCorp actor Qi Yuwu, who was driving home when he got involved in a six-car pile-up along Upper Thomson Road on Tuesday, will be turning up for the Star Awards 2012 Show 2 this Sunday, said a MediaCorp artiste manager who works with........ S'pore-Vietnam relations to move beyond economic sphere HO CHI MINH - Singapore and Vietnam are set to take relations a notch higher and extend cooperation beyond the economic sphere. Cooperation in promoting international peace and security, anti-terrorism, and deterrence of transnational crime are...... COI focuses on bus bridging services Irregularities in the bus bridging services to ferry affected commuters during the December train service disruption appear to have added to commuter woes. Some buses only arrived at the affected stations more than half-an-hour........ S$1 million scheme to study ways to cut energy use A first-of-its-kind study by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Siemens will look into the ways of reducing energy use in densely-populated Singapore. The year-long study will be conducted in Tampines, which was chosen........ Calling for more bone marrow donors With 100 new acute leukaemia cases identified every year in Singapore, the Bone Marrow Donor Programme is calling out to all potential donors to save lives. Currently, the non-profit organisation has 50,000 volunteers on its Donor........ Job portal for professionals, managers and executives launched Professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) can now turn to the PME Jobs Network job portal for useful and timely industry and job market information in their job search. The portal was launched today by the Ministry of Manpower........ Tourism receipts hit S$22.3 billion last year, visitor numbers at record high Tourism receipts for the fourth quarter of last year came at an estimated S$5.6 billion, bringing the final estimates for whole year to S$22.3 billion - up 18 per cent from the previous year. Releasing data on the tourism sector's........ Labour movement aims to reduce social downside of economic growth Singapore's labour movement is taking on a new challenge to reduce the social downside of economic growth, even as it pursues the upside of growth, Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Lim Swee Say said. In........ CNB seizes 2.5kg of heroin worth about S$375,000 The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has arrested a suspected drug trafficker and seized 2.5 kilogrammes of heroin. CNB said today that the drugs have a street value of about S$375,000. In a targeted operation yesterday,........ HDB's Punggol Waterway wins international award for environmental sustainability Punggol Waterway helped the Housing and Development Board (HDB) clinch its first international award for environmental sustainability on Friday. My Waterway@Punggol is the only Asian winner for the Grand Prize under the........ 20 motorists arrested for drink-driving The Traffic Police arrested 20 motorists for drink-driving in an island-wide anti-drink-driving operation on Thursday. During the operation from midnight to 4.30am, road blocks were set up along Buangkok East Drive, Upper Bukit........ Ex-principal jailed 9 weeks for having paid sex with minor Former principal of Pei Chun Public School Lee Lip Hong was sentenced to nine weeks' imprisonment this morning, after he pleaded guilty this morning to having paid sex with a minor. In sentencing, the judge noted that Lee chose to........ New centre to help people sector make use of infocomm Volunteer welfare organisations, grassroots organisations and community groups can now tap on a new infocomm resource centre to enhance their outreach efforts. Launched today by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Acting Minister for Community........ Private home prices down 0.1% in Q1 Prices of private residential properties fell marginally by 0.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year, compared with the 0.2 per cent increase in the previous quarter. This was the first quarterly fall in prices since Q2 2009,........ DBS posts record quarterly profit DBS Group, Southeast Asia's largest bank, posted a record quarterly profit that beat analysts' expectations due to higher loan margins and trading income, and was bullish in its outlook. "Our funding capacity is robust, our asset........

Lay-offs up but most find jobs again quickly Even as the number of workers made redundant crept up last year, re-entry into employment for such workers was at a three-year high - with 70 per cent able to find new jobs within 12 months of being laid off, up from 66 per cent in the 2010........     Tampines town to be used in study for energy-efficient S'pore The Energy Efficiency Programme Office (E2PO) and Siemens will be undertaking a first-of-its-kind study in Singapore, as part of efforts to promote a more energy-efficient Singapore...... S'pore, M'sia public sector leaders strengthen ties The senior civil servants of Singapore and Malaysia are strengthening ties through seminars and games...... COI focuses on bus bridging services Irregularities in the bus bridging services to ferry affected commuters during the December 15 train service disruption appear to have added to commuter woes...... S'pore-Vietnam relations to move beyond economic sphere HO CHI MINH: Singapore and Vietnam are set to take relations a notch higher and extend cooperation beyond the economic sphere...... More bone marrow donors needed With 100 new acute leukaemia cases identified every year in Singapore, the Bone Marrow Donor Programme is calling out to all potential donors to save lives...... Job portal for professionals, managers and executives launched Professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) can now turn to the PME Jobs Network job portal for useful and timely industry and job market information in their job search...... NTUC aims to reduce social downside of economic growth Singapore's labour movement is taking on a new challenge to reduce the social downside of economic growth, even as it pursues the upside of growth, Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Lim Swee Say said...... CNB seizes 2.5kg of heroin The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has arrested a suspected drug trafficker and seized 2.5 kilogrammes of heroin...... HDB wins international award for environmental sustainability Punggol Waterway helped the Housing and Development Board (HDB) clinch its first international award for environmental sustainability on Friday...... Man arrested for suspected loansharking activities Police have arrested a 43-year-old man for suspected involvement in loansharking activities...... Woman suspect arrested for series of scams Police have arrested a 32-year-old woman who is believed to be involved in a series of scam cases island-wide...... 20 motorists arrested for drink-driving Traffic Police arrested 20 motorists for drink-driving in an island-wide anti-drink-driving operation on Thursday...... Former principal jailed for underage paid sex Former principal of Pei Chun Public School Lee Lip Hong has been sentenced to nine weeks' jail for having paid sex with a minor...... Infocomm boost for people sector organisations Voluntary welfare organisations, grassroots organisations and community groups can now enhance their public outreach efforts through infocomm technologies from the People Sector Infocomm Resource Centre (PSIRC)...... HDB resale prices up 0.6% in Q1 The Housing and Development Board's Resale Price Index (RPI) has risen from 190.4 in Q4 2011 to 191.6 in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 0.6 per cent over the previous quarter......

Singapore Local News, 2012-04-26

---

Sands not tying up with junket operators to bring gamblers here Gaming operator Las Vegas Sands has said it is not interested in working with Singapore-licensed junket operators to bring gamblers to its casino here. Reports have quoted its chief executive Sheldon Adelson as saying this is........     Special-rate F1 tickets on sale May 1 Singapore GP will be selling single-day 2012 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix Zone 4 Walkabout tickets from May 1. The first 3,000 single-day walkabout tickets for each day over the F1 weekend will be sold at special........ Scholarships, teaching awards to attract more talent to childcare sector The Government is setting aside S$10 million over the next two years to attract more teachers to the childcare sector through scholarships and teaching awards. The enhancements aim to raise the quality of childcare by promoting its........ Ex-policeman jailed for housebreaking A former staff sergeant at the Central Police Division Headquarters was sentenced to five years' jail for multiple housebreaking offences. Mohamed Faisal Mohamed Yusoff, 33, was convicted of housebreaking and theft on five........ Gas tariff for households raised from May Gas tariff for households are set to rise again, with City Gas announcing today a 3.3 per cent increase with effect from next month. The tariff will be increased from 21.45 cents to 22.26 cents per kWh for the period of May to........ IKEA recalls lighting track Furniture giant IKEA is recalling a product that could pose the risk of electric shock. It said on Thursday that the product is the IKEA 365+ SÄNDA lighting track L70cm and L114cm. This applies to those from supplier........ SMRT's customer service support team under scrutiny The standby customer service support team activated during last December's train disruptions came under scrutiny on day nine of the Committee of Inquiry (COI). The team was mobilised once the Rail Incident Management Plan was........ Singapore's manufacturing output down 3.4% on-year in March Singapore's manufacturing output fell by 3.4 per cent on-year in March, according to the Economic Development Board (EDB). The decline follows a 12.1 per cent increase in February. Economists had expected a larger drop........ Singapore's main focus is to build a better future for S'poreans: DPM Tharman Singapore's main focus is on the longer-term challenge of building a better future for its people, Deputy Prime Minister and Manpower Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said in his May Day message today. He said everything the........ Make S'poreans core of workforce, tap on the economically inactive: SNEF Employers should ensure that Singaporeans make up the core of their workforce, urged Singapore National Employers Federation president Stephen Lee. In a message ahead of May Day next week, Mr Lee said employers should ensure that........ Man accused of gouging out girlfriend's eyes to be remanded further The man who allegedly murdered and gouged out his then-girlfriend's eyes will be remanded further. Gabriel Lee Haw Ling, 37, has been charged with killing his then lover, 24-year-old Lie Lek Chee last month, at a Jurong West flat........ DBSS project Pasir Ris One to be launched tomorrow The latest public housing project to be sold under the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) will be launched tomorrow - widely-believed the last DBSS development for the time being following the Government's move to suspend land sales for such........ SMRT extends train, LRT and selected bus services on eve of Labour, Vesak Day SMRT's train and LRT services and selected bus services will be extended on the eves of Labour Day (April 30) and Vesak Day (May 4). The last north-bound, east-bound and west-bound trains will depart from City Hall Interchange........ SingTel comes out tops in Governance and Transparency Index SingTel has been named Singapore's most well-governed and transparent company for the fourth straight year. Presenting the results of its 2012 Governance and Transparency Index on Thursday, accounting body CPA Australia said SingTel........

Some 9,990 workers laid off in 2011: MOM With more moderate economic growth, more workers were laid off last year, especially in the fourth quarter of the year. In all, some 9,990 workers were made redundant last year, up slightly from 9,800 in 2010. However,........     Las Vegas Sands not tying up with casino junket operators Gaming operator Las Vegas Sands has said it is not interested in working with Singapore-licensed junket operators to bring gamblers to its casino here...... S$10m boost for childcare sector The government is setting aside S$10 million over the next two years to attract more teachers to the childcare sector through scholarships and teaching awards...... Check out special-rate F1 tickets Singapore GP will be selling single-day 2012 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix Zone 4 Walkabout tickets from 1 May...... Ex-policeman jailed for housebreaking A former staff sergeant at the Central Police Division Headquarters was sentenced to five years' jail for multiple housebreaking offences...... More 'workplace health' workers to be trained A new Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework is set to train some 2,000 occupational hygiene professionals by 2018...... IKEA recalls lighting track Furniture giant IKEA is recalling a product that could pose the risk of electric shock...... SMRT's customer service support team under scrutiny The standby customer service support team activated during last December's train disruptions came under scrutiny on day nine of the Committee of Inquiry...... Singapore's main focus is to build a better future for S'poreans: DPM Tharman Singapore's main focus is on the longer-term challenge of building a better future for its people, Deputy Prime Minister and Manpower Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said in his May Day message on Thursday...... SNEF urges employers to ensure S'porean core in workforce President of the Singapore National Employers Federation Stephen Lee has urged employers to ensure that Singaporeans make up the core of their workforce...... Man who gouged out girlfriend's eyes to be remanded further The man who allegedly murdered and gouged out his then girlfriend's eyes will be remanded further...... DBSS project Pasir Ris One to be launched on Friday The latest public housing project to be sold under the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) will be launched on Friday, April 27...... Some 9,990 workers laid off in Singapore Amid more moderate economic growth, more workers were laid off in 2011, especially in the fourth quarter of the year......

Singapore Local News, 2012-04-25

---

SBS bus, train service hours to be extended on eve of Vesak, May Day SBS Transit will extend the operating hours of its bus and train services on the eve of both Labour Day on Monday, 30 April, as well as Vesak Day on Friday, May 4. On the North-East Line, the last train in the direction of........     Court orders Concord Developments to stop making misleading claims Singapore's consumer watchdog has obtained a temporary court injunction against Concord Developments, a business and management consultancy services company. The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said today that with the........ Committee set up to formulate IP Hub Master Plan A government committee has been formed to look at ways to make Singapore an Asian hub for Intellectual Property (IP). The IP Steering Committee is drawing up plans for the next phase of growth through two strategic thrusts -........ Manpower constraint in handling train disruptions? Manpower appeared to be a constraint that limited train operator SMRT's ability to manage the major train disruptions in December last year. The Chief Controller (Operations) at the SMRT's Operations Control Centre (OCC) told the........ Pay for shopping using your iPhone The Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS) is introducing secure PIN debit payments "on the go" using an iPhone. It is piloting the iSMP mobile terminal by Ingenico, a worldwide provider of payment services, which instantly turns........ Novena Ville up for en-bloc sale Novena Ville, a 43-unit mixed-use development along Thomson Road, has been put up for en-bloc sale. Its marketing agent Credo Real Estate said it is expected to be hotly contested as it has the potential to accommodate shops on the........ Changi Airport saw 15.9% more passengers in March on-year Changi Airport handled 4.28 million passengers in March, up 15.9 per cent on-year. In a statement, Changi Airport Group (CAG) said that is also the highest number of passengers ever handled at Changi during the month of March...... 13th IIFA awards to be held in Singapore Singapore - The "King of Bollywood" has a June date in Singapore. Actor Shah Rukh Khan is slated to make an appearance at the 13th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards among with other leading names in the Indian movie industry...... 250 student leaders aim to instill values among peers The National Youth Council (NYC) will be pumping in S$1 million over the next three years to its Campus ChangeMakers programme, which will now be open to all secondary schools. The programme aims to promote proactive ownership of........ More residential projects to receive Construction Excellence Award More residential projects will receive the Construction Excellence Award this year. The award recognises construction projects that have demonstrated the highest standards of construction excellence in Singapore, particularly in........ A more reflective, emotional NDP Singaporeans can look forward to a more "intense" and "emotional" show at the National Day Parade (NDP) this year, which will feature the theme "Loving Singapore, Our Home". This year's parade is aimed at encouraging Singaporeans........

More licences for foreign law firms next year The Republic will award a second round of licences to foreign law firms next year, said Law Minister K Shanmugam yesterday in an interview with Bloomberg News. Mr Shanmugam said foreign firms would be able to apply in the second........     "Maintain" strong IP protection reputation With Singapore's Intellectual Property (IP) expected to contribute 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2015 -- from 2.14 per cent in 2010 -- Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Law Sim Ann urged the public to pitch in to let ..... K Shanmugam to lead S'pore delegation at ASEAN-EU meeting Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam will lead a Singapore delegation to the 19th ASEAN-European Union Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) in Brunei on April 26 and 27...... SBS bus, train service hours to be extended on eve of Vesak, May Day SBS Transit will extend the operating hours of its bus and train services on the eve of both Labour Day on Monday, 30 April, as well as Vesak Day on Friday, 4 May...... S'pore aims to be Asian IP hub A government committee is looking at ways to make Singapore an Asian hub for Intellectual Property (IP)...... COI focuses on SMRT manpower Manpower appears to be a constraint that limited train operator SMRT's ability to manage the major train disruptions in December 2011...... NDP 2012 to reflect Singaporeans' love for country This year's National Day Parade (NDP) hopes to be a time for Singaporeans to reflect on their love for the country, with the theme "Loving Singapore, Our Home"...... S'pore, US eye better trade ties The trade leaders and officials of Singapore and the United States are discussing ways to enhance excellent bilateral economic relations...... Mobile PIN debit payments to be rolled out Short of cash to pay the pizza delivery man? No worries, as NETS has just introduced a new device which allows for PIN debit payments on the go...... Campus ChangeMakers programme opens to all secondary schools The National Youth Council will spend S$1 million over the next three years on its Campus ChangeMakers programme, which will now be open to all secondary schools...... Lee Yi Shyan to lead business delegation to China Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development Lee Yi Shyan will lead a business delegation to Jilin province, China from 26 to 29 April...... More residential projects to receive Construction Excellence Award More residential projects will receive the Construction Excellence Award this year...... 250 student leaders aim to instil values among peers Some 250 student leaders from 136 secondary schools came together on Wednesday morning to discuss how they can inculcate values among peers through community involvement......

Singapore Local News, 2012-04-24

---

Singapore employees more motivated than average in Asia Employees in Singapore as a whole are more highly motivated than their peers in Asia, according to an Asia-wide survey conducted by learning-based solutions provider AchieveGlobal. 59 per cent of respondents working in Singapore........     SMRT announces S$900m plan to upgrade train system SMRT expects to spend around S$900 million over eight years (2012-2019) to renew and upgrade its train systems. "Some of the measures are already on-going and will be accelerated, while others are new," interim CEO Tan Ek Kia said........ Commuter takes the stand at COI public hearing The first commuter took the stand today as a witness in the ongoing public hearing into two major train disruptions last December. Ms Charlene Ang told the Committee of Inquiry she fainted when she was stranded in a train on Dec........ Man gets corrective training for molest A serial paedophile, with convictions dating back to 1986, was sentenced to six years in corrective training for molesting a seven-year-old boy in the toilet of a hawker centre. 45-year-old Seyad Sulaiman Maideen Pillai pleaded........ Nominations open for outstanding new immigrant awards The Singapore Hua Yuan Association on Tuesday opened up nominations for its second "New Immigrant Outstanding Contribution Awards" to immigrants from beyond the Chinese community. The move aims to give recognition to new Singaporean........ Bus service leaflets, taxi vouchers available during train disruptions At least one MRT station is now well prepared to hand out leaflets to affected commuters in case of train disruptions. This was revealed today in the ongoing public inquiry into last December's train disruptions. Each........ Paper outlining five population scenarios released As Singapore marks a "demographic turning point" this year, where the Republic's first cohort of baby boomers turns 65, a paper has been released by the Government projecting that an intake of about 20,000 to 25,000 new citizens each year would........ Man fined S$3,000 for setting neighbour's cat on fire A 78-year-old retiree was fined S$3,000 for setting his neighbour's cat on fire. His act caused the cat to foam at the mouth. It also left the cat's face, neck and back badly burnt. Chua Tuang Seng, a father of two,........ New council formed to integrate new PRs and citizens The People's Association (PA) has announced that it is setting up a PA integration council, which will be helmed by existing Integration and Naturalisation Champions (INCs). This council will aim to further cement and grow........ Hair analysis to be used to help detect drug abuse Hair analysis will be used to help detect drug abuse, as part of efforts to enable drug offenders to keep clear of drugs. The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) is working with the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to introduce hair........ Bus services 169 and 856 to be diverted this Sunday SMRT bus services 169 and 856 will be temporarily diverted from 7.45am to 10.30am on April 29 due to road closures along Woodlands Avenue 9, Admiralty Road West and Admiralty Road for Singapore Brisk Walk 2012. Passengers may........ Chiam See Tong clarifies on report on Potong Pasir lift upgrading Former Potong Pasir Member of Parliament Chiam See Tong has clarified on assertions made by the constituency's current MP Sitoh Yih Pin on the Potong Pasir Town Council's ability to pay for lift upgrading, in a letter issued to the media...... Taxi catches fire in CTE tunnel, causes massive traffic jam A taxi caught fire in a tunnel on the Central Expressway (CTE) this morning, causing the tunnel to be closed and traffic diverted, which caused a massive traffic jam along the expressway. The Kampong Java tunnel was closed so that........ Search on for missing crew member near Marina South Pier A search and rescue (SAR) operation has been mounted near Marina South Pier for a crew member from a harbour craft who was reported missing at sea. The Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said it received a call about the incident at........ Microsoft launches first MTC in Southeast Asia Microsoft unveiled its Microsoft........ Search on for missing crew member near Marina South Pier A search and rescue (SAR) operation has been mounted near Marina South Pier for a crew member from a harbour craft who was reported missing at sea. The Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said it received a call about the incident at........

Qatar keen to learn from Singapore's waste water and parks management The Central Municipal Council (CMC) of Qatar has expressed interest in learning about Singapore's experience in waste water and parks management. This took place during a meeting between Singapore's Senior Parliamentary Secretary........     More licences to be awarded to foreign lawyers The number of foreign lawyers has doubled in the last four years after the legal market was opened to foreign firms - and the Republic will award a second round of licences by next year, Law Minister K Shanmugam said. Firms can........ Singapore employees more motivated than average in Asia Employees in Singapore as a whole are more highly motivated than their peers in Asia, according to an Asia-wide survey conducted by learning-based solutions provider AchieveGlobal...... Masagos Zulkifli to make official visit to Indonesia Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli will be in Indonesia from April 25 to 28...... SMRT unveils S$900m plan to upgrade train systems Rail operator SMRT expects to spend around S$900 million over eight years (2012-2019) to renew and upgrade its train systems...... S'pore reaffirms global shipping commitment Minister for Transport Lui Tuck Yew said Singapore is committed to the global effort for safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean ocean...... PA to launch new immigration integration council Singapore will step up its new immigration integration efforts with the launch of the People's Association Integration Council on Saturday...... Witness takes stand at COI The first commuter took the stand on Tuesday as witness, in the ongoing public hearing into two major train disruptions last December...... Man gets corrective training for molest A serial paedophile, with convictions dating back to 1986, was sentenced to six years in corrective training for molesting a seven-year-old boy in the toilet of a hawker centre...... Nominations open for outstanding new immigrant awards The Singapore Hua Yuan Association on Tuesday opened up nominations for its second "New Immigrant Outstanding Contribution Awards" to immigrants from beyond the Chinese community...... Employees in Singapore are highly motivated: survey Employees in Singapore as a whole are highly motivated individuals, according to an Asia-wide survey...... Leasing demand for S'pore residential properties remains robust Leasing demand for residential properties in Singapore remained robust in the first two months of this year as transactions hovered above 3,000 each month, according to Savills Research...... Bus service leaflets, taxi vouchers available during train disruptions At least one MRT station is now well prepared to hand out leaflets to affected commuters in case of train disruptions...... Police looking for woman to assist with investigations into cheating scam Police are looking for a woman (pictured) to assist with investigations into a cheating scam...... Immigration can mitigate rate at which citizen population ages: report Singapore needs to continue attracting immigrants to slow down the decline and ageing of its citizen population, according to a paper released by the National Population and Talent Division...... Man fined S$3,000 for setting neighbour's cat on fire A 78-year-old retiree was fined S$3,000 for setting his neighbour's cat on fire. His act caused the cat to foam at the mouth and left its face, neck and back badly burnt...... Celebrating 30 years of emergency preparedness in the community Singapore's Emergency Preparedness Programme in the Community celebrates 30 years this year...... Taxi on fire in CTE tunnel A taxi caught fire in a tunnel along the Central Expressway (CTE) on Tuesday morning...... Hair analysis to be used to help detect drug abuse Hair analysis will be used to help detect drug abuse, as part of efforts to enable drug offenders to keep clear of drugs...... Search on for missing crew member near Marina South Pier A search and rescue (SAR) operation has been mounted near Marina South Pier for a crew member from a harbour craft who was reported missing at sea...... Qatar keen to learn from Singapore's waste water and parks management The Central Municipal Council (CMC) of Qatar has expressed interest in learning about Singapore's experience in waste water and parks management......

Singapore Local News, 2012-04-23

---

Green Marine Innovation Centre set up to support maritime R&D A Green Marine Innovation Centre (GMIC) will be set up to support the research and development of clean energy technologies with maritime applications. The initiative will be driven by BW Ventures (BWV), the Maritime and Port........     Woman pleads guilty to maid abuse A 54-year-old woman pleaded guilty today to abusing her 24-year-old maid. Lee Meng Choo, who is a teacher, told her Indonesian maid Sri Maryati she had to agree to her punishments when she made mistakes, if she wanted to keep her........ Infineum breaks ground in Singapore Infineum, a global provider of petroleum additives, has broken ground for its first salicylate plant outside Europe. To be located in Singapore's energy and chemical hub Jurong Island, the plant will manufacture salicylate........ Singapore to build fifth industrial park in Vietnam HANOI - Singapore has been given the green light to build a fifth industrial park in Vietnam, worth over US$330 million (S$412 million). The 600-hectare project in Quang Ngai province will be developed along with a 520-hectare commercial and........ CDAC to help more low-income families From next month, self-help group Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) will raise its income eligibility criteria to help the bottom 20 per cent of the Chinese community. CDAC is expected to set aside another S$600,000 to........ Three men charged with paid sex with underage girl back in court Three men who were charged in court on April 16 with having paid sex with an underage girl were back in court today to fix a date for a discovery conference. Koh Zi Yang, 29, Pyi Kyaw Han, 31, as well as Kelvin Peck Yong Li, 21,........ Public inquiry into SMRT disruptions continues Crowd control measures and providing ample information to passengers on alternative routes in the event of a disruption were among issues raised as the public inquiry into last December's train disruptions enters week two. More........ Singapore's inflation up 5.2% in March Singapore's inflation rate rose to 5.2 per cent on-year in March this year, from 4.6 per cent the previous month. This was attributed to a sharper increase in COE premiums which led to higher car prices. According to........ Be wary of online rumours: Yaacob Citing recent online rumours of kidnapping cases here, as well as a recent case of a Filipino drummer whom was targeted by netizens online, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Yaacob Ibrahim felt that Singaporeans must be........ S'pore could still be base for Qantas' premium Asian carrier SYDNEY - Qantas is still keen on a premium airline serving the Asian market, with Singapore a possible base for the carrier, according to chief executive Alan Joyce. Qantas' plans were dealt a blow after talks with possible joint venture........ GP suspended, fined for professional misconduct A general practitioner has been suspended from practice for four months and fined S$5,000 for professional misconduct. Dr Kwan Wai Chee, 43, was also censured and ordered to give a written undertaking to the Singapore Medical........

The uneasy expats A contact for a story said: "We need to talk this week." The reason, as it turned out, was that he had to leave town because his employment pass had not been renewed. And he is not the only one. Other employment pass holders have also been forced to.....     Woman pleads guilty to maid abuse A 54-year-old woman pleaded guilty on Monday to abusing her 24-year-old maid...... Pastamania shift manager jailed for misappropriating cash A shift manager with restaurant chain Pastamania was sentenced to one week's jail and a fine of S$3,000 for pocketing S$1,650 of the restaurant's cash tills...... 8 student-athletes receive Britain's 'Dream 2012 Award' Eight Singapore student-athletes have been the presented the Lord Sebastian Coe-British Chamber of Commerce 'Dream 2012 Award'...... Traditional media must not lose sight of key strengths: Yaacob It is important that Singapore's newspapers, radio and television stations do not lose sight of their key strengths, even as the media industry adapts to the online playing field, Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts Yaacob Ibrahim sa..... Gas leak at junction of Sakra Road & Jurong Island highway An underground gas pipe has leaked at the junction of Sakra Road and Jurong Island highway...... Australian PM Gillard on official visit to S'pore Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard is on an official visit to Singapore. She was given a ceremonial welcome at the Istana on Monday morning...... Public inquiry into SMRT disruptions continues Crowd control measures and providing ample information to passengers on alternative routes in the event of a disruption were among issues raised as the public inquiry into last December's train disruptions enters week two...... 3 men charged with paid sex with underage girl back in court Three men who were charged in court on April 16 with having paid sex with an underage girl were back in court on Monday to fix a date for a discovery conference...... Get up close and personal with 938LIVE's morning show 938LIVE's morning belt FRESH will be broadcasting live from Gloria Jean's Coffees at Twenty Anson this whole week...... GP suspended, fined for professional misconduct A general practitioner has been suspended from practice for four months and fined S$5,000 for professional misconduct......

Singapore Local News, 2012-04-22

---

Police arrest man for stealing motor vehicle Police have arrested a 33-year-old man who is believed to have stolen a vehicle from a car rental company located along Lorong Marzuki. On April 1, 2012, a staff of the rental company lodged a police report stating that one of its........     President Tony Tan to visit Vietnam President Tony Tan Keng Yam will make a state visit to Vietnam from April 23 to 27, 2012 at the invitation of Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang. This will be President Tan's first state visit since assuming office on September........ Govt encourage singles to get married: DPM Teo Chee Hean The government would like to encourage more singles to get married, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister-in-Charge of Population Issues Teo Chee Hean. Mr Teo was speaking to the media today at a Babies Day Out event at the Pasir........ CDAC relaxes income eligibility criteria The Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) has relaxed its income eligibility criteria to ensure they can continue to reach out to the lowest 20 per cent income group in the Chinese community. Senior Minister of State Grace........ Dialects find a voice Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) student Kenneth Leong remembers those first months when he began paying community service visits to the elderly in Ang Mo Kio: Awkward smiles, doubtful looks and translations between Mandarin and Hokkien of every sentence......

HDB upgrading now goes green Solar panels or fuel cells that generate power for energy-efficient LED lights in common areas, which save power by brightening only when people walk past. A refuse collection system that channels trash from several blocks through a........     Maids urged to upgrade themselves Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Halimah Yacob has urged foreign domestic workers -- who would have one day off every week from next year -- to make use of the mandatory day off to upgrade themselves...... In-flight theft suspects nabbed Two men have been arrested separately for stealing on board two Singapore Airlines flights on Saturday...... Man nabbed for "stealing vehicle" Police have arrested a 33-year-old man who is believed to have stolen a vehicle from a car rental company located along Lorong Marzuki...... Govt encourages more singles to get married The government would like to encourage more singles to get married, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister-in-Charge of Population Issues Teo Chee Hean...... President Tony Tan to make state visit to Vietnam President Tony Tan Keng Yam will make a state visit to Vietnam from April 23 to 27, 2012 at the invitation of Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang...... DPM Teo to visit Brunei Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, will be making an official visit to Brunei......

Singapore Local News, 2012-04-21

---

Singaporeans need positive mindset towards seniors: PM Lee As the country's population ages rapidly, Singaporeans need to have a positive mindset toward elders. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this today at a welcome party for Teck Ghee Vista - new replacement flats built under the........     Experts to look at transport issues and anticipate future problems A joint team of experts from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT set up last week will systematically look at transportation issues and make sure the problems are properly rectified. The team will also look at potential........

SCDF cuts response times To better meet the needs of an expanding and ageing population, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has increased the number of fire bikes to shorten response time, and equipped all 40 with an automated external defibrillator to render........     Australia PM Gillard to visit S'pore Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, will make her first official visit to Singapore from April 22 to 24...... NJC students create Android app to help seniors explore neighbourhood Students from National Junior College (NJC) have come up with an Android app that encourages senior citizens to go on heritage trails around their neighbourhood...... S'poreans need positive mindset towards seniors: PM Lee As the country's population ages rapidly, Singaporeans need to have a positive mindset toward elders...... CHIJ St Joseph's Convent celebrates 74th anniversary with musical 300 girls from CHIJ St Joseph's Convent have gathered to put up a musical in celebration of their school's 74th anniversary. Students and alumni have said that they are proud of the school's legacy...... Fathers@Schools programme appoints first batch of parent ambassadors The Fathers At School programme appointed its first batch of 23 parent volunteers as ambassadors...... Experts to look at transport issues & anticipate future problems A joint team of experts from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and SMRT will systematically look at transportation issues and make sure the problems are properly rectified...... Grounded Qantas A380 to fly home The Qantas Airbus A380 aircraft that experienced a mid-air engine explosion 18 months ago is finally returning home to Sydney from Singapore on Saturday......