Singapore Local News, 2012-06-30

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President Tony Tan pays tribute to late Yong Nyuk Lin President Tony Tan Keng Yam said Singapore has lost a trusted and brilliant man in the late Mr Yong Nyuk Lin, who served in Singapore's first Cabinet from 1959 to 1976. Mr Yong died on Friday at age 94. In a statement,........     NS enlistment numbers could dip by 25 per cent in 2025, Defence Minister says. Declining birth rates and its impact on Singapore's population represents a "big challenge" facing the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) over the next decade, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen. From 2016, enlistment rates for full-time........ PM Lee urges Muslim association to focus on two priorities Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) to focus on two priorities, namely to continue to improve the socio-economic performance of the Malay Muslim community and to help all segments of........ Nearly 2.1 million S'poreans to receive GST Voucher Close to 2.1 million adult Singaporeans will receive letters from the government from Monday to inform them of the amount that they will receive this year under the GST Voucher (GSTV) scheme. The Finance Ministry says the GSTV is a........ Fabricated report: SPH says sorry to SMRT again The Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) have apologised again to transport operator SMRT over a fabricated report of one of its trains moving off with its doors open. This, after SMRT interim CEO Tan Ek Kia responded to the initial........ Prime Taxi to phase out CNG taxis Prime Taxi, one of seven cab operators in Singapore, has launched the Prime Royal Limousine Vellfire which runs on environmentally friendly hybrid technology. Currently, there are two such taxis and their numbers will increase to 30........ 770 Bedok flats to get EASE Programme with HIP Residents from 770 households in Blocks 134 to 139 Bedok North Street 2 will be the first HDB dwellers in Singapore to be offered the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) Programme together with the Home Improvement Programme (HIP)...... Electricity tariffs to drop by an average 2.5% Electricity tariffs will decrease by an average 2.5 per cent for the next three months, beginning July 1. SP Services attributed the cheaper tariffs to lower natural gas prices, which have resulted in lower power generation........

Inflation held wagerises in check last year Despite the slower economic growth last year, the tight labour market pushed up workers' total wages, with the increase outpacing inflation marginally. However, real basic wages fell by 0.8 per cent, compared to 2010......     NS enlistment expected to dip to 19,500 in 2025 Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said one of the biggest challenges facing the future of the SAF concerns the demography of the country. He said National Service enlistment is expected to dip to about 19,500 in 2025...... "One Tune Radio" makes debut at Lion City Cup Some fans watching this year's Lion City Cup had their viewing experience enhanced, thanks to a device that kept them tuned in to the action on the pitch...... 18 nabbed in Geylang for various offences Eighteen people have been arrested in Geylang for various offences in an overnight multi-agency joint operation that ended early Saturday morning...... Road Courtesy Campaign 2012 launched The Singapore Police Force (SPF), Singapore Road Safety Council and Traffic Police Department have launched this year's road courtesy campaign...... President Tony Tan pays tribute to late Yong Nyuk Lin President Tony Tan Keng Yam said Singapore has lost a trusted and brilliant man in the late Mr Yong Nyuk Lin, who served in Singapore's first Cabinet from 1959 to 1976...... PM Lee urges Muslim association to focus on two priorities Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) to focus on two priorities, namely to continue to improve the socio-economic performance of the Malay Muslim community and to help all segments of community...... Nearly 2.1 million S'poreans to receive GST Voucher Close to 2.1 million adult Singaporeans will receive letters from the government from Monday to inform them of the amount that they will receive this year under the GST Voucher (GSTV) scheme...... Police bust illegal gambling den in Holland Grove Police have busted an illegal gambling den in a private apartment at Holland Grove Road...... 770 Bedok flats to get EASE Programme with HIP Residents from 770 households in Blocks 134 to 139 Bedok North Street 2 will be the first HDB dwellers in Singapore to be offered the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) Programme together with the Home Improvement Programme (HIP)...... Electricity tariffs to drop by an average 2.5% Electricity tariffs will decrease by an average 2.5 per cent for the next three months, beginning July 1......

Singapore Local News, 2012-06-29

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SPH error over STOMP picture: SMRT replies to letter of apology SMRT has responded to Singapore Press Holdings' (SPH) letter of apology but the public transport operator remains tight-lipped on the details of its reaction. In response to TODAY's queries about its reply to SPH, an SMRT........     Quality of pre-school education can be improved: DPM Tharman More can be done to lift the quality of pre-school education in Singapore, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. He said this at the official opening of a new My First Skool Campus in Taman Jurong today. Mr........ Course dedicated to community gerontological nursing launched To support and enhance the health of community-dwelling seniors, the Hua Mei Training Academy is launching a community gerontological nursing course. Targeted at nurses working outside an acute hospital setting, the course aims to........ Png Eng Huat files by-election expenses statement Workers' Party candidate and MP-elect for Hougang division Png Eng Huat has filed his expense statement with the Elections Department for the recent Hougang by-election. Responding to Channel NewsAsia's queries, he said he spent........ 'Understandable' for City Harvest Church to support leaders: Sam Tan Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports Sam Tan, said the City Harvest Church members' support for their leaders is understandable. He said the public's response to the court case has been........ Hady Mirza, Taufik Batisah lead RIA 89.7FM charity drive A grey jacket signed by Hady Mirza that he had only worn once, and has not been laundered yet. A T-shirt, cap, jacket and shoes ensemble that was a part of Taufik Batisah's old wardrobe before he decided to change his image...... Lawyer charged with paying underaged girl for sex A lawyer, who owns a law firm, was charged today with paying an underage Vietnamese girl S$300 for sex. 59-year-old Spencer Gwee Hak Theng was charged with one count of paying the 17-year-old girl for her sexual services...... Tight labour market lifted workers' wages in 2011: MOM The tight labour market continued to lift workers' wages despite the slower economic growth in 2011. Key findings from the Report on Wages in Singapore 2011, released by the Manpower Ministry (MOM), show that total wages (including........ 115 weekly bus trips added since April Twenty-two bus services have been improved and an additional 115 weekly bus trips added between April and June this year as part of the ongoing quarterly review process involving the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and public transport........ US exempts China, Singapore from Iran oil sanctions WASHINGTON - The United States said China and Singapore have "significantly reduced" their purchases of Iranian oil, winning exemptions from US financial sanctions that otherwise would have been imposed today. "A total of 20 world economies........ LTA puts train-loading trial in gear The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will start a three-month train loading trial from July 19. LTA said it is to study how effective train loading information posters are in helping commuters to decide when to start their trips.........

More discounts for off-peak travel on SMRT More discounts and incentives have been offered to entice train commuters to switch to off-peak travel while easing congestion on the rail network. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will also roll out a three-month trial to........     Suspect arrested for series of theft at supermarkets Police have arrested a 50-year-old man believed to be responsible for a series of theft at supermarkets located in Fusionopolis, Vivocity and along Orchard Road...... Serial housebreaker and snatch thief caught Police have arrested a 37-year-old man who is believed to be involved in at least five cases of break-ins and one case of snatch theft...... Trio nabbed for serial pawn shop scams Police have arrested two men and a woman, aged between 29 and 39 years, for suspected involvement in a series of cheating cases involving the pawning of fake gold jewellery...... 60 stalls to be offered to successful bidders in May tender exercise A total of 60 stalls will be offered to successful bidders in the May 2012 Tender Exercise...... MCYS forms Enabling Masterplan Implementation Committee The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) has formed an Enabling Masterplan Implementation Committee. The committee will provide feedback from the disability sector to the government on recommendations...... Gardens by the Bay opens to the public Gardens by the Bay opened its doors to the public for the first time at 5am and is expecting up to 30,000 visitors on Friday...... Quality of pre-school education can be improved More can be done to lift the quality of pre-school education in Singapore, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam...... IAAP to discuss trends in university education The 9th meeting of the Ministry of Education's (MOE) International Academic Advisory Panel (IAAP) will be held in Singapore from July 2 to 4. It will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam...... Microspordial spores common in S'pore soil: Health Ministry The Ministry of Health (MOH) said microspordial spores are likely to be very common in soil here and are not limited to the Turf City pitches...... Man jailed for underage sex & housebreaking offences An unemployed man was jailed three and a half years on Friday for having sex with a minor and breaking into a church...... Penalty increased for lapses in basic letter delivery service The Quality of Service (QoS) framework for postal services has been revised...... Understandable for City Harvest Church to support leaders: Sam Tan Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports Sam Tan, said the City Harvest Church members' support for their leaders is understandable...... S'pore to present Singapore Sustainable Blueprint at plenary meeting Singapore will host the 11th Plenary Meeting and Exhibition of the Asian Network of Major Cities 21 (ANMC21) on on 30 June at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre...... Png Eng Huat files by-election expenses statement Workers' Party candidate and MP-elect for Hougang division Png Eng Huat has filed his expense statement with the Elections Department for the recent Hougang by-election...... The tough cookies with red berets "Every time I'm about to jump off the helicopter, I get butterflies in my stomach."..... Lawyer charged with paying underage Vietnamese girl for sex A lawyer, who owns a law firm, was charged on Friday with paying an underage Vietnamese girl S$300 for sex...... 115 weekly bus trips added between April and June Twenty-two bus services have been improved and an additional 115 weekly bus trips added between April and June this year as part of the ongoing quarterly review process involving the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and public transport operators, SBS ..... Tight labour market lifted workers' wages in 2011 Despite slower economic growth last year, Singapore workers' wages have continued to rise on the back of a tight labour market......

Singapore Local News, 2012-06-28

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SAF honours its best units It is nine wins in a row for the Commandos, who emerged tops again this year as the Singapore Army's "Best Combat Unit". The RSS Valiant snagged the "Best Ship" award for the Navy, while 145 Squadron is the Air Force's "Best Fighter........     4-year-old gets his head shaved for charity 4-year-old Damien Ong had his head shaved in solidarity with children with cancer.The boy and his father, Mr Kelvin Ong, were taking part in AIA’s ‘Hair For Hope’ head shaving event, held earlier today at the AIA........ Marriage, parenthood polices to be reviewed Marriage and parenthood policies will come under review in the latest effort to get more Singaporeans married and increase the Republic's birth rate. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean flagged getting Singaporeans to form families and raise........ More incentives to travel before peak hour from LTA, SMRT More monetary incentives are being used to encourage commuters to travel during off-peak periods on trains, the Land Transport Authority announced this morning, while SMRT said the "Early Travel" discount to those who arrive at central stations........ Singapore heads east on Olympics map The official Olympics website, olympics.org, has been embarrassed by another geographical gaffe. Last month, the website waded into controversy when it identified Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, while leaving Israel with no........

New dating service caters only to the wealthy An exclusive dating service catering only to wealthy individuals looking for love was launched yesterday. Lunch Actually Platinum, a new service by dating agency Lunch Actually, specifically targets clients with an........     SAF honours its best units It's nine wins in a row for the Commandos, who emerged tops again this year as the Singapore Army's "Best Combat Unit"...... Desmond Choo submits expenses for Hougang by-election The People's Action Party's candidate for the Hougang by-election, Desmond Choo, said he has submitted to the Elections Department his statement of expenses for last month's by-election...... Workplace safety in construction sector can be improved: Hawazi Daipi Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Manpower, Hawazi Daipi, said the overall management of Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) in the construction industry, especially for smaller contractors, can be improved...... Man gets 8 months' jail for breaking cabbie's middle finger A man has been sentenced to eight months' jail for breaking the middle finger of a taxi driver...... Table Tennis: STTA targets two medals at London Olympic Games The Singapore Table Tennis Association said its initial target of two medals for the upcoming London Olympic Games is achievable...... Proportion of singles rises across all age groups The government will review its policies to support citizens in getting married and having children...... More incentives to encourage off-peak travel on trains More discounts and incentives for train commuters who choose to travel during off-peak periods...... S'pore govt to review marriage and parenthood policies Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said the government's National Population and Talent Division is reviewing the country's policies and measures to support citizens in getting married and having children...... Visit by German State Secretary for Defence underscores warm, growing bi-relations German State Secretary for Defence Rüdiger Wolf called on Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen on Thursday...... LTA to start 3-month train loading trial The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will start a three-month train loading trial from 19 July...... SMRT to increase early bird travel discount to 50 cents SMRT will increase the Early Travel discount to 50 cents, from 30 cents, from 6 August. SMRT will also extend this discount to Circle Line stations......

Singapore Local News, 2012-06-27

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5 charged with misuse of City Harvest funds, offered S$500,000 bail Five individuals connected to City Harvest Church (CHC), including founder Kong Hee, have been charged this morning for criminal breach of trust and falsifying accounts, after allegedly using millions from the church's funds to further Sun Ho's........     Singapore's northeast at risk of housing oversupply, analysts say While home prices in the northeast district are expected to be stable in the coming year, analysts say the area may potentially see an oversupply of homes in the future. In the next few years, Punggol, Sengkang and Pasir Ris will........ Girl involved in nude video scam sentenced to two years probation The teenage girl who was involved in an Internet love scam has been sentenced to two years of supervised probation. 17-year-old Yap Siew Ting was found guilty of extorting money through nude online video chats. She has........ FairPrice continues to freeze price of housebrand rice NTUC FairPrice said it will continue to freeze prices on all nine types of FairPrice housebrand rice from Thailand and Vietnam until Dec 31 this year.Prices for these FairPrice housebrand rice have been frozen since November last year......... Ten homes to test new energy management system One block in Singapore's Punggol Eco-Town may well hold the answer to household energy efficiency in the near future. In the next one to two months, 10 homes at Block 109C Edgedale Plains will be invited to install a new home energy........ Ex-ST associate editor appointed Chief of Govt Communications Mr Janadas Devan, 58, will join the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) as Chief of Government Communications on July 1. Mr Devan will coordinate the Government's public communication efforts and lead the........

Low marks for local pre-schools The Republic has been placed in the bottom half of an international ranking on early childhood education, coming in 29th out of 45 countries. Conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit and commissioned by the Lien........     Dairy Farm group extends price freeze on house-branded items The Dairy Farm Singapore group says its supermarkets Cold Storage, Giant and Shop N Save will be extending the price freeze of all their house-branded rice, cooking oil, flour and sugar until 31 December...... Man arrested for making bomb threat A 33-year-old man has been arrested for a making a bomb threat through a phone call...... Girl involved in nude video scam sentenced to two years probation The teenage girl who was involved in an Internet love scam has been sentenced to two years of supervised probation...... NCCS hopes Singaporeans will not react against churches The Christian community is united in disapproving any misuse of public institutional funds, the National Council of Churches Singapore (NCCS) said, in response to the case involving five City Harvest Church members...... 97 arrested in 48-hour drug bust Eight drug traffickers and 89 drug offenders were arrested in an intensive 48-hour Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) operation conducted from Monday to Wednesday...... Four different designs for this year's NDP funpack Modern, functional and versatile -- those were the considerations for the NDP funpack...... Grassroots organisations gearing up for National Day celebrations Singapore's grassroots organisations at the heartlands are gearing up for the 47th National Day celebrations...... FairPrice continues to freeze price of housebrand rice NTUC FairPrice said it will continue to freeze prices on all nine types of FairPrice housebrand rice from Thailand and Vietnam until 31 December 2012...... 10 homes to test new energy management system One block in Singapore's Punggol Eco-Town may well hold the answer to household energy efficiency in the near future...... Universities around the world face new challenges: President Tony Tan Universities around the world are faced with new challenges, said Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam during a visit to the Technical University Munich (TUM)...... New WSQ Diploma in Food & Beverage launched Frontline service professionals will soon be able to learn the tricks of the trade from industry experts in the food and beverage industry...... Scope of Child Development Account to be expanded from July The Child Development Account (CDA) usage has been expanded to better support the developmental needs of children...... Halimah Yacob to attend APEC 2012 Women and Economy Forum Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Halimah Yacob, will lead a delegation to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2012 Women and the Economy Forum (WEF) in St Petersburg, Russia from 28 to 30 June...... MyWaters iPhone app gives latest access to flood information MyWaters, a utility and lifestyle iPhone application (app) by national water agency PUB, is now available for download...... Janadas Devan to be Chief of Government Communications Mr Janadas Devan, 58, will join the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) as Chief of Government Communications on 1 July 2012...... 2 more plead guilty to paid sex with 17-year-old-girl Two more men have also pleaded guilty to having paid sex with the same underage girl...... Howard Shaw pleads guilty to paid sex with underage girl Former Singapore Environment Council executive director Howard Shaw pleaded guilty to having sex with an underage prostitute...... President Tony Tan wraps up visit to Munich MUNICH, Germany: As the Eurozone debt crisis drags on without a resolution in sight, more European companies are looking east to pursue growth...... City Harvest's founder Kong Hee, four others charged Five senior members of City Harvest Church (CHC), including its founder Kong Hee, were charged in court on Wednesday with misappropriating church funds...... Supporters of City Harvest Church gather outside court Pastor Kong Hee and his wife Ho Yeow Sun arrived at the Subordinate Courts just before 9am on Wednesday......

Singapore Local News, 2012-06-26

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MDA allocates S$20m to drive productivity growth in media industry The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) has set aside S$20 million to drive productivity growth in the media industry. The funding will help freelancers and media practitioners upgrade their skills, and for companies to........     SingTel CEO pay rises 8.7% SingTel's chief executive officer Chua Sock Koong received S$4.9 million in total remuneration for the firm's financial year ended March ths year. This is 8.7 per cent higher compared to her pay package of S$4.5 million in the........ Revised Sexuality Education programme targets social networking dangers The dangers of social networking and helping students navigate it safely will be addressed in the refreshed Sexuality Education (SEd) programme announced by the Ministry of Education (MOE) this afternoon. The MOE said it takes a........ NTU scientists create toilet which turns waste into electricity Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have developed a new toilet system that converts human waste to electricity and fertiliser. Dubbed the "No-Mix Vacuum Toilet", the system has two chambers which separate liquid........ Ex-CNB chief Ng's trial adjourned for 3 weeks Singapore - Former Central Narcotics Bureau Director Ng Boon Gay, who is facing charges of corruption, appeared in court this afternoon to ask for a three-week adjournment for his pre-trial conference. Ng's lawyer, Senior Counsel Tan Chee Meng,...... Commissioner of Charities suspends 8 members of City Harvest board The Commissioner of Charities (COC), following an Inquiry into the City Harvest Church (CHC), has suspended eight members of the church governing board with immediate effect under the Charities Act, following financial irregularities in the use........ Singapore's preschool education ranked 29 out of 45 worldwide Singapore's early childhood education environment was ranked 29th among 45 countries worldwide, according to a latest study by the Economist Intelligent Unit. Some of the areas Singapore did well in were in the provision of........ 5 arrested for misuse of City Harvest Church building fund The Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) today arrested the following five persons connected to the City Harvest Church (CHC). On May 31, 2010, CAD commenced an investigation into certain financial transactions of CHC after receiving........ Schools fees for PRs and International Students to go up School fees for students who are permanent residents (PR) and international students (IS) in Government and Government-aided schools will go up starting January to "further differentiate fees by citizenship", said the Ministry of Education........ Ex-SPH VP charged for corruption, criminal breach of trust Former Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) senior vice-president Peter Khoo was this morning charged in court for corruption and criminal breach of trust. Khoo, who was arrested in September 2010, had allegedly received illegal payments........

kidsREAD programme sees positive results A programme to cultivate good reading habits amongst young Singaporeans, in particular children from low-income families, has made a difference in the lives of children, a study has found. Children who attended kidsREAD, a........     MOE to revise school sexuality education programmes The Education Ministry has revised its sexuality education framework to ensure its context stays relevant to current trends...... MDA allocates $20m to drive productivity growth in media industry The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) has set aside $20 million to drive productivity growth in the media industry...... Seafood featured as theme of Singapore Food Festival The theme of this year's Singapore Food Festival is 'Seafood Tales of Temasek'...... Singapore, Malaysia enhance cooperation against drug trafficking Singapore and Malaysia enhanced their cooperation against drug trafficking by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday, signifying both countries' commitment towards the common goal of a drug-free society...... "Premature to claim trial" over former CNB chief's corruption charges Former CNB chief Ng Boon Gay, who was charged with four counts of corruption, was back in court on Tuesday for a hearing...... NTU scientists create toilet which turns poo into electricity Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have developed a new toilet system that converts human waste to electricity and fertiliser...... City Harvest's founder Kong Hee & 4 others arrested Five members of City Harvest Church (CHC), including its founder Pastor Kong Hee, have been arrested for alleged criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts of the church...... School fees for non-Singaporeans to go up School fees for students who are permanent residents (PRs) and international students in government and government-aided schools will go up from January 2013...... Former SPH SVP Peter Khoo charged with corruption Peter Khoo Chong Meng, former senior vice president of the English and Malay News Division at Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), was on Tuesday charged in court with 10 counts of corruption and criminal breach of trust......

Singapore Local News, 2012-06-25

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JB nursing homes: Understand the obligations, says Acting Minister Even as eldercare facilities reported more cases of families defaulting on payment, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing reiterated yesterday that legal options should be the "last resort" for........

A youthful message for this year's anti-drug campaign With signs of a worrying drug trend, spreading the anti-drug message among youth through their peers will be an important part of this year's anti-drug abuse campaign, Minister of State (Home Affairs) Masagos Zulkifli said........     Gardens by the Bay gets spruced up for big day It's all systems go as final touches are put on Singapore's latest attraction - Gardens by the Bay - ahead of its Friday opening...... Protest outside S'pore High Commission in KL over Bersih 3.0 rally involvement Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA: Supporters of the Malay rights group, Perkasa, have staged a protest outside the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur...... Community Policing Units equipped with tablet computers Officers under the new Community Policing Units in Tampines and Bukit Merah East are now equipped with tablet computers...... Gan Kim Yong appointed chairman of CDAC Board Health Minister Gan Kim Yong is the new chairman of the Board of Directors for the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC)...... LTA seeks feedback on Land Transport Masterplan The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is seeking public feedback on its existing and future Land Transport Masterplan...... Licences of 6 tobacco retailers revoked or suspended The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has revoked the licence of one errant tobacco retailer and suspended the licences of five other retailers for selling tobacco to underage youth...... Applications for foreign law practices licences to open in July Applications for a second round of Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP) licences will open on July 1, 2012...... NUS to conduct Singapore Health 2012 survey The National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health will conduct a study to assess the health status and health-related lifestyle habits of Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 18 to 79 years...... HDB identifies Woodlands Centre Road site for SERS Blocks 1A to 6A Woodlands Centre Road were on Monday identified for the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) by the Housing and Development Board (HDB)......

Singapore Local News, 2012-06-24

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Two-day event to kick off Anti-Drug Abuse campaign A two-day event to raise awareness of the anti-drug cause will kickstart this year's Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign. The National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) are working with students from........     More S'poreans should step forward to help community: Chan Chun Sing It takes a community to build a community, and more Singaporeans should step forward to help one another to build an inclusive society. Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Chan Chun Sing made this point........ SCDF dive into search for missing man off Bedok Jetty A search and rescue operation is now on in waters off the Bedok Jetty along the East Coast Parkway. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they received a call for assistance at around 2.30pm today. A member of........ Woodlands hostel offer backpackers a glimpse into Singaporean life Travellers on a shoestring budget can take their pick from some 80 backpackers' hostels in Singapore. Most of these hostels are located in the city centre. Some tourists choose to stay in hostels that had been converted........ National Family Celebrations reach out to 12,000 youths & families Engaging the youth to lay a firmer foundation for families in Singapore.This is one strategy the National Family Celebrations organising committee has employed since 2011.And it seems the move has made some headway this........ Youths shine at inaugural light art festival Young artists now have the chance to shine at Singapore's first-ever light art festival targeted at youths and young adults. A total of 27 art pieces are on display at Luminance from June 23 at the *SCAPE youth hub in Orchard........ Sim Lim Square sets up complaint kiosk In the first six months of this year, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) received 113 complaints against Sim Lim Square retailers. This compared with 183 complaints for the whole of 2011. To better manage........ Chinese Singaporeans celebrate Dragon Boat Festival Chinese Singaporeans marked Duanwu Festival yesterday, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. It's also known as the Dragon Boat Festival. And no celebration would be complete without........

Missing divers rescued by passing tugboat KUALA LUMPUR - Six scuba divers were yesterday reported missing off the Malaysian resort of Tioman, according to a maritime official. The group, including one Singaporean, one from China and four Malaysians disappeared after diving off the east......     A friendlier community through Project Hello Stranger 180 youths from the Project Hello Stranger team fanned out along Orchard Road yesterday and gave out 6,000 balloons to the weekend crowd. The movement started by two fresh graduates aims to help strangers to connect...... AGC rejects offer to withdraw Hougang by-election court case The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) rejected the conditional offer made by Hougang resident Madam Vellama Marie Muthu in the Hougang by-election case. On June 21 Madam Vellama had offered to withdraw her case, if Prime Minister........ Bedok Town Council kicks off rejuvenation programme Over the next three years, Bedok Town Centre will be rejuvenated and transformed into an exciting hub. Minister of State for National Development and an MP for East Coast GRC, Lee Yi Shyan, said proposals to revitalise the heartlands........ American Eaton sets decathlon world record OREGON - American Ashton Eaton set a decathlon world record when he scored 9,039 points at the United States Olympic athletics trials yesterday. Eaton, 24, improved on Czech Roman Serbrle's 2001 record by 13 points. The world........ MP Lim Biow Chuan elected president of CASE Member of Parliament for Mountbatten, Mr Lim Biow Chuan, has been elected president of the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE). He will lead the new Central Committee, which held its election during its Annual General Meeting........ Repackage low wage jobs into 'jobs of the future': Labour chief The labour movement's plan to implement a progressive wage system for low-wage workers is aimed at encouraging tripartite partners and Singaporeans to look at low-wage jobs in a different light.Labour chief Lim Swee Say told the media........ New anti-drug mobile exhibit bus for this year's campaign A two-day event to raise awareness of the anti-drug cause will kickstart this year's Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign...... More S'poreans should step forward to help community: Chan Chun Sing It takes a community to build a community, and more Singaporeans should step forward to help one another to build an inclusive society...... President Tony Tan makes official visit to Germany President Tony Tan Keng Yam will make an official visit to Germany from 24 June to 3 July...... Tugboat saves missing S'porean diver The Singaporean among the six scuba divers who went missing after diving off Tioman Island on Malaysia's east coast on Saturday has been rescued...... Search is on for missing person off Bedok Jetty A search and rescue operation is now on in waters off the Bedok Jetty along the East Coast Parkway...... Missing scuba divers reportedly picked up by tugboat Six scuba divers including one from Singapore, who went missing off Malaysia's Tioman island, have reportedly been picked up by a passing tugboat...... Singapore diver among 6 missing off Malaysian island KUALA LUMPUR - Search teams were Sunday looking for six scuba divers who went missing a day earlier off a Malaysian resort island after apparently failing to resurface, a maritime official said...... Bedok Town Centre makeover kicks off Over the next three years, Bedok Town Centre will be rejuvenated and transformed into an exciting hub...... CDCs launch "Caring for the Silver Community" initiative Five Community Development Councils (CDCs) have come together to champion the cause of social support for the elderly......

Singapore Local News, 2012-06-23

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Singapore nursing homes open "more affordable" branches in JB Some nursing homes in Singapore have set up branches in Malaysia's Johor Bahru to cater to Singaporeans who are looking for a more affordable alternative. At least two nursing homes have opened branches there, while another is set........     Sim Lim Square sets up complaint kiosk In the first six months of this year, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) received 113 complaints against Sim Lim Square retailers. This compared with 183 complaints for the whole of 2011. To better manage........ LTA to look at improving acceptance process of MRT infrastructure The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is looking at how it can improve its "acceptance process" of MRT systems before putting them into service. Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said this is one of the lessons drawn from last year's........ More fall for "Scratch and Win" scam in JB Police have advised the public not to fall prey to cheats, following a jump in the number of Singaporeans who had been tricked into parting with cash in "Scratch and Win" scams in Johor Bahru. Police said the number of such cases........

NUSS Guild House to vacate Suntec Some tenants at Suntec City Mall are facing uncertain times as the mall prepares to undergo a major makeover, with some being told to move while others will have to pause operations. The National University of Singapore........     S'pore has to remain at forefront of sustainable development: Dr Balakrishnan Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said Singapore has to ensure that it remains at the forefront of new developments in sustainable development...... Look at low-wage jobs in a different light: NTUC The labour movement's plan to implement a progressive wage system for low-wage workers is aimed at encouraging tripartite partners and Singaporeans to look at low-wage jobs in a different light...... National Family Celebrations reach out to 12,000 youths & families Engaging the youth to lay a firmer foundation for families in Singapore...... LTA to look at improving acceptance process of MRT infrastructure The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is looking at how it can improve its "acceptance process" of rail systems before putting them into service...... Sim Lim Square sets up complaint kiosk In the first six months of this year, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) received 113 complaints against Sim Lim Square retailers...... Singapore nursing homes open "more affordable" branches in JB Some nursing homes in Singapore have set up branches in Malaysia's Johor Bahru to cater to Singaporeans who are looking for a more affordable alternative...... More fall for "Scratch and Win" scam in JB Police have advised the public not to fall prey to cheats, following a jump in the number of Singaporeans who had been tricked into parting with cash in "Scratch and Win" scams in Johor Bahru......

Singapore Local News, 2012-06-22

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Being green and sustainable means living in dense, well-planned cities: Dr Vivian Balakrishnan Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said being green and sustainable in the future is about living in dense, well-planned, well-implemented cities. Dr Vivian added that these cities are where........     Singapore's MFA refutes allegations Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) has refuted allegations that the Singapore Government is trying to interfere in Malaysia's domestic politics. A MFA spokesperson made these comments in response to allegations on several blogs which claimed ..... Circle Line disruption probe findings released Faulty power cables caused the 20 September, 2011 Circle Line (CCL) disruption, which affected nearly 27,000 commuters. In a statement, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it has completed its investigations into the train........ Ex-company manager pleads guilty to receiving bribes A former manager of an electronics company has pleaded guilty to 19 counts of corruption. Pheh Boon Leng, 46, had received bribes amounting to nearly S$3.3m for almost two years when he was working at Sony Electronics Asia Pacific......... Wild boar sighted in Bishan Park The police have cordoned off an area in Bishan Park where a wild boar was sighted on Friday morning. A local pest control company, NParks and police officers are on site trying to trap the animal. Wielding bamboo poles,........ New anti-drug mobile exhibit bus for this year's World Drug Day To mark World Drug Day next week, this year's Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign will feature a two-day event to raise awareness of the anti-drug cause, and the "Drug Buster Academy", a new anti-drug mobile exhibition bus. The event will be........ Redeem public transport vouchers by 30 June The Ministry of Transport has advised commuters to redeem their public transport vouchers before they expire on June 30. The redemption can be done at any TransitLink Ticket Offices or Card Replacement Offices. The........

Body found at MBS hotel lobby identified The police have identified the body found outside the Rise Restaurant at the lobby of the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) Hotel as that of a 32-year-old man. The man was an Indonesian guest of the hotel and had fallen from as high as the........     New drug for prostate cancer patients A new drug to treat advanced stage prostate cancer may prolong lives and mitigate pain...... Singapore dismisses Malaysian media allegations of interference in politics The Singapore government has dismissed allegations in the Malaysian media and some online reports that it is interfering in the country's domestic politics...... Being green & sustainable means living in dense, well-planned cities Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said being green and sustainable in the future is about living in dense, well-planned, well-implemented cities...... Sentosa welcomes 150 millionth guest Sentosa Island crowned its 150 millionth guest as part of celebrations for its 40th anniversary...... Doctor found guilty of illegally selling codeine-laced cough mixture The doctor who was charged with illegally selling cough mixture laced with codeine was found guilty on Friday...... Food Connect programme returns Having corporate players and community organisations help the less fortunate is one way of creating an inclusive society, said Minister for Trade & Industry, Lim Hng Kiang, at the launch of Food Connect @ South West...... Roads around Marina Bay floating platform to be closed for NDP rehearsals The following roads will be closed to facilitate the National Day Parade combined rehearsals that will be be held on 23, 30 June and 7 July...... Wild boar population needs to be managed, says minister National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has weighed in on the subject of wild boars in Singapore...... Circle Line disruption probe findings released Faulty power cables caused the 20 September, 2011 Circle Line (CCL) disruption, which affected nearly 27,000 commuters...... Anti-drug abuse campaign to be launched Sunday This year's Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign -- with the theme 'Life Does Not Rewind. Make the Right Choice' -- will be launched on Sunday...... Wild boars spotted at Bishan Park Two wild boars spotted in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park on Friday morning triggered off more than three hours of operation by the authorities to hunt them down...... Ex-company manager pleads guilty to receiving bribes A former manager of an electronics company has pleaded guilty to 19 counts of corruption...... Redeem public transport vouchers by 30 June The Ministry of Transport has advised commuters to redeem their public transport vouchers before they expire on 30 June......

Singapore Local News, 2012-06-21

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S'pore falls to 8th place in Cost of Living ranking Beijing and Shanghai have jumped ahead of Singapore in the latest Cost of Living survey by human resource consultancy ECA International. According to the survey, Beijing is Asia's fifth most expensive location, up from eighth place........     Police identify body found outside restaurant in Marina Bay Sands The police have identified the body found outside the Rise Restaurant at the lobby of Marina Bay Sands as a 32-year-old Indonesian man. Channel NewsAsia understands that he was guest of the hotel and had fallen from as high as the........ Record participation at Singapore International Water Week Singapore International Water Week is seeing record participation this year, with more than 15,000 participants registered for the event so far. Now into its fifth edition, the event will focus on industrial water solutions and........ Police arrest 77 people suspected of criminal activities The police arrested 77 people suspected of being involved in various criminal activities in an islandwide operation. Of those arrested in the 18-hour raids, 11 male and seven female Singaporeans were suspected of being involved in........ NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners The labour movement is embarking on a progressive wage system to further help low-income workers, with starting with a wage target for cleaners. Labour chief Lim Swee Say outlined the concept of progressive wages during a cleaning........ Suspected serial burglar arrested The police have arrested a 32-year-old man who is believed to have been involved in several break-in cases in Marsiling and Woodlands housing estates. Police received at least six reports from victims whose audio/visual equipment........ LTA to conduct Travel Survey with 10,000 households 10,000 households will be involved in a survey by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to gain a better understanding of travelling patterns in Singapore. The Travel Survey, conducted every four to five years, provides the LTA with........ Senior MFA official under CAD probe The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has confirmed that one of its senior officials is under investigation by the Commercial Affairs Department. Chief of Protocol Lim Cheng Hoe allegedly made improper claims for reimbursements for........ Singapore scientists find dengue killer in human antibody A team of scientists in Singapore has uncovered a human antibody that can neutralise and kill the dengue virus within two hours. A way to reproduce this antibody in large quantities has also been identified, possibly paving the way........ Borrow iPads and Kindles at Bedok Public Library The public can now borrow iPads, TumbleBooks Playaways and Kindles at the Bedok Public Library, as part of the National Library Board's (NLB) efforts to help bridge the digital divide among Singaporeans. The eDevice loan service........ Charity giving the highest in 10 years in 2011 Charity giving reached a record high last year, with local charities receiving S$896 million in tax-deductible donations - the highest in 10 years. The figure is a 15 per cent increase from 2010, said the Office of the Commissioner........

Eldercare facilities see more cases of people not paying up Some eldercare facilities here are seeing more cases of families defaulting on their payment and the challenge of contacting patients' family members. About half of the 110 residents at Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home have defaulted on........     Man nabbed for suspected involvement in illegal bookmaking activities SINGAPORE : Police have arrested a 53-year-old man for suspected involvement in illegal bookmaking activities...... Man's case postponed for selling codeine-laced cough syrup A man charged with illegally selling codeine-laced cough syrup will be dealt with at a later date...... Police identify body found outside restaurant in Marina Bay Sands The police have identified the body found outside the Rise Restaurant at the lobby of Marina Bay Sands Hotel as a 32-year-old man...... Bedok library to loan out e-readers as part of pilot project Library users can borrow iPads, Kindles and other e-readers from the Bedok public library beginning Friday...... Singapore appoints diplomats to head US, New Zealand missions The Singapore government on Thursday appointed two diplomats to head its missions in New Zealand and the United States of America...... Singapore International Water Week focuses on industrial water solutions SINGAPORE : Companies can expect more business opportunities on industrial water solutions and innovative water technologies at the Singapore International Water Week 2012...... Police arrest 77 people suspected of criminal activities Police arrested 77 people suspected of being involved in various criminal activities in an islandwide operation...... NTUC sets wage targets for cleaners The labour movement is embarking on a progressive wage system to further help low-income workers...... LTA to conduct travel survey from next week Some 10,000 households will be involved in the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) Travel Survey 2012, starting from the last week of June...... Suspected serial burglar arrested Police have arrested a 32-year-old man who is believed to have been involved in several break-in cases in Marsiling and Woodlands housing estates...... Senior MFA official Lim Cheng Hoe under CAD probe The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) says it has received information that former Chief of Protocol, Mr Lim Cheng Hoe, had made improper claims for reimbursements for expenses incurred by him during some of his overseas visits...... Singapore scientists find dengue killer in human antibody SINGAPORE : A team of scientists in Singapore has discovered a human antibody that can kill the dengue virus within two hours...... Donations to Singapore charities hit 10-year high Corporations and members of the public contributed more to charity last year......