Singapore Local News, 2012-08-31

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Teachers to get a pay raise from Sept 1 More than 26,000 teachers will receive a pay adjustment from tomorrow, the Ministry of Education announced in a press release today. The move, meant to attract and retain talent in the sector, will see some teachers get increases of........     Camera phones allowed into 14 military camps from Sept 1 Fourteen military camps in Singapore will allow servicemen to bring in camera phones starting Sept 1. Previously, all mobile devices equipped with cameras were not allowed in camps. Camps will be divided into "green"........ UOB fund return trumps peers UOB Asset Management's Singapore dollar debt fund is beating most peers by buying perpetual bonds and investing 70 per cent of its money overseas as rates on bank deposits and sovereign yields approach zero. The S$435-million United........

Giant pandas' bear-y comfortable home Giant pandas Jia Jia and Kai Kai (inset), which are arriving in Singapore on Thursday, will move to a 1,500-sq-m lush oasis at the River Safari, designed to replicate their home in China's Sichuan province. The enclosure, which cost S$8.6........     Road closures for opening ceremony of Singapore National Games SINGAPORE : Roads near the Punggol Waterway will be closed on Saturday for the opening ceremony of the Singapore National Games...... M Ravi seeks court order to expel Law Society council members SINGAPORE : Lawyer M Ravi is seeking a court order to have all the council members of the Law Society of Singapore expelled...... Bank manager catches snatch thief A bank manager helped to stop a snatch thief from running away with a victim's cash on Thursday...... Police looking for 3 men in snatch theft probe Police are looking for three male subjects to assist with investigations into a case of snatch theft...... Expats in Singapore arm children for Chinese century As far back as 25 years ago, US investor Jim Rogers already believed China would be the next economic superpower and young people around the world should prepare for the future by learning Mandarin...... Niam Chiang Meng to be new Perm Sec for National Climate Change The National Climate Change Secretariat in the Prime Minister's Office will have a new Permanent Secretary from 1 October...... "Lemon law" to kick in on Sep 1 Singapore's "lemon law" that will kick in on September 1 has new provisions that will improve the consumer-retailer relationship as businesses improve their sales and service processes...... Teachers, education support staff get pay rise More than 26,000 teachers and about 500 education support staff in several grades will receive a salary increase with effect from September 1, 2012...... Man gets 12 weeks' jail in online vice ring case A fifth man was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to having paid sex with an underage girl in a high-profile online vice ring case...... Singapore, Denmark sign MOU to enhance maritime cooperation Singapore and Denmark are strengthening their maritime cooperation and relations through a memorandum of understanding (MOU)...... NTUC launches enhanced Workplace Advisory Service for PMEs Professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) will now have access to an enhanced Workplace Advisory Service, formerly known as the Industrial Relations Information System...... 14 military camps to allow servicemen to bring in camera phones From Saturday, those enlisting for military service on Pulau Tekong - a rite of passage for many Singaporean males - can bring along their smartphones...... Traffic Police to engage pre-schoolers on road safety The Traffic Police is expanding its outreach efforts to engage pre-schoolers on road safety...... Another man pleads guilty in online vice ring case One more man has pleaded guilty to having paid sex with an underage girl in a high-profile online vice ring case...... President's Challenge Volunteer Drive to promote volunteerism as a way of life President Tony Tan Keng Yam will launch this year's President's Challenge Volunteer Drive at the Lions Befrienders on Saturday......

Singapore Local News, 2012-08-30

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Duke and Duchess to visit Singapore Britain's Prince William and his wife, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, will be in Singapore on a three-day visit as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. Arriving on Tuesday, September 11, their itinerary will include visits to the........     Three Colombians get six months' jail each for stealing pearls Three Colombians were on Thursday sentenced to six months' jail each for stealing pearls worth S$22,000 from a jewellery exhibition at Marina Bay Sands in July 2012. 48-year-old Blanca Doris Parra Camacho, 46-year-old Maria Cristina........ Another of CHC six applies to go overseas Another of the senior church members embroiled in the City Harvest church financial scandal was in court today to apply for permission to go overseas. Investment manager Chew Eng Han told reporters that his application had been........ MOE to develop kindergarten curriculum To enhance programme quality and strengthen its delivery across the sector, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will develop a comprehensive kindergarten curriculum comprising the updated framework, a teachers' guide, and teaching and learning........ New post-uni certification programme for internal audit professionals Current and aspiring internal audit professionals will soon be able to take up a new post-university certification programme. The Pro-Tem Singapore Accountancy Council (Pro-Tem SAC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)........ MOM to expand employment services for local workforce Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin has assured that the tripartite partners will work to expand the suite of employment facilitation services for the local workforce. Writing in his blog on manpower issues, he said the........ Anti-littering surveillance cameras to be set up at 100 locations Surveillance cameras will be set up at 100 locations in the next three months to catch culprits who throw items from high-rise housing blocks. The National Environment Agency (NEA) said it is first targeting at the housing estates........ HPB launches "Let's Drink Water" campaign Many local children and teens are consuming sugary drinks every day, according to surveys done by the Health Promotion Board (HPB). HPB wants to reverse the trend and so it has launched Singapore's first "Let's Drink Water"........ Death at The Arcade: Police looking for man Police are appealing to the public for information on a man who could assist them in investigations into the death of an Indonesian Chinese man last Friday. Twenty-six-year-old Suhardi Tan, who was a regular client of........

From Woodlands to Marina in 55 minutes Starting from Woodlands North, and running through places like Lentor, Sin Ming and Kim Seng, the new 30km Thomson Line - spanning 22 stations - will connect residents living along the North-South corridor to the heart of the city........     Diner en Blanc makes Asian debut in S'pore The elegant picnic Diner en Blanc or "White Dinner" made its Asian debut in Singapore on Thursday evening...... S'pore to host Prince William and Kate Middleton Singapore will play host to Prince William and his wife Catherine Middleton next month...... Changi Airport T2 gears up as Budget Terminal closes soon Changi Airport's Terminal 2 (T2) is gearing up to handle more passengers as the Budget Terminal (BT) is set to close in less than a month...... City Harvest Church member applies for permission to leave country One of the senior church members embroiled in the City Harvest Church case was in court on Thursday to apply for permission to go overseas...... New committee set up to enhance pre-school education The government has set up a committee to formulate and oversee the strategies to enhance pre-school education...... Teen pleads guilty to insulting modesty of 13-year-old girl A 17-year-old polytechnic student on Thursday pleaded guilty to insulting a teenage girl's modesty, as well as other charges including sexual penetration of a minor, possession of obscene films, and criminal intimidation...... Netball: S'pore through to finals of Asian Netball Championship Singapore are through to the finals of the Asian Netball Championship after beating Hong Kong 53-27 in the semi-finals on Thursday...... Three Colombians get six months' jail each for stealing pearls Three Colombians were on Thursday sentenced to six months' jail each for stealing pearls worth some S$20,000 from a jewellery exhibition at Marina Bay Sands in July 2012...... Multi-million dollar home for pandas Giant pandas Jia Jia and Kai Kai are arriving in Singapore on September 6...... MOM to expand employment services for local workforce Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin has assured Singaporeans that tripartite partners will work to expand the suite of employment facilitation services for the local workforce...... Anti-littering surveillance cameras to be set up at 100 locations Surveillance cameras will be set up at 100 locations in the next three months to catch culprits who throw items from high-rise housing blocks...... New post-university certification programme for internal audit professionals Current and aspiring internal audit professionals will soon be able to take up a new post-university certification programme...... HPB launches "Let's Drink Water" campaign Many local children and teens are consuming sugary drinks every day, according to surveys done by the Health Promotion Board (HPB)......

Singapore Local News, 2012-08-29

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Kindergarten teacher charged with ill-treating child A kindergarten teacher from a PAP Community Foundation Education Centre has been charged with ill-treating a five-year-old child under her care. The court heard that the 25-year-old woman asked the girl to remove her clothes and........     French woman accused of stealing Ralph Lauren bag said to be kleptomanic A French woman accused of stealing a Ralph Lauren bag worth S$32,800 is said to have suffered from kleptomania. 42-year-old Olivia Lemercier Maurice, who was back in court today, is seeking to get a medical assessment in........ Man charged with attempting to lure girl into committing indecent act A 25-year-old man has been charged with attempting to lure a girl into committing an indecent act. Tan Ji Beng allegedly sent a text message to the 14-year-old girl, asking her to show him her breasts. The incident took........ Singapore appoints new Chief Justice Singapore has appointed a new Chief Jusice, the fourth in the Republic's history. According to a press statement from the Prime Minister's office, the President, acting in his discretion, and in concurrence with the advice of the........ Section of TPE to be closed on Sept 1 for road works A section of Tampines Expressway (TPE) between Jalan Kayu and Punggol Way will be closed to traffic on Saturday from 12.01am to 5am for road widening works. The Housing and Development Board said today that during the temporary........ Former ISD HQ, MHA premises at Phoenix Park marked as national historic site The site which once housed offices of the Ministry of Home Affairs and was home to the headquarters of the Internal Security Department (ISD) was marked a national historic site today. The designation of the site - which includes........ Thomson Line to fully open by 2021 Come 2021, commuters living in the North - such as Woodlands, Sembawang and Thomson - will be able to travel directly to the city area using Singapore's sixth MRT line, the Thomson Line. The 30km-long line will have 22 fully underground........ Li Ka Shing group eyes more S'pore CBD land HONG KONG - Billionaire Li Ka Shing's (picture) Singapore property joint venture may seek more land in the city's downtown to replicate its latest development that attracted global banks including Standard Chartered and Macquarie Group. The........

Judge dismisses OpenNet's bid OpenNet should appeal to the Minister of Information, Communications and the Arts or have exhausted all other remedies before the company seeks a judicial review. This was a point made by High Court Judge Woo Bih Lee as he dismissed OpenNet's.......     Disbarred lawyer accused of CBT, forgery A recently-disbarred lawyer was charged with 31 counts of criminal breach of trust, as well as one charge of forgery...... Kindergarten teacher charged with ill-treating child A kindergarten teacher from a PAP Community Foundation Education Centre has been charged with ill-treating a five-year-old child under her care...... SUTD architecture undergrads to have direct access to professionals Undergraduates and faculty specialising in the Architecture and Sustainable Design (ASD) pillar from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) will have direct access to established practising architects on campus from next year...... Singapore to have new Chief Justice from 6 Nov Judge of Appeal, Sundaresh Menon, will be Singapore's new Chief Justice from 6 November...... PA Integration Council to hold first meeting on Saturday The People's Association Integration Council will gather for its first Work Plan Session on Saturday...... Thomson Line to open from 2019 with 22 stations Singapore's sixth rail network -- the Thomson Line (TSL) -- will open from 2019, instead of the indicative timeline of 2018 announced in the Land Transport Master Plan...... NZ army chief on introductory visit to build closer defence ties The Chief of Army of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), Major-General (MG) Timothy Keating, called on Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Ministry of Defence on Wednedsay...... French woman accused of stealing Ralph Lauren bag said to be kleptomanic A French woman accused of stealing a Ralph Lauren bag worth S$32,800 is said to have suffered from kleptomania...... Education expert warns against "over-vocationalising" university education Education expert Professor S. Gopinathan has cautioned against "over-vocationalising" university education in Singapore...... 25-year-old charged with attempting to lure girl into committing indecent act A 25-year-old man has been charged with attempting to lure a girl into committing an indecent act...... 28 barred from registering as housing agents As of August (2012), 28 people have been barred from registering as housing agents, says the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA)...... Section of TPE to be closed on Sep 1 for road works A section of Tampines Expressway (TPE) between Jalan Kayu and Punggol Way will be closed to traffic on Saturday from 12.01am to 5am for road widening works...... Former ISD HQ, MHA premises at Phoenix Park marked as national historic site The site which once housed offices of the Ministry of Home Affairs and was home to the headquarters of the Internal Security Department (ISD) was marked a national historic site on Wednesday......

Singapore Local News, 2012-08-28

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18 years' jail, 15 strokes of the cane for paedophile who molested 7 boys He would stalk arcades or playgrounds where boys would hang out during the school holidays and then lure them with food and drinks to quiet and secluded spots. 38-year-old cleaner, Azmanshah Zailamshah, would then perform oral and........     OpenNet CEO to step down end-Sept OpenNet has announced that its current CEO will be stepping down. In a press release, the next-generation broadband provider said that Mr Khoo Chin Hean will step down as CEO at the end of September 2012. Mr Khoo will........ New Army Half Marathon route to go through Gardens by the Bay Participants at this year's Army Half Marathon will run a new route which goes through the newly-opened Bay South Gardens at Gardens by the Bay. The new portion will make up about one kilometre of the 21-kilometre route...... Fares Review Mechanism Committee identifies key issues Affordability, fare formula and service quality of public transport are the key issues that surfaced from meetings that the Fares Review Mechanism Committee (FRMC) has held with focus groups, public transport operators (PTOs), academics and........ More details on pre-school statutory board to be released on Thursday Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing said more details about the new statutory board that will oversee pre-school education will be released on Thursday. "Both MCYS (Ministry of Community........ S'poreans need to take "shared ownership" of country's future: Lim Swee Say Labour Chief Lim Swee Say said the biggest challenge now is ensuring that Singaporeans take shared ownership of the country's future. He called for a consensus to forge new success areas for Singapore in the two decades, including having a more........ MediaCorp radio stations to air listener dedications for 24 hours on Friday MediaCorp recently announced that it will hold the first ever Dedications Day on Friday, which will see all its radio stations, save XFM 96.3FM, break programming format to air dedications from listeners for the entire day. "We........ Singapore air quality in 'moderate' range The National Environment Agency (NEA) has released figures showing the air quality across Singapore is in the "moderate" range, one tier above the "good" category. The Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) reading for Singapore now ranges........ Carrefour to close Singapore outlets by year-end Hypermarket chain Carrefour has announced that it plans to close both its local outlets - at Suntec City Mall and Plaza Singapura - by this year. In a press release this morning, the company said: "Carrefour Singapore announces the........ University places to be expanded The Government has accepted the recommendations of the Committee on University Education Beyond 2015 to expand university places. The overall publicly-funded cohort participant rate would go up to 50 per cent by 2020 - including........ Singapore economy slowed by weaker global demand: IMF WASHINGTON - Singapore's economy is set to weaken this year on the back of weaker global demand and related international financial and trade strains emanating from the euro zone debt crisis, the International Monetary Fund said yesterday......

Law Society plans meeting on its clash with M Ravi The Law Society of Singapore has informed its members of a requisition to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to explain its clash with lawyer M Ravi. In an email sent out yesterday evening, the society said the........     18 years' jail, 15 strokes of the cane for paedophile who molested 7 boys He would stalk arcades or playgrounds where boys would hang out during the school holidays and then lured them with food and drinks to quiet and secluded spots...... S'pore to host 9th Asian Netball Championship in 2014 Singapore will host the 9th Asian Netball Championship in 2014...... Man investigated for making false police report A 32-year-old man who made a false police report has found himself in trouble with the law...... Channel NewsAsia launches in Myanmar on Sky Net MediaCorp's Channel NewsAsia has extended its distribution in Myanmar with its latest signing for carriage with pay-TV operator, Sky Net...... PSI reading still in moderate range The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading is in the moderate range at 59, as of 4pm on Tuesday...... New antenna that increases Wi-Fi speed by 200 times Researchers from A*STAR's Institute of Microelectronics (IME) have developed the first compact high performance silicon-based cavity-backed slot (CBS) antenna that operates at 135 GHz...... Showing Will with a Yellow Ribbon The Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP), a symbol of forgiveness and acceptance of ex-offenders in the community, enters its 9th year with this year's theme focused on "Will"...... ERP gantry along ECP to be relocated The existing Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantry along the East Coast Parkway (ECP) will be moved some 250 metres from its current position. The relocated gantry will be closer to Fort Road...... Importer attempts to smuggle soil into Singapore A company that manufactures uniforms has been caught for trying to smuggle in an item that is not related to its core business...... Royal Thai Army chief receives Singapore military award The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army General Prayut Chan-O-Cha was conferred a Singapore military award, the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) (Meritorious Service Medal (Military)), by Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen...... DPM Tharman to attend APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be in Moscow, Russia from August 29 to 30 to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers' Meeting...... 5 SMU students write book on aspirations of Singaporeans What are some of the things Singaporeans would want to do or achieve before they "kick the bucket"?..... Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia to share data about dengue fever trends Researchers from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are studying dengue fever trends in their latest bid to fight the disease...... More details on pre-school statutory board to be released on Thursday Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing said more details about the new statutory board that will oversee pre-school education will be released on Thursday...... New NTUC Co-operative set up to support NTUC Social Enterprises The labour movement has set up a new holding co-operative to support NTUC Social Enterprises (SEs)...... Fares Review Mechanism Committee identifies key issues Affordability, fare formula and service quality of public transport are the key issues that surfaced from meetings that the Fares Review Mechanism Committee (FRMC) has held with focus groups, public transport operators (PTOs), academics and experts...... 4 documentary projects selected to commission for Asian Pitch 2012 MediaCorp, NHK, and KBS have selected four projects to commission for the Asian Pitch 2012...... New Army Half Marathon route to go through Gardens by the Bay Participants at this year's Army Half Marathon will run a new route which goes through the newly-opened Bay South Gardens at Gardens by the Bay...... PSI at noon is 60, in the moderate range The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading on Tuesday at noon is 60, in the moderate range...... SIT to offer Cooperative Education Programme when it becomes full university The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), which will become Singapore's fifth autonomous university, will offer a Cooperative Education Programme which integrates meaningful work experience into the academic course requirements...... Singapore and Vietnam set sights on Strategic Partnership Agreement HANOI: Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is on a 3-day official visit to Vietnam, paid a call on Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang at the Presidential Palace on Monday......

Singapore Local News, 2012-08-27

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Singapore, Vietnam to sign new transnational crime cooperation agreement Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security will sign a new cooperation agreement on combating transnational crimes. The Cooperation Arrangement in Preventing and Combating Transnational........     Australian charged with molest on SIA flight An Australian citizen was charged today with using criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty. 30-year-old Rajput Sandeep Singh allegedly molested the woman onboard a Singapore Airlines flight on Aug 25...... We must continue to strengthen our Singaporean core: DPM Tharman Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said efforts to strengthen the nation's Singaporean core must be kept up. Mr Tharman said this can be done by providing the best opportunities for Singaporeans to develop their potential........ Fortune teller who raped teen gets 12 years' jail, 6 strokes of the cane A 40-year-old fortune teller who raped a teenager on the pretext that he was performing rites to rid the demons possessing her was sentenced to 12 years' jail and six strokes of the cane. Siah Kwang Yung had met the victim's mother........

Time to say 'yes' to paternity leave Having said "no" for a very long time, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong signalled yesterday that the time is right to say "yes" to having paternity leave, as the Government continues its efforts to increase Singapore's falling birth........     Govt will hear all views, but not all will be taken into account: Amy Khor REACH Chairman Dr Amy Khor said the government will hear all views and suggestions, but not all can be taken into account...... S'pore students come out tops at International Geography Olympiad Singapore students have come out tops in the 9th International Geography Olympiad (iGeo) held in Cologne, Germany...... Letters by Sir Stamford Raffles on display at National Library Most of us would be familiar with Sir Stamford Raffles as the founder of Singapore, but few have had a chance to see his personal correspondences in the period just before and after he founded Singapore...... RSN takes part in annual SEACAT exercise SINGAPORE : The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is taking part in the annual Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) exercise...... Briton acquitted of molest but fined for swearing at police officer A Briton who molested a woman in Clarke Quay, was acquitted of the charge after he apologised to her in open court and was ordered by the court to pay her S$5,000 in compensation...... Ex-police officer gets 12 weeks' jail in online vice ring case A policeman's long career came crashing down after he was jailed 12 weeks on Monday for having paid sex with an underage girl in the high-profile online vice case...... Australian charged with molest on SIA flight An Australian citizen was charged on Monday with using criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty...... Jail term and caning for fortune teller who raped daughter of medium A fortune teller has been sentenced to 12 years' jail and six strokes of the cane for raping the daughter of a medium...... We must continue to strengthen our Singaporean core: DPM Tharman Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said efforts to strengthen the nation's Singaporean core must be kept up...... Singapore, Vietnam to sign new transnational crime cooperation agreement Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security will sign a new cooperation agreement on combating transnational crimes......

Singapore Local News, 2012-08-26

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Two youths arrested for loansharking activities Police have arrested two youths who are believed to be involved in loansharking activities. The duo are aged 16 and 17. The 16-year-old boy was caught on Saturday night in Tampines. Police had received a call........     ComChest's Heartstrings Walk raises S$1.3m in donations A record S$1.3 million was raised at the Community Chest's Heartstrings Walk this morning. ComChest said the money collected is the highest amount raised through the event in the last 10 years. The donations will be........ S'poreans appreciate Home Team in building safer environment: Survey Singaporeans generally appreciate the work of the Home Team in building a safe and secure environment. This is according to a recent survey by the Home Affairs Ministry done between December 2011 and May 2012. More than 2,000........ Breastfeeding flash mob hits Orchard Road A group of mothers has given a new meaning to the term 'flash mob' right in the heart of Orchard Road, Singapore's main shopping belt. Twenty mothers and their babies took part in the first mass breastfeeding event in Singapore......

Fire destroys warehouse at Defu Lane An early morning fire gutted a warehouse at Defu Lane off Hougang Avenue 3. No one was injured in the blaze. In a statement today, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the fire also damaged an adjoining........     Skipathon raises S$10,000 for needy families in East Coast GRC Over 550 people on Sunday skipped to raise S$10,000 for needy families staying in the East Coast GRC...... Two youths arrested for loansharking activities Police have arrested two youths who are believed to be involved in loansharking activities...... ASEAN ministers to discuss progress in economic integration Economic ministers from the 10 ASEAN countries are meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia on Monday to discuss the progress in regional economic integration initiatives...... ComChest's Heartstrings Walk raises S$1.3m in donations A record S$1.3 million was raised at the Community Chest's Heartstrings Walk on Sunday morning......

Singapore Local News, 2012-08-25

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Behind the scenes peek, as PM prepares for National Day Rally This year, the Prime Minister's Office is giving Singaporeans a behind-the-scenes peek at the preparations for tomorrow's National Day Rally - the key speech of the year where the Prime Minister lays out his vision of the future for the country......     Many S'poreans are 'quietly kind' Many Singaporeans are "quietly kind" and acts of kindness here are not as uncommon as it seems, said MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Ms Josephine Teo. This was in response to a recent independent survey that found that Singaporean residents felt........ Feeling Singaporean first Nearly 3,000 new citizens will receive their citizenship certificates in island-wide ceremonies to be held by the different Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) over the weekend. Speaking at the National Citizenship Ceremony........ RGS to get new campus in 2018 Raffles Girls' School (RGS) will have a new campus along Braddell Road opposite Raffles Institution (RI) from 2018. This was announced by Honorable Justice Judith Prakash, chairman of the school's Board of Governors at RGS Speech........

How to reverse course on bad driving Should Singapore do away with traffic lights and signs, in a bid to rid the roads of virulent bad driving? Counter-intuitive as it sounds, such a move has borne results. In the Dutch town of Drachten,........     Shanmugam urges S'poreans to rethink their driving habits Law and Foreign Affairs Minister, K Shanmugam, said it is time for Singaporeans to seriously reconsider their driving habits...... Breastfeeding flash mob in the heart of Orchard Road A group of mothers has given a new meaning to the term 'flash mob' right in the heart of Orchard Road, Singapore's main shopping belt...... Govt should be neutral facilitator in conversation on S'pore's future: observers Observers said a national conversation on Singapore's future is critical, as the nation evolves and faces new challenges. But they added that the government should be a neutral facilitator, and not lead the conversation...... Diabetes patients and their families help raise funds for charity About 2,000 diabetes patients and their families helped raise funds for charity on Saturday, setting themselves a target of S$200,000...... S'poreans appreciate Home Team in building safer environment: survey Singaporeans generally appreciate the work of the Home Team in building a safe and secure environment. This is according to a recent survey by the Home Affairs Ministry done between December 2011 and May 2012...... Many S'poreans "quietly kind": Josephine Teo Many Singaporeans are "quietly kind" and acts of kindness here are not as uncommon as it seems, said MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Ms Josephine Teo. This was in response to a recent independent survey that found Singaporeans competitive and s..... Halimah Yacob's National Day Rally speech to focus on hope Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Halimah Yacob, who will be one of three speakers at the National Day Rally on Sunday, said her speech will focus on the idea of hope. Mdm Halimah describes it as a powerful driving force...... Raffles Girls' School to get new campus Raffles Girls' School (RGS) will have a new campus along Braddell Road opposite Raffles Institution (RI) from 2018...... DPM Tharman urges new citizens to form ties with S'poreans Nearly 3,000 new citizens will receive their citizenship certificates in island-wide ceremonies to be held by the different GRCs over the weekend...... PSI reading still in good range, says NEA A slight hazy condition affected Singapore on Friday evening, with prevailing winds from the south of Singapore......

Singapore Local News, 2012-08-24

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Law Society applies for court order to have M Ravi checked at IMH The Law Society of Singapore has applied for a court order to have lawyer M Ravi medically checked by a psychiatrist from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) to determine if he is fit to practise law in Singapore. Mr Ravi has 14........     5 new dating agencies receive SDNTrust Mark accreditation Five new dating agencies have been accredited under the SDNTrust Mark, a framework to encourage private dating agencies to enhance standards and service delivery. The newly-accredited agencies offer different services for singles,........ Another man in online vice scandal claims trial Another man accused of paying for sex with an underage girl in the online vice ring scandal has said he will claim trial. Koh Hooi Hon, 43, allegedly had paid sex with a 17-year-old in December 2010 at Sloane Court hotel...... July manufacturing output up 1.9% from last year Singapore's manufacturing output in July grew 1.9 per cent from last year, but declined a seasonally-adjusted 9.1 per cent from the previous month. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output fell 0.4 per cent from last year, and........ Employees in S'pore feel they aren't paid fairly compared to peers: survey Singapore workers are more likely to want to leave their current employers within the next two years compared to their global peers, a survey by human resources consultancy Towers Watson has found. Of the 1,000 employees........ Ex-SPH executive Peter Khoo pleads guilty Former Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) senior executive Peter Khoo Chong Meng pleaded guilty today to two counts of corruption and one count of criminal breach of trust. Seven other similar charges have been taken into........

Reaching out to the less able Even as more employment was extended to those with physical and mental disabilities, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) yesterday awarded transport operator SMRT a S$3.1-million grant to operate 30 taxis that can........     Sports not being marginalised in new MCCY: Chan Chun Sing Acting Sports Minister Chan Chun Sing has allayed any concerns from some National Sports Associations (NSAs) that mass sports would take precedence over elite sports when the new Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth is set up in November 2012...... Man found dead at Clifford Centre A man was found dead at Clifford Centre on Friday evening. He is believed to have been stabbed...... Overwhelming support for multi-racialism despite prejudices: Shanmugam Singapore Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has explained why he made public the case involving a resident who made racial slurs against a neighbour...... Traffic arrangements for this year's F1 race SINGAPORE : Race organisers have made arrangements to ensure minimal traffic disruptions during this year's Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix...... Law Society applies for court order to have M Ravi checked at IMH The Law Society of Singapore has applied for a court order to have M Ravi medically checked by a psychiatrist from the Institute of Mental Health to determine if he is fit to practise law in Singapore. Mr Ravi has 14 days to comply...... MINDEF to review SAF medical support system The Defence Ministry (MINDEF) is reviewing its medical support system to provide better care for Singapore's National Servicemen...... Lorry catches fire on PIE A lorry caught fire on Friday afternoon on the Pan Island Expressway near the Jalan Eunos exit heading towards Changi...... 5 new dating agencies receive SDNTrust Mark accreditation Five new dating agencies were on Friday accredited under the SDNTrust Mark, a framework to encourage private dating agencies to enhance standards and service delivery...... Another man claims trial in online vice ring scandal Another man accused of paying for sex with an underage girl in the online vice ring scandal has said he will claim trial...... Several roads, lanes to be closed for National Day Rally Several roads and lanes will be closed on Sunday when the National Day Rally is held at the National University of Singapore's University Cultural Centre...... Singapore's manufacturing output growth eases to 1.9% in July Singapore's manufacturing output grew by 1.9 per cent in July from a year earlier, easing from the 8.0 per cent growth experienced in June...... Company director fined $15,000 for breaching Work Pass regulations A company director was fined S$15,000 today after pleading guilty to receiving kickbacks and not paying salaries on time under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act...... Research institute develops longer-lasting fuel cell catalyst Researchers from the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have developed a more powerful and longer lasting fuel cell material...... Ex-SPH senior executive Peter Khoo pleads guilty to corruption, CBT Former Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) senior executive Peter Khoo Chong Meng pleaded guilty on Friday to two counts of corruption and one count of criminal breach of trust...... Higher share of S'poreans likely to leave current job within two years: study The 2012 Towers Watson Global Workforce Study on attitudes of Singaporean employers and workers has thrown up some interesting findings......

Singapore Local News, 2012-08-23

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Singapore society is "kiasu", competitive and self-centered: survey Singapore residents perceive society now to be kiasu, competitive and self-centered - among other adjectives - but desire for it to be one with affordable housing and that cares for the elderly and provides effective healthcare......     SMRT Taxis gets S$3.1m grant to operate wheelchair accessible taxis Taxi operator SMRT will be awarded a S$3.1 million grant to operate 30 taxis that can accommodate larger and high-back motorised wheelchairs used by persons with disabilities and the elderly. The first batch of 15 wheelchair........ Woman gets probation for stabbing lover's boyfriend Gutted that her girlfriend left her for a man, a 29-year-old woman stabbed him in a fit of rage. Describing it a "crime of passion" in his sentencing, a district judge ordered Teo Ming Min to two years' probation. Teo,........ NUS law prof in sex-for-grades scandal likely to go on trial National University of Singapore (NUS) Law professor Tey Tsun Hang, who is embroiled in a sex-for-grades scandal, is likely to go on a nine-day trial in mid October. Tey's lawyer, Mr Peter Low, told reporters this after an hour-long........ PAP Women's Wing proposes six ways to boost birth rate The PAP's Women's Wing today presented six suggestions on how to increase Singapore's fertility rate, taking into account shifting expectations of young couples today as well as the changing role of fathers. In a paper, their suggestions cut........ COE premiums fall in latest bidding exercise Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums ended mostly lower at the end of the latest bidding exercise, which ended today. The sharpest decrease was in Category A (cars 1,600cc and below and taxis). Here, the premium fell 9 per cent........ Accident along Serangoon Road leaves cyclist injured A cyclist was injured on Thursday morning after being hit by a car. The accident occurred along Serangoon Road. The police said they received a call at about 9.40am. The cyclist, a 72-year-old man, has been sent to Tan........ Singapore inflation drops to 4.0% in July Singapore's inflation dropped to 4.0 per cent year-on-year last month from 5.3 per cent in June, according to a statement released by the Department of Statistics today. The Monetary Association of Singapore (MAS) attributed the........ Emission standards for new petrol vehicles to be raised The Government is raising emission standards for new petrol vehicles and petrol quality to ensure cleaner air for all, and increasing the frequency of updates on Singapore's air quality. The announcement was made by Minister for the........ Two S'poreans in Forbes' most powerful women list Temasek Holdings CEO Ho Ching and Singtel Group CEO Chua Sock Koong are among the annual list of the world's most powerful women by Forbes magazine. Ms Ho is number 76 on the top-100 list, down from 72nd last year, and 30th in........

AGC, SPRING defend designer chair purchases After the Auditor-General's Office (AGO) took issue with the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) purchase of 472 office chairs at more than S$570 each, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) and SPRING Singapore have also come under fire........     Healthcare Cluster Tripartite Workgroup to be launched next month Singapore's labour movement will be launching the Healthcare Cluster Tripartite Workgroup on September 14, said the executive secretary of the Healthcare Services Employees' Union and MP for Nee Soon GRC, Patrick Tay...... More jobs for people with disabilities About 100 jobs are expected to be created over the next five years with the launch of a new floral and hamper social enterprise...... SMRT Taxis gets S$3.1m grant to operate wheelchair-accessible taxis Taxi operator SMRT will be awarded a S$3.1 million grant to operate 30 taxis that can accommodate larger and high-back motorised wheelchairs used by persons with disabilities and the elderly...... Woman gets probation for stabbing female lover's boyfriend Gutted that her girlfriend left her for a man, a 29-year-old woman stabbed him in a fit of rage...... NUS law prof in sex-for-grades scandal likely to go on trial National University of Singapore (NUS) Law professor Tey Tsun Hang, who is embroiled in a sex-for-grades scandal, is likely to go on a nine-day trial in mid October...... COE prices end mostly lower The Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums for vehicles ended mostly lower at the close of the latest bidding exercise at 4pm on Thursday...... "Jackpot Aunty" won't return S$416,000 cash if asked The woman at the centre of Marina Bay Sand's jackpot-machine glitch case believes she will not be asked to return her cash prize of S$416,000...... 2 men arrested in connection with suspected murder Police have arrested two men on Wednesday in connection with the death of a 51-year-old male on Sunday...... Frequency of reports on Singapore's air quality to be increased The government is increasing the frequency of updates on Singapore's air quality...... Accident along Serangoon Road leaves cyclist injured A cyclist was injured on Thursday morning after being hit by a car...... Singapore inflation drops to 4.0% in July Singapore's inflation rate dropped to 4.0 per cent year-on-year in July from 5.3 per cent in June, according to a statement released by the Department of Statistics on Thursday...... Forbes' top 100 World's Most Powerful Women includes two Singaporeans Two Singaporeans are among this year's Forbes' top 100 World's Most Powerful Women...... CTE trailer truck fire put out, no injuries reported The fire which engulfed a trailer truck on the Central Expressway (CTE) on Thursday morning has been put out......

Singapore Local News, 2012-08-22

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New mental well-being programme for disaster-prone communities To support the recovery of Asian communities affected by disasters, the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore (IMH) is developing a training programme in the area of mental well-being and resilience. Costing S$2.38 million, the........     MBS and RWS fined for breaching social safeguards The two Integrated Resorts (IRs) have been fined for breaking social safeguard requirements, such as letting Singaporeans and Permanent Residents enter without paying the S$100 entry levies. The Casino Regulatory Authority of........ Two more plead guilty in online vice ring case Two more men pleaded guilty today to paying for sex with an underage girl in the high-profile online vice ring scandal. 39-year-old former police superintendent Tan Wee Kiat and 37-year-old portfolio manager Ng Guan Mean are among........ Man jailed 20 years for causing death of girlfriend For causing the death of his 18-year-old girlfriend over an argument, Pathip Selvan will serve 20 years in prison. Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong said in the Court of Appeal today that Pathip, 26, who is prone to violent outbursts........ Ensure security as reliance on cyber-connectivity increases: DPM Teo Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean today warned that the escalating reliance on cyber-connectivity also made such hyper-connected systems more vulnerable. Mr Teo explained that a dense cyber-connectivity means a single security........ French woman charged with stealing S$32,800 handbag A French woman was charged today with stealing a Ralph Lauren bag worth S$32,800. 42-year-old Olivia Lemercier Maurice will be pleading guilty to one count of theft in a week's time. Her police bail of S$10,000 has been........

A pledge to do more for cyclist safety Despite a steady decline in recent years in the number of accidents involving cyclists, policymakers have pledged to do more to improve the safety of cyclists on the roads following the death of bank employee Freddy Khoo, 48, over........     S'pore one of the least corrupt countries, says CPIB With the recent spate of scandals involving top civil servants, and a slip in ranking on a corruption index, is Singapore becoming more corrupt?..... Man jailed for stabbing girlfriend to death A 26-year-old man who stabbed his girlfriend to death was sentenced to 20 years' jail by the Court of Appeal on Wednesday...... IMH spearheads programme for disaster-prone communities in Asia Singapore's Institute of Mental Health is collaborating with regional healthcare organisations to develop a mental well-being programme for Asian communities affected by disasters...... Pioneer batch of students complete Singapore's first humanitarian course A pioneer batch of students has completed Singapore's first course in humanitarian affairs...... Casinos fined for breaching social safeguard requirements Singapore's two casino operators have been fined more than S$495,000 for breaching social safeguard requirements...... MediaCorp official broadcaster of London 2012 Paralympic Games Singapore's leading media company MediaCorp is the official broadcaster of the London 2012 Paralympic Games which will be held from 29 August till 9 September...... Singapore Road Safety Council saddened by death of cyclist The Singapore Road Safety Council on Wednesday said it was very saddened and distressed by the recent accident on Loyang Avenue which resulted in the death of a cyclist...... Two more plead guilty in online vice ring case Two more men pleaded guilty on Wednesday to paying for sex with an underage girl in the high-profile online vice ring scandal...... Nearly 80% of S'pore students think of starting their own business Students in Singapore's universities and polytechnics show a healthy level of interest in entrepreneurship...... French woman charged with stealing S$32,800 handbag A French woman was charged on Wednesday with stealing a Ralph Lauren bag worth S$32,800......

Singapore Local News, 2012-08-21

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Consultations on cycling to be made: Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Transport Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim has said that he will be making consultations with various groups to seek improvements on cycling issues. In a posting on Facebook today, Dr Faishal wrote........     Law Society and Wong Siew Hong to defend charges filed by M Ravi The Law Society of Singapore and one of its members, Mr Wong Siew Hong, will defend the legal charges filed against them by lawyer M Ravi. Both parties have indicated that they will appear before the court and have until 29 August........ Employer jailed and fined for dumping dying employee A sole proprietor of a maintenance and services company was today jailed nine months and fined S$12,000 for dumping his dying employee on a pavement in March 2010. Fifty-six-year-old Tay Kok Eng had pleaded guilty to the charge...... National Day Rally 2012 to be broadcast 'live' across multiple platforms by MediaCorp MediaCorp has announced that the National Day Rally 2012 will be broadcasted "live" on Sunday Aug 26, 2012 on MediaCorp's television, radio and online platforms. For the Rally, PM Lee Hsien Loong will be joined by Education........ Time for SMEs to collect debts hits two-year high The time it takes for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to collect on their debts has hit a two year high, indicating that it is taking longer for creditors to pay SMEs. The time a company takes to pay its creditor once the debt........ Charities get professional help to set up ethics hotline A new and independent whistle-blowing initiative has been introduced for charities to strengthen their governance. Shared Services for Charities (SSC), a not-for-profit charitable organisation, will now be offering professional........ SingTel to launch 4G service for tablets SingTel today announced the launch of Singapore's first 4G service for tablets. The 4G service for tablets will launch on Aug 28, and will allow tablet users access speeds more than three times faster than current 3G services,........

What they should know before the wedding They considered themselves "mentally prepared" for marriage - until the question of who would clean the toilets at home came up. For 20-year-olds Goh Yixuan and Goh Siying, the question came up during their mandatory........     S'pore's $4b IMF loan case to be heard in chambers Reform Party Secretary-General Kenneth Jeyaretnam's legal bid to stop Singapore's US$4 billion pledge to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will be heard by a judge on 12 September...... REACH-ing out to S'poreans on the National Day Rally REACH will be actively seeking views from Singaporeans on the National Day Rally (NDR) by providing an array of online and traditional platforms to engage Singaporeans...... Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim to meet stakeholders regarding road safety Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim is intending to meet various stakeholders who have expressed concerns over safety with more cyclist-pedestrian interactions...... Law Society & Wong Siew Hong to defend charges filed by M Ravi The Law Society of Singapore and one of its member, Wong Siew Hong, will defend the legal charges filed against them by lawyer M Ravi...... New training scheme to attract locals to marine sector Singapore's Marine Engineering industry has started a new training scheme to allow locals with no technical experience to join the sector...... NTU scientist wins global award for innovators A young scientist from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has won a top global award for up-and-coming innovators...... Employer jailed & fined for dumping dying employee A sole proprietor of a maintenance and services company was on Tuesday jailed nine months and fined S$12,000 for dumping his dying employee on a pavement in March 2010...... Former policeman jailed for forgery, giving false evidence A former police officer was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment on Tuesday for forgery, fabricating evidence, and giving false information to a public servant during a Coroner's Inquiry...... MediaCorp to broadcast National Day Rally "live" on Sunday MediaCorp will broadcast the National Day Rally 2012 "live" on Sunday from 6.45pm across its television, radio and online platforms...... Singapore's Q2 domestic wholesale trade declines 1.9% on-year Singapore's domestic wholesale trade declined 1.9 per cent on-year in the second quarter of the year, due mainly to price declines in petroleum and petroleum products...... Charities get professional help to set up ethics hotline A new and independent whistle-blowing initiative has been introduced for charities to strengthen their governance...... Minimise hazards during Hungry Ghost Festival: SCDF The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on Tuesday reminded members of the public to exercise greater caution when conducting religious activities which involve the use of fire......