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......