Singapore Local News, 2012-11-30

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S'pore abstains from UN vote on Palestine status The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) explained why Singapore abstained from voting to grant Palestine the status of a non-member observer state within the United Nations (UN). This comes after the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly........     Howard Shaw released from prison Former executive director of the Singapore Environment Council, Howard Shaw, has been released from prison after serving his jail term. A prison spokesman said Mr Shaw was released today. The 41-year-old grandson of Shaw........ SMRT illegal strike a "lesson" for Singapore's HR community: SHRI The illegal strike by SMRT bus drivers from China offers lessons for the Human Resources (HR) community, said the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) today. The institute said the issue highlighted the need for the HR........ Khaw floats possibility of trying out SRO concept across S'pore National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has floated the possibility of trying out the Singapore River Precinct concept in other areas of Singapore. Under the concept, the private sector stepped forwardly voluntarily to manage........ Man acquitted of raping woman after High Court appeal A man has been acquitted of raping a woman following an appeal in the High Court. Mr Ong Ming Wee, 29, had claimed trial to a charge of raping the 25-year-old woman on Feb 12 2009. He had met the woman the night before........ It's going to be tough at the top The tussle for top prize at the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore on Sunday will see former champions like 2011 winner Charles Mwai Kanyao fending off challenges from Kenyan countrymen Luke Kibet and Kenneth Mungara. A surprise........ Singaporeans should change mindset about elderly, experts say Experts in the field of ageing say a mindset change is needed in Singapore when it comes to the elderly. Taking a lesson from Europe, they said Singapore needs to learn how to value their elderly and view them as productive...... Longer jail term for lawyer who misappropriated clients' money The High Court has imposed a longer imprisonment term for disgraced lawyer Tan Cheng Yew, who misappropriated S$4.82 million of his clients' money. Tan now has to serve 12 years' jail instead of the original nine. Tan........ Yishun triple murder convict to hang The Chinese national who killed three women in a flat in Yishun three years ago was this morning sentenced to hang, after High Court Judge Chan Seng Oon found Wang Zhijian guilty of the murder of one of the three women. Wang, 46,........ Firm stand against illegal strike an assurance to investors: Teo Ser Luck The government's strong stand against the illegal strike staged by 171 SMRT bus drivers from China will give companies and investors here and potential investors the assurance about the country's stable labour relations, said Minister of State........ Real median income growth slowed to 2.2% this year: MOM findings Singapore residents' real median income growth slowed to 2.2 per cent this year although the employment rate hit a new high, driven by strong job creation and a higher number of women and older workers in the workforce. The resident........

Court action sends clear signal: MPs The move to charge four bus drivers with instigating an illegal strike sent a clear signal that disgruntled workers should not break the law, but there are also important lessons to be learnt by SMRT, said Members of Parliament........     Armed forces still relevant amid new world order: DPM Teo Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean stressed the relevance of a defence and armed forces even with a new world order and security challenges...... Youths, potential borrowers main target of campaign against unlicensed moneylending Youths and potential borrowers, who may be lured by the promise of easy money, are the main target of a public education campaign against unlicensed moneylending...... S'pore abstains from UN vote on Palestine status The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) explained why Singapore abstained from voting to grant Palestine the status of a non-member observer state within the United Nations (UN)...... Howard Shaw released from prison Former executive director of the Singapore Environment Council, Howard Shaw, has been released from prison after serving his jail term...... Khaw floats possibility of trying out SRO concept across S'pore National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has floated the possibility of trying out the Singapore River Precinct concept in other areas of Singapore...... Singapore, Indonesia air forces conclude bilateral exercises The air forces of Singapore and Indonesia have concluded their bilateral exercises with a combined closing ceremony in Lombok...... SHRI says SMRT illegal strike "lesson" for HR community The illegal strike by SMRT bus drivers from China offers lessons for the Human Resources (HR) community, said the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) on Friday...... Three to be charged with conspiracy to cheat MBS casino A croupier at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino and her two accomplices will be charged in court on Saturday with conspiracy to commit criminal breach of trust...... Man acquitted of raping woman after High Court appeal A man has been acquitted of raping a woman following an appeal in the High Court...... Longer jail term for boss who dumped injured worker by roadside An employer who dumped his dying foreign worker by the roadside in June 2012 has been given an additional three months in jail, bringing his jail term to 12 months...... Jobless man jailed for 'bicycle rage' A jobless man was sentenced to nine weeks' jail for hitting a cyclist with a bicycle chain...... Singaporeans should change mindset about elderly: experts Experts in the field of ageing said a mindset change is needed in Singapore when it comes to the elderly...... Chinese national sentenced to death for murder in Yishun A Chinese national who killed three women in a flat in Yishun four years ago has been sentenced to death...... Longer jail term for lawyer who misappropriated clients' money The High Court has imposed a longer imprisonment term for disgraced lawyer Tan Cheng Yew, who misappropriated S$4.82 million of his clients' money...... Employment rate of Singapore residents hits new high Singapore's resident employment rate hits a new high this year, driven by strong job creation and a higher number of women and older workers in the workforce......

Singapore Local News, 2012-11-29

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SMRT holds first townhall with China drivers SMRT has issued the following statement after management met with bus drivers from China at a townhall session today: SMRT Management and staff met up with more than 130 of our Service Leaders (SLs) from China at two townhall........     Electrician sentenced to jail and caning for stealing rifle Singapore - An electrician has been sentenced to jail and caning for stealing a rifle from a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) specialist cadet trainee at Pasir Laba Camp. Mohammad Ridzuan Jamari, 31, was sentenced to a jail term of five years and........ Four Chinese SMRT bus drivers involved in illegal strike charged in court Four Chinese national SMRT bus drivers who were involved in the recent illegal strike were charged in court this afternoon for abetting fellow drivers employed by SMRT Buses Ltd to take part in a strike on Monday and Tuesday...... S'pore to sign global convention to protect rights of people with disabilities Singapore will sign a global convention that promotes and protects the rights of people with disabilities. It will sign the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) tomorrow in New York...... Visitors flock to Singapore Zoo to eye Giant Pandas The two pandas from China, Kai Kai and Jia Jia, thrilled hordes of visitors on the opening day of the Giant Panda Forest today. They were active, moving playfully around their enclosure, as visitors snapped photographs and filmed........ Police statement on arrest of 4 PRC nationals involved in illegal strike The police have issued the following statement after four China nationals, He Jun Ling, 32, Gao Yue Qiang, 32, Lin Xing Ying, 33, and Wang Xian Jie 39, were arrested for their role in the illegal SMRT bus driver strike: Between 28........ Small sachets are big help for clean water in developing world Mr Greg Allgood tears open a small sachet and dumps the powder into a large plastic container filled with brown, murky water. After about five minutes of stirring, clumps of sludge form and sink to the bottom as the water starts to clear...... SMRT buses diverted on 2nd Dec for Standard Chartered Marathon SMRT bus services 61, 75, 77, 106, 167, 171, 190, 700A, 851, 960, 961 and 970 will be temporarily diverted on 2 December between 1.00am and 3.30pm due to road closures for the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2012. SMRT NightRider bus........ 385 new HIV cases in S'pore between Jan & Oct From January to October this year, 385 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were reported among Singapore residents, said the health ministry on today. The Ministry of Health (MOH) expects the total number of notified HIV........

'Tackling rising property prices will take a while' Tackling the issue of rising property prices will take a while, but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong felt it can be done. In an interview with Bloomberg, Mr Lee was asked if he would be addressing the issue of home prices here in his annual New Year's......     MediaCorp launches its first fashion portal Singapore's leading media company MediaCorp has launched its first fashion portal...... Firm stand against illegal strike an assurance to investors: Teo Ser Luck The government's strong stand against the illegal strike staged by 171 SMRT bus drivers from China will give companies and investors here and potential investors the assurance about the country's stable labour relations...... Electrician sentenced to jail and caning for stealing rifle Singapore: An electrician has been sentenced to jail and caning for stealing a rifle from a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) specialist cadet trainee at Pasir Laba Camp...... HPB invites feedback on ways to strengthen food advertisements for children The Health Promotion Board (HPB) wants to hear from the public on ways to better protect children from advertisements that make unhealthy food and drinks look appealing...... 4 SMRT bus drivers charged with instigating illegal strike Four SMRT bus drivers from China were charged on Thursday with instigating an illegal strike involving fellow drivers at the Woodlands dormitory on 26 and 27 November...... GIS, US-based Appistry launch research collaboration SINGAPORE : The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is working with a leading US-based provider of data solutions to boost efforts to improve public health...... Businessman strangled son before committing suicide: Coroner's Court A businessman, who was saddled with debts of a million dollars, strangled his 19-year-old handicapped son and leapt to his death...... S'pore to sign global convention to promote, protect rights of people with disabilities SINGAPORE : Singapore will sign a global convention that promotes and protects the rights of people with disabilities...... Four SMRT bus drivers to be charged for role in illegal strike Four SMRT bus drivers from China were arrested between Wednesday and Thursday for their role in an illegal strike at Woodlands Dormitory on Monday and Tuesday...... Free one-hour internet access for elderly Singaporeans, PRs at public libraries Singaporeans and Permanent Residents who are 50 years and above can have one hour of free Internet access at the public libraries a day...... Application for 2013 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Outstanding Singaporeans who are interested in the 2013 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship can apply for it from November 30 to December 31...... Spot legal cigarettes with their lines From March next year, all cigarettes sold in Singapore must have a new marking to show that they are not contraband or smuggled goods...... Visitors flock to Singapore Zoo to eye Giant Pandas The two pandas from China, Kai Kai and Jia Jia, thrilled hordes of visitors on the opening day of the Giant Panda Forest on Thursday...... 385 new HIV cases in S'pore between Jan & Oct From January to October this year, 385 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) were reported among Singapore residents, said the health ministry on Thursday...... 339,000 workers to receive Workfare Special Bonus instalment About 339,000 older and low-wage workers will get their third payment of the Workfare Special Bonus (WSB) by Saturday......

Singapore Local News, 2012-11-28

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Foreign workers can become union members: NTUC NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Cham Hui Fong has issued the following statement with regards to the illegal strike by SMRT's drivers: Foreign workers can become union members. Today, 140,000 of them have already done so......     Bus drivers assisting police with investigation: SMRT SMRT says that 20 of the bus drivers involved in the strike are, together with them, assisting the police in their investigation. In a media conference today they explained that drivers from China are hired on 2 year contracts that........ Hougang by-election ballot papers to be destroyed on Dec 1 The ballot papers and other documents used in the Hougang by-election on May 26 this year will be destroyed on Dec 1. They have been kept in sealed boxes at the Supreme Court for six months and will be destroyed at Tuas South........ Govt's review of policies for SMEs to be out in 2013 Details of the government's review of policies to see if small and medium enterprises (SMEs) need more help in staying competitive at home and abroad will be announced within the first quarter of next year. Minister of State for........ Giant pandas make public debut Panda couple Kai Kai and Jia Jia made their first public appearance this morning as part of a special preview of the River Safari. Members of the public will be able to meet these gentle giants in person from tomorrow, with a Giant........ Former Hilton chef charged with corruption A former senior chef of Hilton Singapore Hotel was charged with two counts of corruption today. Go Choon Heng, 41, allegedly accepted a total of about S$4,500 in bribes in exchange for furthering the business interests of a seafood........ Content ratings across media platforms should be streamlined: Panel Content ratings across media platforms should be streamlined for greater clarity, said a government-appointed panel that is looking into Singapore's media landscape. The Media Convergence Review Panel, which outlined its........ New cars with lower carbon emissions get rebates Owners of cars which are more fuel efficient and emit less carbon will enjoy rebates of up to S$20,000, under the new Carbon Emissions-Based Vehicle Scheme (CEV). It will apply to all new cars, taxis and imported used cars........ SMRT investigating still-absent bus drivers involved in illegal strike Six SMRT bus drivers from China on morning shift did not report for work this morning, amid investigations into an illegal strike over salaries. SMRT said on this afternoon that it is investigating why they were absent...... Apex court dismisses application by sex-for-grades law professor SINGAPORE -- An application by Tey Tsun Hang, the law professor at the centre of the sex-for-grades case, to have four questions of law on the disclosure of documents heard was dismissed by the Court of Appeal today. This comes after Justice........ PM: Singapore will be 'a retirement home' without birthrate boost Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said encouraging citizens to have more children is the biggest challenge confronting the Republic if it wishes to remain an economic juggernaut in the developed world. The Government has not succeeded........

Strike reduced bus service frequency The walkout by SMRT's bus drivers caused service frequency to drop by 10 per cent on Monday, when 171 drivers refused to work, and to 5 per cent yesterday, when 88 did not take the wheel. Revealing this yesterday,........     NTUC says most SMRT foreign bus drivers are not union members The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said foreign workers can become union members, and 140,000 of them have already done so...... Seniors concern over rising medical costs, limited housing options Rising medical costs and limited housing options were the key concerns of some 60 seniors, who took part in a dialogue session on Wednesday on issues pertaining to the elderly in Singapore...... S'pore and Indonesia conclude bilateral army exercise The Singapore and Indonesian armies have successfully conducted their annual bilateral exercise...... Man arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint for trying to leave Singapore illegally A Bangladeshi national was caught trying to sneak out of Singapore by hiding between stacks of empty vegetable baskets in a lorry...... Culture of going on strike cannot be allowed to happen in S'pore: Inderjit Singh MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Mr Inderjit Singh, explained the larger implications of the strike for industrial relations in Singapore...... Private resale home prices continue to rise in October Private resale home prices rose by 1 per cent in October, marking a similar rate of increase seen in September...... 20 SMRT bus drivers assisting police in investigations Twenty SMRT bus drivers from China, as well as SMRT, are assisting the police in their investigations into a strike over salaries and housing conditions...... Singaporeans less happy but have a greater sense of achievement: survey Singaporeans are less happy but have a greater sense of achievement, revealed a survey conducted by the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School...... Man fined for molesting woman at bus stop A 62-year-old gardener was fined $3,000 on Wednesday for molesting a woman at a bus stop outside Peace Centre in Sophia Road...... Channel NewsAsia signs new sponsorship deal with Lenovo, TP Vision SINGAPROE: As Channel NewsAsia prepares to launch its 24-hour live broadcast, the studios are also being prepped with the latest technology...... Court of Appeal dismisses NUS law professor's application The Court of Appeal has dismissed an application made by law professor Tey Tsun Hang, who is at the centre of a sex-for-grades scandal...... Hougang by-election ballot papers to be destroyed on Dec 1 The ballot papers and other documents used in the Hougang by-election on May 26, 2012 will be destroyed on December 1 this year...... Car rally held to mark 20 years of ASEAN-India ties Twenty-two teams took part in the ASEAN-India Car Rally on Wednesday to mark 20 years of relations between the 10-member bloc and New Delhi...... President Tony Tan lays wreath at National Heroes Cemetery in Jakarta President Tony Tan Keng Yam has laid a wreath at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery in Jakarta...... Giant pandas make public debut Panda couple Kai Kai and Jia Jia made their first public appearance on Wednesday morning as part of a special preview of the River Safari...... 3 retailers lose tobacco licences Twenty-five tobacco retailers were nabbed from January to November for selling tobacco products to underage youths...... Three chefs charged with corruption Three chefs have been charged with corruption...... SMRT investigating still-absent bus drivers involved in illegal strike Six SMRT bus drivers from China on morning shift did not report for work on Wednesday, amid investigations into an illegal strike over salaries...... Streamline content ratings across media platforms for greater clarity: panel Content ratings across media platforms should be streamlined for greater clarity, said a government-appointed panel that is looking into Singapore's media landscape...... Rebates for new cars with lower carbon emissions Owners of cars which are more fuel efficient and emit less carbon will enjoy rebates of up to S$20,000, under the new Carbon Emissions-Based Vehicle Scheme (CEV)...... Some SMRT bus drivers involved in illegal strike return to work Some of the SMRT bus drivers from China involved in an illegal strike over salaries returned to work on Wednesday......

Singapore Local News, 2012-11-27

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School bus fares set to increase School bus fares are set to go up as operators face increasing operating costs. Channel NewsAsia understood that fares are going up by 10 to 20 per cent, or between S$10 and S$40, depending on the distance. Currently,........     Large flats in mature estates most popular in Nov BTO exercise Large flats in mature estates have proven to be the most popular among home buyers in this month's Build-To-Order (BTO) exercise. In the last BTO exercise for the year, there were three first-time buyers for each four-room flat in........ Remarks by Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo on the illegal strike by SMRT bus drivers The following remarks were made by Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo on the illegal strike by SMRT bus drivers: The Ministry of Transport views the actions taken by this group of SMRT bus drivers very seriously. Public transport is....... Remarks by Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin on the illegal strike by SMRT bus drivers The following remarks were made by Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin on the illegal strike by SMRT bus drivers: We are gathered here today to update you on the illegal strike that has taken place in this last 2 days. Public........ NTUC responds to Government updates on the SMRT bus drivers dispute, NTUC has issued the following statement in response to updates by the Government on the SMRT bus driver dispute: The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) supports the actions taken by the Government. It is important to........ No-show by SMRT's bus drivers an "illegal strike": Tan Chuan-Jin Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin said today the no-show at work by SMRT's bus drivers from China is an "illegal strike". He said workers of essential services have to give 14 days' notice to their employers and must comply........ Errant lawyers suspended for overcharging clients Two lawyers who face disciplinary action for overcharging will be suspended for three months each from January. The penalty was handed down today by Judges of Appeal Chao Hick Tin, Andrew Phang and V K Rajah. They backed........ S'pore, US researchers developing portable device for traumatic brain injury A portable diagnostic tool that can quickly detect traumatic brain injury (TBI) and improve treatment is being developed by researchers from Singapore and the United States. The teams from Singapore's Institute of Microelectronics........ Underwater World slashes ticket prices during Dec holidays Underwater World Singapore (UWS) in Sentosa is slashing ticket prices during the December holidays. It is offering rates of the 1990s - at S$15 per person - for Singaporeans and local residents between Dec 1 and 31. An........ My Waterway@Punggol wins another international award HDB's My Waterway@Punggol project has won an international gold award. It clinched the honour under the Project Built section in the 2012 International Award for Liveable Communities conferred by the LivCom Management Company...... Property tax rebate for most HDB flat owners in 2013 All one- and two-room owner-occupiers of HDB homes do not need to pay property tax next year, similar to 2012, and for a majority of other HDB flat types, the property tax bill for 2013 will increase by between S$40 and $50, after taking into........ DNA results confirm babies are with parents: KK Hospital KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) released the following statement today, confirming that the babies involved in an earlier mix-up are now with their parents. STATEMENT: DNA results received on 23 November 2012 from Health........ SMRT wage protest sees no show by 60 drivers SMRT confirms that 60 of the 102 drivers involved in a wage protest yesterday did not show up for work today. A statement from SMRT says that some 60 drivers "did not turn up for work in the morning, some of whom have valid medical........

Bus drivers refuse to take wheel in protest In the first incident of its kind in over two decades, 102 SMRT bus drivers yesterday staged an industrial action by refusing to get behind the wheel, disrupting commutes for some and forcing other employees of the company to do........     President Tony Tan arrives in Indonesia for state visit JAKARTA: Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam is on a five-day state visit to Indonesia at the invitation of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono...... School bus fares set to increase School bus fares are set to go up as operators face increasing operating costs...... Large flats in mature estates most popular in Nov BTO exercise SINGAPORE : Large flats in mature estates have proven to be the most popular among home buyers in the November Build-To-Order (BTO) exercise...... No-show by SMRT's bus drivers an "illegal strike": Tan Chuan-Jin Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin said on Tuesday the no-show at work by SMRT's bus drivers from China is an "illegal strike"...... Ngee Ann Sec, SST to explore more innovative learning experiences Two schools are set to push the boundaries of learning with Next Generation solutions...... Two errant lawyers suspended for overcharging clients Two lawyers who face disciplinary action for overcharging will be suspended for three months each from January...... College manager pleads guilty to breaching Private Education Act The manager of a local private college has pleaded guilty to breaching regulations for private education...... No-show by SMRT bus drivers a strike or protest? 102 SMRT bus drivers, all China nationals, refused to turn up for work on Monday over pay dispute, and on Tuesday morning, over half of those involved did not show up for work again...... Science Time Capsule uncovered for display at Science Centre A sealed metal cylinder known as the Science Time Capsule has been dug up for display at Science Centre Singapore...... Sentosa's UWS slashes ticket prices during Dec holidays Underwater World Singapore (UWS) in Sentosa is slashing ticket prices during the December holidays...... S'pore, US researchers developing portable device for traumatic brain injury SINGAPORE : A portable diagnostic tool that can quickly detect traumatic brain injury (TBI) and improve treatment is being developed by researchers from Singapore and the United States...... Firefighter handed 9 months' jail for causing death of motorcyclist A firefighter who caused the death of a motorcyclist has been sentenced to nine months' jail and disqualified from driving for seven years...... 3 suspects caught for robberies on New Bridge Rd, Outram Rd SINGAPORE : Police have arrested three youths suspected of involvement in two cases of robbery on New Bridge Road and Outram Road...... My Waterway@Punggol wins another award HDB's My Waterway@Punggol project has won an international gold award...... Property tax rebate for most HDB flat owners All one- and two-room owner-occupiers of HDB homes do not need to pay property tax in 2013, similar to 2012...... DNA tests confirm babies reunited with biological parents The DNA tests have confirmed that the two babies who were given to the wrong parents in a mix-up by KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) were reunited with their biological parents...... SMRT wage protest sees no-show by 67 drivers on Tuesday More than half of the bus drivers from China who were involved in a dispute over salaries on Monday did not show up for work on Tuesday morning......

Singapore Local News, 2012-11-26

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Psy, this year's biggest pop music phenom, to perform in Singapore He's the biggest pop music phenom of 2012. And he's coming here. Korean musician Psy, who was recently credited for having YouTube's most viewed video of all time, with his pop hit, Gangnam Style, is slated to perform a showcase at........     PAP introduces two new awards to recognise outstanding party members Singapore's People's Action Party (PAP) has introduced two new award categories this year for its annual awards ceremony to recognise the many contributions made by outstanding men and women from the party. The two new categories........ SMRT concludes talks with no-show bus drivers Talks between SMRT management and its 102 bus drivers who refused to report for work today have concluded. According to workers Channel NewsAsia spoke to, SMRT management has indicated that the company will come back with a reply in........ RWS faces contempt charges in Philippine court over dolphins Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) is facing indirect contempt charges in a Philippine court. A judge has set the hearing in Quezon City Court for Feb 15 next year. The charges stem from RWS exporting dolphins while the case........ National Transport Workers' Union responds to SMRT bus drivers dispute The National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU) have issued the following statement in response to today's SMRT bus drivers' dispute: The National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU) does not have the legal mandate to........ More to be done for low-income groups to cope with fare increases Affordability was a concern brought up by commuters at focus group discussions organised by the Fare Review Mechanism Committee. Participants included students, young adults, working adults, homemakers, grassroots activists,........ AVA adopts new technology on food screening system The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has added a new line of defence to its food screening system. Dubbed the "non-targeted" approach, which utilises High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) Technology, this form........ SMRT bus drivers who refused to go to work in talks with management Public transport provider SMRT said that it is in talks with its bus drivers who refused to go to work today. A spokesman for SMRT said 102 of the bus drivers involved were from China and their service leaders are currently in talks........ Poly student gets probation for insulting girlfriend's modesty A 17-year-old polytechnic student was today sentenced to 21 months probation for insulting a teenage girl's modesty and other charges. These include sexual penetration of a minor, possession of obscene films, and criminal........ New employment programme to help seniors find jobs North West CDC has launched a new employment programme called the Silver Care Employment @ North West to help seniors reintegrate back into the workforce. Currently, about 35 per cent of residents in the North West District looking........ S'pore's industrial output falls more than expected in Oct Singapore manufacturing output fell more than expected last month as production of electronics and pharmaceuticals slipped. Output fell 2.1 per cent in October from the same month the previous year, led by declines of 6.0 per cent........ Real estate industry changes have only just started: Khaw National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has said in a blog post that the transformation of the real estate industry has only just begun. He said what used to be regarded as a "cowboy" industry is now characterised by a more........

75% of SMEs achieved gains in productivity in past 2 years Three out of four small-medium enterprises (SMEs) achieved tangible gains in productivity over the last two years, as revealed in results of the 10th Annual SME Development Survey launched this morning. Of the 2,603 SMEs which took........     80% of customers satisfied with their property agents: survey The first Public Perception Survey by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) has found that most consumers are satisfied with their property agents. Eight out of 10 said they were satisfied with the conduct and services provided, and........ 88 women arrested in raid on entertainment outlets Police have arrested 88 women in a joint operation on public entertainment outlets along Joo Chiat Road and in Geylang over the weekend...... SMRT concludes talks with no-show bus drivers Talks between SMRT management and its 102 bus drivers who refused to report for work on Monday have concluded...... Fire at Hougang flat leaves one woman dead A woman died in a fire that broke out at a 6th floor flat in Hougang Avenue 10...... RWS faces contempt charges in Philippine court over dolphins Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) is facing indirect contempt charges in a Philippine court...... PAP introduces two new awards to recognise outstanding party members Singapore's People's Action Party (PAP) has introduced two new award categories this year for its annual awards ceremony to recognise the many contributions made by outstanding men and women from the party...... President Tony Tan to visit Indonesia President Tony Tan Keng Yam will make a state visit to Indonesia from Tuesday till Saturday at the invitation of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono...... Man fined for running unlicensed employment agency A man was fined $60,000 by a district court on Monday for running an unlicensed employment agency...... More to be done for low-income groups to cope with fare increases Affordability was a concern brought up by commuters at focus group discussions organised by the Fare Review Mechanism Committee...... SMRT bus drivers who refused to go to work in talks with management Public transport provider SMRT said that it is in talks with its bus drivers who refused to go to work on Monday...... AVA adopts new technology on food screening system The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has added a new line of defence to its food screening system...... Commandant of US Coast Guard visits Singapore under MPA's programme Singapore is playing host to the Commandant of the US Coast Guard, Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr, under the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's (MPA) Distinguished Visitors Programme from November 23 to 28...... Poly student gets probation for insulting girlfriend's modesty A 17-year-old polytechnic student was on Monday sentenced to 21 months probation, for insulting a teenage girl's modesty and other charges...... New employment programme to help seniors find jobs North West CDC has launched a new employment programme called the Silver Care Employment @ North West to help seniors reintegrate back into the workforce...... Real estate industry is dynamic, changes have only just started: Khaw National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said the transformation of the real estate industry has only just begun...... 80% of customers satisfied with their property agents: survey The first Public Perception Survey by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) has found that most consumers are satisfied with their property agents......

Singapore Local News, 2012-11-25

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'Fire' in CTE tunnel as LTA and SCDF test readiness A chain collision involving three vehicles in a Central Expressway (CTE) tunnel during the evening peak hours caused toxic chemicals to spill, set a car on fire and resulted in many casualties - this was a scenario of an emergency exercise this........     First senior activity centre opens in west of S'pore More than 300 needy elderly living in designated clusters of the housing board rental blocks 116, 117, 118 along Corporation Drive in Taman Jurong will be able to benefit from a new Senior Activity Centre(SAC), Silver ACE. The........ Enough HDB flats to meet rising demand: Khaw Boon Wan During a "Our Singapore Conversation" dialogue session, national development minister Khaw Boon Wan said Singapore has the ability and resources to meet the demand for more HDB flats......

Australians sweep elite titles at Swissotel Vertical Marathon A record number of 2116 people took on the challenge of racing to the top at the Swissotel Vertical Marathon on Sunday morning......     BMW collides into van at Buona Vista, no injuries reported A black BMW collided into a van at the signalised junction of Holland Drive and North Buona Vista Road on Saturday morning...... MARUAH calls for stronger safeguards against abuse Singapore civil society group, MARUAH, has called for stronger civil and social safeguards to prevent violence against women...... Help for needy elderly with S$1m boost from labour movement Lower-income elderly residents will get more help as the Labour Movement's U Care Fund has made a S$1 million donation to NTUC Eldercare Trust...... "Fire" in CTE tunnel, LTA & SCDF test readiness A chain collision involving three vehicles in a Central Expressway (CTE) tunnel during the evening peak hours caused toxic chemicals to spill, set a car on fire and resulted in many casualties - this was a scenario of an emergency exercise on Sunday .....

Singapore Local News, 2012-11-24

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S'pore can't go down 'red vs blue' path: PM Lee Singapore cannot afford to go down the path of countries like the United States, where most states clearly belong to either the Democrat or Republican camp and the victorious political party has to chose whose interests to represent, said........     New dietary guidelines for seniors The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has launched a new set of dietary guidelines to enhance the nutrition intake of those over 50 years old. According to a 2010 National Nutrition Survey, only one in four senior citizens here consume........ S'pore handcyclists aiming for 2016 Paralympics The Handcycling Association Singapore (HAS) is aiming to field a team of two to three physically challenged handcyclists at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics. HAS president and co-founder Mr Foo Fung-Liang shared the team's vision........

PM Lee at Glocal Connect Village Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday launched a new centre that aims to give students a global experience. Located at Temasek Polytechnic, the Glocal Connect Village has art studios and language labs aimed at preparing students for the........     Universities trying to attract more women into engineering Singapore faces a shortage of engineers, according to a recent job vacancy study by the Manpower Ministry...... Gov to work harder at building fan base to support local athletes Singapore's Culture, Community and Youth Ministry will work harder to build up a local fan base to support sports...... Singaporeans need to take charge of their health: Gan Kim Yong With more Singaporeans suffering from chronic diseases, residents need to take charge of their health by managing their conditions and going for appropriate screenings...... Singapore handcyclists aim for 2016 Paralympics Singapore's Handcycling Association is aiming to field two to three physically-challenged athletes at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics...... More support on the way for local social enterprises A small local coffee academy and a giant beer brand may be seen to be unlikely partners but such a partnership is brewing ways to help disadvantaged women here in Singapore...... HPB launches dietary guidelines for seniors The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has launched a set of dietary guidelines for older adults aged 50 and above...... National Conversation important in govt's decision making: PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday spoke of the need to make choices and trade-offs in the governing of the country......

Singapore Local News, 2012-11-23

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DPM Teo urges businesses and public to help fight terrorism Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean has urged the business community and public to work more closely with the Government to fight terrorism. Noting that terrorists constantly adapt........     ICA finds 21 puppies hidden in car at Woodlands Checkpoint A 27-year-old Singaporean has been referred to the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for investigations after 21 puppies were found hidden in the spare tyre compartment of his car. In a statement, the Immigration &........ Khaw reminds developers to exercise flexibility within "spirit" of EC policy While the Government provides developers of Executive Condominiums (ECs) with "much flexibility", National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan today reminded developers to "be mindful that flexibility must be exercised in keeping with the intent........ Singapore's inflation rate eases to 4% in October Singapore's inflation rate eased to 4.0 per cent last month from 4.7 per cent the previous month. This slower-than-expected increase in the consumer price index was mainly due to smaller gains in transportation and housing........ North-South line replacement programme to begin on Monday Phase One of SMRT's sleeper replacement programme will start this Monday along stretches of the North-South Line. The programme is part of the on-going upgrading and renewal of the ageing MRT system. Phase One will........ Cecilia Sue not someone who sleeps with 'important clients': Ng Boon Gay While the prosecution had yesterday suggested that former Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) Director Ng Boon Gay had embellished the nature of his relationship with Ms Cecilia Sue, defence lawyers this morning noted that there were no plans........ Getting a taxi could soon get easier Getting a taxi could soon get easier with the announcement of new taxi availability indicators and standards by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) this morning. Under the new framework, 85 per cent of taxis will have to clock a........

Emotions not taking over? Yes, the Government has a role to play in the emotional well-being of its people and Singaporeans could, perhaps, express more emotion. This was the general consensus among academics and Members of Parliament whom........     Prosecution files 3 more impeachment applications on last day of hearing The prosecution made another three applications to impeach former Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) chief Ng Boon Gay Ng at the close of the corruption trial on Friday...... ICA rescues 21 puppies found hidden in a car at Woodlands Checkpoint A 27-year-old Singaporean has been referred to the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for investigations after 21 puppies were found hidden in the spare tyre compartment of his car...... DPM Teo urges businesses and public to help fight terrorism Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean has urged the business community and public to work more closely with the government to fight terrorism...... New facilities at Changi General Hospital to boost healthcare delivery The Eastern Health Alliance has launched two new facilities which promise to boost healthcare delivery...... MediaCorp Publishing event wins regional marketing award A MediaCorp Publishing event has clinched the bronze award for Best Event Ambiance (Consumer) in this year's Marketing Event Awards...... Chan Chun Sing observes joint defence exercise Senior Minister of State for Defence Chan Chun Sing observed Exercise APEX at the Changi Command and Control (C2) Centre on Friday morning...... North-South line sleeper replacement works to begin Phase One of SMRT's sleeper replacement programme will start this coming Monday along stretches of the North-South Line...... Prosecution accuses Ng Boon Gay of lying to CPIB The prosecution in the trial of former Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) chief Ng Boon Gay continued attempting to impeach Ng's credibility on Friday...... LTA sets new minimum standards for taxis Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) has set minimum standards for taxi availability, following commuters' feedback...... Fire breaks out at Bt Panjang flat, no injuries reported A fire broke out in a flat at Block 435 Bukit Panjang Ring Road early Friday morning...... Car crashes at Upp Cross St, 2 sent to hospital Two people were rushed to the hospital after a car crash early Friday morning at Chinatown......

Singapore Local News, 2012-11-22

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SMTOWN in Singapore: By the numbers The Singapore stop of the SMTOWN Live Tour III has been described as one of the biggest K-pop concerts ever held here. Just how big is it? Over 40 Korean pop stars from top K-pop acts like SNSD, Girls Generation and........     Dolphin at RWS dies en route to Singapore Singapore - Wen Wen, one of the 25 dolphins at Resorts World at Sentosa, died en route to Singapore today. Marine Life Park has issued the following statement: We are deeply saddened that Wen Wen, one of our 25........ Lawyer M Ravi allowed to continue law practise The court has agreed to let lawyer M Ravi continue his law practise, provided he committed to a medical regime more stringent than the current conditions stipulated in his practising certificate. The decision came after a chamber........ Senior Home Care services to be expanded From Dec 17, there will be another 400 more subsidised places for senior home care to help families with frail elderly and persons with disability. This comes as the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) expands the........ LTA assesses SMRT's readiness to respond to train service disruptions Train operator SMRT's readiness to respond to a service disruption was put to the test today in an exercise carried out by the Land Transport Authority. Exercise Greyhound was based on the scenario where a six-hour disruption was........ Civil servants to get year-end AVC of 0.7 month Civil servants will get a year-end Annual Variable Component (AVC) of 0.7 month, with lower waged officers getting an AVC of at least S$1,000, the Public Service Division announced today. The year-end AVC payment was decided in........ Prosecution apply to impeach former CNB chief Ng Boon Gay The prosecution made applications to impeach the credit of former Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) Director Ng Boon Gay this afternoon, as it compared his evidence in court to sections of his statements to the Corrupt Practices Investigation........ Singapore firms struggling to attract critical-skill workers: Survey A new survey has found that more companies in Singapore face problems attracting critical-skill employees needed to increase their global competitiveness, compared to companies in Asia Pacific. But they face fewer problems retaining........ 97.6% of students pass PSLE 97.6 per cent of students who sat for this year's PSLE are eligible to progress to secondary school. A total of 48,333 Primary 6 students sat for the PSLE this year and 47,163 of them passed the examination. 63.1 per........ Ex-CNB chief disputes Cecilia Sue's claims about when physical intimacy ended Taking the stand for the fourth day in his graft trial, former Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) Director Ng Boon Gay continued to be grilled by the prosecution on his relationship with Ms Cecelia Sue. Under cross-examination by Deputy........ Singapore citizen named COO at newspaper body WAN-IFRA PARIS - WAN-IFRA, an international organisation spanning newspapers and news publishers in 120 countries, today announced that a Singapore citizen, Mr Thomas Jacob, has been named its new Chief Operating Officer. Mr Jacob previously served as........ Ah Boys to Men II and more new Singapore films coming up next year Ah Boys to Men, which secured the biggest opening weekend ever for a local movie at the local box office, is set to return next year. This comes against a backdrop of an increasing number of 'Made In Singapore' films, with 13 new films expected........ Why PSLE top scorer names will not be released: Heng Education Minister Heng Swee Keat this morning posted a note on Facebook saying the Ministry of Education's decision to stop releasing the name of the top scorers in the annual Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is to deflect "national........

HDB launches 7 BTO projects In the final Build-To-Order exercise of the year, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) yesterday launched seven BTO projects to bring the total supply of new flats, including Sale of Balance flats, to more than 34,200 - the largest supply in........     More PSLE students qualify for secondary schools More students qualify for secondary schools this year as compared to last year, with 97.6 per cent obtaining a pass for the Primary School Leaving Examination...... Lawyer M Ravi allowed by court to continue law practise The court has agreed to let lawyer M Ravi continue his law practise, provided he committed to a medical regime more stringent than the current conditions stipulated in his practising certificate...... Nearly half of parents surveyed say their children are picky eaters SINGAPORE : A new study has revealed that nearly half of parents surveyed here say their children are picky eaters...... Two men jailed for voluntarily causing grievous hurt Two men received jail sentences separately on Thursday for voluntarily causing grievous hurt...... MSF appoints 2 new subsidised Senior Home Care service providers From December 17, there will be another 400 more subsidised places for senior home care to help families with frail elderly and persons with disability...... LTA assesses SMRT's readiness to respond to train service disruptions SINGAPORE : Train operator SMRT's readiness to respond to a service disruption was put to the test on Thursday in an exercise carried out by the Land Transport Authority...... Civil servants to get year-end bonus of 0.7 month Singapore's 77,000 civil servants will get a year-end Annual Variable Component (AVC) of 0.7 month...... Asia TV Forum, ScreenSingapore to showcase 13 new films, new converged TV formats SINGAPORE : More than 4,000 film and television trade delegates from 60 countries will converge in Singapore to trade, market and screen their content at the Asia TV Forum & Market / ScreenSingapore 2012...... Underprivileged children visit newly-opened Sentosa's Marine Life Park Sentosa's Marine Life Park officially opened to the public on Thursday...... Man jailed 15 months for having sex with underage girl A canteen assistant was sentenced to 15 months' jail on Thursday for having sex with an underage girl...... Football: Lions want focus on team ahead of AFF Suzuki Cup tournament The Lions left this morning for the AFF Suzuki Cup with a dark cloud hanging over their head...... 97.6% of students pass PSLE 97.6 percent of students who sat for this year's PSLE are eligible to progress to secondary school...... WDA, SNEF launch skills upgrading plan for SMEs The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) have jointly launched a plan to benefit nearly 1,300 workers in small and medium enterprises upgrade their skills...... Application to impeach Ng Boon Gay's credibility allowed District Judge Siva Shanmugam has allowed the prosecution's application to impeach the credibility of former Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) chief Ng Boon Gay...... PAP to involve non-members in party dialogue The People's Action Party (PAP) has for the first time involved non-members in their party dialogue, of which findings would be presented at a party seminar on Saturday...... PSLE is not the be-all-and-end-all: Heng Swee Keat Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said his ministry's move to stop releasing information on top scorers in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) is "not to address stress per se, or move away from merit"......