Singapore Local News, 2012-12-31

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Expect slower growth, and embrace right values, says PM Lee in New Year message The Republic must expect slower growth in the next year, but must continue to raise productivity and embrace the right values, said PM Lee in his New Year message to Singaporeans. The full text of his message, released today, is reproduced........     800,000 HDB households to receive S$90m worth of GST vouchers About 800,000 Singaporean HDB households can expect to receive S$90 million worth of GST Voucher-Utilities-Save (U-Save) rebates in January 2013. An eligible Singaporean household can receive one U-Save voucher of up to S$130........ Electricity to cost less in first quarter of 2013 The cost of household electricity here will decrease in the first quarter of 2013 on the back of lower fuel prices. For the period from 1 Jan to 31 Mar 2013, electricity tariffs will decrease by an average of 3.7 per cent, Singapore........

Productivity schemes to better help SMEs The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) will announce several recommendations over the next six months to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) achieve the country's long-term productivity growth target of 2 to 3 per cent........     URA investigating sale of Forestville EC units The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said it is still investigating the proposed sale of Forestville executive condominium (EC) on 28 December...... S'pore politicians extend well wishes for new year Singapore's Emeritus Senior Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC), Mr Goh Chok Tong said his wish for 2013 is simply that it will be a better year for the world and Singapore...... S'pore rocked by spate of sex scandals in 2012 2012 has been a year of sex scandals in Singapore...... S'pore economy grows 1.2%: PM Lee Singapore's economy grew 1.2 per cent this year, hurt by weak US, European and Japanese economies, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his New Year message on Monday...... RSN's second Archer-class submarine back in S'pore The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) second Archer-class submarine is back from Sweden...... Electricity tariffs to be lowered Electricity tariffs will be reduced by an average 3.7 per cent from January to March 2013...... 800,000 HDB households to receive S$90m worth of U-Save vouchers About 800,000 Singaporean HDB households can expect to receive S$90 million worth of GST Voucher - Utilities-Save (U-Save) rebates in January 2013......

Singapore Local News, 2012-12-30

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2 suspects arrested for assault at Orchard Cineleisure Two male Singaporeans have been arrested in connection with an attack at Orchard Cineleisure that left a young man in intensive care. The 23-year-old victim was attacked on the night of 27 December and is in the intensive care unit........     Leafy vegetables to cost more due to Malaysia floods Leafy vegetables will cost more in Singapore, as supply has been hit by floods in Malaysia. Wholesalers said the supply of leafy vegetables from Johor Bahru has been cut by between 20 and 30 per cent. That pushed up the........ K Shanmugam stresses protection of women's rights Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam has condemned the horrific gang rape of a young Indian woman in New Delhi, who died in a hospital in Singapore yesterday. He said on his Facebook page that it is a heartbreaking case........ Sengkang junction to be made safer within two months: Teo Ser Luck Frequent speed checks, installing a red-light camera, drawing a right-turn pocket at the junction, installing a timer at pedestrian crossings and raising the curb. These are the five measures which acting Member of Parliament for........

S'pore's property issues in 2012 2012 has been record-breaking year for executive condominium projects - both in terms of price and number of units sold......     Plans in place to help SMEs reach productivity growth target The government will announce several recommendations in the first half of next year to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) achieve its long-term productivity growth target of two to three per cent over the next decade...... 14 nabbed in anti-crime blitz in eastern region Fourteen people have been arrested for suspected involvement in criminal activities in the eastern part of Singapore...... Rector William Goh to be Catholic Archbishop of S'pore Rector of St Francis Xavier Major Seminary William Goh will be the next Archbishop in charge of Catholics in Singapore...... S'pore's top education issues in 2012 Some parents have said Primary One registration is a harrowing experience, while others offer to be volunteers at primary schools years in advance...... Measures to be taken to make Sengkang junction safer The authorities will put in place several measures in the next two months to make the junction at Sengkang East Way and Sengkang East Drive safer for motorists, cyclists and residents...... 2 suspects arrested for assault at Orchard Cineleisure Two male Singaporeans have been arrested in connection with an attack at Orchard Cineleisure that left a young man in intensive care...... K Shanmugam stresses protection of women's rights Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam has condemned the horrific gang rape of a young Indian woman in New Delhi, who died in a hospital in Singapore on Saturday......

Singapore Local News, 2012-12-29

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EC penthouse sold for record S$2.05m An executive condominium (EC) penthouse, with a record price-tag of S$2.05 million, was sold about an hour after the launch of the project today. A spokesman for the CityLife@Tampines project said the sale was made just after........     Indians mourn death of rape victim NEW DELHI - Shocked Indians today mourned the death of a woman who was gang-raped and beaten on a bus in New Delhi nearly two weeks ago in an ordeal that galvanised people to demand greater protection for women from sexual violence. Police........ Channel emotions into 'constructive' action: Indian PM on rape victim's death Responding to the death of the young Indian woman who was gang-raped and beaten on a bus in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was aware of the emotions the attack has stirred and that it was up to all Indians to ensure........ Indian gang-rape victim's body to be flown back later Saturday The body of an Indian woman who died in a Singapore hospital after a brutal gang-rape in New Delhi will be flown back on a chartered plane later today, along with members of her family. Indian High Commissioner T.C.A. Raghavan told........ India gang-rape victims dies, trauma to body 'too severe' to overcome A young Indian woman who was gang-raped and severely beaten on a bus died today at a Singapore hospital, after her horrific ordeal galvanised Indians to demand greater protection for women from sexual violence that impacts thousands of them........

War of words over financial, IT systems continues The war of words over the termination of Aljunied-Hougang Town Council's (AHTC) former computer and financial systems raged on yesterday. In a press statement, AHTC Chairman Sylvia Lim raised several questions - and the........     S'pore's environmental issues in 2013 Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said the priority and challenge will be in inculcating more socially gracious attitudes among Singaporeans...... EC penthouse sold for record S$2.05m An executive condominium (EC) penthouse, with a record price-tag of S$2.05 million, was sold about an hour after the launch of the project on Saturday......

Singapore Local News, 2012-12-28

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'Sobering realities' in labour market in 2013: Tan Chuan-Jin Singapore's Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin has pointed to some "sobering realities" to the labour market in his latest blog post. Mr Tan said the overall labour market may become even tighter next year. Thus,........     India gang-rape victim "struggling against the odds" The Indian gang-rape victim who has been admitted to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital remains in an extremely critical condition. The 23-year-old student is still receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. The........ Changi Airport to reach 50-million passenger mark Singapore's Changi Airport will reach a new milestone in a few days. It is expecting the number of passengers touching down to pass the 50-million mark, just two years after Changi crossed the 40-million passenger mark in 2010...... SBF calls for more realistic productivity growth target Singapore businesses said the two to three per cent productivity growth target that the government is aiming for is too stretched. In a position paper on population, the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) is calling for a more........ Aljunied-Hougang Town Council statement on dispute with computer form AIM Chairman of the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council Sylvia Lim has issued the following statement in the wake of the dispute between the Town Council and Action Information Management Pte Ltd (AIM), a company that used to provide its computer and........ NEA to step up anti-littering enforcement on New Year's eve The National Environment Agency (NEA) is stepping up its anti-littering enforcement at year-end celebratory events, including those in Marina Bay, Orchard Road and other such event sites around Singapore. NEA says it will deploy........ HPB lauded by WHO for tobacco control efforts The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has been recognised for its efforts to protect the public against second-hand smoke and garner support to create a 100 per cent smoke-free environment. The recognition was accorded by the World........ Delhi gang rape victim still in critical condition The Delhi gang rape victim "continues to remain in an extremely critical condition" and is still receiving treatment at Mount Elizabeth, said Mount Elizabeth Hospital CEO Dr Kelvin Loh in a statement today. "Our medical team's........

Principals should 'contribute beyond success of their schools' Urging school principals to take on the role of national leaders in the education system, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday called on these senior educators to contribute beyond the success of their schools......     MPA decommissions first Port Operations Control Centre The Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has decommissioned Singapore's first Port Operations Control Centre...... "Sobering realities" in labour market in 2013: Tan Chuan-Jin Singapore's Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin has pointed to some "sobering realities" to the labour market in his latest blog post...... India gang-rape victim "struggling against the odds" The Indian gang-rape victim who has been been admitted to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital remains in an extremely critical condition...... More consumers shopping online this festive season SINGAPORE : More shoppers are going online this festive season...... Bowling: Japan hope to lift sport through Singapore exchange programme Japan was once an Asian bowling powerhouse, but its reputation has declined in recent times...... Changi Airport to reach 50m passenger mark Singapore's Changi Airport will reach a new milestone in a few days...... Two chefs plead guilty to accepting bribes from seafood supplier SINGAPORE : Two senior chefs on Friday pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from a seafood supplier...... Sylvia Lim questions sale of town councils' computing systems Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) chairman Sylvia Lim has questioned why the computing and financial systems developed by PAP-managed town councils were sold off to a third party...... Police bust shophouse used as illegal gambling den Police have arrested four people for allegedly operating and gaming in an illegal gambling den operating out of a shophouse...... SBF calls for more realistic productivity growth target Singapore businesses said the two to three per cent productivity growth target that the government is aiming for is too stretched...... Manpower planning needed to meet increasing demand for healthcare services As Singapore ramps up the number of healthcare institutions under its Masterplan 2020, a main challenge is to beef up its healthcare workforce...... NEA to step up anti-littering enforcement on New Year's eve The National Environment Agency (NEA) is stepping up its anti-littering enforcement at year-end celebratory events, including those in Marina Bay, Orchard Road and other such event sites around Singapore...... HPB lauded by WHO for tobacco control efforts The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has been recognised for its efforts to protect the public against second hand smoke and garner support to create a 100 per cent smoke-free environment...... Indian gang-rape victim fighting for her life The condition of the Indian gang-rape victim continues to remain in an extremely critical condition...... Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme kicks in 1 Jan The new Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS) will apply to all new cars, taxis and newly imported used cars registered with effect from 1 January 2013......

Singapore Local News, 2012-12-27

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India rape victim still in critical condition NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledged today to take action to protect the nation's women while the young victim of a gang rape on a New Delhi bus was flown to Singapore for treatment of severe internal injuries. "As......     SDP to contest Punggol East if there is a by-election It is shaping up to be a five-cornered fight in Punggol East, should there be a by-election for the single seat ward. Earlier today, the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) signalled its intent to contest the seat...... Thai woman with 3.2kg of 'Ice' arrested at Changi Airport The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) have arrested a 29-year-old Thai woman and seized about 3.2kg of 'Ice' in her possession at Changi Airport. The ICA said in a statement that the drugs were found in her haversack........ Silver Housing Bonus and Lease Buyback schemes enhanced Two schemes aimed at enabling senior citizens to monetise their flats have been made more attractive following public feedback. The Silver Housing Bonus, which provides an incentive for lower-income households to move to a smaller........ SMRT to extend train and bus services on New Year's Eve Transport operator SMRT will be extending the operating hours of its bus and train services on New Year's Eve. SMRT train services on the North-South, East-West and Circle Lines and selected bus services on New Year's Eve will be........ Ex-StarHub manager jailed for stealing 847 mobile phones Affected by his marriage breakdown, a former StarHub shop manager claimed he "went crazy" and dishonestly misappropriated 847 mobile phones from his employer. For that, 44-year-old Chong Siam was sentenced to five-and-a-half years'........ Strong growth in foreign workers' dormitory business Commercially-operated foreign workers' dormitories are a big business in Singapore, with the sector being estimated to be worth about S$450 million this year. Some industry players expect this figure to rise by some 20 per cent next........ Delhi gangrape victim will be treated in Singapore NEW DELHI - The 23-year-old medical student, whose rape by six men on a bus in the Indian capital earlier this month sparked violent protests across the country, has been flown to Singapore for medical treatment. Sources quoted by New Delhi........ 60 school principals receive new appointments Leading a school is a complex and challenging role but also a privileged appointment, said Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat. At the 15th Appointment and Appreciation Ceremony for Principals today, Mr Heng reiterated that........ Fines for illegal waste water discharge into sewage to be raised National water agency PUB said there were 11 cases of factories discharging large amounts of waste water containing high concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the sewage system this year. Of the 11 cases, seven were brought to........

HDB quality not compromised despite increase in supply The quality of HDB flats being built has not been compromised despite the ramping up of supply, according to the public sector outcomes review which was released yesterday. First issued in 2010, the review - which was........     School principals important in leading change: Heng Swee Keat School principals play an important role in leading change, and are the middlemen between the Education Ministry and the "frontline", said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat...... SDP to contest Punggol East if there is a by-election It's shaping up to be a five-cornered fight in Punggol East, should there be a by-election for the single seat ward...... Sight-and-sound galore at Singapore's biggest countdown event Expect nothing less than a feast for the eyes and ears at this year's Marina Bay Singapore Countdown...... S'pore equity markets performed better in 2012 than in 2011 Stocks of listed companies dealing in properties have fared the best in 2012...... Thai woman arrested with 3.2kg of 'Ice' at Changi Airport The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has arrested a 29-year-old Thai woman and seized about 3.2kg of 'Ice' in her possession at Changi Airport...... More cash payouts for Silver Housing Bonus, Lease Buyback Scheme Authorities have announced plans to raise the cash bonuses of two housing monetisation schemes for the elderly in response to public feedback...... S'pore's top housing issues in 2012 It has been a record year on the housing front, with a bumper crop of 27,000 Build-to-Order (BTO) flats launched in 2012, 2,000 more than originally planned...... Process College manager jailed for contravening Private Education Act A manager of a private college was sentenced to four weeks' jail for contravening the Private Education Act...... Duke-NUS governing board chairman to step down Mr Tony Chew Leong-Chee is to step down as Chairman of the Duke-NUS' governing board on Monday...... Ex-StarHub manager jailed for stealing 847 mobile phones Affected by his marriage breakdown, a former StarHub shop manager claimed he "went crazy" and dishonestly misappropriated 847 mobile phones from his employer...... Singapore doctors battle to save Indian gang-rape victim Doctors in Singapore battled on Thursday to save the life of an Indian student who sustained horrific injuries in a gang-rape after she was dramatically airlifted overnight from a hospital in New Delhi...... Man charged with multiple offences involving S$860,000 An unemployed man has been charged with a total of 14 counts of receiving stolen property, removing criminal proceeds out of Singapore, and acquiring a person's benefits through criminal conduct...... PUB tightens regulations on used water discharge from industries Stiffer penalties on improper discharge of used water from industries, trade and businesses, will come into effect sometime next year...... FairPrice extends price freeze on housebrand rice Supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice has said it will continue to hold prices of all its 10 housebrand Thai and Vietnamese rice till end of March 2013...... Indian rape victim arrives in S'pore for further treatment An Indian student who was left fighting for her life after being gang-raped in New Delhi has arrived at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment...... Exchange of unused expired parking coupons Motorists are reminded that parking coupons valid up to Monday, 31 December can no longer be used from 1 January......

Singapore Local News, 2012-12-26

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Eight private estates selected for upgrading The Ministry of National Development (MND) will spend about S$29 million over the next two years to upgrade and develop the infrastructure in private estates. Eight private estates have been selected - Goldhill, Mayflower Gardens........     Man acquitted of having paid sex with underage girl A 29-year-old cleaner, accused of having paid sex with an underage girl, was granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal today. Md Salauddin Md Dudu Mia, a Bangladeshi national, had allegedly paid the girl S$10 for sex...... NParks steps up checks to ensure fewer trees fall during storms The National Parks Board (NParks) has stepped up measures to ensure that fewer trees fall during storms. In the last five years, an average of 300 trees fell a year in bad weather. To ensure public safety, NParks has........ KKH tightens newborn identification process The KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) has taken new measures to tighten its newborn identification process, following the incident where two babies were "erroneously discharged" to wrong mothers. KKH also announced today that........ S'pore's economic fundamentals remain strong with near full employment: MOF Singapore's economic growth slowed significantly this year, as subdued external demand affected most sectors of the economy. However, findings from the Ministry of Finance's second issue of the Singapore Public Sector Outcomes........

Motorcyclist hits woman, video goes viral A woman pedestrian hit........     Vivian Balakrishnan attends state funeral of former Gerakan president SINGAPORE : Singapore's Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan was in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday to attend the state funeral of former Gerakan president, Lim Keng Yaik...... Changes to public transport fares likely revealed in late 2013 2013 will see more initiatives rolled out to boost the reliability of the public transport system...... Colliers recommends development of "retirement village" for senior citizens SINGAPORE : Property consultancy firm Colliers International has recommended the development of a "retirement village" for the growing population of senior citizens in Singapore...... Man acquitted of having paid sex with underage girl A 29-year-old cleaner, accused of having paid sex with an underage girl, was granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal on Wednesday...... Eight private estates selected for upgrading to provide better facilities The Ministry of National Development (MND) will spend about S$29 million over the next two years to upgrade and develop the infrastructure in private estates...... NParks steps up checks to prevent falling trees during storms The National Parks Board (NParks) has stepped up measures to ensure that fewer trees fall during storms...... KKH to implement all recommendations by committee in baby mix-up case A Review Committee has come up with 15 recommendations to prevent another baby mix-up at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH)...... Cyclist trapped under car at junction of Lorong Marzuki A cyclist suffered head injuries after he ended up under a car following a collision...... Advance GDP estimates for 2012 out 2 Jan 2013 The Ministry of Trade and Industry is to release the advance GDP estimates for the fourth quarter and the whole year of 2012 on 2 January 2013...... Three new members appointed to Singapore Totalisator Board The Minister for Finance has appointed three new board members to the Singapore Totalisator Board (Tote Board)...... S'pore's economic fundamentals remain strong with near full employment: MOF Singapore's economic growth slowed significantly this year, as subdued external demand affected most sectors of the economy......

Singapore Local News, 2012-12-25

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Singapore Red Cross gears up to bring cheer to more needy people It's the season of giving, and the Singapore Red Cross is gearing up to bring cheer to more needy people in the coming year. The charity's services go far beyond its well-known humanitarian efforts. Besides offering a........     Tourism strategy to focus on getting visitors to spend more Singapore's tourism strategy will not only involve increasing visitor numbers in the future, according to Second Trade and Industry Minister S Iswaran. Mr Iswaran said that there will be more emphasis on deriving higher economic........ More parents sending children for ECA during school holidays More parents are sending their children for extra-curricular activities during the school holidays...... Man falls to death at Sengkang West Way construction site A man has died after falling off a 27-storey building under construction at a Sengkang West Way worksite on Tuesday morning......

More local production companies gaining recognition overseas Singapore production companies say they see a growing trend of collaborations with international companies......     Pedestrian involved in motorcycle accident recovering in hospital A female pedestrian involved in a motorcycle accident that occurred last Saturday is recovering at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital...... BCA to look into Sembawang homes affected by cracks The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is looking into the concerns of some residents in Sembawang who have suffered damage to their properties...... 11 structures near former Bt Timah railway station being demolished Since last month, demolition works have been carried out on 11 small buildings and structures near the former Bukit Timah Railway Station...... Singapore Red Cross gears up to bring cheer to more needy people It's the season of giving, and the Singapore Red Cross is gearing up to bring cheer to more needy people in the coming year...... Tourism strategy to focus on getting visitors to spend more Singapore's tourism strategy will not only involve increasing visitor numbers......

Singapore Local News, 2012-12-24

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Real Christmas trees gaining popularity in Singapore Live Christmas trees or fir trees seem to be gaining popularity in Singapore. But how do these trees - native to a cooler climate, fare in equatorial Singapore? Far East Flora says it imported about 6,000 trees this........     Charities see more volunteers during festive season The National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) said it is seeing more people coming forward to volunteer during the festive season. More of such seasonal volunteers are switching to regular community work. At........ Computer firm says town council's claim "inaccurate" A disagreement between Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) and a company that used to provide its computer and financial systems continues. In a letter to the media, Action Information Management Pte Ltd (AIM) said AHTC Chairman........ 653-unit executive condominium development receives 800 applications Forestville, the latest executive condominium (EC) project at Woodlands, has seen strong demand from eligible home buyers since electronic applications opened on December 21. Close to 800 e-applications have been received over the........ S'pore's Nov inflation moderates to 3.6% on-year Singapore's inflation moderated to 3.6 per cent on-year in November, down from 4.0 per cent in October and lower than what economists had expected. Data released by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Monetary........

Metal theft on the rise again An area of concern for the authorities five years ago, the theft of metal has, in recent months, witnessed an increase, as construction activities are ramped up around the island. A total of 481 cases of metal thefts were reported in the first........     Heartlands abuzz with activity on Christmas eve Orchard Road and downtown are known to be packed on Christmas eve, but in the heartlands, streets and shops are also abuzz with activities...... Vegetarian and vegan dining options for festive season It's just one day to Christmas and the festive season would not be complete without a celebratory meal...... Charities see more volunteers during festive season The National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) said it is seeing more people coming forward to volunteer during the festive season...... S'pore's top social issues in 2012 Singaporeans are under significant environmental and psychological pressure, say sociologists...... Real Christmas trees gaining popularity in Singapore Live Christmas trees or fir trees seem to be gaining popularity in Singapore...... Computer firm says town council's claim "inaccurate" A disagreement between Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) and a company that used to provide its computer and financial systems continues...... Road users urged to be responsible The Singapore Road Safety Council is appealing to road users to be responsible and safe during the festive season......

Singapore Local News, 2012-12-23

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More renting cars & yachts this festive season More Singaporeans are renting cars and yachts for their celebrations this festive season. Short-term car rentals at Prime Car Rental has gone up by about 50 per cent during the festive period. The company said MPVs are........     Rivervale Plaza upgrading to be completed in June 2013 Upgrading work at Sengkang's Rivervale Plaza will be completed in June next year, said North East District mayor Teo Ser Luck. Mr Teo, who was tasked to oversee the Punggol East ward following the resignation of MP Michael Palmer,........ More S'poreans fall prey to phone scams More Singaporeans fell prey to lucky draw phone scams in the first eight months of the year. Police said there were 234 reported cases in the period, of which 134 victims were cheated of their money. Between January and........

Agents to hire more Sri Lankan domestic helpers next year Maid agents in Singapore are looking to hire more foreign domestic helpers from Sri Lanka. From next year, the Association of Employment Agencies plans to bring in between 500 and 1,000 Sri Lankan domestic helpers a month, up from........     Lions receive roaring welcome in S'pore The Lions returned from Bangkok to a hero's welcome at Changi Airport on Sunday, after lifting the AFF Suzuki Cup for an unprecedented fourth time...... More renting cars & yachts this festive season More Singaporeans are renting cars and yachts for their celebrations this festive season...... Rivervale Plaza upgrading to be completed in June 2013 Upgrading work at Sengkang's Rivervale Plaza will be completed in June next year, said North East District mayor Teo Ser Luck...... More S'poreans fall prey to "lucky draw" phone scams More Singaporeans fell prey to lucky draw phone scams in the first eight months of the year......

Singapore Local News, 2012-12-22

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All-female national conversation session held A lack of a good work-life balance was common gripe shared by over 50 participants, aged between 25 and 79 years old, at a national conversation session for ladies. The session took place on Saturday morning, led by grassroots........     ACRES seeks public debate on dolphins Animal welfare group ACRES wants a debate on the dolphins which are at the heart of the controversy surrounding Resorts World Sentosa's Marine Life Park. ACRES said it has invited Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) to a public debate on........ Hero's welcome in store for Lions tomorrow Win or lose in Bangkok tonight, Radojko Avramovic's Lions will receive a hero's welcome when they return from the Thai capital tomorrow. The national team will be returning from Bangkok on flight SQ973 and are expected to arrive........

Medisave Required Amount to be raised From next month, the Medisave Required Amount (MRA) in the Central Provident Fund (CPF) will be raised to S$38,500 from the current S$32,000. The MRA refers to the amount that must be set aside in the Medisave Account, after the CPF........     Man loses S$6,000 in unhonoured online purchase 21-year-old Kenrick Ho is S$6,000 poorer after an online purchase gone wrong...... All-female national conversation session held A lack of a good work-life balance was common gripe shared by over 50 participants, aged between 25 and 79 years old, at a national conversation session for ladies...... Agents to hire more Sri Lankan maids next year Maid agents in Singapore are looking to hire more foreign domestic helpers from Sri Lanka...... ACRES seeks public debate on dolphins Animal welfare group ACRES wants a debate on the dolphins which are at the heart of the controversy surrounding Resorts World Sentosa's Marine Life Park......

Singapore Local News, 2012-12-21

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PM Lee "considering seriously" whether to call by-election Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he is considering seriously if a by-election should be held for the Punggol East single-member constituency, and if so, when to hold one. The parliamentary seat in Punggol East fell vacant........     ICA system experiences 'intermittent slow-down' Members of the public took a longer time to collect their passports today as the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) system experienced "intermittent slow-down". The slow-down occurred at about 9am, said the ICA in response to........ Avramovic confirms that he is quitting Lions BANGKOK - National coach Radojko Avramovic has confirmed that he will be stepping down from his position after the Asean Football Federation Championship. The 63-year-old Serbian, who took charge of the Lions in 2003, had been asked during this........ Ex-PropNex salesman charged with moneylending offences SINGAPOR - A former real estate salesman with PropNex Realty has become the first salesperson in Singapore to be prosecuted by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) for moneylending-related offences. Ghazali Mohamed Rasul, 38, was charged with....... 9 arrested for operating & gaming in illegal gambling den Police have arrested nine people for operating and gaming in an illegal gambling den at a shophouse along Geylang Road. The five-hour operation started yesterday at about 9pm. Officers from Bedok Police Division raided........ Sengkang West LRT to extend services, including opening of Cheng Lim station From January next year, SBS Transit will operate the Sengkang West LRT in both directions throughout the day. Currently, this happens only during the morning and evening peak hours. The move will enable SBS Transit to........ CPF medisave required amount to be raised to S$38,500 From January next year, the Medisave Required Amount (MRA) in the Central Provident Fund (CPF) will be raised to S$38,500 from the current S$32,000. The CPF Board said the change is to enable them to have enough savings to meet........ MAS proposes rules to encourage responsible use of credit cards, unsecured credit The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has proposed changes to credit cards and unsecured credit rules. The changes, laid out in a consultation paper released today, are aimed at improving financial institutions' lending and........ 70% of workers intend to change jobs next year: Survey Ninety three per cent of employers surveyed said that they will continue to hire to fill essential positions in the next six months, according to the latest survey by recruitment company JobStreet.com. However, only 22 per cent of........ CPF maintains 4% rate on Special and Medisave Accounts Central Provident Fund members will continue to enjoy a risk-free interest rate of four per cent on their Special and Medisave Accounts for the next three months, from Jan 1 to March 31 next year. The interest rate on their........ Singapore's start-ups struggle to woo investors The Republic's decade-long push to become a hotbed for entrepreneurs is stuck at stage one. The city-state of 5.3 million people ranks No 1 in the world in ease of doing business and fourth in starting one, according to a World Bank........

Poly students want 'stress-free' society A more gracious and inclusive society with a slower pace of life, where Singaporeans are happier than they are today and not caught up in the rat race. This is the Singapore that 185 students from four polytechnics........     Venture Scouts, Girl Guides conferred prestigious awards Eighteen Venture Scouts and seven Girl Guides in Singapore have been conferred the highest honour in the movement...... SCDF team deployed for Bopha relief efforts returns home The three officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) who were deployed to help in the Tropical Storm Bopha relief efforts in the Philippines have returned to Singapore...... Glitch causes delay in issuing of passports at ICA The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has said it is investigating a glitch that caused a delay in the issuing of passports at the ICA building on Friday - the second delay in a week...... PM Lee "considering seriously" whether to call by-election Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says he is considering seriously if a by-election should be held for the Punggol East single-member constituency, and if so, when to hold one...... Ex-director fined and jailed for corruption A former director of a sea freight services was on Friday sentenced to four weeks' jail and fined S$30,000 for corruption...... 9 arrested for operating & gaming in illegal gambling den SINGAPORE : Police have arrested nine people for operating and gaming in an illegal gambling den at a shophouse along Geylang Road...... Sengkang West LRT to extend services, including opening of Cheng Lim station From 1 January 2013, SBS Transit will operate the Sengkang West LRT in both directions throughout the day...... Ex-PropNex salesman charged with moneylending offences A former real estate salesman with PropNex Realty has become the first salesperson in Singapore to be prosecuted by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) for moneylending-related offences...... Proposed changes to credit cards and unsecured credit rules The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has proposed rules changes to encourage the responsible use of credit card and unsecured credit...... 70% of workers intend to change jobs next year: survey Nine in ten (93%) employers while cautious will continue to hire to fill essential positions in the next six months, according to the latest survey by recruitment company JobStreet.com...... CPF Medisave Required Amount to be raised to $38,500 From January next year, the Medisave Required Amount (MRA) in the Central Provident Fund (CPF) will be raised to S$38,500 from the current S$32,000......

Singapore Local News, 2012-12-20

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Specialised school for N(T) students opens its doors Singapore's first specialised school for Normal (Technical) stream students welcomed its first batch of students at its brand new campus this morning. Crest Secondary School will provide a customised curriculum, allowing students to........     SMRT trains to run later on Christmas Eve Those partaking in Christmas revelry can now afford to stay out later and still catch public transport home - SMRT has announced that SMRT trains and selected bus services will be running later on Christmas Eve, Dec 24, with the services ending........ Man jailed, caned for robbing Vietnamese woman A fruit seller was sentenced to four years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane today for robbing a woman whom he had paid for sex. Quek Pheng Hock, 49 also robbed the Vietnamese woman of her handphone and S$1,700 worth of cash...... Train service disrupted on NEL due to train fault Train services on the Northeast Line (NEL) were delayed due to a train fault today. The delay, which lasted about 40 mins started at about 4.40pm, when services between Punggol and Little India station were stopped...... Two bodies set up to enforce & advise on Personal Data Protection Act The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) is setting up a Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) to administer and enforce the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). The commission will undertake education and outreach........

Small cars COE hits new high of S$81,889 Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums for small cars continued to surge in the latest bidding exercise, clocking its sixth consecutive increase and another high in the category. The premium for small cars (1,600cc and below)........     Specialised school for N(T) students opens its doors Singapore's first specialised school for Normal (Technical) stream students welcomed its first batch of students at its brand new campus on Thursday morning...... Man jailed, caned for robbing Vietnamese woman A fruit seller was sentenced to four years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane on Thursday for robbing a woman whom he had paid for sex...... Train service on NEL resumes after disruption Services on the North East Line (NEL) have resumed after a disruption due to train fault...... Train service disrupted on NEL due to train fault Services on the North East Line (NEL) have been delayed due to a train fault on Thursday...... Two bodies set up to enforce & advise on Personal Data Protection Act The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) is setting up a Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) to administer and enforce the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)...... S$1.7m paid out under SEC & WIS for persons with disabilities Nearly S$1.7 million has been paid out under the Special Employment Credit (SEC) and Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) for persons with disabilities...... More employers offering work-life arrangements More employers in Singapore are offering work-life arrangements, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)......

Singapore Local News, 2012-12-19

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All workers in Yishun salary dispute paid salary arrears: MOM All 28 workers, who were owed wages, have been paid their salary arrears and they reported for work today, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). And as for the four Chinese national construction workers who had lodged salary claims........     95 students wrongly informed about eligibility for polytechnic programme A "system error" resulted in 95 students who were not eligible for the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) being issued eligibility forms, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) today. "On 17 December 2012, after the release of the........ River Valley High School principal assisting CPIB in investigation Mr Steven Koh Yong Chiah, Principal of River Valley High School, is assisting the Corrupt Practices Investigations Bureau (CPIB) in its investigation, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) in a statement today. The MOE said it was........ 50 community countdown parties to welcome 2013 Grassroots organisations under the People's Association umbrella are organising about 50 community countdown parties islandwide to usher in the new year. 80,000 residents are expected to join in the revelry, which will also feature........ COE premiums for small cars hit S$81,889 Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums for vehicles rose in most categories, with the premium for small cars hitting another all time high, at the end of the latest bidding exercise today. The premium for cars 1,600 cc and below........ Man gets 11 weeks' jail for sex with underage girl A 37-year-old man was sentenced today to 11 weeks' jail for having sex with an underage prostitute. Tan Wei Siong pleaded guilty to one charge of paying the girl S$450 for sex at Hotel 81 Bencoolen on Oct 6, 2010. Tan is........ Migrant Workers' Centre reminds employers of their roles The Migrant Workers' Centre has reminded employers of their responsibilities to foreign workers under Singapore's manpower regulations. These include prompt payment of salaries, providing acceptable housing and adequate care during........ Buses diverted for Orchard Road closure on Christmas Day Some bus services will be diverted along Orchard Road on Christmas Day due to celebrations taking place. SMRT said in a statement that bus services 77, 106, 167, 171, 190 and 700A will be temporarily diverted on 25 December between........

Prescription for a new disciplinary regime Members of the legal and medical fraternities have weighed in on how the disciplinary process for doctors can be improved, prompted by recent outcomes in court and letters to the media expressing dissatisfaction with how patients'........     95 students wrongly informed about eligibility for polytechnic programme SINGAPORE - A "system error" resulted in 95 students who were not eligible for the Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP) being issued eligibility forms, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Wednesday...... Police appeal for information on missing mother and daughter Police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of a mother and daughter...... Ex-SMRT bus drivers undecided on claiming trial The four ex-SMRT drivers charged with instigating an illegal strike are undecided on whether to claim trial...... River Valley High principal assisting in CPIB probe The Ministry of Education (MOE) has redeployed the principal of River Valley High School Mr Steven Koh Yong Chiah...... Researchers discover new way to prevent muscle loss Scientists from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have discovered a technique to prevent muscle loss...... Yishun worksite pay dispute resolved The Migrant Workers' Centre said a favourable resolution has been achieved in the salary dispute involving foreign workers at a construction site in Yishun...... Employment agency industry to undergo revamp The Association of Employment Agencies Singapore is embarking on several initiatives to transform the industry...... Boys' Brigade sets new Share-A-Gift project record The Boys' Brigade Share-A-Gift project has met its target of bringing festive cheer to 30,285 beneficiaries this year...... S'pore appoints new ambassadors to United Arab Emirates and Laos The government has appointed Mr Umej Singh Bhatia as Singapore's first resident Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. He will assume his duties on 2 January 2013...... 50 community countdown parties to welcome 2013 Grassroots organisations under the People's Association umbrella are organising about 50 community countdown parties islandwide to usher in the new year...... Requirement for successful bidders of certain industrial sites The Singapore government will require successful bidders of selected industrial sites under its land sales programme to build a minimum number of large factory units...... Small cars COE hits all-time high The COE premium for small cars hit an all-time high at the end of the latest bidding exercise on Wednesday...... Migrant Workers' Centre reminds employers of their roles The Migrant Workers' Centre has reminded employers of their responsibilities to foreign workers under Singapore's manpower regulations...... Man gets 11 weeks' jail for sex with underage girl A 37-year-old man was sentenced on Wednesday to 11 weeks' jail for having sex with an underage prostitute......