Singapore Local News, 2013-01-31

---

Hundreds turn up for funeral of boys killed in Tampines accident Hundreds turned up for the funeral of the two brothers - Nigel and Donavan Yap - to bid their final farewell......     Tokyo Auto Salon exhibition in S'pore to feature unique cars It's an opportunity of a lifetime for fans of fast cars and race queens, as the Tokyo Auto Salon graces Singapore's shores for the first time in its 30-year history...... CNB nabs 113 suspected drug offenders 113 suspected drug offenders were arrested in a three-day island-wide operation...... A library without librarians A library with no librarians. That is the model the new 'library@chinatown' is going for...... Applications open for flats under Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has launched its first batch of flats under the new rental housing scheme to support marriage and parenthood...... 16 motorists arrested for drink driving Traffic Police arrested 16 motorists for drink driving during a pre-dawn operation on Thursday morning...... Man settles negligence suit against Sembawang Town Council A resident who accused Sembawang Town Council of negligence after he became paralysed in a fall has resolved the case with the town council - four days into the hearing......

Major shift in economic gears in Population White Paper: DPM Teo Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said the White Paper on Population represents a major shift in the way the country grows its labour force......     Four arrested for suspected thefts from the elderly Police have arrested four men suspected of stealing from the elderly...... New chief executives for PA, National Heritage Board and National Art Gallery The People's Association, National Heritage Board and The National Art Gallery will have new chief executives from March (2013)...... Chinese national jailed for theft onboard A Chinese national has been sentenced to two weeks' jail for stealing from another passenger during a flight from Medan to Singapore...... Zee Yoong Kang to take over as HPB's CEO Mr Zee Yoong Kang will take over as CEO of the Health Promotion Board (HPB) on 1 March, when current CEO Ang Hak Seng leaves to head the People's Association (PA)...... WP plans to merge town councils of Punggol East with Aljunied-Hougang The Workers' Party (WP) plans to bring its newly-won ward of Punggol East under the wings of the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC)...... More people volunteering their services to help others: survey More people are giving their time and making the effort to help others, with one in three serving as volunteers in 2012...... Errant drivers could face harsher penalties Second Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran said there are some possible areas that the authorities are looking into -- errant drivers could face harsher penalties, while more speed cameras will be installed and more Traffic Police officers will be de..... Changi Airport logs record 51 million passengers in 2012 Singapore's Changi Airport handled a record 51 million passengers last year. This is 10 per cent more 2011...... 700,000 new homes by 2030 By 2030, Singapore is expected to have 700,000 new homes which will be located in new towns, existing estates and the central region, where 200,000 of these units will be completed by the end of 2016...... Ex-cop jailed, caned for molesting woman A ex-policeman has been sentenced to 14 months' jail and three strokes of the cane for molesting a woman outside the lift of a housing block...... Two new commercial belts to bring jobs closer to homes Two new commercial belts will be developed to locate more jobs nearer to homes...... 5,200 hectares more land to accommodate projected 6.9m population: govt Singapore plans to increase its land supply by nearly 8 per cent to 76,600 hectares to accommodate its projected population of 6.9 million by 2030, according to the Land Use Plan report released on Thursday...... Foreign workforce growth slows significantly, local hiring rises sharply The growth of the foreign workforce in Singapore slowed down significantly in 2012, while local employment growth rose sharply, amid tighter controls to check the inflow of foreign workers, according to the key preliminary findings of the Employment .....

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-30

---

Two men arrested for making online threats Two men were arrested earlier on Monday for making online threats......     MINDEF signs contract with ST Engineering to construct naval vessels Singapore's Defence Ministry (MINDEF) has signed a contract with Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd for the design and construction of eight new naval vessels...... Overseas votes for Punggol East by-election counted Results of the votes cast overseas for the Punggol East by-election on January 26 were counted on Wednesday at the counting centre at North Vista Secondary School...... Driver of truck involved in Tampines accident out on bail The driver of a truck which hit and killed two boys in Tampines on Monday has been released on police bail...... S'pore moves up to 2nd spot in trust survey Singapore has moved up to the number two spot for the most trusting nation in the world, according to the 2013 Edelman Trust Barometer. It was third in 2012 and seventh in 2011......

S'pore intercepts illegal shipment of raw ivory tusks Singapore has stopped a large illegal shipment of raw ivory tusks on the way from Africa......     HPB, RP launch innovation lab to drive health promotion The Health Promotion Board (HPB) and Republic Polytechnic (RP) are working together to research, test and develop technologies to drive health promotion...... Greater community support helps ex-offenders Greater community support for ex-offenders has paid off -- with overall fewer ex-inmates imprisoned for re-offending -- according to the Singapore Prison Service's annual report card...... NTU researchers make breakthrough in laser cooling Bulky and noisy air-conditioning compressors and refrigerators could be replaced by cooling system using lasers in future...... NEA steps up efforts against mosquito breeding during festive period The National Environment Agency (NEA) is stepping up efforts against mosquito breeding during the Lunar New Year period...... Talent Development Alliance formed to tap into workforce training in China market Singapore has formed a Talent Development Alliance (TDA) to help the country's companies gain a stronger foothold in the China market through education and training...... 21,227 cartons of contraband cigarettes seized Customs officers seized 21,227 cartons of contraband cigarettes and arrested five men and a woman during islandwide operations last week...... NTUC urges bosses to do more to package jobs to fill vacancies The labour movement said employers should do more to package jobs to attract those who are not working to fill job vacancies...... Ex-SMRT bus drivers report abuse allegations in online video Police said two defendants who had been charged for their roles in an SMRT bus strike in November 2012 have made serious allegations in a video online that they been assaulted while in police custody......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-29

---

NTU launches new centre to treat eye diseases Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) latest research centre Ocular Therapeutic Engineering Centre (OTEC) aims to come up with innovative solutions to treat eye problems like glaucoma......     Certis Cisco officer found dead with gunshot wound to head A Certis Cisco officer was found dead with a gunshot wound to her head in a toilet of the Supreme Court on Tuesday afternoon, said the police...... Wife of paralysed man takes stand in suit against Sembawang Town Council SINGAPORE : The wife of the man who became paralysed after a mishap on a walkway testified in court on Tuesday in a negligence suit against Sembawang Town Council...... Man faces 85 charges under Employment of Foreign Manpower Act SINGAPORE : The owner of a construction company, F & I Engineering & Services, has been charged with 85 counts of offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA)...... Not just headline number which matters in population policy: PM Lee Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said the country's population challenges are difficult and complex......

Infrastructure development to keep pace with population growth The government is planning to build 700,000 new homes by 2030......     "Snakes and Ladders" exhibition at Singapore Philatelic Museum The Singapore Philatelic Museum has put together a special reptilian exhibition to usher in the zodiac Year of the Snake...... Man charged with using another person's credit card to pay for fast food A man who used another person's credit card to pay for a fast food chain's home delivery service on four occasions has been charged with cheating...... PM Lee calls for sensitivity & respect online for deceased boys' family Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged all to continue to show sensitivity and respect, especially online, for the family who lost two sons in the accident at Tampines on Tuesday...... 12,000 residents have taken part so far in Our Singapore Conversation Over 12,000 residents have so far taken part in 155 sessions of the Our Singapore Conversation between September 2012 to January 2013...... More than half of employers in S'pore raised salaries in 2012: report More than half of the employers in Singapore increased salaries between 3 and 6 per cent in 2012, according to the 2013 Hays Salary Guide, and employers intend to do the same when they next review...... Population projected at 6.9 million by 2030 with strong Singaporean core Singapore's population could hit 6.9 million in 2030 - up from the current 5.3 million - if strategies outlined in the White Paper on Population to mitigate the country's ageing and shrinking population are met...... Family & friends giving support to deceased boys' family: Baey Yam Keng MP for Tampines GRC, Baey Yam Keng, said he had visited the family of the two boys who died in a traffic accident on Monday evening...... HDB offers over 3,300 new flats under 6 BTO projects HDB on Tuesday launched six new BTO projects with a total of 3,346 flats in three mature towns -- Ang Mo Kio, Kallang/Whampoa and Tampines -- and three non-mature towns -- Choa Chu Kang, Hougang and Yishun...... MOE to step up road safety education in light of Tampines accident Education Minister Heng Swee Keat has expressed his sadness over the death of two boys who were hit by a cement truck along Tampines Ave 9......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-28

---

Town council handover to WP should be smooth: Zainal Sapari Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC) and Chairman for Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council, Mr Zainal Sapari, said he wants to ensure a smooth handover of the Punggol East ward to the Workers' Party......     New teachers urged to focus on holistic education New teachers have been reminded to focus on providing a holistic education, said Director of the National Institute of Education (NIE), Lee Sing Kong, at a teachers' investiture ceremony on Monday...... Man in "trolley bag" case pleads guilty to failing to report death The lover of a businessman acquitted of murder in the "trolley bag" case pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to report the death to the police...... 1,062 employers taken to task for providing poor accommodation SINGPORE: 1,062 employers were warned or fined in 2012 for providing foreign workers with poor accommodation...... Prosecution, defence wrap up arguments in trial of ex-CNB chief The former chief of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Ng Boon Gay, was back in court on Monday, as the prosecution and defence presented their closing arguments...... HSA embarks on new model to evaluate drugs The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is studying a new model to evaluate drugs and bring them in faster to the market......

Man pleads guilty to maid abuse A 41-year-old man has pleaded guilty to punching and slapping his maid when she did not iron his trousers immediately after he asked her to do so......     Man who helped run brothel jailed A 30-year-old man who helped to run a brothel and collected commission from the clients of prostitutes has been sentenced to three months' jail...... Job vacancies up 4.4% in Sep 2012 The number of job vacancies rose by 4.4 per cent to hit 56,400 in September 2012, amid a tight labour market...... S'pore scientists make significant discoveries on growth of gastric cancer Singapore scientists have made significant discoveries on the way gastric cancer grows, in a critical step towards finding a cure...... From Feb 4, no ERP charge for one CTE gantry from 8.30am-9am From February 4, motorists who pass a gantry along the Central Expressway (CTE) before Braddell Road will not have to pay Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges between 8.30am and 9am...... Ex-CNB chief's defence asks court not to convict innocent man The defence in the corruption trial of the former chief of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Ng Boon Gay, has asked the court not to convict an innocent man just to bring home the message that corruption is wrong...... Posting results to JCs and polys out on Thursday Students who have applied to junior colleges (JCs) and polytechnics will know where they have been posted to on Thursday...... Singapore's system of meritocracy can be improved: Lawrence Wong Singapore's system of meritocracy can be improved for the benefit of all, as part of the ideals of a fair and just society, said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong..... Govt to tighten law to better protect timeshare consumers The government is tightening safeguards and plugging loopholes in the law to better protect consumers in timeshare deals...... Nanyang Business School takes 32nd spot in world's MBA rankings Nanyang Business School (NBS) is now ranked 32nd in the Financial Times' 2013 ranking of the world's MBA programmes, up two spots from last year......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-27

---

PM Lee presents hongbaos to needy Yio Chu Kang residents Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong presented hongbaos to some 100 needy residents at Yio Chu Kang on Sunday morning at the Yio Chu Kang Community Centre......     Limited edition 4-star Lions team kits launched The Lions' fourth historic ASEAN football title win last December was marked with the production of a 4-star Singapore national team kit...... Train services between S'pore & M'sia remain cancelled Train services between Singapore and Malaysia remain cancelled, after a Singapore-bound train derailed and overturned near the Kempas train station on Saturday...... President Tony Tan on private overseas visit President Tony Tan Keng Yam will be overseas on a private visit...... About 6,000 take part in Green Corridor Run What used to be a rail line became a running track on Sunday morning, as about 6,000 runners raced down a green pathway, known as the Rail Corridor......

Voters decided WP is better party to serve them: Ng Eng Hen Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen said voters of Punggol East have decided that the Workers' Party (WP) is the better party to serve them......     WP's Lee sets out immediate priorities for Punggol East Member of Parliament-elect for Punggol East, Lee Li Lian, said her immediate priorities are the town council and meet-the-people sessions (MPS) in the ward...... By-election result can't be taken as trend in future: Low Thia Khiang The Workers' Party's (WP) secretary-general Mr Low Thia Khiang said the results of the Punggol East by-election should not be seen as a trend for the future...... PAP's Koh reflects on by-election outcome The People's Action Party's (PAP) candidate in the Punggol East by-election, Dr Koh Poh Koon, said it is important to have a good strong team and to continue to be sincere with residents......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-26

---

Punggol East polls close Polling stations for the Punggol East by-election closed at 8pm on Saturday......     81% of eligible voters have cast votes by 5pm By 5pm, 81 per cent of eligible voters in Punggol East have cast their votes to choose a Member of Parliament in a four-cornered by-election on Saturday......

Overseas Singaporeans cast votes HONG KONG: Fifty-nine Singaporeans overseas are eligible to cast their votes on Saturday in the Punggol East by-elections......     IKEA to stop selling disposable plastic bags Household store IKEA will stop selling disposable plastic bags from March 23 to encourage customers to bring their own shopping bags...... Voting kicks off for Punggol East by-election Voting has started in the Punggol East by-election......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-25

---

SAF starts Care Fund for severely disabled servicemen The Singapore Armed Forces has started a Care Fund for severely disabled servicemen......     Robber who fled to Thailand jailed for seven years A robber who skipped town after he was charged with 49 counts of robbery and cheating offences has been sentenced to seven years' jail and ordered to be given 24 strokes of the cane...... NUS names water research facility in honour of Dutchman The National University of Singapore has named its water research facility the van Kleef Centre. This is to honour Dutchman Karel Willem Benjamin van Kleef, who lived in Singapore in the 19th and early 20th century...... Football: LionsXII match called off due to pitch problems KUALA LUMPUR: The LionsXII's Malaysian FA Cup match against bogey side PKNS on Friday afternoon was called off after 37 minutes because of a waterlogged pitch at the Shah Alam Stadium...... Police report lodged against church pastor SINGAPORE : Police have confirmed that a report has been lodged against the pastor of Cornerstone Community Church, Yang Tuck Yoong......

New premises for Singapore Pools from Feb 6 SINGAPORE : Singapore Pools will operate from its new premises at Middle Road from February 6......     AXA, estate of Ma Chi reach compensation deal The insurers of the Ferrari car involved in a high-speed crash that left two others dead and two injured have reached a settlement with the estate of the deceased driver Ma Chi...... NTU partners Holland's Wageningen University in food science research Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is working with a leading research centre of Wageningen University from the Netherlands in food science and technology...... More caught buying and selling smuggled cigarettes More people were nabbed in 2012 for buying contraband cigarettes in Singapore -- an increase of 4.5 per cent. This is according to Singapore Customs' annual statistics...... Private home prices up 1.8% in Q4: URA Private home prices rose 1.8 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to a 0.6 per cent increase in the previous quarter...... S'pore appoints new ambassador to Ethiopia & African Union The government has appointed Mr Vanu Gopala Menon as Singapore's first Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union...... COV of flats in popular estates remains high in Q4 The cash premiums for HDB resale flats continued to hover in the high range in the fourth quarter of 2012 in some popular estates...... HDB resale prices rise 2.5% to record highs in Q4 Resale prices for HDB flats reached record highs in the fourth quarter of 2012, but the price increases for the year were slower compared with the previous year......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-24

---

Moviegoers disappointed on "Vishwaroopam" being postponed Patrons who turned up to watch the latest movie by actor-director Kamal Hassan received a rude shock on Thursday......     Jeyaretnam protests media portrayals of RP team as "motley crew" Reform Party chief and Punggol East by-election candidate Kenneth Jeyaretnam has protested against media portrayals of his team as a "motley crew"...... Police advice to Punggol East voters on Polling Day Voters in the Punggol East by-election are advised to take public transport or where possible, walk to their polling stations on 26 January...... Special hearing for woman who cheated others of luxury bags A special hearing was held on Thursday in court to ascertain if a woman had cheated two others of their branded bags due to a mental disorder...... Networking more important than getting pay rise: survey Eighty-five per cent of Singaporean professionals surveyed actually plan to make a New Year resolution related to their professional life or career this year - up from the 67 per cent who did in 2012 and in contrast to how only 54 per cent of them ma.....

WDA launches new training framework for assembly & test sector The Workforce Development Agency (WDA) has launched a new training framework for the Assembly and Test (A&T) sector......     Publication draws upon S'pore's urban density management A new publication has shown that innovative planning, design and development practices that emphasise a "people-first" focus can help ensure that rapid urbanisation does not compromise liveability and sustainability...... Road closures for Thaipusam Several roads and lanes will be closed this weekend for the annual Thaipusam festival which will be held on 27 January...... Senior Korean maritime official in Singapore on working visit Singapore is playing host to Korea's director general for Maritime Safety Policy Bureau from the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Jang Hwang-Ho...... New hydrogel that can destroy superbugs unveiled Researchers from the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) and IBM Research on Thursday unveiled the first-ever antimicrobial hydrogel that can destroy multidrug-resistant superbugs...... Punggol steps closer to being net zero energy town Another 80 HDB residential blocks in Punggol Eco-Town will be solar powered...... SDA's Lim says he has run campaign as a gentleman Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) candidate for the Punggol East by-election, Desmond Lim, said he has run the campaign race as a gentleman and hopes that voters can appreciate that quality in him...... Governments must adapt to changing environment: Shanmugam The issue of good governance has become a more pressing challenge, and nations all over the world, including Singapore and Thailand, must adapt to the changing operating environment, said Foreign Minister K Shanmugam...... More covered linkways, elderly friendly bridges for commuters The government will spend some S$690 million to better connect commuters to transport nodes and reduce noise levels from passing trains......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-23

---

Dutch queen to visit Singapore Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will make an inaugural state visit to Singapore from Wednesday to Friday......     Supreme Court appoints its first CEO The Supreme Court will have a Chief Executive of Judiciary Administration & Operations from February 1...... PUB, PWN Technologies sign MOU National water agency PUB will work with a Dutch water supply company in the search for innovative water solutions to meet Singapore's growing water demand more efficiently and boost its status as a global hydrohub...... S'pore-Thai civil service exchange to take place on Thursday Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Surapong Tovichakchaikul will lead a team of 53 Thai officials for the 11th Coordinating Meeting of the Thailand-Singapore Civil Service Exchange Programme on Thursday...... "National decision" by Philippines to take China to UN tribunal: MFA Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the decision by the Philippines to start arbitration proceedings against China on the South China Sea dispute is a national decision...... Dining with the stars at ME@OUE Diners can soon look forward to a star-studded dining experience right in the heart of the business district. ME@OUE -- a collaboration between real estate developer OUE and MediaCorp, the parent company of Channel NewsAsia -- will boast cuisines by ..... NTUC's My First Skool to lower fees for some children NTUC First Campus said more than 60 per cent of parents with children at its childcare arm, My First Skool, can expect to pay lower fees......

4 outdoor sites for assembly on polling night Candidates and their supporters can gather at four sites on polling night of the Punggol East by-election......     Cooling-Off Day on Jan 25 The Elections Department has reminded political parties and candidates in the Punggol East by-election that Friday is Cooling-Off Day...... S Iswaran to attend World Economic Forum meeting in Davos Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry, Mr S Iswaran, will attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland from January 23 to 26...... SMRT sacks 3 drivers allegedly involved in Nov strike SMRT has terminated the services of three bus drivers who are facing criminal charges for their alleged roles in a strike last November - for absence from work without valid reasons...... COE premiums mostly down after latest bidding exercise Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums were mostly down at the end of the latest bidding exercise at 4pm on Wednesday...... Halimah Yacob takes on role of NCSS advisor Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob is taking on the role of an advisor to the National Council of Social Service (NCSS)...... Australian man cleared of molestation charge after public apology An Australian man has been cleared of a charge of molesting a purchasing officer...... PAP's Koh says his campaign momentum going strong People's Action Party (PAP) candidate for Punggol East, Dr Koh Poh Koon, has said the momentum of his by-election campaign is going "very strong"...... Opposition unity a "far-fetched notion", says RP's Jeyaretnam Reform Party candidate for Punggol East, Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam, has said opposition unity in Singapore is a far-fetched notion...... Dr Teo Ho Pin reiterates facts surrounding AIM contract Coordinating Chairman of PAP Town Councils, Dr Teo Ho Pin, has reiterated that Action Information Management (AIM) was awarded a contract after an open tender by PAP town councils...... SDA's Lim to champion opposition unity if elected MP Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) candidate for Punggol East, Mr Desmond Lim, wants to be a champion for opposition unity, if he is elected as a Member of Parliament...... Higher subsidies to make child & infant care more affordable Lower and middle-income families will enjoy higher government subsidies in child and infant care services under a new subsidy framework from April......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-22

---

Football: Lions suffer second defeat in three games TERENGGANU - A controversial penalty condemned the LionsXII to their second defeat in three games and snapped T-Team's two-game losing streak......     Exhumation at Bukit Brown cemetery delayed Exhumation at Bukit Brown cemetery has been delayed till April to give the next-of-kin one last chance to mark Qingming Festival, which falls in late-March...... Court to decide on hearing date for Section 377A case The High Court will set a date to hear the case revolving around a challenge against the law that makes sex between men a crime, after lawyers from both sides submit their documents...... SAF holds annual artillery exercise in New Zealand SINGAPORE : The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is conducting an annual artillery exercise, codenamed Thunder Warrior, at the Waiouru Training Area in New Zealand...... More teachers to be trained to teach revised English Language syllabus SINGAPORE : More teachers will be trained to teach the revised English Language syllabus that is targeted at upper primary students...... Future of Singapore in the hands of babies: ESM Goh Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said babies must be celebrated, expectant mothers pampered and mothers honoured......

WP to hold final rally on Wed, RP to hold second rally on Thur The Workers' Party will hold its final rally for the Punggol East by-election on Wednesday......     Job candidates pulling out of hiring process disruptive: report Shortlisted job candidates who pull out of the hiring process are hurting company productivity, according to a survey by global talent solutions company, Hudson...... Caregivers can rest at Ronald McDonald House at NUH Families with sick children at the National University Hospital can now seek respite at an overnight facility within the hospital - called the Ronald McDonald House...... Young workers save more than older peers: survey Contrary to popular belief that young Singapore workers spend more than they save, a survey has found that they save more than their older peers...... NTU helps graduating students connect with companies Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is helping its graduating students connect with companies which are hiring with a new smartphone application...... NUS law prof Tey takes short break after hyperventilating The NUS law professor defending himself in his sex-for-grades corruption trial started hyperventilating in the dock when the court session resumed after lunch on Tuesday...... RP's Jeyaretnam to hold Meet-the-People session on Wednesday Reform Party candidate Kenneth Jeyaretnam has said he plans to hold a Meet-the-People session on Wednesday evening...... Three rescued from fire in Hougang Three people were rescued from a flat in Hougang after a fire broke out on Tuesday morning...... SDA's Lim says not disheartened by negative comments The Singapore Democratic Alliance's candidate for the Punggol East by-election, Mr Desmond Lim, said on Tuesday that he is not disheartened by the negative comments from netizens regarding his online rally...... New scheme to help defray children's healthcare bills From March, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will set aside S$8 million annually under a new Medifund Junior scheme to help needy Singaporeans defray their children's healthcare bills...... DPM Teo urges Punggol East voters to do comparisons Punggol East residents have been urged to compare what the People's Action Party (PAP) candidate, Dr Koh Poh Koon, has to offer them against others contesting the by-election......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-21

---

Parents-to-be welcome new pro-family incentives From 1 May 2013, working fathers will be legally entitled to one week of paid paternity leave......     Banks begin "good-as-new" note exchange service Banks in Singapore have started their service to exchange new notes for the Lunar New Year...... M1 provides details on service disruption & recovery M1 has provided more details on the service disruption which affected customers from 15 to 17 January...... New parenting incentives "balanced": NTUC, SNEF Measures have been announced to help working couples balance their work and family commitments...... Baby bonus up by S$2,000 per birth Parents will now have more cash in hand as a result of the enhanced Baby Bonus scheme...... PM Lee hopes new incentives will bring more babies Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hopes that the new Marriage and Parenthood package announced on Monday by the government will encourage more couples to start planning, and Singapore will see more babies soon......

Ex-property agent gets 24 weeks' jail for forgery A former property agent has been sentenced to 24 weeks' jail for forgery, cheating and counterfeiting stamp certificates......     WP to hold second rally on Tuesday The Workers' Party will hold its second rally of the Punggol East by-election on January 22...... RP's Jeyaretnam happy with campaign progress so far As the by-election campaign passed the half-way mark, Reform Party's candidate for Punggol East, Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam, said he is happy with the progress so far in terms of feedback and reach...... PAP's Koh pledges to address residents' concerns The People's Action Party's (PAP's) candidate for Punggol East, Dr Koh Poh Koon, has pledged to address concerns raised by residents, especially working mothers, on childcare support...... "It's so shameful", says NUS professor Tey The NUS law professor defending himself in the sex-for-grades corruption trial kept saying "it's so shameful" on the day he was picked up by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) last year...... Singapore unveils S$2b package to boost fertility rate The Singapore government has announced a S$2b package in another attempt to boost the country's low fertility rate...... Video clip of accident goes viral A video clip, apparently taken on a dashboard video camera and showing a lorry side-swiping a motorcycle on the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), has gone viral...... Channel NewsAsia expands coverage Regional broadcaster Channel NewsAsia embarked on a major relaunch on Monday to provide expanded coverage of Asia...... President Tan confident US will steer world out of uncertainty President Tony Tan Keng Yam has said he is confident that the United States will be able to rise to the occasion of steering of the world out of economic uncertainty, under the leadership of President Barack Obama...... SDA's Lim to launch online rally at 6pm The Singapore Democratic Alliance's (SDA's) candidate for Punggol East, Mr Desmond Lim, will start his online rally at 6pm on Monday......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-20

---

Ultra-marathoner sets new personal best in Brazil Singaporean long-distance runner Lim Nghee Huat has set a new record at the ultramarathon in Sao Paulo, Brazil......     Singaporean crowned 'Changi Millionaire' One lucky Singaporean has struck the million-dollar jackpot and was crowned the new Changi Millionaire on Sunday...... CEOs must walk the talk for pro-family policies CEOs have to "walk the talk" to make pro-family policies work in the workplace and it is necessary for them to see family focus as a business imperative...... Channel NewsAsia embarks on expansion plan Channel NewsAsia is all set for a major relaunch on January 21 with an ambitious plan to increase content by 30 per cent and woo new audiences both in Singapore and abroad...... More than S$8.3b disbursed in tax rebates to encourage procreation The government last year gave out more than S$8.3 billion in tax rebates and reliefs aimed at encouraging procreation in the Year of Assessment 2012......

Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visits Singapore Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana on Sunday......     2,000 participants attend SHF walk to learn life-saving skills About 2,000 people braved the weather on Sunday to come together and highlight the importance of learning life-saving skills...... SDA's Lim hopes to have video for online rally out by Monday Singapore Democratic Alliance candidate for the Punggol East by-election Desmond Lim said he hopes to have videos for his online rally out by Monday...... By-election is about choosing the right candidate who can serve: minister The Punggol East by-election is not about voting more opposition into Parliament or to further the interests of the opposition, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said...... Scope to expand healthcare programmes for elderly: Koh Poh Koon The People's Action Party candidate for the Punggol East by-election, Dr Koh Poh Koon said he wants to expand health screening and preventive care programmes for the elderly...... Hundreds stranded as Scoot flights delayed Hundreds of passengers were stranded after their flights on the budget airline Scoot were delayed...... WP will strengthen the voice of the opposition: Lee Li Lian Workers' Party (WP) candidate for the Punggol East by-election, Lee Li Lian said having another WP member in Parliament will strengthen the voice of the opposition party......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-19

---

Local speed skaters to compete in Special Olympics for first time Singapore will send five speed skaters to the Special Olympics World Winter Games for the first time. An Olympic-sized rink set-up in 2012 has helped them prepare for the week-long games in South Korea in late January......     Migrant Workers' Centre urges flexibility in Change of Employer policy The Migrant Workers' Centre has urged the government to be more flexible in allowing foreign workers to change employers...... Be more vigilant of Aedes mosquitoes: authorities Health authorities are urging the public to be more vigilant in keeping their immediate surroundings free of the Aedes mosquito, after one case of the Chikungunya virus was reported at the start of the year...... Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visits Singapore Thailand's Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is to visit Singapore from this weekend......

Getting the law to work for you The National Trades Union Congress and the Law Society of Singapore have launched a new initiative to educate working people on their legal rights......     IRCC to step up outreach to community The Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle (IRCC) has launched a newsletter and a song to step up its efforts to reach out to the community...... Reform Party to hold first rally on Sunday The Reform Party will be holding its first rally for the Punggol East by-election on Sunday at the open area near Block 183C, Rivervale Crescent...... SDA will "make use of new technology" to reach out to residents The Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) will not be holding an on site rally for the Punggol East by-election on Sunday...... Koh Poh Koon has character, conviction & commitment: PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said PAP candidate Dr Koh Poh Koon can make a contribution not just in Punggol East but nationally...... Exploring collaboration between S'pore, Brunei in fight against drug abuse Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said Singapore is keen to study a method one drug rehabilitation centre in Brunei uses to rehabilitate addicts......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-18

---

The Married Men taken off air over inappropriate content SPH UnionWorks, the radio subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), has terminated the services of The Married Men, citing breach of the terms of its contract. This is linked to a humour segment, Kena Pluck, aired yesterday........     RP's K Jeyaretnam has reported 'death threats' to police Punggol East by-election candidate Kenneth Jeyaretnam said he has made a police report about the "death threats" and "cyber-bullying" he said his family were subjected to on social media, and took an online portal to task for their coverage of........ IDA statement on M1 service disruption The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) has issued the following statement on M1's service disruption: IDA takes a serious view of M1's service disruption. We will investigate the service outage thoroughly under the........ M1 offers customers free services for 3 days A day after it declared an end to the 64-hour service disruption, M1 today announced that all postpaid customers will get three days of free local mobile calls, SMS, MMS and data services. The offer, which starts from 12.01am on Feb........ Punggol East: WP announces Saturday night rally The Workers' Party has announced their first rally of the Punggol East by-election campaign will be held this Saturday evening. The rally will take place from 7pm to 10pm on Jan 19 at the open field in front of Block 183C Rivervale........ NUS law prof couldn't remember own name in hospital: CPIB officer The law professor defending himself in his corruption trial could not remember his name, identity card number and address on the day he was supposed to be discharged from hospital. The prosecution's 8th witness, Mr Wilson Khoo of........ WP's Lee Li Lian wants to champion welfare of senior citizens The Workers' Party Punggol East by-election candidate Lee Li Lian said today that she one of the issues she wants to raise in Parliament is the welfare of senior citizens. "To start with, patients above 75 years old should be........ Artists affected by Telok Kurau studio fire to get help: Govt The government has assured artists affected by a fire at Telok Kurau Studios that it will do its best to help them continue their work in a conducive and safe environment. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and........ SDA's Desmond Lim calls for earlier opening of Cross Island Line The Singapore Democratic Alliance's Punggol East by-election candidate Desmond Lim said today that if elected he will do his best to bring forward the opening of the new Cross Island Line. He wants to have residents sign a petition........ By-election campaigning intensifies Campaigning for the Punggol East by-election intensified this morning with candidates from the four parties up early in hopes of catching voters from all walks of life. Both the People's Action Party's (PAP) Dr Koh Poh Koon and the........

New lines will improve connectivity, relieve load SINGAPORE- Starting from Changi, and running through places like Pasir Ris, Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Timah, West Coast and terminating at Jurong Industrial Estate, the new 50km Cross Island Line is projected to relieve the load on existing lines, such as th.....     RP's Jeyaretnam reports anonymous threats to police Reform Party candidate Kenneth Jeyaretnam has lodged a police report regarding anonymous threats against him and his family if he does not withdraw from the four-cornered Punggol East by-election...... IDA to review adequacy of mobile operators' network resilience The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) will review the adequacy of the network resilience, and back-up plans and arrangements of mobile operators...... Indonesia's Deputy Defence Minister calls on Ng Eng Hen Indonesia's Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant-General (LG) (Rtd) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin called on Singapore's Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Ministry of Defence on Friday...... RP's Jeyaretnam lodges police report Police have confirmed that a report has been lodged by Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam of the Reform Party...... M1 to give 3 days of free services SINGAPORE : Postpaid customers of M1 will get three days of free local mobile calls, SMS, MMS and data services from February 10 to 12...... The Married Men taken off air over inappropriate content SPH UnionWorks, the radio subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), has terminated the services of The Married Men, citing breach of the terms of its contract...... Enough homes for all, says Khaw National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan says "plenty" of housing units are coming on stream, with about 200,000 units to be built by 2016...... Tax cheat gets two weeks' jail A property agent has been sentenced to two weeks' jail for using fake stamp certificates to cheat the taxman...... NUS law prof couldn't remember own name in hospital: CPIB officer The law professor defending himself in his corruption trial could not remember his name, identity card number and address on the day he was supposed to be discharged from hospital...... Artists affected by studio fire will get safe, conducive environment: govt The government has assured artists affected by a fire at Telok Kurau Studios that it will do its best to help them continue their work in a conducive and safe environment...... SDA's Lim welcomes plans for new Cross Island Line Singapore Democratic Alliance candidate Desmond Lim has welcomed plans to build the Cross Island Line (CRL), which will run through Punggol...... LTA's MyTransport.SG wins global award The Land Transport Authority's (LTA) mobile channel, MyTransport.SG, has won a global award for visionary achievements. It is the first in the Asia-Pacific region to bag the Emerging Media Award (EMA) at the Summit International Awards...... Campaigning in Punggol East intensifies as candidates make early start Campaigning in the Punggol East by-election intensifies, with candidates making an early start to catch voters from all walks of life......

Singapore Local News, 2013-01-17

---

RP's K Jeyaretnam: My family has received 'death threats' Punggol East by-election candidate Kenneth Jeyaretnam said his family has received "death threats" via social media. Speaking to the press on a walkabout in the ward, Mr Jeyaretnam said: "We've received comments - tantamount to........     M Ravi drops suit against Law Society The Law Society today announced that the two lawsuits filed by Mr M Ravi against the Law Society and its council members are to be discontinued, and the allegations made by Mr Ravi have been retracted. Mr Ravi also agreed that he........ PAP to hold by-election rally this Friday The police have announced that a permit has been issued to the People's Action Party to conduct an "election meeting" - a rally - tomorrow (Friday) evening, from 7pm to 10pm. The rally will be held at the open field In front of........ Singaporeans still charitable despite slower economy: SG Gives Singaporeans continued to give generously to charity despite the country's slower economic growth, going by the jump in donations to Singapore's largest donation portal, SG Gives. SG Gives said it had a 37 per cent increase in total........ PAP's Koh Poh Koon proposes more childcare centres The People's Action........ Statements Tey made to CPIB under scrutiny in court On day six of the sex-for-grades case, National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor Tey Tsun Hang cross-examined a Corrupt Practice Investigation Bureau officer (CPIB) about his statement made to him. Tey, 41, has been........ RP's Kenneth Jeyaretnam has five-year plan for Punggol East The Reform Party's Kenneth Jeyaretnam said today that he has a five-year plan for Punggol East residents, which includes setting up a legal clinic and tuition club. Speaking to the media, Mr Jeyaretnam said he will elaborate on his........ NUS prof Tey questions CPIB officer in "trial within a trial" The law professor on trial for corruption in a sex-for-grades case is cross-examining an anti-graft officer on the admissibility of one of six statements - in what is called a "trial within a trial". Tey Tsun Hang is questioning........ Housing issues top concern at Meet-the-People sessions for AMK GRC Housing issues top the list of concerns raised by residents at Meet-the-People sessions in Ang Mo Kio GRC, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a Facebook post today. PM Lee, who is a Member of Parliament of the GRC, noted that........ SDA's Desmond Lim calls for lower housing costs, more direct bus routes The Singapore Democratic........ Two new MRT lines, extensions to current lines by 2030 Eight in 10 residents will eventually live within 10 minutes of an MRT station as Singapore's rail network is set to double from the existing 178km to 360km come 2030. Commuters can expect two new lines, the Cross Island line (CRL)........ WP's Lee calls for more feeder bus service in Punggol East The Workers' Party (WP) candidate for the Punggol East by-election Lee Li Lian said that she will be pushing for more feeder bus service for residents. Speaking to the media during a morning meet and greet session with residents at........

Banking on her personal touch Despite suffering a defeat in her previous bid for the Punggol East seat, Workers' Party (WP) candidate Lee Li Lian said yesterday that her experience during the General Election (GE) in 2011, as well as her grassroots work, gave her an edge........     M Ravi drops law suits against Law Society and Council Members Lawyer M Ravi has dropped the two law suits he had filed against the Law Society and its Council Members...... SDA, RP candidates outline their 5-year plans for Punggol East Candidates for the Punggol East by-election from the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) and Reform Party (RP) outlined their five-year plans on Thursday...... PAP to hold rally for by-election on Friday The People's Action Party (PAP) will hold a rally on Friday for the Punggol East by-election...... Commuters welcome news of MRT line extension, new MRT lines Many commuters welcomed news of two new lines and extension of three MRT lines...... Look to technology to raise productivity, cut reliance on foreign workers: Khaw National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has urged the construction sector to look to technology to make a quantum leap in productivity and reduce the reliance on unskilled foreign construction workers...... S'pore to help develop Sri Lanka's technical, vocational education expertise Singapore will work with Sri Lanka to help it develop technical and vocational education expertise in hospitality, infocomm and construction...... By-election candidates can ask for recount if conditions are met Any of the four candidates in the Punggol East by-election can request for a recount - if the difference between the candidate with the most votes and that for any other candidate is two per cent or less than the total number of votes cast...... Candidates outline plans for Punggol East in walkabouts The four candidates for the Punggol East by-election outlined their plans for the ward as they hit their campaign trail on Thursday...... Resolving local issues key for PAP's Dr Koh People's Action Party (PAP) candidate for Punggol East, Dr Koh Poh Koon, said resolving local problems is still of primary concern for Punggol East residents...... SDA's Lim says 5-year plan can be funded by town council Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) candidate for Punggol East, Mr Desmond Lim, said his five-year plan for the ward can be funded by the town council as it has the operation and sinking funds...... S'poreans still charitable despite slower economy: SG Gives Singaporeans continued to give generously to charity despite the country's slower economic growth, going by the jump in donations to Singapore's largest donation portal, SG Gives...... Ex-manager of defunct School of Applied Studies fined S$16k A former manager of the defunct School of Applied Studies (SAS) has been fined S$16,000 for failing to keep proper student records and refund students' fees...... Punggol East 5-year plan won't cost much: RP's Jeyaretnam The Reform Party's candidate for Punggol East, Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam, said the five-year plan he has in mind for residents of the ward will not cost a lot of money...... NUS prof Tey questions CPIB officer in "trial within a trial" The law professor on trial for corruption in a sex-for-grades case is cross-examining an anti-graft officer on the admissibility of one of six statements -- in what is called a "trial within a trial"...... Housing issues top list of concerns at MPS for Ang Mo Kio GRC Housing issues top the list of concerns raised by residents at the Meet-the-People sessions (MPS) of Ang Mo Kio GRC. These include the buying and selling of flats and requests for rental flats...... S'pore to have two new MRT lines by 2030 Singapore will have two new MRT lines, while three existing lines will be extended. These will double the rail network stretch to 360 kilometres, compared with the current 178 kilometres...... Punggol East polls a barometer of WP's performance: Lee Li Lian Workers' Party (WP) candidate Lee Li Lian said the Punggol East by-election will serve as a barometer of her party's performance since the last General Election......