Singapore Local News, 2013-02-28

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Benches from former National Stadium get new lease of life They have supported countless Singaporeans through National Day parades, sports events and music concerts......     SingPost sets up S$10m fund to help low-wage employees SingPost is setting up a $10 million "Inclusivity Fund", which will benefit its low-wage workers...... Govt taking brave step to achieve quality growth, inclusive society: Dr Yaacob Communications and Information Minister and Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim has described Budget 2013 as a brave step taken by the government to achieve quality growth and an inclusive society...... AGC to move office to Upper Pickering Street The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) is moving house...... Humans have to re-learn how to live in harmony with earth: Balakrishnan Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said human beings will have to re-learn how to live in harmony with the earth......

NEA imposes tougher demerit point regime on food outlets The National Environment Agency (NEA) has tightened the cleanliness and hygiene point demerit system, reducing the threshold from 24 to 12 points to push for greater overall hygiene standards in food outlets......     President Tony Tan, PM Lee write valedictory letters to pope President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have written valedictory letters to Pope Benedict XVI, who is stepping down as the head of the Catholic Church...... Procedures, practices were "wanting": ex-STTA president In the third day of the trial of former president of the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA), Choo Wee Khiang revealed that certain practices at the association were wanting...... Sausages contain only chicken sourced & produced locally: IKEA S'pore IKEA Singapore said the sausages sold at its stores contain only chicken sourced and produced locally, and none of the ingredients are produced by the affected Swedish supplier...... Increase in colorectal cancer cases over past 5 years The number of colorectal cancer cases in Singapore has gone up slightly over the past five years...... New SDPC mark for cigarettes from March 1 From March 1, cigarettes sold in Singapore which do not bear the new Singapore Duty-Paid Cigarette (SDPC) mark will be deemed duty-unpaid and illegal...... 3 in 5 SMEs yet to appreciate importance of adopting fair employment: survey A survey by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP) of 500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) showed while many have diversity in their workplace, three out of five have yet to appreciate the importance of adopting fair employm..... AIM not bidding for PAP town councils' tender Action Information Management (AIM), which runs the People's Action Party (PAP) town councils' computer systems, will no longer operate the systems when its contract expires on April 30. It said on Wednesday that it will not participate in the latest.....

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-27

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Athletics: Discus thrower James Wong returns for SEA Games National discus thrower James Wong is making a comeback at the coming SEA Games in Myanmar......     Singapore's Earth Hour to encourage lifestyle changes The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) will partner Singapore companies for this year's Earth Hour to encourage Singaporeans to make four lifestyle changes in support of the environment...... HPB, EH Alliance to provide more comprehensive health screening Residents in the eastern part of Singapore will be able to enjoy a more comprehensive suite of health screening services...... Man arrested for job scam which targeted foreigners Police have arrested a 34-year-old man believed to have been involved in at least 10 cases of cheating......

NTUC Foodfare offers cheap meals at new coffeeshop in Clementi A social enterprise of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has opened a coffeeshop that offers cheap meals in food court comfort......     3 hawker centres to close for upgrading works Three hawker centres will be closed for upgrading works from 1 March, under the National Environment Agency's (NEA's) Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme...... Defence grills prosecution witness on working relationship with ex-STTA chief The trial of former Member of Parliament Choo Wee Khiang continues on Wednesday, with the defence grilling the prosecution's witness over her working relationship with the accused...... Ferrari goes up in flames at Teban Gardens A red Ferrari went up in flames near Teban Gardens Road on Wednesday...... New MRT ticket fully operational islandwide The new Standard Ticket scheme of TransitLink is now operational islandwide...... Skyrise greening is seeing "wonderful results": Khaw National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said Singapore's greening campaign is moving skywards, with "wonderful results"...... 16 suspects caught for drink-driving Traffic Police arrested 16 suspects for drink-driving during an islandwide operation on Wednesday morning...... Health ministry issues alert on possible recruitment scam The Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued an alert of a possible recruitment scam, promising jobs in Singapore's healthcare sector......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-26

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SPD to hold charity show in March The bi-annual "SPD Charity Show" is back for a fourth year......     New MediaCorp Web portal for stars, fans to interact SINGAPORE : Fans can now connect with their favourite celebrities, while celebrities can also reach their fans with ease - thanks to a new Web portal by MediaCorp...... 2 arrested for stealing from temple donation box Two suspects have been arrested for breaking into a temple and stealing cash from its donation box...... Employers to pay S$70 to S$400 more in foreign worker levy Employers will have to pay between S$70 and S$400 more in foreign worker levy within the next two years......

New sports committee set up to help athletes excel A new High Performance Sports Steering Committee has been set up to help Singapore athletes achieve excellence......     IKEA Singapore stops selling meatballs amid horsemeat scare The Singapore branch of Swedish home products company, IKEA, said on Tuesday the meatballs at its cafeterias here contain only beef and pork sourced and produced from Australia...... SDP to address Budget 2013 "shortcomings" in its own "Shadow Budget" The opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) said it'll address the "shortcomings" of the government's Budget 2013 and propose a more efficient way of prioritising Singapore's expenditure estimates in its own "Shadow Budget"...... HSA warns against consuming 3 tainted health products The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has warned the public against consuming three tainted health products bought overseas, after patients suffered serious adverse reactions linked to the products...... Ex-MP Choo Wee Khiang's CBT trial starts The trial of former Member of Parliament Choo Wee Khiang started on Tuesday, with the prosecution giving its account of Choo's role in a conspiracy to secure payment for a trainer who was "moonlighting"...... Govt's immediate priority is to solve housing & transport issues: PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the government's immediate priority is to solve the country's housing and transport issues, while at the same time, Singapore must upgrade its economy through productivity and innovation......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-25

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Mendaki SENSE praises Budget 2013 for initiatives on productivity Singapore: A training arm of Malay-Muslim self-help group, Mendaki, has praised Budget 2013 for its focus on rewarding improved productivity, assisting workers and reducing the income gap......     MAS imposes restrictions on private car loans The Monetary Authority of Singapore is imposing restrictions on loans for private cars to safeguard against borrowers defaulting on their repayments...... Fewer students taking Full Literature at 'O' Level The introduction of new subjects and the option to take Combined Humanities have led to a drop in the number of students taking Full Literature at the 'O' Level, said Senior Minister of State for Education Indranee Rajah...... Budget 2013: $200 Medisave top-up, more money for Medifund & ElderCare Fund There will be a S$200 top-up to the CPF Medisave accounts of all Singaporeans aged 45 and above...... Budget 2013: Govt to spend S$1.7b to help households cope with rising cost of living The government is helping households cope with increases in the cost of living by doling out some S$1.7 billion in direct handouts...... Budget 2013: More cash in assistance & higher allowance for pensioners The public assistance scheme, which provides a basic level of financial assistance to those who are unable to work, will be enhanced...... Budget 2013: More progressive tax structure for properties and cars A more progressive tax structure will be introduced for properties and cars to achieve greater social equity without hurting Singapore's competitiveness...... Eradicate mosquito breeding to fight dengue: Balakrishnan The only long term resolution against dengue is a vaccine but until that is ready to be rolled out to the public, the strategy is to keep buying time by eradicating mosquito breeding at its source, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Bala..... Singapore doctor to testify via videolink in gang-rape case NEW DELHI: A Singapore doctor who performed the autopsy on an Indian gang-rape victim testified via videolink on Monday in the trial of five men accused of her murder, a defence lawyer said......

Budget 2013: Higher income cap, bigger payouts for WIS scheme The Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme will now cover workers earning up to S$1,900 a month. This is S$200 more than the previous cap......     Revisit issue of investigation into police brutality after proceedings end: Indranee Issues relating to the investigation of claims of police brutality by former SMRT bus drivers will be dealt with once relevant proceedings are over...... Budget 2013: Govt to spend S$3b on pre-school sector over next 5 years The government will more than double its spending on the pre-school sector over the next five years to more than $3 billion...... Budget 2013: 1-year rebate of 30% in road tax for goods vehicles, buses & taxis The government will do more to help ease the cash flow of companies, with a road tax rebate for commercial vehicles...... Budget 2013: New PIC bonus scheme to encourage companies raise productivity The government will enhance its Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) scheme to encourage more companies to improve productivity...... Budget 2013: Tax rebate of 30% to help companies cope with higher rental costs Companies will get help in coping with higher rental costs, through a special Corporate Income Tax rebate...... Budget 2013: S$3.6b scheme to co-fund wage increases for S'porean workers The government will provide more help to businesses to enable them to pay their employees more, with a new Wage Credit Scheme (WCS)...... TriCom also focuses on improving working conditions for low-wage workers The Tripartite Committee for Low-Wage Workers and Inclusive Growth (TriCom) is not just focused on raising wages...... Two-thirds of families which employ FDWs benefit from concessionary levy rate Close to two-thirds of families who employ foreign domestic workers (FDW) benefit from the concessionary levy rate...... 4 ex-SMRT bus drivers involved in illegal strike sentenced to jail Four former SMRT bus drivers have been jailed for inciting and participating in last November's illegal bus strike...... More than 20,000 Singapore Citizenship applications approved in 2012 20,693 Singapore Citizenship applications were approved last year...... Singapore expects FY2012 Budget surplus of S$3.9b Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam says Singapore's Budget FY2012 is expected to have a surplus exceeding that estimated a year ago...... Former lawyer jailed for criminal breach of trust A former lawyer has been sentenced to six years' jail for unauthorised transfers and misappropriation of monies from his firm's client account amounting to almost S$1.5 million...... Corruption trial of ex-SCDF chief extended by 4 days The corruption trial of former chief of the Singapore Civil Defence Force, Peter Lim, has been extended by four days...... GCE 'A' Level results out on Friday The 2012 Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level Examination results will be released on Friday......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-24

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PM Lee, Cabinet Ministers thank grassroots leaders at LNY Garden Party Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Cabinet Ministers hosted grassroots leaders to a Lunar New Year Garden Party on Sunday evening......     Govt should be open to all ideas: Ng Eng Hen Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said that the government should be open to all ideas, including those proposed by other political parties...... Biker group Riders Aid raises funds for needy The bikers community was out riding on Sunday to raise funds for the needy......

S'pore can be a role model as a sustainable city: Balakrishnan Singapore does not have to sacrifice green spaces to be a beautiful and sustainable city, said Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan......     WP's Population Paper lands new blow to local SMEs: ASME The Association of Small and Medium Enterprises said it views the Workers' Party's Population Policy Paper as another blow to the local SME community...... Lift-door stickers to drive home fire hazard message The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has unveiled lift-door stickers with fire safety messages as part of a campaign to generate greater public awareness on the dangers of discarding items at common areas such as corridors, lift lobbies, staircas..... MPs, businesses hope Budget will address cost of living, labour crunch Ahead of the delivery of Singapore's Budget on Monday, cost of living and labour crunch are among some issues MPs and businesses hope will be addressed...... Tanglin Halt Market rolls out tray-return initiative Tanglin Halt Market rolled out its tray-return initiative on Sunday...... Woodlands Regional Centre to have two distinct precincts The upcoming Woodlands Regional Centre, which aims to bring jobs closer to homes in the north, will have two distinct precincts......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-23

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Lions Club of Singapore Chatsworth launches new reading programme for children The Lions Club of Singapore Chatsworth has launched a new reading programme for children in Singapore......     New Catholic Archbishop meets political and religious leaders The newly-ordained head of the Catholic Church, Coadjutor Archbishop William Goh, welcomed political and religious leaders at a reception at the Catholic Spirituality Centre in Upper Serangoon Road on Saturday morning...... Workers' Party publishes its Population Policy Paper The Workers' Party (WP) has published its Population Policy Paper......

Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall welcomed 180,000 visitors since re-opening 180,000 visitors have entered the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall since its refurbishment and re-opening in October 2011......     CDCs to create platforms to integrate existing and new citizens Singapore's Community Development Councils (CDCs) plan to create platforms for new and existing citizens to come together to forge friendships...... ESM Goh to visit South Korea Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong will make a three-day visit to Seoul from February 24-26 to attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the 18th President of the South Korea Park Geun-hye as Singapore's representative...... Medifund aid reached more needy patients Medifund, the government's endowment fund to help needy Singaporeans with medical expenses, reached more patients in FY2011......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-22

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Find new strategies and solutions to changes in 2030, says Yaacob Ibrahim Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim has called on the Malay/Muslim community to find new strategies and solutions to changes that could hit Singapore in 2030......     Singapore-KL rail link goes beyond economics, says K Shanmugam Foreign Minister K Shanmugam has said the high-speed rail link between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur goes beyond economics...... Taxi driver jailed for stealing passenger's wallet A taxi driver who was fined $1,000 for making off with a passenger's wallet left in his taxi will now have to serve a jail term of two weeks...... AWARE wants Budget 2013 to focus on reducing social inequality Women's rights group AWARE wants Singapore's Budget 2013 to focus on reducing social inequality and providing more support for families...... Two town councils being formed after Punggol East by-election Two town councils are being formed following last month's by-election in Punggol East...... New mobile device to treat back pain If you suffer from back pain, physiotherapy treatment may have become a bit more convenient, all thanks to a new mobile device developed by SingHealth and Ngee Ann Polytechnic......

Parliament to debate host of issues on Monday Members of Parliament (MPs) will debate a host of issues when Parliament sits at 1:30pm on Monday......     LTA urged to look into ideas raised on road safety The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been asked to look into ideas raised during a discussion on road safety...... Man charged with molesting teen male on bus A 45-year-old man has been charged with molesting a 19-year-old male on board an SBS Transit bus...... Locals fill most jobs at new plant on Jurong Island Tuas Power's Tembusu multi-utilities complex on Jurong Island has generated 150 jobs ahead of its official opening next week...... Northlight & Assumption Pathway students to get more help in landing job Youths with special learning needs will get more help on the job front, with a new programme that will match their abilities with job openings...... 4 ex-SMRT bus drivers involved in illegal strike to plead guilty Four former SMRT bus drivers involved in last November's illegal bus strike on Friday indicated that they will plead guilty...... Man charged with outraging modesty of girl A man has been charged with outraging the modesty of a 16-year-old girl...... Major safety breaches uncovered at construction sites: MOM Major safety breaches have been uncovered at construction sites following inspections by the Ministry of Manpower...... Vietnamese cigarette smuggling ring leader jailed, fined A Vietnamese illegal immigrant has been sentenced to 16 months' jail and fined S$14,000 for coordinating the distribution of contraband cigarettes...... Singapore economy grows by 1.3% in 2012 Singapore's economy slowed to 1.3 per cent last year from 5.2 per cent in 2011, mainly due to weakness in the externally-oriented sectors......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-21

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Man who drowned in NUS pool unlikely to survive despite resuscitation A man who drowned in a pool at the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2007, would likely not have survived despite resuscitaton efforts, according to a cardiologist during a court hearing on Thursday......     Good jobs, wages among issues raised ahead of Budget Good jobs and wages were among issues raised by Singaporeans in a Pre-Budget 2013 Feedback Exercise...... Night Safari receives three Asiatic bears from China The Night Safari has welcomed three furry additions to their family...... NEA issues 2,400 warnings since smoking ban extended The National Environment Agency (NEA) has issued about 2,400 warnings since the smoking ban was extended on January 15...... Man convicted of 14 charges in Sentosa's trolley bag death case A businessman implicated in the Sentosa trolley bag death case has been convicted of 14 charges......

Total Defence exhibition at Singapore Discovery Centre A new Total Defence exhibition is on at the Singapore Discovery Centre, and will run till 24 March......     Association of Employment Agencies trustmark launched A new accreditation scheme to enhance the service standards of employment agencies was launched on Thursday...... Malaysian driver, Myanmar national arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint A Malaysian driver and a Myanmar national have been arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint...... Tan Ser Kiat sworn in as new PSC member President Tony Tan Keng Yam has appointed Professor Tan Ser Kiat, Singapore Medical Council's president, as a member of the Public Service Commission (PSC)...... New look coins by mid-2013 Singapore will have a whole new set of coins in circulation by the middle of this year...... SCDF's purchasing asst director takes stand in Peter Lim's trial The chairman of a tender board must separate himself from any dealings with a potential supplier if there's personal interest involved, including a scenario where oral sex has taken place...... Police, CPIB officers to assist in match-fixing investigations A team of four senior officers from the Singapore Police Force and Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau will go to Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France within the next two weeks to assist a global taskforce in match-fixing investigations...... Getai singer jailed, fined for drink driving A "getai" singer has been sentenced to one weeks' jail and fined S$8,000 for drink driving and failing to keep proper lookout on the road...... Budget Statement to be delivered from 3.30pm on Monday Singapore's new budget will be unveiled at 3:30pm on 25 February in Parliament by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Tharman Shanmugaratnam...... Bus driver suffers suspected heart attack in 4-vehicle collision An SBS Transit bus collided into a trailer and two taxis along Commonwealth Avenue on Thursday, after the bus driver at the wheel suffered a suspected cardiac arrest......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-20

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Most travellers welcome new high-speed rail link to KL Most travellers have welcomed the new high-speed rail link between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia......     Nicoll Highway, Crawford Street ERP gantries to be relocated The Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries at Nicoll Highway and Crawford Street will be relocated in April, as part of changes to the Bugis-Marina Centre cordon...... COEs for vehicles lower across the board Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) for vehicles fell across the board in the latest bidding exercise on Wednesday, led by the small cars category which dipped 10 per cent......

Median household income up 7.5% in 2012 Singaporean households earned more from work last year compared to the year before, but wage growth moderated, with bottom earners being the hardest hit......     SCDF director defends tender process in ex-chief's trial A director of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has defended the tender process of the agency, saying it has a rigorous system of checks before final approval is given...... 4 money changers fined for not keeping complete transaction records Four money changers have been fined a total of S$69,000 for failing to keep complete records of their transactions...... PAP Women's Wing urges pro-family, women-friendly workplaces The PAP Women's Wing wants laws to enable flexible work arrangements to drive the shift towards a pro-family work culture in Singapore...... What to expect from pre-school - the new Kindergarten Framework To offer both parents and educators with a better idea of how much and what children need to learn by the end of Kindergarten 2, an updated version of the Kindergarten Curriculum Framework has been unveiled......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-19

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NTU opens joint lab with Lockheed Martin Nanotechnology is set to get a boost in Singapore......     App for glaucoma patients The Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) has launched the world's first free mobile app for glaucoma patients...... Students invited to submit short videos on climate change The National Climate Change Secretariat is inviting students to submit short videos to inspire Singaporeans to take action against climate change...... Father & son fined S$1m each for car fraud A man and his son have been fined about S$1 million each for conspiring to under-declare the values of 34 cars imported from Japan and providing the money to buy the cars......

Sales manager takes stand in ex-SCDF chief's trial A sales manager for Nimrod Engineering said he did not detect any corruption while preparing the submissions for a tender that was called by the Singapore Civil Defence Force in 2011......     Local furniture makers urged to adopt green practices More furniture manufacturers in Singapore will be encouraged to adopt green practices with the aim of being awarded green certifications...... Man fined for disorderly behaviour, assaulting policemen A company chief executive officer has been fined $8,800 for behaving in a disorderly manner and for assaulting two policemen...... Marina One set to raise bar for future integrated developments The Marina One mixed-use development in the heart of Singapore's Central Business District (CBD) will be a coveted business and lifestyle destination that will raise the bar for integrated developments and act as a catalyst to attract and grow new bu..... Singapore, Malaysia agree on high-speed rail link Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to build a high-speed rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, with a target to complete it by 2020...... S'pore, Malaysia PMs hold retreat to drive relations forward The prime ministers of Singapore and Malaysia are meeting at their annual Leaders' Retreat, a key platform to drive bilateral relations forward......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-18

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Social Media Week kicks off Social Media Week kicked off on Monday, with Singapore hosting about 40 events throughout the week......     All imported meat products must come from approved sources: AVA The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) says all meat products imported into Singapore must come from its approved sources...... Guillemard camp set for redevelopment Guillemard camp is set for redevelopment, after sitting vacant for almost ten years...... OCBC cycling campaign to focus on youths OCBC Cycle Singapore Safe Cycling campaign's theme for this year is respect...... Ex-SCDF chief Peter Lim's lawyers say Nimrod didn't have special advantages A tender document for Radiation Portal Monitors is at the centre of the sex-for-contracts corruption trial of the former chief of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Peter Lim...... Prosecution in Ng Boon Gay trial asks for District Judge's full grounds for decision The prosecution in the corruption case of former Central Narcotics Bureau chief Ng Boon Gay wants to know the full grounds of the decision by the District Judge to acquit Ng......

New express bus from Yishun to CBD launched Yishun residents may now be able to get to and from work with less hassle, thanks to a new express bus service launched on Monday......     Law minister meets leaders of LoveSingapore to discuss gay issues Law Minister K Shanmugam discussed views on the gay community with the leaders of LoveSingapore - a network of churches - recently...... Suspect caught for breaking into neighbour's flat Police have arrested a 49-year-old man suspected of breaking into his neighbour's flat around Commonwealth Close...... Better frameworks needed to ensure Asia remains stable: Ng Eng Hen Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said better frameworks are needed to help ensure that Asia remains stable...... Man gets 2 weeks' jail for not reporting death of his sex partner A man implicated in the death of his sex partner, whose body was found in a trolley bag, has been sentenced to two weeks' jail for not alerting the police of the death...... USARPAC Commanding General visits Singapore Singapore: The Commanding General of the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC), Lieutenant-General (LTG) Francis J Wiercinski, is visiting Singapore as part of an introductory visit...... Singapore and Malaysian Prime Ministers to hold Leaders' Retreat Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak will hold their Leaders' Retreat, a key bilateral platform to drive relations forward, on 18 and 19 February...... Australian Secretary of Defence makes Singapore stop Singapore: Australian Secretary of Defence Dennis Richardson who's visiting the republic, this morning paid a call on his Singapore counterpart Dr Ng Eng Hen...... Kickstart your work day with Sunrise in the City Working adults can start their work day by losing some calories at workout sessions near their workplaces...... Motor Racing: Early-bird sales of F1 Singapore GP tickets Fans of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix can buy tickets from Wednesday, with 65,000 general three-day tickets on sale for the early birds...... Corruption trial of ex-SCDF chief Peter Lim starts The corruption trial of former Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) chief Peter Lim Sin Pang has started......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-17

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Investment in research encourages young scientists to return to S'pore Singapore has committed more resources toward research, innovation, and enterprise......     Spike in abandoned pets during year-end festive season The festive season is well over, but animal welfare volunteers are still dealing with the aftermath of "pet spring-cleaning"......

Scholarships given out to students for community work Six university students from Nee Soon GRC have been awarded scholarships for their work in the community......     Lee Kuan Yew discharged from hospital Former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has been discharged from Singapore General Hospital and is resting at home...... Find balance between redevelopment & preserving heritage: Chan Chun Sing Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing says Singapore will need to find a balance between redevelopment and preserving its heritage as it progresses...... Police deny allegations US engineer's death not properly investigated The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said its procedures for investigating cases, in particular those involving deaths, are of high international standards......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-16

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Spike in dengue cases in first months of 2013 Dengue cases have spiked in the first couple of months this year......

Former MM Lee Kuan Yew hospitalised Former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was admitted to Singapore General Hospital on Saturday after experiencing a suspected transient ischaemic attack associated with a prolonged episode of atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat......     S'poreans hold protest against White Paper on Population A protest was held against the government's White Paper on Population at Speakers' Corner on Saturday, organised by Transitioning.org......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-15

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Former MM Lee Kuan Yew misses Lunar New Year dinner Former Minister Mentor and Member of Parliament (MP) for Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC), Mr Lee Kuan Yew did not attend the annual Lunar New year dinner at his GRC on Friday evening......     66-year-old man arrested for alleged outrage of modesty Police have arrested a 66-year-old male suspect for a case of outrage of modesty...... Govt seeks to make S'poreans serving NS feel more appreciated Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the government is reviewing policies to help Singaporeans serving National Service feel more appreciated. He said said it is important for citizens to feel they have benefited from the sacrifice of protecting the nati..... Civilian War Memorial marked as national monument The Civilian War Memorial has been marked as a national monument. It joins 64 other buildings and structures which have been conferred the status of national monument, including Raffles Hotel and Tanjong Pagar Railway Station...... Dr Yaacob to attend Haj Ministerial Meeting in Saudi Arabia SINGAPORE : Singapore Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, will be in Saudi Arabia to attend the Haj Ministerial Meeting......

Fare review committee to submit report by end-May The committee tasked to review the fare mechanism for public transport has been given more time to come up with its recommendations......     2 chefs fined for receiving bribes from seafood supplier Two chefs from two Chinese restaurants have been fined for receiving bribes from a seafood supplier...... Important to determine root cause of Newton MRT fire: Lui Tuck Yew Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said it's important to get to the root cause of the fire that took place in the tunnel of Newton MRT station on Wednesday...... MediaCorp celebrates 50 years of television Singaporean broadcaster MediaCorp is celebrating its golden jubilee, with 50 years of television under its belt...... NEL disruptions in Aug 2012, Jan 2013 due to "stress corrosion cracking" The disruptions on the North East Line in August and then later in January, were due to the corrosion of the material in U-bolts, due to what's described as "stress corrosion cracking"...... Economic Survey of Singapore 2012 out 22 Feb The Trade and Industry Ministry will release the Economic Survey of Singapore 2012 on 22 February at 8am...... Researchers collaborate on system to extend battery lifespan in devices Researchers from Singapore and the US are collaborating to come up with a system that can extend the lifespan of batteries in devices such as laptops and smartphones...... 1,608 COE quotas available for next bidding exercise The total quota of Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) available for February's second open bidding exercise is 1,608......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-14

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Ex-CNB chief will continue to be suspended from duty The Home Affairs Ministry said it is not proceeding with disciplinary action against former CNB chief Ng Boon Gay at the moment......     CPIB officer under probe for suspected financial impropriety An officer from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) is being investigated for suspected financial impropriety...... DPM Tharman to attend G20 meeting in Moscow Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam will attend the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting in Moscow...... SingNet fined S$180,000 for Mio TV disruption The Media Development Authority (MDA) has fined SingNet $180,000 for a Mio TV service disruption on the night of 13 May 2012 during the finale of last season's Barclays Premier League (BPL)......

S'pore to up technical assistance to Palestinian National Authority Singapore will increase its technical assistance to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), with an enhanced package worth S$5 million over five years......     SMRT CEO aiming for "zero defect" attitude SMRT CEO Desmond Kuek wants to achieve a "zero defect" attitude to regain public trust in the company...... Ex-CNB chief found not guilty of corruption Former Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) chief Ng Boon Gay is not guilty of corruption in a high-profile sex-for-contracts court case...... Marriage Central to help more couples set aside "pockets of time" Resource centre, Marriage Central, will help more couples set aside "pockets of time" for each other to strengthen their marriage bond...... Ex-CNB chief Ng Boon Gay back in court for verdict Former anti-drugs chief Ng Boon Gay is in court for the verdict of his sex-for-contracts corruption case...... NTU professor receives Imperial College fellowship for biomedical sciences Provost of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Professor Freddy Boey, has received the prestigious Faculty of Medicine Fellowship by Imperial College London for his contribution to biomedical sciences...... Singapore debaters 3rd in world championship A team of Singapore debaters came in third at the 25th World School Debating Championship (WSDC) in Antalya, Turkey......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-13

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Short films hope to eradicate stigma of mental health issues Mental health experts said cultural beliefs and stigma are two main reasons why Singaporeans with mental issues delay seeking help......     Former Bt Timah Turf Club may become private estate: analyst Property analysts said the former Bukit Timah Turf Club area will probably be redeveloped into a private residential estate, consisting of a mix of landed properties and condominiums...... Replacement fertility rate need not be 2.1: experts Singapore need not be fixated on the replacement fertility rate of 2.1. The figure, experts say, does not take into account higher education levels, changing mortality rates and migration...... Man jailed for possessing stun guns, devices for taking drugs A man has been jailed two months and fined S$5,000 for possessing two stun guns, as well as devices used to take drugs...... MBS fined S$475,000 for surveillance breaches Marina Bay Sands has been fined $475,000 for contravening Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations...... Japan's Kansai Economic Federation delegation calls on PM Lee A delegation from the Kansai Economic Federation called on Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana on Wednesday...... More consumers benefiting from Lemon Law Fewer consumers are left feeling sour with defective products, some four months after the Lemon Law came into effect...... S'pore expresses grave concern over N Korea's nuclear test Singapore has expressed grave concern over North Korea's nuclear test on Tuesday......

Silver Productivity scheme receives lukewarm response A programme aimed at improving the productivity of older workers has had lukewarm response......     Bangladeshi jailed for cheating compatriots of work permits A Bangladeshi cleaner was on Wednesday sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment for cheating his fellow countrymen of their work permits...... E2i embarks on mass adoption programme on selected productivity projects The Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) is taking a fresh approach in its productivity outreach to small and medium enterprises...... S.League hoping to attract more fans with new measures The new S.League season begins this week with star players and a new league format as the management hopes the changes will draw more fans to the matches...... Parliament to sit on 25 February Parliament will sit on 25 February at 1:30pm...... Number of cyber extortion cases involving foreign female suspects up 5-fold The number of cyber extortion cases involving foreign female suspects has gone up...... Man charged with causing death of colleague through negligence A man has been charged with causing the death of his 62-year-old colleague through negligence...... Cleaner charged with theft at Changi Airport A cleaner was on Wednesday charged with theft amounting to S$1,547 at Changi Airport...... Another group of households to be surveyed on household expenditure About 11,000 households will be involved in a survey on household expenditure by the Department of Statistics (DOS)...... SCDF to sound minute-long signal on Total Defence Day In support of Total Defence Day which falls on 15 February, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will be sounding the "Important Message" signal through the islandwide Public Warning System at 12:05pm...... Train services between Marina Bay & Toa Payoh resume after fire SMRT said full train services between Marina Bay and Toa Payoh stations resumed at 11:20am...... Cable catches fire in tunnel at Newton MRT station A cable caught fire in the tunnel at Newton station, causing train services on the North-South Line to be disrupted on Wednesday morning...... Fire breaks out at Newton MRT station A fire broke out at Newton MRT station on Wednesday morning......

Singapore Local News, 2013-02-12

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Local rock singer helps nab snatch thief It is not everyday a rock singer comes to your rescue -- but this was the case for a 22-year-old woman whose mobile phone was nicked by a snatch thief in the Pasir Ris area on Monday......     Singapore's envoy to Romania to attend Ionescu hearing Singapore's Special Envoy to Romania, Ambassador Ong Eng Chuan, will attend the next hearing in the trial of Dr Silviu Ionescu, the former Romanian Charge d'Affaires...... Clan associations have crucial role in community bonding: President Tony Tan Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam has spoken about the important role clan associations in Singapore play in community bonding and nation building......

RAS urges govt to review curbs on foreign workers The Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) has urged the government to re-assess curbs on the inflow of foreign workers or businesses will face dire consequences......     Masagos on 3-day visit to Tokyo for conference Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli will be in Tokyo, Japan from Tuesday for a three-day visit...... Catholic Church in S'pore surprised by Pope Benedict XVI's sudden resignation The Catholic Church in Singapore is reeling from the news of Pope Benedict XVI's sudden resignation. The 85-year-old pontiff announced on Monday that he will step down on February 28, and cited age as the main factor for his decision...... Body found in Whampoa River A body was found floating in Whampoa River near Block 38A Bendemeer Road on Tuesday morning......