Singapore Local News, 2013-03-31

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Singapore Local News, 2013-03-30

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Early-bird free travel could ease congestion: experts Experts say offering an early-bird free travel scheme on trains could help achieve the target of a 10 to 15 percent shift in travel demand during the morning peak hours and ease congestion......

Family life education programme targets 2 million S'poreans by 2015 The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) aims to spread its family life education programmes to some two million Singaporeans by 2015 under its FamilyMatters@Community scheme......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-29

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Admin Service, Civil Service partnership vital in delivering policy benefits The partnership between the Administrative Service and the Civil Service is absolutely essential to execute policies and deliver their benefits to Singaporeans......

Analysts say $450m compensation for Pearls Centre acquisition fair The government's S$450 million compensation package for the acquisition of Pearls Centre is fair, say analysts Channel NewsAsia spoke to......     Software error caused train delay at Circle Line: SMRT The Circle Line's automatic train timetable scheduling system experienced a software error on Thursday, March 28 at about 8.10pm said SMRT......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-28

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Ex-property agent charged with landlord/tenant representations in same transaction The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) has for the first time charged a former real estate salesperson with representing both landlords and tenants in the same property transaction......     Electricity tariffs up for next quarter Electricity tariffs will go up by an average 1.5 percent for the next quarter of this year starting on 1 April...... Govt to co-fund new technology trials to enhance smart living and working SINGAPORE : The government will co-fund new technology trials to help people work smart...... LTA buys 15 more trains for new Downtown Line Commuters can expect shorter waiting times on the new Downtown Line (DTL), which will open in stages from the end of this year...... PM Lee to visit the US SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will make a working visit to the US from April 1 to April 4......

12 motor vehicle traders fined for bid-rigging at public auctions The Competition Commission of Singapore has penalised 12 motor vehicle traders for engaging in bid-rigging activities at public auctions, contravening the Competition Act......     Swiss national in online vice ring case to know verdict on Apr 30 A district court will hand down its verdict in the trial of a Swiss national involved in the high-profile online vice ring case at the end of April...... NWC to convene in April, May to consider wage guidelines for the year The National Wages Council (NWC) will convene in April and May 2013 to consider wage and wage-related guidelines for the year...... 800,000 S'porean households set to receive S$77m worth of S&CC rebates Around 800,000 Singaporean HDB households can expect to receive S$77 million worth of Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates in 2013. These S&CC rebates were announced during Budget 2013 to help households cope with increases in the cost of liv..... LTA revamps ONE.MOTORING portal The Land Transport Authority's portal for motoring-related information, ONE.MOTORING portal has been revamped...... More than 500 thousand families have benefited from LUP: Khaw More than 500,000 families have benefited from the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP). Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said since LUP was launched in 2001, about 5,000 blocks have been upgraded......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-27

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High commissioners & ambassador appointed Mr Philip Eng has been appointed Singapore's next High Commissioner to Canada......     Ex-Romanian diplomat Ionescu sentenced to 3 years' jail in hit-and-run case BUCHAREST: Former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu has been found guilty in a hit-and-run case and sentenced to three years' jail by a Romanian Court...... Owners of units at Pearls Centre given additional relocation help Owners of units at Pearls Centre have been issued compensation and given additional help to relocate...... NVPC releases report on S'pore's social health The National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) has released the Singapore Social Health Report, which assesses the nation's social health......

COEs mostly higher, premiums for small cars down to $64,209 Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) ended higher in all but one category in the latest bidding exercise which closed on Wednesday afternoon......     S'pore employers reveal job seekers' blunders in online poll An online survey has shown that Singapore has its fair share of unusual job-seekers whose interview antics have both baffled and amused employers...... Inconsistencies in Peter Lim's testimony highlighted The prosecution continued to grill former SCDF chief Peter Lim on Wednesday, following its application to impeach his credibility as a witness...... Sites identified for MOE-run kindergartens The Education Ministry will set up its first batch of pilot kindergartens within HDB heartlands - four in primary schools and one at a void deck...... 13-year-old boy injured in car accident A 13-year-old schoolboy was injured in a car accident in Potong Pasir on Tuesday...... Code of Practice for criminal proceedings launched Singapore now has a Code of Practice for criminal proceedings...... Man injured in shipyard blaze in critical condition; 3 missing Search-and-rescue work is under way for three people missing after a fire broke out at a shipyard in Jurong at about 9.20pm Tuesday......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-26

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S'pore, Thailand conclude Exercise Kocha Singa The armies of Singapore and Thailand concluded a bilateral army exercise, codenamed Exercise Kocha Singa on Tuesday morning. The exercise, the 15th in the series, was held in Singapore from March 19 to 26......     Prosecution seeking to impeach credibility of former SCDF chief Peter Lim The prosecution is seeking to impeach the credibility of former SCDF chief Peter Lim. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng said Lim's evidence in court has contradicted two statements given to the CPIB...... New Centre for Climate Research aims to improve weather prediction Singapore has a new Centre for Climate Research, which aims to improve weather prediction for the country. It was officially opened by Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan...... S'pore's first healthcare technology lab to be set up in April To help public hospitals transform patient care, Singapore will have its first healthcare technology laboratory in April......

ICA warns individuals not to enter sham marriage to bypass immigration laws The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority has warned individuals not to enter a marriage of convenience to bypass immigration laws......     PUB Watermark Award nomination period underway Yearly nominations to recognise individuals and firms for their water-saving efforts are underway, and national water agency PUB is hoping firms can take a leaf from past winners, such as SCORE Laundry...... Prosecution questions accuracy of Peter Lim's evidence in corruption trial Former SCDF chief Peter Lim took the stand for the second day as his corruption trial continued. The prosecution questioned the accuracy and truth of the evidence he has given so far...... S'pore must never let its guard down when dealing with terrorism: PM Lee Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has cautioned that the country must never let its guard down when dealing with the threat of terrorism...... "Sticker Lady" charged in court "Sticker Lady" Samantha Lo Xin Hui has been charged in court with mischief. Her seven charges are still not determined and will be specified later this week...... Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine gearing up for first batch of students Singapore's newest medical school, jointly set up by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Imperial College London, is ready for its first intake of 54 students in August 2013...... S'pore's de-radicalisation programme has attracted global interest: RSIS dean Dean of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) Barry Desker said Singapore's de-radicalisation programme aimed at countering terrorism and terrorist ideologies has attracted global interest......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-25

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Errant licensed moneylender fined S$124,000 A moneylender, whose licence was not renewed, has been fined S$124,000 for breaching the Moneylenders Act......     R&D collaboration programme on green building technologies launched The Ministry of National Development (MND) and the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city Administrative Committee (ECAC) have launched a new R&D collaboration programme on green building technologies in the Tianjin Eco-city...... One-stop visa application centre opens Travellers who need a visa to any of these countries - Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US can do so at a newly launched centre...... Swiss national in online vice ring case takes the stand for the first time Swiss national Juerg Buergin on trial for allegedly having paid sex with an underage girl has taken the stand for the first time......

Fire safety tips for Qing Ming Religious activities like the burning of incense paper and lighting candles and joss sticks are expected to increase during the Qing Ming Festival......     BCA to adopt Eurocodes The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is to introduce the Eurocodes as Singapore's building codes on April 1...... S'pore's inflation in Feb 2013 up 4.9% on-year Singapore's inflation rate came in higher than expected in February after food prices rose during the Lunar New Year holidays, as well as further increases in the cost of owning a car...... Details of relationship between Lim and Pang emerge in corruption trial Former SCDF chief Peter Lim took the stand on Monday in his corruption trial and gave details of the close friendship he had with former Nimrod general manager Madam Pang Chor Mui...... New MSF grant to help businesses create family-friendly environment Businesses will receive greater support in creating a family-friendly environment for their customers. The Ministry of Social and Family Development has launched a new three-year, S$4 million FamilyMatters@Business grant...... River Safari to have soft opening on Apr 3 From April 3, visitors can look forward to discovering the exotic wildlife found in eight iconic river habitats -- including the Mississippi, Nile, Mekong, Yangtze and Amazon rivers -- with the soft opening of River Safari...... SBS Transit to launch more wheelchair-friendly bus services Transport operator SBS Transit is launching nine new wheelchair accessible services from March 31. The services are 4, 50, 62, 82, 116, 119, 132, 158 and 513......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-24

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Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sam Tan visits Austria Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Culture, Community and Youth Mr Sam Tan made a three-day visit to Vienna, Austria, that ended on Sunday......     Police arrest 3 men involved in assault case at Tampines Police have arrested three suspects, believed to be involved in the recent assault of two victims at Tampines Street 81...... Police arrest snatch theft suspect with help from public Police have arrested a 34-year-old man for snatch theft in the vicinity of Yishun Ring Road with the public's assistance......

Two arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint for immigration offences A 31-year-old driver and a 39-year-old Chinese national have been arrested for immigration offences......     100 suggestions received in response to HDB's Cool Ideas initiative The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has received more than 100 ideas on how to improve living in its estates from emails and Facebook......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-23

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Pilot scheme to tap trained-but-not-practising social workers A new scheme aims to help plug manpower gaps in the medical social services sector, while hoping to draw social workers who have left back into the fold......     Council for Third Age pilots Practical Social Gerontology curriculum The Council for Third Age has piloted a Practical Social Gerontology curriculum with the aim of helping senior citizens understand what happens to them as they grow older...... Mendaki launches two satellite centres in heartlands Malay-Muslim self-help group, Mendaki, has launched its first two satellite centres in Pasir Ris and Woodlands...... Grace Fu to lead S'pore delegation to Japan Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Grace Fu, will make a six-day visit to Japan from March 24 to March 29......

NEA issues heavy rain alert The National Environment Agency says moderate to heavy thundery showers with gusty wind are expected over northern, western and central areas of Singapore between 3:15pm and 4:15pm......     Hang-out spot for teenagers offers safe haven for youth-at-risk A new hang-out spot in western Singapore is targeting youth-at-risk, or those from disadvantaged family backgrounds...... 7 arrested for stealing in shops Police have arrested four men and three women, aged between 19 and 43 years old, for committing seven separate cases of stealing from shops...... Close to 130,000 votes cast for Singapore's most loved TV and radio ads Close to 130,000 votes were cast for the Top 20 television commercials and Top 10 radio ads shortlisted in The Laurels 2013...... Man arrested for allegedly outraging modesty of woman on public bus Police have arrested a 35-year-old man who is believed to be responsible outraging the modesty of a woman on board a public bus...... Nestle Singapore recalls Kit Kat bars after plastic found SINGAPORE - Nestle Singapore says it has initiated a recall of its Kit Kat Chunky Peanut Butter bar here in Singapore, after consumers in the United Kingdom reported finding a piece of plastic in the product......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-22

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New coastal water quality monitoring system launched A new system to monitor the quality of Singapore's coastal waters was launched on Friday morning, in conjunction with World Water Day......     More women leaders needed for gender equality to truly exist: congress Pushing for more women in leadership positions took centre stage at this year's Singapore Women's Congress...... President's Challenge 2013 launched with S$1.5m donation President Tony Tan Keng Yam launched the President's Challenge 2013 on Friday with a cheque of S$1.5 million from Keppel Care Foundation...... 22-year-old man arrested for snatch theft Police have arrested a 22-year-old man who allegedly committed snatch theft in Jurong West...... Singapore refutes claim it withholds tax info sought by Malaysia Singapore's Finance Ministry and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have refuted a claim in a recent video that Singapore facilitates tax evasion in Malaysia by withholding information requested by the Malaysian government......

Ex-S League coach jailed for bribery A former S-League coach has been sentenced to three months' jail and ordered to pay a penalty of S$4,000 for accepting and attempting to take bribes......     11 foreign women caught for suspected vice Police arrested 11 women of different nationalities around Orchard Towers, who are believed to be involved in vice activities...... Grads continue to be highly sought after: NUS The National University of Singapore (NUS) said its graduates continue to do well in the job market...... About 9 in 10 NTU fresh grads find jobs about 6 months after final exam Slightly more than nine in 10 graduates of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) found jobs about six months after their final examinations in 2012, similar to 2011...... Over 90% of fresh grads from 2012 cohort employed Over 90 per cent of fresh university graduates were employed in 2012, according to the first joint Graduate Employment Survey conducted by Singapore's three autonomous universities...... S'pore, Thailand & US conclude air exercise Cope Tiger BANGKOK: Singapore, Thailand and the United States have concluded their trilateral air exercise, Cope Tiger, at Korat Air Base in Thailand...... Indian national convicted for using unlicensed employment agent A 23-year-old Indian national has become the first employer to be convicted for using an unlicensed employment agent to hire a foreigner...... Higher starting pay for SMU's 2012 cohort of fresh grads: survey Fresh graduates from the 2012 cohort of Singapore Management University (SMU) enjoyed robust employment, as well as high starting salaries, despite the economic uncertainties...... Man arrested for jewellery theft Police arrested a 37-year-old suspect for stealing jewellery from a goldsmith shop and making off with watches from a pawnshop...... Singapore Red Cross warns public against fundraising scam The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) has advised the public not to fall prey to cheats who use its name to raise funds......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-21

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S'pore leaders send condolences to Bangladesh over death of president SINGAPORE : The leaders of Singapore have sent condolences to Bangladesh on the death of its president, Mohammad Zillur Rahman......     Judge rules ex-SCDF chief Peter Lim has case to answer The former chief of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Peter Lim, will take the stand in his corruption trial on Monday, after District Judge Hamidah Ibrahim ruled there is a case for him to answer...... US, S'pore officials hold discussions on Shane Todd's death The US embassy in Singapore said law enforcement officials from the US and Singapore held productive and forthright discussions on the case of Dr Shane Todd, an American researcher who died in Singapore last June...... Four weeks' jail for workers who staged sit-in atop tower cranes Two construction workers from China who staged a sit-in atop tower cranes over a wage dispute last December have been sentenced to four weeks' jail each......

New national standard to get non-domestic users to save water Singapore will have a new national standard to get non-domestic users to save water and use water more efficiently......     Workplace fatality rate falls to nine-year low Workplaces in Singapore were safer, with the workplace fatality rate falling to a nine-year low in 2012...... National Heart Centre redesigns queue & patient admission system The National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) is streamlining its queue system and redesigning its patient admission system, ahead of the opening of its new S$266m building next March...... 4 BTO projects launched, offering 3,898 new flats The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has launched four Build-To-Order (BTO) projects, offering 3,898 new flats......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-20

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NUS sets aside S$1m for aerospace research The National University of Singapore (NUS) has set aside some S$1 million to promote aerospace research with the launch of its new Centre for Aerospace Engineering (CAE)......     People's confidence key to Singapore's success: Lee Kuan Yew Former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said that one key factor for Singapore's success is the confidence people have in the country...... Proposals to further raise standards in real estate industry being finalised Proposals to further raise standards in the real estate industry and better protect consumers are being finalised...... Inconsistent answers from key witness as Peter Lim's trial continues The key prosecution witness in the corruption trial of ex-SCDF chief Peter Lim continues to give inconsistent accounts of her reasons for performing oral sex on Lim......

SAF, Indian Army conduct bilateral armour exercise in India The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Indian Army (IA) are conducting a bilateral armour exercise, Bold Kurukshetra, in India......     NTU scientists develop material that uses less energy to treat seawater Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have developed a material that promises to cut by up to half the amount of energy used to purify wastewater and reduce costs by 30 per cent...... Swiss national in online vice ring case met up with at least 10 other escorts A Swiss national who is fighting two charges of paid sex with an underage girl met up with at least 10 other escorts, including a 43-year-old woman, listed on a website that promised sex services...... S'poreans feel it's easier to find romance at the workplace: survey Most Singaporeans said in a poll on office romance that it is easier to find a partner at the workplace...... S'pore to have new infectious disease hospital by 2018 Singapore is to have a new infectious disease hospital by 2018...... SingPost the top postal agency in the world: study Singapore Post (SingPost) is again the top postal agency in the world, according to a study by global management consulting company Accenture...... "Ace Your Exams" to provide free tuition for children from lower-income families Children from lower-income families will be able to get free tuition, under a project by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Welfare Services Club and Jurong Point Shopping Centre...... Peter Lim's lawyer to cross-examine Pang on day 8 of corruption trial The lawyer of ex-SCDF chief Peter Lim will cross-examine the prosecution's key witness, Madam Pang Chor Mui, on Day 8 of Lim's corruption trial on Wednesday......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-19

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S'poreans appear to be happiest people in Asia Singaporeans appear to be the happiest people in Asia, going by what they are saying on social media......     Help in Chinese for dyslexic children The Dyslexia Association of Singapore has launched a Chinese Remediation Programme for dyslexic children struggling with the Chinese language...... S'pore buildings to switch off lights for Earth Hour More than 100 buildings, locations and organisations in Singapore will switch off their lights as part of the global Earth Hour initiative by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)...... NUS to launch Global Studies major SINGAPORE : The National University of Singapore (NUS) will launch a programme for students who are keen to sharpen their understanding of current and emerging issues of global significance......

Two suspects caught for illegal gambling in Geylang apartment SINGAPORE : Police have arrested two men suspected of illegal gambling in a private apartment in Geylang......     Private car rental offences on the rise SINGAPORE : The number of offences related to private car rentals in Singapore has increased, even as the government studies ways to liberalise the scheme further...... Common pond plants featured in Pond Life stamp set SINGAPORE : Two plants commonly found in ponds will be featured as stamps in the Pond Life Definitive 2013 issue...... Customer satisfaction index hits new high Customers are more satisfied with the level of service they received in 2012, with the Customer Satisfaction Index of Singapore (CSISG) hitting a new high...... Woman at centre of underage paid sex to testify in-camera The 20-year-old woman at the centre of an underage paid sex scandal will testify in-camera in the trial of a Swiss national accused of paying her for sex...... Alexandra Hospital takes top spot for consumer satisfaction Alexandra Hospital has taken top spot for consumer satisfaction in the healthcare sector for restructured hospitals...... Prosecution cross-examines Pang in Peter Lim's trial The corruption trial of the ex-chief of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Peter Lim, continued on Tuesday with the prosecution cross-examining its key witness, Madam Pang Chor Mui......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-18

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Close to 9 in 10 Singaporeans support measures to tighten inflow of foreign workers: poll Close to nine in 10 of Singaporeans who took part in a poll by the government's feedback channel, REACH, supported the measures to tighten the inflow of foreign workers......     Chinese national jailed for stealing bag on SilkAir flight A 47-year-old man has been sentenced to six weeks' jail for stealing a bag from a passenger during a SilkAir flight from Cambodia to Singapore...... Woman at centre of ex-SCDF chief's corruption trial testifies in court The woman at the centre of the corruption trial of the former head of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Peter Lim Sin Pang, told the court that she knew him since 1996, when they met at a security conference......

Young S'poreans pick chicken rice as food that best represents country Young Singaporeans have chosen chicken rice as the food that best represents the country, according to a poll of university students......     Interest rate for CPF Special and Medisave Accounts remains at 4% CPF members will continue to enjoy a risk-free interest rate of four per cent on their Special and Medisave Accounts (SMA) from April 1 to June 30, 2013...... LTA to install CCTVs at 30 locations to deter illegal parking The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will install closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) at 30 locations to deter illegal parking. The CCTVs will be installed progressively from the second quarter of 2013...... Woman at centre of ex-SCDF chief's corruption trial arrives in court The woman at the centre of the corruption trial of the former head of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Peter Lim Sin Pang, arrived in court with six escorts at 9am......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-17

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MFA disappointed at US "pressure" tactics over investigations into Shane Todd's death Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry has said that the issue of applying "pressure" should not arise between countries which have a "long, open and cooperative relationship with each other, based on mutual respect"......     Educating residents on the importance of neighbourliness through engagement Some 1,000 residents took part in the first Engagement and Preparedness Day organised by West Coast GRC and Pioneer SMC on Sunday...... Charity walk raises over S$100,000 for needy elderly Singaporeans Some 600 elderly Singaporeans took part in a Charity Walk at Choa Chu Kang on Sunday......

Some 6,000 women to receive free mammograms Women from lower-income households can now receive free mammograms under an initiative by the Breast Cancer Foundation and Health Promotion Board (HPB)......     DPM Teo Chee Hean to visit Thailand to reaffirm bilateral ties Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Teo Chee Hean will be making an official visit to Bangkok, Thailand from 18 to 21 March...... Man arrested for outrage of modesty Police have arrested a 22-year-old man, who is believed to be responsible for a series of outrage of modesty cases in a Tampines housing estate...... SMRT replaces power cables along Circle Line There were some inconveniences for commuters on Sunday as train operator SMRT replaced power cables along part of the Circle Line rail network......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-16

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19 motorists nabbed for speeding and drink-driving The Traffic Police arrested 14 drink-drivers and five speedsters in a two and a half-hour operation, to clamp down on dangerous driving......     40 women nabbed for unlawful employment offences Police have nabbed 40 women, aged between 19 and 39, for unlawful employment offences......

Changi Airport brings the magic of Russia to Terminal 3 For those who fancy a trip to Russia this school holidays without leaving the country, Changi Airport group has recreated the magic of the Red Square and other Russian landmarks, on home ground......     Grace Fu to represent Singapore at Pope Francis' inauguration Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Ms Grace Fu will represent Singapore at the Papal Inauguration Mass for Pope Francis on 19 March...... PM Lee urges S'poreans to work together to conserve water Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged Singaporeans to work together to conserve water, even as the government does its part...... MOH to explain policy initiatives at community level Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said his ministry will explain policy initiatives that came out of the Budget 2013 debates at the community level......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-15

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Have "pockets of time" for your spouse This year's marriage convention will focus on teaching married couples to have "pockets of time" for each other......     Budget 2013 session in Parliament ends with 483 cuts filed for ministries After nine intense days of debate, the 2013 Budget session in Singapore Parliament came to a close on Friday but not before passing the spending estimates for the new Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, along with the budget for the various Org..... New SPEX Scholarship for top athletes Amid calls to boost excellence in sports, a new Sports Excellence (SPEX) Scholarship will support an elite group of top athletes with living allowances, starting in 2013...... Sports to get S$250m boost over five years Sports programming will get a boost in funding by more than S$250 million over the next five years. Infrastructure budget for sports will also be doubled...... Sim Ann heads to Hong Kong for HK Filmart 2013 Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and Ministry of Education, Ms Sim Ann will be in Hong Kong from March 18 to 19, to attend the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (HK Filmart) 2013. The event is be..... Property agent suspended, fined after breaching code of ethics A property agent has been convicted of three charges of breaching the Code of Ethics and Professional Client Care in handling the property transaction for his clients...... New National Youth Fund to be set up: Lawrence Wong A new National Youth Fund will be set up for youth to champion community and social causes......

MCCY looking into fostering better integration of PRs, new citizens More needs to be done to strengthen community ties, especially with new citizens and permanent residents (PRs) in the mix, said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Lawrence Wong......     PM Lee congratulates new Chinese premier Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has written to congratulate Mr Li Keqiang on his new appointment as Premier of China's State Council...... NPOs to be able to tap expertise of volunteer management consultants Non-profit organisations (NPOs) will soon be able to tap a team of volunteer management consultants to build their volunteer management capabilities...... Govt to invest S$62m in enhancing content in national museums The Singapore government will invest S$62 million over the next five years to enhance content in the country's national museums, to better tell the Singapore story that will resonate with citizens...... MUIS to increase funding to madrasahs, financial assistance for needy The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will increase funding to full-time madrasahs and financial assistance to needy students...... Mendaki exploring talent development programmes: Yaacob Ibrahim Nurturing talent must be the Malay-Muslim community's next key phase of ethos to embrace, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim...... Social Service Offices will not duplicate work of FSCs: Chan Chun Sing Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing said the new one-stop Social Service Offices will not duplicate the work of Family Service Centres (FSC)...... Healthy economy also needed for bright future: PM Lee Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore's policies set a strong foundation for a bright future but policies alone are not sufficient...... Repeat pilgrims to wait 10 years before performing Haj again Singaporean Muslims who have performed the Haj or pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia would have to wait for at least 10 years before they can do it again...... S'poreans, PRs to get free entry to national museums & heritage institutions Singaporeans and permanent residents will soon be able to visit national museums and heritage institutions for free, all year round...... One dead, 12 injured in accident along PIE A fatal accident happened along the PIE towards Jurong before the Simei Avenue exit on Friday...... Local employment rises faster in 2012: MOM report Local employment rose faster in 2012, as foreign employment growth slowed amid tighter foreign manpower controls......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-14

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Change in Circle Line services on Sunday for cable works SINGAPORE : SMRT has said it plans to replace about 120 kilometres of power cables on the Circle Line......     V-Hub to be set up at *SCAPE A V-Hub will be set up at S*CAPE by November 2013 to reach out and help youth-at-risks...... S'pore leaders send congratulatory letters to Pope Francis President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have written congratulatory letters to Pope Francis, who has been elected as the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church...... 12 months' jail for ex-teacher who had sex with student SINGAPORE : A former teacher who admitted to having consensual sex with her then student was jailed 12 months on Thursday...... Govt won't legislate flexi-work arrangements for now: Amy Khor The government will not be legislating flexible work arrangements for now. Speaking in Parliament, Minister of State for Manpower Amy Khor said that such a move will introduce rigidity in the labour market and impose additional costs on businesses...... Energy efficiency labelling to be extended to more appliances SINGAPORE : The government is extending water and energy efficiency labelling to more appliances and is looking at imposing more mandatory efficiency standards on them...... Motorists taking up larger car loans: Credit Bureau Singapore SINGAPORE : Motorists are taking up larger loans on their cars, according to a study by the Credit Bureau Singapore......

Changes to Employment Act will ensure better protection for PMEs: MOM The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has announced changes to the Employment Act which will ensure better protection for more workers -- including Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs)......     Govt to improve adoption process Acting Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing said the government would like to encourage more adoptions where it can but cautioned that this is a serious undertaking about a child's life and development and how the family relationship..... MOM to monitor foreign worker numbers closely: Tan Chuan-Jin There are three factors which the Singapore government will be monitoring while managing the pace of tightening of foreign worker employment policies, said Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin...... Single parents to enjoy infant care and childcare leave from May 1 The government is extending infant care and childcare leave provisions to single parents...... Govt sets aside S$40m over 3 years to promote pro-family initiatives The government is beefing up its support to nurture a pro-family mindset across the spectrum of schools, workplaces and within the community...... Chan Chun Sing to chair committee to implement Enabling Masterplan Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing said he will chair a committee to implement the Enabling Masterplan over the next four years...... MND to explore low-cost housing option with restrictions National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said his ministry plans to see how it can come up with a new housing option which can be a lot cheaper than today's prices for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats...... Wellness Programmes for seniors on track to reach 2015 target Programmes to promote active ageing among Singaporeans have yielded some positive results...... MSF to set up 20 Social Service Offices islandwide Social service will be made more accessible to those who need them...... Archbishop William Goh hopes new pope will rejuvenate Catholic Church Singapore's Co-Adjutor Archbishop William Goh said he hopes the newly-elected Pontiff will be able to rejuvenate and revive the Catholic Church...... Shanmugam, Kerry reaffirm warm Singapore-US ties WASHINGTON: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam who is in the United States met Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday...... US govt welcomes public inquiry into Shane Todd's case WASHINGTON: Singapore's Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam has held meetings in Washington with United States' new Secretary of State John Kerry and the country's Attorney General Eric Holder...... Catholics in S'pore welcome selection of Pope Francis Catholics in Singapore woke up today to the news that a new pope had been chosen, greeting the news with relief and joy......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-13

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Water consumption in homes falling: PUB The PUB said water consumption in homes has been falling. In 2003, it was 165 litres per capita. Currently, it is 152 litres......     3 men arrested for housebreaking & theft Three Colombian men, believed to be involved in housebreaking and theft in a private residential estate in Jurong West, have been arrested...... One dead after harbour craft collides with container ship in Sinki Fairway A crew member of a harbour craft died after the vessel collided with a container ship on Wednesday afternoon, around 12pm...... More primary schools to offer programmes for dyslexic students The number of primary schools offering programmes to help students with dyslexia will be doubled to 42. This school-based dyslexia programme was introduced to 20 primary schools in 2012, and has benefited some 120 Primary Three students...... More help in Math, English for weaker students From colourful learning tools to having extra teachers in class, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat has announced a slew of measures to help students -- from kindergarten to secondary school -- build a stronger foundation in Mathematics and English...... COEs for big cars and Open Category tumble Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) for cars closed sharply lower in the latest bidding exercise on Wednesday......

MOE to set up 15 pilot kindergartens over next three years The Ministry of Education (MOE) will set up 15 pilot kindergartens over the next three years......     Govt to continue making transport system more elderly-friendly The government will continue its efforts to make the transport system barrier-free for the elderly...... Private Car Rental Scheme may be liberalised Car owners may have an easier time renting out their vehicles in future...... New mega-passenger terminal could be built in Changi East A new mega-passenger terminal could be built at a site in Changi East to serve Singapore's Changi Airport...... Singapore on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7% to 11% Singapore is on track to meeting its unconditional pledge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 7 to 11 per cent below 2020 levels...... Inter-agency Committee set up to review road safety measures An inter-agency committee will be set up to review safety measures on the road for pedestrians and cyclists...... Josephine Teo explains GIC's omission on nominal returns in Singdollar The Government Investment Corporation's Report on the Management of the Government's Portfolio stopped publishing its nominal returns converted to Singapore dollars three years ago...... Govt not making major changes to COE market in near-term: Lui Tuck Yew Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said the government will not be making major changes to the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) market in the near-term...... S'pore invites US to probe into Shane Todd case Singapore's Foreign Minister K Shanmugam said authorities are "committed to getting to the bottom" of the death of an American researcher in Singapore last year......

Singapore Local News, 2013-03-12

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2 town councils to serve residents in Sembawang & Nee Soon From 1 April, the Sembawang-Nee Soon Town Council will be restructured to form two separate Town Councils......     5 chefs charged with accepting bribes from seafood supplier Five chefs were on Tuesday charged with accepting bribes totalling more than S$250,600 from a seafood supplier...... Review of healthcare financing will involve "fundamental shifts": Health Minister Singapore's Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said the review of the country's healthcare financing system will be extensive, involve fundamental shifts, and will take more than a year to complete...... Govt stepping up enforcement efforts against littering, raising cleanliness standards The government is stepping up enforcement and surveillance in public areas, in a bid to deter the recalcitrant minority from littering, and will also raise standards of the cleaning and food industry...... Govt to ramp up infrastructure to create self-sufficient, sustainable environment The government will ramp up infrastructure to cater to create a self-sufficient and sustainable environment, which will be through projects such as the second phase of the Deep Tunnel Sewarage System, and the second desalination plant in Tuas...... Nursing home licensing standards to be enhanced: Dr Khor An enhanced set of nursing home licensing standards will be introduced by 2015...... Ex-teacher promised "moonlighting" ex-coach he would be paid The trial of former chief of the Singapore Table Tennis Association, Choo Wee Khiang, continued on Tuesday......

35,000 to gather to spread message of water conservation As part of World Water Day celebrations, 35,000 people will gather this Saturday at various sites to spread the message of water conservation......     MOH mulls banning point-of-sale display of cigarettes The Health Ministry is looking at the possibility of banning point-of-sale display of tobacco products in stores...... PUB identifies 100 potential sites for ABC Waters programme PUB has identified 100 more sites in Singapore that could potentially be developed in the ABC Waters Programme...... No horsemeat found in meat imports to S'pore: AVA Singapore imports 80 per cent of beef and beef products from Australia, New Zealand and Brazil...... Govt mulls harsher littering penalties The government is considering harsher penalties for litterbugs...... Caterers to submit plans on food safety management from 2014 Come June 2014, new applicants for food catering licences need to submit a Food Safety Management System plan to the National Environment Agency within the first three months of getting their licences...... Govt to raise standards to improve air quality Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan announced that the government will be enhancing standards to improve air quality in Singapore...... Hawker centres under Stall Ownership Scheme to continue operations The 15 hawker centres under the old Stall Ownership Scheme will continue to operate, after a short period of refurbishment and renovations...... S'pore will be water-independent before agreement expires: Balakrishnan Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said Singapore will be water-independent well before the expiry of the country's last water agreement with Malaysia...... Ministry to table bill on mandatory licensing of cleaning companies Second Minister for Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu said the ministry is ready to table a bill later this year, to introduce the mandatory licensing of all cleaning companies in 2014...... Researchers working on ways to limit dengue effects: Grace Fu Second Minister for Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu said in Parliament researchers are currently working on ways to potentially limit the effects of less common dengue viruses...... JTC gradually phasing out scheme for housing foreigners: Lee Yi Shyan Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan said JTC Corporation has been gradually phasing out the scheme for housing of foreign talent (SHiFT)...... Survey reveals contract work is now more attractive Eight out of 10 workers in Singapore find contract assignments an attractive option given the current global economic environment, according to a new survey by recruiting experts Hays...... New bus service to link Choa Chu Kang to CBD Residents in Choa Chu Kang will soon have a new bus service to the Central Business District (CBD)......