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......