Singapore Also Can

Discussion in 'Chit-Chat' started by Loh, May 4, 2009.

  1. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Military might to be NDP 2011 show opener

    The Straits Times

    Jun 2, 2011

    By Cheryl Ong


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    These are the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars) and Unmanned Surface Vessel, as well as the Singapore Civil Defence Force's Multi-Utility Vehicle. -- PHOTO: MY PAPER/JAMIE KOH


    THE Navy's brand new submarine-hunting S-70B Sikorsky Seahawks naval helicopters will make their grand debut at the National Day Parade this year, among other new acts set to wow the audience.

    Besides the Seahawks, which are armed with sonar equipment to detect objects underwater, three other vehicles will be in action for the first time too.

    These are the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars) and Unmanned Surface Vessel, as well as the Singapore Civil Defence Force's Multi-Utility Vehicle.

    They are all part of the so-called Dynamic Defence Display (or D3), which will start the parade off with a bang.

    This year's NDP is themed 'Majulah! The Singapore Spirit', and features a five-act musical, of which the nation's military might will be the show opener.

    Lieutenant Colonel Kelvin Fan, who chairs the D3 committee, said the defence show, a synchronising act between land, air and sea vehicles and teams, will be told through the tale of a boy dreaming he is a task-force commander.
     
  2. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    PM Lee says Singapore must study nuclear option

    Channel NewsAsia

    By Hoe Yeen Nie | Posted: 01 June 2011 2136 hrs
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    Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during their meeting at the Istana.


    SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong again stressed that Singapore has not made a decision on nuclear power but it is an option that must be studied.

    He said this at a news conference on Wednesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is in Singapore for a two-day visit.

    Germany had on Monday announced it would shut down its nuclear reactors by 2022.

    It is Dr Merkel's first visit to Singapore as German Chancellor.

    Mr Lee also noted that she is his first foreign visitor after he was re-elected to Parliament, just as he was her first foreign guest when Dr Merkel became Chancellor in 2005.

    Both leaders made clear that Singapore-German relationship is an important one for the two countries.

    Singapore is Germany's main trading partner in Southeast Asia, while German companies have long made their presence felt here, particularly in manufacturing.

    Latest figures show that bilateral trade amounted to some S$20.5 billion in 2010.

    Germany is also Singapore's biggest trading partner among the EU countries.

    Both leaders agreed over the hour-long discussion to increase cooperation in R&D and support for enterprises.

    They also agreed on the importance of ASEAN and the EU ties.

    Dr Merkel said: "Cooperation between the EU and ASEAN needs to be further enhanced, needs to be further developed to the benefit of both, because these are after all two economic regions that wield quite considerable economic clout, and therefore lend themselves ideally to co-operate even more in the future."

    What was not on the table was nuclear energy. He said Singapore is still exploring the option.

    Prime Minister Lee said: "We need to understand it, because I think this is something which will not go away. And even if we don't do nuclear energy, our neighbours will do nuclear energy, and we need to understand the implications for us."

    Asked about his choice for the post of IMF chief, Mr Lee said this would be decided on merit.

    He said: "I would not say that I'm looking for an Asian candidate. I think we want to look for the best person who can do a very difficult job, which is crucial towards the stability of the global monetary system."

    Asked by German media about the significance of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's retirement from the Cabinet, Prime Minister Lee said that even when Mr Lee Kuan Yew was still in the Cabinet, decisions were already being made by PM Lee and the younger ministers. The senior Mr Lee would interject and express his views at times.

    "What has happened is that now that he has retired, this has become more visible, and that's all," he said.

    Dr Merkel also met President SR Nathan at the Istana, as well as Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

    The German Chancellor was also hosted to a state dinner by Prime Minister Lee. Her visit ends on Thursday.
     
  3. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    NTUC to focus on better employment for Singaporeans

    By Joanne Chan | Posted: 01 June 2011 1434 hrs

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    NTUC chief Lim Swee Say


    SINGAPORE: Labour chief Lim Swee Say has outlined the new focus of the Labour Movement - to ensure Singaporeans come first in local employment, while maintaining the country's competitiveness and pro-business stance.

    He said beyond full employment, citizens want better jobs.

    His comments came as the Labour Movement undergoes a re-shaping exercise, ushering in new leaders.

    Mr Lim said this year's General Election has shown full employment is not enough to satisfy the aspirations of Singaporeans.

    With the current tight labour market, he said the focus would shift to helping Singaporeans find better employment.

    "Given the full employment situation, I think it's only natural that Singaporeans expect that more can be done to enable them to take on better employment in Singapore," Mr Lim said.

    "Low-wage workers want higher wages. For PMETs (professionals, managers, executives, technicians) they want better and faster career advancement and so on.

    "I think this is only natural, and this is something the Labour Movement recognises and accepts."

    Noting ground sentiments that "Singaporeans should come first", Mr Lim said more must be done to protect all segments of workers -- and not just rank-and-file workers, but also mature workers, women returning to the workforce, and PMETs.

    He indicated foreign labour policies may have to be tweaked.

    One of the suggestions brought up was setting a cap on foreign PMETs.

    "To avoid the situation whereby certain industries (or) companies are overly dominated by foreign PMETs... some unions suggested introducing some dependency ceiling for PMETs," Mr Lim said.

    Another suggestion thrown up by unions was giving higher access to foreign workers to companies who hire mature workers, or to firms that are committed to improving the skills and productivity of locals.

    Mr Lim said being pro-business and pro-worker is not "mutually exclusive" and neither should come at the expense of the other.

    Mr Lim stressed that these ideas are not cast in stone, and the Labour Movement wants to engage the public and businesses in debate to reflect their concerns.

    This represents a new direction for the Labour Movement - greater transparency over policy formulation.

    Mr Lim said while many Singaporeans may be familiar with the various policies, they may not know the rationale behind them.

    A third aspect of re-shaping the Labour Movement is to broaden the pace of change.

    Mr Lim said outreach to the non-unionised sectors must be increased to get them on board as early adopters of new policies.

    Mr Lim also announced new leaders at the NTUC.

    Mr Ong Ye Kung has been promoted to deputy secretary-general, replacing Madam Halimah Yacob.

    "I think the key is still raising productivity first, and second, having an understanding with employers that when companies do well, and productivity goes up, they must have a formula and have a way to share the gains with workers," Mr Ong said.

    "I think that's the most sustainable way to ensure that workers' lives improve."

    Meanwhile, Ms Cham Hui Fong takes over from Mrs Josephine Teo as assistant secretary-general.

    In an email reply, Ms Cham said she's "humbled" by her new appointment and will "work closely with unions and union leaders to further the interests of the Labour Movement and workers".

    Minister for Manpower Tharman Shanmugaratnam welcomed the new leaders at NTUC.

    In a statement, Mr Tharman said he and his team at the ministry look forward to working closely with the NTUC team and employers.

    -CNA/wk
     
  4. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    NDP defence display set to thrill

    By Alvina Soh | Posted: 01 June 2011 2015 hrs

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    A helicopter hovers over Marina Bay


    SINGAPORE: This year's National Day Parade is set to thrill spectators with an action-packed Dynamic Defence Display that will see four new additions.

    For the first time, the display will feature an S-70B Sikorsky naval helicopter, a high mobility artillery rocket system, an unmanned surface vessel and a multi-utility vehicle.

    The 10-minute performance by the Singapore Armed Forces and the Home Team aims to highlight a different aspect of Singapore's defence.

    More than 100 personnel will be taking part in the display, including six divers from the Republic of Singapore Navy.

    Spectators will be treated to a sight of them in full combat gear, jumping from a Chinook helicopter into the Marina Bay.

    Dynamic Defence Display chairman Kelvin Fan said: "Our hope is that the new features, the new assets, will showcase a side of Singapore's defence that Singaporeans will reflect upon, such that they know the importance of defence and they reflect upon their own role in defending Singapore".

    -CNA/wk
     
  5. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Bring on the Koreans

    Singapore hand Malaysia a rugby lesson but a bigger test lies ahead this Saturday


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    by Tan Yo-Hinn
    04:46 AM Jun 02, 2011

    ARFU Div 1 S-Finals

    Singapore 52 Malaysia 17

    SINGAPORE - The Singapore Rugby Lions are a step closer to gaining promotion to the continent's top tier - next year's HSBC Asian Five Nations - after registering a 52-17 victory over Malaysia yesterday.

    The lunch-time kickoff at the Ansa-wa Stadium near Incheon, South Korea, ensured the Republic will be in Saturday's Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Division 1 final against the hosts, who defeated the Philippines 32-20 in a later match.

    Singapore, who brought a 24-strong squad to Korea, were expecting a far stiffer test from the Malaysians, particularly after only edging them 25-23 last year.

    But Singapore seized the early initiative with first-half tries from scrum-half Azmi Suliman and No 8 Peter McFeely.

    Further tries after the break from second-row Marc Warburton, winger Alex Chew, substitute Jonathan Chen, full-back Nicholas Groen and second-row Gabriel Lee, and a penalty try from fly-half Suhaimi Amran, who also kicked five conversions, completed the rout.

    "We knew Malaysia have huge skills with the ball and a very dynamic backline, so we kept the ball close until we created opportunities and could apply pressure, or 'line breaks', and get inside them," said Singapore coach Des Thornton in a telephone interview.

    "But we moved away from that a bit in the first-half, and (before the) second half had a talk about it.

    "We needed more composure, especially from the younger guys. It's different from club rugby, so they needed to be confident that it will work.

    "We also needed to dominate their forward pack ... that had an influence and was an area we targeted."

    Singapore last played in the top flight in 2009, and Thornton believes they can build on the win over Malaysia.

    "They're a totally different sort of opposition," he said. "The Korean forwards are very strong and dominant. We will have to play differently, and key for us is getting quality possession to apply pressure.

    "That's an area we've discussed and will have to work on, and hopefully, our forwards can play a notch higher than they played today."



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    Singapore full-back Nicholas Groen in action during their 52-17 win over Malaysia in an Asian Rugby Football Union Division 1 clash at the Ansa-wa Stadium near Incheon in South Korea. Photo courtesy of the Singapore Rugby Union.
    Copyright © MediaCorp Press Ltd
     
  6. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Tan back in contention, thanks to Ong

    by Philip Goh Haw Hann
    04:47 AM Jun 02, 2011

    SINGAPORE - Some choice words from Singapore Bowling Federation's new associate coach Remy Ong was all it took for national bowler Jazreel Tan to make the right adjustments and regain her feel.

    After being out of touch in other competitions the past fortnight, the 21-year-old is back in business at the 44th Singapore International Open championships, chalking up a three-game total of 716 pinfalls in her only block at Orchid Bowl yesterday.

    That was enough to propel her to second in the local women's qualifying pool (at press time) and away from the cut line above which she was hovering just 24 hours earlier.

    "I knew what my problems were ... my swing and my facing towards the target were a little off," said Tan, a Wichita University sophomore who is back in Singapore for her summer break. "Remy helped with tips on how to slow my action down and not rush my footsteps."

    And she thinks her national team-mate of seven years is a natural in his new role.

    "He's still an active player, and it seems he connects better," Tan added.

    "There's a difference in the way he explains things and the players look up to him."

    Tan's performance earlier in the week was steady but unspectacular, with a high-game of just 225 pinfalls.

    But her block yesterday was much improved, opening with a high of 255 before following up with 227 and 234.

    Her two-block total of 1,364 pinfalls (average 227.3) puts her just 19 pins adrift of Fok Ka Wai.

    The women's overseas pool is headed by Malaysia's Zandra Aziela (1,367).

    Ong still leads the local men's pool with 1,419 (average 236.5), ahead of Benjamin Lim (1,380) and national rookie Leong Ho Yun (1,377).

    Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong sits atop the men's overseas pool with 1,387.

    Sweden's Marcus Berndt claimed the honour of bowling the tournament's first perfect game yesterday, but he did not win the S$5,000 bonus as the feat was not achieved during a pre-designated squad.


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    Singapore national bowler Jazreel Tan is third overall in the local and qualifying pool in the women's draw at the Singapore International Open 2011 bowling championship. Photo courtesy of the Singapore Bowling Federation.
    Copyright © MediaCorp Press Ltd
     
  7. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Singapore visitor arrivals in Q1 rises 15.7% year-on-year

    The Straits Times

    Jun 3, 2011




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    Singapore's tourist arrivals in January-March totalled 3.12 million, up from 2.69 million in the same period last year, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said in a statement. -- ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI


    SINGAPORE - INTERNATIONAL visitor arrivals to Singapore in the first quarter rose 15.7 per cent from the year-ago period, helped by stronger arrivals from Hong Kong, the Philippines and Thailand, the city-state's tourism authority said on Thursday.

    Singapore's tourist arrivals in January-March totalled 3.12 million, up from 2.69 million in the same period last year, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said in a statement.

    Indonesia contributed the largest number of visitors with 577,000 in the first quarter, while Hong Kong was the fastest-growing market for Singapore's tourism industry, with visitor arrivals jumping 42 per cent to 100,000.

    STB said average occupancy rate at Singapore hotels in January-March was 85 per cent, compared to 83.7 per cent last year. -- REUTERS
     
  8. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    S'pore is largest tourist market for Malaysia in 2010

    By Vimita Mohandas | Posted: 02 June 2011 1613 hrs

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    Malaysia's Homestay Programme
    SINGAPORE: Malaysia saw about 13 million tourists from Singapore last year - an increase of 2.4 per cent compared to 2009.

    That makes Singapore their largest tourist market, generating about 28.4 billion ringgit in tourist receipts last year.

    The Malaysia Tourism Board added that Malaysia's Homestay Programme are getting more popular among Singaporeans.

    The board also said Singaporeans account for almost half of all homestay tourists. That makes Singapore the top foreign market for the programme.

    The homestay tourism product was introduced in 1995 as a means to elevate the socio-economic standing of the rural people in Malaysia. Currently, more than 140 villages in Malaysia offer this programme at 3,009 kampong homes.

    "What's important is that this homestay programme gives tourists something special which is more like the kampong lifestyle. When they stay at the kampong together with the family, like the Japanese tourists for example, they won't eat sushi and teppanyaki but instead go for goreng pisang and nasi lemak," said Acting Director-General for the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, Azizan Noordin.

    Singapore is Malaysia's largest tourist market and the country wants to increase this number with new events.

    Shopaholics can look out for the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival that will kick off on June 15 and last till August 31.

    In July, there will be the launch of the 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival - a three-month celebration of Malaysia's talents filled with exciting art exhibitions highlighting Malaysian contemporary artists, art auctions and creative festivals.

    Meanwhile, foodies can look forward to the Fabulous Food 1Malaysia in October where they can savour gourmet cuisine, local street food and ASEAN flavours.

    The Malaysian Tourism Board said it is also encouraging Singaporeans to apply for the Malaysia Automated Clearance System (MACS) pass.

    This allows them to "fast track" through immigration without having to fill up the white immigration card. As the sticker is embedded with a radio frequency identification chip that is stuck in the passport, they can zip through immigration clearance in Malaysia without worrying if their passport has been stamped.

    The Board said if more sign up, it may dedicate one lane for MACS holders. Some 1,000 Singaporeans are already using MACS.

    The announcements were made at the Islamic Fashion Festival which makes its debut in Singapore. The festival showcases designer Islamic attire by 12 designers from France, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

    - CNA/cc/ac
     
  9. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Singapore, US reaffirm defence ties

    The Straits Times

    Jun 3, 2011




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    Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen meeting with the United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on the sidelines of the tenth Shangri-La Dialogue. -- PHOTO: MINDEF


    SINGAPORE and the United States reaffirmed their long-standing bilateral defence relationship on Friday when Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen met his US counterpart, Secretary of Defence Robert Gates.

    During their meeting, Mr Gates and Dr Ng also welcomed the substantial progress made in deepening bilateral defence cooperation since the signing of the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) in 2005, which 'underscores both countries' shared belief that a strong US presence in the region has enhanced regional peace and stability'.

    Both Mr Gates, who is in Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, and Dr Ng supported the US' 'continued engagement in the region, and the need for both sides to continue working together to address transnational security threats and enhance regional security'.

    'Secretary Gates and Minister Ng were pleased to note the useful contributions made by Singapore on the stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, and on the international counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden,' a Mindef statement said.

    Mr Gates and Dr Ng also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, in line with the spirit and vision of the SFA.

    In particular, they 'agreed to work towards more tangible cooperation at the operational level, including through expanded training, improved command and control capabilities, and deployment opportunities', the statement said.
     
  10. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Kallang Theatre to reopen in August

    By Teo Xuanwei, TODAY | Posted: 03 June 2011 0646 hrs

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    Kallang Theatre (TODAY File Photo)
    SINGAPORE: In its heyday, the Kallang Theatre was the setting for the Prime Minister's annual National Day Rally speech as well as original local works and world class musicals such as Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera.

    But the curtain came down on the 1,800-seat theatre on March 31, 2007, amid dwindling utilisation rates, as new venues such as the Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay moved into the spotlight.

    Come August, the Kallang Theatre will come alive after a four-year hiatus with the ambitions of becoming a regional arts and culture hub
    .

    For starters, it will stage a 80-minute musical primarily targeted at tourists and foreigners about the Republic's history from Sang Nila Utama days to modern day, titled Singapura - The Lion City Show.

    Its operator, Asia Arts & Culture (AAC), which made the announcement yesterday on the sidelines of performing arts trade exhibition LIVE! Singapore, said it will also market its in-house group of performers and shows for external events, both locally and elsewhere in Asia.

    The Singapore Land Authority offered the Kallang Theatre building for tender in January. After a successful tender to operate and manage the premise, AAC - a Singapore-China joint-venture with the Yunnan Provincial Performing Arts Group - will be working with the Singapore Tourism Board to turn Kallang Theatre into an "Asian Arts and Culture hub", the operator said in a press release. It added that it was also tasked to "strongly promote Kallang Theatre as a preferred venue" for the arts and MICE events.

    The theatre will also have facilities such as dance halls and F&B outlets. Booking slots for the use of Kallang Theatre auditorium and various other facilities will be available from next month.

    Arts groups here welcomed the re-opening. Said The Substation artistic co-director Audrey Wong: "It will be a good alternative venue that fills the gap left by Victoria Theatre while it undergoes renovations."

    But she felt the theatre's reopening would have "no big impact on the local arts scene, in terms of creating original content" otherwise.

    Few local arts groups would be able to hold shows there as well because the capacity was too large, she added.

    The Necessary Stage's founder and artistic director Alvin Tan hoped that the iconic theatre would go beyond being just a venue to hold shows.

    "If it can have an artistic vision of encouraging intercultural work, such as showcasing the different cultural traditions we have here, then it will be more meaningful," he told Today.

    "We don't have a strong historical culture like Japan because we are a migrant country but we have cultures like Peranakan and the theatre can work towards supporting works showcasing a uniquely Singapore identity."

    The Kallang Theatre was built in the 1970s as a cinema but was converted into a performing arts venue in 1986 to replace the National Theatre, which was demolished in the same year.

    The theatre's then-operator National Arts Council decided to shut it down after its utilisation rate dropped from 80 per cent to only 33 per cent in 2005 - catering mostly to schools and non-arts-related hirers. - TODAY
     
  11. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Germany for speedy conclusion of proposed EU-S'pore FTA

    By S Ramesh | Posted: 02 June 2011 1053 hrs

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    Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers her keynote address during the 31st Singapore Lecture (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
    SINGAPORE: Germany supports a speedy conclusion of the proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and Singapore.

    This was in view of the non-conclusion of the Doha round of talks, which has been going on for the past 10 years.

    Speaking at the 31st Singapore Lecture, the German Chancellor, Dr Angela Merkel, hoped that the EU-Singapore FTA would spur even greater levels of cooperation between German and Singapore companies which are working closely in the areas of research and development and scientific matters.

    She said: "Singapore and Germany are pinning their hopes on an open economy and free trade. So we are convinced on our side that there should be a speedy completion of the Doha round, the world trade round because that is the most reliable pre-condition for growth.

    "So it is really a pity that after ten years we have not been able to complete this round and it is a very bumpy road. There are only a few metres or few miles yet to go but whether we are able to muster the strength to cover that distance is still not clear."

    Despite this and the global financial crisis of 2009, Singapore-Germany trade volume has increased. Some 1,200 German companies are active here and investments from Germany amount to nearly S$14 billion.

    Regarding the best person for the top job at the International Monetary Fund, Dr Merkel said her country backs French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde for the job, but is not opposed to a non-European in future.

    She said: "What's important is that the best possible candidate ought to become the head of these important global institutions. It's a much more open issue as to how you decide. Since the IMF is very deeply involved in the Euro matter, there could be good reasons for not saying right away a European candidate is out of the question.

    "If you look at the personality, Christine Lagarde, as a finance minister, enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide and in many ways, she is an ideal embodiment of economic experience and political experience."

    Dr Merkel also sees opportunities for German educational institutions to work closely with the Nanyang Technological University.

    And one area which is being explored is an electro-mobility centre between the research institutions of both countries.

    She said: "We ought to be partners in trying to manage our resources more efficiently and I think mobility, electro-mobility is something that is most interesting not only for us but also for you here in Singapore.

    "We shall earmark a sizeable one billion euros from 2011 to 2013 for research and development in this area and Singapore is a strong partner in this area."

    Another area of interest is Germany's decision to phase out the use of nuclear power.

    She said: "Phasing out more rapidly already shows that we already had taken the basic decision to use nuclear power only as a bridging technology. What we were debating was whether we have a period of ten years or a longer period of time available to phase out nuclear energy."

    Dr Merkel also believes that Singapore can play a key role in enhancing ASEAN's effectiveness.

    Turning to reports that Myanmar has expressed interest to chair ASEAN, Dr Merkel said Germany is concerned about this development. It expects a clear commitment to human rights from the ASEAN member states.

    Dr Merkel's lecture was attended by some 600 people, from top CEOs and politicians to student leaders.

    Earlier at the National Orchid Gardens, an orchid, the Dendrobium Angela Merkel, was named after the German Chancellor.

    - CNA/cc/ac
     
  12. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Jun 4, 2011

    ITE top student beats the odds to reach the top

    By Amelia Tan


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    On Friday, Mr Teo, 26, left all his setbacks in life behind and was named this year's (2011) ITE top student at the ITE's graduation ceremony held at the National University of Singapore. He also received the Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal which is given to each year to ITE's most outstanding graduating student. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG


    AFTER failing his O-levels twice, Mr Aloysius Teo felt that he had hit rock bottom and decided to stop studying.

    He worked for a year as a waiter and embarked on his National Service. It was during his time in the army when he had the time to reflect and he realised that his future was bleak with his poor educational qualifications. He set his heart on going to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and acing his studies.

    On Friday, Mr Teo, 26, left all his setbacks in life behind and was named this year's (2011) ITE top student at the ITE's graduation ceremony held at the National University of Singapore. He also received the Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal which is given to each year to ITE's most outstanding graduating student.

    He got a perfect Grade Point Average (GPA)of 4.0 for his Higher Nitec in business studies (administration) course. In fact, this is the second time that he has aced his course at ITE. In 2007, he also got a perfect GPA of 4.0 for his Nitec in service skills (retail) course.
    Over the last month, about 11,700 students graduated at decentralised ceremonies held in their respective colleges.

    Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister of State for Defence and Education, the guest of honour at the ceremony, said in his speech on Friday that ITE students have defied stereotypes of what they are capable of and have proven that 'progression up the technical path is no less a success than moving up the academic pathway.'

    Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.
     
  13. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    S'poreans conquer Mt Everest

    By Low Mei Mei | Posted: 04 June 2011 1953 hrs

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    Kenneth Koh climbing at about 8,700m on the North Ridge of Mt Everest, on the way to the summit (photo: Kenneth Koh).
    SINGAPORE: Two Singaporeans conquered Mount Everest in separate expeditions held last month via the North Ridge from Tibet, a route which has never been taken by any Singaporean.

    All Singaporeans who previously reached the summit of Mount Everest had done so from the South, via Nepal.

    Seasoned adventurer Khoo Swee Chiow reached summit on May 21.

    The 47 year old is now the first Southeast Asian to have made it to the summit of Mt Everest three times.

    His first was in 1998 and second, 2006.

    Meanwhile, the other climber is 46-year-old freelance travel and adventure writer and photographer Kenneth Koh.

    Mr Koh made it to the top on May 27.

    -CNA/wk
     
  14. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    US to send combat ships to S'pore

    By Saifulbahri Ismail | Posted: 04 June 2011 1859 hrs

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    SINGAPORE: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said the US military had plans to deploy littoral combat ships to Singapore.

    Dr Gates said this on Saturday, at the Shangri-la Dialogue, an international security conference held in Singapore.

    Littoral combat ships are speedy, lighter ships designed to operate in shallow waters.

    "We're examining other ways for our two militaries to train and operate together to include pre-positioning supplies to improve disaster response, improving command and control capabilities and expanding training opportunities to help prepare our forces for the challenges both militaries face operating in the Pacific," Dr Gates said.

    Singapore's Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen said: "The US's strong presence and continued engagement in this area has been, and will continue to be a critical force of stability and progress for this region.

    "In that spirit, we are open to his proposal for forward deployment of the littoral combat ships in this area, so that it allows them to achieve that purpose of having a strong presence, a continued presence in the Asia Pacific region".

    Dr Ng also hosted his first ministerial lunch at the Shangri-La Dialogue, as defence minister.

    During informal discussions, the defence ministers agreed that the economic and political weight and modernisation of the military is increasingly shifting to Asia.

    Thus, Asia will have a more strategic importance in the next few decades.

    Dr Gates, who said he is stepping down at the end of the month, left Singapore for Afghanistan on Saturday, on a farewell visit.

    -CNA/AFP/wk
     
  15. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    NTU showcases innovations

    Posted: 04 June 2011 2023 hrs

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    Screen grab of the NTU Engineering Innovation and Design Open House.
    SINGAPORE: Some 88 innovations by enterprising students were showcased at the Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Engineering Innovation and Design Open House.

    One such innovation is a laundry-hanging device which automatically retracts when it rains.

    The device is materialised by students from NTU's School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering.

    NTU School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering associate professor David Butler said: "The objective of today is to really give students a chance to showcase their creativity and innovation.

    "They've been given two semesters or one year to identify a problem and come up with a solution.

    "A lot of them are very close to being commercially viable and very, very practical".

    More than 750 students tackled issues such as safety, recycling, transportation and the environment.

    They also took on various challenges posed by the Housing & Development Board, including refuse collection and aids for the elderly.

    Some inventions include a first-of-its-kind roller blade braking system, an electricity-free sliding door and a fuss-free self-cleaning rubbish chute.

    -CNA/wk
     
  16. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Singapore star Hariss breaks new ground

    Vanda Sports signs job deal with 20-year-old Courts Young Lions skipper


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    by Shamir Osman
    04:46 AM Jun 04, 2011

    SINGAPORE - He eclipsed Fandi Ahmad's mark in 2007 when he became the youngest Singapore international at 16 years and 217 days old, when he took to the field against North Korea.

    Now, Hariss Harun (picture) hopes to break new ground and open up a route for other young Singapore footballers.

    The Sports and Wellness Management graduate from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) will start work in Vanda Sports' marketing department after the national under-23 team return from their training tour to Sydney (June 8-15).

    Speaking to MediaCorp yesterday, the Courts Young Lions skipper said: "I'm very excited and looking forward to it. I'm going to go back to juggling two things again, but this time with Vanda in the real world of sports marketing.

    "The fact that I'll be using what I studied at Vanda means I will gain invaluable experience.

    "I hope I'll be able to give them as much as they are giving me."

    The agreement with the sports marketing company will allow Hariss time off for training and matches for his club, and will also meet national team requirements.

    The 20-year-old is still waiting to know if he will be allowed to defer his National Service (NS) in view of November's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, but Vanda is committed to keeping the player after he completes his NS.

    "We're not hiring Hariss Harun the footballer, we're hiring someone who has qualifications that are relevant ... and elite athletes generally bring characteristics that you would want in successful business: The dedication to a cause, the consistency, the willingness to improve on a daily basis, the competitive spirit," said Vanda's chief executive Ian Mullane, who declined to reveal the financial details of the deal.

    "If we can promote it as an outlet, I think in the longer term we can see the benefits ... when Hariss' football career is over in 10, 15 years, hopefully Vanda is something he'll look back on and maybe still be a part of."

    The company already have national boxer Mohammed Ridhwan Ahmad in their books.

    Ridhwan became the first Singaporean to venture into the SEA Games boxing ring in 14 years when he flew the Republic's flag at the Vientiane Games in 2009.

    They have also hired another boxer, Michelle Thavasi and former Singapore softball player Ivy Lim.

    Ridhwan has worked for Vanda for the last 12 months while still in NYP's Sports and Wellness programme and training for his second shot at the SEA Games in November.

    "Ridhwan has been a phenomenal success for us - we've been able to allow him to balance his academic needs with his sport and work ... And why not look at giving Hariss the same opportunity," added Mullane.

    Vanda have recently signed agreements with the Singapore Polo Association, Asean Basketball League side Singapore Slingers as well as Extreme World Races, and Hariss will be working on these projects, including getting involved with Vanda's football community projects and its social and digital media ventures.

    Courts Young Lions team manager Eugene Loo is delighted with the development.

    "This is a fantastic opportunity for an athlete to be groomed to be involved in the off-the-field side of sports, and we hope Hariss can be a flagbearer of sorts," he said.



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    National football player Hariss Harun. Photo by DON WONG
    Copyright © MediaCorp Press Ltd
     
  17. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    'Half-pats' find grass greener in Singapore

    Jun 5, 2011

    By Lydia Vasko


    Safety net
    'I came back to Singapore knowing I could (afford to) get a minimum wage job because I'd be living with my parents.'

    BRITON OLIVER HUGHES, 23

    Nice place to work in
    'When they've been overseas for a while... they realise that (Singapore) is a nice place to come back to work.'

    MR DAVID SHEPHERD, director of college advancement at United World College

    South East Asia
    Like being at home
    'I missed being in Asia and missed being around other people who had a similar background and an international lifestyle. I guess Singapore has kind of become home.'

    AMERICAN ASHLEY MCADAM, 23, whose family moved here from Tokyo when she was 16

    Don't really belong anywhere
    'The thing about being an expat and growing up outside of your country is that you don't really belong anywhere. Even in the place that I consider home, where I've lived for over half my life, without a visa I can't stay.'

    BRAZILIAN CLARISSA CAVALHEIRO, 25, who moved here at the age of 10

    Not jaded
    'It's not jaded like London or the States... You can make an impact just by doing something a little new.'

    AMERICAN CHRISTOPHER FUSSNER, 23, who was born and raised here




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    The work opportunities and cultural diversity here are some reasons why children of expats such as Mr Hughes and Ms McAdam have returned and found jobs here. Mr Hughes is now the duty manager and music director at the Prince of Wales bar, a live music haunt in Little India, while Ms McAdam is a business analyst with Accenture here. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN


    THEY are the 'half-pats' - children of Western expats, raised here but not sure where to call home.

    For decades, these youngsters have tended to up sticks after school to study or seek work back in their countries of origin, with Singapore filed away as a diverting Asian interlude.

    But this neither-here-nor-there generation is increasingly realising that the grass might just be greener in Singapore after all.

    The sea change is the result of some harsh realities: Many Western economies are flatlining, and the future is looking bleak, with good jobs - and even entry-level ones - out of reach.

    For many half-pats in this cold, new world, Singapore suddenly looks like a lifeline, with loads of work opportunities, low taxes and, if your luck is in, a spare room in Mum and Dad's condo unit.

    There are also sentimental and cultural reasons behind the move back for many half-pats, but the economic pull factor is the hardest to resist. Just how many people have made the passage back is uncertain as no figures are available. Tracking those who were previously here on student visas or as permanent residents is near impossible.

    Read the full story in The Sunday Times.
     
  18. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    People's safety top priority, says Vivian

    The Straits Times

    Jun 6, 2011

    Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan toured flood-hit areas such as Tanglin Mall and spoke at a press conference yesterday. This is an edited transcript of his comments:


    'I think most of us were woken up this morning by the thunder and lightning and we knew we would have a busy day today.'

    Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan, who had spent most of yesterday surveying areas affected by the floods, before hosting a press conference




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    Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan at Tanglin Market Place, where part of the ceiling collapsed, during his visit to Tanglin Mall. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM


    'I WANT to make points in five areas: One, has the weather changed? Two, do our planning norms need to be modified? Three, safety. Four, roads, and five, buildings.

    The first question, has the weather changed? This is not an easy question to answer from a scientific point of view. It will require long-term analysis but, as far as the operational aspect goes, we can't wait for the answer to be finalised.

    But as far as I'm concerned, I'm going to work on the presumption that our weather has changed.

    A related question is, what is the likely outcome for the future? With global warming, we can expect higher evaporation and precipitation, especially in the tropics. So we have to assume that, in fact, it may get worse in future.

    I think our planning norms have served us well for at least three decades. And that's why... we have the luxury of largely having been flood-free for the last three decades. That's a remarkable achievement for which the PUB deserves full credit.

    But we're now at a point where we must review all our planning norms, taking into account the very high probability that our weather patterns have changed.
     
    #4578 Loh, Jun 5, 2011
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2011
  19. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Govt to review drainage after year's worst flood

    Jun 6, 2011

    By Chua Hian Hou


    Related Link
    Five hours of rainfall




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    A stretch of Bukit Timah Road unpassable to traffic yesterday. Without the railings, the flood made it impossible to tell where the deep canals were. The road was one of several areas in eastern and central Singapore hit by flash floods yesterday morning after intense rain. -- PHOTO: DAWN TAN

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    THE Government is warning of possibly worse floods this week, even as it ponders the need to relook Singapore's drainage systems and building codes after intense rain caused heavy flooding yesterday.

    The five hours of rain led to floods in the eastern and central areas, and inundated several floors of Tanglin Mall in Cuscaden Road.

    Speaking after the year's worst flood so far, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said that all planning norms must be reviewed, 'taking into account the very high probability that our weather patterns have changed'.

    'If we are going to expect sudden and intense precipitation, then it is very likely that our drainage systems must be redesigned to cope with such intense pressures,' he said.

    The Government will also be looking at building codes, possibly requiring building owners to do more to flood-proof their buildings if they are located in a flood-prone area.

    Meanwhile, national water agency PUB is embarking on an 'exhaustive and comprehensive check on all flood-prone areas focusing on human safety', he said.

    chuahh@sph.com.sg
    Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.
     
  20. Loh

    Loh Regular Member

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    Changi set to see 50m passengers by 2014

    By Vimita Mohandas | Posted: 05 June 2011 2045 hrs

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    Passengers at Changi Airport.


    SINGAPORE: Changi Airport Group said passenger traffic at Changi Airport is expected to exceed 50 million by 2014.

    Passenger traffic stands at 42 million as of 2010.

    Changi Airport is ranked the seventh busiest airport for international traffic.


    The others are London Heathrow Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Hong Kong International Airport, Dubai International Airport, Frankfurt Airport and Amsterdam Schipol.

    The group said it is looking at four main thrusts to achieve this target.

    One of it is to continue to enhance the Changi experience for passengers.

    For example, the iChangi application was launched last year to allow users to obtain the latest flight updates on the go.

    It also aimed to leverage on new tourism products such as the Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore International Cruise Terminal.

    Discussions with various airline partners, both foreign and Singapore based carriers, are also underway.

    For example, after trade shows were carried out to promote traffic flow between Singapore and Turkey in both directions, Turkish Airlines has upped their services from five to seven weekly.

    With the significant growth of low-cost carriers (LCC), the group said "it won't come as a surprise" if it would make up about 30-35 per cent of the total market share in the next five years.

    Currently, LCCs account for about 22 per cent of passenger traffic at Changi Airport.

    Changi Airport Group air hub development executive vice-president Yam Kum Weng said: "If you look at the experience in Europe, the LCC growth can be as much as 30 per cent of market share.

    "So we do see the LCCs playing an important part in achieving our target".

    But the group said the target will be re-looked if faced with various challenges such as increasing fuel prices and natural disasters.

    Other challenges include geopolitical shocks and the weak global economic environment.

    The group also said it hopes to strengthen its global network by collaborating with key partners.

    "The pace that we're looking at for growth is stronger than our historical average," Mr Yam said.

    "We will strengthen our connectivity to points in China and India, in particular the secondary cities where there's a lot of potential for growth, and also to long-haul markets like Europe, US and Russia".

    -CNA/wk
     

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