Straits Times Interactive - SINGAPORE

Watch the Changing of Guards at the Istana this Sunday

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:36:00 GMT

Those enjoying their Sunday in the Orchard area may want to take in the changing of the Istana Guards at 6pm on Feb 12.

More family service centres, extra $30m funding in coming years

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:12:00 GMT

Family service centres (FSCs) will get another $30 million in funds over the next three years to cope with an expected surge in demand.

Malaysian Super League: Little enthusiasm to rekindle rivalry

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR: There were singing fans, loud drums and deafening air horns.

But, for the most part, they merely echoed around the 85,000-capacity Bukit Jalil Stadium, which last night was a sea of yellow, blue and red empty seats.

Malaysian Super League: Sundram pleased with draw

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR - It was supposed to be a cracking encounter - the first competitive meeting in 17 years between two old rivals. But the fireworks expected at last night's Malaysian Super League clash between Selangor and the LionsXII failed to materialise, both on and off the pitch.

NUS seeks to increase tuition fees for incoming batch

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The National University of Singapore (NUS) has proposed to the Ministry of Education that its tuition fees be revised for the incoming cohort of students.

Yaw Shin Leong's ex-wife sheds some light on break-up

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The former wife of Hougang MP Yaw Shin Leong, teacher Ng Mei Sze, has come out to say that it was not adultery on his part that ended their marriage. Ms Ng, 35, a head of department at a top school, was married briefly to Mr Yaw, also 35, in 2004.

Tap Asean's potential, Shanmugam urges US

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON: The United States should do more to mine Asean's economic potential, Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam has said, citing the city-state as a prime example of a regional partner that has generated outsized returns for the American economy. Delivering the keynote address at the Singapore Conference, which brought together top diplomats and foreign policy thinkers from both countries, he pointed out that Singapore investments in the US have created jobs and generated a trade surplus for America.

Singapore Island Country Club sacks GM for misconduct

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) - arguably the country's most prestigious club - has sacked its general manager J. P. Schneider, just two weeks before his two-year contract was due to end.

'Workers' Party ought to be more transparent'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Workers' Party (WP) MP Yaw Shin Leong should address once and for all whether there is any truth to the allegations that he had an extramarital affair with a married woman in his party, said many Singaporeans interviewed on Wednesday.

Yaw Shin Leong was a star who rose and rose

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

At 20, brimming with youthful idealism and a steadfast resolve to speak up for the poor, Mr Yaw Shin Leong decided to join the opposition. The close fight in Cheng San GRC during the 1997 General Election convinced him that he had to take the plunge.

Alleged molester in Yishun maisonette bedroom charged

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

A man who allegedly crept into a woman's flat and molested her was on Wednesday charged with aggravated molestation. Muhammad Idzuan Arifin, 23, is accused of wrongfully restraining his 22-year-old victim, a trainee lawyer.

Maid killed herself after failing English language test

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

When a young Indonesian maid was found hanging last year, it threw the spotlight on the issue of English language entry tests. Ms Sulastri, 26, had failed three times, meaning she faced being sent home with substantial debts.

Fires burn down to 15-year low, but deaths, injuries increased

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

While a 32-hour blaze at a Shell oil refinery on Pulau Bukom last September hogged the headlines, the number of fires in the whole of last year fell 2.8 per cent from the year before, to mark a 15-year low.

RWS' lucky draw 'winner' still a no-show

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The woman whose name was picked first in a lucky draw at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) on Monday has not contacted the resort to claim the $88,000 grand prize.

Mum loses bid for half share of en bloc sale

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

A woman who wanted half of the proceeds of over $617,000 from the collective sale of a privatised HUDC flat co-owned with her daughter will get 10 per cent instead.

Worried parents taking children to psychologists

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

These days, enrichment classes are not the only extras in children's schedules. Parents are also packing their children off to see psychologists - paying upwards of $100 per hour - fearing that they may have learning disabilities.

Zoom in on fighter jets at next week's Singapore Airshow

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Nearly three years after being put into action, Singapore's latest fighter jet, the F-15SG, has a new mission - to wow spectators at next week's Singapore Airshow. Along with another of the Republic of Singapore Air Force's fighters, the F-16C, the two planes will be staging, for the first time, a synchronised aerial display at the biennial airshow. This year's edition will be held from Feb 14 to Feb 19.

SCDF to step up efforts to educate the public on emergency calls

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will step up efforts to educate the public on when it is appropriate to call 995 for its emergency ambulance service. This, after the number of calls for non-emergencies, such as toothaches and slight burns, rose by 40.5 per cent to almost 3,000 last year from 2,131 calls in 2010.

Workers' Party remains mum on Yaw Shin Leong's resignation

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

One day after dropping the bombshell that Hougang MP Yaw Shin Leong had resigned from the Workers' Party (WP) executive council, the WP remains tight-lipped about its surprise move.

Lee Hee Seng an inspiring man 'with a heart of gold'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Disciplined, loyal and compassionate, and the perfect yin-yang complement to the late Dr Lien Ying Chow. That is how banking luminaries, close friends and family remembered Mr Lee Hee Seng at his funeral on Wednesday where they paid tribute to a man who had dedicated much of his life to building up the former Overseas Union Bank.

Ex-OUB staff pay final tribute to banker Lee Hee Seng

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

For former staff of the now defunct Overseas Union Bank (OUB), banker Lee Hee Seng - their chairman for many years - was not a remote figure to be respected from afar.

'More Singapore properties in KL cows-and-condos scandal'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR - Embattled Cabinet Minister Shahrizat Jalil was hit by fresh allegations on Wednesday that her family had bought two luxury condo units in Marina Bay Suites, Singapore for over $7 million each.

US urged to seize Asia trade opportunities

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON - The Asia of today is just what the doctor ordered for an American recovery, Mr S. Iswaran, Singapore's Second Minister for Trade and Industry, told the audience at the Singapore Conference on Wednesday.

Shanmugam begins introductory visit to China

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam will meet Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing during his introductory visit to China beginning on Thursday.

Resale flat prices 'likely to fall 3-5% this year'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Property agency bosses are predicting a 3 to 5 per cent fall in the prices of resale Housing Board flats. This correction could even hit 10 per cent if the euro zone crisis worsens and Singapore's economy is affected, said the head honchos of major local agencies at a conference on Wednesday.