SingaporeSurf

Whither Singapore Inc?
by The Economist
Singapore's unique brand of capitalism needs an overhaul. Will Ho Ching do the right thing?

Singapore Had Survived Much Worse Sceanrios: PM Goh
by S. Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has urged young Singaporeans to put things in perspective since Singapore has survived scenarios which have been much worse.

French Top World's Lovemakers While Singapore Hits Bottom
by Reuters
The French make love more often than anyone else and Singaporeans the least, according to a survey of sex in 22 nations conducted by a leading condom manufacturer.

Singapore Tightens Control Over Goods Used In Making Weapons Of Mass Destruction
by S. Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
Singapore has become the first country in Southeast Asia to pass legislation to tighten control over the movement of goods that can be used to make weapons of mass destruction.

Singapore To Cut Landing Fees And Airport Rentals
by Reuters
The Singapore government said on Monday it would discount landing fees and rents at Changi Airport in a bid to maintain its position as one of Asia's busiest airline hubs.

Singapore's Economy Unlikely To Fall Into Double Dip Recession: PM Goh
by Farah Abdul Rahim, Channel NewsAsia
He urged Singaporeans to take heart and look to the future, as there is foreign direct investment pouring in, as well as the free trade agreements, which will create more jobs.

US Sticks Up For Investors In Singapore Trade Pact
by Doug Palmer, Reuters
The United States is taking a hard line in favor of large U.S. investors as it tries to nail down the last detail of a bilateral free trade agreement with Singapore, international economists said on Wednesday.

Big Money Battles For Singapore Steel
by Trish Saywell and Sara Webb, Far Eastern Economic Review
Earlier this year, shares in NatSteel were trading at a 30% discount to its net asset value. Now the stock is soaring, and two of Asia's biggest tycoons are duelling for control of the company. With the Singapore government intricately involved, this is no simple takeover battle.

Opposition Leader May Lose Trade Union Post
by Ahmad Osman, Straits Times
A recently appointed opposition leader faces the threat of being expelled from his trade union post because his political appointment runs counter to the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) ties with the ruling People's Action Party.

Singapore Gum Ban Comes Unstuck
by Associated Press
As part of a landmark trade deal with the United States, tightly controlled Singapore has agreed to loosen its 10-year ban on chewing gum and allow those who need it to chew it — as long as they have a prescription.

Singapore's Recovery Falls Off Pace
by Wayne Arnold, New York Times
The Christmas lights have already been strung the length of Orchard Road, Singapore's fancy shopping boulevard, in preparation for a holiday season that promises little cheer for this export-dependent nation.

NWC Calls For Wage Restraint
by Straits Times
The National Wages Council (NWC) on Tuesday called for salaries to remain frozen or be cut in the first half of next year in light of Singapore's weakening economy.

Successful Singapore Filmmaker Walks A Fine Line Between Criticism And Dissent
by Alexa Olesen, Associated Press
Jack Neo, 42, has been responsible for all three of Singapore's top-grossing domestic films, which offer a mix of slapstick, sly social critique and saccharine dialogue that tugs at the heartstrings.

Study Shows Stressed-Out Singaporeans Give Sex A Miss
by Reuters
The result is that Singaporeans below the age of 40 have sex six times a month, far lower than many other societies.

Six Out Of 10 Young Singaporeans View Foreign Talent As A Threat: Survey
by Rozlin Othman, Channel NewsAsia
Nearly six out of 10 young Singaporeans view foreign talent as a threat, according to a recent survey of 10,000 young people between 15 and 35.

KL 'To Wait For Singapore Reaction' Before Its Next Move
by Straits Times
Malaysia will wait for Singapore to respond to its findings on the impact of the Republic's reclamation project in Pulau Tekong before formulating a mechanism to avert any potential environmental threat to the Johor coastline, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar has said.

Singapore May Lift Gum Ban
by The Scotsman
Singapore may lift its ban on chewing gum as part of a landmark free trade agreement with the United States.

Uncertainities, So No CPF Restoration Yet
by Ahmad Osman, Straits Times
The Government will postpone restoring the last 4 percentage points in employers' CPF contributions, and indicated that any revision is likely to come after next July.

Singapore Lures Once-Banned Street Performers
by Associated Press
Authorities are trying to lure performers in a bid to boost tourism and promote the arts.

Singapore May Slip Back Into Recession: BG Yeo
by Business Times
Brigadier-general Yeo did not rule out the possibility the trade-dependent city-state could run into a another downturn given the gloomy outlook facing the United States, its biggest export market.

Is Ban On Satellite Dish A Mistake?
by Denesh Divyanathan, Straits Times
The entrance of a new pay TV operator may lower prices and provide greater choice for viewers. The new entrant is likely to be a telco. But it will have its work cut out: there are a lot of pay TV subscribers around.

Symbolic Female Circumcision Embraced By Most Of Singapore's Muslims
by Gillian Wee, Associated Press
In Singapore's small Muslim community, female circumcision involves nicking the prepuce, the skin covering the clitoris. It is markedly different from the practices of some Muslim communities in Africa and the Middle East that are decried by human rights activists as female genital mutilation.

Singapore Frees Opposition Leader
by Associated Press
A Singapore opposition leader was released from prison Saturday after serving five weeks for holding an illegal rally, and he immediately vowed to continue his battle for more free speech in the city-state.

Saving Singapore's Soul
by Gemma C. Araneta, Manila Bulletin
Singaporeans have been feverishly restoring, for adaptive re-use, what city planners destroyed or abandoned in the name of progress and commercial gains.

Gambling Thrives In Singapore Despite Ban
by Gambling Magazine
Top officials have rejected a proposal to let casinos open in Singapore but gambling is already a huge industry in the island, where legal and underground firms thrive on a collective passion for punting.

A Tough Fight: Does Singapore Still Have What It Takes?
by Tor Ching Li, Channel NewsAsia
With the uncertain economic future and the terrorist threats facing the region, it appears that Singapore will be hard-pressed to come out ahead of its peers.

Singapore Plan For Single Asean Market
by Chua Lee Hoong, Straits Times
The proposal, for zero tariffs and free movement of goods and services, made by PM Goh at Asean summit yesterday.

Singapore Hangs Hopes On Asian Arts Role
by Jacqueline Wong, Reuters
The growing pool of art collectors in Singapore, a magnet and a refuge for the wealthy of Southeast Asia, has not shied away from buying such luxuries despite a prolonged economic downturn.

Malaysia To Study Legislations On Water, Natural Resources Of Other Countries
by Bernama
Malaysia is to study other countries legislations governing water and natural resources conservation to seek solution on water issue with Singapore.

Water Negotiations Must Still Take Its Course, Says Syed Hamid
by The Star
"One thing we have to be very clear is to ask Singapore whether they want to negotiate for a settlement or for the matter to be resolved in court. But if you are interested in negotiations and at the same time you are saying that Malaysia has lost its right, it shows that there is no sincerity and goodwill (on Singaporeís side)."