SingaporeSurf

Singapore And S. Korea In Trade Pact
by Associated Press
Seven rounds of negotiations on the agreement this year went smoothly because Singapore has no agricultural sector, which is a common stumbling block in trade talks.

Singapore Ships New Troops To Iraq
by Associated Press
Singapore dispatched a troop landing ship with a crew of 180 to Iraq on Saturday.

Singapore Urges Myanmar To Push Forward On Democracy Roadmap
by Channel NewsAsia
Lee Hsien Loong's press secretary said Mr Lee expressed his concern as the situation in Myanmar affected ASEAN's standing and credibility. Such concerns are usually expressed behind closed doors at ASEAN meetings.

AML Heartland Makeover Mess
by Tor Ching Li, Today
Three upgrading programmes worry residents and shopkeepers.

Some Food Centres Keen To Go Smoke-Free
by Arti Mulchand and Crystal Chan, Straits Times
More than half of the 20 operators that The Straits Times spoke to said they would go smoke-free, following an indication by Minister for the Environment Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim in Parliament that the list of places where smoking is banned, including hospitals and shopping malls, is being reviewed.

Singapore
by Fayen Wong, Reuters
Singapore, facing a rise in AIDS cases, is considering making it compulsory for pregnant women to be screened for HIV/AIDS, an official said on Saturday.

Geylang In Orchard Road?
by Tracy Quek, Straits Times
Retailers, residents upset as hookers spill from Orchard Towers to Tangs, Orchard Plaza.

Jetstar Asia To Start Flying To Seven Destinations From Singapore
by Channel NewsAsia
The airline will initially have flights to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Manila, Pattaya, Jakarta, and Surabaya. No price and schedule details are available yet, reports Channel News Asia.

Nicoll Highway To Reopen
by Chrisotpher Tan, Straits Times
The 48-year-old Nicoll Highway, closed since April 20 after an MRT tunnelling disaster that killed four and sparked a cave-in, is on schedule to be reopened next month.

Anti-Casino Groups Keep Up The Fight
by Joyce Teo, Straits Times
Religious and other conservative groups have been lobbying the government, both openly and behind the scenes, against building a casino here in Singapore.

Singapore History Museum To Be Renamed When It Opens
by Yvonne Cheong, Channel NewsAsia
The revamped Singapore History museum in Stamford Road will be doubled in size and renamed the National Museum of Singapore when it re-opens in two years.

Civil Servants Get Call-Up For Polls Training
by Sue-Ann Chia, Straits Times
The Elections Department confirmed letters are being sent to about 20,000 civil servants, informing them of election duty and training. However, the department denies that general election could be around the corner.

Singapore Economy Shrinks As Output Slips
by Amit Prakash, Bloomberg
Singapore's economy sharnk at a 3 percent annual pace in the third quarter, mroe than initially estimated, the government said Wednesday, as waning demand for computer chips and printers curbed growth in manufacturing.

R&D Framework To Be Changed To Draw Private-Sector Funding
by Chang Ai-Lien and Natalie Soh, Straits Times
Singapore's research development framework will be transformed within two years to encourage more basic research and attract more private-sector funding.

No Public Transport Fare Hike For Now, Despite High Oil Prices
by Farah Abdul Rahim, Channel NewsAsia

Singapore Welcomes Open Skies Review
by AFP

Singapore Commits To Punctuality
by Martin Abbugao, The Star
If there is a social problem in Singapore, expect the government to mount a campaign to fix it.

Massive Overhaul Of Chinese Teaching
by Sandra Davie and Ho Ai Li, Straits Times
The teaching of Chinese language is in for its biggest overhaul in decades, with a new focus on getting children to speak read the language confidently, and to use it even after they leave school.

Australia, Singapore To Reopen Aviation Talks
by Financial Review
The Australian government will consider granting Singapore Airlines unlimited access to trans-Pacific routes in the next 12 to 18 months as part of liberalising to air services agreement with Singapore, according to Deputy Minister and Transport Minister John Anderson.

Underground Road System Yet To Get Green Light
by Christopher Tan, Straits Times
Long wait due to ERP's success, dip in growth of vehicle population.

Singapore Will Not Promote Condom Use Publicly To Fight AIDS: Report
by AFP
Despite facing an "alarming AIDS epidemic," Singapore will not go on a publicity bitz to promote condom use out of respect for residents who hold conservative views on sexual behavioiur, a minister said.

Singapore, Indonesia Meet, Greet And Run
by Bill Guerin, Asia Times
Security characterized the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Singapore in the 1980s. But Singapore now lives in constant fear of the terror threat emanating from its two biggest neighbors.

The Singapore Connection
by Jakarta Post
It is no exaggeration to say that a new historical era has dawned in this region with the emergence of new leadership in Jarkarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Singapore Facing AIDS Epidemic — Health Ministry
by Reuters
Singapore faces an AIDS epidemic, with the number of infections diagnosed expected to hit a rate of 1,000 a year by 2010, a health official said.

New Highway To Ease CTE Jams
by Christopher Tan, Straits Times
Proposed North-Sourth Expressway next to CTE may run from Sembawang/Upp Thomson to city.

Singapore Tourism Group Backs Casino Plan
by Associated Press
Singapore's plan to build a controversial casino received backing Wednesday from a panel advising the city-state's tourism board.

Budget Carrier Traffic Surges In Singapore
by Associated Press
The number of low-budget air travelers in Singapore rocketed up 12 percent over the summer, the government said Tuesday.

Singapore Slipping In Service Ranking
by Glenys Sim, Straits Times
Though awards at record high, minister says we're not improving fast enough to compete with the region.

CPF Private Pension Plans Are Put On Hold
by Erica Tay, Straits Times
Decision follows concerns over the scheme's viability and investor education.

Lee Seen Leading Singapore Until 2020
by Reuters
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will likely lead Singapore for 10-15 years, about as long as his predecessor's term but half of his father's rule, local media reports, quoting a senior ruling party official.

Singapore, KL Get Reports On Work Impact
by Straits Times
A group of independent experts appointed to study the impact of Singapore's reclamatioin works around Pulau Tekong has submitted its final reports to the governments of Singapore and Malaysia.

Singapore Fling
by Lester Thorley, New Zealand Stuff
If you look in the right places, Singapore can offer a taste of genuine Chinese, Malay and Indian culture and colonial history amid ordered cleanliness and relative safety.

Facelifts For Older Malls In Town
by Joyce Teo, Straits Times
Marina Square, Centrepoint and Tangs act to keep up with rivals.

Singapore Opposition Leader Loses Appeal
by Reuters
Singapore's opposition leader, Chee Soon Juan, has lost a bid to protect himself from bankruptcy as the court dismissed his appeal to reconvene an earlier hearing scheduled to reassess libel damages he has to pay.

Singapore Deploys More Cameras On Streets
by UPI
Singapore, already one of the world's safest big cities, is installing more closed-circuit television cameras in public areas to combat terrorism and crime.

Cosmopolitan All Snapped Up
by Debbie Swee, Straits Times
Racy women's magazine Cosmopolitan is flying off the shelves here, after a 22-year ban on it was lifted.

Singapore To Protect Schools With Guards
by Reuters
Singapore, which sees itself as a prime target of a terror attack, will soon deploy guards and closed circuit cameras at all schools to protect students from potential hostage-takers.

'Uniquely Singapore, Uniquely Podium'
by Manila Bulletin
The country's sights and attractions, such as the magnificent Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay, have made the citystate an ideal venue for world-class events.

Thinking Of That 5-Day Getaway Next Week? Forget It
by Serene Goh, Straits Times
Flights to popular destinations are fully booked for Deepavali-Hari Raya perod.

Singapore Moves To Protect Research Animals
by AFP
Scientists who subject animals to inhumane treatment during scientific research could face jail terms and a fine under new regulations to be unveiled in Singapore next month.

Armed Police Patrols For All Parts Of Singapore From Monday
by Farah Abdul Rahim, Channel NewsAsia
Beginning Monday, there will be armed officers from the Police Special Operations Command patrolling commercial, entertainment and residential areas.

Singapore Abuzz With Own Art Agenda
by Carla Bianpoen, Jakarta Post
In 2006, Singapore wants to have a biennnale, so SENI: Art and Contemporary Singapore 2004 has been launched as a comprehensive warm-up exercise.