Haze, dengue, floods are issues of future environmental challenges

SINGAPORE: This year's record high PSI levels during the haze, the dengue epidemic and more intense rains are "amber lights", or early warning signs, of the need to be better prepared for future environmental challenges.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, said this in an interview with Channel NewsAsia.

Experts say time may be ripe for more changes in education policy

SINGAPORE: Observers said education policy changes announced this year -- from the introduction of MOE kindergartens to broader grades for PSLE -- could make a good pre-school and primary education, as well as good results, more accessible to students.

But some said the excessive stress and competition that plague the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will not go away, so the time could be ripe for more daring changes.

Little India riot is a good reminder for Singaporeans: PM Lee

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that the riot in Little India is a good reminder to Singaporeans that even in a stable society, such an incident can happen.

What is important, he added, is to have a Home Team that can deal with the situation in a calibrated, thoughtful and decisive way.

Mr Lee was speaking to reporters after having breakfast at Rochor Neighbourhood Police Centre with about 40 officers, who were among the first responders at the scene of the riot and had a chance to tell him what they went through that night.

Proportion of PRs buying HDB resale flats drops

SINGAPORE: The proportion of Permanent Residents (PRs) buying Housing and Development Board (HDB) resale flats has gone down in the last few months.

This comes after new rules to stabilise the HDB resale market were announced in August.

PRs now have to wait three years after obtaining their Singapore PR status before they are allowed to buy an HDB resale flat.

According to HDB, in the three months after the new rules were announced, PRs made up 12 per cent of all HDB resale transactions, with 528 units sold to them.

SEA Games: Team Singapore athletes breaking new ground, says Dr Tony Tan

SINGAPORE: Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam said that he was delighted that Team Singapore athletes are breaking new ground at the SEA Games, currently on in Myanmar.

Writing on his Facebook page, Dr Tan noted that Mok Ying Ren made history in winning Singapore's first-ever gold medal in the marathon, while Chan Jing Ru won the first archery gold in 30 years.

SEA Games: S’pore paddlers qualify for men’s and women’s team semi-finals

SINGAPORE: Singapore's female paddlers are a step closer to winning a team gold at the SEA Games in Myanmar.

They brushed aside Malaysia in their second group stage match 3-1 to qualify for the semi-finals unbeaten.

Yu Mengyu, Isabelle Li and Zhou Yihan all won their singles match-ups, with the only hiccup coming in the doubles, involving Yu and Zhou.

SEA Games: More medals for S’pore in canoeing, shooting

SINGAPORE: It has been a productive day for Team Singapore at the SEA Games in Myanmar.

Stephenie Chen and Suzanne Seah once again struck gold for Team Singapore at the Games on Friday.

It is one of three medals that the Republic's kayakers won on the final day of the canoeing competition.

Celebrating 20 years of partnership

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) marked an important milestone as it celebrated the 20th anniversary of its longest-running overseas training detachment - the Peace Carvin (PC) II F16C/D detachment in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, on 11 Dec.
In a parade held at Luke Air Force Base, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen witnessed the unveiling of commemorative tail flashes of two F-16C/Ds by Singapore's Chief of Air Force Major-General (MG) Hoo Cher Mou, and Commander of US Pacific Air Forces General (GEN) Herbert Carlisle.

Integrated strike exercise adds thinking enemy

High above a vast desert, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15SG and F-16C/D fighter aircraft fought a tough aerial battle against physical "enemy" fighter jets. At the same time, they had to integrate a strike on static and moving enemy targets with the Army's High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).

This was the scenario played out at Exercise Forging Sabre 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, and witnessed by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen during his visit on 10 Dec.

Riot in Singapore's Little India

SINGAPORE: Police say the riot in Little India which broke out on Sunday night took place after a fatal accident between a bus and a person at the junction of Race Course Road and Hampshire Road.

The accident took place at 9.23pm on Sunday.

In a statement, police said a riot broke out shortly after the accident, involving a crowd of about 400 people.

Five police vehicles and one ambulance were damaged as a result.

Several other private vehicles were also damaged.

Ten officers were also injured in the riot.

Police say the Special Operations Command and Gurkha Contingent were called to the scene.

Police added that the situation is under control.

Residents in Little India are advised to remain indoors while police operations are ongoing.

The public is advised to stay away from the affected area.

Members of the public are also advised to stay calm and not to speculate on this incident.

In a statement, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister, Teo Chee Hean said: "This is a serious incident which has resulted in injuries and damage to public property. The situation is now under control. Police will spare no efforts to apprehend the subjects involved in the riot."

Police say further updates will be given when available.

Singapore and Malaysia to form joint work group on high-speed rail link

SINGAPORE: Singapore and Malaysia are to form a joint work group to discuss and jointly recommend requirements for the proposed high-speed rail link between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

On completing its task, the work group will submit its recommendations on the next phase of the project to the governments of the two countries.

The work group will be formed under the purview of the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM).

COE prices mostly down in latest bidding exercise

SINGAPORE: Prices for Certificates of Entitlement (COE) for all vehicle types, except motorcycles, ended lower at the close of Wednesday's bidding exercise.

The premium for small cars or Category A dropped $1,831 to $73,160.

Closing at almost the same price was the premium for big cars. It saw the biggest drop of nearly eight per cent, or S$6,290, to end at S$73,010.

MINDEF to get two new submarines

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Defence is acquiring two new Type 218SG submarines from Thyssenkrupp Marine System GmBH.

In a statement on Monday, the ministry said the two submarines are scheduled for delivery from 2020.