NUS climbs 23 places in global university rankings

The National University of Singapore (NUS) was ranked 111th among the world's universities, helped by improvements in the field of Engineering and Technology and Computer Sciences.

The university said on Friday (Aug 15) that it jumped 23 places from 2013's 134th placing in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), and remains within the 101-150 band of more than 1,200 varsities ranked each year.

The rankings were conducted by the Centre for World-Class Universities (CWCU) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, which started the project back in 2003.

Slow retail sales in Q2 despite Great Singapore Sale

The triple whammy of MH370's disappearance, Thailand’s political turmoil and China’s legislation on overseas tour packages contributed to a 1.7 per cent on-year dip for international visitor arrivals in Singapore for the first five months of 2014.

The drop in tourism numbers, coupled with declining GDP growth and the increasing popularity of online shopping have led to slower Q2 sales for retailers here, according to a report from real estate service provider Savills released on Friday (Aug 15).

Singapore's sharing economy is on the rise

Do you have a spare tennis racket or power drill lying around the house? You can turn a profit from these under-used possessions by renting them out to strangers who need them. Such services are part of the sharing economy, which is growing quickly in Singapore.

Rent Tycoons is the sector’s first such portal in Singapore, and it helps to match owners with renters. In less than two years, some 2,000 owners have signed up. The platform "allows anybody to share whatever that is within their homes, making it possible to share these resources with not just your friends and family, but also with strangers and your neighbours", said co-founder Fenni Wang.

Preventive measures key to keeping healthcare costs low: Gan

Preventive health measures, such as staying healthy, are the most important factor in keeping healthcare costs low in a rapidly ageing society that has an increasing proportion of singles, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on Thursday (Aug 7).

“Ageing is not a problem; it’s health that is the problem,” said Mr Gan, responding to a question raised by a participant during a public forum on MediShield Life.

He added that keeping healthcare costs low and affordable is one of the ways to mitigate the future problem of ageing singles with little or no family support.

Israel, Hamas both bear responsibility for Gaza conflict: Shanmugam

Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam says Israel and Hamas both bear responsibility for the escalating conflict in Gaza, in hostilities which have claimed nearly 2,000 lives, mostly Palestinian civilians, over the past 29 days.

"We all share a concern for the loss and suffering of innocent lives. Both Israel and Hamas should do their part to stop this violence. We have joined the international community in urging restraint and supporting humanitarian efforts," Mr Shanmugam told Parliament on Tuesday (Aug 5).

Singapore Zoo is best in Asia: TripAdvisor

The Singapore Zoological Gardens was named the top Asian zoo by TripAdvisor on Tuesday (Aug 5), while Resorts World Sentosa's (RWS) SEA Aquarium was ranked seventh in the Asia's aquarium list.

The travel site operator said its Travellers' Choice awards for Zoos and Aquariums identified 275 winners, with Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska in the United States clinching top spot for Zoos worldwide while Monteray Bay Aquarium in California came first in the Aquarium category.

Local tech firm valued at S$1.25b in US report

Local gaming company Garena has been valued at US$1 billion (S$1.25 billion) in a United States-based report – putting it way ahead of other tech companies here – as the Singapore tech scene gears up with an increasing number of venture capitalist investments and acquisitions in recent years.

The World Startup Report recently published a listing of the top three Internet companies by market valuation in each of the 50 countries in the report, with Singapore coming in at 27th on the list. Each country was represented by its three largest Internet companies.

RSAF celebrates 45 years with roving exhibition in HDB heartlands

For years, members of the public had to travel to military air bases to catch a glimpse of the high-tech aircraft and equipment as well as the personnel who protect our skies, but this weekend, the air base travels to the Toa Payoh HDB Hub to meet Singaporeans.

From trying their hand in an F-16 dogfight, to marvelling at the latest in air defence hardware like the SPYDER, Singaporeans who visited the exhibition learnt about the operations and the evolving role of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

IPPT to be reduced to 3 stations: 2.4km run, push-ups, sit-ups

The Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) for National Servicemen will be reduced from the current five stations to just three: A 2.4km run, sit-ups and push-ups. The aim of the changes: Getting more NSmen to keep healthy as a lifestyle, and helping them pass their test.

He did not mention when the changes will be implemented, but added that Chief of Army Perry Lim will provide more details on Thursday. Changes to the IPPT format were last made in 1982.

Singapore’s inflation eases in June on slowing car prices

Inflation in Singapore retreated in June as car prices rose at a slower pace, the Department of Statistics said on Wednesday (July 23).

The consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.8 per cent in June from a year ago, slowing from May's 2.7 per cent which was a 14-month high.

The rise in last month's CPI was well below analysts' forecast of a rise of about 2.4 per cent as the pace of price increases fell in most categories.

HDB releases 3,841 flats in latest BTO exercise

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has launched 3,841 new flats in six projects across various locations on Saturday (July 19).

They are in Punggol, Sembawang, Woodlands, Yishun and the mature town of Toa Payoh. This is the fourth Build-To-Order (BTO) exercise this year.

One of the more attractive launches is Kampung Admiralty, the new integrated development in Woodlands.

HDB resale prices fall to 2-year low: SRX

The resale prices for Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats fell to a two-year low after it slipped 0.6 per cent month-on-month in June - the fifth consecutive months of declines, according to the Singapore Real Estate Exchange.

According to the SRX HDB flash report released on Thursday (July 10), June's HDB resale prices marked a new two-year low since April 2012. Compared to the peak in April 2013, prices for resale flats have declined by 6.8 per cent, SRX said.

Singapore can be relatively affordable -- depending on your lifestyle

A recent study by the Economist Intelligence Unit had ranked Singapore as the most expensive city for expatriates -- an outcome that is partly due to the stronger Singapore dollar.

After tracking global prices of several goods and services, Sanjeev Sanyal, a Deutsche Bank strategist based in Singapore, said that the exchange rate has made Singapore more expensive in US dollar terms.

However, a lot also depends on lifestyle choices.

He said: "There is a real problem with ranking Singapore -- we found that Singapore has a very high variation depending on which basket we choose.

President Tony Tan lays out six broad goals for Singapore govt

President Tony Tan Keng Yam has pledged to work with all Singaporeans to address their concerns and aspirations, and build a better future, in his speech at the re-opening of Parliament after its traditional mid-term break.

He also laid out six broad goals for the Singapore government: strengthening safety nets, enhancing retirement adequacy, supporting families and communities, creating a better quality life for Singaporeans and opportunities for adults to have a fulfilling career, and enabling young Singaporeans to fulfil their potential.

Dr Tan said the government will pursue new strategies to achieve these goals, and the approach will be different as the environment has changed.

NUS, NTU among Asia's top universities in QS ranking

Two of Singapore's universities have cemented their place among Asia's best, according to an annual survey.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) was named Asia's top university, while Nanyang Technological University (NTU) jumped three places to seventh, its highest ever position.

The 2014 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings for Asia polled more than 50,000 academics and employers internationally.

NUS overtook University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to be named Asia's number one institution for the first time.

Demand down for used cars

Demand for used cars has gone down, following the latest COE bidding exercise which saw premiums dive.

It was a Saturday afternoon, but there were few customers at Automobile Megamart at Ubi Avenue 2.

The Singapore Vehicle Traders Association estimates that the number of people visiting the megamart to buy or check out car models over this weekend will decrease by 20 to 30 per cent compared to two, three weeks ago.  

Healthcare sector must provide better pay: Ng Eng Hen

Salaries of workers in Singapore's healthcare system have to go up in order to attract more local talent.

This is important with an impending silver tsunami, where one in three Singaporeans is expected to be at least 60 years old by 2030.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen shared these thoughts at a dialogue session during the Singapore Medical Association's annual dinner.

Dr Ng, who was a practising doctor before entering politics, said the healthcare industry provides a rewarding life career.

CPF Minimum Sum to be raised from July

The CPF Minimum Sum will be raised to S$155,000, up from S$148,000, from 1 July.

This will apply to CPF members who turn 55 between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015, the Central Provident Board (CPF) and the Manpower Ministry said in a joint statement.

Under the CPF LIFE Standard Plan, setting aside S$155,000 at age 55 provides a lifelong payout of about S$1,200 per month, the statement added.

The Medisave Minimum Sum will be raised to S$43,500 from S$40,500 from 1 July.

El Nino may be back in Southeast Asia mid-2014

The United Kingdom Meteorological Office has forecasted a high likelihood of El Nino striking Southeast Asia in the middle of the year.

Inflation forecast cut to 1.5-2.5% by MAS

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Monday lowered its headline inflation outlook to 1.5-2.5 per cent for 2014 due to decreased cost pressures from accommodation and private road transport.

But the central bank also said it is keeping its policy of allowing a modest and gradual appreciation of the Singapore dollar. 

This is because core inflation - which excludes accommodation and car prices - is still a key concern.

12,060 COEs for May to July, monthly quota up 32%

There will be 12,060 Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) for May to July 2014, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

A monthly quota of 4,019 has been set aside -- a 32 per cent increase compared to the last three months of February to April 2014.

The increase is mainly due to more cars being scrapped this year.

M'sia, S'pore welcome progress on joint projects

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak have welcomed both countries' steady progress on joint iconic projects in Singapore and the Iskandar region, as well as in other areas of co-operation.

At a joint press conference on Monday morning, both leaders also reviewed the progress on improving connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore, including the proposed high-speed rail (HSR) and a rapid transit system link (RTS).

The announcements were made following the fifth Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat in Putrajaya on Monday.

HDB resale prices up 0.3% in March

HDB resale prices rose slightly by 0.3 per cent in March compared to February, according to a flash report by the Singapore Real Estate Exchange (SRX).

The price increase was led by smaller flats -- 3-room flats rose 0.5 per cent and 4-room flats increased by 0.8 per cent.

But prices of bigger flats -- both 5-room and executive flats -- continued to soften, dropping by 0.2 per cent and 0.7 per cent respectively.

On a year-on-year basis, prices in March 2014 were down 4.9 per cent from the same period last year.

New permanent secretary for defence development

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) will have a new Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) from 1 May 2014.

He is 48-year-old MG (NS) Ng Chee Khern, who was the Chief of Air Force from March 2006 to December 2009 and is currently Director, Security and Intelligence Division.

A statement from the Public Service Division said MG (NS) Ng will oversee policies and issues related to manpower, finance, information technology, and defence technology acquisition and research.

Singapore students top PISA problem-solving test

Singapore students have topped an international assessment on problem solving.

This is based on results for the 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a worldwide study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

85,000 students worldwide took part in a computer-based problem-solving test.

And Singapore students beat other 15-year-olds from countries such as Japan, China and Finland.

ASEAN not tardy in MH370 crisis, says Shanmugam

There was no lack of cooperation in ASEAN's response to the MH370 crisis.

Singapore's Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam made this point in refuting criticisms of poor coordination among ASEAN members.

 

Speaking at a dialogue organised by the Foreign Correspondents Association, Mr Shanmugam said he does not believe that any of the ASEAN countries were tardy in their response and pointed to the sheer number of countries who came forward to help almost immediately.

 

Describing the tragedy as a "most unusual bizarre situation", Mr Shanmugam said the international community needs to recognise that it is not an easy situation for Malaysian authorities, who had very little to go on.

 

S'pore ranked 60th among major cities for average residents' cost of living

Singapore may be the world's most expensive city for expatriates.

But the cost of living for the average resident, which comprises Singaporeans and permanent residents, is much lower than many other global cities such as Hong Kong.

A study by the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) showed that Singapore is ranked 60th among 109 major cities for the average residents' cost of living.

And the institute said government subsidies played a big part in keeping costs down.

ACI found that the cost of living for the average resident in Singapore relative to other major cities around the world had changed little between 2005 and 2012.

Changi Airport voted World's Best Airport for 2nd consecutive year

Singapore's Changi Airport has been voted the World's Best Airport by air travellers for the second year in a row at this year's Skytrax World Airport Awards.

It is the first time that Changi Airport has won the top accolade twice in a row, and the fifth time that the airport has been named the world's favourite airport.

South Korea's Incheon International Airport took second spot, while Munich Airport was in third place.

The World Airport Awards are based on 12.85 million customer nominations across 110 nationalities of air travellers, and included 410 airports worldwide.

The online survey evaluates customer satisfaction across 39 key performance indicators for airport service and product -- from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration, to departure at the gate.

S'pore’s inflation at 4-year low in Feb as private transport costs drop

Singapore's consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.4 per cent in February from a year ago.

Economists said the deceleration is due to the high base for private road transport costs and food prices in 2013, and they expect inflation to pick up in the following months as rising wage pressures set in.

The 0.4 per cent rise in February's CPI was the slowest since January 2010 when price levels increased by 0.2 per cent year-on-year.

It rose by a slower-than-expected 0.4 per cent on-year, down from the 1.4 per cent year-on-year inflation seen in January.

Changi Airport’s security measures enhanced following MH370's disappearance

Robust security measures are already in place at Singapore's Changi Airport to manage threats against the aviation sector, but these have been reviewed and stepped up in light of the recent Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 incident.

Singapore's Changi Airport, which serves more than 100 airlines, is one of the busiest in the world.

Following the recent disappearance of Malaysia Airlines MH370, security has been further raised as a precautionary measure.

In 2013, some 53.7 million passengers passed through Changi Airport -- that is about 147,000 passengers each day. Not only that, more than 6,900 flights either landed at or departed from Changi Airport every week that year.

These are just some of the numbers authorities have to work around when formulating their security plans.

Singapore’s new Chief of Army takes over post

Singapore's new Chief of Army took over his post on Friday.

The Change of Command Parade was held at Pasir Laba Camp in Jurong on Friday afternoon.

Brigadier-General Perry Lim Cheng Yeow, 41, took over the Army's symbol of Command from the outgoing chief Major-General Ravinder Singh.

Brigadier-General Lim joined the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1990.

He was awarded the SAF (Overseas) and President's Scholarships in 1991.

The Ministry of Defence said the change of command is part of the Army's continuing process of leadership renewal.

Private landed property transactions fall to lowest since 1995

Transaction volume of private landed properties fell last year to its lowest since 1995.

A total of 867 landed properties changed hands in the first half of last year -- a reduction of about 40 per cent, compared to the same period the year before.

In the second half of 2013, the number of transactions was 492, which is a decrease of close to 70 per cent, compared to the same period in 2012.

And compared to the year before, the total number of transactions in 2013 has more than halved.

While the sector typically does not see high transaction volumes, some analysts say the decline could be driven by recent property cooling measures and limited supply in the market.

SEA Games: 2015 Games to feature 36 sports

Weightlifting and karate are out while petanque, boxing and equestrian are in, with floorball making its debut as a full medal sport for the 2015 Southeast Asian Games (June 5-16) in Singapore.

For now, there will be 381 gold medals up for grabs but the number could increase when the SEA Games Federation council meets in Singapore to make a final decision on the line-up of sports for the 28th edition of the biennial Games.
Speaking to TODAY, Singapore National Olympic Council Secretary-General Chris Chan said the local organising committee and SEA Games Federation council members have agreed to cap the number of sports at 36, after a series of meetings.

"In the original list, we have 30 sports but after appeals by the member countries at the SEA Games Federation council meeting here last month, we have decided to include six more to the original list to make it 36," said Chan.

COE prices end mostly higher

Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums went up across all categories of vehicles, except for commercial vehicles in the latest bidding exercise on Wednesday.

The commercial vehicles category bucked the trend, falling S$2,411 to end at S$53,891.

One dealer attributed this to the increased COE bonus under the Enhanced Early Turnover Scheme (ETS), announced during the recent Budget debate.

The scheme aims to reduce vehicle emissions, especially by old diesel vehicles.

Michael Wong, director of Triangle Auto, said: "We found that there has been quite a lot of interest generated with ETS. It's now quite attractive, and we have got quite a lot of people looking at using the scheme.

SAF offers more help in locating missing plane

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is offering further help to Malaysia in its efforts to locate the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

In a statement on Monday evening, SAF said it is offering the help of its Information Fusion Centre which has a network of 13 military navies and 51 civilian shipping companies worldwide.

The centre has activated this network of ships to report any unusual sightings in designated search areas.

SAF said more companies are expected to be contacted.

Ice Hockey in Singapore: a force to be reckoned with

The Singapore Ice Hockey Association (SIHA) has been driving local hockey from its humble beginnings in the old Jurong East rink to international rinks over the years. This year, it held its annual 9th Invitational Ice Hockey Championship over two weeks - the finals of the Asia, Recreational and Open categories on 8 March at JCube’s ice hockey rink.

 Organiser of the event and SIHA’s head of coaching, Mr Kevin Tan shared how the tournament first began in 2000 as a result of a group of good-willed Canadian expats.

“They came over to Singapore and thought it would be fun to introduce this sport to us. Ever since then, we have been organising this tournament every year. Over the last few years, it has also grown to be regional – we also invite neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and Hong Kong,” explained Kevin.

Budget debate: NS system to be further optimised

Even as the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) continues to hone its fighting edge by upgrading weapons systems and acquiring more sophisticated war fighting technologies, National Servicemen remain at the forefront of a credible defence force.

Said Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen: "Whether we can deter would-be aggressors for another 50 years and achieve peace depends not on advance systems or weaponry, no matter how sophisticated, but our people and their resolve to defend our island home."

At last year's budget debate, Dr Ng announced that he would chair the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) and that it would be supported by two working groups chaired by 2nd Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing and Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman.

Experts weigh in on when and how to raise CPF rates

Economists say Central Provident Fund (CPF) contribution rates should be raised to 40 per cent in the future, up from the current 37 per cent for those aged 50 and below.

This will help Singaporeans save better for retirement, taking into consideration factors such as inflation, they say.

But they stress that this should not happen until the global economy has recovered further.

Their remarks follow the labour movement's recent calls for rates to eventually be raised to meet the needs of longer-living Singaporeans.

NTU ranks among world top 10 for three subjects

Three subjects offered at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have ranked among the world's top ten -- a first for the university.

According to the 2014 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject, NTU's Communication & Media Studies is ranked 6th in the world, Materials Science at 8th position, and Electrical & Electronic Engineering is ranked 10th.

NTU said the subject Communication & Media Studies jumped an impressive 17 positions within two years since QS started ranking this subject, to become Number 1 in Singapore and in the Asia-Pacific.

Some 70 athletes to represent S'pore at Commonwealth Games

Some 70 athletes will represent Singapore at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July.

According to the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), the final list of athletes and sports will be confirmed in June.

It has shortlisted up to 90 athletes for the Glasgow Games.

Six sports have been confirmed and they are athletics, badminton, shooting, swimming, table tennis and gymnastics.

Athletes from a further four sports could also make the cut.

Govt will ensure MediShield Life premiums affordable: Gan

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong has said the government will ensure that MediShield Life premiums will be affordable for Singaporeans.

And lower-income families may receive more help to pay for the premiums.

Mr Gan was speaking to reporters on Tuesday after the recording of the Budget Forum in Mandarin organised by MediaCorp.

$8 billion has been set aside for the Pioneer Generation Fund. It will help 450,000 pioneers cope with healthcare costs for the rest of their lives.

Most S’poreans plan to rely on savings, investments after retirement: Nielsen

The majority of Singaporeans polled in the Nielsen Global Survey about Aging said they plan to rely on their personal savings and investments as their primary source of income after retirement.

The survey, conducted between August and September 2013, polled more than 30,000 consumers in 60 countries throughout Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and North America.

The sample size in Singapore was 502.

The survey findings also showed that 29 per cent of Singaporean respondents plan to retire before they reach the age of 60.

Inspiring a dream and realising the extraordinary

Standing on the podium in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar with the national anthem playing over the speaker, Team Singapore cyclist Dinah Chan fought to hold back her tears as she realised a childhood dream after clinching Singapore’s first cycling gold medal in 16 years at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

 The moment was all the more poignant as her victory came less than three months after she was injured in a car accident, an incident which placed her involvement in the year-end biennial regional sports event in jeopardy. 

“I was inspired by Joscelin Yeo and our Singapore swimmers back when I was still in school,” said Dinah. “They made me want to represent Singapore, and back then I started dreaming of standing on the podium one day."

Singapore home prices may drop 10-15%, says DBS CEO

Singapore's property prices could fall by 10 to 15 per cent this year, as government cooling measures and mortgage curbs continue to dampen the property market.

This is the outlook from DBS Bank's CEO Piyush Gupta.

His comment came during the bank's results briefing on Friday.

Since 2009, the government has rolled out a series of measures to rein in property prices, and the impact is showing.

Build trust to resolve security challenges: Dr Ng

Tension between China and Japan over disputed islands in the East China Sea has flared to an all-time high, with both countries threatening to act against each other. Miscalculation could happen if both countries lacked the trust to work with each other to defuse tension.

This was one of the key security concerns highlighted by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen in his keynote address at the second International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Fullerton Forum: The Shangri-La Dialogue Sherpa Meeting, at the Fullerton Hotel on 13 Jan.

S'pore, RSAF to ride on aerospace industry's bright prospects

The global aerospace industry, especially in Asian markets, is expected to grow at a much faster rate, and Singapore and the Republic of Singapore Air Force are both set to ride on this rapid growth to develop expertise and capabilities, noted Permanent Secretary for Defence Chan Yeng Kit.

Mr Chan was speaking at the Singapore Aerospace Technology and Engineering Conference (SATEC) as its keynote speaker on 10 Feb.

Singaporean race driver makes history

Singaporean driver and Team Singapore motorsports athlete Andrew Tang (above in his Toyota racing car) has made history by being the first non-New Zealander to win the 2014 Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand after Round 5 of the series on 9 Feb 2014 (Sunday).

Prior to the final race of the five-stop championship, the 19-year-old was already leading the pack by seven points. He eventually finished third in the final race at Manfeild to clinch the title with 791 points, beating 22 other drivers from 14 countries. Andrew’s closest rival, Briton Jann Mardenborough, finished second in the overall standings.

Resale private home transactions plunge 70.2%

The number of resale transactions in the non-landed private home market plunged 70.2 per cent in January compared to a year ago.

Analysts attributed the decline to the effects of cooling measures and loan curbs introduced last year.

According to the latest data from the Singapore Real Estate Exchange (SRX), which compiles data from property agencies in Singapore, 310 private homes were resold in January this year compared with the 1,039 resale deals closed in January 2013.

MAS, SGX propose measures to strengthen securities market

The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Singapore Exchange have proposed measures to strengthen the securities market in Singapore.

To promote orderly trading, they have proposed that punters with open or unsettled positions be made to put up collateral when trading.

The proposal is one of several measures put up by MAS and SGX to promote more responsible investing in Singapore-listed stocks.

A consultation paper was issued on Friday.

The paper included proposals such as setting a minimum trading price for stocks listed on the SGX Mainboard to reduce volatility.

Training against a thinking enemy

In a first for Exercise Forging Sabre, an integrated live-firing exercise, the SAF pits itself against a smart enemy.

A series of explosions rocked the vast desert expanse of Phoenix, Arizona, United States, as F-15SG and F-16C/D fighter planes, AH-64D Attack Helicopters, and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers unleashed a variety of precision bombs and missiles in a coordinated strike.

It was an impressive show of firepower - well-timed and clinical - typical of the 3rd Generation Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). But what was truly remarkable in the exercise was the battle before the live firing.

Unemployment remains low, income growth strengthens in 2013

Unemployment stayed low and the income growth of Singaporeans strengthened in 2013.

Local employment rose more quickly in the year, as the growth in the number of foreign workers continued to moderate amid tightened foreign manpower measures.

Those are the key findings from a Manpower Ministry's report on Singapore's employment situation in 2013.

A ministry statement on Wednesday said as inflation eased, real median income grew at a higher rate in 2013 compared to 2012.

The income growth, deflated by Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items, was 4.6 per cent in 2013, up from 1.2 per cent in 2012.

Kuala Lumpur-S'pore high speed rail link well on track

The proposed High Speed Rail (HSR) link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore is making good progress.

This was revealed in a joint statement after the 10th Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee Meeting for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM).

The meeting was held in Singapore, and was co-chaired by National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Malaysia's Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Abdul Wahid Omar.

Also present were Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew and Johor's chief minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Singaporeans still conservative about certain social issues, says IPS survey

A survey by the Institute of Policy Studies revealed that Singapore remains a largely conservative society with regard to certain social issues.

80.3 per cent of respondents said they felt sexual relations with someone other than their marriage partner was always or almost always wrong. Though slightly less than half of the respondents (44 per cent) disapproved of living with a partner before marriage.

78.2 per cent felt likewise about sexual relations between two adults of the same sex.

Minister Tan Chuan Jin graces Saturday Night Lights Central launch

Saturday Night Lights Central, in collaboration with Changi Airport group, was officially launched on 25 January at the ITE College Central. It aims to give underprivileged youths in the Central district a platform to come together and enjoy a game of football.
The football programs will be headed by former Singapore internationals, S.Subramani and Yakob Hashim, including the guidance of coaches from the Real Madrid Foundation Singapore.

The event was graced by Acting Minister of Manpower, Mr Tan Chuan Jin, and he believes that this initiative will be a good avenue to churn out positivity and character from an individual.

Professional recognition for Navy personnel

Servicemen from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) can now look forward to greater recognition for their specialisations with the introduction of the Streamlined Accreditation Programme.

This latest initiative between the RSN and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) offers Navy personnel, including naval officers and divers, the opportunity to attain industry-recognised professional titles.

Following the success of obtaining accreditation for its Military Domain Expert Scheme (MDES) engineering specialisation two years ago, this second phase secured accreditation for the remaining specialisations through the IMarEST Marine Technologist (MarTech) professional register.

Former ISD chief reflects on Mas Selamat's escape and the lessons learnt

He was the director of the Internal Security Department (ISD) when former Jemaah Islamiyah leader Mas Selamat bin Kastari escaped from detention in February 2008.

Now the Permanent Secretary for Transport, Mr Pang Kin Keong, has finally come out to talk about the event that sparked a massive manhunt for a fugitive wanted on both sides of the Causeway, and the lessons he learnt.

In an interview with Challenge -- a magazine by the Singapore Public Service -- published on Wednesday, he spoke candidly as he revisited the event that marked the lowest point of his 20 years in the service.

"To have an incident of this national security magnitude happen under your leadership... that's an awful feeling," he said as he recounted the public criticism that ensued.

Singapore Para athletes receive a warm welcome home

Team Singapore Para athletes won a total of 26 medals from the recent ASEAN Para Games in Myanmar, and they were given a hero's welcome at the Changi Airport by well wishers, family and friends on 21 January.

Justinian Chua, Chef De Mission of the games led the contingent out of arrival hall. Jason Chee, Yip Pin Xiu, Theresa Goh and the cerebral palsy football team were some of the Para athletes that were spotted amongst the returning contingent.

MINDEF and NTU strengthen defence research partnership

A super-elastic ceramic that can bend and recover its shape upon heating may well be used to create body armour to protect our soldiers in the future. And a special algorithm will allow our military radio communications systems to pick up weak signals in a noisy environment.

These are just two of the many defence scientific breakthroughs achieved by scientists from the Temasek Laboratories at Nanyang Technological University (TL@NTU) since its establishment in 2003.

The research centre is a collaboration between the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and NTU to develop technological solutions to enhance the defence of Singapore. Over the last 10 years, it has grown from three research programmes and 10 scientists, to 15 research programmes and over 200 researchers and staff today.

Sales of new private homes down 80% in December

Sales of new private homes plunged nearly 80 per cent in December compared to a month ago, as developers held off new property launches.

According to data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), just 259 units of new private homes were sold in December, down from 1,228 units transacted in November.

Among the units sold, 125 are located in the suburban areas, 90 units in the city fringe, and 44 units in the core central region.

For the whole of 2013, total private home sales amounted to about 15,000 units -- levels last seen during the global financial crisis five years ago.

S'pore is not facing a credit bubble: MAS

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Tuesday said Singapore is not facing a credit bubble that puts the country or its banking system at any risk of crisis.

This was in response to media queries after a Forbes article claimed that Singapore is facing a dangerous credit bubble, fuelled by ultra-low interest rates.

The article cited several risks including Singapore's ratio of household debt to GDP, rising property prices and potential crisis in the banking system should non-performing loans increase when interest rates start to normalise.

COE quota to be determined every 3 months from February

The Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system has been refined to make it more responsive to de-registrations.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that from February, it will announce the COE quotas every three months instead of the current six months.

This will enable a more accurate and prompt matching of the number of new COEs to be issued to replace de-registered vehicles, it added.

Vehicle de-registration has been rising in recent months as more vehicles reach 10 years of age. This trend is likely to continue until 2016.

Our women's table tennis team - growing from strength to strength

At the 2010 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Moscow, Singapore’s table tennis team consisting of Feng Tianwei, Wang Yuegu and Sun Beibei were crowned victors. With unparalleled precision and grit, they sliced their way past China’s undefeated champions to clinch the winning title for the first time in history.

Over the years, our women’s table tennis has indeed become a force to be reckoned with. Let us take a look at some of the major milestones in the history of this successful sport. Table tennis saw a humble beginning back in 1926, when the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) was established, and the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) started later in 1931, when the demand for the sport had begun to grow exponentially. 

Expanded Ex Wallaby

Based on the tsunami that hit Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2010, this was the exercise scenario presented to troops from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Time was, of course, essential and the SAF deployed Army, Navy and Air Force elements to assist the ADF in HADR efforts.

The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN's) Landing Ship Tank (LST) RSS Resolution was used to coordinate operations with the set-up of a Combined Task Force Headquarters (CTF HQ) that comprised planners from both countries' armed forces.