Topix

News on Singapore continually updated from thousands of sources around the net.

Total news: 1216
Last news: 17 hours 36 minutes ago

The number of non-emergency calls to the 995 emergency hotline plunged by 47 per cent in the first half, from the same period last year. But what is worrying is the 34-per-cent spike in the incidence of false alarms - cases where ambulances respond to calls for help but find nothing at the location. There were 2,048 false alarms in the first six months. - [Read more]

The Singapore Grand Prix has already sold more than 95 per cent of the tickets for Formula Ones first ever night race next month. With just 40 days remaining until the race, on September 28, over 100,000 tickets have already been sold. - [Read more]

In the first six months of this year, there were almost 1,100 blazes in rubbish chutes, garbage bins and common areas such as lift lobbies and void decks, according to figures released yesterday by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). That was a 10 per cent rise over the same period last year. - [Read more]

Singapore Polytechnic student Toh Jun Biao admits to being clueless about the female pysche. He thought girls were attracted only to macho and dominant guys. The marketing student, 20, realised only after taking the love elective that when it comes to romance, stereotypes do not always work. - [Read more]

The Government is making available public buildings and vacant land for up to four more foreign schools. International schools can occupy a former school in Upper Serangoon as a permanent new campus or one of three other former schools temporarily until new buildings are built on vacant plots in Bukit Batok, Hougang or Yishun. - [Read more]

A month after SingTel gave television viewers here the good news that it was bringing in hit series such as Prison Break and Desperate Housewives within 24 hours of airing in the United States, StarHub has revealed it will do the same with hits such as the CSI franchise and Numb3rs. This is through an exclusive deal Starhub has struck with American broadcaster CBS. - [Read more]

REACH, the Singapore governments feedback unit, gathered responses from more than 200 people on Tuesday regarding Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loongs National Day Rally speech. Many Singaporeans said they are happy with the extras being given to encourage higher birth rates, such as financial support for In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment. - [Read more]

When it comes to Olympic bonuses, Michael Phelps is the biggest fish in the pond -- only just. Phelps collected $480,000 from USA Swimming and another $200,000 from the U.S. Olympic Committee for his record eight gold medals in Beijing. Had Phelps been born 9,000 miles away in Singapore, he might have pocketed S$8 million ($5.6 million) from the most bonus-friendly national sports body. - [Read more]

Many are anxious to see how rules on new media such as podcasting will be relaxed. They said it defeats the purpose if the committee studying this comes up with another level of restrictions. - [Read more]

Singapore, which currently bans political films and demonstrations, may ease curbs on both to keep up with the spread of video and other free expression on the Internet. - [Read more]

Singaporean President S. R. Nathan said his visit to the Shaolin Temple in Henan province on Sunday was one of the highlights of his weeklong Olympic tour.

Even though the Government is collecting $160 million now from ERP charges - compared to $80 million eight years ago - it is still collecting a lot less in tax revenue than previously.

Singapore should ease its ban on political videos and outdoor demonstrations as part of a gradual liberalisation of society, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Monday.

Customs areas in Johor Baru were filled with long queues and confused Singaporeans yesterday, about 48 hours after Malaysia began requiring all visitors to fill in embarkation cards. - [Read more]

A shelter for nearly 100 homeless foreign maids, many victims of abuse and rape, is to be closed in two days because of overcrowding, authorities said Monday. The women have been informed they must leave the three-storey building by Wednesday after an eviction order from the Urban Redevelopment Authority. - [Read more]

Free blood tests for kidney-failure patients and a portable subsidy programme for the needy - these are the latest initiatives announced by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) yesterday. The schemes are meant to help patients cope with the rising cost of living, said the NKF in an official statement. - [Read more]

15,000 healtcare workers will be needed for the next five years. These range from positions for doctors, nurses, to pharmacists and other allied healthcare professionals. Singaporeans alone will not be enough to fill these jobs. - [Read more]

An increasing number of travellers entering Singapore are being caught carrying dangerous weapons, news reports said on Monday. The Woodlands Checkpoint is particularly busy, with people carrying items they obtained in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, officials said. - [Read more]

Director Jack Neo is quick to capitalise on topical issues, like the current inflationary climate and the increase in Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates, in his latest movie, Money No Enough 2. However, the Government, while not as fast, is certainly I Not Stupid, quipped Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. His remark - punning on the film-makers two hits - was in his Mandarin National Day Rally speech delivered at the University Cultural Centre yesterday evening. - [Read more]

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called Sunday on the youth of Singapore to marry at an early age and have more babies to boost the city-states population. Singapores fertility rate is currently 1.29 children per woman, well below the 2.1 needed to maintain the countrys 4.6 million population, Lee said in a televised speech. - [Read more]