Monday, January 3, 2011

Quick News: Monday, January 03, 2011

'Better keep on trying to do better': PM Lee


SINGAPORE students fare well internationally, but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday that they must continue trying to do better if they are to hold their own against fierce competition from elsewhere in the region.
He was speaking to about 600 constituents - students and their family members - at a bursary and scholarship presentation ceremony in his Teck Ghee ward.
In an off-the-cuff speech, he also stressed the importance of Singaporeans having the knowledge and skills to start them off in life, so that they can take on good jobs and improve their lives. His comments come a month after Singapore ranked among the top performers in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) 2009 survey by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The study, which Mr Lee also cited in his New Year message on Friday, assesses the abilities of 15-year-old students in reading, mathematics and science. Singapore students rated fifth in reading, second in mathematics and fourth in science among students from 65 economies.

 

Golfer struck by lightning wakes up


WHEN she heard the shocking news that her husband had been struck by lightning, Mrs Chen knew she had to provide him with whatever help he needed.
'I spent the whole night reading up on lightning strike victims, what they go through, and how they feel, so I can take care of him,' said the 50-year-old, who did not want to give her full name.
Her husband, Mr Chen Yuk Fu, 62, regained consciousness on Sunday - more than 10 hours after he was struck while playing golf last Saturday afternoon. Mrs Chen has visited him in the intensive care unit of Changi General Hospital, where he is in a stable condition. She said she was relieved he could recognise her.  She told The Straits Times how she cried for hours until she lost her voice, after a friend told her about the accident at Laguna National Golf and Country Club in Changi. Mr Chen, a technology firm director, suffered burns to his head, neck and hand.            


 Four youths arrested for snatch theft

FOUR youths, aged 14 to 16, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a case of snatch theft.
The snatch theft occurred at Montreal Green Park, near Block 588 Montreal Drive.
On New Year's Eve on Friday, a 23-year-old man had his mobile phone, valued at about $350, snatched away by four unknown assailants.
The victim chased after the youths and managed to detain one of them. Police arrested the detained suspect, along with a second suspect who was found at the scene.
The stolen mobile phone was also recovered from some bushes near the crime scene.
The remaining two suspects were arrested on Saturday in the Ang Mo Kio vicinity in the afternoon. Investigations against the four suspects are ongoing.


TCM 'specialists' to be investigated

                                                                                                                                    
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physicians who flout the rules by claiming to be specialist doctors are to be investigated by the Ministry of Health (MOH). Unlike doctors in Western medicine, there is no authority here that certifies them as specialists.
Since 2001, TCM practitioners have had to be licensed with MOH, a move aimed at improving their care. The rules say they can only call themselves physicians or acupuncturists. Yet this has not stopped some touting themselves as specialists - putting up signs outside their clinics or charging higher fees. Consultation with a TCM physician plus medication typically costs between $50 and $300. Those who claim to be specialists can charge up to $1,000. Prescriptions of herbs often account for the bulk of the bills. About 20 patients have complained to the Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE) about overcharging and high-pressure sales tactics in the last three years.


No Singaporeans affected by the Egyptian bomb blasts


THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that no Singaporeans were affected by the recent bomb blast in Egypt.
In response to queries, an MFA spokesman said: 'Our Embassy in Cairo is in touch with the Singaporeans residing in Alexandria, Egypt.
'There are no Singaporeans affected by the bomb blast.'
The spokesman also added that Singapore strongly condemns the attack on a religious institution in Egypt. 'The incident is another sombre reminder that terrorism continues to remain a serious threat and all countries have to remain vigilant and take tough counter-terrorist action in the fight against this scourge,' the spokesman added.

 

Singaporean appointed to Vatican council


THE Roman Catholic Church has appointed a Singaporean to one of its 12 Pontifical Councils in the Vatican.
The councils, which together comprise about 600 people worldwide, advise Pope Benedict XVI on matters ranging from interfaith dialogue to migrant issues. Mr Michael Thio, 65, a former director of British Telecom, will serve as a member of the Pontifical Council of Cor Unum - or 'One Heart' - which oversees the Church's charity programmes. The appointment was announced by the Vatican - the central governing body for Catholics around the world - last Thursday. Only one other Singaporean - Sister Theresa Seow, 54, a Canossian nun - has been known to serve the Vatican as a council member. On his new appointment, Mr Thio told The Straits Times on Sunday that he would bring 'systemic change' to the lives of the poor, starting with those in developing countries.

 

Trade Minister visiting Jakarta for discussions                                                                                                                                                                              

MINISTER for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang, will be in Jakarta from Monday to Tuesday. He will be attending, a ministerial meeting with Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa and other senior officials to discuss the progress of the six joint Economic Working Groups formed after an earlier retreat between Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in May 2010.
The six working groups are set up to enhance bilateral economic cooperation in cruise tourism, civil aviation, manpower and agribusiness, investments and cooperation in the special economic zones (SEZs) of Batam, Bintan, and Karimum (BBK) as well as other SEZs.
During the visit, Mr Lim will also be holding bilateral meetings with Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu and Industry Minister MS Hidayat.
Mr Lim will be accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Transport and other government agencies for the trip.
Singapore was the top source of realised foreign investment into Indonesia in 2009, amounting to US$4.4 billion. In the same year, Indonesia accounted for the largest number of tourism arrivals into Singapore.


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