Better way to treat paraneoplastic encephalitis

Singapore doctors have come up with a treatment approach for a rare condition associated with tumours in the ovary, and have recommended it as the way to go in a scientific journal.

Paraneoplastic encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain which sets in when an ovarian cancer triggers the patient's over-active immune system to attack the brain.

Doctors here recommended that chemotherapy be considered as one of the main treatments.

From treating five such cases here, they have found that chemotherapy seems to prevent the immune system from attacking the brain.

The Straits Times (Dec 31 09)

1st Singapore Woman to reach South Pole

The seven women of the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition had planned to have a day off from skiing, but the South Pole was in sight and they just could not wait.

They had travelled 900 km on skis, and the final 12 took them to the South Pole at about 10am on 30 December 2009 (Singapore time).

Among them was Singaporean Sophia Pang, 37, the first Singapore woman to ski from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole.

The training programme was conducted by the Singapore Sports Medicine Centre and the Changi Sports Medicine Centre.

A four-man Singapore team skiied to the South Pole in 2000, while another four-man Singapore team simultaneously scaled the highest peak in Antarctica.

The Straits Times (Dec 31 09)

Singaporean named Best Female Athlete of SEA Games

AFTER a historic 10 days of sporting action in Laos, the SEA Games bade 'saukdee' (goodbye in Lao) to the former French colony and thanked the city of Vientiane and its people for their gracious hospitality.

The 20,000 spectators who packed into the National Stadium were serenaded by singers and entertained by elaborate cultural performances during Friday night's three-hour-long closing ceremony.

Besides hosting the Games for the first time in its history, there was also much to celebrate for Laos who surpassed their target of 25 golds by winning 32 of the 370 on offer. It placed them seventh on the table, just behind Singapore (33).

Singapore swimmer Quah Ting Wen's five golds, two silvers and one bronze helped her clinch the women's honour.

Singapore is IB's new HQ for Asia-Pacific

Four years after the first local school started offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme, the organisation behind it has made Singapore its Asia-Pacific headquarters.

As one of three global centres - the other two being The Hague in Holland and Maryland in United States - Singapore will provide training and support to 11,000 teachers in the region.

IB director-general Jeffrey Beard said Singapore's strategic location, good infrastructure, status as an education hub, and the fast growing demand for IB programmes in the region were compelling reasons for making it the Asia-Pacific HQ.

Singapore to host APPF 2010

Parliamentarians from the Asia-Pacific region will gather in Singapore next month for the 18th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parlimentarian Forum (APPF).

To be held at Suntec convention centre from Jan 17 to 21, the five-day forum will see officials from 26 member countries, including China and the United States, meeting over issues that matter to the region.

NP Researchers developed recycled-glass tiles that are tougher than concrete

Researchers from Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Environmental and Water Technology Centre of Innovation have developed an eco-friendly way of converting discarded glass products into building materials with more than twice the strength of concrete.

The research offers a more environmentally friendly way of using waste glass, which is currently either dumped as landfill waste or exported to countries such as Malaysia, where it is melted down at a scorching 1,600 deg C. This is not only energy-intensive, but also bad for the environment.

Ngee Ann has approached the Housing Board to explore the use fo the recycled products in its housing projects.

The next target is to develop materials with the quality of marble but cheaper.

3 local think-tanks on list of top Asian research centres

3 Singapore think-tanks are on a list of 29 "research centres of excellence" in Asia that has been drawn up by the philantropic Rockefeller Foundation.

The trio are the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Iseas) and the Asia Research Institute (ARI).

The criteria used included the quality of research and research staff, the institution's network and collaborative relationships in the region, its ability and interest in shaping policies, and communication of research results, among others.

Breakthrough work on plants by Singapore duo

Two Singaporean researchers, along with a host of other international scientists, have made a discovery which could help crops survive harsh conditions such as drought and heat.

The two PhD students from the National University of Singapore Graduate School for Integrated Sciences and Engineering - Ms Ng Ley Moy and Ms Soon Fen Fen - went to the Van Andel Research Institute in Michigan in June to work on this topic with a team of 19 other researchers from around the world.

Over 12,000 families in quake-hit Sumatra get special treat from Singapore

More than 12,000 needy families in areas affected by the recent earthquake in Sumatra received a special treat from Singapore.

Some 630 sheep, worth more than S$122,000, were donated by Muslims in Singapore for the annual korban ritual over the weekend. The meat was distributed to the needy families in Sumatra as part of the Hari Raya Haji celebrations.

The event was organised by Singapore's humanitarian organisation Mercy Relief, and the number of families given the meat exceeded their initial target of 7,000.

The families came from 15 districts in Palembang, Pangalengan and Padang - areas badly affected by the recent earthquake.

Source: Channel NewsAsia

Singapore firm wins deal to sell Obama portrait

A Singapore investment firm has clinched an exclusive deal to sell a painting of United States President Barack Obama.

Estimated to be worth a few million dollars, the portrait in oil was done by renowned African-American artist Gilbert Young last year.

It is said to be the only portrait that the President has endorsed with his signature.

Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong receives top jurist award

CJ Chan Sek Keong has become the first Asian jurist to be given the 2009 International Jurists Award by the International Council of Jurists (ICJ).

ICJ President Adish Aggarwala said the award, given out annually since 2007 is a recognition of CJ Chan's outstanding contributions to the administration of justice and that his achievement has enhanced the dignity of the judiciary in Asian countries.

CJ Chan received the award from Indian President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi last Saturday, at a two-day conference on International Terrorism and the Rule of Law.

The ICJ, which has a London-registered office, convened the meeting, which drew more than 3,000 delegates from about 60 countries.

Source: The Straits Times (November 26, 2009)

Singapore on IMO Council for 9th term

Singapore has been re-elected to the council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for a ninth term.

The election was held at the 26th session of the IMO Assembly in London last Friday.

Singapore was first elected to the council in 1993 and has been re-elected at subsequent biennial assemblies.

Source: The Sunday Times (November 29, 2009)

Singapore 5th easiest place to pay taxes

Singapore has maintained the same ranking as last year in the latest survey of 183 economies by the World Bank Group and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The top four economies are the Maldives, Qatar, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.

Despite the economic downturn, governments have generally remained focused on tax reform.

For Singapore, the report noted that it was during the 1990s, when the Asian financial crisis struck, that the Republic bit the bullet and undertook reforms to combat the economic downturn.

Singapore lowered business costs through a series of tax cuts, rebates and exemptions introduced over the course of the crisis.

Singapore comes second on media access to government info

Singapore has come out second in a global study on how accessible information is to the media.

Topping the list is Australia, with the maximum score of 120 points while Singapore chalked up 115, according to the study by the Austria-based International Press Institute (IPI).

The pilot project, done in June, required media organisations to ask their governments a set of six questions.

The countries were awarded points based on how quickly the officials responded, with the maximum 20 points given for an answer that arrived within three hours of the query.

The score decreased gradually over time, with 2.5 points given to a response that took more than two days. A reply after one week was not counted.

Points were deducted for incomplete answers, while full marks were given if the information was publicly available.

Britain came in at No. 6, followed by United States.

The IPI is a global network of editors, media executives and journalists dedicated to press freedom, free flow of information, and the improvement of practices of journalism.

Shenzhen wants to be clean, just like Singapore

The Chinese city of Shenzhen has chosen Singapore to be its guiding light in environmental improvements, particularly public sanitation, Chinese and Hong Kong newspapers have reported.

A Singapore consultancy company had earlier spent two years working with the southern boomtown's environment and sanitation bureau and compiled a report on the challenges it faced and how they should be tackled.

Shenzhen has also sent officials to Singapore on study trips in its ambitious aim to turn itself into a garden city like the Republic, the paper added.

Last month, the city announced it would continue hiring a Singapore consultancy to help it in its public sanitation quest.

As Shenzhen will be celebrating next year its 30th anniversary as a special economic zone - a designation that helped it become a modern investment hub, it is now keener than ever to move closer to Singapore's environmental standards hoping to achieve a drastic change in image by then.

Most of the changes being carried out are refurbishment and upgrading works, such as repainting the facades of buildings along the thoroughfares and re-fashioning rooftops of high-rises, like what is often done in Singapore's housing estates.

Shenzhen also wants to learn from Singapore's experience in involving the private sector in sanitation and private sector in sanitation and garbage management, and how it put and runs a mechanised public sanitation system.

Guangdong's acting Mayor Mr Wang Rong decided that it should learn from Singapore.

Mr Wang was previously the party boss of Suzhou, where he was very much exposed to Singapore's ways of management in the Suzhou Industrial Park, in which the Republic holds sizeable stakes.

Explaining why Shenzhen did not choose neighbouring Hong Kong as its model, Mr Hu Zhen Hua, a spokesman for the city's urban management bureau, said: "Hong Kong is the efficiency expert, but Singapore is a unique garden city, and nobody would be better than Singapore for environmental improvement."

The Sunday Times (15 Nov 2009)

MM Lee receives top Russian award

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was presented with Russia's highest civilian award, the Order of Friendship at the Istana by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is here on his first official visit.

The Order recognises those who have made a signficant contribution in strengthening friendship, cooperation and relations between nations.

A citation for the award stated that Mr Lee was receiving it for his "outstanding contribution to the development of the Russia-Singapore relationship".

Mr Lee has been a strong supporter of the Skolkovo Moscow School of Management, Russia's first dedicated business school, since its inception in 2006.

Mr Lee became a member of its international advisory board in 2007.

Mr Lee is the second Singaporean to be conferred this award. Businessman, Sudhir Gupta, received the award in 2000. He was the founder of Amtel group, a company which makes tyres, tea, juices and vodka in Russian and the Ukraine.

Singapore in the White

The crucial step in the "grey to white" process was taken yesterday when the Government signed a protocol to amend the standing agreement for the avoidance of double taxation (DTA) with France.

Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam took time out from Apec meetings to ink the deal with French Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment Christine Largade.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) requires a country to seal 12 such deals before it can join the white list.

Later in the day, the Minister from the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Transport, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, signed a similar pact with Brunei.

Singapore has pacts with 13 countries - Belgium, New Zealand, Britain, Denmark, The Netherlands, Australia, Austria, Norway, Qatar, Mexico, Bahrain, France and Brunei.

Singapore schools lead the way in tech use

Singapore schools, lauded the world over for their maths and science curriculums, are now also serving as role models in the use of technology for teaching.

A group of education experts from software giant Microsoft told The Straits Times at a conference in Brazil last week that many countries have their eye on Singapore schools because they have managed to integrate the use of technology into lessons effectively - something which schools elsewhere do only superficially.

Microsoft vice-president for worldwide education programmes Anthony Salcito said one example of Singapore's success in integrating technology within the curriculum is BackPack.NET, a S$20 million project by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and Microsoft Singapore. It was started in 2003 with the aim of transforming teaching through technology and allowing mobile learning.

Ms Jenny Lewis, an adviser to Microsoft's US$500 million (S$700 million) education initiative Partners in Learning, said Singapore schools are gaining attention for the way they use technology to teach "21st century skills" such as collaboration critical and creative thinking.

The Straits Times (14 Nov 2009)

SPH Chief Executive named as one of Isead's top 50 alumni

Singapore Press Holdings' chief executive, Mr Alan Chan, was yesterday named as one of the 50 alumni from top international business school Insead to have had an exceptional career and amde a difference to the business world.

He is the only Singaporean and Asian to achieve this honour.

The awards were launched by Insead as part of celebrations commemorating the founding of the graduate business school 50 years ago.

Mr Chan was among the second batch of 10 outstanding individuals cited by Insead's Dean Frank Brown during the school's Leadership Summit Asia held at the Singapore campus yesterday.

Hepatitis B Vaccination began in Singapore

Research in Singapore seeded a pioneering vaccination programme, supported by the World Health Organisation, which has spread successfully throughout the world.

The effort led to a drastic reduction of Hepatitis B Virus and Primary Liver Cancer, which it causes. It also identified how Singapore needed to change tack quickly to embrace higher technology, ahead of its competitors.

Source: The Straits Times (7 Nov 2009)

Temasek scores perfect 10 on SWF transperency index

Temasek Holdings has kept its position as one of the world's most transparent sovereign wealth funds (SWFs).

Temasek Holdings scored 10 out of 10 on the latest Linaburg-Maduell Transparency Index, published quarterly by the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute in California.

There are 10 principles in the index, including providing up-to-date, independently audited annual reports; disclosing a total portfolio market value, returns and management compensation; and offering guidelines for ethical standards and investment policies.

Source: The Straits Times (9 Nov 2009)

Ngee Ann Secondary School honoured for use of technology

Microsoft has listed Ngee Ann Secondary School as a "Pathfinder School" - one of 30 schools worldwide so honoured this year. Ngee Ann is the first school in Singapore to bag the title since Microsoft introduced it in 2007.

The Pathfinder status is the second highest level of recognition given by Microsoft to schools.

The highest level of recognition is the "Mentor School" status, which first went to Singapore's Crescent Girls' School in 2007. SCGS still maintains that status and is now joined by another 11 schools worldwide.

St Andrew Junior College's principal Lee Bee Yann is now an adviser to Microsoft's US$500 million education initiative, Partners In Learning. She is the only school principal and Singaporean in the 14-member International Advisory Council, which is mostly made up of university professors and government officials.

Source: The Straits Times (6 Nov 2009)

Singapore is top immigration hot spot

Gallup index shows Singapore population would jump to 13 million if it takes in all who wished to come here.

Gallup uses the Potential Net Migration Index (PMNI) to derive Singapore's ranking. The PNMI is the estimated number of adults who wish to leave a country permanently subtracted from the estimated number who wish to immigrate to the country, as a proportion of the total adult population.

Singapore is No. 1 immigration hot spot, coming ahead of countries like New Zealand and Australia.

According to the United Nations' 2009 Human Development Report, Singapore is ranked No. 10 in the world in terms of the share of immigrants as part of total population, at 35%. The UN report also showed that Singapore had a relatively low emigration rate of 6.3%.

Singapore honoured for being peaceful nation

At a dinner kicking off the 3-day Global Symposium of Peaceful Nations in Washington on 1 November 2009, Singapore was one of the 18 countries lauded for being a "model for development and urbanisation" that has demonstrated its dedication to peace in a variety of ways.

The list includes Singapore's provision of humanitarian aid overseas, military and police forces to United Nations peacekeeping missions, laws to protect its multi-ethnic society as well as efforts to preserve the environment, such as building an eco-city with Tianjin city in China, according to a citation read out at the dinner.

The event was organised by the J. William and Harriet Fulbright Centre and Alliance for Peacebuilding.

The 18 nations were chosen based on their performance in the 2009 Global Peace Index, which ranks 144 countries by their peacefulness and absence of violence. Using the index, the symposium's organisers looked at nine different regions of the world, and identified two of the most peaceful nations from each of these regions.

Singapore was ranked the world's 23rd most peaceful nation. It moved up from 29th place in 2008's rankings. The index is produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace, a global think-tank.

KPE ranks among world's top tunnels

Singapore's Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) has been ranked among the top international tunnels in a European Tunnel Assessment Programme.

The KPE was also given a top rating under the European Union's Directive on Safety Requirements for Road Tunnels in Europe in July.

NTU solar car in top 10 of World Solar Challenge

A solar car built by NTU students is competing with more than 30 solar cars from countries such as the United States, Malaysia and the Netherlands.

The NTU team is made up of 23 people, comprising undergraduates, alumni and staff meembers from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering & School of Electric and Electronic Engineering.

The Singapore team is now in 10th position.

Global Indian International School wins international excellence award

Homegrown Global Indian International School achieves a first for Singapore with the Asia Pacific Quality Award.

MM Lee Kuan Yew to receive lifetime award in US

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is embarking on a 10-day trip to the United States, during which he will receive a lifetime achievement award from the US-ASEAN Business Council.

MM Lee is the first person in the entire world to receive this award, which recognises ASEAN's contribution to US economic security.

"History will record few leaders who have accomplished so much for their country and for South-east Asia as His Excellency Lee Kuan Yew," Mr Muhtar Kint, chairman of the US-ASEAN Business Council and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company.

"As a driving force behind the growth and evolution of ASEAN, Mr Lee also helped millions of people across South-east Asia to live in an environment of peace and economic growth."

Special Forces Commanders Conference

350 delegates from 16 countries gathered in Singapore to attend the 3-day Special Forces Commanders Conference. DPM Teo Chee Hean also participated in the conference.

Minister George Yeo hands over water purification tablets to Jaffna camp

Foreign Minister George Yeo, currently visiting Sri Lanka, has handed over 5,000 water purification tablets to help purify drinking water for internally displaced persons at a camp in Kopay, Jaffna.

The Singapore delegation also visited the historic Jaffna Library and Mr Yeo announced the contribution of 500 books from Singapore's National Library.

Singapore's Foreign Ministry says that during his meetings with the Sri Lankan leaders in the various districts, Minister Yeo expressed the hope that once peace was entrenched and trust between the communities restored in the country, there would be opportunities for tourism, education and foreign direct investment.

Mr Yeo told the Sri Lankan leaders that the successful Sri Lankan Singaporean diaspora stood ready to help Sri Lanka in its rehabilitation efforts.

Singapore Slingers beat Philippine Patriots 74-69

The Singapore Slingers won on Sunday evening, unseating the ASEAN Basketball League contender 74-69.

The Philippine Patriots led the first few points but the Slingers quickly fought back and were ahead at the end of the first quarter.

The Patriots played hard though and the teams were neck and neck during the second quarter.

But the Patriots gained ground as they took advantage of fatigue and unforced errors from the Slingers.

The game was watched upon by 2,200 people at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

NTU Business School up 10 spots

Nanyang Technological University's Nanyang Business School has rose 10 places to No. 71 from No. 81 last year in its global MBA rankings according to the latest survey by The Economist magazine.

NBS likely improved its rankings because of two areas - careers and alumni.

On the Financial Times list, Nanyang Business School came in at No. 24.

SAF hands over two medical clinics to Indonesian authorities

Excerpts from News report by Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has handed over the two newly-constructed medical clinics to Indonesian authorities in quake-hit Pariaman, Padang...

... During the handing-over ceremony at Padang Pasir, assistant chief of General Staff (Operations) Brigadier-General Tung said: "The close cooperation between the SAF and TNI allowed the SAF to provide effective medical assistance and construct the two medical clinics in Padang and Pariaman within a short time...

... The SAF medical team attended to more than 1,100 Accident and Emergency cases and performed over 100 surgeries during their stay in Padang.

Tsunami-damaged schools made new with Singapore funds

Reported by Ravi Velloor, The Straits Times

Excerpts from report:

Tangelle Primary, in Sri Lanakan President Mahinda Rajapakse's home district of Hambantota, was one of the three upgraded and refurbished schools in the island's southern province that was inaugurated by visiting Foreign Minister George Yeo yesterday...

... Singaporeans from all races, religions and walks of life contributed ot the Red Cross Society's Tidal Waves Asia Fund. Combined with funds from the Singapore Government, the total project cost for the three schools came to S$5.6million.

Thanks to that effort, some 6,400 students in Hambantota, Galle and Matare are poised to benefit every year. In addition, Singapore's Popular Bookstore will soon deliver various quantities of roller ink pens, school bags and stationery as a donation.

Asia's first Wave-surfing facilities in Sentosa

The Wave House Sentosa will feature a 3 metres high barrelling wave.

Sentosa is the first place in Asia that has such facilities.

Founder and CEO of Wave Loch Mr Tom Lochtefeld hopes to establish Singapore as his headquarters for future expansions in Asia.

The International Flowriding League of the World (FLOW) would be held at the Wave House from 17-18 October 2009.

Singapore Investors most Upbeat in Asia

Positive 24.2% change in confidence among Singapore investors, Q3 over Q2 of 2009, according to survey by Dutch banking giant, ING.

The other countries that trail behind Singapore are South Korea, Phillipines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, India (in ranking).

Interpol General Assembly held in Singapore

The 4-day Interpol General Assembly was held at Raffles City Convention Centre.

NUS team makes cloning breakthrough

Scientists at National University of Singapore took 5 years and $1.5million to develop new cloning capabilities.

They have become the first to clone an animal by fertilising an egg with an embryonic stem cell that mimics sperm.

Their research has the potential to allow scientists to study and treat genes that cause diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

The molecular biologists behind the project are Associate Professor Hong Yunhan, Dr Yi Meisheng and Ms Hong Ni.