Singapore named No.2 Ultimate Sports City

Singapore has been named the number two Ultimate Sports City at the biennial Sport Accord Convention in Dubai.

The top spot went to Melbourne for the third successive time since the inception of the award in 2006 by London-based Sport Business Group, the world's leading supplier of information, media and business-to-business marketing services to the global sports industry.

This was the first time Singapore made the shortlist of 25 cities considered for the prestigious award.

Last month, Rachael Church-Sanders, author of the Ultimate Sports City report, told MediaCorp that cities are awarded a value according to the events they host annually, have hosted or will host between 2006 and 2014.

Singapore has hosted high-profile sports events in the last six years, beginning with the 117th International Olympic Committee Session in 2005.

It also staged the first Formula 1 night race in 2008, the first Asian Youth Games last year, and will welcome an estimated 3,600 athletes aged 14 to 18 from 205 National Olympic Committees for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in August.

The Republic has also hosted the World Cup short course swimming series, and the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon has witnessed record entries.

The Republic also beat out Melbourne for the right to host the World Netball Championships in July 2011.

Singapore banking system among Top 4 in world

SINGAPORE'S banking system has emerged from the global financial crisis as one of the Top 4 in the world along with Canada, Australia and Hong Kong, according to ratings agency Moody's.

Moody's Investors Service rated the banking sector in these four jurisdictions as having a 'stable' outlook with an averaged bank rating of B, one notch below the highest rating A.

Singapore banks have been more resilient than many global banks throughout the crisis, with limited damage to their asset quality, adequate earnings, and very liquid and well-capitalised balance sheets.

SMRT sweeps 3 awards at International Metro Awards 2010

SMRT did Singapore proud, sweeping three awards at the International Metro Awards 2010 in London - "Best Metro Asia Pacific" and "Most Energy Efficient Metro" accolades for the second consecutive year, and "Most Innovative Use of Technology" award for the first time.

Big Help from Singapore

US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Dr Kurt Campbell: "No country punches as far above its weight in global politics as Singapore. And we've received enormous good advice and support for American commitment to the region. For Singapore, we would like that to continue in the next several years."

Singapore is tops for training of senior Chinese officials

Minister of the Central Organisation Department of China's Communist Party, Mr Li Yuanchao said in his address that Singapore is the top choice when it comes to selecting a place to train top Chinese government officials, at the inaugural opening ceremony of the Master in Public Administration and Management (MPAM) programme.

The joint programme is an effort by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and the NUS Business School.