Top Story of the Week: GM to Move International Headquarters to Singapore
LOOKING AHEAD
- Public Consultation on amendments to Singapore's Geographical Indications Act and Trade Marks Act: Please be informed that the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore has just launched a public consultation on proposed enhancements that would be made to Singapore's Geographical Indications Act and to the Trade Marks Act to enhance Singapore's regime for the protection of geographical indications. The public consultation documents (including the draft legal texts of the proposed new GI Act as well as the proposed legislative amendments to our Trade Marks Act) are available on this link: http://www.ipos.gov.sg/AboutIP/IPLegislation/PublicConsultations.aspx. The closing date of the public consultation is 30 November 2013.
- In a joint press conference, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew and Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam reiterated their commitment to a "high standard" Trans-Pacific Partnership regional trade agreement. Mr Tharman said he and Secretary Lew had a good exchange on issues relating to financial services and investment, and they intend to raise standards of investor protection for businesses and strengthen the financial services sector. Other topics discussed at the meeting included US economic outlook, global outlook, and IMF governance reforms. Mr. Tharman also reported that discussions with the U.S. to conclude the FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) were progressing smoothly. The aim of FATCA is to reduce the level of tax avoidance by US citizens and entities through foreign financial institutions.
- General Motors Co. has announced it will move its international headquarters to Singapore from Shanghai as part of a broader management shuffle intended to give greater focus to fast-growing foreign markets. The Detroit-based auto maker said it will have about 120 employees devoted to its international operations at new headquarters in Singapore when it opens in the second quarter of next year. Under the new structure, GM split its China operations away from its international operations, to put greater focus on faster-growing emerging markets even as it gave its China business—which accounted for 30% of its vehicle sales last year—a dedicated management team.
National Affairs
GM to Move International Headquarters to Singapore From Shanghai WSJ 13th Nov 2013
General Motors Co. GM +1.76% will shift its international headquarters to Singapore from Shanghai as part of a broader management shuffle intended to give greater focus to fast-growing foreign markets. The Detroit-based auto maker said it will have about 120 employees devoted to its international operations at new headquarters in Singapore when it opens in the second quarter of next year. It will oversee key parts of the company's business in Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, India, South Korea and the Middle East, as well as Chevrolet and Cadillac in Europe, the company said. About 250 of its current 300 employees in China will stay there, while its 245 employees in South Korea will remain there, it said. The move "will help us to create a renewed identity for CIO and lead GM's umbrella strategy for the region," said GM Executive Vice President Stefan Jacoby, who oversees the company's Consolidated International Operations division, in a statement. The move follows a reorganization announced in August. Under the new structure, GM split its China operations away from its international operations, to put greater focus on faster-growing emerging markets even as it gave its China business—which accounted for 30% of its vehicle sales last year—a dedicated management team.
Labour law changes balance needs of workers and firms Straits Times 14th Nov 2013
Firms and unionists say the latest changes to Singapore's main labour law represent a need to strike a balance between protecting workers and helping businesses cope with rising costs. But they might find it difficult to bridge their differences in two areas: payslips and overtime pay. Small businesses welcome the Manpower Ministry's decision to hold off making payslips compulsory. "We definitely want to comply with the law, but we really need time to adjust," said Madam Chia Sai Im, chairman of the People's Park Traders Association which represents 200 hawkers and shopowners. She added that most of her association members face mounting cost pressures from rent hikes and labour wages.
Singapore: Campaigners bid to overturn hijab ban BBC 13th Nov 2013
An online campaign has been launched to overturn a ban on the wearing of the hijab in Singapore, it's been reported. Several online forums and a Facebook page have been set up to gather support against the ban, Today newspaper reports. The Singapore government's policy says women who work in public sector offices which require a uniform cannot wear the hijab, a Muslim headscarf. An online petition on non-governmental organization Avaaz website seeking to overturn the ban gathered more than 12,000 signatures in September, but was subsequently closed down by its creator. However, a new page was soon set up on the website, which says people have "a right to wear their personal dressing that is non-discriminatory against any particular group" in Singapore.
Unlocking the potential in Singapore's cruise industry Jakarta Post 11th Nov 2013
When pundits at a cruise industry conference last month hailed the region as the next frontier for growth, hardly an eyelid batted in the audience. The general sentiment: Yes, there is potential. But how do you harness it? Asean was earmarked as a cruise haven as far back as 1991, when then Senior Minister of State (Trade and Industry) Lim Boon Heng held it up as a potential second year-round cruise destination after the Caribbean. That same year, the first international cruise ship - the Royal Odyssey - dropped anchor at the newly opened Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC) at HarbourFront. The region's cruising potential has since been cited so often that it is starting to sound like a broken record.
Singapore poverty in the spotlight Al Jazeera 9th Nov 2013
Begging is illegal here, under the island-nation's Destitute Persons Act, carrying a fine of up to $3,000 or imprisonment for up to two years for repeat offenders. But Singapore's poor still can be found, often selling packets of tissues outside food centres. Or spending the night on benches near their jobs to save the transport fare home - they are commonly called "sleepers". Or collecting empty soft drink cans out of trash bins. The poor have no place in Singapore's vaunted success story, but there are growing calls for one of the wealthiest countries in the world to acknowledge rapidly rising income inequality by setting an official poverty line. Hong Kong's recent decision to set a poverty line as a way to better identify and assist its poor has prompted a similar debate in Singapore's parliament.
Taiwan, Singapore Sign Free Trade Deal as China Relents VoA 7th Nov 2013
After more than three years of talks, Taiwan and Singapore have finally signed a trade liberalization deal. The pact was signed in Singapore on Thursday and represents Taiwan’s most significant to date. The deal signals that Taiwan’s powerful foe, China, has relaxed its' stance forbidding major countries from engaging directly with the island. Taiwan and its fifth largest trade partner, Singapore, hope the deal will provide a lift to two-way trade that reached $28.2 billion last year. China sees Taiwan as part of its territory rather than a state free to negotiate with other countries, and in the past Beijing had blocked deals such as this, except for pacts with Taiwan’s tiny diplomatic allies.
Singapore PM meets Muslim MPs over headscarf debate Yahoo! 6th Nov 2013
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (pic) yesterday met Malay-Muslim Members of Parliament from the ruling People's Action Party over the issue of allowing the wearing of the Islamic headscarf, or hijab, among Muslim women in the public sector. The Straits Times reported that several groups in the city-state have recently called for Muslim women in public sector professions that require a uniform, to be allowed to wear the hijab. The republic's Minister for Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said Lee wanted to create a conducive environment for people of all faiths to practise their religions freely.
PM Lee urges ASEAN to boost ICT cooperation, says courts will deal with hackers Channel NewsAsia 14th Nov 2013
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said ASEAN should boost its cooperation in information and communications technology (ICT) to enhance regional integration and create new opportunities for its economies. Speaking at the 13th ASEAN Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministers Meeting (TELMIN) on Thursday, Mr Lee shared three ideas on how to do this. He suggested strengthening the resilience of submarine communications cable systems. He said the systems are the backbone of the global communications network and the Internet, but they are vulnerable to damage, due to anchoring, fishing activities and natural disasters. Another way to boost ICT cooperation in the regional grouping is to harmonise 700MHz band for mobile broadband services.
BBL has high hopes for Singapore branch under AEC ASEAN Investor 12th Nov 2013
Bangkok Bank sees its Singapore branch as acting as a supporter of its Asean presence to corporate customers that are ready to deal with the influx of business from the Asean Economic Community. “The bank compares itself to a board of investment in guiding information of investment and regulations to customers before transferring them to the bank’s branches where the customers are keen to trade and invest,” Charoenlarp Thammanichanond, general manager of the branch, said yesterday. At 25 per cent of gross domestic product, manufacturing is the biggest sector of the Singapore economy, followed by the service sector. The country attracts foreign direct investment because it is friendly to investors, it is the most open economy in Asean and it is the financial hub of Southeast Asia, he said. Businesses in Singapore always aspire to invest outside and the AEC is a bigger opportunity for them and foreign investors.
Maid in Singapore: will Cambodian domestic workers be better protected? The Guardian 11th Nov 2013
Thol Srey Mach is one of 400 women taking part in a pilot scheme that is sending Cambodian domestic workers to Singapore. There are more than 200,000 foreign domestic workers on the island, and if the trial goes well it could open the way for a new source of labour to sate the affluent city-state's appetite for household help. With that in mind, Srey Mach, 26, and dozens of other young women have been preparing by scrubbing floors, bathing plastic babies and brushing up on their English at a Cambodian recruitment centre. The alternative to going overseas for many of these women would be working in a garment factory – a job that pays about $75 (£ 47) per month. Srey Mach, who has worked in Malaysia, can expect to earn about $360 a month in Singapore, agents say, though her salary will ultimately depend on "market forces", with no guaranteed minimum wage.
Singapore, US committed to "high standard" TPP trade agreement: DPM Tharman Straits Times 13th Nov 2013
Singapore and the United States are both committed to having a "high standard" Trans-Pacific Partnership regional trade agreement, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Wednesday. He said both countries want to achieve an agreement that will "ultimately boost trade, boost investment and boost job creation in all our countries". He was speaking to the media after a meeting here with US Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew on Wednesday morning.
Deputy PM Ninh discusses partnership with Singapore Vietnam News 8th Nov 2013
Singapore, as a strategic partner, would always give top priority to co-operating with Viet Nam, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong affirmed, while receiving Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh yesterday. During the meeting, the two sides expressed their pleasure at the strong development of the Viet Nam-Singapore relationship with many exchanges of delegations in recent years, bringing practical benefits to the both countries. They agreed that the official establishment of the bilateral Strategic Partnership during the Singaporean PM's visit to Viet Nam in September was a historic landmark, opening opportunities for both sides to continue expanding and deepening the co-operative ties in all fields from politics, economics, trade, investment, culture to education and training, and people-to-people exchanges. The two leaders agreed to co-operate closely to successfully realize the Strategic Partnership ties.
Customs
Five MOUs signed at 6th meeting of Qatar-Singapore High Level Joint Committee CNA 14th Nov 2013
Five memoranda of understanding were signed at the sixth meeting of the Qatar-Singapore High Level Joint Committee (HLJC). The committee is a platform for both countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation. One of the MOUs is between the Qatar and Singapore Foreign Affairs ministries, on enhancing cooperation in the training of foreign service officers. The Qatar Leadership Centre and Civil Service College of Singapore also signed an MOU on exchanges in the area of capacity development of government officials and sectoral leaders. Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said ties between the two countries are "excellent", with more than 20 MOUs and agreements signed over the five previous committee meetings.
Defense & Security
Singapore Beefing Up Army's Artillery Punch Defense Studies 13 Nov 2013
Singapore is moving to boost its long-range rocket arsenal through the acquisition of guided, multiple-launch rocket system (GMLRS) pods. The effort is part of the Singapore Army’s “3rd Generation Transformation” program. The Army’s 23rd Singapore Artillery Battalion at Khatib Camp is responsible for high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS). The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced Oct. 29 the planned acquisition by Singapore of 88 unitary high explosive GMLRS pods with tri-mode fuze and related equipment. The Singapore military declined to comment on the $96 million sale.
Malaysia, Singapore To Resume Jetfighter Cross Deployment Exercise After 15 Years Defense Studies 11th Nov 2013
The air forces of Malaysia and Singapore will deploy jetfighters to each others' air bases in the first cross basing exercise between them since 1998, said Armed Forces Chief Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin. He said this was part of the two-week joint exercise of the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) member states involving 2,000 members of the defence forces, 68 aircraft, 10 ships and a number of ground-based air defence units starting Nov 6. The cross deployment stipulated under the Base Support Arrangement (BSA) would enabled the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) to cooperate and assist each to cater to the needs and requirements in terms of security of both countries.
Pirates Take Tanker in Strait of Malacca Near Singapore Bloomberg 11th Nov 2013
Pirates hijacked a second tanker in a month off the Malaysian coast near Singapore, Asia’s biggest oil-trading hub, according to the International Maritime Bureau. Ten pirates armed with guns and knives boarded a vessel about 7.3 nautical miles (13.5 kilometers) west of Malaysia’s Pulau Kukup in the Strait of Malacca, forcing the crew to transfer its gasoil cargo to another ship, the IMB’s Piracy Reporting Center said in a Nov. 7 incident report on its website. The attack was about 34 miles west of Singapore, according to the co-ordinates recorded by the agency. The Malacca Strait, which connects the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, is one of the world’s two “most strategic chokepoints” for oil trade along with the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It’s the shortest sea route between the Middle East and Asia with about 15.2 million barrels of oil a day transported along the waterway in 2011, according to the EIA. About 90 percent of that was crude.
U.S. warship hit by technical glitch in Singapore Reuters 10th Nov 2013
The USS Freedom, the first of a new class of U.S. warship, developed technical problems in Singapore hours before it was to take part in a naval exercise in Brunei on the final part of its first major overseas deployment, a senior officer said on Monday. The glitch is the latest problem to hit the ship, built by Lockheed Martin Corp., after it faced electrical problems while preparing for a naval exercise with Singapore in July. Lieutenant Commander Clay Doss said the problems which arose on Sunday were minor compared to those it faced in July. He declined to comment on how much longer the ship would have to prolong its stay in Singapore as a result. The warship is the U.S. Navy's first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), a class of shallow-draft vessels built to patrol coastal waters while tackling threats including mines and other systems used to deny access to big warships. In July it faced generator problems and issues with its coolant system. Navy tests also found vulnerabilities in its computer network.
Energy
Chinese Petroleum Exports Threaten Singapore's Oil Trade Dominance in Asia IBT 13th Nov 2013
China's oil refiners are looking to exporting surplus petroleum products as sluggish economic growth weighs down on domestic demand for transport and industrial fuels. However, the country's emergence as a net exporter of oil products, such as diesel, poses a threat to Singapore's dominant position in oil trade in Asia. In addition, a surge in diesel exports from the mainland or from far-flung Chinese storage sites could squeeze refining margins in the region.
Singapore's Keppel gets $1.1 billion Transocean order Reuters 7th Nov 2013
Singapore's Keppel Corp (KPLM.SI), the world's largest builder of offshore oil rigs, said it has secured a $1.1 billion order to build five jackup rigs from a unit of U.S.-listed Transocean Ltd (RIG.N). The rigs are scheduled to be delivered progressively from the first quarter of 2016 to the third quarter of 2017, Keppel said in a statement on Thursday. The deal includes an option for Transocean to build up to another five similar jackup rigs, it added.
Singapore's first tidal energy generator launched off Sentosa Straits Times 7th Nov 2013
Singapore has taken its first steps toward potentially another viable source of renewable energy, with its first tidal turbine system sited just off Sentosa. The 1kW testbed, the first such light, low-flow system in the tropics, was designed and constructed by Nanyang Technological University's Energy Research Institute. Tidal energy has conventionally only been generated in temperate regions such as the United Kingdom and the United States, where tidal flows are more powerful. It is generally considered a more predictable energy source than solar or wind.
Financial Services
IMF says Singapore needs to narrow current account surplus Sun Daily 14th Nov 2013
Singapore needs to narrow its huge current account surplus further and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) supports the government's plans to raise public spending on infrastructure and social services, the IMF said on Thursday. "Singapore's external position appears to be stronger than warranted by fundamentals, suggesting the importance of further efforts to narrow the current account surplus over the medium term," the IMF said on Thursday in its annual review of economic developments and policies in the wealthy Southeast Asian city-state. A few IMF directors even felt Singapore should consider tightening monetary policy further by letting the local dollar rise at a faster pace to aid external rebalancing, the fund said. The IMF, in a separate report, also said Singapore's financial regulation and supervision frameworks were among the best globally, with stress tests indicating its financial institutions would be able to cope in the event of adverse developments such as a sharp drop in property prices. IMF carries out annual reviews of most member countries. In the case of systemically important jurisdictions such as Singapore, the fund also conducts a thorough financial sector assessment programme once every five years.
Philippine-linked Derivative Set for Launch Business World 13th Nov 2013
THE SINGAPORE EXCHANGE (SGX) is set to launch a Philippine-linked derivative later this month, an official of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) said yesterday. This comes after PSE and SGX yesterday signed a collaboration and licensing agreement, “which outlines the rights and obligations of the company (PSE) and Singapore Exchange Derivative Trading Ltd.
Singapore: Robust 27% growth for life insurance in Q3 Asia Insurance Review 11th Nov 2013
The life insurance sector in Singapore posted strong results for the first nine months of 2013, hitting S$2 billion (US$1.6 billion) in weighted new business premiums, a 27 per cent increase over the same period in the previous year. The growth was driven by healthy sales across all product lines, says the Life Insurance Association (LIA) in a statement. Sales of annual premium products were particularly strong, totalling S$1.5 billion for the first three quarters of 2013, up by a sizeable 31 percent over the same period in 2012. Sales of single premium products increased by 17 percent to reach S$0.5 billion of weighted single premiums. "We've seen three straight quarters of growth this year," said Dr Khoo Kah Siang, LIA president. "Growth in both annual premium and single premium products is indicative of encouraging market sentiment and strong consumer confidence in life insurance.
S'pore to be a global marketplace by 2020 Asia Insurance Review 8th Nov 2013
Singapore aims to enhance its status from a regional hub to a global insurance marketplace capable of writing risks from across the world by 2020, said Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Managing Director Ravi Menon at the Singapore International Reinsurance Conference (SIRC) this week. Delivering his keynote address, Mr Menon identified four strategies the MAS is pursuing to achieve this aim. The first strategy is to increase the market’s supply-side capacity, both in terms of insurance volume and expertise. Secondly, the regulator will strive to promote insurance demand locally as well as in Asia Pacific. Thirdly, there is a need to develop a true marketplace that allows buyers and sellers to come together to negotiate and trade risks; and lastly the MAS will foster a conducive business environment for the insurance industry.
Food & Agriculture
Why a "fat tax" in Singapore won't work Today 12th Nov 2013
Taxes on sugared drinks and other unhealthy food have been in the media spotlight recently. Mexico, recently crowned the fattest country in the world with 32.8 per cent obesity among adults, pushed through price increases of 8 per cent for junk food. The Mexicans will also add one peso (about S$0.10) to the price of a litre of sugary drinks. Over in the United Kingdom, a British Medical Journal paper modelling the effects of taxes on sugary drinks suggested a 20 per cent tax would reduce the number of obese adults by 180,000 and those who are overweight by 285,000. Closer to home, University of Melbourne academic Rob Moodie has called on the Australian government to do likewise, saying that, without the taxes, Australian children were at risk of becoming the world’s fattest. What are the economics behind such taxes? Simply, the argument is that higher prices will drive down demand and hence shift consumers to healthier options. In Mexico, the tax revenue collected will be used for health programmes, increasing public benefit.
ICT
Google denies its search bar caused Singapore websites breach ZDNet 13th Nov 2013
Google has broken its silence to refute reports stating a vulnerability in its search bar had compromised the websites of two government offices. Hackers redirected online visitors searching within the websites of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Istana to view content and messages on another webpage resembling the two sites, but were actually created by the hackers. As a result, visitors were made to believe the websites had been defaced when, in fact, they continued to function normally. Singapore ICT regulator Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) was cited by local media reports to blame a vulnerability in Google's search bar, embedded in the two websites, as the cause of the breach. In a media briefing to which only local media were invited, IDA was quoted to say the vulnerability was exploited but detected within 15 to 20 minutes on both sites.
Singapore cyber security laws robust but not foolproof, say experts Channel NewsAsia 13th Nov 2013
Experts said Singapore's cyber security laws are robust, especially after amendments to the Computer Misuse Act in 2013. Still, they caution that these laws are not foolproof as technology is constantly evolving. On Tuesday, James Raj Arokiasamy -- who allegedly goes by the moniker The Messiah -- was charged with hacking Ang Mo Kio Town Council's website. He was also suspected to be behind a spate of hacking incidents in Singapore -- including websites belonging to the City Harvest Church co-founder, Sun Ho; The Straits Times blog; and the People's Action Party Community Foundation. He was arrested in Kuala Lumpur by Malaysian authorities, and experts said this is an example of how internet criminals cannot escape the long arm of the law, whether they operate in Singapore or other countries. Even if someone in Singapore compromises an overseas website, he or she could still face prosecution here.
Anonymous Could Be Caned in Singapore The Diplomat 13th Nov 2013
Six members of Anonymous face hefty fines, jail and in some cases a possible caning after being arrested and charged in Singapore for defacing websites, including one linked to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and spray-painting graffiti identifying the international hacking and protest group. Among them is James Raj, a 35-year-old who allegedly posted a Guy Fawkes mask, symbol of the group, on the Ang Mo Kio district website late last month. Websites belonging to the prime minister’s office were also hacked following threats of a crackdown by the authorities and Lee. Raj, who uses “The Messiah” as his call sign, apparently carried out the attack from neighboring Malaysia. He faces up to three years in jail and a fine of $8,000. “You may think you’re anonymous – we will make the extra effort to find out who you are,” Lee had warned. Ang Mo Kio is a town council whose team of parliamentary members is led by Lee.
Extra-Marital Dating Site Told Not To Swing Into Singapore Variety 11th Nov 2013
Singapore’s Media Development Authority has banned extra-marital dating website Ashley Madison. It said that its content is objectionable. The Canadian-owned site, which promotes itself with the tagline “Life is short, have an affair,” was established by Avid Life Media in 2001. It operates in 30 countries worldwide including three in Asia and sought to open in Singapore from early 2014. “It was very clear that they want to set up shop here and promote things which we think run counter to our values,” said communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim The ban reinforces the city-state’s reputation as an interventionist regulator of the internet. And it increases the chances of a threatened citizens’ revolt.
Singapore telcos may need to ensure backup mobile network ZDNet 11th Nov 2013
Singapore is considering requiring its telcos to have geo-redundant mobile networks, to reduce the impact and possibility of future outages. This is an option currently being studied, following a review of the three mobile operators’ networks after M1's major outage in January, said Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim in parliament, in the Straits Times. In the event that one location is brought down, the other location is capable of immediately taking over the full load and capacity, explained Yaacob in a separate Today report. He was responding to questions tabled by other Members of Parliament over last month's fire at a SingTel exchange which brought down services across various parts of the island including those of rivals M1 and StarHub.
Singapore Prime Minister’s Website Hacked After Lee’s Threat Bloomberg 8th Nov 2013
Singapore authorities are investigating a breach of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s website last night, one day after he said he would track down a group that announced plans to hack government online portals. The page for searches on the website of the Prime Minister’s Office was “compromised” at 11:17 p.m. yesterday, the country’s phone and Internet regulator said in an e-mailed statement today. “A vulnerability in that subpage was exploited to display pages from other sources,” the Infocomm Development Authority said in the statement. A subpage for searches on the Istana website, which is the main portal for the country’s president, was also compromised at 12:20 a.m., it said in a later e-mail.
Singapore vows to hunt down Anonymous hackers Yahoo! 7th Nov 2013
Singapore will "spare no effort" to hunt down hackers from activist group Anonymous who last week threatened to wage a cyber war against the government, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Wednesday. Lee told reporters the city-state had also strengthened its defences against such attacks. "Our IT (information technology) network, the Internet, our communications have become an essential part of our business and our lives now," the Today newspaper quoted him as saying in its online edition. "And, therefore, when somebody threatens to do harm to it... we take that very seriously and we will spare no effort to try and track down the culprits and if we can find him, we will bring him to justice and he will be dealt with severely." It was Lee's first comment since a person claiming to be from the international hackers' group Anonymous threatened to mount cyber attacks against the government in protest at new licensing rules for news websites.
Singapore spares no effort to hunt down cyber threats: PM Lee Straits Times 6th Nov 2013
Singapore will "spare no effort" to track down and bring to justice those who threaten to attack the Republic's computer networks, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday. In his first comments after hacktivists threatened to cripple Singapore's IT infrastructure last week, Mr Lee said such threats are not "a laughing matter". "It is not just anything goes and you are anonymous, therefore there is no responsibility," PM Lee told reporters after viewing security forces in a counter-terrorism exercise, codenamed Highcrest.
Infrastructure
Marina Coastal Expressway to open on Dec 29 Channel News Asia 13th Nov 2013
Singapore's 10th and costliest highway, on a per kilometre basis, will open on Sunday, December 29 at 9am. The S$4.3 billion Marina Coastal Expressway will be connected to the Central Business District by interim roads, as authorities finalise traffic flow in the vicinity. By next year's third quarter, the area's final road network will be up and running. From the east, the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) and East Coast Parkway (ECP) connects to the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE), which hugs Singapore's southern shoreline. From the west, the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) leads into the five-kilometre-long MCE, forming a continuous stretch linking the major highways. Prime land for future developments in Marina Bay will be freed up, since the ECP is being channelled into the new expressway. It also allows roads in the Marina South vicinity to be straightened and widened, promising motorists faster and easier access into downtown Singapore.
New developments to help S’pore keep up with growth as regional hub Channel News Asia 12th Nov 2013
National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan gave an update on Tuesday on the progress of infrastructure developments to keep up with future inflows of foreign manpower. For public housing, the government is on track to complete 13,600 new flats this year. By 2016, some 200,000 new units will be constructed -- this is equivalent to four Ang Mo Kio towns. As for transport, the Downtown Line will be opened in stages over the next few years, while the Thomson Line and Eastern Region Line will be completed in stages over the next 10 years. Major road projects, like the Marina Coastal Expressway and North South Expressway, are also proceeding as planned. For aviation, Terminal 4 and Project Jewel will be operational by 2018. Mr Khaw said that better healthcare infrastructure is also underway. By 2020, Singapore should see a 30 per cent increase in hospital beds, and new hospitals like Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital will be ready by 2015.
Singapore Airlines ending world's longest non-stop flight Bangkok Post 11th Nov 2013
The world's longest non-stop flight will soon be history. Since 2004, Singapore Airlines has connected Singapore and New York without a stopover - a 19-hour flight travelling 16,700 kilometres. The Airbus A 340 will take off on the final trip over the route at the end of November. "The connection will be discontinued because it's no longer worth it," an airline spokesperson said. Passengers from Singapore to New York will instead make a stopover in Frankfurt. From there, the trip goes to JFK Airport in New York instead of Newark. Singapore Airlines started the connection in June 2004 with economy and business class seats. Two years later, there were only business class seats. The 100 seats for return flights have been going for 10,000 US dollars (about 7,200 euros).
Tata, Singapore Airlines incorporate airline venture Financial Express 10th Nov 2013
Gearing up to launch full-service airline on domestic and international routes, salt-to-software conglomerate Tata group has incorporated its proposed aviation venture Tata SIA Airlines Ltd as a public limited company with the filing of all requisite documents and details with the Corporate Affairs Ministry. The new company is a joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines, with Tata Sons Ltd holding he majority 51 per cent stake and the Singaporean aviation major having the remaining 49 per cent equity. As per information available with the Corporate Affairs Ministry, the new company was incorporated on November 5 with a total paid up capital of Rs 5 lakh and has been registered in New Delhi.