S'pore GP is marquee race, we want to renew contract: F1 boss Singapore is an anchor venue, says Formula One CEO Chase Carey. TODAY file photo By Low Lin Fhoong linfhoong@mediacorp.com.sg - Published: 12:55 PM, September 13, 2017 Updated: 11:59 PM, September 13, 2017 SINGAPORE — Questions over the future of the Singapore Grand Prix have intensified this week as the iconic street race heads into its 10th edition, and its final year of its contract with Formula One’s owners. But in what will be seen as a boost to Singapore’s bid for a renewal, Chase Carey, Formula One chief executive and chairman stressed repeatedly on Wednesday (Sept 13) that he would like to see the race return to Singapore for the long-term beyond 2017. Talks to extend the night race have been on-going since last year, and Carey said on the sidelines of the All That Matters (Sports Matters) conference at the Ritz Carlton Hotel: “It’s our goal to try and reach a new deal that enables us to continue the partnership we’ve had in Singapore. “We’re proud of the relationship we’ve had in Singapore, we’re proud of the race here, we have a good relationship with our partners and we’re actively engaged in trying to reach an agreement that works for the both of us. “This is the marquee race and our goal is to renew the contract.” The American, who succeeded former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone last year after Liberty Media’s US$8 billion (S$10.8 billion) takeover of the sport, would not be drawn into details on the contract negotiations, or a timeline for talks to conclude. He added: “Given this is the last race under our current deal, we recognise it’s important for us to reach an agreement on what’s the future. I’m not going to put that line to it (on whether talks will conclude by Sunday), I’ll say we’re actively engaged.” Previously described by Ecclestone as “F1’s crown jewel”, the Singapore Grand Prix also has a huge fan in Carey. Recalling his first experience at the night race last year, the 63-year-old said: “What really struck me as I arrived at night…that first impact of the city lit up, cars racing around the track with the city in the background was just awe inspiring. It was unique, it is something that distinguishes the race here in Singapore. “Singapore is a very important race for us, it’s a signature race for us….Singapore in many ways is a gateway to Asia, a city famous around the world and the race here is spectacular when it’s lit up at night and the wonderful skyline. It is a very distinct race and we want each race to have its own identity and this race really has an identity that’s recognised around the world.” While there is keen interest from the region and worldwide to be a part of the F1 calendar, Anthony Indaimo, legal sports advisor and partner at Withers KhattarWong believes that the biggest factor for negotiations between both parties is the hosting fees for the race. Each edition of the Singapore race costs about S$150 million to organise, with the Government co-funding 60 per cent of approved costs. Indaimo said: “I don’t think it’s competing cities (that’s the main factor), I think it’s purely the finances, but I think the finances are purely a function of what Chase Carey was saying.” Tickets sales at the Singapore Grand Prix took a hit last year with its worst-ever spectator turnout – overall ticket take-up was 15 per cent lower than the average attendance in its inaugural season in 2008. However, Carey is not too worried about the figures. Since taking over the sport, Liberty Media is looking into innovative ways to engage with existing and new fans via digital platforms and other engagements. “In recent years we do not feel the sport actually was doing some of the things it needs to do to make sure it is creating the excitement and engagement with fans,” he said. “We’ve launched a number of new initiatives at our events, we’re at the early stage, the transition and ownership of management only occurred about six months ago, but I do think we have a fresh energy and momentum to the sport. “This year, our attendance has been up in almost every race, so we got things going in the right direction and have a fresh energy to it…we can do things to improve the sport on the track and improve everything around it and improve the ability for fans to engage with the sport, for example in digital platforms where F1 didn’t develop its capabilities in a digital world. That’s so important today for current fans, new fans, young fans, old fans to be able to engage, follow the sport, follow the things that make the sport so special.” Indaimo also believes that the owners’ ideas for fan and sponsor engagement will help increase revenue for host cities. “It probably is a question of the economics,” he said. “But I think once they see what the vision is for growing the sport, growing sponsor and fan engagement, for increasing revenue, then I think they should be at least encouraged that they have a partnership with the new managers of F1 whereas before it wasn’t really a partnership (before).” Complicated rules and multi-million dollar budgets could also be a thing of the past under the new leadership, Carey indicated. “One of the goals is to make the sport healthier,” he said. “We’ve let the cost of some of the teams get to a place that doesn’t make sense, some of them are spending half a billion dollars to race for the season. “The downside is it creates a competitive imbalance. We don’t want to dumb the cars downs…but make it healthier for team and those involved. “It’s better to have an engine that’s not as complicated but still is state of the art. Those initiatives and cost…simpler, cheaper louder make it a better business for everyone.”
‘Warm, long-standing’ ties reaffirmed as PM kicks off China visit PM Lee Hsien Loong, who is on a 3-day official visit to China, was given an official welcome by his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY By Kelly Ng in Beijing Published: 5:12 PM, September 19, 2017 Updated: 11:07 PM, September 19, 2017 BEIJING — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang reaffirmed the warm and long-standing friendship between their two countries during a meeting Tuesday (Sept 19). During their talks, both leaders reviewed the extensive cooperation between the two countries, and welcomed Singapore’s support of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement after the 45-minute meeting, which took place just weeks before the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 19th Party Congress. The timing of Mr Lee’s official visit — during which he will also meet President Xi Jinping — holds “important political significance”, a senior Chinese diplomat told the media after Tuesday’s meeting. The once-in-five-years congress is closely watched for leadership reshuffles and renewals at the top of the CCP, and ensuing policy changes. The PMO statement added: “(Both leaders) welcomed the good progress made in the negotiations for the upgrade of the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, and looked forward to its expeditious conclusion. “PM Lee and Premier Li also discussed the potential for deepening bilateral ties through new areas of cooperation, such as in financial and judicial and legal cooperation.” After a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People Tuesday, the first day of the Singapore leader’s official three-day visit to China, Mr Lee thanked his host for the warm welcome and said he was very happy to be back in Beijing. “I’m very grateful for your attention to our bilateral relationship, and also for the opportunity for us to discuss how we can work together in the regional context and with Asean,” Mr Lee said. “Singapore is the coordinator for Asean and China relations currently. Next year, we will be the Asean chairman, and we hope that in these capacities, we can make a contribution towards bringing Asean and China closer together,” he added. Echoing Mr Lee’s remarks, the Chinese Premier said he hoped Singapore’s chairmanship of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) will “inject new vitality” into Sino-Singapore and China-Asean relations. Senior diplomat Bai Tian told the media later that China holds Sino-Singapore relations “in high regard”, as evidenced by the number of high-level ministerial meetings held between both countries this year. “We are confident of the deepening ties between China and Singapore, and believe that both countries will work to sustain these relations in the future,” said Mr Bai, vice-director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Asia department. A commentary in English published by the official Xinhua news agency also lauded ties between China and Singapore, noting that both countries have “a long tradition of close cooperation ... and will find opportunities to upgrade their relationship, which will benefit the region and beyond”. The commentary cited the example of how both countries are staunch supporters of free trade in the face of rising protectionist sentiments around the world. “Looking ahead, for China and Singapore, there is much more to come,” the Xinhua commentary added. Mr Lee last visited China in September last year, when he travelled to south-western Chongqing to follow up on the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative (CCI), and to attend the G20 Leaders’ Meeting in Hangzhou. In Tuesday’s meeting, Mr Lee and the Chinese Premier noted that the CCI, the third government-to-government project following the Suzhou Industrial Park and the Tianjin Eco-city, had the potential to support the BRI, and to play a “demonstrative role” in the development of western China, the PMO statement said. The BRI is an ambitious Chinese undertaking to expand links between Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond, underpinned by billions of dollars in infrastructure investment. Singapore is looking to collaborate with China on the mega project in areas such as infrastructure connectivity, financing, and third-party collaboration that could include the training of officials in countries along the “Belt and Road”. Both leaders also discussed the Southern Transport Corridor, a new trade route between western China and South-east Asia. On the international front, they expressed their “deep concern” over the heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula as a result of Pyongyang’s nuclear programme. Mr Lee is accompanied on his trip by his wife Ho Ching, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing, Parliamentary Secretary (Home Affairs and Health) Amrin Amin, as well as officials from various ministries and agencies. On Wednesday morning, Mr Lee will meet Mr Wang Qishan, China’s top graft-buster and a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, before visiting SenseTime, a Chinese start-up focused on artificial intelligence and deep learning technology. In the afternoon, he will hold separate talks with President Xi and Mr Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People’s Congress, the Chinese legislature. On Thursday, Mr Lee will meet and have lunch in Xiamen with the Fujian party secretary You Quan. When in Xiamen, Mr Lee will visit the Fujian (Xiamen)-Singapore friendship polyclinic, the first polyclinic jointly established by Singapore and China, as well as the OCBC Building and ST Aerospace Technologies (Xiamen).
Singapore tops Asia in preparing students for the future: EIU study File photo of Teck Ghee Primary School students. (Photo: Teck Ghee Primary School) 20 Sep 2017 12:42PM (Updated: 20 Sep 2017 12:52PM) SINGAPORE: Singapore's education system is the best in Asia in preparing students for the future, according to an Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) index released on Tuesday (Sep 19). Singapore scored 80.1 out of 100 to rank fifth overall - behind New Zealand (88.9), Canada (86.7), Finland (85.5) and Switzerland (81.5) - in the study that assessed how well governments equip people aged 15 to 24 with skills for their working life. Japan, which ranked seventh, was the next best Asian economy with a score of 77.2. South Korea ranked 12th, Hong Kong came in 14th and China was placed 31st out of 35 economies. Source: EIU A report on the study stressed that workers of the future will compete across global borders for the best education, jobs and growth, and they will need to be nimble, flexible and dynamic, ready to recognise and respond swiftly to emerging trends. These students must be prepared for rapidly evolving technologies and face challenges such as environmental change, urbanisation, migration and demographic shifts, the report said. SINGAPORE HAS BEST EDUCATION POLICY ENVIRONMENT In results calibrating the economies' education policy environment, Singapore topped the ranking with a score of 88.8, ahead of New Zealand (87.5) and Canada (87.0). Within Asia, South Korea came in fifth, Japan 12th, Hong Kong 22nd and China 27th. Source: EIU A key factor to this is Singapore's pool of effective teachers, which are even more central to a successful future-skills education system than in more traditional schooling environments, the study pointed out. According to Professor David Hung, associate dean of education research at Singapore's National Institute of Education, teachers are “one of the highest leverage points a good system has”, being able to teach difficult concepts to students of different abilities, enthuse them and link those concepts to the world beyond the classroom. Prof Hung added that raising the status of teachers in Singapore is vital for attracting the most able students into the teaching profession, and motivating them. "The culture of Singapore has moved to a place where the profession of teaching is more highly valued by families and parents. Two decades ago this wasn’t the case. Pay is important. The substantive quality of teachers as observed by the public is important," he said. On average, the salary for a secondary school-level teacher in Singapore is 16th in the world, according to figures by EIU. A teacher in Singapore earns significantly less than those in Asian economies such as Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, which ranked second, third and fourth, respectively. Singapore ranked eighth in terms of having the best teaching environment, scoring 78.7, behind the likes of Japan (86.9) and South Korea (82.0) which placed fourth and fifth, respectively. The study added that Singapore schools developed programmes outside formal classrooms where students can choose activities such as coding or robotics. "The guiding idea behind them is to allow students to make connections between concepts learned in the classroom and practical real-world applications of those concepts, facilitated and encouraged by teachers," it added. ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRIES However, the study cited Singapore as one of the economies that could improve in having initiatives beyond the classroom assisted by collaboration with businesses, the wider society as well as other schools or universities. Prof Hung also highlighted that even though Singapore students tend to perform well in traditional exams, he is concerned that an over-emphasis on high-stakes examinations and national success in international benchmarking tests may threaten to dominate the functioning of Singapore’s education system. The study was commissioned by the Yidan Prize Foundation, set up by Charles Chen Yidan, co-founder of mainland tech giant Tencent. Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...preparing-students-for-the-future-eiu-9232606
New academy to train cyber security professionals in govt, critical sectors Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said the new Cyber Security Agency Academy said the investment in people and cyber security capabilities as key areas to build up a more secure eco-system. TODAY file photo By Tan Weizhen tanweizhen@mediacorp.com.sg - Published: 4:00 AM, September 20, 2017 SINGAPORE — The Cyber Security Agency (CSA) is setting up the first academy in Singapore to train experienced cyber security professionals, plugging gaps not covered by institutes of higher learning. Announcing this at the opening of the Singapore International Cyber Week yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said the CSA Academy will partner industry players, such as cyber security providers, to offer training to professionals in government and critical infrastructure sectors, for a start. The academy, which will open within the next six months, will also offer training to professionals in the private sector, but at a later stage. The first partner will be American cyber security services provider FireEye, which will provide training on incident response and malware analysis, said Mr Teo. Other details will be announced later. He flagged the investment in people and cyber security capabilities as key areas to build up a more secure eco-system, given that Singapore has seen its share of cyber attacks, being highly-connected and more exposed than other countries. “We are deepening our partnerships with key stakeholders — in industry, the professional associations, owners of critical information infrastructure, and international counterparts — to encourage good cybersecurity, and create a safer and more secure cyberspace,” said Mr Teo. The training at the CSA Academy will offer “targeted niche areas that go beyond what is normally available in the market”, according to the CSA. Its chief executive David Koh said: “The training has by and large been driven by the private industry and the institutes of higher learning. And to some extent, there have been successes. Two years ago, we didn’t have any undergraduate course in cyber security. Today, all the polytechnics and universities are offering cyber security courses. “CSA Academy is not a manifestation that there is a problem … rather it is trying to look at where the gaps are. So we realised that in certain areas, there are certain niche capabilities, for example in industrial control systems, there is currently a gap, and we need to push industry forward to address some of these gaps.” For industrial control systems, he was referring to IT systems that control production systems such as water and energy. Mr Teo also noted in his speech that the CSA worked with the Industrial Control Systems community to develop a set of cyber security guidelines for industrial control systems such as those used in the energy, water, maritime and land transport sectors. Beyond Singapore, he also talked about the need to strengthen international partnerships to tackle cyber threats effectively. For instance, Singapore will strengthen cooperation among national Computer Emergency Response Teams. He noted that when the CSA discovered malware targeting a particular vulnerability last year, the Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team informed its counterparts in India about potential threats to their systems. “Such partnerships will allow us to better deploy our limited resources, and speed up our responses globally, to counter increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.” He also noted that critical information infrastructure (CII) in one country may have impact or be dependent on CIIs in another country — such as global payment, port operations or air traffic control systems. Efforts can be coordinated across countries and sectors to conduct regular exercises to collectively respond to threats that may affect such CIIs, Mr Teo said.
Singapore, China can further ties in ‘new historical period’: Xi Chinese President Xi Jinping welcoming Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. PM Lee is in China for an official three-day visit. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY By Kelly Ng in Beijing Published: 4:14 PM, September 20, 2017 Updated: 10:18 AM, September 21, 2017 BEIJING — China and Singapore can seize fresh opportunities in this “new historical period” to further bilateral relations and mutual collaboration, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday (Sept 20). During their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, both leaders also reaffirmed the two countries’ deep friendship and efforts by successive generations of leaders in sustaining ties at a high level. Chinese state media quoted Mr Xi as saying that Mr Lee’s three-day visit, coming just weeks before a key leadership summit for the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), showed the close relationship between the two countries and extended the tradition of high-level meetings between leaders of both countries. “Overall, I believe there are many opportunities at this new historical period for China and Singapore to further our relations and areas of practical collaboration,” Mr Xi said. A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) following the meeting said both leaders concurred on their countries’ “strategic congruence and share common interests in many areas”. Citing the three Government-to-Government projects in Suzhou, Tianjin and Chongqing as examples, the PMO said the shared interests have “contributed to the close and multi-faceted cooperation over the years ... (and) are clear demonstrations of how bilateral cooperation has grown and evolved with the times”. China’s official Xinhua news agency pointed out that Singapore and China should strengthen their “strategic connection”, given their shared views and broad common interests in areas such as economic globalisation, free trade, and investment. The PMO said that Mr Lee and Mr Xi also discussed new areas of bilateral cooperation, including “financial, judicial and legal matters, as well as defence”. The statement gave no details about potential new projects. During their meeting, Mr Xi thanked Singapore for its early support of the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the PMO added. The BRI is an ambitious Chinese undertaking to expand links between Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond, underpinned by billions of dollars in infrastructure investment. Singapore is looking to collaborate with China on the mega project in areas such as infrastructure connectivity, financing, and third-party collaboration that could include training officials in countries along the “Belt and Road”. On the investment front, Mr Lee told Mr Xi that he welcomed Chinese companies to submit “strong and competitive bids” for the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail project, and that all bids would be considered “thoroughly and objectively”. On the cross-strait issue, the PMO said: “PM Lee reaffirmed that Singapore has consistently abided by our ‘One-China’ policy and support the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. President Xi expressed appreciation for the constructive role Singapore has played in the development of cross-strait relations.” Both leaders also discussed regional and international developments, expressing “deep concern” over rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula as a result of Pyongyang’s nuclear programme. With Singapore assuming the chairmanship of Asean (Association of South-east Asian Nations) next year, the two leaders agreed to work closely on promoting stronger ties between China and the regional grouping. Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Lee also held talks with legislative chief Zhang Dejiang, who noted the proximity of his visit to the upcoming leadership summit, officially known as the 19th Party Congress. Mr Zhang said this showed the “great importance” Beijing attached to Mr Lee’s trip and to developing friendly relations with Singapore. Mr Lee met separately with China’s anti-corruption czar Wang Qishan, who used to play a significant role in managing Sino-Singapore ties via his co-chairmanship of the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) from 2008 to 2012. The JCBC is the top body steering bilateral ties between the two countries, and is currently co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Chinese Vice-premier Zhang Gaoli. Today, Mr Lee will meet and have lunch in Xiamen with the Fujian party secretary You Quan. When in Xiamen, Mr Lee will visit the Fujian (Xiamen)-Singapore friendship polyclinic, the first polyclinic jointly established by Singapore and China, as well as the OCBC Building and ST Aerospace Technologies (Xiamen). Noting the significance of the timing of Mr Lee’s official visit, analysts said the high-level meetings that took place reflected the importance that China attached to it. Dr Li Nan, senior visiting research fellow from the National University of Singapore’s East Asian Institute (EAI), said: “The fact that the visit took place before the party congress shows that China attaches special importance to the visit because foreign leaders usually visit after major domestic events ... China probably sees an opportunity it wants to leverage to improve relations with Asean.” With the visit coming just before Mr Lee’s scheduled trip to the White House next month, Dr Li said Singapore “is returning to its traditional approach to balance between two major powers in a way that enhances its own national interests”. Dr Chen Gang, a research fellow at EAI, said the visit reflected the readiness of the two countries to “push the bilateral relationship to a new height”. Singapore University of Social Sciences senior lecturer Lim Tai Wei added: “It was a comprehensive (series of meetings) with Chinese top leadership from various important national political institutions holding important political portfolios.”
Education system must keep experimenting for the future: Tharman Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the education and training industry has not been particularly responsive to learning outcomes and he said it has to evolve. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY By Faris Mokhtar farism@mediacorp.com.sg - Published: 12:21 AM, September 21, 2017 Updated: 7:47 AM, September 21, 2017 SINGAPORE — Despite its students aceing mathematics, science and reading in a prestigious international benchmarking test, Singapore’s education system must keep experimenting and having a “sense of dare” to prepare for the future, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Wednesday (Sept 20). “The biggest mistake we would make is to think that because we’re doing well in the Pisa test… therefore we keep things as they are. The biggest mistake is to think, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he said at the Nanyang Technological University’s inaugural Majulah lecture. The Pisa, or Programme for International Student Assessment, is a triennial study run by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. It compares how education systems are helping students acquire knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems, and Singapore’s 15-year-olds ranked number one for maths, science and reading in the 2015 study, it was announced last December. Mr Tharman was speaking to about 1,500 university students, academics and other guests on “How Education Shifts Will Make Our Future”, and took questions from the audience after his lecture. Education policymakers will only know how well measures have worked 20 to 30 years down the road, and Mr Tharman said “by changing and experimenting, by having a sense of dare, we are best preparing ourselves for a range of eventualities in the future”. Noting the continuous education and training industry globally has not been particularly responsive to learning outcomes despite significant resources pumped in, he said it has to evolve. “There has been very little modification based on a feedback from outcomes. And that is the new game in education. Constant feedback loops based on actual outcomes which we have to measure, capture and keep modifying — teaching methods, curriculum and so on,” he said. Areas where necessary shifts are taking place include doing more to help children at an early stage, more fluid and flexible pathways for students, lifelong learning and deepening of multiculturalism. In the last area, Mr Tharman felt some co-curricular activities are “far too ethnically defined”. Football is dominated by Malays and sports like table tennis, volleyball and basketball appear to draw Chinese, although some schools like Dunman and Jurong Secondary have been deliberate in forming multi-racial basketball teams, he noted. In contrast, football in Singapore in the 1970s and 1980s was very multicultural, he said. “How about the rest of the world? You have all sorts of countries playing basketball, volleyball and table tennis. In our region itself, the Indonesians, the Filipinos, are top in basketball and volleyball. We are trapping ourselves too easily, and it is not difficult to change,” he said. Having foreign coaches who speak another language is not a disadvantage, he added. Government efforts to help children from vulnerable families early on include the KidStart initiative, which supports their education, healthcare and developmental needs. The education system must avoid the problem seen in some countries of appearing egalitarian but, in fact, having vastly inegalitarian outcomes, he said. Pathways for students should be “porous” with “no dead ends” so they can capitalise on their various strengths. It is an ongoing effort. At its Committee of Supply debate this year, the Education Ministry announced all secondary schools offering Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) courses would allow students to take subjects at a higher level from Secondary One from next year, for example. The SkillsFuture movement, meanwhile, promotes lifelong learning and Mr Tharman said employers should train their workers for today and tomorrow, with help from the government. Concluding his lecture on an optimistic note, Mr Tharman said: “We can do this. Giving fair chances for every child, no matter who their mothers and fathers are. Creating flexible pathways, not just in schemes but in the mind. Reducing the academic load to provide more space for that free play of the mind. Developing our potential throughout life. And strengthening our identity in multicultural Singapore.” He added: “It means a new spirit in education. When you think of our (national) anthem, remember ‘Mari-lah kita bersatu, dengan semangat yang baru’ (with a new spirit). And that new spirit was not intended just for the day we became a new nation 52 years ago. Every so often, we need that new spirit in our society, and that’s how we go forward together.”
Bazaars, light-up at Little India a hit with revelers Shoppers at Little India on the eve of Deepavali on Tuesday. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY By Wong Pei Ting wongpeiting@mediacorp.com.sg - Published: 10:40 PM, October 17, 2017 Updated: 10:54 PM, October 17, 2017 SINGAPORE — Amid tighter security, crowds thronged the bazaars of Little India to soak in the festive spirit and for some last-minute bargains on the eve of Deepavali on Tuesday (Oct 17). Shop owners reported brisk business and shoppers had their bags filled with rangoli (coloured rice powder for floor decorations), sweets, new metal utensils (believed to bring good luck and fortune) and oil lamps called diya. Deepavali, which signifies the triumph of light over darkness, is also called the Festival of Lights. The parallel Birch and Burmah roads were closed from 5pm on Tuesday to 4am the next day and TODAY observed heightened police presence to facilitate heavy human traffic at the two bazaars near Tekka Centre and opposite Mustafa Centre. Auxiliary police officers were also deployed to regulate traffic and assist motorists. For some members of the public, the trip to Little India was a family affair. Mr Harvinder Grewal, 48, and his family were making their third trip to Little India in the lead-up to Deepavali. Besides buying lamps and candles, his two daughters aged 9 and 15 had henna done. “We do our shopping in instalments on purpose,” said Mr Grewal, who works in the logistics technology industry. “My wife and I are Sikhs from India – Mumbai and Kolkata – so this is our way to expose our children to their culture.” Nurse Banumathi Baskaran took her mother to the bazaar to show her how the festival was celebrated in Singapore. The older woman is celebrating Deepavali here for the first time and had travelled from Vellore in southern India. “The atmosphere out here is very different (from India), but we keep the traditions at home. Tomorrow at 5am, I will wake everyone in the family up for an oil bath,” said the 44-year-old, who works at a dialysis centre and has lived in Singapore for 17 years. “Today, I make sure that everyone in the family has a new dress to wear. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, it’s a must to start the year with new clothes for happiness and prosperity.” It was also the first Deepavali in Singapore for Mrs Neha Batra and her husband – and it will not be their last. Said the 28-year-old engineer from New Delhi, who arrived here in July: “I never believed that in Singapore, we get the same crowds in the streets as in India the day before Deepavali.” The revellers included non-Hindus who wanted a slice of the action and a taste of a different culture. “Deepavali is a colourful celebration of Indian culture and a festival of light, which is not that hard to identify with as a concept,” said bible college student Jonathan Kong, 30, who was with six friends. Ms Roszila Sapawan, 29, braved the crowds at Jothi Store and Flower Shop to get new pooja items with her future mother-in-law, Mrs Santhamarai Vijayah Kumar, 60. Hindus perform the pooja by cleaning and decorating their homes and offering delicacies to welcome deities -- typically Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Said Mrs Santhamarai: “This year, I am very happy to welcome a new daughter-in-law. Last year, I got a new grandson (from another of my children). It’s like I am getting a new family member every year.” Project coordinator Sapiee Sadi, 65, was spotted taking a photo of the light-up. “I don’t celebrate Deepavali, but I want to put some notes on a photo I take so I can send to my (Indian co-)workers as a form of greeting,” he said.
Singapore passport gets new design, security upgrade SINGAPORE: The Singapore biometric passport is getting a facelift and a security upgrade, according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority on Thursday (Oct 26). It said in a press release that the passport will come with new visa page designs and additional security features to make the passport harder to forge or be tampered with. Specifically, there are two new security features added. The first is the image of the passport holder inside the window, which can be viewed as a positive or negative portrait when tilted and viewed in transmitted light. The second is a surface transformation design in the shape of the national flower, which displays light reflective and animation effects at different angles, the ICA said. The following features present in the existing passport design have also been enhanced to provide additional security: The Multiple Laser Image (MLI) in the shape of the Singapore map An improved Diffractive Optically Variable Image Device (DOVID) design that has an achromatic effect when tilted at different angles An embossed tactile design As for the visa pages, they will feature designs of six local landmarks - the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Esplanade, Marina Barrage, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Sports Hub and Punggol New Town. These will replace the existing image of the Central Business District skyline and the Esplanade, the agency said. Like the existing passport, the new design complies with the recommendations and requirements laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization, it added. Singapore citizens with existing valid passports will not need to replace their passports, while those who have applied for passports and are received by ICA from Oct 21 will be issued those with the new design. These will be available for collection from Oct 30, the agency said. Collection of the new passport will be from the ICA building between Oct 30 and Nov 15, and extended to selected post offices from Nov 16, it added. Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...port-gets-new-design-security-upgrade-9345162
New SkillsFuture portal to guide S’poreans from young till adulthood Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung at the launch of the MySkillsFuture portal and SkillsFuture Advice for Individuals initiative. Photo: Faris Mokhtar/TODAY By Faris Mokhtar farism@mediacorp.com.sg - Published: 12:07 PM, October 29, 2017 Updated: 6:20 PM, October 29, 2017 SINGAPORE – Students as young as 11 all the way to adults can now use a new one-stop SkillsFuture portal, aimed at helping Singaporeans chart their learning and plan their career paths. The portal, called MySkillsFuture, melds the education and career guidance portal previously catering to Primary 5 students up to junior college students, and an Individual Learning portal piloted for workers in 2014. Officially launched on Sunday (Oct 29) by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, MySkillsFuture gives students an early glimpse into the different sectors to help them decide what they want to do later on. For example, there are six mini virtual games where they interact with virtual characters from different industries and job roles. A primary school student can also use a feature called Education Guide, which compares various secondary schools and gives information such as the subjects and co-curricular activities being offered. Through the portal, students can receive career guidance even after they move on to secondary and post-secondary institutions, all the way till they became a working adult. On top of information on over 1,000 job roles in 30 industries, students can also receive guidance on their education plans. For Temasek Junior College year-one student Dakshitaa Babu, the new portal allows her to compare the various local universities and the type of courses they offer. She said that students “who are at a loss on what they want to do with their lives” can use it to get guidance every step of the way. Government agency SkillsFuture Singapore said that back then, the Individual Learning portal was used as a testbed to assess features that appeal to Singaporeans and whether there would be a demand for such a portal. Based on feedback collated, new features such as a self-assessment tool that allow users to find out what their career interests and skills are were added to MySkillSfuture. According to SSG, there are now about 150,000 users since MySkillsFuture went live on Oct 2. Users can access a suite of online services such as the National Jobs Bank, a move that makes it more convenient for users to get all the various resources they need through one portal instead of having multiple accounts at different sites. Singaporeans, who already have accounts with the National Jobs Bank or SkillsFuture Credit, do not have to sign up for a new MySkillsFuture account. They can still access the new portal using login details of those other accounts. There is a feature called industry insights, where users can find out more information about a specific industry such as whether it has a positive outlook, before they dive into it. Apart from job matching with openings listed on the jobs back, other services integrated into the new portal that cater to working adults include Training Exchange – allowing them to search and compare courses to suit their needs. Beyond students and workers, employers can also use the new portal to identify suitable courses that their employees can undergo by accessing Training Exchange, while training providers can beef up their industry knowledge through Industry Insights. On top of the new portal, another initiative called the SkillsFuture Advice for Individuals was also launched with the aim of helping Singaporeans understand the various SkillsFuture initiatives such as SkillsFuture Credit and how to use the new portal. Free of charge and lasting for about one and a half hours, the workshops are conducted in English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil at venues such as community centres. Piloted in July this year, about 1,000 Singaporeans have attended the workshops, with the figure to be ramped up to 80,000 people over the next three years. Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung, who attended the launch event on Sunday, told reporters that changes from digital disruption affecting traditional business models and jobs may be “disconcerting” for workers. The latest SkillsFuture push aims to help workers adapt to the disruptions coming their way. Mr Ong said: “What we want to do is to provide the right support for workers to be able to access all these training and advice, portal and information, so that they can navigate and bring their confidence level up and their competence level up.” Earlier in October, a new national programme – called SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace – was rolled out to prepare Singaporeans for the digital economy. And on Saturday, the SkillsFuture Series courses was announced, in which working adults can sign up for over 400 courses that focus on eight sectors of growth where skills are in demand. With the Ministry of Education (MOE) beefing up the number of short courses to deepen workers’ skills, the institutes of higher learning including polytechnics and universities will take the lead in delivering the courses. This is a marked shift from the current setup of SkillsFuture courses, which are mostly provided by private training firms. Although institutes of higher learning will take on the lion’s share of the courses under the new SkillsFuture Series, Mr Ong said on Sunday that private providers will still have a key role since they have vast experience in training adult learners. By roping in institutes of higher learning, workers would benefit from having more training options. “We asked ourselves, is it better for workers that ‘I have all these choices and all these channels of help that I can go to?’”, said Mr Ong. “If the answer is ‘yes’, then I think we have the responsibility to bring in the institutes of higher learning into the system – not for them to compete with each other – but for them to work together to outreach to as many residents as they can.”
NS will always be cornerstone of S’pore’s defence: PM Lee TODAY file photo Published: 7:30 PM, October 30, 2017 Updated: 7:36 PM, October 30, 2017 SINGAPORE — National Service (NS) will always be the cornerstone of Singapore’s defence, and each new generation must understand why conscription is critical for a small country like Singapore, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday (Oct 30). Speaking at a dinner commemorating 50 years’ of NS held at the Float @ MarinaBay, Mr Lee said it was not down to good luck that the Republic has not had to go to war. Rather, it was the contributions and sacrifices of more than a million Singaporeans who have served NS since 1967 that have enabled the country to “enjoy decades of peace, and a safe and secure home”. Addressing the more than 1,500 guests at the dinner reception, including past and present national servicemen and their families, Mr Lee noted: “But we will always be a small country, and National Service will always be the cornerstone of our defence. We must ensure that every generation understands why NS remains critical, particularly as the younger generations have only ever known stability and peace.” Pointing to the backdrop of the Marina Bay skyline at the dinner venue, Mr Lee said it serves as a reminder of “all we have built together, and what we fight to protect”. He added that society must rally behind national servicemen, support them and express appreciation for their service, as it continues to ask this commitment of young Singaporean men. This was why various prominent measures have been rolled out this year in commemoration of 50 years of NS, said Mr Lee, citing a salute for all NSmen at the National Day Parade, exhibitions in heartlands to give every Singaporean a chance to understand what NSmen go through, and a recognition package comprising vouchers, among other goodies, given to all NSmen. In his speech, Mr Lee noted that when Singapore separated from Malaysia, it had to build up the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) from scratch, and quickly. The Republic’s founding leaders had to work hard to explain and convince every able-bodied male citizen to serve in the country’s defence, and “fortunately, Singaporeans understood the urgency, and gave their support”. “Over the years, Singaporeans have accepted National Service. It has become a national institution, and a rite of passage,” said Mr Lee, pointing to how the two years spent defending the country either in the SAF or the Home Team is when boys grow up to become men, and bonds are forged that last for life. That is why many NSmen still make time to meet up even years after completing NS, and the joyful feeling of bumping into old comrades is a familiar experience for many, he added. Today, weapons and equipment have been updated, and organisations and tactics have been brought up to date, ensuring that Singapore is much better defended, said Mr Lee. What has not changed is that training remains as serious and tough as ever, and NS is still about young Singaporean men “making the sacrifices needed to protect our country and our families”, he added. “This is the common spirit of NS that endures throughout the generations,” said Mr Lee, as he referenced the theme of Monday’s dinner. “This is the legacy that we pass ‘from my generation to yours’.”
Singapore students top OECD global survey in problem solving through teamwork Queensway Secondary School students working collaboratively through the design-thinking process to design a Remotely Operated Vehicle using the Sea Perch programme.ST PHOTO: SHARON LUM Published 9 hours ago Updated 5 hours ago Amelia Teng Education Correspondent Related Story Students work in teams to solve problems in water, energy and food sustainability The Pisa test has traditionally assessed abilities in science, mathematics and reading - core subjects in which Singapore was also ranked first in the latest 2015 exercise - but is broadening its reach to include skills that are increasingly important and relevant in the new economy. Related Story Singapore students ace collaboration, but will they top test on global thinking and creativity? Singapore had the highest proportion of top performers - more than 20 per cent of students here achieved the highest level of proficiency - Level 4 - in collaborative problem solving. This means they could carry out complicated tasks that needed high levels of collaboration, maintain an awareness of group dynamics and had the initiative to take action or make requests to overcome obstacles and resolve disagreements. On average, across OECD countries, only 8 per cent of students could perform at this level. The results also showed that students in Singapore have positive attitudes towards collaboration. More than 90 per cent of them said they are good listeners, enjoy seeing their classmates be successful, take into account what others are interested in and like cooperating with their peers. Dr Andreas Schleicher, OECD director for education and skills, who presented the findings to principals at a seminar on Tuesday, said: "Singapore demonstrates that strong academic performance does not have to come at the expense of weaker social skills. In fact Singapore scores even better in collaborative problem-solving than it does in science and mathematics." Strong academic skills do not automatically translate into strong social skills Mr Sng Chern Wei, the Ministry of Education's deputy director-general of education (curriculum), said the results show that Singapore is on the right track, and reaffirm schools' efforts to create group learning experiences through initiatives like project work, community projects. "We need to ensure that such experiences are common for every student and they are able to benefit fully from them," he said. To assess collaborative problem solving, students were asked to tackle a problem by collaborating with a partner, in this case, a software program. Mr Sng Chern Wei talks about Singapore's performance in problem-solving collaboratively. In a computer-administered assessment that simulates team members, the student interacts with conversational agents via chat messages, to undertake tasks such as answering contest questions, preparing for a presentation and planning a field trip. Besides gathering information and devising strategies, they had to consider what their team members knew, determine who takes which actions and maintain assigned roles. MOE noted that the study design is a standardised way of measuring and comparing collaborative problem-solving skills, but real-life settings may be more complex as human beings are less predictable. Principals said teamwork is part and parcel of students' school life in and out of classrooms. Mr Ling Khoon Chow, principal of Beatty Secondary School, said: "In most subjects, there will be some form of group work." In his school, Secondary 2 students work together on a historical investigation project on the lives of local pioneers. "They had to research, decide on how they want to present their project then communicate it to the rest of their classmates," said Mr Ling. "The problems (in today's world) moving forward are quite unique. The answers do not come so readily so these are important skills for the students to pick up."
Born deaf, but 12-year-old doesn’t let that stop her from doing the things she loves By Louisa Tang TODAY Updated 24 November, 2017 SINGAPORE — When the batteries of Talia Astapura’s cochlear implants went flat one day in class, the Frontier Primary student panicked. Born deaf, Talia - who was among the pupils who received their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results on Friday (Nov 24) - found herself unable to hear anything her teachers or friends were saying. “I told my friends and they were shocked, but they took out my books to write notes for me. My teacher also panicked and went to buy batteries for me,” said Talia, 12, recounting the incident to show how those around her would go all out their way to ensure she does not face any difficulties in school despite her condition. Talia first got her cochlear implants at 10 months old, and had to undergo six years of auditory verbal therapy to train her to hear and speak clearly. When she was 4 years old, her therapist recommended her to attend music appreciation classes, in order to expose her to a wider range of frequencies. Since then, her love for the piano blossomed. The budding pianist, who is preparing for her Grade 6 piano theory examination, practises at least once a week — something which she says helps her to relax. At Primary 1, she performed for the official opening of her school. In July, months before her PSLE exams, she travelled to Poland for an international music festival for those with hearing implants, playing two of her favourite songs by acclaimed South Korean pianist Yiruma. “I was worried I would fall behind in my PSLE preparations, but I had help from my friends and family,” Talia said. Given her condition, Talia would sit in front of the class at her request. Her teachers also used a microphone which transmits their voices directly to her cochlear implants so she can hear more clearly. Mdm Sally Heng, 48, who was Talia’s form teacher, said the pupil would approach teachers for help if she had any doubts, and ask for extra lessons. While she was initially worried that Talia would struggle with catching up on the missed lessons after returning from Poland, Mdm Heng saw how she would stay back, even after supplementary lessons, to revise, especially leading up to the PSLE. “I can see the effort and resilience in her. It’s very commendable,” said Mdm Heng, who is also the teacher-in-charge of Talia’s badminton co-curricular activity. Her efforts paid off, as she got a PSLE T-score of 237. Talia’s interest in badminton, which started when her father introduced her to the sport when she was 9 years old, has earned her a spot in Commonwealth Secondary School through the Direct School Admission scheme. For the past two years, Talia represented her primary school in the West Zone Badminton competitions. She was awarded the Edusave Award for Achievement, Good Leadership and Service (Eagles) Award last year for her contributions to the school’s badminton club where she was the vice-chairperson. Mdm Heng said: “(Talia) really motivates her classmates during competitions — she will cheer them on.” Looking ahead, Talia said she is “excited” to enter secondary school. She said: “Actually, I’m not very sure what I want to do in the future. I will continue playing badminton and the piano.” 98.4% of PSLE students make it to secondary school this year Singapore
98.4% of PSLE students make it to secondary school this year By Amanda Lee and Louisa Tang Students collecting their PSLE results at Changkat Primary School on Friday (Nov 24). Photo: Raj Nadarajan/TODAY Published24 November, 2017 Updated 24 November, 2017 SINGAPORE – The class of 2017 kept pace with last year’s record-setting performance, with 98.4 per cent of students who took the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) this year qualifying to move on to secondary school. Of the 38,942 students going to Secondary One next year, 66.2 per cent are eligible for the Express course, a shade lower than last year’s 66.4 per cent. About one in five students, or 21.4 per cent, qualify for the Normal (Academic) course, while 10.7 per cent are eligible for the Normal (Technical) course, said the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board in a joint press release on Friday (Nov 24). For the 630 students who did not qualify for any of the courses, those who attempted the PSLE for the first time may try again in the coming year or apply to Assumption Pathway School (APS) or NorthLight School (NLS). The rest who had taken their PSLE multiple times will be preferentially offered a place at APS or NLS. The results were released at 11am on Friday, to palpable excitement among students at primary schools across Singapore. Over at Changkat Primary School in Simei, some 160 Primary Six students clapped and cheered when the principal, Mrs May Tang, took to the stage to share some of the school’s PSLE statistics. She also invited several top-performing students to the stage. When it was time for the teachers to hand out the PSLE results and report books, some students dashed forward to be the first in line. Emotions ran high as the students got their first look at their exam transcripts. Some gathered in circles, laughing, hugging or consoling one another. Others refused to look at their results, and got their parents or friends to do it for them. Several parents, who had been seated at the back of the hall, were seen approaching the teachers to thank them personally. Changkat Primary‘s head prefect Dikshita Ramesh, 12, attained 3 As and a B. While her T-score was lower than what she had expected, the captain of the school’s basketball team managed to qualify for Temasek Junior College’s Integrated Programme through the Direct School Admission scheme. Dikshita’s father, Mr Ramesh Umashankar, told TODAY that he was proud of her achievements. “Results are important, but for me, they are not everything. I want her to be an all-rounded person,” the 43-year-old added. It has been six years since the MOE stopped announcing PSLE’s top scorers and their T-scores, in a bid to ease pressure on the students and their parents. Last year, the ministry also announced that the T-score system, which has been in place since the PSLE was introduced more than five decades ago, will be replaced by eight Achievement Levels from 2021. The new scoring system is intended to ease the pressure that students face in competing against their peers’ performance. But that has not stopped some parents from reporting and comparing T-scores from several top primary schools on popular online forum Kiasu Parents. At about 3.30pm on Friday, they had shared the T-scores from more than 10 primary schools, as well as the dates and times of secondary school open houses over the weekend. Parents also shared the programmes that secondary schools offer at their dedicated forum pages. Eligible students who wish to submit their secondary school options online have till 3pm on Nov 30 to do so through the Secondary One Internet System. They can also submit their forms through their primary schools. The posting results will be released on Dec 21. Students are required to report to the secondary schools that they are posted to at 8.30am the following day.
PSLE: Boy from Muar shines with help from family and society By Louisa Tang Huamin Primary School student Matthew Sun with his mother Mdm Tan Aa Liang. Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY Published24 November, 2017 Updated 24 November, 2017 SINGAPORE — When he came to Singapore from Muar in Malaysia four years ago, Matthew Sun’s grasp of English was so poor that instead of learning with peers his age in Primary Four, he had to join a Primary Two class. Subjects were taught in an unfamiliar language he had hitherto spent only three hours a week learning. “I would only understand part of a sentence… everything was in English,” said Matthew, 14, who became a Singaporean in 2012. On top of that, he had to adjust to a new environment and make new friends at Huamin Primary in Yishun. His grades initially suffered — even in his favourite subject, mathematics. For instance, he did not understand the word “dozen” when he first encountered it in a maths question and had to turn to a close friend. On the home front, Matthew and his three brothers had their share of household chores. He had to coach his two younger siblings in English and would tag along with his mother, Mdm Tan Aa Liang, 51, about six hours a week to help sell Vitagen, a probiotic drink, in neighbourhoods nearby. To manage his time in the leadup to this year’s Primary School Leaving Examination, he quit his hockey co-curricular activity last year and created a timetable. He placed schoolwork first and cut back on time spent playing the guitar and basketball. His younger brothers helped cover some of his household chores. With discipline, help from his family and teachers, as well as financial support from various organisations, Matthew did well enough in the PSLE to qualify for his school of choice, Anderson Secondary. The results were released on Friday (Nov 24) and while he did not want to reveal his score, Matthew said he got A*s for Chinese and Maths, A for Science, B for English and a Merit for Higher Chinese. “I’m looking forward to (secondary school), what else I can learn there,” he said in an interview ahead of results day. As his per capita monthly household income is less than S$625 — his father works as an engineering assistant — Matthew receives financial assistance from the Ministry of Education (MOE). His grades were good enough to earn him Raffles Institution’s Raffles Scholarship this year. The scholarship is open to students on MOE financial assistance and who display good conduct and positive attitudes in academic work and co-curricular activities. Students are nominated by their schools. Besides the S$1,000 scholarship money, awardees are offered a place in the Raffles Institution Mentorship Programme. Matthew signed up and spent a day each week at Raffles Institution, where he received help in his homework from junior college students, among other activities. He also received tuition at the Chinese Development Assistance Council and has attended English remedial lessons since enrolling in Huamin Primary. Crediting his schoolteachers for their patience, he said: “Sometimes they would explain in Chinese when I don’t understand what something in English means.” His form teacher for two years, Miss Lai Xiao Xin, said Matthew had opportunities to practise speaking English during groupwork, and is now much more conversant in the language. “While he is not extremely outspoken, he always gives intelligent answers whenever he is probed or needs to make a point,” added Miss Lai. Matthew has set other goals for himself. He aspires to enter junior college and earn a distinction for guitar at the Singapore Youth Festival.
Mediacorp wins Terrestrial Broadcaster of the Year for 14th time at Asian Television Awards Mediacorp CEO Tham Loke Kheng accepts the company's 14th Terrestrial Broadcaster of the Year award. (Photo: Jeremy Long) By Genevieve Sarah Loh @GenevieveLohCNA 01 Dec 2017 10:31PM (Updated: 01 Dec 2017 11:15PM) SINGAPORE: It was a night of celebration as Mediacorp took home the coveted Terrestrial Broadcaster of the Year award at the 22nd Asian Television Awards (ATA) on Friday (Dec 1). The Asian Television Awards recognises the best in television production, programming and performance. Taking the Terrestrial Broadcaster of the Year trophy for the fifth consecutive year, this achievement marks the 14th time in the award show's 22-year history that Mediacorp has won the accolade. On Thursday, at the first night of the awards, Mediacorp Toggle clinched the Best Digital Fiction and Non-Fiction Programme/Series award for its original show Patisserie Fighting while Channel NewsAsia's documentary To Live-Disaster won the Best Direction (Non-Fiction) award. On Friday, Zhu Houren won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Trapped Minds. This year, Singapore's national broadcaster garnered 45 nominations across 24 categories, making it the most-nominated in a competition that sees 19 Asian countries vying for 42 awards. Hosted by Stephanie Carrington from Singapore, Baki Zainal from Malaysia and Wang Li Huan from China, the glitzy event at Suntec City was attended by regional stars and industry heavyweights. It was broadcast live across Asia and showcased performances by the likes of Indonesian pop singer and actor Afgansyah, Singaporean Sing! China finalist Joanna Dong and Korean singer-actor Kim Jong-Kook, host of popular variety show Running Man. Speaking at the award ceremony, Mediacorp CEO Tham Loke Kheng said: "Terrestrial Broadcaster of the Year is very much a team award and all of us at Mediacorp are grateful for the validation and encouragement you have given us. "Winning this for the 14th time is wonderful motivation for us to keep focusing on our true north - storytelling and creating the best content for all our audiences. "Thank you for the honour!" Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...broadcaster-of-the-year-for-14th-time-9458298
Fiscal sustainability key to achieving country’s goals: Heng Swee Keat By Angela Teng Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat speaking at the Straits Times Global Outlook Forum on Tuesday (Dec 5). Photo: Angela Teng/TODAY SINGAPORE – Flagging the risks to traditional revenue sources brought on by technological disruptions and changing business models, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat stressed on Tuesday (Dec 5) the need for Singapore to preserve fiscal sustainability in order to prepare for the future. This would entail "staying responsible and spending within our means", said Mr Heng. "As expenditure increases and revenue growth slows, we must think of ways to manage expenditures and raise revenues. Fiscal sustainability is also about preparing for revenue risks in the face of technological changes and evolving business models," he added. To ensure that the government can continue to balance the books, Singapore must remain pro-growth, and the system of taxes and transfers must continue to be fair and progressive. The country's revenue base has to be kept diversified as well, Mr Heng said. In recent weeks, government leaders including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have spoken about the need to raise taxes during future terms of government as Singapore's spending needs grow. Experts have said that increasing the Goods and Services Tax, which is relatively low compared with other countries and would not adversely affect Singapore's competitiveness, was the likely option. Reiterating that the future will be unpredictable and fraught with complex changes, Mr Heng pointed out that Singapore's success in the years ahead depends on whether it has "the means to put our visions and values into action", among other factors. To achieve its goals, which include making sure its citizens can not only make a "good living" but also better the lives of others, the Republic will have to develop an adaptable and innovative economy, nurture a caring and strong society, and build a secure and resilient country, he added. Speaking at The Straits Times Global Outlook Forum, Mr Heng said these efforts are "all major investments for the long term… in our people, and in our future". The Future Economy Council — chaired by Mr Heng and comprising members from government, industry, unions, and educational and training institutions — is spearheading efforts to transform the economy. "At the economy level, we are driving innovation, internationalisation and connectivity to keep our economy vibrant, open and connected to the world," Mr Heng said. Enterprises and industries are also being strengthened through the Industry Transformation Maps, while the SkillsFuture initiative will enable Singaporeans to stay relevant and embrace lifelong learning. Mr Heng said the government envisions a "caring, cohesive, strong society, where we respect and care for one another, where we each play a role, and we all move forward together". "I hope we nurture a society where our seniors are valued, respected, engaged and happy," he added. Among other measures, the Government is enhancing retirement adequacy, improving healthcare access and affordability, and building strong social networks through efforts such as the Community Network for Seniors. It will also continue to help young Singaporeans own their first home and step up support for pre-schools. "Whether we can do well will depend very much on how well we understand our own identity and values, how faithful we are to our values as changes put us under stress; and, how honestly and openly we as a people and a government converse with each other to figure out and act on the steps ahead together," Mr Heng said. During a question and answer session, Mr Heng was asked by Bank of Singapore chief economist Richard Jerram about the possibility of spending a higher proportion of the earnings on Singapore's "huge assets". Mr Heng replied that the size of the Republic's reserves gives Singapore "the firepower" to deal with anyone who tries to attack the Singapore dollar. It also provides long term stability to Singapore's economy, and give the country the means to "weather crisis in ways which many other countries cannot". The reserves are not to be taken for granted, Mr Heng stressed. If he can, he would rather leave it for the future generations, he said. Reiterating the extent of Singapore's rapidly ageing population, Mr Heng said: "If we don't prepare for that, I think we will come to regret it and I want to make sure that… I will do the responsible thing." Mr Heng noted how earlier generations of leaders and finance ministers were very prudent, even during the years when Singapore's gross domestic product was growing 8 to 9 per cent annually. "They did not take it upon themselves and say, 'Well, look, this is a great bonanza and for a government to be popular let's spend all that'." He also credited former Deputy Prime Minister Goh Keng Swee for the creation of GIC. The sovereign wealth fund has, over the years, invested in a variety of assets and earned returns which Singapore has tapped on. "I will be very cautious about making statements about how big our reserves are… increasingly, in a world which is more uncertain, I think we better have more firepower than less," he said.
Singapore-based researcher bags top accolade for academic inventors A Singapore-based researcher, Professor Jackie Y Ying, has earned the highest professional accolade for academic inventors. Photo: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) Published13 December, 2017 Updated 14 December, 2017 SINGAPORE — A Singapore-based researcher has, for the first time, earned the highest professional accolade for academic inventors. Professor Jackie Y Ying, executive director of the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), was named a Fellow of the United States’ National Academy of Inventors for her outstanding contributions to innovative discovery and technology, patent inventions and licensing. She is among 155 renowned academic inventors who were named Fellows this year. Prof Ying has over 180 primary patents and patent applications, and 32 of her patents have been licensed to multinational and start-up companies for a diverse range of applications in nanomedicine, drug delivery, cell and tissue engineering and medical implants, among other areas. Her inventions have led to the founding of 11 spin-offs. One of the companies she co-founded, SmartCells Inc, has developed a technology platform capable of auto-regulating the release of insulin, depending on blood glucose levels. SmartCells was acquired by pharmaceutical giant Merck in 2010, and shareholders have received milestone-based payments of over US$500 million for products resulting from the deal. Prof Ying, who was born in Taipei and raised in Singapore and New York, founded the IBN in 2003. The institute is part of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research. Over 130 of its patents have been successfully licensed to multinationals and start-ups. Prof Ying said it has been very fulfilling to create an innovative culture at IBN that promotes internal and external collaborations among engineers, scientists and medical doctors. “My next step is to establish an incubator to facilitate the seeding and growth of spin-off companies in the medtech and biotech sectors,” she said in an IBN press release. Before coming to Singapore, Prof Ying was with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She joined its chemical engineering faculty in 1992, and became its youngest Full Professor at the age of 35 in 2001 Her knack for converting inventions into commercial ventures was evident in her MIT days, but “truly flowered” at the IBN, said Professor Kenneth Smith, the chair of IBN’s scientific advisory board. “When she arrived, the Singaporean economy was not particularly entrepreneurial, but 13 new start-up companies have since been successfully spun out of IBN, and this achievement now serves as a role model for other research institutes and for other aspiring inventors.” Founded in 2010, the National Academy of Inventors is a non-profit member organisation made up of American and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutes. With the latest batch, there are now 912 Fellows, representing over 250 research universities and governmental and non-profit research institutes. The 2017 Fellows are the inventors behind nearly 6,000 issued US patents, bringing the total held by all Fellows to more than 32,000.
Song, dance and poetry in first cultural show for migrant workers By Siau Ming En Migrant workers from countries like Bangladesh, Philippines and Indonesia put on performances to foster friendship amongst different cultures. Domestic helpers put up a fashion show wearing traditional costumes. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY Published07 January, 2018 Updated 07 January, 2018 SINGAPORE – Tucked away on the third floor of a building along Syed Alwi Road, some 400 migrant workers in Singapore gathered on Sunday (Jan 07) for an evening of song, dance and poetry. Believed to be the first cultural show for migrant workers of various nationalities, co-organiser and construction site supervisor Rubel Arnab said that, as the workers are usually more involved with their own communities, he wishes to see more “cultural bonding” among the different nationalities. “I also want to show Singaporeans that migrant workers have talent too,” added the 30-year-old Bangladesh national. At Sunday’s show, migrant workers from Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, the Philippines and India attended the six-hour long programme. The guests-of-honour at the event included Ms Jacqueline Loh, the chief executive of non-governmental organisation Aidha; Mr Shivaji Das, founder of Migrant Worker Poetry Competition; and TWC2 executive committee member Debbie Fordyce. The show kicked off with the migrant workers modelling the traditional costumes from the different countries. This was followed by a series of song and dance performances, poetry readings and a skit on keeping Singapore safe from religious extremism. Among the performers on Sunday was Ms Fitri Diyah, 25, who left Indonesia close to two years ago to work as a domestic helper here. A keen learner, she spends her Sundays taking English classes to brush up on the language. While she was nervous about reading to an audience, Ms Fitri said she was also excited to read a poem she wrote about an afternoon along Orchard Road, where people from all walks of life gather in high spirits before returning to the same place next week. Construction supervisor Ibrahim Patwary attended the event on Sunday after learning about it through Facebook. When he is not working on Sundays, the 34-year-old would visit Little India with his friends to have a meal or send money back home in Bangladesh. “I’m just happy to be here and watching (the performances),” he added. Some Singaporeans were also spotted in the audience. Undergraduate Michelle Sim, 21, learnt about the event through another organiser of a poetry competition here. The event is a good opportunity for migrant workers from different nationalities to come together in fellowship, she added.
Singapore soars up innovation rankings, US falls out of top 10 Singapore jumped into third place on the strength of its top ranking in the tertiary-efficiency category. TODAY file photo Published23 January, 2018 Updated 23 January, 2018 SINGAPORE ― Score another one for Singapore, while Silicon Valley slides. Singapore jumped ahead of European economies Germany, Switzerland, and Finland into third place in the 2018 Bloomberg Innovation Index on the strength of its top ranking in the tertiary-efficiency category. The US dropped out of the top 10 for the first time in the six years the gauge has been compiled. South Korea and Sweden retained their No. 1 and No. 2 rankings. The index scores countries using seven criteria, including research and development spending and concentration of high-tech public companies. The US fell to 11th place from ninth mainly because of an eight-spot slump in the post-secondary, or tertiary, education-efficiency category, which includes the share of new science and engineering graduates in the labour force. Value-added manufacturing also declined. Improvement in the productivity score could not make up for the lost ground. “I see no evidence to suggest that this trend will not continue,” said Mr Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation in Washington, DC. “Other nations have responded with smart, well-funded innovation policies like better R&D tax incentives, more government funding for research, more funding for technology commercialization initiatives.” “Singapore has always placed strong focus on educating her populace, especially in STEM disciplines,” said Professor Yeo Kiat Seng, professor and associate provost at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, referring to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It also has a “steadfast commitment to funding R&D and innovation,” added Prof Yeo, who holds 38 patents. Supplier ecosystem South Korea remained the global-innovation gold medalist for the fifth-consecutive year Samsung Electronics, the nation’s most-valuable company by market capitalisation, has received more US patents in the 2000s than any firm except International Business Machines. And its semiconductors, smartphones and digital-media equipment spawned an ecosystem of Korean suppliers and partners similar to what Japan developed around Sony and Toyota Motor. China moved up two spots to 19th, buoyed by its high proportion of new science and engineering graduates in the labour force and increasing number of patents by innovators such as Huawei Technologies. “One common trait of the US, Korea and China is that people accept failure as part of the process,” said Mr Prinn Panitchpakdi, country head of CLSA Thailand, an Asian brokerage and investment group. “Innovation lags in countries where the culture emphasizes risk avoidance and where R&D is seen purely an expense, not an investment. That’s the mindset in Thailand.” It dropped one spot from a year earlier, to 45th. Top-tier countries Japan, one of three Asian nations in the top 10, rose one slot to No. 6. France moved up to ninth from 11th, joining five other European economies in the top tier. Israel rounded out this group and was the only country to beat South Korea in the R&D category. South Africa and Iran moved back into the top 50; the last time both were included was 2014. Turkey was one of the biggest gainers, jumping four spots to 33rd because of improvements in tertiary efficiency, productivity and two other categories. The biggest losers were New Zealand and Ukraine, which each dropped four places. The productivity measure influenced New Zealand’s shift, while Ukraine was hurt by a lower tertiary-efficiency ranking. Movements in this year’s list were generally less dramatic than last year, when Russia took a 14-spot tumble following sanctions related to Ukraine and the plunge in energy prices. In the current index, it moved up one spot to 25th. The 2018 ranking process began with more than 200 economies. Each was scored on a zero to 100 scale based on seven equally weighted categories. Nations that didn’t report data for at least six categories were eliminated, trimming the list to 80. Bloomberg released the top 50 and category scores within this cohort. BLOOMBERG
Friday 09 February 2018 MAS chief Ravi Menon named region’s top central banker Reuters file photo Published04 January, 2018 Updated 04 January, 2018 SINGAPORE - Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) managing director Ravi Menon was named on Thursday (Jan 4) as the top central banker in the region by a United Kingdom-based magazine, becoming the second person here — after Mr Heng Swee Keat, who is currently the Finance Minister — to be given the recognition. The Banker, a publication under the Financial Times Group, focuses on global economic and financial news. It has published its selection of best central bank governors on a regional and global level annually since 2004. Mr Heng, who was MAS managing director from 2005 to 2011, received the award in 2011, a few months before he left the central bank and entered politics. In its 2018 honour roll, Mr Menon was chosen as the Central Bank Governor of the Year for Asia-Pacific because of the MAS’ “cutting-edge regulatory approach to Fintech while maintaining macroeconomic stability”, the magazine said. It noted that MAS was among the first regulators to set up a dedicated financial technology group that focuses on understanding technology’s risks and benefits. “This has generated strong results. For instance, while some regulators still struggle to send out a clear message on cloud computing, MAS published cloud computing guidelines back in July 2016,” it said. Adding that MAS has also set up a data analytics group, the magazine said the central bank was already working towards having data streamed directly into its systems. “Singapore’s central bank, however, is not sacrificing safety at the altar of innovation,” it pointed out. It quoted Mr Menon saying that MAS does not impose “the full slew of regulatory requirements” on technology companies offering mass financial services because they do not pose a systemic risk. “The risks we need to watch out for are money laundering, terrorism financing, cyber and technology risk, and customer confidentiality,” Mr Menon said. The last three receipients of the award were State Bank of Vietnam governor Le Minh Hung (2017), Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan (2016), and former Bangladesh Bank governer Atiur Rahman (2015). Dr Rahman stepped down in 2016 following demands of accountability from the Bangaleshi government after US$81 million was stolen from the bank’s United States account in one of the largest cyber heists ever.
