The Third-Party Taxi Booking Service Providers Bill was passed in parliament on 11 May 2015 to allow Land Transport Authority (LTA) powers to regulate taxi booking service provided by third-party companies. The transport minister, Mr Lui Tuck Yew in his address to parliament said that the regulatory framework provided by the bill, balances the need for consumer protection with the flexibility …

The shortlisted finalists for SOPA 2015 Awards for Editorial Excellence were announced today. The SOPA Awards attracted a record number of entries region-wide, which were rigorously assessed by a panel of more than 100 judges from around the world, which included journalists, editors, and columnists from leading publications and notable academics from the media departments of prestigious universities. Winners will …

Operation Spectrum, also known as the 1987 “Marxist Conspiracy”, was the code name for a covert security operation that took place in Singapore on 21 May 1987. 16 people were arrested and detained without trial under Singapore’s Internal Security Act (ISA) for their alleged involvement in “a Marxist conspiracy to subvert the existing social and political system in Singapore, using …

By Will I’m worried that tax monies are being used by the People’s Association (PA) in a thinly veiled attempt to politicise tertiary students. “To celebrate the nation’s 50th birthday, the People’s Association Youth Division, together with all Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs), will be initiating the ‘SG50 People’s Association Youth Movement (PAYM) Loves …

By Gunther Wong In news reports today, the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (more commonly known as ACRES) released findings from a two month long undercover investigation by ACRES’ officers. Of the 11 pet shops that breached the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority’s (AVA) pet shop licensing conditions, 7 were in fact, graded ‘A’ under AVA’s Pet Shop Grading Scheme. For …

In January, Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) rolled out its Alcohol Sales/Service Educational Tools (ASSET) programme across the island “to help coffee shops and hawker centres serve alcohol more responsibly”, a Channel Newsasia (CNA) report said. The programme “equips front-line staff with the knowledge and skills to handle intoxicated customers and cope with alcohol-related problems.” APB said it has trained almost …

Letter by a teacher who wish to be anonymous I am finally writing this – regarding my traumatic experience of work discrimination due to pregnancy. In 2002, I joined the Ministry of Education (MOE) as a teacher. In 2003, I was overjoyed to be pregnant after just getting married (married by the end of 2002). Unfortunately, 2003 wasn’t a good year. SARS, …