Programme on Governance in the Arab Region. Amnesty International. The Fund for Global Human Rights. Human Rights Education Association. http://www.arablaws.org/article SINGAPORE (AFP) - – A Singaporean man has gone on trial charged with murdering his 23-month-old daughter in a fit of rage after he caught her playing with his cigarettes, court officials said Tuesday. Sallehan Allaudin, 26, is accused of fatally beating his daughter Nikie in January ahead of her second birthday, causing her to die of a ruptured vein. If convicted, he could face death by hanging. The High Court was told Monday that Sallehan, who had just returned home with his wife with a present for Nikie, went berserk after seeing the toddler had torn up and scattered his cigarettes, the Straits Times reported Tuesday. Sallehan has pleaded not guilty to the charge. His wife, Rozanah Mohamed Yusoff, 24, used a mannequin to show the court how Sallehan allegedly kicked and stomped on their daughter in the kitchen, the newspaper said. The couple, who have two younger daughters, called for an ambulance when Nikie started bleeding from the nose, but she died of her injuries, according to the report. "I did not go into the kitchen to stop my husband as I thought that was the way he wanted to discipline Nikie," the wife was quoted as saying by the newspaper. http://www.arablaws.org/article/Article/Singapore_man_kills_child_over_cigarettes_court.htm 27th Oct,2009 SINGAPORE: The inaugural Singapore Green Building week started on Monday with the launch of Singapore’s first "Zero Energy Building". National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the three—storey office building showcases how it can be up to 50 per cent more energy efficient. It cost some S$11 million to retrofit, but the building is expected to generate as much electricity as it consumes in a year. The government aims to get 80 per cent of all buildings on Green Mark certification by 2030. Known as the zero energy building, the structure along Braddell Road has been retrofitted to ensure it is self—sufficient in meeting its electricity needs. It has various green features which act as a test bed for clean energy technologies before they are introduced into the industry. To help beat the heat, the visitor’s centre has plants on its walls which help reduce external wall temperatures by up to 12 degrees Celsius while a solar chimney sucks out the warm air from the room. Panels help shade the building from the sun and bounce natural light into the interiors. The solar panels help generate enough electricity to supply power to 45 four— room HDB flats for a year. While it might cost five per cent more to retrofit existing buildings with green design and technologies, experts said the pay back is not as long as some might expect. John Keung, CEO, Building and Construction Authority, said: "For a typical existing building if you go for a green mark certification, the expected pay back period is two to six years, depending on your design and what you want to put in there. So it’s still quite cost effective." Mr Mah said: "The government will have to educate, put in incentives and we may also eventually have to make it mandatory to have some legislation in place. But through a combination of these factors, hopefully through education and incentives, we will be able to move people along." Cash incentives are already in place under the Green Mark certification scheme to encourage buildings to go green. — CNA/vm http://www.arablaws.org/article/Article/Singapore_s_first_Zero_Energy_Building_launched.htm 27th Oct,2009 SINGAPORE: A transport survey in Singapore has shown that the public transport share has shrunk. The survey of some 10,500 households revealed that despite efforts by the authorities to get more people on buses and trains, challenges still remain. Singapore aims to boost the usage of public transport among its population to 70 per cent by 2020. But the Household Interview Travel Survey showed that the target is now harder to achieve. The survey found that 59 per cent of respondents used public transport last year, down from 63 per cent in 2004. During the same period, the number of daily public transport journeys went up by 16 per cent as Singapore’s population grew. The number of car journeys increased by 31 per cent as the car population also grew. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) explained that this behaviour could be due to a lack of major infrastructural improvements in public transport during that period. Speaking at the Second World Roads Conference on Monday, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said that there are some positive signs. He said: "Between 2004 and 2008, the number of train trips made each day rose 30 per cent, from 1.3 million to 1.7 million. Even though the public transport mode share island—wide has fallen, the mode share in the North—East corridor, served by the Northeast Line (NEL) which opened in 2003, has bucked the trend and shown significant improvement." LTA said it will continue to make bus services more efficient and will be expanding the Mandatory Give—Way to Buses scheme in the next two years. LTA said the expansion of normal bus lanes and full—day bus lanes have already improved bus speeds for services using the routes by between eight per cent and 13 per cent respectively. From next year, LTA will also take over as the Bus Network Planner to further improve the overall connectivity of the bus network here. An expert said reliability is key when convincing people to use public transport. Professor Brian Collins, chief scientific advisor from UK’s Department of Transport, said: "Making buses punctual, making trains punctual, and making them more frequent — refining that predictability of travel time is one of the issues that people really like. They will like to know when they are going to arrive, arrive safely and in comfort." LTA said it will push through two key strategies under its Masterplan to make public transport more convenient. The strategies are to reduce the growth of vehicles on the road and double the existing rail network by 2020. For now, the introduction of Electronic Road Pricing to more roads last year has improved the traffic conditions of affected roads. LTA said there has been marked improvement in traffic speeds within the CBD, especially during evening peak hours. Traffic speeds there have been restored to the optimal range of 20—30 kilometres per hour, from 18 kilometres per hour previously. — CNA/vm http://www.arablaws.org/article/Article/Drop_in_public_transport_share_in_Singapore_survey.htm 27th Oct,2009 SINGAPORE: Ayrton Senna. Alberto Ascari. Jim Clark. All of them Formula 1 world champions, all speed demons immortalised at some of the world’s most famous racing circuits, fittingly along some of the most challenging corners on asphalt. Naturally, Brazil’s Senna, widely regarded as the greatest racing driver of all time, is on Turn 1 at his hometown circuit at Interlagos, called “S” do Senna. Turn 12 at Estoril in Portugal is called Parabolica Ayrton Senna. This year, in the second edition of Formula’s 1 spectacular night race on September 27, the Singapore street circuit along Marina Bay will have names for three turns along its 5.067-kilometre track. The corners selected by organisers Singapore GP are Turns 1, 7 and 10 and readers are invited to send in their suggestions in a contest where attractive prizes are on offer for the winning entries. Turn 1, under Benjamin Shears Bridge, was a natural choice as the sport regards the first corner as the most watched and crucial corner of a race. Located at the corner of Suntec City and Nicoll Highway, Turn 7 was where some of the most dramatic overtaking manoeuvres occurred last year. Turn 10, outside the old Supreme Court building, saw a number of drivers come unstuck, including then reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari. TODAY’s sports editor Leonard Thomas, along with the likes of Singapore GP deputy chairman Colin Syn, managing director of Performance Motors Simon Rock, Singapore Motor Sports Association chief Tan Teng Lip and former Singapore racer Lee Chiu San will be among the judges. Said Colin Syn: “The Singapore street circuit, with its stunning cityscape backdrop, was one of the most memorable images of the 2008 Formula 1 season. “To add even more local flavour to the circuit, we have decided, in association with TODAY, to launch a competition to name three of the turns that will see some of the hottest driving action this September. “The judges will be looking to choose names that are punchy, have a strong local connection and are easy to pronounce. With a global race weekend television audience of more than 110 million and with 600 foreign media in town, it is a great opportunity to highlight our local icons throughout all the action-packed 61 laps.” Drivers are not the only names for famous racing corners. The famous Le Mans circuit in France in the 1920s started the tradition of naming corners after landmarks, and White House and Red Roof became synonymous with the track. With Formula 1 now the pre-eminent motor-racing competition in the world, the sport’s various circuits have gained prominence. Perhaps the most famous and glamorous of all is Monte Carlo’s Casino, the third turn at the Monaco Grand Prix. The stream at Spa’s L’Eau Rouge — Turn 3 — in Belgium catapults drivers on a steely ride up a steep slope. Monza’s Parabolica and the Corkscrew at California’s Laguna Seca pay tribute to the dangerous character of the two turns. The three turns of Singapore’s street circuit earmarked to be named this year all have their own unique character. They are all set to become members of an exclusive club, Formula 1 corners with special names. Readers have until the end of the month to send their names in. It’s your turn at the Singapore Grand Prix If you have a great name to immortalise turns 1, 7, or 10, email your suggestions to gpturns@mediacorp.com.sg from now until February 28, explaining to the judging panel your choice in no more than 50 words. Three winners will each receive a three-day 2009 Formula One SingTel Singapore Grand Prix pass for the grandstand closest to the turn they have named, as well as a pitlane tour. The best overall contributor will also get a two-night star in a five-star trackside hotel. Names must have strong local flavour and be no longer than three words – that includes the words “Turn” or “Corner” – and cannot incorporate commercial names. The contest in opened to all individuals, regardless of nationality or country of residence, except for employees (and immediate family members) of Singapore GP, TODAY, authorised agencies and principle sponsors associated with the Singapore Grand Prix. http://www.arablaws.org/article/Article/Three_turns_at_F1_circuit_along_Marina_Bay_set_to_be_named.htm 5th Feb,2009 LONDON (Reuters) - Motor racing chief Max Mosley wants Europe to toughen up media privacy laws after he was awarded 60,000 pounds in damages because a newspaper published details of his role in a sado-masochistic orgy. The head of Formula One's governing body will Monday ask the European Court of Human Rights to force newspapers to notify individuals before publishing information about private lives, Mosley's lawyer said in a statement Saturday. Mosley did not deny taking part in the German-themed sex session with five prostitutes, but said his privacy was violated by The News of the World tabloid newspaper reporting of it. "It has already been established in the High Court that Mr Mosley was the subject of an illegal and devastating invasion of his private life by the News of the World," lawyer Dominic Crossley said. "The only effective remedy would have been to prevent the publication in the first place by means of an injunction; but because he did not know about the article beforehand, the opportunity of an injunction was not open to him." Crossley said if the application to the European court was successful "everyone in the UK will equally share in the right to have an editor's decision to publish reviewed by a judge before irreparable damage can be done." (Reporting by Alan Baldwin and Matt Falloon) http://www.arablaws.org/article/Article/g9qqm8au4v.htm 5th Oct,2008 SINGAPORE: The recent Singapore Formula One Grand Prix may have gone some way in branding Singapore as the Monaco of the East, but one event — no matter how major — certainly will not be enough to sustain the buzz. Hence, other big events are in store for the rest of the year. It’s the stage from the National Day Parade, but come October 11, the floating platform at Marina Bay will be taken over by party goers gyrating to hip hop music! For art lovers who cannot get enough of the Singapore Biennale, Asia’s largest contemporary art fair will be coming to Suntec City from October 10—13. For sports enthusiasts, the F1 of the seas — the Volvo Ocean Race — will make its first Singapore stop in December. And to further promote Singapore as a lifestyle destination, the famous Tuscany Sun Festival will be having its second run in Singapore over 10 days in October. With over 90 events featuring 350 international artistes, including Hollywood star Robert Redford, Singaporeans and visitors will be spoilt for choice when it comes to entertainment options. However, with the US financial meltdown and tourism arrivals expected to slow, will there be a market for all the events lined up in Singapore? Lynette Pang, Singapore Tourism Board’s director for events and entertainment cluster development, said: "It is definitely going to be a very challenging year to meet our (target of) 10.8 (million) visitor arrivals. That is why we are shifting our focus. "Instead of (focusing) on visitor arrivals, we are looking at yield and expenditure. So moving ahead, the focus will definitely be on the high net worth individuals, the premium plus segment, as well as the BT MICE market." STB believes the premium plus segment, as well as the BT MICE market — which stands for business travellers, meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions — are more well cushioned against a slower economy. Hence, it is confident that events held in the later part of the year will be well supported. Sustaining the buzz in Singapore is also as much about local establishments, as it is about temporary events. And some local nightspot operators say a slowdown may be a good time to re—look at their business. Bernard Lim, executive vice—president, LifeBrandz, said: "We will be taking the opportunity to look at how to perhaps trim the operating costs if and when necessary. "And more importantly, to take a look at how to reinvent ourselves, to perhaps add more value to the entertainment, invest forward perhaps for the next few months and get ourselves ready for the next peak, which will traditionally come in December. Industry watchers say that while many are tightening their belts in the US and Europe, the party is not quite over for Singapore, which is still basking in the post—F1 glow. http://www.arablaws.org/article/Article/lp00i08f3q.htm 5th Oct,2008