NEL services from Dhoby Ghaut to HarbourFront halted
By Joanne Leow, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 24 July 2006 1612 hrs

HarbourFront, Outram Park, Chinatown and Clarke Quay MRT stations have been closed due to an electrical problem which caused a train to stall just after Outram Park station.

At around 12.45pm, a southbound North East Line train stalled in the tunnel due to loss of traction power.

Repeated attempts to bring the power back failed and about half-an-hour after the incident, about 100 passengers were evacuated from the train.

Initial investigations showed a wire which supplied traction power to the trains had come loose.

SBS Transit says its engineers are working to bring the system up again, but this is likely to take several hours.

Normal train operations are still running between Dhoby Ghaut and Punggol stations, while alternative bus services from the affected stations have been activated.

Those affected can seek a refund of their fare at any NEL Passenger Service Counter.

The public may call the SBS Transit Customer Relations Centre at 1800-287-2727 or 6383-7214 for further information. - CNA/ir</font>

Training grenade found in rubbish centre of condominium
By Ng Bao Ying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 July 2006 1821 hrs

SINGAPORE : A training grenade has been found in the rubbish centre of a condominium block at Cuscaden Walk.

Police said they were notified by a cleaner, who was wheeling a bin from one of the apartment block chutes to the main rubbish centre on Tuesday morning.

They cordoned the area, covered the item with a bomb blanket and notified the SAF's Explosives and Ordinance Disposal unit.

The object was identified as a training grenade which does not contain high explosives.

Police are now investigating how the grenade got there.

- CNA /ls

Rules relaxed for flying national flag
By Noor Mohd Aziz, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 10 July 2006 1656 hrs

SINGAPORE : Singaporeans can now fly the national flag at their residences from the middle of July to the end of August, to celebrate the country's National Day.

Previously, the national flag could only be displayed in August.

Following requests by Singaporeans, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts is allowing residents to display the flag for the extended period, on a trial basis.

It is also allowing Singaporeans to apply decals and flag stickers to themselves or their belongings.

This is to give the people more ways of expressing their loyalty to Singapore during the National Day celebrations.

The ministry, however, reminds the public to maintain the dignity and respect for the flag in doing so.

The business community, including foreign organisations based here, is also encouraged to fly the Singapore flag.

Guidelines on the use of national symbols can be found at www.sg and for the national flag at www.sg/explore/symbols_flag_guideline.htm. - CNA /ct

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 12 July 2006 1929 hrs

Unjustified comments on govt policies will undermine confidence in govt: minister
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia



Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Dr Lee Boon Yang said the government was duty-bound to respond to unfair and unjustified comments on key government policies.

He was speaking to reporters on Wednesday after launching Singapore HeritageFest at Suntec City.

The theme this year is identity, and with its tagline - "What makes you, You?",

It aims to get Singaporeans discussing, and to decide for themselves what the Singapore identity is.

Asked for the Government's response to a recent newspaper column by famous blogger mr brown, Dr Lee said he (mr brown) made various allegations which were unfounded, and published them in a mainstream newspaper.

If the Government lets those comments pass, they would undermine confidence in the Government.

Dr Lee said: "I said that we will look at how we can help have a lighter touch in regulating the internet during the elections. Mr brown's comment was not posted in his blog. If he had posted the same comment on his blog, we'll treat it as part of the internet chatter and we would have just let it be! But he didn't post it - he wrote it and publish it in a mainstream newspaper! That's the difference!"

The minister said, in a mainstream newspaper, you have to be objective, you have to be accurate, you have to be responsible for your views.

He added: "And that's always been my position, or the position of this Government - that the mainstream newspaper must report accurately, objectively and responsibly. And that they must adopt this model that they are part of this nation-building effort, rather than go out and purvey views that would mislead people, confuse people, which will in fact undermine our national strategy!" - CNA/ch