Today's Singapore News

The following are stories that are making the headlines over at Topix Singapore News today, edited by yours truly.

-A*Star not short of scholars: Some netizens have suggested that A*Star might have implemented the scholarship referral scheme due to a lack of A*Star scholars but when contacted, however, an A*Star spokesman says the agency's scholarship figures were well on target.
-New cash-processing rooms of Cisco among best-guarded places: The new cash-processing rooms of Certis Cisco which handles money from ATMs, banks and more than 3,000 retail outlets are built from reinforced concrete and brimming with 300 security cameras.
-F1 walkabout tickets completely sold out: Singapore GP, the organiser of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix , taking place later this month, says there are no more walkabout tickets for sale.
-Singapore hotel dedicates floor to women: A luxury boutique hotel in Singapore has set aside a whole floor for women, decking it out with designer amenities and female-only staff.
-Changi boosts passenger fees: The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore is revising the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) and Passenger Security Service Charge (PSSC) at Changi Airport and Seletar Airport from January 1.
-Singapore wins first-ever Paralympics medal: Singapore's Laurentia Tan has won a bronze medal in an Equestrian event on Tuesday, giving the country its first-ever medal at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
-Singapore tops in making doing business easy: Singapore kept its top ranking for the third year in a row as the easiest place in the world to do business, the World Bank said in a report Wednesday.
-Rates at cheaper hotels soar up to 50% due to F1 fever: Backpacker hostels and budget hotels here have seen a surge in bookings, thanks to the first Formula One night race later this month.
-New mobile party concept cashes in on F1 buzz: Singapore's inaugural F1 race takes off at the end of September, and cashing in on the buzz is one party organiser who is launching a unique mobile party spot, Aqua, along the Clarke Quay riverside.
-Public trust in charities rebounds: Public confidence in charities has increased this year, despite the high-profile scandals at the Ren Ci Hospital & Medicare Centre.
-Holland V valets not leaving: The valets at Holland Village have been operating without a licence for more than a year now, continued flouting the rules despite the presence of wardens who warned them to stop.