Today's Singapore News

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

-Energy saving devices not solution to cost cutting: The latest 22 per cent increase in electricity tariffs has contributed to further worries, and energy saving devices appear to be a tempting solution.
-Why does travel industry shun transparent fares?: The Advertising and Standards Authority of Singapore (Asas) has made it a requirement for all airlines and travel agencies to reveal full fares from Nov 1.
-A tax to get S’poreans to save energy?: With Singapore having impressed upon its citizens on the need to conserve water, the Government is now looking at ways to do the same for energy.
-Job placement centres see more individuals seeking help: Observers are predicting rising unemployment rate in Singapore as businesses freeze hiring and reduce headcount to cope with the economic downturn.
-Inflation should halve next year: The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) expects inflation to taper to 2.5 to 3.5 per cent next year — but don’t expect an immediate drop in prices across the board.
-Singapore taxi firm to axe diesel surcharge: ComfortDelGro, Singapore's largest taxi operator, announced Wednesday that it will be removing the 30-Singapore-cent diesel surcharge on taxi rides with effect from 06:00 a.m. local time (2200 GMT), on November 12.
-NTUC extends discount on 500 essential housebrand items: To help consumers weather the economic downturn, NTUC is extending its five per cent discount on 500 essential housebrand items until end March 2009.
-Angry, young and over here: Blame it on the stresses of society or poor upbringing, but Singapore's young are getting more angry and violent. They may be teenagers or in their early 20s, but they are brimming with so much anger that they are quick to hit.
-S'pore ranks 7th in the world: Singapore has been ranked as one of the best global cities in the world in a study by the influential Washington-based magazine, Foreign Policy.
-DBS says Lehman-linked notes worthless: Singapore's DBS Group said 103 million Singapore dollars ($68 million) of structured notes linked to bankrupt U.S. brokerage Lehman Brothers Holdings are now worthless.