Today's Singapore News

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

-Singaporeans welcome move by Civil Service to cut pay: Singaporeans welcomed the move by the Civil Service to reduce pay, and some said the wage cut announcement did not come as a surprise. One economist commented that the move is not unlike other wage cutting measures in previous downturns.
-Singapore digital policy sets brisk pace: It is an understatement to say Singapore likes to see itself as a hub. Government policy makes the city-state a hub of many things -- from moviemaking to casinos, from silicon chip manufacturing to oil refining.
-No to cluster bomb pact: Singapore will not sign an international agreement to ban cluster bombs but has imposed an indefinite moratorium on their export, officials said on Wednesday.
-Malaysian veggies cost more here: An early rainy season has forced prices of several varieties of Malaysian vegetables up to 10-year highs.
-Singapore court fines Wall Street Journal: Singapore's High Court fined Dow Jones Publishing Co. (Asia), a subsidiary of News Corp.'s Dow Jones & Co. unit and publisher of The Wall Street Journal's Asian edition, 25,000 Singapore dollars (US$16,573) -- the highest amount ever levied for such a case in Singapore.
-Amid layoffs, contract work may see boom: Some outplacement firms which help companies find jobs for their retrenched workers said all signs point to even more lay-offs in the first quarter of next year. But on the bright side, contract work opportunities look set to rise.
-Singapore builds up private cash stash: Singapore has set out its stall as a center of finance for the entertainment industry in Asia, mixing a generous supply of soft-money options with a largely favorable regulatory environment. Now being added into the mix is a series of funds run by private-sector operators.
-Institute for men's health: To raise awareness of men's health issues among the public and the healthcare sector, a group of doctors have come together to set up the Institute for Men's Health - a first for Singapore.
-Visitor arrivals fall in Singapore: The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) says the country's visitor arrivals and tourism receipts are expected to fall short of this year's targets.
-Travel agencies monitoring situation closely: Local travel agencies also say they're monitoring the situation in Bangkok closely. Many have asked customers left stranded in the Thai capital to stay put for now, after the airport was shut indefinitely.
-Singaporeans' Thai hols disrupted: More than 200 Singaporeans and other travellers had their travel plans to Bangkok disrupted on Wednesday by the anti-government protests in the Thai capital.