Today's Singapore News

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

-HDB offers 1,181 flats: The Housing Board has launched its last sales exercise for the year, offering 1,181 flats in Choa Chu Kang and Punggol ranging from studio apartments to five-room flats.
-Govt to bear 90% of risk for SME loans: The Singapore government will make it easier and cheaper for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to get access to credit to keep their business going.
-Rare multi-million-dollar watch theft in Singapore: More than five million US dollars' worth of watches have been stolen from a Singapore shop, the dealer said, in a rare crime of such magnitude in one of Asia's safest cities.
-Budget for Lunar New Year celebrations cut: The current economic slump has taken its toll on next year's Lunar New Year celebrations. For one, the fireworks display in Chinatown on New Year's day will be shortened from five minutes in previous years to three minutes next year.
-Govt to proceed with Jurong Lake District development: The Singapore government is proceeding to put in the infrastructure to facilitate the growth of Jurong Lake District.
-3 South West loos lauded: Accolades have been given to three toilets in the South West district as part of its annual Public Health Awards.
-Singapore 2010 launches two school programs: The Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee and the Ministry of Education announced the launch of two programs Monday - the Olympic Education Programme (OEP) and Friends@YOG.
-Anti-cancer jab is safe, say local docs: A recent case in Britain in which a 12-year-old girl was left paralysed after getting a new anti-cervical cancer vaccination has worried parents in Singapore.
-Renaissance City Plan to create high value-added jobs in the arts: Creating high value-added jobs for Singaporeans in specialised arts services such as conservation work, and attracting foreign artists to be based here are some of the initiatives under Phase 3 of the Renaissance City Plan.
-New tenant at Singapore Flyer organizes free concert: Party revellers can expect a back-to-back line up of performances by local Christian rock groups as they usher in the New Year. And that's because "Love the World Bistro Bar" -- the newest tenant at the Singapore Flyer -- will be hosting a free concert on New Year's Eve.