More security at airports please

Singaporeans are willing to weather delays at the airport for safer air travel, according to a study released on Tuesday. The latest Unisys Security Index, which surveyed citizens from 14 countries on security issues, found Singaporeans among the most concerned about aviation security in the region.

Of the 891 Singaporeans between 18 and 64 polled, 96 per cent believed more needed to be done to make regional air travel more secure, while 94 per cent of Hong Kongers and Malaysians believed the same.

And 97 per cent of Singaporeans were willing to go through added security measures to help make regional airline travel safer.

Almost as many Hong Kongers and 95 per cent of Malaysians feel the same way.

This despite measures that would inconvenience them, such as arriving at the airport 30 minutes earlier for extra screening, or providing more personal information, such as a traveler’s identity scheme. (story)

Defunct university agrees to repay millions in loans

University of New South Wales (UNSW), which shut its Asia campus here early this year, has agreed to repay Singapore over $32 million in backed loans and grants, The Straits Times has learned. The settlement, announced on Tuesday, ends a tumultuous experiment for the Sydney-based university.

The school dropped a bombshell in May when it announced it was making a quick exit after just three months of classes - and after receiving $17.3 million in grants and $15 million in loans from the Government.

In September, the school said it might be forced into insolvency. Politicians raised concerns that that the Government might never see the $17.3 million in grant money again. (story)

Bus fares going up to $10

School bus fares will go up by at least $5 to $10 in January, sparked by the increase in diesel prices in recent months. The Singapore School Transport Association chairman Wong Ann Lin said the last time fares were raised was in January last year.

The association is an industry body that represents 90 per cent of school bus operators here. It has about 1,000 members and a fleet of 2,000 buses.

Mr Wong said a survey commissioned by the association two years ago showed that the average annual gross income of the operators was $20,802 in 2005 - less than their average expenditure of $30,590.

He said the expected fare hike will still not be able to cover the rising costs faced by the operators. (story)