Public Transport Council conducts fare review exercise

he decision on fare review applications will be announced in the first quarter of 2015. SMRT says it will be submitting its application for a fare review in the coming weeks.

File photo of commuters boarding an SBS Transit bus in Singapore. (Photo: TODAY)

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SINGAPORE: The Public Transport Council (PTC) on Wednesday (Nov 19) announced it has started the annual fare review exercise.

Public transport operators may submit their applications for fare review to the PTC for consideration by Dec 19. The decision will be announced in the first quarter of 2015, according to the press release.

Responding to media queries, SMRT's Vice-President for Corporate Information and Communications Patrick Nathan said: "We seek a better alignment of fares and operating costs, and will be submitting our application for a fare review in the coming weeks."

Obama to act alone to fix 'broken' US immigration law

In confirming his intention to act through executive order, Obama also threw down the gauntlet on Wednesday to his Republican opponents in a Congress that has failed to pass broader reform legislation.

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama will lay out a plan on Thursday (Nov 20) to fix the "broken" laws stranding millions of undocumented migrants in limbo, saying the problem has festered for too long.

In confirming his intention to act through executive order, Obama also threw down the gauntlet on Wednesday to his Republican opponents in a Congress that has failed to pass broader reform legislation.

The president did not reveal the details of his measure, but officials have suggested his order may protect up to five million of America's estimated 11 million undocumented migrants from deportation.

North Korea leader Kim appears in public with walking stick: state media

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, using a cane for support, visited a housing development, state media reported on Tuesday, ending a lengthy absence from public view that had fueled speculation over his health and grip on power in the secretive country.

Several pictures on the front page of Tuesday's Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed Kim smiling and gesturing, surrounded by aides and wearing his signature dark buttoned suit and appearing to be supporting himself with a black cane.

The 31-year-old Kim had not appeared in public since attending a concert with his wife on Sept. 3, missing an important political anniversary on Friday as well as a recent session of the country's parliament.

A story in the official KCNA news agency on two public appearances by Kim was dated Tuesday but did not specify on which day he made the visits. It also did not mention Kim's lengthy absence from public view.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

The KCNA story, which was typical of the state media's chronicling of Kim's activities, said he "gave field guidance" to the new Wisong Scientists Residential District and visited the newly built Natural Energy Institute of the State Academy of Sciences.

"Our scientists are patriots who are devoting all their lives to building a rich and powerful nation," Kim was quoted as saying by KCNA.

Foreign Office calls in Thai diplomat over murder inquiry concerns

Zaw Lin, left, and Win Zaw Htun are due to appear in a Thai court on Wednesday. Photograph: Bangkok Post/Barcroft Media

A senior Thai diplomat has been summoned by the Foreign Office over serious concerns about the investigation into the murders of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller.

Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire said there was a real concern about the inquiry amid allegations that two Burmese men were beaten by Thai police into confessing to killing the pair.

The summons of the Thai chargé d’affaires to the UK, Nadhavathna Krishnamra, reveals that the police investigation has placed a considerable strain on relations between the UK and Thailand following the murders on 15 September.

It comes 48 hours after Thai police insisted they had concrete evidence linking two Burmese migrant workers with the brutal killings, following reports the suspects had withdrawn their confessions.

The men, named in reports as bar workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, face a possible death sentence after being accused of murdering Witheridge, 23, and Miller, 24, on the island of Koh Tao.

However, last week the suspects reportedly withdrew their confessions and alleged they were beaten during interrogations by Thai police. Other witnesses have also said they faced police brutality, such as scalding with boiling water.

Swire, the Foreign Office minister and Tory MP for East Devon, raised his concerns with Thailand’s deputy prime minster, Tanasak Patimapragorn, shortly after the allegations of police brutality first surfaced.

Summoning Krishnamra over the claims, Swire “stressed that there was a real concern in the UK about how the investigation has been handled by the Thai authorities”, the Foreign Office said.

A spokeswoman added: “Mr Swire said that it was crucial for the investigation to be conducted in a fair and transparent way.

Shakira pregnant with baby No. 2

SHAKIRA is pregnant with baby No. 2.
THE Colombian singer made the announcement on her Facebook and Twitter pages on Thursday. Her representative confirmed that the accounts were real.
The Grammy winner wrote: "Yes, we are expecting our second baby!! Thank you all for your well wishes!" No more details about the pregnancy were revealed.
Shakira and soccer player Gerard Pique, 27, welcomed their son, Milan Pique Mebarak, last year.
Pique, who is from Barcelona, is a soccer player for FC Barcelona.

Magnitude 6.1 quake rattles southern Japan

A MAGNITUDE-6.1 earthquake has struck the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, the Japan Meteorological Agency says.

NO tsunami warning was issued, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The quake, which hit the region at 4.14am (0514 AEST) on Friday, originated underground off the coast of Miyazaki prefecture, the area between Kyushu and the southwestern island of Shikoku, the agency said.

Google builds package-delivering drones

GOOGLE'S secretive research laboratory is trying to build a fleet of drones designed to bypass earthbound traffic so packages can be delivered to people more quickly.

THE ambitious program announced on Thursday escalates Google's technological arms race with rival Amazon.com, which also is experimenting with self-flying vehicles to carry merchandise bought by customers of its online store.

Google Inc has dubbed its effort "Project Wing". Although Google expects it to take several more years before its fleet of drones is fully operational, the company says test flights in Australia recently delivered a first aid kit, chocolate bars, dog treats, and water to two farmers.