Higher allowances for foster parents from April: (by Faezah)

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) is increasing the allowances for foster parents from 1 April next year.

From 1 April, the current monthly allowance of S$650 will go up by an average of 15% for foster parents taking care of a majority of children.

The fostering allowance is meant to cover food, clothing, shelter, transport fees, schooling expenses and other miscellaneous cost needed for the care of foster children.

As for the number of foster children has increased from 232 in 2005 to about 320 as of November this year, a sizeable 39% rise in just five years.  

Foster parents will  provide a stable and nurturing home environment that is conducive for children to grow up in. Some of the children have been abused, neglected or ill-treated, or have parents and guardians who are unable to care for them.

 The article appeals to me because the number of foster children has increased tremendously from 2005 to 2010.

If i am in control of the situation, i would contribute my allowance to the foster children as they need shelter, food and clothing to protect themselves for their daily lives.

Young litterbugs growing in number (By: Elsa Ng)

Littering may be an age-old issue, but a new breed of litterbugs is giving the authorities something to worry about. Young offenders may still be a minority, but they are growing in number. One in ten ( 4,278 ) of those caught last year were young people under age of 21. This is up from 1,835 in 2006. Some 400 of them, between ages 18 and 21, were also served Corrective Work Orders for chucking cigarette butts and food wrappers at popular hang-outs like shopping malls, parks and bus stops. But more worrying than the numbers, says the National Environment Agency (NEA), is that young people, particularly teenagers, are displaying a "more non-chalent" attitude towards littering. For years, schools have attempted to play a role by organising, for example, clean-ups within their campuses or at beaches. But these tend to be done on an ad hoc basis, partly due to a lack of funding.

Why did the article appeal to me?
This article appeals to me because littering is strictly not allowed in Singapore. As a Singaporean, i tend to encourage my family members and friends not to litter. I think that it is a inconciderate act. Many of us thought that littering is all right as cleaners will eventually clean it up. However, i think that it is our own responsibility to clear our own rubbish.

If I am in charge/ in control, would you have done the same or what actions would youhave taken?
If I am in charge, I will also let litterbugs serve Corrective Work Orders for littering. Furthermore, I will also implement fines on them.

Jump in sales of travel insurance ( By: Elsa Ng )

More travellers aware of the need for protection, in case of any mishap.
Madam Irene Low, 56, never used to buy any travel insurance, but is now a convert to the idea, after having read or heard about the holidaymakers caught in a bind by natural disasters and travel accidents. Insurance companies said that more customers- espically frequent travellers- are upgrading to annual travel insurance plans and those that offer greater coverage. A spokesmanfor AXA Insurance, whose travel insurance sales are up to 20 per cent this year, said: "Travellers are more aware of the need for insurance due to the natural disasters and terrorism taking place arond the world. At HSBC Insurance, travel insurance slaes increase by 31 per cent in the first nine months of this year over the corresponding period last year. At UOB Travel, travel insurance slaes so far this year have spiked by more than 50 per cent over last year's.

Why did the article appeal to me?
This article appeal to me because I like travelling a lot however, i do not have a travel insurance. Indeed, it is safer to buy a travel insurance as people might be afraid that something might happen to them. Therefore, i am thinking whether to buy one after reading this article.

If I am in charge/ in control, would I have done the same or what actions would i have taken?
If I am in charge, I will also buy a travel insurance. Any thing may happen to me. Furthermore, with the increase of travel accidents, many people is afraid to even travel short distances. Therefore, I will buy one just in case there is any mishap.