T3W3

Beacon Current Affairs 2014

Who am I?

Names in the news Places in the news

Zao Jing (pg9) Phillipines, Japan, Beijing (pg9)

Words in the News

(pg2)!feasible!

trial!complement!

affordable

(Pg6)!slash (fees)!

rock-bottom!bulk!glut

(Pg16)!indicator!

throwback!landmarks!monikers

(pg18-19)!statistics!

melting-pot!ethnic group!

religion

Fancy a public bike? (pg2)❖ Our Land Transport Authority (LTA) is

looking at testing out a bike-share trial next year!

❖ This is a self-service public bike rental shame where users pay a fee to use a network of bikes in an area!

❖ The idea is to complement public transport!

❖ It has issued a request for information from industry players to see how much it costs!

❖ Would you like to cycle from one place to another instead of taking the bus or MRT?

Passing on the costs to maids (pg6)❖ Agents are making it cheaper to hire

maids (as low as $300 today, compared to $1600 half a year ago)!

❖ However, the maids suffer as a result!❖ Bulk of the costs are passed on to the maid!❖ The maid has to pay a larger fee to the

agent (more than $4000)!❖ Many go without wages for months while

they pay off what they owe!❖ Imagine if you had to work for 8 months

without receiving a salary!❖ Think twice before you go around hiring

the cheapest maid you can find

News from the region (pg9)❖ The Parada ng Lechon festival

was held in the Phillipines on June 24!

❖ 100 roasted pigs were dressed in colourful outfits for the festival!

❖ Also read about the Chinese radio presenter who has published her own Tamil book!

❖ And how the Japanese love their rice.

What’s in a street name? (pg16)

❖ Our road names are a daily indicator of Singapore’s history and culture!

❖ Many of them are named after early settler, landmarks or early uses!

❖ Did you know that Geylang Serai was once known as Geylang Kelapa as there were many coconut trees?!

❖ Read on to find out more about the origins and meaning of our various street names

Colourful weddings (pg18)

❖ Have you ever attended the weddings of people from other cultures?!

❖ Do you know how to conduct yourself at one?!

❖ Read on for more examples of common wedding customs

-Mr Ng

Look forward to hearing from all of you on the Current Affairs Blog :)