Geography

New policies implemented to address the low fertility rate in Singapore:

1. A bigger baby bonus cash gift of $6,000 will be given for the first two births and $8,000 for the next two births from $4,000 and $6,000, respectively.
2. A CPF Medisave account of $3,000 will also be created for each Singaporean baby "to further support parents in planning for their children's healthcare need" and to encourage MediShield enrolment. 
3. The government will pay for one week of paternity leave for fathers of Singaporeans born from May this year. The dads will also be able to share one week of their wife's maternity leave entitlement. 
4. Parents with children aged 7-12 will get two days of government-paid child care leave annually. 
5. First-timer married couples will get priority allocation of new HDB flats and such couples with children will be allowed to rent a flat from HDB at affordable rental rates while waiting for their flats to be completed.
6. Working mothers would also get assistance. Four weeks government-paid adoption leave would be granted to working mothers in the adopted child's first year.

Do you think the above policies will help to encourage a higher birth rate in Singapore?

Source: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/bigger-baby-bonus--paternity-leave-announced-054119367.html

 How does air pollution affects Beijing?



With reference to the map:
What are the areas which pollutant level are high?
Why do you think the pollutant level is high in these areas?

Heavy monsoon rain triggered severe flooding in large swathes of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, on Thursday 17 Jan, forcing many government offices and businesses to close because staff could not get to work. At least 20,000 people were forced from their homes in the capital. Torrential rain was reported across much of the country, including the main island of Java and heavily agricultural area of southern Sumatra. An estimated more than 175 mm (7 inches) of rain fell in one part of west Jakarta between 7 a.m. and midday. In the centre of Jakarta, where streets are jammed at the best of times, long lines of idled cars waited for waist-deep water to recede. An inflatable dinghy provided by emergency services ferried people to safety across water dividing the heart of the city.The city's main airport was open but many roads leading to it were reportedly blocked. Most commuter trains and buses were suspended.

extracted from http://sg.news.yahoo.com/floods-paralyse-indonesian-capital-heavy-rains-continue-041837878--finance.html