Portal offers courses on business skills

A new website called Parenthesis was launched yesterday, for white-collar workers to go online to pick up business and interpersonal skills.

Launched by the Employment and Employability Institute, the portal has more than 650 courses on topics such as project management, negotiation and IT.

Students learn through video-lectures, online discussions and case studies. Course durations and prices are listed on the site. Singaporeans and permanent residents who are NTUC members need to foot only half the bill - the other half is paid by the labour movement, to a cap of $250 every year.

Survey to enhance navigational safety

A hydrographic survey will be conducted to gather data on the distance between the deepest point of a vessel's hull and the seabed, in five critical areas within the Malacca and Singapore straits.

The data collected will enhance existing electronic navigational charts, and enable better voyage planning and greater navigational safety.

Plans for the survey were revealed yesterday at a two-day maritime forum held at the Resorts World Convention Centre.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said the survey will be led by Malaysia, and supported with in-kind contributions from the three littoral states - Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Japan will provide financial and technical support.