Singapore - A Singapore shipyard explosion ripped off part of a barge and sent an Indian worker hurtling into the sea, news reports said Wednesday.

The man was able to swim ashore and was hospitalized with cuts on his back and head, the Manpower Ministry told The Straits Times.

He was working Tuesday aboard the 46-metre-long Orion 1505.

Sparks from welding were believed to have ignited flammable vapours, setting off the blast, the report said.

Four other workers including a safety supervisor were present at the time. They were not hurt, though one of the two cranes onboard the vessel was damaged and part of its stern blown off.

Punj Lloyd, one of India's leading engineering companies, has informed that its wholly-owned Singapore subsidiary, Punj Lloyd Pte. Ltd. has been awarded a contract worth S$54 million (Rs 167 crore) by FWP.

As per the order, Punj Lloyd will carry out select utilities mechanical works on Jurong Island, Singapore.

FWP is a joint venture between Foster Wheeler Asia Pacific and Worley Parsons.

Rajish Dhall, technical analyst at Observe Securities has advised the investors to remain invested in the counter.

Singapore - Budget carrier Tiger Airways on Tuesday started offering 100,000 seats at 40 Singapore cents (28 US cents) plus taxes and surcharges to destinations across Asia.

The five-day sale marks the fourth birthday next Monday of the Singapore Airlines-backed Tiger.

Set up in 2004, Tiger has expanded rapidly. Compound annual growth in revenue has averaged 90 per cent and passenger numbers have risen

by an annual average of 48 per cent, the airline said.

Singapore - Salaries in the Asia-Pacific region are forecast to jump next year as a result of rising inflation, a compensation firm's report said Tuesday.

Pay is expected to increase by a median 8 per cent in 2009 against a median increase of 6.7 per cent in 2008, according to HR Business Solutions.

Pay hikes among more developed countries including Taiwan, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore are forecast at between 3.5-5.9 per cent, the firm said.

Sri Lanka tops the projected increases at 17 per cent, followed by India at 16 per cent, Indonesia at 12.7 per cent, Vietnam at 12.4 per cent, Bangladesh at 11.9 per cent and Pakistan at 11.1 per cent.

Singapore - The Singapore government is urging parents to play matchmaker to find appropriate spouses for their single sons and daughters, said The Strait Times Monday.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong floated the idea during his National Day Rally recently by telling parents to follow the lead of thousands of mainland Chinese who have secretly sought sons- and daughters-in-law in parks and outings and were successful.

Parents in Singapore will attend arranged events and bring their offsprings' CVs, business cards and photographs to swap with others, to identify suitable partners that they would approve of, the report said.

Singapore - Singapore's government said it is open to public forums and debates on proposals for 11 sites earmarked as housing estates for foreign semi-skilled workers, media reports said Monday.

"I welcome the debate," Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo told reporters.

The Ministry of National Development announced plans for housing for workers from Bangladesh, Thailand and India, including converting a vacant building in the middle-class residential area of Serangoon Gardens.