I can still remember unwrapping my first computer, an Apple II Plus in 1982. That was the start of a fascinating journey of discovery into how innovative new technology, coupled with beautiful design and a deep understanding of human needs could transform our lives. Thank you so much, Steve.

Last week, I attended an informal ministerial meeting on climate change in Pretoria, South Africa, and experienced first hand the enormous difficulties the negotiators are facing.

The crux of the negotiations is to achieve the stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere. The current goal is to limit the rise of global temperatures to less than 2 degrees centigrade. This is the level that the scientists have told us is necessary to avoid catastrophic climatic instability. However, there is currently a big gap between this goal and the current pledges by the international community. The United Nations Environment Programme Report published last year indicated a clear gap of at least 5 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide per year even in the best case scenario.

Last week, Al-Iman Mosque invited Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mr Liang Eng Hwa, grassroots leaders and me to the Community Iftar. We learnt that Ramadan is a time to count our blessings, share our blessings and to respect all human beings regardless of differences. I wish our Muslim brothers and sisters Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

This morning, the Ulu Pandan branch visited Mr Choo Siu Heng in hospital to celebrate National Day with him. He is now 81 years old and and has been a volunteer and activist since the mid 1950s. He was banished by the colonial authorities to China in 1956, and was allowed to return to Singapore only after the 1959 General Election. Since then, he has been a regular presence at Meet-the-People Sessions and community events for more than 5 decades.

This has always been the time of the year when the number of people with dengue increases as the temperature rises in Singapore.

Last week, 227 people came down with dengue.

This was the highest weekly number in four years.

It was also the third consecutive week that the number of cases had gone beyond what is considered the epidemic level.

As of 26 July 2011, there were 31 active clusters, with five clusters having more than 10 cases.

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The addition of our 16th and 17th reservoirs means two thirds of Singapore’s land area is now water catchment zone. Another significant step in our journey towards water self sufficiency and sustainability.