PRESS DIGEST - Singapore newspapers - August 13

SINGAPORE, August 13 (Reuters) - The following are stories from Singapore newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories.

STRAITS TIMES

- The outbreak of H1N1 flu in Singapore may have passed its peak, judging by the falling number of people seeking treatment at government-run clinics.

- Two senior executives have resigned from Las Vegas Sands' (LVS.N) upcoming casino-resort in Singapore amid a management shakeup. Thomas Arasi has been appointed President and CEO of Marina Bay Sands, replacing Nigel Roberts; while Ronen Nissenbaum will take over as head of hotel operations from Tony Cousens. The multi-billion-dollar Marina Bay Sands casino is slated to open in January or February next year.

- Life insurance sales soared in April-June after two consecutive quarters of weak sales, according to statistics from the Life Insurance Association of Singapore. Total new premiums during the second quarter amounted to S $1.13 billion ($782.5 million), a rise of 39 percent from the first quarter's S$818 million.

BUSINESS TIMES

- Office rents in Singapore are beginning to stabilise after falling sharply in the past nine months and the new leases could exceed expiring leases in the fourth quarter, property consultants said. Cushman & Wakefield estimates that average Grade A office rents are now around S$8.45 per square foot a month, down 2.9 percent from the end of the second quarter.