PRESS DIGEST - Singapore newspapers - August 20

SINGAPORE, Aug 20 (Reuters) - The following are stories from Singapore newspapers on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories.

THE STRAITS TIMES

- Singapore's economy is likely to grow at about 4 percent next year -- the same rate as this year or even lower, according to a poll of private sector economists. They expect the slowdown to continue well into next year, as global economic weakness starts to spread beyond the United States, causing an extended slump in the key exports sector that may pull down the rest of the economy.

- The Government is making available public buildings and vacant land for up to four more foreign schools to ease the shortage of places in schools for expatriate children here. At full capacity, the four new sites will be able to take in more than 8,000 students by 2015.

BUSINESS TIMES

- Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI) has announced its mobile packages to accompany the launch of the highly anticipated iPhone from Apple later this week. Depending on the plan a consumer chooses, the upfront costs of the iPhone ranges from nothing to as much as S$848 ($601). - A consortium led by unlisted builder Hoi Hup Realty has emerged as the top contender for a project to building public sector apartments in the Toa Payoh residential district, after it put in the highest bid of S$198.82 million ($141 million).