PRESS DIGEST - Singapore newspapers - July 14

SINGAPORE, July 14 (Reuters) - The following are stories from Singapore newspapers on Monday. Reuters has not verified these stories.

THE STRAITS TIMES - Singapore's Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said organ shortages and a black market in the region made legalising trading an option. Singapore laws currently prohibit organ trade, and five people were taken to court this month in a kidneys-for-sale case.

- Belbon, a retailer for luxury brands Jean Paul Gaultier and Kenzo, has been locked out of two of its Orchard Road boutique outlets after running up rental arrears alleged to be worth at least S$100,000 ($73,860). Shopping mall Paragon, owned by Singapore Press Holdings (SPRM.SI), said Belbon had not paid rent for the two stores for at least three months. - School bus operators could soon start charging parents S$10 to S$15 more a month to ferry schoolchildren due to soaring diesel prices. The Singapore School Transport Association, which represents more than 900 school bus operators, announced the proposed increase that will start on Aug 1.

BUSINESS TIMES

- An initial public offering for Mapletree Investments, a fully-owned property unit of state investor Temasek Holdings [TEM.UL], could take place in the near future and could have a market cap of over S$5 billion.

When contacted, a Mapletree spokeswoman said: "We are ready for an IPO in terms of our business profile and track record. However, the decision to IPO the company will rest with our board and shareholders." ((Singapore Newsroom +65 6403 5677, singapore.newsroom@reuters.com)) ($1=1.354 Singapore Dollar)