News Today

Union warns of strike if old Thai airport reopens
BANGKOK - A MAJOR union of airline workers has threatened to go on strike if the Thai government goes ahead with the reopening of Bangkok's old international airport. The warning came yesterday as a government-appointed safety panel said the new Suvarnabhumi... [Read more]

Howard and Obama in war of words
SYDNEY - AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister John Howard found himself at the centre of a political storm yesterday after criticising US presidential hopeful Barack Obama over his plans to pull troops from Iraq. The conservative leader earned a stinging rebuke from the... [Read more]

Liable for interest accumulated during National Service stint
National service is every able-bodied male Singaporean obligation to serve and contribute to the nation's security. Likewise for education, a learning journey, where one can contribute to the nation's economy. I laud the Government's initiative to help post-secondary school leavers to... [Read more]

Bringing cheer to young parents
AROUND 500 children, including cancer patients and their siblings, received TY Beanie Bears and goodie bags filled with toys and snacks this week - a joint gift from Tangs and the Viva Foundation for Children with Cancer.About 300 children were presented... [Read more]

US consumer spending rises 0.7%
WASHINGTON - PERSONAL spending in the United States jumped in December by the most in five months, and a measure of inflation monitored by the Federal Reserve rose less than forecast.The 0.7 per cent rise in purchases followed a 0.5 per... [Read more]

Study to find out if masks keep flu at bay
ANN ARBOR (MICHIGAN) - HUNDREDS of university students here are taking part in a study that could change the way the world looks at flu. They walk around the campus wearing surgical masks as part of a test to see if... [Read more]

Ex-VW executive to pay hefty fine for bribery
FORMER Volkswagen executive Peter Hartz has been given a two-year suspended jail term and a hefty fine for his role in a bribery scandal involving lavish holidays and prostitutes. Hartz, the architect of extensive German labour market reforms and the former... [Read more]

MediShield basic coverage continues in any upgrade
IN THE letter, 'Should man upgrade his medical insurance?' (ST, Jan 20), Ms Nelly Yanty asked if someone who had a medical condition should upgrade to a different Shield plan. For all Medisave-approved integrated Shield plans, there are two components. The... [Read more]

No. 1 killer of women? Most here don't know
THE majority of women in Singapore are not aware of what the top cause of death is among women here.They are not even able to name the important risk factors of women's No. 1 killer, heart diseases and stroke.These were some... [Read more]

Parliament Shorts
INCOME CEILING: HDB TO BE FLEXIBLE INCOME ceilings are still needed for purchases of subsidised Housing Board flats, but HDB will be flexible if families are in difficulty, said Minister of State (National Development) Grace Fu yesterday.Income ceilings help ensure that... [Read more]

Top Colombian minister quits
COLOMBIAN Foreign Minister Maria Consuelo Araujo has resigned abruptly, days after her brother, a senator, was arrested for allegedly funding right-wing paramilitary squads.'I have made my decision, and I am leaving government,' she told reporters. 'I am leaving for one reason:... [Read more]