News Today

3 charged over wave of violence in Thai south
PATTANI - THAI security forces have arrested three men in connection with a wave of violence that left eight dead and 69 injured across the Muslim-dominated far south at the weekend. Southern Army commander Viroach Buacharoon told a news conference yesterday... [Read more]

Investments in S'pore last year hit record $13b
SINGAPORE attracted investments last year that will eventually add $13.4 billion annually to the economy - a record for a single year - and generate almost 27,000 new jobs. The figure, up from 2005's $10.8 billion, was achieved against intense and... [Read more]

Schools to teach Net safety lessons
STUDENTS here, among the most wired in the world, will soon get lessons in school that will help them navigate cyberspace safely and watch out for dangers like cyber-predators. Counsellors are also being trained to help students who develop Internet-related problems... [Read more]

Speculation mounts over form of new Thai charter
BANGKOK - SPECULATION is intensifying in Thailand over the shape of the next Constitution, after the election of a controversial former intelligence chief to chair the 35-member drafting committee.Mr Prasong Soonsiri, 79, was among 10 members of the committee handpicked by... [Read more]

Bullying cases in Japan soar
TOKYO - THE number of Japanese youngsters officially punished for bullying last year rose 41 per cent over 2005 - a 20-year record high - amid heightened concern over school bullying.The National Police Agency said on Thursday there were 233 cases... [Read more]

More Chinese delay pregnancy by freezing eggs
BEIJING - AN INCREASING number of Chinese women are asking fertility institutes to freeze their eggs so that they can postpone pregnancy to enjoy their careers and youth, Chinese media reported yesterday.More than 260 couples in Shanghai had frozen eggs, the... [Read more]

Factory output grows 5.1% despite slide in electronics
FACTORIES ended last year with a well-worn story - slumping output in the electronics sector dragged down Singapore's overall manufacturing output last month. Industrial production managed growth of 5.1 per cent in December despite the third consecutive month of decline in... [Read more]

Sailors give $477,500 back to association
IT WAS a night to celebrate the success of Singapore's sailors at the Doha Asian Games in December.But the drive to sustain a new wave of talent was not forgotten at SingaporeSailing's Appreciation and Celebration Dinner at the Republic of Singapore... [Read more]

Clarification needed over new scheme by property agents
I refer to the report, 'Two agencies launch property sale 'guarantee' scheme' (ST, Feb 9).I have a few queries. Is the scheme lawful, that is, does it break any HDB regulation, MAS guidelines or CPF rules?Isn't it true that HDB does... [Read more]

New tests to pick VIPs' bodyguards
POLICE officers who want to join the Police Security Command (Seccom) - the crack unit of bodyguards assigned to protect the President, ministers and other VIPs - will be handpicked for the job with a new series of gruelling tests.The new... [Read more]

More major operations done without 'knockout' anaesthesia
SOME major operations can now be done without the patient being completely knocked out under general anaesthesia. In regional anaesthesia, doctors paralyse just that part of the body undergoing surgery. Epidurals, administered to control pain in the lower bodies of women... [Read more]