News Today

Cheney reassures Japan over N. Korea deal
TOKYO - US VICE-PRESIDENT Dick Cheney worked yesterday to ease Japanese concerns about a landmark deal with North Korea and told its Iraq war allies that Washington will never adopt 'a policy of retreat'. With Japan refusing to contribute funds to... [Read more]

Youth gambling: Nipping it in the bud
STUDIES show that youth gambling is a problem that needs to be tackled early. A 2004 gambling prevalence survey here showed that nearly half of all Singaporean gamblers started aged between 18 and 24. Global research also showed that young people... [Read more]

British doctors lose right to be own watchdog
LONDON - BRITISH doctors will lose the right to act as their own watchdog under government plans for Britain's biggest medical regulatory overhaul in decades. The changes, announced on Wednesday, are part of the government's response to the inquiry into how... [Read more]

Tonight's Summary
Four new lifestyle groups for members'AKAN datang'' (Malay for coming soon) will be more affordable and fun activities for workers.That was what the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) new secretary-general Lim Swee Say promised as part of the organisation's workplan this... [Read more]

Organ transplant: Unease over last-minute opt-out
THE recent incident in which a brain-dead patient's family tried to physically obstruct the operation to harvest his organs for transplant into patients needing them has revived the discussion about brain death and even led to calls to amend the Human... [Read more]

Make high-quality preschool available to rich and poor
I REFER to the recent parliamentary debates between several MPs and Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Education) Masagos Zulkifli concerning preschool education.In the debate, it was assured that the Ministry of Education (MOE), in tandem with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and... [Read more]

Forum draws up goals and strategy
Things to do Increase water-related investments, so that access to clean water supplies and sanitation is improved. Economic development coupled with population growth increases pressure on already-stressed water resources, especially in less developed countries. Money also has to be channelled into... [Read more]

Hyundai overtakes Mercedes as largest limo cab
MOVE over Mercedes - Hyundai now has the biggest limo taxi here. The Hyundai Azera is the choice of taxi operator Smart Automobile, which has secured a fleet of these cars. They are longer, wider and taller than the Mercedes-Benz E-class... [Read more]

Govt shows its capitalist head, socialist heart
A CAN-DO Budget with buzz. And one that positions Singapore to run the next lap of the global economy, even as it beefs up social-security spending to take care of those who can't run as fast. That's what Second Finance Minister... [Read more]

Let's do our part to protect planet Earth
I refer to the letter, 'Saving the planet, one degree at a time' (ST Forum, Feb 14).The report from IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change) released on Feb 2 showed that the scientific community has finally agreed that human-induced climate change... [Read more]

Colourful, sickening
PARIS - ALLERGY to hair dye is soaring in numerous countries as more and more young people colour their locks, the British Medical Journal warns. The culprit is para-phenylenediamine (PPD) and its cousins in a chemical family called aromatic amines, the... [Read more]