SINGAPORE investment company Temasek Holdings has emerged as the first employer here to publicly announce a company-wide round of pay cuts.

'We anticipate a global recession in 2009 and possibly beyond. Therefore, Temasek will institute a firm-wide wage cut, led by senior management who volunteered 15 to 25 per cent,' said Temasek's managing director for human resources, Mr Robert Chong.

THE economy is slowing down and jobs are in danger, but it seems like there has never been a better time to buy a car.

Dealers selling smaller models say prices have fallen to record lows on the back of COE premiums for small cars falling to an unprecedented $2 on Wednesday. The made-in-China, 800 cc Chery QQ now costs $22,999 for the manual model, $5,000 less than originally. And if a buyer goes for this as a weekend car, he need only pay $10,999, down from $12,999.

WITH difficult times lying ahead, labour chief Lim Swee Say says the critical question that bosses, unions and the Government must ask is this:

'Do we focus our minds and efforts on cutting jobs to save costs, or cutting costs to save jobs?' He is clear about what the answer must be - a uniquely Singapore solution:

TAIPEI - TAIWANESE prosecutors said they questioned jailed former President Chen Shui-bian over graft allegations on Friday, as he extended a hunger strike for a 10th day.

The 57-year-old Chen has refused solid food since Nov 12 - the day judges ordered him jailed. He denies allegations of money laundering and taking bribes and says the government of President Ma Ying-jeou is persecuting him for his anti-China, pro-independence views.