THE close and cooperative relationship that exists between the Government, employers and worker unions here is a key strength, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday as he recounted how a visiting foreign leader was astonished that such a system was even possible.

Speaking to a crowd of over 500 at the Singapore Tripartism Forum, he told of a conversation he had with a Latin American leader, whom he did not name, over a recent lunch.

BEING a new citizen carries with it new responsibilities to community and country, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean reminded a group of 250 new Singaporeans who received their pink identity cards at a ceremony on Sunday at the Sengkang Community Club.

Mr Teo, who is also a Member of Parliament for Pasir-Punggol GRC, said new citizens should adopt the attitude of 'what they can do to help', rather than what the Government or the community can give them.

A SUDDEN downpour came to the aid of firefighters dousing a bush fire in Tampines on Sunday afternoon.

A resident had raised the alarm at 12.25pm and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) firemen arrived at a tract of burning grassland along Tampines Avenue 9 in minutes.

BERN (Switzerland) - THE Swiss government said on Sunday it will not attend a US Senate hearing on tax havens in what appears to be a protest against a US lawsuit against bank UBS AG seeking the data of tens of thousands of American customers.

Switzerland declined an invitation to the hearing by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which is scheduled for March 4, Finance Ministry spokesman Roland Meier said, confirming a report by the Sonntags Zeitung weekly.