DURING a house-to-house visit of his Sembawang constituency last week, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan asked his residents if they were worried about the global H1N1 flu spread.

All said they were not - and that got him really worried.

EVIDENCE suggests that Influenza A (H1N1) is behaving in some ways like a seasonal flu virus and almost all the new cases will be mild and will recover quickly.

Some will need hospitalisation, and practically all will recover fully, if prompt medical attention is given within the first 24 or 48 hours, said Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, urging those showing symptoms not to brush them aside or delay treatment - or they will regret later.

WASHINGTON - US COMPANIES may be laying off workers at a slower pace, but that doesn't mean more businesses are hiring.

There were 2.7 million jobs available nationwide in March, according to a government report released on Tuesday, down from 3 million in February and 4 million a year ago. It's also the lowest number in the eight years the Labour Department has tracked job openings.

THE Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) has started an online hunt for Singapore's top 10 'beautifully imperfect' couples.

The contest, held through popular social networking sight Facebook, has attracted over 14,000 fans and more than 370 couples are vying for the honour.