SALES of new private homes rocketed to an 'outstanding level' last month thanks to price cuts and the share market rally boosting buyer confidence.

Recession-defying numbers out on Monday showed there were 1,668 units sold in May, just a tad below the all-time high of 1,731 set in the boomtime month of August 2007.

SEOUL - TENS of thousands of North Koreans rallied in Pyongyang on Monday to condemn the UN rebuke of the country's latest nuclear test amid concern the communist regime could conduct another one.

The US and South Korea are scrutinizing 11 underground sites across North Korea where it could conduct a third nuclear test, based on intelligence it may do so in protest of the UN Security Council sanctions, Seoul's JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported earlier on Monday.

SINGAPORE investors now have a wealth of destinations to choose from and will put their money in Malaysia only if they can be absolutely sure that bilateral cooperation is for the long-term, not chopping and changing from one year to the next, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said on Monday, at the end of his eight-day visit to Kuala Lumpur and four states.

That has been his consistent message to federal government leaders.

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN police on Monday fired several rounds of tear gas to break up a noisy protest held by Iranians residing here against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's controversial election victory.

Earlier more than 200 people gathered at the city's United Nations building to hand over a protest note demanding the world body nullify elections the Iranian opposition allege was rigged.