BEING transparent about military armaments will help avoid misunderstandings and increase trust and confidence for the Asia-Pacific, suggested Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday.

But it must go beyond being open about military acquisitions to a declaration of strategic intent and security concerns. There must also be bilateral and multilateral actions that will lead to greater regional security.

IN THE early hours of July 1, 2007, factory worker Smaelmeeral Abdul Aziz, 32, lay dead at the foot of Block 181, Stirling Road. No one had witnessed her death, except her husband, Tharema Vejayan Govindasamy.

Witnesses who saw him later recalled him walking away, barely looking at her.

SINGAPORE'S health services are gaining a new ally, as private operators join the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in providing the Emergency Ambulance Service from Monday.