WP keeps up First World Parliament aim

THE Workers' Party (WP), led by party chief Low Thia Khiang, yesterday told voters that retaining Hougang represents the continuation of their journey towards a First World Parliament.

Bosses okay higher pay but not built-in raise

BOSSES are willing to raise wages of low-income workers to stay competitive in the tight labour market but maintain that built-in pay increases may be too costly a burden.

FairPrice first to increase staff salaries

NTUC FairPrice yesterday became the first employer to announce it was increasing salaries, two days after the move was recommended by the National Wages Council.

HP to axe 27,000 jobs worldwide

Woman buried alive after accident

Two men charged over match-fixing

Youth volunteers to help closer to home

Khaw points to PAP Govt's track record

PM on PAP's chances in Hougang and NCMP issue

Voters urged to rethink loyalties

Low sets out WP's impact in Parliament

PAP's growth was not smooth: Low

My conscience is clear, says Png of NCMP saga

Fibre network: Just how many homes are cabled?

OPENNET, which is rolling out Singapore's ultra- fast fibre broadband network, claims its efforts have reached nine out of 10 homes and offices. But the cables may have reached only the telecom room of a high-rise building or outside a landed property.

Casino watchdog to beef up staff training

SINGAPORE'S casino watchdog is entering a new phase in its regulatory role.

NTU team develops super-fast chip

A NEW super-fast chip made by a team of Singapore scientists could make sharing movies through smartphones a snap.

Take a shot at army life this weekend

Blogger Xiaxue fights back against Facebook abuse

S'pore to host top biology contest

Retailers hope for boost in Great Singapore Sale

Awards for trio who rescued family

Dislodged claws 'not on my radar'

Daily HFMD checks at primary schools

Once a taxi, now a winning artwork

Rustic fun to boost inter-faith bonding

Tips for rearing healthy children

Singapore stories

Asia

Suu Kyi to attend, Thein Sein may skip it

BANGKOK - Myanmar President Thein Sein will go ahead with a state visit to Thailand next week, but may skip the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia, where democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is also billed to appear. People familiar with government thinking said the President's office was taken aback upon hearing that Ms Suu Kyi was to speak at the WEF, which he was scheduled to address on June 1.

US-Pakistan ties under fresh stress

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's problematic relationship with the United States has sailed into fresh controversy as US lawmakers warned of aid cuts after the jailing of a surgeon who helped the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) hunt down Osama bin Laden.

Nigerians con widow of $2m in 'US general' ruse

KUALA LUMPUR - A 63-year-old Malaysian widow gave RM5 million (S$2.02 million) to a 'US army general' she met online for a business venture, only to find out later that the bank account was actually controlled by a group of 15 Nigerians who had entered Malaysia on student visas.

Indian community set to repay Najib's effort

Ex-prosecutor in Anwar team sparks debate

Hawker threat to Ambiga called off

It's not cricket - India again bowled over by scandals

China still needs US, says Mr Lee

Beijing slams Manila in sea row

Asia briefs

Blind activist's brother flees village

Communist Party veterans grilled over ouster letter

Asia stories

World

Asia is first port of call for new launches

LONDON - When the developer of Embassy Gardens, a new residential block in south central London, launched sales this month, it started pitching first to buyers 10,000km away - in Kuala Lumpur. The launch in Malaysia was swiftly followed by others in Hong Kong and Singapore. So far, South-east Asian investors have snapped up over £100 million (S$201 million) worth of units on offer - or about 160 of the development's 350 units, said the project's property agent.

Chinese prop up property mart as local demand slows

SYDNEY - After years of soaring prices, Australia's property market has slowed somewhat. Now, developers are turning to wealthy Chinese buyers to prop up demand.

NZ cracks down on smoking with 40% tax increase

WELLINGTON - There are smoke-free bars, smoke-free parks, even smoke-free college campuses. But a smoke-free country?

Something's brewing in Seattle, and it's not coffee...

UN likely to confirm Iran closer to making N-bomb

World briefs

The divisive issue of euro bonds

Flood of grim data signals worsening Europe slump

Manufacturing shrinks for 7th month

Slowing growth, falling prices hit aluminium plants

Air pockets - but no hard landing

Facebook fiasco hurts small investors

China's sovereign fund eyes $2.5b stake in Alibaba

World stories

Opinion

Portugal: Out of euro perils, into profitable Asia

PORTUGAL is not a second Greece. It is prepared to embrace austerity and go for growth at the same time to overcome its economic uncertainty. Neither have the stoic Portuguese staged fiery protests amid the euro zone crisis. In an interview with The Straits Times at the Belem Palace in Lisbon earlier this month, President Aníbal Cavaco Silva, 72, discusses Portugal's tough reforms and spirit of consensus.

Value and values of school volunteers

ONE great source of parental angst is getting one's child into a 'good' school. Regrettably, the perception of what is good has been conditioned over the years by rankings and performance at national exams.

Have baby before 30, get 20% off HDB flat?

DON'T cave in and allow women to freeze their eggs while waiting for Mr Right to show up. It won't boost Singapore's flagging fertility.

Ageing: Turning crisis into opportunity

Securing the financial future of older Singaporeans

Why the need for foreign sports talent

Responding to the 'silver tsunami'

Old ghosts haunt China's New Class

What it should have been

Opinion stories

Money

China buyers lose property top spot

BUYERS from China have lost pole position among foreign purchasers of Singapore property in the wake of December's tough cooling measures. Mainland buyers, and other foreigners, have fled the local market in droves, stung by a hefty 10 per cent additional stamp duty. A report by DTZ Research found that Chinese, including permanent residents, bought just 292 homes in the first quarter.

DBS bid to take over Danamon in limbo

A PROPOSED change to Indonesia's bank ownership limits is threatening to dash DBS Group's bid to take over Bank Danamon.

Maybank Singapore reports rise in Q1 profits

MAYBANK Singapore yesterday reported that first-quarter pre- tax profits had risen 6.9 per cent to $95.5 million, from the same period a year earlier.

Euro crisis gives manufacturers pause

20 S'pore firms head for China services trade fair

'Engage staff' to boost productivity

Shoebox flats 'almost inhuman'

Customers spend more if a firm is family-friendly, survey shows

Revamp planned to give Acra more bite

SGX and UOB unit setting up centre to train futures traders

Water treatment firm denies price manipulation

STI closes flat after see-saw trading session

Company briefs

Money stories

Sports

Ser justifies London pick

SINGAPORE'S Jasmine Ser shot down any doubts about her Olympic selection when she finished sixth at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup on Wednesday. Her performance in Munich marked a timely return to form and repaid the faith shown by the national federation, which picked her to fill the unused quota place offered by the ISSF at the London Olympics.

Malaysia cup final ref implicated

ONE was a rising star of Malaysian football in the 1990s; the other, the man in charge of last year's Malaysia Cup final.

Different roles for Baihakki, Aide

TWO centre-backs from Singapore's Asean Football Championship - winning outfit of 2007 have returned to the national fold with differing roles.

Drogba mobbed on torch run

Kalou, Bosingwa follow Didier out

Barton hit with record 12-game ban

I'm staying with club: Anelka

Arsenal don't find $65m price tag a Hazard

Sports world

Doha 2020 bid burnt

Bolt issues Chambers warning

Firms to help catch drug cheats?

It doesn't look good, says Lee

Sports stories

ST Forum

Two-and-a-half tales about service

ON MONDAY, I shopped at Winter Time in 313@Somerset shopping mall, where I was served by a Filipino and a Chinese national.

What really matters in this by-election

WHAT matters now on the eve of Polling Day in the Hougang by-election is what the People's Action Party (PAP) and the Workers' Party (WP) have to offer residents of the ward.

Little-known Estonia could be Singapore's Baltic cousin

FROM all accounts, Singapore is doing well in trading with China, the United States, India, Japan and Asean.

Let public ambulances use private hospitals

Resolving inter-floor leaks: BCA replies

Bouquets

We make no room for complacency: SIA

Where airline took a wrong turn...

...But it's still the best way to fly

Forum Online

ST Forum stories

Life!

Sports illustrated

It is easy to forget there is anything to do but shop, eat and watch movies in Singapore's urban jungle. But from Punggol to Jurong, there are plenty of unique opportunities to stretch your physical limits.

IFLY Singapore

If you have ever had an itch to try skydiving but are squeamish about jumping out of an airplane, iFly Singapore is your ticket.

Playlor!

If you love team sports but find yourself without enough players to form a team, head to Playlor! at the Marina Country Club in Punggol.

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PAP: Chance to start afresh in Hougang