Ethics manual for counselling

Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower Amy Khor will launch a counselling ethics manual today at a two-day symposium by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC). The SAC is the registering body for counsellors and psychotherapists here, and its ethics manual will lay out ethical standards and conduct for its members. Some 450 local and international participants will share best practices in counselling at the symposium.

Myanmar ceasefire pact

Myanmar government's three-year tough talks with ethnic rebel groups finally yield fruit today, as the authorities ink a ceasefire pact with eight of the groups that have been fighting for independence for more than 50 years. The pact represents a watershed in efforts to end the decade-long fight, though more than half of the rebels involved in talks have opted out of the deal. But the door remains open for them to sign at a later stage, analysts said.

Release of private home sales data

Data on new private home sales for last month will be released today and the figures are not expected to look pretty.

Analysts noted that the Sept 11 General Election and bad haze kept buyers away from show-flats. As a result, sales are expected to hover at August's level. Developers moved 495 private homes in August, 69.3 per cent below the 1,611 sold in July.