News Today

Preschool education: Targeted approach to rope in all kids
THE Education Ministry has taken a targeted approach to preschool education which includes helping children from low-income families with financial schemes. Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Education) Masagos Zulkifli also said his ministry would ensure teachers were well-qualified. He was responding to questions... [Read more]

From S-League to greater things
THE S-League has featured players who have gone on to impress on the international stage.Geylang United's Hamidreza Estili was a stalwart of Iran's 1998 World Cup campaign. He also performed strongly at the 2000 Asian Cup. He, along with compatriots Mohammad... [Read more]

Here's how we can live with our neighbours
I refer to the recent topic of dealing with neighbours in the midst of heated spats. I believe much 'coffee shop talk' has been going on about the Government's seemingly 'uninterested attitude' or lack of priority towards this issue. I can... [Read more]

Some questions remain on trans fat labelling
I AM encouraged by the brave initiative by FairPrice to have healthier 'no trans fat' house-brand products on its shelves ('FairPrice house brand to get trans fat labels'; ST, Feb 8). It may start the ball rolling and see the efforts... [Read more]

Comedian not joking about Senate race
COMEDIAN Al Franken, known for his lacerating satire of the American right, discarded his customary wisecracks as he announced soberly that he would run for the US Senate. In a video posted on his website on Wednesday, there were no gags... [Read more]

Freezing human eggs involves medical risks
I REFER to the article, 'More Chinese delay pregnancy by freezing eggs' (ST, Feb 8). It is important to take note of the various medical risks incurred when delaying motherhood through freezing of eggs.Unlike human sperm and embryos, unfertilised human eggs... [Read more]

Getting enough sleep helps you to learn better the next day
PARIS - A LACK of sleep appears to disrupt the functioning of the hippocampus, an area of the brain that forms new memories. The latest issue of the medical journal Nature Neuroscience reported on Harvard Medical School investigators who recruited 28... [Read more]

S'pore firm in herbal pill deal
THE makers of a herbal pill which claims to fight bird flu signed a multi-million-dollar deal last Friday with a Chinese company to sell more than 80 per cent of its stock for the year.The Singapore-based R&D company Herbal-Science said that... [Read more]

$15b in Iraq reconstruction funds wasted by US
WASHINGTON - ABOUT US$10 billion (S$15.3 billion) has been squandered by the US government on Iraq reconstruction aid because of overcharges and unsupported expenses, and federal investigators say more money is at risk. The three top auditors overseeing work in Iraq... [Read more]

Welcoming the year of the pig
The Year of the Pig was ushered in by more than a billion Chinese around the world on Sunday. In cities from Beijing to London to Vancouver, they marked the start of the Chinese New Year with food, drink and fireworks... [Read more]

System to let docs access all patients' e-records
A NEW infrastructure will be set up soon to link all health-care practitioners' IT systems, making it possible for doctors to check their patients' medical records electronically.This will translate to fewer administrative mix-ups, such as mistakes in the prescription of medication,... [Read more]