News Today

'Service charge' is a misnomer
AS A member of the food-and-beverage industry, I thank Mr Patrick Tan Siong Kuan for his letter, 'Want good service? Bring back tipping' (ST, Jan 25).In at least 90 per cent of the restaurants here, the mandatory service charge does not... [Read more]

Pre-existing condition? Shop around for insurer
I REFER to the letter by Dr Lee Pheng Soon, 'Check insurance policy if diabetic, hypertensive' (ST, Feb 2).There are actually two distinct issues here. The first is the applicant's duty to disclose to the insurer all material facts which may... [Read more]

Pension fund scam involved 20 top names
SHANGHAI - AT LEAST 20 officials and businessmen were involved in Shanghai's pension fund scandal, the government said yesterday, giving its fullest account yet of the scandal that rocked the city last year. Eleven party officials and more than 10 others... [Read more]

Chef in demand beyond our shores
JUSTIN Quek, 44, is one of Singapore's best-known chefs. He has cooked for the likes of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and former Chinese president Jiang Zemin in a career spanning more than 20 years. He set... [Read more]

Free up air links earlier: S'pore
BANGKOK - SINGAPORE yesterday urged Asean transport ministers at their meeting here to free up air links between their capitals by the end of 2007 - a year earlier than planned.The move will give their carriers greater access in a fast-growing... [Read more]

US Democrats urge caution on Teheran
WASHINGTON - TOP Democrat leaders have urged the Bush administration to be cautious about accusing Iran of fomenting trouble in Iraq, as Teheran said it was a bid by Washington to hide its failures.Senior US defence officials had told a press... [Read more]

Indonesia's PPP hopes to revive political fortunes
JAKARTA - INDONESIA'S oldest Muslim party is pinning its hopes on new leaders who will be elected this week at its national congress to steer the party into the 2009 legislative and presidential elections.The United Development Party (PPP) - created in... [Read more]

Kerry rules out second run for White House
SENATOR John Kerry of Massachusetts ruled out a second presidential bid on Wednesday, asserting that he could do more to change the course of Iraq policy in the Senate than by campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire.'I've concluded this isn't the... [Read more]

India, Pakistan vow joint anti-terror effort
NEW DELHI - INDIA and Pakistan vowed yesterday to fight terrorism together, days after a terrorist strike on a train killed 68 people, mostly Pakistanis heading home. The pledge was a clear message to terrorist groups that sought to sully the... [Read more]

MP was not suggesting S'pore must slow down
I THANK Mr Steve Tan Peng Hoe for his views on my purported call for us to slow down our growth to appease our neighbours ('Dangerous to slow down to appease our neighbours'; ST, Feb 16). This has given me the... [Read more]

Ford could be forced to close more plants, cut union wages
YPSILANTI (MICHIGAN) - STRUGGLING Ford Motors could be forced to shut down seven more plants and ask its unions for a 20 per cent cut to wages and benefits as it faces a financial 'meltdown', said a respected industry analyst. The... [Read more]