News Today

Punjab goes to the polls amid reform woes
CHANDIGARH (INDIA) - POLLS were held yesterday in the northern Indian state of Punjab, where a defeat for the ruling Congress Party could highlight wider national concerns over rising food prices and economic reforms. India's annual inflation rate rose to a... [Read more]

Woman minister killed for not wearing Islamic garb
ISLAMABAD - A SUSPECTED Islamic militant on Tuesday shot dead a Pakistani female provincial minister and supporter of President Pervez Musharraf because she was not wearing Muslim clothing, officials said. Zilla Huma Usman, 35, the Punjab province minister for social welfare,... [Read more]

HK woman sues Osim over 'faulty' foot massager
HONG KONG - A WOMAN in Hong Kong is seeking HK$50,000 (S$9,800) from Osim, a Singapore health products company, alleging that one of its foot massagers had injured her legs, local reports said yesterday. Ms Wong Hoi-yin, who has taken her... [Read more]

More Chinese delay pregnancy by freezing eggs
BEIJING - AN INCREASING number of Chinese women are asking fertility institutes to freeze their eggs so that they can postpone pregnancy to enjoy their careers and youth, Chinese media reported yesterday.More than 260 couples in Shanghai had frozen eggs, the... [Read more]

'Commitment by govts needed' to tackle region's water woes
ONE word - commitment - stood out as experts distilled the challenges ahead, on the second day of the Asia Pacific Water Forum's inaugural governing council meeting here. Only political commitment by leaders can result in policy action in tackling the... [Read more]

Kreta Ayer Centre tops charity vote
TIGER Beer has donated more than $40,000 to three charities, as part of the brewery's Golden Wish Promotion launched on Jan 12.During the month-long promotion, Tiger invited the public to vote for the charity they supported most out of three -... [Read more]

S'pore to hold major Asian gaming show
COMPUTER gaming companies from around the world will gather here in September to show off their products and strike deals that could run into the millions of dollars.The Games Convention Asia (GCA) 2007 will be the regional equivalent of the Games... [Read more]

Putin throws down gauntlet to West
THE annual security conference in the southern German city of Munich is traditionally a venue where defence leaders showcase their plans for making the world a more stable place. Not the one held last weekend, however. For in a speech which... [Read more]

They just want to go home
PHOTO: AP Queuing for a ticket home for Chinese New Year is a bone-chilling task for these folks in Taiyuan in China's central Shanxi province. The heavy snow has blanketed the highways, preventing coach services from running; hence this long line... [Read more]

Search is on for Joscelin's successors
FOR the first time in 16 years, Singapore will be without Joscelin Yeo at a South-east Asia Games.But a host of young swimmers are gearing up for December's edition, to make sure the Republic do not miss the six golds that... [Read more]

Cash for tribal women who bear over 12 children
GAUHATI (INDIA) - TRIBAL leaders in India's remote north-east are offering cash rewards to women who bear more than a dozen children in a bid to keep from being outnumbered by settlers from elsewhere.In the past two months, Khasi tribal chieftains... [Read more]