News Today

FairPrice to absorb GST hike for 6 months
SHOPPERS with rice and about 400 other essential items in their baskets at NTUC FairPrice supermarkets will not feel the pinch when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is raised on July 1. This is because, for six months from that... [Read more]

Witness hits back as defence targets his testimony
DEFENCE lawyers for the three former board members of the National Kidney Foundation took turns yesterday to pick apart the testimony of the new NKF board's witness, Mr Bobby Nair. But Mr Nair, the former senior deputy director of communications, held... [Read more]

Hotel worries may hit arrivals
RISING hotel rates and a short supply of rooms could keep some foreign tour groups away from Singapore, tour operators here for a travel trade show have warned. Visiting industry officials from the United States, Middle East and even neighbouring Indonesia,... [Read more]

$50m overhaul of Changi's runways
CHANGI Airport's 'project runway' has started, with work going on round the clock and clockwork scheduling needed to keep the planes flying. When Terminal 3 opens next year, the airport's two runways will be ready for 'heavier' traffic - in the... [Read more]

CapitaLand earns $40m from sale of office space
CAPITALAND has sold all its entire interest in the Samsung Hub office block to two different buyers for a gain of $40 million.The entire divestment of space in the central business district building amounted to $152.9 million.Property company Ho Bee Development... [Read more]

More market volatility likely ahead of Fed meeting
VOLATILITY'S the buzzword this week as money managers and investors alike try to make sense of the huge array of economic data and corporate earnings due out in the next few trading sessions.While stocks, led by banking and property issues, generally... [Read more]

Brokers' Choice
CREDIT SUISSE LESS BULLISH ON STAR CRUISES CREDIT Suisse is downgrading Star Cruises to neutral from outperform as the stock price has nearly tripled since the firm's win in Singapore. 'Even though we are raising our target price to 50 US... [Read more]

TV times
GOLF: FBR Open: Day 1 (Live, Ch22, tomorrow, 4am).HANDBALL: Men's World C'ship: S-finals (Live, Ch22, tomorrow, 2.30am).EventHOCKEY: SHF League, U-18 Girls: dMaster-ACJC v STC (6pm). Boys: Khalsa A v dMaster-ACJC (7.30pm) - Delta Stadium.... [Read more]

Try to learn more about other faiths
I APPLAUD Ms Aishah Mohamed's letter ('Don't call non-Muslims infidel or kafir'; ST, Feb 13), for her efforts to clarify certain terms used by some faiths on others.It is essential for people like us, who live in a multi-racial, multi-religious society,... [Read more]

One size no longer fits all with budget carriers
VIVA Macau, a month-old carrier in the Chinese gaming city, calls itself a 'fusion airline', claiming it offers the best of two worlds - the attractive fares of low-cost carriers and the high level of comfort of full-service airlines. Australia's Virgin... [Read more]

Charge Thaksin's wife with tax evasion: Committee
BANGKOK - A PANEL appointed to investigate corruption linked to deposed Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has recommended that criminal tax evasion charges be filed against his wife, her secretary and her brother, its chairman said yesterday. Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra and... [Read more]