MPs tackle worries over food price rise

With goceries costing more by the day and consumers still getting used to the four-month-old 2-per-cent hike in GST, it was inevitable that inflation-and the government's handling of it- became one of the talking points in Parliament yesterday

Gunfire mars Arafat rally

At least seven people were killed and 150 were injured after Hamas security forces opened fire yesterday as hundreds of thousands gathered to make the third death anniversary of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.The shot brought end to the largest public support for the rival Fatah movement since Hamas sized control of the Gaze strip in June.Shots rang up after the crowds started chanting"shia,"shia"-accusing Hmas of being a proxy for Shia Iran and its ally Syria.

Empty monasteries, blood-stained floors

Myanmar's monasteries used to teemed with Buddhist monks,revered as spiritual guides and moral authorities in a country in the grip of a repressive military regime. Nobody knows how many of the more than 500,000 monks in Myanmar remain.Monasteries around the country have been depleted-especially in Yangon and Mandalay, where the protest were staged.Many monks have slipped into other countries or are hiding in their home towns and village.

Mp tells of young nephew's video game addiction

A 12-YEAR OLD nephew addiction to cyber and gamers cafe had led to his incurring debt. Ellen Lee ask if there were sufficient controls and measures against against the proliferation of cyber gaming cafe , especially in the heartlands and close to school. In reply, Minister Ho Peng Kee said the police did not allow computer gaming establishment to be set up in Housing and Development Board(HDB) residential zones where most schools are located.Such establishment are only allowed in shopping, recreation or commercial centres,he said.

Will new penalties make "disappearing" taxis reappear

From Monday, taxi drivers who solict for, overcharge or refuse to pick up passengers will face higher fines, more demerit points and immendiate suspension of their vocational licence of two to four weeks. Repeat offenders, found guilty of soliciting or overcharging within a period of two years, will have their vacational liceence revoked.