The best of the worst of ER

Focusing on nearsighted kids

Experts can predict how bad nearsightedness will become and are studying ways to halt its progression, writes KATHLEEN DOHENY.

Holistic public speaking

KATHERINE Lowe (Jan 24) said that her Toastmasters#8217; Club #8220;strives to maintain a high standard of English#8221; (and I note the operative word here is #8220;strives#8221; as opposed to #8220;maintains#8221;) and #8220;improvement#8221; is made on the basis that a member#8217;s speech #8220;is better than the one he made six months ago#8221;.

Stunning human landscape

iLands of Glass/i by Alessandro Baricco is reviewed by S.L. WONG.

Monkey business

THE sun had barely made an appearance, and I was already approaching the quarter-way mark in my hike up Penang Hill.

First novel late in life

NORMAN Lebrecht recently won the Whitbread first book award #8211; at the age of 54. He tells EMMA BROCKES why it took him so long.

What is good for the goose...

Writes Mrs Uma Param of Subang.

Snapshots of change

Senior citizens in China have lots of tales to tell of the upheavals and revolutionary times they lived through and the prosperity they are now experiencing, reports MARTIN FACKLER.

Laws of the hunt

Fugitive recovery is not just a fancy phrase for bounty hunting. It is an intriguing industry that requires some cleaning up in Virginia, the United States, reports TIMOTHY DWYER.

Shake up at Sunderland

AT THE rock bottom of the English Premiership, seven points from avoiding the drop and just nine games to the end of the season #8211; this, in essence, was what led to Howard Wilkinson and his assistant Steve Cotterill being shown the door at Sunderland on Monday.