Singapore - The economic ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tuesday signed three trade agreements in Singapore.

Ministers from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and Singapore, and the ASEAN secretary-general attended the event, the Singapore Trade and Industry Ministry said.

"This was a landmark occasion for ASEAN, sealing key work towards achieving the first pillar of the ASEAN Economic Community," the statement said, referring to the goal of a single market and production base in the bloc.

Singapore  - A contractor received a one-year jail term in what is believed to be the first sentencing under laws Singapore introduced in February that toughened penalties for having sex with underage prostitutes, news reports said Tuesday.

Tan Chye Hin, 55, pleaded guilty to having sex with a 16-year-old sex worker but is appealing Monday's sentence by a district court.

A second man is awaiting sentencing for having sex with the same prostitute, also in August and also for 100 Singapore dollars (68 US dollars).

Accountant Rodney Sim Hang Nge, 61, is to be sentenced January 7 for having sex twice with the girl from China.

Singapore/Hamburg  - Singapore Airlines has implemented a new charge for economy class passengers who want to book a seat beside an emergency exit.

Passengers will now have to pay a minimum of 50 dollars for an advance, online seat-booking on each stretch of the route.

The decision means a flight on the airline's Frankfurt-Singapore-Sydney route can cost an additional 100 dollars.

So far, passengers could check-in online and book an emergency exit seat free of charge.

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Singapore  - Singapore's retail sales in October 2008 fell 6.8 per cent from September, the Statistics Department said Monday.

On a year-on-year basis, retail sales declined by 3.6 per cent over a year ago. The volume of retail sales fell by 8.5 per cent after removing price effect, the department said.

The biggest drop was in October motor vehicles sales which fell 20 per cent compared to September.

Retailers of telecommunications equipment and computers reported month-to-month lower turnover of 17.5 per cent.