News Today

Tokyo unwilling to provide energy aid
TOKYO - THE six-nation accord signed in Beijing to provide energy aid to North Korea in exchange for shutting down Pyongyang's nuclear facilities has put the Tokyo government in a bind.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday that his government will not... [Read more]

PwC to axe scandal-hit Japan affiliate
TOKYO - THE world's biggest accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), is set to shut a Japanese affiliate because of its involvement in the Nikko Cordial Securities broking scandal. This leaves PwC with a significantly smaller presence than rivals in Japan. Misuzu Audit,... [Read more]

Healthy demand
WHAT is fuelling demand for doctors: Patients who are better educated and want to know more, causing consultation time to go up. This is good, as 'a committed patient, who is better informed, is more likely to take greater responsibility for... [Read more]

For lease: 6 state properties for office use
THE Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has put up six state properties for lease via public tender solely for office use. They are: 195 Pearl's Hill Terrace, the former police headquarters. 18 Pearl's Hill Terrace, which used to house a Criminal Investigation... [Read more]

Proposals to help disabled out soon
RECOMMENDATIONS to help the disabled live as independently as possible are expected to be made by the end of this month, said Minister of State (Community Development, Youth and Sports) Yu-Foo Yee Shoon yesterday.The proposals will come from a committee drawing... [Read more]

Stock market fever hits China's students
BEIJING - UNIVERSITY students on shoestring budgets have traditionally waited tables, flipped burgers at fast-food joints or taken on odd jobs to earn an extra buck. But recently, enterprising students in China are turning to a quicker, albeit riskier, way of... [Read more]

Malaysia trade crosses RM1 trillion mark
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S trade surpassed the RM1 trillion (S$439 billion) mark for the first time, prompting Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to call it an 'inspiring achievement'. Datuk Seri Abdullah, who also holds the finance portfolio, said on Thursday that trade... [Read more]

China trade surplus hit $24.4b in January
HONG KONG - CHINA posted a US$15.9 billion (S$24.4 billion) trade surplus last month, pumping more cash into the world's fourth-biggest economy and adding pressure on Beijing to let the yuan rise faster. Imports jumped 27.5 per cent from a year... [Read more]

Chef in demand beyond our shores
JUSTIN Quek, 44, is one of Singapore's best-known chefs. He has cooked for the likes of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and former Chinese president Jiang Zemin in a career spanning more than 20 years. He set... [Read more]

Woodlands outshine disjointed Home stars 2-0
ONE side boasted a handsome collection of S-League talents, including five national players. The other had only the league's Player of the Year, albeit with the support of an experienced and cohesive unit. Last night, it was teamwork that defeated star... [Read more]

Philippine 'coup adviser' to run for Senate from jail
FORMER army colonel Gregorio 'Gringo' Honasan, the Philippines' self-confessed 'adviser' on coup plots, yesterday threw his hat into the Senate race and vowed to unite the country if he won. The 58-year-old is in detention and being tried for allegedly masterminding... [Read more]

First A-380 will be delivered to SIA on time: EADS official

MUNICH - EADS co-chief executive Louis Gallois told a news conference yesterday that the first Airbus A-380 superjumbo would be delivered to Singapore Airlines (SIA) on time.

He added that Airbus had started equipping the first plane for Emirates, the biggest customer for the A-380.

In fact, major delays to Airbus' A-380 superjumbo had led to a 768 million euro (S$1.55 billion) fourth-quarter loss last year for the parent company European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS).

EADS said the effects of a series of management and financial crises, including a two-year delay to the double-decker A-380, and charges at its A-350 XWB programme hurt fourth-quarter gains.

Officially launched in December, the 11.6 billion euro A-350 XWB programme promises better fuel efficiency and greater use of composites than the earlier version of the plane, but with later availability.

So far, Finnair has agreed to order nine of the planes, and Airbus is in talks with other airlines about converting 93 outstanding A-350 orders for the wide-body model.

However, the new Airbus jet is five years behind its rival, Boeing's 787 'Dreamliner', which already has notched up 464 firm orders as the United States company prepares to begin building the plane in the second quarter, with the first flight scheduled for August.

Airbus' new orders for planes reached 790 last year, compared with Boeing's 1,044.

Airbus plans to cut 10,000 jobs and spin off or close six of its European manufacturing plants under the auspices of the Power8 plan, which was unveiled on Feb 28.

Three sites making wing and fuselage parts in Britain, France and Germany are earmarked for sale to new investment partners as Airbus follows in Boeing's footsteps by seeking fresh financing for its programmes.

REUTERS, ASSOCIATED PRESS

News Today

Health items law can enforce after-sales scrutiny
A NEW law on health products for human use, approved yesterday, sends 'a strong signal' that products made or sold here are of the highest standards. Madam Halimah Yacob (Jurong GRC) said when debating the Health Products Bill, that it will... [Read more]

Nine-storey deep storage solution under sea
IN FOUR years' time, the seabed off Jurong Island will be transformed. Rock caverns nine storeys deep, which can store up to 1.47 million cubic metres of oil, will lie beneath - a safe, environmentally friendly storage solution for the growing... [Read more]

Sampras a proper match for Federer
LOS ANGELES - PETE Sampras thinks he could have held his own against Roger Federer.But he conceded on Tuesday that the Swiss master is poised to smash his record of 14 Grand Slam titles.Sampras, who retired after winning the 2002 US... [Read more]

Beijing slams Taipei over changes to textbooks
BEIJING - CHINA lashed out at Taiwan yesterday for dropping phrases from high-school history textbooks that link the two as one country, and said the move was another step towards promoting the island's independence.The changes included replacing terms such as 'the... [Read more]

Taiwan's new history textbooks draw flak
TAIPEI - TAIWAN'S new high school history textbooks have sparked controversy by drawing a clear distinction between the history of China and Taiwan.The move was seen by some observers as the latest in a continuing effort by the ruling Democratic Progressive... [Read more]

Putin defends Russian democracy and energy policies
MOSCOW - PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin yesterday assured that Russia's next president would be democratically chosen and defended Moscow's energy policies in a mass press conference seen as a chance for him to repair Russia's battered image.'There won't be a successor; there... [Read more]

Rush to buy subsidised rice
PHOTO: AP Poor Indonesians scrambling in Jakarta on Thursday to buy rice subsidised by the Indonesian government for 75,000 rupiah (S$13) per 20kg bag, which is roughly half the market price. The loss of the rice harvest in parts of the... [Read more]

Quick-thinking pilot, passengers foil hijack
LAS PALMAS (SPAIN) - PLUCKY passengers of a Mauritanian plane overpowered a suspected armed hijacker with help from a quick-thinking pilot. The Air Mauritania Boeing 737 was on an internal flight in the north-western African country on Thursday when the hijacker,... [Read more]

US review of copyright piracy set to rock China ties
WASHINGTON - THE Bush administration has begun a comprehensive review of enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in China, an issue that could sour trade relations between the two economic giants. US Deputy Trade Representative Karan Bhatia told The Straits Times... [Read more]

S'pore looks to host global sporting events
DAVOS - SINGAPORE is exploring the option of hosting international single-sport events, according to Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. He told The Straits Times, ahead of a panel discussion on sports and development during the World Economic Forum... [Read more]

85% of bumi contracts 'sold off to non-Malays'
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has expressed disappointment at a study which shows that 85 per cent of projects secured by bumiputera contractors end up with other communities.Revealing for the first time the percentage of abuses in the... [Read more]

Swiss private bank plans to expand Asian business

THE newly formed Swiss private bank Clariden Leu is looking to double its assets under management in Asia within five years - and add to its Singapore workforce in the process.

Clariden Leu, established only in January, is targeting the well-heeled, those with assets of at least one million Swiss francs (S$1.25 million). It will also promote niche investment products.

The bank plans to open an office in Jakarta later this year.

'Asia, together with Europe, is the fastest-growing wealth market,' said Mr Roland Knecht, Clariden Leu's head of private banking for Eastern Europe, Asia and Middle East.

'I think we should be able to generate growth of between 15 and 20 per cent a year in Asia.'

The bank has seven billion Swiss francs in assets under management in Asia.

Part of its growth will be through acquisitions. Last month, it agreed to acquire the Asian private banking business of South Africa's Standard Bank. The deal - its value was not disclosed - is expected to be completed by the second half of this year.

Standard Bank, Africa's biggest bank by assets, holds private banking assets of around US$750 million (S$1.15 billion) in Asia.

Clariden Leu was formed by a merger of Credit Suisse's four private banks - Clariden Bank, Bank Leu, Bank Hofmann and BGP Banca di Gestione Patrimoniale - and securities dealer Credit Suisse Fides.

It has assets under management of 124 billion Swiss francs.

Since its predecessor, Clariden Bank, opened a branch here in 2005, the bank has doubled its headcount to 65. It also employs 18 staff in its Hong Kong office.

It expects the number of employees in Asia to hit 100 by the end of the year, with most to be hired in Singapore.

Giggs will take quick free kick again if chance comes

MANCHESTER - RYAN Giggs has warned Lille he would not think twice about taking a quick free kick if the opportunity arises today.

'It doesn't matter if there is a huge fuss again. I am not breaking the rules, so I would do it,' said the Manchester United forward, still going strong at 33.

The Welshman became only the second player in the club's history to make 700 appearances, when he helped United to a 1-0 victory over Liverpool on Saturday.

He admits to being driven by the fear that his next game could be the last.

'Because you get older, and year on year you are getting closer to the end, you try to enjoy it a lot more,' he told MUTV. 'You try and make the most of it. You try and win as much as you can.'

Striker Henrik Larsson will play his final match at Old Trafford in United colours, before his loan deal expires on Monday. He said: 'I will be trying to make the most of every minute I have on the pitch.'

The former Barcelona player knows what it takes to win the Champions League. He believes that Alex Ferguson has a squad with credentials to go all the way.

'It's a good squad, so everything is possible,' he said.

'But we can't forget that we're playing a good side in Lille. When they were at home, they were supposed to attack more. I think it will be different with us at home.

'They are a physical team, but United are used to dealing with that. Lille will not stop, they will work and work.'

There will no room for sentimentality, a signal of his professional approach that has impressed everyone at the club.

The Swede said: 'I don't think, on the night, I will be able to savour the atmosphere.

'I need to concentrate on the game. After the match, I will try and take it all in.'

Injured Becks could be out for two months

MADRID - DAVID Beckham could be out of action for up to two months with a knee injury.

The Real Madrid midfielder injured a ligament in his right knee in their 1-1 draw with Getafe on Sunday in the Spanish league.

He was expected to have a scan later yesterday.

The 31-year-old Beckham was taken off the field in the 69th minute.

Earlier, teammate Jose Antonio Reyes was carried off on a stretcher with a similar injury to his left knee.

'Beckham's injury is serious, and the other could be something important. We will have to see,' Madrid coach Fabio Capello said on Sunday.

Beckham earned plaudits for his performance in the first- leg 3-2 win against Bayern in Spain.

He had fought his way back into the team despite being ostracised by Capello.

The Italian coach was upset that Beckham had apparently signed for American side LA Galaxy without first telling him.

Beckham, the former England captain, will move to LA Galaxy at the end of the season.

Raul and Guti were included in the squad after recovering from their injury problems, as was Brazilian midfielder Emerson, who also missed the Getafe game.

Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain and Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy made the squad, despite suffering bruising to thigh muscles.

Beckham's injury came just a couple of days before England coach Steve McClaren was scheduled to travel to Munich to watch him play Bayern.

McClaren missed the first leg in Spain, where Beckham had played well in Real's victory.

That performance led to calls for Beckham to be brought back to the national squad.

His most recent appearance for England was against Portugal in the World Cup quarter-finals last June.

After that game, he was dropped from the national team when McClaren took over as coach.

But his recent form for Real has prompted some observers to suggest he should be playing for England again.

One of them was former England striker Gary Lineker.

In his column for The Sunday Telegraph, he said he favoured a temporary recall for Beckham to help England with their important upcoming European Championship qualifying games.

'Beckham is a proven international-class player,' Lineker wrote.

'And while he might have lost some of the sharpness in his legs, he remains one of the top 20 players available to McClaren.

'Of course, bringing back Beckham could only be considered a short-term fix because, when he moves to the United States in the summer, he is going into semi-retirement.

'That is what is happening. I know what it is like because I went through it when I moved into Japanese football.

'The standards will be lower, and he will be a long way from home.'

ASSOCIATED PRESS, LOS ANGELES TIMES

News Today

Hardline Thai general to head phone corporation
BANGKOK - SAPRANG Kalyanamitr, a top general with a hardline reputation, was on Thursday given additional charge of a major public enterprise when he was appointed chairman of the board of TOT (Telephones of Thailand Plc). TOT has exclusive rights to... [Read more]

SPCA took in fewer animals last year
THE number of animals taken in by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) last year fell 6 per cent compared to the year before. Last year, it gave shelter to 9,706 animals, more than half of which... [Read more]

Buyout moves hurt PacNet's net income
THE recent takeover battle for Pacific Internet (PacNet) has taken its toll on the firm's bottom line, driving profits down 47 per cent to US$3.8 million (S$5.8 million) for the year ended Dec 31. Net profits for the fourth quarter were... [Read more]

London police appealed for help
London police appealed for help yesterday in catching a serial rapist responsible for at least 28 sex attacks including rapes of elderly women as old as 93.Detectives working on the capital's biggest-ever hunt for a serial rapist said the man first... [Read more]

S'poreans in NY to get a taste of hawker fare
LAKSA, chicken rice and char kway teow will find their way to the heart of New York City when a slice of Singapore hits the Big Apple in April. That is when the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU) holds its first 'Singapore... [Read more]

China Energy's issues in the spotlight
SOON after going public, China Energy has managed to catch investors' attention again with two new covered warrants on the stock.China Energy produces dimethyl ether, an environmentally friendly fuel which is sold to liquified petroleum gas (LPG) distributors which blend it... [Read more]

McCulloch gives Wigan crucial win
LONDON - TWO runs came to an end on Saturday at Wigan.Portsmouth lost for the first time there in 28 years but, more importantly for Wigan, their 1-0 win ended a club-record run of eight straight Premiership losses.Ironically, their hero was... [Read more]

Watford resigned to relegation after loss to Bolton
LONDON - A CONVERSATION between two Watford supporters on the way to Saturday's Premiership match against Bolton said everything about the club's situation.'How do you reckon we'll do in the Championship next season?' one asked.The fact that the match ball was... [Read more]

Study to find out if masks keep flu at bay
ANN ARBOR (MICHIGAN) - HUNDREDS of university students here are taking part in a study that could change the way the world looks at flu. They walk around the campus wearing surgical masks as part of a test to see if... [Read more]

PayPal picks Singapore for regional headquarters
ONLINE payments giant PayPal has set up its regional headquarters in Singapore.California-based PayPal helps users to send and receive payments securely online, using its own technology coupled with bank accounts and credit cards.Owned by popular online auction site eBay, PayPal has... [Read more]

Singapore's 'big-picture' Budget to be unveiled
WHAT IT IS SECOND Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam will unveil the Budget on Thursday. It has been billed as a Budget that will tilt the balance of public spending towards helping the poor and providing for an ageing population. To pay... [Read more]

$9,000 COE rebate level would be fairer

I REFER to the reply from Borneo Motors ('Car sellers didn't reap COE windfall'; ST, Feb 28) to Mr Lim Yong Nam ('Do car buyers lose out as COE prices drop?'; ST, Feb 20).

Last month, I signed an agreement to purchase a new car from another major car distributor. The rebate level was set at $6,000.

I was told that the distributor will bid on my behalf at about $3,000 above the last Certificate of Entitlement (COE) price of around $12,000.

I asked in jest if the rebate level could be set higher but was told it is company policy and that it is unlikely to hit this low level. I got my bid at $6,002.

The point I want to make is that, by setting a very low rebate level, the car seller is prepared to top up only another $3,000 but stands to gain $6,000 when the COE price falls.

In this instance, a fairer rebate level would have been $9,000. This way, the distributor would make either $3,000 more or $3,000 less.

Mind you, if the COE prices were to skyrocket, the distributor would only have to say sorry because securing a COE is not guaranteed.



Casey Wong Kuo Chang

Terry's hospital visit is no cause for concern: Chelsea

LONDON - CHELSEA were forced to dismiss fears over John Terry's well-being, insisting their captain's trip to hospital on Wednesday was a routine procedure.

Terry was knocked unconscious after being kicked in the head by Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby during Sunday's League Cup final win over the Gunners.

He swallowed his tongue and stopped breathing for a short while. He was taken to hospital after leaving the field in a neck brace.

The defender came round in the ambulance and discharged himself from hospital after a scan proved all clear.

He then returned to the stadium to take part in the team's victory celebrations.

But media reports yesterday claimed Terry had been rushed to hospital on Wednesday after feeling dizzy and nauseous.

'We stress that the scan was entirely routine and normal procedure for an injury of this type, and raised no cause for concern,' replied Chelsea.

The tests are said to have shown no blood clots or other signs of lasting damage.

But, as a precaution, Terry will now visit the consultant neurologist who treated Chelsea teammate Petr Cech for a fractured skull last year.

Despite the positive news on Terry's scan, the severity of the injury has raised concern over whether the England captain should return to action immediately.

Chelsea face Portsmouth tomorrow as they look to make up ground on Premiership leaders Manchester United, before switching their attention to the Champions League next week when they face Porto.

Colin Shieff, consultant neurosurgeon at the Royal Free Hospital in London, warned that Terry must make sure he is fully recovered before returning to the pitch, reported The Daily Mail.

He said: 'It may take a while to get right. Boxers who were rendered unconscious would not be allowed to go back into the ring until they had satisfied the requirements of the regulatory authority.

'The boxing board of control would not let them fight for two or three months afterwards.

'It is one thing feeling well enough to get back to the team and another to being considered fit to play, even if a scan showed there was no bleeding.'

England manager Steve McClaren now faces an anxious wait to discover if his captain will be fit for the vital Euro 2008 qualifier in Israel on March 24.

'He shouldn't have been playing. He was on crutches three days before the game against Arsenal and was already doubtful for the Israel game.

'With a bang on the head, you don't know what kind of injuries are sustained. It is a worry at the present moment but, hopefully, he is okay.'

News Today

Local index falls as trading slows ahead of long weekend
WHEN traders have the prospect of a long weekend in front of them, not even a pro-business Budget can keep them on the job. Skipping out early was the game plan yesterday and the market showed the indifference with volume dipping... [Read more]

I feared for my family, says Mikel
LONDON - CHELSEA midfielder John Obi Mikel has revealed why he defied manager Jose Mourinho and played for his country last Tuesday. It was because the Nigerian feared for his family's safety back home. Mourinho wanted Mikel to pull out of... [Read more]

Smaller deficit of $690m expected
THE Government is likely to rack up a smaller spending deficit as it scales back on one-off handouts and raises the goods and services tax (GST). It expects to be in the red to the tune of $690 million for the... [Read more]

Ex-detainee Ho Toon Chin dies in London
FORMER political detainee Ho Toon Chin died in London on Tuesday from a stroke. He was 70.Mr Ho was a manager in a small media company, said his undergraduate son Hehao, 21, yesterday, declining to disclose its name.He had a stroke... [Read more]

UN agency to regain control of N. Korea work
NEW YORK - THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has authorised its office in North Korea to take back control of its work from Pyongyang and cease hard currency payments to local staff and suppliers.The move followed fears that the North... [Read more]

Homestays next to bring communities closer together?
IT BEGAN with visits to religious institutions. Then came Mandarin classes for the Malay-Muslim community. Now, a task force that is promoting greater interaction between communities is looking at homestay programmes. Details have yet to be worked out, but Senior Minister... [Read more]

Indian firms finding match with Western partners
NEW DELHI - A FLURRY of big-ticket cross-border acquisitions involving Indian companies over the past fortnight may amount to more than the US$29 billion (S$44 billion) that the deals were worth. Britain's Vodafone said on Sunday that it had offered US$11... [Read more]

No arms race for Beijing, says general
BEIJING - CHINA'S military development is no threat to other nations and it will never join an arms race, a top-ranking Chinese army official said in an interview published yesterday. The comments by Lieutenant-General Zhang Qinsheng, Deputy Chief of General Staff... [Read more]

Quick News
THREE ENVOYS TO EUROPE NAMEDSINGAPORE appointed three new ambassadors to Europe yesterday.Chairman of JTC Corporation Soo Kok Leng has been appointed Singapore's next ambassador to Austria.Businessman and former member of parliament Tan Soo Khoon is Singapore's next ambassador to the Czech... [Read more]

Thailand may reopen old airport for domestic flights
BANGKOK - THAILAND'S Transport Ministry wants the country's old airport at Don Muang reopened for domestic flights while repairs are carried out at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The move will be recommended to the Cabinet on Feb 6, Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen... [Read more]

Go for these in future Budgets...
IT IS truly a 'Wow Budget 2007' as it sets a new direction for the future. It shows the Government has listened and taken concrete steps to address concerns over the widening income gap and rising cost of living affecting the... [Read more]

Charges

Arsenal and Chelsea: Charged with misconduct for failing to ensure that 'players and/or officials conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative and/or violent behaviour'. The clubs have until March 14 to respond.

Emmanuel Eboue: Charged with violent conduct for striking Chelsea's Wayne Bridge. Has until today to respond. Case to be heard tomorrow.

Emmanuel Adebayor: Charged with reacting aggressively and failing to leave the field of play immediately after being sent off. Has until today to respond. Case to be heard on Tuesday.

Adebayor and John Obi Mikel: Appealed against wrongful dismissal. Claims were dismissed.

Kolo Toure: Will serve an automatic three-match ban following his dismissal for violent conduct.

News Today

Indonesia insists it has good reasons to ban sand exports
JAKARTA - INDONESIA has rejected Singapore's questioning of its decision to ban sand exports, maintaining that it has 'good reasons' to do so.Indonesia's reaction, published in the Jakarta Post yesterday, followed a discussion of the issue in Singapore's Parliament on Monday.'We... [Read more]

Lost Thai mother found, thanks to a simple song
DUSONGYO (THAILAND) - A THAI mother who was lost for 25 years after catching the wrong bus home has spoken of her ordeal after being reunited with her family, thanks to a simple song. The last time Ms Jaeyaena Beuraheng saw... [Read more]

Review of 12 health-sector charities out
THE report card on 12 of Singapore's largest charities in the health sector is out - and while there are no shocking revelations, three key areas have been identified for them to work on. They have a six-month deadline to fix... [Read more]

SPH's Thomson condo sells out in just 30 hours
ALL 273 units of Singapore Press Holdings' (SPH) high-end condominium at Thomson Road have been sold, barely 30 hours after they were released at a special preview on Sunday evening. The public launch, due to be held this weekend, has been... [Read more]

Alleged rape victim testifies
RAPE suspect Mohammed Liton Mohammed Syeed Mallik came face to face with his alleged victim and former lover in the High Court yesterday, when she took the stand.The woman, a 31-year-old cashier, testified behind closed doors after her husband and mother... [Read more]

Casmir finds temporary home at Gombak
FORMER national striker Agu Casmir has been offered a helping hand by Gombak United chairman John Yap.The 22-year-old will take up Gombak's desk job offer after declining to renew his contract with Woodlands Wellington, which ends on Feb 28.It is believed... [Read more]

Haas handed tennis lesson by Gonzalez
MELBOURNE - TENTH-SEEDED Fernando Gonzalez trounced Germany's Tommy Haas 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the Australian Open final yesterday. In a performance reminiscent of top-ranked Roger Federer's rout of American star Andy Roddick in the other semi-final a night earlier, the... [Read more]

FA charges Jewell for outburst
LONDON - THE Football Association has charged Wigan manager Paul Jewell with improper conduct for his outburst at referee Phil Dowd at Arsenal on Sunday. Jewell was incensed by Dowd's performance, specifically his refusal to award Wigan a penalty when Mathieu... [Read more]

India acts to curb aborting of female foetuses
NEW DELHI - THE Indian government plans to set up orphanages to raise unwanted baby girls in a bid to halt the widespread practice of aborting female foetuses.Dubbed the 'cradle scheme', the plan is an attempt to slow the practice that... [Read more]

'Kept in the dark' about defamation case
FORMER National Kidney Foundation (NKF) board chairman Richard Yong claims he was kept largely in the dark about the charity's defamation suit against Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) over a Straits Times article. Former chief executive T.T. Durai told the executive committee... [Read more]

Operators may lose $200m if IRs are not built on time
THE Government is keeping a close eye on the development of the two integrated resorts (IRs), Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang assured the House yesterday. Both operators - Las Vegas Sands in Marina Bay and Genting International in Sentosa... [Read more]

News Today

Why the case matters
THE verdict could affect US software companies, which sell about half their products abroad.At issue is whether shipping a master disk abroad for copying amounts to supplying a component from a patented invention from the United States.Microsoft sells the AT&T software... [Read more]

Quick News
S'PORE OFFICE FOR UK LAW FIRMA TOP British law firm, Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), has announced plans to set up its first Asian office in Singapore.The firm, which was named Best UK Law Firm 2004 by The Lawyer Magazine, has recruited... [Read more]

Malaysia out to earn most significant win in two years
THE Asean Football Championship final is still a week away. But, for Malaysia, today's semi-final second-leg clash with Singapore at the National Stadium will be their 'final'. This is because they will be looking for their most significant victory in nearly... [Read more]

Indian newspaper war intensifies
NEW DELHI - A PROMINENT media company yesterday launched India's fifth business newspaper, Mint.HT Media's latest offering marks the beginning of a new phase in its circulation war with rival firm Bennett Coleman, which publishes the English-language daily Economic Times.HT Media,... [Read more]

It's all in the family in Filipino politics
MANILA - THE coming midterm polls in the Philippines could see candidates from just three families fill a quarter of the Senate. Dynasties are a political reality in most countries, but few - if any - can top the Philippines for... [Read more]

Will it be drop No. 5 for Quashie?
WEST Ham's current plight makes for morbidly compelling viewing, for a number of reasons. As game after game slips away from them, we are growing accustomed to the TV cameras cutting to shots of an anguished Alan Curbishley and a disbelieving... [Read more]

Singapore remembers victims of Japanese Occupation
THE long wail of an air raid siren yesterday morning, distinctly heard over the War Memorial at Beach Road, sounded the 'All Clear' signal. It marked the start of a 30-minute ceremony to remember victims of the Japanese Occupation 65 years... [Read more]

Siblings rally round aged mum in time of need
I AM touched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Chinese New Year message to 'keep family unit strong and healthy'. Also his sharing of his personal experience when he suffered from lymphoma in 1992 and how his family members rallied to... [Read more]

Pakistan makes a pitch for more S'pore investments
A TOP Pakistani government minister has urged Singapore investors from all sectors to invest in his country which, he says, has flung its doors wide open to foreign investors.Privatisation and Investment Minister Zahid Hamid also said yesterday that PSA International's recent... [Read more]

Friendlier inter-Korea relations on the cards
SEOUL - INTER-Korea ties may turn sunny again after Pyongyang agreed to halt its nuclear programme in return for aid and diplomatic benefits. A day after securing the six-party nuclear deal, the two Koreas announced yesterday that they would resume stalled... [Read more]

StarHub to take steps to enhance network reach
I REFER to Mr Ho See Sai's letter, 'Capacity, coverage woes of mobile network' (ST, Feb 9).We appreciate Mr Ho's comment on the quality of mobile network coverage in Singapore. We would like to take this opportunity to share with him... [Read more]

Chicks are Us!

What it should have been
The table of unit trust prices published in page H16 in the Money section yesterday was inaccurate. The correct version is published today.... [Read more]

Long drive ahead
The lighted ceiling of the Zhongnan Mountain Tunnel is part of preparations for the opening ceremony of China's longest road tunnel to traffic on Sunday. The 18km-long tunnel is located at the north section of Xi'an-Ankang Highway, in the north-western province... [Read more]

AirAsia may list overseas to reach more investors
KUALA LUMPUR - ASIA'S largest budget airline, Malaysia-based AirAsia, is looking at a possible listing in London or Hong Kong to tap a wider pool of foreign investors, a source close to the firm said yesterday.AirAsia has been listed in Malaysia... [Read more]

Increase gradually
'I still feel GST should be increased in two phases, 1 percentage point at a time. This will have less impact on the people. The Prime Minister talked about taking pills at the same time, but that depends on the prescription,... [Read more]

Companies in brief
CHINA'S UNIONMET TO LIST ON MAINBOARD AT 37 cents A SHARE CHINESE firm Unionmet, which makes and supplies indium ingots to the consumer electronics and solar energy industries, is launching its initial public offering (IPO) on the Singapore Exchange mainboard. It... [Read more]

Nadal survives Murray onslaught
MELBOURNE - RAFAEL Nadal was pushed to the limit by Andy Murray yesterday before reaching his first Australian Open quarter-final.The second seed had to rally twice from a set down to triumph 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 after a 3hr... [Read more]

It pays to check your receipts to avoid being overcharged
I am a frequent shopper of the retail megastore, Giant, and have successfully claimed a refund a few times recently after noticing that I have been overcharged or wrongly charged. Nowadays, it is common for retail stores to display their prices... [Read more]

Cracks in taxiways worsen Thai airport's safety woes
BANGKOK - THE future of Thailand's Suvarnabhumi International Airport remained cloudy yesterday as reports surfaced that cracks in the taxiways had cast doubt over its safety certification. The airport has been operating on an interim certificate issued by Thailand's Department of... [Read more]

Laguna debt not paid as it's not due yet: Peter Kwee
MOTOR and property businessman Peter Kwee, who is being sued over a $4 million debt, said that he does not have a problem paying up.It is just that he believes the sum is not due yet. He added that the final... [Read more]

Sadr's group ends boycott of Iraqi govt
BAGHDAD - THE political movement of Iraqi cleric and militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr said it would end a two-month boycott of Parliament yesterday, smoothing over a rift with its Shi'ite allies in the government.The political reconciliation with a group viewed with... [Read more]

Mortar attack on Baghdad school leaves 5 girls dead
BAGHDAD - MORTAR shells hit the courtyard of a girls' school in a mostly Sunni Arab neighbourhood of Baghdad on Sunday, killing five pupils and wounding 20. On the same day, a US helicopter crashed during fierce fighting between Iraqi government... [Read more]